51 research outputs found
A Seventeen-Year Epidemiological Surveillance Study of Borrelia burgdorferi Infections in Two Provinces of Northern Spain
This paper reports a 17-year seroepidemiological surveillance study of Borrelia burgdorferi infection, performed with the aim of improving our knowledge of the epidemiology of this pathogen. Serum samples (1,179) from patients (623, stratified with respect to age, sex, season, area of residence and occupation) bitten by ticks in two regions of northern Spain were IFA-tested for B. burgdorferi antibodies. Positive results were confirmed by western blotting. Antibodies specific for B. burgdorferi were found in 13.3% of the patients; 7.8% were IgM positive, 9.6% were IgG positive, and 4.33% were both IgM and IgG positive. Five species of ticks were identified in the seropositive patients: Dermacentor marginatus (41.17% of such patients) Dermacentor reticulatus (11.76%), Rhiphicephalus sanguineus (17.64%), Rhiphicephalus turanicus (5.88%) and Ixodes ricinus (23.52%). B. burgdorferi DNA was sought by PCR in ticks when available. One tick, a D. reticulatus male, was found carrying the pathogen. The seroprevalence found was similar to the previously demonstrated in similar studies in Spain and other European countries
Detection of Borrelia lusitaniae, Rickettsia sp. IRS3, Rickettsia monacensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus collected in Madeira Island, Portugal
A total of 300 Ixodes ricinus ticks were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis demonstrated 8 (2.7%) ticks infected with B. lusitaniae, 60 (20%) with Rickettsia spp., and 1 (0.3%) with A. phagocytophilum. Seven (2.3%) ticks were coinfected with B. lusitaniae and Rickettsia spp., 2 (0.6%) with R. monacensis, and 5 (1.7%) with Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The results of this study suggest simultaneous transmission of multiple tick-borne agents on Madeira Island, Portugal
Molecular characterization of a new isolate of Borrelia lusitaniae derived from Apodemus sylvaticus in Portugal
A total of 196 small mammals were collected in Portugal and tested for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Tissue samples were taken from each animal and cultured in Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK)-II medium. The single strain of spirochete isolated was confirmed as Borrelia lusitaniae by genetic analyses. This is the first report of B. lusitaniae isolated from Apodemus sylvaticus
Tularaemia: A challenging zoonosis
In recent years, several emerging zoonotic vector-borne infections with potential impact on human health have been identified in Europe, including tularaemia, caused by Francisella tularensis.This remarkable pathogen, one of the most virulent microorganisms currently known, has been
detected in increasingly new settings and in a wide range of wild species, including lagomorphs, rodents, carnivores, fish and invertebrate arthropods. Also, a renewed concern has arisen with regard
to F. tularensis: its potential use by bioterrorists. Based on the information published concerning the latest outbreaks, the aim of this paper is to review the main features of the agent, its biology,
immunology and epidemiology. Moreover, special focus will be given to zoonotic aspects of the disease, as tularaemia outbreaks in human populations have been frequently associated with disease in animals
Harmonizing methods for wildlife abundance estimation and pathogen detection in Europe-a questionnaire survey on three selected host-pathogen combinations
__Background:__ The need for wildlife health surveillance as part of disease control in wildlife, domestic animals and humans on the global level is widely recognized. However, the objectives, methods and intensity of existing wildlife health surveillance programs vary greatly among European countries, resulting in a patchwork of data that are difficult to merge and compare. This survey aimed at evaluating the need and potential for data harmonization in wildlife health in Europe. The specific objective was to collect information on methods currently used to estimate host abundance and pathogen prevalence. Questionnaires were designed t
Borreliose de Lyme: descrição clinica e laboratorial em doentes portugueses
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) Ă© o agente etiolĂłgico da borreliose de Lyme (BL), uma das doenças transmitidas por carraças com maior impacto em Portugal. No Homem, B. lusitaniae estĂĄ inequivocamente associada a causar doença no Homem, com dois casos clĂnicos reportados.N/
Are blackbirds Turdus merula competent reservoirs for Borrelia turdi in Western Europe? A xenodiagnostic experiment
Toxinas: o diagnĂłstico rĂĄpido em resposta a emergĂȘncias
As toxinas sĂŁo substĂąncias quĂmicas de origem biolĂłgica que causam doença no Homem podendo algumas ser utilizadas como armas biolĂłgicas. Na lista de agentes de bioterrorismo estĂŁo incluĂdas quatro toxinas: neurotoxinas botulĂnica (BoNt), saxitocina, ricina e enterotoxina estafilocĂłcica B (SEB). O botulismo Ă© uma doença potencialmente fatal causada pela ação das neurotoxinas que impedem a libertação de acetilcolina nas junçÔes neuromusculares, resultando em paralisia muscular. A saxitocina Ă© tambĂ©m uma neurotoxina, usualmente associada Ă ingestĂŁo de moluscos contaminados, que se liga ao canal de cĂĄlcio do nervo impedindo a passagem de iĂ”es de sĂłdio atravĂ©s da membrana celular, bloqueando a passagem dos impulsos nervosos. A ricina causa toxicidade multiorgĂąnica bloqueando a sĂntese proteica e alĂ©m de jĂĄ ter sido utilizada como arma biolĂłgica no passado, tem sido utilizada em tentativas de suicĂdio na Europa. Relativamente Ă SEB, Ă© uma causa comum da intoxicação alimentar, mas se inalada pode induzir a um quadro sistĂ©mico e por vezes levar Ă morte. O conhecimento dos sinais e sintomas associados a estas doenças, provocadas tanto por inalação ou ingestĂŁo destas toxinas, por parte da comunidade mĂ©dica, bem como o diagnĂłstico laboratorial disponĂvel, Ă© fundamental. A resposta eficaz a um ataque de bioterrorismo sĂł serĂĄ possĂvel se a suspeição clĂnica for rapidamente confirmada pelo laboratĂłrio e a fonte de infeção for prontamente eliminada apĂłs investigação epidemiolĂłgica.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Birds as reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Western Europe: circulation of B. turdi and other genospecies in bird-tick cycles in Portugal
Birds as reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Western Europe: circulation of B.âturdi and other genospecies in bird-tick cycles in Portugal.
Norte AC, Ramos JA, Gern L, NĂșncio MS, Lopes de Carvalho I.
SourceInstitute of Marine Research IMAR/CMA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal. Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal. Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of NeuchĂątel, NeuchĂątel, Switzerland.
Abstract
Birds are important in the ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) because they are important hosts for vector tick immature stages and are known reservoirs for some Borrelia genospecies. The aim of our study was to assess the role of common passerine bird species as reservoirs for B.âburgdorferi s.l. in Western Europe. We surveyed birds in enzootic areas in Portugal, where no information is available for birds as reservoirs for this aetiologic agent and where B.âlusitaniae, for which few reservoirs have been identified, is the dominant genospecies. Twenty-three birds (2.9%), including Turdus merula, T.âphilomelos, Parus major and Fringilla coelebs harboured infected ticks, but only Turdus sp. harboured infected tick larvae. In one study area, although B.âlusitaniae was dominant in questing Ixodes ricinus, no ticks feeding on birds were infected with this genospecies, and B.âvalaisiana was the dominant genospecies in I.âricinus larvae feeding on birds. In the other area ticks collected from birds were mainly I.âfrontalis which were infected with B.âturdi. Two skin biopsies (4.2%) from two T.âmerula were positive, one for B.âvalaisiana and the other for B.âturdi. This is the first report for B.âturdi in Western Europe.
© 2012 Society for Applied Microbiology and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
PMID:22882497[PubMed - as supplied by publisher
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