Surveillance and Comparison of Anaplasma Phagoctyophilum (Formerly Erlichia Equi) within Ixodes Scapularis Ticks in Selected Southeastern States

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that can infect and cause disease in horses, Equine Granuloctic Anaplasmosis. The bacterium is present in the western and northeastern United States, Europe, and Asia. In this investigation, samples of Ixodes scapularis were collected from selected barrier islands and mainland sites where feral and domestic equine populations are present, respectively. Each sample was individually screened using nested PCR to amplify a fragment of the ank and 16S rRNA genes. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in I. scapularis ticks was 20% (n=808). The highest infection rate was seen at a barrier island site (22%, n=774). The remaining five sites had prevalence ranging from 0% (n=9) to 19% (n=51). Randomly chosen positive PCR samples from each site were sequenced, and a BLAST search verified the isolates as A. phagocytophilum, which shared sequence homology with isolates from the northeastern United States

Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance and Giardia duodenalis infection on a sentinel species' gut bacteria

Habitat disturbance, a common consequence of anthropogenic land use practices, creates human–animal interfaces where humans, wildlife, and domestic species can interact. These altered habitats can influence host–microbe dynamics, leading to potential downstream effects on host physiology and health. Here, we explored the effect of ecological overlap with humans and domestic species and infection with the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis on the bacteria of black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya), a key sentinel species, in northeastern Argentina. Fecal samples were screened for Giardia duodenalis infection using a nested PCR reaction, and the gut bacterial community was characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Habitat type was correlated with variation in A. caraya gut bacterial community composition but did not affect gut bacterial diversity. Giardia presence did not have a universal effect on A. caraya gut bacteria across habitats, perhaps due to the high infection prevalence across all habitats. However, some bacterial taxa were found to vary with Giardia infection. While A. caraya's behavioral plasticity and dietary flexibility allow them to exploit a range of habitat conditions, habitats are generally becoming more anthropogenically disturbed and, thus, less hospitable. Alterations in gut bacterial community dynamics are one possible indicator of negative health outcomes for A. caraya in these environments, since changes in host–microbe relationships due to stressors from habitat disturbance may lead to negative repercussions for host health. These dynamics are likely relevant for understanding organism responses to environmental change in other mammals.Fil: Kuthyar, Sahana. Northwestern University; Estados UnidosFil: Kowalewski, Miguel Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Biológica de Usos Múltiples (Sede Corrientes); Argentina. University of Emory; Estados UnidosFil: Roellig, Dawn. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention. National Center For Infectious Diseases; Estados UnidosFil: Mallot, Elizabeth K. Northwestern University; Estados UnidosFil: Zeng, Yan. Northwestern University; Estados UnidosFil: Gillespie, Thomas R. University of Emory; Estados UnidosFil: Amato, Katherine. Northwestern University; Estados Unido

Autochthonous Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, Louisiana

Autochthonous transmission of the Chagas disease parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, was detected in a patient in rural New Orleans, Louisiana. The patient had positive test results from 2 serologic tests and hemoculture. Fifty-six percent of 18 Triatoma sanguisuga collected from the house of the patient were positive for T. cruzi by PCR

The contribution of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) to maternity care in Nepal: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: In resource-poor settings, the provision of basic maternity care within health centres is often a challenge. Despite the difficulties, Nepal reduced its maternal mortality ratio by 80% from 850 to an estimated 170 per 100,000 live births between 1991 and 2011 to achieve Millennium Development Goal Five. One group that has been credited for this is community health workers, known as Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), who form an integral part of the government healthcare system. This qualitative study explores the role of FCHVs in maternal healthcare provision in two regions: the Hill and Terai. METHODS: Between May 2014 and September 2014, 20 FCHVs, 11 health workers and 26 service users were purposefully selected and interviewed using semi-structured topic guides. In addition, four focus group discussions were held with 19 FCHVs. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: All study participants acknowledged the contribution of FCHVs in maternity care. All FCHVs reported that they shared key health messages through regularly held mothers' group meetings and referred women for health checks. The main difference between the two study regions was the support available to FCHVs from the local health centres. With regular training and access to medical supplies, FCHVs in the hill villages reported activities such as assisting with childbirth, distributing medicines and administering pregnancy tests. They also reported use of innovative approaches to educate mothers. Such activities were not reported in Terai. In both regions, a lack of monetary incentives was reported as a major challenge for already overburdened volunteers followed by a lack of education for FCHVs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the role of FCHVs varies according to the context in which they work. FCHVs, supported by government health centres with emphasis on the use of local approaches, have the potential to deliver basic maternity care and promote health-seeking behaviour so that serious delays in receiving healthcare can be minimised. However, FCHVs need to be reimbursed and provided with educational training to ensure that they can work effectively. The study underlines the relevance of community health workers in resource-poor settings

Comparative genomics reveals Cyclospora cayetanensis possesses coccidia-like metabolism and invasion components but unique surface antigens

Assessment of the completeness of sequenced Toxoplasma gondii, Eimeria tenella and Cyclospora cayetanensis genomes based on core eukaryotic protein-encoding genes search using BUSCO. (DOCX 14 kb

Molecular Typing of Trypanosoma cruzi Isolates, United States

Studies have characterized Trypanosoma cruzi from parasite-endemic regions. With new human cases, increasing numbers of veterinary cases, and influx of potentially infected immigrants, understanding the ecology of this organism in the United States is imperative. We used a classic typing scheme to determine the lineage of 107 isolates from various hosts

Animal-related factors associated with moderate-to-severe diarrhea in children younger than five years in western Kenya: A matched case-control study

Background Diarrheal disease remains among the leading causes of global mortality in children younger than 5 years. Exposure to domestic animals may be a risk factor for diarrheal disease. The objectives of this study were to identify animal-related exposures associated with cases of moderate-to-severe diarrhea (MSD) in children in rural western Kenya, and to identify the major zoonotic enteric pathogens present in domestic animals residing in the homesteads of case and control children. Methodology/Principal findings We characterized animal-related exposures in a subset of case and control children (n = 73 pairs matched on age, sex and location) with reported animal presence at home enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study in western Kenya, and analysed these for an association with MSD. We identified potentially zoonotic enteric pathogens in pooled fecal specimens collected from domestic animals resident at children’s homesteads. Variables that were associated with decreased risk of MSD were washing hands after animal contact (matched odds ratio [MOR] = 0.2; 95% CI 0.08–0.7), and presence of adult sheep that were not confined in a pen overnight (MOR = 0.1; 0.02–0.5). Variables that were associated with increased risk of MSD were increasing number of sheep owned (MOR = 1.2; 1.0–1.5), frequent observation of fresh rodent excreta (feces/urine) outside the house (MOR = 7.5; 1.5–37.2), and participation of the child in providing water to chickens (MOR = 3.8; 1.2–12.2). Of 691 pooled specimens collected from 2,174 domestic animals, 159 pools (23%) tested positive for one or more potentially zoonotic enteric pathogens (Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, non-typhoidal Salmonella, diarrheagenic E. coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, or rotavirus). We did not find any association between the presence of particular pathogens in household animals, and MSD in children. Conclusions and significance Public health agencies should continue to promote frequent hand washing, including after animal contact, to reduce the risk of MSD. Future studies should address specific causal relations of MSD with sheep and chicken husbandry practices, and with the presence of rodents

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

We used genus/species specific PCRs to determine the temporal persistence of host DNA in Triatoma infestans experimentally fed on blood from six common vertebrate species: humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, chickens, mice, and pigs. Twenty third or fourth instar nymphs per animal group were allowed to feed to engorgement, followed by fasting-maintenance in the insectary. At 7, 14, 21, or 28 days post-feeding, the midgut contents from five triatomines per group were tested with the respective PCR assay. DNA from all vertebrate species was detected in at least four of five study nymphs at seven and 14 days post-feeding. DNA of humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, pigs, and chickens were more successfully detected (80-100%) through day 21, and less successfully (20-100%) at day 28. Findings demonstrate that species-specific PCRs can consistently identify feeding sources of T. infestans within two weeks, a biologically relevant time interval

Molecular characterization of giardia duodenalis and evidence for cross‐species transmission in Northern Argentina

Anthropogenic activities, such as human population expansion and land-use change, create ecological overlap between humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife and can exacerbate the zoonotic transmission of parasites. To improve our understanding of this dynamic, we employed multi-locus genotyping to conduct a cross-sectional study of the potential for zoonotic transmission of the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis among humans, household associated livestock and dogs, and black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya) in the Corrientes Province of Argentina. We found Giardia prevalence to be highest in howler monkeys (90.3% (47/52)), followed by humans (61.1% (22/36)), dogs (44.4% (16/36)), and cattle (41.9% (18/43)). We further established that howler monkeys exclusively harbored strains of assemblage B (100%) while humans were infected with either assemblage A (13.3%) or B (80%) or A and B (6.7%), and cattle and dogs were infected with either assemblage A (cattle, 94.1%; dogs, 80%)), A and C (10%), or their host-adapted assemblage (cattle, 5.9%; dogs, 10%). Our finding of G. duodenalis in both humans and domesticated animals (assemblage A) and humans and wild primates (assemblage B) suggests that cross-species transmission of multiple assemblages of G. duodenalis may occur in rural complexes such as northern Argentina where people, domesticated animals, and wildlife overlap. We further highlight the need to investigate the implications of these results for human health, the economics of livestock production, and wildlife conservation in this and similar systems.Fil: Kuthyar, Sahana. University of Emory; Estados UnidosFil: Kowalewski, Miguel Martin. University of Emory; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Estación Biológica de Usos Múltiples (Sede Corrientes); ArgentinaFil: Seabolt, Matthew. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention. National Center For Infectious Diseases; Estados UnidosFil: Roellig, Dawn M.. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention. National Center For Infectious Diseases; Estados UnidosFil: Gillespie, Thomas R.. University of Emory; Estados Unido