Acta tropica最新文献_第6页

Entomological surveillance in active dengue transmission areas of Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas - Ecuador: Epidemiological importance of Aedes aegypti and the recent establishment of Aedes albopictus 圣多明各·德·洛斯Tsáchilas -厄瓜多尔登革热活跃传播区的昆虫学监测：埃及伊蚊的流行病学重要性和最近发现的白纹伊蚊。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-10 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107977

Juan José Bustillos Herrera , Jonathan Patricio Mora Montalvo , Paúl Andrés Quinatoa Tutillo , Fátima Anabel Padilla Narváez , Diego Omar Morales Viteri

Dengue virus (DENV) remains a significant public health concern in Ecuador, with Aedes aegypti as the primary vector. In recent years, the detection of Aedes albopictus has raised concerns about potential changes in vector dynamics. This study reports entomo-virological surveillance conducted in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador, from June 2023 to September 2024. Mosquito specimens were collected using aspirators and CDC light traps, while immature stages were manually sampled from artificial breeding sites. Morphological identification was performed using pictorial keys, and molecular detection for arboviruses was carried out with the STANDARD M10 module. A total of 3918 mosquito specimens were identified and analyzed using molecular tools, with Ae. aegypti accounting for 90.04 % of the samples. Molecular screening detected Dengue Virus 1 (DENV-1) and Dengue Virus 2 (DENV-2) serotypes exclusively in Aedes aegypti pools, with a positivity rate of 33.69 %. No Dengue Virus 3 (DENV-3), Dengue Virus 4 (DENV-4) serotypes, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, or West Nile virus were detected. Spatial and entomological risk analyses identified high-risk localities, particularly in urban parishes such as Río Verde and Santo Domingo, where both serotypes were co-circulating. Aedes albopictus was present in the study area but tested negative for all screened arboviruses. These findings highlight the persistent epidemiological importance of Aedes aegypti and the need for continued surveillance in areas where Aedes albopictus has recently established.

登革热病毒（DENV）仍然是厄瓜多尔的一个重大公共卫生问题，埃及伊蚊是主要媒介。近年来，白纹伊蚊的发现引起了人们对媒介动力学可能发生变化的关注。本研究报告了2023年6月至2024年9月在厄瓜多尔圣多明各德洛斯Tsáchilas进行的昆虫病毒学监测。诱蚊法和CDC诱蚊灯法采集蚊虫标本，未成熟蚊虫在人工孳生场所人工采集。形态学鉴定采用图形键，虫媒病毒分子检测采用STANDARD M10模块。利用分子工具对3918份蚊类标本进行鉴定分析，其中伊蚊；埃及伊蚊占90.04%。分子筛选在埃及伊蚊池中只检测到登革热病毒1型（DENV-1）和登革热病毒2型（DENV-2）血清型，阳性率为33.69%。未检测到登革热病毒3型（DENV-3）、登革热病毒4型（DENV-4）血清型、寨卡病毒、基孔肯雅病毒、黄热病或西尼罗河病毒。空间和昆虫学风险分析确定了高风险地区，特别是在城市教区，如Río佛得角和圣多明各，两种血清型在那里共同流行。研究区域存在白纹伊蚊，但所有筛检虫媒病毒检测均为阴性。这些发现突出了埃及伊蚊在流行病学中的持续重要性，以及有必要在最近出现白纹伊蚊的地区继续进行监测。

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引用次数: 0

Integrated diagnostic and host biomarker assessment of plasmodium infections in malaria-endemic Peshawar, Pakistan 巴基斯坦白沙瓦疟疾流行地区疟原虫感染的综合诊断和宿主生物标志物评估

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107967

Murad Ali Khan , Sadaf Fayaz , Muhammad Saeed , Raheela Murad , Armeela Murad , Rifat Ullah Khan , Shabana Naz , Antonella Perillo , Ibrahim A. Alhidary

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Pakistan, where Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum are predominant. Accurate diagnosis and characterization of malaria-associated hematological and biochemical alterations are essential for effective disease control. This cross-sectional study was conducted in District Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during peak malaria transmission months. A total of 2500 suspected patients were screened. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected for microscopy, hematological and biochemical analyses, and PCR. Microscopy was performed on Giemsa-stained blood smears, while PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene was used for genus- and species-specific detection. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using PCR as the reference standard. Multivariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted exploratorily to examine demographic, seasonal, and host-response associations. PCR detected significantly more malaria cases than microscopy (p = 0.001), confirming underestimation by the latter. Microscopy showed moderate sensitivity but perfect specificity, with an overall accuracy of 86.4 %, substantial agreement (κ = 0.692), and good discriminatory power (AUC = 0.823). Infection prevalence peaked in September, with higher rates among males aged 21–30 years (p = 0.04). Malaria-positive individuals exhibited significant hematological abnormalities, including reduced hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell indices, alongside leukocyte alterations. Biochemical analysis revealed elevated ALT, AST, bilirubin, and ALP levels with reduced albumin. Parasite density showed negative correlations with hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet counts, and positive correlations with liver enzymes and bilirubin. Overall, this integrated diagnostic and host-response assessment highlights the substantial malaria burden in Peshawar and supports the added value of PCR-based detection combined with hematological and biochemical markers for improved surveillance and disease management.

在巴基斯坦，间日疟原虫和恶性疟原虫占主导地位，疟疾仍然是一个主要的公共卫生问题。疟疾相关血液学和生化改变的准确诊断和特征对于有效控制疾病至关重要。这项横断面研究是在疟疾传播高峰期在开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省白沙瓦区进行的。共筛查了2500名疑似患者。采集毛细血管和静脉血进行镜检、血液学和生化分析以及PCR检测。对吉姆萨病毒染色的血涂片进行显微镜检查，同时采用PCR靶向18S rRNA基因进行属和种特异性检测。以PCR作为参考标准评价诊断效果。探索性地进行了多变量和逻辑回归分析，以检查人口统计学、季节性和宿主反应的关联。PCR检测到的疟疾病例明显多于显微镜（p = 0.001），证实后者低估了疟疾病例。镜检显示灵敏度中等，特异性较好，总体准确率为86.4%，一致性较好（κ = 0.692），鉴别能力较好（AUC = 0.823）。9月感染高峰，21 ~ 30岁男性感染率较高（p = 0.04）。疟疾阳性个体表现出明显的血液学异常，包括血红蛋白、红细胞压积和红细胞指数降低，以及白细胞改变。生化分析显示ALT、AST、胆红素和ALP水平升高，白蛋白降低。寄生虫密度与血红蛋白、红细胞压积和血小板计数呈负相关，与肝酶和胆红素呈正相关。总体而言，这一综合诊断和宿主反应评估突出了白沙瓦严重的疟疾负担，并支持基于pcr的检测与血液学和生化标志物相结合的附加价值，以改善监测和疾病管理。

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引用次数: 0

Low exposure of dogs to ticks and Rickettsia spp. in the vicinity of the largest inland Atlantic rainforest remnant in Southern Brazil 在巴西南部最大的内陆大西洋雨林遗迹附近，狗对蜱虫和立克次体的暴露程度很低。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-08 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107975

Matias Pablo Juan Szabó , Adriane Suzin , Alexandre Vogliotti , Rodrigo da Costa Maia , Marcelo B. Labruna

Dogs accessing natural areas in Brazil are exposed to tick species typically associated with wild carnivores, some of which are vectors of pathogenic Rickettsia. Infested dogs may transport ticks into households and act as amplifying hosts for these agents. Iguaçu National Park (INP), a major inland Atlantic Forest reserve in Brazil, harbors at least nine tick species and five Rickettsia species. This study evaluated tick infestation in 116 rural dogs from properties along most of the 420 km perimeter of INP and 22 urban dogs from forest-adjacent areas in Foz do Iguaçu. Sera from 39 dogs were tested against five Rickettsia antigens using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. A total of 169 ticks were collected, including Rhipicephalus linnaei (n=87), Amblyomma ovale (n=62), Amblyomma coelebs (n=5), and Rhipicephalus microplus (n=3), with an overall infestation prevalence of 28.3%. Seroprevalence against Rickettsia spp. was 42.9% in rural dogs and 18.1% in urban dogs. The highest titers were 1:512 in rural dogs (against R. parkeri, R. amblyommatis, and R. rhipicephali) and 1:256 in urban dogs (against R. rickettsii), while median titers were zero. Both tick infestation and Rickettsia exposure were lower than those reported in dogs from other Atlantic Forest regions. These findings suggest an overall limited exposure of free-ranging dogs to ticks and Rickettsia spp. Further investigation is needed to understand the causes of this low exposure, including the potential influence of the jaguar population and other wild carnivores in INP, which may restrict dog access to forested areas.

进入巴西自然地区的狗会接触到通常与野生食肉动物有关的蜱虫物种，其中一些是致病性立克次体的媒介。受感染的狗可能会将蜱虫带入家庭，并充当这些媒介的扩增宿主。伊瓜帕拉苏国家公园（INP）是巴西主要的内陆大西洋森林保护区，至少有9种蜱虫和5种立克次体。本研究评估了来自INP 420公里周边大部分地区的116只农村犬和来自Foz do iguaparu森林邻近地区的22只城市犬的蜱虫感染情况。使用间接免疫荧光法对39只狗的血清进行了5种立克次体抗原的检测。共捕获蜱类169只，其中直线头蜱87只，卵圆钝头蜱62只，空心钝头蜱5只，微小尖头蜱3只，总流行率为28.3%。农村犬的立克次氏体血清阳性率为42.9%，城市犬为18.1%。农村犬（对帕克瑞氏体、弱视体和鼻管状体）的最高滴度为1:512，城市犬（对立克次体）的最高滴度为1:6 6 6，中位滴度为零。蜱虫侵扰和立克次体暴露都比其他大西洋森林地区的狗低。这些发现表明，自由放养的狗对蜱虫和立克次体的接触总体上是有限的，需要进一步的调查来了解这种低接触的原因，包括INP的美洲虎种群和其他野生食肉动物的潜在影响，这可能会限制狗进入森林地区。

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引用次数: 0

Molecular detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections among asymptomatic Nigerian children using multiplex real-time PCR 多重实时荧光定量PCR检测尼日利亚无症状儿童贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫感染

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107972

Oluwasola O. Obebe , Sunday E. Oloche , Oluwatunmise L. Adeusi , Olalekan L. Salami

Giardia intestinalisand Cryptosporidium species are protozoan gastrointestinal parasites that are the leading cause of chronic infantile diarrhoea. They are the leading causes of childhood sickness and death worldwide, and they can induce malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhoea, and stunted growth. In Nigeria, there are currently few prevalence studies on the simultaneous identification of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infections in asymptomatic primary school students utilizing molecular detection techniques. To address the sensitivity issues associated with cyst identification in faecal samples using microscopy, multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to investigate genomic DNAs extracted from stool samples from 184 asymptomatic school children for Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and questionnaires were used to collect epidemiological data. The overall infection rates for Cryptosporidium spp. and G. duodenalis were 1.1% and 1.6% respectively. Schoolchildren who used pit latrines were more likely to have Giardia (2.3%) and Cryptosporidium (2.3%). In contrast, children who did not wash their hands after using the toilet were also more likely to have these protozoan parasites (2.4% and 4.9%). This study shows that Giardia and Cryptosporidium are present among asymptomatic schoolchildren in Nigeria, despite their low prevalence. More large-scale investigations using PCR-based multilocus genotyping in asymptomatic schoolchildren are recommended.

肠贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫是胃肠道寄生虫的原生动物，是导致婴儿慢性腹泻的主要原因。它们是全世界儿童疾病和死亡的主要原因，并可引起营养不良、贫血、腹泻和发育迟缓。在尼日利亚，目前很少有利用分子检测技术同时识别无症状小学生贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫感染的流行病学研究。为了解决显微镜下粪便样本中囊肿鉴定的敏感性问题，采用多重实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）对184例无症状学龄儿童粪便样本中提取的贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫基因组dna进行了检测，并采用问卷调查的方式收集流行病学数据。隐孢子虫和十二指肠棘球蚴总感染率分别为1.1%和1.6%。使用坑式厕所的学童更容易感染贾第鞭毛虫（2.3%）和隐孢子虫（2.3%）。相比之下，如厕后不洗手的儿童也更容易感染这些原生动物寄生虫（2.4%和4.9%）。这项研究表明，贾第鞭毛虫和隐孢子虫存在于尼日利亚无症状学童中，尽管患病率较低。建议在无症状学龄儿童中使用基于聚合酶链反应的多位点基因分型进行更大规模的调查。

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引用次数: 0

Ecological insights into mosquito oviposition sites: Water quality, species diversity, and abundance in Blida province, Northern Algeria 阿尔及利亚北部Blida省蚊虫产卵地点的生态学研究：水质、物种多样性和丰度。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107973

Bochra Maaichia , Fatma zohra Kara Toumi , Yahya Al Naggar

Mosquitoes are major public health concerns due to their role in transmitting vector-borne diseases. Understanding the ecological factors influencing mosquito development requires analyzing both biotic and abiotic conditions of larval habitats and species-specific oviposition site preferences. This study, conducted from February to July 2024 in ten oviposition sites across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas of Blida province, Algeria, aimed to identify mosquito species and characterize the physicochemical and microbial properties of their habitats. Mosquito larvae were collected from natural and artificial sites using the standardized dipping method. Water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters and thermotolerant coliforms, and each specimen was morphologically identified using software for Mediterranean basin mosquitoes. A total of 4,077 larvae were identified, representing three genera and five species: Culiseta longiareolata, Culex pipiens, Aedes geniculatus, Culex hortensis, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus. Cs. longiareolata was the most abundant species, followed by Cx. pipiens, while other species were less common. Spearman correlation analysis revealed positive associations between mosquito abundance and pH, and negative associations with calcium concentration. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH, temperature, ammonium, and nitrate levels influenced Cs. longiareolata presence. These results provide foundational data that will serve as a basis for further research and support the development of comprehensive databases and targeted vector control strategies in Algeria

蚊子是主要的公共卫生问题，因为它们在传播病媒传播疾病方面发挥作用。了解影响蚊子发育的生态因素需要分析幼虫栖息地的生物和非生物条件以及物种特异性产卵地点偏好。该研究于2024年2月至7月在阿尔及利亚Blida省城市、半城市和农村地区的10个产卵地点进行，旨在鉴定蚊子种类并表征其栖息地的物理化学和微生物特性。采用标准化浸渍法在自然和人工场所采集蚊幼虫。对水样进行理化参数分析和耐热大肠菌群分析，并利用地中海盆地蚊类软件对水样进行形态鉴定。共鉴定出长毛库蚊、淡色库蚊、遗传伊蚊、短纹库蚊和三带喙库蚊3属5种4077只幼虫。Cs。其中，龙葵最丰富，其次为龙葵。而其他物种则不太常见。Spearman相关分析显示，蚊子数量与pH呈正相关，与钙浓度呈负相关。冗余分析表明，pH、温度、铵态氮和硝酸盐水平影响Cs。longiareolata存在。这些结果提供了基础数据，可作为进一步研究的基础，并支持在阿尔及利亚开发综合数据库和有针对性的病媒控制战略。

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引用次数: 0

Structural comparison between human and Leishmania infantum Sirtuin 2 NAD-dependent histone deacetylases 人与幼年利什曼原虫Sirtuin - 2 nad依赖性组蛋白去乙酰化酶的结构比较。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-06 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107969

Vicente Salgado Pires , Mônica Pires Gravina-Oliveira , Nilton Silva-Junior , Bernardo Saraiva Veloso , Sérgio Filipe Maia de Sousa , Rafael Dias Mesquita

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease prevalent in subtropical regions. Its treatment is expensive, especially the liposomal formulation, and parasite resistance must sometimes be overcome. The Sirtuins are a family of NAD-dependent histone deacetylases that have been identified as promising targets for anti-parasitic drugs due to their essential roles in organisms such as Leishmania. There are three known sirtuins in Leishmania infantum: SIR2-related protein 1 (LiSIR2rp1) present in the cytoplasm and nuclei, and LiSIR2rp2–3 present in mitochondria. While a truncated version of the LiSIR2rp1 has already been crystallized, the complete molecular structure remains unresolved. Our study presents a structural computational characterization of the full-length LiSIR2rp1, the non-mitochondrial sirtuin homologous to human sirtuin SIRT2. We generated and validated molecular models for the full-length LiSIR2rp1 using computational tools. The protein presented a highly conserved catalytic core, and the molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) revealed structural stability of this core, similar to that of human sirtuins. However, the LiSIR2rp1 highly flexible central intrinsically disordered region (IDR) simulated an overall MDS instability. These results suggest that the IDR conformational freedom plays a critical role in the functioning of LiSIR2rp1, with a similar loop in hSIRT2. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of LiSIR2rp1′s structural patterns and compare it to its human homolog, thus offering insights into its behaviour. Knowledge about this L. infantum enzyme, a potential target for drug development, could enhance the prospects for future therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis.

利什曼病是一种流行于亚热带地区的原生动物疾病。其治疗费用昂贵，尤其是脂质体制剂，而且有时必须克服寄生虫耐药性。Sirtuins是一个依赖nad的组蛋白去乙酰化酶家族，由于其在利什曼原虫等生物体中的重要作用，已被确定为抗寄生虫药物的有希望的靶标。在婴儿利什曼原虫中有三种已知的sirtuins: sir2相关蛋白1 （LiSIR2rp1）存在于细胞质和细胞核中，LiSIR2rp2-3存在于线粒体中。虽然LiSIR2rp1的一个截短版本已经结晶，但完整的分子结构仍然没有得到解决。我们的研究提出了全长LiSIR2rp1的结构计算表征，LiSIR2rp1是与人类sirtuin SIRT2同源的非线粒体sirtuin。我们使用计算工具生成并验证了全长LiSIR2rp1的分子模型。该蛋白具有高度保守的催化核心，分子动力学模拟（MDS）显示该核心的结构稳定性与人类sirtuins相似。然而，LiSIR2rp1高度灵活的中心本序紊乱区（IDR）模拟了MDS的整体不稳定性。这些结果表明，IDR构象自由在LiSIR2rp1的功能中起着关键作用，在hSIRT2中也有类似的环。我们的发现有助于更好地理解LiSIR2rp1的结构模式，并将其与人类同源物进行比较，从而为其行为提供见解。了解这种婴儿乳杆菌酶是药物开发的潜在靶点，可以提高未来治疗利什曼病策略的前景。

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引用次数: 0

Spatiotemporal patterns and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis hospitalizations in Ecuador: a nationwide study (2018–2023) 厄瓜多尔钩端螺旋体病住院的时空模式和临床特征：一项全国性研究（2018-2023）。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-05 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107970

Karime Montes-Escobar , Jefferson Alexander Cueva , Carlos Salas-Macias , Carolina Fonseca-Restrepo , Victor Montes , Naga Raju Maddela

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease highly sensitive to hydro-meteorological changes, posing significant challenges for health systems in endemic regions like Ecuador. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and clinical characteristics of leptospirosis hospitalizations in Ecuador from 2018 to 2023, identifying vulnerability factors for in-hospital mortality and geographical distribution. A retrospective nationwide study was conducted using hospital discharge records (ICD-10: A270, A278, A279), calculating age-adjusted hospitalization and mortality rates per 100,000 inhabitants. Associations between sociodemographic variables, clinical forms, and vital status were assessed using Fisher's exact test and Pearson’s Chi-square test. A total of 573 hospitalized cases and 11 deaths were analyzed. The results indicated that the icterohemorrhagic form (A270) was the primary determinant of mortality (p = 0.001); while it accounted for only 4.8% of survivors, it represented 45.5% of all fatal cases. Conversely, unspecified leptospirosis (A279) comprised 91.6 % of cases but showed lower lethality, and neither age nor sex were statistically significant predictors of death (p > 0.05). Temporally, hospitalization rates remained stable from 2018 to 2022, reaching a nadir of 0.0249 per 100,000 in 2021, but surged four-fold in 2023 to 0.1351 per 100,000. This outbreak was geographically concentrated in the Coastal provinces, particularly Guayas and Manabí, coinciding with reports of extreme rainfall. In conclusion, mortality in hospitalized patients is driven mainly by the clinical phenotype (A270) rather than demographic factors. The dramatic surge in 2023 highlights the region's vulnerability to environmental changes, suggesting that public health strategies must prioritize early diagnosis to differentiate severe forms and strengthen "One Health" surveillance in high-risk coastal areas to mitigate future climate-associated outbreaks.

钩端螺旋体病是一种被忽视的人畜共患疾病，对水文气象变化高度敏感，对厄瓜多尔等流行地区的卫生系统构成重大挑战。本研究的目的是分析2018 - 2023年厄瓜多尔钩端螺旋体病住院的时空格局和临床特征，确定住院死亡率的易感因素和地理分布。利用医院出院记录（ICD-10: A270, A278, A279）进行了一项回顾性全国研究，计算了每10万居民的年龄调整住院率和死亡率。使用Fisher精确检验和Pearson卡方检验评估社会人口学变量、临床形式和生命状态之间的关联。共分析了573例住院病例和11例死亡病例。结果表明，黄疸出血形式（A270）是死亡率的主要决定因素（p=0.001）；虽然它仅占幸存者的4.8%，但占所有死亡病例的45.5%。相反，未指明的钩端螺旋体病（A279）占91.6%的病例，但死亡率较低，年龄和性别都不是死亡的统计学显著预测因素（p < 0.05）。从时间上看，2018-2022年住院率保持稳定，2021年达到最低点0.0249 / 10万，但在2023年飙升4倍，达到0.1351 / 10万。这次疫情在地理上集中在沿海省份，特别是瓜亚斯和Manabí，与极端降雨的报告相吻合。综上所述，住院患者的死亡率主要由临床表型（A270）而非人口因素驱动。2023年的急剧增加凸显了该地区对环境变化的脆弱性，这表明公共卫生战略必须优先考虑早期诊断，以区分严重形式，并加强高风险沿海地区的“同一个健康”监测，以减轻未来与气候相关的疫情。

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引用次数: 0

First molecular evidence of Rickettsia massiliae and R. slovaca in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from China 中国微小鼻头蜱中马氏立克次体和斯洛瓦切氏体的首次分子证据

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2026.107968

Yuan-Ping Deng , Yi-Liu Liu , Ya Zhang , Yi-Tian Fu , Meng Qi , Guo-Hua Liu

Rhipicephalus microplus is a critical cattle ectoparasite and a vector of pathogens, including bacteria and protozoan parasites, that cause diseases such as bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis. To better understand the pathogen profile of this tick in China, we collected 592 tick specimens from seven provinces. Using conventional or nested PCR, we detected a range of pathogens. Six Anaplasma species were identified (prevalence: 3 – 21%), with the highest detection rate in Hunan Province (24%). Spotted fever group rickettsiae, including R. raoultii (21%), Candidatus R. jingxinensis (12%), R. slovaca (8%), R. heilongjiangensis (3%), and R. massiliae (0.7%), were also prevalent. Low rates of Ehrlichia species (1 – 3%) were found. Among protozoans, 71 samples were positive for Theileria species (T. annulata, T. sergenti, T. buffeli, T. sinensis, and T. orientalis), while Babesia bigemina was only detected in Hunan (n = 5) and Henan (n = 1). No Borrelia species were detected. Bacterial co-infections were frequent, particularly between Anaplasma and Rickettsia species. This study reports the first detection of the emerging human pathogens R. slovaca and R. massiliae in R. microplus, revealing a distribution linked to geographic region and tick lineage. Our findings expand the knowledge of tick-borne pathogens in China and highlight their potential public health risks.

微型鼻头虫是一种重要的牛外寄生虫，也是病原体（包括细菌和原生动物寄生虫）的媒介，可引起牛无形体病和巴贝斯虫病等疾病。为了更好地了解中国蜱的病原特征，我们从7个省份采集了592份蜱标本。使用常规或巢式PCR，我们检测了一系列病原体。共检出无原体6种（检出率3 ~ 21%），其中湖南省检出率最高（24%）。斑点热组立克次体，包括拉乌尔蒂布氏体（21%）、京新候选者（12%）、斯洛伐克布氏布氏体（8%）、黑龙江布氏布氏布氏体（3%）和马氏布氏布氏布氏布氏体（0.7%）也有流行。埃利希体检出率低（1 ~ 3%）。原生动物中检出环状虫、瑟氏虫、布氏虫、中华虫和东方虫71份，双巴贝斯虫仅在湖南（5份）和河南（1份）检出。未检出疏螺旋体。细菌合并感染是常见的，特别是在无原体和立克次体之间。本研究首次在微蜱中检测到新发人类病原体slovaca和massiliae，揭示了其分布与地理区域和蜱系的关系。我们的发现扩大了对中国蜱传病原体的认识，并强调了它们潜在的公共卫生风险。

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引用次数: 0

In vitro and in silico evaluation of the acaricidal activity of ethanol extract from Xylopia emarginata Mart. on Rhipicephalus microplus 木豆醇提物体外和室内杀螨活性评价。对微型鼻头虫。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107963

Juliana Pimenta Cruz , Victor Soares Rodrigues , Leonardo Ferreira Oliveira , Daniel Sobreira Rodrigues , Eduardo Robson Duarte , Mauro Aparecido de Sousa Xavier , Viviane de Oliveira Vasconcelos

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus has developed resistant populations due to the recurrent use of synthetic acaricides, increasing health and environmental risks; plant extracts may represent a promising alternative. This study evaluated the acaricidal potential of the ethanol extract (EE) from Xylopia emarginata Mart. against larvae and engorged females of R. microplus. In vitro assays, histological, chromatographic, and in silico analyses were performed. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry identified nine compounds, including myrtenal, spathulenol, and caryophyllene oxide. In bioassays, the EE showed high acaricidal activity against larvae, with CL₉₀ = 61.92 mg mL⁻¹ (95 % CI: 53.84–73.84 mg mL⁻¹). In engorged females, oviposition was not significantly affected; however, hatchability was reduced by 32.79 %, accompanied by histological alterations in the ovaries, such as cytoplasmic degradation, vacuolization, and oocyte rupture, that compromised embryonic development. Molecular docking analyses revealed strong binding affinities of spatulenol and caryophyllene oxide to key resistance-related enzymes. For all enzymes, the first score refers to spatulenol and the second to caryophyllene oxide: −8.215 and −8.374 kcal/mol for GST, −6.984 and −7.109 kcal/mol for AChE, and −7.791 and −6.702 kcal/mol for CYP450, suggesting potential mechanisms underlying their acaricidal effects. The predicted absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties indicated good intestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski's Rule of 5. Together, the results demonstrate that the EE of X. emarginata has promising acaricidal activity, acting at different stages of the tick life cycle and representing a sustainable alternative for the integrated control of R. microplus.

由于反复使用合成杀螨剂，增加了健康和环境风险，牛蜱产生了抗药性；植物提取物可能是一种很有前途的替代品。本研究评价了木藻乙醇提取物（EE）的杀螨潜力。对幼体和膨大雌体均有抑制作用。进行了体外分析、组织学、色谱和硅分析。气相色谱联用质谱法鉴定出9种化合物，包括桃金娘烯醛、spathulenol和石竹烯氧化物。在生物测定中，EE对幼虫显示出很高的杀螨活性，CL₉₀ = 61.92 mg mL⁻¹（95% CI: 53.84-73.84 mg mL⁻¹）。在肥胖的雌性中，产卵没有明显的影响；然而，孵化率降低了32.79%，伴随着卵巢的组织学改变，如细胞质降解、空泡化和卵母细胞破裂，这些都损害了胚胎的发育。分子对接分析显示，spatulenol和石竹烯氧化物与关键的抗性相关酶具有很强的结合亲和力。在所有酶中，得分第一的是spatulenol，第二是石蜡烯氧化物：GST的得分为-8.215和-8.374 kcal/mol， AChE的得分为-6.984和-7.109 kcal/mol， CYP450的得分为-7.791和-6.702 kcal/mol，这提示了它们杀虫作用的潜在机制。预测的吸收、分布、代谢、排泄和毒性特性显示良好的肠道吸收，符合利平斯基规则5。综上所述，绿腹扁虱的EE在蜱虫生命周期的不同阶段均具有良好的杀螨活性，是一种可持续的综合防治方法。

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引用次数: 0

Molecular evidence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in hard ticks collected from stray cats in the Jerusalem district, Israel 从以色列耶路撒冷地区的流浪猫身上收集的硬蜱中人畜共患病细菌病原体的分子证据。

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Acta tropica

Pub Date : 2026-01-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2025.107961

J. Gonçalves-Oliveira , H. Salant , Y. Nachum-Biala , A. Antonovskaia , K.Y. Mumcuoglu , G. Baneth , S. Harrus

Ticks are known to harbor a great diversity of bacterial agents with potential human and animal health implications. This study investigated the occurrence of Rickettsia and Bartonella spp. in ticks collected from stray cats in the Jerusalem District. Between March 2021 and October 2024, 5002 stray cats were examined, and 330 ticks were collected from 165 infested individuals (3.3%). Three tick species were detected, Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 224), Haemaphysalis adleri (n = 99), and Rhipicephalus rutilus (n = 7). Rickettsia massiliae-DNA was detected in 31% of the ticks. Moreover, Bartonella-DNA was detected in 3.3% of the ticks, including the two zoonotic species, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella koehlerae. Co-infections with R. massiliae and B. henselae occurred in 3 of the 330 samples (0.9%). No Rickettsia felis-DNA was detected in any of the tick samples. These findings uncover the circulation of R. massiliae, B. henselae and B. koehlerae among ticks from stray cats in the Jerusalem district and highlight the potential zoonotic risks in this densely populated and touristic region.

众所周知，蜱虫含有多种细菌，对人类和动物的健康有潜在的影响。本研究调查了耶路撒冷地区流浪猫蜱中立克次体和巴尔通体的发生情况。在2021年3月至2024年10月期间，对5002只流浪猫进行了检查，从165只受感染的个体中收集到330只蜱虫（3.3%）。检出图兰头蜱（224种）、阿德利血蜱（99种）和留斯头蜱（7种）3种蜱。在31%的蜱中检测到马氏立克次体dna。在3.3%的蜱中检出巴尔通体dna，包括亨塞巴尔通体和克氏巴尔通体两种人畜共患蜱。330份样本中有3份（0.9%）出现马尾蚴和母鸡b型感染。在所有蜱虫样本中未检测到立克次体dna。这些发现揭示了耶路撒冷地区流浪猫蜱中马氏蜱、henselae B.和koehlerae B.的传播，并强调了这一人口稠密和旅游地区潜在的人畜共患病风险。

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引用次数: 0