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WMJ 2020 Mar;119(1):16-21

Department of Microbiology, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin,

Introduction: The black-legged tick, , is now recognized as the deadliest tick vector in the United States. The Upper Midwest, particularly Wisconsin and Minnesota, are endemic to a diversity of tick-transmitted infectious diseases. Although , the agent of Lyme disease, still accounts for the majority of diagnosed infections, is known to transmit other bacterial, viral, and parasitic agents. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 Apr 13. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.

In North America, the blacklegged tick () is a vector of several human pathogens, and tick-borne disease incidence is increasing. We estimated the prevalence of questing blacklegged ticks vectoring three zoonotic pathogens in Vilas County, Wisconsin. We collected 461 adult blacklegged ticks and used PCR to screen for the presence of pathogens that cause Lyme disease (), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA, ), and babesiosis (). Read More

J Vet Res 2020 Mar 8;64(1):79-83. Epub 2020 Mar 8.

Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 20-612 Lublin, Poland.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to establish the prevalence of spp. in cats in eastern Poland, and to determine the factors associated with the infection.

Material And Methods: PCRs were performed to detect DNA in the whole blood of 672 cats from four regions in eastern Poland (the Lublin, Podlasie, Masovian, and Subcarpathian provinces). Read More

Expert Rev Vaccines 2020 Mar 24;19(3):217-225. Epub 2020 Mar 24.

SaBio, Instituto De Investigación En Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain.

: The development of more effective vaccines for the control of tick infestations and pathogen transmission is essential for prevention and control of tick-borne diseases worldwide. Recently, the application of omics technologies has advanced the identification of tick protective antigens. However, other factors such as vaccine formulation and implementation need to be addressed, and tick vaccine modeling will contribute to improve the efficacy of vaccination strategies. Read More

Front Vet Sci 2020 4;7:20. Epub 2020 Feb 4.

Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Addlestone, United Kingdom.

Worldwide, arthropod-borne disease transmission represents one of the greatest threats to public and animal health. For the British Isles, an island group on the north-western coast of continental Europe consisting of the United Kingdom (UK) and the Republic of Ireland, physical separation offers a barrier to the introduction of many of the pathogens that affect animals on the rest of the continent. Added to this are strict biosecurity rules at ports of entry and the depauperate vector biodiversity found on the islands. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2019 12 31;13(12):1117-1126. Epub 2019 Dec 31.

Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62630 Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Introduction: Farmworkers are considered a high-risk group for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This qualitative study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the farmworkers' experience, knowledge, health beliefs, information needs, and preventive practices of tick bites and TBDs.

Methodology: A total of nine focus group discussions with 56 farmworkers across eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia were conducted between August and October 2013. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020 May 20;20(5):334-347. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran.

Entomological surveys of ectoparasites and their hosts are an essential tool for assessing the risks of rodent-borne diseases transmitted to humans by arthropod vectors. This study was carried out to update the epidemiological data of plague with respect to species compositions of the rodents and their ectoparasites at enzootic foci located in Kurdistan Province, Iran. The rodents' habitats were selected based on past records of plague and subclimates in each study district with especial attention to the vegetation type. Read More

J Infect Dev Ctries 2019 06 30;13(6):510-515. Epub 2019 Jun 30.

Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.

Introduction: In the Europe, the number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has been increased in the last decade, and the number of endemic areas has been also increased and is still growing. In the present case series, we present clinical and socio-epidemiological data of patients with TBE hospitalized in the period of TBE virus epidemic in Serbia.

Methodology: A case series was conducted in Serbia in 2017. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2019 Dec 6;26(4):548-554. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovak Republic.

Introduction: This study presents for the first time a case of Hyalomma excavatum hyperparasitism and an analysis of this phenomenon in terms of its potential role in the biology of ticks and epidemiology of tick-borne diseases.

Material And Methods: Two partially engorged H. excavatum females, one fully engorged female, and 5 males were collected from a naïve rabbit and placed together in a rearing chamber at a temperature of 25°C and 75% humidity. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2019 Dec 17;26(4):544-547. Epub 2019 Jul 17.

Department of Parasitology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Introduction: Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are vectors and/or reservoirs of many pathogens, i.e. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2019 Dec 17;26(4):538-543. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

University of Warsaw, Poland.

Introduction And Objective: It is easier and non-invasive to obtain faecal samples compared with blood samples. Molecular techniques may enable detection of parasites even in tiny amounts of blood-containing faeces. We aimed to compare the sensitivity of detection of three Babesia species and Hepatozoon canis in blood and faecal samples, including samples derived from naturally infected hosts. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2019 6;6:283. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Lyme Disease Research Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.

The multi-system symptoms accompanying acute and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome pose a challenge for time-limited assessment. The General Symptom Questionnaire (GSQ-30) was developed to fill the need for a brief patient-reported measure of multi-system symptom burden. In this study we assess the psychometric properties and sensitivity to change of the GSQ-30. Read More

Przegl Epidemiol 2019 ;73(3):317-320

National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance

Introduction: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes genus. Infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi can occur throughout Poland and therefore, according to ECDC description, the whole country should be considered as an endemic area.

Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland in 2017 in comparison to the situation in previous years. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2019 Nov 6;15(1):398. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Ratsupites Str. 1, Riga, LV-1067, Latvia.

Background: Different tick species are able to transmit different pathogens, and tick-borne diseases are of substantial concern worldwide for both humans and animals. Environmental changes and changes in the range of tick species, including Dermacentor reticulatus in Europe, can affect the spread of zoonotic pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from dogs in Latvia, and to explore possible changes between years 2011 and 2016. Read More

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2019 11 22;17(11):911-917. Epub 2019 Oct 22.

Department of Medical Affairs, Vyera Pharmaceuticals, New York, NY, USA.

: Infection with () causes the disease toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. Oral transmission alone may not explain the widespread distribution of this parasite over large species of host animals and geographic areas.: Limited studies indicate the potential role of ticks in the distribution of . Read More

Wiad Lek 2019 ;72(9 cz 2):1761-1764

Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Objective: Introduction: The recently described anaplasmosis infection is widespread but concerns to the insufficiently known group of diseases. The aim of our research is the development of uniform biological model for reproducing of artificial immunodeficient state by experimental anaplasmosis.

Patients And Methods: Materials and methods: Algorithm of experimental anaplasmosis reproducing, consisted of such consecutive stages: 1) artificial forming of the immunodeficient state at nonlinear white mise (Mus musculus L. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019 3;52:e20190156. Epub 2019 Oct 3.

Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Reprodução Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Introduction: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal tick-borne Rickettsioses (2000 - 2018 >600 human deaths) involving synanthropic capybara as host.

Methods: We introduced an alternative to mitigate human-capybara conflicts and epidemiologic concerns of BSF. Complex aspects like transmission dynamics, risk areas, host mobility, and birth rate control, were considered to develop a prevention strategy using an anti-GnRH vaccine. Read More

Orv Hetil 2019 Oct;160(40):1574-1583

Infektológiai Osztály, Markusovszky Egyetemi Oktatókórház Szombathely.

Despite advancements in diagnostic capabilities and the availability of effective antimicrobial agents, community-acquired infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are still associated with high mortality rates. To assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of community-acquired CNS infections treated in the West Pannonian region between 2010 and 2016. Clinical data of 176 patients were retrospectively analysed in two age cohorts: 15 to 65 and more than 65 years of age. Read More

Neuroepidemiology 2020 19;54(3):227-234. Epub 2019 Sep 19.

Department of Cardiac Thoracic Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Public Health Section, University of Padua, Padua, Italy,

Introduction: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an acute human arboviral infection of the central nervous system caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans mainly by tick bites. TBE is endemic in Europe and has become an increasingly important public health concern in recent years. Cases of TBE in Italy have occurred mainly in the north-east and central parts of the country. Read More

mBio 2019 09 17;10(5). Epub 2019 Sep 17.

Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA

A detailed first-hand account of the events leading up to the discovery of the Lyme disease agent has been lacking. Nearly 40 years have elapsed since the discovery of the organism that was named There are thousands of articles in the scientific and medical literature on this organism and the disease that it causes. In the interval since the organism's discovery, however, misconceptions have arisen regarding not only the disease but the discovery itself. Read More

J Med Entomol 2019 09;56(5):1199-1203

Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality each year in the United States. Over the last 14 yr, over 700,000 cases of diseases carried by ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas have been reported from U.S. Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2019 Sep;31(Suppl 3):299-307

Department of Neurology, Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA,

Introduction: There is increasing awareness that Lyme borreliosis (LB) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause mental health symptoms. TBI and Lyme disease compromise the health and activities of millions of patients per year. The chronic symptoms and disability of TBI and Lyme disease share a similar clinical presentation. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019 10 16;10(6):101272. Epub 2019 Aug 16.

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e Molise "G. Caporale" Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy.

The continuous flow of billions of birds between Africa and Europe creates an "ecological bridge" between physically remote areas. Migratory birds fly south from their breeding grounds during late summer/fall and fly back in spring. These movements regulate the spread of internal and external parasites, as well as pathogens of potential public health concern. Read More

J Parasitol 2019 08;105(4):571-575

1   Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

Introduction of ticks into the United States that can carry disease-causing pathogens to humans, companion animals, and wildlife has accelerated in recent years, mostly due to globalization, frequency of travel, and a rise in legal and illegal animal trades. We hereby report for the first time introduction of a live fully engorged feeding on a human into the United States from Central America. is geographically distributed in the Neotropical region and reaches the southern states of Mexico. Read More

Przegl Epidemiol 2019 ;73(2):239-248

Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok

Introduction: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus remains one of the main etiological agents of central nervous system infections in Europe. The disease occurs endemically in Central and Eastern Europe, Southern part of Russia and Scandinavia. Between 2000 and 2015 there were 3 662 registered TBE cases in Poland and approximately 45% of them were reported in Podlaskie voivodeship. Read More

Exp Appl Acarol 2019 Aug 27;78(4):579-593. Epub 2019 Jul 27.

Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Plataforma de Salud Animal, Estación Experimental INIA Tacuarembó, Ruta 5 km 386, CP 45000, Tacuarembó, Uruguay.

Rhipicephalus microplus causes high economic losses for Uruguay; the country is divided into a R. microplus-free area and an endemic area. The aim of this research was to evaluate the R. Read More

PLoS One 2019 16;14(7):e0219532. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Surveillance Design and Analysis Unit, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America.

Introduction: Oral fluid sampling and testing offers a convenient, unobtrusive mechanism for evaluating the health status of swine, especially grower and finisher swine. This assessment evaluates the potential testing of oral fluid samples with real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) to detect African swine fever, classical swine fever, or foot-and-mouth disease for surveillance during a disease outbreak and early detection in a disease-free setting.

Methods: We used a series of logical arguments, informed assumptions, and a range of parameter values from literature and industry practices to examine the cost and value of information provided by oral fluid sampling and rRT-PCR testing for the swine foreign animal disease surveillance objectives outlined above. Read More

Can Commun Dis Rep 2019 Apr 4;45(4):76-80. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Étude et la Simulation du Climat à l'Échelle Régionale (ESCER), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC.

Global climate change, driven by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, is being particularly felt in Canada, with warming generally greater than in the rest of the world. Continued warming will be accompanied by changes in precipitation, which will vary across the country and seasons, and by increasing climate variability and extreme weather events. Climate change will likely drive the emergence of infectious diseases in Canada by northward spread from the United States and introduction from elsewhere in the world via air and sea transport. Read More

Mil Med 2020 Feb;185(1-2):e28-e34

United States Military Academy, Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Bartlett Hall, 753 Cullum Road, West Point, NY 10996.

Introduction: Lyme disease incidence rates have steadily increased since its official recognition in 1975. Since exposure to Lyme is associated with activities conducted in and around tick-habitats including tall grass, shrubs, deciduous forest, and leaf litter, it has been suggested that service members, who are thought to spend higher amounts of time in these habitats due to training requirements, may have higher risk for exposure. Specifically, this study looks at service member and family member exposure to Ixodes scapularis, the vector for Lyme in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019 10 27;19(10):731-740. Epub 2019 Jun 27.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and West Nile virus (WNV) have previously been reported from several African countries, including those bordering Rwanda where they may have originated. However, there have been no serosurveillance reports from Rwanda regarding these two viral pathogens. In this article, we present the first study of immunoglobulin G (IgG) seroreactivity of CHIKV and WNV in Rwandan blood donor samples. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2019 Jun 4;26(2):227-230. Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.

Introduction: The three-host Dermacentor reticulatus tick transmits many pathogens, which are introduced into the host with saliva during feeding.

Material And Methods: The aim of present study was to analyse the behaviour of males of this species on the host in homogeneous sex groups comprising 15 (group I) and 30 (group II) male specimens and in a mixed group composed of 15 males and 15 females (group III).

Results: Although the dynamics of attachment of the males to host skin slightly differed between these three groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the duration of the attachment process. Read More

Ann Agric Environ Med 2019 Jun 30;26(2):217-221. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Presov University, Slovakia.

Introduction And Objective: The incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is increasing in many countries in Europe, including Poland and Slovakia. The aim of the study was to analyze the exposure to tick bites and undertaking LB prevention activities among students of medical fields of studies in Poland (PL) and Slovakia (SK).

Material And Methods: The study was conducted among 611 students from Poland (296 students) and Slovakia (315 students). Read More

BMJ Open 2019 06 14;9(6):e027083. Epub 2019 Jun 14.

Department of Neurology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway.

Introduction: Current treatment guidelines for European Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) recommend cephalosporins, penicillin or doxycycline for 14-28 days but evidence for optimal treatment length is poor. Treatment lengths in clinical practice tend to exceed the recommendations. Most patients experience a rapid improvement of symptoms and neurological findings within days of treatment, but some report long-term complaints. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2019 Dec 5;64(4):923-926. Epub 2019 Jun 5.

State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Protozoan Theileria is transmitted by tick vectors to some animals worldwide and causes considerable economic damage. The detection of pathogens in camels is not only crucial for the preservation of species but also provides important information on the epidemiologic chain of diseases.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a molecular detection in Xinjiang, China to assess the impact of Theileria infection in Bactrian camels and ticks in 2016. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2019 May 22;15(1):160. Epub 2019 May 22.

School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.

Background: African swine fever (ASF) is a devastating infectious disease of pigs. ASF poses a potential threat to the world pig industry, due to the lack of vaccines and treatments. In this study, the Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis was applied to analyze the distribution, dispersion of the epidemic and clustering of ASF in Poland. Read More

Acta Parasitol 2019 Jun 10;64(2):360-366. Epub 2019 May 10.

Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: Haemaphysalis longicornis is an important ectoparasite of domestic and wild animals that can transmit many pathogens including viruses, fungi, bacteria and protozoa.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we examined genetic variation and population genetics in three mitochondrial (mt) genes [cox1 (cytochrome c subunit 1), rrnL (large subunit ribosomal RNA) and nad5 (NADH dehydrogenase 5)] among four H. longicornis populations from China. Read More

Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019 06 10;19(6):531-536. Epub 2019 May 10.

a Department of Microbiology , Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece.

: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a potentially severe tick-borne viral disease endemic in several regions of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Rapid and reliable diagnosis is essential for early initiation of patient's treatment and for prompt implementation of appropriate precaution and infection control measures to prevent further spread of the disease. : A literature search was undertaken on available approaches for laboratory diagnosis of CCHF infections, and the advantages and limitations of the assays are discussed. Read More

Prev Vet Med 2019 Jun 1;167:68-79. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.

African swine fever (ASF) is caused by ASF virus (ASFV) and is currently circulating in the eastern part of Europe posing a serious risk regarding transmission to western European countries. Wild boar is a main driver of the transmission and persistence of ASFV in the endemic infected countries in Europe. Some European countries free from ASF, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, have limited population sizes of wild boar, but have large swine productions. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019 06 14;10(4):883-893. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

University of Prince Edwards Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE C1A4P3, Canada.

Attempts to eliminate Rhipicephalus microplus from Uruguay have been unsuccessful, and, currently, the country is divided into two areas: a tick-free area and a tick-infested area. In the tick-infested area, different farms face different situations. Some farms are in regions where, due to environmental conditions or a lack of infrastructure, it is difficult to eliminate R. Read More

J Anim Sci 2019 May;97(6):2291-2307

National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO.

Management and policy decisions are continually made to mitigate disease introductions in animal populations despite often limited surveillance data or knowledge of disease transmission processes. Science-based management is broadly recognized as leading to more effective decisions yet application of models to actively guide disease surveillance and mitigate risks remains limited. Disease-dynamic models are an efficient method of providing information for management decisions because of their ability to integrate and evaluate multiple, complex processes simultaneously while accounting for uncertainty common in animal diseases. Read More

Rev Sci Tech 2018 12;37(3):949-960

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease that infects porcine species and has a major impact on the pig industry. Thailand imported approximately4 million kilograms of pig products from Italy in 2015 during the same time as an ASF outbreak was occurring on the island of Sardinia in Italy, thereby posing a potential risk of introduction of ASF virus (ASFV) into Thailand. To estimate whether or not importing pig products from Italy is a risk for Thailand and to identify gaps in control and prevention measures, risk analysis was performed. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Jun 2;64:25-27. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Introduction: Clinical presentation of the central nervous system Lyme disease is nonspecific and therefore brain imaging and disease-specific serological testing is generally pursued to assist with diagnosis. Brain imaging findings are, however, rare and often unspecific.

Case Description: In the current report, we are presenting a rare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding of extensive meningeal enhancement in two patients with acute Lyme disease. Read More

Viruses 2019 03 30;11(4). Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Department of Environmental Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chelmonskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland.

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious disease that affects the domestic pig and wild boar population. The aim of this study was to describe the introduction and spread of the ASF virus in Western Europe (1960⁻1995) and in Eastern Europe (2007⁻2018), with particular emphasis on the current ASF situation in Poland and its challenges and future perspectives. The first ASF outbreak in Europe was reported in Portugal in 1957, with the virus spreading over most of Western Europe over the next 30 years. Read More

J Clin Virol 2019 06 16;115:5-10. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece. Electronic address:

The epidemiology of viral infections transmitted by arthropods is changing due to a variety of parameters related to the virus, the host and the environment. The Mediterranean region is highly affected by changes in the intensity and extension of global-scale climate patterns, and, due to its location, it provides a vulnerable environment for emergence of arboviral diseases. The main arboviruses that pose currently a public health threat in the Mediterranean region are West Nile virus and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and, in less extend, tick-borne encephalitis virus. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 06 17;25(6):1231-1233. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

We tested samples of pork products confiscated from travelers to South Korea for African swine fever virus (ASFV). We detected ASFV in 4 food items confiscated from travelers from Shenyang, China, in August 2018. Surveillance of pork products at country entry points is needed to mitigate the risk for ASFV introduction. Read More

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019 09 5;19(9):658-661. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

National Center for Zoonotic Diseases, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

In Asia, , , and are transmitted by ticks and clinically present with a wide range of neurological and arthritic symptoms. This report aims to provide details on the geographic distribution of suspected cases of Lyme borreliosis (LB), reported to local Mongolian hospitals between 2007 and 2017. This report examines 150 reported cases of suspected LB from 13 aimags (provinces) in Mongolia from April 2007 to August 2017, including date and location of infection, method of diagnosis (indirect immunofluorescent assay and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test), frequency of specific symptoms, and case demographics. Read More

Cent Eur J Public Health 2018 Dec;26 Suppl:S51-S55

Department of Stomatology and Maxilofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice and Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Slovak Republic.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among the variable population of Eastern Slovakia.

Methods: A serologic survey was conducted using 464 serum samples. The basic demographic, epidemiologic and clinical information was obtained for each serum sample at the time of specimen collection. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019 Feb 21;52:e20180133. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Departamento de Patologia e Clínica Veterinária, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brasil.

Introduction: Dogs play an epidemiological role in several vector-borne diseases that affect human and animal health worldwide. We aimed to identify rickettsial circulation among dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) from a region endemic for both diseases.

Methods: CVL-seropositive dogs were screened for spotted fever group rickettsiae using an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Read More

Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019 04 7;10(3):585-593. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Biosciences eastern and central Africa - International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) hub, P.O. Box 30709-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Electronic address:

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus is the most important arthropod vector of livestock diseases globally. Since its introduction in West Africa a decade ago, it has been reported in Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria with potentially far-reaching adverse impacts on the livestock sector in the region. Cameroon is located on a major route for transboundary cattle trade between Central and West Africa and it is therefore at risk from R. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 05 17;25(5):891-897. Epub 2019 May 17.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a contagious, rapidly spreading, transboundary animal disease and a major threat to pork production globally. Although plant-based feed has been identified as a potential route for virus introduction onto swine farms, little is known about the risks for ASFV transmission in feed. We aimed to determine the minimum and median infectious doses of the Georgia 2007 strain of ASFV through oral exposure during natural drinking and feeding behaviors. Read More