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Vector-borne diseases account for nearly 20% of all globally recognised infectious diseases. Within the spectrum of flea-borne pathogens, Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria are prominent, contributing to the emergence and resurgence of diseases on a global scale. This study investigates the presence of species of Bartonella and Rickettsia harboured by fleas collected from wild rodents in northwestern Argentina (NWA). A total of 28 fleas from three genera and seven species were assessed. DNA of Bartonella and Rickettsia spp. was found in 12 fleas (42.8%). Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of gltA and rpoB genes showed the presence of Bartonella quintana in eight fleas of two species, Craneopsylla minerva minerva and Polygenis acodontis . Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of gltA , ompA and ompB genes identified Rickettsia felis in ten fleas of five species, C. m. minerva , P. acodontis , Polygenis bohlsi bohlsi , Polygenis byturus and Tiamastus palpalis . These bacterial species mark the first report in all flea species studied. This study represents the first survey of flea-borne bacteria for NWA. The results provide information to address strategies for the control and prevention of bartonellosis and rickettsiosis that could have an impact on public health in one of the geographical areas of Argentina with the highest incidence of infections transmitted to humans by ectoparasites.

Despite the high global impacts of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) due to their wide distribution and zoonotic potential, the current epidemiological situation of CVBD in many tropical and subtropical regions remains unknown. This study examines the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of Ehrlichia canis and other pathogens causing CVBDs ( Leishmania infantum , Dirofilaria immitis, Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Hepatozoon canis ) in dogs living on the island of Boa Vista (Cape Verde Republic). Blood samples and infesting ticks were taken from 150 dogs across the island (stray, shelter, and pet dogs). Serum samples were tested using a rapid immunochromatographic test (Uranotest ® Quattro) that detects antibodies against E. canis , L. infantum , Anaplasma spp. and D. immitis antigen. Levels of serum antibodies against E. canis were measured using the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). In addition, tick-borne pathogens in blood samples ( Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Ehrlichia canis ) were detected by microscopy observation and/or PCR plus sequencing. The seroprevalence of E. canis was extremely high at 82% (123/150), as revealed by both immunochromatography and IFAT. Most dogs returning a seropositive test result (82.92%; 102/123) had antibody titres > 1:1280 but showed no clinical signs or notable laboratory abnormalities. Of the 123 animals testing seropositive for E. canis , 67 (54.47%) also presented antibodies against Anaplasma spp ., and 13 (10.56%) showed the presence of Hepatozoon spp. gamonts in the blood smear. Ehrlichia canis infection was detected in 17.1% (25/146) of dogs tested by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products. Co-infections were detected in seven of these dogs: four dogs tested PCR-positive for both E. canis and A. platys , two dogs tested positive for E. canis and Hepatozoon spp., and one dog tested positive for E. canis , A. platys and Hepatozoon spp. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was the only tick species found infesting the canine study population. The high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens detected in dogs from Boa Vista Island highlights a need for improved control measures designed to prevent the transmission of these pathogens. Graphical Abstract

Background Dogs in the US are commonly infected with vector-borne pathogens, including heartworm and tick-borne disease agents. The geographic distribution of both arthropod vectors and the pathogens they transmit continues to expand. Methods To describe the current geographic distribution and prevalence of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis and antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi , Ehrlichia spp., and Anaplasma spp. in dogs, we summarized over 144 million test results from 2013 to 2019, inclusive, by county, state, and region. Canine seroprevalence by state was compared to population-adjusted human reports of tick-borne diseases. Results Results varied regionally, with D. immitis antigen and Ehrlichia spp. antibodies more frequently detected in the Southeast (2.6% and 5.2%, respectively) and antibody to B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. most common in the Northeast (12.1% and 7.3%, respectively). Overall, percent positive test results to D. immitis decreased in the Southeast by 33.3% when compared to earlier summaries using the same strategy (from 3.9 to 2.6%). Geographic expansion of areas where dogs commonly test positive for Ehrlichia spp. was evident, likely because of a change in the test made in 2012 to allow detection of antibodies to E. ewingii concomitant with expansion of vector tick populations. Percent positive test results to Ehrlichia spp. increased in every region; this shift was particularly pronounced in the Southeast, where percent positive test results increased fourfold (from 1.3 to 5.2%). Continued geographic expansion of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was apparent in the Northeast, Midwest, and Upper South, although canine seroprevalence of antibody to B. burgdorferi was much lower than prior surveys in many Lyme-endemic areas. Annual reports of human cases of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis were associated with percent positive canine results by state for the three tick-borne disease agents ( R 2  = 0.812, 0.521, and 0.546, respectively). Within endemic areas, percent positive test results for all three tick-borne agents demonstrated evidence of geographic expansion. Conclusions Large scale analysis of results from screening dogs in practice for evidence of vector-borne infections, including those with zoonotic importance, continues to be a valuable strategy for understanding geographic trends in infection risk over time. Graphical Abstract

BACKGROUND : Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been wellstudied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly in companion animals. Given the socio-economic importance of companion animals, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part of the WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. METHODS : Macro-geographic variation in ectoparasite (ticks and fleas) and pathogen communities in dogs was assessed through molecular screening of approximately 100 infested dogs in each of six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Namibia), both in rural and urban settings. The most important intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors within the subpopulation of infested dogs were evaluated. RESULTS : Despite the large macro-geographic variation in the dogs screened, there was no consistent difference between East and West Africa in terms of the diversity and numbers of ticks. The highest and lowest numbers of ticks were found in Nigeria and Namibia, respectively. Most often, there was a higher diversity of ticks in rural habitats than in urban habitats, although the highest diversity was observed in an urban Uganda setting. With the exception of Namibia, more fleas were collected in rural areas. We identified tick species (including Haemaphysalis spinulosa) as well as zoonotic pathogens (Coxiella burnetti, Trypanosoma spp.) that are not classically associated with companion animals. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant tick, with a preference for urban areas. Exophilic ticks, such as Haemaphysalis spp., were more often found in rural areas. Several multi-host ticks occurred in urban areas. For R. sanguineus, housing conditions and additional pets were relevant factors in terms of infestation, while for a rural tick species (Haemaphysalis elliptica), free-roaming dogs were more often infested. Tick occurrence was associated to the use of endoparasiticide, but not to the use of ectoparasiticide. The most prevalent tick-borne pathogen was Hepatozoon canis followed by Ehrlichia canis. High levels of co-parasitism were observed in all countries and habitats. CONCLUSIONS : As dogs share a common environment with people, they have the potential to extend the network of pathogen transmission to humans. Our study will help epidemiologists to provide recommendations for surveillance and prevention of pathogens in dogs and humans.

Background The worldwide increment of cat populations has increased the risk of ectoparasite infestation and feline vector-borne pathogen (VBP) transmission. In low-income countries, such as Ethiopia, favorable climatic conditions and the absence of preventive measures against ectoparasites contribute to broadening VBP circulation. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of protozoal (i.e., Hepatozoon , Babesia , and Cytauxzoon species) and bacterial (i.e., Anaplasma , Ehrlichia , Rickettsia , and Bartonella species) infections in owned cats and in their ectoparasites in southern Ethiopia. Methods The study was conducted in four districts of the Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia. Cats were sampled, and information about the animals was recorded. Blood samples were collected on Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards, while ectoparasites were collected by combing and stored in 70% ethanol. Fleas were morphologically identified, and DNA was extracted from both blood samples and ectoparasites, then submitted to molecular analysis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and end-point PCR were used to detect pathogens. Positive samples were sequenced, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed on the obtained Hepatozoon spp. and Rickettsia spp. sequences. Results Overall, 109 cats were sampled, and 115 fleas (i.e., 28 Ctenocephalides felis and 87 Echidnophaga gallinacea ) and three ticks ( Haemaphysalis laechi ) were collected. Molecular analysis of feline blood samples revealed Hepatozoon spp. as the most common pathogen (36.7%; CI:28.3–46.1%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (5.5%; CI: 2.5–11.5%), Bartonella spp. (2.8%; CI:0.9–7.8%), and Babesia spp. (0.9%; CI:0.2–5.0%); whereas fleas harbored mostly Rickettsia spp. (52.2%; CI:43.1–61.1%), followed by Bartonella spp. (6.1%; CI: 3.0–12.0%), and Hepatozoon spp. (0.9%; CI: 0.2–4.8%). According to phylogenetic clustering, specimens of the Hepatozoon genus were classified as H. felis , H. luiperdjie, , and H. canis . Concerning the genus Rickettsia , it was not possible to reach a clear identification for the majority of the sequences, apart from some specimens ascribable to R. felis and R. asembonensis . Conclusions Vector-borne pathogens posing significant threats to animal and human health were detected in this study. Molecular analysis suggested the circulation of different and genetically variable species in the feline host. The molecular approach allowed the identification of VBPs in the cat population and their fleas, providing new data on their occurrence and prevalence in Ethiopia and, more generally, in sub-Saharan Africa. Graphical abstract

Insect vector microbiomes are essential for insect function, making them promising targets for controlling vector-borne diseases. Microbial isolate collections aid in identifying microbial targets, but expanding these collections must rely on coordinated efforts that are ethical and ensure equitable benefit sharing.

Data on vector-borne pathogens infecting dogs from sub-Saharan Africa is limited. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of VBPs, their associated risk factors, and pathogen interactions in domestic dogs. Whole blood samples were obtained for 1202 apparently healthy dogs in Chad from September to October 2021, and nucleic acids were extracted and then subjected to a targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) assay for detection of 15 VBPs. Overall, 88.7% of the dogs were positive for at least one pathogen, and 62.9% were coinfected with two or more VBPs. The most frequent pathogen detected was Hepatozoon canis in 62.4% of the dogs, Mycoplasma haemocanis in 59.2%, Anaplasma platys in 29.2%, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum in 21.2%, Ehrlichia canis in 20.3%, Babesia vogeli in 2.0% and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis in 1.5%. While most of the dogs (62.9%) were co-infected with two or more VBPs, having an infection with three pathogens (30.8%) was more common. According to multivariable logistic regression analysis, being a senior dog and residing in Chari Baguirmi south were identified as potential risk factors for infection by most of the pathogens. Network analyses revealed complex interactions suggesting facilitative associations among VBPs. These results are useful in expanding the knowledge of VBPs in Africa and establishing a baseline for downstream studies into hemotropic mycoplasmas.

Automating mosquito control is a pivotal advancement in the pest control industry with the primary objective of mitigating the prevalence of vector-borne diseases. Recent progress in pest control robotics has enabled the automation of mosquito activity restrictions. However, existing robotic solutions have exhibited limitations in effectively addressing mosquito control while lacking a sensitive strategy for maximizing area coverage with crowded areas as a priority. In response to these challenges, this article proposes a novel human-first approach for complete coverage path planning (HFA-CCPP) that leverages the Glasius Bio-inspired Neural Network (GBNN) to cover areas that simulate and consider human activity patterns systematically. In this study, a mosquito-capturing robot, Dragonfly, is demonstrated with HFA-CCPP. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the technical intricacies of the proposed solution. The efficacy of the proposed technique is evaluated in terms of total area coverage and times taken to cover the high human activity region in simulation and real-world environments by comparing results with traditional GBNN. Across all scenarios, the proposed HFA-CCPP surpasses the traditional method by delivering efficient area coverage with minimal time for human-dense area coverage and efficiency in mosquito trapping. This finding stands as a newfound direction in automated mosquito control, holding great potential for curbing vector-borne diseases.

Wild rodents and their ectoparasites are known reservoirs for various zoonotic pathogens, highlighting the need for detailed studies into their roles in disease transmission. Our research investigated the spatial distribution of rodents and their ectoparasites to better understand the epidemiology of vector‐borne zoonotic diseases (VBZDs), including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), Lyme disease, Q fever, and scrub typhus. We analyzed samples from 540 rodents and 6785 mites, detecting the presence of Borrelia spp., the causative agent of Lyme disease, in 0.9% of rodents and SFTS virus (SFTSV) in 1.0%. In mites, Borrelia spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi , the bacteria causing scrub typhus, were detected in 0.3% of samples each. Phylogenetic analysis identified the SFTSV sequence as type B3, the Borrelia spp. sequence as B. afzelii , and the O. tsutsugamushi sequence as Karp‐related. Notably, SFTSV was detected for the first time in mites in South Korea, and B. afzelii was found in mites for the first time globally. These findings emphasize the critical need for continuous analysis of VBZDs to anticipate future trends and develop a comprehensive monitoring system. Further research into the rodent and mite populations in South Korea is essential to fully assess the potential risks of VBZDs.

Background Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are illnesses caused by pathogens transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods such as ticks and mosquitoes. Many CVBDs, including dirofilariosis, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis, are globally distributed and may cause a variety of clinical signs in dogs. Several CVBD agents are zoonotic, making epidemiological surveillance a joint veterinary and public health effort. In this study, we determined the seropositivity of four pathogens from dogs on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, a US Commonwealth located in the western Pacific Ocean. Methods Blood samples ( n  = 443) were collected from client-owned, owner surrendered, and shelter dogs that participated in an island-wide spay-and-neuter event in 2023. All samples were assessed using a commercial, point-of-care enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test (SNAP ® 4Dx ® Plus, IDEXX Laboratory, Westbrook, Maine, USA) to detect the Dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies against Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Risk factors were assessed for each pathogen through a univariate analysis, followed by a multivariable logistic regression. Results Overall, 66.1% ( n  = 300/443) of the dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen, with the highest prevalence observed for Ehrlichia spp. (58.0%; n  = 246/443), followed by Anaplasma spp. (43.1%; n  = 184/443) and D. immitis (14.8%; n  = 63/443). Among the dogs with a single pathogen detected (30.9%; n  = 137/443), Ehrlichia spp. was most prevalent (64.9%; n  = 89/137), followed by Anaplasma spp. (23.3%; n  = 32/137) and D. immitis (11.6%; n  = 16/137). For co-detection of two or more pathogens (36.7%; n  = 163/443), Ehrlichia spp. +  Anaplasma spp. presented the highest frequency (70.5%; n  = 115/163), followed by Ehrlichia spp. +  D. immitis (6.7%; n  = 11/163), Anaplasma spp. +  D. immitis (3.6%; n  = 6/163), and Ehrlichia spp. +  Anaplasma spp. +  D. immitis (19.0%; n  = 31/163). Age ( P  = < 0.001), residing district ( P  = 0.001), and ownership status ( P  = < 0.001) were significantly associated with D. immitis positive status in a univariable analysis. Age ( P  = < 0.001), residing district ( P  = 0.177), and ownership status ( P  = 0.014) were significant in a univariable analysis with Ehrlichia spp. as an outcome. Finally, Anaplasma spp. had a significant association with ownership status ( P  = < 0.001) as a risk factor in a univariable analysis. Conclusions This study shows high seropositivity for CVBPs in a dog population living in a poorly studied area. The results of this study suggest that strategies for the prevention and control of these CVBDs should be reinforced on the Island of Saipan. Graphical Abstract