@article {96422, title = {Lice and lice-borne diseases in humans in Africa: A narrative review}, journal = {Acta Tropica}, volume = {237}, year = {2023}, month = {Jan-01-2023}, abstract = {

Lice are host-specific insects. Human lice include Pediculus humanus (body lice) which are known to be vectors of serious human bacterial infectious diseases including epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, trench fever and plague; Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) that frequently affect children; and Pthirus pubis, commonly known as crab lice. In Africa, human infections transmitted by lice remained poorly known and therefore, underestimated, perhaps due to the lack of diagnostic tools and professional knowledge. In this paper we review current knowledge of the microorganisms identified in human lice in the continent of Africa, in order to alert health professionals to the importance of recognizing the risk of lice-related diseases.

}, keywords = {Africa, Bartonella, Borrelia, lice, Rickettsia, Yersinia}, issn = {0001-706X}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106709}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001706X22004016}, author = {Basma Ouarti and Descartes Maxime Mbogning-Fonkou and Houhamdi,Linda and Oleg Mediannikov and Parola,Phillipe} } @article {95510, title = {Low occurrence of Bartonella in synanthropic mammals and associated ectoparasites in peri-urban areas from Central-Western and Southern Brazil}, journal = {Acta Tropica}, volume = {207}, year = {2020}, month = {Jul-2020}, pages = {7 pp}, abstract = {

Worldwide, Bartonella species are known to infect a wide range of mammalian and arthropod hosts, including humans. The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in synanthropic mammals captured in peri-urban areas from Central-Western and Southern Brazil and their ectoparasites. For this aim, 160 mammals belonging to four species, and 218 associated arthropods were sampled. DNA was extracted and subjected to different Bartonella screening assays. Additionally, blood samples from 48 small rodents were submitted to liquid BAPGM culture followed by qPCR assay and solid culture. Two out of 55 Rattus rattus captured in Santa Catarina state were PCR-positive for Bartonella when targeting the nuoG, 16S, and ITS loci. Sequences showed high homology with Bartonella coopersplainsensis. Conversely, all 48 small rodents, 14 capybaras and 43 opossum DNA samples from animals trapped in Mato Grosso do Sul were Bartonella negative in the HRM real time PCR assays targeting the ITS locus and gltA gene. Additionally, all mammal-associated ectoparasites showed negativity results based on HRM real time PCR assays. The present study showed, for the first time, the occurrence of B. coopersplainsensis in Brazil, shedding some light on the distribution of rats-related Bartonella in South America. In addition, the majority of rodents and marsupials were negative for Bartonella spp. Since B. coopersplainsensis reservoirs - Rattus spp. - are widely dispersed around the globe, its zoonotic potential should be further investigated.

}, keywords = {BAPGM, Bartonella coopersplainsensis, capybara, culture, lice, opossums, rodents, s fleas, ticks}, issn = {0001-706X}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105513}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001706X20305143$\#$!}, author = {Gon{\c c}alves, Luiz Ricardo and Harrus, Shimon and Herrera, Heitor Miraglia and Ricardo Gutierrez and Daniela Pedrassani and Nantes, Wesley Arruda Gimenes and Santos, Filipe Martins and Porf{\'\i}rio, Grasiela Edith de Oliveira and Barreto, Wanessa Teixeira Gomes and de Macedo, Gabriel Carvalho and Assis, Willian de Oliveira and Campos, Jo{\~a}o Bosco Vilela and da Silva, Thiago Merighi Vieira and Juliano Biolchi and de Sousa, Keyla Carstens Marques and Yaarit Nachum-Biala and Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti and Machado, Rosangela Zacarias and Andr{\'e}, Marcos Rog{\'e}rio} } @article {95509, title = {Genetic diversity and lack of molecular evidence for hemoplasma cross-species transmission between wild and synanthropic mammals from Central-Western Brazil}, journal = {Acta Tropica}, volume = {203}, year = {2020}, month = {Mar-2020}, pages = {8 pp}, abstract = {

Globally, hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) comprise an emerging or remerging bacteria group that attaches to red blood cells of several mammal\&$\#$39;s species and in some cases, causing hemolytic anemia. Herein, we assessed the occurrence, genetic diversity, the factors coupled to mammals infection, and the phylogeographic distribution of hemoplasmas in sylvatic and synanthropic mammals and their associated ectoparasites from Brazil. We collected spleen and/or blood samples from synanthropic rodents (Rattus rattus [N=39] and Mus musculus [N=9]), sylvatic rodents (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris [N=14]) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris [N=43]). In addition, ticks (Amblyomma spp. [N=270] and lice (Polyplax spinulosa [N=6]) specimens were also sampled. Using a PCR targeting the 16S rRNA region, out of 48 small rodents, 14 capybaras and 43 opossums DNA samples, hemoplasma DNA was found in 25\%, 50\%, and 32.5\% animals, respectively. Besides, we reported hemoplasma DNA in Amblyomma sp. (22.2\% [2/9]) and lice (100\% [2/2]) pools samples from rats, and one female A. sculptum DNA sample (3\% [1/33]) obtained from a capybara. Additionally, and in agreement with ML analysis, the network analyses showed a clear phylogenetic separation among the hemoplasmas genotypes found in the different host species sampled, thus, suggesting the absence of cross-species hemoplasmas transmission between the mammals trapped. Finally, using the NTC network analysis, we reported the same 16S rRNA Mycoplasma genotype circulating in Rattus sampled in Brazil, Hungary, and Japan.

}, keywords = {and Ticks, Capybaras, Hemotropic mycoplasmas, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, lice, Opossum, Phylogenetic analysis}, issn = {0001-706X}, doi = {10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105303}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001706X19316122$\#$!}, author = {Gon{\c c}alves, Luiz Ricardo and Herrera, Heitor Miraglia and Nantes, Wesley Arruda Gimenes and Santos, Filipe Martins and Porf{\'\i}rio, Grasiela Edith de Oliveira and Barreto, Wanessa Teixeira Gomes and de Macedo, Gabriel Carvalho and Assis, Willian de Oliveira and Campos, Jo{\~a}o Bosco Vilela and da Silva, Thiago Merighi Vieira and Mariano, Leticia Colovatti and Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti and Machado, Rosangela Zacarias and Andr{\'e}, Marcos Rog{\'e}rio} }