Carrion's Disease: More Than a Sand Fly-Vectored Illness.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Pons MJ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5063350 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Carrion's Disease: More Than a Sand Fly-Vectored Illness.
Pons Maria J MJ Gomes Cláudia C Del Valle-Mendoza Juana J Ruiz Joaquim J
PLoS pathogens 20161013 10
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Project description:Infections with Bartonella bacilliformis result in Carrion's disease in humans. In the first phase of infection, the pathogen causes a hemolytic fever ("Oroya fever") with case-fatality rates as high as ~90% in untreated patients, followed by a chronical phase resulting in angiogenic skin lesions ("verruga peruana"). Bartonella bacilliformis is endemic to South American Andean valleys and is transmitted via sand flies (Lutzomyia spp.). Humans are the only known reservoir for this old disease and therefore no animal infection model is available. In the present review, we provide the current knowledge on B. bacilliformis and its pathogenicity factors, vectors, possible unknown reservoirs, established and potential infection models and immunological aspects of the disease.
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Project description:Frequency of kdr mutations in Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies in four villages in Bihar, India
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Project description:Bartonella bacilliformis is a pathogenic bacterium transmitted to humans presumably by bites of phlebotomine sand flies, infection with which results in a bi-phasic syndrome termed Carrión's disease. After constructing a low-passage GFP-labeled strain of B. bacilliformis, we artificially infected Lutzomyia verrucarum and L. longipalpis populations, and subsequently monitored colonization of sand flies by fluorescence microscopy. Initially, colonization of the two fly species was indistinguishable, with bacteria exhibiting a high degree of motility, yet still confined to the abdominal midgut. After 48 h, B. bacilliformis transitioned from bacillus-shape to a non-motile, small coccoid form and appeared to be digested along with the blood meal in both fly species. Differences in colonization patterns became evident at 72 h when B. bacilliformis was observed at relatively high density outside the peritrophic membrane in the lumen of the midgut in L. verrucarum, but colonization of L. longipalpis was limited to the blood meal within the intra-peritrophic space of the abdominal midgut, and the majority of bacteria were digested along with the blood meal by day 7. The viability of B. bacilliformis in L. longipalpis was assessed by artificially infecting, homogenizing, and plating for determination of colony-forming units in individual flies over a 13-d time course. Bacteria remained viable at relatively high density for approximately seven days, suggesting that L. longipalpis could potentially serve as a vector. The capacity of L. longipalpis to transmit viable B. bacilliformis from infected to uninfected meals was analyzed via interrupted feeds. No viable bacteria were retrieved from uninfected blood meals in these experiments. This study provides significant information toward understanding colonization of sand flies by B. bacilliformis and also demonstrates the utility of L. longipalpis as a user-friendly, live-vector model system for studying this severely neglected tropical disease.
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Project description:BackgroundVector sand fly colonies are a critical component of studies aimed at improving the understanding of the neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis and alleviating its global impact. However, among laboratory-colonized arthropod vectors of infectious diseases, the labor-intensive nature of sand fly rearing coupled with the low number of colonies worldwide has generally discouraged the widespread use of sand flies in laboratory settings. Among the different factors associated with the low productivity of sand fly colonies, mite infestations are a significant factor. Sand fly colonies are prone to infestation by mites, and the physical interactions between sand flies and mites and metabolites have a negative impact on sand fly larval development.MethodsMites were collected from sand fly larval rearing pots and morphologically identified using taxonomic keys. Upon identification, they were photographed with a scanning electron microscope. Several mite control measures were adopted in two different laboratories, one at the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-National Institutes of Health (Rockville, MD, USA), and the other at the University of Calgary (Calgary, AB, Canada).ResultsThe mite species associated with sand fly colonies in the two laboratories were morphologically identified as Tyrophagus sp. and Stratiolaelaps scimitus. While complete eradication of mites in sand fly colonies is considered unrealistic, drastically reducing their population has been associated with higher sand fly productivity.ConclusionsWe report a case of detrimental interaction between sand flies and Tyrophagus sp. and S. scimitus in a closed laboratory sand fly colony, discuss their impact on sand fly production and provide guidelines for limiting the mite population size in a closed laboratory colony leading to improved sand fly yields.
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Project description:Carrion's disease (CD) is a neglected biphasic vector-borne illness related to Bartonella bacilliformis. It is found in the Andean valleys and is transmitted mainly by members of the Lutzomyia genus but also by blood transfusions and from mother to child. The acute phase, Oroya fever, presents severe anemia and fever. The lethality is high in the absence of adequate treatment, despite the organism being susceptible to most antibiotics. Partial immunity is developed after infection by B. bacilliformis, resulting in high numbers of asymptomatic carriers. Following infection there is the chronic phase, Peruvian warts, involving abnormal proliferation of the endothelial cells. Despite potentially being eradicable, CD has been expanded due to human migration and geographical expansion of the vector. Moreover, in vitro studies have demonstrated the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance. These findings, together with the description of new Bartonella species producing CD-like infections, the presence of undescribed potential vectors in new areas, the lack of adequate diagnostic tools and knowledge of the immunology and bacterial pathogenesis of CD, and poor international visibility, have led to the risk of increasing the potential expansion of resistant strains which will challenge current treatment schemes as well as the possible appearance of CD in areas where it is not endemic.
| S-EPMC5740975 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Sand flies are blood-feeding insects and vectors of the Leishmania parasite. For many years, saliva of these insects has represented a gold mine for the discovery of molecules with anti-hemostatic and immuno-modulatory activities. Furthermore, proteins in sand fly saliva have been shown to be a potential vaccine against leishmaniasis and also markers of vector exposure. A bottleneck to progress in these areas of research has been the identification of molecules responsible for the observed activities and properties of saliva. Over the past decade, rapid advances in transcriptomics and proteomics resulted in the completion of a number of sialomes (salivary gland transcriptomes) and the expression of several recombinant salivary proteins from different species of sand fly vectors. This review will provide readers with a comprehensive update of recent advances in the characterization of these salivary molecules and their biological activities and offer insights pertaining to their protective effect against leishmaniasis and their potential as markers of vector exposure.
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Project description:We isolated 17 viral strains capable of causing cytopathic effects in mammalian cells and death in neonatal mice from sand flies in China. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these strains belonged to the genus Phlebovirus. These findings highlight the need to control this potentially emerging virus to help safeguard public health.
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Project description:BackgroundLeishmaniasis is a group of neglected vector-borne diseases transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. Leishmania parasites must overcome various defenses in the sand fly midgut, including the insects's immune response. Insect immunity is regulated by the ecdysone hormone, which binds to its nuclear receptor (EcR) and activates the transcription of genes involved in insect immunity. However, the role of ecdysone in sand fly immunity has never been studied. Phlebotomus perniciosus is a natural vector of Leishmania infantum; here, we manipulated its neuroendocrine system using azadirachtin (Aza), a natural compound known to affect ecdysone synthesis.MethodsPhlebotomus perniciosus larvae and adult females were fed on food containing either Aza alone or Aza plus ecdysone, and the effects on mortality and ecdysis were evaluated. Genes related to ecdysone signaling and immunity were identified in P. perniciosus, and the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), EcR, the ecdysone-induced genes Eip74EF and Eip75B, and the transcription factor serpent were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsAza treatment inhibited molting of first-instar (L1) larvae to L2, with only 10% of larvae molting compared to 95% in the control group. Serpent and Eip74EF, attacin, defensin 1, and defensin 2 genes were downregulated by Aza treatment in larvae. Similarly, Aza-treated adult females also presented suppression of ecdysone signaling-related genes and the AMPs attacin and defensin 2. Notably, all gene repression caused by Aza was reversed by adding ecdysone concomitantly with Aza to the larval or female food, indicating that these genes are effective markers for ecdysone repression.ConclusionsThese results highlight the critical role of ecdysone in regulating the development and immunity of P. perniciosus, which potentially could interfere with Leishmania infection.
| S-EPMC11662615 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Sand fly–borne phleboviruses are associated with febrile diseases and nervous system infections in the Mediterranean basin. Sandfly fever was first reported in the Balkan Peninsula at the end of the 19th century. Since then, accumulating data show that the Balkan Peninsula, as a transboundary region between Asia and Europe, plays a major role in the emergence of vectorborne diseases in Europe. To provide an inclusive approach, we collected published data on phleboviruses in the Balkan countries and used them to evaluate the impact of these pathogens from virologic, epidemiologic, and public health perspectives. Recent findings show a high diversity of phleboviruses belonging to 3 species or serocomplexes circulating heavily in the Balkans. Focusing on undisputable human pathogens, we found direct and indirect laboratory documentation for Toscana virus, Sandfly fever Sicilian virus, and Adria virus. These data demonstrate that the Balkans are a hotspot for phleboviruses transmitted by sand flies.
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Project description:BackgroundBeach sand can harbor fecal indicator organisms and pathogens, but enteric illness risk associated with sand contact remains unclear.MethodsIn 2007, visitors at 2 recreational marine beaches were asked on the day of their visit about sand contact. Ten to 12 days later, participants answered questions about health symptoms since the visit. F+ coliphage, Enterococcus, Bacteroidales, fecal Bacteroides, and Clostridium spp. in wet sand were measured using culture and molecular methods.ResultsWe analyzed 144 wet sand samples and completed 4999 interviews. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were computed, comparing those in the highest tertile of fecal indicator exposure with those who reported no sand contact. Among those digging in sand compared with those not digging in sand, a molecular measure of Enterococcus spp. (calibrator cell equivalents/g) in sand was positively associated with gastrointestinal (GI) illness (aOR = 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-3.2]) and diarrhea (2.4 [1.4-4.2]). Among those buried in sand, point estimates were greater for GI illness (3.3 [1.3-7.9]) and diarrhea (4.9 [1.8-13]). Positive associations were also observed for culture-based Enterococcus (colony-forming units/g) with GI illness (aOR digging = 1.7 [1.1-2.7]) and diarrhea (2.1 [1.3-3.4]). Associations were not found among nonswimmers with sand exposure.ConclusionsWe observed a positive relationship between sand-contact activities and enteric illness as a function of concentrations of fecal microbial pollution in beach sand.
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