All Posts Tagged With: "arthropod vectors"

Excerpt:

Abstract

Introduction: Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of the illness referred to as cat scratch disease, is a common infection, particularly in children, and clinicians need to be aware of its potential transmission to humans by arthropod vectors such as fleas and ticks in addition to animal bites and scratches. The absence of a vertebrate bite or scratch does not preclude infection with B. henselae.

Materials and Methods: Literature regarding arthropod transmission of B. henselae was reviewed.

Results: B. henselae appears to be transmitted among cats and dogs in vivo exclusively by arthropod vectors (excepting perinatal transmission), not by biting and scratching. In the absence of these vectors disease does not spread. On the other hand, disease can be spread to humans by bites and scratches, and it is highly likely that it is spread as well by arthropod vectors.

Discussion: Clinicians should be aware that a common illness, infection with B. henselae, can be transmitted by arthropod vectors and a history of an animal scratch or bite is not necessary for disease transmission.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20180313&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

Ticks harbor numerous bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens
that can cause serious infections in humans and domestic animals.
Active surveillance of the tick vector can provide insight into
the frequency and distribution of important pathogens in the
environment. Nucleic-acid based detection of tick-borne
bacterial, protozoan, and viral pathogens requires the extraction
of both DNA and RNA (total nucleic acids) from ticks. Traditional
methods for nucleic acid extraction are limited to extraction of
either DNA or the RNA from a sample.
Here we present a simple bead-beating based protocol for
extraction of DNA and RNA from a single tick and show detection
of Borrelia burgdorferi and Powassan virus from individual,
infected Ixodes scapularis ticks. We determined expected yields
for total nucleic acids by this protocol for a variety of adult
tick species. The method is applicable to a variety of arthropod
vectors, including fleas and mosquitoes, and was partially
automated on a liquid handling robot.

Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20823366&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks

Excerpt:

RESULTS: B. henselae and related
bacterial species are transmitted among cats and dogs by
arthropod vectors. In the absence of these vectors, disease does
not spread amongst the animals. On the other hand, disease can be
spread to humans by bite and scratch as well as by arthropod
vectors. Animals commonly infected with B. henselae and arthropod
vectors are discussed. 
CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware that a common illness,
cat scratch disease, can be transmitted by arthropod vectors and
a history of an animal scratch or bite is not necessary for
disease transmission.