Mosquito-borne alphaviruses in Zambia: Isolation and characterization of Eilat and Sindbis viruses.

Alphaviruses in the family Togaviridae include zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses, including Sindbis virus (SINV), chikungunya virus, as well as insect-specific viruses such as Eilat virus (EILV). Previous investigations of alphaviruses in Zambia have identified a novel insect-specific alphavirus, Mwinilunga alphavirus in mosquitoes. Further ongoing surveillance resulted in the isolation of EILV and SINV for the first time in Zambia.

Development of a PCR-dipstick DNA chromatography-based tool for the detection of CTX-M- and TEM-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients in Kafue and Katete districts of Zambia.

In Zambia, 40% of clinical Gram-negative bacteria are either Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae, with a high third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) resistance prevalence. Therefore, 3GC resistance surveillance is a crucial indicator for guiding focused intervention policies. However, the lack of genotypic diagnostic tools limits the ability to elucidate trends, especially in peri-urban and rural areas of developing countries.

First identification and whole genome characterization of rotavirus C in pigs in Zambia.

Rotavirus C (RVC) causes acute gastroenteritis in neonatal piglets. Despite the clinical importance of RVC infection, the distribution and prevalence in pig populations in most African countries remains unknown. In this study, we identified RVC in Zambian pigs by metagenomic analysis.

Amblyomma kappa sp. n. (Acari: Ixodidae), a new species of reptile tick from subtropical East Asia closely related to the Oriental turtle tick (Amblyomma geoemydae) from tropical Southeast Asia.

The correct delineation of tick species is critical for efforts aimed at safeguarding One Health. Historically, the Asian turtle tick (Amblyomma geoemydae sensu lato) has been regarded as a geographically widespread species across much of Asia. However, based on morphological and phylogenomic data, the subtropical lineage (from Japan, Taiwan, and parts of China) of A.

Development of a seroepidemiological tool for bat-borne and shrew-borne hantaviruses and its application using samples from Zambia.

Background: Rodent-borne orthohantaviruses are the causative agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Apart from the classic rodent-borne hantaviruses, numerous species of hantaviruses have been identified in shrews and bats; however, their antigenicity and pathogenicity are unknown. This study focused on developing a serological method to detect antibodies against bat- and shrew-borne hantaviruses.

A first report of rotavirus B from Zambian pigs leading to the discovery of a novel VP4 genotype P[9].

Background: Rotavirus B (RVB) causes diarrhea in humans and pigs. Although various RVB strains were identified in humans and various animals globally, little is known about the epidemiology RVB infection in Africa. In this study, we attempted to examine the prevalence of RVB infection in pig populations in Zambia.

Investigation of vertical and horizontal transmission of Spiroplasma in ticks under laboratory conditions.

Many arthropods harbour bacterial symbionts, which are maintained by vertical and/or horizontal transmission. Spiroplasma is one of the most well-known symbionts of ticks and other arthropods. It is still unclear how Spiroplasma infections have spread in tick populations despite its high prevalence in some tick species.

Surveillance, Isolation, and Genetic Characterization of Bat Herpesviruses in Zambia.

Bats are of significant interest as reservoirs for various zoonotic viruses with high diversity. During the past two decades, many herpesviruses have been identified in various bats worldwide by genetic approaches, whereas there have been few reports on the isolation of infectious herpesviruses. Herein, we report the prevalence of herpesvirus infection of bats captured in Zambia and genetic characterization of novel gammaherpesviruses isolated from striped leaf-nosed bats ).

Genome Sequence of a Clinical Isolate of the Human Pathogenic Strain " Borrelia fainii" Qtaro.

We report sequences of the complete linear chromosome and five linear plasmids of the relapsing fever spirochete " Borrelia fainii" Qtaro. The chromosome sequence of 951,861 bp and the 243,291 bp of plasmid sequences were predicted to contain 852 and 239 protein-coding genes, respectively. The predicted total GC content was 28.

Prevalence and Association of Trypanosomes and in Tsetse Flies from the Kafue National Park in Zambia.

Tsetse flies are obligate hematophagous vectors of animal and human African trypanosomosis. They cyclically transmit pathogenic species. The endosymbiont is suggested to play a role in facilitating the susceptibility of tsetse flies to trypanosome infections.

The dynamics of the microbiome in Ixodidae are shaped by tick ontogeny and pathogens in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Tick-borne diseases have recently been considered a potential emerging public health threat in Malaysia; however, fundamental studies into tick-borne pathogens and microbiome appear limited. In this study, six tick species (, , and ) collected from two primary forests and an oil palm plantation in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, were used for microbiome analysis targeting bacterial 16S rDNA using next-generation sequencing (NGS). In addition, bacterial species were further characterized in conventional PCRs to identify potential pathogens.

Current status and molecular epidemiology of rabies virus from different hosts and regions in Malawi.

Although rabies is endemic in Malawi, there have been no studies in which rabies virus was systematically investigated and characterized in multiple animal hosts in that country. In order to provide molecular epidemiological data on rabies virus in Malawi, 683 suspected rabies case reports from 2008 to 2021 were examined, and 46 (dog = 40, cow = 5, and cat = 1) viable rabies-positive brain samples archived at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Lilongwe, Malawi, were analyzed genetically. The results showed an increase in the submission of brain samples from 2008 to 2010, with the highest number of submissions observed in 2020.

Detection of a Babesia sp. genotype closely related to marsupial-associated Babesia spp. in male Haemaphysalis shimoga from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

In this study, Babesia screening was conducted in 55 rodents and 160 tick samples collected from primary forests and an oil palm plantation in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal DNA revealed the presence of Babesia spp. DNA detected in two questing male Haemaphysalis shimoga ticks collected from the oil palm plantation.

Comparative mitogenomics elucidates the population genetic structure of in Japan and a closely related species in Myanmar.

Ticks are the second most important vector capable of transmitting diseases affecting the health of both humans and animals. Koch 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), is a hard tick species having a wide geographic distribution in Asia. In this study, we analyzed the composition of whole mitogenomes from various geographical regions in Japan and investigated the population structure, demographic patterns, and phylogeographic relationship with other ixodid species.

An unusually long Rift valley fever inter-epizootic period in Zambia: Evidence for enzootic virus circulation and risk for disease outbreak.

Rift valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne disease of animals and humans. Although RVF outbreaks are usually reported at 5-15-year intervals in sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia has experienced an unusually long inter-epizootic/-epidemic period of more than three decades. However, serological evidence of RVF virus (RVFV) infection in domestic ruminants during this period underscores the need for comprehensive investigation of the mechanisms of virus perpetuation and disease emergence.

Detection of Tick-Borne Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Ticks from the Zambia-Angola Border.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, are of public health importance worldwide; however, TBDs tend to be overlooked, especially in countries with fewer resources, such as Zambia and Angola. Here, we investigated , , and Apicomplexan pathogens in 59 and 96 adult ticks collected from dogs and cattle, respectively, in Shangombo, a town at the Zambia-Angola border. We detected and in 15.

Novel symbionts and potential human pathogens excavated from argasid tick microbiomes that are shaped by dual or single symbiosis.

Research on vector-associated microbiomes has been expanding due to increasing emergence of vector-borne pathogens and awareness of the importance of symbionts in the vector physiology. However, little is known about microbiomes of argasid (or soft-bodied) ticks due to limited access to specimens. We collected four argasid species (, , , and ) from the nests or burrows of their vertebrate hosts.