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Pathogens
Special Issues
Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals
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Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1607

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hermes Ribeiro Luz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment, Biodiversity and Conservation, Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO) from the Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
Interests: bactérias; helmintos e protozoários

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite researchers to share their latest discoveries in our Special Issue on parasite control and infectious agents that affect animal health, including those with repercussions for human health. Studies that explore the influence of environmental factors and climate change on the transmission and spread of these parasites are also welcome. The objective of this Special Issue is to contribute to the most recent advances in the diagnosis, epidemiology, and control of parasites that affect wild or domestic animals, with an emphasis on those of zoonotic importance. We seek to promote the exchange of knowledge among researchers from different areas of health, strengthening cooperation in tackling the complexity of diseases that affect both animals and humans.

Dr. Hermes Ribeiro Luz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pathogens is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infectious pathogens
  • diagnosis
  • epidemiology
  • zoonosis
  • parasitism

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 2051 KiB  
Article
Repellent Activity of DEET Combined with Botanical Compounds Against Amblyomma sculptum Nymphs: Laboratory and Field Evaluations
by Mayara Macêdo Barrozo, Haile Dean Figueiredo Chagas, Gabrielly Bernardes Rodrigues Damaceno, Emilly Faria Santos, Rafael Assunção Carvalho, Isabela Santos Silva, Francisca Letícia Vale, Lainny Jordana Martins Pereira e Sousa, Hermes Ribeiro Luz, Lorena Lopes Ferreira and Caio Monteiro
Pathogens 2025, 14(5), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050495 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 257
Abstract
This study evaluated the repellent activity of DEET, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and their combinations against Amblyomma sculptum nymphs through laboratory and field tests. Initially, the botanical compounds were tested individually in Petri dish assays to assess repellent activity over various intervals (1 [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the repellent activity of DEET, eugenol, methyl eugenol, 1,8-cineole, and their combinations against Amblyomma sculptum nymphs through laboratory and field tests. Initially, the botanical compounds were tested individually in Petri dish assays to assess repellent activity over various intervals (1 min to 168 h) at concentrations of 2%. Eugenol and methyl eugenol exhibited the highest average repellent percentages (60 to 90%), with significant effects (p < 0.05) across most evaluation periods, in contrast to 1,8-cineole. Therefore, eugenol and methyl eugenol were selected for combination testing with DEET. The combinations of 7% DEET + 1% eugenol and 7% DEET + 2% methyl eugenol showed the best results, with average repellent efficacy exceeding 85%. The first combination was selected for field evaluation. In this test, volunteers wore treated socks and walked for two hours in a naturally infested area. A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the number of ticks recovered from the socks was observed in the 7% DEET and 7% DEET + 1% eugenol treatments, with efficacies of 82.5% and 88.5%, respectively, after 120 min. Isolated eugenol showed limited field efficacy, with significant repellent activity (p < 0.05) lasting only 20 min. The results highlight the potential of eugenol and methyl eugenol as repellent compounds, especially when combined with DEET. The field study confirmed the efficacy of the 7% DEET + 1% eugenol. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals)
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17 pages, 1417 KiB  
Article
Validation of a High-Throughput Microfluidic Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Vector-Borne Agents in Wild Birds from the Brazilian Pantanal
by Amir Salvador Alabí Córdova, João Batista Pinho, Amanda Garcia Pereira, Clémence Galon, Tiago Valadares Ferreira, Lorena Freitas das Neves, Gabrielly de Oliveira Lopes, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Sara Moutailler and Marcos Rogério André
Pathogens 2025, 14(5), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14050491 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 198
Abstract
Despite numerous studies on haemosporidians in wild birds from Brazil, the presence of other vector-borne agents (VBA) such as Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., and Onchocercidae filariids in avian hosts remains largely unknown. The low occurrence of these VBAs might be due to the [...] Read more.
Despite numerous studies on haemosporidians in wild birds from Brazil, the presence of other vector-borne agents (VBA) such as Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., and Onchocercidae filariids in avian hosts remains largely unknown. The low occurrence of these VBAs might be due to the low sensitivity of traditional molecular techniques. The microfluidic real-time PCR assay, known for its high sensitivity, has emerged as a promising method to detect and study the occurrence and diversity of VBAs in both arthropod vectors and vertebrate hosts. To validate previously and standardize newly designed microfluidic real-time PCR protocols, selected positive avian blood DNA samples for Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., haemosporidians, and filariids were used. The molecular occurrence rates for the selected VBAs were 18.2% for Anaplasma spp., 0.36% for Bartonella spp., 6.2% for Plasmodium spp., 4.7% for Haemoproteus spp., and 6.5% for Onchocercidae filariids. The Plasmodium spp. cytB sequence detected in a Volatinia jacarina clustered with Plasmodium tejerai, whereas the Haemoproteus spp. cytB sequence detected in a Columbina squamata clustered with Haemoproteus columbae. While Onchocercidae filariid cox-1 sequences were detected in specimens of Ramphocelus carbo, Turdus amaurocalinus and Synallaxis albilora grouped with Aproctella spp., one sequence detected in R. carbo was ancestral to the clade comprising Splendidofilaria spp. and Eufilaria spp. High-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR assay can be used for screening VBAs in avian hosts from South America, but new primers/probe sets should be designed for VBA genotypes present in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals)
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11 pages, 2308 KiB  
Article
First Record of Leishmania (Viannia) sp. and High Prevalence of Anaplasma marginale and Trypanosoma theileri in Zebu Cattle from Zenú Communities in Northern Colombia
by Daniel Guzmán-Vásquez, Lucas Lisboa Nunes Bonifácio, Kamila Gaudêncio da Silva Sales, Rafaela Lira Nogueira de Luna, Luis Enrique Paternina Tuiran and Filipe Dantas-Torres
Pathogens 2025, 14(4), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14040382 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 442
Abstract
Colombia has the fourth largest livestock herd on the American continent. Cattle farms are expanding in Colombia, sometimes impacting traditional communities and reserves. This is especially true for the Zenú ethnic group, whose ancestral territory includes the valleys of the Sinú and San [...] Read more.
Colombia has the fourth largest livestock herd on the American continent. Cattle farms are expanding in Colombia, sometimes impacting traditional communities and reserves. This is especially true for the Zenú ethnic group, whose ancestral territory includes the valleys of the Sinú and San Jorge rivers, as well as the Caribbean coast around the Gulf of Morrosquillo, in the departments of Córdoba and Sucre. The present study examined the prevalence of trypanosomatids and Anaplasma spp. in zebu cattle grazing in seven Zenú communities in the Sucre department. Of the 110 cattle sampled, 56 (50.9%) tested positive for trypanosomatids. Forty 18S rRNA gene sequences generated showed >99% identity with Trypanosoma theileri, while one sequence demonstrated 99.6% identity with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; sequencing of the remaining 15 positive samples was unsuccessful. Regarding Anaplasma spp., 96 (87.3%) samples were positive, and the 14 msp4 gene sequences generated displayed >99% identity with Anaplasma marginale. Thus, T. theileri and A. marginale were prevalent in cattle from all Zenú communities, while Leishmania (Viannia) sp. was found in a cow from the community of La Gallera. Our findings indicate that these agents are common in zebu cattle from Zenú communities, underscoring the need for preventive measures to reduce the infection burden and potential implications for cattle production in these areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals)
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12 pages, 3345 KiB  
Article
Serosurvey of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in Quilombola Communities of Southern Brazil
by Danilo Alves de França, Louise Bach Kmetiuk, Filipe Pereira da Silva, Giovanni Kalempa Panazzolo, Leandro Meneguelli Biondo, Orlei José Domingues, Giovani Marino Fávero, Ana Íris de Lima Duré and Alexander Welker Biondo
Pathogens 2025, 14(4), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14040318 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 307
Abstract
Although quilombola individuals and their dogs may be exposed to hemoparasites such as A. phagocytophilum, B. microti, and E. chaffeensis, no study to date has been conducted in these populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence [...] Read more.
Although quilombola individuals and their dogs may be exposed to hemoparasites such as A. phagocytophilum, B. microti, and E. chaffeensis, no study to date has been conducted in these populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in humans and dogs from quilombola communities in Brazil. Serum samples from humans and dogs were collected from four rural quilombola communities and analyzed using indirect immunofluorescence assays. The results revealed antibody levels of 8% for A. phagocytophilum, 3% for B. microti, and 1% for E. chaffeensis in humans and 60%, 50%, and 65%, respectively, in dogs. Notably, women were significantly more likely to be seropositive for A. phagocytophilum than men (p = 0.0289). Dogs from the Serra do Apon community more commonly had A. phagocytophilum (p = 0.0477) and B. microti (p = 0.0448) than those from the other areas. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report human exposure to A. phagocytophilum and the ocurrence of B. microti in Brazil. The antibody level of vector-borne diseases in humans is a public health concern, particularly in vulnerable populations and rural areas. The dogs were universally hosted Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, suggesting their possible role in transmission. Thus, further epidemiological surveillance studies should be conducted in vulnerable populations to mitigate the impact of such zoonotic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vector Control and Parasitic Infection in Animals)
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