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Pathogens
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The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World
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The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 14633

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marion England

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Woking, GU24 0NF, UK
Interests: vector-borne disease; climate change; taxonomy
Dr. Lee Cohnstaedt

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Foreign Arthropod-Borne Animal Diseases Research Unit, National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
Interests: arthropod-borne animal diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vector-borne diseases are likely to be strongly impacted by future climate change due to vector dependence on climate variables such as temperature and precipitation. Additionally, human impact on the landscape through both urbanization and restoration of natural areas has affects host availability and density as well as breeding habitats. Globalization facilitates the transport of vectors and associated pathogens to new areas and shifts in natural host migration patterns may also influence future disease distribution.

This special issue welcomes research and reviews that consider the future challenges and impact of our changing world on vector-borne diseases. Modelling the impact of future landscape and climate scenarios on disease risk for a range of vectors and pathogens, alongside qualitative and quantitative risk assessments and field and/or laboratory work that address areas where data are currently lacking are welcomed. This issue will help to inform policy decisions and prioritize future research areas in this field.

Dr. Marion England
Dr. Lee Cohnstaedt
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1301 KiB  
Article
Detection of Leishmania donovani DNA from Oral Swab in Visceral Leishmaniasis
by Santana R. Sarkar, Rina Hobo, Yuki Shoshi, Shyamal K. Paul, Yasuyuki Goto, Eisei Noiri, Yoshitsugu Matsumoto and Chizu Sanjoba
Pathogens 2025, 14(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020144 - 4 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1199
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases. Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases that tend to thrive in developing regions of the world where inadequate access to [...] Read more.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and is fatal if left untreated in over 95% of cases. Leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases that tend to thrive in developing regions of the world where inadequate access to healthcare makes it difficult for some people to even receive a diagnosis. This study examined the usefulness of oral swabs as specimens for VL diagnosis, by detecting Leishmania donovani DNA in oral swabs from both VL patients and L. donovani-infected mice. Eighty oral swab (OS) and blood buffy coat (BC) samples were collected from suspected VL cases in Bangladesh. These samples were evaluated using Leishmania kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA) in real-time PCR, and the results showed that 62.5% (50/80) and 67.5% (54/80) of the cases tested positive for the BC specimen and OS, respectively. The OS positivity was statistically comparable to the BC. L. donovani DNA was also detected in an oral swab of all infected BALB/c mice by conventional PCR targeting the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSUrRNA), while it was negative in uninfected mice. This study highlights the potential of practical methods for the molecular diagnosis of VL using oral swabs as a non-invasive, simple, and accurate approach. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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9 pages, 531 KiB  
Article
Identifying New Areas of Endemicity and Risk Factors for Rickettsia conorii subsp. conorii Infection: Serosurvey in Rural Areas of Romania
by Cristina Alexandra Cheran, Andreea Madalina Panciu, Claudia Doina Riciu, Iulia Maria Nedelcu, Diana Gabriela Iacob and Adriana Hristea
Pathogens 2024, 13(9), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090783 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1374
Abstract
Background: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii subsp. conorii, primarily prevalent in Mediterranean and Southern Europe. We aimed to evaluate MSF seroprevalence and risk factors in non-endemic rural areas of Romania. Methods: We conducted a serosurvey [...] Read more.
Background: Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia conorii subsp. conorii, primarily prevalent in Mediterranean and Southern Europe. We aimed to evaluate MSF seroprevalence and risk factors in non-endemic rural areas of Romania. Methods: We conducted a serosurvey in five counties not under MSF surveillance by testing 459 serum samples from adult volunteers for specific IgG antibodies using ELISA. Participants answered a questionnaire regarding demographics and MSF risk factors. Results: The median age of the participants was 60 years and 329 (71.7%) were female. Overall, 64 (13.9%) samples tested positive for IgG anti-R. conorii, with rates ranging from 7.1% in Sibiu to 22.4% in Hunedoara. The median age of the positive individuals was 68 years, with a significantly higher seropositivity rate of 54.7% among those over 65 years (p = 0.01). Among those positive, 53 (82.8%) owned different household animals; 24 (37.5%) had daily contact with dogs, and 27 (42.2%) with livestock; 17 (26.6%) noted tick infestations of animals, and 23 (35.9%) reported tick bites. Conclusions: This study revealed an important seroprevalence of MSF in Romanian areas considered non-endemic, indicating an expansion of its geographical range, probably due to climate change, and emphasizing the importance of enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities nationwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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12 pages, 546 KiB  
Article
Japanese Encephalitis Virus Surveillance in U.S. Army Installations in the Republic of Korea from 2021 to 2023
by Paula Lado, Gary P. Crispell, Sung Tae Chong, Myong Sun Kim, Ashley N. Esparza, Eric Zielinski, Akira Iwami, Kelly P. Williams, John J. Eads, Kei Jimbo, Dana N. Mitzel, Lee W. Cohnstaedt, Joshua B. Richardson, Jeffrey R. Kugelman and Craig A. Stoops
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 705; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080705 - 20 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1302
Abstract
Japanese encephalitis is a disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and is a concern for U.S. military personnel stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The recent literature reports a potential shift from GI to GV as the dominant genotype circulating [...] Read more.
Japanese encephalitis is a disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and is a concern for U.S. military personnel stationed in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The recent literature reports a potential shift from GI to GV as the dominant genotype circulating in east Asia. In the ROK, GV has been reported in a few Culex spp., but not in the main JEV vector, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. The goal of this surveillance was to shed light on the current knowledge of the epidemiology of JEV in the ROK by analyzing mosquito collection data from three consecutive years, 2021–2023, and molecularly detecting and genotyping JEV in all Culex spp. collected in several military locations across the ROK. In this study, we detected only JEV GI in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in 2021 samples. In contrast, all 2022 and 2023 positive samples were GV and detected in Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. orientalis, and Cx. pipiens. Results support a shift in JEV genotype in the ROK and suggest that for GV, Culex spp. other than Cx. tritaeniorhynchus may be playing an important role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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22 pages, 2114 KiB  
Article
Distribution of and Relationships between Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Parameters in Canine Leishmaniosis: A Retrospective Study of 15 Years (2009–2023)
by Ricardo Lopes, Andreia Garcês, Augusto Silva, Paula Brilhante-Simões, Ângela Martins, Elsa Leclerc Duarte, Ana Cláudia Coelho and Luís Cardoso
Pathogens 2024, 13(8), 635; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13080635 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1797
Abstract
Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are zoonotic and have an important impact on animal and public health globally. Between 2009 and 2023, blood samples from domestic dogs with clinical suspicion of leishmaniosis were [...] Read more.
Leishmaniosis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which are zoonotic and have an important impact on animal and public health globally. Between 2009 and 2023, blood samples from domestic dogs with clinical suspicion of leishmaniosis were received from 286 veterinary medical centres throughout mainland Portugal. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilised to detect antibodies against Leishmania infantum antigens. Additionally, a complete blood count and tests for total proteins, urea, creatinine and alanine aminotransferase, as well as protein electrophoresis, were also performed. No significant relationship between sex and breed was observed. The age distribution was bimodal, with the highest prevalence of disease occurring at 2–5 years of age and a secondary peak occurring at 6 years or over (p < 0.001). No statistical correlation was observed between creatinine and urea across the ELISA serological groups. In contrast, both the gamma globulin levels (r = 0.45; p < 0.001) and the albumin/globulin ratio (r = −0.36; p < 0.001) exhibited moderate correlations with the ELISA. These findings support recent seroprevalence studies in dogs, with some geographical areas in Northern Portugal exhibiting the highest values, which may be the result of geographical shifts in parasite circulation due to climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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18 pages, 6582 KiB  
Article
PICTUREE—Aedes: A Web Application for Dengue Data Visualization and Case Prediction
by Chunlin Yi, Aram Vajdi, Tanvir Ferdousi, Lee W. Cohnstaedt and Caterina Scoglio
Pathogens 2023, 12(6), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12060771 - 29 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3574
Abstract
Dengue fever remains a significant public health concern in many tropical and subtropical countries, and there is still a need for a system that can effectively combine global risk assessment with timely incidence forecasting. This research describes an integrated application called PICTUREE—Aedes, which [...] Read more.
Dengue fever remains a significant public health concern in many tropical and subtropical countries, and there is still a need for a system that can effectively combine global risk assessment with timely incidence forecasting. This research describes an integrated application called PICTUREE—Aedes, which can collect and analyze dengue-related data, display simulation results, and forecast outbreak incidence. PICTUREE—Aedes automatically updates global temperature and precipitation data and contains historical records of dengue incidence (1960–2012) and Aedes mosquito occurrences (1960–2014) in its database. The application utilizes a mosquito population model to estimate mosquito abundance, dengue reproduction number, and dengue risk. To predict future dengue outbreak incidence, PICTUREE—Aedes applies various forecasting techniques, including the ensemble Kalman filter, recurrent neural network, particle filter, and super ensemble forecast, which are all based on user-entered case data. The PICTUREE—Aedes’ risk estimation identifies favorable conditions for potential dengue outbreaks, and its forecasting accuracy is validated by available outbreak data from Cambodia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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Review

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8 pages, 230 KiB  
Review
Examining Infant and Child Neurodevelopmental Outcomes After Lyme Disease During Pregnancy
by Meagan E. Williams, David A. Schwartz, Roberta L. DeBiasi and Sarah B. Mulkey
Pathogens 2024, 13(12), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13121029 - 22 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1762
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Recent environmental and socioecological changes have led to an increased incidence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, which enhances the urgency of identifying and mitigating adverse outcomes of Lyme disease exposure. [...] Read more.
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Recent environmental and socioecological changes have led to an increased incidence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, which enhances the urgency of identifying and mitigating adverse outcomes of Lyme disease exposure. Lyme disease during pregnancy, especially when untreated, may lead to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes; however, long-term child outcomes following utero exposure to Lyme disease have not yet been systematically assessed. This concise review describes the current state of knowledge of Lyme disease as a congenital infection and the potential effects of in utero exposure to Lyme disease infection on the neurodevelopment of infants and children. We highlight the importance of distinguishing between acute Lyme disease and a chronic condition termed Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, as the impacts of both conditions on the developing fetus and subsequent child development may differ. The importance of placental pathology for patients with acute or chronic symptoms of Lyme disease in pregnancy is explored. Future research aiming to understand and protect neurodevelopment after antenatal Lyme disease must carefully collect potentially confounding variables such as symptomatology and treatment, use clear and standard case definitions, and follow children into school-age and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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17 pages, 371 KiB  
Review
Interaction of Human Behavioral Factors Shapes the Transmission of Arboviruses by Aedes and Culex Mosquitoes
by Aubane Renard, Fernanda Pérez Lombardini, Mitsuri Pacheco Zapata, Thibaud Porphyre, Ana Bento, Gerardo Suzán, David Roiz, Benjamin Roche and Audrey Arnal
Pathogens 2023, 12(12), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12121421 - 6 Dec 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2541
Abstract
Arboviruses, i.e., viruses transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods, trigger significant global epidemics. Over the past 20 years, the frequency of the (re-)emergence of these pathogens, particularly those transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, has dramatically increased. Therefore, understanding how human behavior is modulating population [...] Read more.
Arboviruses, i.e., viruses transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods, trigger significant global epidemics. Over the past 20 years, the frequency of the (re-)emergence of these pathogens, particularly those transmitted by Aedes and Culex mosquitoes, has dramatically increased. Therefore, understanding how human behavior is modulating population exposure to these viruses is of particular importance. This synthesis explores human behavioral factors driving human exposure to arboviruses, focusing on household surroundings, socio-economic status, human activities, and demographic factors. Household surroundings, such as the lack of water access, greatly influence the risk of arbovirus exposure by promoting mosquito breeding in stagnant water bodies. Socio-economic status, such as low income or low education, is correlated to an increased incidence of arboviral infections and exposure. Human activities, particularly those practiced outdoors, as well as geographical proximity to livestock rearing or crop cultivation, inadvertently provide favorable breeding environments for mosquito species, escalating the risk of virus exposure. However, the effects of demographic factors like age and gender can vary widely through space and time. While climate and environmental factors crucially impact vector development and viral replication, household surroundings, socio-economic status, human activities, and demographic factors are key drivers of arbovirus exposure. This article highlights that human behavior creates a complex interplay of factors influencing the risk of mosquito-borne virus exposure, operating at different temporal and spatial scales. To increase awareness among human populations, we must improve our understanding of these complex factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Vector-Borne Diseases in a Changing World)
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