Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) represent a huge threat for millions of humans and animals worldwide, since they act as vectors for important parasites and pathogens, including malaria, filariasis ...and important arboviruses, such as dengue, West Nile and Zika virus. No vaccines or other specific treatments are available against the arboviruses transmitted by mosquitoes, and avoidance of mosquito bites remains the best strategy. African regions are usually hit most whose inhabitants are poor, and the use of repellent plants is the only efficient protection against vectors they have. Ethnobotanical knowledge of such plants and their use is usually passed on orally from one generation to another. However, it is also important to preserve this information in a written form, as well. Ethnobotanical research projects carried out in the regions of today’s Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania indicate that the native inhabitants of the African study regions traditionally use 64 plant species, belonging to 30 families. Aromatic plants (i.e., Citrus spp., Eucalyptus spp., Lantana camara, Ocimum spp. and Lippia javanica) the most commonly used in all the study regions. Native people know three major methods of using repellent plants: (i) production of repellent smoke from burning plants, (ii) hanging plants inside the house or sprinkling leaves on the floor, (iii) the use of plant oils, juices from crushed fresh parts of the plants, or various prepared extracts applied on uncovered body parts. Overall, this review covers studies conducted only in a limited part of the African continent, highlighting the importance to undertake further research efforts to preserve the unique knowledge and traditions of the native tribes.
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•Mosquitoes act as vectors for key parasites and pathogens, including malaria, filariasis, dengue and Zika virus.•We review knowledge about botanical mosquito repellents used by African natives.•Native inhabitants of African regions traditionally use 64 plants, belonging to 30 families.•Tools include smoke from burning plants, hanging plants inside houses and crushed plant parts applied on the body.•Studies focused on a small part of Africa, further research to preserve the knowledge of native tribes is needed.
Molecular tools have been developed to detect and differentiate
Cryptosporidium at the species/genotype and subtype levels. These tools have been increasingly used in characterizing the transmission ...of
Cryptosporidium spp. in humans and animals. Results of these molecular epidemiologic studies have led to better appreciation of the public health importance of
Cryptosporidium species/genotypes in various animals and improved understanding of infection sources in humans. Geographic, seasonal and socioeconomic differences in the distribution of
Cryptosporidium spp. in humans have been identified, and have been attributed to differences in infection sources and transmission routes. The transmission of
C. parvum in humans is mostly anthroponotic in developing countries, with zoonotic infections play an important role in developed countries. Species of
Cryptosporidium and subtype families of
C. hominis have been shown to induce different clinical manifestations and have different potential to cause outbreaks. The wide use of a new generation of genotyping and subtyping tools in well designed epidemiologic studies should lead to a more in-depth understanding of the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals.
•Biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (AuN) were studied by FTIR, TEM, EDX and XRD.•LC50 of AuN vs. Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti ranged from 18.8 to 41.5 ppm.•Copepod predation vs. A. stephensi ...and A. aegypti young larvae were 26.8% and 56%.•In AuN-treated sites, predation was 45.6% (A. stephensi ) and 77.3% (A. aegypti).•Low doses of AuN may boost the control of mosquito larvae in biocontrol programs.
Plant-borne compounds can be employed to synthesize mosquitocidal nanoparticles that are effective at low doses. However, how they affect the activity of mosquito predators in the aquatic environment is unknown. In this study, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (AuN) using the leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus, which acted as a reducing and capping agent. AuN were characterized by a variety of biophysical methods and sorted for size in order to confirm structural integrity. C. citratus extract and biosynthesized AuN were tested against larvae and pupae of the malaria vector Anopheles stephensi and the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. LC50 of C. citratus extract ranged from 219.32 ppm to 471.36 ppm. LC50 of AuN ranged from 18.80 ppm to 41.52 ppm. In laboratory, the predatory efficiency of the cyclopoid crustacean Mesocyclops aspericornis against A. stephensi larvae was 26.8% (larva I) and 17% (larva II), while against A. aegypti was56% (I) and 35.1% (II). Predation against late-instar larvae was minimal. In AuN-contaminated environment,predation efficiency against A. stephensi was 45.6% (I) and 26.7% (II), while against A. aegypti was 77.3% (I) and 51.6% (II). Overall, low doses of AuN may help to boost the control of Anopheles and Aedes larval populations in copepod-based control programs.
Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that is widely distributed in the environment. It is an opportunist protist, which is known to cause rare yet fatal infection of the central nervous system (CNS), ...granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in humans. GAE cases are increasingly been reported among immunocompromised patients, with few cases in immunocompetent hosts. Diagnosis of GAE primarily includes neuroimaging, microscopy, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, histopathology, serology and molecular techniques. Early diagnosis is vital for proper management of infected patients. Combination therapeutic approach has been tried in various GAE cases reported worldwide. We tried to present a comprehensive review, which summarizes on the epidemiology of GAE caused by Acanthamoeba along with the associated clinical symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of GAE among infected patients.
•Updates on epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of Acanthamoeba causing GAE among infected patients.•Acanthamoeba-endosymbionts relationship.•Tabular presentation of GAE cases caused by Acanthamoeba worldwide during 1990–2018.•Worldwide distribution of cases reported during 1990–2018.
As per 20th livestock census, India possessing 193.46 million cattle and 109.85 million buffaloes in organized and unorganized sectors. These animals are suffering from tick infestation almost ...throughout the year causing both direct and indirect losses. Repeated use of chemical acaricides for tick management resulted in the establishment of acaricide resistant tick populations, insecticide residues in livestock products and environmental pollution. In the present study, analysis of the data generated during 1990–2021 revealed pooled prevalence of infestations in cattle and buffaloes was 53% 95% CI = 47–60% and 38% 95% CI = 28–49%, respectively. Based on peripheral blood smear examination the prevalence of theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis in cattle is estimated as 17% 95% CI = 12–24%, 4% 95% CI = 3–6% and 5% 95% CI = 3–7%, respectively, while in buffalo the prevalence of infection is estimated as 7% 95% CI = 2–21%, 2% 95% CI = 0–5% and 8% 95% CI = 2–36%,respectively.To estimate economic impact, both direct (reduction in milk production, cost of treatment, leather depreciation) and indirect (milk loss and treatment cost) losses were taken into consideration. Loss of milk production was predicted as 13.91, 56.91 and 85.34L/cross-bred cow/lactation in low, moderate and high tick infestation conditions, respectively. Whereas, 20.10, 7.01L milk/buffalo/lactation in Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. infestation was estimated. Similarly,the estimated loss of milk production due to clinical theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis was 57.96, 30.96 and 59.22L, respectively. The cumulative (milk loss, treatment cost and leather loss) loss due to tick infestation was calculated as 46199.31 million INR (USD595.07 million) while due to TBDs 14877.15 million INR (USD191.15 million) = 61076.46 million INR (USD787.63 million). The data provided base line information for the policy maker to develop strategies at government level so that the significantly high cumulative loss of 787.63 million USD due to ticks and tick borne diseases (TTBDs) can be minimized.
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•The estimated economic impact due to tick infestation was worked out.•The estimated economic loss due to TBDs in cattle and buffaloes was determined.•The cumulative economic loss due to TTBDs is estimated as 787.63 million USD.•Adoption of integrated tick management strategy is recommended to minimize the loss.
