Leishmania infantum is the primary causative agent of zoonotic leishmaniasis in Europe and is transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. Although Slovenia is not considered endemic, competent vectors and canine infections have been documented, suggesting conditions that may allow local transmission. During the 2023 sand fly season, 145 phlebotomine sand flies were collected at a farm site in Cetore, Slovenian Istria, and identified morphologically as Phlebotomus neglectus, P. perniciosus and P. mascittii. Female sand flies were grouped into eight monospecific pools and screened for Leishmania DNA by kinetoplast DNA real-time PCR. One pool of P. neglectus females collected in July tested positive, with a low cycle threshold value indicating a high parasite DNA load. Species-level identification using ITS-1 and hsp70 PCR-RFLP, followed by sequencing, confirmed the parasite as L. infantum. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of L. infantum in phlebotomine sand flies from Slovenia. The finding of L. infantum DNA in a proven vector species represents an early warning signal and highlights the need to implement entomological and molecular surveillance programmes in Slovenia.
In recent years, tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have gained significant prominence in public and veterinary health due to reports of fatal cases associated with vertebrates and the identification of a wide diversity of viruses in ixodid ticks through molecular techniques, particularly high-throughput sequencing. This study aims to investigate RNA viruses in Rhipicephalus linnaei ticks from two distinct regions of the state of Par & aacute;, in the Amazon, using a metagenomic approach. Specimens of Rhipicephalus linnaei were confirmed based on the COXI gene of their mitochondrial genome. We report the first record of Brown dog tick mivirus 1 (Mivirus rhipicephali; Family Chuviridae) and Brown dog tick phlebovirus 2 (Uukuvirus tobagoense; Family Phenuiviridae) in Brazil, as well as partial fragments of Uukuvirus tobagoense, Castanhal tick orthomyxovirus (Family Orthomyxoviridae), Guangdong tick quaranjavirus (Family Orthomyxoviridae), Alpharicinrhavirus taishun (Family Rhabdoviridae) and Zhangye Rhabd tick virus 1 (Family Rhabdoviridae). This research identified viruses with potential relevance to public and animal health and expands knowledge about the geographic distribution of viruses in tick populations, especially species of vector importance. In this context, studies on ixodid populations are essential to elucidate viral ecology, identify potential emerging agents and assess risks to public and animal health, contributing to the improvement of disease surveillance and prevention strategies.
In northeastern Argentina, wild canids such as the pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) coexist with domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) across rural and peri-urban landscapes, creating opportunities for tick and pathogen exchange. Characterizing tick assemblages and associated pathogens in these hosts is essential to assess potential public health risks at the wildlife-domestic interface. Ticks were collected opportunistically from domestic dogs and road-killed foxes near two protected areas in Corrientes Province. Specimens were identified using morphological and molecular approaches and screened for Rickettsia spp. by PCR. A total of 30 adult ticks were obtained from 12 dogs and 8 foxes, representing four species: Amblyomma tigrinum, A. ovale, A. dubitatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Amblyomma tigrinum was the most frequent species (50%). Seven individual ticks were confirmed as Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in A. tigrinum, while one pooled sample was positive by screening only and was not confirmed. These findings expand the known geographic distribution of Ca. R. andeanae and provide molecular evidence of its circulation in ticks collected from both wild and domestic canids in northeastern Argentina. Our results highlight the importance of these hosts as sentinels for tick-borne pathogens and underscore the need for integrated One Health surveillance to better anticipate emerging potential risks in interface areas. En el noreste de Argentina, los c & aacute;nidos silvestres como el zorro pampeano (Lycalopex gymnocercus) y el zorro de monte (Cerdocyon thous) coexisten con perros dom & eacute;sticos (Canis lupus familiaris) en paisajes rurales y periurbanos, creando oportunidades para el intercambio de garrapatas y pat & oacute;genos. Caracterizar los ensambles de garrapatas y los pat & oacute;genos asociados en estos hospedadores es esencial para evaluar los posibles riesgos para la salud p & uacute;blica en la interfaz entre la vida silvestre y los animales dom & eacute;sticos. Se recolectaron garrapatas de manera oportunista en perros dom & eacute;sticos y zorros atropellados en carreteras cerca de dos & aacute;reas protegidas en la provincia de Corrientes. Los espec & iacute;menes fueron identificados mediante enfoques morfol & oacute;gicos y moleculares, y se evalu & oacute; la presencia de Rickettsia spp. mediante PCR. Se obtuvo un total de 30 garrapatas adultas a partir de 12 perros y 8 zorros, representando cuatro especies: Amblyomma tigrinum, A. ovale, A. dubitatum y Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Amblyomma tigrinum fue la especie m & aacute;s frecuente (50%). Se confirm & oacute; la presencia de Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae en siete garrapatas individuales de A. tigrinum, mientras que una muestra agrupada (pool) dio positiva & uacute;nicamente en el tamizaje inicial y no pudo ser confirmada. Estos hallazgos ampl & iacute;an la distribuci & oacute;n geogr & aacute;fica conocida de Ca. R. andeanae y proporcionan evidencia molecular de su circulaci & oacute;n en garrapatas recolectadas tanto en c & aacute;nidos silvestres como dom & eacute;sticos en el noreste de Argentina. Nuestros resultados resaltan la importancia de estos hospedadores como centinelas de pat & oacute;genos transmitidos por garrapatas y subrayan la necesidad de una vigilancia integrada bajo el enfoque de Una Sola Salud (One Health) para anticipar de mejor manera los posibles riesgos emergentes en zonas de interfaz.
Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) is notorious for transmitting several pathogens of public health importance. The mosquito has also displayed a great capacity for dispersal. Within the last 30 years, the mosquito has been documented on every continent except for Antarctica. The species was first noted in Canada in 2016 in Windsor-Essex, Ontario. Since then, Ae. albopictus has been found every subsequent year in active surveillance trapping (2017-2023). Despite the mosquito's establishment, there has been little research into how the Canadian environment is associated with its abundance. This study presents the first investigation into how weather variables such as precipitation, temperature, relative humidity and daylength impacted adult and larval Ae. albopictus abundance in Windsor, Ontario. We found weather variables 1 and 2 weeks prior to trapping to be associated with mosquito abundance but with differing thresholds. This suggests that Ae. albopictus has a specific niche within Ontario, Canada, and has adapted to the temperate climate. It is important now to further document the expansion of Aedes mosquito species into Canada as the climate continues to change.
