Ticks harbor complex microbial communities composed of symbionts, commensals, and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Together, these microorganisms form the tick holobiont. Within this system, the tick’s physiological architecture structures microbial communities by distributing microorganisms across distinct tissues. This compartmentalization creates spatially distinct ecological niches, which in turn shape how microbial communities assemble and interact. In this review, we integrate ecological theory with current knowledge of tick microbiome research to examine how pathogen–pathogen and pathogen–microbiome interactions emerge within these tissue-structured microbial communities. We first outline how baseline ecological filters, including tick species, developmental stage, tissue identity, vertical transmission, and environmental context, shape the microbiome configuration through community assembly processes. We then examined how TBPs, as high-impact colonizers, can further modify microbial networks by altering host-mediated selective pressures, influencing interaction topology, and reshaping community stability. Based on these observations, we propose a dual selective pressure framework in which (i) baseline ecological structuring processes and (ii) pathogen-associated selective pressures interact to determine the microbial network configuration and functional outcomes within the tick holobiont. These interacting forces may drive shifts in diversity, modularity, keystone taxa emergence, and network resilience, ultimately influencing vector competence. This review frames the microbial communities within the tick holobiont as spatially structured ecological systems shaped by multilevel selective pressures. This conceptual foundation provides a coherent framework for understanding microbial interactions in arthropod vectors and highlights avenues for mechanistic research and microbiome-based strategies to mitigate tick-borne diseases.

OBJECTIVES:Serological tests for syphilis detect mainly total Ig, IgM or IgG antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the specific IgA response in syphilis patients according to disease stage.METHODS:A serum IgA-enzyme immunoassay was developed using commercially available microplates coated with recombinant treponemal antigens and an anti-IgA-conjugate. To define a cut-off, we used 91 syphilis positive and 136 negative sera previously defined by the rapid plasma reagin and the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination results. Then we determined the intra- and inter-assay precisions, diagnostic sensitivity according to the clinical stage (in 66, 55 and 42 sera from primary, secondary and latent syphilis patients, respectively) and specificity (in 211 sera from people with conditions different to syphilis). IgA values were further measured in 71 sera from patients with previously treated syphilis.RESULTS:The newly developed IgA-enzyme immunoassay showed a good discrimination between negative and positive samples with intra- and inter-assay variation coefficients <20%. The sensitivity was 80.3% (95% CI, 70.0-90.6), 100.0% (95% CI, 99.1-100.0) and 95.2% (95% CI, 87.6-100.0) in primary, secondary and latent syphilis, respectively, and the specificity was 98.1% (95% CI, 96.0-100.0). Further, IgA values were negative in 61.3% (38/62) of patients with previously treated syphilis.DISCUSSION:Our findings suggest serum IgA as a sensitive and specific marker of syphilis and its detection could be used as a screening assay for active infection. Further evaluation is needed in prospective longitudinal field studies.

Lyme Borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s [...].

Bejel (endemic syphilis) is a neglected non-venereal disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN). Although it is mostly present in hot, dry climates, a few cases have been found outside of these areas. The aim of this work was the sequencing and analysis of TEN isolates obtained from "syphilis patients" in Cuba, which is not considered an endemic area for bejel. Genomes were obtained by pool segment genome sequencing or direct sequencing methods, and the bioinformatics analysis was performed according to an established pipeline. We obtained four genomes with 100%, 81.7%, 52.6%, and 21.1% breadth of coverage, respectively. The sequenced genomes revealed a non-clonal character, with nucleotide variability ranging between 0.2-10.3 nucleotide substitutions per 100 kbp among the TEN isolates. Nucleotide changes affected 27 genes, and the analysis of the completely sequenced genome also showed a recombination event between tprC and tprI, in TP0488 as well as in the intergenic region between TP0127-TP0129. Despite limitations in the quality of samples affecting breadth of sequencing coverage, the determined non-clonal character of the isolates suggests a persistent infection in the Cuban population rather than a single outbreak caused by imported case.

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Introducción: Las garrapatas duras son ectoparásitos hematófagos, vectores de patógenos zoonóticos emergentes. Hasta 2011 en Cuba existían evidencias de infección/exposición a Borrelia burgdorferi en seres humanos, pero se desconoce sobre la circulación de otros agentes. Objetivo: implementar nuevas herramientas diagnósticas, explorar infección/exposición de seres humanos a patógenos transmitidos por garrapatas, presencia de estos en vectores y nivel de conocimientos en personal médico. Métodos: se implementó PCR múltiple para detección de B. burgdorferi sl-Anaplasma spp. -Babesia spp., PCR para Borrelia spp., e infección artificial de garrapatas. Se describió la positividad a infección por B. burgdorferi (2011-2018), se exploró la presencia de anticuerpos contra borrelias en donantes de sangre de una región de baja exposición, anticuerpos contra otros agentes zoonóticos en población de riesgo, presencia de estos agentes en garrapatas, así como el nivel de conocimientos sobre enfermedad de Lyme en médicos. Resultados: Se fortalecieron capacidades del IPK para detección molecular de patógenos transmitidos por garrapatas. Se encontraron nuevas evidencias serológicas de infección por B. burgdorferi en pacientes con sospechas de enfermedad de Lyme. Se demostró ausencia de anticuerpos específicos contra B. burgdorferi en donantes de sangre. Se encontraron evidencias de anticuerpos contraAnaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis y Babesia microti. Se demostró presencia de Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia amblyommii y Coxiella burnetii en garrapatas. Se constataron conocimientos insuficientes sobre enfermedad de Lyme en personal médico. Conclusiones: estos resultados alertan a las autoridades nacionales de salud pública y personal médico sobre el riesgo de infección en individuos expuestos a picaduras de garrapatas.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to determine the allelic profiles of Treponema pallidum in patients confirmed with syphilis in Cuba (2018-2019) and to explore mutations leading to macrolide and tetracycline resistance. METHODS:Multilocus sequence typing and polymerase chain reaction of rrn loci (23S and 16S rDNA), followed by Sanger sequencing, were used to define the allelic profile of TPA and resistance mutations, respectively. RESULTS:Allelic profile 1.3.1 and the recombinant profile were identified, with 15.7.3 having an increased frequency. We did not detect the presence of the T. pallidum subspecies endemicum among syphilis patients, as in previous reports. A high frequency of macrolide-resistant strains and the absence of mutations potentially causing tetracycline resistance were found. CONCLUSIONS:Understanding the current status of treponemal infection in Cuban patients provides insights into the syphilis epidemiology.

Leptospirosis is a neglected disease causing severe infections in humans and animals. Due in part to misdiagnosis, this infectious disease results in nearly 60,000 deaths per year around the globe. This study represents the first effort to describe the diversity of pathogenic Leptospira in Cuba based on whole-genome sequencing. We have collected nineteen whole-blood samples from patients that were diagnosed as having leptospirosis between 2008 and 2012 in Cuba. In addition, we have enhanced our sample set by three historical strains that were used for the development of a human vaccine in 1990s. The Leptospira strains were grown and serotyped by the microscopic agglutination test, and the draft genomes were generated by NGS (Illumina). Subsequently, the core genomes were analyzed and compared to the genetic data available from other Caribbean islands and countries in Central America. Core genome Multi-locus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) revealed four different core genome clonal groups (cgCGs), with the highest number of samples belonging to L. interrogans, followed by L. borgpetersenii and L. kirschneri. All cgCGs that were found in Cuba have been also identified from multiple origins across the globe, except in neighbor countries and Central America. Serotyping divided the samples into the serogroups Canicola, Ballum and Pomona. The most frequent cgCGs, cgCG28, associated with serogroup Canicola, and cgCG15, associated with serogroup Ballum, have also been identified from samples isolated from dogs, rodents, and pigs; suggesting that these hosts represent the major source of human infection in Cuba. The vaccine strains did not significantly differ from the recent patient isolates. However, the increasing prevalence of samples belonging to the serogroup Ballum combined with the fact that the available vaccine in Cuba represents inactivated Leptospira belonging to serogroups other than Ballum, should be a valuable information for the National and Regional Leptospirosis Control Programs.

Objectives: The implementation of social confinement measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission. This study aims to explore the epidemiological behaviour of two notifiable STDs during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Study design: This is an exploratory study of the incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba. Methods: This study compares national weekly surveillance data on syphilis and gonorrhoea incidence rates in Cuba with the timeline of implemented social confinement measures. Results: Incidence rates for both STDs were declining before the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Cuba. Following the confirmation of COVID-19 in Cuba and the implementation of social confinement measures, the decreasing incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea continued. When social measures were subsequently relaxed, there was an increase in the incidence of syphilis, but incidence levels of gonorrhoea remained at a plateau. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the social measures introduced to curb the spread of COVID-19 influenced the sexual risk behaviours of individuals and subsequently modified the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhoea. It is necessary to continue epidemiological surveillance for longer periods of time and to explore it at the local, regional and national levels to better understand STDs in times of COVID-19.

Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, is a rising global public health concern and laboratory diagnostics remain challenging. Especially during early disease, rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure patients and their contacts receive timely treatment to eradicate infection and prevent further transmission. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis by evaluating anogenital swabs and sera from 178 Cuban patients presenting with ulcers. Three different PCR assays were evaluated targeting polA, tpp47 and 16S rDNA loci. Sera were evaluated with venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) assays. Assuming both methods were confirmatory, our data showed that PCR and serology did not correlate well (agreement = 52.3%, kappa 0.0512, 95% CI −0.0928–0.1951, p = 0.496). The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of the PCR assays were 76.1%, 100%, 100% and 57.9%, respectively, while the values for serology were 62.5%, 100%, 100% and 45.2%, respectively. The combination of PCR and serology can offer valuable information for the diagnosis of syphilis in patients presenting with anogenital ulceration avoiding further clinical complications and disease transmission.

Treponema pallidum es la especie bacteriana dentro del genero Treponema de mayor importancia en salud publica y comprende a su vez tres subespecies: T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA)m que se reconoce como el agente causal de la sifilis venerea; T. pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) que causa el pian, y T. pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN), causante de bejel o sifilis endemica. La sifilis venerea esta distribuida mundialmente y se transmite por via sexual; sin embargo, el pian y el bejel, tambien conocidos como treponematosis endemicas y no venereas, aparecen como brotes endemicos en determinadas regiones geograficas, particularmente en Africa y Medio Oriente. En Cuba la sifilis venerea se reconoce como un problema de salud, pero no se conoce sobre las treponematosis endemicas. Como parte del desarrollo de un proyecto de investigacion (Codigo: 1401110) del Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Treponemas y Patogenos Especiales (LNR-TPE) −titulado “Contribucion al diagnostico y caracterizacion de la infeccion por Treponema pallidum en Cuba”−, se obtuvo un hallazgo que consistio en la deteccion molecular (PCR + analisis de secuencias multi-locus MLSA de tres loci , TP0136, TP0548 y TP0705) de TEN en el 11,5 % (9/78) de las muestras de lesiones ulceradas genitales de pacientes con sospechas clinico-epidemiologicas de sifilis venerea (periodo 2012-2017). Para la confirmacion de este resultado se diseno un nuevo sistema MLSA para otros siete loci (TP0367, TP0859, TP0861, TP0865, TP0326, TP0488 y ADNr 16S) seleccionados teniendo en cuenta loci variables y conservados, lo que corroboro lo encontrado antes. Este hallazgo sugiere la ruptura de dogmas preestablecidos en el conocimiento cientifico de esta enfermedad al constituir el primer reporte de esta treponematosis en el hemisferio occidental (con caracter endemico) en pacientes que fueron confirmados por clinica, epidemiologia y laboratorio para sifilis venerea. Ademas, dada las conductas sexuales de riesgo referidas por los pacientes, junto con la descripcion de las lesiones en area genital, se sugiere una probable transmision sexual de este patogeno.

Background. The increased prevalence of syphilis in Cuba prompted us to map the circulating Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum allelic profiles in this geographic region. Methods. Samples were collected from 2012 to 2017, from 83 male patients with ulcers or skin lesions, and were examined using multilocus sequence typing. Additionally, we analyzed the 23S rDNA and 16S rDNA regions for the presence of possible mutations leading to macrolide and tetracycline resistance. Results. Among 94% of fully typed strains, we found 7 different allelic profiles, of which 4 had not been previously described. More than 87% of patients were infected with the T. pallidum SS14-like group and only 8.2% with T. pallidum Nichols-like group. As in other countries, the 1.3.1 allelic profile (ie, SS14-like) was the most common. In addition, 1 of the newly described allelic profiles represents T. pallidum strains that arose by recombination events between members of different T. pallidum subgroups. More than 90% of patients were infected with treponemes harboring the A2058G mutation. However, we found no potential tetracycline-resistant T. pallidum mutations. Conclusions. Our results suggest that, in Cuba, tetracycline antibiotics could be used to treat syphilis in penicillin-allergic patients instead of macrolides.

This study aimed to assess the presence of macrolide-resistant Treponema pallidum subtypes in Havana, Cuba. Samples from 41 syphilis patients were tested for T. pallidum 23S rRNA gene mutations. Twenty-five patients (61%) harbored T. pallidum with the A2058G mutation, which was present in all 8 subtypes that were identified. The A2059G mutation was not detected.

We report here the main characteristics of 'Metaprevotella massiliensis' strain Marseille-P-3114T (CSURP3114) that was isolated from a human ileum sample.

BACKGROUND:Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and in particular genital ulcer disease (GUD) have a major impact on morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The World Health Organization recommends the use of syndromic guidelines for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in resource-constrained countries. Surveillance of autochthonous etiologies provides epidemiological information contributing to the prevention and treatment of STIs. We investigated the etiology and factors associated with GUD among male patients attending a STD clinic in Havana, Cuba.METHODS:Swabs from genital ulcers of 113 male patients, collected from May 2012 to June 2015, were analyzed using PCR for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi, and Chlamydia trachomatis. We also investigated the clinical and epidemiological characteristics associated with the presence of these pathogens in GUD.RESULTS:At least one of the pathogens was detected in 70% of patients. The occurrence of the pathogens was herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) (51.3%), T. pallidum (29.2%), and C. trachomatis (1.8%). Co-infections occurred as follows: T. pallidum-HSV-2 (10.6%), C. trachomatis-HSV-2 (0.9%) and C. trachomatis-T. pallidum (0.9%). Herpes simplex virus type 1 and H. ducreyi were not detected. Ages 15 to 40 years, HIV-positive serostatus, and no condom use were significant risk factors for the presence of HSV-2 in genital ulcers.CONCLUSIONS:Our preliminary results highlight the predominance of HSV-2 and T. pallidum as the leading GUD etiologies in the study population and identified risk factors associated with HSV-2. This information should help to inform guidelines for better management of GUD in Havana, Cuba.

"The Cuban Experience in the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Congenital Syphilis." , 106(11), pp. 1975–1976

Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever. In order to explore the occurrence of C. burnetii in ticks, samples were collected from horses, dogs and humans living in a Cuban occidental community. The species most commonly recovered were Amblyomma mixtum (67%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (27%) and Dermacentor nitens (6%). Specific IS1111 PCR and amplicon sequencing allowed the identification of C. burnetii DNA in A. mixtum collected from a domestic horse. These findings, for first time in Cuba, indicate the need for an in-depth assessment of the C. burnetii occurrence in hosts and humans at risk of infection.