Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Lyme disease has expanded into western North Carolina. We sought to document knowledge, attitudes, and practices among clinicians in this region.

A survey was administered to clinicians in western North Carolina. Frequencies summarized Lyme-related care. Fisher’s exact test compared low-knowledge items (<75% correct) by provider type, clinical experience, and regional tenure. Likert-type items measured attitudes; open-ended responses identified education barriers.

Among 28 participants, 59% (16/27) saw a suspected Lyme case in the past year. The median knowledge score was 59% (interquartile range: 47–73%), with low confidence interpreting test results (median Likert score = 2, interquartile range: 1–3). Correct identification of erythema migrans timing differed by regional tenure (≤5 years: 16/18 [89%]; >5 years: 3/8 [38%]; p = 0.014). Recognition of when testing is not recommended differed by provider type (physician: 11/20 [55%], nurse practitioner: 0/6 [0%]; p = 0.024). Perceived education barriers included cost, time, and small patient population.

Overall, knowledge was limited, particularly for diagnostic testing. Clinicians in emerging communities should be prioritized for educational interventions.

Triatomines are a group of nearly 158 species of hematophagous insects known as kissing bugs. Several are recognized as important vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Triatoma huehuetenanguensis, a triatomine described in Guatemala in 2019, is of particular interest, as it belongs to the dimidiata subcomplex, an epidemiologically important group in southern Mexico and Central America.

This review integrates advances regarding its discovery, distinctive morphological characteristics, life cycle, feeding and defecation patterns, geographic distribution records, and recent contributions to its genetics.

This review identifies critical knowledge gaps concerning its taxonomy, ecology, genetic structure, ecological plasticity, and potential interactions with other members of the dimidiata subcomplex. These gaps all currently limit an accurate assessment of its role in the transmission of T. cruzi. For example, there is not yet sufficient knowledge of its genetics to establish its relationship with other species in the complex.

Addressing these gaps through integrative and interdisciplinary research is essential to improve vector surveillance, risk assessment, and control strategies in endemic regions.

This study describes interventions carried out by fire protection units in support of selected animal disease control operations in Poland in 2022–2024.

The study used operational data from the Decision Support System of the State Fire Service (DSS-SFS), provided by the Operational Planning Office. Records coded under the administrative event flag “epizootics” between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, were screened and then filtered on the basis of event descriptions to retain only interventions related to the animal disease events included in this analysis. Quantitative variables were described using the mean and standard deviation, and nonparametric tests were applied at a significance level of p < 0.05. The dataset was fully anonymized.

In 2022–2024, firefighters were dispatched 452 times to events classified in the DSS-SFS under the administrative category “epizootics” and retained in the final analytical dataset. Three event types were identified: avian influenza, African swine fever, and American foulbrood. Intervention duration differed significantly between voivodeships, with the longest mean ranks observed in Podkarpackie and Zachodniopomorskie and the shortest in Świętokrzyskie and Mazowieckie. The largest pairwise difference was found between Świętokrzyskie and Zachodniopomorskie.

The analyzed records indicate that firefighter involvement in these events was primarily operational and supportive in nature. The most relevant findings were regional differences in intervention duration and greater vehicle deployment in avian influenza events, likely reflecting terrain conditions and the spatial scale of search activities. These data may support operational planning, but they do not allow conclusions about infectious or psychological health outcomes among firefighters.

Rhipicephalus microplus, a one-host tick species, serves as a principal vector of tick-borne diseases in agricultural ecosystems worldwide by harboring and transmitting various pathogens through blood-feeding. In China, the climatically suitable range of R. microplus has been gradually expanding. However, the climatic suitability of R. microplus under future climate change scenarios remains unclear.

This study evaluates both current and projected climatic suitability of R. microplus by integrating climatic variables, thereby providing insight into shifts in climatic suitability under present and future climate conditions. The MaxEnt model was applied using 78 occurrence records of R. microplus collected from 1970 to 2023, along with 19 environmental variables obtained from WorldClim. By identifying the most influential environmental factors affecting the climatic suitability of R. microplus, we predicted future changes under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP126, SSP245, SSP585) for three future periods (2021–2040, 2041–2060, and 2061–2080).

This study indicates that the current climatically suitable areas for R. microplus are mainly located in southern China, covering approximately 1,051,406 km², which accounts for about 10.91% of China’s total land area. The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio06, 69.6%) and precipitation of the warmest quarter (Bio18, 20.1%) were identified as the most influential climatic variables. Under future climate scenarios, the suitable habitat for R. microplus is projected to expand and shift northward. By 2061–2080 under the SSP585, the suitable area could reach up to 2,994,700 km², representing a 2.85-fold increase relative to its current extent.

This study projects a significant northward expansion of climatic suitability for R. microplus in mainland China under future climate scenarios, driven primarily by rising minimum winter temperatures. These findings highlight an urgent need for proactive, climate-integrated surveillance and adaptive control strategies to mitigate the growing threat of this tick vector and its associated diseases in newly vulnerable regions.

Usutu virus (USUV) is an emerging arbovirus transmitted predominantly by mosquitoes of the genus Culex, although several other genera, including Aedes, Culiseta, Mansonia, Anopheles, and Coquillettidia, have also been implicated as potential vectors. The virus was originally found in sub-Saharan Africa but is increasingly detected in Europe. While human infections are often asymptomatic, USUV has been linked to neuroinvasive disease. In temperate regions, where mosquito activity is seasonal, mechanisms enabling virus persistence are poorly understood. Vertical transmission has been proposed as a route for interepidemic maintenance, but experimental evidence remains limited.

To determine whether USUV can be vertically transmitted between mosquito generations and assess the effect of temperature on the vertical transmission rate in Cx. pipiens bioform molestus.

Laboratory-reared Cx. pipiens bioform molestus were provided with a bloodmeal infected with USUV and maintained at either 27°C or 23.5°C. Infected females (F0) were allowed to oviposit, and two successive generations (F1 and F2) were reared. Individuals from all life stages were screened for USUV RNA using RT-qPCR. Infection prevalence and relative viral RNA quantification were compared between temperature conditions and generations.

At 27°C, the vertical transmission rate was high, with 94% (n = 30) of F₁ and 100% (n = 11) of F₂ adult mosquitoes testing positive, although USUV RNA was also detected in immature stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae). At 23.5°C, only one F₁ adult mosquito (1.25%) tested positive, with no infection detected in larvae or other immature stages and no F₂ infection was detected. Temperature had a significant effect on vertical transmission rate (p < 0.001), while differences between generations were not statistically significant.

These findings demonstrate that vertical transmission of USUV in Cx. pipiens bioform molestus occurs at significantly higher rates at 27°C (94–100%) compared to 23.5°C (1.25%), suggesting temperature-dependent mechanisms specifically affecting vertical inheritance. While temperature effects on viral acquisition and dissemination are well-established, our experimental design specifically tests vertical transmission by examininginfection in F₁ and F₂ offspring that had no direct exposure to the virus, allowing us to distinguish vertical inheritance from horizontal transmissionprocesses.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe clinical entity emerging after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, often characterized by cardiovascular involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and spectrum of cardiovascular involvement in children with MIS-C and to assess its association with clinical severity, biomarker profiles, and recovery outcomes.

This study included 54 children diagnosed with MIS-C between June 2020 and December 2023. Clinical features, laboratory parameters, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. Clinical severity was classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate recovery trajectories and identify independent predictors.

Cardiovascular involvement was detected in 37% of patients. The most common findings were mitral regurgitation (50%), left ventricular dysfunction (20.4%), and pericardial effusion (18.5%). Patients with cardiovascular involvement were older and more likely to present with dyspnea, chest pain, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension (all p < 0.01). They exhibited significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), urea, and creatinine levels, and lower lymphocyte counts (p < 0.05). Moderate-to-severe cases showed markedly higher rates of left ventricular dysfunction (44%), mitral regurgitation (100%), pericardial effusion (36%), arrhythmias (16%), hypotension (44%), and inotropic requirement (44%) compared with mild cases (all p < 0.01). Recovery was significantly delayed in patients with cardiovascular involvement (median 12.5 vs. 8.0 days; p = 0.008) and in moderate-to-severe cases (14.0 vs. 7.5 days; p < 0.01). In Cox regression analysis, independent predictors of delayed recovery included cardiovascular involvement (HR: 0.48), CRP > 200 mg/L (HR: 0.52), lymphocyte count < 1000/µL (HR: 0.41), BNP > 10,000 ng/L (HR: 0.35), and IL-6 > 100 pg/mL (HR: 0.44).

Cardiovascular involvement in MIS-C is a strong marker of severe disease, heightened systemic inflammation, and prolonged recovery. Echocardiographic abnormalities, combined with elevations in CRP, IL-6, and BNP provide valuable prognostic information.

Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus, can be isolated in Vero or L929 cells and has a small genome (2–2.5 Mb). However, genome assembly is challenging due to the presence of host DNA contamination and a high proportion of repeat regions (up to 51%). Current global data includes 11 fully annotated genomes, with none from India. Here, we present the first whole-genome sequences of O. tsutsugamushi strains circulating within India.

Five O. tsutsugamushi strains were cultured in Vero cells and confirmed by 47 kDa real-time PCR. Genomic DNA was extracted after removal of host DNA and sequencing libraries were prepared. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using the PacBio Sequel II system in CCS/HiFi mode. The raw reads were assembled using Flye, and genome completeness was assessed with QUAST and BUSCO. Annotation was performed using the NCBI PGAP pipeline and comparative genome analysis by Roary. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using both the complete 56-kDa gene and whole-genome sequences to assess genetic relationships among O. tsutsugamushi strains.

We report five complete (circular) genomes of O. tsutsugamushi. Genome sizes range from 2.1 to 2.4 Mb. The total number of predicted genes falls between 2,379 and 2,715, with an average of 1,824 coding genes and 613 pseudogenes. Repeat regions ranged from 55% to 59%, corresponding to total lengths of approximately 1.2–1.44 Mb. All five genomes have been submitted to NCBI GenBank (Accession Numbers: CP166954-58). Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length 56 kDa gene revealed that two strains belong to the Karp genogroup, two to Kato, and one to TA763.

This study presents the first whole-genome sequencing data of O. tsutsugamushi from India. Comprehensive phylogenomic studies, particularly to elucidate evolutionary dynamics and potential recombination events, will provide further information.

This study aims to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and transmission risk of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in Hunan Province by analyzing mosquito population distribution, piglet serological profiles, and the phylogenetic features of circulating JEV strains.

Mosquito and piglet serum samples were collected from five prefecture-level cities in Hunan Province. Mosquito species were identified and their densities were measured. Piglet serum samples were tested for JEV antibodies. Detected JEV strains from mosquitoes were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was performed.

Culex pipiens pallens/quinquefasciatus (65.65%) and Culex tritaeniorhynchus(12.93%) were the dominant mosquito species. The highest mosquito density was observed in pigpens (26.0 mosquitoes/light trap-night). The JEV antibody positivity rate in piglets began to rise in June, peaked in September (83.33%), and lagged two months behind the peak mosquito density (June–July). A significant temporal correlation was found between piglet antibody positivity and mosquito density (*p* < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all mosquito-derived JEV strains belonged to genotype I (GI), with 15–17 amino acid mutations in the E gene compared to the vaccine strain SA14-14-2.

There is a persistent JEV transmission risk in Hunan Province. These findings provide critical insights for local vector control, vaccine optimization, and piglet immunization strategies.

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) continue to pose major public health challenges, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Conventional vector control strategies, including insecticide spraying, insecticide-treated bed nets, and larvicidal interventions, have substantially reduced disease burden; however, the emergence of insecticide resistance has compromised the long-term effectiveness of these approaches. Consequently, environmentally sustainable biological and genetic vector control methods are increasingly being explored as alternative strategies.

This review comprehensively evaluates recent advances in biological and genetic approaches for mosquito vector control. The article synthesizes evidence from published laboratory, semi-field, and field studies on Wolbachia-mediated pathogen blocking, paratransgenesis using Asaia and Serratia, entomopathogenic fungi, and genetic control tools, including the sterile insect technique (SIT), incompatible insect technique (IIT), release of insects carrying a dominant lethal (RIDL), and CRISPR–Cas9-based gene drive systems.

Multiple biological and genetic interventions demonstrated substantial reductions in mosquito populations and pathogen transmission under experimental and field conditions. Wolbachia-based systems, SIT, IIT, and RIDL approaches showed promising operational feasibility and field validation, whereas gene drive technologies exhibited strong transformative potential but remain largely experimental. However, significant challenges persist, including scalability, infrastructure requirements, ecological uncertainty, biosafety concerns, regulatory complexity, and ethical considerations. Comparative evaluation indicates that these approaches differ considerably in technological maturity, deployment readiness, and sustainability.

Emerging biological and genetic vector control strategies represent promising alternatives to conventional insecticide-based approaches for sustainable VBD management. Rather than relying on a single universal intervention, context-specific integration of complementary approaches within existing integrated vector management frameworks, supported by community participation and effective governance, is likely to provide more durable and environmentally sustainable solutions for controlling vector-borne diseases.