Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases in Greece.

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are recognized as a serious and growing public health epidemic in Europe, and are a cause of major losses in livestock production worldwide. This review is an attempt to present a summary of results from studies conducted over the last century until the end of the year 2020 regarding ticks, tick-borne pathogens, and tick-borne diseases in Greece. We provide an overview of the tick species found in Greece, as well as the most important tick-borne pathogens (viruses, bacteria, protozoa) and corresponding diseases in circulation.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis in 1-2-month-old highland yaks in Qinghai Province, China.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are ubiquitous parasites that infect humans and animals. Few reports are available on the prevalence of these two protozoan parasites in yaks (Bos grunniens). In this study, 344 faecal samples were collected from yaks with diarrhoea in the Chenduo and Nangqian counties of Qinghai Province, China.

The first report of Cryptosporidium spp. in Microtus fuscus (Qinghai vole) and Ochotona curzoniae (wild plateau pika) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area, China.

Cryptosporidium is one of the most important genera of intestinal zoonotic pathogens, which can infect various hosts and cause diarrhoea. There is little available information about the molecular characterisation and epidemiological prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Microtus fuscus (Qinghai vole) and Ochotona curzoniae (wild plateau pika) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area of Qinghai Province, Northwest China.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Giardia duodenalis in cattle and sheep from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA), northwestern China.

Giardia duodenalis is an important intestinal protozoan parasite with a wide range of hosts, including humans, livestock and wildlife. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis infections among cattle and sheep in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) and to assess the potential risk of the zoonotic transmission of this pathogen.

Molecular detection and prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infections in two types of domestic farm animals in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) in China.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species infections in young cattle and sheep in the north-eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA), north-western China. A total number of 454 faecal samples (389 from cattle and 65 from sheep) were collected and investigated to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts.

Water-borne protozoa parasites: The Latin American perspective.

Health systems, sanitation and water access have certain limitations in nations of Latin America (LA): typical matters of developing countries. Water is often contaminated and therefore unhealthy for the consumers and users. Information on prevalence and detection of waterborne parasitic protozoa are limited or not available in LA.

Detection of Giardia duodenalis assemblage E infections at the Tibetan Plateau Area: Yaks are suitable hosts.

The prevalence of Giardia duodenalis (G. duodenalis) assemblages in yaks is poorly known. The present study examined 297 fecal samples from weaned yak, 4-7 months of age, from 3 different farms, in Tibetan Plateau Area (TPA) of the Qinghai Province in Western China.

Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in water samples collected from natural water reservoirs, sewages, and pharmaceutical factory drains using LAMP and PCR in China.

Various species of amoebas belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are widely distributed in many parts of the world. Some strains of these protozoans may exist as parasites and pose risks to human health as causative agents of serious human diseases. Currently in China there is a lack of information about the distribution of Acanthamoeba strains in the environment.

Malaria vaccine development and how external forces shape it: an overview.

The aim of this paper is to analyse the current status and scientific value of malaria vaccine approaches and to provide a realistic prognosis for future developments. We systematically review previous approaches to malaria vaccination, address how vaccine efforts have developed, how this issue may be fixed, and how external forces shape vaccine development. Our analysis provides significant information on the various aspects and on the external factors that shape malaria vaccine development and reveal the importance of vaccine development in our society.

Detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in agricultural and water environments in the Qinghai area of China by IFT and PCR.

Qinghai Province in northwest China is strongly influenced by agricultural activities and is an important source of food and drinking water. Here, we present findings regarding the occurrence and molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium and Giardia species based on a large-scale investigation of areas of Qinghai Province. The diagnosis and molecular detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts was carried out using immunofluorescence microscopy (IFT), whereas nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in fecal smears and water samples was used for the detection and molecular characterization of the species.