Direct Detection of Lyme Borrelia: Recent Advancement and Use of Aptamer Technology.

sensu lato ( s.l.), which is predominantly spread by ticks, is the cause of Lyme disease (LD), also known as Lyme borreliosis, one of the zoonotic diseases affecting people.

Metagenomic profile of the bacterial communities associated with Ixodes granulatus (Acari: Ixodidae): a potential vector of tick-borne diseases.

Ixodes granulatus Supino, 1897 (Acari: Ixodida) is one of Malaysia's most common hard ticks and is a potential vector for tick-borne diseases (TBDs). Despite its great public health importance, research on I. granulatus microbial communities remains largely unexplored.

Morphological and molecular identification of medically important questing Dermacentor species collected from some recreational areas of Peninsular Malaysia.

Questing is a situation when a tick is seeking to get closer or ambush its potential host. However, information on questing tick species in Malaysia is still lacking, thus the association with tick-borne diseases (TBD) is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the tick species from five most frequently visited recreational areas in Pahang and Terengganu states, which were recorded to have high potential of TBD cases.

Actinobacteria: An eco-friendly and promising technology for the bioaugmentation of contaminants.

Over the past two decades, various eco-friendly approaches utilizing microbial species to clean up contaminated environments have surfaced. In this aspect, actinobacteria have demonstrated their potential in contaminant degradation. The members of actinobacteria phylum exhibits a cosmopolitan distribution, which means that they can be found widely in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction as viable PCR substitute for diagnostic applications: a comparative analysis study of LAMP, conventional PCR, nested PCR (nPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR) based on Entamoeba histolytica DNA derived from faecal sample.

Background: This study reports the analytical sensitivity and specificity of a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and compares its amplification performance with conventional PCR, nested PCR (nPCR) and real-time PCR (qPCR). All the assays demonstrated in this study were developed based on Serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein (SREHP) gene as study model.

Results: A set of SREHP gene specific LAMP primers were designed for the specific detection of Entamoeba histolytica.

Data on ectoparasites infestation on small mammals from different habitats in east-coast Peninsular Malaysia.

This data article presents on the ectoparasites infestation on small mammals in Peninsular Malaysia. The dataset on ectoparasites infestation is important because it raises a major medical concern regarding the spread of potentially zoonotic disease from wildlife to human. Tick and chigger are the primary ectoparasites as reservoirs of vector-borne diseases found on small mammals in Malaysia.

Helminth parasites occurrence in wild proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), endemic primates to Borneo Island.

Background: Nasalis larvatus are well-known attraction for tourists in the mangrove forest of Bako National Park (BNP). Little is known regarding the infestation of helminth parasites in proboscis monkeys. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence species of major helminth parasites of public health importance in proboscis monkeys in BNP.

Ticks (Argasidae, Ixodidae) and tick-borne diseases of continental Southeast Asia.

Knowledge of the tick fauna of continental Southeast Asia is either patchy or, in some cases, for example Cambodia and Myanmar, poor. Nevertheless, 97 species have been recorded from this region, making it one of the most diverse for ticks worldwide. Throughout Southeast Asia, work on tick-borne diseases of stock and companion animals, as well as of humans, is in its infancy, and the medical, veterinary and socio-economic importance of these diseases is largely unknown.

Gastrointestinal parasites of zoonotic importance observed in the wild, urban, and captive populations of non-human primates in Malaysia.

Background: A study was undertaken to determine gastrointestinal (GI) parasites commonly found in Malaysia's non-human primates (NHP) living in three different types of populations (wild, urban, and captive) and the basis of major GI parasites of zoonotic importance.

Methods: A total of 308 samples was collected and microscopically screened from the NHP in the wild (n = 163), urban (n = 76), and captive (n = 69) populations. The samples were taken from 12 species of local NHPs.

Molecular identification of blood meal sources of ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) using cytochrome b gene as a genetic marker.

Blood meal analysis (BMA) from ticks allows for the identification of natural hosts of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). The aim of this study is to identify the blood meal sources of field collected on-host ticks using PCR analysis. DNA of four genera of ticks was isolated and their cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene was amplified to identify host blood meals.

Establishment of a molecular tool for blood meal identification in Malaysia.

Objective: To establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique based on cytochrome b (cytb) gene of mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) for blood meal identification.

Methods: The PCR technique was established based on published information and validated using blood sample of laboratory animals of which their whole gene sequences are available in GenBank. PCR was next performed to compile gene sequences of different species of wild rodents.

A survey of acarine ectoparasites of bats (Chiroptera) in Malaysia.

A comprehensive 8-yr survey of acarine ectoparasites (ticks and mites) of bats was carried out in 18 localities from 2002 to 2009. Most of the surveys were conducted during 14 national biodiversity scientific expeditions throughout Malaysia. The objective was to identify acarines of known public health importance from bats and thus determine whether there is any potential public health risk in Malaysia.