A5061527625- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Leptospirosis research and findings
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
University of Antwerp
2015-2024
National Institute of Biomedical Research
2024
Instituut voor Tropische Geneeskunde
2024
Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems: social and nutritional sciences
2024
Université de Kisangani
2024
University of Bern
2024
Institute of Natural Sciences
2014
Institute of Zoology
2003
The importance and abundance of cryptic species among invertebrate taxa is well documented. Nowadays, taxonomic, phylogenetic conservation biological studies frequently use molecular markers to delineate taxa. Such studies, however, often face the problem differential resolution techniques involved. This issue explored in present study within terrestrial slug complex Arion subfuscus/fuscus continental north-west Europe. To this end, morphological, allozyme mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequence...
Abstract Chromosomal inversions contribute to adaptive speciation by linking co-adapted alleles. Querying 1,375 genomes of the species-rich Malawi cichlid fish radiation, we discovered five large segregating in benthic subradiation that each suppress recombination over more than half a chromosome. Two were transferred from deepwater pelagic Diplotaxodon via admixture, while others established early deep clade. Introgression haplotypes lineages inside and outside radiation coincided with...
Abstract Arenaviruses can cause mild to severe hemorrhagic fevers. Humans mainly get infected through contact with rodents or their excretions, yet little is known about transmission dynamics within rodent populations. Morogoro virus (MORV) an Old World arenavirus closely related Lassa which it shares the same host species Mastomys natalensis . We injected MORV in its and sampled blood excretions at frequent intervals. Infection adults was acute; viral RNA disappeared from after 18 days post...
SARS-CoV-2 human-to-animal transmission can lead to the establishment of novel reservoirs and evolution new variants with potential start outbreaks in humans. We tested Norway rats inhabiting sewer system Antwerp, Belgium, for presence following a local COVID-19 epidemic peak. In addition, we discuss use interpretation serological tests on non-human samples. Between November December 2020, rat oral swabs, faeces tissues from Antwerp were collected be by RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2. Serum samples...
Background Ochollo is a village in southern Ethiopia burdened with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), where Phlebotomus pedifer the only vector for Leishmania aethiopica and hyraxes are confirmed reservoir hosts. A detailed description of different players transmission, ecology seasonality needs to be established order accomplish efficient control programs. Methods findings Between March 2017 February 2018, monthly sandfly collection was carried out habitats records temperature humidity were...
The prevalence and identity of Rickettsia Bartonella in urban rat flea populations were evaluated Kisangani, Democratic Republic the Congo (DRC) by molecular tools. An overall 17% species 13% typhi, agent murine typhus, was found cosmopolitan species, Rattus rattus norvegicus that infested a majority Xenopsylla cheopis fleas. queenslandensis, elizabethae, three genotypes identified sequencing specimens, mostly R. rattus. typhi detected 72% X. pools, main vector reservoir this zoonotic...
Abstract The spirochete bacterium Borrelia afzelii is the most common cause of Lyme borreliosis in Europe. This tick-borne pathogen can establish systemic infections rodents but not birds. However, several field studies have recovered larval Ixodes ricinus ticks infected with B. from songbirds suggesting successful transmission . We reviewed literature to determine which songbird species were frequent carriers -infected I. larvae and nymphs. tested experimentally whether capable co-feeding...
Abstract We determined near complete and monkeypox virus genomes in a shrew ( Crocidura littoralis ), two squirrels Funisciurus anerythrus, bayonii produced shorter sequences from rats Stochomys longicaudatus, Cricetomys sp. 2) originating the Democratic Republic of Congo. This suggests that number rodents besides (families Muridae Nesomyidae) shrews (order Eulipotyphla) are potential reservoirs.
Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV; genus Hepacivirus) represents a major public health problem, infecting about three per cent of the human population. Because no animal reservoir carrying closely related hepaciviruses has been identified, zoonotic origins HCV still remain unresolved. Motivated by recent findings divergent in rodents and plausible African origin genotypes, we have screened large collection small mammals samples from seven sub-Saharan countries. Out 4,303 screened, eighty were...
The wildlife reservoir and spillover mechanisms of the Ebola virus remain elusive despite extensive research efforts in endemic areas. This study employed a One Health approach to examine circulation associated human exposure risks Tshuapa province Democratic Republic Congo. In 2021, we collected 1015 samples from 888 animals, predominantly small mammals, 380 inhabitants Inkanamongo village, site an disease outbreak 2014. These were screened for evidence current (RNA) or past (IgG...
Praomys (four species), Lophuromys (four) and Deomys (one) are among the most common Muridae in Kisangani region. To establish whether or not rivers constitute dispersal barriers for these rodents, we investigated presence of genera their species eight localities that either separated by Congo River its tributaries. A total 42,466 trapping nights resulted collection 1185 Praomys, 233 209 Deomysferrugineus. We observed almost all cases studied appear to have restricted distribution ranges, it...
Jordaens, K., Pinceel, J., Van Houtte, N., Breugelmans, K. & Backeljau, T. (2010). Arion transsylvanus (Mollusca, Pulmonata, Arionidae): rediscovery of a cryptic species. — Zoologica Scripta , 39 343–362. Cryptic species are abundant among invertebrates and often hard to recognise. Molecular markers an extremely useful tool delineate taxa, although they should be applied with caution because different genes techniques may yield outcomes. We illustrate how cross‐validation by molecular...
Abstract Background Ethiopia is affected by human leishmaniasis caused several Leishmania species and transmitted a variety of sand fly vectors the genus Phlebotomus . The fauna in highly diverse some are closely related similar morphology, resulting difficulties with identification that requires deployment molecular techniques. DNA barcoding entails high costs, time lacks reference sequences for many Ethiopian species. Yet, proper pivotal epidemiological surveillance as differ their actual...
In eco-epidemiological studies, Leishmania detection in vectors and reservoirs is frequently accomplished by high-throughput sensitive molecular methods that target minicircle kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). A pan-Leishmania SYBR green quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay which detects the conserved spliced-leader RNA (SL RNA) sequence was developed recently. This study assessed SL performance combined with a crude extraction method for of field-collected laboratory-reared sand flies tissue samples from...
Abstract The Opuntia (prickly pear) genus contains over 200 species. Six of them are endemic to the Galapagos archipelago. Although these cacti ‘keystone’ species Galapagos’ semi‐arid ecosystem, they have never been studied in detail. Because their current threatened status and important role we developed 16 microsatellite markers study population genetic structure some These display a high level polymorphism with numbers alleles per locus ranging from six 53. Results also revealed possible...
Habitat fragmentation may influence the genetic structure of populations, especially species with low mobility. So far, these effects have been mainly studied by surveying neutral markers, and much less looking at ecologically relevant characters. Therefore, we aimed to explore eventual patterns covariation between population structuring in markers variation shell morphometrics forest-associated snail Discus rotundatus relation habitat fragment characteristics. To this end, screened...
Trichuriosis is a disease in mammals caused by the whipworms of genus Trichuris. These worms are known for high burden they cause humans and domestic animals, especially sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we investigated prevalence seasonal variations Trichuris multimammate rats (Mastomys natalensis). The study was conducted between January November 2021 Tanzania, two regions (Morogoro Iringa) that differ their eco-climatic conditions. Removal trapping using Sherman® live traps during rainy...
Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease and one of the leading causes morbidity mortality, particularly in resource-poor settings. Sri Lanka has highest burdens worldwide, with occasional endemic leptospirosis outbreaks (2008, 2011). Rodents are considered main wildlife reservoir, but due to scarcity studies it unclear which particular species contributes bacterial transmission reservoir maintenance this multi-host multi-parasite system. Several rodent act as agricultural pests both...