A5000414990- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Bartonella species infections research
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Risk Perception and Management
- Nuclear and radioactivity studies
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Microbial infections and disease research
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2011-2021
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
2014-2021
Uganda Virus Research Institute
2008-2014
New Mexico Department of Health
2007-2012
Indian Health Service
2007-2012
Harris Health System
2012
Infectious Diseases Institute
2009
University of Antwerp
2009
Colorado State University
2009
Makerere University
2009
An outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the southwestern United States was etiologically linked to a newly recognized hantavirus. Knowledge that hantaviruses are maintained rodent reservoirs stimulated field and laboratory investigation 1696 small mammals 31 species. The most commonly captured rodent, deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), had highest antibody prevalence (30%) four antigens. Antibody also detected 10 other species 1 rabbit. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain...
In the summer of 2000, an outbreak primary pneumonic tularemia occurred on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The only previously reported in United States also island 1978.
The 1993 U.S. hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) outbreak was attributed to environmental conditions and increased rodent populations caused by unusual weather in 1991- 92. In a case-control study test this hypothesis, we estimated precipitation at 28 HPS 170 control sites during the springs of 1992 compared it with previous 6 years using rainfall patterns 196 stations. We also used elevation data Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery collected year before estimate risk logistic...
The relationships between climatic variables and the frequency of human plague cases (1960-1997) were modeled by Poisson regression for two adjoining regions in northeastern Arizona northwestern New Mexico. Model outputs closely agreed with numbers actually observed, suggesting that temporal variations risk can be estimated monitoring key variables, most notably maximum daily summer temperature values time-lagged (1 2 year) amounts late winter (February-March) precipitation. Significant...
In recent decades, the majority of human plague cases (caused by Yersinia pestis ) have been reported from Africa. northwest Uganda, which has had outbreaks, cat fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis as most common in home environment, is suspected to be a major exposure site for this country. past, C. viewed only nuisance-biting insect because limited laboratory studies suggested it incapable transmitting Y. or an inefficient vector. Our study shows that competent vector bacteria, but efficiency...
Burrows within black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado, were dusted with deltamethrin insecticide to reduce flea (Insecta: Siphonaptera) abundance. Flea populations monitored pre- and posttreatment by combing dogs collecting fleas from burrows. A single application of significantly reduced plague vector Oropsylla hirsuta, other species in burrows for at least 84 d. epizootic Refuge caused high mortality some...
In Uganda, the West Nile region is primary epidemiologic focus for plague. The aims of this study were to 1) describe flea-host associations within a plague-endemic 2) compare flea loads between villages with or without history reported human plague cases and sampling periods, 3) determine vector on small mammal hosts in domestic, peridomestic, sylvatic settings. We report that roof rat, Rattus rattus, most common rodent collected dwellings each 10 two districts sampled. These rats commonly...
During an outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the southwestern United States, trained environmental assessment teams conducted surveys at 17 case-patient homes and matched controls from June through August 1993. Variables related to rodent abundance were quantified standardized trapping was around within households. The majority households located pinon-juniper vegetation zones, there no significant differences type house which cases lived. only factor that distinguished case...
Plague is a rare but highly virulent flea-borne zoonotic disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia pestis Yersin. Identifying areas at high risk of human exposure to etiological agent plague could provide useful tool for targeting limited public health resources and reduce likelihood misdiagnosis raising awareness disease. We created logistic regression models identify landscape features associated with where humans have acquired from 1957 2004 in four-corners region United...
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is established across western North America, and yet little known of what determines broad-scale dimensions its overall range. We tested whether American distribution represents a composite individual host-plague associations (the "Host Niche Hypothesis"), or mammal hosts become infected only at sites overlapping ecological conditions appropriate for plague transmission maintenance "Plague Hypothesis"). took advantage novel data set...
Plague, caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, is a severe, often fatal disease. This study focuses on plague-endemic West Nile region of Uganda, where limited information available regarding environmental and behavioral risk factors associated with plague infection. We conducted observational surveys 10 randomly selected huts within historically classified case control villages (four each) two times during dry season 2006 (N = 78 N 80 huts), which immediately preceded large outbreak. By...
Plague and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) are severe, often fatal diseases in humans that share a broad epidemiologic focus the southwestern United States. Prevention of these relies heavily on education reducing rodent abundance peridomestic environments. Resources for activities limited. Therefore, identifying areas sharing elevated risk two relatively rare but severe could be useful targeting limited public health resources. Using logistic regression geographic information...
Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, has been detected in fleas and mammals throughout western United States. This highly virulent infection is rare humans, surveillance disease expensive, it often was assumed that risk exposure to Y. pestis high most For these reasons, some local health departments plague-affected regions have hesitated undertake other prevention activities. To aid targeting limited public resources, we created a fine-resolution human plague map for New Mexico,...
Plague, a life-threatening flea-borne zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis , has most commonly been reported from eastern Africa and Madagascar in recent decades. In these regions elsewhere, prevention control efforts are typically targeted at fine spatial scales, yet risk maps for the disease often presented coarse resolutions that of limited value allocating scarce resources. our study, we sought to identify sub-village level remotely sensed correlates elevated human exposure plague bacteria...
Our longitudinal study of plague dynamics was conducted in north-central New Mexico to identify which species the community were infected with plague, determine spatial and temporal patterns epizootics, describe Yersinia pestis infection within individual hosts. A total 3156 fleas collected from 535 small mammals 8 tested for Y. DNA. Nine six southern plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) one rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus) positive pla gene pestis. None 127 17 woodrat nests...
Plague is an often fatal, primarily flea-borne rodent-associated zoonosis caused by Yersinia pestis . We sought to identify risk factors for plague comparing villages with and without a history of human cases within model-defined focus in the West Nile Region Uganda. Although rat ( Rattus rattus ) abundance was similar inside huts case control villages, contact rates between rats humans (as measured reported bites) host-seeking flea loads were higher villages. In addition, compared persons...
Sin Nombre virus (SNV) causes the zoonotic disease hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Its mechanisms of transmission from rodent to human are poorly understood. It is possible that specific genetic signature sequences could be used determine probable site each case-patient's exposure. Environmental assessments suggested 12 sites exposure for 6 HPS patients. Rodents were captured at 11 and screened SNV infection within 2 weeks patient's diagnosis. Viral amplified tissues rodents compared...
The West Nile region of Uganda represents an epidemiologic focus for human plague in east Africa. However, limited capacity diagnostic laboratory testing means few clinically diagnosed cases are confirmed and the true burden disease is undetermined. aims study were 1) describe spatial distribution clinical region, 2) identify ecologic correlates incidence, 3) incorporate these variables into predictive models that define areas risk. model explained 74% incidence variation revealed more...
East Africa has been identified as a region where vector-borne and zoonotic diseases are most likely to emerge or re-emerge morbidity mortality from these is significant. Understanding when humans be exposed disease agents in this can aid targeting limited prevention control resources. Often, spatial temporal distributions of vectors predictable based on climatic variables. However, because coarse meteorological observation networks, appropriately scaled accurate climate data often lacking...
Abstract Plague is a low incidence flea-borne zoonosis that often fatal if treatment delayed or inadequate. Outbreaks occur sporadically and human cases are preceded by epizootics among rodents. Early recognition of coupled with appropriate prevention measures should reduce plague morbidity mortality. For nearly century, the flea index (a measure fleas per host) has been used as risk for epizootic spread case occurrence, yet practicality effectiveness its use in surveillance programs not...
Human plague is found in the West Nile region of Uganda and Democratic Republic Congo where flea vectors are often inhabiting homes. We have developed a multiplexed, real-time polymerase chain reaction assay targeting mitochondrial genes that capable detecting blood meal sources fleas collected off-host East Africa. Laboratory tests showed specific for intended targets has detection limit below one picogram DNA. Testing wild-caught from suggests humans at significant risk flea-borne disease...
Rodents pose serious threats to human health and economics, particularly in developing countries where the animals play a dual role as pests: they are reservoirs of pathogens, inflict damage levels stored products sufficient cause food shortages. To assess magnitude caused by rodents crops, their level contact with humans, better understand current storage rodent control practices, we conducted survey 37 households from 17 subsistence farming villages within West Nile region Uganda. Our...
Although several health departments collect coyote blood samples for plague surveillance, the association between reported human cases and seroprevalence rates remains anecdotal. Using data from an endemic region of United States, we sought to quantify this association. From 1974 1998, about 2,276 four Arizona counties were tested serological evidence exposure Yersinia pestis, causative agent plague. a titer threshold presumed be indicative recent infection (serum titers ≥1:256), found...