All Outputs (39)

Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals (2023)
Journal Article
Tufa, T. B., Margos, G., Fingerle, V., Hartberger, C., Poppert, S., Birtles, R. J., …Feldt, T. (in press). Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals. Pathogens, 12(11), 1299. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12111299

Human lice, Pediculus humanus, can transmit various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii. Xenosurveillance is an epidemiological approach to assessing human infection risks performed by screening v... Read More about Evidence for Bartonella quintana in Lice Collected from the Clothes of Ethiopian Homeless Individuals.

Genetic characterisation of the Theileria annulata cytochrome b locus and its impact on buparvaquone resistance in bovine (2022)
Journal Article
Ali, Q., Zahid, O., Mhadhbi, M., Jones, B., Darghouth, M., Raynes, G., …Chaudhry, U. (2022). Genetic characterisation of the Theileria annulata cytochrome b locus and its impact on buparvaquone resistance in bovine. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 20, 65-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2022.08.004

Control of tropical theileriosis, caused by the apicomplexan Theileria annulata, depends on the use of a single drug, buparvaquone, the efficacy of which is compromised by the emergence of resistance. The present study was undertaken to improve under... Read More about Genetic characterisation of the Theileria annulata cytochrome b locus and its impact on buparvaquone resistance in bovine.

Epidemiology, distribution and identification of ticks on livestock in Pakistan (2022)
Journal Article
Khan, S., Ahmed, H., Afzal, M., Khan, M., Birtles, R., & Oliver, J. (2022). Epidemiology, distribution and identification of ticks on livestock in Pakistan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), e3024. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053024

Background: Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens that cause many diseases in livestock which can result in skin damage, weight loss, anemia, reduced production of meat and milk, and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to... Read More about Epidemiology, distribution and identification of ticks on livestock in Pakistan.

Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome (2021)
Journal Article
Harrison, X., McDevitt, A., Dunn, J., Grifftihs, S., Benvenuto, C., Birtles, R., …Antwis, R. (2021). Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1957), 20210552. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.0552

Interactions between hosts and their resident microbial communities are a fundamental component of fitness for both agents. Though recent research has highlighted the importance of interactions between animals and their bacterial communities, compara... Read More about Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome.

Ticks on wild boar in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) are infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae (2021)
Journal Article
Castillo‐Contreras, R., Magen, L., Birtles, R., Varela‐Castro, L., Hall, J., Conejero, C., …López‐Olvera, J. (2021). Ticks on wild boar in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) are infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 69(4), https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14268

Tick‐borne pathogens (TBPs) constitute an emerging public health concern favoured by multidimensional global changes. Amongst these, increase and spread of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are of special concern since this species can act as a rese... Read More about Ticks on wild boar in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) are infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae.

Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda (2021)
Journal Article
Ackers-Johnson, G., Kibombo, D., Kusiima, B., Nsubuga, M., Kigozi, E., Kajumbula, H., …James, C. (2021). Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda. Microbiology, 167(5), 001000. https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.001000

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is particularly challenging in low-resource settings such as Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FPRRH) in Western Uganda. Specific knowledge of local AMR epidemiology is required to inform evidence-based i... Read More about Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda.

First report of Theileria annulata in Nigeria : findings from cattle ticks in Zamfara and Sokoto States (2021)
Journal Article
Mamman, A., Lorusso, V., Adam, B., Dogo, G., Bown, K., & Birtles, R. (2021). First report of Theileria annulata in Nigeria : findings from cattle ticks in Zamfara and Sokoto States. Parasites and Vectors, 14(1), 242. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04731-4

Background: Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) represent a significant economic burden to cattle farming in sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. However, in the northern part of this country, where the largest livestock population resides, little... Read More about First report of Theileria annulata in Nigeria : findings from cattle ticks in Zamfara and Sokoto States.

Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome (2021)
Other
Harrison, X., McDevitt, A., Dunn, J., Griffiths, S., Benvenuto, C., Birtles, R., …Antwis, R. (2021). Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome

Interactions between hosts and their resident microbial communities are a fundamental component of fitness for both agents. Though recent research has highlighted the importance of interactions between animals and their bacterial communities, compara... Read More about Fungal microbiomes are determined by host phylogeny and exhibit widespread associations with the bacterial microbiome.

Determinants of Eimeria and Campylobacter infection dynamics in UK domestic sheep : the role of co-infection (2021)
Journal Article
Al-neama, R., Bown, K., Blake, D., & Birtles, R. (2021). Determinants of Eimeria and Campylobacter infection dynamics in UK domestic sheep : the role of co-infection. Parasitology, 148(5), 623-629. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182021000044

Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria species is a well-recognized disease of livestock. Enteric Eimeria infections are common, but disease usually only manifests when infection intensity is abnormally high. Campylobacter species are important zoonotic enter... Read More about Determinants of Eimeria and Campylobacter infection dynamics in UK domestic sheep : the role of co-infection.

Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda (2020)
Journal Article
Goodhead, I., Ackers, H., Birtles, R., & James, C. (2020). Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda. bioRxiv, https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.11.20.371203

Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is particularly challenging in low-resource settings such as Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital (FPRRH) in Western Uganda. Specific knowledge of local AMR epidemiology is required to inform evidence-based i... Read More about Antibiotic resistance profiles and population structure of disease-associated Staphylococcus aureus infecting patients in Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, Western Uganda.

Study of general practitioner consultations for tick bites at high, medium and low incidence areas for Lyme borreliosis in England and Wales (2020)
Journal Article
Gillingham, E., Hall, J., Birtles, R., Bown, K., Medlock, J., Smith, R., …Pietzsch, M. (2020). Study of general practitioner consultations for tick bites at high, medium and low incidence areas for Lyme borreliosis in England and Wales. Zoonoses and Public Health, 67(5), 591-599. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12694

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a tick‐borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. In Europe, it is predominately transmitted by the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus. Compared with other European countries, the United Kingdom (UK) is consider... Read More about Study of general practitioner consultations for tick bites at high, medium and low incidence areas for Lyme borreliosis in England and Wales.

Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis (2019)
Journal Article
Logan, J., Hall, J., Chalker, V., O’Connell, B., & Birtles, R. (2019). Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis. Access Microbiology, 1(10), https://doi.org/10.1099/acmi.0.000064

Introduction. Bartonella species are increasingly recognized as agents of culture-negative endocarditis. However, to date, almost all human cases have been associated with two members of the genus, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana. B. hen... Read More about Bartonella clarridgeiae infection in a patient with aortic root abscess and endocarditis.

Geographical location influences the composition of the gut microbiota in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) at a fine spatial scale. (2019)
Journal Article
Goertz, S., de Menezes, A., Birtles, R., Fenn, J., Lowe, A., MacColl, A., …Taylor, C. (2019). Geographical location influences the composition of the gut microbiota in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) at a fine spatial scale. PLoS ONE, 14(9), e0222501. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222501

The composition of the mammalian gut microbiota can be influenced by a multitude of environmental variables such as diet and infections. Studies investigating the effect of these variables on gut microbiota composition often sample across multiple se... Read More about Geographical location influences the composition of the gut microbiota in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) at a fine spatial scale..

Landscape structure affects the prevalence and distribution of a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen (2018)
Journal Article
Millins, C., Dickinson, E., Isakovic, P., Gilbert, L., Wojciechowska, A., Paterson, V., …Biek, R. (2018). Landscape structure affects the prevalence and distribution of a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen. Parasites and Vectors, 11(2018), 621. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-3200-2

Background Landscape structure can affect pathogen prevalence and persistence with consequences for human and animal health. Few studies have examined how reservoir host species traits may interact with landscape structure to alter pathogen communi... Read More about Landscape structure affects the prevalence and distribution of a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen.

Investigation into the genetic diversity in toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in the European badger Meles meles (2018)
Journal Article
Whiteoak, A., Ideozu, J., Alkathiry, H., Tomlinson, A., Delahay, R., Cowen, S., …Hide, G. (2018). Investigation into the genetic diversity in toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in the European badger Meles meles. Research in Veterinary Science, 119, 228-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.06.020

The Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes are a conserved family of genes central to the innate immune response to pathogen infection. They encode receptor proteins, recognise pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and trigger initial immune respons... Read More about Investigation into the genetic diversity in toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in the European badger Meles meles.

Physiological, but not fitness, effects of two interacting haemoparasitic infections in a wild rodent (2018)
Journal Article
Taylor, C., Wanelik, K., Friberg, I., Lowe, A., Hall, A., Ralli, C., …Bradley, J. (2018). Physiological, but not fitness, effects of two interacting haemoparasitic infections in a wild rodent. International Journal for Parasitology, 48(6), 463-471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.11.006

In contrast to the conditions in most laboratory studies, wild animals are routinely challenged by multiple infections at once, and these infections can interact in complex ways. This means that the impact of a parasite on its host’s physiology and f... Read More about Physiological, but not fitness, effects of two interacting haemoparasitic infections in a wild rodent.

A candidate tolerance gene identified in a natural population of field voles (Microtus agrestis) (2017)
Journal Article
Wanelik, K., Begon, M., Birtles, R., Bradley, J., Friberg, I., Jackson, J., …Paterson, S. (2017). A candidate tolerance gene identified in a natural population of field voles (Microtus agrestis). Molecular Ecology, 27(4), 1044-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.14476

The animal immune response has hitherto been viewed primarily in the context of resistance only. However, individuals, can also employ a tolerance strategy to maintain good health in the face of on-going infection. To shed light on the genetic and ph... Read More about A candidate tolerance gene identified in a natural population of field voles (Microtus agrestis).

From the animal house to the field : are there consistent individual differences in immunological profile in wild populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis)? (2017)
Journal Article
Arriero, E., Wanelik, K., Birtles, R., Bradley, J., Jackson, J., Paterson, S., & Begon, M. (2017). From the animal house to the field : are there consistent individual differences in immunological profile in wild populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis)?. PLoS ONE, 12(8), e0183450. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183450

Inbred mouse strains, living in simple laboratory environments far removed from nature, have been shown to vary consistently in their immune response. However, wildlife populations are typically outbreeding and face a multiplicity of challenges, para... Read More about From the animal house to the field : are there consistent individual differences in immunological profile in wild populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis)?.

Use of mass-participation outdoor events to assess human exposure to tickborne pathogens (2017)
Journal Article
Hall, J., Alpers, K., Bown, K., Martin, S., & Birtles, R. (2017). Use of mass-participation outdoor events to assess human exposure to tickborne pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 23(3), 463-467. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2303.161397

Mapping the public health threat of tickborne pathogens requires quantification of not only the density of infected host-seeking ticks but also the rate of human exposure to these ticks. To efficiently sample a high number of persons in a short time,... Read More about Use of mass-participation outdoor events to assess human exposure to tickborne pathogens.

Detection of Hepatozoon felis in Ticks Collected from Free-Ranging Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), Russian Far East, 2002–12 (2016)
Journal Article
Thomas, L., Seryodkin, I., Goodrich, J., Miquelle, D., Birtles, R., & Lewis, J. (2016). Detection of Hepatozoon felis in Ticks Collected from Free-Ranging Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), Russian Far East, 2002–12. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 52, 674-676. https://doi.org/10.7589/2015-10-277

We collected 69 ticks from nine, free-ranging Amur tigers ( Panthera tigris altaica) between 2002 and 2011 and investigated them for tick-borne pathogens. DNA was extracted using alkaline digestion and PCR was performed to detect apicomplexan organis... Read More about Detection of Hepatozoon felis in Ticks Collected from Free-Ranging Amur Tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), Russian Far East, 2002–12.