Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil
Zoonotic-origin infectious diseases are one of the major concerns of human and veterinary health systems. Ticks, as vectors of several zoonotic diseases, are ranked second only to mosquitoes as vectors. Many ticks’ transmitted infections are still endemic in the Americas, Europe, and Africa and repr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/870 |
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| author | Mônica E. T. Alcon-Chino Salvatore G. De-Simone |
| author_facet | Mônica E. T. Alcon-Chino Salvatore G. De-Simone |
| author_sort | Mônica E. T. Alcon-Chino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Zoonotic-origin infectious diseases are one of the major concerns of human and veterinary health systems. Ticks, as vectors of several zoonotic diseases, are ranked second only to mosquitoes as vectors. Many ticks’ transmitted infections are still endemic in the Americas, Europe, and Africa and represent approximately 17% of their infectious diseases population. Although our scientific capacity to identify and diagnose diseases is increasing, it remains a challenge in the case of tick-borne conditions. For example, in 2017, 160 cases of the Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF, a tick-borne illness) were confirmed, alarming the notifiable diseases information system. Conversely, Brazilian borreliosis and ehrlichiosis do not require notification. Still, an increasing number of cases in humans and dogs have been reported in southeast and northeastern Brazil. Immunological methods applied to human and dog tick-borne diseases (TBD) show low sensitivity and specificity, cross-reactions, and false IgM positivity. Thus, the diagnosis and management of TBD are hampered by the personal tools and indirect markers used. Therefore, specific and rapid methods urgently need to be developed to diagnose the various types of tick-borne bacterial diseases. This review presents a brief historical perspective on the evolution of serological assays and recent advances in diagnostic tests for TBD (ehrlichiosis, BSF, and borreliosis) in humans and dogs, mainly applied in Brazil. Additionally, this review covers the emerging technologies available in diagnosing TBD, including biosensors, and discusses their potential for future use as gold standards in diagnosing these diseases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:50:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00de79eaca264942ab9a34a9439c7a9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:50:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-00de79eaca264942ab9a34a9439c7a9a2023-12-02T00:08:07ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172022-08-0111887010.3390/pathogens11080870Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in BrazilMônica E. T. Alcon-Chino0Salvatore G. De-Simone1Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilCenter for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilZoonotic-origin infectious diseases are one of the major concerns of human and veterinary health systems. Ticks, as vectors of several zoonotic diseases, are ranked second only to mosquitoes as vectors. Many ticks’ transmitted infections are still endemic in the Americas, Europe, and Africa and represent approximately 17% of their infectious diseases population. Although our scientific capacity to identify and diagnose diseases is increasing, it remains a challenge in the case of tick-borne conditions. For example, in 2017, 160 cases of the Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF, a tick-borne illness) were confirmed, alarming the notifiable diseases information system. Conversely, Brazilian borreliosis and ehrlichiosis do not require notification. Still, an increasing number of cases in humans and dogs have been reported in southeast and northeastern Brazil. Immunological methods applied to human and dog tick-borne diseases (TBD) show low sensitivity and specificity, cross-reactions, and false IgM positivity. Thus, the diagnosis and management of TBD are hampered by the personal tools and indirect markers used. Therefore, specific and rapid methods urgently need to be developed to diagnose the various types of tick-borne bacterial diseases. This review presents a brief historical perspective on the evolution of serological assays and recent advances in diagnostic tests for TBD (ehrlichiosis, BSF, and borreliosis) in humans and dogs, mainly applied in Brazil. Additionally, this review covers the emerging technologies available in diagnosing TBD, including biosensors, and discusses their potential for future use as gold standards in diagnosing these diseases.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/870tick-borne diseasesehrlichiosisborreliosisBrazilian Spotted FeverLyme diseaseimmunologic diagnosis |
| spellingShingle | Mônica E. T. Alcon-Chino Salvatore G. De-Simone Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil Pathogens tick-borne diseases ehrlichiosis borreliosis Brazilian Spotted Fever Lyme disease immunologic diagnosis |
| title | Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil |
| title_full | Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil |
| title_short | Recent Advances in the Immunologic Method Applied to Tick-Borne Diseases in Brazil |
| title_sort | recent advances in the immunologic method applied to tick borne diseases in brazil |
| topic | tick-borne diseases ehrlichiosis borreliosis Brazilian Spotted Fever Lyme disease immunologic diagnosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/8/870 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT monicaetalconchino recentadvancesintheimmunologicmethodappliedtotickbornediseasesinbrazil AT salvatoregdesimone recentadvancesintheimmunologicmethodappliedtotickbornediseasesinbrazil |