Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne

A team of animal scientists is set to deliver a potential game changer for subsistence farmers in Tanzania: cows that produce up to 20 times the milk of indigenous breeds. A team of animal scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is set to deliver a potential game changer for subsistence farmers in Tanzania: cows that produce up to 20 times the milk of indigenous breeds. The effort, published in Animal Frontiers, marries the milk-producing prowess of Holsteins and Jerseys with the heat, drought, and disease-resistance of Gyrs, an indigenous cattle breed common in tropical countries. Five generations of crosses result in cattle capable of producing 10 liters of milk per day under typical Tanzanian management, blasting past the half-liter average yield of indigenous cattle. After breeding the first of these calves in the U.S., project leader Matt Wheeler, professor in the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois, is ready to bring embryos to Tanzania. "High-yielding Girolandos -- Holstein-Gyr crosses -- are common in Brazil, but because of endemic diseases there, those cattle can't be exported to most other countries," Wheeler said. "We wanted to develop a high health-status herd in the U.S. so we could export their genetics anywhere in the world." Wheeler's team plans to implant 100 half-blood Holstein-Gyr or Jersey-Gyr embryos into indigenous cattle in two Tanzanian locations this March. The resulting calves will be inseminated through successive generations to create "pure synthetic" cattle with five-eighths Holstein or Jersey and three-eighths Gyr genetics. Unlike Girolandos, Jersey-Gyr pure synthetics do not yet have an official name. Pure synthetics are worth the time and effort; once the five-eighths/three-eighths genetics are established, they're locked in. In other words, calves from successive matings will maintain the same genetic ratio. "The whole idea is to keep the disease and pest resistance linked together with the milk production so that as you breed, those traits don't separate," Wheeler said. "That's going to be the challenge in developing countries; until you get to the pure synthetic generation, there will always be the temptation to breed to the bull down the road, losing the effect." Wheeler's team, including coauthor Moses Ole-Neselle of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), cares about getting this effort right. Although developing the embryos took years of meticulous work, they're not stopping there. The team hosted its first online course on bovine assisted reproduction technology last summer, including 12 participants from Tanzania. And there's more to come. "It was important to start training the first group of veterinarians and graduate students to adopt the technology, so when we get there, it's not a foreign thing," Wheeler said. "The Tanzanian government wants this training and student exchanges. We're going to continue investing in this program for as long as it takes." Wheeler recognizes the best genetics and most comprehensive training won't amount to much if the plan doesn't account for the local culture. With advice from collaborators like the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute and Teresa Barnes, director of the Center for African Studies at Illinois, Wheeler has already adjusted his strategy to accommodate the preferences of local Maasai herdsmen. "We've learned some Maasai clans strongly prefer smaller, red cattle, so the Holstein crosses we made initially, which were large and black, weren't going to work," he said. "I had to start over with Jerseys, which set us back a bit. It will be worth it if they're better accepted." But some aspects of Tanzanian cattle management will have to change to realize the full potential of the improved genetics. For example, Wheeler said nomadic Maasai herders often graze cattle 25 miles from their enclosures each day, limiting the energy available for milk production. While the project is still in its early stages, it represents a step toward more climate-resilient animal agriculture, the topic of the special issue of Animal Frontiers in which Wheeler's article is published. While Wheeler's current priority is to bolster food security in the Global South where climate change is hitting hardest, he said the same technology could be used to protect cattle from changing climates here in the U.S. and around the world. In other words, tropical genetics could be inserted into our already high-yielding cattle to better withstand heat, drought, and disease. "These cattle would work very well in Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, and California. Maybe it's time to start thinking about that now," Wheeler said. "People don't usually think that far ahead, but my prediction is that people are going to look back and realize having tropical genetics earlier would have been a good thing."

FRIDAY, Aug. 4, 2023 -- Los Angeles county is seeing more cases of flea-borne typhus, with 171 cases and three deaths reported in 2022, health officials reported Thursday. That's a big rise, they noted: Since 2010, when only 31 cases of typhus were reported, fleas have been spreading the disease widely in the California city. While many people who become infected don't even know they're sick, those with serious medical conditions are at risk for severe illness or death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We don't completely understand how typhus causes complications, but we do know that flea-borne typhus can cause complications in general, such as sepsis, fevers and issues with your liver," said report author Dr. Jemma Alarcon , a CDC epidemic intelligence service officer stationed in Los Angeles. The report was published Aug. 4 in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . "A majority of people are asymptomatic or have very mild disease. They might just get a headache and not even know that this is what they had," she explained. "In this instance, the flea-borne typhus, unfortunately, did affect the patients... one of them, her heart, and another one, his immune system was hyperactive, and the last one was related to sepsis and blood issues." Report co-author Dr. Umme-Aiman Halai , from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said the number of infected fleas living on animals that people come into contact with has been increasing in Los Angeles. "There could be population expansion to suburban areas, increased contact with wildlife, lack of rodent control programs in urban centers and suburban areas," she noted. Global warming might also be leading to more infected fleas, but that's only speculation, Halai said. Regardless of the reason for the increase in cases, one expert said doctors need to take note. "This has been a rare and unusual condition, and to see reports that describe the increasing frequency of this tells me that in this world things are always changing," said Dr. Bruce Hirsch , an infectious disease specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. These three deaths are unusual, he noted. "Individuals who are dealing with other health conditions are more vulnerable to all kinds of complications, and all kinds of outcomes," Hirsch said. "We must add flea-borne typhus to that list." Alarcon is also concerned that doctors don't think of typhus when symptoms appear. "I am concerned that there could be cases where the patient does go to see the doctor, but the doctor might not know to test for this disease," she said. To protect yourself, the researchers suggested controlling fleas on your pets and avoiding contact with animals likely to carry fleas. In the first case detailed in the report, a 68-year-old Hispanic man suffering from lymph node disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity was hospitalized with typhus and treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. But he later died from a blood disorder and septic shock. The second patient, a 49-year-old Hispanic woman also treated with doxycycline, suffered several episodes of cardiac arrest and later died of multiple organ failure caused by typhus. The woman had feral cats living in her backyard. The third patient was a 71-year-old Hispanic man with a compromised immune system who also died of septic shock linked to typhus infection . This patient had been living in a homeless encampment, where he was most likely exposed to infected fleas. The fact that all the patients were Hispanic isn't relevant, Halai noted. It's merely a reflection of the population of Los Angeles, she explained. Flea-borne typhus is caused by a bacteria called Rickettsia typhi . It's spread by contact with fleas that are infected when they bite infected animals, such as rats, cats or opossums. Once bitten, the disease carried by flea poop can get into the wound and cause sickness. The infected poop can also be inhaled or rubbed into the eyes. This bacteria is not spread from person to person. Flea-borne typhus occurs in tropical and subtropical climates around the world, including Southern California, Texas and Hawaii, according to the CDC. Just last month, a Texas man lost his hands and part of his feet after contracting a severe case of typhus and going into septic shock. Symptoms begin within two weeks after contact with infected fleas or flea poop and may include: Fever and chills Body aches and muscle pain Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Stomach pain Cough Rash (typically occurs around day 5 of illness) Severe illness is rare and most people recover completely, sometimes without treatment. However, untreated disease can cause severe illness and damage to one or more organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs and brain, the CDC says. "The biggest concern here is that it's got to be under-diagnosed, because it's got a lot of symptoms that are easily mistaken for other symptoms, so it's got to be treated early," said infectious disease expert Dr. Marc Siegel , a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Siegel said typhus is easy to treat with doxycycline. But he's worried about the growing rodent and rat population in Los Angeles. "I'm concerned about more and more fleas carrying typhus and spreading it, but I don't know how to stop it," he said. Sources Jemma Alarcon, MD, epidemic intelligence service officer, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Umme-Aiman Halai, MD, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles Marc Siegel, MD, professor, medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City Bruce Hirsch, MD, infectious disease specialist, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, N.Y. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , Aug. 4, 2023 Posted August 2023

AUSTIN, Texas, May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Thrive Pet Healthcare, a leading veterinary service network with about 400 locations across the U.S., advised dog and cat owners about the household health risks when pets are not protected year-round from external parasites such as fleas and ticks. According to a Zoonoses Public Health study, pet owning households are at increased risk of finding ticks crawling on or attached to household members compared to households without pets. Continue Reading Thrive Pet Healthcare Advises Pet Owners About Household Health Risks When Pets Are Not Protected from Parasites Tweet this Many flea- and tick-borne illnesses that may affect dogs and cats can equally affect humans. Bites from ticks that are infected with Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in serious health conditions for pets and humans. Although less common, fleas can transmit infections and diseases to both pets and humans, including plague and murine typhus. "Parasites are not picky. Fleas and ticks will bite humans just as easily as they will bite our pets, potentially putting everyone in the household at risk for illness or disease when dogs and cats are not on a year-round preventative regimen," said Thrive Pet Healthcare Vice President of Medical Excellence and Education Dr. Kelly Cairns. "Veterinarian-prescribed flea and tick preventatives are the best way to protect your pet from harmful and sometimes deadly parasite-related illnesses." Dogs and cats can also be infected with heartworm disease, a potentially fatal illness carried by mosquitoes. Heartworms are spread by mosquito bites and can grow up to a foot long, living in the heart and lungs of the pet. Symptoms are often unnoticeable until irreversible damage has been done. "Once your dog or cat is infected with heartworm disease, treatment can be very costly, have possible side effects, and is not always successful," said Dr. Cairns. "Ultimately, the risks of infection and high cost of treatment outweighs the cost of prevention." Some of the common myths about external parasite exposure in pets include: Myth: Indoor pets are not at risk. Many parasites are mobile and can easily gain access to your home through an open door or window or be carried in by people or other pets. Myth: Parasites are not a problem for pets during the winter. Climates can be unpredictable. While infection rates decrease in cold weather, the warm climate inside most homes during the winter months can be an attractive breeding ground for parasites. Also, pet owners who travel with their pets could potentially expose them to parasites. Myth: Only certain geographic regions of the country are prone to parasites. Heartworm is found within mosquitoes in all 50 states. Anywhere there is soil, grass, moisture or vegetation, there is a potential for external parasites. To encourage pet owners to invest in the long-term health and well-being of their pets, through May 31, select Thrive Pet Healthcare primary care hospitals will offer a 10% discount on 6- and 12-month supplies of Simparica, Simparica TRIO, Revolution PLUS, and the annual injectable ProHeart 12.Thrive Plus™ members will receive an additional 10% off. To learn more about this parasite prevention promotion, common pet parasites and prevention options, visit . Thrive Plus membership makes it easier and more cost-effective for pets to receive frequent, high-quality care throughout their life. Starting at $14.95 per month, members receive unlimited free exams, unlimited $5 nail trims, and 10% off primary care services. About Thrive Pet Healthcare: Thrive Pet Healthcare is a leading veterinary service network that uniquely delivers a continuum of care to pet families and services to veterinary hospitals. With an industry-first membership program and about 400 acute, primary, and specialty providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare offers personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pet's life and health. The veterinarian-founded organization provides premier benefits for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs and aspirations of veterinary care providers, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the well-being of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence. To learn more about Thrive Pet Healthcare, please visit . SOURCE Thrive Pet Healthcare