Uncovering the hidden world of parasites inside ticks
When I tell people I study parasites that live inside ticks, I usually get one of two reactions: a shudder of disgust or a puzzled look that says, "Don't ticks already carry enough diseases?"
Page 9: Research news on disease vectors
Disease vectors are living organisms, typically arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, sandflies, and triatomine bugs, that biologically or mechanically transmit pathogenic agents between hosts, thereby enabling the spread of infectious diseases within populations and ecosystems. In vector-borne disease systems, pathogens often undergo essential developmental or replication stages within the vector (biological transmission), or are passively carried on contaminated body parts (mechanical transmission). Research on disease vectors encompasses their ecology, population dynamics, host-feeding behavior, vector competence, insecticide resistance, and interactions with environmental and climatic factors, informing surveillance, risk modeling, and integrated vector management strategies for disease control.
New work sheds light on the survival strategies of parasite responsible for Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that affects up to 1 million people worldwide each year. It is caused by the protozoan Leishmania, transmitted through the bite of a sandfly. Once inside its host—human or animal—the parasite ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Jul 31, 2025
0
43
Scientists find a silver lining to adult house flies' filthy behavior
Researchers at USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are investigating the microbial communities carried by house flies to enhance disease monitoring and reduce the risk of disease transmission by fly-borne pathogens ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2025
0
24
Genetic tweak in mosquitoes blocks malaria transmission without affecting insect health
Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal. In 2023, the blood-sucking insects infected a reported 263 million people with malaria, leading to nearly 600,000 deaths, 80% of which were children.
Plants & Animals
Jul 23, 2025
0
35
Insecticides in cattle feed to combat flies 'significantly lower' dung beetle populations, which control flies naturally
Anyone who has walked through a barn or cattle pasture in the summer knows that flies are a nuisance and even a health hazard. Face flies can spread diseases like pink eye to cattle, and horn flies—biting flies that live ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 22, 2025
0
58
Structure of tick-borne virus revealed at atomic resolution for the first time
As summer kicks into full gear and people are spending more time outside, there's one thing on many people's minds—ticks. Tick season is starting earlier and lasting longer, and ticks are popping up in areas they haven't ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 9, 2025
0
45
Mediterranean bacteria may harbor new mosquito solution
Mosquito-borne diseases kill more than 700,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization, and the mosquitoes that spread the disease are difficult to control. Most species have developed resistance to ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jul 7, 2025
0
41
Bacteria hijack tick cell defenses to spread disease, study shows
Washington State University researchers have discovered how the bacteria that cause anaplasmosis and Lyme disease hijack cellular processes in ticks to ensure their survival and spread to new hosts, including humans.
Cell & Microbiology
Jun 30, 2025
0
40
Global study reveals surprising flexibility in mosquito feeding patterns
In a global study, scientists have uncovered far greater diversity and flexibility in mosquito feeding patterns than previously thought, challenging long-held assumptions about how the disease-carrying insects select their ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 20, 2025
0
69
A flesh-eating fly is spreading north to the US. It could devastate livestock farming if not controlled
A flesh-eating parasitic fly is invading North and Central America. The consequences could be severe for the cattle industry, but this parasite is not picky—it will infest a wide range of hosts, including humans and their ...
Agriculture
Jun 16, 2025
0
47
