@article{KarakuşNasereddinOnayetal.2017, author = {Karaku{\c{s}}, Mehmet and Nasereddin, Abed and Onay, H{\"u}seyin and Karaca, Emin and {\"O}zkeklik{\c{c}}i, Ahmet and Jaffe, Charles L. and Kuhls, Katrin and {\"O}zbilgin, Ahmet and Ertabaklar, Hatice and Demir, Samiye and {\"O}zbel, Yusuf and T{\"o}z, Seray}, title = {Epidemiological analysis of Leishmania tropica strains and giemsa-stained smears from Syrian and Turkish leishmaniasis patients using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT)}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {4}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0005538}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-9313}, pages = {12}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Turkey is located in an important geographical location, in terms of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, linking Asia and Europe. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic diseases in a Turkey and according to the Ministry Health of Turkey, 45\% of CL patients originate from Şanl{\i}urfa province located in southeastern Turkey. Herein, the epidemiological status of CL, caused by L. tropica, in Turkey was examined using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of strains obtained from Turkish and Syrian patients. A total of 38 cryopreserved strains and 20 Giemsa-stained smears were included in the present study. MLMT was performed using 12 highly specific microsatellite markers. Delta K (ΔK) calculation and Bayesian statistics were used to determine the population structure. Three main populations (POP A, B and C) were identified and further examination revealed the presence of three subpopulations for POP B and C. Combined analysis was performed using the data of previously typed L. tropica strains and Mediterranean and Şanl{\i}urfa populations were identified. This finding suggests that the epidemiological status of L. tropica is more complicated than expected when compared to previous studies. A new population, comprised of Syrian L. tropica samples, was reported for the first time in Turkey, and the data presented here will provide new epidemiological information for further studies.}, language = {en} } @article{KuhlsMoskalenkoSukiasyanetal.2021, author = {Kuhls, Katrin and Moskalenko, Olga and Sukiasyan, Anna and Manukyan, Dezdemonia and Melik-Andreasyan, Gayane and Atshemyan, Liana and Apresyan, Hripsime and Strelkova, Margarita V. and Jaeschke, Anja and Wieland, Ralf and Frohme, Marcus and Cortes, Sofia and Keshishyan, Ara}, title = {Microsatellite based molecular epidemiology of Leishmania infantum from re-emerging foci of visceral leishmaniasis in Armenia and pilot risk assessment by ecological niche modeling}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {15}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {4}, publisher = {Public Library of Science (PLoS)}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0009288}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-14004}, pages = {e0009288}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Armenia visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is re-emerging since 1999 after a long break of 30 years, with 167 cases recorded until 2019. Molecular diagnosis of VL was implemented only in 2016, and the causative agent was identified as L. infantum. In the present study we expanded the investigation of the causative agent to a characterization at strain level and the identification of its phylogenetic position among the L. infantum genotypes circulating worldwide. This is the first study addressing genetic diversity and population structure of L. infantum in Armenia and in Transcaucasia. Armenia is an extremely interesting region due to its bio-geographic specificities e.g. the high number of different climates in this small mountainous country and the observed high diversity of sand fly species, part of which occurring in very high altitudes. Ecological niche modeling based on registered VL cases and sand fly vectors collected in active VL foci revealed that the risk of further spread of VL is very high due to climate change. Studies of this region should be expanded to enable targeted control measures.}, language = {en} } @article{StrelkovaBaranovaKuhls2020, author = {Strelkova, Margarita V. and Baranova, Alla M. and Kuhls, Katrin}, title = {History of the E.I. Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology and Tropical Medicine: research on malaria and leishmaniasis}, series = {Hist{\´o}ria, Ci{\^e}ncias, Sa{\´u}de - Manguinhos}, volume = {27}, journal = {Hist{\´o}ria, Ci{\^e}ncias, Sa{\´u}de - Manguinhos}, number = {4}, publisher = {Casa de Oswaldo Cruz, Funda{\c{c}}{\~a}o Oswaldo Cruz}, issn = {1678-4758}, doi = {10.1590/s0104-59702020000500005}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-13675}, pages = {1097 -- 1124}, year = {2020}, abstract = {This review presents the 100-year history of the Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology and Tropical Medicine in Moscow, Russia, starting with its foundation and early activities, and also describes the impact of its leading scientists, some of whom became internationally known. The institute headed a network of nine tropical institutes in the various Soviet republics from the 1920s to 1990. The extensive body of literature on the history and research accomplishments of this institute has mainly been published in Russian; our goal here is to introduce these achievements and this expertise to the international scientific and medical community, focusing on malaria and leishmaniasis and the development of measures to control and monitor these diseases in the USSR.}, language = {en} } @misc{SinningKoehlerLitzkeetal.2014, author = {Sinning, Denise and K{\"o}hler, Kernt and Litzke, Lutz-Ferdinand and Sch{\"o}nian, Gabriele and Frohme, Marcus and Kuhls, Katrin}, title = {Leishmania siamensis als Erreger von autochthoner kutaner Leishmaniose bei Pferden in Deutschland - eine neue Infektionskrankheit in Mitteleuropa?}, series = {Wissenschaftliche Beitr{\"a}ge 2014}, volume = {18}, journal = {Wissenschaftliche Beitr{\"a}ge 2014}, issn = {0949-8214}, doi = {10.15771/0949-8214_2014_1_2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-3295}, pages = {17 -- 25}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Aus mitteleurop{\"a}ischer Sicht ist die durch Parasiten verursachte und von Sandm{\"u}cken {\"u}bertragene Leishmaniose eine in L{\"a}ndern tropischer und subtropischer Regionen auftretende Infektionskrankheit. In zunehmendem Maße werden jedoch autochthone F{\"a}lle in Mitteleuropa, insbesondere in S{\"u}ddeutschland, verzeichnet. Dies ist vermutlich auf die globale Erw{\"a}rmung und die Ausdehnung des Verbreitungsgebietes der Sandm{\"u}cken nach Norden zur{\"u}ckzuf{\"u}hren. Die vorliegende Arbeit befasst sich mit der Identifizierung und phylogenetischen Charakterisierung der Erreger dieser F{\"a}lle. Dazu wurden verschiedene Marker im Leishmaniengenom sequenziert und mit bekannten Arten verglichen. Die untersuchte DNA stammte von autochthonen kutanen Leishmaniosen bei Pferden und einem Rind, die in den letzten zehn Jahren in Deutschland und der Schweiz auftraten. Aufgrund identischer Sequenzen konnten die Parasiten als L. siamensis identifiziert bzw. verifiziert werden, eine erst im Jahr 2008 neu beschriebene Art, die in Thailand humane viszerale Leishmaniose verursacht. Die phylogenetischen Analysen zeigten die {\"A}hnlichkeit von L. siamensis mit weiteren bisher nicht identifizierten St{\"a}mmen aus Martinique und Ghana, die kutane Leishmaniose bei Menschen verursachen. Um die Frage zu beantworten, ob sich die Leishmaniose zu einer in Mitteleuropa endemischen zoonotischen Krankheit entwickeln k{\"o}nnte, m{\"u}ssen weitere Studien {\"u}ber kompatible Vektoren, m{\"o}gliche Reservoire und zur Virulenz durchgef{\"u}hrt werden.}, language = {de} } @article{WielandKuhlsLentzetal.2021, author = {Wieland, Ralf and Kuhls, Katrin and Lentz, Hartmut H.K. and Conraths, Franz and Kampen, Helge and Werner, Doreen}, title = {Combined climate and regional mosquito habitat model based on machine learning}, series = {Ecological Modelling}, volume = {452}, journal = {Ecological Modelling}, address = {Elsevier}, issn = {0304-3800}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-15649}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Besides invasive mosquito species also several native species are proven or suspected vectors of arboviruses as West Nile or Usutu virus in Western Europe. Habitat models of these native vectors can be a helpful tool for assessing the risk of autochthonous occurrence, outbreaks and spread of diseases caused by such arboviruses. Modelling native mosquitoes is complicated because of the perfect adaptation to the climatic and landscape conditions and their high abundance in contrast to invasive species. Here we present a new approach for such a habitat model for native mosquito species in Germany, which are considered as vectors of West Nile virus (WNV). Epizootic emergence of WNV was registered in Germany since 2018. The models are based on surveillance data of mosquitoes from the German citizen science project "M{\"u}ckenatlas" complemented by data from systematic trap monitoring in Germany, and on data freely available from the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD) and OpenStreetMap (OSM). While climatic factors still play an important role, we could show that habitat suitability is predictable only by the combination of the climate model with a regional model. Both models were based on a machine-learning approach using XGBoost. Evaluation of the accuracy of the models was done by statistical analysis, determining among others feature importances using the SHAP-Library. Final output of the combined climatic and regional models are maps showing the superposed habitat suitability which are generated through a number of steps described in detail. These maps also include the registered cases of WNV infections in the selected region of Germany.}, language = {en} } @article{KoenigKiffnerKuhlsetal.2023, author = {K{\"o}nig, Hannes J. and Kiffner, Christian and Kuhls, Katrin and Uthes, Sandra and Harms, Verena and Wieland, Ralf}, title = {Planning for wolf-livestock coexistence: landscape context predicts livestock depredation risk in agricultural landscapes}, series = {animal}, volume = {17}, journal = {animal}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {1751-7311}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-17032}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Extensive pastoral livestock systems in Central Europe provide multiple ecosystem services and support biodiversity in agricultural landscapes but their viability is challenged by livestock depredation (LD) associated with the recovery of wolf populations. Variation in the spatial distribution of LD depends on a suite of factors, most of which are unavailable at the appropriate scales. To assess if LD patterns can be predicted sufficiently with land use data alone at the scale of one federal state in Germany, we employed a machine-learning-supported resource selection approach. The model used LD monitoring data, and publicly available land use data to describe the landscape configuration at LD and control sites (resolution 4 km * 4 km). We used SHapley Additive exPlanations to assess the importance and effects of landscape configuration and cross-validation to evaluate the model performance. Our model predicted the spatial distribution of LD events with a mean accuracy of 74\%. The most influential land use features included grassland, farmland and forest. The risk of livestock depredation was high if these three landscape features co-occurred with a specific proportion. A high share of grassland, combined with a moderate proportion of forest and farmland, increased LD risk. We then used the model to predict the LD risk in five regions; the resulting risk maps showed high congruence with observed LD events. While of correlative nature and lacking specific information on wolf and livestock distribution and husbandry practices, our pragmatic modelling approach can guide spatial prioritisation of damage prevention or mitigation practices to improve livestock-wolf coexistence in agricultural landscapes.}, language = {en} } @article{AkhoundiKuhlsCannetetal.2016, author = {Akhoundi, Mohammad and Kuhls, Katrin and Cannet, Arnaud and Vot{\´y}pka, Jan and Marty, Pierre and Delaunay, Pascal and Sereno, Denis}, title = {A Historical Overview of the Classification, Evolution, and Dispersion of Leishmania Parasites and Sandflies}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {10}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {3}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0004349}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-5853}, pages = {40}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The aim of this study is to describe the major evolutionary historical events among Leishmania, sandflies, and the associated animal reservoirs in detail, in accordance with the geographical evolution of the Earth, which has not been previously discussed on a large scale.}, language = {en} } @article{BaleelaLlewellynFitzpatricketal.2014, author = {Baleela, Rania and Llewellyn, Martin S. and Fitzpatrick, Sinead and Kuhls, Katrin and Sch{\"o}nian, Gabriele and Miles, Michael A. and Mauricio, Isabel L.}, title = {Leishmania donovani populations in Eastern Sudan: temporal structuring and a link between human and canine transmission}, series = {Parasites \& Vectors}, volume = {7}, journal = {Parasites \& Vectors}, number = {496}, issn = {1756-3305}, doi = {10.1186/s13071-014-0496-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-5921}, pages = {9}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), caused by the members of the Leishmania donovani complex, has been responsible for devastating VL epidemics in the Sudan. Multilocus microsatellite and sequence typing studies can provide valuable insights into the molecular epidemiology of leishmaniasis, when applied at local scales. Here we present population genetic data for a large panel of strains and clones collected in endemic Sudan between 1993 and 2001.}, language = {en} } @article{AmroAlDwibeGashoutetal.2017, author = {Amro, Ahmad and Al-Dwibe, Hamida and Gashout, Aisha and Moskalenko, Olga and Galafin, Marlena and Hamarsheh, Omar and Frohme, Marcus and Jaeschke, Anja and Sch{\"o}nian, Gabriele and Kuhls, Katrin}, title = {Spatiotemporal and molecular epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Libya}, series = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases}, number = {9}, issn = {1935-2735}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0005873}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-10054}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a skin infection caused by a single-celled parasite that is transmitted by the bite of a phlebotomine sandfly. CL is the most common form of leishmaniasis characterized by localized lesions in the skin and mucous membranes. The disease is prevalent in all countries around the Mediterranean Basin. In this paper, we describe spatiotemporal and eco-epidemiological parameters of CL in Libya. Moreover, we explored current spatiotemporal distributions of CL cases and explored the future projection of the disease. Our study indicates the presence of higher risk of CL in the coastal regions of Libya. Future projection until 2060 showed a trend of increasing incidence of CL in the north-western part of Libya, a spread along the coastal region and a possible emergence of new endemics in the north-eastern districts of Libya. These scenarios should be considered by health authorities in order to develop appropriate intervention strategies and plan effective control programs.}, language = {en} } @article{KnihaDvořakHaladaetal.2020, author = {Kniha, Edwin and Dvoř{\´a}k, V{\´i}t and Halada, Petr and Milchram, Markus and Obwaller, Adelheid G. and Kuhls, Katrin and Schlegel, Susanne and K{\"o}hsler, Martina and Poeppl, Wolfgang and Bakran-Lebl, Karin and Fuehrer, Hans-Peter and Volfov{\´a}, Věra and Mooseder, Gerhard and Ivovic, Vladimir and Volf, Petr and Walochnik, Julia}, title = {Integrative Approach to Phlebotomus mascittii Grassi, 1908: First Record in Vienna with New Morphological and Molecular Insights}, series = {Pathogens}, volume = {9}, journal = {Pathogens}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2076-0817}, doi = {10.3390/pathogens9121032}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-13600}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) are blood-feeding insects that transmit the protozoan parasites Leishmania spp. and various arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses. While in Mediterranean parts of Europe the sand fly fauna is diverse, in Central European countries including Austria mainly Phlebotomus mascittii is found, an assumed but unproven vector of Leishmania infantum. To update the currently understudied sand fly distribution in Austria, a sand fly survey was performed and other entomological catches were screened for sand flies. Seven new trapping locations of Ph. mascittii are reported including the first record in Vienna, representing also one of the first findings of this species in a city. Morphological identification, supported by fluorescence microscopy, was confirmed by two molecular approaches, including sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) protein profiling. Sand fly occurrence and activity were evaluated based on surveyed locations, habitat requirements and climatic parameters. Moreover, a first comparison of European Ph. mascittii populations was made by two marker genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), and cytochrome b (cytb), as well as MALDI-TOF mass spectra. Our study provides new important records of Ph. mascittii in Austria and valuable data for prospective entomological surveys. MALDI-TOF MS protein profiling was shown to be a reliable tool for differentiation between sand fly species. Rising temperatures and globalization demand for regular entomological surveys to monitor changes in species distribution and composition. This is also important with respect to the possible vector competence of Ph. mascittii.}, language = {en} } @article{SukiasyanKeshishyanManukyanetal.2019, author = {Sukiasyan, Anna and Keshishyan, Ara and Manukyan, Dezdemonia and Melik-Andreasyan, Gayane and Atshemyan, Liana and Apresyan, Hripsime and Strelkova, Margarita V. and Frohme, Marcus and Cortes, Sofia and Kuhls, Katrin}, title = {Re-Emerging Foci of Visceral Leishmaniasis in Armenia - First Molecular Diagnosis of Clinical Samples}, series = {Parasitology}, journal = {Parasitology}, issn = {1469-8161}, doi = {10.1017/S0031182019000064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-12018}, pages = {20}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) was firstly reported in Armenia in 1913. Following a considerable increase of the number of cases until the mid 1950s, the diseases disappeared after 1969 and re-emerged in 1999. Scientific literature about VL in Armenia is available only in Russian or Armenian. This paper presents a historical overview about leishmaniasis in Armenia based on this literature as well as an epidemiological update since the re-emergence of the disease. In 1999- 2016, 116 indigenous VL cases were recorded mainly in children in 8 of the 11 districts, however VL is underreported because of lack of trained medical personal and diagnostic facilities. The aim of this work was to apply for the first time molecular diagnosis of VL in Armenia. Out of 25 VL suspected patients, 22 were positive by microscopy and PCR. Genotyping using ITS1-PCR-RFLP and sequencing identified the causative agent of VL in Armenia as Leishmania infantum. The present work is an important step towards the inclusion of molecular techniques in the current diagnosis of VL in Armenia and the establishment of local molecular diagnostic facilities.}, language = {en} } @article{HornemannSinningCortesetal.2017, author = {Hornemann, Andrea and Sinning, Denise and Cortes, Sofia and Campino, Lenea and Emmer, Peggy and Kuhls, Katrin and Ulm, Gerhard and Frohme, Marcus and Beckhoff, Burkhard}, title = {A pilot study on fingerprinting Leishmania species from the Old World using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy}, series = {Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry}, journal = {Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry}, issn = {1432-1130}, doi = {10.1007/s00216-017-0655-5}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-10080}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Leishmania species are protozoan parasites and the causative agents of leishmaniasis, a vector borne disease that imposes a large health burden on individuals living mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Different Leishmania species are responsible for the distinct clinical patterns, such as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis, with the latter being potentially fatal if left untreated. For this reason, it is important to perform correct species identification and differentiation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is an analytical spectroscopic technique increasingly being used as a potential tool for identification of microorganisms for diagnostic purposes. By employing mid-infrared (MIR) spectral data, it is not only possible to assess the chemical structures but also to achieve differentiation supported by multivariate statistic analysis. This work comprises a pilot study on differentiation of Leishmania species of the Old World (L. major, L. tropica, L. infantum, and L. donovani) as well as hybrids of distinct species by using vibrational spectroscopic fingerprints. Films of intact Leishmania parasites and their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were characterized comparatively with respect to their biochemical nature and MIR spectral patterns. The strains' hyperspectral datasets were multivariately examined by means of variance-based principal components analysis (PCA) and distance-based hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). With the implementation of MIR spectral datasets we show that a phenotypic differentiation of Leishmania at species and intra-species level is feasible. Thus, FTIR spectroscopy can be further exploited for building up spectral databases of Leishmania parasites in view of high-throughput analysis of clinical specimens.}, language = {en} } @article{AkhoundiDowningVotypkaetal.2017, author = {Akhoundi, Mohammad and Downing, Tim and Vot{\´y}pka, Jan and Kuhls, Katrin and Lukeš, Julius and Cannet, Arnaud and Ravel, Christophe and Marty, Pierre and Delaunay, Pascal and Kasbari, Mohamed and Granouillac, Bruno and Gradoni, Luigi and Sereno, Denis}, title = {Leishmania infections: Molecular targets and diagnosis}, series = {Molecular Aspects of Medicine}, volume = {57}, journal = {Molecular Aspects of Medicine}, issn = {0098-2997}, doi = {10.1016/j.mam.2016.11.012}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:526-opus4-9908}, pages = {1 -- 29}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Progress in the diagnosis of leishmaniases depends on the development of effective methods and the discovery of suitable biomarkers. We propose firstly an update classification of Leishmania species and their synonymies. We demonstrate a global map highlighting the geography of known endemic Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. We summarize a complete list of techniques currently in use and discuss their advantages and limitations. The available data highlights the benefits of molecular markers in terms of their sensitivity and specificity to quantify variation from the subgeneric level to species complexes, (sub) species within complexes, and individual populations and infection foci. Each DNA-based detection method is supplied with a comprehensive description of markers and primers and proposal for a classification based on the role of each target and primer in the detection, identification and quantification of leishmaniasis infection. We outline a genome-wide map of genes informative for diagnosis that have been used for Leishmania genotyping. Furthermore, we propose a classification method based on the suitability of well-studied molecular markers for typing the 21 known Leishmania species pathogenic to humans. This can be applied to newly discovered species and to hybrid strains originating from inter-species crosses. Developing more effective and sensitive diagnostic methods and biomarkers is vital for enhancing Leishmania infection control programs.}, language = {en} }