Pests and Parasites – Page 2 – PossibleThreat Articles

Acaí berry extracts fight malaria in mice

October 17, 2019 0 Comments Diseases and Conditions, Genetically Modified, Infectious Diseases, Malaria, mice, Pests and Parasites, Pharmacology, rodents

Despite humanity's best efforts to eradicate malaria, the disease struck more than 200 million people in 2017, according to the World Health Organization. Worse yet, the parasite that causes malaria is developing resistance to many antimalarial drugs, including the mainstay, chloroquine. Researchers are actively searching for new treatments, and now, a group have found that acaí berry extracts can reduce parasites in the blood and prolong the survival of infected mice.

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Scientists work toward a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test for Lyme disease

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Biochemistry Research, Chronic Illness, Joint Pain, Lyme Disease, Pain Control, Pests and Parasites, Veterinary Medicine, Virology

A study describes a new rapid assay for Lyme disease that could lead to a practical test for use by healthcare providers. The researchers found the assay, which uses several biomarkers to detect Lyme disease infection, was more sensitive than current laboratory-based tests when diagnosing Lyme disease early after suspected infection.

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In Baltimore, lower income neighborhoods have bigger mosquitoes

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Alzheimer's Research, Infectious Diseases, Insects (including Butterflies), Invasive Species, Malaria, Nature, Pests and Parasites, Viruses

Low-income urban neighborhoods not only have more mosquitoes, but they are larger-bodied, indicating that they could be more efficient at transmitting diseases. So reports investigating how socioeconomics influences mosquito-borne disease risk in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Muscadine grapes are affected by parasitic nematodes

October 16, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Beer and Wine, Botany, Extreme Survival, Nature, Pests and Parasites, Veterinary Medicine, Virology

Muscadines are also known for being hearty grapes, with a tough skin that protects them from many fungal diseases. Bunch grapes are highly susceptible to damage from plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs), which affect their health, quality, production, and maintenance. Now we know that PPNs also affect muscadines.

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Family of crop viruses at the molecular level

October 11, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Botany, Endangered Plants, Food and Agriculture, Genetics, Microbes and More, Pests and Parasites, Virology

For the first-time we can take a molecular-level look at one of the world's deadliest crop killers.

News Science

Key uncertainties identified for models of mosquito distribution in the US

October 10, 2019 0 Comments Exotic Species, Infectious Diseases, Malaria, New Species, Pests and Parasites, Severe Weather, Viruses, Weather, Zika Virus Research

A computational analysis has identified key regions in the United States where model-based predictions of mosquito species distribution could be improved.

News Science

Worrisome badger behavior inside the cull zone

October 9, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Bacteria, Cows, Sheep, Pigs, Food, Food and Agriculture, Pests and Parasites, Veterinary Medicine, Zoology

A new study has found that culling drives badgers to roam 61% further afield — helping to explain why the practice, intended to reduce bovine TB transmission, can sometimes exacerbate the problem instead.

News Science

First maps of areas suitable for spotted lanternfly's establishment in US and world

October 4, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Botany, Food and Agriculture, Insects (including Butterflies), Nature, New Species, Pests and Parasites, Trees

Maps identifying the areas suitable for establishment of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in the United States and other countries have been published.

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Plants alert neighbors to threats using common 'language'

October 3, 2019 0 Comments Botany, Ecology, Endangered Plants, Exotic Species, Geochemistry, Grassland, Nature, Pests and Parasites

New research shows that plants can communicate with each other when they come under attack from pests.

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Emerging parasitic disease mimics the symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis in people

October 1, 2019 0 Comments Alzheimer's Research, Diseases and Conditions, Microbiology, Pests and Parasites, Psoriasis, Today's Healthcare, Veterinary Medicine, Virology

A new study suggests that transmission of a protozoan parasite from insects may also cause leishmaniasis-like symptoms in people. The parasite, however, does not respond to treatment with standard leishmaniasis drugs.