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Malatji MP, Tembe D, Mukaratirwa S. An update on epidemiology and clinical aspects of besnoitiosis in livestock and wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023; 21:e00284. [PMID: 36793766 PMCID: PMC9922981 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Besnoitiosis is a parasitic disease of economic importance caused by cyst-forming protozoa from the genus Besnoitia. The disease affects the skin, subcutis, blood vessels, and mucous membranes of the animals. It is traditionally endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, and causes enormous economic loss associated with impaired productivity and reproduction, as well as skin lesions. Therefore, knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease, including the current Besnoitia species occurring in sub-Saharan Africa, the wide range of mammalian species hosts they use as intermediate hosts, and the clinical signs manifested by infected animals is crucial in developing effective prevention and control measures. This review collected information from peer-reviewed publications involving the epidemiology and clinical signs of besnoitiosis in sub-Saharan Africa using four electronic databases. Results showed that B. besnoiti, B. bennetti, B. caprae, B. darlingi-like and unidentified Besnoitia spp. were found naturally infecting livestock and wildlife across nine reviewed sub-Saharan African countries. Besnoitia besnoiti was the most common species, occurring in all nine reviewed countries, and utilised a wide range of mammalian species as intermediate hosts. Prevalence of B. besnoiti ranged from 2.0 to 80.3%, and B. caprae 5.45-46.53%. Infection rate was high with serology compared to other techniques. Some of the typical signs of besnoitiosis included sand-like cysts on the sclera conjunctiva, nodules in the skin, thickening and wrinkling of the skin and alopecia. Inflammation, thickening and wrinkling of the scrotum were observed in bulls, and lesions on the scrotum deteriorated progressively and became generalized in some cases in spite of treatment. There is still a need for surveys focusing on detecting and identifying Besnoitia spp. using molecular techniques in combination with serological, histology and visual observation, and scoping their natural intermediate and definitive hosts, as well as assessing the burden of the disease animals reared on different husbandry systems in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mokgadi Pulane Malatji
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa,Foundational Research & Services, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria 0001, South Africa,Corresponding author at: School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Danisile Tembe
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Samson Mukaratirwa
- School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa,One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
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Characterization of an outbreak of emerging bovine besnoitiosis in southwestern Spain. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2887-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5050-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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3
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García-Lunar P, Regidor-Cerrillo J, Ortega-Mora LM, Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Alvarez-García G. Proteomics reveals differences in protein abundance and highly similar antigenic profiles between Besnoitia besnoiti and Besnoitia tarandi. Vet Parasitol 2014; 205:434-43. [PMID: 25260331 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Besnoitia besnoiti and Besnoitia tarandi are two cyst-forming apicomplexan parasites of the genus Besnoitia. B. besnoiti uses cattle as an intermediate host, in which it causes a disease that progresses in two sequential phases: the acute anasarca stage and the chronic scleroderma stage. Reindeer and caribou act as intermediate hosts for B. tarandi, which causes clinical signs similar to those caused by B. besnoiti. Previous studies demonstrated high molecular similarity, as determined by 18S and ITS-1 RNA sequences, between these Besnoitia spp., and strong serological cross-reactivity between these species has recently been demonstrated. Thus, a difference gel electrophoresis approach and mass spectrometry analysis were used to describe the proteomes and explore differences in protein abundance between B. besnoiti and B. tarandi in tachyzoite extracts. Immunoproteomes were also compared using 2-DE immunoblotting with polyclonal sera from experimentally infected rabbits. From approximately 1400 spots detected in DIGE-gels, 28 and 29 spots were differentially abundant in B. besnoiti and B. tarandi tachyzoites, respectively (± 1.5-fold, p<0.05). Four and 13 spots were exclusively detected in B. besnoiti and B. tarandi, respectively. Of the 32 differentially abundant spots analyzed by MALDI-TOF/MS, 6 up-regulated B. besnoiti proteins (LDH; HSP90; purine nucleoside phosphorylase and 3 hypothetical proteins) and 6 up-regulated B. tarandi proteins (G3PDH; LDH; PDI; mRNA decapping protein and 2 hypothetical proteins) were identified. Interestingly, no specific antigen spots were recognized by sera on any of the Besnoitia species studied and a similar antigen profile has been observed for B. tarandi and B. besnoiti sera when cross reactions were studied. This fact corroborates the difficulty in discerning Besnoitia infections using current serological assays. The present study underscores the importance of sequencing the B. besnoiti genome for species diversity studies of the genus Besnoitia.
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Affiliation(s)
- P García-Lunar
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Regidor-Cerrillo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - L M Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - D Gutiérrez-Expósito
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - G Alvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Ness SL, Schares G, Peters-Kennedy J, Mittel LD, Dubey JP, Bowman DD, Mohammed HO, Divers TJ. Serological diagnosis of Besnoitia bennetti infection in donkeys (Equus asinus). J Vet Diagn Invest 2014; 26:778-82. [PMID: 25227418 DOI: 10.1177/1040638714550180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Besnoitiosis is an emerging infectious disease of donkeys (Equus asinus) in the United States for which there are currently no serologic methods of diagnosis. A study was performed to evaluate physical examination findings and 3 serologic assays for the detection of Besnoitia bennetti infection in donkeys. A prospective study of 416 donkeys from 6 privately owned herds across 5 U.S. states (New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington) was performed. Donkeys were examined for clinical lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis and evaluated for antibodies against B. bennetti using a fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and 2 immunoblot assays specific for bradyzoite and tachyzoite antigens, respectively. Donkeys were confirmed to be infected with B. bennetti by histology (cases; n = 32) and were compared to those with no clinical signs of besnoitiosis (controls; n = 384). Identifying clinical lesions in 2 or more locations correctly identified infected donkeys 83% of the time. Donkeys with besnoitiosis had significantly higher FAT titers (P < 0.001) and numbers of bradyzoite (P < 0.001) and tachyzoite (P < 0.001) immunoblot bands than control donkeys. The sensitivity and specificity of the serologic assays for detecting besnoitiosis was 88% and 96% for FAT, 81% and 91% for bradyzoite immunoblot, and 91% and 92% for tachyzoite immunoblot, respectively. Fluorescent antibody and immunoblot assays are effective at identifying donkeys with besnoitiosis and provide a more efficient and less invasive diagnostic alternative to histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- SallyAnne L Ness
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Gereon Schares
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Jeanine Peters-Kennedy
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Linda D Mittel
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Dwight D Bowman
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Hussni O Mohammed
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
| | - Thomas J Divers
- Departments of Clinical Sciences (Ness, Divers), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYBiomedical Sciences (Peters-Kennedy), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYPopulation Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences (Mittel, Mohammed), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYMicrobiology and Immunology (Bowman), College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NYFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald, Isle of Riems, Germany (Schares)Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD (Dubey)
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5
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Waap H, Nunes T, Cortes H, Leitão A, Vaz Y. Prevalence and geographic distribution of Besnoitia besnoiti infection in cattle herds in Portugal. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:3703-11. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-4035-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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A review on bovine besnoitiosis: a disease with economic impact in herd health management, caused by Besnoitia besnoiti (Franco and Borges, ). Parasitology 2014; 141:1406-17. [PMID: 24694568 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182014000262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Bovine besnoitiosis is caused by the largely unexplored apicomplexan parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. In cows, infection during pregnancy often results in abortion, and chronically infected bulls become infertile. Similar to other apicomplexans B. besnoiti has acquired a largely intracellular lifestyle, but its complete life cycle is still unknown, modes of transmission have not been entirely resolved and the definitive host has not been identified. Outbreaks of bovine besnoitiosis in cattle were described in the 1990s in Portugal and Spain, and later several cases were also detected in France. More cases have been reported recently in hitherto unaffected countries, including Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Croatia. To date, there is still no effective pharmaceutical compound available for the treatment of besnoitiosis in cattle, and progress in the identification of novel targets for intervention through pharmacological or immunological means is hampered by the lack of molecular data on the genomic and transcriptomic level. In addition, the lack of an appropriate small animal laboratory model, and wide gaps in our knowledge on the host-parasite interplay during the life cycle of this parasite, renders vaccine and drug development a cost- and labour-intensive undertaking.
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Uzêda RS, Andrade MR, Corbellini LG, Antonello AM, Vogel FS, Gondim LFP. Frequency of antibodies against Besnoitia besnoiti in Brazilian cattle. Vet Parasitol 2013; 199:242-6. [PMID: 24290901 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Besnoitia besnoiti is a cyst-forming parasite that has been associated with economic losses in Africa and Europe. Besnoitiosis is considered as a re-emergent disease in the European continent. It is unknown whether cattle are exposed to B. besnoiti in the Americas, thus the aim of this study was to serologically investigate antibodies against B. besnoiti in a total of 2014 cattle serum samples from two states from Brazil. All samples were evaluated by IFAT and part of the positive sera was tested by Western blot (WB) using tachyzoites extracts under non-reducing condition. A total of 3.48% (70/2014) of the tested sera reacted positively by IFAT with titers of 200 (85.7%), 400 (10%) and 800 (4.3%). When 47 positive samples were assessed by WB a range of antigens from 7 to 206 kDa was recognized by the IFAT-positive sera. The results are suggestive of exposure of Brazilian cattle to B. besnoiti due to the titers (≥ 200) observed for some sera using IFAT. However, the antigens recognized by the IFAT-positive animals did not completely match with the WB patterns previously described by other working groups. It is possible that Brazilian cattle are exposed to B. besnoiti strains with different antigenic composition of those described in the European and African continent. Further studies are needed to confirm the presence of B. besnoiti or other Besnoitia species in Brazilian cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- R S Uzêda
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Ademar de Barros 500, CEP 40.170-110, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - M R Andrade
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Ademar de Barros 500, CEP 40.170-110, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - L G Corbellini
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves 9090, CEP 91.540-000, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - A M Antonello
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - F S Vogel
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Centro de Ciências Rurais, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - L F P Gondim
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Ademar de Barros 500, CEP 40.170-110, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
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Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Ortega-Mora LM, Marco I, Boadella M, Gortázar C, San Miguel-Ayanz JM, García-Lunar P, Lavín S, Alvarez-García G. First serosurvey of Besnoitia spp. infection in wild European ruminants in Spain. Vet Parasitol 2013; 197:557-64. [PMID: 23790546 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Besnoitia besnoiti has been reported to affect cattle, wildebeest, kudu and impala, and B. tarandi other wild ruminants (caribou, reindeer, mule deer and musk ox), causing similar characteristic clinical signs and lesions. However, both Besnoitia species have been reported in different geographical areas and the link between the sylvatic and domestic life cycles of Besnoita spp. in wild ruminants and cattle remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies against Besnoitia spp. in wild ruminants in Spain. A wide panel of sera from red deer (Cervus elaphus) (n=734), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (n=124), chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) (n=170) and mouflon (Ovis musimon) (n=20) collected from different locations of Spain was analyzed. Beef cattle were present in all sampled areas and, interestingly, bovine besnoitiosis has been widely reported in some of them (e.g., Pyrenees and Central Spain). Sera samples were first examined with an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). For red deer and roe deer, the ELISA was standardized with positive and negative control sera from several Cervidae species (100% Se and 98% Sp). Chamois and mouflon sera samples were tested with a previously reported ELISA validated for bovine sera (97% Se and 95% Sp) using protein G as a conjugate. Positive results by ELISA were confirmed a posteriori with a tachyzoite-based Western blot. Sixty-one sera samples from red deer and 17 sera samples from roe-deer were seropositive or doubtful by ELISA. All samples from mouflon were seronegative and 15 sera samples from chamois were considered doubtful. B. besnoiti exposure was only confirmed clearly by Western blot in one red deer and one roe deer from the Spanish Pyrenees where the disease is traditionally endemic. This is the first serological report of Besnoitia spp. infection carried out in European wild ruminants and the results show that specific antibodies are present at least in red deer and roe-deer. Thus, wild ruminants from endemic regions of bovine besnoitiosis should be further studied because they may be putative reservoirs of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gutiérrez-Expósito
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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First cross-sectional serological survey on Besnoitia besnoiti in cattle in Italy. Parasitol Res 2012; 112:1805-7. [PMID: 23274487 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3241-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 12/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of besnoitiosis in cattle farms located in a region of southern Italy. A geographical information system (GIS) was used in order to uniformly sample the bovine farms (n=88) throughout the entire region. Blood samples were collected from 528 autochthonous cattle and sera were tested for antibodies to Besnoitia besnoiti using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. The farm prevalence was 83.0% (73/88), and the individual animal prevalence was 44.1% (233/528). The availability of geo-referenced point or areal data on bovine besnoitiosis and the construction of prevalence maps by GIS are suggested for dissemination of information to veterinarians on this emerging infection in cattle.
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Liénard E, Salem A, Jacquiet P, Grisez C, Prévot F, Blanchard B, Bouhsira E, Franc M. Development of a protocol testing the ability of Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae) to transmit Besnoitia besnoiti (Henry, 1913) (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae). Parasitol Res 2012; 112:479-86. [PMID: 23064799 PMCID: PMC3556472 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3157-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 09/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cattle besnoitiosis due to the cyst-forming coccidian parasite Besnoitia besnoiti has recently been reported in expansion in Europe since the end of the twentieth century. The B. besnoiti life cycle and many epidemiological traits are still poorly known. Hematophagous flies, including the worldwide-distributed Stomoxys calcitrans, could be mechanical vectors in the contamination of mouthparts after the puncture of cutaneous cysts or ingestion of infected blood. In this study, a protocol is presented to assess more deeply the role of S. calcitrans, reared in laboratory conditions, in parasite transmission. A preliminary trial showed that stable flies could transmit tachyzoites from bovine artificially parasite-enriched blood to B. besnoiti-free blood using glass feeders. Evidence of transmission was provided by the detection of parasite DNA with Ct values ranging between 32 and 37 in the blood recipient. In a second time, a B. besnoiti-infected heifer harboring many cysts in its dermis was used as a donor of B. besnoiti. An interruption of the blood meal taken by 300 stable flies from this heifer was performed. Immediately after the blood meal was interrupted, they were transferred to a glass feeder containing B. besnoiti-free blood from a non-infected heifer. Quantitative PCR and modified direct fluorescence antibody test (dFAT) were used to detect B. besnoiti DNA and entire parasites, respectively, in the blood recipient, the mouthparts, and the gut contents of S. calcitrans at two time intervals: 1 and 24 h after the interrupted blood meal. Parasite DNA was detected at both time intervals (1 and 24 h) in all samples (blood recipient, mouthparts, and gut contents of stable flies) while entire parasites by dFAT were only found in the abdominal compartment 1 h after the interrupted blood meal. Then, S. calcitrans were able to carry B. besnoiti from chronically infected cattle to an artificial recipient in the conditions of the protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Liénard
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, F-31076 Toulouse, France.
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Ness SL, Peters-Kennedy J, Schares G, Dubey JP, Mittel LD, Mohammed HO, Bowman DD, Felippe MJB, Wade SE, Shultz N, Divers TJ. Investigation of an outbreak of besnoitiosis in donkeys in northeastern Pennsylvania. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2012; 240:1329-37. [PMID: 22607601 DOI: 10.2460/javma.240.11.1329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical, endoscopic, and serologic features of an outbreak of besnoitiosis in 2 donkey operations in northeastern Pennsylvania and to report the outcome of attempted treatment of 1 naturally infected individual. DESIGN Observational study. ANIMALS 29 donkeys (Equus asinus) in northeastern Pennsylvania. PROCEDURES Donkeys were examined for lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis in an outbreak investigation. Information was collected regarding the history and signalment of animals on each premises. Rhinolaryngoscopy was performed to identify nasopharyngeal and laryngeal lesions. Serum samples were collected for immunofluorescent antibody testing and immunoblotting for Besnoitia spp. Skin biopsy samples were obtained from 8 animals with lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis for histologic examination. Quantitative real-time PCR assay for Besnoitia spp was performed on tissue samples from 5 animals. RESULTS Besnoitiosis was confirmed in 6 of the 8 suspected cases. The most common lesion site was the nares, followed by the skin and sclera. Donkeys with clinical signs of disease had higher serum antibody titers and tested positive for a greater number of immunoblot bands than did donkeys without clinical signs of disease. All animals evaluated by PCR assay tested positive. Putative risk factors for disease included age and sex. Ponazuril was not effective at treating besnoitiosis in a naturally infected donkey. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Knowledge of clinical and serologic features of besnoitiosis in donkeys will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and prevention of this disease in donkey populations. Besnoitiosis may be an emerging disease of donkeys in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- SallyAnne L Ness
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Gutiérrez-Expósito D, Ortega-Mora LM, Gajadhar AA, García-Lunar P, Dubey JP, Alvarez-García G. Serological evidence of Besnoitia spp. infection in Canadian wild ruminants and strong cross-reaction between Besnoitia besnoiti and Besnoitia tarandi. Vet Parasitol 2012; 190:19-28. [PMID: 22795672 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Bovine besnoitiosis, caused by Besnoitia besnoiti, is considered to be emergent in Europe and responsible for severe economic losses due to the chronic and debilitating course of the disease but has not been reported in North America. Besnoitia tarandi is a related species and it has been reported in reindeer and caribou from different locations of the Arctic Pole, including North America. Diagnosis of clinical besnoitiosis is largely based on the recognition of dermal grossly visible tissue cysts of Besnoitia. Nothing is known of cross reactivity between B. besnoiti and B. tarandi species. Here, we evaluated the use of serological tests employed in the diagnosis of bovine besnoitiosis for the detection of Besnoitia spp. infections in different wild ruminant species (caribou, elk, mule-deer, white-tailed deer, moose, muskox and bison) from Canada and investigated cross-reactivity between B. besnoiti and B. tarandi species by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test and Western blot. For this, species-specific antibodies were obtained in rabbits experimentally infected with B. besnoiti and B. tarandi. Marked cross reactivity was found between B. besnoiti and B. tarandi. For the first time, antibodies to Besnoitia spp. infection were found in 16 of 20 caribou (Ranginfer tarandus), seven of 18 muskox (Ovibos moschatus), one of three bison (Bison bison), but not in 20 elk (Cervus canadensis), 20 white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and 20 moose (Alces alces) in Canada; results were similar using B. besnoiti and B. tarandi as antigen. There was no cross reactivity between the two Besnoitia species, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii with the cut-offs applied that prevented to observe it. The present study provides evidence that the serological assays can be useful to accomplish large scale prevalence studies in caribou and other wildlife species. Further studies are needed to study sylvatic and domestic cycle of B tarandi and B. besnoiti.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gutiérrez-Expósito
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Carlson-Bremer D, Johnson CK, Miller RH, Gulland FMD, Conrad PA, Wasmuth JD, Colegrove KM, Grigg ME. Identification of two novel coccidian species shed by California sea lions (Zalophus californianus). J Parasitol 2011; 98:347-54. [PMID: 22091999 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2752.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Routine fecal examination revealed novel coccidian oocysts in asymptomatic California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) in a rehabilitation facility. Coccidian oocysts were observed in fecal samples collected from 15 of 410 California sea lions admitted to The Marine Mammal Center between April 2007 and October 2009. Phylogenetic analysis using the full ITS-1 region, partial small subunit 18S rDNA sequence, and the Apicomplexa rpoB region identified 2 distinct sequence clades, referred to as Coccidia A and Coccidia B, and placed them in the Sarcocystidae, grouped with the tissue-cyst-forming coccidia. Both sequence clades resolved as individual taxa at ITS-1 and rpoB and were most closely related to Neospora caninum. Coccidia A was identified in 11 and Coccidia B in 4 of 12 sea lion oocyst samples successfully sequenced (3 of those sea lions were co-infected with both parasites). Shedding of Coccidia A oocysts was not associated with age class, sex, or stranding location, but yearlings represented the majority of shedders (8/15). This is the first study to use molecular phylogenetics to identify and describe coccidian parasites shed by a marine mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Carlson-Bremer
- Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, USA
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Waap H, Cardoso R, Marcelino E, Malta J, Cortes H, Leitão A. A modified agglutination test for the diagnosis of Besnoitia besnoiti infection. Vet Parasitol 2011; 178:217-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2010] [Revised: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Houk AE, Rosypal AC, Grant DC, Dubey JP, Zajac AM, Yabsley MJ, Lindsay DS. Serological response of cats to experimental Besnoitia darlingi and Besnoitia neotomofelis infections and prevalence of antibodies to these parasites in cats from Virginia and Pennsylvania. J Parasitol 2011; 97:259-61. [PMID: 21506782 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2626.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Besnoitia darlingi and Besnoitia neotomofelis are cyst-forming tissue apicomplexan parasites that use domestic cats (Felis domesticus) as definitive hosts and opossums (Didelphis virginiana ) and Southern Plains woodrats (Neotoma micropus) as intermediate hosts, respectively. Nothing is known about the prevalence of B. darlingi or B. neotomofelis in cats from the United States. Besnoitia darlingi infections have been reported in naturally infected opossums from many states in the United States, and B. neotomofelis infections have been reported from Southern Plains woodrats from Texas, but naturally infected cats have not been identified. The present study examined the IgG antibody response of cats to experimental infection (B. darlingi n = 1 cat; B. neotomofelis n = 3 cats). Samples from these cats were used to develop an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), which was then used to examine seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to tachyzoites of B. darlingi and B. neotomofelis in a population of domestic cats from Virginia (N = 232 cats) and Pennsylvania (N = 209). The serum from cats inoculated with B. darlingi or B. neotomofelis cross-reacted with each other's tachyzoites. The titers to heterologous tachyzoites were 1 to 3 dilutions lower than to homologous tachyzoites. Sera from B. darlingi- or B. neotomofelis-infected cats did not react with tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii or Neospora caninum or merozoites of Sarcocystis neurona using the IFAT. Antibodies to B. darlingi were found in 14% and 2% of cats from Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. Antibodies to B. neotomofelis were found in 5% and 4% of cats from Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. Nine cats from Virginia and 1 cat from Pennsylvania were positive for both.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice E Houk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0342, USA
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Manuali E, Lepri E, Salamida S, D'Avino N, Mangili P, Vitellozzi G, Grelloni V, Filippini G. An outbreak of bovine besnoitiosis in beef cattle born in central Italy. Transbound Emerg Dis 2011; 58:464-7. [PMID: 21477112 DOI: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01220.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak of bovine besnoitiosis in three female, 15-18 months old beef cattle in central Italy is here described. All the animals were born in central Italy without any recent contact with imported animals. The animals were in poor body conditions and showed symptoms and clinical signs consistent with chronic besnoitiosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examinations of skin biopsies and whole body at necropsy, showing typical 50-100 μ cysts engulfing superficial dermis in skin and lamina propria in mucosae; lesions were confined to skin and respiratory mucosae, and cysts were not seen in any other tissue. Bovine besnoitiosis is rapidly spreading among European countries and in our case the affected animals were born in the farm and not recent admission was referred, so it is likely to consider this as an autoctone outbreak of the disease in Italy. This case, taken together with other recently reported ones, suggest to consider Italy among potentially endemic areas for bovine besnoitiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Manuali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, Italy.
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Namazi F, Oryan A, Sharifiyazdi H. Genetic characterization of the causative agent of besnoitiosis in goats in Iran on the basis of internal transcribed spacer rDNA and its comparison with Besnoitia species of other hosts. Parasitol Res 2010; 108:633-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-010-2107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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