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Agina OA, Shaari MR, Isa NMM, Ajat M, Zamri-Saad M, Hamzah H. Identification of novel bovine leukocyte antigen alleles and association of BoLA-DRB3.2*020:02:01 with resistance to Theileria orientalis infection in crossbred Kedah-Kelantan cattle: a pilot study. Trop Anim Health Prod 2024; 56:277. [PMID: 39316238 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04138-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
The bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA) gene is a significant genetic part of the immune system and has been used as a disease marker in cattle. In this study, we detected Theileria orientalis, T. sinensis, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma platys, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos and Trypanosoma evansi by PCR amplification and sequencing of the amplicons. The allelic association of the BoLA-DRB3.2 gene with blood pathogen disease resistance and susceptibility in 87 Kedah-Kelantan x Brahman (KKB) and 38 Bali cattle was determined by Fisher's exact test and Cochran Mantel Haenszel (CMH) correction test. Sequence-based typing of the BoLA-DRB3.2 gene identified 43 alleles (27 previously reported alleles and 16 novel alleles) across the two cattle breeds. Alignment analysis of the 16 novel alleles revealed 90.7-95.8% and 85-92% nucleotide and amino acid identities, with the reference allele, BoLA-DRB3*016:01 cDNA clone NR-1. BoLA-DRB3*009:02 (25.6%) and BoLA-DRB3*036:01 (36%) were the most frequent alleles in KKB and Bali cattle, respectively. In KKB cattle, BoLA-DRB3*020:02:01 was significantly associated with resistance to T. orientalis whereas *007:01 and *009:02 were significantly associated with resistance to C. Mycoplasma haemobos. Also, DRB3*017:01 was associated with susceptibility to T. orientalis in KKB cattle. In the Bali cattle, BoLA-DRB3*015:01 was found to be a genetic marker of susceptibility to C. Mycoplasma haemobos infection. Therefore, this study identified BoLA-DRB3.2 alleles associated with resistance and susceptibility to T. orientalis infection in KKB cattle and susceptibility to C. Mycoplasma haemobos infection in Bali cattle for the first time. Therefore, this study suggests that these BoLA-DRB3 resistance alleles could be used as candidate markers for selection, whereas susceptibility alleles could be used as candidate markers for culling in the beef industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyinyechukwu Ada Agina
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
| | - Mohd Rosly Shaari
- Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Developmental Institute, Serdang Selangor 43400, Headquarters, Malaysia
| | - Nur Mahiza Md Isa
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mokrish Ajat
- Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Zamri-Saad
- Research Centre for Ruminant Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hazilawati Hamzah
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Amarasiri ID, Nizanantha K, Mumbi NNM, Kothalawala IS, Madusanka S, Perera WPPSI, Kothalawala H, Sivakumar T, Yokoyama N. Development of a Specific PCR Assay for Theileria sp. Yokoyama and Assessment of Its Potential to Cause Anemia in Cattle. Pathogens 2024; 13:735. [PMID: 39338926 PMCID: PMC11435402 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13090735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical implications of Theileria sp. Yokoyama, a recently identified Theileria species in cattle, remain uncertain. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anemia status in cattle infected with Theileria sp. Yokoyama. Blood samples were collected from 206 cattle across seven Veterinary Ranges in Sri Lanka and analyzed for red blood cell (RBC) indices, including hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and RBC counts. Additionally, DNA was extracted from the samples and screened with a newly developed Theileria sp. Yokoyama-specific PCR assay targeting the cytochrome b gene. The PCR results revealed that 60 (29.1%) of the surveyed cattle tested positive for Theileria sp. Yokoyama, with 47 (78.3%) of them being co-infected with other hemopathogen species. Our findings revealed that the cattle breeds, management systems, and tick infestations are potential risk factors for the Theileria sp. Yokoyama infection. Next, we evaluated the anemia status among the surveyed cattle based on the RBC indices. We found that all non-infected cattle were non-anemic. By contrast, anemia was observed in 15 Theileria sp. Yokoyama-infected cattle, including 3 singly infected (anemia rate 3/13, 23.1%) and 12 co-infected cattle (12/47, 25.5%). Our findings suggest that Theileria sp. Yokoyama causes anemia in infected cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kalaichelvan Nizanantha
- Department of Farm Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
| | - Ngigi Noel Muthoni Mumbi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan (N.Y.)
| | | | - Sampath Madusanka
- National Livestock Development Board, No. 40, Nawala Road, Narahenpita, Colombo 00500, Sri Lanka
| | | | | | - Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan (N.Y.)
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan (N.Y.)
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Seerintra T, Krinsoongnern W, Thanchomnang T, Piratae S. Molecular occurrence and genetic identification of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in naturally infected cattle from Thailand. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:287. [PMID: 39083117 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08299-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Piroplasm including Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in cattle can cause illness that affects livestock productivity, resulting in significant production losses, especially in tropical and subtropical regions such as Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bovine piroplasms and to identify these blood parasites based on the 18S ribosomal RNA gene in cattle in the northeastern part of Thailand. Piroplasmid infections among beef and dairy cattle were examined using nested PCR. Furthermore, amplicon DNA was sequenced and analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genetic diversity and relationships of the parasite in each area. A total of 141 out of 215 (65.6%) cattle were positive for infection with Babesia or Theileria. DNA analysis revealed that infection by Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Theileria orientalis, Theileria sinensis, and Theileria sp. were common piroplasms in cattle in this region, with a high sequence shared identity and similarity with each other and clustered with isolates from other countries. This study provides information on the molecular epidemiology and genetic identification of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in beef and dairy cattle to provide a better understanding of piroplasm infection in cattle in this region, which will help control these blood parasites. Moreover, this is the first report identifying T. sinensis circulating among Thai cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tossapol Seerintra
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44000, Thailand
| | | | | | - Supawadee Piratae
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44000, Thailand.
- Veterinary Infectious Disease Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44000, Thailand.
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Senbill H, Karawia D, Zeb J, Alyami NM, Almeer R, Rahman S, Sparagano O, Baruah A. Molecular screening and genetic diversity of tick-borne pathogens associated with dogs and livestock ticks in Egypt. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012185. [PMID: 38837987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) offer optimal climatic conditions for tick reproduction and dispersal. Research on tick-borne pathogens in this region is scarce. Despite recent advances in the characterization and taxonomic explanation of various tick-borne illnesses affecting animals in Egypt, no comprehensive examination of TBP (tick-borne pathogen) statuses has been performed. Therefore, the present study aims to detect the prevalence of pathogens harbored by ticks in Egypt. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A four-year PCR-based study was conducted to detect a wide range of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) harbored by three economically important tick species in Egypt. Approximately 86.7% (902/1,040) of the investigated Hyalomma dromedarii ticks from camels were found positive with Candidatus Anaplasma camelii (18.8%), Ehrlichia ruminantium (16.5%), Rickettsia africae (12.6%), Theileria annulata (11.9%), Mycoplasma arginini (9.9%), Borrelia burgdorferi (7.7%), Spiroplasma-like endosymbiont (4.0%), Hepatozoon canis (2.4%), Coxiella burnetii (1.6%) and Leishmania infantum (1.3%). Double co-infections were recorded in 3.0% (27/902) of Hy. dromedarii ticks, triple co-infections (simultaneous infection of the tick by three pathogen species) were found in 9.6% (87/902) of Hy. dromedarii ticks, whereas multiple co-infections (simultaneous infection of the tick by ≥ four pathogen species) comprised 12% (108/902). Out of 1,435 investigated Rhipicephalus rutilus ticks collected from dogs and sheep, 816 (56.9%) ticks harbored Babesia canis vogeli (17.1%), Rickettsia conorii (16.2%), Ehrlichia canis (15.4%), H. canis (13.6%), Bo. burgdorferi (9.7%), L. infantum (8.4%), C. burnetii (7.3%) and Trypanosoma evansi (6.6%) in dogs, and 242 (16.9%) ticks harbored Theileria lestoquardi (21.6%), Theileria ovis (20.0%) and Eh. ruminantium (0.3%) in sheep. Double, triple, and multiple co-infections represented 11% (90/816), 7.6% (62/816), and 10.3% (84/816), respectively in Rh. rutilus from dogs, whereas double and triple co-infections represented 30.2% (73/242) and 2.1% (5/242), respectively in Rh. rutilus from sheep. Approximately 92.5% (1,355/1,465) of Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks of cattle carried a burden of Anaplasma marginale (21.3%), Babesia bigemina (18.2%), Babesia bovis (14.0%), Borrelia theleri (12.8%), R. africae (12.4%), Th. annulata (8.7%), Bo. burgdorferi (2.7%), and Eh. ruminantium (2.5%). Double, triple, and multiple co-infections represented 1.8% (25/1,355), 11.5% (156/1,355), and 12.9% (175/1,355), respectively. The detected pathogens' sequences had 98.76-100% similarity to the available database with genetic divergence ranged between 0.0001 to 0.0009% to closest sequences from other African, Asian, and European countries. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close similarities between the detected pathogens and other isolates mostly from African and Asian countries. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Continuous PCR-detection of pathogens transmitted by ticks is necessary to overcome the consequences of these infection to the hosts. More restrictions should be applied from the Egyptian authorities on animal importations to limit the emergence and re-emergence of tick-borne pathogens in the country. This is the first in-depth investigation of TBPs in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haytham Senbill
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
- Department of Applied Entomology & Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Donia Karawia
- Department of Pesticide Chemistry & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Jehan Zeb
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Zoology, Govt. Ghazi Umara Khan Degree College Samarbagh, Higher Education Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Nouf M Alyami
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rafa Almeer
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahidur Rahman
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Olivier Sparagano
- Agricultural Sciences and Practice, Royal Agricultural University (RAU), Cirencester, United Kingdom
| | - Aiswarya Baruah
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
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Nahal A, Ben Said M. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Piroplasma spp. Infection and Co-infection with Anaplasma marginale in Domestic Ruminants from Algeria. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:135-151. [PMID: 38157135 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00768-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis stand out as the primary diseases affecting livestock during periods of tick activity. These vector-borne diseases continue to emerge worldwide, exerting a detrimental impact on both animal health and national economies. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of Piroplasma spp. and its co-occurrence with Anaplasma marginale in domestic ruminants in Algeria. METHODS Three databases were systematically reviewed to identify eligible studies for the final meta-analysis, following the PRISMA statement. The 'meta' package in the R software was employed for the meta-analysis with the random effects model chosen for data pooling. RESULTS The meta-analysis encompasses 14 research papers spanning a 19-year period (2004-2023). Theileria spp. was identified in all studies, covering 1675 cattle, 190 sheep, and 128 goats, yielding an overall Theileria infection rate of 45% (95% CI 26-65%). Specifically, cattle had a 59% infection rate, while sheep and goats had rates of 18% and 20%, respectively. Babesia spp. was found in nine studies, involving 1183 cattle and 190 sheep, resulting in an overall Babesia infection rate of 7% (95% CI 4-15%), with cattle and sheep having rates of 10% and 3%, respectively. Notably, eight Piroplasma species T. annulata, T. orientalis, T. buffeli, T. equi, Theileria sp., B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. occultans were detected in cattle, with T. annulata being the most prevalent at 54%. Regional disparities and host factors also impacted infection rates, with higher rates in Northeastern Algeria and among suspected disease cattle. Additionally, gender, age, and breed influenced cattle susceptibility to Theileria infection. Furthermore, six distinct co-infections between Piroplasma spp. and A. marginale were observed, with T. annulata/A. marginale identified in six studies, demonstrating an 8.3% co-infection rate. CONCLUSION This analysis offers crucial insights into the current status of Piroplasmosis and its co-infection with A. marginale in Algerian domestic ruminants, providing valuable data for surveillance and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Nahal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Chadli Bendjedid University- El-Tarf, B.P 73, 36000, El-Tarf, Algeria.
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, 2010, Manouba, Tunisia
- Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, 2010, Manouba, Tunisia
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Agina OA, Shaari MR, Isa NMM, Ajat MMM, Zamri-Saad M, Samad MJ, Hamzah H. Differential responses of monocyte-derived macrophages from Theileria orientalis infected carrier cattle to Pasteruella multocida B:2 infection and latex beads: A preliminary study. Res Vet Sci 2023; 165:105073. [PMID: 37939633 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the responses of peripheral blood monocyte-derived macrophages (PBMDMs) from Theileria orientalis carrier cattle following exposure to Pasteruella multocida B:2 (PM B:2) and latex beads. Twenty-six male crossbred Kedah-Kelantan (KK) cattle were sampled for this study and quantitative PCR (qPCR) was employed in the detection of T. orientalis MPSP gene. Bactericidal assay using a 10:1 multiplicity of infection was performed to measure the phagocytosis and intracellular killing of PM B:2 by PBMDMs. The cell cultures were inoculated with 107 cfu/mL of PM B:2 and incubated in a humidified incubator. The absence of clinical signs, previous history of T. orientalis infection and an MPSP gene copy number below 15,000 GC/μL suggest that the cattle were asymptomatic chronic carriers. A non-significant phagocytic and mean cell death rates were observed in the PBMDMs of T. orientalis positive cattle relative to clinically healthy cattle (CHC) (p > 0.05). The PBMDMs of T. orientalis positive cattle had the lowest mean rate of intracellular killing relative to the CHC at the 30th minute post-infection only (p < 0.05). Exposure to latex beads caused an increase in the appearance of multinucleated macrophages following incubation of PBMDMs from T. orientalis positive cattle. Furthermore, the phagocytic index of PBMDMs of T. orientalis positive cattle were low or poor compared to that of CHC (p = 0.000). Therefore, our findings suggest that PBMDMs from cattle with chronic T. orientalis infection can efficiently phagocytise and kill PM: B2 but exhibited poor phagocytosis ability for foreign bodies despite appearance of multinucleated macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyinyechukwu Ada Agina
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia; Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, 410001 Enugu State, Nigeria.
| | - Mohd Rosly Shaari
- Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Headquarters 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Mahiza Md Isa
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Mokrish Mohd Ajat
- Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Zamri-Saad
- Centre for Ruminant Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Jamil Samad
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia
| | - Hazilawati Hamzah
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang Selangor 43400, Malaysia.
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Sinha S, Behera BK, Padhi SK, Sahoo S, Sahoo N, Biswal S, Sahoo P. Comparative evaluation of diagnostic methods for detection of Theileria spp. in cows. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:3514-3518. [PMID: 36695009 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2168197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Theileriosis is a hemoprotozoan illness of cattle in tropical regions that poses a severe economic loss to dairy farmers in the form of production loss and mortality. We designed and optimized a multiplex real-time PCR by using Taq-Man® probe for detection and quantification of Theileria orientalis and Theileria annulata simultaneously by targeting 18 s rRna and MPSP (surface merozoite protein) genes, respectively. Fifty-five EDTA blood samples from clinically Theileria-suspected cows of three Theileria-endemic districts of Odisha were processed using acridine dye based fluorescent microscopy, Giemsa staining, and PCR. PCR revealed T. annulata and T. orientalis in 11/42 (26.11%) and 24/42 (57.14%) cases, respectively. Mixed infection due to both the Theileria spp. was recorded in 7/42 (16.66%). On comparison with gold standard test (PCR), the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 92.72, 95.12, and 85.71% for Giemsa staining and 96.36, 97.56, and 92.85% for acridine orange dye. Multiplex real time PCR using Taq-Man probe detected two species of T. annulata and T. orientalis simultaneously. Acridine dye based fluorescent microscopy is comparatively easy and rapid method in detection of Thelieria spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Sinha
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Bikash Kumar Behera
- Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Soumesh K Padhi
- Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sonali Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Niranjana Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sangram Biswal
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Priyadarshini Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
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Ghafar A, Cabezas-Cruz A. Ticking off the Tick Vectors: Rhipicephalus microplus Fails to Transmit Theileria orientalis. Pathogens 2023; 12:1311. [PMID: 38003776 PMCID: PMC10675064 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileria (T [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Ghafar
- Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Sugi T, Hayashida K, Kawai N, Kidaka T, Ybañez RH, Adjou Moumouni PF, Ringo AE, Li H, Ji S, Yamagishi J, Ybañez A, Xuan X. Bovine Piroplasma Populations in the Philippines Characterized Using Targeted Amplicon Deep Sequencing. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2584. [PMID: 37894242 PMCID: PMC10609017 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular assays and capillary electrophoresis sequencing have been used to identify parasites in livestock. The low sample capacity, which increases labor and processing time, is one drawback. Targeted amplicon sequencing (Ampliseq) uses the fast and large sample capacity platform to identify parasites in the target host, overcoming this limitation. DNA was extracted from 162 whole blood samples collected from cattle in three provinces in the Philippines. Using Illumina's Miseq platform, the V4 hypervariable region of the piroplasma 18S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced. The AMPtk pipeline was used to obtain distinct amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) and the NCBI BLAST non-redundant database was used to assign taxonomy. In total, 95 (58.64%) samples were positive for piroplasma. Using the AMPTk pipeline, 2179 ASVs were obtained. A total of 79 distinct ASVs were obtained after clustering and filtering, which belonged to genera Babesia (n = 58), Theileria (n = 17), Hepatozoon (n = 2), and Sarcocystis (n = 2). The ASV top hits were composed of 10 species: Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Theileria orientalis, Babesia sp., Hepatozoon canis, Sarcocystis cruzi, T. annulata, T. equi, T. mutans, and Theileria sp. Thung Song. The results generated in this study demonstrated the applicability of Ampliseq in detecting piroplasmid parasites infecting cattle in the Philippines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloiza May Galon
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines;
| | - Adrian Miki Macalanda
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines;
| | - Tatsuki Sugi
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan; (T.S.); (K.H.); (N.K.); (T.K.); (J.Y.)
| | - Kyoko Hayashida
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan; (T.S.); (K.H.); (N.K.); (T.K.); (J.Y.)
| | - Naoko Kawai
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan; (T.S.); (K.H.); (N.K.); (T.K.); (J.Y.)
| | - Taishi Kidaka
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan; (T.S.); (K.H.); (N.K.); (T.K.); (J.Y.)
| | - Rochelle Haidee Ybañez
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
| | - Aaron Edmond Ringo
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
| | - Hang Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan; (T.S.); (K.H.); (N.K.); (T.K.); (J.Y.)
| | - Adrian Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Parasitology, and Vector-Borne Diseases—Main Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines;
- College of Veterinary Medicine—Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Barili 6036, Philippines
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (R.H.Y.); (P.F.A.M.); (A.E.R.); (H.L.); (S.J.)
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10
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Lakew BT, Eastwood S, Walkden-Brown SW. Epidemiology and Transmission of Theileria orientalis in Australasia. Pathogens 2023; 12:1187. [PMID: 37887703 PMCID: PMC10610506 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Oriental theileriosis, a disease primarily impacting cattle is caused by an apicomplexan hemoprotozoan parasite, Theileria orientalis. It has now become established in the Australasia region. The organism was long considered a benign cause of persistent infections; however, an increase in clinical outbreaks since 2006 in the eastern Australian states and New Zealand was associated with the identification of the pathogenic Ikeda (Type 2) and Chitose (Type 1) genotypes. Unlike the pathogenic T. parva and T. annulate, which target leucocytes, clinical manifestation with T. orientalis is due to its effects on erythrocytes, with the infection sometimes designated as Theileria associated bovine anemia (TABA). In Australia and New Zealand, the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis is the principal vector, though other Haemaphysalis species are also likely vectors. The endemic status of infection with pathogenic genotypes in areas with low or absent tick populations is an apparent paradox that may be attributable to alternative modes of transmission, such as mechanical transmission by hematophagous insects (lice, mosquitoes, and biting flies), vertical transmission, and transmission via iatrogenic means. This review addresses the evidence for the different modes of transmission of T. orientalis with particular focus on the reported and potential vectors in Australasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biniam T. Lakew
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia
| | - Steve Eastwood
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia;
| | - Stephen W. Walkden-Brown
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
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11
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Corduneanu A, Taulescu M, Ursache TD, Ionică AM, Mihalca AD. Piroplasms in farmed American bison, Bison bison from Romania. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1158072. [PMID: 37065243 PMCID: PMC10090506 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1158072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The American bison (Bison bison) is the largest terrestrial mammal of North America, with around 350,000 individuals in the wild and in private herds but the knowledge regarding the presence of different vector-borne pathigens in these mammals is very poor. Babesia and Theileria spp. are tick-borne apicomplexan parasites which are considered to be among the most commonly found blood parasites of large ruminants, often with a high economic importance. However, the knowledge on piroplasms of bisons is extremely scarce. The aim of our study was to evaluate the presence of apicomplexan parasites in blood and tissues of farmed American bison from Romania. Overall, we tested 222 blood samples and 11 tissues samples (heart, liver, and spleen) from farmed B. bison raised for meat in Romania. All the samples were analyzed by nPCR targeting the 18SrRNA gene for piroplasmids. All positive samples were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically. The overall prevalence of infection with piroplasmids in American bison was 1.65%, with Babesia divergens and Theileria sp. identified following sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first report of piroplasms detected in blood and tissues of farmed B. bison from Europe. Further studies are necessary in order to obtain a better overview on the epidemiological status and clinical relevance of piroplasms in farmed American bisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Productions, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- *Correspondence: Alexandra Corduneanu
| | - Marian Taulescu
- Department of Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Synevovet, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Teodor Dan Ursache
- Department of Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory, Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Parasitology Consultancy Group, Coruşu, Romania
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12
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Multiplex PCR for rapid differential diagnosis of co-prevalent species of Theileria (Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis) in cattle. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1189-1197. [PMID: 36897381 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that causes enormous losses in the dairy industry. There are several species of Theileria that can infect bovines. Generally, more than one species are prevalent in any geographical area; thus, chances of co-infections are high. Differentiation of these species may not be possible by microscopic examination or serological tests. Therefore, in this study, a multiplex PCR assay was standardized and evaluated for rapid and simultaneous differential detection of two species of Theileria viz., Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis. Species-specific primers were designed to target the merozoite piroplasm surface antigen gene (TAMS1) of T. annulata and the major piroplasm surface protein gene of T. orientalis, yielding specific amplicon of 229 bp and 466 bp, respectively. The sensitivity of multiplex PCR was 102 and 103 copies for T. annulata and T. orientalis, respectively. The simplex and multiplex PCRs were specific and showed no cross-reactivity with other hemoprotozoa for either primer. For comparative evaluation, blood samples from 216 cattle were tested by simplex and multiplex PCR for both species. Using multiplex PCR, 131 animals were found infected for theileriosis, of which 112 were infected with T. annulata, five were infected with T. orientalis, and 14 had mixed infections. This is the first report of T. orientalis from Haryana, India. Representative sequences of T. annulata (ON248941) and T. orientalis (ON248942) were submitted in GenBank. The standardized multiplex PCR assay used in this study was specific, sensitive, for the screening of field samples.
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Chisu V, Serra E, Foxi C, Chessa G, Masala G. Molecular Investigation of Theileria and Babesia Species in Domestic Mammals from Sardinia, Italy. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10010059. [PMID: 36669060 PMCID: PMC9865784 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Piroplasmoses are tick-borne diseases caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of veterinary and public health significance. This study focuses on the molecular identification and characterization of species belonging to the Theileria/Babesia genera in 152 blood samples, collected from 80 horses and 72 cattle from several farms in Sardinia, by targeting the 18S rRNA gene. The PCR results highlighted that 72% of the samples were positive for Theileria/Babesia spp., with a rate of infection of 68% and 75% for the horses and cattle, respectively. Sequencing and the BLASTn analysis showed that the 18S rRNA generated in this study has 99-100% homology with the B. bigemina, T. orientalis/sergenti/buffeli, T. equi and T. annulata strains isolated from different hosts worldwide. These findings improve the knowledge on Babesia and Theileria infections in domestic mammals and confirm the significant prevalence of piroplasmosis among subclinical and carrier animals throughout the island. Furthermore, the presence of T. annulata, reported for the first time in the study area, expands the repertoire of pathogens already detected in Sardinia. Our results gather updates on the diversity and distribution of piroplasms in Sardinia and suggest the need to develop procedures to improve animal and public health safety.
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Kuibagarov M, Makhamed R, Zhylkibayev A, Berdikulov M, Abdrakhmanov S, Kozhabayev M, Akhmetollayev I, Mukanov K, Ryskeldina A, Ramankulov Y, Shustov A, Bauer C, Shevtsov A. Theileria and Babesia infection in cattle - First molecular survey in Kazakhstan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102078. [PMID: 36395616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, is an endemic area of Theileria and Babesia infections in cattle. Current data on the geographic distribution, prevalence, and genetic diversity of these pathogens in vertebrate hosts are lacking in Kazakhstan. The present study aimed to fill this gap, using molecular techniques for the first time. A cross-sectional survey was performed on adult cattle from 40 villages in nine administrative districts of the provinces of Turkistan and Zhambyl, southern Kazakhstan, in summer 2020. A total of 766 blood samples were screened for Theileria annulata (enolase gene), Theileria orientalis (major piroplasm surface protein gene, MPSP) and Babesia spp. (18 S ribosomal RNA gene) using polymerase chain reaction. The genetic variability of Theileria spp. was assessed by sequencing one amplicon from each village. All Babesia spp. positive amplicons were sequenced to identify the species involved. The overall prevalence of infections with T. annulata, T. orientalis and Babesia spp. was 83.0% (40 villages positive), 33.3% (31 villages) and 13.5% (36 villages), respectively. Co-infections with two or three species were present in 48.9% of all positive cattle. Theileria annulata showing a high polymorphism of the enolase gene occurred with similar frequency in both provinces. Theileria orientalis was detected for the first time in Kazakhstan being significantly (P = 0.014) more prevalent in Zhambyl than in Turkistan. Fourteen genotypes of T. orientalis were identified; two belonged to the moderately virulent MPSP-type 1 ('Chitose') and the others to MPSP-type 3 ('Buffeli') which is considered avirulent. The prevalence of Babesia infection was significantly (P < 0.000) higher in Turkistan than in Zhambyl. An unequivocal identification of the species involved was possible in 127 sequenced samples: Babesia occultans was the most common species, followed by Babesia bigemina and Babesia major, the latter being the first record in the country. The results show that Theileria and Babesia infections in cattle are widespread and occur with remarkably high prevalence in the southern Kazakhstan. They also provide first data on the genetic diversity of the species involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marat Kuibagarov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
| | - Riza Makhamed
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Assylbek Zhylkibayev
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Maxat Berdikulov
- National Veterinary Reference Center, 150 let Abaya Street 22/3, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Sarsenbay Abdrakhmanov
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zhenis Avenue 62, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Mazhit Kozhabayev
- National Veterinary Reference Center, 150 let Abaya Street 22/3, 010000 Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Ilyas Akhmetollayev
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Kasim Mukanov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Anara Ryskeldina
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Yerlan Ramankulov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Alexandr Shustov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
| | - Christian Bauer
- S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zhenis Avenue 62, 010011 Astana, Kazakhstan; Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Alexandr Shevtsov
- National Center for Biotechnology, Korgalzhyn Road 13/5, 010000 Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
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Orkun Ö. Comprehensive screening of tick-borne microorganisms indicates that a great variety of pathogens are circulating between hard ticks (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) and domestic ruminants in natural foci of Anatolia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102027. [PMID: 35970093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Grazing domestic ruminants serve as important reservoirs and/or amplificatory hosts in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and tick vectors in the natural foci; however, many enzootic life cycles including ruminants and ticks are still unknown. This study investigated a wide range of TBPs circulating among ticks and grazing ruminants in the natural foci of Anatolia, Turkey. Tick specimens (n = 1815) were collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in three ecologically distinct areas (wooded, transitional, and semi-arid zones) of Anatolia and identified by species: Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense, Haemaphysalis inermis, Haemaphysalis parva, Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Rhipicephalus turanicus. PCR-sequencing analyses revealed TBPs of great diversity, with 32 different agents identified in the ticks: six Babesia spp. (Babesia occultans, Babesia crassa, Babesia microti, Babesia rossi, Babesia sp. tavsan1, and Babesia sp. Ucbas); four Theileria spp., including one putative novel species (Theileria annulata, Theileria orientalis, Theileria ovis, and Theileria sp.); one Hepatozoon sp.; four Anaplasma spp., including one novel genotype (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma ovis, and Anaplasma sp.); six unnamed Ehrlichia spp. genotypes; Neoehrlichia mikurensis; nine spotted fever group rickettsiae, including one putative novel species (Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia hoogstraalii, Rickettsia monacensis with strain IRS3, Rickettsia mongolitimonae, Rickettsia raoultii, Candidatus Rickettsia goldwasserii, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae, and Rickettsia sp.); and Borrelia valaisiana. Detailed phylogenetic analyses showed that some of the detected pathogens represent more than one haplotype, potentially relating to the tick species or the host. Additionally, the presence of Neoehrlichia mikurensis, an emerging pathogen for humans, was reported for the first time in Turkey, expanding its geographical distribution. Consequently, this study describes some previously unknown tick-borne protozoan and bacterial species/genotypes and provides informative epidemiological data on TBPs, which are related to animal and human health, serving the one health concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ömer Orkun
- Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Laboratory, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
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16
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Valente D, Gomes J, Coelho AC, Carolino I. Genetic Resistance of Bovines to Theileriosis. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:2903. [PMID: 36359026 PMCID: PMC9657666 DOI: 10.3390/ani12212903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Diseases caused by ticks have a high impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of livestock species. They are also an important cause of economic losses in farms worldwide. An example of such diseases is theileriosis, which can be controlled by drugs or vaccines, although these are not fully efficient. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative and more sustainable and efficient complementary strategies. These may involve the identification and selection of animals more resistant to the disease. Several previous studies have identified significant differences in resistance between different breeds, with resistant breeds typically identified as those native to the region where they are being studied, and susceptible as those from exotic breeds. These studies have indicated that resistance traits are intrinsically related to the modulation of the immune response to infection. This review aims to systematize the general knowledge about theileriosis, emphasize resistance to this disease as a sustainable control strategy, and identify which traits of resistance to the disease are already known in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Valente
- CIVG—Vasco da Gama Research Center, EUVG—Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Jacinto Gomes
- Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre, 7350-092 Elvas, Portugal
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Escola de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1300-477 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês Carolino
- CIVG—Vasco da Gama Research Center, EUVG—Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
- Polo de Inovação da Fonte Boa—Estação Zootécnica Nacional, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, 2005-424 Santarém, Portugal
- ISA—Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
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17
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El-Alfy ES, Abbas I, Baghdadi HB, El-Sayed SAES, Ji S, Rizk MA. Molecular Epidemiology and Species Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens of Animals in Egypt: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080912. [PMID: 36015033 PMCID: PMC9416077 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080912] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TTBPs) are listed among the most serious concerns harming Egyptian livestock’s productivity. Several reports on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) from various geographical regions in the country were published. However, data on the molecular characterization of TBPs are the most beneficial for understanding the epidemiology of this important group of pathogens. In this study, we present the first meta-analysis on the molecular epidemiology and species diversity of TBPs infecting animals in Egypt. All published studies on TBPs were systematically collected from various databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, and Google Scholar). Data from eligible papers were extracted and subjected to various analyses. Seventy-eight studies were found to be eligible for inclusion. Furthermore, ticks infesting animals that were molecularly screened for their associated pathogens were also included in this study to display high species diversity and underline the high infection risk to animals. Theileria annulata was used as parasite model of TBPs to study the genetic diversity and transmission dynamics across different governorates of Egypt. This study extends cross-comparisons between all published molecular data on TBPs in Egypt and provides resources from Egyptian data in order to better understand parasite epidemiology, species diversity, and disease outcome as well as the development and implementation of prevention and control methods for public health, veterinary care practitioners, and animal owners all over the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Sayed El-Alfy
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Ibrahim Abbas
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Hanadi B. Baghdadi
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31113, Saudi Arabia
- Basic and Applied Scientific Research Center (BASRC), Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31113, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shimaa Abd El-Salam El-Sayed
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mohamed Abdo Rizk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Theileria annulata Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081614. [PMID: 36014032 PMCID: PMC9412660 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria annulata is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of Theileria spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The present study was designed to determine the genetic diversity and assess the risk factors associated with Theileria infection in selected districts of KP. Information on the risk factors related to the Theileria infection was collected through a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from symptomatic cattle from January 2019 to February 2020, identified morphologically through microscopic examination, and processed for molecular characterization using the 18S rRNA gene as a genetic marker. Of the 555 cattle examined (136, 24.5%) and (294, 53%) were found positive for Theileria spp. by microscopic examination and a PCR test, respectively. Based on the PCR test, the highest prevalence of infection was found in district Upper Dir (46/75, 61.3%), followed by Lower Dir (54/90, 60%); Malakand (51/88, 57.9%); Peshawar (40/80, 50%); and Charsadda (52/112, 46.4%), with the lowest in Bajaur (51/110, 46.34%). A BLAST analysis of the 18S rDNA sequences showed 99.5% identity with T. annulata. In a phylogenetic tree, the 18S rDNA sequence of T. annulata clustered with sequences from Pakistan, China, and Italy. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of infection and different host characteristics. The highest infection was found in adult cattle (216/360, 60%); females (218/377, 57.8%); and Holstein Friesian (120/180, 66.6%). Theileria infection was significantly associated with management practices. Higher infection rates were observed in free-grazing cattle (190/412, 42.2%); those kept in unhygienic conditions (246/405, 60.7%); cattle in combined farming systems (165/255, 64.8%); and those in congested stall systems (150/218, 68.8%). Seasonal patterns were found to be significantly associated with infection, and a higher infection rate was observed in summer (215/350, 61.4%) than in winter (79/205, 38.5%). Identified risk factors should be considered in designing practical control approaches to reduce the burden of Theileria infection. Large scale studies are required to explore the diversity of Theileria species in KP, Pakistan.
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Prado ICB, Capuno LXB, Collera PDLP, Cabralda APD, De Ramos KAS, Bernardo JMG, Divina BP, Masatani T, Tanaka T, Galay RL. Molecular Detection and Characterization of Babesia and Theileria in Cattle and Water Buffaloes from Southern Luzon, Philippines. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040678. [PMID: 35456730 PMCID: PMC9025510 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia and Theileria are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can cause significant economic losses in the cattle industry. This study aimed to contribute to the limited epidemiological data on Theileria orientalis as well as Babesia bigemina and B. bovis in large ruminants in the Philippines. Blood samples of 412 cattle and 108 water buffalo collected from four provinces in Southern Luzon, Philippines, were initially tested for the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasms through nested PCR. Positive samples were further subjected to species-specific PCR. The 18s rRNA of piroplasms was detected in 123 (29.9%) cattle and three (2.8%) water buffaloes. Theileria orientalis was found to be the most common piroplasm in cattle with a detection rate of 17.5%, followed by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. Co-infections were also observed. Two water buffaloes were found infected with B. bovis, while one was positive for B. bigemina. The phylogenetic tree for B. bovis showed clustering of the isolates in two clades together with isolates from other countries, and a third separate clade. Meanwhile, the T. orientalis isolates in this study were distributed in three clades together with reported isolates from other countries. This study confirms the presence of T. orientalis in the Philippines and reports the genetic diversity of B. bovis and T. orientalis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Cary B. Prado
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines;
| | - Larry Xerxes B. Capuno
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - Princess DLP. Collera
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - Aaron Paul D. Cabralda
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - Kristina Andrea S. De Ramos
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - John Michael G. Bernardo
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - Billy P. Divina
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
| | - Tatsunori Masatani
- Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu 501-1193, Japan;
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Korimoto 1-21-24, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (R.L.G.); Tel.: +81-99-285-3570 (T.T.); +63-049-536-2728 (R.L.G.)
| | - Remil L. Galay
- Department of Veterinary Paraclinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna 4031, Philippines; (L.X.B.C.J.); (P.D.C.); (A.P.D.C.); (K.A.S.D.R.); (J.M.G.B.); (B.P.D.)
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (R.L.G.); Tel.: +81-99-285-3570 (T.T.); +63-049-536-2728 (R.L.G.)
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The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1207-1245. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07424-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Almazán C, Scimeca RC, Reichard MV, Mosqueda J. Babesiosis and Theileriosis in North America. Pathogens 2022; 11:168. [PMID: 35215111 PMCID: PMC8874406 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia and Theileria are apicomplexan parasites that cause established and emerging diseases in humans, domestic and wild animals. These protozoans are transmitted by Ixodid ticks causing babesiosis or theileriosis, both characterized by fever, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, and splenomegaly. In North America (NA), the most common species affecting humans is B. microti, which is distributed in the Northeastern and Upper Midwestern United States (US), where the tick vector Ixodes scapularis is established. In livestock, B. bovis and B. bigemina are the most important pathogens causing bovine babesiosis in tropical regions of Mexico. Despite efforts toward eradication of their tick vector, Rhipicephalus microplus, B. bovis and B. bigemina present a constant threat of being reintroduced into the southern US and represent a continuous concern for the US cattle industry. Occasional outbreaks of T. equi, and T. orientalis have occurred in horses and cattle, respectively, in the US, with significant economic implications for livestock including quarantine, production loss, and euthanasia of infected animals. In addition, a new species, T. haneyi, has been recently discovered in horses from the Mexico-US border. Domestic dogs are hosts to at least four species of Babesia in NA that may result in clinical disease that ranges from subclinical to acute, severe anemia. Herein we review the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and epidemiology of the most important diseases caused by Babesia and Theileria to humans, domestic and wild animals in Canada, the US, and Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Consuelo Almazán
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Queretaro 76140, Mexico;
| | - Ruth C. Scimeca
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA; (R.C.S.); (M.V.R.)
| | - Mason V. Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA; (R.C.S.); (M.V.R.)
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Queretaro 76140, Mexico;
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22
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Cao T, Liu J, Li Z, Shi K, Shi M, Li Y, Guan G, Yin H, Luo J. Establishment and application of a qPCR diagnostic method for Theileria annulata. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:973-980. [PMID: 35080659 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07434-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Bovine theileriosis caused by several Theileria species including Theileria annulata, Theileria parva, Theileria orientalis, Theileria mutans, and Theileria sinensis is a significant hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease. Among these, Theileria species, T. annulata, which causes tropical theileriosis (TT), is regarded as one of the most pathogenic and is responsible for high mortality. At present, most conventional diagnostic methods for tropical theileriosis are time-consuming and laborious and cannot distinguish newfound T. sinensis in China. Therefore, a high sensitivity and specificity real-time quantitative PCR method based on the TA19140 target molecule was developed, and the method was found to be specific for T. annulata. No cross-reaction was observed with T. sinensis, T. orientalis, Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, or Hyalomma anatolicum which is negative for T. annulata. A total of 809 field samples from different regions of China were analyzed by using the developed qPCR and conventional PCR. The positive samples for T. annulata detected by real-time qPCR and conventional PCR were 66/809 (8.16%) and 20/809 (2.47%), respectively, and all positive amplicons by qPCR were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The results showed that the developed qPCR for the T. annulata 19,140 gene was more sensitive than conventional PCR. In addition, we first discovered that TA19140 was mainly expressed at the schizont and merozoite stages of T. annulata by relative quantification. The protein encoded by the TA19140 gene may be used as a potential diagnostic antigen for tropical theileriosis. In conclusion, a real-time quantitative PCR diagnostic method targeting the TA19140 gene was successfully established and could be used for both the quantitative and qualitative analysis of T. annulata infection from cattle and vector ticks, which will greatly help to control and diagnosis of tropical theileriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxing Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangyan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Miao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China.,Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonosis, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Oakes VJ, Todd SM, Carbonello AA, Michalak P, Lahmers KK. Coinfection of cattle in Virginia with Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype and Anaplasma marginale. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 34:36-41. [PMID: 34763583 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211057627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria orientalis Ikeda is a newly identified agent of bovine infectious anemia in the United States. Although T. orientalis Ikeda is transmitted by ticks other than the tick that transmits Anaplasma marginale-a bacterial etiology of bovine infectious anemia-the geographic distributions of these 2 infectious organisms overlap, with coinfection reported in some cattle. Only anaplasmosis has an approved effective treatment in the United States. To provide rapid diagnostic information for producers with anemic animals, we developed a duplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) for A. marginale and T. orientalis. With a cutoff of 38 cycles, the duplex assay has a sensitivity of 97.0% and a specificity of 100% for A. marginale; with a cutoff of 45 cycles, the duplex assay has a sensitivity and a specificity of 100% for T. orientalis, compared to existing tests. In addition to providing a tool for improved clinical decision-making for veterinarians and producers, our rtPCR facilitates the study of coinfection of cattle in Virginia. Of 1,359 blood samples analyzed, 174 were positive for T. orientalis, 125 were positive for A. marginale, and 12 samples were positive for both T. orientalis and A. marginale. Hence, coinfection by these 2 agents of bovine infectious anemia does occur within Virginia. It is likely that this pattern of infection will be seen in other regions where T. orientalis and A. marginale infections are endemic, despite the difference in tick vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa J Oakes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - S Michelle Todd
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Amanda A Carbonello
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Pawel Michalak
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, LA, USA.,Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kevin K Lahmers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.,Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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24
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Kovalchuk SN. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic study of Theileria sp. parasites detected in cattle from the Moscow region of Russia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101835. [PMID: 34601345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Theileriae are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites which are transmitted by ixodid ticks and infect both wild and domestic ruminants worldwide. Theileriosis causes significant economic losses to the livestock industry in many countries due to the high morbidity and mortality in cattle herds. In Russia, information concerning prevalence of Theileria spp. in cattle is very limited. This study reports on molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Theileria spp. parasites detected in cattle from the Moscow region of Russia. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full length 18S rRNA gene revealed that the Russian Theileria parasites belong to the Theileria orientalis / Theileria buffeli / Theileria sergenti group and share a common genotype with T. buffeli Marula from Kenya, T. buffeli isolates from Japan and South Korea, T. orientalis isolate from Australia and T. sergenti isolate from Japan, which belong to the pathogenic Chitose genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana N Kovalchuk
- Institute of Innovative Biotechnologies in Animal Husbandry - the branch of L.K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry, Kostyakova str., 12/4, Moscow, 127422 Russia
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Fukushima Y, Minamino T, Mikurino Y, Honkawa K, Horii Y, Taniguchi T, Mekata H, Sasaki Y. Effects of Theileria orientalis Infection on Health Status and Productivity of Dairy Cows Reared inside Barns. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060650. [PMID: 34073926 PMCID: PMC8225029 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of Theileria orientalis on the severity of anemia, the prevalence of disease within 21 days after calving and productivity in cows raised inside barns. This longitudinal observational study, which was conducted on a commercial dairy farm in Japan, involved 627 Holstein cows subjected to PCR analysis for T. orientalis. In study 1, we collected blood samples from 156 sick cows within 21 days after calving, and we found the prevalence of T. orientalis infection to be 65.4%. In study 2, we randomly selected 471 cows during the dry period and collected blood samples to conduct PCR analysis for T. orientalis and determined the prevalence of T. orientalis infection to be 69.0%. Compared with the values for the T. orientalis-uninfected group, the T. orientalis-infected cows had significantly decreased hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit, but there were no differences in the other complete blood count indexes between the two groups. In addition, there were no differences in productivity and the prevalence of major diseases between the T. orientalis-infected and uninfected cows. In summary, T. orientalis had few effects on anemia, productivity and the health of cows raised inside a barn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fukushima
- Course of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan;
| | - Tomoya Minamino
- Honkawa Ranch, Oita 877-0056, Japan; (T.M.); (Y.M.); (K.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yoko Mikurino
- Honkawa Ranch, Oita 877-0056, Japan; (T.M.); (Y.M.); (K.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Kazuyuki Honkawa
- Honkawa Ranch, Oita 877-0056, Japan; (T.M.); (Y.M.); (K.H.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yoichiro Horii
- Honkawa Ranch, Oita 877-0056, Japan; (T.M.); (Y.M.); (K.H.); (Y.H.)
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (T.T.); (H.M.)
| | - Takako Taniguchi
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (T.T.); (H.M.)
| | - Hirohisa Mekata
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (T.T.); (H.M.)
| | - Yosuke Sasaki
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan; (T.T.); (H.M.)
- Department of Animal and Grassland Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-985-58-7864
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26
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Bawm S, Myaing TT, Thu MJ, Akter S, Htun LL, Win MM, Nonaka N, Nakao R, Katakura K. PCR detection and genetic characterization of piroplasms from dogs in Myanmar, and a possible role of dogs as reservoirs for Theileria parasites infecting cattle, water buffaloes, and goats. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101729. [PMID: 33984595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Canine vector-borne pathogens can act as zoonotic agents in humans; however, it poorly understood whether dogs play a role as reservoirs of vector-borne parasites in livestock animals. Here, we report the unexpected detection of 18S rRNA gene (rDNA) sequences of five ruminant Theileria species from the peripheral blood of dogs in Myanmar, in addition to those of two canine Babesia species. Using novel BTH primers capable of amplifying the 18S rDNA of Babesia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon spp., approximately 1,500 bp nested PCR products were detected in 19% (17/91) of local or imported dog breeds in different regions of Myanmar. Among the sequences of the 17 PCR products, ten were determined as Theileria 18S rDNA, including three as Theileria orientalis, three as Theileria buffeli, two as Theileria cf. velifera, one as Theileria luwenshuni, and one as Theileria sp. Most of these sequences showed higher identities with Theileria sequences determined in previous studies of cattle, water buffaloes, and goats in Myanmar. Six PCR products were identified as Babesia vogeli and one sample was determined as Babesia gibsoni. Furthermore, we obtained approximately 900 bp thrombospondin-related adhesive protein (TRAP) gene fragments from three dog blood DNA samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the TRAP gene showed that B. gibsoni parasites in Myanmar were considerably related to isolates from China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, but clearly separated from those from Bangladesh and India. These results provide new insights into a possible role of dogs in maintaining and spreading tick-borne pathogens among livestock and canine populations in Myanmar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saw Bawm
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar; Department of International Relations and Information Technology, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar
| | | | - May June Thu
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Shirin Akter
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Lat Lat Htun
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar
| | - Mar Mar Win
- Rector office, University of Veterinary Science, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar
| | - Nariaki Nonaka
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ken Katakura
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
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27
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Scoles GA, Lohmeyer KH, Ueti MW, Bonilla D, Lahmers KK, Piccione J, Rogovskyy AS. Stray Mexico origin cattle captured crossing into Southern Texas carry Babesia bovis and other tick-borne pathogens. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101708. [PMID: 34175736 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus microplus and R. annulatus have been eradicated from the United States and inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) monitor the quarantine zone along the Texas border to prevent the introduction of livestock carrying cattle fever ticks from Mexico. Stray livestock apprehended by CFTEP in the zone are checked for ticks and tested for infectious disease-causing pathogens but are not evaluated for evidence of infection with tick-borne pathogens. We tested blood samples collected from stray cattle by CFTEP inspectors for evidence of infection with tick-borne pathogens. As a comparison group representing U.S. resident cattle, we tested blood samples that had been sent to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) for unrelated testing. Both sets of blood samples were evaluated using the same specific and broad-spectrum PCR assays. For the border cattle the overall prevalence of infection with one or more tick-borne pathogen was 58.5 % (79/135) with many co-infections, including 30 cattle positive for Babesia bovis and/or Babesia bigemina (22.2 %) and 77 cattle positive for Anaplasma marginale (57 %), three of these animals were also positive for Borrelia theileri. No resident cattle represented by the TVMDL samples were infected with either of the Babesia spp., or with Borrelia theileri, but three were positive for Theileria orientalis and 7.3 % (7/96) were positive for A. marginale. These data show that cattle originating in Mexico have a higher prevalence of infection with tick-borne pathogens relative to resident U.S. cattle and specifically, a proportion are infected with bovine Babesia, which is absent from U.S. cattle populations. Consequently, these stray cattle may be a reservoir of tick-borne pathogens and if populations of Boophilus ticks become reestablished in areas where they had previously been eradicated, could pose a significant risk to the U.S. Cattle industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glen A Scoles
- USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
| | - Kimberly H Lohmeyer
- USDA, ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX, United States.
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
| | - Denise Bonilla
- USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Kevin K Lahmers
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, United States.
| | - Julie Piccione
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, College Station, TX, United States.
| | - Artem S Rogovskyy
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
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Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing and Informatics as an Effective Tool to Establish the Composition of Bovine Piroplasm Populations in Endemic Regions. Microorganisms 2020; 9:microorganisms9010021. [PMID: 33374586 PMCID: PMC7822421 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Protists of the genera Babesia and Theileria (piroplasms) cause some of the most prevalent and debilitating diseases for bovines worldwide. In this study, we established and used a next-generation sequencing-informatic approach to explore the composition of Babesia and Theileria populations in cattle and water buffalo in a country (Pakistan) endemic for these pathogens. We collected individual blood samples from cattle (n = 212) and water buffalo (n = 154), extracted genomic DNAs, PCR-amplified the V4 hypervariable region of 18S small subunit rRNA gene from piroplasms, sequenced amplicons using Illumina technology, and then analysed data using bioinformatic platforms. The results revealed piroplasms in 68.9% (252/366) samples, with overall occurrence being markedly higher in cattle (85.8%) than in water buffaloes (45.5%). Babesia (B.) occultans and Theileria (T.) lestoquardi-like species were recorded for the first time in Pakistan, and, overall, T. annulata was most commonly detected (65.8%) followed by B. bovis (7.1%), B. bigemina (4.4%), and T. orientalis (0.5%), with the genetic variability within B. bovis being pronounced. The occurrence and composition of piroplasm species varied markedly across different agro-ecological zones. The high detection of T. annulata in asymptomatic animals suggested a relatively high level of endemic stability of tropical theileriosis in the bovine population.
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29
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Agina OA, Shaari MR, Isa NMM, Ajat M, Zamri-Saad M, Hamzah H. Clinical Pathology, Immunopathology and Advanced Vaccine Technology in Bovine Theileriosis: A Review. Pathogens 2020; 9:E697. [PMID: 32854179 PMCID: PMC7558346 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileriosis is a blood piroplasmic disease that adversely affects the livestock industry, especially in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is caused by haemoprotozoan of the Theileria genus, transmitted by hard ticks and which possesses a complex life cycle. The clinical course of the disease ranges from benign to lethal, but subclinical infections can occur depending on the infecting Theileria species. The main clinical and clinicopathological manifestations of acute disease include fever, lymphadenopathy, anorexia and severe loss of condition, conjunctivitis, and pale mucous membranes that are associated with Theileria-induced immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia and/or non-regenerative anaemia. Additionally, jaundice, increases in hepatic enzymes, and variable leukocyte count changes are seen. Theileria annulata and Theileria parva induce an incomplete transformation of lymphoid and myeloid cell lineages, and these cells possess certain phenotypes of cancer cells. Pathogenic genotypes of Theileria orientalis have been recently associated with severe production losses in Southeast Asia and some parts of Europe. The infection and treatment method (ITM) is currently used in the control and prevention of T. parva infection, and recombinant vaccines are still under evaluation. The use of gene gun immunization against T. parva infection has been recently evaluated. This review, therefore, provides an overview of the clinicopathological and immunopathological profiles of Theileria-infected cattle and focus on DNA vaccines consisting of plasmid DNA with genes of interest, molecular adjuvants, and chitosan as the most promising next-generation vaccine against bovine theileriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onyinyechukwu Ada Agina
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
| | - Mohd Rosly Shaari
- Animal Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Headquarters, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Nur Mahiza Md Isa
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Mokrish Ajat
- Department of Veterinary Pre-clinical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Mohd Zamri-Saad
- Research Centre for Ruminant Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
| | - Hazilawati Hamzah
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia;
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Koehler AV, Jabbar A, Hall RS, Gasser RB. A Targeted "Next-Generation" Sequencing-Informatic Approach to Define Genetic Diversity in Theileria orientalis Populations within Individual Cattle: Proof-of-Principle. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9060448. [PMID: 32517045 PMCID: PMC7350381 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9060448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oriental theileriosis is an economically important tickborne disease of bovines, caused by some members of the Theileria orientalis complex. Currently, 11 distinct operational taxonomic units (OTUs), or genotypes, are recognized based on their major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene sequences. Two of these genotypes (i.e., chitose and ikeda) are recognized as pathogenic in cattle, causing significant disease in countries of the Asia-Pacific region. However, the true extent of genetic variation and associated virulence/pathogenicity within this complex is unknown. Here, we undertook a proof-of-principle study of a small panel of genomic DNAs (n = 13) from blood samples originating from individual cattle known to harbor T. orientalis, in order to assess the performance of a targeted “next-generation” sequencing-informatic approach to identify genotypes. Five genotypes (chitose, ikeda, buffeli, type 4, and type 5) were defined; multiple genotypes were found within individual samples, with dominant and minor sequence types representing most genotypes. This study indicates that this sequencing-informatic workflow could be useful to assess the nature and extent of genetic variation within and among populations of T. orientalis on a large scale, and to potentially employ panels of distinct gene markers for expanded molecular epidemiological investigations of socioeconomically important protistan pathogens more generally.
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31
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de Pontes LG, Altei WF, Galan A, Bilić P, Guillemin N, Kuleš J, Horvatić A, Ribeiro LNDM, de Paula E, Pereira VBR, Lucheis SB, Mrljak V, Eckersall PD, Ferreira RS, Dos Santos LD. Extracellular vesicles in infectious diseases caused by protozoan parasites in buffaloes. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20190067. [PMID: 32528536 PMCID: PMC7262785 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0067] [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: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-bound vesicles of growing interest in vetetinary parasitology. The aim of the present report was to provide the first isolation, quantification and protein characterization of EVs from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sera infected with Theileria spp. Methods Infected animals were identified through optical microscopy and PCR. EVs were isolated from buffalo sera by size-exclusion chromatography and characterized using western blotting analysis, nanoparticle tracking analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Subsequently, the proteins from isolated vesicles were characterized by mass spectrometry. Results EVs from buffalo sera have shown sizes in the 124-140 nm range and 306 proteins were characterized. The protein-protein interaction analysis has evidenced biological processes and molecular function associated with signal transduction, binding, regulation of metabolic processes, transport, catalytic activity and response to acute stress. Five proteins have been shown to be differentially expressed between the control group and that infected with Theileria spp., all acting in the oxidative stress pathway. Conclusions EVs from buffaloes infected with Theileria spp. were successfully isolated and characterized. This is an advance in the knowledge of host-parasite relationship that contributes to the understanding of host immune response and theileriosis evasion mechanisms. These findings may pave the way for searching new EVs candidate-markers for a better production of safe biological products derived from buffaloes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Gomes de Pontes
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Wanessa Fernanda Altei
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Asier Galan
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Petra Bilić
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nicolas Guillemin
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Josipa Kuleš
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Anita Horvatić
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lígia Nunes de Morais Ribeiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eneida de Paula
- Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vladimir Mrljak
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Peter David Eckersall
- ERA Chair Team (VetMedZg), Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.,Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom, UK
| | - Rui Seabra Ferreira
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Clinical Research, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.,Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucilene Delazari Dos Santos
- Graduate Program in Tropical Diseases, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.,Graduate Program in Clinical Research, Botucatu Medical School (FMB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil.,Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
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