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Huggins LG, Namgyel U, Wangchuk P, Atapattu U, Traub R, Colella V. Metabarcoding using nanopore sequencing enables identification of diverse and zoonotic vector-borne pathogens from neglected regions: A case study investigating dogs from Bhutan. One Health 2024; 19:100839. [PMID: 39005237 PMCID: PMC11238191 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100839] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The diversity and prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in Bhutan have to date remained unexplored, whilst recent epidemiological surveys in other South Asian nations have found diseases caused by VBPs to be rife in local dog populations. Importantly, many of such VBPs can infect people as well, with a building body of evidence identifying potentially zoonotic rickettsial organisms infecting humans in Bhutan. Given the lack of data on canine pathogens in Bhutan we employed a suite of deep-sequencing metabarcoding methods using Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION™ device to holistically characterise the bacterial, apicomplexan and filarial worm blood-borne pathogens of dogs in the country's south. Of the 95 stray, owned and community dogs sampled 78% (95% CI = 69%-85%) were infected with at least one VBP. Pathogen species detected were highly diverse including the bacteria Mycoplasma haemocanis in 16% (95% CI: 10-24%), Ehrlichia canis in 4% (95% CI: 2-10%), Anaplasma platys in 2% (95% CI: 0.5-7%) of dogs as well as the zoonotic species Bartonella clarridgeiae in 1% (95% CI: 0.1-6%), a potentially novel Bartonella spp. and an Ehrlichia chaffeensis-like bacterium, both in 1% (95% CI: 0.1-6%) of dogs. The apicomplexan haemoparasites Hepatozoon canis in 62% (95% CI: 52-71%), Babesia gibsoni in 45% (95% CI: 36-55%) and Babesia vogeli in 3% (95% CI: 1-9%) of dogs were also detected. Finally, 5% (95% CI: 2-12%) of dogs were found to be infected with the filarioid Acanthocheilonema reconditum and 1% (95% CI: 0.1-6%) with zoonotic Dirofilaria sp. hongkongensis. One canine was found positive to the filarioid Setaria tundra, a species normally found infecting cervids. The elucidated diversity of VBP communities highlights the strength of assumption-free diagnostics, such as metabarcoding, in detecting rare, novel, and unexpected pathogens. This approach to identifying pathogen diversity is of critical importance when investigating regions and populations that have thus far been neglected, with the findings aiding the development of future One Health informed strategies for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G. Huggins
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Ugyen Namgyel
- National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan
| | - Pelden Wangchuk
- National Centre for Animal Health, Serbithang, Thimphu 11001, Bhutan
| | - Ushani Atapattu
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Rebecca Traub
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
- CityU Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Vito Colella
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
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Chakraborty A, Rath PK, Panda SK, Mishra BP, Dehuri M, Biswal S, Jena MK, Sahu BP, Paital B, Sahoo DK. Molecular Confirmation, Epidemiology, and Pathophysiology of Ehrlichia canis Prevalence in Eastern India. Pathogens 2024; 13:803. [PMID: 39338994 PMCID: PMC11435433 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13090803] [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: 08/10/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate pathological epidemiology and molecular confirmation of Ehrlichia canis among pet dogs in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, a state in eastern India. A total of 178 dogs were screened for Ehrlichiosis based on history, clinical signs, blood, and buffy coat smear examination, resulting in only 56 dogs (31.46%) screening positive. The epidemiological study recorded a non-significant (p ≥ 0.05) increase in incidences among male dogs (68%), German Shepherds (25%), dogs more than 20 kg body weight (75%), in the summer months (55%), and dogs housed in pukka houses with exposure to the outside (59%). The majority of the infected dogs had a history of tick infestation (79%) at some point in their lives. Clinical signs showed non-typical manifestations like fever, lethargy, diarrhoea, epistaxis, hind limb edema, and corneal opacity. Haematological studies revealed anaemia and thrombocytopenia along with neutrophilia with relative lymphopenia and monocytosis. A decreasing trend was observed in the levels of total protein and albumin, with an increase in the levels of globulin, alanine aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine. The ultrasonography studies revealed hepatosplenomegaly along with hyper-echogenicity in various organs. Proteinuria and haematuria were consistent, along with the presence of bile salts in the urine of affected dogs. Molecular confirmation from n-type PCR data using Ehrlichia-specific primers targeting the p28 gene (843 bp) was done, and the identified gene sequences submitted to NCBI databases have accession numbers OQ383671-OQ383674 and OP886674-OP886677. Ticks collected from dogs were identified morphologically through microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as Rhipicephalus sanguineus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Chakraborty
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Prasana Kumar Rath
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Susen Kumar Panda
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Bidyut Prava Mishra
- Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Manaswini Dehuri
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Sangram Biswal
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Jena
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India
| | - Basanta Pravas Sahu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Biswaranjan Paital
- Redox Regulation Laboratory, Department of Zoology, College of Basic Science and Humanities, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar 751003, Odisha, India
| | - Dipak Kumar Sahoo
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Jones BA, Agthe P, Scarpante E, Crawford A, Black V, Espadas I, Formoso S, Fraser AR. Magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in the UK and their clinical significance: 53 cases (2013-2021). J Small Anim Pract 2024. [PMID: 39228252 DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the MRI findings in a UK referral population of dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis and to determine if they were associated with any specific clinical features or outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a multi-centre retrospective case series of dogs diagnosed with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in the UK that underwent MRI. Blinded consensus review of the MRI studies was performed and the findings described. The presence or absence of specific MRI abnormalities were analysed for significant associations with presenting signs, results of investigations or case outcomes. RESULTS Fifty-three dogs were included. The most common MRI findings were paravertebral muscle changes (30/53; 56.6%), meningeal contrast enhancement (13/41; 31.7%) and spinal cord parenchymal T2-W hyperintensity (15/53; 28.3%). Haemorrhage was observed in five of 53 (9.4%) cases - three intradural-extramedullary, one intramedullary and one extradural. Following binary logistic regressions, T2-W spinal cord parenchymal hyperintensity had a significant positive association with paresis/paralysis (odds ratio 14.86, 95% confidence interval 1.42 to 154.99) as did haemorrhage (odds ratio 16.12, confidence interval 2.05 to 126.73). Fifty-two (98.1%) dogs survived to discharge. Relapse occurred in nine of 29 (31.0%) dogs with sufficient follow-up, and no MRI finding had a significant relationship with its occurrence. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Magnetic resonance imaging findings for steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis can be severe and extensive, as can the clinical presentation. The presence of paresis/paralysis should raise concern for haemorrhage, though most dogs still have a good prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- B A Jones
- Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK
- Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service, Solihull, UK
| | - P Agthe
- Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK
| | - E Scarpante
- Dick White Referrals, Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - A Crawford
- Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, UK
| | - V Black
- Langford Vets, Bristol Veterinary School, Bristol, UK
| | - I Espadas
- Neurology/Neurosurgery Service, Pride Veterinary Centre, Derby, UK
- Servicio de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Hospital Veterios, Madrid, Spain
| | - S Formoso
- Queen's Veterinary School Hospital, The University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - A R Fraser
- Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, UK
- Davies Veterinary Specialists, Higham Gobion, Hitchin, UK
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Du CH, Xiang R, Bie SS, Yang X, Yang JH, Yao MG, Zhang Y, He ZH, Shao ZT, Luo CF, Pu EN, Li YQ, Wang F, Luo Z, Du CB, Zhao J, Li M, Cao WC, Sun Y, Jiang JF. Genetic diversity and prevalence of emerging Rickettsiales in Yunnan Province: a large-scale study. Infect Dis Poverty 2024; 13:54. [PMID: 38982550 PMCID: PMC11234784 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-024-01213-4] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia and related diseases have been identified as significant global public health threats. This study involved comprehensive field and systematic investigations of various rickettsial organisms in Yunnan Province. METHODS Between May 18, 2011 and November 23, 2020, field investigations were conducted across 42 counties in Yunnan Province, China, encompassing small mammals, livestock, and ticks. Preliminary screenings for Rickettsiales involved amplifying the 16S rRNA genes, along with additional genus- or species-specific genes, which were subsequently confirmed through sequencing results. Sequence comparisons were carried out using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using the default parameters in the Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis (MEGA) program. The chi-squared test was used to assess the diversities and component ratios of rickettsial agents across various parameters. RESULTS A total of 7964 samples were collected from small mammals, livestock, and ticks through Yunnan Province and submitted for screening for rickettsial organisms. Sixteen rickettsial species from the genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia, and Wolbachia were detected, with an overall prevalence of 14.72%. Among these, 11 species were identified as pathogens or potential pathogens to humans and livestock. Specifically, 10 rickettsial organisms were widely found in 42.11% (24 out of 57) of small mammal species. High prevalence was observed in Dremomys samples at 5.60%, in samples from regions with latitudes above 4000 m or alpine meadows, and in those obtained from Yuanmou County. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis were broadly infecting multiple genera of animal hosts. In contrast, the small mammal genera Neodon, Dremomys, Ochotona, Anourosorex, and Mus were carrying individually specific rickettsial agents, indicating host tropism. There were 13 rickettsial species detected in 57.14% (8 out of 14) of tick species, with the highest prevalence (37.07%) observed in the genus Rhipicephalus. Eight rickettsial species were identified in 2375 livestock samples. Notably, six new Rickettsiales variants/strains were discovered, and Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii was unambiguously identified. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale survey provided further insight into the high genetic diversity and overall prevalence of emerging Rickettsiales within endemic hotspots in Yunnan Province. The potential threats posed by these emerging tick-borne Rickettsiales to public health warrant attention, underscoring the need for effective strategies to guide the prevention and control of emerging zoonotic diseases in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hong Du
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Rong Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Shuang-Shuang Bie
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Xing Yang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Dali University, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Ji-Hu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - Ming-Guo Yao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Zhi-Hai He
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Zong-Ti Shao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Chun-Feng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China
| | - En-Nian Pu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Yu-Qiong Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Fan Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Zhi Luo
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Chao-Bo Du
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Miao Li
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, PR China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100071, PR China.
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Teo EJM, Evasco KL, Barker D, Levin ML, Barker SC. The geographic limits and life history of the tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826), in Australia with notes on the spread of Ehrlichia canis. Int J Parasitol 2024; 54:453-462. [PMID: 38609074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2024.04.004] [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: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei, is a tick of much medical, veterinary, and zoonotic importance. This tick has a nearly world-wide distribution due to its ability to survive and propagate in kennels and houses. Rhipicephalus linnaei is the vector of Ehrlichia canis, the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, an often debilitating disease of canids and, occasionally, humans. To prevent incursion of E. canis into Australia, dogs entering Australia have been required to have a negative immunofluorescence antibody test for E. canis. In May 2020 however, E. canis was detected in Western Australia. The detection of E. canis in Australia prompted disease investigation and concerted surveillance for R. linnaei and E. canis in regions across Australia. These investigations revealed that R. linnaei was established far beyond the previously recognised geographic range limits of this tick. In the present paper, using records from various collections, published data, and data from our network of veterinarian collaborators and colleagues, we update the current geographic range of R. linnaei in Australia. Our analyses revealed that the geographic range of R. linnaei in Australia is much wider than was previously supposed, particularly in Western Australia, and in South Australia. We also map, for the first time, where E. canis has been detected in Australia. Last, we discuss the possible routes of incursion and subsequently the factors which may have aided the spread of E. canis in Australia which led to the establishment of this pathogen in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernest J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kimberly L Evasco
- Medical Entomology, Environmental Health Directorate, Western Australian Department of Health, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia
| | - Dayana Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - M L Levin
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Facile V, Sabetti MC, Balboni A, Urbani L, Tirolo A, Magliocca M, Lunetta F, Dondi F, Battilani M. Detection of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in dogs from a veterinary teaching hospital in Italy: a retrospective study 2012-2020. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1727-1740. [PMID: 38536514 PMCID: PMC11147850 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10358-4] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis, responsible of diseases in dogs, are tick-borne pathogens with a proven or potential zoonotic role that have shown increasing prevalence worldwide. The aims of this retrospective study were to assess the frequency of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. exposure in dogs tested in a veterinary teaching hospital in Italy over a 9-year period, to compare the performance of the diagnostic tests used, to evaluate correlations with clinical data, and to genetically analyse the identified bacteria. During the study period, 1322 dogs tested by at least one of the rapid immunoenzymatic test, indirect immunofluorescent antibody test or end-point PCR assay for Anaplasmataceae detection were included. Dogs were tested if they had clinical signs or clinicopathological alteration or risk factors related to infection, and if they were potential blood-donor animals. Ninety-four of 1322 (7.1%) dogs tested positive for at least one pathogen: 53 (4.3%) for A. phagocytophilum, one (0.1%) for A. platys and 63 (4.6%) for E. canis. The number of dogs tested increased and the positivity rate progressively declined over the years. Comparison of tests showed a near-perfect agreement between serological tests and a poor agreement between PCR and indirect assays. A breed predisposition has been highlighted for A. phagocytophilum infection in hunting breed dogs and for E. canis infection in mixed breed dogs. Phylogeny confirmed potential zoonotic implications for A. phagocytophilum and showed no correlation of the identified bacteria with the geographical origin. Our study provides new insights into possible risk factors in dogs and evidenced discordant results between different tests, suggesting that a combination of serological and molecular assays is preferable for a correct diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Facile
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Sabetti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, Parma, 43126, Italy
| | - Andrea Balboni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
| | - Lorenza Urbani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tirolo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Strada del Taglio 10, Parma, 43126, Italy
| | - Martina Magliocca
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
| | - Francesco Lunetta
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
| | - Francesco Dondi
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy.
| | - Mara Battilani
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, Ozzano dell'Emilia, Bologna, 40064, Italy
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Cocco R, Sechi S, Rizzo M, Bonomo A, Arfuso F, Giudice E. Haematochemical Profile of Healthy Dogs Seropositive for Single or Multiple Vector-Borne Pathogens. Vet Sci 2024; 11:205. [PMID: 38787177 PMCID: PMC11126013 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11050205] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND the present study aimed to investigate the immunological response to common vector-borne pathogens and to evaluate their impact on haematochemical parameters in owned dogs. METHODS Blood samples were collected from 400 clinically healthy dogs living in an endemic area (Sardinia Island, Italy). All dogs were serologically tested for VBDs and divided into groups based on their negative (Neg) or positive response towards Ehrlichia (Ehrl), Rickettsia (Rick), Leishmania (Leish), Borrelia (Borr), Anaplasma (Anapl), and Bartonella (Barto). A Kruskall-Wallis's test, followed by Dunn's post hoc comparison test, was applied to determine the statistical effect of negativity and single or multiple positivity on the studied parameters. RESULTS the group of dogs simultaneously presenting antibodies towards Leishmania, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia showed higher values of total proteins, globulins, creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and amylase than dogs that tested negative or dogs with antibodies toward a single pathogen investigated herein. CONCLUSIONS Our results seem to suggest that exposure to more vector-borne pathogens could lead to greater liver function impairment and a greater inflammatory state. Further investigations are needed in order to better clarify how co-infections affect haematochemical patterns in dogs living in endemic areas of VBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Cocco
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (R.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Sara Sechi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (R.C.); (S.S.)
| | - Maria Rizzo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (F.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Andrea Bonomo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (F.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Francesca Arfuso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (F.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Elisabetta Giudice
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell’Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (F.A.); (E.G.)
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8
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Karagkouni M, Spilioti K, Meletis E, Kostoulas P, Koutinas C, Theodorou K, Breitschwerdt EB, Mylonakis ME. Assessment of the effect of long-term serum storage for retrospective serologic diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis). Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 108:102170. [PMID: 38581930 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2024.102170] [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: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
There is currently sparse information on the possible effect of long-term storage of serum specimens for the retrospective serodiagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between the original serologic outcome and the results of a repeat indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay for the detection of IgG antibodies against E. canis. A secondary aim was to compare the diagnostic performance of two commercially available point-of-care (POC) immunochromatographic (IC) assays. Archived serum samples originally tested as positive (n=66) or negative (n=19) for E. canis IgG antibodies and kept frozen at -20°C for a median of 22 years, were retrospectively examined by IFA and by two POC IC assays. Cohen's Kappa coefficient (0.748, p < 0.0001), indicated a substantial agreement between the original and repeat serologic testing results. An almost identical high sensitivity and moderate specificity were established for the two POC IC assays. Canine serum specimens on long-term storage may still be of value for seroepidemiologic surveys investigating the exposure to E. canis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Karagkouni
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54627, Greece
| | | | - Eleftherios Meletis
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Public and One Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece
| | - Polychronis Kostoulas
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Public and One Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa 43100, Greece
| | - Christos Koutinas
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54627, Greece
| | - Konstantina Theodorou
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54627, Greece
| | - Edward B Breitschwerdt
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, NC 27607, USA
| | - Mathios E Mylonakis
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54627, Greece.
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9
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Le Sueur ANV, de Souza AAL, Paes AC, Takahira RK, Melchert A, Okamoto AS, Coyne M, Murphy R, Szlosek D, Peterson S, Guimarães-Okamoto PTC. Novel renal injury markers in dogs with ehrlichiosis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293545. [PMID: 38096157 PMCID: PMC10721078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) has been observed to impact renal function. Currently, the recognition of acute kidney injury is through the nonspecific biomarker serum creatinine (sCr). Novel markers of renal injury such as urinary clusterin (uClust) and urinary cystatin B (uCysB) may increase our understanding of the relationship between ehrlichiosis and renal cellular injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate novel renal injury biomarkers in dogs with acute CME. Twenty healthy dogs were enrolled in the control group (CG), and 16 dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis were included in the Ehrlichia Group (EG). All dogs were followed for 45 days. EG dogs were treated with doxycycline twice daily for the first 30 days. Urine and serum were collected at: 0, 0.5, 1, 15, 30, and 45 days after start of treatment. Urine concentrations of uClust and uCysB were determined using a research ELISA immunoassay. A linear mixed model was used to estimate population mean of renal injury markers with patient as the random effect, and day and treatment as fixed effects. EG was observed to have higher uClust values compared to CG (estimated population mean EG: 213 ng/dL vs. CG: 84 ng/dL, P < 0.001). EG was observed to have higher uCysB values compared to CG (estimated population mean EG: 248 ng/dL vs. CG: 38 ng/dL, P < 0.001). Increases in uCysB and uClust suggest the presence of renal injury and a possible mechanism for the observed predisposition to chronic kidney disease in dogs with ehrlichiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André N. V. Le Sueur
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University - NCSU, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Adriana A. L. de Souza
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Antônio C. Paes
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Regina K. Takahira
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Melchert
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Adriano S. Okamoto
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Michael Coyne
- IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine, United States of America
| | - Rachel Murphy
- Abbott Diagnostics Inc., Scarborough, Maine, United States of America
| | - Donald Szlosek
- IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine, United States of America
| | - Sarah Peterson
- IDEXX Laboratories Inc., Westbrook, Maine, United States of America
| | - Priscylla T. C. Guimarães-Okamoto
- Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil
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Zhang J, Wang J, Kelly PJ, Zhang Y, Li M, Li J, Zhang R, Wang Y, Huang K, You J, Qiu H, Zheng X, Wang X, Li J, Dong J, Yang Y, Wang C. Experimental infection and co-infection with Chinese strains of Ehrlichia canis and Babesia vogeli in intact and splenectomized dogs: Insights on clinical, hematologic and treatment responses. Vet Parasitol 2023; 323:110032. [PMID: 37783174 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Animal infection models are crucial for studying various aspects of Ehrlichia canis infections. To understand the pathogenesis of the first Chinese isolate of E. canis and simulate the natural progression of canine ehrlichiosis, we developed a model with 18 Beagle dogs that consisted of E. canis initial infection (days 0-17), treatment with doxycycline or rifampicin (days 18-32), recovery (days 33-66), E. canis reinfection (days 67-91), and Babesia vogeli superinfection (days 92-116). We measured body weight and rectal temperature every other day, drew blood every 4 days for routine hematology and biochemistry tests, and for quantification of E. canis and B. vogeli by quantitative PCRs. In this study, the first isolate of E. canis from China was used to experimentally infect dogs, and the infected dogs exhibited clinical signs of acute severe ehrlichiosis, including high fever, loss of appetite, dehydration, and body weight loss, confirming the similar pathogenicity of E. canis in China as compared to isolates from other regions. Infection with E. canis and B. vogeli led to reduced body weight and fever in dogs. Doxycycline treatment led to absence of E. canis DNA in infected dogs, while rifampicin treatment lowered the blood E. canis copy number up to 1.5 folds. E. canis-free infected dogs after doxycycline treatment were successfully re-infected with E. canis, indicating dogs with antibodies are still at risk of re-infection. Super-infection with B. vogeli resulted in higher fever, more severe anemia, and a reduced number of platelets. Splenectomized dogs showed significantly higher E. canis numbers during recovery and re-infection than intact dogs. The histological changes were observed in brain, lung, kidney, liver and spleen of the infected dogs. The findings in this study provide insights into clinical and hematologic responses, as well as effective treatment options, for dogs infected with the first Chinese isolate of E. canis, and may contribute to our understanding of the diagnosis and prevention of tick-borne diseases in dogs, including canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilei Zhang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China; College of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Li
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yaoyao Wang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ke Huang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinfeng You
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haixiang Qiu
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zheng
- Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianji Li
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Junsheng Dong
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Chengming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
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11
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Cardoso SP, Honorio-França AC, França DCH, Silva LPS, Fagundes-Triches DLG, Neves MCB, Cotrim ACDM, de Almeida ADBPF, França EL, Sousa VRF. Effects of Doxycycline Treatment on Hematological Parameters, Viscosity, and Cytokines in Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1137. [PMID: 37627021 PMCID: PMC10452297 DOI: 10.3390/biology12081137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the hematological parameters, blood viscosity, and cytokines of dogs infected by Ehrlichia canis untreated and treated with doxycycline. Initially, 47 dogs were examined, and 36 were suspected to have canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, which was confirmed through molecular polymerase chain reaction tests. This study consisted of 25 dogs, with 11 being healthy and 14 testing positive for E. canis. The dogs were divided into experimental groups based on their test results, including a control group of healthy dogs (N = 11), a group of infected dogs without treatment (N = 7), and a group of infected dogs treated with doxycycline (N = 7) at a 10 mg/kg dose every 12 h for 28 days. Blood samples were taken to determine hematological parameters, viscosity, and cytokine levels. It was observed that, regardless of doxycycline treatment, there was a reduction in total leukocytes and lymphocytes in infected dogs with Ehrlichia canis. The eosinophils and platelets decreased in dogs with Ehrlichia canis infections without treatment. Monocytes, eosinophils, and platelets increased when the dogs were treated with doxycycline. Regardless of treatment, infected dogs' blood viscosity was lower than uninfected dogs. Infected dogs showed lower TNF-α and increased IL-1β. There was a correlation between the blood viscosity with the cytokines IL-10 and IL-12 in the infected dogs. The eosinophil count correlated with TNF-α in the group of infected and untreated dogs. In conclusion, treating dogs with monocytic ehrlichiosis using doxycycline can increase platelet and eosinophil levels but may also increase IL-1β and monocyte levels, exacerbating inflammation. Therefore, evaluating viscosity and cytokine levels is important when treating dogs with this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saulo Pereira Cardoso
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Mato Grosso, Barra do Garças 78607-899, MT, Brazil;
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (M.C.B.N.)
| | - Adenilda Cristina Honorio-França
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Danielle Cristina Honorio França
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Luana Paula Sales Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Danny Laura Gomes Fagundes-Triches
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Maria Clara Bianchini Neves
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (M.C.B.N.)
| | - Aron Carlos de Melo Cotrim
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Arleana do Bom Parto Ferreira de Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (M.C.B.N.)
| | - Eduardo Luzía França
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia Básicas e Aplicadas (PPGIP), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Barra do Garças 78605-091, MT, Brazil (L.P.S.S.); (D.L.G.F.-T.); (A.C.d.M.C.); (E.L.F.)
| | - Valéria Régia Franco Sousa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil; (M.C.B.N.)
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12
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Lira-Amaya JJ, Beristain-Ruiz DM, Racanco-Delgado J, Garza-Hernández JA, Vital-García C, Santamaria-Espinosa M, Martínez-García G, Alvarez-Martínez A, Quezada-Casasola A, Rojas-Martínez C, Alvarado-Robles B, Figueroa-Millán JV. Molecular Detection and Characterization of Ehrlichia canis Isolates from Three Geographic Regions in Mexico: A Retrospective Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1629. [PMID: 37629486 PMCID: PMC10456115 DOI: 10.3390/life13081629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is the most common tick-borne disease affecting domestic dogs and other wild canids. It has a worldwide distribution and is associated with the presence of the brown dog tick. Few studies have been conducted in Mexico to identify and characterize Ehrlichia canis genetic variability. In the present study, 111 dogs of different sex, breed, and age from three geographic regions in Mexico were included. All of them had a previous history of tick infestation and/or the presence of one or more clinical signs compatible with CME. All dogs were tested by a commercial ELISA and nested PCR assay for the detection of E. canis. In addition, we analyzed the E. canis genetic diversity from the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained in this study, along with 15 additional sequences described for E. canis in Mexico and obtained from GeneBank. Serological detection by commercial ELISA results showed overall infection rates of 85.58% (95/111), including 73.1% (30/41) in samples from Guerrero state; 75% (15/20) in Morelos; and 100% (50/50) in Chihuahua. On the other hand, molecular detection (nPCR assay) showed 31.5% (35/111) overall infection rate, with 41.4% (17/41) in Guerrero state; 55% (11/20) in Morelos; and 14% (7/50) in Chihuahua. We observed a high 16S rRNA gene sequence conservancy in most of the E. canis isolates in the three geographical areas from Mexico, including those analyzed in this research, suggesting a common geographic origin among isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Juan Lira-Amaya
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Diana M. Beristain-Ruiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Jesús Racanco-Delgado
- Unidad Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Km. 3.5, de la Carretera Altamirano-Iguala, Ciudad Altamirano 39640, Guerrero, Mexico;
| | - Javier A. Garza-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico;
| | - Cuauhcihuatl Vital-García
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Montserrat Santamaria-Espinosa
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Grecia Martínez-García
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Antonio Alvarez-Martínez
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Andrés Quezada-Casasola
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Carmen Rojas-Martínez
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Beatriz Alvarado-Robles
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Julio V. Figueroa-Millán
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
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13
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Day CA, Butler RA, Durick HE, Chandler JG, Paulsen DJ, Mordoh SL, Foggin C, Parry R, Moyo I, Russo L, Kennedy MA, Trout Fryxell RT. An ecological and epidemiological single-season survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia positive ticks in Victoria Falls National Park, Zimbabwe. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:195-208. [PMID: 36695750 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need for continued research on the ecology of tick-borne diseases in Africa. Our objective was to provide a preliminary description of the ecology and epidemiology of tick species, tick-borne pathogens, and animal hosts in Zimbabwe, focusing efforts at Victoria Falls National Park, for a single season. We tested the hypothesis that tick surveillance and pathogen screening data can be used to model associations among ticks, hosts, and pathogens. We collected ticks from domesticated animals and wildlife in Zimbabwe and screened the ticks for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia bacteria. Nearly 30% of the screened ticks were PCR-positive; 89% of tick species were PCR-positive, and 88% of animal species carried at least one PCR-positive tick. We sequenced a subset of amplicons that were similar to three Anaplasma species and three Ehrlichia species. The odds of a tick being PCR-positive increased when many ticks were collected from the host or the tick was collected from a cow (domesticated animal). Tick species shared host species more often than expected. We demonstrate that ticks in northwestern Zimbabwe present a One Health problem for nearby wildlife and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Day
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R A Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - H E Durick
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - J G Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - David J Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - S L Mordoh
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - C Foggin
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - R Parry
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - I Moyo
- Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
| | - L Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - M A Kennedy
- Center for Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - R T Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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14
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Dantas-Torres F, Ketzis J, Pérez Tort G, Mihalca AD, Baneth G, Otranto D, Watanabe M, Linh BK, Inpankaew T, Borrás P, Arumugam S, Penzhorn BL, Ybañez AP, Irwin P, Traub RJ. Heartworm adulticide treatment: a tropical perspective. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:148. [PMID: 37106364 PMCID: PMC10141906 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05690-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Dirofilaria immitis (the canine heartworm) is widespread in the tropics, with prevalence surpassing 30% in high-risk areas. In addition to the suitable climatic conditions that favour mosquito abundance and filarial larva development, there is low compliance with the recommended year-round use of preventives in these transmission hotspots. This represents a major concern, considering that melarsomine (first-line heartworm adulticide) is unavailable in several tropical countries, resulting in the so-called slow-kill protocol being the only available adulticide treatment option. In this article, the members of TroCCAP (Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites) review the current distribution of heartworm in the tropics and the availability of melarsomine, and discuss alternatives for the management of heartworm infections in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Jennifer Ketzis
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Gabriela Pérez Tort
- University of Buenos Aires and Virreyes Veterinary Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gad Baneth
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | | | - Bui Khanh Linh
- Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | - Pablo Borrás
- Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sangaran Arumugam
- Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India
| | | | | | | | - Rebecca J Traub
- Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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15
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Huggins LG, Koehler AV, Gasser RB, Traub RJ. Advanced approaches for the diagnosis and chemoprevention of canine vector-borne pathogens and parasites-Implications for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2023; 120:1-85. [PMID: 36948727 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) of canines are a diverse range of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and multicellular parasites, that are pernicious and potentially lethal to their hosts. Dogs across the globe are afflicted by canine VBPs, but the range of different ectoparasites and the VBPs that they transmit predominate in tropical regions. Countries within the Asia-Pacific have had limited prior research dedicated to exploring the epidemiology of canine VBPs, whilst the few studies that have been conducted show VBP prevalence to be high, with significant impacts on dog health. Moreover, such impacts are not restricted to dogs, as some canine VBPs are zoonotic. We reviewed the status of canine VBPs in the Asia-Pacific, with particular focus on nations in the tropics, whilst also investigating the history of VBP diagnosis and examining recent progress in the field, including advanced molecular methods, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS). These tools are rapidly changing the way parasites are detected and discovered, demonstrating a sensitivity equal to, or exceeding that of, conventional molecular diagnostics. We also provide a background to the armoury of chemopreventive products available for protecting dogs from VBP. Here, field-based research within high VBP pressure environments has underscored the importance of ectoparasiticide mode of action on their overall efficacy. The future of canine VBP diagnosis and prevention at a global level is also explored, highlighting how evolving portable sequencing technologies may permit diagnosis at point-of-care, whilst further research into chemopreventives will be essential if VBP transmission is to be effectively controlled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G Huggins
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Anson V Koehler
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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16
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Sykes JE. Tick-Borne Diseases. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2023; 53:141-154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Christodoulou V, Meletis E, Kostoulas P, Theodorou K, Saridomichelakis EN, Koutinas C, Mylonakis ME. Clinical and Clinicopathologic Discriminators Between Canine Acute Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and Primary Immune Thrombocytopenia. Top Companion Anim Med 2023; 52:100750. [PMID: 36574587 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcam.2022.100750] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis due to Ehrlichia canis (aCME), and primary immune thrombocytopenia (pITP) are major differentials for dogs presented with thrombocytopenia, and the two diseases may clinically overlap. The aim of this study was to compare dogs diagnosed with naturally occurring aCME and pITP, to establish potentially useful clinical and clinicopathologic discriminators. A clinical record-based retrospective study was performed in 35 dogs diagnosed with aCME and 29 dogs with pITP. Dogs with aCME were significantly younger, and were more likely to experience depression or lethargy, anorexia, body weight loss, fever, lymphadenomegaly, tick infestation, and ocular discharge on admission, compared to dogs with pITP. In contrast, dogs with pITP presented more frequently with overt bleeding and had a significantly higher bleeding score compared to dogs with aCME. Dogs with aCME were more likely to be anemic and hypoalbuminemic on presentation compared to dogs with pITP. Dogs with pITP had higher white blood cell and neutrophil counts as well as lower platelet counts than dogs with aCME and were more likely to present with leukocytosis, neutrophilia and monocytosis. These clinical, hematological, and biochemical findings may be helpful discriminators between aCME and pITP, on the understanding that they will be interpreted in the context of disease-specific testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasilios Christodoulou
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Meletis
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, School of Public and One (Integrated) Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | - Polychronis Kostoulas
- Laboratory of Epidemiology, School of Public and One (Integrated) Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
| | | | | | - Christos Koutinas
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mathios E Mylonakis
- Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (CAC-AUTh), Thessaloniki, Greece.
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Ehrlichiosis in Dogs: A Comprehensive Review about the Pathogen and Its Vectors with Emphasis on South and East Asian Countries. Vet Sci 2022; 10:vetsci10010021. [PMID: 36669021 PMCID: PMC9863373 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichiosis in dogs is an emerging vector borne rickettsial zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution. In general, three Ehrlichial species (Ehrlichia canis, E. ewingii, and E. chaffeensis) are involved in infecting dogs. Among them, E. canis is the well-known etiological pathogen affecting platelets, monocytes, and granulocytes. Dogs act as a reservoir, while the main vector responsible for disease transmission is Rhipicephalus sanguineus. However, in east Asian countries, Haemaphysalis longicornis is considered the principal vector for disease transmission. This disease affects multiple organs and systems and has three clinical manifestations, including acute, subclinical, and chronic. Definitive diagnosis involves visualization of morulae on cytology, detection of antibodies through an indirect immunofluorescence test (IFAT), and DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In canine ehrlichiosis, no predilection of age or sex is observed; however, Siberian Huskies and German Shepherds are more likely to develop severe clinical manifestations. Doxycycline, rifampicin, and minocycline are proven to be effective drugs against canine ehrlichiosis. This review is intended to describe a brief overview of Ehrlichia infection in dogs, its reported prevalence in east and south Asian countries, and the latest knowledge regarding chemotherapy and associated vectors responsible for the disease transmission. This manuscript also identifies the prevailing knowledge gaps which merit further attention by the scientific community.
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Gualan-Cango MI, Ordoñez AR, Venturo-Barriga RA, Aguilar-Galvez LF. Vasculitis cutánea asociada a Ehrlichiosis canina. Reporte de un caso clínico. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA DE LA FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS VETERINARIAS 2022. [DOI: 10.52973/rcfcv-e33192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
La Ehrlichiosis canina puede desencadenar vasculitis cutánea por mecanismos inmunopatogénicos, como lo hacen las Rickettsia y Leishmania, entre otros. La vasculitis se refiere a la inflamación de los vasos sanguíneos de la piel que resulta en alteración del flujo sanguíneo y necrosis isquémica de la piel. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo reportar el caso de un perro, macho entero de cuatro años de edad, que presentaba lesiones alopécicas erosivas-ulcerativas y algunas costrosas en cabeza, plano nasal, regiones de flexión, pabellón auricular y punta de cola. Se realizó un hemograma, confirmando anemia, normocítica normocrómica no regenerativa, leucocitos aún normales con linfopenia, y trombocitopenia. En el frotis sanguíneo se determinó la presencia de mórulas basofílicas en monocitos, hallazgos compatibles con Ehrlichia spp. Se procedió a tratar al paciente con Prednisolona 1 miligramo·kilogramo-1 –mg·kg-1– cada 24 horas –h– por 10 días –d-, Pentoxifilina 15 mg cada 12 h por 120 d, 500 mg de Doxiciclina y 500 mg de Niacinamida cada 12 h por 20 d. Se realizaron dos controles (lesiones cutáneas) una a los 21 d y la otra a los 60 d. Se concluye que el tratamiento fue satisfactorio, donde el paciente se recuperó totalmente luego del tratamiento administrado.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Inés Gualan-Cango
- Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador
| | - Andrés Renato Ordoñez
- Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador - RenatoVetDerm. Davie, Florida, Estados Unidos de América
| | | | - Lenin Fernando Aguilar-Galvez
- Universidad Técnica de Machala, Programa de maestría en Medicina Veterinaria, mención Clínica y Cirugía de Pequeñas Especies. Machala, El Oro, Ecuador
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20
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Huggins LG, Colella V, Atapattu U, Koehler AV, Traub RJ. Nanopore Sequencing Using the Full-Length 16S rRNA Gene for Detection of Blood-Borne Bacteria in Dogs Reveals a Novel Species of Hemotropic Mycoplasma. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0308822. [PMID: 36250862 PMCID: PMC9769565 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03088-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dogs across the globe are afflicted by diverse blood- and vector-borne bacteria (VBB), many of which cause severe disease and can be fatal. Diagnosis of VBB infections can be challenging due to the low concentration of bacteria in the blood, the frequent occurrence of coinfections, and the wide range of known, emerging, and potentially novel VBB species encounterable. Therefore, there is a need for diagnostics that address these challenges by being both sensitive and capable of detecting all VBB simultaneously. We detail the first employment of a nanopore-based sequencing methodology conducted on the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION device to accurately elucidate the "hemobacteriome" from canine blood through sequencing of the full-length 16S rRNA gene. We detected a diverse range of important canine VBB, including Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Mycoplasma haemocanis, Bartonella clarridgeiae, "Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum", a novel species of hemotropic mycoplasma, and Wolbachia endosymbionts of filarial worms, indicative of filariasis. Our nanopore-based protocol was equivalent in sensitivity to both quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Illumina sequencing when benchmarked against these methods, achieving high agreement as defined by the kappa statistics (k > 0.81) for three key VBB. Utilizing the ability of the ONT' MinION device to sequence long read lengths provides an excellent alternative diagnostic method by which the hemobacteriome can be accurately characterized to the species level in a way previously unachievable using short reads. We envision our method to be translatable to multiple contexts, such as the detection of VBB in other vertebrate hosts, including humans, while the small size of the MinION device is highly amenable to field use. IMPORTANCE Blood- and vector-borne bacteria (VBB) can cause severe pathology and even be lethal for dogs in many regions across the globe. Accurate characterization of all the bacterial pathogens infecting a canine host is critical, as coinfections are common and emerging and novel pathogens that may go undetected by traditional diagnostics frequently arise. Deep sequencing using devices from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) provides a solution, as the long read lengths achievable provide species-level taxonomic identification of pathogens that previous short-read technologies could not accomplish. We developed a protocol using ONT' MinION sequencer to accurately detect and classify a wide spectrum of VBB from canine blood at a sensitivity comparable to that of regularly used diagnostics, such as qPCR. This protocol demonstrates great potential for use in biosurveillance and biosecurity operations for the detection of VBB in a range of vertebrate hosts, while the MinION sequencer's portability allows this method to be used easily in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G. Huggins
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vito Colella
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ushani Atapattu
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anson V. Koehler
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Diniz PPV, Moura de Aguiar D. Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2022; 52:1225-1266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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22
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Nkosi NF, Oosthuizen MC, Quan M. Development and validation of a TaqMan® probe- based real-time PCR assay for detection of Ehrlichia canis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102055. [PMID: 36270114 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102055] [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: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Ehrlichiosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic tick-borne disease, caused by a pleomorphic Gram-negative bacterium. It occurs worldwide and affects humans, domestic and wild animals. Dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis develop canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), a significant infectious disease of canines. TaqMan® based real-time PCR assays to detect Ehrlichia spp. affecting dogs were developed and a real-time PCR assay specific for E. canis validated. The efficiency of the assay was 93% and the 95% limit of detection was 33 E. canis plasmid copies/µl of blood (95% confidence interval: 23 - 58). The assay was specific for E. canis when tested against other haemoparasites. Consistent repeatability was observed, with an inter-run standard deviation (SD) range between 0.33 and 1.29 and an intra-run SD range between 0.04 and 1.14. Field samples were tested in parallel by both the E. canis real-time PCR assay and a reverse line blot hybridization assay. The results were in agreement for the two assays, with an exception of two out of 121 samples. Bayesian latent class analysis was used to calculate a diagnostic sensitivity of the E. canis real-time PCR assay of 90% and a specificity of 92%. This assay is a sensitive and reliable molecular detection method for E. canis and will be a useful tool for early diagnosis and timely treatment for this haemoparasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nokuzola F Nkosi
- Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marinda C Oosthuizen
- Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Melvyn Quan
- Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases Research Programme, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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23
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Morganti G, Miglio A, Moretta I, Misia AL, Rigamonti G, Cremonini V, Antognoni MT, Veronesi F. Retrospective Longitudinal Survey on Canine Vector-Borne Pathogens: Trends and Challenges of 10 Years of Activities of a Veterinary Blood Bank. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9060274. [PMID: 35737326 PMCID: PMC9228790 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9060274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine vector-borne pathogens (CVBPs) represent a challenge for veterinary transfusion medicine, since some can be transmitted by blood transfusion and are of zoonotic concern. Epidemiological data on CVBPs, obtained during 10 years of pre-donor screening (2012−2021) by a veterinary blood bank in central Italy, were used to conduct a retrospective epidemiological longitudinal survey. The results were obtained using the Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) conducted on sera in order to assess IgG antibodies against Leishmania infantum, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocythophilum, Babesia canis, and Rickettsia conorii; the modified Knott’s test and an ELISA kit were used to detect Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaria repens. In total, 324 out of the 1260 canine blood donors (25.71%) tested seropositive for at least one pathogen. The highest overall positive rate was detected for L. infantum (12.22%), followed by E. canis (2.30%), A. phagocytophilum (1.19%), D. repens (0.95%), D. immitis (0.32%), and B. canis (0.16%). From 2012 to 2014, a prevalence of 20.12% was recorded for R. conorii. Mixed infections were recorded in 21 dogs. For all the CVBPs investigated, significant differences (p < 0.05) were not observed over the period studied. The results evidenced a non-negligible prevalence of CVBPs in canine donors, which were selected based on strict criteria concerning regular endo- and ectoparasite controls. The results confirmed that the blood bank could be a reliable local epidemiological observatory. The need for implemented screening is discussed.
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24
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Angkanaporn K, Sanguanwai J, Baiyokvichit TO, Vorrachotvarittorn P, Wongsompong M, Sukhumavasi W. Retrospective analysis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in Thailand with emphasis on hematological and ultrasonographic changes. Vet World 2022; 15:1-9. [PMID: 35369584 PMCID: PMC8924374 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is a tropical endemic tick-borne disease that causes fatality or chronic infection involving many organs in dogs. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, risk factors, and hematological and ultrasonographic changes in the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, and spleen following CME infection.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study used 30,269 samples collected from dogs at the hematology section of the pathology unit of a university veterinary hospital and 35 samples collected from dogs at the diagnostic imaging unit. CME was determined using the buffy coat smear method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and odds ratios.
Results: CCl4 The data revealed that the average yearly prevalence of CME was 1.32%. Risk factors contributing to CME infection were a tick on the body during physical examination, lack of ectoparasite control, and outdoor living. All 148 dogs with CME infection had low platelet counts. The percentages of CME-infected dogs with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and both enzymes above the normal range were 33.6%, 65.9%, and 29.8%, respectively. The rates for elevated serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and both compounds were 33.1%, 19.1%, and 17.3%, respectively. The most common ultrasonographic changes were liver abnormalities (hyperechogenicity or hypoechogenicity, hepatomegaly, and hypoechoic nodules), hyperechogenicity of the kidneys, and an enlarged spleen. These ultrasonographic changes were consistent with the hematology results, which showed a greater elevation of serum liver enzyme levels than renal enzymes.
Conclusion: Ultrasonographic changes during CME infection and after treatment with doxycycline can help to monitor and identify persistent pathological changes in the target organs resulting from immune response to CME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Angkanaporn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Jidapha Sanguanwai
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | - Montana Wongsompong
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Woraporn Sukhumavasi
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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25
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Huggins LG, Stevenson M, Baydoun Z, Mab R, Khouri Y, Schunack B, Traub RJ. Field trial investigating the efficacy of a long-acting imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (Seresto®, Elanco) compared to monthly topical fipronil for the chemoprevention of canine tick-borne pathogens in Cambodia. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2022; 2:100095. [PMID: 35865719 PMCID: PMC9294050 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The tropical brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus linnaei, commonly infests canines in the tropics and is an important vector for disease-causing and sometimes lethal pathogens including Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis and Anaplasma platys. In tropical climates ticks and their pathogens exert an extremely high infection pressure on unprotected dogs. To protect canines in such regions, effective acaricidal products possessing a speed of kill that blocks pathogen transmission is paramount. We conducted a 12-month community trial to compare the chemoprophylactic efficacy of two topical commercial acaricidal formulations: an imidacloprid 10% and flumethrin 4.5%, 8-month acting collar (Seresto®) against a monthly spot-on containing 12% w/v fipronil (Detick, Thailand). In a separate analysis, we used baseline data collected at the start of the trial to quantify tick-borne pathogen (TBP) infection status in dogs with a prior history of being administered a systemically-acting (isoxazoline) versus a topically-acting ectoparasiticide. We found that both topical products in the community trial demonstrated high efficacy at protecting dogs from ticks and TBP, with Seresto® demonstrating a moderate increase in protection at 3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1–5) TBP-positive dogs per 100 dog-years at risk compared to 11 (95% CI: 4–26) TBP-positive dogs per 100 dog-years at risk for those on fipronil. Additionally, at baseline dogs treated with commercial systemic isoxazoline acaricides prior to the trial’s commencement were 2.7 (95% CI: 0.5–15.0) times more likely to be TBP-positive compared to dogs that had been topically treated, highlighting such isoxazoline products as being less efficacious than topical products at preventing canine TBP acquisition in a tropical setting. Chemopreventive products against ectoparasite infestation are essential for dog health in the tropics. Prevalence of canine tick-borne pathogens was higher in dogs on systemic ectoparasiticides than those on topical ones. Seresto® demonstrated better protection against canine tick-borne pathogen infection than a fipronil formulation.
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26
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Bendas AJR, Moreto PLDN, Coxo AB, Holguin PG, Soares DDV. Intra-abdominal transmissible venereal tumor in a dog: a case report. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 2022; 44:e001422. [PMID: 35919399 PMCID: PMC9336512 DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm001422] [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: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) is a malignant round cell neoplasm that primarily affects the genital region of dogs. Despite being sexually transmitted, transmission can occur through contact with mucous membranes and cutaneous tissue. Although less routine, TVT has been described in several extragenital regions, such as the nasal plane, oral cavity, eyeball, eyelid, and anus. Although metastases are infrequent, they can occur in the skin, inguinal lymph nodes, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestine, heart, brain, lungs, and other organs. The clinical signs of TVT are usually related to serosanguineous secretion, intense odor, deformity, ulceration, and possibly areas of necrosis. In cases of metastases, clinical signs will depend on the affected organ. The treatment of choice for TVT is chemotherapy with vincristine. The present study aimed to report the case of a 2-year-old mixed-breed canine with intra-abdominal nodules detected by ultrasound examination, which were later diagnosed as a TVT by histopathology and immunohistochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre José Rodrigues Bendas
- Veterinarian, DSc. Departamento de medicina e cirurgia veterinária (DMCV), Instituto de Veterinária (IV), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ). Campus Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
- Correspondence Alexandre José Rodrigues Bendas Departamento de Medicina e Cirurgia Veterinária (DMCV), Instituto de Veterinária (IV), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ Rodovia BR 465, Km 7, Campus Universitário, Bairro Zona Rural CEP 23897-000 - Seropédica (RJ), Brasil E-mail:
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27
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Bezerra-Santos MA, Nguyen VL, Iatta R, Manoj RRS, Latrofa MS, Hodžić A, Dantas-Torres F, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Otranto D. Genetic variability of Ehrlichia canis TRP36 in ticks, dogs, and red foxes from Eurasia. Vet Microbiol 2021; 255:109037. [PMID: 33740731 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ehrlichia canis is among the most prevalent tick-borne pathogens infecting dogs worldwide, being primarily vectored by brown dog ticks, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.). The genetic variability of E. canis has been assessed by analysis of different genes (e.g., disulfide bond formation protein gene, glycoprotein 19, tandem repeat protein 36 - TRP36) in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and in a single dog sample from Europe (i.e., Spain). This study was aimed to assess the variations in the TRP36 gene of E. canis detected in naturally infected canids and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks from different countries in Asia and Europe. DNA samples from dogs (n = 644), foxes (n = 146), and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (n = 658) from Austria, Italy, Iran, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Taiwan were included in this study. Ehrlichia canis 16S rRNA positive samples (n = 115 from the previous studies; n = 14 from Austria in this study) were selected for molecular examination by analyses of TRP36 gene. Out of 129 E. canis 16S rRNA positive samples from dogs (n = 88), foxes (n = 7), and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (n = 34), the TRP36 gene was successfully amplified from 52. The phylogenetic analysis of the TRP36 pre-repeat, tandem repeat, and post repeat regions showed that most samples were genetically close to the United States genogroup, whereas two samples from Austria and one from Pakistan clustered within the Taiwan genogroup. TRP36 sequences from all samples presented a high conserved nucleotide sequence in the tandem repeat region (from 6 to 20 copies), encoding for nine amino acids (i.e., TEDSVSAPA). Our results confirm the US genogroup as the most frequent group in dogs and ticks tested herein, whereas the Taiwan genogroup was present in a lower frequency. Besides, this study described for the first time the US genogroup in red foxes, thus revealing that these canids share identical strains with domestic dogs and R. sanguineus s.l. ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Viet-Linh Nguyen
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Roberta Iatta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | | | | | - Adnan Hodžić
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy; Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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28
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Yukhet P, Buddhachat K, Vilaivan T, Suparpprom C. Isothermal Detection of Canine Blood Parasite ( Ehrlichia canis) Utilizing Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Coupled with Graphene Oxide Quenching-Based Pyrrolidinyl Peptide Nucleic Acid. Bioconjug Chem 2021; 32:523-532. [PMID: 33651604 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by transmitted Ehrlichia canis infection, is a major disease in dogs with worldwide distribution. Herein, a nucleic acid assay was established for the identification of E. canis infection employing a fluorescently labeled conformationally constrained pyrrolidinyl PNA probe (Flu-acpcPNA) designed to sequence-specifically target the 16S rRNA gene. The sensing principle is based on the excellent quenching ability of graphene oxide (GO) of the free PNA probe, that was diminished upon binding to the DNA target. The addition of DNase I improved the performance of the detection system by eliminating the nonspecific quenching capability of long-chain dsDNA and thus enhancing the fluorescence signaling. The assay was coupled with a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) technique, which could be performed under isothermal conditions (37 °C) without DNA denaturation and purification steps. The established method is simple to set up and execute, proving a rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of 16S rRNA gene of E. canis with a limit of detection at least 11.1 pM. This technique shows good potential for the visual detection of double-stranded DNA targets without the need for PCR or complicated instruments, which shows great promise for practical usage in resource limited areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phanomsak Yukhet
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Tah-Poe District, Muang, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
| | - Kittisak Buddhachat
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Tah-Poe District, Muang, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.,Excellence Center in Veterinary Bioscience, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
| | - Tirayut Vilaivan
- Organic Synthesis Research Unit, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Chaturong Suparpprom
- Department of Chemistry and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Tah-Poe District, Muang, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand
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Di Dona F, Gomes SA, Andriuc RA, Garosi LS, Tauro A. Magnetic resonance findings of meningoencephalitis in a dog seroreactive to
Ehrlichia canis
in United Kingdom. VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/vrc2.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Laurent S. Garosi
- Chestergates Veterinary Specialists Chester UK
- VetOracle Teleneurology Norfolk UK
| | - Anna Tauro
- Chestergates Veterinary Specialists Chester UK
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30
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Ceylan O, Xuan X, Sevinc F. Primary Tick-Borne Protozoan and Rickettsial Infections of Animals in Turkey. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020231. [PMID: 33669573 PMCID: PMC7923091 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic diseases caused by ticks constitute a barrier on global animal production, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. As a country with a temperate and subtropical climate, Turkey has topography, climate, and pasture resources, and these resources are suitable for animal breeding and parasite–host–vector relationships throughout the country. This geography restricts the regulations on animal movements in the southeastern and eastern Anatolia because of the close contact with the neighboring states. The livestock resources in Turkey are regulated by strong foundations. Almost 30% of the agriculture-based gross domestic product is provided by the livestock industry. Parasitic diseases arising from ticks are endemic in Turkey, and they have a significant impact on the economy and animal health, particularly for ruminants. The main and economically-important tick-borne diseases (TBDs) suffered by animals include theileriosis, babesiosis, hepatozoonosis, and cytauxzoonosis caused by protozoa, and anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis caused by rickettsiae. The most common hemoprotozoan and rickettsial agents are Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, Babesia ovis, Cytauxzoon felis, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis, Theileria annulata and Theileria equi. These diseases are basically controlled through treatment and measures for tick control. Vaccination can be performed for only tropical theileriosis caused in Turkey. We reviewed the studies published in domestic and international journals to gather epidemiological data regarding the major TBDs suffered by animals in Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Ceylan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, 42250 Konya, Turkey;
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan;
| | - Ferda Sevinc
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, 42250 Konya, Turkey;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +90-332-223-2687
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31
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Qurollo BA, Stillman BA, Beall MJ, Foster P, Hegarty BC, Breitschwerdt EB, Chandrashekar R. Comparison of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species-specific peptide ELISAs with whole organism-based immunofluorescent assays for serologic diagnosis of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs. Am J Vet Res 2020; 82:71-80. [PMID: 33369490 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.82.1.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of 5 synthetic peptide-based ELISAs with that of 3 commercially available immunofluorescent assays (IFAs) for serologic diagnosis of anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in dogs. SAMPLE A convenience set of 109 serum samples obtained before and at various times after inoculation for 23 dogs that were experimentally infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, or Ehrlichia ewingii and 1 uninfected control dog in previous studies. PROCEDURES All serum samples were assessed with 5 synthetic peptide-based ELISAs designed to detect antibodies against A phagocytophilum, A platys, E canis, E chaffeensis, and E ewingii and 3 whole organism-based IFAs designed to detect antibodies against A phagocytophilum, E canis, and E chaffeensis. The species-specific seroreactivity, cross-reactivity with the other tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), and diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each assay and compared among assays. RESULTS All serum samples obtained from dogs experimentally infected with a TBP yielded positive results on a serologic assay specific for that pathogen. In general, sensitivity was comparable between ELISAs and IFAs and tended to increase with duration after inoculation. Compared with the IFAs, the corresponding ELISAs were highly specific and rarely cross-reacted with antibodies against other TBPs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that peptide-based ELISAs had enhanced specificity relative to whole organism-based IFAs for detection of antibodies against Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp, which should facilitate accurate diagnosis and may help detect dogs coinfected with multiple TBPs.
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32
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Huggins LG, Koehler AV, Schunack B, Inpankaew T, Traub RJ. A Host-Specific Blocking Primer Combined with Optimal DNA Extraction Improves the Detection Capability of a Metabarcoding Protocol for Canine Vector-Borne Bacteria. Pathogens 2020; 9:E258. [PMID: 32244645 PMCID: PMC7238069 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9040258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial canine vector-borne diseases are responsible for some of the most life-threatening conditions of dogs in the tropics and are typically poorly researched with some presenting a zoonotic risk to cohabiting people. Next-generation sequencing based methodologies have been demonstrated to accurately characterise a diverse range of vector-borne bacteria in dogs, whilst also proving to be more sensitive than conventional PCR techniques. We report two improvements to a previously developed metabarcoding tool that increased the sensitivity and diversity of vector-borne bacteria detected from canine blood. Firstly, we developed and tested a canine-specific blocking primer that prevents cross-reactivity of bacterial primer amplification on abundant canine mitochondrial sequences. Use of our blocking primer increased the number of canine vector-borne infections detected (five more Ehrlichia canis and three more Anaplasma platys infections) and increased the diversity of bacterial sequences found. Secondly, the DNA extraction kit employed can have a significant effect on the bacterial community characterised. Therefore, we compared four different DNA extraction kits finding the Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit to be superior for detection of blood-borne bacteria, identifying nine more A. platys, two more E. canis, one more Mycoplasma haemocanis infection and more putative bacterial pathogens than the lowest performing kit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas G. Huggins
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; (A.V.K.); (R.J.T.)
| | - Anson V. Koehler
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; (A.V.K.); (R.J.T.)
| | | | - Tawin Inpankaew
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Rebecca J. Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia; (A.V.K.); (R.J.T.)
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33
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Adelabu OA, Iweriebor BC, Okoh AI, Obi LC. Phylogenetic profiling for zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. from ixodid ticks in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:1247-1256. [PMID: 31880098 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasite of vertebrate that transmit a range of pathogenic microorganisms that can cause diseases in livestock and humans. The range of tick-borne disease causative agents infecting domestic animals and humans has recently increased. Several significant zoonotic tick-borne diseases such as ehrlichiosis among others are on the increase worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the occurrence of zoonotic Ehrlichia spp. from samples collected from livestock in selected communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Tick samples were manually collected from domesticated animals in selected homesteads. The ticks were morphologically identified to species and tested for Ehrlichia infection via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using genus-specific disulphide bond formation protein (dsbA) gene primers. This was followed by sequence analysis of amplicons and phylogeny. Of the 1,200 ticks collected, Amblyomma hebraeum was most prevalent (n = 335; 27.9%), followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (n = 274; 22.8%), Rhipicephalus decoloratus; (n = 224; 18.7%) and Rhipicephalus eversti eversti (n = 200, 16.7%). Ehrlichia DNA was detected in 19/1,200 (1.6%) of the screened DNA samples. A homology search of the generated sequences revealed a high percentage of identity between 95% and 98% with other homologous dsbA gene sequences of other Ehrlichia species in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the obtained sequences clustered unambiguously with other Ehrlichia sequences from different geographical regions of the world. We concluded that Ehrlichial pathogens are vectored by the ticks collected from domesticated animals in the study areas, thus suggesting concern for public health, as some of the recovered pathogens are zoonotic in nature and could pose serious public health risk through human exposure to tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olusesan Adeyemi Adelabu
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.,Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | | | - Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
- SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa.,Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
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34
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Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG. My Mother's Story: Tick Borne Ehrlichiosis and a Life Well-Lived. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 20:319-324. [PMID: 31841654 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edward B Breitschwerdt
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ricardo G Maggi
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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35
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Tominello TR, Oliveira ERA, Hussain SS, Elfert A, Wells J, Golden B, Ismail N. Emerging Roles of Autophagy and Inflammasome in Ehrlichiosis. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1011. [PMID: 31134081 PMCID: PMC6517498 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a potentially life-threatening tick-borne rickettsial disease (TBRD) caused by the obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, Ehrlichia. Fatal HME presents with acute ailments of sepsis and toxic shock-like symptoms that can evolve to multi-organ failure and death. Early clinical and laboratory diagnosis of HME are problematic due to non-specific flu-like symptoms and limitations in the current diagnostic testing. Several studies in murine models showed that cell-mediated immunity acts as a “double-edged sword” in fatal ehrlichiosis. Protective components are mainly formed by CD4 Th1 and NKT cells, in contrast to deleterious effects originated from neutrophils and TNF-α-producing CD8 T cells. Recent research has highlighted the central role of the inflammasome and autophagy as part of innate immune responses also leading to protective or pathogenic scenarios. Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS) triggers the assembly of the inflammasome complex that leads to multiple outcomes. Recognition of PAMPs or DAMPs by such complexes can result in activation of caspase-1 and -11, secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 culminating into dysregulated inflammation, and inflammatory cell death known as pyroptosis. The precise functions of inflammasomes and autophagy remain unexplored in infections with obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogens, such as Ehrlichia. In this review, we discuss the intracellular innate immune surveillance in ehrlichiosis involving the regulation of inflammasome and autophagy, and how this response influences the innate and adaptive immune responses against Ehrlichia. Understanding such mechanisms would pave the way in research for novel diagnostic, preventative and therapeutic approaches against Ehrlichia and other rickettsial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R Tominello
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Edson R A Oliveira
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Shah S Hussain
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Amr Elfert
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jakob Wells
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brandon Golden
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Nahed Ismail
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
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