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Thomas R, Santodomingo A, Saboya-Acosta L, Quintero-Galvis JF, Moreno L, Uribe JE, Muñoz-Leal S. Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:108. [PMID: 38444020 PMCID: PMC10916324 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06154-3] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas. METHODS Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research. RESULTS 11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network. CONCLUSIONS Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Liliana Saboya-Acosta
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Doctorado en Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Carrera 7 N 40-62, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Julian F Quintero-Galvis
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan E Uribe
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
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Fernandes TDO, Duarte MA, Furtado AP, Scalon MC, Paludo GR. New insights on the phylogeography of Hepatozoon canis in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:123. [PMID: 38315237 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08147-8] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to molecularly characterize the Hepatozoon spp. infecting domestic and wild dogs in Brazil. A total of 22 whole blood samples tested positive for Hepatozoon spp., and five samples were sequenced for the 18S rDNA gene from H. canis after PCR amplification with four primer sets. Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference showed that the three H. canis isolates from domestic dogs were not monophyletic; however, they were more closely related to each other than to other H. canis sequences. The isolate from the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus) was phylogenetically more distant. Two haplotype networks were constructed, identifying 10 haplotypes of H. canis in Brazil, with H10 constituting the largest group. It contains nine isolates, including three from domestic dogs. The H5 haplotype grouped the sequence of L. vetulus with two additional sequences from hosts Tapirus terrestris and L. vetulus, representing the sole haplotype with wild hosts. Bayesian analysis suggested the possible existence of two genetic groups of H. canis in Brazil, indicating gene flow of this agent within the country. These findings contribute valuable insights for a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in Brazil and may help in the development of effective control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais de Oliveira Fernandes
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, FAV/UnB, University of Brasilia, CEP, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, ICC Center - North Wing, Brasília, Federal District, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Matheus Almeida Duarte
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, FAV/UnB, University of Brasilia, CEP, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, ICC Center - North Wing, Brasília, Federal District, 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Marcela Correa Scalon
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, FAV/UnB, University of Brasilia, CEP, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, ICC Center - North Wing, Brasília, Federal District, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Giane Regina Paludo
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, College of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, FAV/UnB, University of Brasilia, CEP, Darcy Ribeiro University Campus, ICC Center - North Wing, Brasília, Federal District, 70910-900, Brazil.
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Baker E, Jensen A, Miller D, Garrett KB, Cleveland CA, Brown J, Van Why K, Gerhold R. Hepatozoon spp. infection in wild canids in the eastern United States. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:372. [PMID: 37858216 PMCID: PMC10588249 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05968-x] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatozoon spp. are apicomplexan parasites known to cause musculoskeletal disease in a variety of animals. Two species are known to infect wild and domestic canids in the US: Hepatozoon canis and H. americanum. METHODS In this study, blood, heart, and/or spleen samples were collected from 278 wild canids (180 coyotes, 93 red foxes, and 5 gray foxes) in the eastern US and tested via PCR for Hepatozoon. Histology slides of heart and skeletal muscle were assessed for Hepatozoon cysts and associated inflammation when fresh tissue was available (n = 96). RESULTS Hepatozoon spp. were found in 24.2% (59/278) of individuals, with Hepatozoon canis in 14.0% (34/278) and H. americanum in 10.7% (26/278). One coyote was positive for both H. canis and H. americanum. Foxes were more likely to be positive for H. canis than coyotes (23% and 7% respectively, P = 0.0008), while only coyotes were positive for H. americanum. Of the eight sampled states, H. canis was present in six (Louisiana, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia) while H. americanum was found in two southern states (South Carolina and Louisiana). Infection status was positively correlated with myositis and myocarditis, and heart or muscle cysts were found in 83% (5/6) of H. americanum-positive coyotes. CONCLUSION This survey showed a moderate prevalence of H. canis and H. americanum in states where the parasite was previously unrecorded including South Carolina and Pennsylvania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Baker
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Alex Jensen
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University Clemson, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Debra Miller
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Center for Wildlife Health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- One Health Initiative, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Kayla Buck Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Justin Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kyle Van Why
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Harrisburg, PA, USA
| | - Richard Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA.
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Ali A, Ullah S, Numan M, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T. First report on tick-borne pathogens detected in ticks infesting stray dogs near butcher shops. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1246871. [PMID: 37799410 PMCID: PMC10548827 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1246871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Public health is a major concern for several developing countries due to infectious agents transmitted by hematophagous arthropods such as ticks. Health risks due to infectious agents transmitted by ticks infesting butcher-associated stray dogs (BASDs) in urban and peri-urban regions have been neglected in several developing countries. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study assessing public health risks due to ticks infesting BASDs in Pakistan's urban and peri-urban areas. A total of 575 ticks (390 from symptomatic and 183 from asymptomatic BASDs) were collected from 117 BASDs (63 symptomatic and 54 asymptomatic); the ticks belonged to 4 hard tick species. A subset of each tick species' extracted DNA was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences of the reported tick species, as well as bacterial and protozoal agents. The ticks' 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences showed 99-100% identities, and they were clustered with the sequence of corresponding species from Pakistan and other countries in phylogenetic trees. Among the screened 271 ticks' DNA samples, Anaplasma spp. was detected in 54/271 (19.92%) samples, followed by Ehrlichia spp. (n = 40/271, 14.76%), Rickettsia spp. (n = 33/271, 12.17%), Coxiella spp. (n = 23/271, 4.48%), and Hepatozoon canis (n = 9/271, 3.32%). The obtained sequences and phylogenetic analyzes revealed that the pathogens detected in ticks were Ehrlichia minasensis, Ehrlichia sp., Hepatozoon canis, Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella sp., Anaplasma capra, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma sp., Rickettsia massiliae, "Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii" and Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Tick-borne pathogens such as E. minasensis, H. canis, A. capra, A. platys, and R. aeschlimannii, were detected based on the DNA for the first time in Pakistan. This is the first report on public health risks due to ticks infesting BASDs. These results not only provided insights into the occurrence of novel tick-borne pathogens in the region but also revealed initial evidence of zoonotic threats to both public health and domestic life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Numan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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Kim KT, Seo MG. Molecular analysis of Rickettsia spp. and related tick-borne pathogens detected in dogs in Korea. Acta Trop 2023; 243:106934. [PMID: 37142151 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106934] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are widespread in nature and serve as primary vectors for several tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). Ticks and TBPs cause considerable harm to humans and animals and have emerged as a major global public health concern. Domestic dogs are the major reservoirs of zoonotic agents owing to their constant interaction with humans. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of canine TBPs, such as Rickettsiales, Coxiella burnetii, hepatozoa, and Borrelia spp., using molecular analyses. A total of 906 dogs were examined and 4 TBPs were identified: Anaplasma phagocytophilum (5; 0.6%), Hepatozoon canis (9; 1.0%), Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii (2; 0.2%), and Rickettsia tamurae (1; 0.1%). Ehrlichia spp., C. burnetii, and Borrelia spp. were not detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to perform a phylogenetic analysis of Candidatus R. longicornii and R. tamurae in dogs. These findings can help determine the potential public health risks by enhancing our understanding of the geographical and vector distributions of TBPs in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoo-Tae Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, South Korea
| | - Min-Goo Seo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, South Korea.
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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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Baneth G, Allen K. Hepatozoonosis of Dogs and Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2022; 52:1341-1358. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.06.011] [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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Allen KE, Lineberry MW. Trypanosoma cruzi and Other Vector-Borne Infections in Shelter Dogs in Two Counties of Oklahoma, United States. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:273-280. [PMID: 35580215 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is an emerging zoonotic vector-borne parasite infecting dogs and other mammals in the United States. In this study we evaluated shelter dogs in one northeastern and one southeastern county in Oklahoma for prevalence of exposure to T. cruzi. Dogs were tested for antibodies against T. cruzi using the Chagas STAT PAK® assay and for T. cruzi in circulation by PCR. In addition, dogs were tested for evidence of infection with other vector-borne organisms using the SNAP® 4Dx® Plus Test and PCR. Overall, 26 of 197 (13.2%) shelter dogs had detectable antibodies against T. cruzi and 3 of 189 (1.6%) dogs were PCR positive. In addition, we found that 42 of 197 (21.3%) shelter dogs had evidence of exposure to or were infected with at least one vector-borne agent other than T. cruzi based on serology and/or PCR; 9 of 42 (21.4%) of these dogs were also positive for T. cruzi antibodies. Other infections identified in dogs included Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, Babesia sp. (Coco), Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Hepatozoon americanum. This study serves to boost state-wide veterinary and public health awareness of T. cruzi and other vector-borne pathogens infecting shelter dogs in Oklahoma. Results indicate the need for more comprehensive screening of shelter dogs in Oklahoma for exposure to vector-borne agents to enhance surveillance and to identify dogs in need of additional specific veterinary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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Vásquez-Aguilar AA, Barbachano-Guerrero A, Angulo DF, Jarquín-Díaz VH. Phylogeography and population differentiation in Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) reveal expansion and gene flow in world populations. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:467. [PMID: 34521451 PMCID: PMC8439048 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04924-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatozoon canis is a protozoan transmitted to dogs and other wild carnivores by the ingestion of ticks containing mature oocysts and is considered the principal cause of canine hepatozoonosis in the world. Here, we examined ribosomal RNA 18S gene sequence variation to determine the genetic differences and phylogeographic diversity of H. canis from various geographical areas around the world. METHODS We used 550 publicly available sequences of H. canis from 46 countries to assess haplotype relationships, geographical structure, genetic diversity indices, and relationships among populations. We performed neutrality tests and pairwise comparisons of fixation index (FST) values between groups and pairwise comparisons of FST values between populations. To determine whether populations are structured, analyses of molecular variance (AMOVAs) and spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA) were performed. RESULTS The dataset of H. canis yielded 76 haplotypes. Differentiation among populations indicated that there is no phylogeographical structure (GST = 0.302 ± 0.0475). Moreover, when samples were grouped by continents a significant FST was obtained, meaning that populations were genetically differentiated. The AMOVA showed that 57.4% of the genetic variation was explained by differences within populations when all locations were treated as a single group and revealed that there is no population structure when populations are grouped into two, three, and four groups (FCT, p > 0.05), suggesting that dispersal between populations is high. SAMOVA revealed significant FCT values for groups K = 5. The Tajima's D and Fu's Fs show that populations have undergone recent expansion, and the mismatch distribution analysis showed population expansion (multimodal distribution). CONCLUSIONS The current molecular data confirmed that H. canis does not show phylogeographic or population structure. The haplotypes exhibit low genetic differentiation, suggesting a recent expansion due to gene flow among populations. These results provide pivotal information required for future detailed population genetic analysis or to establish control strategies of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Acini Vásquez-Aguilar
- Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, 91073 Xalapa, Veracruz Mexico
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz 91000 México
| | | | - Diego F. Angulo
- Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, 91073 Xalapa, Veracruz Mexico
| | - Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, A Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and the Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
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Kao YF, Peake B, Madden R, Cowan SR, Scimeca RC, Thomas JE, Reichard MV, Ramachandran A, Miller CA. A probe-based droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assay for early detection of feline acute cytauxzoonosis. Vet Parasitol 2021; 292:109413. [PMID: 33765571 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cytauxzoonosis is a tick-borne disease of domestic cats with high mortality and narrow therapeutic window, particularly in the southcentral and southeastern United States. The causative agent is the apicomplexan protozoal parasite Cytauxzoon felis and is primarily transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick. Currently there is no vaccine available to prevent cytauxzoonosis and treatment is often ineffective if not initiated early enough in the course of disease. Early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are therefore crucial for the survival of infected cats. Several methods are available for diagnosis of cytauxzoonosis, with PCR being the most sensitive. However, current PCR assays, which employ double-stranded DNA intercalating dyes to detect C. felis infection, have inherent limitations such as the potential for false positive detection of non-specific amplification products and inability to provide absolute quantification of parasite load. The objective of this study was to develop a probe-based droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay capable of detection and quantification of C. felis load over time and during treatment. The C. felis ddPCR assay was able to (i) reliably detect and quantify C. felis DNA in clinical blood samples from cats with acute cytauxzoonosis and (ii) monitor clinical parasite load in response to anti-protozoal treatment through absolute quantification of C. felis DNA over time. When tested on blood samples from cats with experimental C. felis infection, the assay was able to detect infection in cats as early as 24 h prior to the development of clinical signs. In addition, we demonstrate that this probe-based design can be utilized in traditional real-time PCR systems, with similar detection capabilities as compared to ddPCR. The C. felis probe-based ddPCR was also able to detect infection in samples with lower parasite loads when compared to existing nested PCR assays, although these results were not significant due to small sample size. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported probe-based ddPCR assay to detect Cytauxzoon felis infection in domestic cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Fan Kao
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Brittanie Peake
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 1950 W Farm Rd, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Robin Madden
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 1950 W Farm Rd, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Shannon R Cowan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Ruth C Scimeca
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 1950 W Farm Rd, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Jennifer E Thomas
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Akhilesh Ramachandran
- Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 1950 W Farm Rd, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Craig A Miller
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
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Saleh MN, Allen KE, Lineberry MW, Little SE, Reichard MV. Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission. Vet Parasitol 2021; 294:109392. [PMID: 33971481 PMCID: PMC9235321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions. In this review, we provide a summary of the complex and diverse life histories, distinct morphologies, and questing and feeding behaviors of the more common ticks of dogs and cats in North America with a focus on recent changes in geographic distribution. We also review pathogens of dogs and cats associated with the different tick species, some of which can cause serious, potentially fatal disease, and describe the zoonotic risk posed by ticks of pets. Understanding the natural history of ticks and the maintenance cycles responsible for providing an ongoing source of tick-borne infections is critical to effectively combatting the challenges ticks pose to the health of pets and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States.
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
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Bouattour A, Chabchoub A, Hajjaji I, M'ghirbi Y. Hepatozoon canis and Babesia vogeli infections of dogs in Tunisia. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 23:100512. [PMID: 33678367 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A paucity of studies is available on haemoparasites in dogs in Tunisia. In this study, we used molecular techniques (PCR/sequencing) to detect and characterize haemoprotozoa in sick dogs from Tunisia. A total of 99 dogs displaying such clinical symptoms as fever, anorexia, and depression were presented for treatment to the hospital of the Veterinary School of Sidi Thabet (Tunisia). Among dogs screened by PCR, five (5%) proved to be infected with a hemoprotozoa species. An analysis of all the sequences that were obtained enabled us to identify two species of Protozoa: Babesia vogeli (in three dogs) and Hepatozoon canis (in two other dogs). This is the first time that an infection of dogs by Hepatozoon canis in Tunisia has been reported. Veterinary practitioners should be aware that these two haemoparasites can infect dogs and should include them in any differential diagnosis of clinical illnesses with manifestations compatible with tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Bouattour
- Laboratoire de Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes : LR20IPT10, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia.
| | - Ahmed Chabchoub
- Laboratoire de Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes : LR20IPT10, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia; Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Sidi Thabet, Université Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Iheb Hajjaji
- Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Sidi Thabet, Université Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Youmna M'ghirbi
- Laboratoire de Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes : LR20IPT10, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, 13, Place Pasteur, 1002 Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia.
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13
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Morelli S, Diakou A, Traversa D, Di Gennaro E, Simonato G, Colombo M, Dimzas D, Grillini M, Frangipane di Regalbono A, Beugnet F, Halos L, Paoletti B, Di Cesare A. First record of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats in Greece. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101580. [PMID: 33113475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Feline hepatozoonosis is an emerging disease of domestic and wild felids though there is limited knowledge of this infection, e.g. regarding geographical distribution and parasite species involved. The present study evaluated microscopically and molecularly the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats from insular (Crete, Mykonos and Skopelos) and continental (prefectures of Attica and Thessaloniki) Greece. Out of 282 cats examined, 72 (25.5 %) scored positive by PCR for Hepatozoon spp. and of them, 9 (12.5 %) showed gamonts on the blood smear microscopic examination. Sequences obtained from 35 of the amplicons proved the presence of two haplotypes of Hepatozoon felis. One, herein called H1 (34/35 amplicons) resulted 100 % identical with H. felis from Italy and isolates from other continents, and ∼98 % similar with a H. felis isolate causing severe clinical signs in Austria. The haplotype H2, found in a cat in Skopelos, had ∼94 % identity with H1, with H. felis isolates from Italy, Israel, Spain, a ∼92 % identity with the isolate from Austria, and ∼94-98 % with isolates from South Africa. These are the first records of H. felis in cat populations from Greece and indicate that the infection may be present at high prevalences in different regions of the country. Furthermore, the results of the molecular and phylogenetic analysis support a recent hypothesis indicating the existence of a species-complex classification for H. felis. Further studies aiming at elucidating the genetic make-up of Hepatozoon populations and possible variations in terms of geographic distribution and clinical relevance are necessary. The importance of a continuous epizootiological monitoring is crucial for the establishment of preventative and control measures protecting the health of cats living in or travelling to enzootic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Donato Traversa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Elisa Di Gennaro
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Simonato
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, 35020, Italy
| | - Mariasole Colombo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Dimitris Dimzas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Marika Grillini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, PD, 35020, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Barbara Paoletti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
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14
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Díaz-Sánchez AA, Hofmann-Lehmann R, Meli ML, Roblejo-Arias L, Fonseca-Rodríguez O, Castillo AP, Cañizares EV, Rivero EL, Chilton NB, Corona-González B. Molecular detection and characterization of Hepatozoon canis in stray dogs from Cuba. Parasitol Int 2020; 80:102200. [PMID: 32980550 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Canine hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is a worldwide distributed tick-borne disease of domestic and wild canids that is transmitted by ingestion of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) ticks. The present study was aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatozoon infections in 80 stray dogs from Havana Province in Cuba, and to confirm the species identity and phylogenetic relationships of the causative agent. Samples were screened by microscopical examination of thin blood smears for the presence of Hepatozoon spp. gamonts and by genus-specific SYBR green-based real-time PCR assay targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Direct microscopy examination revealed Hepatozoon gamonts in the peripheral blood of 8 dogs (10.0%; 95% CI: 4.80-18.0%), while 38 animals (47.5%; 95% CI: 36.8-58.4%) were PCR-positive, including all microscopically positive dogs. Hence, the agreement between the two detection methods was 'poor' (κ = 0.20). Hematological parameters did not differ significantly between PCR-positive and PCR-negative dogs (p > 0.05). The DNA sequences of the 18S rRNA gene of the Hepatozoon spp. from Cuban dogs showed a nucleotide identity >99% with those of 18S rRNA sequences of Hepatozoon canis isolates from Czech Republic, Brazil and Spain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that obtained sequences clustered within the Hepatozoon canis clade, different from the Hepatozoon felis or Hepatozoon americanum clades. The present study represents the first molecular characterization of Hepatozoon canis in stray dogs within Cuba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Alberto Díaz-Sánchez
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba; Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marina L Meli
- Clinical Laboratory, Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services, and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lisset Roblejo-Arias
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | | | - Anisleidy Pérez Castillo
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Ernesto Vega Cañizares
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Evelyn Lobo Rivero
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Belkis Corona-González
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, 32700 San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba.
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15
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Epidemiological Study of Canine Babesiosis and Hepatozoonosis in the South of Romania. Acta Parasitol 2020; 65:669-678. [PMID: 32300950 DOI: 10.2478/s11686-020-00199-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of canine babesiosis and hepatozoonosis in the south of Romania as well as to assess if there are differences in the prevalence between regions in that area. METHODS Blood samples from 300 dogs from the south of Romania were screened for the presence of piroplasmids by PCR. Positive samples were further tested for the presence of Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon canis. Pearson's chi-square with Yates correction was used to determine if there is statistical difference between infected populations. RESULTS Fifty-four percent (163/300) of the dogs were positive for Hepatozoon spp. or piroplasmids. Forty-eight percent (143/300) were infected with H. canis and 9.6% (29/300) were positive to B. canis. Three percent (9/300) of the dogs were co-infected with Babesia spp. and H. canis. The prevalence of H. canis in the south-west of Romania was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of three other regions while the prevalence of Babesia spp. infection in the south-east of the country was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to its south-west. CONCLUSIONS A high rate of H. canis infection was found in the stray dog population surveyed with the highest infection rate detected in south-western Romania. Babesia canis was found to pose the highest threat in south-eastern Romania, whereas B. vogeli infection was focused in the same region of high H. canis infection in south-western Romania. These infections should be of important concern to veterinarians and dog owners in Romania.
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16
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Guo WP, Xie GC, Xue ZQ, Yu JJ, Jian R, Du LY, Li YN. Molecular detection of Hepatozoon canis in dogs and ticks in Shaanxi province, China. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 72:101514. [PMID: 32634650 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hepatozoon canis, transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is a tick-borne pathogen and causes canine hepatozoonosis. Until now, only limited previous studies were conducted on the molecular detection and characterization of Hepatozoon sp. in dogs in China. Blood samples were collected from 93 sick dogs that were clinically diagnosed as babesiosis but tested negative for Babesia, and 103 apparently healthy dogs, as well as their infesting ticks in Xi'an and Hanzhong cities, Shaanxi province of China. PCR amplifying partial 18S rRNA gene was used to detect the DNA of Hepatozoon sp. Genetic and phylogenetic analysis were performed to determine the Hepatozoon species. Our results demonstrated that H. canis was identified from the sick dogs and the infested ticks in Hanzhong, with no significant differences of prevalence between both genders and ages. No positive blood or tick samples were found in Xi'an. Moreover, all the 18S rRNA gene sequences recovered from both dogs and the infested ticks showed a high genetic similarity with each other, and also presented a close relationship with other known sequences in and outside China. In conclusion, H. canis was identified in babesiosis-suspected dogs and ticks infesting them in Shaanxi, China, although the association between clinical signs and H. canis need further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ping Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China.
| | - Guang-Cheng Xie
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Zhong-Qiang Xue
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Yu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Rui Jian
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Luan-Ying Du
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Ya-Ning Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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17
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Parkins ND, Stokes JV, Gavron NA, Frankovich AN, Varela-Stokes AS. Scarcity of Hepatozoon americanum in Gulf Coast tick vectors and potential for cultivating the protozoan. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 21:100421. [PMID: 32862908 PMCID: PMC9254635 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
American canine hepatozoonosis (ACH) is a debilitating tick-borne disease characterized by pyrexia, body wasting, myopathy, mucopurulent ocular discharge, and periosteal proliferation. The causative agent, Hepatozoon americanum, is an apicomplexan that utilizes the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum, as its definitive host and vector. Unlike most tick-borne disease agents, H. americanum is not transmitted via a tick bite, but is transmitted when canids ingest a tick vector that contains sporulated oocysts within the tick hemocoel or paratenic hosts with cystozoites. Our understanding of H. americanum prevalence is based on its detection in the intermediate host, wild or domestic canids, with domestic canids often showing clinical signs at the time of diagnosis. The frequency of H. americanum in A. maculatum, on the other hand, is unknown; this gap in our knowledge hinders our understanding of transmission risk. Furthermore, current diagnostic assays are limited in efficacy, and serologic assays are not widely available. To begin to address gaps in our knowledge, we developed a TaqMan® multiplex qPCR assay for H. americanum detection in A. maculatum tick extracts and evaluated infection rates in questing adult A. maculatum. Additionally, we used a co-culture system to expose H. americanum stages to host cells for in vitro development. Results from qPCR analysis of over 500 tick extracts revealed no positive samples; this suggests both low transmission risk by adult Gulf Coast tick ingestion in the sampled areas, and that surveillance should be focused in areas where ACH has been diagnosed at higher frequencies. Hepatozoon americanum was detectable by qPCR in co-culture of an infected canine buffy coat with ISE6 (Ixodes scapularis embryonic) tick cells, and microscopic examination of samples from those days revealed some structures that were suspicious for developing stages. These data are a starting point for future work to advance our understanding of H. americanum transmission and mechanisms of disease in canids with ACH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie D Parkins
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States of America
| | - John V Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States of America
| | - Nancy A Gavron
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States of America
| | - Alexandra N Frankovich
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States of America
| | - Andrea S Varela-Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, United States of America.
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18
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Next generation sequencing from Hepatozoon canis (Apicomplexa: Coccidia: Adeleorina): Complete apicoplast genome and multiple mitochondrion-associated sequences. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:375-387. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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19
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Attipa C, Maguire D, Solano-Gallego L, Szladovits B, Barker EN, Farr A, Baneth G, Tasker S. Hepatozoon canis in three imported dogs: a new tickborne disease reaching the United Kingdom. Vet Rec 2018; 183:716. [PMID: 30463992 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of non-endemic vectorborne pathogens have been described in dogs imported to the UK in the past two decades. Recently, an outbreak of canine babesiosis in south-east England has raised veterinary awareness with regard to the impact of such diseases on the UK canine population. Canine hepatozoonosis, caused by Hepatozoon canis and transmitted by the ingestion of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, is widespread in the Mediterranean basin. Herein we describe the first three molecularly confirmed clinical cases of canine hepatozoonosis in dogs imported into the UK. Veterinarians in the UK should be aware of H canis as a potential infection in imported dogs, especially in the face of the expanding distribution of R sanguineus ticks in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Attipa
- Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.,Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK.,Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - David Maguire
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK.,IDEXX Laboratories, Wetherby, UK
| | - Laia Solano-Gallego
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK.,Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Balazs Szladovits
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hatfield, UK
| | - Emily N Barker
- Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK
| | | | - Gad Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Séverine Tasker
- Diagnostic Laboratories, Langford Vets, Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, UK
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20
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Barati A, Razmi GR. A Parasitologic and Molecular Survey of Hepatozoon canis Infection In Stray Dogs In Northeastern Iran. J Parasitol 2018; 104:413-417. [DOI: 10.1645/17-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A. Barati
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran
| | - G. R. Razmi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box 91775-1793, Mashhad, Iran
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21
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Oliveira AC, Luz MF, Granada S, Vilhena H, Nachum-Biala Y, Lopes AP, Cardoso L, Baneth G. Molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis, Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon felis in cats from Luanda, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:167. [PMID: 29554946 PMCID: PMC5859530 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2767-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Molecular identification of tick-borne pathogen infection in cats from Africa is scarce. The presence of bacterial (Anaplasma and Ehrlichia) and protozoal (Babesia and Hepatozoon) agents was investigated in blood samples from 102 domestic cats from Luanda, Angola, by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results Three cats (2.9%) were found infected with Ehrlichia canis, three (2.9%) with Hepatozoon felis and one (1.0%) with Anaplasma bovis. The prevalence of infections with one single agent was 4.9%, and that of infection with two agents (i.e. E. canis and H. felis) was 1.0%. In total, six cats (5.9%) were found infected with at least one of the detected tick-borne agents. Conclusions This is the first report of A. bovis, E. canis and H. felis in cats from Angola. To the best of our knowledge, A. bovis is also being reported for the first time in domestic cats outside of Japan. Cats are at a low to moderate risk of being infected with tick-borne agents in Luanda. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2767-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hugo Vilhena
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Medicine, Vasco da Gama University School, Coimbra, Portugal.,Baixo Vouga Veterinary Hospital, Águeda, Portugal.,Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Yaarit Nachum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Luís Cardoso
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences (ECAV), UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Gad Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
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22
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Vezzani D, Scodellaro CF, Eiras DF. Hematological and epidemiological characterization of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2017; 8:90-93. [PMID: 31014646 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Canine hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is widespread in America. In Argentina, since the first finding of the disease in Buenos Aires in 1999, several isolated cases were reported in other six provinces. However, there is no information regarding hematological and epidemiological characterization of the disease in the country. A total of 100,123 canine blood samples obtained during the period 2002-2013 from Southern Greater Buenos Aires were examined by light microscopy. Overall prevalence was 2.3%, with high parasitemia levels (>800gamonts/μl) in 680 samples, mild (100-800) in 1088, and low (<100) in 433 patients. Among parasitemic dogs, anemia (mostly non-regenerative) was present in 56.9%. Inflammatory leukogram, defined as neutrophilia with or without leukocytosis, with or without left shift and left shift with or without neutrophilia, was the main hematological abnormality and was present in 74.1% of positively tested dogs. A clear seasonal tendency was observed, with maximum values in summer and minimal in winter, and an increasing prevalence was recorded during the study decade. Young, male and mixed breed dogs showed higher prevalence values. Our findings strongly suggest that canine hepatozoonosis is endemic and expanding in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darío Vezzani
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, UNICEN, 7000 Tandil, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina
| | | | - Diego F Eiras
- Laboratorio DIAP, Pueyrredón 1098, B1828ADD Banfield, Argentina; Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Departamento de Epizootiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CC 296 (B1900AVW) La Plata, Argentina.
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23
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Cardoso L, Oliveira AC, Granada S, Nachum-Biala Y, Gilad M, Lopes AP, Sousa SR, Vilhena H, Baneth G. Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Luanda, Angola. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:252. [PMID: 27160839 PMCID: PMC4862159 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1536-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND No molecular data have been available on tick-borne pathogens that infect dogs from Angola. The occurrence of agents from the genera Anaplasma, Babesia, Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon was assessed in 103 domestic dogs from Luanda, by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis. RESULTS Forty-six dogs (44.7 %) were positive for at least one pathogen. Twenty-one animals (20.4 %) were found infected with Anaplasma platys, 18 (17.5 %) with Hepatozoon canis, six (5.8 %) with Ehrlichia canis, six (5.8 %) with Babesia vogeli, one (1.0 %) with Babesia gibsoni and one (1.0 %) with an unnamed Babesia sp. The molecular frequency of single infections taken together was 37.9 % and that of co-infections with several combinations of two pathogens accounted for 6.8 % of the animals. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of A. platys, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, E. canis and H. canis infections diagnosed by PCR in domestic dogs from Angola. The present study provides evidence that dogs in Luanda are widely exposed to, and at risk of becoming infected with, tick-borne pathogens. Further investigation is needed, including a larger number of animals, canine populations from other cities and provinces of the country, as well as potential vector ticks, aiming at better characterizing and controlling canine vector-borne diseases in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Cardoso
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
| | | | | | - Yaarit Nachum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Matan Gilad
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ana Patrícia Lopes
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Sérgio Ramalho Sousa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Hugo Vilhena
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, Coimbra, Portugal.,Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Vouga, Águeda, Portugal
| | - Gad Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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Paddock CD, Goddard J. The Evolving Medical and Veterinary Importance of the Gulf Coast tick (Acari: Ixodidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 52:230-52. [PMID: 26336308 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tju022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma maculatum Koch (the Gulf Coast tick) is a three-host, ixodid tick that is distributed throughout much of the southeastern and south-central United States, as well as several countries throughout Central and South America. A considerable amount of scientific literature followed the original description of A. maculatum in 1844; nonetheless, the Gulf Coast tick was not recognized as a vector of any known pathogen of animals or humans for >150 years. It is now identified as the principal vector of Hepatozoon americanum, the agent responsible for American canine hepatozoonosis, and Rickettsia parkeri, the cause of an emerging, eschar-associated spotted fever group rickettsiosis identified throughout much of the Western Hemisphere. Coincident with these discoveries has been recognition that the geographical distribution of A. maculatum in the United States is far more extensive than described 70 yr ago, supporting the idea that range and abundance of certain tick species, particularly those with diverse host preferences, are not fixed in time or space, and may change over relatively short intervals. Renewed interest in the Gulf Coast tick reinforces the notion that the perceived importance of a particular tick species to human or animal health can be relatively fluid, and may shift dramatically with changes in the distribution and abundance of the arthropod, its vertebrate hosts, or the microbial agents that transit among these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Building 17, Room 3224, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333.
| | - Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Box 9775, 100 Old Hwy 12 (Clay Lyle Building), Starkville, MS 39762
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Clarke LL, Ballweber LR, Allen K, Little SE, Lappin MR. Prevalence of select vector-borne disease agents in owned dogs of Ghana. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2014; 85:996. [PMID: 25686301 DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v85i1.996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2013] [Revised: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks, sera and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) blood were collected from dogs evaluated at the Amakom Veterinary Clinic in Kumasi, Ghana. Sera were evaluated for Dirofilaria immitis antigen and antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia canis. Conventional polymerase chain reaction assays designed to amplify the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Ehrlichia spp. or Anaplasma spp. or Neorickettsia spp. or Wolbachia spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., Hepatozoon spp., Bartonella spp. and the haemoplasmas were performed on DNA extracted from EDTA blood and all positive amplicons were sequenced. This small survey shows that the following vector-borne pathogens are present in urban Ghanian dogs: Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon canis,Dirofilaria immitis and Anaplasma platys. Bartonella henselae was isolated from ticks but not from the dogs.
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Maia JP, Harris DJ, Carranza S, Gómez-Díaz E. A comparison of multiple methods for estimating parasitemia of hemogregarine hemoparasites (apicomplexa: adeleorina) and its application for studying infection in natural populations. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95010. [PMID: 24743340 PMCID: PMC3990604 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying factors influencing infection patterns among hosts is critical for our understanding of the evolution and impact of parasitism in natural populations. However, the correct estimation of infection parameters depends on the performance of detection and quantification methods. In this study, we designed a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay targeting the 18 S rRNA gene to estimate prevalence and intensity of Hepatozoon infection and compared its performance with microscopy and PCR. Using qPCR, we also compared various protocols that differ in the biological source and the extraction methods. Our results show that the qPCR approach on DNA extracted from blood samples, regardless of the extraction protocol, provided the most sensitive estimates of Hepatozoon infection parameters; while allowed us to differentiate between mixed infections of Adeleorinid (Hepatozoon) and Eimeriorinid (Schellackia and Lankesterella), based on the analysis of melting curves. We also show that tissue and saline methods can be used as low-cost alternatives in parasitological studies. The next step was to test our qPCR assay in a biological context, and for this purpose we investigated infection patterns between two sympatric lacertid species, which are naturally infected with apicomplexan hemoparasites, such as the genera Schellackia (Eimeriorina) and Hepatozoon (Adeleorina). From a biological standpoint, we found a positive correlation between Hepatozoon intensity of infection and host body size within each host species, being significantly higher in males, and higher in the smaller sized host species. These variations can be associated with a number of host intrinsic factors, like hormonal and immunological traits, that require further investigation. Our findings are relevant as they pinpoint the importance of accounting for methodological issues to better estimate infection in parasitological studies, and illustrate how between-host factors can influence parasite distributions in sympatric natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- João P. Maia
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JPM); (EGD)
| | - D. James Harris
- CIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
| | - Salvador Carranza
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Gómez-Díaz
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (JPM); (EGD)
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27
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Demoner LDC, Rubini AS, Paduan KDS, Metzger B, de Paula Antunes JMA, Martins TF, Mathias MIC, O'Dwyer LH. Investigation of tick vectors of Hepatozoon canis in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:542-6. [PMID: 24209494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hepatozoon canis is a common apicomplexan parasite of dogs. In Brazil, in addition to Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma cajennense, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus have been suggested to act as vectors. The present study aimed to evaluate, under controlled conditions, the acquisition of H. canis by A. ovale, R. sanguineus, and A. cajennense after feeding on naturally infected dogs. Cytological and histophatological examinations were performed to recover oocysts and other sporogonic stages of the protozoan from the experimentally infected nymphs and adults. None of the R. sanguineus (n=30) or A. cajennense nymphs (n=15) that were dissected after feeding on H. canis naturally infected dogs became infected by the hemoparasite. Likewise, none of the R. sanguineus (n=165) and A. cajennense (n=114) adult ticks that were fed as nymphs on dogs demonstrated infection. Additionally, A. cajennense adult ticks were incapable of acquiring the infection, since no parasite was found in 62 adults that fed on H. canis-infected dogs. With regard to A. ovale ticks, 2 different infestations were carried out. Firstly, a dog with naturally occurring hepatozoonosis was infested with A. ovale adults originating from Rondônia, Brazil. Ticks fed to full engorgement. A total of 31 adults was collected from the dog and dissected on the third day after natural detachment. Oocysts were detected in 13 (42%) of the ticks. The second experimental infestation was carried out using adult ticks originating from São Paulo, Brazil. Surprisingly, of the 103 dissected ticks, only one (1%) contained oocysts in the hemocoel. No other sporogonic stage was found. Results indicate that different strains of A. ovale ticks may exist in Brazil with different susceptibilities to pathogens. Furthermore, it is possible that R. sanguineus and A. cajennense have little or no importance in the transmission of H. canis in rural areas of Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa de Castro Demoner
- Departamento de Parasitologia do Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Distrito de Rubião Júnior s/n, CEP 18618-970, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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Starkey LA, Panciera RJ, Paras K, Allen KE, Reiskind MH, Reichard MV, Johnson EM, Little SE. Genetic Diversity ofHepatozoonspp. in Coyotes from the South-Central United States. J Parasitol 2013; 99:375-8. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-3104.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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29
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Allen KE, Johnson EM, Little SE. Hepatozoon spp Infections in the United States. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2011; 41:1221-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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30
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Little L, Baneth G. Cutaneous Hepatozoon canis infection in a dog from New Jersey. J Vet Diagn Invest 2011; 23:585-8. [PMID: 21908296 DOI: 10.1177/1040638711404156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A 7-month-old mixed-breed intact female dog was presented to a private veterinarian with a 2 cm in diameter raised, pruritic, alopecic, subcutaneous, fluctuant swelling over the right eye. Cytology of the mass revealed many degenerate neutrophils, moderate numbers of eosinophils, moderate numbers of macrophages, rare mast cells, and few erythrocytes. Rare neutrophils contained a protozoal agent compatible with a Hepatozoon gamont. Real-time polymerase chain reaction of peripheral blood was positive for Hepatozoon canis. The complete sequence identity of the amplified 18S ribosomal RNA fragment from the dog's blood confirmed H. canis and proved it was relatively distant from the corresponding fragment sequence of Hepatozoon americanum. This case is important in documenting an unusual presentation of infection with H. canis outside of the southern United States.
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31
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O'Dwyer LH. Brazilian canine hepatozoonosis. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2011; 20:181-93. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612011000300002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2010] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The genus Hepatozoon includes hundreds of species that infect birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals, in all continents with tropical and subtropical climates. Two species have been described in domestic dogs: H. canis, reported in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the United States; and H. americanum, which so far has only been diagnosed in the United States. In Brazil, the only species found infecting dogs is H. canis. The objective of this review was to detail some aspects of canine hepatozoonosis, caused by H. canis, and the main points of its biology, transmission, pathogenicity, symptoms, epidemiology and diagnostic methods, with emphasis on research developed in Brazil.
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32
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Abstract
Two species of Hepatozoon are currently known to infect dogs and cause distinct diseases. Hepatozoon canis prevalent in Africa, Asia, southern Europe, South America and recently shown to be present also in the USA causes infection mainly of hemolymphoid organs, whereas Hepatozoon americanum prevalent in the southeastern USA causes myositis and severe lameness. H. americanum is transmitted by ingestion of the Gulf Coast tick Amblyomma maculatum and also by predation on infected prey. H. canis is transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in South America also by Amblyomma ovale, and has also been shown to be transmitted transplacentally. Hepatozoonosis of domestic cats has been described mostly from the same areas where canine infection is present and the exact identity of the species which infect cats, their pathogenicity and vectors have not been elucidated. The diagnosis of hepatozoonosis is made by observation of gamonts in blood smears, histopathology, PCR or serology. The main treatment for H. canis is with imidocarb dipropionate whereas H. americanum infection is treated with an initial combination of trimethoprim-sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine and clindamycin followed by maintenance with decoquinate. Treatment for both diseases has not been reported to facilitate complete parasite elimination and new effective drugs are needed for the management of these infections. Prevention of hepatozoonosis should be based on avoidance of oral ingestion of infected tick vectors and infected prey.
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33
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Allen KE, Yabsley MJ, Johnson EM, Reichard MV, Panciera RJ, Ewing SA, Little SE. Novel Hepatozoon in vertebrates from the southern United States. J Parasitol 2011; 97:648-53. [PMID: 21506825 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2672.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel Hepatozoon spp. sequences collected from previously unrecognized vertebrate hosts in North America were compared with documented Hepatozoon 18S rRNA sequences in an effort to examine phylogenetic relationships between the different Hepatozoon organisms found cycling in nature. An approximately 500-base pair fragment of 18S rDNA common to Hepatozoon spp. and some other apicomplexans was amplified and sequenced from the tissues or blood of 16 vertebrate host species from the southern United States, including 1 opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 2 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 1 domestic cat (Felis catus), 3 coyotes (Canis latrans), 1 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 4 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 1 pet boa constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator), 1 swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus), 1 cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus), 4 woodrats (Neotoma fuscipes and Neotoma micropus), 3 white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), 8 cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), 1 cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus), 1 eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), and 1 woodchuck (Marmota monax). Phylogenetic analyses and comparison with sequences in the existing database revealed distinct groups of Hepatozoon spp., with clusters formed by sequences obtained from scavengers and carnivores (opossum, raccoons, canids, and felids) and those obtained from rodents. Surprisingly, Hepatozoon spp. sequences from wild rabbits were most closely related to sequences obtained from carnivores (97.2% identical), and the sequence from the boa constrictor was most closely related to the rodent cluster (97.4% identical). These data are consistent with recent work identifying prey-predator transmission cycles in Hepatozoon spp. and suggest this pattern may be more common than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074, USA
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34
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Lappin MR. Update on the diagnosis and management of Hepatozoon spp infections in dogs in the United States. Top Companion Anim Med 2010; 25:142-4. [PMID: 20937496 DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2010.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Lappin
- Colorado State University, Clinical Sciences, 300 West Drake Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA.
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35
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Occurrence of Hepatozoon sp. in dogs in the urban area originating from a municipality in southeastern Brazil. Vet Parasitol 2010; 174:155-61. [PMID: 20810218 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Revised: 07/07/2010] [Accepted: 07/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of Hepatozoon sp. infection in dogs was evaluated in the urban area of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study involved 300 animals, 120 from the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Uberlândia's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 80 from private clinics, and 100 from the Animal Protective Association (APA). Among these animals, 7.66% presented Hepatozoon sp. gamonts inside neutrophils. No statistically significant difference was found among the diagnoses based on capillary and venous blood smears, but a statistical significance was identified in age range and breed. The main signs and symptoms the animals presented were pale mucous membranes, swollen lymph nodes, ocular discharge and pain in response to renal palpation. All the ticks collected were of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus and no oocyst of the parasite was found in the hemolymph of the ixodidae. The findings of this study reinforce the presence of Hepatozoon sp. infecting dogs in Uberlândia, MG, with age and breed possibly related to the infection. The symptoms presented by the animals were consistent with those reported by other researchers.
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36
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Malaria parasite sequences from chimpanzee support the co-speciation hypothesis for the origin of virulent human malaria (Plasmodium falciparum). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2010; 57:135-43. [PMID: 20541613 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2009] [Revised: 05/24/2010] [Accepted: 06/04/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb), apicoplast caseinolytic protease C (clpC), and 18S rRNA sequences of Plasmodium isolates from chimpanzees along with those of the virulent human malaria parasite P. falciparum showed that the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) malaria parasites, assigned by Rich et al. (2009) to P. reichenowi, constitute a paraphyletic assemblage. The assumption that P. falciparum diverged from P. reichenowi as recently as 5000-50,000 years ago would require a rate of synonymous substitution/site/year in cytb and clpC on the order of 10(-5)-10(-6), several orders of magnitude higher than any known from eukaryotic organelle genomes, and would imply an unrealistically recent timing of the most recent common ancestor of P. falciparum mitochondrial genomes. The available data are thus most consistent with the hypothesis that P. reichenowi (in the strict sense) and P. falciparum co-speciated with their hosts about 5-7 million years ago.
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Canine Hepatozoonosis and Babesiosis, and Feline Cytauxzoonosis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2009; 39:1035-53, v. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2009.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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38
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Johnson E, Panciera R, Allen K, Sheets M, Beal J, Ewing S, Little S. Alternate Pathway of Infection withHepatozoon americanumand the Epidemiologic Importance of Predation. J Vet Intern Med 2009; 23:1315-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2009.0375.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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39
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Experimental transmission of Hepatozoon americanum to New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and infectivity of cystozoites for a dog. Vet Parasitol 2009; 164:162-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2009] [Revised: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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40
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Little SE, Allen KE, Johnson EM, Panciera RJ, Reichard MV, Ewing SA. New developments in canine hepatozoonosis in North America: a review. Parasit Vectors 2009; 2 Suppl 1:S5. [PMID: 19426444 PMCID: PMC2679397 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-2-s1-s5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by Hepatozoon canis and Hepatozoon americanum, apicomplexan parasites transmitted to dogs by ingestion of infectious stages. Although the two agents are phylogenetically related, specific aspects, including characteristics of clinical disease and the natural history of the parasites themselves, differ between the two species. Until recently, H. canis infections had not been clearly documented in North America, and autochthonous infection with H. americanum has yet to be reported outside of the southern United States. However, recent reports demonstrate H. canis is present in areas of North America where its vector tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, has long been endemic, and that the range of H. americanum is likely expanding along with that of its vector tick, Amblyomma maculatum; co-infections with the two organisms have also been identified. Significant intraspecific variation has been reported in the 18S rRNA gene sequence of both Hepatozoon spp.-infecting dogs, suggesting that each species may represent a complex of related genogroups rather than well-defined species. Transmission of H. americanum to dogs via ingestion of cystozoites in muscle of infected vertebrates was recently demonstrated, supporting the concept of predation as a means of natural transmission. Although several exciting advances have occurred in recent years, much remains to be learned about patterns of infection and the nature of clinical disease caused by the agents of canine hepatozoonosis in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
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41
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Vojta L, Mrljak V, Curković S, Zivicnjak T, Marinculić A, Beck R. Molecular epizootiology of canine hepatozoonosis in Croatia. Int J Parasitol 2009; 39:1129-36. [PMID: 19249302 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2008] [Revised: 01/22/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
An epizootiological survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of hepatozoonosis in a population of 924 apparently asymptomatic dogs from different regions of Croatia. DNA was isolated from canine blood and screening PCR on the 666 bp fragment of 18S rRNA revealed that 108 (11.8%) of dogs were infected. Positive samples were confirmed by partial sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. The consensus sequences, derived from various sequence data sets, were compared with sequences of 18S ssrRNA of Hepatozoon spp. available in GenBank. The alignments revealed 106 Hepatozoon canis and two Hepatozoon sp. sequences. Among H. canis isolates, we found a certain amount of heterogeneity, while both Hepatozoon sp. isolates were identical to the Spanish isolate (Accession No. AY600625) from Clethrionomys glareolus. On the basis of eight commonly mutated nucleotide positions in the partial 18S rRNA gene sequence, we divided the H. canis isolates into five groups. The results obtained indicate a higher prevalence and significance of hepatozoonosis in Croatia than previously believed and demonstrate that the organisms belonging to H. canis that infect European dogs are genetically very heterogeneous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Vojta
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
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42
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Li Y, Wang C, Allen KE, Little SE, Ahluwalia SK, Gao D, Macintire DK, Blagburn BL, Kaltenboeck B. Diagnosis of canine Hepatozoon spp. infection by quantitative PCR. Vet Parasitol 2008; 157:50-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2008] [Revised: 04/23/2008] [Accepted: 06/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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