Identification of Rickettsia spp. and Babesia conradae in Dermacentor spp. Collected from Dogs and Cats Across the United States

Surveillance of tick-borne pathogens present in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) removed from companion animals in Louisiana, USA

Current knowledge of tick distribution and tick-borne pathogen presence across Louisiana is limited. Collaborating with veterinarians across the state, ticks removed from companion animals were recovered and assessed for the presence of zoonotic pathogens. A large number of ticks (n = 959) were removed from companion animals and subsequently screened using qPCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and spotted fever group Rickettsia. Five different tick species, Ixodes scapularis (54.5%), Amblyomma americanum (18.4%), Amblyomma maculatum (12.5%), Dermacentor variabilis (11.2%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.3%) from different regions of Louisiana were collected from October 2018 to July 2019. There were 15 PCR-positive ticks for Rickettsia parkeri (1.6% prevalence), and four ticks were positive for Ehrlichia chaffeensis (0.4% prevalence). This survey identifies ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with companion animals and areas for future active surveillance.

Unrevealing the therapeutic potential of artesunate against emerging zoonotic Babesia microti infection in the murine model

Babesiosis, a zoonotic blood protozoal disease, threatens humans and animals and is difficult to treat due to growing antimicrobial resistance. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of artesunate (AS), a well-known derivative of artemisinin, against Babesia microti (B. microti) using a murine infection model. Male BALB/c mice (6 weeks old; 15 per group) were chosen and randomly divided into 1) the control group, 2) the B. microti group, and 3) the B. microti + artesunate treatment groups. AS treatment at 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg of body weight significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the B. microti load in blood smears in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, AS treatment mitigated the decrease in body weight and restored the normal state of the liver and spleen viscera index compared to the B. microti-infected group after 28 days. Hematological analysis revealed significant increases in RBC, WBC, and PLT counts post-AS treatment compared to the B. microti-infected group. Furthermore, AS administration resulted in significant reductions in total protein, bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP levels, along with reduced liver and spleen inflammation and lesions as observed through histopathological analysis. AS also elicited dose-dependent changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptotic, proinflammatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the liver compared to the control and B. microti-infected groups. Immunolabeling revealed decreased expression of apoptotic and inflammation-related proteins in AS-treated hepatic cytoplasm compared to the B. microti-infected group. AS also in dose-dependent manner decreased apoptotic protein and increased Bcl-2. Overall, these findings underscore the potential of AS as an anti-parasitic candidate in combating B. microti pathogenesis in an in vivo infection model, suggesting its promise for clinical trials as a treatment for babesiosis.

Detection of Babesia conradae in Coyotes (Canis latrans) and Coyote-Hunting Greyhound Dogs (Canis familiaris)

Babesia conradae is a small piroplasm previously detected in coyote-hunting Greyhound dogs in California and Oklahoma. In dogs, B. conradae causes clinical signs similar to other tick-borne illnesses, and if not treated it can lead to acute kidney injury and other life-threating complications. To date, the life cycle of this apicomplexan parasite has not been fully described, but suggestions of direct contact or tick transmission have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to test coyote tissue samples from coyotes hunted by Greyhound dogs with a history of B. conradae infection to determine if this parasite is present in the coyote population in Northwestern Oklahoma. The analyzed tissue samples included liver, lung and tongue samples collected by hunters. DNA was isolated from these tissues and assessed by RT-PCR of the 18S rRNA and PCR of the COX1 genes for B. conradae. A total of 66 dogs and 38 coyotes were tested, and the results demonstrated the presence of B. conradae DNA in 21 dogs (31.8%) and 4 coyotes (10.5%). These results indicate that B. conradae is present in the dog and coyote population from the same area and that direct contact with coyotes may increase the risk of infection in dogs. Further studies are required to test possible modes of transmission, including direct bite, tick or vertical transmission.

Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.

Comparative analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Dermacentor steini from different regions in China

Ticks are a group of blood-sucking ectoparasites that play an important role in human health and livestock production development as vectors of zoonotic diseases. The phylogenetic tree of single genes cannot accurately reflect the true kinship between species. Based on the complete mitochondrial genome analysis one can help to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among species. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Dermacentor steini (isolate Longyan) was sequenced and compared with the mitochondrial genes of 3 other Chinese isolates (Nanchang, Jinhua and Yingtan). In Dermacentor steini 4 isolates had identical or similar mitochondrial genome lengths and an overall variation of 0.76% between sequences. All nucleotide compositions showed a distinct AT preference. The most common initiation and stop codons were ATG and TAA, respectively. Fewer base mismatches were found in the tRNA gene of D. steini (isolate Longyan), and the vicinity of the control region and tRNA gene was a hot rearrangement region of the genus Dermacentor. Maximum likelihood trees and Bayesian trees indicate that D. steini is most closely related to Dermacentor auratus. The results enrich the mitochondrial genomic data of species in the genus Dermacentor and provide novel insights for further studies on the phylogeographic classification and molecular evolution of ticks.

Prevalence and geographic distribution of Babesia conradae and detection of Babesia vogeli in free-ranging California coyotes (Canis latrans)

Babesia species are intraerythrocytic piroplasms that can result in disease characterized by hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Of the 5 species that are known to infect canids in the United States, Babesia conradae is most frequently diagnosed in California, and Babesia vogeli is prevalent in the US. Despite the recent re-emergence of B. conradae, the mechanism of transmission is not known. Coyotes (Canis latrans) have been a proposed reservoir of disease, and previous work has shown that dogs with known aggressive interactions with coyotes are at greater risk for infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of B. conradae in wild coyote populations in California to assess the viability of coyotes as a potential source of infection for domestic dogs. Four hundred and sixty-one splenic samples were obtained during post-mortem examination of coyote carcasses from Southern California, Fresno, and Hopland. Demographic data including age, sex, cause of death, and urbanity were collected for each coyote. DNA was extracted from samples and amplified using real-time PCR with primers specific for the B. conradae ITS-2 gene. The 18S gene was amplified and sequenced using conventional PCR primers specific to the Babesia genus from any coyotes positive for B. conradae. In total, 22 coyotes tested positive for B. conradae in Fresno (n = 15), Orange (n = 4), San Bernardino (n = 1), and Los Angeles counties (n = 1) with an overall prevalence of 4.8%. Coyotes from Fresno (P<.01) and rural coyotes (P<.01) were significantly more likely to be infected with B. conradae. Ten of 14 samples sequenced were 99-100% homologous to B. conradae, and 4 samples were 100% homologous with B. vogeli DNA indicating co-infection with both pathogens. This study demonstrates that coyotes can become infected and harbor B. conradae and B. vogeli and should be investigated as a possible source of infection in domestic dogs.

Diversity and geographic distribution of rickettsial agents identified in brown dog ticks from across the United States

Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, or brown dog ticks, transmit a variety of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance globally. Pathogens vectored by brown dog ticks and identified in the United States include Babesia vogeli, Ehrlichia canis, and several spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. (SFGR). Due to the challenge of collecting canine blood samples nationwide to screen for exposure to these pathogens, we took an indirect approach and tested brown dog ticks for molecular evidence of infection. Brown dog ticks (616 adults and 65 nymphs) collected from dogs and cats across the nation were tested by separate PCR assays detecting Babesia spp., E. canis, and SFGR. While no Babesia sp. was found, we identified rickettsial agents in 3.5% (24/681; 95% CI 2.4-5.2%) of the ticks. Pathogens and related organisms detected in ticks included E. canis (n = 1), Rickettsia amblyommatis (n = 3), Rickettsia massiliae (n = 11), Rickettsia monacensis (n = 3), Rickettsia montanensis (n = 5), and an undefined Rickettsia species (n = 1). These data demonstrate a wider geographic distribution of R. massiliae than previously known, and to the authors' knowledge, reports R. monacensis in brown dog ticks for the first time. Due to the close association that brown dog ticks have with domestic dogs and humans, more research is needed to understand the full array of organisms, some of which are zoonotic, potentially transmitted by this widespread tick complex.