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Leisewitz AL, Mrljak V, Dear JD, Birkenheuer A. The Diverse Pathogenicity of Various Babesia Parasite Species That Infect Dogs. Pathogens 2023; 12:1437. [PMID: 38133320 PMCID: PMC10746086 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesia species infect a very wide range of mammal hosts across the globe, and zoonotic infections are of growing concern. Several species of the Babesia genus infect dogs, and some of these cause significant morbidity and mortality. The Apicomplexan parasite resides within the red cell and infections result in direct damage to the host through intra- and extravascular hemolysis. An exuberant inflammatory response by the host to some species of Babesia parasites also results in significant collateral damage to the host. Canine infections have been the subject of many studies as the well-being of these companion animals is increasingly threatened by the spread of tick vectors and an increasingly mobile dog population. There are currently no widely available and effective vaccines, and effective treatment can be challenging. Understanding disease pathogenesis underlies the development of new treatments. The varying pathogenicity of the various Babesia parasite species that infect dogs offers an opportunity to explore the molecular basis for the wide range of diseases caused by infection with this parasite genus. In this review, we focus on what has been reported about the clinical presentation of Babesia-infected dogs in an attempt to compare the severity of disease caused by different Babesia species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew L. Leisewitz
- Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Vladimir Mrljak
- Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jonathan D. Dear
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Adam Birkenheuer
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
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Seejarim C, Rautenbach Y, Hooijberg EH, Leisewitz AL, Schoeman JP, Goddard A. Regenerative response in dogs naturally and experimentally infected with Babesia rossi. Vet Clin Pathol 2023; 52:422-432. [PMID: 37638541 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13228] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The regenerative response following Babesia rossi infection in dogs is mild, despite severe hemolytic anemia. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare the admission absolute reticulocyte count (ARC) and reticulocyte indices in 103 dogs naturally infected with B. rossi with 10 dogs suffering from immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and 14 healthy control dogs. The regenerative response was also evaluated in five dogs experimentally infected with B. rossi. METHODS This is a retrospective observational study of records generated on the ADVIA 2120 hematology analyzer. RESULTS The median hematocrits (HCT) of the B. rossi and IMHA groups were significantly lower than the control group (p < .001 for both); however, no differences were seen between the B. rossi and IMHA groups. Compared with the control group, the median ARC was significantly higher in the B. rossi (p = .006) and IMHA (p = .019) groups but significantly lower in the B. rossi group than the IMHA group (p = .041). In the experimentally infected dogs, there was a sudden decrease in the ARC approximately 48 h after the detection of peripheral parasitemia, which was followed by an increase after treatment. Reticulocytes of naturally infected B. rossi dogs were larger, with more variation in cellular volume. The reticulocytes of the experimentally infected dogs decreased in size with decreasing hemoglobin concentrations as the study progressed. CONCLUSIONS The regenerative response in dogs naturally infected with B. rossi is inadequate, given the severity of the anemia observed, and it might be a result of direct suppressive action by the parasite or host response on the bone marrow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandini Seejarim
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Yolandi Rautenbach
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Emma H Hooijberg
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Andrew L Leisewitz
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Johan P Schoeman
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Amelia Goddard
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Kuleš J, Rubić I, Farkaš V, Barić Rafaj R, Gotić J, Crnogaj M, Burchmore R, Eckersall D, Mrljak V, Leisewitz AL. Serum proteome profiling of naturally acquired Babesia rossi infection in dogs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10249. [PMID: 37353646 PMCID: PMC10290096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37312-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a disease of significant medically and veterinary importance with worldwide distribution. It is caused by intra-erythrocyte protozoal parasites, with Babesia rossi causing the most severe clinical signs of all the large Babesia parasites infecting dogs. The disease can be clinically classified into uncomplicated and complicated forms with a wide range of clinical presentations from a mild, subclinical illness to complicated forms and death. The aim of this study was to assess serum proteomic profiles from dogs with babesiosis and healthy dogs using a label-based proteomics approach. Altogether 32 dogs naturally infected with B. rossi (subdivided into 18 uncomplicated cases and 14 complicated cases of babesiosis) and 20 healthy dogs were included. There were 78 proteins with significantly different abundances between the three groups of dogs. Elucidation of proteins and pathways involved in canine babesiosis caused by B. rossi have revealed key differences associated with haemostasis, innate immune system, lipid metabolism and inflammation. Shotgun proteomic profiling allowed identification of potential serum biomarkers for differentiation of disease severity in canine babesiosis caused by B. rossi. These findings may be applicable to the study of host-parasite interactions and the development of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josipa Kuleš
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Rubić
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Diseases Clinic, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Vladimir Farkaš
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Diseases Clinic, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Renata Barić Rafaj
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jelena Gotić
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Diseases Clinic, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Martina Crnogaj
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Diseases Clinic, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Richard Burchmore
- Glasgow Polyomics, College of Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - David Eckersall
- College of Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Vladimir Mrljak
- Laboratory of Proteomics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Internal Diseases Clinic, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Andrew L Leisewitz
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, USA
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
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Martin C, Clift S, Leisewitz A. Lung pathology of natural Babesia rossi infection in dogs. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2023; 94:59-69. [PMID: 37358318 DOI: 10.36303/jsava.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A proportion of Babesia rossi infections in dogs are classified as complicated and one of the most lethal complications is acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Most dogs that die succumb within 24 hours of presentation. The pulmonary pathology caused by B. rossi in dogs has not been described. The aim of this study was to provide a thorough macroscopic, histological and immunohistochemical description of the lung changes seen in dogs naturally infected with B. rossi that succumbed to the infection. Death was invariably accompanied by alveolar oedema. Histopathology showed acute interstitial pneumonia characterised by alveolar oedema and haemorrhages, with increased numbers of mononuclear leucocytes in alveolar walls and lumens. Intra-alveolar polymerised fibrin aggregates were observed in just over half the infected cases. Immunohistochemistry showed increased numbers of MAC387- and CD204-reactive monocyte-macrophages in alveolar walls and lumens, and increased CD3-reactive T-lymphocytes in alveolar walls, compared with controls. These histological features overlap to some extent (but far from perfectly) with the histological pattern of lung injury referred to as the exudative stage of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) as is quite commonly reported in ALI/ARDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Martin
- Idexx Laboratories (Pty) Ltd, South Africa
| | - S Clift
- Section of Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - A Leisewitz
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, United States of America and Section of Small Animal Medicine, Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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van Zyl E, Leisewitz AL, Atkinson BK, Goddard A, Rautenbach Y, Thompson PN, Schoeman JP. Serial changes in the concentrations of cortisol and thyroid hormones in Beagle dogs infected with Babesia rossi. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102107. [PMID: 36535203 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102107] [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: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
An experimental infection using Babesia (B.) rossi was performed in healthy male Beagle dogs to assess the changes in endocrine variables during disease. Two dogs were infected with a low dose (LD) of parasite inoculum (104 parasites) and three dogs were infected with a high dose (HD) (108 parasites). Basal serum cortisol, thyroxine (T4), and thyrotropin (TSH) concentrations were measured every second day. Samples were analyzed using a solid- phase, competitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (Immulyte® 2000, Siemens). Variables were compared between groups and timepoints using linear mixed models. In both groups, the median cortisol concentration increased, whilst the median T4 concentration decreased after infection, with a return towards baseline concentration post treatment. The highest cortisol and the lowest T4 concentrations were reached at 96 h and 108 h post infection, respectively, in the HD group and slightly later at 108 and 144 h post-infection, respectively, in the LD group. A higher cortisol concentration with a more rapid increase, and a lower T4 concentration with a more rapid decline, were associated with disease severity and a higher dose of parasite inoculum. The TSH concentration remained within the reference interval throughout the study period. This study illustrated the temporal changes in endocrine parameters during experimental B. rossi infection and demonstrated that cortisol and T4 tracked the severity of disease, albeit in opposite directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E van Zyl
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa.
| | - A L Leisewitz
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
| | - B K Atkinson
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
| | - A Goddard
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
| | - Y Rautenbach
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
| | - P N Thompson
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - J P Schoeman
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, 175 Bryanston drive, Bryanston, Onderstepoort, Johannesburg 2021, South Africa
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Pathogenesis of Anemia in Canine Babesiosis: Possible Contribution of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Chemokines-A Review. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020166. [PMID: 36839438 PMCID: PMC9962459 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoan disease caused by intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia. The infection may lead to anemia in infected dogs. However, anemia is not directly caused by the pathogen. The parasite's developmental stages only have a marginal role in contributing to a decreased red blood cell (RBC) count. The main cause of anemia in affected dogs is the immune response to the infection. This response includes antibody production, erythrophagocytosis, oxidative damage of RBCs, complement activation, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. Moreover, both infected and uninfected erythrocytes are retained in the spleen and sequestered in micro-vessels. All these actions are driven by pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, especially IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. Additionally, imbalance between the actions of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines plays a role in patho-mechanisms leading to anemia in canine babesiosis. This article is a review of the studies on the pathogenesis of anemia in canine babesiosis and related diseases, such as bovine or murine babesiosis and human or murine malaria, and the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the mechanisms leading to anemia in infected dogs.
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Al-Nazal H, Low L, Kumar S, Good MF, Stanisic DI. A vaccine for human babesiosis: prospects and feasibility. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:904-918. [PMID: 35933301 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.07.005] [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: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites. It is a well-known illness in companion animals and livestock, resulting in substantial economic losses in the cattle industry. Babesiosis is also recognized as an emerging zoonosis of humans in many countries worldwide. There is no vaccine against human babesiosis. Currently, preventive measures are focused on vector avoidance. Although not always effective, treatment includes antimicrobial therapy and exchange transfusion. In this review, we discuss the host's immune response to the parasite, vaccines being used to prevent babesiosis in animals, and lessons from malaria vaccine development efforts to inform the development of a human babesiosis vaccine. An effective human vaccine would be a significant advance towards curtailing this rapidly emerging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Al-Nazal
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leanne Low
- Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sanjai Kumar
- Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Michael F Good
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia
| | - Danielle I Stanisic
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland, Australia.
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