A four year epidemiological and chemotherapy survey of babesiosis and theileriosis, and tick vectors in sheep, cattle and goats in Dehgolan, Iran

First Survey on the Presence and Distribution of Oxytetracycline-Resistance Genes in Anaplasma Species

INTRODUCTION

Anaplasma sp. is an obligatory intracellular Gram-negative tick-transmitted bacterial pathogen of humans and animals. Oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline are the drugs of choice for treating domestic animals with acute anaplasmosis. Lack of documented information about oxytetracycline resistance in Anaplasma species in the world was the scope of this study to screen by PCR for the detection of the oxytetracycline-resistance genes in Anaplasma species from infected cattle and sheep in the Northwest and Southwest of Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total of 100 cattle and sheep blood samples collected from 2 provinces in the Northwest and 1 province in the Southwest of Iran were tested microscopically by the Giemsa staining examination and confirmed by PCR. Then the presence of two different oxytetracycline-resistance genes (otrA, and otrB) was detected by PCR in positive samples.

RESULTS

The results showed that 60% of Anaplasma-infected samples were identified to have an otrA-resistance gene, and 26.67% had an otrB-resistance gene. The coexistence of two oxytetracycline-resistance determinants was encountered in 13.33% of the isolates. The significant difference in the frequency of otr genes was found among three Anaplasma species (A. marginale, A. centrale and A. ovis), and among three studied regions in Iran (p < 0.05). The identified sequences were submitted to the GenBank and deposited under accession numbers MN880729 and MN895439 for otrB and otrA genes.

CONCLUSION

This study, for the first time, indicated the oxytetracycline-resistance genes in the three most prevalent Anaplasma species in ruminants. This finding helps to select an appropriate treatment strategy for eradication of anaplasmosis.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of bovine piroplasmosis by cattle owners in Constantine, North-East of Algeria, using participatory epidemiology

Cattle piroplasmoses are tick-borne diseases, spread worldwide that cause significant economic losses. A participatory epidemiological study was conducted individually or in focus groups with 73 cattle owners in Beni Hamidene locality (district of Constantine, Algeria). The aim of this study was to study cattle owners' knowledge, attitude and perception on cattle piroplasmosis. Proportional piling technique was used to determinate most common cattle diseases, and to evaluate economic impact of diseases according to the interwieved farmers. Theileriosis (49/73; 67.1%) and babesiosis (44/73; 60.3%) were considered the most important bovine diseases. No zoonotic disease was cited by the interviewed cattle owners. According to the majority of cattle owners, theileriosis and babesiosis are deadly diseases (87.3 and 78.1%, respectively). All cattle owners (73/73) cited fever as the most common symptom of tropical theileriosis. Some of them (14/73; 19.2%) do not make distinction between theileriosis and babesiosis. According to cattle owners (65/73; 89.0%), the use of acaricide is the most appropriate tick control method. This study provides information about knowledge on bovine piroplasmoses in Algeria. These information could be considered when performing control programmes by both animal decision-makers and field veterinarians.

Serological Survey and Molecular Characterization of Theileria annulata in Sicilian Cattle

Tropical theileriosis is a tick-borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites with considerable veterinary and economic impact worldwide. Ticks transmitting the disease belong to the Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, and Hyalomma genera. The Hyalomma genus is very common in Sicily (Italy) and represents the main Theileria annulata vector in the island. Data concerning the molecular epidemiology of this pathogen are missing in the region. In 2018-2019, blood and serum samples were collected from 480 cows in seven Sicilian farms from four different provinces. Seroprevalence in the farms ranged from 22% to 71%. Three farms were selected for molecular analysis consisting of real-time PCR targeting the almost complete 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Four amplicons per farm were sequenced and phylogenetic analyses were carried out. The four sequences were identical within each farm and showed 92-99% identity with the other farms and with sequences from Genbank. According to the phylogenetic analysis, these three sequences and an additional one from a laboratory-cultured Theileria annulata strain obtained in 1999 belonged to a single T. annulata clade with good bootstrap support with other sequences from Italy, India, and Iran, indicating limited geographical and temporal genetic variability of the parasite. This study represents the first phylogenetic analysis of T. annulata in Sicily, which will be useful to improve the strategies for theileriosis control and prevention.

Molecular detection of Theileria spp. and Babesia ovis Infection in Sheep in Baneh, Iran

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the Theileria and Babesia infection in sheep using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in Baneh, Iran. Theileria and Babesia are apicomplexan parasites that have both vertebral and invertebrate hosts. These protozoa, which are transmitted by tick vectors, are considered to be the most important causes of parasitic diseases in Iran.The detection methods of Babesia and Theileria spp. are morphological examination, serology tests, and more recently, molecular assays, such as PCR. In this study, a total of 66 blood samples were collected and analyzed using specific primers for Theileria annulata, T. ovis, T. lestoquardi, and Babesia ovis. Two PCR methods were used, namely semi-nested PCR and competitive PCR. Based on the results of the PCR assay of 66 sheep blood samples, B. ovis, T. ovis, T. lestoquardi, and T. annulata were detected in 57 (86.4%), 28 (42.4%), 0, and 16 (24%) cases, respectively. Detection of low levels of protozoan infection with high morbidity in the tested animals shows their status as a carrier that keeps the infection in the region and extends the protozoan life cycle. Another important factor is the geographical situation of Baneh as a border city since the hemoprotozoan infection is present in this region. Moreover, piroplasmida infection was found in Iraq and other neighboring provinces. Therefore, animal husbandry in Baneh is at the risk of infection with Babesia and Theileria. The collected data in this study are useful for reaching a better understanding of the epizootiology of theileriosis and babesiosis, in order to control and prevent the diseases in this region.

Phytochemical Screening and Antiprotozoal Effects of the Methanolic Berberis vulgaris and Acetonic Rhus coriaria Extracts

Berberis vulgaris (B. vulgaris) and Rhus coriaria (R. coriaria) have been documented to have various pharmacologic activities. The current study assessed the in vitro as well as in vivo inhibitory efficacy of a methanolic extract of B. vulgaris (MEBV) and an acetone extract of R. coriaria (AERC) on six species of piroplasm parasites. The drug-exposure viability assay was tested on three different cell lines, namely mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3), Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells. Qualitative phytochemical estimation revealed that both extracts containing alkaloid, tannin, saponins and terpenoids and significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols. The GC-MS analysis of MEBV and AERC revealed the existence of 27 and 20 phytochemical compounds, respectively. MEBV and AERC restricted the multiplication of Babesia (B.) bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and Theileria (T.) equi at the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.84 ± 0.2, 0.81 ± 0.3, 4.1 ± 0.9, 0.35 ± 0.1 and 0.68 ± 0.1 µg/mL and 85.7 ± 3.1, 60 ± 8.5, 90 ± 3.7, 85.7 ± 2.1 and 78 ± 2.1 µg/mL, respectively. In the cytotoxicity assay, MEBV and AERC inhibited MDBK, NIH/3T3 and HFF cells with half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 695.7 ± 24.9, 931 ± 44.9, ˃1500 µg/mL and 737.7 ± 17.4, ˃1500 and ˃1500 µg/mL, respectively. The experiments in mice showed that MEBV and AERC prohibited B. microti multiplication at 150 mg/kg by 66.7% and 70%, respectively. These results indicate the prospects of these extracts as drug candidates for piroplasmosis treatment following additional studies in some clinical cases.

Epidemiology, risk factors, and co-infection of vector-borne pathogens in goats from Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran

Several vector-borne pathogens restrict livestock farming and have significant economic impact worldwide. In endemic areas livestock are exposed to different tick species carrying various pathogens which could result in co-infection with several tick-borne pathogens in a single host. Although the co-infection of and the interaction among pathogens are critical factors to determine the disease outcome, pathogen interactions in the vector and the host are poorly understood. In this study, we surveyed the presence of Babesia ovis, Theileria ovis, Theileria lestoquardi, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Anaplasma marginale in 200 goats from 3 different districts in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. Species-specific diagnostic PCRs and sequence analysis revealed that 1.5%, 12.5%, and 80% of samples were positive for T. lestoquardi, T. ovis, and A. ovis, respectively. Co-infections of goats with up to 3 pathogens were seen in 22% of the samples. We detected a significant association between T. ovis infection and age, T. ovis infection and location (Zabol), and A. ovis infection and location (Sarbaz) by multivariate logistic regression analysis. In addition, by analyzing the data with respect to Plasmodium caprae infection in these goats, a negative correlation was found between P. caprae and A. ovis infection. This study contributes to understanding the epidemiology of vector-borne pathogens and their interplay in goats.