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RAMÍREZ-ALVARADO AR, RUEDA-GARCÍA V, RONDÓN-BARRAGÁN IS. Molecular detection of Hepatozoon canis in dogs from Ibagué, Tolima. J Vet Med Sci 2024; 86:612-618. [PMID: 38684410 PMCID: PMC11187595 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.24-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Hepatozoon consists of apicomplexan protozoans that affect mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles. In dogs, the Hepatozoon species include H. canis and H. americanum, which are transmitted by the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick and cause nonspecific signs, such as fever, weight loss, diarrhea, and blood disorders. These protozoans have a worldwide distribution in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America, including Colombia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with H. canis in the urban and rural areas of Ibagué, Colombia. Blood samples were collected from 308 dogs (180 rural areas and 128 urban areas). Collected data included dog breed, sex, age, environmental factors, and the presence of ectoparasites. A fragment of the 18S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR for detection of the pathogen and confirmed by sequencing. Among the 308 samples, 14 were positive (14/308, 4.5%) for the presence of H. canis. The partial sequence of the 18S rRNA gene showed identity values >98% with H. canis, forming a cluster with sequences from Latin America. An epidemiological survey found two protective factors: most of the time at home (P=0.055) and overnight stay at home (P=0.03). This is the first molecular study of the prevalence and phylogeny analysis of H. canis in Ibagué, Colombia. The findings may help determine risk factors and enhance our understanding of the geographic distribution of H. canis in Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Rocio RAMÍREZ-ALVARADO
- Research Group in Immunobiology and Pathogenesis, Laboratory
of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics,
University of Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
| | - Valentina RUEDA-GARCÍA
- Research Group in Immunobiology and Pathogenesis, Laboratory
of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics,
University of Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
| | - Iang Schroniltgen RONDÓN-BARRAGÁN
- Research Group in Immunobiology and Pathogenesis, Laboratory
of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics,
University of Tolima, Tolima, Colombia
- Poultry Research Group, Laboratory of Immunology and
Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University of Tolima,
Tolima, Colombia
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Intirach J, Lv X, Sutthanont N, Cai B, Champakaew D, Chen T, Han Q, Lv Z. Molecular and next-generation sequencing analysis of tick-borne pathogens of Rhipicephalus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in cattle and dogs. Acta Trop 2024; 252:107138. [PMID: 38307363 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are small and adaptable arachnid ectoparasites and global carriers of various pathogens that threaten both human and animal health. They are present in many parts of China. A total of 858 ticks were collected from various regions and hosts, then subjected to species identification based on morphological and molecular characteristics, as described in the authors' previous study. Eighty-three individual tick samples were selected for screening pathogens based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The genomic DNA of tick species was extracted, and amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was carried out from DNA of individual ticks using V3-V4 hypervariable regions, before subjecting to metagenomic analysis. Each tick underwent specific PCR tests for identifying the bacterial species present, including Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Coxiella, and Rickettsia, and also protozoans such as Babesia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon. Illumina NovaSeq sequencing results revealed that the dominant phylum and family in Rhipicephalus spp. were Bacteroidota and Muribaculaceae, respectively. Alpha diversity patterns varied depending on tick sex (R. linnaei only), species and location, but not on host. Furthermore, bacterial pathogens, including A. marginale (58 %, 29/50), A. platys (6 %, 3/50), E. minasensis (2 %, 1/50), Ehrlichia sp. (10 %, 5/50), T. sinensis (24 %, 12/50), T. orientalis (54 %, 27/50) and Coxiella-like bacteria (CLB) (80 %, 40/50) were detected in R. microplus, while E. canis (33.33 %, 10/30), H. canis (20 %, 6/30) and CLB (100 %, 30/30) were detected in R. linnaei. Also, Anaplasma sp. (33.33 %, 1/3), A. marginale (33.33 %, 1/3), R. felis (33.33 %, 1/3) and CLB (100 %, 3/3) were detected in R. haemaphysaloides. Dual and triple co-infections involving pathogens or CLB were detected in 84.00 % of R. microplus, 66.66 % of R. haemaphysaloides, and 33.00 % of R. linnaei. The report on microbial communities and pathogens, which found from Rhipicephalus spp. in Hainan Island, is an important step towards a better understanding of tick-borne disease transmission. This is the first report in the area on the presence of Anaplasma sp., A. marginale, R. felis and Coxiella, in R. haemaphysaloides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitrawadee Intirach
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China; Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China; Hainan Tropical Diseases Research Center (Hainan Sub-Center, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Haikou, Hainan 571199, China
| | - Xin Lv
- International School of Public Health and One Health, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Nataya Sutthanont
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Benchi Cai
- Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China
| | - Danita Champakaew
- Parasitology and Entomology Research Cluster (PERC), Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Tao Chen
- Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China; Hainan Provincial Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control, Haikou 570100, China.
| | - Qian Han
- Laboratory of Tropical Veterinary Medicine and Vector Biology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, China.
| | - Zhiyue Lv
- Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 570100, China; Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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Chisu V, Giua L, Bianco P, Masala G, Sechi S, Cocco R, Piredda I. Molecular Survey of Hepatozoon canis Infection in Domestic Dogs from Sardinia, Italy. Vet Sci 2023; 10:640. [PMID: 37999463 PMCID: PMC10674782 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10110640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne protozoans of the genus Hepatozoon have been associated with infections of domestic and wild animals over the world. The occurrence of these apicomplexan agents in Sardinia has been poorly explored so far. In this study, the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. has been investigated in domestic dogs from nine cities of Sardinia, Italy. Blood samples from each dog were collected and tested molecularly for the presence of Hepatozoon and Babesia/Theileria DNAs. Out of fifty-one dogs, nine were positive for Hepatozoon species based on the molecular detection of the parasite in blood samples. The phylogenetic relationships of strains detected here were also established. The PCR for amplification of the 18S rRNA fragment gene of Babesia/Theileria spp. did not give amplicons in any of the analyzed samples. Our results report the first molecular confirmation of Hepatozoon canis in Sardinian pet dogs and contribute to better understand the presence of these protozoans on the island. This study highlights the importance of recognizing and predicting the risk levels for the canine population, thus increasing the development of specific control measures. Also, since the distribution of hepatozoonosis is closely related to that of the definitive tick host, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, more accurate studies on Rhipicephalus ticks will be needed due to increasing the epidemiological knowledge of Hepatozoon species on the island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chisu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Pegreffi” della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (L.G.); (P.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Laura Giua
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Pegreffi” della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (L.G.); (P.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Piera Bianco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Pegreffi” della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (L.G.); (P.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Giovanna Masala
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Pegreffi” della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (L.G.); (P.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Sara Sechi
- Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (S.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Raffaella Cocco
- Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (S.S.); (R.C.)
| | - Ivana Piredda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale “G. Pegreffi” della Sardegna, Via Duca degli Abruzzi 8, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (L.G.); (P.B.); (G.M.)
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Tołkacz K, Kretschmer M, Nowak S, Mysłajek RW, Alsarraf M, Wężyk D, Bajer A. The first report on Hepatozoon canis in dogs and wolves in Poland: clinical and epidemiological features. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:313. [PMID: 37667369 PMCID: PMC10476436 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05928-5] [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: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Canine hepatozoonosis caused by Hepatozoon canis is a common infection in dogs, with frequent case reports from the Mediterranean region and more recently from several Central European countries, such as Hungary and Germany. Despite the high prevalence of H. canis in red foxes, no infections have been reported to date in dogs in Poland. We describe here the first autochthonous cases of H. canis infection in dogs, including their clinical features, and report the prevalence of H. canis in grey wolves from different regions of Poland. METHODS Thin smears prepared from blood samples collected from dogs were evaluated by microscopic examination. A total of 60 wolves and 47 dogs were tested. Infections were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. RESULTS Gamonts of H. canis were found in > 50% of the neutrophils of two dogs and in < 10% of the neutrophils in another five dogs. Molecular typing by PCR sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragment confirmed infections in 11 dogs from different regions of Poland, in 2.7% of dogs attending veterinary practices in central Poland and in 35% of wolves from various geographical regions of Poland. Clinical features manifested mostly in older dogs, and the most common signs were anaemia and apathy. Young dogs usually remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of H. canis infection in dogs and wolves in Poland. Although the exact vector of the parasite is not known, veterinary practitioners should be aware of this new parasitosis and should consider appropriate diagnostics to confirm/exclude this infection. Further studies are needed to understand the transmission routes of H. canis in domestic and wild canids in Poland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Tołkacz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5A Pawińskiego Str, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Milena Kretschmer
- Vetlab Sp. Z O. O., Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Wodzisławska Str 6, 52-017 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Sabina Nowak
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert W. Mysłajek
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mustafa Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dagmara Wężyk
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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Kopparthi J, Chennuru S, Rayulu Vukka C, Nalini Kumari K, Rani Prameela D. Co-infections of major tick-borne pathogens of dogs in Andhra Pradesh, South India. VETERINARY RESEARCH FORUM : AN INTERNATIONAL QUARTERLY JOURNAL 2023; 14:295-299. [PMID: 37342292 PMCID: PMC10278907 DOI: 10.30466/vrf.2022.546812.3351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Implementing hemoprotozoan control strategies in dogs has become difficult because of the co-infections. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out for simultaneous detection of the co-infections of Babesia gibsoni, B. vogeli, Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis from dogs (N = 442) in Andhra Pradesh, South India. The co-infection combinations were classified as (i) B. gibsoni + B. vogeli + E. canis + H. canis (BEH), (ii) B. gibsoni + B. vogeli + E. canis (BE), (iii) B. gibsoni + B. vogeli + H. canis (BH) and (iv) E. canis + H. canis (EH) groups. The parasite-specific multiplex PCR amplified 18S rRNA gene of B. gibsoni, B. vogeli and H. canis and VirB9 gene of E. canis. The age, gender, breed, medium, living condition and region of dogs were studied as risk factors for co-infections using logistic regression model. Among the co-infections, the incidence was 1.81%, 9.28%, 0.69% and 0.90% for BEH, BE, BH and EH infections, respectively. Young age (< one year), females, mongrels, rural dogs, kennel dogs and presence of ticks were the identified risk factors for overall prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. The incidence of infection was less in rainy season, especially in dogs with a previous acaricidal treatment. The study concludes that the multiplex PCR assay could simultaneously detect natural co-infections in dogs, emphasizing the need for the assay in epidemiological studies to reveal the real pattern of pathogens and select pathogen-specific treatment protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jalajakshi Kopparthi
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati, India;
| | - Sreedevi Chennuru
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Gannavaram, India;
| | - Chengalva Rayulu Vukka
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati, India;
| | - Karumuri Nalini Kumari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Gannavaram, India;
| | - Devalam Rani Prameela
- State Level Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Microbiology, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati, India.
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Schäfer I, Müller E, Nijhof AM, Aupperle-Lellbach H, Loesenbeck G, Cramer S, Naucke TJ. First evidence of vertical Hepatozoon canis transmission in dogs in Europe. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:296. [PMID: 35999592 PMCID: PMC9396588 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05392-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatozoon canis is a protozoal agent that is known to be transmitted by oral uptake of H. canis-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in dogs. Vertical transmission of H. canis has only been described once in a study evaluating dogs from Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitological status of puppies from a bitch that had tested positive for Hepatozoon spp. prior to giving birth. Findings A 4-year-old, female, pregnant dog imported from Italy (Sardinia) to Germany showed clinical signs of lethargy and tachypnoea and tested positive for H. canis by PCR. The dog gave birth to eight puppies, one of which was stillborn and another that had to be reanimated. Haematology, buffy coat analysis and a biochemistry profile were performed for each dog. EDTA-blood of the surviving seven puppies and bone marrow, liver, spleen, amniotic fluid, and umbilical cord of the stillborn puppy was tested for the presence of Hepatozoon spp. by PCR. The mother and the seven surviving puppies tested positive for H. canis by PCR at day 62 post-partum. Gamonts were detected in all dogs by buffy coat evaluation. Haematological and biochemistry results revealed mild abnormalities. In the stillborn puppy, spleen, umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid were positive for H. canis. Conclusion The results confirm that vertical transmission is a possible route of H. canis infection in dogs, demonstrated by molecular detection of the pathogen in the stillborn puppy. In the seven surviving puppies, vertical transmission was the most likely transmission route. A potential impact of the level of parasitaemia on the health of puppies, as well as its pathogenesis, should be investigated further. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05392-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Schäfer
- Laboklin GmbH and Co. KG., Bad Kissingen, Germany.
| | | | - Ard M Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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