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Fang Y, Wang J, Sun J, Su Z, Chen S, Xiao J, Ni J, Hu Z, He Y, Shen S, Deng F. RNA viromes of Dermacentor nuttalli ticks reveal a novel uukuvirus in Qīnghǎi Province, China. Virol Sin 2024:S1995-820X(24)00066-X. [PMID: 38679334 DOI: 10.1016/j.virs.2024.04.006] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are a major parasite on the Qīnghǎi-Tibet Plateau, western China, and represent an economic burden to agriculture and animal husbandry. Despite research on tick-borne pathogens that threaten humans and animals, the viromes of dominant tick species remain unknown. In this study, we collected Dermacentor nuttalli ticks near Qīnghǎi Lake and identified 13 viruses belonging to at least six families through metagenomic sequencing. Four viruses were of high abundance in pools, including Xīnjiāng tick-associated virus 1 (XJTAV1), and three novel viruses: Qīnghǎi Lake virus 1, Qīnghǎi Lake virus 2 (QHLV1, and QHLV2, unclassified), and Qīnghǎi Lake virus 3 (QHLV3, genus Uukuvirus of family Phenuiviridae in order Bunyavirales), which lacks the M segment. The minimum infection rates of the four viruses among the tick groups were 8.2%, 49.5%, 6.2%, and 24.7%, respectively, suggesting the prevalence of these viruses in D. nuttalli ticks. A putative M segment of QHLV3 was identified from next-generation sequencing data and further characterized for its signal peptide cleavage site, N-glycosylation, and transmembrane region. Furthermore, we probed the L, M, and S segments of other viruses using the putative M segment sequence with sequencing data of other tick pools. By revealing the viromes of D. nuttalli ticks, this study enhances our understanding of tick-borne viral communities in highland regions. The putative M segment identified in a novel uukuvirus suggests that previously identified uukuviruses without M segments should have had the same genome organization as typical bunyaviruses. These results will facilitate virus discovery and our understanding of the phylogeny of tick-borne uukuviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohui Fang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jianqing Sun
- Qinghai lake national nature reserve administration, Xining 810000, China
| | - Zhengyuan Su
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shengyao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Jun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Zhihong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yubang He
- Qinghai lake national nature reserve administration, Xining 810000, China
| | - Shu Shen
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China.
| | - Fei Deng
- Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety and National Virus Resource Center, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, China.
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Ma Y, Jian Y, Wang G, Li X, Wang G, Hu Y, Yokoyama N, Ma L, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Babesia and Theileria Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area, China. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:476. [PMID: 38338119 PMCID: PMC10854629 DOI: 10.3390/ani14030476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting Babesia and Theileria species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (n = 51), goats (n = 67), yaks (n = 43), cattle (n = 49), Bactrian camels (n = 50), horses (n = 65), and donkeys (n = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect Theileria and Babesia species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for Babesia spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for Theileria spp. Notably, neither Babesia nor Theileria species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of Babesia and Theileria species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. caballi, and B. ovis were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of Theileria luwenshuni infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as T. sinesis in cattle and T. equi in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of Babesia and Theileria species among livestock species in QTPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihong Ma
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yingna Jian
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Geping Wang
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xiuping Li
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Yong Hu
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
| | - Liqing Ma
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
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Duan DY, Liu GH, Cheng TY. Microbiome analysis of the saliva and midgut from partially or fully engorged female adult Dermacentor silvarum ticks in China. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 80:543-558. [PMID: 32144639 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Dermacentor silvarum is widely distributed in northern China and transmits several pathogens that cause diseases in humans and domestic animals. We analysed the comprehensive bacterial community of the saliva and midgut from partially and fully engorged female adult D. silvarum. Dermacentor silvarum samples were collected from Guyuan, China. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the saliva and midgut contents of partially or fully engorged female adult D. silvarum. Sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA genes was performed using the IonS5TMXL platform. The bacterial diversity in saliva was higher than in the midgut. The bacterial diversity of saliva from fully engorged ticks was greater than in partially engorged tick saliva. The bacterial diversity in midguts from partially engorged ticks was greater than in fully engorged tick midguts. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum in all of the samples. Twenty-nine bacterial genera were detected in all of the samples. Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Stenotrophomonas were the main genera. The symbionts Coxiella, Arsenophonus, and Wolbachia were also detected in all of the samples. Eight bacterial species were identified in all of the experimental samples. Anaplasma marginale was reported for the first time in D. silvarum.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Yong Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China.
- Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China.
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Zhou Z, Li K, Sun Y, Shi J, Li H, Chen Y, Yang H, Li X, Wu B, Li X, Wang Z, Cheng F, Hu S. Molecular epidemiology and risk factors of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. infection in cattle in Chongqing, China. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215585. [PMID: 31306422 PMCID: PMC6629066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) seriously affect cattle production and can be economically damaging. The epidemiology of these organisms in the Chongqing municipality of China is not well described. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of TBPs including Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in cattle in Chongqing municipality. The results showed that 43.48% (150/345) of cattle were infected with at least one TBP, of which single infections were detected in 104 (30.14%), double infections in 34 cattle (9.86%) and triple infections in 12 (3.48%) of the cattle. The overall prevalence of Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp. and B. bigemina were 22.32%, 23.19% and 7.24%, respectively. Among these, the prevalence of A. bovis, A. central, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, A. marginale, T. sinensisi and T. orientalis were 8.41%, 7.83%, 4.93%, 4.35%, 2.61%, 22.32% and 2.60%, respectively. We could not detect B. bovis, T. annulata, T. luwenshuni or T. uilenbergi in cattle. Cattle ≥1-year-old were more likely to be infected with Theileria spp. [adjusted odd ratio (AOR) = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.12-6.56)] compared with younger cattle, while cattle ≥1-year-old had reduced susceptibility to B. bigemina (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.03-0.60). Cattle living at higher altitude (≥500 m) were more susceptible to B. bigemina (AOR = 6.97, 95% CI = 2.08-23.35) and Theileria spp. infection (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.06-3.32). The prevalence of Theileria spp. on farms with cats was significantly higher than that without cats (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.12-5.88). Infection with A. bovis and A. central were significantly associated with A. phagocytophilum infection. Furthermore, there were significant associations between A. bovis and A. central infection, T. sinensisi and A. marginale infection, and B. bigemina and T. orientalis infection. This study provides new data on the prevalence of Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in cattle in Chongqing, and for the first time we reveal a possible relationship between the afore-mentioned pathogens, which will help in formulating appropriate control strategies for these pathogens in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuoyong Zhou
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Veterinary Science Engineering Research Center of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Kai Li
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yingying Sun
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junge Shi
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hexian Li
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yiwang Chen
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haoyue Yang
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao Li
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bi Wu
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiying Wang
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Veterinary Science Engineering Research Center of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Fangjun Cheng
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Veterinary Science Engineering Research Center of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail: (FC); (SH)
| | - Shijun Hu
- College of Animal Science, Rongchang Campus of Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Veterinary Science Engineering Research Center of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
- * E-mail: (FC); (SH)
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Han R, Yang JF, Mukhtar MU, Chen Z, Niu QL, Lin YQ, Liu GY, Luo JX, Yin H, Liu ZJ. Molecular detection of Anaplasma infections in ixodid ticks from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:12. [PMID: 30728069 PMCID: PMC6366118 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0522-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma species are tick-transmitted obligate intracellular bacteria that infect many wild and domestic animals and humans. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in ixodid ticks of Qinghai Province is poorly understood. In this study, a total of 1104 questing adult ticks were investigated for the infection of Anaplasma species. As a result, we demonstrated the total infection rates of 3.1, 11.1, 5.6, and 4.5% for A. phagocytophilum, A. bovis, A. ovis and A. capra, respectively. All of the tick samples were negative for A. marginale. The positive rates of A. phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. capra in different tick species were significantly different. The positive rates of A. capra and A. bovis in the male ticks were significantly higher than that in the female ticks. Sequence analysis of A. ovis showed 99.5-100% identity to the previous reported isolates. The sequences of A. phagocytophilum had 100% identity to strains Ap-SHX21, JC3-3 and ZAM dog-181 from sheep, Mongolian gazelles, and dogs. Two genotypes of A. capra were found based on 16S rRNA, citrate synthase (gltA) gene and heat shock protein (groEL) gene analysis. In conclusion, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. capra were present in the ticks in Qinghai Province. Anaplasma infection is associated with tick species, gender and distribution. These data will be helpful for understanding prevalence status of Anaplasma infections in ticks in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Han
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
- Qinghai Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Xining, 810003 China
| | - Ji-Fei Yang
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Muhammad Uzair Mukhtar
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Ze Chen
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Qing-Li Niu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Yuan-Qing Lin
- Qinghai Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Xining, 810003 China
| | - Guang-Yuan Liu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Jian-Xun Luo
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Hong Yin
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
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Li K, Shahzad M, Zhang H, Jiang X, Mehmood K, Zhao X, Li J. Socio-economic burden of parasitic infections in yaks from 1984 to 2017 on Qinghai Tibetan Plateau of China-A review. Acta Trop 2018; 183:103-109. [PMID: 29626434 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Yak is an important animal for the Tibetans at Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China. The burden of parasitic diseases has been a major threat to the health of yaks at this region presenting a considerable socio-economic losses and impact to yak production and local nomads. Keeping in view, we collected the published papers from 1984 to 2017 on major parasitic infections in yaks by electronic literature search from five databases including CNKI, Google, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science. The prevalence of Eimeria, Babesia, Theileria, Hypodermosis, Cystic echinococcosis, Alveolar echinococcosis, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, Cryptosporidium, Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Toxocara vitulorum, and Fascioliasis infection in yaks was found to be 48.02%, 13.06%, 36.11%, 59.85%, 16.93%, 0.99%, 20.50%, 5.14%, 10.00%, 3.68%, 4.07%, 22.23% and 28.7% respectively. Data presented are contemplated to enhance our current understanding on the major parasitic diseases of yaks at Qinghai Tibetan plateau, China. The main aim of this effort is to ameliorate the effects of the parasitic burden in this specie; so that, the attempts are made to minimize the incidence of these infections in future to raise the socio-economic levels of local community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China; Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.
| | - Muhammad Shahzad
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiong Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China; College of Agriculture, Hubei Three Gorges Polytechnic, 443000 Yichang, People's Republic of China
| | - Khalid Mehmood
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China; University College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Xiaodong Zhao
- Longri original breeding farm of Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiakui Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China; Laboratory of Detection and Monitoring of Highland Animal Disease, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Linzhi, 860000, Tibet, People's Republic of China.
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Li S, Liu J, Liu A, Li Y, Wang S, Wang S, Yin H, Luo J, Guan G. Molecular investigation of piroplasma infection in white yaks (Bos grunniens) in Gansu province, China. Acta Trop 2017; 171:220-225. [PMID: 28427963 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Piroplasmosis, including theileriosis and babesiosis, is a tick-borne haemoprotozoan disease responsible for huge economic losses to livestock industry. In China, the biology of piroplasms infective to cattle was well understood on the basis of pathogen isolations and molecular epidemiological surveys in the past few decades. But very limited information about the infection status of piroplasms in white yak (Bos grunniens), a semi-wild and endemic breed, has been recorded, so far. A total of 350 blood samples was collected from white yaks in 11 towns of Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County of Gansu province, China, during April to July 2015. The samples were tested using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Theileria annulata, T. orientalis and T. sinensis. Positive samples were further sequenced and confirmed via sequence alignment. The results showed a high prevalence of piroplasms in the white yaks, 38.3%(134/350). Four Babesia/Theileria species were detected. The prevalences were 8.3% (B. bigemina), 7.7% (T. annulata), 9.7% (T. orientalis) and 26.0% (T. sinensis).No B. bovis-positive samples were detected. The single infections of B. bigemina, T. annulata, T. orientalis and T. sinensis were 2.3%, 2.6%, 5.1% and 16.9%, respectively. 11.4%(40/350) of these animals presented co-infections with 2 or 3 parasite species, in which 80.0% of co-infection had T. sinensis infection and no co-infections with 4 parasite species was detected. This is the first report to investigate the Babesia/Theileria infection in white yaks using molecular diagnostic method, for detection of B. bigemina, T. annulata, T. sergenti and T. sinensis. The findings also offer novel insights into the role of white yaks in Babesia/Theileria epidemiology and valuable information for the control and management of piroplasmosis in white yaks.
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