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Hussain S, Hussain A, Aziz MU, Song B, Zeb J, George D, Li J, Sparagano O. A Review of Zoonotic Babesiosis as an Emerging Public Health Threat in Asia. Pathogens 2021; 11:pathogens11010023. [PMID: 35055971 PMCID: PMC8779675 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic babesiosis poses a serious health risk in many parts of the world. Its emergence in Asia is thus a cause for significant concern, demanding that appropriate control measures are implemented to suppress its spread in this region. This study focuses on zoonotic Babesia species reported in Asia, offering an extensive review of those species reported in animals and humans. We reported 11 studies finding zoonotic Babesia species in animals and 16 in humans. In China, the most prevalent species was found to be Babesia microti, reported in both humans (n = 10) and wild and domesticated animals (n = 4). In Korea, only two studies reported human babesiosis, with a further two studies reporting Babesia microti in wild animals. Babesia microti was also reported in wild animal populations in Thailand and Japan, with evidence of human case reports also found in Singapore, Mongolia and India. This is the first review to report zoonotic babesiosis in humans and animals in Asia, highlighting concerns for future public health in this region. Further investigations of zoonotic species of Babesia in animal populations are required to confirm the actual zoonotic threat of babesiosis in Asia, as well as its possible transmission routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabir Hussain
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (O.S.)
| | - Abrar Hussain
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Umair Aziz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Baolin Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Jehan Zeb
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - David George
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
| | - Olivier Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China; (M.U.A.); (B.S.); (J.Z.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (S.H.); (O.S.)
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Karshima SN, Karshima MN, Ahmed MI. Animal reservoirs of zoonotic Babesia species: A global systematic review and meta-analysis of their prevalence, distribution and species diversity. Vet Parasitol 2021; 298:109539. [PMID: 34375806 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Zoonotic babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens, B. microti and B. venatorum is a vector-borne protozoan zoonosis of increasing public health importance worldwide. A complex system of animal reservoirs including a wide range of mammals and a limited number of birds play a central role in maintaining the infection. Governed by the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the global prevalence, distribution and the diversity of zoonotic Babesia species in animal reservoirs. We pooled data using the random-effects model and determined quality of individual studies, heterogeneity and across study bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal instrument for prevalence studies, Cochran's Q-test and Egger's regression test respectively. Seventy nine studies from 29 countries reported a total 9311 positive cases of zoonotic Babesia infections from 46,649 animal reservoirs, yielding an overall estimated prevalence of 12.45% (95% CI: 10.09-15.27). Continental prevalence ranged between 8.55 (95% CI: 1.90-31.11) in Africa and 27.81% (95% CI: 21.25-35.48) in North America. Estimated prevalence in relation to country income levels, methods of diagnosis, study periods, sample sizes and reservoir categories ranged between 4.97 (95% CI: 1.80-13.00) and 30.12% (95% CI: 22.49-39.04). B. divergens was the most prevalent (12.50%, 95% CI: 8.30-18.39) of the 3 species of zoonotic Babesia reported in animal reservoirs. Zoonotic Babesia infections are prevalent in animal reservoirs across the world with the highest prevalence in North America and domestic animals. B. microti had the widest geographic distribution. We recommend tick control as well as strategic and prophylactic treatment against these parasites in animal reservoirs to curtail the economic losses associated with zoonotic Babesia species and possible transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solomon Ngutor Karshima
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Nigeria.
| | - Magdalene Nguvan Karshima
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, PMB 2076, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria.
| | - Musa Isiyaka Ahmed
- Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru, PMB 28, Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria.
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Yue C, Deng Z, Qi D, Li Y, Bi W, Ma R, Yang G, Luo X, Hou R, Liu S. First detection and molecular identification of Babesia sp. from the giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, in China. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:537. [PMID: 33121531 PMCID: PMC7597363 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04412-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasitic infections are among the important causes of death of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) that hamper their survival in the wild. There are about 35 species of parasites which have been identified in giant pandas, but no information is currently available regarding the infection of Babesia in giant pandas. Babesia spp. are common intraerythrocytic parasite in wildlife, transmitted by ixodid ticks, which cause babesiosis. Clinical signs of babesiosis include fever, hemolysis, anemia, jaundice and death. METHODS A species of Babesia was detected in the blood of a giant panda based on morphology and PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. The phylogenetic relationship of Babesia sp. infecting giant panda was assessed by gene sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS Our analysis revealed that the Babesia isolate detected was most similar to an unidentified species of Babesia identified in black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus) from Japan (Babesia sp. Iwate, AB586027.1) with a 99.56% sequence similarity, followed by Babesia sp. EBB (AB566229.1, 99.50%) and Babesia sp. Akita (AB566229.1, 99.07%). CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report of Babesia detected in the giant panda. The results indicate that this Babesia sp. may be a novel species, currently named Babesia sp. strain EBP01.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanjuan Yue
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Zeshuai Deng
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Dunwu Qi
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunli Li
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenlei Bi
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Rui Ma
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China
| | - Guangyou Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Xue Luo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Rong Hou
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China.
| | - Songrui Liu
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Academy of Giant Panda, 1375 Panda Road, Chenghua District, 610081, Sichuan, China.
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