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Alzan HF, Bastos RG, Laughery JM, Scoles GA, Ueti MW, Johnson WC, Suarez CE. A Culture-Adapted Strain of Babesia bovis Has Reduced Subpopulation Complexity and Is Unable to Complete Its Natural Life Cycle in Ticks. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:827347. [PMID: 35223550 PMCID: PMC8867610 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.827347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis natural field strains are composed of several geno-phenotypically distinct subpopulations. This feature, together with possible epigenetic modifications, may facilitate adaptation to variable environmental conditions. In this study we compare geno-phenotypical features among long-term (more than 12 years) (LTCP) and short-term cultured B. bovis parasites (STCP) derived from the B. bovis S74-T3Bo strain. LTCPs intraerythrocytic forms are smaller in size than STCPs and have faster in vitro growth rate. In contrast to its parental strain, the LTCP lack expression of the sexual stage specific 6cysA and 6cysB proteins and are unable to develop sexual forms upon in vitro sexual stage induction. Consistently, in contrast to its parental strain, LTCPs have reduced virulence and are not transmissible to cattle by vector competent Rhipicephalus microplus (R. microplus). Similar to previous comparisons among attenuated and virulent B. bovis strains, the LTCP line has decreased genomic diversity compared to the STCP line. Thus, LTCP may contribute to our understanding of adaptive mechanisms used by the parasites in response to environmental changes, protective immunity, virulence, and transmission by ticks. In addition, LTCPs may be considered as candidates for a non-tick transmissible vaccine against bovine babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
- Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Research Unit, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Heba F. Alzan, ; Carlos E. Suarez,
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Jacob M. Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Glen A. Scoles
- Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Wendell C. Johnson
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Heba F. Alzan, ; Carlos E. Suarez,
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Allan FK, Sindoya E, Adam KE, Byamungu M, Lea RS, Lord JS, Mbata G, Paxton E, Mramba F, Torr SJ, Morrison WI, Handel I, Morrison LJ, Auty HK. A cross-sectional survey to establish Theileria parva prevalence and vector control at the wildlife-livestock interface, Northern Tanzania. Prev Vet Med 2021; 196:105491. [PMID: 34562810 PMCID: PMC8573586 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
East Coast fever (ECF) in cattle is caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva, transmitted by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. In cattle ECF is often fatal, causing annual losses >$500 million across its range. The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is the natural host for T. parva but the transmission dynamics between wild hosts and livestock are poorly understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. parva in cattle, in a 30 km zone adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania where livestock and buffalo co-exist, and to ascertain how livestock keepers controlled ECF and other vector-borne diseases of cattle. A randomised cross-sectional cattle survey and questionnaire of vector control practices were conducted. Blood samples were collected from 770 cattle from 48 herds and analysed by PCR to establish T. parva prevalence. Half body tick counts were recorded on every animal. Farmers were interviewed (n = 120; including the blood sampled herds) using a standardised questionnaire to obtain data on vector control practices. Local workshops were held to discuss findings and validate results. Overall prevalence of T. parva in cattle was 5.07% (CI: 3.70-7.00%), with significantly higher prevalence in older animals. Although all farmers reported seeing ticks on their cattle, tick counts were very low with 78% cattle having none. Questionnaire analysis indicated significant acaricide use with 79% and 41% of farmers reporting spraying or dipping with cypermethrin-based insecticides, respectively. Some farmers reported very frequent spraying, as often as every four days. However, doses per animal were often insufficient. These data indicate high levels of acaricide use, which may be responsible for the low observed tick burdens and low ECF prevalence. This vector control is farmer-led and aimed at both tick- and tsetse-borne diseases of livestock. The levels of acaricide use raise concerns regarding sustainability; resistance development is a risk, particularly in ticks. Integrating vaccination as part of this community-based disease control may alleviate acaricide dependence, but increased understanding of the Theileria strains circulating in wildlife-livestock interface areas is required to establish the potential benefits of vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona K Allan
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom.
| | - Emmanuel Sindoya
- Minstry of Livestock and Fisheries, Serengeti District Livestock Office, Mugumu, Tanzania
| | - Katherine E Adam
- Innogen Institute, Science Technology and Innovation Studies; School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Old Surgeons' Hall, High School Yards, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | | | - Rachel S Lea
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer S Lord
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Geofrey Mbata
- Vector and Vector-borne Diseases Research Institute, Tanga, Tanzania
| | - Edith Paxton
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Furaha Mramba
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Stephen J Torr
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - W Ivan Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Handel
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Liam J Morrison
- Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet K Auty
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom (Previously Epidemiology Research Unit, SRUC, Inverness, United Kingdom)
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He L, Bastos RG, Sun Y, Hua G, Guan G, Zhao J, Suarez CE. Babesiosis as a potential threat for bovine production in China. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:460. [PMID: 34493328 PMCID: PMC8425137 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04948-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease with global impact caused by parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, genus Babesia. Typically, acute bovine babesiosis (BB) is characterized by fever, anemia, hemoglobinuria, and high mortality. Surviving animals remain persistently infected and become reservoirs for parasite transmission. Bovids in China can be infected by one or more Babesia species endemic to the country, including B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. orientalis, B. ovata, B. major, B. motasi, B. U sp. Kashi and B. venatorum. The latter may pose a zoonotic risk. Occurrence of this wide diversity of Babesia species in China may be due to a combination of favorable ecological factors, such as the presence of multiple tick vectors, including Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma, the coexistence of susceptible bovid species, such as domestic cattle, yaks, and water buffalo, and the lack of efficient measures of tick control. BB is currently widespread in several regions of the country and a limiting factor for cattle production. While some areas appear to have enzootic stability, others have considerable cattle mortality. Research is needed to devise solutions to the challenges posed by uncontrolled BB. Critical research gaps include risk assessment for cattle residing in endemic areas, understanding factors involved in endemic stability, evaluation of parasite diversity and pathogenicity of regional Babesia species, and estimation of whether and how BB should be controlled in China. Research should allow the design of comprehensive interventions to improve cattle production, diminish the risk of human infections, and increase the availability of affordable animal protein for human consumption in China and worldwide. In this review, we describe the current state of BB with reference to the diversity of hosts, vectors, and parasite species in China. We also discuss the unique risks and knowledge gaps that should be taken into consideration for future Babesia research and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan He
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016 People’s Republic of China
| | - Guohua Hua
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, International Joint Research Centre for Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science & Technology, Huazhong Agriculture University, Wuhan, Hubei China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
- Animal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural - Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA 99164 USA
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Monteiro C, Lage TCDA, Marchesini P, Vale L, Perinotto WMDS, Lopes WDZ, Fernandes SA, Bittencourt VREP, Furlong J, Prata MCDA. Combination of entomopathogenic nematodes with acaricides or essential oil of Lippia triplinervis against Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae). Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 23:100526. [PMID: 33678380 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the combination effect of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora HP88 and H. indica LPP1, with the acaricides deltamethrin, amitraz and chlorfenvinphos, and the essential oil (EO) of Lippia triplinervis, against engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus. In order to verify the effect of acaricides and EO, the adult immersion test was used, and in the groups treated only with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), 150 infective juveniles were used per female. In the treatments with nematodes in combination with the acaricides or EO, the females were immersed in the solutions (acaricide or EO) and then transferred to Petri dishes for application of the nematodes. The treatment with acaricides resulted in a control percentage lower than 70%, except in the group treated with chlorfenvinphos in the second experiment (84.3%). The control percentage was 73% for L. triplinervis EO, and greater than 90% in all the groups treated with nematodes. For treatments with EPNs combined with the acaricides or EO, the efficacy was greater than 95% (except for deltamethrin + HP88), and reached 100% in the treatment with LPP1 + amitraz. It can be concluded that the EPNs at the concentrations tested were compatible with the acaricides deltamethrin, amitraz and chlorfenvinphos, and with the EO of L. triplinervis. These combinations enhance the effect of these control agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Monteiro
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74605-050, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago Coelho de Assis Lage
- Grupo de Química Supramolecular e Biomimética (GQSB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Campus Universitário, Avenida P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, Minas Gerais CEP: 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Paula Marchesini
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rodovia BR 465, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Letícia Vale
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil
| | - Wendell Marcelo de Souza Perinotto
- Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológica, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Rua Rui Barbosa, 710, Cruz das Almas, Bahia CEP: 44380-000, Brazil.
| | - Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Universitário, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74605-050, Brazil; Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás CEP: 74.690-900, Brazil
| | - Sergio Antônio Fernandes
- Grupo de Química Supramolecular e Biomimética (GQSB), Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Campus Universitário, Avenida P.H. Rolfs, s/n, Viçosa, Minas Gerais CEP: 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro Bittencourt
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Rodovia BR 465, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro CEP: 23890-000, Brazil
| | - John Furlong
- Laboratório de Parasitologia da Embrapa Gado de Leite (Embrapa CNPGL), Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, 610, Bairro Dom Bosco, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais CEP: 36038-330, Brazil
| | - Márcia Cristina de Azevedo Prata
- Laboratório de Parasitologia da Embrapa Gado de Leite (Embrapa CNPGL), Rua Eugênio do Nascimento, 610, Bairro Dom Bosco, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais CEP: 36038-330, Brazil
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Dyonisio GHS, Batista HR, da Silva RE, Azevedo RCDFE, Costa JDOJ, Manhães IBDO, Tonhosolo R, Gennari SM, Minervino AHH, Marcili A. Molecular Diagnosis and Prevalence of Trypanosoma vivax (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) in Buffaloes and Ectoparasites in the Brazilian Amazon Region. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:403-407. [PMID: 32696974 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma vivax Ziemann is a parasite that affects both wild and domestic ungulates and is transmitted mechanically via tabanids and other blood-sucking insects in the Americas. A total of 621 blood samples from water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis (Linnaeus) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), and 184 ectoparasite samples (Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) sensu stricto and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Acari: Ixodidae), and Haematopinus tuberculatus (Burmeister) (Phthiraptera: Haematopinidae)) were obtained from 60 farms in the State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon. Twelve buffalo blood samples (1.89%) and 11 ectoparasites (6%) were positive for T. vivax based on the cathepsin L-like gene. All sequences were 99% similar to T. vivax from northeastern Brazil (EU753788) in amplified PCR assays on each of the hosts tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Henrique Souza Dyonisio
- Programa de Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única - Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Helder Ribeiro Batista
- Laboratório de Sanidade Animal, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará. Rua Vera Cruz s/n, Salé, Santarém, Pará, Brasil
| | - Ryan Emiliano da Silva
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Roberta Carvalho de Freitas E Azevedo
- Programa de Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única - Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Jaciara de Oliveira Jorge Costa
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Ingridi Braz de Oliveira Manhães
- Programa de Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única - Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Renata Tonhosolo
- Faculdade de Medicina - Universidade Santo Amaro. Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Solange Maria Gennari
- Programa de Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única - Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Arlei Marcili
- Programa de Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única - Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Enéas de Siqueira Neto, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Yawa M, Nyangiwe N, Jaja IF, Kadzere CT, Marufu MC. Prevalence of serum antibodies of tick-borne diseases and the presence of Rhipicephalus microplus in communal grazing cattle in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1183-1191. [PMID: 33409632 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07024-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A survey to determine the prevalence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and ticks infesting cattle was conducted in the communal areas of the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) between January 2019 and October 2019. Tick counts, packed cell volume (PCV), body condition scores (BCS), and serological test for TBDs were seasonally conducted in communally grazed cattle (n = 240) in Joe Gqabi district in two local municipalities (Elundini and Senqu). A standard indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to determine antibodies to Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, and Ehrlichia ruminantium and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for antibodies to Anaplasma marginale detection. The highest tick loads were observed on cattle during the hot-wet and post-rainy seasons and lowest during the cool-dry season. The E. ruminantium prevalence in Elundini was 16% and 14% in post-rainy and hot-dry seasons respectively and 15% at Senqu during the post-rainy season. B. bigemina prevalence was highest at Elundini (18%) and Senqu (16%) during the post-rainy season and hot-wet season respectively. Cattle BCS was negatively correlated with E. ruminantium (P < 0.01; r = - 0.203), B. bovis (P < 0.01; r = - 0.125), and A. marginale (P < 0.01; r = - 0.122) seroprevalence. The PCV was negatively correlated with B. bigemina (P < 0.01; r = - 0.138) seroprevalence. On the other hand, E. ruminantium was positively correlated with Amblyomma hebraeum (P < 0.05; r = 0.112) infestation, while B. bovis (P < 0.05; r = 0.134) and B. bigemina (P < 0.05; r = 0.188) were positively correlated with Rhipicephalus microplus infestation, and B. bigemina (P < 0.05; r = 0.077) was positively correlated with Rhipicephalus decoloratus infestation. Our study reports for the first time the presence of R. microplus in the study area. Further research is, however, needed to better understand seroprevalence and the transmission mode of TBDs to cattle so that effective disease control measures can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandla Yawa
- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa
| | - Nkululeko Nyangiwe
- Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X15, Stutterheim, 4930, South Africa.
| | - Ishmael Festus Jaja
- Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa
| | - Charles T Kadzere
- Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X15, Stutterheim, 4930, South Africa
| | - Munyaradzi Christopher Marufu
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X4, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
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Marques R, Krüger RF, Peterson AT, de Melo LF, Vicenzi N, Jiménez-García D. Climate change implications for the distribution of the babesiosis and anaplasmosis tick vector, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Vet Res 2020; 51:81. [PMID: 32546223 PMCID: PMC7298856 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-020-00802-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change ranks among the most important issues globally, affecting geographic distributions of vectors and pathogens, and inducing losses in livestock production among many other damaging effects. We characterized the potential geographic distribution of the ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, an important vector of babesiosis and anaplasmosis globally. We evaluated potential geographic shifts in suitability patterns for this species in two periods (2050 and 2070) and under two emissions scenarios (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). Our results anticipate increases in suitability worldwide, particularly in the highest production areas for cattle. The Indo-Malayan region resulted in the highest cattle exposure under both climate change projections (2050), with increases in suitability of > 30%. This study illustrates how ecological niche modeling can be used to explore probable effects of climate change on disease vectors, and the possible consequences on economic dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Marques
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Rodrigo F. Krüger
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | | | - Larissa F. de Melo
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Natália Vicenzi
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Daniel Jiménez-García
- Centro de Agroecología y Ambiente, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Puebla México
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Obara I, Githaka N, Nijhof A, Krücken J, Nanteza A, Odongo D, Lubembe D, Atimnedi P, Mijele D, Njeri A, Mwaura S, Owido G, Ahmed J, Clausen PH, Bishop RP. The Rhipicephalus appendiculatus tick vector of Theileria parva is absent from cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) populations and associated ecosystems in northern Uganda. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2363-2367. [PMID: 32500369 PMCID: PMC7308261 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06728-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the major tick vector of Theileria parva, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that causes the most economically important and lethal disease of cattle in East and central Africa. The African cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is the major wildlife host of T. parva from southern Uganda and Kenya to southern Africa. We show herein that R. appendiculatus appears to be absent from the two largest national parks in northern Uganda. Syncerus caffer is common in both of these national parks, specifically Murchison falls (MFNP) and Kidepo Valley (KVNP). We re-confirmed the previously reported absence of T. parva in buffalo sampled in the two northern parks based on RLB data using a nested PCR based on the T. parva p104 gene. By contrast, T. parva-infected R. appendiculatus ticks and parasite-infected buffalo were present in Lake Mburo (LMNP) in South central Uganda. This suggests that the distribution of R. appendiculatus, which is predicted to include the higher rainfall regions of northern Uganda, may be limited by additional, as yet unknown factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Obara
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
| | - N Githaka
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - A Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - J Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Nanteza
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - D Odongo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - D Lubembe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - P Atimnedi
- Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kampala, Uganda
| | - D Mijele
- Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - A Njeri
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - S Mwaura
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - G Owido
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - J Ahmed
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - P H Clausen
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - R P Bishop
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Romiti F, Magliano A, Antognetti V, Manna G, Cersini A, Scicluna MT, De Liberato C. Investigation of Ixodid ticks as vectors of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in central Italy. J Vector Ecol 2020; 45:25-31. [PMID: 32492265 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are widely recognized as causative agents of equine pirolasmosis (EP), an acute, sub-acute, and chronic disease of equines, with relevant economic impact on horse trade worldwide. Although several studies on EP prevalence from central Italy have been published, data on ticks responsible for its transmission are still lacking. In this study, we identified a potential competent vector, investigating main features of its ecology together with EP infection rates. A two-year sampling of questing ticks was carried out for the first time in Italy in an area known for high EP prevalence in horse sera, detecting the association between Rhipicephalus bursa and causative agents of EP. Most of the positive pools harbored a single infection (91.1%); mixed infections were also detected (8.9%). The infection rate for T. equi slightly decreased among years; B. caballi showed a lower, but increasing, infection rate. Tick phenology, climate variables, and peaks of EP prevalence indicated late May and second half of June as periods with the highest risk of new infections, especially during warm and dry days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Romiti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Adele Magliano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Antognetti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Manna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Cersini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Scicluna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio De Liberato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178, Rome, Italy
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10
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Zeb J, Szekeres S, Takács N, Kontschán J, Shams S, Ayaz S, Hornok S. Genetic diversity, piroplasms and trypanosomes in Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum collected from cattle in northern Pakistan. Exp Appl Acarol 2019; 79:233-243. [PMID: 31578647 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00418-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The two most important tick species in Pakistan are Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum. When associated with cattle, these have one or three host life cycles, respectively, with potential implications for their population genetics and for their vector role in the transmission of pathogens. To compare the two tick species in this context with molecular-phylogenetic methods, during the present study 123 ticks were collected from cattle in northern Pakistan. Two mitochondrial markers of 36 ticks were molecularly analyzed. All 11 R. microplus specimens had identical cox1 haplotypes, whereas the 25 H. anatolicum specimens had nine cox1 haplotypes. The latter belonged to two distinct phylogenetic lineages with high support. However, in the 16S rRNA gene these differences were less evident. Among the 113 ticks molecularly analyzed for tick-borne protozoa, the sequence of Babesia occultans was successfully amplified from two specimens of H. anatolicum. Theileria annulata was present in both R. microplus (10.4%) and H. anatolicum (27.3%), with significantly higher prevalence rate in the latter species. Only one tick, a H. anatolicum female, was positive in the PCR detecting Trypanosoma spp. Sequencing revealed the presence of a new genotype, with the closest phylogenetic relationship to stercorarian trypanosomes (in particular, to a tick-associated Trypanosoma sp. from Japan). In conclusion, the above differences between R. microplus and H. anatolicum may be partly related to their life cycles involving one host or three hosts, respectively. Among the others, host switching (reducing chances of inbreeding) and shorter periods spent on-host (reducing gene flow between cattle herds) are supposed to be important drivers of cox1 gene diversification in case of H. anatolicum as a three host tick species. These results highlight the importance of studying differences in intraspecific genetic diversity and piroplasm burdens between one host and three host ticks in the local scale. In addition, a Trypanosoma sp. molecularly identified in H. anatolicum is reported here for the first time from South Asia, deserving further evaluation concerning its host and vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehan Zeb
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sumaira Shams
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Sultan Ayaz
- College of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
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11
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Bohaliga GAR, Johnson WC, Taus NS, Hussein HE, Bastos RG, Suarez CE, O’Connor R, Ueti MW. Identification of a putative methyltransferase gene of Babesia bigemina as a novel molecular biomarker uniquely expressed in parasite tick stages. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:480. [PMID: 30143025 PMCID: PMC6109354 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine babesiosis is caused by apicomplexan pathogens of the genus Babesia such as B. bigemina and B. bovis. These tick-borne pathogens have a complex life-cycle involving asexual multiplication in vertebrate hosts and sexual reproduction in invertebrate vectors. In the tick midgut, extracellular Babesia parasites transform into gametes that fuse to form zygotes. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie formation of extracellular Babesia tick stages is an important step towards developing control strategies for preventing tick infection and subsequent parasite transmission. RESULTS We induced B. bigemina sexual stages in vitro by exposing parasites to Tris 2-carboxyethyl phosphine (TCEP). Subsequently, we identified a novel putative methyltransferase gene (BBBOND_0204030) that is expressed uniquely in all B. bigemina tick stages but not in blood stages. In vitro TCEP-exposed B. bigemina presented diverse morphology including parasites with long projections, round forms and clusters of round forms indicative of sexual stage induction. We confirmed the development of sexual stages by detecting upregulation of previously defined B. bigemina sexual stage marker genes, ccp2 and 3, and their respective protein expression in TCEP-induced B. bigemina cultures. Next, transcription analysis of in vitro TCEP-induced B. bigemina culture based on an in silico derived list of homologs of Plasmodium falciparum gamete-specific genes demonstrated differential expression of the gene BBBOND_0204030 in induced cells. Further examination of ex vivo infected ticks demonstrated that BBBOND_0204030 is transcribed by multiple stages of B. bigemina during parasite development in tick midgut, ovary and hemolymph. Interestingly, ex vivo results confirmed our in vitro observation that blood stages of B. bigemina do not express BBBOND_0204030 and validated the in vitro system of inducing sexual stages. CONCLUSIONS Herein we describe the identification of a B. bigemina gene transcribed exclusively by parasites infecting ticks using a novel method of inducing B. bigemina sexual stages in vitro. We propose that this gene can be used as a marker for parasite development within the tick vector. Together, these tools will facilitate our understanding of parasite-tick interactions, the identification of novel vaccine targets and, consequently, the development of additional strategies to control bovine babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gamila A. R. Bohaliga
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Wendell C. Johnson
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Naomi S. Taus
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Hala E. Hussein
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
| | - Roberta O’Connor
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Program in Vector-borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164 USA
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, Washington, 99164-6630 USA
- The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164-70403 USA
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12
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Kuo CC, Huang JL, Chien CH, Shih HC, Wang HC. First molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the hard tick Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides in Taiwan. Exp Appl Acarol 2018; 75:437-443. [PMID: 30116923 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is transmitted mainly by hard ticks and can cause potentially fatal granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans, but its occurrence in ticks in Taiwan has never been investigated although this pathogen has been detected in Taiwanese rodents before. Ticks collected from small mammals in Hualien, eastern Taiwan, were assayed for Anaplasma infections; infections of Rickettsia and Apicomplexa protozoans were also studied. Of the 270 individually assayed Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks, A. phagocytophilum was identified in a nymphal tick. Parasites most similar to Anaplasma bovis, Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia sp. TwKM01, and at least seven apicomplexan species (including genera Cryptosporidium, Hepatozoon, and Theileria) were also identified. This study shows that A. phagocytophilum does occur in the hard tick in Taiwan, although whether R. haemaphysaloides can vector this pathogen remains to be determined. This work also reveals a high diversity of tick-borne bacteria and protozoans circulating in a small region and calls for further research on their potential risks for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chien Kuo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jing-Lun Huang
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
- Biological Sciences, Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Chia-Hao Chien
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chun Shih
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Chieh Wang
- Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan.
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13
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Miraballes C, Riet-Correa F. A review of the history of research and control of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, babesiosis and anaplasmosis in Uruguay. Exp Appl Acarol 2018; 75:383-398. [PMID: 30083875 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0278-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In Uruguay, control of Rhipicephalus microplus began in 1910. In 1941 the eradication of R. micoplus throughout the country was declared mandatory, although this attempt was unsuccessful. Since 2008 the country was divided into two regions: the south-western region, which is free of ticks; and a region of tick control that includes all departments to the north of the Rio Negro and five departments in the eastern region. In Uruguay, investigations on R. microplus, babesiosis and anaplasmosis started in 1921, and in the 1970s, studies of the epidemiology of R. microplus determined that from 2 to 3.5 generations can be produced annually and that the country is in an area of enzootic instability for babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Knowledge of tick epidemiology and of tick resistance to different acaricides led to the development of efficient methods of control or eradication, including integrated control and generational treatment. Although research results have led to a legal framework regarding R. microplus control, these measures have had variable results. This can be attributed to several factors, such as the discontinuation of the control measures, variable financial resources, changes in the dynamics of livestock movement, failure to adopt available technology for tick control by farmers, climate change, environmental alterations such as forestation and the increasing resistance of ticks to acaricides, which led to the development of multiresistant ticks. This paper reviews the history of R. microplus, babesiosis and anaplasmosis in Uruguay and proposes alternatives for their control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Miraballes
- National Institute of Agriculture Research (INIA), Casilla de Correo 39173, 70000, Colonia Del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay.
- Graduate Program on Veterinary Science, Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Franklin Riet-Correa
- National Institute of Agriculture Research (INIA), Casilla de Correo 39173, 70000, Colonia Del Sacramento, Colonia, Uruguay
- Graduate Program on Veterinary Science, Animal Health, Veterinary Faculty, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay
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14
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Hussein HE, Bastos RG, Schneider DA, Johnson WC, Adham FK, Davis WC, Laughery JM, Herndon DR, Alzan HF, Ueti MW, Suarez CE. The Babesia bovis hap2 gene is not required for blood stage replication, but expressed upon in vitro sexual stage induction. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0005965. [PMID: 28985216 PMCID: PMC5646870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis, is a tick borne apicomplexan parasite responsible for important cattle losses globally. Babesia parasites have a complex life cycle including asexual replication in the mammalian host and sexual reproduction in the tick vector. Novel control strategies aimed at limiting transmission of the parasite are needed, but transmission blocking vaccine candidates remain undefined. Expression of HAP2 has been recognized as critical for the fertilization of parasites in the Babesia-related Plasmodium, and is a leading candidate for a transmission blocking vaccine against malaria. Hereby we identified the B. bovis hap2 gene and demonstrated that it is widely conserved and differentially transcribed during development within the tick midgut, but not by blood stage parasites. The hap2 gene was disrupted by transfecting B. bovis with a plasmid containing the flanking regions of the hap2 gene and the GPF-BSD gene under the control of the ef-1α-B promoter. Comparison of in vitro growth between a hap2-KO B. bovis clonal line and its parental wild type strain showed that HAP2 is not required for the development of B. bovis in erythrocytes. However, xanthurenic acid-in vitro induction experiments of sexual stages of parasites recovered after tick transmission resulted in surface expression of HAP2 exclusively in sexual stage induced parasites. In addition, hap2-KO parasites were not able to develop such sexual stages as defined both by morphology and by expression of the B. bovis sexual marker genes 6-Cys A and B. Together, the data strongly suggests that tick midgut stage differential expression of hap2 is associated with the development of B. bovis sexual forms. Overall these studies are consistent with a role of HAP2 in tick stages of the parasite and suggest that HAP2 is a potential candidate for a transmission blocking vaccine against bovine babesiosis. Babesia bovis, is a tick borne apicomplexan parasite responsible for important cattle losses globally. Babesia parasites have a complex life cycle including asexual replication in the mammalian host and sexual reproduction in the tick vector. Novel control strategies aimed at limiting transmission of the parasite are needed, but transmission blocking vaccine candidates remain undefined. In this study we analyze the conservation and role of the hap2 gene in the erythrocyte stage of the life cycle of the parasite and found that expression of the gene is not required for the development of the parasite in erythrocytic stages, using a hap2 mutated parasite line. In addition, we developed an in vitro system for the induction of sexual forms of B. bovis and found expression of the hap2 gene and surface localization of the protein. However, hap2-KO parasites are unable to develop sexual stages. We concluded that HAP2 is a leading candidate for a transmission blocking vaccine against bovine babesiosis due of the high level of conservation, surface exposure, and specific expression in tick stage and in in vitro induced sexual stages parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hala E. Hussein
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Reginaldo G. Bastos
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - David A. Schneider
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Wendell C. Johnson
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Fatma K. Adham
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - William C. Davis
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Jacob M. Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - David R. Herndon
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Heba F. Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
- Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Egypt
| | - Massaro W. Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States of America
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States of America
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Oldiges DP, Laughery JM, Tagliari NJ, Leite Filho RV, Davis WC, da Silva Vaz I, Termignoni C, Knowles DP, Suarez CE. Transfected Babesia bovis Expressing a Tick GST as a Live Vector Vaccine. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005152. [PMID: 27911903 PMCID: PMC5135042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rhipicephalus microplus tick is a notorious blood-feeding ectoparasite of livestock, especially cattle, responsible for massive losses in animal production. It is the main vector for transmission of pathogenic bacteria and parasites, including Babesia bovis, an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan protozoan parasite responsible for bovine Babesiosis. This study describes the development and testing of a live B. bovis vaccine expressing the protective tick antigen glutathione-S-transferase from Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlGST). The B. bovis S74-T3B parasites were electroporated with a plasmid containing the bidirectional Ef-1α (elongation factor 1 alpha) promoter of B. bovis controlling expression of two independent genes, the selectable marker GFP-BSD (green fluorescent protein–blasticidin deaminase), and HlGST fused to the MSA-1 (merozoite surface antigen 1) signal peptide from B. bovis. Electroporation followed by blasticidin selection resulted in the emergence of a mixed B. bovis transfected line (termed HlGST) in in vitro cultures, containing parasites with distinct patterns of insertion of both exogenous genes, either in or outside the Ef-1α locus. A B. bovis clonal line termed HlGST-Cln expressing intracellular GFP and HlGST in the surface of merozoites was then derived from the mixed parasite line HlGST using a fluorescent activated cell sorter. Two independent calf immunization trials were performed via intravenous inoculation of the HlGST-Cln and a previously described control consisting of an irrelevant transfected clonal line of B. bovis designated GFP-Cln. The control GFP-Cln line contains a copy of the GFP-BSD gene inserted into the Ef-1α locus of B. bovis in an identical fashion as the HIGST-Cln parasites. All animals inoculated with the HlGST-Cln and GFP-Cln transfected parasites developed mild babesiosis. Tick egg fertility and fully engorged female tick weight was reduced significantly in R. microplus feeding on HlGST-Cln-immunized calves. Collectively, these data show the efficacy of a transfected HlGST-Cln B. bovis parasite to induce detectable anti-glutathione-S-transferase antibodies and a reduction in tick size and fecundity of R. microplus feeding in experimentally inoculated animals. The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a hematophagous ectoparasite, responsible for the transmission of lethal parasites such as Babesia sp, limiting cattle production in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. There is an urgent emerging need for improved methods of control for these currently neglected tick and tick borne diseases. It is hypothesized that a dual attenuated-live vector vaccine containing a stably transfected tick antigen elicits protective immune responses against the parasite and the tick vector in vaccinated cattle. Live Babesia vaccines based on attenuated parasites are the only effective method available for preventing acute babesiosis. On the other hand, glutathione-S-transferase from Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlGST) is a known effective antigen against Rhipicephalus microplus, the most common vector for B. bovis. This study describes the development and testing of a transfected, B. bovis vaccine expressing HlGST against the tick R. microplus. A B. bovis clonal line designated HlGST-Cln expressing HlGST and GFP/BSD, and separately a control transfected B. bovis clonal line expressing only GFP/BSD was used to vaccinate calves in two independent experiments. All immunized calves developed mild babesiosis, and only calves immunized with the HlGST-Cln parasite line generated anti-HlGST antibodies. Tick egg fertility and fully engorged female tick weight were reduced significantly in R. microplus feeding on HlGST-Cln-vaccinated calves. Taken together, these data demonstrates the ability of transfected B. bovis to elicit antibodies against a heterologous tick antigen in cattle and to induce partial protection in the vaccinated animals against the cattle tick for the first time, representing a step toward the goal to produce a live vector anti-tick vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane P. Oldiges
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Jacob M. Laughery
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Nelson Junior Tagliari
- Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Viana Leite Filho
- Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - William C. Davis
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Donald P. Knowles
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail: ,
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16
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Combrink MP, Troskie PC, de Klerk DG, Pienaar R, Latif AA, Mans BJ. Co-transmission of the non-transmissible South African Babesia bovis S24 vaccine strain during mixed infection with a field isolate. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 6:158-63. [PMID: 25544307 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The South African Babesia bovis live blood vaccine, originating from a field isolate attenuated by 23 serial syringe passages in splenectomized calves, has lost the ability to infect the natural vector Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. In this study, infection with mixed parasites from the vaccine strain and a field isolate, resulted in transmission of both genotype populations. Comparing the field isolate and transmitted combination indicated no significant difference in their virulence, while challenge of vaccinated cattle with these isolates showed the ability of the vaccine to protect against both. Limiting dilution of the transmitted combination, followed by infection of splenectomized cattle (n=34) yielded no single infections for the vaccine strain genotype, seven clonal lines of the field isolate and one mixture of vaccine strain and field isolate. Only one of two field isolate clonal lines selected for vector transmission study was transmitted. Showing that B. bovis isolates can contain both tick transmissible and non-transmissible subpopulations. The findings of this study also indicate the probability of vaccine co-infection transmission occurring in the field, which may result in new genotype populations of B. bovis. However, the impact of this recombination with field isolates is considered negligible since a genotypically diverse population of B. bovis is already present in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Combrink
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
| | - P C Troskie
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - D G de Klerk
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - R Pienaar
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - A A Latif
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - B J Mans
- Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
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17
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Leta S, De Clercq EM, Madder M. High-resolution predictive mapping for Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Horn of Africa. Exp Appl Acarol 2013; 60:531-542. [PMID: 23413173 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-013-9670-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, vector of East Coast fever (ECF) and related cattle diseases caused by Theileria parva has never been reported from the Horn of Africa. Habitat suitability for this tick species was predicted using Maxent modelling technique based on R. appendiculatus records in Sub-Saharan Africa. Two models were developed: the first is based on the tropical R. appendiculatus distribution and the one is based on the distribution records in the temperate region of Sub-Saharan Africa. The tropical model shows favourable habitat in much of the Ethiopian highlands. The whole Djibouti, the south eastern Ethiopian lowlands, majority of Somalia and Eritrea were found to be not suitable for the survival and development of this tick species. Highly suitable areas occur in areas which have moderate temperature and high precipitation. Introductions of R. appendiculatus into the Horn of Africa probably have been prevented by the natural barrier between the known R. appendiculatus distribution range in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. The effect of an introduction of R. appendiculatus and thereby ECF into the Horn of Africa could be catastrophic since the cattle in this area have no immunity against ECF, and mortality might be considerable in all age groups of cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Leta
- Adami Tullu Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 35, Ziway, Ethiopia.
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18
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Rodríguez-Vivas RI, Ojeda-Chi MM, Rosado-Aguilar JA, Trinidad-Martínez IC, Torres-Acosta JFJ, Ticante-Perez V, Castro-Marín JM, Tapia-Moo CA, Vázquez-Gómez G. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) as a host for the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Yucatan, Mexico. Exp Appl Acarol 2013; 60:543-552. [PMID: 23423423 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-013-9672-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus microplus is the most economically important cattle tick in the Mexican tropics. Wild ungulate species, including red deer (Cervus elaphus), are gaining popularity in diversified livestock ranching operations in Mexico. However, there is no information available on the susceptibility of red deer to infestation with the cattle tick, R. microplus, under hot, subhumid tropical conditions in Mexico. Biological data on R. microplus as an ectoparasite of cattle and red deer in a farm in the Mexican tropics are presented here. Ticks collected from red deer were identified as R. microplus (97 %) and Amblyomma cajennense (3 %), and tick species infesting cattle included R. microplus (95 %) and A. cajennense (5 %). Standard counts of R. microplus engorged females on red deer were 11 times higher than on cattle (428 ± 43 vs. 40 ± 18; p < 0.001). The reproductive efficiency index and larval hatching of R. microplus collected from cattle and red deer were similar (p > 0.05). Hemolymph samples of R. microplus collected from cattle were positive for Babesia spp. (10 %, 2/50) and all the samples from ticks infesting red deer were negative. Seventeen and ten percent of the blood samples from cattle and red deer were positive for Anaplasma marginale, respectively. The role of red deer as a host of R. microplus in Yucatan, Mexico and the importance of this host-parasite relationship relative to the epidemiology of R. microplus-borne diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R I Rodríguez-Vivas
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
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19
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Miranda-Miranda E, Cossio-Bayugar R, Martinez-Ibañez F, Bautista-Garfias CR. Megaselia scalaris reared on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus laboratory cultures. Med Vet Entomol 2011; 25:344-347. [PMID: 21143490 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00930.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Different laboratory cultures of the acarine tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini, 1888) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) were infested by small Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866) (Diptera: Phoridae) flies. Larvae of this species exhibited opportunistic parasitism predominantly on engorged female ticks, causing severe damage to their cuticle through which the flies were able to reach R. microplus internal organs, on which they fed until developing into pupae in the tick's remains. The flies were kept by continuous propagation on fresh ticks over six generations during which the same parasitoid behaviour was observed. Here we report on an ixodid tick laboratory culture used for rearing M. scalaris.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Miranda-Miranda
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Parasitología Veterinaria, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciónes Forestales y Agrícolas y Pecuarías, Jiutepec, Mexico
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20
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Katzer F, Lizundia R, Ngugi D, Blake D, McKeever D. Construction of a genetic map for Theileria parva: identification of hotspots of recombination. Int J Parasitol 2011; 41:669-75. [PMID: 21310160 PMCID: PMC3084458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 01/11/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria parva is the causal agent of East Coast Fever (ECF), a severe lymphoproliferative disease of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa. The life cycle of T. parva is predominantly haploid, with a brief diploid stage occurring in the tick vector that involves meiotic recombination. Resolved genetic studies of T. parva are currently constrained by the lack of a genome-wide high-definition genetic map of the parasite. We undertook a genetic cross of two cloned isolates of T. parva to construct such a map from 35 recombinant progeny, using a genome-wide panel of 79 variable number of tandem repeat markers. Progeny were established by in vitro cloning of cattle lymphocytes after infection with sporozoites prepared from Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks fed on a calf undergoing a dual infection with the two clonal parental stocks. The genetic map was determined by assigning individual markers to the four chromosome genome, whose physical length is approximately 8309 kilobasepairs (Kb). Segregation analysis of the markers among the progeny revealed a total genetic size of 1683.8 centiMorgans (cM), covering a physical distance of 7737.62 Kb (∼93% of the genome). The average genome-wide recombination rate observed for T. parva was relatively high, at 0.22 cM Kb(-1) per meiotic generation. Recombination hot-spots and cold-spots were identified for each of the chromosomes. A panel of 27 loci encoding determinants previously identified as immunorelevant or likely to be under selection were positioned on the linkage map. We believe this to be the first genetic linkage map for T. parva. This resource, with the availability of the genome sequence of T. parva, will promote improved understanding of the pathogen by facilitating the use of genetic analysis for identification of loci responsible for variable phenotypic traits exhibited by individual parasite stocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Katzer
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Regina Lizundia
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Daniel Ngugi
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Damer Blake
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Declan McKeever
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
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21
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Odongo DO, Ueti MW, Mwaura SN, Knowles DP, Bishop RP, Scoles GA. Quantification of Theileria parva in Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Acari: Ixodidae) confirms differences in infection between selected tick strains. J Med Entomol 2009; 46:888-894. [PMID: 19645294 DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Theileria parva is the etiologic agent of East Coast fever, an economically important disease of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. This protozoan parasite is biologically transmitted by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Neumann) (Acari: Ixodidae). An understanding of the vector-parasite interaction may aid the development of improved methods for controlling transmission. We developed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and nested PCR (nPCR) assays targeting the T. parva-specific p104 gene to study T. parva pathogenesis in two strains of R. appendiculatus that had previously been selected to be relatively more (Kiambu) or less (Muguga) susceptible to infection. Nymphs from both strains were fed simultaneously to repletion on acutely infected calves. Nymphs from the Kiambu strain showed significantly higher engorgement weights compared with Muguga strain nymphs. Immediately after engorgement qPCR confirmed that nymphal Kiambu ticks had significantly higher parasite loads at repletion than Muguga nymphs. By 12 d postengorgement, parasites were below quantifiable levels but could be detected by nPCR in 83-87% (Muguga and Kiambu, respectively) of nymphs. After the molt, adult feeding on naïve cattle stimulated parasite replication in the salivary glands. PCR detected significantly more infected ticks than microscopy, and there was a significant difference between the two tick strains both in the proportion of ticks that develop salivary gland infections, and in the number of parasites within infected salivary glands. These data confirm that although both tick strains were competent vectors, Kiambu is both a significantly more susceptible and a more efficient host for T. parva than Muguga. The mechanisms that contribute to the levels of susceptibility and efficiency are unknown; however, this study lays the groundwork for a comparison of the transcriptome of these tick strains, the next step toward discovering the genes involved in the tick-parasite interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- David O Odongo
- International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi, Kenya
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22
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Rocchi MS, Ballingall KT, Ngugi D, MacHugh ND, McKeever DJ. A rapid and sensitive intracellular flow cytometric assay to identify Theileria parva infection within target cells. Parasitology 2007; 135:195-201. [PMID: 17892619 PMCID: PMC2628746 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182007003678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Theileria parva is an intracellular protozoan parasite transmitted by ticks that causes a fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle known as East Coast Fever. Vaccination against the disease currently relies on inoculation of the infective sporozoite stage of the parasite and simultaneous treatment with long-acting formulations of oxytetracycline. Sporozoites are maintained as frozen stabilates of triturated infected ticks and the method requires accurate titration of stabilates to determine appropriate dose rates. Titration has traditionally been undertaken in cattle and requires large numbers of animals because of individual variation in susceptibility to infection. An alternative tissue culture-based method is laborious and time consuming. We have developed a flow cytometric method for quantifying the infectivity of sporozoite stabilates in vitro based on the detection of intracellular parasite antigen. The method allows clear identification of parasitized cells with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Analysis of infected cells between 48 and 72 h post-infection clearly defines the potential transforming capability of different stabilates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ, Scotland.
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23
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Berens SJ, Brayton KA, McElwain TF. Coinfection with antigenically and genetically distinct virulent strains of Babesia bovis is maintained through all phases of the parasite life cycle. Infect Immun 2007; 75:5769-76. [PMID: 17893136 PMCID: PMC2168326 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00802-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigenic polymorphism is a defining characteristic of the Babesia bovis variable merozoite surface antigen (VMSA) family. Sequence analysis strongly suggests that recombination between virulent strains contributes to VMSA diversity. While meiosis during the aneuploid stage of the parasite's life cycle in the tick vector Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is the most probable source of interstrain recombination, there is no definitive evidence that coinfection of the mammalian host or R. microplus ticks with more than one virulent strain occurs. Using allele-specific real-time quantitative PCR, we tested the hypotheses that cattle could support coinfection of two antigenically variant virulent tick-transmissible strains of B. bovis and that R. microplus ticks could acquire and transmit these two divergent strains. The results indicate that both calves and ticks can support virulent B. bovis coinfection through all phases of the hemoparasite's life cycle. Neither strain dominated in either the mammalian or invertebrate host, and larval tick progeny, which could be coinfected individually, were also able to transmit both strains, resulting in virulent babesiosis in recipients. While coinfection of the tick vector provides the context in which allelic antigenic diversity can be generated, recombination of VMSA genes could not be confirmed, suggesting that VMSA allelic changes are slow to accumulate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn J Berens
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA.
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24
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Altay K, Aktas M, Dumanli N. Detection of Babesia ovis by PCR in Rhipicephalus bursa collected from naturally infested sheep and goats. Res Vet Sci 2007; 85:116-9. [PMID: 17881019 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2007] [Revised: 05/21/2007] [Accepted: 08/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the presence and the frequency of Babesia ovis infection in the adult Rhipicephalus bursa and their hosts in Elazig province located in eastern Turkey. Tick and blood samples were collected from 32 sheep and 28 goats of four selected herds. A total of 226 R. bursa were randomly selected from the collected ticks and their salivary glands were dissected out in 0.85% saline under stereo microscope. DNA amplification method revealed that the frequency of B. ovis infections in the ticks and the small ruminants were 16.37% (37/226) and 6.66% (4/60), respectively. Three positive products, two of which were from the salivary glands of R. bursa and the other from sheep blood were purified from agarose gel and sequenced. The results showed that nucleotide sequences were identical to the previously reported nucleotide sequences of B. ovis. It is concluded that R. bursa might play an important role in the field as a natural vector of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Altay
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey.
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25
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Howell JM, Ueti MW, Palmer GH, Scoles GA, Knowles DP. Persistently infected calves as reservoirs for acquisition and transovarial transmission of Babesia bovis by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:3155-9. [PMID: 17687016 PMCID: PMC2045367 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00766-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia bovis is a deadly disease of cattle resulting in severe economic losses in the vast regions of the world where it is endemic. If reintroduced into the United States, babesiosis would cause significant mortality in the naïve cattle population. In order to address the risk to U.S. cattle, it is essential to quantify the transovarial transmission efficiency in adult female Boophilus microplus ticks following acquisition feeding on persistently infected cattle. This study tested the hypothesis that infection rates are the same for larval progeny derived from females fed to repletion during persistent or acute infection. Increasing parasite levels during acute infection correlated with an increasing number of females harboring kinetes detectable in hemolymph (r = 0.9). The percent infected larvae ranged from 0 to 20% when derived from females fed to repletion on persistently infected calves and from 4 to 6% when derived from females fed to repletion during acute parasitemia. There was no significant difference in infection rates of larval progeny, implying that the risk associated with the introduction of either persistently infected or acutely infected cattle is equal. Parasite levels ranged from 2.4 x 10(2) to 1.9 x 10(5) in 3-day-fed larvae derived from females fed to repletion on persistently infected cattle. One group of larvae failed to transmit the parasite, suggesting that a threshold level of parasites must be obtained by larval progeny via transovarial transmission in order for larvae to deliver sufficient parasites to infect a naïve host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne M Howell
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA.
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26
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Konnai S, Yamada S, Imamura S, Simuunza M, Chembensof M, Chota A, Nambota A, Ohashi K, Onuma M. Attachment Duration Required forRhipicephalus appendiculatusto TransmitTheileria parvato the Host. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2007; 7:241-8. [PMID: 17627444 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2006.0616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva, the agent of East Coast fever (ECF), is transmitted to the host during the blood meal feeding of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. In order to investigate the relationship between the attachment duration of R. appendiculatus and the transmission of T. parva, infected adult ticks were allowed to attach to naive mice for variable lengths of time. Attached ticks and host animal's back skin biopsies from the tick attachment site were collected daily, starting from 24 hours post-tick attachment, and used for seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of T. parva. T. parva-infected ticks started to transmit the parasites from 72 hours post-tick attachment. As expected, the transmission of T. parva from ticks to mouse skin increased with duration of tick attachment. Transmission of the parasites was 77.7%, 100%, 85.5%, and 100% on day 4, 5, 6, and 7 post-tick attachment, respectively, as could be detected from mice skin biopsies taken from T. parva-infected ticks' attachment sites. These results have important implications for our understanding of early events in the transmission of T. parva and would help in the development of effective pharmacologic substances and/or vaccines against ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Konnai
- Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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27
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Guerrero FD, Bendele KG, Davey RB, George JE. Detection of Babesia bigemina infection in strains of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from outbreaks in South Texas. Vet Parasitol 2007; 145:156-63. [PMID: 17178440 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2006] [Revised: 11/15/2006] [Accepted: 11/21/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The sudden death of several cattle infested experimentally with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus led to a clinical investigation into the reasons for the unexpected mortality. Microscopic evidence for Babesia bigemina infection was found in blood smears from the affected animals and a PCR assay was designed to detect the presence of B. bigemina and Babesia bovis in all R. microplus strains received and propagated at the laboratory. The assay utilizes a nested PCR approach with the first PCR amplifying a well-conserved segment from the Babesia 18S ribosomal RNA gene followed by a nested PCR with Babesia species-specific primers and annealing temperatures enabling amplification of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene fragment specific to either B. bigemina or B. bovis. DNA from groups of 50 larvae was extracted using a rapid DNA preparation protocol, which consisted of grinding the frozen tick larvae in PCR buffer and boiling the mixture for 5min. The assay sensitivity allowed for the detection of the equivalent of a single infected tick larva. R. microplus eggs were also analyzed, but yolk protein viscosity created inconsistent results with the crush and boil DNA isolation protocol, necessitating the use of a more extensive proteinase K digestion-based DNA purification method. We detected the presence of B. bigemina in all strains of R. microplus currently reared at the laboratory and 4 of 26 strains collected from infestation outbreaks in Texas by the U.S. Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program.
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Affiliation(s)
- F D Guerrero
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland, US Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA.
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28
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Baneth G, Samish M, Shkap V. LIFE CYCLE OF HEPATOZOON CANIS (APICOMPLEXA: ADELEORINA: HEPATOZOIDAE) IN THE TICK RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS AND DOMESTIC DOG (CANIS FAMILIARIS). J Parasitol 2007; 93:283-99. [PMID: 17539411 DOI: 10.1645/ge-494r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The life cycle of the apicomplexan protozoon Hepatozoon canis in its natural hosts Rhipicephalus sanguineus (tick) and Canis familiaris (domestic dog) was studied in an experimental infection. Tick nymphs were fed on a naturally infected dog, or they were infected by percutaneous injection of blood. Dogs were inoculated by ingestion of adult ticks containing mature oocysts. Gamonts were in syzygy 24 hr after percutaneous injection of ticks. Early oocysts were detected 96 hr after nymph repletion, and mature oocysts in adult ticks were infective to dogs 40 days postmolt. Merogony was detected in dog bone marrow from 13 days postinoculation (PI) and included meronts containing 20-30 micromerozoites, and a second type with 2-4 macromerozoites. Monozoic cysts were observed in the spleen in conjunction with merogony. Gamontogony with infection of leukocytes by micromerozoites occurred from 26 days PI, and gamont parasitemia, which completed the life cycle, was detected 28 days PI. The length of the life cycle from nymphal attachment to parasitemia in dogs was 81 days. Increased body temperatures were evident from 16 to 27 days PI and paralleled the time of intensive bone marrow merogony. Skeletal pain and recumbency were manifested in 2 dogs. This study further elucidates the life cycle of H. canis and provides a sequential morphologic description of H. canis merogony, gamontogony, and sporogony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gad Baneth
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, PO. Box 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Silva OA, Silva PB, Silva OV, Braga GM, Albuquerque Júnior A, Queiros Neto V, Rocha ME, Silva EF. [Canine visceral leishmaniasis in northeast Brazil: epidemiological aspects]. Bull Soc Pathol Exot 2007; 100:49-50. [PMID: 17402696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In a rural area of Northeast Brazil, the relatively high serological infection by Leishmania in dogs, the lack of classical vector Lutzomyia longipalpis and of American Visceral Leishmaniasis cases in human beings and the observation of Leishmania in ticks collected in infected dogs suggest that ticks may be responsible for the transmission between dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- O A Silva
- Département de parasitologie, Centre de recherche Aggeu Magalhães/Fiocruz, Pernambouco, Brésil
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Swai ES, Karimuribo ED, Rugaimukamu EA, Kambarage DM. Factors influencing the distribution of questing ticks and the prevalence estimation of T. parva infection in brown ear ticks in the Tanga region, Tanzania. J Vector Ecol 2006; 31:224-8. [PMID: 17249338 DOI: 10.3376/1081-1710(2006)31[224:fitdoq]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Questing ticks from various districts and agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in the Tanga Region of Tanzania were studied for a two-year period between September 1999 and July 2001. Collections of both nymphal and adult ticks occurred at 29 sites using a blanket or white cloth dragging technique. The species recorded in the order of decreasing abundance were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Boophilus spp., and Ambylomma variegatum. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus field infestation levels varied across administrative districts and seasons, with Amani and the cool-to-dry season having lower tick counts ( = -2.09, SE = 0.71, P < 0.001 and = -1.54, SE = 0.56, P = 0.006 for Amani and cool to dry season, respectively). Based on the polymerase chain reaction technique, Theileria parva infection prevalence in adult R. appendiculatus was estimated to be 2.6%. Implications of these findings in light of the spatial and temporal distribution of ticks are discussed for the accurate diagnosis of multiple tick-borne diseases, the infected vector tick, the endemic status of T. parva in the region, and the implemention of control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- E S Swai
- Veterinary Investigation Centre, P. O. Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania
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Katzer F, Ngugi D, Oura C, Bishop RP, Taracha ELN, Walker AR, McKeever DJ. Extensive genotypic diversity in a recombining population of the apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva. Infect Immun 2006; 74:5456-64. [PMID: 16988220 PMCID: PMC1594911 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00472-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated sexual recombination in the apicomplexan parasite Theileria parva using genome-wide marker analysis of haploid sporozoite populations obtained from infected Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. Analysis of 231 parasite clones derived by in vitro infection of bovine lymphocytes revealed 48 distinct combinations of 64 polymorphic marker loci. One genotype accounted for more than 75% of the clones, and the population was highly inbred with respect to this. The occurrence of frequent recombination was evident from reassortment of contiguous markers in blocks, with some recombination occurring within blocks. Analysis of four polymorphic loci encoding antigens targeted by protective cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte responses confirmed that these loci reassort, both within and between chromosomes, suggesting that recombination may influence immune recognition. Marker analysis of a panel of 142 clones derived from the population after an additional passage through a calf and the same tick colony revealed 18 genotypes, with the original dominant genotype accounting for 75% of the population and a higher level of inbreeding with respect to it in the remaining clones. Selected marker analysis of genomic DNA from these stabilates and the two preceding generations of the isolate, each derived from distinct tick colonies, revealed shifts in population structure with each generation, suggesting that the tick vector may impose nonrandom selective pressure on the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Katzer
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom
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Liu Q, Zhou YQ, Zhou DN, Liu EY, Du K, Chen SG, Yao BA, Zhao JL. Semi-nested PCR detection of Babesia orientalis in its natural hosts Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and buffalo. Vet Parasitol 2006; 143:260-6. [PMID: 17005323 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2006] [Revised: 08/02/2006] [Accepted: 08/07/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis has recently been recognized as an emerging infectious disease of buffalo in China. In order to investigate the epidemiology and enzootic potential of this parasite in Hubei province, we sought to develop a semi-nested PCR to detect Babesia orientalis in buffalo and the potential tick vector-Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides by amplifying a specific 257bp fragment of B. orientalis 18S rRNA gene. The practical limit of detection showed that it had high sensitivity and an approximate parasitemia of 0.00000012% was detected by the PCR system. The blood samples of 121 asymptomatic buffaloes collected from four babesia endemic counties and that of 71 asymptomatic buffaloes collected from three babesia free counties in Hubei province of China were examined for the presence of B. orientalis using both Wright-Giemsa stained blood smear and semi-nested PCR. Microscopic examination revealed that 5/121 animals were positive, whereas 24/121 animals were positive by the semi-nested PCR assay. Of 378 ticks (R. haemaphysaloides) collected from buffaloes and examined by the semi-nested PCR, 35 were positive. The results showed that the semi-nested PCR was a useful method to investigate the epidemiology of buffalo babesiosis (B. orientalis), which is widely distributed in Hubei province, China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, PR China
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De Deken R, Martin V, Saido A, Madder M, Brandt J, Geysen D. An outbreak of East Coast Fever on the Comoros: a consequence of the import of immunised cattle from Tanzania? Vet Parasitol 2006; 143:245-53. [PMID: 16996692 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2006] [Revised: 08/02/2006] [Accepted: 08/09/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In 2003 and 2004, a severe epidemic decimated the cattle population on Grand Comore, the largest island of the Union of Comoros. Fatalities started soon after the import of cattle from Tanzania. Theileria parva and its vector, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, could be identified as the main culprits of the epidemic. Characterisation by multilocus genotyping revealed that the T. parva parasites isolated on the Comoros were identical to the components of the Muguga cocktail vaccine used in Tanzania to immunise cattle. Therefore, it is believed that East Coast Fever reached the Comoros while some of the imported livestock got infected in Tanzania by ticks of which the immature stadia fed on Muguga cocktail vaccinated animals. Since the Comorian government neither has the financial means nor the competent staff to pursue an adequate epidemiosurveillance, the danger exists that without external assistance and in a context of continuing globalisation more transboundary diseases will affect the Comorian livestock sector in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- R De Deken
- Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
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Konnai S, Imamura S, Nakajima C, Witola WH, Yamada S, Simuunza M, Nambota A, Yasuda J, Ohashi K, Onuma M. Acquisition and transmission of Theileria parva by vector tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Acta Trop 2006; 99:34-41. [PMID: 16899209 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2006.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2005] [Revised: 06/19/2006] [Accepted: 06/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In order to investigate the transmission dynamics of Theileria parva (T. parva) by the brown ear tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (R. appendiculatus), under experimental conditions, detection of T. parva in ticks and cattle was performed by a quantitative real-time PCR assay. A calf inoculated with a T. parva mixture became PCR-positive for T. parva infection on day 8 post-inoculation, and subsequently, nymphal ticks were introduced and maintained to feed on the infected calf for 6 days. Engorged nymphs were collected daily and allowed to molt into adults, and overall, 70.8% (121/171) of the adult ticks acquired the T. parva infection. Furthermore, the T. parva infection rate in ticks under field conditions was monitored by real-time PCR in R. appendiculatus ticks collected from a traditionally managed pastoral land of Zambia, on which Sanga breed cattle are traditionally reared and the area has endemic East Coast fever (ECF). A total of 70 cattle were randomly selected in the same area and 67 (95.7%) were found to be serologically positive for R. appendiculatus tick antigen (RIM36). Twenty-nine (43.3%) of the 67 serologically positive cattle were real-time PCR-positive for T. parva, although no piroplasms could be detected in the blood smears. Unexpectedly, out of 614 R. appendiculatus nymphal and adult ticks collected by flagging vegetation, 4.1% were positive for T. parva DNA. However, since the rate of transmission of T. parva from infected cattle to ticks and vice versa and the serological evidence of exposure to R. appendiculatus ticks in naturally exposed cattle were relatively high, it would be wise in such a case to consider vector control as well as vaccination against ECF as control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Konnai
- Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan.
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Tønnesen MH, Penzhorn BL, Bryson NR, Stoltsz WH, Masibigiri T. Seroprevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in cattle in the Soutpansberg region, Limpopo Province, South Africa, associated with changes in vector-tick populations. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2006; 77:61-5. [PMID: 17120620 DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v77i2.345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A survey was conducted at 30 communal dip tanks and on 5 commercial farms in Limpopo Province, South Africa, during 1999 and 2000 to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Cattle seropositive for B. bovis were found in 97 % of the herds on communal land; the overall seroprevalence changed little between 1999 (63.3 %) and 2000 (62.4 %). All herds surveyed were infected with B. bigemina, and overall seroprevalence decreased significantly from 56.1 % in 1999 to 49.3 % in 2000. In herds on communal land in Sour Lowveld Bushveld, overall seroprevalence of B. bovis increased from 70 % in 1999 to 80 % in 2000, while seroprevalence of B. bigemina decreased from 70 % in 1999 to 30 % in 2000. This was possibly due to an influx of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus that occurred at the time. In commercially farmed herds the seroprevalence to B. bovis increased significantly from 19 % in 1999 to 57.5 % in 2000. All commercial herds in the survey tested positive to B. bigemina, with a seroprevalence of 48.3 % in 1999 and 47.5 % in 2000. During 1999, cattle in 60 % of the dip tank / farm herds with only R. (B.) microplus present were approaching endemic stability to both B. bovis and B. bigemina. In 2000, 60 % of the herds with only R. (B.) microplus present were approaching endemic stability for B. bovis, while only 45 % were approaching endemic stability for B. bigemina. Those dip tanks / farms where only R. (B.) microplus was recorded had a significantly higher seroprevalence of B. bovis than those where both tick species were present.
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Affiliation(s)
- M H Tønnesen
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
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Aktas M, Altay K, Dumanli N. PCR-based detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus bursa adult ticks. Vet Parasitol 2006; 140:259-63. [PMID: 16682122 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2005] [Revised: 12/26/2005] [Accepted: 04/03/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases in ruminants are common in tropical and subtropical regions and lead to meat and milk production losses. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the presence of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. We have demonstrated that the PCR enabled detection of T. ovis in field isolates of R. bursa collected from naturally infested sheep and goats in eastern Turkey. The sampling was done in spring season (between May and June 2004). A total of 420 R. bursa were collected and randomly selected 192 number of them (97 female and 95 male) were dissected. Primers specific for 520 bp fragments small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene of T. ovis amplified products from 37 of the 192 (19.27%) samples. The parasite was detected in 17 (17.52%) female and in 20 (21.05%) male ticks. Two T. ovis amplicons from the tick samples were purified and sequenced. The resulting sequences were identical to the nucleotide sequence of the Turkish sheep strain of T. ovis. These results showed that R. bursa might play an important role in the field as a natural vector of T. ovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Aktas
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey.
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Nunes ET, Bechara GH, Saito KC, Denardi SE, Oliveira PR, Mathias MIC. Morphological, histological, and ultrastructural characterization of degenerating salivary glands in females of the cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (CANESTRINI, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae). Micron 2005; 36:437-47. [PMID: 15935304 DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2005.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2004] [Revised: 01/24/2005] [Accepted: 03/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The present study describes the morphology and ultrastructure of the salivary glands of semi-engorged females of the southern cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The acini that compose these glands, at that specific feeding stage, show cells featuring degenerative process of the salivary glands, such as: vacuolated cytoplasm, condensed chromatin, fragmented nuclei, and presence of apoptotic bodies. In addition, the presence of microorganisms was detected, with morphology typical of protozoa, inside these organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Takagi Nunes
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Av. 24(A), No. 1515. Cx. Postal 199, CEP 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
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Spitalska E, Riddell M, Heyne H, Sparagano OAE. Prevalence of Theileriosis in Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) in Namibia. Parasitol Res 2005; 97:77-9. [PMID: 15986252 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-005-1390-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2005] [Accepted: 04/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A total of 23 blood samples from Red Hartebeest and 28 ticks of the subspecies Rhipicephalus evertsi were collected in Namibia during the summer 2003. For a Piroplasmida species, Theileria sp 95.7% of blood and 50.0% of tick samples (all R. e. mimeticus, none of R. e. evertsi were carrying the pathogen) were PCR positive. Sequencing showed infection from a re-emerging mild species of Theileria phylogenetically different from other African Theileria species such as Theileria parva, T. buffeli, T. annulata, T. taurotragi or T. mutans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Spitalska
- School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, University of Newcastle, King George VI Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
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Speybroeck N, Madder M, Thulke HH, Mtambo J, Tirry L, Chaka G, Marcotty T, Berkvens D. Variation in body size in the tick complex Rhipicephalus appendiculatus/Rhipicephalus zambeziensis. J Vector Ecol 2004; 29:347-354. [PMID: 15707294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We examined the relationship between body size and the phenology of the tick complex Rhipicephalus appendiculatus/Rhipicephalus zambeziensis. These ticks transmit Theileria parva in cattle. In Africa, the body size of R. appendiculatus increases with latitude while the body size of the morphologically similar Rhipicephalus zambeziensis is constant at two different latitudes. A larger body size is necessary once survival becomes a constraint. The most plausible explanation for the smaller R. appendiculatus in equatorial Africa is the cost to produce a larger egg. The consequences of these findings for the introduction of R. appendiculatus in new environments are discussed. New field observations from southern Zambia indicate that R. appendiculatus body size does not vary seasonally as compared to eastern Zambia. This is an additional indication of the presence of a single diapausing population of larger ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Speybroeck
- Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Animal Health, B-2000 Antwerpen, Belgium
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Fourie LJ, Horak IG. Larval biology of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (Acarina : Ixodidae) in Free State Province, South Africa : research communication. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 71:327-31. [PMID: 15732460 DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v71i4.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine certain aspects of the biology of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus larvae under laboratory and field conditions. Larvae allowed 48 h to select a vertical questing substrate preferred 90 cm rods in length to those of 60 or 30 cm, while in a separate experiment migration from rods 5 cm or 25 cm in length to rods 45 cm in length continued between 48 h and 72 h after larval release. Hatching of the larval progeny of engorged female ticks exposed to ambient field temperatures during the period June to August, occurred synchronously during the third or fourth week of November. With a single exception, larvae that hatched during November and between April and July survived for 38 days or longer, while those that hatched from December to March survived for 31 days or less. Questing larvae were present on vegetation throughout the year, with most being recovered during January and February. Parasitic larvae were present on cattle from October to May with most being collected during January and February.
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Nene V, Lee D, Kang'a S, Skilton R, Shah T, de Villiers E, Mwaura S, Taylor D, Quackenbush J, Bishop R. Genes transcribed in the salivary glands of female Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks infected with Theileria parva. Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2004; 34:1117-1128. [PMID: 15475305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2004.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2004] [Revised: 06/30/2004] [Accepted: 07/01/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We describe the generation of an auto-annotated index of genes that are expressed in the salivary glands of four-day fed female adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks. A total of 9162 EST sequences were derived from an uninfected tick cDNA library and 9844 ESTs were from a cDNA library from ticks infected with Theileria parva, which develop in type III salivary gland acini. There were no major differences between abundantly expressed ESTs from the two cDNA libraries, although there was evidence for an up-regulation in the expression of some glycine-rich proteins in infected salivary glands. Gene ontology terms were also assigned to sequences in the index and those with potential enzyme function were linked to the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes database, allowing reconstruction of metabolic pathways. Several genes code for previously characterized tick proteins such as receptors for myokinin or ecdysteroid and an immunosuppressive protein. cDNAs coding for homologs of heme-lipoproteins which are major components of tick hemolymph were identified by searching the database with published N-terminal peptide sequence data derived from biochemically purified Boophilus microplus proteins. The EST data will be a useful resource for construction of microarrays to probe vector biology, vector-host and vector-pathogen interactions and to underpin gene identification via proteomics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishvanath Nene
- Parasite Genomics Department, The Institute for Genomic Research, 9712 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
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