Showing papers on "Babesia published in 2008"
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: A review of Babesia spp. in the host and the tick, the scale of the problem to the cattle industry, various components of control programmes, epidemiology, pathogenesis, immunity, vaccination and future research is presented in this article.
Abstract: Tick fever or cattle fever (babesiosis) is economically the most important arthropod-borne disease of cattle worldwide with vast areas of Australia, Africa, South and Central America and the United States continuously under threat. Tick fever was the first disease for which transmission by an arthropod to a mammal was implicated at the turn of the twentieth century and is the first disease to be eradicated from a continent (North America). This review describes the biology of Babesia spp. in the host and the tick, the scale of the problem to the cattle industry, the various components of control programmes, epidemiology, pathogenesis, immunity, vaccination and future research. The emphasis is on Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina.
522 citations
TL;DR: Recent insights into human babesiosis with regard to phylogeny, diagnostics and treatment are covered in order to provide new information on well known as well as recently discovered parasites with zoonotic potential.
399 citations
TL;DR: The presence of Babesia spp.
150 citations
TL;DR: Attempts to manipulate population immunity through the toleration of specific threshold numbers of ticks with the aim of controlling tick fever is not reliable and the justification for acaricide application should be for the control of ticks rather than for tick fever.
144 citations
TL;DR: Analysis of questing adult blacklegged ticks found that I. scapularis hosts an array of pathogenic and symbiotic agents and potential evidence of interactions among microbial species was observed, including A. phagocytophilum human anaplasmosis variant in male ticks.
Abstract: In total, 394 questing adult blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), collected at four sites were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for five microbial species: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei, Borrelia burgdorferi, and the rickettsial I. scapularis endosymbiont. Identities of genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum were determined by sequencing a portion of the 16S DNA. In 55% of infected ticks (193/351), a single agent was detected. In 45% (158/351), two or more agents were detected; 37% harbored two agents and 8% harbored three agents. One male tick, collected from Ft. McCoy, WI, harbored all four microbial genera. The highest rates of co-infection were by the Ixodes endosymbiont and B. burgdorferi (95/351). Two species of Babesia co-occurred within a single tick population in Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, ME, whereas only B. odocoilei was found in other tick populations. Only A. phagocytophilum human anaplasmosis variant was detected in questing ticks from Tippecanoe River State Park, IN; from Wells; and Ft. McCoy, whereas a single infected tick from Presque Isle, PA, was infected by AP-Variant 1. Partially engorged ticks from deer in Tippecanoe River State Park were all infected with AP-Variant 1. Frequency of infections with each agent varied among populations. Rates and types of co-infections were not significantly different from random except for the Ixodes endosymbiont and B. burgdorferi in male ticks, which co-occurred less frequently than expected. Thus, I. scapularis hosts an array of pathogenic and symbiotic agents and potential evidence of interactions among microbial species was observed.
120 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that a wide range of tick-borne pathogens are circulating in the canine populations in South Africa.
118 citations
TL;DR: The most frequently found tick-borne haemoprotozoan parasites (Theileria and Babesia) in apparently healthy cattle in the East Black Sea Region of Turkey was T. buffeli/orientalis, present in 11.56% of the samples.
116 citations
TL;DR: A novel piroplasm parasite from a sable antelope that died from an unknown illness is identified, and while the parasite was observed in blood smears, there is no direct evidence that it was the cause of death.
Abstract: Babesiosis in a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger Harris, 1838) was first reported in 1930; the parasite was named Babesia irvinesmithi. Recently, specimens from an adult sable that presented with a sudden onset of disease and that subsequently died during immobilization were submitted for molecular characterization. Microscopic examination of thin blood smears revealed the presence of small piroplasms. DNA was extracted from blood samples; the V4 variable region of the 18S rRNA gene was amplified and analyzed using the reverse line blot (RLB) assay. Amplicons did not hybridize with any of the Babesia or Theileria species-specific probes present on the blot and hybridized only with a Babesia or Theileria genus-specific probe, suggesting the presence of a novel species. The full-length 18S rRNA gene sequence was obtained and aligned with published sequences of related genera, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Sequence similarity analyses indicated that a Babesia species, designated Babesia sp. (sable), was present. The sequence showed its highest similarity to B. orientalis and to an unnamed Babesia species previously detected in bovine samples. The latter was later established to be Babesia occultans. A Babesia sp. (sable)-specific RLB oligonucleotide probe was designed and used to screen 200 South African sable samples, but so far, no other sample has been found to be positive for the presence of Babesia sp. (sable) DNA. In summary, we identified a novel piroplasm parasite from a sable antelope that died from an unknown illness. While the parasite was observed in blood smears, there is no direct evidence that it was the cause of death.
103 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: A total of 1138 blood specimens were collected over a 6-year period (2000-2006) from domestic dogs in South Africa and all specimens were screened for Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species using PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) assays as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A total of 1138 blood specimens were collected over a 6-year period (2000–2006) from domestic dogs in South Africa. Specimens from domestic dogs were obtained from the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) in Pretoria, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Johannesburg, Durban, East London and Bloemfontein) and private practices from four provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape). All specimens were screened for Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species using PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) assays. On RLB, 560/1137 domestic dog-specimens were positive for one or more parasites. Of the positive domestic dog-specimens, 420 (75%) were infected with Babesia rossi; 82 (15%) dogs were infected with Theileria sp. (dog); 18 (3%) dogs were infected with Babesia vogeli; 14 (3%) specimens were infected with Ehrlichia canis. Mixed infections were also found: B. rossi and E. canis were detected in 12 (2%) specimens;B. vogeli andE. canis occurred in 7 (1%) specimens;Theileria sp. (dog) andE. canis in 3 (0.5%) specimens;B. rossi and B. vogeli in one specimen.B. rossi, B. vogeli andE. canis occurred simultaneously in one dog. There was also one incidental finding of a dog positive for Trypanosoma congolense. The results indicate that a wide range of tick-borne pathogens are circulating in the canine populations in South Africa. # 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
102 citations
TL;DR: Using PCR to detect and characterize B. canis canis isolated from naturally infected dogs in Poland by amplifying and sequencing a portion of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene led to the identification of seven sequence variants.
88 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that longipain is essential for tick survival, and may have a role in controlling the transmission of tick-transmittable Babesia parasites.
Abstract: Vector ticks possess a unique system that enables them to digest large amounts of host blood and to transmit various animal and human pathogens, suggesting the existence of evolutionally acquired proteolytic mechanisms. We report here the molecular and reverse genetic characterization of a multifunctional cysteine protease, longipain, from the babesial parasite vector tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Longipain shares structural similarity with papain-family cysteine proteases obtained from invertebrates and vertebrates. Endogenous longipain was mainly expressed in the midgut epithelium and was specifically localized at lysosomal vacuoles and possibly released into the lumen. Its expression was up-regulated by host blood feeding. Enzymatic functional assays using in vitro and in vivo substrates revealed that longipain hydrolysis occurs over a broad range of pH and temperature. Haemoparasiticidal assays showed that longipain dose-dependently killed tick-borne Babesia parasites, and its babesiacidal effect occurred via specific adherence to the parasite membranes. Disruption of endogenous longipain by RNA interference revealed that longipain is involved in the digestion of the host blood meal. In addition, the knockdown ticks contained an increased number of parasites, suggesting that longipain exerts a killing effect against the midgut-stage Babesia parasites in ticks. Our results suggest that longipain is essential for tick survival, and may have a role in controlling the transmission of tick-transmittable Babesia parasites.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that intrastadial but not transovarial transmission is an efficient mode for B. equi transmission and that persistently infected horses are an important reservoir for transmission.
Abstract: Tick-borne pathogens may be transmitted intrastadially and transstadially within a single vector generation as well as vertically between generations. Understanding the mode and relative efficiency of this transmission is required for infection control. In this study, we established that adult male Rhipicephalus microplus ticks efficiently acquire the protozoal pathogen Babesia equi during acute and persistent infections and transmit it intrastadially to naive horses. Although the level of parasitemia during acquisition feeding affected the efficiency of the initial tick infection, infected ticks developed levels of > or =10(4) organisms/pair of salivary glands independent of the level of parasitemia during acquisition feeding and successfully transmitted them, indicating that replication within the tick compensated for any initial differences in infectious dose and exceeded the threshold for transmission. During the development of B. equi parasites in the salivary gland granular acini, the parasites expressed levels of paralogous surface proteins significantly different from those expressed by intraerythrocytic parasites from the mammalian host. In contrast to the successful intrastadial transmission, adult female R. microplus ticks that fed on horses with high parasitemia passed the parasite vertically into the eggs with low efficiency, and the subsequent generation (larvae, nymphs, and adults) failed to transmit B. equi parasites to naive horses. The data demonstrated that intrastadial but not transovarial transmission is an efficient mode for B. equi transmission and that persistently infected horses are an important reservoir for transmission. Consequently, R. microplus male ticks and persistently infected horses should be targeted for disease control.
TL;DR: T ticks from sampling sites throughout Austria were examined for the presence of Babesia spp.
Abstract: Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease of veterinary and medical importance. The first Austrian case of human babesiosis was recently recorded. In the current study, ticks at all life cycle stages (instars), including 853 Ixodes ricinus and 11 Haemaphysalis concinna ticks, from sampling sites throughout Austria were examined for the presence of Babesia spp. by using 18S rRNA gene PCR and sequencing, and the overall mean infection rate was 51.04%. The infection rates for sampling sites were highly variable, ranging from 0% to almost 100%. Different instars and different sexes were infected almost equally. Babesia isolates occurring in Austrian ticks were identified as Babesia divergens, Babesia divergens-like, and Babesia sp. strain DD by sequencing a fragment of the heat shock protein 70 gene and internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of Babesia spp. in Austrian ticks.
TL;DR: O Ongoing research now gives an additional focus on other tick-borne pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia conorii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp.
Abstract: Tick-transmitted diseases like tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme Borreliosis have been well known in Germany for decades. Global climate changes may influence the emergence and reemergence of diseases. Ongoing research now gives an additional focus on other tick-borne pathogens such as Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia conorii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp., the causative agents of Q-fever, Mediterranean spotted fever, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, respectively. The epidemiology of these pathogens was investigated on ticks as well as on rodents, the main hosts. Therefore adults of Dermacentor spp. (n = 862) and rodents (n = 119) were collected and examined for the existence of C. burnetii and Rickettsia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In none of the ticks and rodents C. burnetii could be detected, in contrast to Rickettsia spp. where the infection rate in ticks was about 20%. Over and above that, nymphs and adults of Ixodes ricinus were also collected and investigated by PCR for A. phagocytophilum (n = 5,424), Rickettsia helvetica (n = 1,187) and Babesia spp. (n = 3,113). Thereby infection rates of 1%, 8.9% and 1%, respectively, could be determined. The prevalence in rodents was 5.3% for A. phagocytophilum and 0.8% for Babesia microti. None of the rodents was R. helvetica positive.
TL;DR: Diagnosis of bovine theileria and babesia species was based on finding many intraerythrocytic piroplasms of both blood protozoa with clinical signs associated with anaemia, lymph node hyperplasia and haemoglobinuria, and the specificity and sensitivity of PCR test was higher than blood smear examination.
Abstract: The study was carried out to detect Theileria annulata, the causative agent of theileriosis, and Babesia bovis, the causative agent for babesiosis, in Friesian cattle by PCR and conventional blood smear examination. One hundred blood samples obtained from diseased Friesian cattle kept on private livestock farms at Pattoki, District Kasur, Pakistan were collected in addition to 20 blood samples obtained from non-diseased animals. The disease manifestations observed clinically included high fever, swelling of sub mandibular and sub scapular lymph nodes, weakness, increased respiration and pulse, anorexia, loss of condition and rough hair coat. Neurologic sign of in coordination was also seen in weak animals. Signs of lacrimation, pale conjunctiva, diarrhoea, dyspnea and frothy nasal discharge were observed in only one animal. Clinically nine animals showed signs of haemoglobinuria. Diagnosis of bovine theileria and babesia species was based on finding many intraerythrocytic piroplasms of both blood protozoa with clinical signs associated with anaemia, lymph node hyperplasia and haemoglobinuria. One hundred samples of ticks were also collected for identification of vector. Results showed that the prevalence of Hyalomma tick was highest (15%) followed by Boophilus (12%), Haemaphysalis (5%) and Rhipicephalus (3%). The blood smear examination showed 21% (21/100) samples positive for blood parasites out of which 66.6% (14/ 21) samples were positive for theileriosis while 42.8% (9/21) were positive for babesiosis. It was also recorded that 66.66% (6/9) samples were positive for B.bigemina while 33.33% (3/9) were positive for B.bovis. The results showed that 60% (60/100) samples were positive for blood parasites by PCR test. Out of these 60% (36/60) were positive for T.annulata while 33.33% (20/60) were positive for babesia. The specificity and sensitivity of PCR test was higher than blood smear examination. The blood parameters in haemoparasites infection were also analyzed and the results showed significant decrease in total erythrocyte count and haemoglobin while MCV, MCH values increased and MCHC was slightly less than normal indicating macrocytic hypochromic anaemia.
TL;DR: Results show that the LAMP could be an alternative diagnostic tool for the detection of babesial infection in sheep and goats.
TL;DR: It is concluded that R. bursa might play an important role in the field as a natural vector of the parasite Babesia ovis.
TL;DR: The original enzymatic amplification assays with novel primers reported in this paper were confirmed to be a reliable tool for the specific discrimination among B. canis subspecies by single-step PCR assays.
TL;DR: The molecular characterization of babesial parasites detected in eight clinically suspected dogs from northern Portugal, affected by lethargy, muscle tremors, weight loss, pale mucous membranes, hyperthermia or red-coloured urine, shows large intraerythrocytic piroplasms morphologically compatible with Babesia canis in all eight animals.
TL;DR: The sequence analysis showed that the roe deer is a susceptible host for several piroplasms belonging both to Babesia and Theileria species, which means that ecological changes in progress cause the increase of both the deer species and the vector tick populations.
Abstract: Babesia and Theileria species were investigated in wild ungulates of Northern and Central Italy. Of 355 blood samples examined, 108 (30.4%) were positive to molecular diagnostics (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] with specific primers and sequencing). The sequence analysis showed that the roe deer is a susceptible host for several piroplasms belonging both to Babesia (31%) and Theileria (14.2%) species, whereas fallow deer and wild boar harbor only Theileria species (49% and 2.6%, respectively). Strains related to B. divergens are highly present (28.3%) in the roe deer, which, however, also harbors Babesia MO1 type and Babesia microti-like organisms. Babesia EU1 type is described for the first time in a roe deer in Italy. The finding in roe deer of Babesia species involved in human babesiosis is of concern for public health, mainly because ecological changes in progress cause the increase of both the deer species and the vector tick populations.
TL;DR: Sixteen specimens were found positive for Babesia rossi and two dogs were Hepatozoon sp.
TL;DR: A total of 562 questing adult ixodid ticks, collected during 2003−05 in 10 recreational mountain areas in northern Spain, were analysed for piroplasm infection and various tick−pathogen associations found are discussed.
Abstract: A total of 562 questing adult ixodid ticks, collected during 2003-05 in 10 recreational mountain areas in northern Spain, were analysed for piroplasm infection. Reverse line blot (RLB) analysis using a panel of probes for 23 piroplasm species identified 16 different piroplasms, with an overall prevalence of 9.3%. Most were Theileria spp.-positive (7.7%), 3.0% were positive for Babesia spp. and 1.4% of ticks harboured both genera. Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758), the most abundant tick in the vegetation, ranked third with regard to piroplasm infection prevalence (11.4%) after Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878) (16.0%) and Haemaphysalis punctata (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878) (13.5%). Infection was detected in 6.2% of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) and in 1.1% of Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula, 1895), but was absent from Haemaphysalis concinna (Koch, 1844). Ixodes ricinus carried more piroplasm species (13), followed by H. punctata (10), D. reticulatus (8), R. bursa (3) and H. inermis (1). Although most of the positive ticks harboured a single infection (76.9%), mixed infections with two or three different piroplasm species were also detected (23.1%). The various tick-pathogen associations found are discussed and prevalences of infection in ticks are compared with previous results on piroplasms infecting animals in the same region.
TL;DR: Between October and November 2006, a total of 278 bovine blood samples were examined, and 104 were positive for piroplasms by microscopy, and Theileria annulata, T. buffeli, Babesia bovis and B. bigemina in cattle accounting for 48.6% of positive samples.
Abstract: Between October and November 2006, a total of 278 bovine blood samples were examined, and 104 (37.4%) were positive for piroplasms by microscopy. A reverse line blot hybridisation with polymerase chain reaction detected Theileria annulata, T. buffeli, Babesia bovis and B. bigemina in cattle accounting for 48.6% of positive samples. The most frequently found species was T. buffeli, which was present in 39.2% of the samples. T. annulata was found in 48 samples (17.3%). Babesia infections were less frequently detected: B. bovis was found in 6.8% of the samples and B. bigemina in 4.3%. Mixed infections were detected in 45 samples, accounting for seven different combinations of species. Seven Ixodid tick species (Boophilus annulatus, Ixodes ricinus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma detritum, Haemaphysalis punctata and Haemaphysalis sulcata) were collected from examined cattle in the 23 visited farms. I. ricinus was the dominant species (36%), mainly collected in the humid zone, while it seemed to be very rare in the semi-arid zone (where only 15 specimens were collected), whereas B. annulatus was the most commonly collected species in the sub-humid area (68.5% of ticks collected in this zone).
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this paper, Babesia,Theileria, Hepatozoon and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species were screened for wild dogs using PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) assays.
Abstract: Blood specimens from wild dogs (n = 301) were obtained from De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre (Pretoria) and five game reserves (4 in the North-West Province and 1 in Limpopo Province), South Africa. Specimens were screened for Babesia,Theileria, Hepatozoon and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species using PCR and Reverse Line Blot (RLB) assays. Positive results were obtained in 18 (6%) wild dogs. Sixteen specimenswere foundpositive forBabesia rossiand two dogswereHepatozoonsp. positive. It appears that these tick-borne pathogens are not widely distributed in wild dog populations. # 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
TL;DR: This is the first report on the detection of DNA belonging to B. canis vogeli in domestic dogs and in R. sanguineus in Tunisia.
TL;DR: The results confirm that this area of Mozambique is endemic for babesiosis, and that this TBD should be regarded as a threat for imported cattle.
TL;DR: Investigating Babesia bigemina infections in four genetic groups of beef cattle and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus engorged female ticks revealed 100% infection in both calves and cows, regardless the genetic group.
TL;DR: This is the first reported application of macro‐arraying techniques to detect arthropod‐borne hemopathogens of companion animals in the Americas and the first detection of DNA of B. canis vogeli and E.Canis in cats in Trinidad.
Abstract: Arthropod-borne diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality of companion animals in Trinidad. As clinical signs are vague, more sensitive methods to diagnose these diseases based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) of amplified products are being developed. An RLB of 14 oligonucleotide probes coupled with polymerase chain-amplified regions of 16S rRNA or 18S rRNA genes of hemoparasites from cats and dogs detected Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Babesia canis vogeli, feline mycoplasmas ("Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum,"Mycoplasma haemofelis), and some unknown species within the Babesia/Theileria group and the Anaplasma/Ehrlichia tribe. Amplified products were obtained from blood samples collected from 348 dogs and 15 cats. Overall, hemopathogen DNA was detected in 92 (26.4%) dogs and six (40.0%) cats. E. canis (49, 14.1%) and feline mycoplasma (5, 33.3%) DNA were most frequently identified in dogs and cats, respectively. B. canis vogeli (1, 6.7%) and E. canis (1, 6.7%) were also detected in cats. Mixed infections of Anaplasma/Ehrlichia sp. and Babesia sp. were present in five (1.4%) dogs, while mixed infections of the feline mycoplasmas were present in two (13.3%) cats, one of which was also positive for E. canis. Pyrexia was significantly associated with a positive RLB result in dogs (P= 0.00, chi(2), 1 df). This is the first reported application of macro-arraying techniques to detect arthropod-borne hemopathogens of companion animals in the Americas and the first detection of DNA of B. canis vogeli and E. canis in cats in Trinidad.
TL;DR: The findings indicate that the BoiICT is useful for fast field diagnostic assessment of bovine babesioses without any laboratory equipment.
Abstract: With the objective of developing a simpler diagnostic alternative, a rapid immunochromatographic test (BoiICT) was constructed for the simultaneous detection of Babesia bovis- and Babesia bigemina-specific antibodies using B. bovis recombinant merozoite surface antigen-2c and B. bigemina recombinant rhoptry-associated protein-1. The BoiICT selectively detected specific antibodies to B. bovis and B. bigemina. All sera from cattle infected with other protozoan parasites (i.e., Cryptosporidium parvum, Neospora caninum, and Theileria orientalis) showed negative results in the BoiICT. The relative sensitivity and specificity for detecting antibody to B. bovis were 96.7% (29 of 30) and 91.3% (73 of 80), respectively. The relative sensitivity and specificity for detecting antibody to B. bigemina were 96.7% (29 of 30) and 92.5% (74 of 80), respectively. These findings indicate that the BoiICT is useful for fast field diagnostic assessment of bovine babesioses without any laboratory equipment.
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: One species of Babesia was identified on the blood smear of 20 different naturally infected sheep in the Northwest of Iran as mentioned in this paper, which was polymorphic, including double pyriform with acute or obtuse angle, single pyrusiform, and ring form.
Abstract: One species of Babesia was identified on the blood smear of 20 different naturally infected sheep in the Northwest of Iran. It was polymorphic, including double pyriform with acute or obtuse angle, single pyriform, and ring form. The size of typical paired pyriforms with acute angle was 2.7 × 0.4 μm ( n = 10) and with obtuse angle was 3.5 × 0.6 μm ( n = 10). Although the morphological and biometrical parameters resembled the Babesia motasi , the results of seminested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism using primers specific for small subunit of 18S rRNA confirmed this species as Babesia ovis . Furthermore, the sequence analysis of hypervariable region of small subunit of 18S rRNA revealed the corresponding sequences for B. ovis as well. Experimental infection of healthy lambs with the morphological larger B. ovis showed a milder clinical signs compared to the small one. Introduction Babesiosis belongs to the complex of several tick-borne diseases with different etiological agents, such as protozoa, rickettsia, bacteria, and viruses.