Serological Reactivity toEhrlichia canis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neorickettsia risticii, Borrelia burgdorferiandRickettsia conoriiin Dogs from Northwestern Spain

This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants, wild ungulates, as well as the current situation of Q fever in humans in a small region in northwestern Spain where a close contact at the wildlife–livestock–human interface exists, and information on C. burnetii infection is scarce. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii was 8.4% in sheep, 18.4% in cattle, and 24.4% in goats. Real-time PCR analysis of environmental samples collected in 25 livestock farms detected Coxiella DNA in dust and/or aerosols collected in 20 of them. Analysis of sera from 327 wild ungulates revealed lower seroprevalence than that found in domestic ruminants, with 8.4% of Iberian red deer, 7.3% chamois, 6.9% fallow deer, 5.5% European wild boar and 3.5% of roe deer harboring antibodies to C. burnetii. Exposure to the pathogen in humans was determined by IFAT analysis of 1312 blood samples collected from patients admitted at healthcare centers with Q fever compatible symptoms, such as fever and/or pneumonia. Results showed that 15.9% of the patients had IFAT titers ≥ 1/128 suggestive of probable acute infection. This study is an example of a One Health approach with medical and veterinary institutions involved in investigating zoonotic diseases.

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Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020373 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 373

Author(s):

Andreea Monica Bogdan ◽

Mariana Ionita ◽

Ioan Liviu Mitrea

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Serological Evidence ◽

North Central ◽

Natural Exposure

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of selected tick-borne-pathogens (TBPs) among Romanian horses. For this, a total of 223 animals originating from north, central, and southeast Romania, including horses from stud farms (n = 118) and working horses (n = 105), were tested using a commercial rapid ELISA-based test. Overall, 10.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7–15.1%) of the tested horses were seropositive for antibodies (Ab) against Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Additionally, 18.8% (95% CI: 13.9–24.6%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.01–2.5%) of horses were seropositive for Ab against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Ehrlichia spp., respectively. Among the tested horses, 3.1% were seroreactive to two or three pathogens. These findings show the natural exposure of Romanian horses to zoonotic tick-borne pathogens and emphasize the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.

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Granulocytic anaplasmosis in captive ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) in Poland

BMC Veterinary Research ◽

10.1186/s12917-021-02827-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Łukasz Adaszek ◽

Anna Wilczyńska ◽

Jerzy Ziętek ◽

Marcin Kalinowski ◽

Oliwier Teodorowski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Polymerase Chain Reaction Test ◽

Anaplasma Ovis ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽

Pcr Product ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Obligate Intracellular Bacteria ◽

Chain Reaction Test ◽

Anaplasma Bovis

Abstract Background Anaplasma are obligate intracellular bacteria and aetiological agents of tick-borne diseases of both veterinary and medical interest. The genus Anaplasma comprises six species: Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma bovis and Anaplasma platys. They can infect humans, carnivores, ruminants, rodents, insectivores, birds and reptiles. The aim of this study was to present the first clinical case of granulocytic anaplasmosis in a captive ring-tailed lemur in Poland. Case presentation A 4-year-old female lemur presented anorexia, epistaxis and tick infestation. The microscopic examination of a blood smear revealed morulae in neutrophils. Polymerase chain reaction test and sequencing of obtained PCR product confirmed infection by the GU183908 Anaplasma phagocytophilum strain. Therapeutic protocol included doxycycline (2.5 mg/kg p.o., b.i.d.) for 3 weeks and the lemur recovered within 24 h. Conclusions This is the first report on granulocytic anaplasmosis in a ring-tailed lemur in Europe, indicating that A. phagocytophilum infection must also be considered in differential diagnosis in this animal species, especially in individuals with thrombocytopenia associated with Ixodes ricinus parasitism.

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Novel Protozoans in Austria Revealed through the Use of Dogs as Sentinels for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9071392 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1392

Author(s):

Michiel Wijnveld ◽

Anna-Margarita Schötta ◽

Theresa Stelzer ◽

Georg Duscher ◽

Michael Leschnik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Blot Hybridization ◽

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Rickettsia Helvetica ◽

Haemaphysalis Concinna ◽

Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽

Rickettsia Monacensis ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Stricto

We previously isolated and cultivated the novel Rickettsia raoultii strain Jongejan. This prompted us to ask whether this strain is unique or more widely present in Austria. To assess this issue, we retrospectively screened ticks collected from dogs in 2008. Of these collected ticks, we randomly selected 75 (47 females and 28 males) Dermacentor reticulatus, 44 (21 females, 7 males, and 16 nymphs) Haemaphysalis concinna, and 55 (52 females and 3 males) ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Subsequently, these ticks were individually screened for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using the reverse line blot hybridization assay. In our current study, we detected DNA from the following microbes in D. reticulatus: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia valaisiana, and R. raoultii, all of which were R. raoultii strain Jongejan. In H. concinna, we found DNA of a Babesia sp., Rickettsia helvetica, and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli. Lastly, I. ricinus was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. spielmanii, B. valaisiana, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Theileria (Babesia) microti DNA. The detection of DNA of the Babesia sp. and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli, both found in H. concinna ticks, is novel for Austria.

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