Tick-borne pathogens in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected from various domestic and wild hosts in Corsica (France), a Mediterranean island environment

ABSTRACTCorsica is a touristic mountainous French island in the north-west of the Mediterranean Sea presenting a large diversity of natural environments where many interactions between humans, domestic animals and wild fauna occur. Despite this favourable context, tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have not systematically been investigated. In this study, a large number of TBPs were screened in ticks collected during one year from domestic and wild hosts in Corsica. More than 1,500 ticks belonging to nine species and five genera (Rhipicephalus,Hyalomma,Dermacentor,IxodesandHaemaphysalis) were analysed individually or pooled (by species, gender, host and locality). A real-time microfluidic PCR was used for high-throughput screening of TBPs DNA. This advanced methodology permitted the simultaneous detection of 29 bacterial and 12 parasitic species (includingBorrelia,Anaplasma,Ehrlichia,Rickettsia,Bartonella,CandidatusNeoehrlichia,Coxiella,Francisella,BabesiaandTheileria). CCHF virus was investigated individually in tick species known to be vectors or carriers of this virus. In almost half of the tick pools (48%), DNA from at least one pathogen was detected and eleven species of TBPs from six genera were reported. TBPs were found in ticks from all collected hosts and were present in more than 80% of the investigated area. The detection of some pathogens DNA confirmed their previous identification in Corsica, such asRickettsia aeschlimannii(23% of pools),Rickettsia slovaca(5%),Anaplasma marginale(4%) andTheileria equi(0.4%), but most TBPs DNA was not reported before in Corsican ticks. This includedAnaplasma phagocytophilum(16%),Rickettsia helvetica(1%), Borrelia afzelii(0.7%), Borrelia miyamotoi(1%), Bartonella henselae(2%),Babesia bigemina(2%) andBabesia ovis(0.5%). The important tick infection rate and the diversity of TBPs reported in this study highlight the probable role of animal reservoir hosts for zoonotic pathogens and human exposure to TBPs on Corsica.

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Bartonella henselae in eastern Poland: the relationship between tick infection rates and the serological response of individuals occupationally exposed to tick bites

Journal of Vector Ecology ◽

10.1111/jvec.12135 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 75-82 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Violetta Zając ◽

Angelina Wójcik-Fatla ◽

Jacek Dutkiewicz ◽

Jolanta Szymańska

Keyword(s):

Bartonella Henselae ◽

Serological Response ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Tick Bites ◽

Tick Infection ◽

Occupationally Exposed ◽

The Relationship

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Search for Drugs and Drug Targets against Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Babesia (Theileria) equi

Apicomplexan Parasites ◽

10.1002/9783527633883.ch25 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 469-480

Author(s):

Sabine Bork-Mimm

Keyword(s):

Drug Targets ◽

Babesia Bovis ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi

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Assessment of Draxxin® (tulathromycin) as an inhibitor of in vitro growth of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Theileria equi

International Journal for Parasitology Drugs and Drug Resistance ◽

10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.04.004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Marta G. Silva ◽

Nicolas F. Villarino ◽

Donald P. Knowles ◽

Carlos E. Suarez

Keyword(s):

Babesia Bovis ◽

In Vitro Growth ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Theileria Equi

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Rapid Detection of Equine Piroplasms Using Multiplex PCR and First Genetic Characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1414

Author(s):

Bassma S. M. Elsawy ◽

Ahmed M. Nassar ◽

Heba F. Alzan ◽

Raksha V. Bhoora ◽

Sezayi Ozubek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiplex Pcr ◽

Genetic Characterization ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Pcr Targeting ◽

First Time

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and the recently identified species T. haneyi. Hereby, we used a multiplex PCR (mPCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi and B. caballi for the simultaneous detection of EP in Egyptian equids and examined the presence of T. haneyi infections in Egypt. Blood samples from 155 equids (79 horses and 76 donkeys) collected from different governorates of Egypt were examined by mPCR and PCR targeting T. hayeni. The mPCR method revealed a prevalence of T. equi of 20.3% in horses and of 13.1% in donkeys and a prevalence of B. caballi of 1.2% in horses. B. caballi was not detected in donkeys in the current study. The mPCR method also detected coinfections with both species (2.5% and 1.3% in horses and donkeys, respectively). Additionally, we report the presence of T. haneyi in Egypt for the first time in 53.1% of the horse and 38.1% of the donkey tested samples. Coinfection with T. haneyi and T. equi was found in 13.5% of the samples, while infection with the three EP species was found in 1.9% of the samples.

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Development of a Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR Assay for the Detection of Babesia, Bartonella, and Borrelia Species

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111462 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1462

Author(s):

Ricardo Maggi ◽

Edward B. Breitschwerdt ◽

Barbara Qurollo ◽

Jennifer C. Miller

Keyword(s):

Animal Cell ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

Digital Pcr ◽

Droplet Digital Pcr ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Cytauxzoon Felis ◽

Vector Borne ◽

Type Water

We describe the development, optimization, and validation of a multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection of Babesia, Bartonella, and Borrelia spp. DNA from several sample matrices, including clinical blood samples from animals and humans, vectors, in-vitro infected human and animal cell lines, and tissues obtained from animal models (infected with Bartonella and/or B. burgdorferi). The multiplex ddPCR assay was able to detect 31 Bartonella, 13 Borrelia, and 24 Babesia species, including Theileria equi, T. cervi, and Cytauxzoon felis. No amplification of Treponema or Leptospira spp. was observed. Sensitivity of 0.2–5 genome equivalent DNA copies per microliter was achieved for different members of the Bartonella and Borrelia genus, depending on the species or matrix type (water or spiked blood DNA) tested. The ddPCR assay facilitated the simultaneous detection of co-infections with two and three vector-borne pathogens comprising four different genera (Babesia, Bartonella, Borrelia, and Theileria) from clinical and other sample sources.

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Essential Oils with High Activity against Stationary Phase Bartonella henselae

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics8040246 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 246 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Xiao Ma ◽

Wanliang Shi ◽

Ying Zhang

Keyword(s):

Stationary Phase ◽

Essential Oils ◽

High Activity ◽

High Throughput Screening ◽

Bartonella Henselae ◽

Current Treatment ◽

Bacterial Cells ◽

Active Components ◽

Chronic Infections ◽

Cinnamon Bark

Bartonella henselae is a fastidious Gram-negative intracellular bacterium that can cause cat scratch disease, endocarditis in humans and animals, as well as other complications, leading to acute or chronic infections. The current treatment for Bartonella infections is not very effective presumably due to bacterial persistence. To develop better therapies for persistent and chronic Bartonella infections, in this study, with the help of SYBR Green I/PI viability assay, we performed a high-throughput screening of an essential oil library against the stationary phase B. henselae. We successfully identified 32 essential oils that had high activity, including four essential oils extracted from Citrus plants, three from Origanum, three from Cinnamomum, two from Pelargonium, and two from Melaleuca, as well as frankincense, ylang-ylang, fir needle, mountain savory (winter), citronella, spearmint, elemi, vetiver, clove bud, allspice, and cedarwood essential oils. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination of these 32 top hits indicated they were not only active against stationary phase non-growing B. henselae but also had good activity against log-phase growing B. henselae. The time-kill assay showed 13 active hits, including essential oils of oregano, cinnamon bark, mountain savory (winter), cinnamon leaf, geranium, clove bud, allspice, geranium bourbon, ylang-ylang, citronella, elemi, and vetiver, could eradicate all stationary phase B. henselae cells within seven days at the concentration of 0.032% (v/v). Two active ingredients, carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde, of oregano and cinnamon bark essential oils, respectively, were shown to be very active against the stationary phase B. henselae such that they were able to eradicate all the bacterial cells even at the concentration ≤ 0.01% (v/v). More studies are needed to identify the active components of some potent essential oils, decode their antimicrobial mechanisms, and evaluate their activity against Bartonella infections in animal models.

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A PCR method targeting internal transcribed spacers: the simultaneous detection of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in cattle

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.2478/s11686-014-0222-6 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Junlong Liu ◽

Guiquan Guan ◽

Aihong Liu ◽

Youquan Li ◽

Hong Yin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Light Microscopy ◽

Multiplex Pcr ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacers ◽

Babesia Bovis ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Multiplex Pcr Assay ◽

Pcr Method

AbstractIn this study, two pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed according to the nucleotide sequence of the internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) of Babesia bigemina and B. bovis isolates from China. The primers were used in a multiplex PCR to detect parasite DNA in blood samples from cattle. There was no cross reactions with B. ovata, B. major, B. sp. Kashi, Theileria annulata, T. sergenti, T. sinensis or normal bovine DNA. The sensitivity of multiplex PCR assay was 1 pg and 10 pg DNA for B. bigemina and B. bovis, respectively. A total of 260 field blood samples collected from cattle in five provinces of China were analyzed by multiplex PCR and light microscopy. PCR testing revealed that 7.3% (19/260) and 5.8% (15/260) of cattle were positive for B. bigemina and B. bovis and 1.2% (3/260) of cattle were co-infected with B. bigemina and B. bovis. Using light microscopy, 2.3% (6/260) and 1.5% (4/260) of cattle were infected by B. bigemina and B. bovis, respectively, and no co-infection was found. The results showed that the multiplex PCR developed in the present study could be an alternative diagnostic tool for the detection of B. bovis and B. bigemina infection in cattle.

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Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. Ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ivan G. Horak ◽

Heloise Heyne ◽

Ali Halajian ◽

Shalaine Booysen ◽

Willem J. Smit

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Tick Species ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Causative Organism ◽

Amblyomma Hebraeum ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

North West ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi

The aim of the study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks that infest horses and donkeys in South Africa and to identify those species that act as vectors of disease to domestic livestock. Ticks were collected opportunistically from 391 horses countrywide by their owners or grooms, or by veterinary students and staff at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Ticks were also collected from 76 donkeys in Limpopo Province, 2 in Gauteng Province and 1 in North West province. All the ticks were identified by means of a stereoscopic microscope. Horses were infested with 17 tick species, 72.1% with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 19.4% with Amblyomma hebraeum and 15.6% with Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was recovered from horses in all nine provinces of South Africa and R. decoloratus in eight provinces. Donkeys were infested with eight tick species, and 81.6% were infested with R. evertsi evertsi, 23.7% with A. hebraeum and 10.5% with R. decoloratus. Several tick species collected from the horses and donkeys are the vectors of economically important diseases of livestock. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi is the vector of Theileria equi, the causative organism of equine piroplasmosis. It also transmits Anaplasma marginale, the causative organism of anaplasmosis in cattle. Amblyomma hebraeum is the vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative organism of heartwater in cattle, sheep and goats, whereas R. decoloratus transmits Babesia bigemina, the causative organism of babesiosis in cattle.

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