Babesiosis due to the canine Babesia microti-like small piroplasm in dogs - first report from Portugal and possible vertical transmission

AbstractPiroplasms are intraerythrocytic parasites that are often transmitted by ixodid ticks, but vertical transmission is an alternative route for some species. In the USA, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are hosts for two known species, a Babesia microti-like sp. and Babesia lotori (in Babesia sensu stricto group). To better understand the natural history of Babesia in raccoons, we tested young raccoons from Minnesota and Colorado for Babesia spp., examined them for ticks, and assessing for splenomegaly as a sign of clinical disease. Raccoons from both states were infected with B. microti-like sp. and Babesia sensu stricto spp. Infections of B. microti-like were common, even in 1-week-old raccoons, suggesting vertical transmission. Babesia sensu stricto infections were more common in older raccoons. Raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto had significantly higher spleen:body weight ratios compared with uninfected or B. microti-like sp.-infected raccoons. Ticks were only found on raccoons from Minnesota. The most common and abundant tick was Ixodes texanus but Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis were also found on raccoons. We report piroplasm infections and infestations with several tick species in very young raccoons. Young raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto spp. had higher spleen:body weight ratios, suggesting a disease risk.

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First Report of the Use of Meglumine Antimoniate for Treatment of Canine Leishmaniasis in a Pregnant Dog

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ◽

10.5326/jaaha-ms-5508 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 67-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Eva Spada ◽

Daniela Proverbio ◽

Debora Groppetti ◽

Roberta Perego ◽

Valeria Grieco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Canine Leishmaniasis ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Uterine Tissue ◽

First Report ◽

Meglumine Antimoniate ◽

Pregnancy And Delivery

Canine leishmaniasis during pregnancy is rarely reported, even in countries where the infection in dogs is endemic. The authors report a case of a 4 yr old bitch with leishmaniasis treated with meglumine antimoniate during pregnancy. The pregnancy and delivery were normal and the bitch presented improvement of the infection during treatment. Three puppies died within 2 days of birth and tested negative via real-time PCR for L. infantum. The two surviving puppies were followed clinically, serologically, and by real-time PCR until 1 yr of age with no evidence of congenital leishmaniasis. L. infantum DNA was detected with real-time PCR analysis of uterine tissue from the bitch at the time of ovariohysterectomy. PCR analysis was performed after an ovariohysterectomy of the bitch that was performed two months after parturition. Meglumine antimoniate use in the pregnant bitch may have prevented vertical transmission of leishmaniasis.

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Vertical Transmission: A Vector-Independent Transmission Pathway of Babesia microti in the Natural Reservoir Host Peromyscus leucopus

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiaa595 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Danielle M Tufts ◽

Maria A Diuk-Wasser

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Chronic Infection ◽

Peromyscus Leucopus ◽

Horizontal Transmission ◽

Reservoir Host ◽

Pathogen Transmission ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Natural Reservoir ◽

Generation Offspring

Abstract Background Babesia microti, a malaria-like pathogen, is increasing in mammal and human populations in endemic areas and is unlikely to be the sole result of horizontal pathogen transmission. Methods Peromyscus leucopus mice, natural reservoir hosts, were infected via Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Infected parental females (n = 6) produced F1 offspring (n = 36) that were screened for B. microti using quantitative PCR. Xenodiagnostic larvae were fed on infected offspring to determine horizontal transmission and pathogen viability. Fifty engorged larvae were screened; the rest were allowed to molt and then screened to determine transstadial transmission. Infected F1 generation offspring were placed in breeding groups, producing 34 F2 offspring and screened for B. microti infection. Chronic infection was monitored in parental females since time of initial vector infection. Results Vertical transmission of B. microti was 74% efficient in offspring born in the first 6 months. Horizontal transmission occurred in larvae (61% prevalence) and molted nymphs (58% prevalence); these nymphs were able to infect susceptible hosts. F2 generation offspring infection prevalence was 38%. Chronic infection persisted for 1 year in some adults. Conclusions These results demonstrate that vertical transmission is an important nonvector-mediated pathway of B. microti transmission in the natural reservoir host.

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Vertical Transmission of Babesia microti in BALB/c Mice: Preliminary Report

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0137731 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e0137731 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Malgorzata Bednarska ◽

Anna Bajer ◽

Anna Drozdowska ◽

Ewa J. Mierzejewska ◽

Katarzyna Tolkacz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Preliminary Report ◽

Babesia Microti

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Prevalence, genetic identity and vertical transmission of Babesia microti in three naturally infected species of vole, Microtus spp. (Cricetidae)

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-017-2007-x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Katarzyna Tołkacz ◽

Małgorzata Bednarska ◽

Mohammed Alsarraf ◽

Dorota Dwużnik ◽

Maciej Grzybek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Genetic Identity ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Microtus Spp

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First report of vertical transmission of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum in a naturally infected bitch from Brazil

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.08.011 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 166 (1-2) ◽

pp. 159-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Sydnei Magno da Silva ◽

Vitor Marcio Ribeiro ◽

Raul Rio Ribeiro ◽

Wagner Luiz Tafuri ◽

Maria Norma Melo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Leishmania Infantum ◽

First Report

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First report of two asymptomatic cases of human infection with Babesia microti (Franca, 1910) in Poland

Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.5604/12321966.1141394 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 51-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Renata Welc-Falęciak ◽

Agnieszka Pawełczyk ◽

Marek Radkowski ◽

Sławomir Pancewicz ◽

Joanna Zajkowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Infection ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

First Report

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First report case with negative genetic study (array CGH, exome sequencing) in patients with vertical transmission of Zika virus infection and associated brain abnormalities

The Application of Clinical Genetics ◽

10.2147/tacg.s190661 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol Volume 12 ◽

pp. 141-150

Author(s):

Estephania Candelo ◽

Gabriela Caicedo ◽

Fernando Rosso ◽

Adriana Ballesteros ◽

Jaime Orrego ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Exome Sequencing ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Genetic Study ◽

Zika Virus ◽

Array Cgh ◽

Brain Abnormalities ◽

First Report ◽

Zika Virus Infection

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First report on vertical transmission of a plasmid DNA in freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.jip.2014.06.001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 121 ◽

pp. 24-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Labrechai Mog Chowdhury ◽

P. Gireesh-Babu ◽

A. Pavan-Kumar ◽

P.P. Suresh Babu ◽

Aparna Chaudhari

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Plasmid Dna ◽

Macrobrachium Rosenbergii ◽

Freshwater Prawn ◽

First Report

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Impact of Babesia microti infection on the initiation and course of pregnancy in BALB/c mice

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04638-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Katarzyna Tołkacz ◽

Anna Rodo ◽

Agnieszka Wdowiarska ◽

Anna Bajer ◽

Małgorzata Bednarska

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Acute Phase ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Congenital Infection ◽

First Trimester ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Female Mice ◽

Pcr Targeting

Abstract Background Protozoa in the genus Babesia are transmitted to humans through tick bites and cause babesiosis, a malaria-like illness. Vertical transmission of Babesia spp. has been reported in mammals; however, the exact timing and mechanisms involved are not currently known. The aims of this study were to evaluate the success of vertical transmission of B. microti in female mice infected before pregnancy (mated during the acute or chronic phases of Babesia infection) and that of pregnant mice infected during early and advanced pregnancy; to evaluate the possible influence of pregnancy on the course of parasite infections (parasitaemia); and to assess pathological changes induced by parasitic infection. Methods The first set of experiments involved two groups of female mice infected with B. microti before mating, and inseminated on the 7th day and after the 40th day post infection. A second set of experiments involved female mice infected with B. microti during pregnancy, on the 4th and 12th days of pregnancy. Blood smears and PCR targeting the 559 bp 18S rRNA gene fragment were used for the detection of B. microti. Pathology was assessed histologically. Results Successful development of pregnancy was recorded only in females mated during the chronic phase of infection. The success of vertical transmission of B. microti in this group was 63%. No evidence of pregnancy was found in females mated during the acute phase of infection or on the 4th day of pregnancy. In the group infected on the 12th day of pregnancy, numerous complications including loss of pregnancy and stillbirths were recorded. During the acute phase of infection, parasitaemia was lower in pregnant females in comparison to infected, non-pregnant control females. Conclusions Acute B. microti infection prevents the initiation of pregnancy and embryonic development if it occurs during the first trimester, and causes severe complications in foetal BALB/c mice in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Chronic B. microti infection has no detrimental impact on the initiation and development of pregnancy, but results in congenital infection of the offspring. Further study is required to determine the extent to which maternal anti-babesial immune responses contribute to compromise pregnancy in the murine model of congenital Babesia infection.

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