scholarly journals Hopping species and borders: detection of Bartonella spp. in avian nest fleas and arctic foxes from Nunavut, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayla J. Buhler ◽  
Ricardo G. Maggi ◽  
Julie Gailius ◽  
Terry D. Galloway ◽  
Neil B. Chilton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bartonella Henselae ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Lake Ecosystem ◽  
Arctic Ecosystems ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Arctic Foxes ◽  
Blood Clots ◽  
Cat Fleas ◽  
Avian Nest

Abstract Background In a warmer and more globally connected Arctic, vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic importance may be increasing in prevalence in native wildlife. Recently, Bartonella henselae, the causative agent of cat scratch fever, was detected in blood collected from arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) that were captured and released in the large goose colony at Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada. This bacterium is generally associated with cats and cat fleas, which are absent from Arctic ecosystems. Arctic foxes in this region feed extensively on migratory geese, their eggs, and their goslings. Thus, we hypothesized that a nest flea, Ceratophyllus vagabundus vagabundus (Boheman, 1865), may serve as a vector for transmission of Bartonella spp. Methods We determined the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in (i) nest fleas collected from 5 arctic fox dens and (ii) 37 surrounding goose nests, (iii) fleas collected from 20 geese harvested during arrival at the nesting grounds and (iv) blood clots from 57 adult live-captured arctic foxes. A subsample of fleas were identified morphologically as C. v. vagabundus. Remaining fleas were pooled for each nest, den, or host. DNA was extracted from flea pools and blood clots and analyzed with conventional and real-time polymerase chain reactions targeting the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region. Results Bartonella henselae was identified in 43% of pooled flea samples from nests and 40% of pooled flea samples from fox dens. Bartonella vinsonii berkhoffii was identified in 30% of pooled flea samples collected from 20 geese. Both B. vinsonii berkhoffii (n = 2) and B. rochalimae (n = 1) were identified in the blood of foxes. Conclusions We confirm that B. henselae, B. vinsonii berkhoffii and B. rochalimae circulate in the Karrak Lake ecosystem and that nest fleas contain B. vinsonii and B. henselae DNA, suggesting that this flea may serve as a potential vector for transmission among Arctic wildlife.

Detection of phytoplasmas in dieback, yellow crinkle, and mosaic diseases of papaya using polymerase chain reaction techniques

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Liu ◽  
DT White ◽  
KB Walsh ◽  
PT Scott
Keyword(s):  
Rrna Genes ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Pcr Product ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
23S Rrna Genes ◽  
The 16S Rrna Gene

Oligonucleotide primers complementary to regions specific to plant-pathogenic mycoplasma-like organisms (phytoplasmas) were used in polymerase chain reactions on tissue samples from dieback, yellow crinkle, and mosaic affected papaya plants. The primer pair P068/P069, which hybridise to internal regions of the 16s rRNA gene, amplified an approximately 560 bp product in dieback, yellow crinkle and mosaic affected papaya. The primer pair P3/P7, which hybridise to the spacer region between the 16s and 23s rRNA genes, amplified an approximately 300 bp fragment in yellow crinkle and mosaic affected papaya, with no product from dieback affected plants. No PCR product was obtained with either set of primers from healthy plants. An identical Alu I restriction enzyme profile was obtained with all three 560 bp products. This study provides the first evidence for the association of phytoplasmas with papaya mosaic and Australian papaya dieback.

scholarly journals Characterization of X-Disease Phytoplasmas in Chokecherry from North Dakota by PCR-RFLP and Sequence Analysis of the rRNA Gene Region

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1235-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. H. Guo ◽  
Z.-M. Cheng ◽  
J. A. Walla
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
North Dakota ◽  
Rflp Analysis ◽  
Restriction Enzymes ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Pcr Rflp

Genetic variation of X-disease phytoplasma strains from chokecherry (ChX) in North Dakota and nearby sites, and their relatedness with three standard strains of the X-disease phytoplasma group, eastern X-disease (CX), western X-disease (WX), and goldenrod yellows (GR1) phyto-plasmas, were studied. Primer pairs were developed to amplify the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and the 16S/23S spacer region. The rRNA genes (16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and two ribosomal protein [rp] genes) and the 16S/23S spacer region were amplified by polymerase chain reactions. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and rp genes, generated by digestion with four restriction enzymes (AluI, HpaII, MseI, and RsaI), showed no difference among 43 ChX phytoplasma isolates. Sequencing of the 441-bp 16S/23S spacer region revealed variation at four positions among 12 ChX phytoplasma strains. A tRNAIle and other conserved sequences were identified in the spacer region. Among X-disease subgroups, RFLP analysis indicated that ChX is similar to WX, closely related to CX, and easily distinguished from GR1. Sequencing indicated that ChX is closer to CX than to WX. Together, the analyses indicated that ChX phytoplasmas are genetically different from the standard strains of other X-disease phytoplasma subgroups.

scholarly journals Bartonella Infections in Cats and Cat Fleas in Lithuania

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1209
Author(s):  
Miglė Razgūnaitė ◽  
Indrė Lipatova ◽  
Algimantas Paulauskas ◽  
Birutė Karvelienė ◽  
Vita Riškevičienė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bartonella Henselae ◽  
Intergenic Spacer ◽  
Its Region ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Ctenocephalides Canis ◽  
Cat Fleas ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Pcr Targeting

Bartonella are vector-borne parasitic bacteria that cause zoonotic infections in humans. One of the most common infections is cat-scratch disease caused by Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Cats are the major reservoir for these two species of bacteria, while cat fleas are vectors for the transmission of infection agents among cats. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella infections in stray and pet cats and in cat fleas in Lithuania. Blood samples were taken from 163 cats presented in pet clinics and animal shelters. A total of 102 fleas representing two species, Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis, were collected from 12 owned cats that live both outdoors and indoors. Bartonella DNA in samples was detected using a nested PCR targeting the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer (ITS) region. Bartonella DNA was detected in 4.9% (8/163) of the cats and 29.4% (30/102) of the fleas. Sequence analysis of the ITS region showed that the cats and fleas were infected with B. henselae, B. clarridgeiae and Bartonella sp., closely related to B. schoenbuchensis. This study is the first report on the prevalence and molecular characterization of Bartonella spp. in cats and cat fleas in Lithuania.

scholarly journals Investigation of Lethal Concurrent Outbreak of Chlamydiosis and Pigeon Circovirus in a Zoo

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1654
Author(s):  
Wei-Tao Chen ◽  
Chin-Ann Teng ◽  
Cheng-Hsin Shih ◽  
Wei-Hsiang Huang ◽  
Yi-Fan Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Chlamydia Psittaci ◽  
Bursa Of Fabricius ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Renal Epithelium ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reactions ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Intracytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Streptopelia Orientalis

During the spring, an outbreak of sudden death involving 58 birds occurred in a zoo. Histopathological examinations revealed variable numbers of intracytoplasmic basophilic microorganisms in the macrophages, hepatocytes, and renal epithelium of most birds, along with occasional botryoid intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within histiocytes in the bursa of Fabricius. Based on the results of histopathological examinations, immunohistochemical staining, transmission electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reactions, genotype B Chlamydia psittaci infection concurrent with pigeon circovirus (PiCV) was diagnosed. A retrospective survey, including two years before the outbreak and the outbreak year, of C. psittaci and PiCV infections of dead birds in the aviaries, revealed that the outbreak was an independent episode. The findings of this study indicate that concurrent infection with C. psittaci and PiCV might lead to lethal outbreaks of chlamydiosis, particularly Streptopelia orientalis. In addition, persistently monitoring both pathogens and identifying potential PiCV carriers or transmitters might also help prevent lethal disease outbreaks.

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