scholarly journals Molecular investigation of bacterial and protozoal pathogens in ticks collected from different hosts in Turkey

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu ◽  
Hüseyin Can ◽  
Mervenur Güvendi ◽  
Sedef Erkunt Alak ◽  
Çağrı Kandemir ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The emergence of tick-borne disease is increasing because of the effects of the temperature rise driven by global warming. In Turkey, 19 pathogens transmitted by ticks to humans and animals have been reported. Based on this, this study aimed to investigate tick-borne pathogens including Hepatozoon spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., and Bartonella spp. in tick samples (n = 110) collected from different hosts (dogs, cats, cattle, goats, sheep, and turtles) by molecular methods. Methods To meet this objective, ticks were identified morphologically at the genus level by microscopy; after DNA isolation, each tick sample was identified at the species level using the molecular method. Involved pathogens were then investigated by PCR method. Results Seven different tick species were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, R. bursa, Hyalomma marginatum, H. anatolicum, H. aegyptium, and Haemaphysalis erinacei. Among the analyzed ticks, Hepatozoon spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp. were detected at rates of 6.36%, 16.3%, 1.81%, and 6.36%, respectively while Borrelia spp. and Bartonella spp. were not detected. Hepatozoon spp. was detected in R. sanguineus ticks while Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp. were detected in R. turanicus and H. marginatum. According to the results of sequence analyses applied for pathogen positive samples, Hepatozoon canis, Theileria ovis, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma ovis were identified. Conclusion Theileria ovis and Anaplasma ovis were detected for the first time to our knowledge in H. marginatum and R. turanicus collected from Turkey, respectively. Also, B. caballi was detected for the first time to our knowledge in ticks in Turkey.

Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (6) ◽  
pp. 730-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALESSIO GIANNELLI ◽  
RICCARDO PAOLO LIA ◽  
GIADA ANNOSCIA ◽  
CANIO BUONAVOGLIA ◽  
ELEONORA LORUSSO ◽  
...  

SUMMARYThe distribution of Hepatozoon canis mainly encompasses areas where its main tick vector, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, is present. However, the detection of this pathogen in dogs, foxes and golden jackals well outside the areas inhabited by this tick species reinforced the hypothesis that additional ixodids are involved in the life cycle and transmission of this protozoon. The present study provides, for the first time, data supporting the sporogonic development of H. canis in specimens of Rhipicephalus turanicus collected from a naturally infected fox from southern Italy. The epidemiological role of R. turanicus as a vector of H. canis is discussed, along with information on the potential use of cell cultures for the experimental infection with H. canis sporozoites. The in vitro infection of canine leucocytes by sporozoites from ticks is proposed as a potential tool for future in-depth studies on the biology of H. canis.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunli Sang ◽  
Meihua Yang ◽  
Bin Xu ◽  
Guangyuan Liu ◽  
Yicheng Yang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Piroplasmosis, caused by Theileria and Babesia species, is an economically important tick-borne disease worldwide. However, little is known about the presence of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in ticks from different host species in Kazakhstan. Method: We collected adult ticks at 26 sampling sites in 16 districts in the East and South regions of Kazakhstan during 2016 - 2019. Tick species were identified according to morphological and molecular characteristics. Two fragments of the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) were used to determine the species of piroplasms. The genotype characteristics of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi were analyzed further. Results: A total of 6107 adult ticks were collected, including 2920 Dermacentor marginatus, 1442 Argas persicus, 903 Hyalomma asiaticum, 464 Hyalomma scupense, 225 Hyalomma anatolicum, 122 Rhipicephalus turanicus, 16 Haemaphysalis erinacei and 15 Dermacentor reticulatus. In these ticks five species of piroplasms, i.e. Babesia occultans, Babesia caballi, Theileria ovis, Theileria annulata and Theileria equi, were detected. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi belonged to their E and A genotype, respectively.Conclusions: Apart from Dermacentor marginatus, three Hyalomma species predominate among ticks infesting herbivorous livestock in East and South regions of Kazakhstan. 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) phylogenic analysis showed that several tick species in Kazakhstan, as exemplified by D. marginatus and Ha. erinacei, were clustered together with conspecific ticks reported from China. Babesia occultans was found for the first time in D. marginatus in Kazakhstan. Altogether five piroplasm species were detected, indicating that enhanced control measures are necessary to prevent piroplasm infection of domestic animals in this region.


Author(s):  
Ali Ahmet Kilimcioğlu ◽  
Nogay Girginkardeşler ◽  
Tuba Oyur ◽  
Selin Bölük Sabuncu ◽  
Didem Düzyol Azak ◽  
...  

Objective: It was aimed to develop a new Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) protocol with isolates obtained from local patients for the diagnosis of Blastocystis sp., Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia intestinalis, which can cause severe gastrointestinal system complaints especially in immunocompromised patients and children. Method: DNA isolation was performed with a commercial kit from three stool samples of different patients whose microscopic examination showed dense amounts of Blastocystis sp., Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia intestinalis. First, a special PCR protocol has been developed for each protozoon. Then, the multiplex PCR protocol, in which these three protozoa can be diagnosed together, was optimized. Results: In the multiplex PCR protocol performed after DNA isolation, bands of 95 bp., 227 bp. and 258 bp. were obtained for Cryptosporidium sp., Blastocystis sp. and G. intestinalis, respectively. Conclusion: Blastocystis sp., Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia intestinalis were diagnosed by multiplex PCR with the original protocol developed. Due to the difficulties in using different methods in parasitological examination, by adding other protozoa important for public health to this optimized protocol, it will be possible to detect a large number of parasites with a single molecular method.


Author(s):  
Motahare Feizabadi Farahani ◽  
Majid Esmaelizad ◽  
Ahmad Reza Jabbari

Background and Objectives: Iron is an essential compound in metabolic pathway of wide range of organisms. Because of limited free iron supply in mammalian and avian hosts, bacteria have applied various ways to acquire iron. Materials and Methods: In this study, the frequency of 8 iron acquisition factors was examined among 63 avian and ovine Pasteurella multocida field isolates and their vaccine strains using PCR method. Results: Five candidate genes (fur, tonB, exbD, exbB and hgbA) were identified among all isolates. For the first time, 2 loci (hgbB1 and hgbB2) of the hgbB gene were identified, which were previously reported as 1 gene. Also, it was found that 5 ovine and 1 avian isolates possessed all the virulence factors, which could also be considered for evaluating the frequency of other virulence factors. Conclusion: More studies need to be conducted on the frequency of all other virulence factors among these isolates, which can provide basic information for improvement or substitution of current vaccinal strains. Overall, as the new designed sets of primers showed more potential in detecting the corresponded genes, researchers can consider them in further studies.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayyereh Choubdar ◽  
Fateh Karimian ◽  
Mona Koosha ◽  
Jalil Nejati ◽  
Mohammad Ali Oshaghi

Abstract Background Anaplasmosis / Ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases affecting human and livestock in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Due to infection both animals and humans and monitoring of ticks and the pathogens they carry, an extensive survey was conducted in border line of Iran-Pakistan of Sistan and Baluchistan, southeast corner of Iran in 2016-2017, where animal husbandry is the main activity of people and every week thousands of cattle cross the borders into the countries. The aim of the survey was to determine the prevalence and geographical distribution of Anaplasmosis / Ehrlichiosis agents in Hyalomma spp hard ticks. Ticks were collected, identified and processed for Anaplasma / Ehrlichia spp DNA detection. Results Six Hyalomma species were found in the region, where Hy. anatolicum was the most prevalent species collected on goats, cattle, and camel. Anaplasma / Ehrlichia genomes were found in 68.3% of the specimens. Anaplasma ovis, A.marginale, and E.ewingii DNAs prevalence were 81.82, 9.09, and 9.09% in the infected ticks respectively. DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the 16SrRNA gene confirmed the detection of these three anaplasmosis agents while they had 99-100% identity with the strains previously reported in genbank from different parts of the world. Conclusion Because A.ovis and A.marginale are important livestock pathogens, and E.ewingii is an important human pathogen, both farmers and people in border line of the countries which engaged in livestock need to be made aware of the risks of tick infestation and the tick-borne disease they transmit.


2015 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-191
Author(s):  
E Stachow

AbstractMedical Officers (MOs) and Medical Branch Ratings (MBRs) must maintain an awareness of the risk of vector-borne diseases among deployed personnel.Personnel working in the maritime environment may not expect to be at risk of tick bites, as ticks typically occupy habitats with dense vegetation such as forests or scrub land. However, tick-borne pathogens can cause serious and sometimes fatal disease, and therefore the risk of tick bites and associated diseases should be recognised.We present a case of a tick bite in a member of a ship’s company eight days after leaving port. The tick was identified as a brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), a species known to thrive indoors. We describe several important tick-borne diseases which can be transmitted by R. sanguineus and explore best practice for tick removal and aftercare. Finally, we outline the appropriate management of suspected tick-borne disease in deployed personnel in the maritime environment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 1055-1061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Šimenc ◽  
Urška Kuhar ◽  
Urška Jamnikar-Ciglenečki ◽  
Ivan Toplak

Abstract The complete genome of Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3) was sequenced by the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology from an archive sample of honey bees collected in 2010. This strain M92/2010 is the first complete genome sequence of LSV lineage 3. From October 2016 to December 2017, 56 honey bee samples from 32 different locations and 41 bumble bee samples from five different locations were collected. These samples were tested using a specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method; 75.92% of honey bee samples and 17.07% of bumble bee samples were LSV-positive with the RT-PCR method. Phylogenetic comparison of 557-base pair-long RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) genome region of selected 23 positive samples of honey bees and three positive bumble bee samples identified three different LSV lineages: LSV1, LSV2, and LSV3. The LSV3 lineage was confirmed for the first time in Slovenia in 2010, and the same strain was later detected in several locations within the country. The LSV strains detected in bumble bees are from 98.6 to 99.4% identical to LSV strains detected among honey bees in the same territory.


2009 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamil Seyrek ◽  
Tülin Karagenç ◽  
Serdar Paşa ◽  
Funda Kıral ◽  
Abidin Atasoy

In Turkey, canine hepatozoonosis is an emerging infection with a large number of cases detected during the past five years. In the present study, serum zinc, copper and iron concentrations of dogs infected with Hepatozoon canis were measured for the first time. Compared to the controls (n = 10), serum zinc and iron concentrations in infected animals (n = 14) decreased significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively), whereas the concentrations of copper in diseased animals increased significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that Hepatozoon canis infection may cause alterations in serum zinc iron and copper concentrations. Furthermore, in the treatment of infected animals addition of zinc and iron to the ration of infected animals should be taken into consideration.


2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Nazaré Morgado ◽  
Amanda dos Santos Cavalcanti ◽  
Luisa Helena de Miranda ◽  
Lúcia Helena O’Dwyer ◽  
Maria Regina Lucas da Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract This study describes the occurrence of dogs naturally co-infected with Hepatozoon canis and two Leishmania species: L. infantum or L. braziliensis. Four dogs serologically diagnosed with Visceral Leishmaniasis were euthanized. Liver and spleen samples were collected for histopathological analysis and DNA isolation. H. canis meronts were observed in tissues from all four dogs. H. canis infection was confirmed by PCR followed by sequencing of a fragment of 18S rRNA gene. Leishmania detection and typing was confirmed by ITS1' PCR-RFLP and parasite burden was calculated using ssrRNA quantitative qPCR. A DPP - Dual Path platform test was performed. One out (Dog #2) of four animals was asymptomatic. Dogs #1 and #4 were infected by L. infantum and were DPP test positive. Dogs #2 and #3 were infected by L. braziliensis and were DPP test negative. Furthermore, visceral dissemination was observed in Dogs #2 and #3, since L. braziliensis was detected in liver and spleen samples. The visceral dissemination of L. braziliensis associated with systemic signs suggested that this co-infection could influence the parasite burden and disease progression.


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