Babesiosis as a potential threat for bovine production in China

AbstractBabesiosis is a tick-borne disease with global impact caused by parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, genus Babesia. Typically, acute bovine babesiosis (BB) is characterized by fever, anemia, hemoglobinuria, and high mortality. Surviving animals remain persistently infected and become reservoirs for parasite transmission. Bovids in China can be infected by one or more Babesia species endemic to the country, including B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. orientalis, B. ovata, B. major, B. motasi, B. U sp. Kashi and B. venatorum. The latter may pose a zoonotic risk. Occurrence of this wide diversity of Babesia species in China may be due to a combination of favorable ecological factors, such as the presence of multiple tick vectors, including Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma, the coexistence of susceptible bovid species, such as domestic cattle, yaks, and water buffalo, and the lack of efficient measures of tick control. BB is currently widespread in several regions of the country and a limiting factor for cattle production. While some areas appear to have enzootic stability, others have considerable cattle mortality. Research is needed to devise solutions to the challenges posed by uncontrolled BB. Critical research gaps include risk assessment for cattle residing in endemic areas, understanding factors involved in endemic stability, evaluation of parasite diversity and pathogenicity of regional Babesia species, and estimation of whether and how BB should be controlled in China. Research should allow the design of comprehensive interventions to improve cattle production, diminish the risk of human infections, and increase the availability of affordable animal protein for human consumption in China and worldwide. In this review, we describe the current state of BB with reference to the diversity of hosts, vectors, and parasite species in China. We also discuss the unique risks and knowledge gaps that should be taken into consideration for future Babesia research and control strategies.

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Isolation of viable Babesia bovis merozoites to study parasite invasion

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-96365-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hassan Hakimi ◽

Masahito Asada ◽

Takahiro Ishizaki ◽

Shinichiro Kawazu

Keyword(s):

Control Strategies ◽

Specific Inhibitor ◽

Babesia Bovis ◽

Parasite Development ◽

Mammalian Host ◽

Bovine Babesiosis ◽

Binary Forms ◽

Parasite Invasion ◽

Dependent Protein ◽

Basic Biology

AbstractBabesia parasite invades exclusively red blood cell (RBC) in mammalian host and induces alterations to host cell for survival. Despite the importance of Babesia in livestock industry and emerging cases in humans, their basic biology is hampered by lack of suitable biological tools. In this study, we aimed to develop a synchronization method for Babesia bovis which causes the most pathogenic form of bovine babesiosis. Initially, we used compound 2 (C2), a specific inhibitor of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), and a derivative of C2, ML10. While both inhibitors were able to prevent B. bovis egress from RBC and increased percentage of binary forms, removal of inhibitors from culture did not result in a synchronized egress of parasites. Because using PKG inhibitors alone was not efficient to induce a synchronized culture, we isolated viable and invasive B. bovis merozoites and showed dynamics of merozoite invasion and development in RBCs. Using isolated merozoites we showed that BbVEAP, VESA1-export associated protein, is essential for parasite development in the RBC while has no significant role in invasion. Given the importance of invasion for the establishment of infection, this study paves the way for finding novel antigens to be used in control strategies against bovine babesiosis.

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Host Range Evolution of Potyviruses: A Global Phylogenetic Analysis

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12010111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 111 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Benoît Moury ◽

Cécile Desbiez

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Host Range ◽

Plant Species ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Plant Viruses ◽

Range Data ◽

Disease Emergence ◽

Host Range Evolution ◽

Ecological Mechanisms

Virus host range, i.e., the number and diversity of host species of viruses, is an important determinant of disease emergence and of the efficiency of disease control strategies. However, for plant viruses, little is known about the genetic or ecological factors involved in the evolution of host range. Using available genome sequences and host range data, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of host range evolution in the genus Potyvirus, a large group of plant RNA viruses that has undergone a radiative evolution circa 7000 years ago, contemporaneously with agriculture intensification in mid Holocene. Maximum likelihood inference based on a set of 59 potyviruses and 38 plant species showed frequent host range changes during potyvirus evolution, with 4.6 changes per plant species on average, including 3.1 host gains and 1.5 host loss. These changes were quite recent, 74% of them being inferred on the terminal branches of the potyvirus tree. The most striking result was the high frequency of correlated host gains occurring repeatedly in different branches of the potyvirus tree, which raises the question of the dependence of the molecular and/or ecological mechanisms involved in adaptation to different plant species.

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Progress in sensor technology - progress in process control? Part I: Sensor property investigation and classification

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2003.0096 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 103-112 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

L. Rieger ◽

J. Alex ◽

S. Winkler ◽

M. Boehler ◽

M. Thomann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Control Strategies ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Test Environment ◽

Sensor Property ◽

Sensor Models ◽

The Cost ◽

And Control ◽

Measurement And Control

To ensure correctly operating control systems, the measurement and control equipment in WWTPs must be mutually consistent. The dynamic simulation of activated sludge systems could offer a suitable tool for designing and optimising control strategies. Ideal or simplified sensor models represent a limiting factor for comparability with field applications. More realistic sensor models are therefore required. Two groups of sensor models are proposed on the basis of field and laboratory tests: one for specific sensors and another for a classification of sensor types to be used with the COST simulation benchmark environment. This should lead to a more realistic test environment and allow control engineers to define the requirements of the measuring equipment as a function of the selected control strategy.

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Hyper-Aerotolerant Campylobacter coli from Duck Sources and Its Potential Threat to Public Health: Virulence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Genetic Relatedness

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms7110579 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 579 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jae-Ho Guk ◽

Junhyung Kim ◽

Hyokeun Song ◽

Jinshil Kim ◽

Jae-Uk An ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Genetic Relatedness ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Campylobacter Coli ◽

Potential Threat ◽

High Level ◽

Sequence Types ◽

Level Resistance

Campylobacter, a common foodborne human pathogen, is considered sensitive to oxygen. Recently, aerotolerant (AT) Campylobacter jejuni with the ability to survive under aerobic stress has been reported. Here, we investigated the prevalence of hyper-aerotolerant (HAT) Campylobacter coli from duck sources (118 carcasses and meat) and its characteristics to assess potential impacts on public health. Half of 56 C. coli isolates were HAT and most harbored various virulence genes including flaA, cadF, cdtA, ceuB, and wlaN. Moreover, 98.2% of C. coli isolates showed resistance to quinolones, including ciprofloxacin (CIP), and nine (16.1%) showed high-level resistance to ciprofloxacin (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, MIC ≥ 32 μg/mL) and most of these were HAT. Based on genetic relatedness between C. coli from duck sources and those from human sources (PubMLST and NCBI), HAT isolates sharing the same MLST sequence types were significantly more prevalent than those not sharing the same sequence types as those from human sources. Therefore, HAT C. coli is prevalent in duck sources, and is most likely transmitted to humans through the food chain given its aerotolerance. This being so, it might pose a threat to public health given its virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study will assist in improving control strategies to reduce farm-to-table HAT C. coli transmission to humans.

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Features of ecological differentiation of halophytic, steppe and petrophytic vegetation in the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik (Odesa Oblast)

Biosystems Diversity ◽

10.15421/011928 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 205-213

Author(s):

D. V. Dubyna ◽

T. P. Dziuba ◽

L. P. Vakarenko ◽

A. A. Ennan ◽

H. M. Shykhaleeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Communities ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Carbonate Content ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Edaphic Factors ◽

Key Factors ◽

Ecological Differentiation ◽

Steppe Vegetation ◽

Steppe Communities

Assessment of key environmental factors that influence vegetation distribution and formation of plant communities is one of the most important challenges in modern phytocenology. Nowadays, several bioindication systems are applied to determine ecological specificity of plant communities and to establish the leading factors for their environmental differentiation. The system most widely used in Europe, that of H. Ellenberg, contains a numerical score on 6 ecological factors. On the example of vegetation of the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik, Y. Didukh developed the synphytoindication method based on evaluation of phytocenoses with respect to 12 ecological factors: 7 edaphic factors and 5 climatic factors; the method determines a more accurate and complete presentation of the analysis. In the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik (Odesa Oblast) the largest area is covered with halophytic and steppe vegetation. Halophytic vegetation (Therosalicornietea, Festuco-Puccinellietea classes, Juncetea maritimi, Bolboschoenetea maritimi) predominated in the shoreline areas of the valley, whereas steppe (Festuco-Brometea) and petrophytic (Sedo-Scleranthetea) vegetation dominated on the slope sites. With the application of DCA-ordination and synphytoindication methods it was established that distribution of plant communities in the hyper-space of the environmental conditions was most strongly correlated with edaphic factors, whereas microclimatic (light intensity) and climatic (thermo-regime) conditions had somewhat less influence on their differentiation. Water regime and level of soil salinity served as key factors for syntaxa of halophytic vegetation; moisture variability and salt regime, as well as soil moisture and carbonate content were key factors for the steppe vegetation, and thermo-regime was the main factor for petrophytic-steppe and petrophytic vegetation. The "eco-spaces" of these groups largely overlap. Halophytic cenoses are characterized by quite wide ecological ranges by most ecological factors. Steppe communities show much less ecological diversity. In the valley of the liman, all the steppe communities were characterized by stenotopicity in relation to most ecological factors; these factors complexly determine the specificity and diversity of biotopes within the valley, which are unique and require protection and the taking of appropriate measures, depending on the changes in activity of one or another limiting factor. Nowadays, the valley of the Liman Kuyalnik is in a state of environmental disaster. The established relationships in ecological differentiation of plant communities will be applied to further monitoring of biodiversity state, preservation and possible restoration of vegetation types that were native for this unique territory.

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Evaluation of molecular assays to detect Leishmania donovani in Phlebotomus argentipes fed on post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis patients

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-021-04961-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Md Anik Ashfaq Khan ◽

Khaledul Faisal ◽

Rajashree Chowdhury ◽

Rupen Nath ◽

Prakash Ghosh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Leishmania Donovani ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Reference Method ◽

Critical Factor ◽

Sand Fly ◽

Accurate Estimation ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Sand Flies ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Kala Azar

Abstract Background Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) caused by Leishmania donovani (LD) is a skin disorder that often appears after treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients. PKDL patients are potential reservoirs of LD parasites, which can initiate a new epidemic of anthroponotic VL. Therefore, host infectiousness to its sand fly vector is a critical factor for transmission, and its accurate estimation can facilitate control strategies. At present, conventional microscopy serves as the reference method to detect parasites in its vector. However, low sensitivity of microscopy can be a limiting factor. Methods In this study, real-time quantitative PCR (LD-qPCR) and recombinase polymerase amplification (LD-RPA) assays were evaluated against microscopy for the detection of LD DNA extracted from live sand flies five days after controlled feeding on PKDL cases. Results The sensitivity of LD-qPCR and LD-RPA assays were found to be 96.43 and 100%, respectively, against microscopy for the selected fed sand flies (n = 28), and an absolute specificity of both molecular tools for apparently unfed sand flies (n = 30). While the proportion of infectious cases among 47 PKDL patients was estimated as 46.81% as defined by microscopic detection of LD in at least one fed sand fly per case, LD-RPA assay evaluation of only the microscopy negative sand flies fed to those 47 PKDL cases estimated an even greater proportion of infectious cases (51.06%). In overall estimation of the infectious cases in retrospective manner, discordance in positivity rate was observed (p < 0.05) between LD-RPA (59.57%) assay and microscopy (46.81%), while LD-RPA had slightly better positivity rate than LD-qPCR (55.32%) as well. Conclusions Considering the sensitivity, cost, detection time, and field applicability, RPA assay can be considered as a promising single molecular detection tool for investigations pertaining to LD infections in sand flies and/or host infectiousness in PKDL, while it can also be useful in confirmation of microscopy negative sand fly samples. Graphical abstract

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Influence of ecological factors on larvae hatching of cystogenous species of nematodes

Agroecological journal ◽

10.33730/2077-4893.2.2016.249311 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

L. Pylypenko ◽

K. Kalatur

Keyword(s):

Control Strategies ◽

Research Effort ◽

Inorganic Compounds ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Nematode Species ◽

Control Measures ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Cyst Nematodes ◽

Wide Range ◽

Hatching Process

Understanding hatching process in plant parasitic nematodes has the potential to lead to new control strategies of these devistating pathogens, causing up to10–20% or $80 billion of crop loss globally (Nicol et al, 2011; Каплин, 2012). Although much research effort has been extended in elucidating the hatching factors, there has been no successful control strategy using their analogues to induce hatch in the field. This review examines development on this subject, focusing on the root diffusate, natural and inorganic compounds, as well as abiotic hatching factors (environmental temperature, moisture, aeration). They are assumed to have different impact on the hatching process of various cyst nematodes species despite of similarities in their biological features and life strategies. Notably, soil temperature and moisture play the vital role for species with a wide range of host plants whereas host plant diffusate is a key factor for highly specialized cyst nematode species. Appropriately investigated, it can favour development of control measures specified against targeted nematode species and boost their application in practice.

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Caracterização do conhecimento de pecuaristas gaúchos da serra do sudeste sobre o carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus

Revista Agraria Academica ◽

10.32406/v4n5/2021/114-129/agrariacad ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 114-129

Author(s):

Karine Moreira Krause ◽

◽

Sandra Márcia Tietz Marques ◽

José Fernando Piva Lobato ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rio Grande ◽

Tick Control ◽

Rhipicephalus Microplus ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Bovine Babesiosis ◽

Native Grasslands ◽

Late Control ◽

Tick Borne Disease ◽

Cattle Ranchers ◽

Structured Questionnaire

The purpose of this research project was to determine knowledge of the Rhipicephalus microplus tick among seventy cattle ranchers in the Caçapava do Sul and Lavras do Sul municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul State, through completing a structured questionnaire. The replies to the questions on the land areas covered by the properties show that 27%, 26%, 21.5%, 20% and 5.5% cover more than 500 hectares, between 150 and 300 hectares, between 300 and 500 hectares, between 50 and 150 hectares, and under 50 hectares, respectively; 75% of the ranchers are raising more than 100 head of cattle; 84.3% have cultivated grazing pastures and 15.7% have only native grasslands; 87.14% of the ranchers rated bovine babesiosis as the main tick-borne disease, and 76% checked out tick control products recommended by veterinarians. They mentioned 13 formulations and/or associations of tick control products. The tick control biogram test is a new tool for 58.6% of these cattle ranchers. Producers use late control, based on tick control chemicals.

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Behavior-based control of arthropod vectors: the case of mosquitoes, ticks, and Chagasic bugs

10.1093/oso/9780198797500.003.0021 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Ana E. Gutiérrez-Cabrera ◽

Giovanni Benelli ◽

Thomas Walker ◽

José Antonio De Fuentes-Vicente ◽

Alex Córdoba-Aguilar

Keyword(s):

Vector Control ◽

Behavioral Ecology ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Control Strategies ◽

Tick Control ◽

Arthropod Vectors ◽

Behavior Based Control ◽

Control Programmes ◽

Behavior Based ◽

Mosquito Behavior

This chapter outlines the patterns and occurrences of major diseases transmitted by arthropod vectors, highlighting the need for behavior-based control strategies, first, focusing on mosquito control tools with an emphasis on how knowledge of mosquito behavioral ecology may help vector control programmes. The potential of sound traps, swarm manipulation, ‘lure and kill’, radiation, transgenicm and symbiont-based approaches will be outlined, and how mosquito behavior influences these vector control strategies. Secondly, tick control strategies, as well as pheromone-assisted tick control will be reviewed, with special reference to pheromone-assisted matrix for application to vegetation, tick decoy, bont tick decoy, and the deployment of confusants. Thirdly, how Chagasic bugs are traditionally controlled will be summarized. Also, we highlight emerging chemical-based attraction methods, employing bug pheromones, as well as the use of entomopathogens. This review is not a thorough one, as it should only instruct students on how to use arthropod behavior to control arthropod vectors.

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Brachiaria spp. poisoning of ruminants in Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2011000300001 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 183-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

B. Riet-Correa ◽

M.B. Castro ◽

R.A. Lemos ◽

G. Riet-Correa ◽

V. Mustafa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Animal Species ◽

Preventive Measures ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Clinical Syndrome ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Serum Concentrations ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Progressive Weight Loss ◽

Selection Of

Brachiaria species are the most important grasses for cattle production in Brazil. However, a limiting factor for the use of Brachiaria spp. is their toxicity. Most outbreaks of hepatogenous photosensitization are caused by B. decumbens; however B. brizantha, B. humidicola and B. ruziziensis can also cause poisoning. The poisoning affects cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo. Sheep are more susceptible than other animal species and the young are more susceptible than adults. There are differences in susceptibility among animals of the same species and it has been suggested that this resistance is genetic. Also has been suggested that buffalo and probably some sheep are resilient, i.e. when poisoned these animals have histologic lesions and high GGT serum concentrations, but do not show clinical signs. In general, saponin concentrations are higher in growing plants, but outbreaks occur all over the year, probably due to unexplained rise in saponin concentration in the plant. A clinical syndrome of progressive weight loss and death, without photosensitization, has been reported in cattle poisoned by B. decumbens. Main preventive measures are based on the selection of resistant or resilient animals and on the development of Brachiaria species or varieties with low saponin concentration.

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