scholarly journals Genetic Detection and Phylogenetic Relationship of Babesia Species Infecting Domestic Dogs from Select Regions in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Thoya Ngoka ◽  
Kevin Mbogo ◽  
Martina Kyallo ◽  
David Obiero ◽  
Roger Pelle
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationship ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Babesia Canis ◽  
Canine Babesiosis ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Babesia Vogeli ◽  
Babesia Rossi

Abstract The genus Babesia has more than 100 species that are transmitted by ticks with some being zoonotic. They can infect humans, livestock, and wildlife. Although canine babesiosis occurs locally, published studies on the species involved are limited. Babesia parasites cause severe disease in dogs which can be fatal. Drawbacks of the current control methods necessitate vaccine development. The study objective was to identify the Babesia species infecting dogs from three Kenyan counties; Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and determine their phylogenetic relationship. This will enable improved control and rule out zoonotic potential. The study period was October 2018 to November 2019.The study design was descriptive and sampling opportunistic. One hundred and forty-three dogs were sampled. From whole blood, total DNA was extracted using the TanBead extractor followed by PCR amplification targeting Babesia 18S rRNA. Positive samples were purified and sequenced using the Sanger Dideoxy method.CLC Genomics Workbench, GenBank™ and BLASTn™ on NCBI were used for sequence processing and analysis. Geneious prime™ was used for multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. The overall prevalence of Babesia canis was 9.0% (95% CI: 4.37–13.81). Two out of 13 positive samples (2/13) were identified as Babesia canis vogeli, with a prevalence of 1.4% (95% CI: 1.38–14.2, n = 143) while 11/13 were identified as Babesia canis rossi, with a prevalence of 7.69% (95% CI: 3.3–12, n = 143). The Babesia rossi sequences identified were closely related to sequences from black-backed jackals, while the Babesia vogeli ones were related to sequences from a pet cat in China. Babesia rossi which causes severe canine babesiosis was identified in 84.6% of the positive samples, immediate and aggressive clinical intervention is necessary. The possible sylvatic cycle of Babesia rossi and low levels of infections by Babesia vogeli should inform pertinent control measures.

scholarly journals Genetic Detection and Phylogenetic Relationship of Babesia Species Infecting Domestic Dogs from Select Regions in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Thoya Ngoka ◽  
Kevin Mbogo ◽  
Martina Kyallo ◽  
David Obiero ◽  
Roger Pelle
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Babesia Canis ◽  
Babesia Rossi

Abstract The Babesia genus has more than 100 species which are transmitted by ticks and infects humans, livestock and wildlife, some of which are zoonotic. New species continue being discovered which are poorly characterized. Locally, Babesia species occur in wildlife and livestock. Published literature on the species infecting dogs is limited.Local management practices enable close interaction between wildlife, livestock and humans. The societal role of dogs enable them serve as conduits for pathogens.Canine babesiosis causes a severe disease in dogs which can be fatal. Treatment required is lengthy and expensive. Current control methods rely on acaricide use. A vaccine against the disease is needed. Genetic characterization of local canine Babesia species would lay foundations for such development and assess any zoonotic potential.Molecular and bioinformatic methods i.e. DNA extraction (143 dogs sampled), PCR, sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were used in the study.13 samples were positive for Babesia canis; prevalence 9.0%, 95% confidence interval, (0.0437 to 0.1381).From the 13 positive samples, 2 were identified as Babesia canis vogeli; prevalence 1.4%, 95% confidence interval, (0.0138 to 0.142).While 11 were identified as Babesia canis rossi; prevalence 7.69%, 95% confidence interval, (0.033 to 0.12).Babesia rossi and Babesia vogeli were 84.6% and 15.4% of cases respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the Kenyan B.rossi sequences to be closely related to B.rossi sequences from black-backed jackals. The B.vogeli sequences were closely related to a B.vogeli sequence obtained from a pet cat in China.Babesia rossi is known to cause the most severe form of canine babesiosis, 84.6% of the cases were positive for this parasite which requires immediate and aggressive medical intervention. The role of wildlife in the maintenance of the parasites especially B.rossi was noted, control measures would of necessity have to incorporate this component of the parasite lifecycle.

scholarly journals Bovine Babesiosis in Turkey: Impact, Current Gaps, and Opportunities for Intervention

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1041
Author(s):  
Sezayi Ozubek ◽  
Reginaldo G. Bastos ◽  
Heba F. Alzan ◽  
Abdullah Inci ◽  
Munir Aktas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Research Programs ◽  
The Impact

Bovine babesiosis is a global tick-borne disease that causes important cattle losses and has potential zoonotic implications. The impact of bovine babesiosis in Turkey remains poorly characterized, but several Babesia spp., including B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. divergens, among others and competent tick vectors, except Rhipicephalus microplus, have been recently identified in the country. Bovine babesiosis has been reported in all provinces but is more prevalent in central and highly humid areas in low and medium altitude regions of the country housing approximately 70% of the cattle population. Current control measures include acaricides and babesicidal drugs, but not live vaccines. Despite the perceived relevant impact of bovine babesiosis in Turkey, basic research programs focused on developing in vitro cultures of parasites, point-of-care diagnostic methods, vaccine development, “omics” analysis, and gene manipulation techniques of local Babesia strains are scarce. Additionally, no effective and coordinated control efforts managed by a central animal health authority have been established to date. Development of state-of-the-art research programs in bovine babesiosis to address current gaps in knowledge and implementation of long-term plans to control the disease will surely result in important economic, nutritional, and public health benefits for the country and the region.

Canine babesiosis in Romania due to Babesia canis and Babesia vogeli: a molecular approach

2011 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 1659-1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariana Ionita ◽  
Ioan Liviu Mitrea ◽  
Kurt Pfister ◽  
Dietmar Hamel ◽  
Catalin Marius Buzatu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Babesia Canis ◽  
Molecular Approach ◽  
Canine Babesiosis ◽  
Babesia Vogeli

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Relationship of Babesia Species Infecting Dogs from Select Regions in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Thoya Ngoka ◽  
Kevin Mbogo ◽  
Martina Kyalo ◽  
Peter Juma ◽  
David Obiero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Babesia Canis ◽  
Canine Babesiosis ◽  
Diagnostic Pcr ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract BackgroundThere are over 100 Babesia species known to infect vertebrates with some of them being zoonotic. Local dog keeping practices enable extensive and intimate interactions between dogs, livestock, wildlife, and their human owners, thus allowing the possibility of dogs to act as hosts for zoonotic parasites.Canine babesiosis, known to occur in Kenya causes a severe and debilitating illness in dogs which compromises their welfare and capacity to carry out their role in society. Published data on Babesia species circulating among dogs in Kenya is limited. Improved control measures such as vaccines are required against the disease.MethodsThe study design was descriptive and sampling opportunistic. A total of 143 whole blood samples were collected from domestic dogs in Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombasa counties. Total genomic DNA was extracted from each of the samples and screened for Babesia parasites using diagnostic PCR. Babesia species were identified through bioinformatic analysis of Sanger sequences.ResultsA total of 13 samples were positive for Babesia species (95% C.I is 0.0437 to 0.1381). Two were positive for Babesia canis vogeli, eleven were positive for Babesia canis rossi.77% of the Babesia positive samples were from Nairobi county.ConclusionsThe study confirmed that molecular methods can be utilized to detect the presence of Babesia species circulating among dogs in Kenya.85% of the Babesia positive samples were Babesia canis rossi which causes the most severe form of canine babesiosis. Results of the bioinformatic analysis indicate 98.29% to 99.52% sequence identity to Babesia canis rossi obtained from black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas).Babesia canis vogeli although primarily known as a domestic dog parasite has been shown capable of infecting both domestic and wild felines. This demonstrates the capacity of dogs to serve as hosts for pathogens from wildlife and vice versa.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Relationship of Babesia Species Infecting Dogs from Select Regions of Kenya

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Thoya Ngoka ◽  
Kevin Mbogo ◽  
Martina Kyallo ◽  
Peter Juma ◽  
David Obiero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bioinformatic Analysis ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Domestic Dog ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Babesia Canis ◽  
Canine Babesiosis ◽  
Diagnostic Pcr ◽  
Sequence Identity ◽  
Relationship Of

Abstract There are over 100 Babesia species known to infect vertebrates with some of them being zoonotic. Local dog keeping practices enable extensive and intimate interactions between dogs, livestock, wildlife, and their human owners, thus allowing the possibility of dogs to act as hosts for zoonotic parasites.Canine babesiosis, known to occur in Kenya causes a severe and debilitating illness in dogs which compromises their welfare and capacity to carry out their role in society. Published data on Babesia species circulating among dogs in Kenya is limited. Improved control measures such as vaccines are required against the disease.The study design was descriptive and sampling opportunistic. A total of 143 whole blood samples were collected from domestic dogs in Nakuru, Nairobi and Mombasa counties. Total genomic DNA was extracted from each of the samples and screened for Babesia parasites using diagnostic PCR. Babesia species were identified through bioinformatic analysis of Sanger sequences.A total of 13 samples were positive for Babesia species (95% C.I is 0.0437 to 0.1381). Two were positive for Babesia canis vogeli, eleven were positive for Babesia canis rossi.77% of the Babesia positive samples were from Nairobi county.The study confirmed that molecular methods can be utilized to detect the presence of Babesia species circulating among dogs in Kenya.85% of the Babesia positive samples were Babesia canis rossi which causes the most severe form of canine babesiosis. Results of the bioinformatic analysis indicate 98.29% to 99.52% sequence identity to Babesia canis rossi obtained from black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas).Babesia canis vogeli although primarily known as a domestic dog parasite has been shown capable of infecting both domestic and wild felines. This demonstrates the capacity of dogs to serve as hosts for pathogens from wildlife and vice versa.

scholarly journals Phylogenetic Complexity of Morphologically Identified Anopheles squamosus in Southern Zambia

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Jordan Hoffman ◽  
Ilinca Ciubotariu ◽  
Limonty Simubali ◽  
Twig Mudenda ◽  
William Moss ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Relationships ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
The Past ◽  
Blood Meal Source ◽  
Residual Malaria Transmission

Despite dramatic reductions in malaria cases in the catchment area of Macha Hospital, Choma District, Southern Province in Zambia, prevalence has remained near 1–2% by RDT for the past several years. To investigate residual malaria transmission in the area, this study focuses on the relative abundance, foraging behavior, and phylogenetic relationships of Anopheles squamosus specimens. In 2011, higher than expected rates of anthropophily were observed among “zoophilic” An. squamosus, a species that had sporadically been found to contain Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites. The importance of An. squamosus in the region was reaffirmed in 2016 when P. falciparum sporozoites were detected in numerous An. squamosus specimens. This study analyzed Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light trap collections of adult mosquitoes from two collection schemes: one performed as part of a reactive-test-and-treat program and the second performed along a geographical transect. Morphological identification, molecular verification of anopheline species, and blood meal source were determined on individual samples. Data from these collections supported earlier studies demonstrating An. squamosus to be primarily exophagic and zoophilic, allowing them to evade current control measures. The phylogenetic relationships generated from the specimens in this study illustrate the existence of well supported clade structure among An. squamosus specimens, which further emphasizes the importance of molecular identification of vectors. The primarily exophagic behavior of An. squamosus in these collections also highlights that indoor vector control strategies will not be sufficient for elimination of malaria in southern Zambia.

scholarly journals Timing and Route of Contamination of Patient Rooms With Healthcare-Associated Pathogens

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s412-s412
Author(s):  
Sarah Redmond ◽  
Jennifer Cadnum ◽  
Basya Pearlmutter ◽  
Natalia Pinto Herrera ◽  
Curtis Donskey
Keyword(s):  
Acute Care Hospital ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Spa Typing ◽  
Persistent Problem ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Background: Transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens such as Clostridioides difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a persistent problem in healthcare facilities despite current control measures. A better understanding of the routes of pathogen transmission is needed to develop effective control measures. Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study in an acute-care hospital to identify the timing and route of transfer of pathogens to rooms of newly admitted patients with negative MRSA nares results and no known carriage of other healthcare-associated pathogens. Rooms were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to patient admission. Interactions of patients with personnel and portable equipment were observed, and serial cultures for pathogens were collected from the skin of patients and from surfaces, including those observed to come in contact with personnel and equipment. For MRSA, spa typing was used to determine relatedness of patient and environmental isolates. Results: For the 17 patients enrolled, 1 or more environmental cultures became positive for MRSA in rooms of 10 patients (59%), for C. difficile in rooms of 2 patients (12%) and for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in rooms of 2 patients (12%). The patients interacted with an average of 2.4 personnel and 0.6 portable devices per hour of observation. As shown in Figure 1, MRSA contamination of the floor occurred rapidly as personnel entered the room. In a subset of patients, MRSA was subsequently recovered from patients’ socks and bedding and ultimately from the high-touch surfaces in the room (tray table, call button, bedrail). For several patients, MRSA isolates recovered from the floor had the same spa type as isolates subsequently recovered from other sites (eg, socks, bedding, and/or high touch surfaces). The direct transfer of healthcare-associated pathogens from personnel or equipment to high-touch surfaces was not detected. Conclusions: Healthcare-associated pathogens rapidly accumulate on the floor of patient rooms and can be transferred to the socks and bedding of patients and to high-touch surfaces. Healthcare facility floors may be an underappreciated source of pathogen dissemination not addressed by current infection control measures.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Genome sequence, transcriptome, and annotation of rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis N67

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cui Zhang ◽  
Cihan Oguz ◽  
Sue Huse ◽  
Lu Xia ◽  
Jian Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Plasmodium Yoelii ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Rodent Malaria

Abstract Background Rodent malaria parasites are important models for studying host-malaria parasite interactions such as host immune response, mechanisms of parasite evasion of host killing, and vaccine development. One of the rodent malaria parasites is Plasmodium yoelii, and multiple P. yoelii strains or subspecies that cause different disease phenotypes have been widely employed in various studies. The genomes and transcriptomes of several P. yoelii strains have been analyzed and annotated, including the lethal strains of P. y. yoelii YM (or 17XL) and non-lethal strains of P. y. yoelii 17XNL/17X. Genomic DNA sequences and cDNA reads from another subspecies P. y. nigeriensis N67 have been reported for studies of genetic polymorphisms and parasite response to drugs, but its genome has not been assembled and annotated. Results We performed genome sequencing of the N67 parasite using the PacBio long-read sequencing technology, de novo assembled its genome and transcriptome, and predicted 5383 genes with high overall annotation quality. Comparison of the annotated genome of the N67 parasite with those of YM and 17X parasites revealed a set of genes with N67-specific orthology, expansion of gene families, particularly the homologs of the Plasmodium chabaudi erythrocyte membrane antigen, large numbers of SNPs and indels, and proteins predicted to interact with host immune responses based on their functional domains. Conclusions The genomes of N67 and 17X parasites are highly diverse, having approximately one polymorphic site per 50 base pairs of DNA. The annotated N67 genome and transcriptome provide searchable databases for fast retrieval of genes and proteins, which will greatly facilitate our efforts in studying the parasite biology and gene function and in developing effective control measures against malaria.

scholarly journals Applying Machine Learning to Predict the Exportome of Bovine and Canine Babesia Species That Cause Babesiosis

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 660
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Goodswen ◽  
Paul J. Kennedy ◽  
John T. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Babesia Bovis ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Babesia Bigemina ◽  
Bovine Babesiosis ◽  
Canine Babesiosis ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Significant Disease

Babesia infection of red blood cells can cause a severe disease called babesiosis in susceptible hosts. Bovine babesiosis causes global economic loss to the beef and dairy cattle industries, and canine babesiosis is considered a clinically significant disease. Potential therapeutic targets against bovine and canine babesiosis include members of the exportome, i.e., those proteins exported from the parasite into the host red blood cell. We developed three machine learning-derived methods (two novel and one adapted) to predict for every known Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia canis protein the probability of being an exportome member. Two well-studied apicomplexan-related species, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, with extensive experimental evidence on their exportome or excreted/secreted proteins were used as important benchmarks for the three methods. Based on 10-fold cross validation and multiple train–validation–test splits of training data, we expect that over 90% of the predicted probabilities accurately provide a secretory or non-secretory indicator. Only laboratory testing can verify that predicted high exportome membership probabilities are creditable exportome indicators. However, the presented methods at least provide those proteins most worthy of laboratory validation and will ultimately save time and money.

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