Tick-borne diseases of cattle in Paraguay. II. Immunisation against anaplasmosis and babesiosis

A total of 102 susceptible adult Holstein Friesian cattle imported into an area of Paraguay where anaplasmosis and babesiosis are endemic were immunised by infection with Anaplasma centrale and attenuated forms of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis obtained from Uruguay. The results indicated that the attenuated forms of both Babesia species protected cattle against heterologous field challenge whereas A. centrale did not invariably confer sufficient protection against a field challenge of A. marginale.     

Serological studies of babesiosis and anaplasmosis of cattle

SUMMARY Bos indicus-crossbred calves exposed to natural Babesia bovis infection in wet and dry tropical environments in northern Queensland were tested for antibodies using the indirect haemagglutination (IHA) test. There was evidence of maternal antibodies suggesting endemicity of B. bovis in the 2 environments. Within one year 35.3 to 94.6% of the calves had acquired B. bovis infection. The highest titres and most rapid conversion rates were observed just after the wet season when the tick population was at its peak. Clinical disease was not observed.     

Prevalence of anaplasmosis and babesiosis in N'Dama cattle of the Gambia

Summary Sera from 184 N'Dama cattle randomly selected and averaging 2.7 years of age were tested for the presence of specific antibodies toAnaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis andB. bigemina, using one or more serological tests including complement fixation, rapid card agglutination and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA). Tests forA. marginale andB. bovis were essentially negative. Utilising the IFA test 65% of the sera tested were positive forB. bigemina.Three randomly selected two-year-old N'Dama bulls were splenectomised. All three showed an acute recurrence of aB. bigemina parasitaemia. Two died following typical signs of acute babesiosis and a third recovered following diminazene therapy.No. evidence of either B. bovis orA. marginale recrudescence was observed in the single surviving bull.Babesia bigemina appears endemic in the N'Dama cattle of The Gambia but no confirmed serological or clinical evidence ofB. bovis orA. marginale was observed.

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Prevalencia De Anaplasmosis Y Babesiosis En Ganado N'doama De Gambia

Resumen Se examinaron sueros colectados de 184 animales N'Dama seleccionados al azar y de una edad aproximada de 2.7 años, por la presencia de anticuerpos específicos deAnaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis yB. bigemina, usando fijación del complemento, la aglutinación en tarjeta y la prueba indirecta de anticuerpos fluorescentes. Las pruebas paraA. marginale yB. bovis fueron esencialmente negativas. Mediante la prueba indirecta de anticuerpos fluorescentes 65% de los sueros fueron positivos aB. bigemina.Se esplenectomizaron tres toros N'Dama de dos años escogidos al azar. Todos tres desarrollaron parasitémia alta recurrente porB. bigemina. Dos de ellos murieron con lesiones típicas de babesiosis y el otro se recuperó después de la terapia con diminazene. No se observó recaída del toro sobreviviente porB. bovis oA. marginale. LaB. bigemina parece endémica en el ganado N'Dama de Gambia, pero no hay evidencia serológica deB. bovis o A. marginale.

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Prevalence De l'Anaplasmose Et De La Babesiose Chez Les Bovins n'Dama De Gambie

Résumé Les sérums de 184 bovins N'dama, sélectionnés au hasard et âgés en moyenne de 2,7 ans, ont été examinés pour la présence d'anticorps spécifiques vis-à-vis d'Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis etB. bigemina par un ou plusieurs tests sérologiques dont la fixation du complément, l'agglutination rapide sur carde et l'immunofluorescence indirecte (IFI). Les tests pourA. marginale etB. bovis ont été essentiellement négatifs. Pour le test IFI, 65% des sérums testés ont été trouvés positifs pourB. bigemina.Trois taureaux N'dama de deux ans pris au hasard, ont été splenectomisés. Tous trois ont montré une récurrence aiguë de parasitémie aB. bigemina. Deux sont morts après avoir montré des signes typiques de babésiose aiguë; le troisième a guéri après un traitement au diminazène. On n'a pas noté de recrudescence deB. bovis ni d'A. marginale chez ce taureau survivant.B. bigemina semble être endemique chez le bétail N'dama de Gambie mais il n'y a aucune évidence sérologique ou clinique pourB. bovis etA. marginale.

     

Seroepidemiological studies of bovine babesiosis on Pemba Island, Tanzania.

Serological evidence of infection with Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina at a number of sites in Pemba was obtained using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) capable of detecting the appropriate parasite-specific antibody. Overall, 96% of animals were found to be positive for B. bovis, 88% were positive for B. bigemina and 88% were positive for both Babesia species. Antibody to B. bovis and B. bigemina was detected early in life in a number of calves born on Pemba, and was considered to be of maternal origin. The amount of maternal antibody in the serum of individual animals fell throughout the first 3 months of life. Later in life, antibody levels increased, probably in response to Babesia infection from natural tick challenge. These results suggest that infection with both Babesia parasites is widespread throughout Pemba and that both parasites probably exist in an enzootically stable situation.     

Seroepidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis in Venezuela

Summary The serological prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis in the Centro-Occidental region of Venezuela was determined using the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and latex agglutination (LAT) tests.Anaplasma marginale IFA and LAT prevalence rates were 57·7 and 48·6% respectively for cattle of all ages and breeds. The respective prevalence of IFA activity toB. bigemina andB. bovis was 78·2 and 38·8%. The LAT test specific only forBabesia spp. revealed that 61·4% of the animals tested were serologically positive forBabesia parasites.Anaplasma marginale andB. bigemina organisms were detected in peripheral blood smears of 21·1 and 7·5% respectively of cattle surveyed. A longitudinal survey of antibody activity and incidence of parasitaemia forAnaplasma andBabesia infections was conducted in two groups of calves from their birth to seven months of age. The animals generally experienced infections between three and four months of age the period subsequent to decline in colostral antibody levels. Seroepidemiological data are considered in the formulation of proposed vaccination regimens for anaplasmosis and babesiosis.

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Resumen Se determinó la prevalencia serológica de anaplasmosis y babesiosis bovina, en la región central occidental de Venezuela, utilizando la prueba de immunofluorescencia indirecta PIFI) y la aglutinación del latex (PAL). Las ratas de prevalencia PIFI y PAL paraAnaplasma marginale fueron 57·7% y 48·6% respectivamente, en ganado de todas las edades y razas. Las respectivas prevalencias de la actividad de PIFI, pa paraBabesia bigemina yB. bovis fue 78·2% y 38·8%. La prueba PAL, ú únicamente especifica paraBabesia spp. reveló que el 61·4% de los animales analizados fueron serológicamente positivos paraBabesia. Se detectóAnaplasma marginale yB. bigemina en la sangre periférica de 21·1% y 7·5% respectivamente, del ganado analizado. Se llevó a cabo, un reconocimiento longitudinal, de la actividad de los anticuerpos e incidencia de parasitémia, paraAnaplasma yBabesia, en dos grupos de terneros, desde el nacimiento hasta los siete meses de vida. Los animales experimentaron las primeras infecciones, entre los tres y cuatro meses de vida, el periodo con posterioridad a la pérdida de inmunidad materna.

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Résumé La prévalence sérologique de l'ánaplasmose et de la babésiose bovines dans la région centre-ouest du Vénézuela a été déterminée par les méthodes indirectes de l'immunofluorescence (IF) et de l'agglutination au latex (AL). Les taux de prévalence d'Anaplasma marginale d'après les tests IF et AL sont respectivement de 57, 7 p. 100 et de 48,6 p. 100 chez les bovines, quel que soit l'age ou la race. La prévalence respective du test IF vis-à-vis deB. bigemina et deB. bovis est de 78,2 p. 100 et de 38,8 p. 100. Le test de l'agglutination au latex dont la spécificité est limitée au genreBabesia spp a montré que 61,4 p. 100 des animaux testés avaient une sérologie positive vis-à-vis des parasitesBabesia. Anaplasma marginale etB. bigemina ont été décelés dans des frottis de sang périphérique chez 21,1 p. 100 et 7,5 p. 100 respectivement des bovins testés. Un suivi dans le temps de l'activité des anticorps et de l'incidence de la parasitémie vis-à-vis des infections àAnaplasma etBabesia a été pratiqué dans deux groupes de veaux depuis leur naissance jusqu'à l'age de 7 mois. Les animaux contractent généralement l'infection entre l'age de 3 et 4 mois, période qui succède au déclin des taux d'anticorps colostraux. Ces données de séroépidémiologie sont prises en compte dans l'établissement de campagne de vaccination contre l'anaplasmose et la babesiose.

     

Epidemiology of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in Zambia

The serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in the traditional farming sector of six provinces of Zambia was determined using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for babesiosis and the card agglutination test (CAT) for anaplasmosis. Antibodies to Babesia bigemina occurred throughout the country whereas the prevalence of B. bovis followed the distribution of its tick vector Boophilus microplus which is limited to the north-eastern part of the country. Low numbers of B. bovis serologically positive cattle were demonstrated in central and southern Province. Anaplasma spp. occurred throughout Zambia but the overall percentages of positive sera were low ranging between 14.7% and 38.6% using the CAT. Two hundred sera were retested for anaplasmosis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sero-prevalence rates were 1.5 to 2.3-fold greater with the ELISA than with the card agglutination test.     

Imidocarb dipropionate therapy in Kenyan anaplasmosis and babesiosis

Summary The ability of imidocarb dipropionate to cure and sterilise experimental syringe passaged infections of Kenyan strains ofAnaplasma marginale andBabesia bigemina in cattle was investigated. Splenectomised calves with rising parasitaemias ofB. bigemina were rapidly cured by the subcutaneous injection of imidocarb at 1 mg/kg and heifers were sterilised of low infections ofB. bigemina by doses of imidocarb down to 0·5 mg/kg. Heifers with rising parasitaemias ofA. marginale were rapidly cured by the subcutaneous injection of 3 mg/kg of imidocarb dipropionate but two doses of 6 mg/kg imidocarb dipropionate, with a 2-week interval between doses, failed to sterilise the infections of heifers known to be carryingA. marginale.

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Sumario La abilidad del imidocarb dipropionate de curar y esterilizar infecciones experimentales con cepas de Kenya deAnaplasma marginale yBabesia bigemina en bovinos ha sido investigada. Terneros esplenectomizados y con parasitemias elevadas deB. bigemina fueron rapidamente curados mediante la inyeccion subcutanea de imidocarb a 1 mg/kg, y terneras fueron esterilizadas de infecciones bajas deB. bigemina con dosis de imidocarb de 0,5 mg/kg. Terneras con parasitemias elevadas deA. marginale fueron rapidamente curadas por la inyeccion subcutanea de 3 mg/kg de imidocarb dipropionate pero dos dosis de 6 mg/kg, con dos semanas de intervalo entre las dosis fueron inefectivas en esterilizar las infecciones de las terneras conocidas portadoras deA. marginale.

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Résumé Le pouvoir curatif et stérilisant du dipropionate d'Imidocarbe dans les infections expérimentales par passages à la seringue des souches kényanes d'Anaplasma marginale etBabesia bigemina a été évalué. Des veaux splénectomisés en parasitémie ascendante àB. bigemina ont été rapidement guéris par injection sous-cutanée d'imidocarbe à 1 mg/kg et des génisses faiblement parasitées ont été débarrassées deB. bigemina par des doses d'imidocarbe jusqu'à 0,5 mg/kg. Des génisses en parasitémie ascendante àA. marginale ont été rapidement guéries par l'injection sous-cutanée de 3 mg/kg de dipropionate d'imidocarbe, mais deux doses de 6 mg/kg administrées à deux semaines d'intervalle n'ont pas réussi à stériliser les infections des génisses connues comme porteuses d'A. marginale.

     

Clinical and serological evidence of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis in St. Lucia

One hundred fifty-nine Holstein calves were imported into St. Lucia from the U.S.A. An outbreak of babesiosis occurred 17 days post-arrival, and an outbreak of anaplasmosis occurred 5 months after importation. Sera obtained 3, 6 and 12 months post-importation revealed a high prevalence of IFA titres to Babesia bovis and B. bigemina 3 months after arrival and an increase in titres to Anaplasma marginale 6 months after arrival. Sera obtained arrives from native cattle from several places on the island indicated infection rates of 80, 65 and 64% with A. marginale, B. bigemina and B. bovis, respectively. The rapid card test only indicated a 25% prevalence of infection of native cattle by A. marginale. This low prevalence was probably due to deterioration of serological activity during shipment.     

Emerging perspectives in the research of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis

The Babesia bovis and B. bigemina apicomplexan protozoa in conjunction with the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale are intraerythrocytic pathogens that are responsible for the most prevalent and costly tick borne diseases (TBD's) of cattle worldwide. These organisms are historically associated as they can cause clinically related hemolytic diseases in cattle, are all transmitted by Rhiphicephallus (Boophilus) ticks, and share an uncanny ability to evade the immune systems of the vertebrate hosts, causing persistent disease. In addition, acute babesiosis and anaplasmosis can be prevented quite effectively by combining tick control and vaccination with living attenuated organisms. However these methods of control have numerous limitations and improved approaches are needed. Importantly, immunizations of cattle with inactivated experimental Babesia and Anaplasma vaccines can elicit variable degrees of protection, indicating the feasibility for the development of inactivated or subunit vaccines. A new research toolbox that includes full genome sequencing combined with the improved ability to genetically modify the organisms is enhancing our understanding of their biology. An emerging paradigm is the use of recently developed Babesia and Anaplasma transfection methods for functional gene characterizations and for vaccine development. Promising recently identified subunit vaccine candidates are also emerging, including babesial proteases, putative rhoptry, microneme, and sexual stage antigens, as well as subdominant, conserved, A. marginale outer membrane major surface proteins. However, significant knowledge gaps on the role of key parasite molecules involved in cell invasion, adhesion, asexual and sexual reproduction, tick transmission, and evasion of the immune system, remain. A better understanding of the biology of these organisms and the protective immune responses will positively contribute toward the goal of developing improved immunological and pharmacological interventions against these elusive pathogens that are responsible for the most devastating TBD's of cattle. Importantly, the currently available research toolbox provides basic research instruments for helping close current knowledge gaps which will aid the design and production of effective vaccines and alternative pharmacological interventions.     

Epidemiology of cattle anaplasmosis in colombia: I. Prevalence and distribution of agglutinating antibodies

Summary A survey to detect antibodies againstAnaplasma marginale, using the Card Test, was conducted on serum samples collected from cattle of Cordoba Department and north-eastern region of the Department of Antioquia in the Republic of Colombia. The samples were from native cattle of Spanish descent(Bos taurus), Zebu(Bos indicus) and various Zebu-native crosses. The age range was between three and eight year olds. The results revealed that90·3 per cent of the samples were positive. All breeds showed a high prevalence of antibodies.

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Epidemiología De La Anaplasmosis Bovina En Colombia: I—Prevalencia Y Distribución De Anticuerpos Aglutinantes

Resumen Se llevó a cabo un reconocimiento epidemiológico para detectar anticuerpos deAnaplasma marginale, mediante la utilización de la prueba de la tarjeta. Los sueros fueron colectados en el Departamento de Córdoba y la región nororiental del Departamento de Antioquia. El ganado examinado fue nativo (Bos taurus), Cebú (Bos indicus), y varios cruces de Cebú y nativo. La edad de los animales osciló entre tres y ocho años. Los resultados dieron una positividad del 90.3 por ciento en el total de sueros colectados. Todas las razas tuvieron gran prevalencia de anticuerpos.

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Epidémiolioge De L'Anaplasmose Bovine En Colombie. I. Importance Et Répartition Des Anticorps Agglutinants

Résumé Une enquête sur l'existence d'anticorps contreAnaplasma marginale à l'aide du test de la carte a été menée sur des échantillons de sérum récoltés sur le bétail du département de Cordoba et les régions du Nord-Est du département d'Antioquia dans la République de Colombie. Les échantillons de sang provenaient de taurins locaux de descendance espagnole (Bos taurus) de zébus (Bos indicus) et de sujet à divers degré de croisement. Leur âge se situant entre trois et neuf ans. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que 90.3 p. 100 des échantillons étaient positifs avec une forte proportion d'anticorps.

     

Incidence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis infections in cattle sampled monthly in the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi

Serum samples from 200 cattle of various ages and breeds from five ranches in the Mexican states of Neuvo Leon and San Luis Potosi were collected monthly (with occasional omissions) between February 1983 and November 1983. These samples were tested for the presence of antibody activity to Babesia bovis and B. bigemina using the indirect fluorescent antibody test and to Anaplasma marginale using the card test. There were seroconversions to Babesia spp. on two of the five ranches. On one ranch, five of 37 animals originally negative for B. bigemina became positive in late summer and fall. On the other ranch, 32 of 36 animals seroconverted to B. bigemina throughout the study period with a moderate peak in mid-summer. Only four of 35 animals became seropositive to B. bovis on this same ranch. Seroconversions to A. marginale were detected on four of the five ranches with the majority occurring on the same ranches with Babesia infections.     

The chemotherapeutic efficacy of imidocarb dihydrochloride on concurrent bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis

Summary The chemotherapeutic efficacy of imidocarb dihydrochloride (3,3′-bis(2-imidazolin-2 yl) carbanilide dihydrochloride) administered as single intramuscular doses of 1·0, 2·0 and 2·5 mg/kg, against concurrent bovine anaplasmosis and babesiosis, is reported. Dosages of 2·0 and 2·5 mg/kg of imidocarb dihydrochloride rapidly inhibited acute ascending concurrent parasitaemias ofAnaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina andBabesia argentina; however, 1·0 mg/kg had a minimal effect onA. marginale but was very effective againstB. bigemina andB. argentina. Imidocarb dihydrochloride at 1·0, 2·0 and 2·5 mg/kg inhibited the development of immunity of the acuteBabesia spp. infections, making the calves more susceptible to babesiosis upon challenge. The inhibition ofA. marginale parasitaemias was directly related to increasing doses of imidocarb dihydrochloride; however, recrudescing and persisting post-treatment parasitaemias also occurred more frequently at higher doses.

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Sumario La eficiencia quemoterapéutica del imidocarb dihydrochloride (3,3′-bis (2-imidazolin-2 yl) carbanilide dihydro chloride) administrada como dosis intramuscular unica de 1·0, 2·0 y 2·5 mg/kg, en infecciones concurrentes de anaplasmosis y babesiosis es reportada en este trabajo. Dosis de 2·0 y 2·5 mg/kg de imidocarb dihydrochloride, rapidamente inhibieron las parasitemias concurrentes ascendientes y agudas deAnaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina yBabesia argentina; sin embargo, 1·0 mg/kg tuvo un efecto minimo sobreA. marginale, pero fue muy efectivo contraB. bigemina yB. argentina. El imidocarb dihydrochloride en dosis de 1·0, 2·0 y 2·5 mg/kg inhibió el desarrollo de inmunidad contra la forma aguda deBabesia, haciendo a los terneros mas susceptibles a la babesiosis al desafio. La inhibición de parasitemias deA. marginale estuvo directamente relacionada al aumento de la dosis de imidocarb dihydrochloride; sin embargo, parasitemias debido al recrudecimiento ó a la persistencia despues del tratemiento, tambien ocurrieron mas frecuentemente en dosis altas.

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Résumé L'efficacité de ce produit administré à l'occasion d'une unique injection à la dose de 1,0, 2,0 et 2,5 mg/kg contre l'anaplasmose et la babésiose simultanées est rapportée. La dose de 2 à 2,5 mg/kg inhibe rapidement le développement aigu de parasitémies dues à la fois àAnaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina etBabesia argentina; cependant la dose de 1 mg/kg n'a qu'un effet modeste surA. marginale, alors qu'il conserve toute sa valeur contreB. bigemina etB. argentina. A la dose de 1,0, 2,0 et 2,5 mg/kg, ce corps entrave le développement de l'immunité dans les accés aigus dus àBabesia spp. rendant les veaux plus sensibles à de nouvelles attaques de babésioses. L'inhibition de parasitémie à base deA. marginale est directement en rapport avec l'accroissement de la dose d'Imidocarb dihydrochloride; toutefois, la recrudescence et la persistance après traitement de parasitémies sont plus fréquentes après usage de doses élevées.