The integrity of host lymphocyte plasmalemma during its invasion by Theileria annulata sporozoites as demonstrated by ruthenium red staining

The integrity of host lymphocyte plasma membrane during its invasion by Theileria annulata sporozoites was examined in an in vitro system using ruthenium red staining. It was demonstrated that during interiorisation of the sporozoites, the dye was completely excluded from the intracellular milieu, indicating that the continuity of the host-cell plasmalemma was not disrupted throughout the process of penetration, and confirmed a previous observation that the fragmentation of the host lymphocyte membrane only occurs later, after the parasite is intracellular.     

Metabolic energy pathways in Theileria annulata sporozoites and their significance in sporozoite-bovine lymphocyte interactions in vitro

The existence of metabolic energy pathways has been studied in extracellular T. annulata sporozoites using chemicals known to inhibit specific energy-generating pathways, and their role during invasion of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by the sporozoites determined in an in vitro system. An inverse relationship was depicted between the dose of various chemicals and the number of T. annulata sporozoites invading PBL: as the concentrations of the inhibitor drugs increased, the number of T. annulata sporozoites within the lymphocytes decreased. An ultracytochemical study demonstrated the presence of the respective pathway marker enzymes, i.e., lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cytosol and within mitochondria, succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) on the mitochondrial membranes and in the contiguous matrix, and cytochrome oxidase (CO) between the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes, in infective T. annulata sporozoites fixed in situ within whole salivary glands of 3-day fed Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks.     

Cell-mediated immune responses to sporozoites and macroschizonts of Theileria annulata.

The nature of cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses was studied in cross-bred bovine calves, immunised by attenuated and allogeneic macroschizonts of Theileria annulata. The CMI responses were also investigated in calves, destined to survive or die of tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata) induced by a virulent dose of sporozoites or macroschizont-infected lymphoblasts. Calves suffering fatal theileriosis showed poor CMI response. Microcytotoxicity assay revealed an enhanced population of specific cytotoxic cells amongst the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of calves resolving the infection successfully. The E rosette assay showed proliferation of T cells and the assay for macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) demonstrated antigen sensitised cells in the PBL. Calves, immunised by allogeneic and attenuated macroschizont-infected lymphoblasts or those recovering from virulent macroschizont-induced infection, showed protective CMI responses with patterns similar to those appearing after non-fatal sporozoite infection.     

Factors affecting the capacity of Theileria annulata sporozoites to invade bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes

The number of T. annulata sporozoites invading bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) under different conditions (in vitro) was determined. Heat-inactivation of T. annulata sporozoites for 45 min, in a thermostatically controlled, shaking water bath preset and stabilised at 60 degrees C resulted in an almost total lack of invasion of fresh, normal PBL by the sporozoites, indicating that the interiorization process is parasite-effected. The mean number of T. annulata sporozoites interiorization (per 1000 lymphocytes) in cultures set up using sporozoites and PBL, mixed and incubated at 0 degrees C for 1 h in melting ice, was highly significantly reduced (P less than 0.01), indicating the invasion of bovine lymphocytes by T. annulata sporozoites is an active process dependent on active metabolism which is markedly affected by temperature. Pre-treatment of PBL with trypsin significantly reduced the number of invading sporozoites thus incriminating proteins or glycoproteins as constituents of receptors involved in sporozoite-lymphocyte recognition.     

The maturation of Theileria annulata in Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum stimulated by incubation or feeding to produce sporozoites

Adult Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks infected with Theileria annulata (Hissar strain) were incubated at 36 degrees C or fed on rabbits. Tick salivary glands were stained whole with methyl green pyronin or ground up and deposited on microscope slides and stained with Giemsa's solution. Separate batches of ticks from both treatments were ground up, centrifuged and filtered to produce sporozoite suspensions. The suspensions were examined as deposits on microscope slides stained with Giemsa's solution. The Theileria in the salivary glands of the fed ticks matured more completely and rapidly than in the incubated ticks. The peak numbers of sporozoites from the fed ticks was greater by at least tenfold than the peak from the incubated ticks. This peak was on the third day of feeding or on the fourth day of incubation. It was confirmed that fed ticks will be more suitable for sporozoite production for infection of cattle and production of stabilates.     

Invasion and intracellular development of Theileria annulata sporozoites in lymphoblastoid cell lines already transformed by T. annulata (Hissar), T. annulata (Ankara) and T. parva (Muguga)

Interactions between Theileria annulata sporozoites and lymphoblastoid cell lines already transformed by the Hissar and Ankara strains of T. annulata [T. a. (H) and T.A. (A), respectively] and the Muguga strain of T. parva [T.P. (M)] were studied in vitro. Although sporozoites of the Hissar strain of T. annulata attached to and entered peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed by T. a. (H) and T. a. (A), they neither attached to nor entered the T. p. (M) cell line. Whether the superinfecting T. a. (H) sporozoites developed intracellularly was studied by monitoring daily changes of mean schizont nuclear numbers and by determining electrophoretic mobilities of schizont glucose phosphate isomerase in each cell line using thin-layer starch gel electrophoresis. While the mean schizont nuclear number in freshly-infected PBL underwent a steady increase to the level of those in long standing T. annulata cultures, analysis of variance of similar data in T. a. (H) and T. a. (A) cell lines in which superinfection was demonstrated revealed no significant differences between them and their respective control counterparts, i.e., T. a. (H) and T. a. (A) cultures with no superinfection. Enzyme polymorphism studies showed the formation of uncontaminated species- or strain-specific bands of glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) isoenzyme activity in the T. p. (M) and in the superinfected T. annulata cell lines.     

In vitro infection of bovine alloreactive cytotoxic T cell lines with sporozoites of Theileria annulata and T parva

Bovine alloreactive cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) lines of known target specificity were infected in vitro with sporozoites of Theileria annulata and T parva and cultured in limiting dilution. The phenotypes of the CTL lines both pre- and post infection were assessed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for defined bovine lymphocyte subpopulations. The effector function of the resultant infected cell lines was determined using a Cr51 release assay and compared to the uninfected control CTL line. The results indicated that T parva sporozoites consistently infected and transformed the CTL lines very efficiently even at the lowest cell doses. In contrast the T annulata sporozoites were largely unable to infect and transform the alloreactive CTL except at the very highest cell and sporozoite doses. A factor which appeared to influence susceptibility to T annulata infection was an increased level of class II expression on the CTL line. None of the cell lines showed cytotoxic effector function after infection with either T annulata or T parva sporozoites.     

Nitric oxide causes the macroschizonts of Theileria annulata to disappear and host cells to become apoptotic

The proliferation of Theileria annulata macroschizont-infected cell lines in vitro was significantly inhibited by nitric oxide (NO) generated by S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP). Incubation with SNAP caused the macroschizonts to disappear and host cells to become apoptotic. SNAP-derived NO also significantly inhibited the incorporation of tritiated thymidine by cultures of cells in which the schizonts had been induced to differentiate into merozoites by maintenance at 41°C instead of 37°C, the temperature used for culturing macroschizont-infected cells. These results point to NO as the mediator of macrophage anti-T. annulata activity and provide new evidence that the protective immune mechanisms which allow cattle to recover from primary infection and resist challenge may be attributed principally to the products of activated macrophages. These findings indicate that effective inactivated vaccines against T. annulata should include antigens able to stimulate the type of CD4+ T cell response which elicits macrophage activation and NO synthesis.     

The effect of dose and line on immunisation of cattle with lymphoblastoid cells infected with Theileria annulata

Thirty-one Friesian calves in Morocco susceptible to tropical theileriosis were protected against a lethal sporozoite challenge by prior infection with lymphoblastoid cell lines infected and transformed in vitro by a Moroccan stock of Theileria annulata. The challenge infection of cryopreserved sporozoites killed all four susceptible control calves within 20 days. Four schizont-infected cell cultures at Passage 3 were inoculated at four different doses, 10(8), 10(6), 10(4) and 10(2), into pairs of calves. The recipient animals showed great variation in severity of disease symptoms, which did not show a linear correlation with the cell dose inoculated. The most severe disease symptoms were recorded, prior to challenge, in the 10(2) cell dose recipients; one animal died of acute theileriosis and another had to be treated. One of the four cell lines used was more virulent than the other three. Two years after the completion of this experiment, immunised animals have shown normal productivity traits.     

环形泰勒焦虫对奶牛免疫水平的影响

本试验选择5头感染环形泰勒焦虫的奶牛和5头健康奶牛,在第0天、第5天、第10天、第15天、第20天分别进行红细胞C3b受体花环率试验、红细胞免疫复合物花环试验、T淋巴细胞EA花环率试验和淋巴细胞转化率的测定。结果表明,感染环形泰勒焦虫的奶牛其红细胞免疫复合物花环、红细胞C3b受体花环率和淋巴细胞转化率明显低于健康奶牛,差异极显著。这说明环形泰勒焦虫对奶牛的免疫水平有明显的抑制作用。且随着检测时间的变化,免疫水平逐渐降低。     

Note on the transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma ticks in the Sudan

Nymphs of Hyalomma impeltatum and H. dromedarii, fed as larvae on an infected calf transmitted fatal Theileria annulata infection to two susceptible calves. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the epidemiology of tropical theileriosis in the Sudan.     

Note on the transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma ticks in the Sudan

Nymphs of Hyalomma impeltatum and H. dromedarii, fed as larvae on an infected calf, transmitted fatal Theileria annulata infection to two susceptible calves. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the epidemiology of tropical theileriosis in the Sudan.     

基于转录组数据分析环形泰勒虫对诱导宿主细胞转化相关基因的影响

本试验主要通过研究布帕伐醌(BW720)处理前后,环形泰勒虫转化牛单核细胞(TaNM Ⅰ)转录组数据的变化情况,为进一步研究环形泰勒虫诱导宿主细胞转化的分子机制奠定基础。以环形泰勒虫感染的牛单核细胞为试验材料,设置对照组(二甲基亚砜,DMSO)和试验组(BW720),利用Illumina HiSeq4000测序平台进行高通量测序,将测序得到的原始数据(Raw reads)与GenBank和Rfam数据库进行比对过滤,通过质控获得最终数据(Clean read)。利用Venn分析软件筛选出DMSO组和BW720组中差异表达明显的基因,进行功能注释(GO)以及信号通路(KEGG)分析。随机选择10个基因,利用荧光定量PCR (qPCR)检测基因在不同处理条件下细胞中的表达量。在验证测序结果的准确性后,选出差异表达明显的基因,分析其在TaNM Ⅰ细胞的凋亡、增殖等信号通路方面的作用。结果显示：BW720组和DMSO组中分别得到6 854 019 704和6 627 265 854条Raw reads,过滤、质控后分别得到22 925 606和22 171 427条Clean reads。BW720组和DMSO组中筛选出差异表达明显的基因共计4 054个(P＜0.05),其中,2 146个基因显著上调,1 908个基因显著下调;进一步筛选出共同差异表达的基因367个,其中,显著上调的196个,显著下调的171个。同时,qPCR验证随机选择10个基因的表达趋势与转录组测序结果一致,表明测序结果可靠。然后对差异表达基因进行GO功能注释,筛选到与细胞增殖相关的20个生物学过程、15个细胞组分以及11个分子功能条目。KEGG富集分析结果显示,在Top20的信号通路中筛选出与环形泰勒虫转化细胞有关的一些信号通路,如：癌症信号通路、PI3K-Akt信号通路、MAPK信号通路等。对这些信号通路进一步分析发现：PI3KR3、FOXO1、IL23A、FZD3、AKT、MMP9等基因在环形泰勒虫转化细胞的研究中也有相关文献的报道。本研究表明,在TaNM Ⅰ细胞中DAPK1、FZD3、FOXO3、PI3KR3等可能在感染细胞无限增殖的过程中发挥作用,为后续研究TaNM Ⅰ细胞无限增殖机制奠定了基础。     

Naturally occurring infections of cattle with Theileria lestoquardi and sheep with Theileria annulata in the Sudan

Theileria annulata is endemic in northern Sudan, hindering all efforts at upgrading cattle for milk production. T. lestoquardi clinical cases occur throughout the year and causes annual outbreaks that result in substantial losses in sheep. In the northern Sudan both cattle and small ruminants are frequently raised together and/or share common grazing grounds at river banks. In an attempt to evaluate field cross infectivity of Theileria lestoquardi and T. annulata in cattle and sheep respectively, a PCR analysis was carried out on samples collected from closely reared sheep and cattle using both T. annulata and T. lestoquardi specific primers. A total of 19 sheep out of 51 (37.3%) were positive for T. lestoquardi while four sheep (7.8%) showed T. annulata specific amplicons. A total of 38 out of 52 (73.1%) surveyed cattle were PCR positive for T. annulata and only two (3.8%) showed T. lestoquardi specific bands. These findings indicate complex epidemiology of both infections in areas where both parasites are transmitted by the same vector and call for further investigations of this phenomenon.     

Studies on the transmission of Theileria annulata to cattle by the tick Hyalomma lusitanicum

The role of the ixodid tick Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch 1844 as a vector of Mediterranean or tropical theileriosis (caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata Dschunkowsky et Luhs 1904) in southern Spain was studied. Hyalomma lusitanicum was the most common tick, and the only species of the genus Hyalomma L., found on T. annulata-infected cattle from the theileriosis enzootic area studied (province of Cádiz, southern Spain). Likewise, we found that all sera of the cattle previously considered as suspected of theileriosis by clinical signs, tested for T. annulata antibodies, were positive and all blood samples of these suspected cattle examined had infected erythrocytes. Partially fed H. lusitanicum adults were collected in the field on T. annulata-infected cattle in this enzootic area and fed on an uninfected calf in an experimental farm free of theileriosis and ticks. At approximately 3 weeks post-tick feeding on the calf, this became positive for T. annulata antibodies and T. annulata merozoites were found in erythrocytes from blood smears. These results show the ability of H. lusitanicum to transmit the protozoan parasite T. annulata to susceptible cattle and indicate that H. lusitanicum is probably an important vector of T. annulata in the enzootic area surveyed.     

Elimination of the gametocytes of Theileria annulata of cattle by primaquin phosphate

Calves were experimentally infected with Theileria annulata and five drugs were administered in an attempt to exterminate the gametocytes of the parasite. The results of the experiment proved that primaquin phosphate is an effective parasiticide. The gametocytes from 30 calves treated with primaquin phosphate were exterminated completely. A further eight calves were treated with sulfamethoxypyrazine, trimethoprim, naganin and acaprin, but these drugs were not found to be effective in eliminating the gametocytes. The phase, size and colour of the gametocytes in these calves were the same as those of the four untreated control calves.     

新疆托克逊部分地区牛环形泰勒虫感染情况调查

为了解2014-2016年托克逊县部分地区牛环形泰勒虫病的感染情况,采用血液涂片法对托克逊县4个乡疑似牛环形泰勒虫的835例进行病原学检测,并分析各年龄段和不同地区牛环形泰勒虫的感染情况。结果表明,该疫区2014-2016年牛环形泰勒虫阳性率为49.46%(413835);4个乡均不同程度感染牛环形泰勒虫,其中伊拉湖乡牛环形泰勒虫阳性率最高,为53.80%(99/184)。不同年龄段牛环形泰勒虫感染无显著性差异。调查结果为托克逊地区环形泰勒虫病的防控提供了参考。     

Tropical theileriosis in Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus calves: response to infection with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata.

This work extends basic knowledge of tropical theileriosis in taurine and crossbred cattle. Infection of Bos taurus and Bos taurus cross Bos indicus (Sahiwal) calves with graded doses of sporozoites of Theileria annulata (Hissar), an Indian stock of the parasite, showed the following to be dose dependent in both cattle types: the time to appearance and population size of macroschizonts, microschizonts and piroplasms, time and severity of pyrexia, anaemia manifested by erythrocyte counts and haematocrit. All infections were accompanied by a prompt and severe panleucopenia. This effect was dose related in both the taurine and the Sahiwal crossbred calves. Lymphocyte counts returned to preinfection levels in the blood of animals which recovered, but death from theileriosis was characteristically accompanied by a persistent and severe lymphocytopenia. Flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to bovine mononuclear cells was used to identify the lymphocyte subsets involved in lymphocytopenia. The outcome of infection was dose dependent in the crossbred calves but not in taurine calves. Although the results obtained did not differ qualitatively between the two cattle types, they provided some preliminary evidence for resistance to tropical theileriosis in Sahiwal crossbred calves.     

Studies on Some Blood Parameters of Crossbred Calves with Experimental Theileria annulata Infections

Subcutaneous inoculation of 1 ml of ground Theileria annulata tick tissue stabilate (0.75 tick equivalent) into crossbred calves (n = 6, average age 53 days) resulted in the development of acute theileriosis. The percentage parasitaemia was 71.7%±3.3% on day 20 after inoculation. Macroschizonts were observed in lymphocytes and monocytes. Phagocytosed schizonts were observed in neutrophils, along with cytoplasmic vacuolation in monocytes and neutrophils. There was progressive decrease (p<0.05) in the haemoglobin and packed cell volume, along with a marked reticulocytosis. Serum analysis revealed a decrease (p<0.05) in the concentrations of calcium, cholesterol and triglycerides, while there was an increase (p<0.05) in the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen as compared to day 0 values. The total serum proteins, albumin and serum immunoglobulin concentrations and the albumin-to-immunoglobulin ratio showed marked decreases (p<0.05). Coagulopathies included thrombocytopenia and an increased prothrombin time, along with a non-significant increase in the bleeding time and activated partial thromboplastin time during the terminal stages of the disease. There was an increase in the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes during the disease. Morphological alterations in the erythrocytes were observed with the developing parasitaemia.