West-to-east differences of Babesia canis canis prevalence in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Slovakia

Babesia canis canis is the most frequent causative agent of canine babesiosis in Central Europe, frequently causing severe disease. Recently, many new endemic foci of this disease have been reported from European countries. Growing incidence of canine babesiosis was recorded also in Slovakia during the last decade, from first cases in eastern Slovakia ten years ago to recent cases all over the south of the country. We have used nested PCR-RFLP method to study prevalence of B. c. canis in its natural tick vector Dermacentor reticulatus, collected at three geographically isolated lowland areas of southern Slovakia situated in the southeast, southwest, and west of Slovakia, respectively. The highest prevalence of B. c. canis was observed in D. reticulatus from eastern Slovakia (14.7%; n=327), whereas the prevalence in southwest was significantly lower (2.3%; n=1205). Notably, all 874 D. reticulatus ticks collected at Záhorská ní?ina lowland (W Slovakia) were B. c. canis-negative. Recorded differences in Babesia prevalence concurs well with the shift in incidence of clinical cases of canine babesiosis as observed by vet practitioners. Presented results revealed that eastern Slovakia represents an area of high risk of B. c. canis infection, whereas western areas of the country still remain Babesia canis-free.     

Temporal distribution of Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna in Hungary

A survey was carried out over a 4-year period to describe the temporal distribution of three 'anthropophilic' tick species, Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna in Hungary. Altogether 4658 adult ticks belonging to the three species were collected from 1931 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) killed in an area of about 70,000 km(2) representing all major climatic areas of the country. The seasonal activity of the three species was different. I. ricinus ticks were most active between April and June with an activity peak in May. A less marked increase of activity was also observed in September and October. The highest activity of D. reticulatus ticks was seen between September and November with an activity peak in October, nevertheless, a marked increase of activity could also be observed in April. Small number of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus were collected in all other months. H. concinna ticks were active from May to July with an activity peak in June and completely disappeared between October and March. The temporal distribution of the three tick species might be used for predictions on the seasonality of tick-borne diseases in Hungary.     

The prevalence of Babesia canis canis in marsh ticks (Dermacentor reticulatus) in the Saarland

An accumulation of autochthonous cases of canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis has been registered in a small animal clinic in the Saarland since the beginning of 2006, some cases with fatal outcome. This study aims to contribute to the explanation of strong focal occurrence of infections with B. canis in this region.Therefore, patient owners who had presented their dogs in the years 2006 and 2007 because of babesiosis and who had claimed not having left the Saarland with their dogs at least six months before the outbreak of Babesiosis, were asked for their dog walking habits. Accordingly, a selection often tick collection sites of various landscape structures was made.Tick sampling by flagging the vegetation took place every month from March to December 2008. The collected ticks were identified morphologically. In eight of ten collecting sites a total of 397 adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected from March to December with the highest frequencies during the months of May, October and November. All collected specimens were examined by genus-specific conventional PCR for the presence of Babesia-DNA. In positive samples, the PCR-products were differentiated by sequencing. ten D. reticulatus (2.5%) ticks examined were found positive for DNA of B. canis canis originating from three out of eight collection sites. Consequently, an endemic distribution of D. reticulatus was confirmed and a natural     

Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794)--distribution, biology and vector for Babesia canis in Germany

This work deals with occurrence, distribution as well as biology and vectorial capacity of the ornate dog tick (Dermacentor (D.) reticulatus). Until 30 years ago this tick has only been described in a few natural foci in southern Germany. Its distribution has however expanded in the course of the last years. With the exception of northern Germany it is now covering large areas of Germany. This is particularly the case in the Upper Rhine Valley, Saarland and the Mark Brandenburg. However, it is endemic in many other areas of Germany as well. The transformation of agricultural land into fallow land, an increase in host reservoirs and climatic changes are discussed as main contributors to this change. Little is known about the role of this species as a vector for virus, rickettsia, bacteria and protozoa as well as its medical and veterinary importance. D. reticulatus is a vector for Babesia canis canis. It is reported here about a case of autochthonous babesiosis in a dog from Berlin/Brandenburg.     

英国家禽业发展现状

1 英国家禽业概况 　　1.1 基本情况 　　英国家禽业在过去的20年里发展迅速,到2005年各种家禽产量如下:鸡8.5亿只,火鸡2 000万只,鸭1 900万只,鹅10万只.这种快速增长很大部分是由于肉鸡数量的加倍增长导致禽肉人均消费增长所致,在英国超过90%的禽肉消费来源于本国生产,而母鸡繁殖力的增强则保证了产蛋量的相应增加. 　　……     

Comparative efficacy of the combination fipronil-(S)-methoprene and the combination permethrin-imidacloprid against Dermacentor reticulatus, the European dog tick, applied topically to dogs

This study compared the efficacy of two of the most widely veterinary-dispensed topical products for control of ticks on dogs: fipronil-(S)-methoprene and imidacloprid-permethrin. Eighteen healthy beagle dogs of both sexes were divided into three groups of six dogs. Group 1 served as the untreated control. Dogs in group 2 were treated with fipronil 10% + (S)-methoprene 9% w/v applied once on day 0, and those in group 3 were treated with imidacloprid 8.8% and permethrin 44% w/v, applied once on day 0. All dogs were infested with approximately 50 unfed Dermacentor reticulatus ticks on days 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42, and ticks remaining were counted and removed 48 hours after each infestation. The 48-hour efficacy of the fipronil-(S)-methoprene combination remained at 100% at all assessment points through and including day 37, declining to 95.30% on day 44. The 48-hour efficacy of the imidacloprid-permethrin combination peaked at 86.46% on day 9, decreased to 73.37% by the third week, and fell to 63.53% by the end of the study (day 44). Significantly (P < .05) fewer ticks were recovered from dogs treated with fipronil-(S)-methoprene or imidacloprid-permethrin than from untreated control dogs at each infestation. Notably, the dogs treated with fipronil-(S)-methoprene had significantly (P < .05) lower tick counts at every assessment than the dogs treated with imidacloprid-permethrin.     

草原革蜱和边缘革蜱的分子生物学鉴定

本研究旨在建立草原革蜱和边缘革蜱的分子生物学鉴定方法,并探讨其系统发生关系。在新疆从动物体表采集寄生蜱,形态学鉴定后,PCR扩增获得2种革蜱的16S rRNA及线粒体色素氧化酶亚基Ⅰ(COⅠ)基因序列,测序后进行同源性分析。用Mega 5.0和Mrbayes 3.2软件分别构建系统进化树,草原革蜱16S rRNA序列与GenBank数据库中已知草原革蜱16S rRNA序列聚类,而边缘革蜱COⅠ序列与GenBank数据库中已知边缘革蜱COⅠ序列聚类,与形态学鉴定结果一致。本研究结果表明,在传统形态学分类的基础上,结合分子生物学鉴定方法能简易、准确鉴定草原革蜱和边缘革蜱。     

吸血行为对草原革蜱和森林革蜱中肠菌群结构的影响

本研究旨在探明随吸血时间的延长,草原革蜱和森林革蜱中肠菌群结构的特征及变化。从内蒙古呼伦贝尔和宁夏固原绵羊体表分别采集半饱血、饱血草原革蜱和半饱血、饱血森林革蜱,无菌条件下收集蜱中肠内容物,提取细菌总DNA,扩增细菌16S rDNA V3-V4区,IonS5^TMXL高通量测序,对比分析各样本菌群结构的特征。结果显示,森林革蜱半饱血中肠内的细菌多样性最高,草原革蜱饱血和半饱血中肠内的细菌多样性次之,森林革蜱饱血中肠内的细菌多样性最低;变形菌门为4个样品的优势菌门;无形体属、立克次体属、寡养单胞菌属和柯克斯体属为4个样品的优势菌属,其中无形体属在草原革蜱和森林革蜱饱血中肠内的含量高于2种蜱半饱血中肠,立克次体属和柯克斯体属在2种蜱半饱血中肠内的含量明显大于饱血中肠;边缘无形体、弯曲假单胞菌和柯克斯体科RFE02菌为4个样品的优势菌种,其中边缘无形体的分布特点与无形体属在2种蜱中肠内的分布特点相一致。结果表明,草原革蜱和森林革蜱中肠菌群结构易受到吸血行为的影响,共有菌属和菌种在不同蜱种和不同饱血状态下的相对丰度变化较大。     

英国畜牧业及其研究现状与展望

1英国畜牧养殖业现状 　　英国具有悠久的动物育种历史,育成了许多优良的畜禽品种,如巴克夏猪、大约克猪、短角红牛、樱桃谷鸭等,为世界畜牧业发展做出了很大贡献. 　　……     

The prevention of transmission of Babesia canis canis by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks to dogs using a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene

Four groups of seven dogs were treated topically with a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene in a spot-on formulation (CERTIFECT?, Merial Limited, GA, USA) on 28, 21, 14 and 7 days prior to tick infestation, respectively and acaricidal efficacy and transmission blocking compared with an untreated control group (seven dogs). All dogs were infested with adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks harbouring Babesia canis canis. Babesia canis canis was transmitted by D. reticulatus to all seven untreated control dogs, confirmed following demonstration of clinical signs, by the detection of B. canis parasites in thin blood smears and B. canis canis PCR-RLB DNA assay on blood and the development of B. canis canis antibody titres by 14-21 days after tick infestation. The majority of treated dogs remained sero-negative for 42 days after infestation. Therefore, the treatment of dogs with CERTIFECT applied up to 28 days prior to infestation with D. reticulatus harbouring B. canis canis, successfully prevented the development of clinical signs of canine babesiosis.     

Efficacy of a single application of a 12.5% pyriprole topical solution against laboratory infestations with ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) on dogs

In three separate studies, the efficacy of a single treatment with a 12.5% pyriprole spot-on solution was investigated against induced infestation with Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs (both sexes; Beagles in Studies 1 and 2, mixed-breed in Study 3). For each tick species, one group of 8 dogs left untreated (Studies 1 and 2) or treated with a placebo solution (Study 3) was compared with another group treated once with the spot-on solution at a dose rate of at least 12.5mg/kg. The dogs were infested with 50 unfed adult ticks of the respective species at various time-points before and after treatment and the surviving attached and unattached ticks were recorded 48 h after re-infestation. For each tick species, efficacy was assessed for each time-point and cumulatively for the whole evaluation period. The dogs were submitted to general health observations and clinical assessments during the study. Efficacy against I. ricinus and R. sanguineus was 100% during the whole evaluation period of 30 days. For D. reticulatus cumulative efficacy for the 30 days after treatment was 98.9%. The product was well tolerated by all the animals.     

草原革蜱体内驽巴贝斯虫发育形态观察

将实验室培育的“清洁”草原革蜱（Ｄｅｒｍａｃｅｎｔｏｒｎｕｔｔａｌｌｉ）饥饿成虫，饲喂在人工感染驽巴贝斯虫（Ｂａｂｅｓｉａｃａｂａｉｌｉ）的驴体上，俟雌虫饱血脱落后，置２８℃、相对湿度约９０％的培育箱中产卵孵化；再将次代幼虫和若虫饲喂在健康驴体上，待饱血脱落后仍置培育箱中蜕化。观察了各发育阶段蜱的血淋巴、肠管、唾液腺以及卵内驽巴贝斯虫的发育形态。在饱血雌虫的血淋巴中发现２种不同类型的裂殖体，即大裂殖体和小裂殖体。成熟的游离大裂殖子大小为（５．０～１６．０）μｍ×（２．０～４．５）μｍ，平均９．８５μｍ×３．Ｏμｍ；小裂殖子的大小约１．２μｍ×０．５μｍ。在肠管中见到红细胞性虫体和直径４．０～６．μｍ的球形体。在卵巢中观察到梭形、球形体及梨籽形小裂殖子。卵内发育的驽巴贝斯虫呈多形性：卵圆形、圆形、椭圆形、梭形、梨籽形、棍棒形、逗点形、半月形以及难以形容的奇形古怪的形态。次代幼虫、饥饿若虫、饱血若虫和饥饿成虫的血淋巴及肠管中所见到的都是小裂殖子（幼虫的肠管中也见到大裂殖子），唾液腺中都有子孢子存在。     

Demonstration of the inclusion appendage of Anaplasma marginale in nymphal Dermacentor andersoni

Dermacentor andersoni nymphs were placed in stockinettes and allowed to feed on a splenectomized calf with experimentally induced anaplasmosis when the parasitemia was 3%-5%. Nymphs were selected on each of the 6 days of feeding and every 5 days from repletion through molting to the adult stage (25 days postrepletion); they were killed and midgut tissues were processed and examined by light and electron microscopies. No stages of A marginale were seen in tissues of feeding ticks. Visualization of individual components of gut contents was difficult owing to presence of the concentrated, electrondense blood meal containing hemoglobin. Inclusion appendages were observed in midgut tissues of nymphs at 5 and 10 days postrepletion, but not at 20 or 25 days. The morphology of the appendages was similar to that described for inclusion appendages commonly associated with anaplasmal inclusions in bovine erythrocytes. Some appendages were free in the lumen of the midgut and occurred either alone or with clusters of small vesicular particles. Occasionally, initial bodies like those generally found in bovine erythrocytes were seen with the appendage, but most of them were swollen and appeared to be degenerating. Frequently, inclusion appendages were observed attached to the luminal surface of the midgut cell membrane by a blunt, electron-dense attachment complex. The attachment of the appendage appeared to be extracellular, with the pointed end extending into the lumen. Often, small particles were observed immediately across the cell membrane from where the appendages were attached; the small particles appeared to be generated from the appendage itself and to have passed through the membrane of the midgut cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Persistence of colonies of Anaplasma marginale in overwintering Dermacentor variabilis

Dermacentor variabilis were infected as nymphs with Anaplasma marginale by allowing the ticks to feed on a single infected donor calf. Two weeks after molting to the adult stage, the ticks were allotted into 1 of 3 groups and were allowed to overwinter at room temperature (25 C) in the laboratory (group 1), cold storage (4.5 C) in the laboratory (group 2), or outdoors in leaf litter (group 3). Persistence of A marginale was assessed by determining density of colonies (number of colonies/0.1 mm2 of gut tissue examined) in tick gut specimens at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 months after molting to the adult stage. Colonies of A marginale were found in all groups at every density evaluation period. Highest colony densities were observed uniformly in specimens collected at month 7 (May); densities decreased at month 9 and were lowest at month 12. Statistical analysis indicated that ticks subjected to cold storage and to outdoor conditions had similar colony densities of A marginale; the density curve in these 2 groups indicated significant quadratic effects over time, with peak densities in May. Mean colony density in ticks kept at room temperature fit a different quadratic equation. The morphologic data indicated that A marginale overwinters in Dermacentor variabilis, and that increasing numbers of organisms are found from January to May.     

Development and infectivity of Anaplasma marginale in Dermacentor andersoni nymphs

The development of Anaplasma marginale was studied in Dermacentor andersoni nymphs after they had fed on a calf with ascending Anaplasma infection. Gut tissues were collected on day 4 of tick feeding, from newly replete (fed) nymphs and on postfeeding days (PFD) 5, 10, 15, 20, and were processed for light and electron microscopy to determine density of A marginale colonies. Homogenates of gut tissues were prepared from nymphs collected on the same days and inoculated into susceptible, splenectomized calves to test for infectivity. Anaplasma colonies were detected in gut cells on PFD 5, 10, 15, and 20. Although colony density appeared to be higher on PFD 10 and 15, differences were not significant. Nymphal type-1 colonies were detected in highest numbers on PFD 5 and 10, transitional colonies were seen in highest numbers at PFD 10 and 15, and nymphal type-2 colonies were observed only on PFD 20. Gut homogenates that were collected from ticks at 4 days of feeding, when newly replete, and on PFD 20 caused anaplasmosis when injected into susceptible calves, but homogenates made from ticks collected on PFD 5, 10, and 15 were not infective. The data indicate that of the colony types of A marginale that develop in replete nymphs, nymphal type-1 and transitional colonies may contain organisms that are not infective for cattle.