Detection of Theileria and Babesia species in ticks collected from cattle

The present study was carried out to detect tick species that infest cattle, and Theileria and Babesia species transmitted by these ticks in Kayseri province (Turkey). A total of 300 cattle were examined for tick infestations. Of the 300 cattle, 117 (39%) were infested with ticks. A total of 1160 ticks belonging to 11 Ixodid genera were collected from the infested animals and their shelters. The most prevalent tick species was Boophilus annulatus 26.37% (306/1160) followed by Hyalomma marginatum marginatum 21.12% (245/1160) and Rhipicephalus turanicus 18.7% (217/1160). The collected ticks were separated into 43 tick pools, according to their species. These pools were examined for bovine Theileria and Babesia species (Theileria sp., Babesia sp., Theileria annulata, T. buffeli/orientalis, Babesia bigemina, B. bovis and B. divergens) by using the reverse line blotting method (RLB). Of the 43 tick pools examined, 6 (14%) were infected with B. bigemina, 4 (9.3%) with T. annulata, and 1 (2.3%) with Babesia sp., whereas 1 (2.3%) displayed mixed infection with T. annulata + B. bigemina. The sequence and phylogenetic analyses of Babesia sp., which could not be identified to the species level by RLB, were performed. In the phylogenetic tree, Babesia sp. (Kayseri 1) grouped with Babesia sp. (Kashi 2), Babesia sp. (Kashi 1), Babesia sp. (Xinjiang) and B. orientalis with 96.8-100% identity.     

Characterization of microbiota diversity of engorged ticks collected from dogs in China

BackgroundTicks are one of the most common external parasites in dogs, and are associated with the transmission of a number of major zoonoses, which result in serious harm to human health and even death. Also, the increasing number of pet dogs and pet owners in China has caused concern regarding human tick-borne illnesses. Accordingly, studies are needed to gain a complete understanding of the bacterial composition and diversity of the ticks that parasitize dogs.ObjectivesTo date, there have been relatively few reports on the analysis of the bacterial community structure and diversity in ticks that parasitize dogs. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial composition and diversity of parasitic ticks of dogs, and assessed the effect of tick sex and geographical region on the bacterial composition in two tick genera collected from dogs in China.MethodsA total of 178 whole ticks were subjected to a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next generation sequencing analysis. The Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was used to characterize the bacterial communities of the collected ticks. Sequence analysis and taxonomic assignment were performed using QIIME 2 and the GreenGene database, respectively. After clustering the sequences into taxonomic units, the sequences were quality-filtered and rarefied.ResultsAfter pooling 24 tick samples, we identified a total of 2,081 operational taxonomic units, which were assigned to 23 phyla and 328 genera, revealing a diverse bacterial community profile. The high, moderate and low prevalent taxa include 46, 101, and 182 genera, respectively. Among them, dominant taxa include environmental bacterial genera, such as Psychrobacter and Burkholderia. Additionally, some known tick-associated endosymbionts were also detected, including Coxiella, Rickettsia, and Ricketssiella. Also, the potentially pathogenic genera Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were detected in the tick pools. Moreover, our preliminary study found that the differences in microbial communities are more dependent on the sampling location than tick sex in the tick specimens collected from dogs.ConclusionsThe findings of this study support the need for future research on the microbial population present in ticks collected from dogs in China.     

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in relation to the density of wild cervids

Background

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum have been considered as pathogens in animals and humans. The role of wild cervids in the epidemiology is not clear. We analyzed questing Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in spring for these pathogens from sites with high (Fjelløyvær and Strøm) and low density (Tjore, Hinnebu and Jomfruland) of wild cervids to study the spread of the pathogens in questing ticks.

Methods

For detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum a 77-bp fragment in the msp2 gene was used. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was performed using the FL6 and FL7 primers according to sequences of conserved regions of the fla gene. The OspA gene located on the linear 49-kb plasmid was used as target in multiplex PCR for genotyping. Genospecies-specific primers were used in the PCR for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii and B. garinii.

Results

Infection rates with Borrelia spp. were significantly lower at Fjelløyvær and Strøm compared to Tjore and Hinnebu; Fjelløyvær vs. Tjore (χ² = 20.27, p < 0.0001); Fjelløyvær vs. Hinnebu (χ² = 24.04, p < 0.0001); Strøm vs. Tjore (χ² = 11.47, p = 0.0007) and Strøm vs. Hinnebu (χ² = 16.63, p < 0.0001). The Borrelia genospecies were dominated by. B. afzelii (82%) followed by B. garinii (9.7%) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (6.9%). B. burgdorferi s.s. was only found on the island of Jomfruland. The infection rate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum showed the following figures; Fjelløyvær vs Hinnebu (χ² = 16.27, p = 0.0001); Strøm vs. Tjore (χ² = 13.16, p = 0.0003); Strøm vs. Hinnebu (χ² = 34.71, p < 0.0001); Fjelløyvær vs. Tjore (χ² = 3.19, p = 0.0742) and Fjelløyvær vs. Støm (χ² = 5.06, p = 0.0245). Wild cervids may serve as a reservoir for A. phagocytophilum. Jomfruland, with no wild cervids but high levels of migrating birds and rodents, harboured both B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus ticks. Birds and rodents may play an important role in maintaining the pathogens on Jomfruland.

Conclusion

The high abundance of roe deer and red deer on the Norwegian islands of Fjelløyvær and Strøm may reduce the infection rate of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in host seeking Ixodes ricinus, in contrast to mainland sites at Hinnebu and Tjore with moderate abundance of wild cervids. The infection rate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum showed the opposite result with a high prevalence in questing ticks in localities with a high density of wild cervids compared to localities with lower density.     

Infection rates of Theileria sergenti in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks collected from the field in Japan

For a period of one year Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected in a pasture from vegetation by dragging flannel cloth and from soil samples at monthly intervals. Nymphal ticks were assessed for Theileria infection. Salivary glands were stained with methylgreen-pyronin and examined for parasite masses. Nymphal H. longicornis infected with Theileria sergenti were found in all samples during 12 months including the winter. After shortening the prefed period on rabbits to 24 hours, the parasite masses could be detected in the salivary glands of nymphs collected in the grazing season, from May to October, while no parasite masses were detected in other season. It was suggested that the environmental factors in the grazing season might influence on the maturation of parasites in the salivary glands of ticks.     

蜂花粉系列研究

系统研究了蜂花粉营养成分及生物学功能，说明花粉属于完全营养食品并具有多种生物学作用。     

Active surveillance of pathogens from ticks collected in New York State suburban parks and schoolyards

Schoolyards and suburban parks are two environments where active tick surveillance may inform local management approaches. Even in a state such as New York with a robust active tick surveillance programme operated by the state Department of Health, these settings are not routinely covered. The goal of this study was to highlight the importance of active surveillance for tick‐borne pathogens by describing their prevalence in ticks collected from schoolyards and suburban parks and to guide the use of integrated pest management in these settings. Tick dragging was performed in three regions of New York State: Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley and the Capital Region. A total of 19 schoolyards and 32 parks were sampled. The location, habitat and weather at the time of tick collection were recorded. Ticks were speciated and tested for the presence of 17 pathogens with a novel application of nanoscale real‐time PCR. The causative agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus disease were all detected from Ixodes scapularis in various sites throughout the capital region and south‐eastern counties of New York state. The most common agent detected was Borrelia burgdorferi, and coinfection rates were as high as 36%. This surveillance study also captured the first of the invasive Asian longhorned tick species, Haemaphysalis longicornis, in New York state (collected 2 June 2017). Results from this study highlight the importance of collaborative efforts and data sharing for improvement of surveillance for tick‐borne disease agents.     

Epidemiological survey of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis using ticks collected from dogs in Japan

Detection of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis in ticks recovered from dogs in Japan was attempted using a species-specific nested PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene. A total of 1211 ticks recovered from 1211 dogs from all over Japan were examined for A. platys and E. canis. Four tick samples from Fukushima, Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures recovered from four different dogs showed a positive reaction for A. platys. Although the four dogs did not show any clinical signs and no blood examination data were available, it is possible that A. platys has already been spread widely in Japan. No positive reactions were observed in any ticks examined for E. canis.     

Geographical distribution and prevalence of tick‐borne encephalitis virus in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and phylogeographic structure of the Ixodes ricinus vector in Norway

The tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a zoonotic flaviviral infection, is endemic in large parts of Norway and Eurasia. Humans are mainly infected with TBEV via bites from infected ticks. In Norway, the main geographical distribution of ticks is along the Norwegian coastline from southeast (~59°N) and up to the southern parts of Nordland County (~65°N). In this study, we collected ticks by flagging along the coast from Østfold County to Nordland County. By whole‐genome sequencing of the mitochondrial genome of Ixodes ricinus, the phylogenetic tree suggests that there is limited phylogeographic structure both in Norway and in Europe. The overall TBEV prevalence is 0.3% for nymphs and 4.3% for adults. The highest estimated TBEV prevalence in adult ticks was detected in Rogaland and Vestfold County, while for nymphs it is highest in Vestfold, Vest‐Agder and Rogaland. The present work is one of the largest studies on distribution and prevalence of TBEV in ticks in Scandinavia, showing that the virus is wider distributed in Norway than previously anticipated.     

Predation on livestock ticks by chickens.

Chickens were shown to be natural predators of ticks. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus were recovered in large numbers from the crops and gizzards of chickens which had scavenged for 30 min-1 h among tick-infested cattle. Other ticks recovered were Amblyomma variegatum and Boophilus decoloratus. The numbers of ticks recovered ranged from 3 to 331, with an average of 81 per chicken. Cattle facilitated the predation of ticks by certain behavioural actions. Chickens also picked up both engorged and unengorged ticks seeded on vegetation, but unengorged ticks were preferred. The possibility of tick predation by chickens forming a viable biological control component in an integrated tick management system in Africa is discussed.     

The numbers of bush ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis, parasitic on grazing cattle before and after the acquisition of host resistance

The numbers of bush ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis, on Bos taurus steers in south east Queensland was recorded regularly from July 1971 until January 1974. The steers had no prior exposure to the tick. The parasitic tick population was large during the first year, but declined to low levels in the second and third years, apparently as a result of the steers acquiring resistance to tick feeding.     

Evidence of Bartonella sp. in questing adult and nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks from France and co-infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Babesia sp

Ticks are known vectors for a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. Their role in the transmission of some others is so far only suspected. Ticks can transmit multiple pathogens, however, little is known about the co-existence of these pathogens within questing ticks. We looked for the presence of DNA from three micro-organisms, Bartonella sp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Babesia sp. which are known or suspected tick-borne pathogens, using a cohort of 92 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from pastures in northern France. DNA was extracted from each individual tick and the presence of the three pathogens was investigated using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. Nine among 92 samples (9.8%) demonstrated PCR products using Bartonella specific primers, 3 among 92 (3.3%) using Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato specific primers and 19 among 92 (20.6%) using Babesia specific primers. Seven among 92 samples (7.6%) were PCR positive for at least two of the pathogens and one sample was positive for all three. Adult ticks (12/18; 67%) showed significantly higher infection rates compared to nymphs (11/74; 15%) for all three pathogens (P < 0.001). This study is the demonstration of the simultaneous presence of Bartonella sp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Babesia sp. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks.     

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.     

Detection of DNA of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' and Spiroplasma sp. in unfed ticks collected from vegetation in Japan

DNA fragments of 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', a feline heamobartonella pathogen, were detected from unfed Ixodes ovatus collected from vegetation in Hokkaido, Fukushima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, and unfed Haemaphysalis flava in Yamaguchi Prefecture. This finding suggests that ixodid tick is a possible vector of 'C. Mycoplasma haemominutum'. Spiroplasma DNA was also detected from unfed I. ovatus in Hokkaido, Fukushima and Yamaguchi Prefectures. The analysis of nucleotides sequence suggested that this Spiroplasma was distinct from registered species.     

Effect of season of burning on grass recovery in the false thornveld of the eastern cape

Abstract

Season of burning is one of the most controversial questions concerning the use of fire in veld management. In the summer rainfall areas of South Africa the generally accepted rule of burning only after the first spring rains has proven ineffectual when using fire to control bush encroachment because the fires are too cool when burnt at this time. It was therefore decided to investigate the effect of burning on the regrowth of grass when applied during mid‐winter, spring, late spring and early summer. The results showed that burning when the grass was dormant (mid‐winter) had no deleterious effect on the recovery of grass when compared with burning after the first spring rains (spring). Conversely burning when the grass was actively growing (early summer) seriously retarded its regrowth.