The geographic distribution of the putative agent of epizootic bovine abortion in the tick vector, Ornithodoros coriaceus

Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA), also known as “foothill abortion”, is a vector borne disease of beef cattle that graze in the mountainous regions of California, southern Oregon and western Nevada transmitted by the argasid tick Ornithodoros coriaceus. Recently, the putative agent of EBA was identified as a novel Deltaproteobacter in the order Myxococcales. In this study, a TaqMan real-time PCR (TM-PCR) protocol specific to the putative EBA agent was developed. The new real-time TM-PCR assay functioned sensitively and specifically to detect pathogen DNA in field-collected O. coriaceus ticks. The assay had an analytical sensitivity of a single plasmid copy and, when evaluated with a collection of tick-borne pathogens, yielded a positive PCR-result only for the agent of EBA. Use of the TM-PCR represents an effective tool for rapid and highly sensitive assessment of environmental risk and spatial and statistical analysis to highlight areas where there may be increased risk for EBA in susceptible cattle.     

石河子地区宠物犬蜱的种类鉴定及其携带布鲁氏菌的检测

为了解新疆石河子地区宠物犬体表寄生蜱的种类及蜱携带布鲁氏菌情况,本试验在形态学分类的基础上,基于线粒体基因12S rRNA和细胞色素氧化酶Ⅰ（COⅠ）对宠物犬体表采集寄生蜱进行分子生物学检测,使用DNAMAN软件比对分析序列同源性,并应用序列分析软件Mega 7.0邻接法构建蜱种系统发育进化树,分析蜱种的遗传进化关系;基于布鲁氏菌外膜蛋白Omp22基因对宠物犬体表寄生蜱进行布鲁氏菌PCR检测,确定宠物犬蜱布鲁氏菌携带情况。结果显示,宠物犬体表寄生的436只蜱的形态学与线粒体基因（12S rRNA和COⅠ）分子生物学鉴定结果一致,均为新疆优势蜱种之一——图兰扇头蜱（Rhipicephalus turanicus）。基于12S rRNA基因构建的蜱种系统发育树显示,本试验所得宠物犬体表寄生图兰扇头蜱序列与GenBank中已知图兰扇头蜱的序列聚为一大支。基于布鲁氏菌Omp22基因的巢式PCR扩增结果显示,宠物犬体表寄生图兰扇头蜱携带布鲁氏菌的阳性率为4.82%（21/436）,且同源性为100%。BLAST比对显示,本试验所得宠物犬图兰扇头蜱携带的布鲁氏菌与新疆流行株YC31（GenBank登录号：MK201679.1）、QH5（GenBank登录号：MK201678.1）、EM3（GenBank登录号：MK201677.1）和ML9（GenBank登录号：MK201676.1）的同源性均为100%。本研究通过形态学及分子生物学探讨了新疆石河子地区宠物犬体表寄生蜱的种类及携带布鲁氏菌基本情况,为宠物犬体表寄生蜱的种类及蜱传疾病的监测和控制等研究工作提供了基础资料。     

Experimental transmission of epizootic bovine abortion (foothill abortion)

Advances in defining the biology of epizootic bovine abortion (EBA), including identification of the etiologic agent, have been hampered by the inability to reproduce the disease with confidence. Experimental reproduction of EBA, by feeding the tick vector Ornithodoros coriaceus on susceptible pregnant heifers, is not reliable. The primary objectives of this study were to identify specific tissue(s) obtained from EBA-infected fetuses that could transmit the disease, and then utilize such an infectious challenge system to better define the pathogen, host immunity and geographic distribution of the agent. Described here is the ability to routinely reproduce EBA following inoculation of cryopreserved suspensions of homogenized thymus into susceptible pregnant heifers. This challenge system permitted experiments demonstrating the agent was non-filterable, inactivated upon sonication and susceptible to antibiotics. These findings suggest a prokaryotic microbe and represent a major advance in EBA research. Additional experiments demonstrated that inoculation of the cryopreserved EBA-infectious tissue into heifers, prior to breeding, conferred immunity. Furthermore, such immunized heifers were resistant to challenge with heterologous sources of infectious tissue, suggesting monovalent vaccine development might be feasible. Lastly, challenge studies employing animals from Central Nevada, an area considered free of EBA, demonstrated partial immunity, suggesting the pathogen, and possibly the disease, enjoy a broader distribution than previously thought.     

国内部分省市肉兔及蜱虫携带土拉杆菌的流行病学调查

本调查旨在探明土拉杆菌在国内部分省份的流行情况。利用本实验室建立的土拉杆菌通用及亚种PCR检测研究方法，对国内肉兔饲养密度比较大的省份和牛羊存栏的部分省市开展了肉兔和蜱虫中土拉杆菌的检测，并对阳性样本进行了土拉杆菌亚种的鉴定和基因测序验证。研究结果表明，肉兔肝脏组织和牛羊携带蜱虫中土拉杆菌DNA检测阳性，其中218份肉兔样本中12份阳性（阳性率5.5%），490份蜱虫样本中15份阳性（阳性率3.1%）；从地区分布来看，山东、河南、四川肉兔病料检测阳性，云南、山东蜱虫阳性率高；PCR检测显示其亚种为F.h，为土拉杆菌毒力较强的亚种。本次调查显示土拉杆菌在肉兔、蜱虫中存在，山东、云南地区存在土拉杆菌病公共卫生安全风险，应引起有关科研院校、医疗单位和政府部门的高度重视。     

Epidemiological Investigation of Francisella tularensis Transmitted by Rabbits and Ticks in Some Provinces of China

The aim of this investigation was to find out the prevalence of Francesella tularensis in some provinces of China. Using the general and subspecies PCR detection method for Francesella tularensis established in our laboratory, PCR detection of Francesella tularensis in rabbits and ticks was carried out in provinces with high-density rabbits feeding and some provinces and cities with sheep and cattle stock. The results showed that DNA detection of Francesella tularensis from rabbit tissues and ticks carried by cattle and sheep was positive. 12 out of 218 rabbit samples were positive (5.5% positive rate), and 15 tick samples were positive (3.1%) of 490 tick samples. In terms of geographical distribution, most of the positive rabbit samples were from Shandong, Henan and Sichuan province, however, ticks collected from Yunnan and Shandong province showed a higher positive rate. PCR detection showed that Francesella tularensis subspecies in this investigation was F.h, which was a subspecies with strong toxicity. This investigation revealed that Francesella tularensis presented in rabbits and ticks, public health and safety risks of Francesella tularensis existed in Shandong and Yunnan province, which should be paid more attention by the relevant scientific research institutions, medical institutions and government departments.     

Investigation of Bartonella infection in ixodid ticks from California

A total of 1253 ixodid ticks (254 tick pools) collected between the end of 1995 and the spring of 1997 from six California counties (El Dorado, Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Cruz, Shasta and Sonoma) were examined for the presence of Bartonella DNA by PCR of the citrate synthase gene. Of 1,119 adult Ixodes pacificus ticks tested, 26 (11.6%) of 224 pools, each containing five ticks, were positive (minimum percentage of ticks harboring detectable Bartonella DNA, 2.3%). Bartonella PCR-positive ticks were identified in five counties but none of the ticks from Los Angeles County was positive. Among 47 nymphal I. pacificus ticks collected in Sonoma County, one (10%) positive pool out of 10 pools was identified (minimum percentage of ticks harboring detectable Bartonella DNA, 2.1%). Among the 54 Dermacentor occidentalis grouped in 12 pools from Orange County, one pool (8.3%) was PCR positive for Bartonella and similarly one pool (14.3%) was positive among the 30 Dermacentor variabilis ticks grouped in seven pools. None of the three D. occidentalis from El Dorado County were positive. None of the nine tick pools positive for Ehrlichia phagocytophila were positive for Bartonella. Following our previous findings of Bartonella PCR-positive adult I. pacificus ticks in central coastal California, this is the first preliminary report of the presence of Bartonella DNA in I. pacificus nymphs and in Dermacentor sp. ticks. Distribution of Bartonella among ixodid ticks appears widespread in California.     

Evidence of Powassan/deer tick virus in adult black‐legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) recovered from hunter‐harvested white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Pennsylvania: A public health perspective

Studies reporting tick infection rates for Powassan virus (POWV), an emerging zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogen responsible for POWV disease in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are limited. To determine the presence and ascertain a statewide prevalence of POWV, ticks were collected from 9,912 hunter‐harvested white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) heads presented to six regional Pennsylvania Game Commission Chronic Wasting Disease sampling stations in early December of 2013, 2014 and 2015. Of the 2,973 ticks recovered, 1,990 (66.9%) were identified as adult Ixodes scapularis (black‐legged tick). The 1,990 I. scapularis ticks were PCR‐tested for the presence of POWV. The ticks had a statewide Powassan/deer tick virus infection rate of 0.05%, providing evidence of this pathogen in Pennsylvania's adult I. scapularis ticks and supporting the need for more comprehensive pathogen prevalence assessment strategies, as well as increased public health awareness for this emerging zoonotic arthropod‐borne pathogen of public health concern.     

Seasonality and anatomical location of human tick bites in the United Kingdom

Tick bites on humans can occur in a variety of habitats and may result in the transmission of tick‐borne pathogens, such as the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. As the risk of transmission of this pathogen to the host increases with the duration of tick feeding, the recognition and removal of ticks as soon as possible following attachment is important for reducing the risk of infection. Performing a thorough body examination for ticks following potential exposure is recommended by tick awareness campaigns. Knowledge of where on the body feeding ticks are frequently found, and at which times of year peak tick exposure occurs, provides important information for public health messaging and may aid those bitten by ticks to engage more effectively with tick‐checking behaviour. This paper summarizes human tick bites in the United Kingdom (UK) during 2013–2018 reported to Public Health England's passive Tick Surveillance Scheme and further examines the anatomical location and seasonality of bites from the most commonly encountered tick and LB vector Ixodes ricinus. A total of 1,328 tick records from humans were received of which 93% were I. ricinus. Humans were most commonly bitten by I. ricinus nymphs (70% bites). Tick bites were recorded on all parts of the body, but there were significant differences in their anatomical location on adults and children. Most tick bites on adults occurred on the legs (50%), whereas on children tick bites were mostly on the head and neck (43%). Bites from I. ricinus were recorded throughout the year but were most numerous during May to August. This study adds to the body of research on the seasonality and anatomical location of human tick bites in temperate Europe and highlights the importance of data collected through passive surveillance in addition to research and epidemiological studies.     

马梨形虫病在新疆昭苏地区流行相关因素的调查与分析

为了解新疆昭苏县马匹体表蜱虫和周围游离蜱虫携带马梨形虫情况及其之间流行关系,于2016年4-7月份,分别采集马匹血液、相应马体表携带埤虫和周围牧场的蜱虫,经PCR检测总携带梨形虫率分别为93.9％(31/33),15.8％(6/38),3.4％(6/175);对所采集的蜱虫进行形态学鉴定,结果分别为草原革蜱、森林革蜱和...     

铁蛋白1基因在边缘革蜱各发育龄期、吸血期及不同器官中的表达分析

试验旨在了解铁蛋白1（ferritin 1,Fer1）基因在边缘革蜱各发育龄期、吸血期及不同器官中的表达情况。用实时定量荧光PCR法分析了Fer1基因在边缘革蜱各发育阶段、吸血期和不同器官中的相对表达情况,以饥饿雌蜱为基准（1 FC）,用2^-△△Ct法计算结果。结果显示,雌性蜱在开始吸血后第72 h Fer1基因的相对表达量最高,在刚刚孵化的饥饿成蜱（雌、雄）、卵及幼蜱中相对表达量较低;在若蜱中相对表达量较高,其中,幼蜱和若蜱在饥饿状态下比同时期饱血蜱的相对表达量高。在雌蜱的不同器官中,以饱血蜱唾液腺为基准（1 FC）,半饱血蜱中肠的表达量最高,在卵巢和马氏管不表达;在饱血蜱唾液腺、中肠、卵巢和马氏管中均表达,其中,在卵巢和马氏管中的表达量较高,中肠次之,唾液腺中的表达较低。试验结果表明,边缘革蜱体内Fer1基因的相对表达量随着蜱吸血过程变化而变化,这与蜱体内消化细胞的完善及消化酶在该过程中的变化相关,可为该类蜱铁代谢通路中关键功能基因的研究提供参考。     

Histochemical and immunohistochemical evidence of a bacterium associated with lesions of epizootic bovine abortion.

Epizootic bovine abortion (EBA), a tick-transmitted disease of pregnant cattle grazing foothill pastures, is a major cause of reproductive failure in California and adjacent states. Affected fetuses develop a chronic disease, resulting in late-term abortion or premature calving. Despite investigations spanning 50 years, to the authors' knowledge, the etiologic agent of EBA has not yet been isolated from affected fetuses or the tick vector. The diagnosis of EBA is based on gross and microscopic lesions. Recently, documentation that the etiologic agent is susceptible to antibiotics and identification of a unique 16S deltaproteobacterial rDNA gene sequence in 90% of thymus tissues from aborted fetuses have supported the role of a bacterial infection as the cause of EBA. To determine whether bacteria could be detected in the tissues, histochemical staining and immunohistochemical procedures were used on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Use of a modified Steiner silver stain revealed small numbers of intracytoplasmic bacterial rods in 37 of 42 thymic samples from EBA-affected fetuses. Improved detection was achieved by use of immunohistochemical staining with serum from EBA-affected fetuses that resulted in detection of numerous bacterial rods in the cytoplasm of histiocytic cells in the thymus from all 42 EBA-affected fetuses. Immunohistochemical examination of additional tissues from 21 field and experimental EBA cases revealed positively stained intracytoplasmic bacterial rods in many organs with inflammatory lesions. Use of the modified Steiner stain and immunohistochemical staining of tissues from negative-control fetuses failed to reveal organisms. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report to document morphologic evidence of a bacterium associated with the lesions of EBA.     

Tick infestation and spotted-fever group Rickettsia in shelter dogs, California, 2009

In response to an outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in Baja California in early 2009, dogs at two shelters in neighbouring Imperial County, California, were evaluated for ectoparasites. Brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), a recognized vector for RMSF, were found on 35 (30%) of 116 dogs but all ticks tested negative for Rickettsia rickettsii by PCR.     

PCR-based detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus bursa adult ticks

Tick-borne diseases in ruminants are common in tropical and subtropical regions and lead to meat and milk production losses. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the presence of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. We have demonstrated that the PCR enabled detection of T. ovis in field isolates of R. bursa collected from naturally infested sheep and goats in eastern Turkey. The sampling was done in spring season (between May and June 2004). A total of 420 R. bursa were collected and randomly selected 192 number of them (97 female and 95 male) were dissected. Primers specific for 520 bp fragments small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssu rRNA) gene of T. ovis amplified products from 37 of the 192 (19.27%) samples. The parasite was detected in 17 (17.52%) female and in 20 (21.05%) male ticks. Two T. ovis amplicons from the tick samples were purified and sequenced. The resulting sequences were identical to the nucleotide sequence of the Turkish sheep strain of T. ovis. These results showed that R. bursa might play an important role in the field as a natural vector of T. ovis.     

Histopathologic changes in bovine fetuses after repeated reintroduction of a spirochete-like agent into pregnant heifers: association with epizootic bovine abortion

A spirochete-like organism was found in the plasma of bovine fetuses affected with epizootic bovine abortion (EBA). The spirochete-like organism was frequently found in abattoir-collected fetuses as an inapparent infection, and EBA was found in cattle on foothill rangeland where the vector tick Ornithodorus coriaceus could repeatedly reintroduce the infectious agent into pregnant cattle (superinfection). Epizootic bovine abortion resembled a naturally acquired superinfection in circumstances where the agent was frequently present in the environment under conditions favoring transmission. Therefore, to determine whether fetal lesions could be experimentally induced in utero, spirochete-like organisms collected from clinically normal fetuses at an abattoir were inoculated IV and subcutaneously into 2 pregnant heifers 5 times over a 4-month period to mimic repeated tick transmission in the field. Macroscopic and microscopic examinations of tissues from 2 cesarean-collected fetuses and from 3 calves born at term with the naturally acquired spirochete infection indicated that the calves had evidence of an infection that caused morphologic changes compatible with immunologic stimulation and mild reticuloendothelial hyperplasia. Compared with findings in the calves, lesions in the superinfected fetuses were more severe, and the lesion distribution in various organs was more extensive. The spirochete-like organism appeared to be a mild pathogen because of its persistence in the host. Clinical disease from the infection may only develop with repeated superinfections. Therefore, a relationship between this microorganism and EBA is probable.     

Determination of an efficient and reliable method for DNA extraction from ticks

Molecular detection of pathogenic microorganisms in ticks is based on DNA amplification of the target pathogen; therefore, extraction of DNA from the tick is a major step. In this study, we compared three different tick DNA extraction protocols based on an enzymatic digestion by proteinase K followed by DNA extraction by a commercial kit (method 1), or on mortar crushing, proteinase K digestion and phenol/chloroform DNA extraction (method 2) and fine crushing with a beads beater, proteinase K digestion and DNA extraction using a commercial kit (method 3). The absence of PCR inhibitors and the DNA quality were evaluated by PCR amplification of the tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene using tick-specific primers. With method 1, 23/30 (77%) of the samples were extracted; with method 2, 30/31 (97%) of the samples were extracted and with method 3, 30/30 (100%) of the samples were extracted. DNA extraction efficiency using method 3 is significantly higher than DNA extraction efficiency using method 1 (100% versus 77%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between methods 2 and 3. Method 3 was however more adapted to cohort studies than method 2. This technique was validated for cohort tick DNA extraction and applicable to the treatment of small samples such as nymphs and soft ticks with 100% efficiency.     

四川省松潘县牦牛体表蜱、高原鼠兔携带巴尔通体和无形体的PCR检测与进化分析

旨在了解四川省松潘县牦牛体表蜱、高原鼠兔巴尔通体和无形体感染情况。采集牦牛体表的蜱和捕获高原鼠兔，对蜱进行形态学初步鉴定后，提取蜱和高原鼠兔脾总DNA，PCR扩增蜱16S rRNA、巴尔通体rpoB和无形体16S rRNA基因，对PCR产物阳性产物测序、比对及构建系统进化树，从而确定蜱种类及蜱和高原鼠兔感染巴尔通体和无形体的种类及感染率。结果显示：在松潘县进安乡、山巴乡、下八寨乡各采集到蜱102、97和131只，共计330只，经鉴定均为青海血蜱。蜱巴尔通体仅检出1种巴尔通体，与B.melophagi亲缘关系最近，进安乡、山巴乡和下八寨乡检出率分别为16.7%、8.2%和18.3%，其中下八寨乡检出率显著高于进安乡（P<0.05）；蜱源无形体进安乡、山巴乡和下八寨乡检出率分别为9.8%、12.4%和26.7%，下八寨乡检出率显著高于进安乡（P<0.01），检出的无形体均为1种，与牛无形体（A.bovis）亲缘关系最近；下八寨乡检出的鼠兔源巴尔通体与B.queenslandens亲缘关系最近，感染率为6.7%；进安乡、山巴乡和下八寨乡检出的鼠兔源巴尔通体与B.grahamii亲缘关系最近，感染率分别为8.7%、17.9%和13.3%，3个点检出率无显著差异；未定种Bartonella sp.（MN296294）和Bartonella sp.（MN296293）仅分别在进安乡和下巴乡检出；与蜱均检出无形体不同，高原鼠兔均未检出无形体。此外，蜱和高原鼠兔均未发现2种及2种以上病原混合感染。松潘县青海血蜱携带巴尔通体和无形体，高原鼠兔感染巴尔通体，且首次在高原鼠兔体内检测到疑似B.queenslandens的病原体，提示当地居民有感染这两类病原风险。     

Molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens in Nigerian ticks

A molecular epidemiology investigation was undertaken in two Nigerian states (Plateau and Nassarawa) to determine the prevalence of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance associated with ticks collected from cattle and dogs using PCR, cloning and sequencing or reverse line blot techniques. A total of 218 tick samples, Amblyomma variegatum (N=153), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (N=45), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (N=20) were sampled. Pathogens identified in ticks included piroplasmids (Babesia spp., Babesia bigemina and Babesia divergens), Anaplasma marginale and Rickettsia africae. Piroplasmids were identified in A. variegatum, A. marginale was found in R. decoloratus, while R. africae was detected in all tick species examined. Ehrlichia spp. and Theileria spp. were not identified in any of the ticks examined. Of the 218 ticks examined, 33 (15.1%) contained pathogen DNA, with the presence of B. divergens and R. africae that are zoonotic pathogens of public health and veterinary importance. The variety of tick-borne pathogens identified in this study suggests a risk for the emergence of tick-borne diseases in domestic animals and humans, especially amongst the Fulani pastoralists in Plateau and Nassarawa states of Nigeria.     

Use of the ARC/INFO GIS to study the distribution of Lyme disease ticks in an Illinois county

Lyme disease is a bacterial disease of humans and domestic animals transmitted primarily through the bite of the deer tick, Ixodes dammini. Using the ARC/INFO geographic information system (GIS), the distribution of tick vectors can be associated simultaneously with a large number of environmental, biological and demographic factors. The Illinois GIS was used to study the associations of soil type, potential vegetation cover and distance from waterways with tick distributions, and to compare the dispersion patterns of tick-infested and uninfested deer in one northwestern Illinois county. Tick presence was associated with sandy soils, wooded vegetation, and proximity to rivers. Infested deer were clustered around an endemic focus I. dammini, while uninfested deer showed no such clustering. Changes in the spatial distribution of ticks over two years and likely sites for further establishment of ticks were also studied.