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.     

Molecular detection of Theileria spp. in sheep and vector ticks in the North Khorasan Province, Iran

A survey was carried in North Khorasan Province, Iran in 2010–2011, designed to identify Theileria spp. infections of both sheep and ticks. The tick species were also examined. Ninety sheep from different flocks were clinically examined, and blood samples and ixodid ticks were collected. Light microscopy of blood smears revealed Theileria spp. infection in 37 (41.1 %), while 74 (82.2 %) of blood samples were positive using semi-nested PCR. Theileria ovis, Theileria lestoquardi, and mixed infection were detected in 63/90 (70 %), 5/90 (5.5 %), and 6/90 (6.6 %) of samples, respectively. Of the 434 ticks that were collected, the most prevalent species was Rhipicephalus turanicus (69.3 %) followed by Hyalomma marginatum turanicum (18.4 %), Dermacentor marginatus (6.4 %), and Rhipicephalus bursa (5.7 %). The ticks were separated into 42 tick pools, and the salivary glands were dissected out in 0.85 % (w/v) saline under a stereomicroscope and examined using semi-nested PCR. Three pools of H. marginatum turanicum salivary glands were infected with T. ovis and T. lestoquardi, and one pool of R. turanicus was infected with T. ovis. Based on these results, it is concluded that the prevalence of T. ovis is higher than T. lestoquardi and that H. marginatum turanicum and R. turanicus are likely vectors of T. lestoquardi and T. ovis in this area.     

小亚璃眼蜱对牛巴贝斯虫未定种和环形泰勒虫传播的试验研究

利用蜱传播试验确定小亚璃眼蜱对中国新分离的牛的巴贝斯虫未定种和环形泰勒虫的传播能力与传播方式，进而明确其在中国牛梨形虫病传播中的流行病学意义。试验结果表明：小亚璃眼蜱可在雌虫阶段受到巴贝斯虫未定种的感染，并可在次代若虫（2／2）和成虫（3／3）阶段将病原传播给试验牛；小亚璃眼蜱幼虫和若虫吸入环形泰勒虫，饱血脱落的幼虫和若虫所蜕化发育的饥饿若虫（2／2）和成虫（2／2）均可将病原传递给敏感动物；感染巴贝斯虫未定种的小亚璃眼蜱饱血雌虫所孵育出的次代幼虫和若虫仍可被环形泰勒虫感染，所发育出的若虫（2／2）和成虫（2／2）可在一次传播试验中将环形泰勒虫和巴贝斯虫未定种同时传播给试验动物。     

Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of emergent Arcobacter spp. isolated from cattle and sheep in Iran

This study is conducted to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from clinically healthy food animals. A total of 308 samples from cattle (200) and sheep (108) were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse, southern Iran to investigate the presence of the important Arcobacter spp. using cultivation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter isolates was determined for 18 antibiotics using disk diffusion method. Among 308 samples, 27 (8.7%) and 44 (14.28%) were positive for the presence of Arcobacter species with cultivation and PCR procedures, respectively. The predominant species was A. butzleri in both cattle (58.33%) and sheep (55%). In addition, concurrent incidence of the species was observed in 25% of the positive samples. All Arcobacter isolates were resistant to rifampicin, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim and cephalothin. The isolates showed high susceptibility to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin. No significant difference among cattle and sheep isolates in resistance pattern was observed. The results indicate that cattle and sheep are significant intestinal carriers for Arcobacter spp. Moreover, tetracycline and aminoglycosides showed great effects on Arcobacter species in antibiogram test and can be used for treatment of human Arcobacter infections.     

Some observations on sheep sarcoptic mange in Tehran province,Iran

Sarcoptes scabiei infestation was diagnosed in 278 sheep from 12 fatling flocks. The sheep presented crusted skin lesions initially appear on the lips or nostrils, the lesion on nostrils also extend towards around the eyes, the supraorbital fossae and in some cases over entire face. The infested male lambs by mating behavior in fatling flocks caused transmitting the infection to fat tail area and scrutum. Histopathological study of lesions demonstrated marked acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis. Tunnels could be observed in the hyperkeratotic stratum corneum and mite segments were located mainly in the stratum corneum and also in the stratum granulosum. Attempts to eliminate S. scabiei var. ovis were made in 3 naturally infested sheep herds, by two dippings with two weeks interval with Amitraz, Cypermetrin and Prompetamphos. The results of this study indicate that acaricidal treatment of S. scabiei var. ovis in 3 naturally infested herds was successful, but a few cases of reinfestation were found in each treated group.     

用溶血素从感染红细胞分离羊泰勒虫裂殖子

用嗜水气单胞菌产生的细胞毒素—溶血素Ah-1,裂解羊泰勒虫感染的红细胞,通过Percoll密度梯度离心分离羊泰勒虫裂殖子,建立了一种自感染红细胞中分离泰勒虫裂殖子的快速方法。光学显微镜观察显示,所分离的羊泰勒虫裂殖子基本保留原有的正常形态,并从宿主细胞成分中游离。     

甘南地区羊泰勒虫的分离与形态学观察

羊泰勒虫病 ( sheep theileriasis)是由媒介蜱传播的绵羊、山羊的一种血液原虫病。羊泰勒虫分布很广。原苏联、印度、斯里兰卡 ,以及非洲等地就报道此病的流行。我国的四川、青海、甘肃、辽宁等地均有本病的发生。罗建勋等人的调查研究发现 ,甘肃 1 2个地区的 35个县都有此病。其中临潭县的羊感染率达到 40 .0 % ,且羔羊病死率在 5 5 .0 %左右。同时 ,研究还发现不同地区的羊泰勒虫致病力不同。笔者为了更进一步证明临潭县羊泰勒虫及媒介蜱的存在 ,特进行了动物感染试验和病原形态学观察。1　材料与方法1 .1　动物　 2 0 0 4号到 2 0 1 7号…     

Prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis in broiler-chicken farms in the municipality of Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran

A survey of the prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis in broiler-chickens was conducted in the municipality of Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran. Eighty-four chicken farms were randomly selected; from each farm, five birds per 10 000 were sampled (as was litter). Serial scraping of the intestinal lining was done in chicks at 3rd and >6th week of age.

The farm-level prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis was 38% (95% CI: 28, 48.47%). Uni- and multi-variable associations were tested between each variable. An increased risk of infection in the broiler was associated with the larger farm, with older chickens, and if the chicken farm were sampled in the winter or spring, using coccidiostat in the food was not associated. The peak oocyst score in the litter occurred at >6th week of age. Most farms (97%) had E. acervulina; (41%) had E. maxima and (12%) had E. tenella.     

PCR检测新疆南疆部分地方品种绵羊的嗜血支原体和泰勒虫感染情况

为了解新疆南疆部分地方品种绵羊嗜血支原体和泰勒虫的感染情况,采用PCR法检测新疆南疆5个地方品种绵羊共100份血液DNA样本.结果表明:新疆南疆部分地方品种绵羊泰勒虫和嗜血支原体感染率分别为35.0％(35/100)和3.0％(3/100).仅和田羊和多浪羊上检测到嗜血支原体感染,感染率分别为8.0％(2/25)和5....     

Assessment of criteria for improvement in Theileria orientalis sergenti infection tolerance

We examined the relationships between calf productivity, anemia and Theileria orientalis sergenti infection from records of 109 Japanese shorthorn calves during a grazing period and we quantified the relative importance of the T. orientalis sergenti infection‐resistance criteria used. A decrease in average parasitemia (AvePara) and an increase in average packed cell volume (AvePCV) would cause a decrease in the number of drug treatments. An increase in AvePCV would decrease the number of drug treatments more efficiently than a decrease in AvePara. An increase in AvePCV would cause an increase in dairy gain, while a decrease in AvePara would cause a decrease in dairy gain. Therefore, an improvement in the capacity to control anemia development would improve T. orientalis sergenti infection resistance more efficiently than an improvement in the capacity to control parasitemia development.     

Prevalence and spatial distribution of cattle herds infected with Theileria orientalis in New Zealand between 2012 and 2013

AIM: To describe the prevalence and spatial distribution of cattle herds infected with Ikeda and non-Ikeda types of Theileria orientalis in New Zealand between November 2012 and June 2013.

METHODS: Pooled serum samples collected historically between November 2012 and June 2013 were obtained from cattle herds throughout New Zealand. Each pooled sample consisted of approximately 20 individual cattle samples from that herd, and was provided with details of the spatial location of the herd (n=722). DNA from all samples was tested using two quantitative PCR assays for the detection of T. orientalis (all types) and the Ikeda type. The proportion of herds that were positive for T. orientalis and Ikeda type, or that were positive for T. orientalis but negative for Ikeda type (non-Ikeda positive) was determined for different regions of New Zealand.

RESULTS: The highest prevalence of herds infected with Ikeda type was detected in the Northland (33/35; 94%) and Auckland and the Waikato (63/191; 33%) regions. Only 2/204 (1%) herds were positive for the Ikeda type in the South Island. A high percentage of herds that were positive for non-Ikeda types was detected in the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay (23 (95%CI=13–37)%), Auckland and Waikato (22 (95%CI=16–29)%) and Bay of Plenty (24 (95%CI=10–44)%) regions.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The high prevalence of Ikeda type detected in cattle herds in the Northland, Auckland and Waikato regions represents a risk to naive cattle being introduced into these regions. There is also the potential for resident cattle herds in the Gisborne and Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions to experience increased infection with the Ikeda type.

The overall impact experienced by regions will depend on other factors such as the number of herds present and the predominant type of farming, as well as the interplay between tick ecology, cattle immunity and movement patterns of cattle.     

An epidemiological study on ovine babesiosis in the Mashhad suburb area,province of Khorasan,Iran

The prevalence of Babesia spp. infection was studied in sheep of the Mashhad area in Iran from 1998 to 2000. A total of 677 sheep originating from 115 flocks were clinically examined and investigated for the presence of Babesia spp. in appropriate blood smears and any tick species on the body of the animals. The study revealed that the infection rate for Babesia ovis and Babesia motasi were 167 (24.6%) and 4 (0.5%), respectively. Double (mixed) infections occurred in 21 (3%) sheep. Differences in infection rates were statistically non-significant between male and female sheep and between different age groups. Seasonally, the prevalence of Babesia spp. infection started to increase in April and reached highest values in August (56%), while a decrease was observed in September, reaching the lowest levels In February and March. The study demonstrated that 1.7% of sheep infected with B. ovis and 50% of sheep infected with B. motasi exhibited clinical signs. Sheep infected with B. motasi showed the highest levels of parasitemia. We found that 550 (73%) of the animals harbored Rhipicephalus sanguineus; 166 (21%) Hyalomma marginatum; 19 (2.5%) Dermacentor daghestanicus; 14 (1.8%) Hyalomma anatolicum; 6 (0.66%) Hyalomma asiaticum; and one (0.13%) Haemaphysalis punctata. The examination of 727 tick haemolymph samples and 52 tick egg smears showed that one sample (0.2%) of haemolymph of R. sanguineus, two (1.2%) haemolymphs of H. marginatum and two (2%) eggs of R. sanguineus harbored kinetes morphologically matching the criteria described for B. ovis.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria sp. from sika deer, Cervus nippon, in Japan

The 18S rRNA genes of Theileria species detected in sika deer, Cervus nippon centralis in Yamaguchi and Cervus nippon yesoensis in Hokkaido, were analyzed. The percent identities of the nucleotide sequences of Theileria from Cervus nippon centralis and Cervus nippon yesoensis were more than 99%. The percent identities of the Theileria sp. from sika deer and Theileria sergenti, Theileria buffeli and Theileria cervi were 97, 96 and 95%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the gene sequences also revealed that Theileria sp. detected from sika deer comprise a clade that is clearly distinct from the clade comprised of Theileria from cattle.     

Observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005

The objective of this study was to characterize the observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005. Serological (competitive ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence antibody, n = 3299) and DNA tests (polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot, n = 2565) were conducted on horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat, pig and dog samples. Pathogens analysed included Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria species, and Coxiella burnetii. The most prevalent TBP were Anaplasma and Babesia species. The results reported herein suggested that cattle could serve as the major reservoir for Babesia and Theileria spp. while for Anaplasma spp. cattle, dogs, sheep and goats may be the most important reservoir species. These results expanded our knowledge about the prevalence of TBP in Sicily and provided information to understand the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and may help to implement measures to diagnose, treat and control transmission to humans and animals in this region.     

Prevalence of Leishmania spp. infection in domestic dogs in Chapare, Bolivia

Data on Leishmania spp. infection in dogs in Bolivia is scarce. Dogs from an area where 90% of human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) cases are due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis were screened for Leishmania infection using established enzyme-linked immunosorbent antibody test (ELISA) protocols. Although none of the 51 dogs surveyed had clinical lesions indicative of CL, 6 out of 51 (11.8%) sampled dogs tested positive by ELISA.