Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis vogeli in rural areas of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil and factors associated with its seroprevalence

This epidemiological survey on canine babesiosis was carried out in three distinct rural regions (Lavras, Belo Horizonte and Nanuque) of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ticks and blood samples were collected during a dry season (Lavras, n = 92; Belo Horizonte, n = 50; Nanuque, n = 102) and the subsequent rainy season (Lavras, n = 71; Belo Horizonte, n = 28; Nanuque, n = 66) from dogs living on farms. Plasma samples were analyzed by the indirect fluorescent antibody test for detection of anti-Babesia canis vogeli antibodies. DNA was extracted from blood of serologically positive dogs and molecular characterization of Babesia species was performed. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma cajennense and Boophilus microplus were the tick species identified in all regions. In Lavras, in addition to those tick species, A. tigrinum and A. ovale were also identified. The most prevalent tick species was A. cajennense (35.3%), followed by R. sanguineus (19%) and B. microplus (4.0%). Dogs living in Nanuque region were more heavily infested with ticks than dogs living in Belo Horizonte and Lavras regions. The overall frequency of anti-B. c. vogeli antibodies in the canine population in rural areas of Minas Gerais was 28.7%, with prevalence rates of 49.0% in Nanuque, 34.0% in Belo Horizonte and 3.3% in Lavras. The age of the animals and tick infestation were associated with seroprevalence of B. c. vogeli. The sequence analysis showed that B. c. vogeli was the only Babesia species present in all three regions. This study showed different rates of prevalence and incidence of canine babesiosis among the three rural regions sampled in Minas Gerais State. The results point to the importance of canine babesiosis in rural areas and to the need for further studies related to its transmission and maintenance in nature.     

牛巴贝斯虫新疆株MSA-2c基因的克隆表达及其重组蛋白免疫原性

本试验将新疆株牛巴贝斯虫的MSA-2c基因克隆,并构建重组质粒pGEX-4T-2/MSA-2c.利用大肠杆菌原核表达系统进行外源蛋白的表达,并成功诱导出GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白.通过优化诱导条件,得到了较高的可溶性表达;利用亲和层析技术纯化后的重组蛋白皮下免疫试验小鼠.间接ELISA检测发现,免疫接种56 d后,抗重组蛋白的抗体效价达到1∶220 000以上.用获得的抗血清进行Western-blot试验,可获得清晰的免疫反应条带.结果表明,本试验所表达的MSA-2c蛋白与文献报道的目的蛋白相符,并具有免疫原性.同时本试验也为建立以MSA-2c重组蛋白作为抗原的血清学诊断体系奠定了基础.     

牛巴贝斯虫GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白间接ELISA血清学诊断方法的建立

[目的与方法]在优化表达牛巴贝斯虫GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白和建立ELISA反应条件的基础上,进-步探讨牛巴贝斯虫GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白及其所建立的ELISA检测方法的特异性,从而建立牛巴贝斯虫GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白间接ELISA血清学检测方法.[结果]牛巴贝斯虫GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白间接ELISA检测方法能排除GST的干扰,与其它梨形虫病无交叉反应,与牛巴贝斯虫巢式PCR检测方法的阳性符合率为96;.[结论]所建立的GST-MSA-2c融合蛋白间接ELISA血清学检测方法重复性好、特异性强、灵敏度高.这是国内首次利用重组蛋白抗原建立的牛巴贝斯病血清学诊断方法,为大规模地进行牛巴贝斯虫病的流行病学调查和血清学诊断提供有效的技术手段.     

应用镰形扇头蜱及巴贝斯虫病水牛的染虫血感染黄牛试验

从非流行区购进无蜱寄生的健康黄牛５头与水牛犊１头，其中３头成年黄牛（２～８岁）在畜舍内用从流行区水牛身上采得的镰形扇头蜱Ｒｈｉｐｉｃｅｐｈａｌｕｓｈａｅｍａｐｈｙｓａｌｏｉｄｅｓｈａｅｍａｐｈｙｓａｌｏｉｄｅｓ成虫，置于牛耳壳内叮咬；１头运至流行区放牧，让蜱上身叮咬；１头黄牛犊（１０年龄）去蜱后２周，用液氮保存的患病水牛染虫血４ｍｌ（４×１０ ８个虫体）皮下注射；另一头去蜱水牛犊亦同时注射相同剂量的染虫血，作为对照。５头黄牛在试验期间其体温、精神、食欲正常，未出现任何临床症状，感染后１０～１２ｄ外周血液中出现少量不典型的牛巴贝斯虫，红细胞染虫率在０．１％以下，持续３～５６消失；对照牛则体温升高（３９．８～４１．１℃），出现贫血、黄疸等症状，红细胞压积（ＰＣＶ）降至２６％，外周血液中出现典型的牛巴贝斯虫，红细胞染虫率（ＰＰＥ）高达１２％。对采用蜱叮咬及注射来自病水牛的染虫血为何不能使黄牛感染发病，文中进行了讨论。     

The Effect of Diminazene Aceturate on Spienectomized Dogs with Babesia gibsoni Infection

The effect of diminazene aceturate on splenectomized and nonspienectomized dogs with Babesia gibsoni (B. gibsoni) infection was investigated. In splenectomized dogs, the fissional and multiplicational stages of B. gibsoni were observed in peripheral blood films, and hemoglobinuria was frequently observed. These findings were different from previous reports and were not changed by administration of diminazene aceturate. It is clear that the intramuscular administration of diminazene aceturate at the dose of 3 mg/kg body weight for 3 days is not effective against B. gibsoni infection in splenectomized dogs.     

马驽巴贝斯虫新疆伊犁株Bc48基因克隆、表达及其多克隆抗体的制备

为表达马驽巴贝斯虫新疆伊犁株Bc48基因,制备多克隆抗体,试验根据GenBank中马驽巴贝斯虫Bc48基因序列,设计合成1对特异性引物,以提取的新疆株Bc48基因组DNA为模板进行PCR扩增,将扩增产物克隆至原核表达载体pET-28a（+）中,阳性质粒转化至大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）感受态细胞中,经IPTG诱导后表达产物进行SDS-PAGE分析,切胶纯化蛋白后免疫6周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠,制备多克隆抗体;同时把该基因克隆至真核表达载体pCMV-N-flag中,将阳性质粒转化至大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞中,提取pCMV-N-flag-Bc48质粒转染到293T细胞中进行真核表达。结果显示,获得了大小约为15 ku的融合蛋白,与预期目的蛋白大小相一致;免疫BALB/c小鼠制备的多克隆抗体经ELISA和Western blotting检测、验证,能特异地识别相应抗原,其抗体效价可达1：128 000,说明该多克隆抗体有较高的抗体效价和特异性;真核表达质粒在293T细胞中表达Bc48蛋白。本试验可为进一步研究马驽巴贝斯虫功能基因及建立快速的检测方法奠定基础,在虫株的分类学研究及候选疫苗的研制中有重要意义。     

一例犬吉氏巴贝斯虫感染引起的免疫介导溶血性贫血的诊治

犬免疫介导溶血性贫血是一种与自身红细胞抗体有关的溶血性贫血,发病原因可分为原发性和继发性,论文主要介绍了一例由吉氏巴贝斯虫感染后继发的犬自身免疫溶血性贫血的诊断、治疗和预后。     

Seroepidemiology of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in a hospital population

Canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis have a worldwide distribution with geographic variation in prevalence and main clinical manifestations. We prospectively determined seroprevalence of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, and risk factors for seropositivity. Three hundred and eighty-one dogs were randomly selected to represent the canine population at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in south Brazil (latitude 23° S). Dogs were tested with a point-of-care ELISA for Ehrlichia canis antibodies and IFA to confirm previous exposure to Babesia vogeli. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals. One hundred and thirty-six (36%) dogs were seropositive for B. vogeli antibodies, whereas 87 (23%) dogs were seropositive to E. canis antibodies. Fifty-four (14%) dogs seroreacted to both agents. Adult dogs previously infested with ticks were more likely to seroreact to B. vogeli or E. canis. Superficial bleeding (OR = 12.4) was more common in dogs exposed to B. vogeli, whereas neurological signs (OR = 7.7) were more common in dogs seropositive to E. canis. Neurological signs (OR = 12.0) and lameness (OR = 12.8) were more prevalent in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms. Owners of dogs with ticks were more likely to have been exposed to ticks themselves (OR = 3.2). Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis appear to be highly prevalent in this hospital population. Clinical signs differed from the most common signs in other regions with bleeding occurring more in dogs seropositive to babesiosis, but not ehrlichiosis; neurologic signs in dogs with E. canis antibodies; and lameness in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms.     

Erythrocytic oxidative damage in crossbred cattle naturally infected with Babesia bigemina

This study aimed to determine the erythrocytic lipid peroxidation and haemoglobin oxidation as contributory factors causing anaemia in cattle (Friesian × Egyptian native breed) infected with Babesia bigemina. Blood was collected from 32 cows infected with B. bigemina along with 18 healthy cows as controls for determination of erythrocytic malondialdehyde (MDA), blood methaemoglobin (MetHb), plasma free haemoglobin (PHb), corpuscular osmotic fragility (COF), red blood cell count (RBC), total haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV). Percentage of parasitaemia varied from 14% to 36%. MDA, MetHb, COF and PHb were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in infected cows versus controls. Parasitaemia was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with MDA, MetHb, COF and PHb. MDA was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with COF and PHb and negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with RBC, Hb and PCV. MetHb was negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with RBC, Hb and PCV and positively correlated (P < 0.001) with COF. In conclusion, B. bigemina infection in cattle is associated with a parasitic burden-dependent corpuscular oxidative damage as indicated by membrane lipid peroxidation and methaemoglobin formation, which are contributed to COF and intravascular haemolysis.     

PCR-based detection of blood parasites in cattle and adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks

To ascertain the infection rate for tick-borne pathogens in Zambia, an epidemiological survey of Theileria parva, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale in traditionally managed Sanga cattle was conducted using PCR. Of the 71 native Zambian cattle, 28 (39.4%) were positive for T. parva, 16 (22.5%) for B. bigemina and 34 (47.9%) for A. marginale. The mixed infection rate in cattle was 8.5% (6/71), 16.9% (12/71), 7.0% (5/71) and 2.8% (2/71) for T. parva/B. bigemina, T. parva/A. marginale, B. bigemina/A. marginale and T. parva/B. bigemina/A. marginale, respectively.To predict the risk for transmission of tick-borne pathogens from ticks to cattle, a total of 74 Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks were collected from a location where cattle had been found positive for T. parva. Of the ticks collected, 10 (13.5%) were found to be PCR-positive for T. parva. The results suggest that the infection rate for tick-borne pathogens was relatively high in Sanga cattle and that adult R. appendiculatus ticks were highly infected with T. parva.