长角血蜱侵袭致藏獒"蜱麻痹"和巴贝斯虫感染的诊治

对卫辉市某2.5月龄的以后肢麻痹为特征的藏獒进行临床检查、血液涂片染色镜检、血液常规检测、蜱形态学观察和蜱种鉴定.结果表明:藏獒红细胞内有大量犬巴贝斯虫寄生,血液常规检查白细胞数升高,血红蛋白含量正常,感染蜱为长角血蜱.最终确诊为长角血蜱侵袭致藏獒"蜱麻痹"和巴贝斯虫感染.应用伊维茵素、血虫净等药物进行治疗,3 d后该...     

Confirmed Exposure to Tick‐Borne Encephalitis Virus and Probable Human Cases of Tick‐Borne Encephalitis in Central/Northern Anatolia,Turkey

Tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the aetiological agent of tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal central nervous system infection of humans. TBE is endemic in many areas of Europe and Asia; however, very scarce data on TBEV activity are available from Turkey. We aimed to identify TBEV exposure in healthy blood donors and the impact of TBEV in central nervous system infections in Central/Northern Anatolia. Two‐thousand four hundred and fifty four sera, collected from blood donors at Ankara, Konya, Eski?ehir and Zonguldak branches of the Turkish Red Crescent Middle Anatolia Regional Blood Center, were analysed for TBEV serosurveillance. Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 108 patients with the diagnosis of aseptic meningitis/encephalitis of unknown aetiology were also evaluated to identify TBE and neuroborreliosis cases. Commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and indirect immunofluorescence tests were employed for antibody detection. Forty‐seven donor samples (1.9%) were reactive for TBEV IgG. In 25 persons with IgG reactivity (53.1%), risk factors for tick‐borne infections were revealed. One sample from Zonguldak province (1/198; 0.5%) in the Black Sea region of Turkey was confirmed to possess neutralizing antibodies via plaque reduction neutralization test. TBEV IgM was detected in 9.2% (8/108) of the patients. IgM was accompanied by IgG reactivity in two persons where, in one, recent history of a tick bite was also identified. Intrathecal antibody production for TBEV could not be demonstrated. No evidence for Borrelia infections could be found. Confirmed exposure to TBEV and/or an antigenically similar tick‐borne flavivirus is documented for the first time in blood donors in Zonguldak in Northern Anatolia. Probable cases of TBE have also been identified from Central Anatolia. The epidemiology of TBEV activity in Turkey needs to be assessed and benefits of vaccination for general population, risk groups or travellers must be considered.     

Anaplasma infection in free-ranging Iberian red deer in the region of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Organisms in the genus Anaplasma are obligate intracellular pathogens that multiply in both vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. The type species, Anaplasma marginale, causes bovine anaplasmosis and infects erythrocytes of the vertebrate host and undergoes a complex developmental cycle in ticks which serve as biological vectors. Infected cattle, wild ruminants and ticks can all serve as reservoirs of A. marginale. In this study, hunter killed Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) from the region of Castilla-La Mancha in southwestern Spain were tested for Anaplasma infection. We found that 10% of the deer examined were seropositive for Anaplasma. Three A. marginale strains were subsequently obtained from salivary glands of Hyalomma marginatum that were removed from these deer, and the sequence of the major surface protein (msp)4 gene was determined for each strain and used for phylogenetic studies. Maximum parsimony analyses of msp4 sequences from H. marginatum ticks in comparison with New World cattle and bison isolates reported previously, suggested different origins for these Spanish A. marginale strains. The results of this study demonstrated that Iberian red deer are naturally infected with Anaplasma, and may therefore serve as a wildlife reservoir of the pathogen. Although the link between deer infection and the strains of A. marginale identified in ticks was not established, H. marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa were identified as potential biological vectors for A. marginale in this region and may effect transmission of A. marginale between deer and cattle populations.     

Following a tick bite: double infections by tick-borne encephalitis virus and the spirochete Borrelia and other potential multiple infections

In Central Europe and large parts of Asia, tick-borne-encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borreliosis caused by the spirochetal bacterium of the genus Borrelia are among the most common diseases transmitted by the bite of a tick. When in regions with overlapping TBE virus and Borrelia endemicity, a tick bite causes the victim to become ill, it is important that appropriate serological and other laboratory investigations form part of the differential diagnosis. Account must always be taken of the fact that a tick bite may be followed by a double infection with the TBE virus and Borrelia. For this reason, a comprehensive diagnostic work-up aimed at detecting co-infection by both pathogens, even when the tick bite occurs in an endemic region for both pathogens but the initial clinical symptoms suggest an infection with only one of the two pathogens. The present article discusses a number of published cases of a co-infection with TBE virus and Borrelia and other potential multiple infections.     

Clinicopathologic Characterization of Six Cases of Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis In a Nonendemic Area (2008-2011)

Six adult horses (four geldings and two intact mares; age range, 4-22 years) were evaluated for acute development of nonspecific malaise during a 3-year period. Clinical signs included lethargy, anorexia, fever, limb edema, and ataxia. Physical examination findings included depression, anorexia, tachycardia, fever, poor body condition, hind limb ataxia, and dehydration. Hematologic examination in these horses most commonly revealed thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and leukopenia. Inclusion bodies consistent with the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum morulae were observed within circulating neutrophils in all horses. Clinical biochemistry findings were nonspecific. Infection of each horse with A. phagocytophilum was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. All horses showed resolution of clinical signs after initiation of treatment with intravenous oxytetracycline or oral doxycycline, combined with flunixin meglumine and additional supportive care as needed. Hematologic parameters paralleled clinical recovery and returned to reference limits in patients that underwent repeated analysis. Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis is likely under-recognized in regions where it has not been previously reported; therefore, equine practitioners should be cognizant of relevant clinical signs and laboratory findings in acute infection. Additionally, horses may represent sentinels for infection in other species, including humans.     

Preliminary evaluation of exotic tick species and exotic pathogens imported on migratory birds into the British Isles

Field studies were carried out to determine whether ticks are being imported into the British Isles on migratory birds. During spring and autumn migration 2004, ticks were collected from ringed birds at 11 bird observatories and 3 inland Riparia riparia colonies. A total of 38 ticks of 4 species (Ixodes ricinus, I. frontalis, I. lividus, I. arboricola) were collected from 12 species of bird. Ticks were tested for viruses in the Flavivirus and Nairovirus genera, with no positives found. This data demonstrates that ticks are being imported into the British Isles on migratory birds with future work recommended to determine the quantity of ticks imported and to detect low prevalence pathogens.     

Antigens from the midgut membranes of Ornithodoros erraticus induce lethal anti-tick immune responses in pigs and mice

Ornithodoros erraticus is an argasid tick that can transmit severe diseases such as human relapsing fever and African swine fever. In southern Europe O. erraticus lives in close association with swine on free-range pig farms. Application of acaricides for the eradication of O. erraticus from pig farms is inefficient. This is the reason why we tried to develop an anti-O. erraticus vaccine as alternative method of control. Accordingly, we were prompted to investigate the protective possibilities of a midgut membrane extract from the parasite (GME) that has not been studied hitherto. Administration of the GME with Freund's adjuvants (FAs) to pigs and mice induced a protective response able to kill 80% of the immature forms of the parasite in the first 72 h post-feeding and to reduce the fecundity of females by more than 50%. The action of the vaccine is the result of damage to the midgut wall of the argasid, and, in mice, it has been shown that this damage is mediated by activation of the complement system. In pigs, the administration of GME with alum, instead of with FAs, reduced the degree of protection. The protective antigens of the GME were expressed by all the developmental stages examined and are probably proteins from the luminal membrane of midgut epithelial cells. These antigens were seen to be more abundant in recently fed parasites than in fasting specimens, suggesting that their expression is induced after blood ingestion.     

Molecular investigation,isolation and phylogenetic analsysis of Coxiella burnetii from aborted fetus and ticks

Q fever is a zoonotic infection threatening human health, causing abortions in cattle, sheep and goats. Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) also causes serious problems such as low birth weight, infertility. This study is the first exemplary for analysis of Q fever around Black Sea region in Turkey. In the study, a total of 270 aborted fetuses (171 cattle, 79 sheep, 20 goats) and 1069 tick samples were aimed to be searched by PCR method. C. burnetii DNA was detected in 8 (2.96 %) of 270 sheep specimens while it could not be found in cattle and goat specimens. 406 sample pools were created from 1069 tick samples (490 male, 579 female) collected from 254 farm animals (187 cattle, 54 sheep, 13 goats) and 11 of these were stated positive. Tick species determined as C. burnetii positive were Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anoliticum excavatum, Hyalomma detritum and Boophilus annulatus. Agent isolation was carried out within embryonated eggs. Agents were stained with Giemsa and was showed. Sequence analysis was performed for TUR/SAM/coxiella_1 (MN917207) isolate and phylogenetic tree was created. This tree, created in compliance with IS1111 transposon gene, did not form different branches in regard to host affiliation (goat, sheep, tick, human) and geographical distribution. As a result, an important zoonotic agent, C. burnetii was diagnosed in sheep aborted fetuses and the infection was proved to have spread among sheep herds in Black Sea region. Besides, 4 separate tick species found in our region hosted the agent and were found important for infection.     

Acaricidal effects of the essential oil of Origanum minutiflorum (Lamiaceae) against Rhipicephalus turanicus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The acaricidal effects of the volatile essential oil Origanum minutiflorum O. Schwarz & P.H. Davis (Lamiaceae) against adult Rhipicephalus turanicus was evaluated at a variety of concentrations and exposure times. Generally tick mortality increased with concentration and exposure. Ticks exposed to vapors from cotton wicks containing at least 10 μl/L resulted in complete (100%) mortality at 120 min. The major constituent of essential oil obtained from the plant material of O. minutiflorum was carvacrol.     

Recombinant mid gut antigen (Bm95) as a vaccine against Indian Rhiphicephalus haemaphysaloides in Bos indicus cattle

In the present study, we report for the first time the efficacy of recombinant Bm95 mid gut antigen isolated from an Argentinean strain of Rhipicephalus microplus strain A in controlling the tick infestations in India. The synthetic gene for Bm95 optimized for expression in yeast was obtained and used to generate yeast transformants expressing Bm95 which was purified to apparent homogeneity. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the purified protein confirmed its identity as Bm95. Vaccine was prepared by blending various concentrations of purified Bm95 with aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant. Immunogenicity studies of the vaccine in rabbits and cattle indicated that the vaccine was highly immunogenic. The efficacy studies of the vaccine was done in cattle. Naïve Bos indicus cattle were vaccinated with the recombinant vaccine and were challenged with the larval, nymphal and adult forms of Rhiphicephalus haemaphysaloides. The vaccine protected the animals from larval, nymph and adult tick challenges with an efficacy of 98.7%, 84.6% and 78.9% respectively. The results obtained from the above studies clearly demonstrated the advantage and possibilities of the use of Bm95 in controlling R. haemaphysaloides infestations in the field.