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Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in small ruminants in Turkey and diagnostic sensitivity of single-PCR and RLB.

ABSTRACT: Tick-borne haemoparasitic diseases (TBHDs), caused by Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, are common in regions of the world where the distributions of host, pathogen and vector overlap. Many of these diseases threaten livestock production and some also represent a concern to human public health. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the above-mentioned pathogens in a large number of blood samples (n?=?1979) collected from sheep (n?=?1727) and goats (n?=?252) in Turkey. A secondary aim was to assess the diagnostic sensitivity of a number of species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and the reverse line blotting (RLB) assay. DNA samples were screened using species-specific PCR for the presence of Theileria ovis, Theileria sp. MK, T. lestoquardi, T. uilenbergi, T. luwenshuni, Babesia ovis, Anaplasma ovis and A. phagocytophilum while RLB was undertaken to test for the presence of all known Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species. The diagnostic sensitivity of these two approaches was then compared in terms of their ability to detect single species and mixed infections.Overall, 84 and 74.43% of the small ruminants sampled were identified as hosting one or more pathogen(s) by species-specific PCR and RLB respectively. The presence of Theileria sp. OT1, T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi in Turkey was revealed for the first time while the presence of Babesia motasi, B. crassa and T. separata in Turkish small ruminants was confirmed using molecular methods. A high prevalence of mixed infection was evident, with PCR and RLB approaches indicating that 52.24 and 35.42% of animals were co-infected with multiple species, respectively. More than 80% of the mixed infections contained T. ovis and/or A. ovis. The RLB approach was found to be capable of detecting mixed infections with species such as Theileria sp. OT1, Theileria sp. OT3, T. separata, B. crassa and Babesia spp.The results indicated that pathogens causing TBHDs are highly prevalent in sheep and goats in Turkey. The diagnostic sensitivity of species-specific single PCR was generally higher than that of RLB. However, the latter approach was still capable of identifying a high proportion of individuals containing mixed-species infections. The use of species-specific single PCR is recommended to accurately estimate pathogen prevalence and to identify co-infected hosts.

SUBMITTER: Bilgic HB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5408456 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in small ruminants in Turkey and diagnostic sensitivity of single-PCR and RLB.

Bilgic Huseyin Bilgin HB Bakırcı Serkan S Kose Onur O Unlu Ahmet Hakan AH Hacılarlıoglu Selin S Eren Hasan H Weir William W Karagenc Tulin T

Parasites & vectors 20170427 1

<h4>Background</h4>Tick-borne haemoparasitic diseases (TBHDs), caused by Theileria, Babesia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, are common in regions of the world where the distributions of host, pathogen and vector overlap. Many of these diseases threaten livestock production and some also represent a concern to human public health. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the above-mentioned pathogens in a large number of blood samples (n = 1979) collected from sheep (n = 1727) a ...[more]

PMID: 28449722

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Project description:BackgroundTick-borne blood pathogens cause highly pathogenic diseases, which are associated with substantial economic losses in ruminants. Despite this, epidemiological research on these pathogens remains neglected in many countries. This study initiated a regional epidemiological survey that included the detection of molecular prevalence, associated risk factors, and gene sequencing, combined with phylogenetic analysis, targeting the two main tick-borne blood protozoan and rickettsial pathogens of Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma that infect small ruminants. One hundred blood samples were collected from 76 sheep and 24 goats.ResultsMicroscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood films revealed that 73% of the samples were infected with at least one species of the three blood pathogenic organisms. Molecular diagnosis based on the 18 S rRNA for Babesia and Theileria species and the major surface protein 4 (msp4) for Anaplasma species, revealed that 43% of the small ruminants were infected with at least one of these pathogens. The animal's sex was the most significant associated risk factor, with 49.4% of female animals infected compared with only 4% of male animals (P < 0.05). The open breeding system recorded the highest infection rate for tick-borne blood pathogens. Homology-based and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the specific isolate species were Babesia ovis (B. ovis), Theileria ovis (T. ovis), and Anaplasma ovis (A. ovis), with sequences showing significant identities with isolates from sheep, goats, and other animal species, and geographically diverse countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe, in addition to Egypt.ConclusionThis was the first molecular evidence of B. ovis, T. ovis, and A. ovis infections in sheep and goat populations in the North Coast region of Egypt. More extensive studies are required to develop an epidemiological map of blood pathogenic organisms, while more effective control strategies are required to reduce the burden of tick-borne pathogens on small ruminants.

Project description:Species of Theileria, Babesia, and Anaplasma are Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) that are prevalent throughout the world, particularly in the tropical and subtropical regions. Associated diseases of Theileriosis, Babesiosis, and Anaplasmosis, respectively, represents a major threat to livestock production in many countries. TBPs have a high prevalence in different geographical locations in Egypt. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) and Lumpy skin disease (LSD) are considered endemic bovine viral diseases in Egypt. Our clinical observations during the epidemics of LSD and FMD viruses showed higher prevalence rates for the TBPs. To investigate this correlation, a total of 670 samples from cattle and buffalo were collected during the summers of 2017 and 2018 distributed throughout ranches and smallholders in two geographical locations in Egypt. Two farms with a recent clinical outbreak of LSD with a total of 270 animals, while the other location included three farms with a recent FMD outbreak with a combined 400 cattle. Examined animals were classified mainly according to age, gender, species, breed (native versus crossbred), and the presence of ticks. Whole blood samples were collected for TBPs and viral (LSD and FMD) examinations, while tissue specimens were collected for detection of FMD and LSD viruses by real-time PCR. Our results confirmed significantly higher prevalence rates for the TBPs in LSD-positive than LSD-negative animals, while no significant difference could be detected for the prevalence rate of the TBPs in the FMD positive and negative groups. The prevalence of Babesia and Theileria was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cross-breeds than native cattle. Infections with Anaplasma and co-infections with Babesia-Anaplasma and Theileria-Anaplasma were significantly higher in native than cross-breeds cattle. The intensity of parasitic infection (parasitemia) has a significant difference in the positive groups for the two viruses compared to the negative groups. These results collectively confirming the enhancing role of LSD on the prevalence rate of the haemoprotozoal infections leading to more serious outcomes to the livestock infections, and therefore the control of haemoprotozoal infections should be implemented as a part of viral epidemics control.

Project description:The importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including Turkey. The tick-borne disease outbreaks reported in recent years and the abundance of tick species and the existence of suitable habitats increase the importance of studies related to the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of and to determine the infection rates of some tick-borne pathogens, including Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in the ticks removed from humans in different parts of Ankara.A total of 169 ticks belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus were collected by removing from humans in different parts of Ankara. Ticks were molecularly screened for Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae by PCR and sequencing analysis. We detected 4 Babesia spp.; B. crassa, B. major, B. occultans and B. rossi, one Borrelia spp.; B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and 3 spotted fever group rickettsiae; R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca and R. hoogstraalii in the tick specimens analyzed. This is the report showing the presence of B. rossi in a region that is out of Africa and in the host species Ha. parva. In addition, B. crassa, for which limited information is available on its distribution and vector species, and B. occultans, for which no conclusive information is available on its presence in Turkey, were identified in Ha. parva and H. marginatum, respectively. Two human pathogenic rickettsia species (R. aeschlimannii and R. slovaca) were detected with a high prevalence in ticks. Additionally, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in unusual tick species (H. marginatum, H. excavatum, Hyalomma spp. (nymph) and Ha. parva).This study investigates both the distribution of several tick-borne pathogens affecting humans and animals, and the presence of new tick-borne pathogens in Turkey. More epidemiological studies are warranted for B. rossi, which is very pathogenic for dogs, because the presented results suggest that B. rossi might have a wide distribution in Turkey. Furthermore, we recommend that tick-borne pathogens, especially R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, should be taken into consideration in patients who had a tick bite in Turkey.

Dataset Information

Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in small ruminants in Turkey and diagnostic sensitivity of single-PCR and RLB.

Publications

Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in small ruminants in Turkey and diagnostic sensitivity of single-PCR and RLB.

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