Infective-stage larvae of three different isolates of Toxocara canis were intrinsically ([35S]methionine) labelled in culture, to determine the presence of similarities or differences in the somatic and ES antigens expressed between larvae derived from different hosts and different geographical regions. Two other closely related ascaridids, Toxascaris leonina which infects cats and dogs, and Toxocara vitulorum (Neoascaris vitulorum) which infects cattle, were also compared to T. canis larvae by this method. Overall comparisons were made by 1- and 2-dimensional electrophoresis, while immunological cross-reactivities between the different species were analysed by radio-immunoprecipitation. Our results show that extensive physicochemical characteristics are shared between T. canis isolates, both from different hosts and different geographical locations. A substantial overlap was revealed when T. canis and T. vitulorum antigens were compared, whereas Toxascaris was found to produce a distinct antigen profile: this result was independent of whether methionine- or Iodogen-labelled products were being considered. Antigen recognition by polyclonal antibodies raised to all three species and to the cat ascaridid Toxocara cati, revealed considerable cross-reactivities. The cross-reactions were especially prominent between the Toxocara species, a fact further substantiated when reactivity of T. canis ES-specific monoclonal antibodies were tested against T. leonina and T. vitulorum antigens. The ES antigens of T. leonina were not recognized by the T. canis monoclonals, whereas the majority of these antibodies precipitated antigens of T. vitulorum. One which did not react with T. vitulorum was monoclonal antibody Tcn 2, indicating its species-specific reactivity and therefore its potential for the specific diagnosis of human toxocariasis.

Background Three horse mares inadvertently inseminated with semen from a Tayorella asinigenitalis‐positive Jack donkey developed severe, purulent endometritis whereas two Jenny donkeys mated naturally to the same Jack donkey did not develop clinical signs of infection. Objectives To isolate and identify the causative agent. Study design Case report. Methods Endometrial swabs from the infected mares were cultured on selective and non‐selective media under aerobic and microaerophilic conditions. Isolates were subjected to Gram staining, oxidase and catalase tests, the Monotayl Latex Agglutination test and PCR to test for both T. equigenitalis and T. asinigenitalis. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed and the bacterial isolate was genotyped using MLST. Results A new sequence type of T. asinigenitalis was confirmed. Main limitations A limited numbers of mares and donkeys are described. Conclusions This strain of T. asinigenitalis causes a severe venereal infection in mares but not in Jenny donkeys.

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Background The incidence or recurrence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in animals and humans is increasing rapidly worldwide, but there is insufficient information about TBDs infecting dogs in Egypt. Thus, the present study was conducted to screen and genetically identify tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in dogs and associated ticks by microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods In Cairo and Giza governorates, 208 blood samples were collected from dogs of different breeds, ages, and sex. In addition, 1266 dog-associated ticks were collected (546 ticks were used to prepare hemolymph smears, and 720 ticks were kept in 70% ethanol until PCR analysis). PCR was applied to 124 dog blood samples and 144 tick pools prepared from 720 ticks. Results All ticks collected from dogs were Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.). Microscopic examination revealed that TBP prevalence among dogs was 23.56% (49/208), including Anaplasma and Ehrlichia with 11.1% (23/208) and Babesia canis with 8.2% (17/208). Hepatozoon canis was not detected in blood smears. Co-infections with two pathogens were visible in 4.33% (9/208) of examined dogs. The prevalence of TBPs in hemolymph smears was 45.97% (251/546) including 35.89% (196/546) for H. canis, 8.1% (44/546) for B. canis, and 2.01% (11/546) for Anaplasmataceae (A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. platys, and E. canis). The overall molecular prevalence rate of TBPs was 25.81% and 29.17% in the blood of examined dogs and in ticks, respectively. The molecular prevalence of Anaplasmataceae family, Babesia canis, and H. canis in dog blood samples was 19.35%, 6.45%, and 0.0%, respectively, while in ticks, it was 20.83%, 5.55%, and 2.8%, respectively. A sequential analysis identified six different species of TBPs, namely B. canis vogeli, Hepatozoon canis, A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. platys, and E. canis. The obtained sequences were submitted to GenBank and assigned accession numbers. Conclusions The present study detected a wide range of TBPs (B. canis, H. canis, A. platys, A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, and E. canis) that are considered a threat to domestic animals and humans in Egypt. Hepatozoon canis and A. marginale were reported in dogs and associated ticks for the first time in Egypt. Graphical Abstract

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