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Ticks and the vast array of pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. In Cuba, the major tropical island in the Caribbean, ticks are an important cause of vector-borne diseases affecting livestock production, pet animal health and, to a lesser extent, human health. The higher number of tick species in the country belong to the Argasidae family and, probably less known, is the presence of an autochthonous tick species in the island, Ixodes capromydis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting animal and human health in Cuba. The review covers research results including ecophysiology of ticks, the epidemiology of TBPs, and the diagnostic tools used currently in the country for the surveillance of TBPs. We also introduce the programs implemented in the country for tick control and the biotechnology research applied to the development of anti-tick vaccines.

Background Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is caused by the tick-borne pathogen Ehrlichia canis, an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium of the family Anaplasmataceae with tropism for canine monocytes and macrophages. The trp36 gene, which encodes for the major immunoreactive protein TRP36 in E. canis, has been successfully used to characterize the genetic diversity of this pathogen in different regions of the world. Based on trp36 sequence analysis, four E. canis genogroups, United States (US), Taiwan (TWN), Brazil (BR) and Costa Rica (CR), have been identified. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of E. canis in Cuba based on the trp36 gene. Methods Whole blood samples (n = 8) were collected from dogs found to be infested with the tick vector Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) and/or presenting clinical signs and symptoms of CME. Total DNA was extracted from the blood samples and trp36 fragments were amplified by PCR. Nucleotide and protein sequences were compared using alignments and phylogenetic analysis. Results Four of the trp36 sequences obtained (n = 8) fall within the phylogenetic cluster grouping the US genogroup E. canis strains. The other E. canis trp36 sequences formed a separate and well-supported clade (94% bootstrap value) that is phylogenetically distant from the other major groups and thus represents a new genogroup, herein designated as the ‘Cuba (CUB) genogroup’. Notably, dogs infected with the CUB genogroup presented frequent hemorrhagic lesions. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that genetic diversification of E. canis in Cuba is associated with the emergence of E. canis strains with increased virulence.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar dosis de alfacipermetrina para el control del ácaro Pterolichus obtusus en gallinas ponedoras en condiciones de laboratorio. El experimento se realizó en las naves experimentales del Instituto de Investigaciones Avícolas, Cuba, entre junio y julio de 2019. Se emplearon 115 gallinas ponedoras White Leghorn de 52 semanas de edad infestadas naturalmente con el ácaro. Se realizó un muestreo inicial a todas las aves para determinar los niveles de infestación y distribuirlas en grupos homogéneos. Se ensayaron cuatro dosis de alfacipermetrina (1, 2, 5 y 10 ml/l) mediante baños de aspersión y se comparó con un grupo tratado con cipermetrina (12 ml/l) y un grupo control. Se efectuaron tres baños con frecuencia semanal. La efectividad de los tratamientos se evaluó entre 24 y 48 horas pos-tratamiento. La alfacipermetrina en dosis de 1 y 2 ml/l no resultó efectiva, mientras que en dosis de 5 y 10 ml/l fue altamente efectiva. La cipermetrina en dosis de 12 ml/l resultó altamente efectiva a partir del segundo baño.

Se estudió el comportamiento de la infestación por Rhipicephalus sanguineus en perros de tres clínicas veterinarias de La Habana, entre noviembre de 2016 y octubre de 2017. Se recolectaron 10 533 garrapatas en 175 de 300 perros que se examinaron sin discriminar raza, edad o sexo. En el periodo húmedo hubo mayor abundancia de infestación y mayor cantidad de garrapatas (p<0.001), mayor extensidad de infestación (p<0.08), y alta intensidad de infestación (p<0.005). La mayor parte de los perros infestados fueron jóvenes, machos y de raza indefinida. Los factores que influyeron en el comportamiento de la infestación por R. sanguineus en perros fueron la crianza y el manejo.

This study aimed to verify the presence of IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l) in domestic dogs in western Cuba. Serum samples were analyzed by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using crude antigens of a B. burgdorferi strain of North American origin. To verify the presence of Borrelia spp., deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from individual blood samples was analyzed by nested-PCR, with markers targeted for amplification of portions of the flagellin B gene (flaB) present in Borrelia spirochetes. Ticks were also collected through inspection of the animals. Sera from 93 of 176 (52.84%) dogs were reactive to the indirect ELISA. Geographic prevalence varied from 54.35% (25/46) in Boyeros, 44.44% (20/45) in Cotorro, 66.67% (22/33) in Habana del Este, and 50% (26/52) in San José de las Lajas. There was no statistical difference between these tested variables. No blood samples analyzed were positive for the Borrelia flaB gene.