Environmental Investigation Following the First Human Case of Babesiosis in Tennessee

BackgroundSpecies of Canidae in Russia can be infested with up to 24 different tick species; however, the frequency of different tick species infesting domestic dogs across Russia is not known. In addition, tick-borne disease risks for domestic dogs in Russia are not well quantified. The goal of this study was to conduct a nationwide survey of ticks collected from infested dogs admitted to veterinary clinics in Russian cities and to identify pathogens found in these ticks.MethodsTicks feeding on dogs admitted to 32 veterinary clinics in 27 major cities across Russia were preserved in ethanol and submitted to a central facility for examination. After identification, each tick was evaluated for infection with known tick-borne pathogens using PCR.ResultsThere were 990 individual ticks collected from 636 dogs. All collected ticks belonged to the Ixodidae (hard ticks) and represented 11 species of four genera, Dermacentor, Ixodes, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis. Four most common tick species were D. reticulatus, followed by I. persulcatus, I. ricinus and R. sanguineus. Ixodes persulcatus ticks were found to be infected with 10 different pathogens, and ticks of this species were more frequently infected than either D. reticulatus or I. ricinus. Ixodes persulcatus females were also more frequently co-infected with two or more pathogens than any other tick. Pathogenic species of five genera were detected in ticks: Anaplasma centrale, A. phagocytophilum and A. marginale; Babesia canis, B. microti, B. venatorum, B. divergens, B. crassa and B. vogeli; Borrelia miyamotoi, B. afzelii and B. garinii; Ehrlichia muris, E. canis and E. ruminantum; and Theileria cervi. Anaplasma marginale, E. canis, B. crassa, B. vogeli and T. cervi were detected in I. persulcatus, and Babesia canis in D. marginatum, for the first time in Russia.ConclusionsMultiple ticks from four genera and 11 species of the family Ixodidae were collected from domestic dogs across Russia. These ticks commonly carry pathogens and act as disease vectors. Ixodes persulcatus ticks present the greatest risk for transmission of multiple arthropod-borne pathogens.

show abstract

“…cervi was previously reported from white-tailed deer blood and I . scapularis in North America [ 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dog survey in Russian veterinary hospitals: tick identification and molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We detected this organism in 3.0% of the ticks tested from areas ranging from Humboldt County in the far northern part of California to San Bernardino County in Southern California, indicating that this pathogen is probably widespread among its known Cervidae and Bovidae hosts [45] in the state. B. odocoilei is known to be widely distributed in I. scapularis ticks throughout the eastern United States [45,46], where it is has been reported from as far north as Saskatchewan, Canada [47] to as far south as Tennessee [48] and is not known to cause human illness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ixodes pacificus ticks can harbor a wide range of human and animal pathogens. To survey the prevalence of tick-borne known and putative pathogens, we tested 982 individual adult and nymphal I. pacificus ticks collected throughout California between 2007 and 2009 using a broad-range PCR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) assay designed to detect a wide range of tick-borne microorganisms. Overall, 1.4% of the ticks were found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, 2.0% were infected with Borrelia miyamotoi and 0.3% were infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In addition, 3.0% were infected with Babesia odocoilei. About 1.2% of the ticks were co-infected with more than one pathogen or putative pathogen. In addition, we identified a novel Anaplasmataceae species that we characterized by sequencing of its 16S rRNA, groEL, gltA, and rpoB genes. Sequence analysis indicated that this organism is phylogenetically distinct from known Anaplasma species with its closest genetic near neighbors coming from Asia. The prevalence of this novel Anaplasmataceae species was as high as 21% at one site, and it was detected in 4.9% of ticks tested statewide. Based upon this genetic characterization we propose that this organism be called ‘Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense’. Knowledge of this novel microbe will provide awareness for the community about the breadth of the I. pacificus microbiome, the concept that this bacterium could be more widely spread; and an opportunity to explore whether this bacterium also contributes to human or animal disease burden.

show abstract

“…This large Babesia has, to date, only been described in North America in a variety of wild ruminants [ 22 ]. Recently seropositive rabbits have been reported [ 23 ] and the amplicons of PCRs for Babesia on two Florida panthers ( Puma concolor coryi ) had similar sequences [ 24 ]. Also, Ixodes ovatus from dogs in Japan have been found to contain B. odocoilei -like organisms (97.7% identical) [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in captive wild felids, Zimbabwe

Kelly

Marabini²,

Dutlow³

et al. 2014

Parasites Vectors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe populations of wild felids in Africa, of especially lions (Panthera leo) and cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), are declining and the species are classified as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. As infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBP) can become more of a problem in wild felids, there are relatively few studies on TBP in wild felids in Africa and on how these infections might influence population numbers.MethodsTo gain further knowledge on TBP in captive wild felids in Southern Africa, we collected whole blood from captive lions, Southern African wildcats, cheetahs and servals in Zimbabwe for PCRs against the 18S rRNA gene of the piroplasmids (Babesia, Theileria, Cytauxzoon) and Hepatozoon spp., and the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp.ResultsOverall, 78% of the lions (67/86) and all the Southern African wildcats (6/6), cheetahs (4/4) and servals (2/2) had evidence of infection with at least one organism. The organisms most commonly detected in the lions were B. leo (59%; 51/86), B. vogeli (12%; 10/86) and H. felis (11%; 9/86) while all the Southern African wildcats and servals were positive for B. vogeli and all the cheetahs were positive for B. leo. Mixed infections were found in 22% (15/67) of the PCR positive lions, most commonly B. leo and H. felis (27%; 4/15), and in 1 (50%) of the servals (B. vogeli and A. phagocytophilum). Two lions were infected with three TBP, mainly B. leo, H. canis and T. parva, and B. leo, A. phagocytophilum and T. sinensis. Mixed infections with B. vogeli and A. phagocytophilum were seen in a serval and a Southern African wildcat. Other TBP were detected at a low prevalence (≤2%) in lions, mainly H. canis, T. sinensis, T. parva, C. manul, E. canis, and E. canis-like and B. odocoilei-like organisms.ConclusionsInfections with tick-borne agents are common in captive wild felids in Zimbabwe.

show abstract

Environmental Investigation Following the First Human Case of Babesiosis in Tennessee

Cited by 11 publications

References 27 publications

Dog survey in Russian veterinary hospitals: tick identification and molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens

Dog survey in Russian veterinary hospitals: tick identification and molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in captive wild felids, Zimbabwe

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About