7. Prevention and control of tick-borne anaplasmosis, cowdriosis and babesiosis in the cattle industry

Pfeffer, Martin; Król, Nina; Obiegala, Anna

doi:10.3920/978-90-8686-863-6_7

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 306 publications

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“…Antibiotics play a crucial role in treating infectious diseases such as clinical mastitis [ 47 ] and tick-borne diseases [ 48 ], and they can be used as a growth promoter [ 49 ]. Nevertheless, the impact of antibiotic administration on the susceptibility of ticks to fungal treatment is yet to be elucidated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entomopathogenic fungus treatment changes the gut bacterial diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

et al. 2023

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Background Ticks are obligate bloodsucking parasites responsible for significant economic losses and concerns with human and animal health, mainly due to the transmission of pathogens. Entomopathogenic fungi have been intensively studied as an alternative strategy for tick control that can be used in combination with synthetic acaricides in the integrated management of ticks. Here, we investigated how the gut bacterial community of Rhipicephalus microplus is shaped after Metarhizium anisopliae treatment and how the tick susceptibility to the fungus is affected after disrupting gut bacterial microbiota. Methods Partially engorged tick females were artificially fed with pure bovine blood or blood plus tetracycline. Two other groups received the same diet and were topically treated with M. anisopliae. The guts were dissected, and the genomic DNA was extracted 3 days after the treatment; the V3–V4 variable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified. Results The gut of ticks that received no antibiotic but were treated with M. anisopliae exhibited lower bacterial diversity and a higher occurrence of Coxiella species. The Simpson diversity index and Pielou equability coefficient were higher in the gut bacterial community when R. microplus were fed with tetracycline and fungus-treated. Ticks from fungus-treated groups (with or without tetracycline) exhibited lower survival than untreated females. Previous feeding of ticks with the antibiotic did not change their susceptibility to the fungus. Ehrlichia spp. were not detected in the gueated groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that myco-acaricidal action would not be impacted if the calf hosting these ticks is under antibiotic therapy. Moreover, the hypothesis that entomopathogenic fungi can affect the bacterial community in the gut of R. microplus engorged females is endorsed by the fact that ticks exposed to M. anisopliae exhibited a dramatic reduction in bacterial diversity. This is the first report of an entomopathogenic fungus affecting the tick gut microbiota. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entomopathogenic fungus treatment changes the gut bacterial diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

et al. 2023

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“…However, as similarly reported in Ireland [ 3 ], blood sample submissions to government laboratories for bovine babesiosis diagnosis are very low, rendering trend analysis in the face of changing environmental conditions impossible. The widely used diagnostic method of blood smear examination has limitations in both identifying low parasite burdens [ 27 ] and classifying Babesia at species level [ 4 ]. Additionally, there is currently no national-level data sharing of TBD surveillance in GB across public health and veterinary sectors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance and Risk Analysis for Bovine Babesiosis in England and Wales to Inform Disease Distribution

McFadzean

Johnson

Phipps

et al. 2023

Animals

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Babesia divergens is a zoonotic piroplasm that infects both cattle and humans in Europe. Disease transmission occurs through Ixodes ricinus tick bites, a species that is increasing in abundance and distribution across Europe in response to climate and land-use changes. Developments in agri-environment policy and changing consumer demands may also have unintended consequences on tick-borne disease rates. Currently, B. divergens surveillance in British cattle is limited, rendering temporal trend analysis and the detection of potential zoonotic hotspots impossible. The objective of this study was to assess syndromic surveillance as a means of determining babesiosis distribution in British cattle, and to evaluate the intrinsic disease risk factors in order to respond to disease threats posed by changing environments. Samples from 95 clinically affected cattle on 70 unique holdings were screened for Babesia spp., using established blood smear examination techniques and a B. divergens-specific PCR method, between April and December 2021. B. divergens was detected in 45/95 animals (47.4%), with PCR offering the advantage of identification at species level. Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 19/95 animals (20%). Co-infection was detected in five animals. The cases were recorded across multiple geographic regions and throughout the sampling period. Univariate logistic regression analysis failed to identify any statistically significant risk factors for B. divergens presence. This study demonstrates that bovine babesiosis is geographically widespread throughout England and Wales, placing a large proportion of the cattle population at risk of infection, with the potential for zoonotic transmission to humans.

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“…Regular exposure to tick-borne pathogens and establishment of herd immunity is also an important factor in incidence of tick-borne diseases. 2 The southwest of England is a high-prevalence area for bovine babesiosis cases, commonly © 2021 Crown copyright. Veterinary Record Case Reports © 2021 British Veterinary Association.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High morbidity associated with an outbreak of tick‐borne disease in a dairy herd, Cornwall

McFadzean

Johnson

Phipps

et al. 2021

Vet Record Case Reports

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In April 2020, animals in a herd of 180 dairy cows began displaying pyrexia, milk drop and condition loss. Some animals aborted while others developed anaemia and redcoloured urine. Copious ticks were noted on affected animals. Blood smear examination performed on sick animals detected piroplasms within erythrocytes, and a panpiroplasm PCR and sequencing confirmed the presence of Babesia divergens. Further PCR testing detected Anaplasma phagocytophilum in some of the animals. In a number of animals, co-infection with both pathogens was demonstrated. A range of control measures were implemented with varying levels of success, and clinical cases continued until winter housing of cows in November. A total of 61 animals were affected. The main contributory factor in this case was likely buying in of large numbers of naïve animals into an endemic tick area. Co-infection also potentially increased severity of disease. The difficulties in controlling this outbreak are discussed. CASE PRESENTATIONThis outbreak occurred in a milking cow dairy herd with 180 Holstein-Friesian animals, located near Bodmin Moor in Vet Rec Case Rep.

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7. Prevention and control of tick-borne anaplasmosis, cowdriosis and babesiosis in the cattle industry

Cited by 8 publications

References 306 publications

Entomopathogenic fungus treatment changes the gut bacterial diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

Entomopathogenic fungus treatment changes the gut bacterial diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus ticks

Surveillance and Risk Analysis for Bovine Babesiosis in England and Wales to Inform Disease Distribution

High morbidity associated with an outbreak of tick‐borne disease in a dairy herd, Cornwall

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