A note on the ticks of domestic animals in Coast Province, Kenya

Zulu, Fabian P.; Okello-Onen, J.; Punyua, D. K.; Essuman, Suliman; Malonza, M. M.

doi:10.1017/s1742758400007815

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…4), morphological identi cation and differentiation of R. microplus and R. decoloratus is usually di cult because of their small size and they share many morphological similarities. Few R. decoloratus were found on cattle in Kwale during the survey by Zulu et al, (1998) [16]. None was found in the current study, though very few localities and numbers were sampled and analysed.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 67%

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Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Kenya and suggests that an undifferentiated genotype is prevalent in the African continent

Kanduma

Emery

Githaka³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background The tick vector Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus which transmits Babesia and rickettsial pathogens has not been reported in Kenya since 1998. More recently, the pathogenic Babesia bovis has been detected in cattle blood DNA. The status of R. microplus in Kenya remains unknown. This study employed morphological and molecular tools to characterize R. microplus originating from Kenya and assess the genetic relationships between Kenyan and other African R. microplus genotypes. Methods Morphological identification and differentiation of 35 Kenyan and 11 reference tick specimens was implemented by following standard tick reference keys and identification guides. Genetic and phylogenetic relationships between the Kenyan and other annotated R. microplus reference sequences was investigated by analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of four tick specimens which included two R. microplus was assembled from whole genome data to further characterize the Kenyan ticks. A B. bovis specific Taqman probe qPCR assay was used to detect B. bovis in gDNA from R. microplus ticks. Results Of the 35 Kwale tick specimens analysed, 23 were confirmed to be R. microplus by both morphology and molecular characterizations. The Kenyan R. microplus COI sequences showed very high pairwise identities (>99%) and clustered very closely with reference African sequences. We also found a low differentiation and lack of geographical sub-structuring among the African COI sequences. The mitochondrial genome sequences of the two Kenyan R. microplus ticks also clustered closely with reference genome sequences from Brazil, USA, Cambodia and India. No B. bovis was detected in the Kwale R. microplus DNA. Conclusions These findings confirm the presence of R. microplus in Kenya and suggest that a common undifferentiated genotype is prevalent in cattle in Africa. These and other recent findings of widespread occurrence of R. microplus in Africa provide a strong justification for urgent surveillance to determine and monitor the spread of R. microplus and vector competence of Rhipicephalid ticks for B. bovis in Africa, with the ultimate goal of strategic control.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 67%

“…Rhipicephalus microplus was rst recorded in Kenya in 1974 [15] and then later in 1998 [16] within a very limited area around Kwale County along the Kenyan Coast. However, more recently, B. bovis has been detected in cattle blood in Central and western Kenya [17,18], strongly suggesting the presence of its vector, R. microplus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Kenya and suggests that an undifferentiated genotype is prevalent in the African continent

Kanduma

Emery

Githaka³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Rhipicephalus microplus was first recorded in Kenya in 1974 [16] and then later in 1998 [17] within a very limited area around Kwale County along the Kenyan Coast. However, more recently, B. bovis has been detected in cattle blood in central and western Kenya [18,19], strongly suggesting the presence of its vector, R. microplus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus microplus Clade A in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa

et al. 2020

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Background: The tick vector Rhipicephalus microplus which transmits Babesia spp. and rickettsial pathogens has not been reported in Kenya since 1998. More recently, the pathogenic Babesia bovis has been detected in cattle blood DNA. The status of R. microplus in Kenya remains unknown. This study employed morphological and molecular tools to characterize R. microplus originating from Kenya and assess the genetic relationships between Kenyan and other African R. microplus genotypes. Methods: Ticks were collected in southeastern Kenya (Kwale County) from cattle and characterized to investigate the existence of R. microplus. Genetic and phylogenetic relationships between the Kenyan and other annotated R. microplus reference sequences was investigated by analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. To further characterize Kenyan ticks, we generated low coverage whole genome sequences of two R. microplus, one R. decoloratus and R. appendiculatus. A B. bovis specific TaqMan probe qPCR assay was used to detect B. bovis in gDNA from R. microplus ticks. Results: Occurrence of R. microplus was confirmed in Kwale County, Kenya. The Kenyan R. microplus cox1 sequences showed very high pairwise identities (> 99%) and clustered very closely with reference African R. microplus sequences. We found a low genetic variation and lack of geographical sub-structuring among the African cox1 sequences of R. microplus. Four complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes for two R. microplus, one R. decoloratus and one R. appendiculatus were assembled from next generation sequence data. The mitochondrial genome sequences of the two Kenyan R. microplus ticks clustered closely with reference genome sequences from Brazil, USA, Cambodia and India forming R. microplus Clade A. No B. bovis was detected in the Kwale R. microplus DNA. Conclusions: These findings confirm the presence of R. microplus in Kenya and suggest that R. microplus Clade A is prevalent in cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. These and other recent findings of widespread occurrence of R. microplus in Africa provide a strong justification for urgent surveillance to determine and monitor the spread of R. microplus and vector competence of Boophilus ticks for B. bovis in Africa, with the ultimate goal of strategic control.

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“…Rhipicephalus microplus , which is a more competent vector of B. bovis , has become established in mainland Tanzania with evidence of displacement of the native R. decoloratus [ 4 ]. The tick had only been recorded in a small focus in coastal Kenya [ 5 , 6 ]. However, in the past 15 years, R. microplus, which is a definitive vector for both B. bovis and B. bigemina , has been confirmed to occur in several countries in West Africa [ 7 – 9 ], Central Africa [ 10 , 11 ] and recently East Africa [ 12 – 16 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular survey of Babesia parasites in Kenya: first detailed report on occurrence of Babesia bovis in cattle

et al. 2022

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Background Among protozoan parasites in the genus Babesia, Babesia bigemina is endemic and widespread in the East African region while the status of the more pathogenic Babesia bovis remains unclear despite the presence of the tick vector, Rhipicephalus microplus, which transmits both species. Recent studies have confirmed the occurrence of R. microplus in coastal Kenya, and although B. bovis DNA has previously been detected in cattle blood in Kenya, no surveillance has been done to establish its prevalence. This study therefore investigated the occurrence of B. bovis in cattle in Kwale County, Kenya, where R. microplus is present in large numbers. Methods A species-specific multiplex TaqMan real-time PCR assay targeting two Babesia bovis genes, 18S ribosomal RNA and mitochondrially-encoded cytochrome b and B. bigemina cytochrome b gene was used to screen 506 cattle blood DNA samples collected from Kwale County for presence of Babesia parasite DNA. A sub-set of 29 B. bovis real-time PCR-positive samples were further amplified using a B. bovis-specific spherical body protein-4 (SBP-4) nested PCR and the resulting products sequenced to confirm the presence of B. bovis. Results A total of 131 animals (25.8%) were found to have bovine babesiosis based on real-time PCR. Twenty-four SBP4 nucleotide sequences obtained matched to B. bovis with a similarity of 97–100%. Of 131 infected animals, 87 (17.2%) were positive for B. bovis while 70 (13.8%) had B. bigemina and 26 (5.1%) were observed to be co-infected with both Babesia species. A total of 61 animals (12.1%) were found to be infected with B. bovis parasites only, while 44 animals (8.7%) had B. bigemina only. Babesia bovis and B. bigemina infections were detected in the three Kwale sub-counties. Conclusion These findings reveal high prevalence of pathogenic B. bovis in a Kenyan area cutting across a busy transboundary livestock trade route with neighbouring Tanzania. The Babesia multiplex real-time PCR assay used in this study is specific and can detect and differentiate the two Babesia species and should be used for routine B. bovis surveillance to monitor the spread and establishment of the pathogen in other African countries where B. bigemina is endemic. Moreover, these findings highlight the threat of fatal babesiosis caused by B. bovis, whose endemic status is yet to be established. Graphical Abtract

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A note on the ticks of domestic animals in Coast Province, Kenya

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Kenya and suggests that an undifferentiated genotype is prevalent in the African continent

Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Kenya and suggests that an undifferentiated genotype is prevalent in the African continent

Molecular evidence confirms occurrence of Rhipicephalus microplus Clade A in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa

Molecular survey of Babesia parasites in Kenya: first detailed report on occurrence of Babesia bovis in cattle

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