Distribution and molecular detection of Theileria and Babesia in questing ticks from northern Spain

Abstract

A total of 562 questing adult ixodid ticks, collected during 2003-05 in 10 recreational mountain areas in northern Spain, were analysed for piroplasm infection. Reverse line blot (RLB) analysis using a panel of probes for 23 piroplasm species identified 16 different piroplasms, with an overall prevalence of 9.3%. Most were Theileria spp.-positive (7.7%), 3.0% were positive for Babesia spp. and 1.4% of ticks harboured both genera. Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758), the most abundant tick in the vegetation, ranked third with regard to piroplasm infection prevalence (11.4%) after Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878) (16.0%) and Haemaphysalis punctata (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878) (13.5%). Infection was detected in 6.2% of Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) and in 1.1% of Haemaphysalis inermis (Birula, 1895), but was absent from Haemaphysalis concinna (Koch, 1844). Ixodes ricinus carried more piroplasm species (13), followed by H. punctata (10), D. reticulatus (8), R. bursa (3) and H. inermis (1). Although most of the positive ticks harboured a single infection (76.9%), mixed infections with two or three different piroplasm species were also detected (23.1%). The various tick-pathogen associations found are discussed and prevalences of infection in ticks are compared with previous results on piroplasms infecting animals in the same region.

Detection and phylogenetic characterization of Theileria spp. and Anaplasma marginale in Rhipicephalus bursa in Portugal

“…Nevertheless, we were not able to identify any study conducted in Portugal that has isolated T. annulata from R. bursa ticks. T. equi (formerly known as Babesia equi) can be naturally transmitted by ticks of the family Ixodidae (Stiller et al, 2002) and R. bursa has been implicated as the vector of piroplasmosis caused by T. equi in horses in Spain and Iran (Abedi et al, 2014;Garcia-Sanmartin et al, 2008). Similarly, we have found T. equi in ticks of this species infesting horses.…”

“…During our study we have found an equivalent ratio of male: female. Although a similar ratio of male: female has been reported (Garcia-Sanmartin et al, 2008), most studies report that the number of males generally outnumbers the number of females (Moshaverinia et al, 2012;Papadopoulos et al, 1996;Yeruham et al, 1996). As mentioned, the primary hosts of this tick species include cattle, sheep, and goats; and less frequently dogs and smaller mammals, such as rabbits (de la Fuente et al, 2004a;Masala et al, 2012;Mihalca et al, 2012;Psaroulaki et al, 2006;Santos-Silva et al, 2011;Satta et al, 2011;Walker et al, 2000).…”

“…Though less common, this tick can also be found in other domestic animals, as well as in wild ungulates and small-medium sized mammals and sporadically, in humans (de la Fuente et al, 2004b;Mihalca et al, 2012;Psaroulaki et al, 2006;Santos-Silva et al, 2011;Satta et al, 2011;Walker et al, 2000). R. bursa has been described as being involved in the transmission of agents of the genus Anaplasma (de la Fuente et al, 2004a), Babesia (Altay et al, 2008;M'Ghirbi et al, 2010) Theileria (Garcia-Sanmartin et al, 2008), Rickettsia (Boudebouch et al, 2009;de Sousa et al, 2006;Ioannou et al, 2011;Toledo et al, 2009) among others, with a known impact on animal health. The main objective of this study was to provide up-dated information regarding the currently circulating pathogens in R. bursa and their phylogenetic characterization, in Portugal Mainland, for the future development and planning of effective tick control measures.…”

Seroprevalence rates of antibodies against Theileria equi in team roping horses from central-western region of Paraná

“…It has caused important economic losses in the horse industry, being a serious threat to the horse raising industry and international movement of horses (FRIEDHOFF et al, 1990). Previous studies have demonstrated losses due to treatment costs, recuperation time and low athletic performance (GARCÍA-SANMARTÍN et al, 2008). In addition, equine piroplasmosis creates difficulty in animals trading and restrictions regarding import/export of animals, as well as participation in international competitions, given that infected animals are prevented from entering countries that are disease-free (FRIEDHOFF et al, 1990;KNOWLES, 1996).…”

“…In one previous report (BALDANI et al, 2010) the high positivity rate for T. equi was attributed to the management of horses, which appears to be an important factor for the prevalence of T. equi infections. Additionally, climatic factors such as temperature, relative humidity, altitude and high rainfall influence the habitat of the main tick/vector species that parasite horses (GOLYNSKI et al, 2008). It has been demonstrated that when horses have direct or indirect contact with cattle and there is no rigorous tick control program, T. equi infection rates are much higher (HEUCHERT et al, 1999;KERBER et al, 1999).…”