High co-infection rates of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale in water buffalo in Western Cuba

Obregón, Dasiel; Cabezas-Cruz, Alejandro; Armas, Yasmani; Silva, Jenevaldo B.; Fonseca, Adivaldo Henrique da; André, Marcos Rogério; Alfonso, P; Oliveira, M. C. de S.; Machado, Rosangela Zacarias; Corona-González, Belkis

doi:10.1007/s00436-018-06194-6

Cited by 16 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…As a consequence, a higher transmission rate of B. bigemina than of B. bovis could be expected in regions where both Babesia species are present, therefore, causing the highest prevalence of B. bigemina in cattle herds [5,33]. However, our results are consistent with those of an epidemiological study previously conducted in the same region as our study, in which a high molecular prevalence of both B. bovis and B. bigemina was found in buffalo [22]. Eco-epidemiological factors favoring the presence of B. bovis in this region of Cuba should be studied, as B. bovis could cause severe disease in susceptible cattle, particularly in South America and Australia [5,34].…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

“…B. bovis, B. bigemina, and A. marginale are endemic in cattle populations of this region [4]. The prevalence of these pathogens in buffalo of the region is high [22,39]. For this study, two farms were selected where cattle and buffalo herds were raised together, either in immediate proximity separated by wire fences (hereafter the "Neighboring herd" group) or separated by a distance of 10 km (hereafter the "Control herd" group).…”

Section: Study Site and Samples' Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[9,17,18]. Therefore, they are potential reservoirs for these pathogens and can affect the eco-epidemiology of babesiosis in cattle [19][20][21][22]. However, evidence of the vectorial capacity of R. microplus that feed on carrier buffalo is scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

et al. 2020

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Water buffaloes can be infected by tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in endemic areas where cattle and buffalo coexist. Among TBPs affecting buffaloes is the Apicomplexan hemoparasites Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, transmitted by Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. However, little empirical evidence exists on whether buffalo can support TBPs’ infection and transmission. A cohort study was designed to measure the infestation levels of R. microplus in buffaloes as well as the ability of buffalo-fed ticks to transmit B. bovis and B. bigemina to their offspring. Tick infestation of different life stages was quantified in cattle and buffalo kept in field conditions in western Cuba. Engorged adult female ticks were allowed to lay eggs in controlled conditions of humidity and temperature, and reproductive parameters were measured and analyzed. Hosts and tick larvae were tested for the presence of Babesia spp. using species-specific qPCR assays. Tick infestation was not observed in adult buffaloes. However, buffalo and cattle calves were equally infested, although the larval survival rate was higher in cattle calves than in buffalo calves. All larval pools (31) obtained from the adult female ticks were positive for B. bovis, whereas only 68% (21/31) was positive for B. bigemina. Among the 10 larval pools negative for B. bigemina, three proceeded from adult females fed on Babesia-negative buffaloes. The other seven pools were from Babesia-positive animals, three from cattle and four from buffalo calves. Babesia infection levels in tick larvae, quantified by qPCR, were similar in female ticks fed on buffalo and bovine calves. We conclude that water buffalo can sustain tick vector populations and support Babesia infection in levels high enough as to be infective for ticks. Our results also validated the hypothesis that adult female ticks fed on buffalo can transmit the pathogens B. bovis and B. bigemina to their offspring. Nevertheless, further laboratory studies are needed to address the question of whether the transovarial transmission of Babesia occurs in the following settings: (1) When adult females are infected previous to the feeding on the buffalo or/and (2) when the adult females acquire the infection while feeding on the buffalo.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Study Site and Samples' Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

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“…In Cuba, no clinical cases of CTF have been detected in buffaloes. However, epidemiological studies using molecular (i.e., Polymerase chain reaction PCR and nested (n) PCR) and serological (i.e., indirect (i) ELISA) diagnostic tests found a prevalence greater than 50% for B. bovis , B. bigemina and A. marginale in buffaloes of the western region of Cuba [ 21 , 99 ]. Prevalence and infection levels found in water buffaloes suggest that these animals are potential reservoirs of CTF pathogens in the ecoepidemiological conditions of Cuba, especially in areas where cattle and buffaloes coexist [ 100 , 101 , 102 ].…”

Section: Ticks and Tbps Infection In Water Buffalomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cuban cattle livestock inventory is approximately four million heads, mainly used for dairy purposes [ 18 ]. In natural conditions, more than 80% of ticks infesting cattle in the country are R. microplus , the main vector of Babesia bovis , Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale to bovines [ 19 , 20 ] and buffaloes [ 21 ]. Due to the climatic conditions of Cuba, with high temperature and humidity, the free-living stages of R. microplus survive throughout the year and can complete up to four generations in a single year [ 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in Cuba, Half a Century of Scientific Research

et al. 2020

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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.

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First report on molecular surveillance based on duplex detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata in dairy cattle from Punjab, Pakistan

Atif

Abbas

Mehnaz

et al. 2022

Trop Anim Health Prod

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High co-infection rates of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale in water buffalo in Western Cuba

Cited by 16 publications

References 43 publications

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in Cuba, Half a Century of Scientific Research

First report on molecular surveillance based on duplex detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata in dairy cattle from Punjab, Pakistan

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