Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon felis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks infested on captive lions (Panthera leo)

Bhusri, Benjaporn; Sariya, Ladawan; Mongkolphan, Chalisa; Suksai, Parut; Kaewchot, Supakarn; Changbunjong, Tanasak

doi:10.1007/s12639-017-0902-x

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…So far, epidemiological data on H. silvestris were limited to European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina [ 13 , 20 ] and a report of a positive feline blood sample from southern Italy [ 14 ]. Hepatozoon felis was considered the most common species infecting wild and domestic felids worldwide [ 6 , 14 , 16 , 26 – 28 ]. In Europe, infections of cats with H. felis mainly occur in Mediterranean countries where hematophagous arthropods are more abundant [ 8 , 12 , 14 , 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat

Kegler

Nufer²,

Alić

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundHepatozoon silvestris is an emerging apicomplexan parasite discovered in European wild cats from Bosnia and Herzegovina and blood samples of a domestic cat from Southern Italy in 2017. It has also been identified in Ixodes ricinus collected from a domestic cat in Wales, UK, in 2018. The clinical relevance, pathogenesis and epidemiology of this novel Hepatozoon species are not yet understood. Thus, the objective of this paper was to report and describe the first fatal case of an H. silvestris infection in a domestic cat.ResultsThe cat, which originated from Switzerland, died shortly after presenting clinical signs of lethargy, weakness and anorexia. At necropsy, no specific lesions were observed. Histopathology of the heart revealed a severe lympho-plasmacytic and histiocytic myocarditis. Mature and developing protozoal meronts morphologically compatible with Hepatozoon species were observed associated with the myocardial inflammation. No other lesions were present in any other organ evaluated, and the cat tested negative for retroviral and other immunosuppressive infectious agents. Polymerase chain reaction from the myocardium resulted in a specific amplicon of the Hepatozoon 18S rRNA gene. Sequencing and BLAST analysis revealed 100% sequence identity with H. silvestris.ConclusionsThe severity of the infection with fatal outcome in an otherwise healthy animal suggests a high virulence of H. silvestris for domestic cats. The presence of this emerging parasite in a domestic cat in Switzerland with no travel history provides further evidence for a geographical distribution throughout Europe.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat

Kegler

Nufer²,

Alić

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

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“…Some studies based on PCR-based assays as the reference diagnostic test for epidemiological studies, which given their greater sensitivity, particularly for testing different hosts with intermittent levels of parasitemia via a low infection rate by gamonts, as Otranto et al [ 114 ], Haklová-Kočíková et al [ 18 ], Jòzsef et al [ 24 ], Ramos et al [ 116 ], and Mitkova et al [ 120 ]. Notably, all the molecular evidence comes from the complete and partial sequences of the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) 18S gene is a sufficient phylogenetic marker to approximate ordinal level relationships and those within orders [ 68 , 98 , 119 , 142 , 143 , 144 , 145 ]. Previous molecular studies of Harris et al [ 22 ] and Barta et al [ 19 ] demonstrated that the haemogregarine species are clustered in sister clades with interspecies linked more with the host geographic distribution, rather than host species.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haemogregarines and Criteria for Identification

Al‐Quraishy

Abdel-Ghaffar

Dkhil

et al. 2021

Animals

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Apicomplexa is a phylum that includes all parasitic protozoa sharing unique ultrastructural features. Haemogregarines are sophisticated apicomplexan blood parasites with an obligatory heteroxenous life cycle and haplohomophasic alternation of generations. Haemogregarines are common blood parasites of fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, birds, and mammals. Haemogregarine ultrastructure has been so far examined only for stages from the vertebrate host. PCR-based assays and the sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene are helpful methods to further characterize this parasite group. The proper classification for the haemogregarine complex is available with the criteria of generic and unique diagnosis of these parasites.

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“…Other bacteria species found to be abundant in (40)(41). In the United States, it is vectored by the Amblyomma maculatum nymphs or adults (39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick-Borne bacterial and protozoan animal pathogens shape the native microbiome withinHyalomma anatolicum anatolicumandRhipicephalus microplustick vectors

Adegoke

Kumar

Rashid

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Ticks vector a variety of bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens of public and animal health significance. Ticks also harbor a diverse community of microbes linked with their biological processes like hematophagy and hence vector competence. The interactions between bacterial and/or protozoan pathogens and their tick vector microbiome are yet to be investigated. In lieu of this, this study was designed to define the microbial composition of uninfected and infected Hyalomma (H.) anatolicum anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (R.) microplus tick species. Methodology/Principal findingsA total of 320 H. anatolicum and R. microplus were screened for the presence of the protozoan (Theileria sp.), and bacterial (Anaplasma marginale) pathogens by PCR. Subsequently, the microbiome of uninfected and infected individual H. anatolicum and R. microplus were analyzed. The highly conserved V1-V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced using the MiSeq Illumina platform. The microbiome of female H. anatolicum anatolicum ticks was dominated by the endosymbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii (CMM) and Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLE) which were not affected by pathogen infection. Ehrlichia species was detected in A. marginale-infected male H. anatolicum anatolicum (6.2%) as opposed to the Theileria sp.-infected female H. anatolicum anatolicum. Coxiella sp. was also detected in uninfected (2.96%) and A. marginale-infected (4.25%), but not in Theileria sp.-infected R. microplus ticks. Analysis of the eukaryote composition in the respectively ticks also revealed the presence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to Plasmodium (P.) falciparum in Theileria sp.-infected H. a. anatolicum and R. microplus ticks, while Hepatozoon americanum detected from Theileria sp.-infected and uninfected H. a. anatolicum. Conclusion and SignificanceThis study establishes the extent of the diversity of microbial community of two important tick species from Pakistan and also revealed the presence of Theileria and A. marginale and additional pathogenic bacteria that could be of public health significance. We hypothesized that infection with either a protozoan or bacterial pathogen will alter the microbial composition within these tick species. Interestingly, we reported the detection of the malarial parasite (P. falciparum) from ticks infected with the protozoan pathogen (Theileria sp.). Further validation experiments are required on endosymbionts and pathogens of ticks to investigate how they could be important in the epidemiology of human and animal pathogens.

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Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon felis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks infested on captive lions (Panthera leo)

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat

Fatal infection with emerging apicomplexan parasite Hepatozoon silvestris in a domestic cat

Haemogregarines and Criteria for Identification

Tick-Borne bacterial and protozoan animal pathogens shape the native microbiome withinHyalomma anatolicum anatolicumandRhipicephalus microplustick vectors

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