Molecular Evidence of Bartonella Species in Ixodid Ticks and Domestic Animals in Palestine

A B S T R A C TDespite close association between camels and humans, molecular based studies on vector-borne pathogens infecting camels are scarce compared to other animals in Iran. The current study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of vector-borne bacteria in the blood of dromedaries by molecular tools. A total of 200 peripheral blood samples were collected from apparently healthy animals. Microscopic examination was performed on Giemsa-stained blood smears, and drops of blood were spotted on Whatman FTA ® cards for molecular analyses. Genomic DNA was extracted from the cards, and PCR amplification followed by sequencing of positive samples was carried out for the detection of Anaplasmataceae, spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, Bartonella spp. and Borrelia spp. Intra-cytic forms of any blood pathogens could not be detected by light microscopy. PCR results revealed 30 animals (15%) to be infected with Anaplasmataceae bacteria. Analyses of sequences revealed a strain of Anaplasma sp. identical to Candidatus Anaplasma camelii isolated from camels, cattle and deer in Asia and Africa. Neither SFG rickettsiae, nor Borrelia or Bartonella species were found. Further studies for determining epidemiological role of camels and its zoonotic potential are recommended. This paper reviews the current knowledge on camels' tickborne bacteria including microscopy, serology and molecular studies.confirmed by DNA sequencing in camels are Candidatus Anaplasma camelii (genetically close to A. platys), A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. Clinical signs of natural infections are described as fever, pale and icteric conjunctiva suggestive of anaemia, dullness, anorexia, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, emaciation, coughing, lacrimation, rough hair coat, abortion, and/or infertility [7,19]. Intramuscular administration of oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg as specific therapy and injectable B-complex, iron, folic acid and hydroxycobalamin as supportive therapy is the recommended therapeutic regimen [7,19]. Infection with and antibodies against several species of Rickettsia [20,21], as well as infection with Bartonella [22] and Borrelia [23,24] have been also documented.According to official estimates, around 183,900 camels live in Iran [25]. Given the growing scientific and public health interest in camels, we investigated the occurrence of selected vector-borne bacteria;https://doi.

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“…None of the 19 blood samples from camels in the latter study area were positive for Bartonella spp. [67].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vector-borne bacteria in blood of camels in Iran: New data and literature review

Sazmand

Harl

Eigner

et al. 2019

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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“…which has been reported as the most prevalent dog tick in Palestine (Dantas‐Torres ,b; Ereqat et al . ,b; Harrus et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ixodid ticks and reservoir hosts from Palestine: a pilot survey

Zaid

Ereqat

Nasereddin

et al. 2019

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Tick‐borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are clinically important emerging zoonoses usually overlooked by veterinarians and physicians alike. This study aimed at detecting and genetically characterizing Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ixodid ticks and their animal hosts from the West Bank, Palestine. A total of 723 ixodid ticks belonging to three genera ( Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis ) were collected from dogs, sheep, goats and camels. In addition, 189 blood samples were collected from dogs, sheep, camels, horses and a goat from the West Bank, Palestine. All tick and blood samples were investigated for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia targeting a 345 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequence analysis. The infection rate of Anaplasma spp. in ticks was 6.5% (47/723). Anaplasma platys was identified in 28% (13/47) of them. Whereas, based on a partial sequence (851 bp) of msp4 gene, 38% (18/47) were identified as A. ovis . The species of the remaining 16 positive samples (16/47, 34%) could not be identified. Simultaneously, the infection rate of Ehrlichia spp. in the ticks was 0.6% (4/723). Three of which were E. canis and one was Ehrlichia spp. The infection rate of A. platys in dogs’ blood samples was 10% (13/135), while it was 1.5% (2/135) for E. canis . The infection rate of Anaplasma in sheep blood samples was 40% (19/47), out of which 26% (5/19) were caused by A. ovis as revealed by msp4 ‐ PCR . Implementation of purely‐spatial analysis by sa TS can for all cases of Anaplasma revealed two statistically significant clusters in two districts; Tubas town and Majdal‐Bani‐Fadil village on the western hills of the Jordan Valley. Most cases of Anaplasma (83%) were from rural areas where life cycle components (vector, host and reservoir) abundantly interact. This study is the first in Palestine to reveal the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ticks, dogs and sheep providing crucial platform for future epidemiological surveys and control strategies in the country and region.

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“…n = 1, and Sarcocystis spp. n = 1 (Ashford 2000;Sazmand et al 2012;Chhabra and Samantaray 2012;Ereqat et al 2016). Four other parasite species found in this cohort were helminths Haemonchus tataricus, Trichostrongylus hamatus, and Trichuris infundibulus n = 2; Linguatula serrata n = 7; Onchocerca volvulus n = 1; and Fasciola hepatica or Fasciola gigantica n = 1 (Sadjjadi et al 1998;McCarthy and Moore 2000;Shakerian et al 2008;Haddadzadeh et al 2010;Oryan et al 2011;Rezaei et al 2012;Anvari-Tafti et al 2013;Bamorovat et al 2014;Youssef and Uga 2014;El-Bahnasawy et al 2015;Farjanikish and Shokrani 2016).…”

Section: Parasiticmentioning

confidence: 83%

A Review of Zoonotic Pathogens of Dromedary Camels

2019

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Dromedary, or one-humped, camels Camelus dromedarius are an almost exclusively domesticated species that are common in arid areas as both beasts of burden and production animals for meat and milk.Currently, there are approximately 30 million dromedary camels, with highest numbers in Africa and the Middle East. The hardiness of camels in arid regions has made humans more dependent on them, especially as a stable protein source. Camels also carry and may transmit disease-causing agents to humans and other animals. The ability for camels to act as a point source or vector for disease is a concern due to increasing human demands for meat, lack of biosafety and biosecurity protocols in many regions, and a growth in the interface with wildlife as camel herds become sympatric with non-domestic species. We conducted a literature review of camel-borne zoonotic diseases and found that the majority of publications (65%) focused on Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), brucellosis, Echinococcus granulosus, and Rift Valley fever. The high fatality from MERS outbreaks during 2012-2016 elicited an immediate response from the research community as demonstrated by a surge of MERS-related publications. However, we contend that other camel-borne diseases such as Yersinia pestis, Coxiella burnetii, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever are just as important to include in surveillance efforts. Camel populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are increasing exponentially in response to prolonged droughts, and thus, the risk of zoonoses increases as well. In this review, we provide an overview of the major zoonotic diseases present in dromedary camels, their risk to humans, and recommendations to minimize spillover events.

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Molecular Evidence of Bartonella Species in Ixodid Ticks and Domestic Animals in Palestine

Cited by 26 publications

References 54 publications

Vector-borne bacteria in blood of camels in Iran: New data and literature review

Vector-borne bacteria in blood of camels in Iran: New data and literature review

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ixodid ticks and reservoir hosts from Palestine: a pilot survey

A Review of Zoonotic Pathogens of Dromedary Camels

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