Possible vertical transmission of Babesia canis canis from a bitch to her puppies: a case report

Adaszek, Łukasz; Obara-Galek, J.; Piech, Tomasz; Winiarczyk, Mateusz; Kalinowski, M.; Winiarczyk, S.

doi:10.17221/8881-vetmed

Cited by 14 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Our study demonstrates for the first time that transplacental transmission of B. microti occurs in wild, naturally-infected populations of P. leucopus and M. pennsylvanicus in Connecticut and on Block Island, RI, USA, with 74% transmission efficiency from mother to fetuses. Although studies have previously reported transplacental transmission of Babesia canis canis in canines [ 22 , 23 ], B. microti in BALB/c laboratory mice [ 24 ], and humans [ 25 , 26 ] only one other study has reported vertical transmission of B. microti occurring in naturally infected rodent populations [ 27 ]. Tolkacz and colleagues [ 27 ] reported vertical transmission of B. microti in two species of vole ( Microtus arvalis and M. oeconomus ) in Poland, finding 81% infection occurring in embryos and 90% in pups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus

Tufts

Diuk‐Wasser

2018

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundBabesia microti is an emerging tick-borne pathogen and the causative agent of human babesiosis. Mathematical modeling of the reproductive rate of B. microti indicates that it cannot persist in nature by horizontal tick-host transmission alone. We hypothesized that transplacental transmission in the reservoir population contributes to B. microti persistence and emergence in North American rodent populations.MethodsPeromyscus leucopus were collected from Connecticut and Block Island, Rhode Island and analyzed using a highly specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for infection with B. microti.ResultsIn April, 100% (n = 103) of mice were infected with B. microti. Females exhibited significantly higher parasitemia than their offspring (P < 0.0001) and transplacental transmission was observed in 74.2% of embryos (n = 89). Transplacental transmission of B. microti is thus a viable and potentially important infectious pathway in naturally infected rodent species and should be considered in future theoretical and empirical studies.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study is the first to report transplacental transmission of B. microti occurring in its natural reservoir host, P. leucopus, in the United States and the only study that provides a quantitative estimate of parasitemia. This vector-independent pathway could contribute to the increased geographic range of B. microti or increase its abundance in endemic areas.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2875-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus

Tufts

Diuk‐Wasser

2018

Parasites Vectors

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“…Vertical transmission of B. microti has been clearly demonstrated recently in BALB/c mice in our laboratory [ 15 ], with up to 100% success, and some cases of congenital babesiosis have been reported recently in the literature in dogs [ 16 – 18 ]. Congenital babesiosis has been recognized also in newborn human babies in the USA [ 19 – 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, genetic identity and vertical transmission of Babesia microti in three naturally infected species of vole, Microtus spp. (Cricetidae)

et al. 2017

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BackgroundVertical transmission is one of the transmission routes for Babesia microti, the causative agent of the zoonotic disease, babesiosis. Congenital Babesia invasions have been recorded in laboratory mice, dogs and humans. The aim of our study was to determine if vertical transmission of B. microti occurs in naturally-infected reservoir hosts of the genus Microtus.MethodsWe sampled 124 common voles, Microtus arvalis; 76 root voles, M. oeconomus and 17 field voles, M. agrestis. In total, 113 embryos were isolated from 20 pregnant females. Another 11 pregnant females were kept in the animal house at the field station in Urwitałt until they had given birth and weaned their pups (n = 62). Blood smears and/or PCR targeting the 550 bp 18S rRNA gene fragment were used for the detection of B. microti. Selected PCR products, including isolates from females/dams and their embryos/pups, were sequenced.ResultsPositive PCR reactions were obtained for 41% (89/217) of the wild-caught voles. The highest prevalence of B. microti was recorded in M. arvalis (56/124; 45.2%), then in M. oeconomus (30/76; 39.5%) and the lowest in M. agrestis (3/17; 17.7%). Babesia microti DNA was detected in 61.4% (27/44) of pregnant females. Vertical transmission was confirmed in 81% (61/75) of the embryos recovered from Babesia-positive wild-caught pregnant females. The DNA of B. microti was detected in the hearts, lungs and livers of embryos from 98% of M. arvalis, 46% of M. oeconomus and 0% of M. agrestis embryos from Babesia-positive females. Of the pups born in captivity, 90% were born to Babesia-positive dams. Babesia microti DNA was detected in 70% (35/50) of M. arvalis and 83% (5/6) of M. oeconomus pups. Congenitally acquired infections had no impact on the survival of pups over a 3-week period post partum. Among 97 B. microti sequences, two genotypes were found. The IRU1 genotype (Jena-like) was dominant in wild-caught voles (49/53; 92%), pregnant females (9/11; 82%) and dams (3/5; 60%). The IRU2 genotype (Munich-like) was dominant among B. microti positive embryos (20/27; 74%) and pups (12/17; 71%).ConclusionA high rate of vertical transmission of the two main rodent genotypes of B. microti was confirmed in two species of naturally infected voles, M. arvalis and M. oeconomus.

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“…Other cases of vertical transmission of Babesia sensu stricto sp. have been reported in puppies infected with Babesia canis 6 weeks after birth and in puppies with clinical signs after 8 weeks from presumed vertical transmission of B. canis canis (Mierzejewska et al 2014; Adaszek et al 2016). Because infections of raccoons with Babesia sensu stricto were not noted until at least 2–3 weeks of age, which is within the time frame of tick-transmitted prepatent periods, it is possible that these two groups of Babesia , B. microti -like sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The piroplasms are an important cause of disease in humans, domestic animals and some wildlife, although most piroplasms in wildlife demonstrate low pathogenicity for their natural host (Hunfeld et al 2008; Yabsley and Shock, 2012). Most piroplasms with known life cycles use ixodid ticks as vectors (Hunfeld et al 2008) although vertical transmission has been noted as a possible alternative transmission route for some piroplasms (e.g., Babesia microti in laboratory mice and humans, Babesia gibsoni and Babesia canis canis in dogs and Babesia bovis in cows) (Yeruham et al 2003; Fukumoto et al 2005; Joseph et al 2012; Mierzejewska et al 2014; Bednarska et al 2015; Adaszek et al 2016; Costa et al 2016). In addition, fighting and intermixing of individuals’ blood has been associated with direct transmission of B. gibsoni between fighting dogs (Yeagley et al 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A survey of raccoons from Japan with splenomegaly, a pathologic consequence of Babesia infections in other species, found that 8% (2/24) were positive for Babesia spp. ; however, only raccoons with splenomegaly were tested (Kawabuchi et al 2005; Adaszek et al 2016). Reports of Babesia infections in raccoons are generally based on older studies that utilized blood smears for piroplasms detection (Schaffer et al 1978; Anderson et al 1981; Telford and Forrester, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prevalence and diversity of piroplasms and ticks in young raccoons and an association of Babesia sensu stricto infections with splenomegaly

Garrett

Schott²,

Peshock³

et al. 2018

Parasitology Open

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Piroplasms are intraerythrocytic parasites that are often transmitted by ixodid ticks, but vertical transmission is an alternative route for some species. In the USA, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are hosts for two known species, a Babesia microti-like sp. and Babesia lotori (in Babesia sensu stricto group). To better understand the natural history of Babesia in raccoons, we tested young raccoons from Minnesota and Colorado for Babesia spp., examined them for ticks, and assessing for splenomegaly as a sign of clinical disease. Raccoons from both states were infected with B. microti-like sp. and Babesia sensu stricto spp. Infections of B. microti-like were common, even in 1-week-old raccoons, suggesting vertical transmission. Babesia sensu stricto infections were more common in older raccoons. Raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto had significantly higher spleen:body weight ratios compared with uninfected or B. microti-like sp.-infected raccoons. Ticks were only found on raccoons from Minnesota. The most common and abundant tick was Ixodes texanus but Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis were also found on raccoons. We report piroplasm infections and infestations with several tick species in very young raccoons. Young raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto spp. had higher spleen:body weight ratios, suggesting a disease risk.

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Possible vertical transmission of Babesia canis canis from a bitch to her puppies: a case report

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus

Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus

Prevalence, genetic identity and vertical transmission of Babesia microti in three naturally infected species of vole, Microtus spp. (Cricetidae)

Prevalence and diversity of piroplasms and ticks in young raccoons and an association of Babesia sensu stricto infections with splenomegaly

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