Severe meningeal fibrinoid vasculitis associated with Theileria taurotragi infection in two short-horned Zebu cattle

Biasibetti, Elena; Sferra, Chiara; Lynen, Godelieve; Giulio, Giuseppe Di; Meneghi, Daniele De; Tomassone, Laura; Valenza, F.; Capucchio, Maria Teresa

doi:10.1007/s11250-016-1072-z

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In bovine cerebral theileriosis/turning sickness in Tanzanian cattle, histologic lesions in the brain were found to resemble lymphomatoid granulomatosis in humans, a nodular to diffuse angiocentric and angiodestructive granulomatous disease in the lungs, characterized by lymphocytes, macrophages, and atypical multinucleated giant cells. 14…”

Section: Leukocyte Phenotype and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The histopathology of pathogenic theileriosis is well described for ECF in cattle 6,35,45,82,94,123 and bovine cerebral theileriosis/ turning sickness, 14,33,155,187 but there are comparatively few descriptions of the histopathology of bovine tropical theileriosis 19,90 and malignant ovine theileriosis 71 in domestic livestock. Similarly, comprehensive histopathologic descriptions of pathogenic theileriosis are scarce in African wild artiodactyls.…”

Section: Histopathologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These lesions are similar to those described in the brain and spinal cord of cattle with cerebral theileriosis/turning sickness caused by T. taurotragi and, rarely, also by T. annulata and T. parva. 14,33,187 However, due to the small sample size in wild artiodactyls, meaningful conclusions can be drawn only if the central nervous system histopathology is investigated in a greater number of wild zzzz References 10, 21, 54, 57, 75,108,123,125,128,193,194 ungulates, especially eland with fatal pathogenic theileriosis due to T. taurotragi infection.…”

Section: Histopathologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…88,91,102 To complicate matters further, the normally benign T. taurotragi (in addition to pathogenic cattle-derived T. parva and T. annulata) is known to cause bovine cerebral theileriosis/ turning sickness in young African shorthorn cattle. 14,33,92 This is an atypical acutely fatal form of pathogenic theilerial infection characterized by significant schizont-associated leukocyte transformation, proliferation, and invasion of the brain and spinal cord. 14,33,92,187 Theileria taurotragi also causes pathogenic theileriosis in eland (Tragelaphus oryx), characterized by schizont-induced pathology in diverse organs and tissues (Tables 1 and 2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…14,33,92 This is an atypical acutely fatal form of pathogenic theilerial infection characterized by significant schizont-associated leukocyte transformation, proliferation, and invasion of the brain and spinal cord. 14,33,92,187 Theileria taurotragi also causes pathogenic theileriosis in eland (Tragelaphus oryx), characterized by schizont-induced pathology in diverse organs and tissues (Tables 1 and 2). 21,54,104 The Theileria genus is characterized by a complex 2-host life cycle (Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The Pathology of Pathogenic Theileriosis in African Wild Artiodactyls

et al. 2019

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The published literature on schizont-“transforming,” or pathogenic theileriosis, in African wild artiodactyls is dated and based on limited information. Here the authors review the taxonomy, diagnosis, epidemiology, hematology, pathology, and aspects of control in various species. Molecular studies based on 18S and 16S rRNA gene sequences have shown that African wild artiodactyls are commonly infected with diverse Theileria spp., as well as nontheilerial hemoprotozoa and rickettsia-like bacteria, and coinfections with pathogenic and nonpathogenic Theileria species are often recorded. Although theileriosis is still confusingly referred to as cytauxzoonosis in many species, the validity of a separate Cytauxzoon genus in artiodactyls is debated. The epidemiology of theileriosis is complex; the likelihood of fatal disease depends on the interplay of parasite, vertebrate host, tick vector, and environmental factors. Roan calves ( Hippotragus equinus) and stressed animals of all host species are more susceptible to fatal theileriosis. Even though regenerative anemia is common, peripheral blood piroplasm parasitemia does not correlate with disease severity. Other than anemia, common macroscopic lesions include icterus, hemorrhages (mucosal, serosal, and tissue), fluid effusions into body cavities, lung edema, and variably sized raised cream-colored foci of leukocyte infiltration in multiple organs. Histopathologic findings include vasocentric hyperproliferation and lysis of atypical leukocytes with associated intracellular schizonts, parenchymal necrosis, hemorrhage, thromboembolism, and edema. Immunophenotyping is required to establish the identity of the schizont-transformed leukocytes in wild ungulates. Throughout the review, we propose avenues for future research by comparing existing knowledge on selected aspects of theileriosis in domestic livestock with that in African wild artiodactyls.

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Section: Leukocyte Phenotype and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Histopathologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Histopathologymentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Pathology of Pathogenic Theileriosis in African Wild Artiodactyls

et al. 2019

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The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights

et al. 2022

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The order Piroplasmida, including the genera Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria is often referred to as piroplasmids and comprises of dixenous hemoprotozoans transmitted by ticks to a mammalian or avian host. Although piroplasmid infections are usually asymptomatic in wild animals, in domestic animals, they cause serious or life-threatening consequences resulting in fatalities. Piroplasmids are particularly notorious for the enormous economic loss they cause worldwide in livestock production, the restrictions they pose on horse trade, and the negative health impact they have on dogs and cats. Furthermore, an increasing number of reported human babesiosis cases are of growing concern. Considerable international research and epidemiological studies are done to identify existing parasite species, reveal their phylogenetic relationships, and develop improved or new drugs and vaccines to mitigate their impact. In this review, we present a compilation of all piroplasmid species, isolates, and species complexes that infect domestic mammals and which have been well defined by molecular phylogenetic markers. Altogether, 57 taxonomic piroplasmid entities were compiled, comprising of 43 piroplasmid species, 12 well-defined isolates awaiting formal species description, and two species complexes that possibly mask additional species. The extrapolation of the finding of at least 57 piroplasmid species in only six domestic mammalian groups (cattle, sheep, goat, horse, dog, and cat) allows us to predict that a substantially higher number of piroplasmid parasites than vertebrate host species exist. Accordingly, the infection of a vertebrate host species by multiple piroplasmid species from the same and/or different phylogenetic lineages is commonly observed. Molecular phylogeny using 18S rRNA genes of piroplasmids infecting domestic mammals results in the formation of six clades, which emerge due to an anthropocentric research scope, but not due to a possibly assumed biological priority position. Scrutinizing the topology of inferred trees reveals stunning insights into some evolutionary patterns exhibited by this intriguing group of parasites. Contrary to expectations, diversification of parasite species appears to be dominated by host-parasite cospeciation (Fahrenholz's rule), and, except for piroplasmids that segregate into Clade VI, host switching is rarely observed. When only domestic mammalian hosts are taken into account, Babesia sensu lato (s.l.) parasites of Clades I and II infect only dogs and cats, respectively, Cytauxzoon spp. placed into Clade III only infect cats, Theileria placed into Clade IV exclusively infect horses, wheras Theileria sensu stricto (s.s.) of Clade V infects only cattle and small ruminants. In contrast, Babesia s.s. parasites of Clade VI infect all farm and companion animal species. We outline how the unique ability of transovarial transmission of Babesia s.s. piroplasmids of Clade VI facilitates species diversification by host switching to other host vertebrate species. Finally, a deterioration o...

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Theileriosis in naturally infected roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus)

et al. 2022

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Cases of Theileria-associated mortality are rarely reported in African wild artiodactyls. Descriptions of lesions are limited, particularly in endangered hippotraginids. Here, we analyzed retrospectively the gross and histologic findings in 55 roan antelope ( Hippotragus equinus) with fatal natural theileriosis. The most frequently recorded gross findings in 40 cases were widespread petechiae and ecchymoses (72.5%), probable anemia (67.5%), icterus (60%), splenomegaly (60%), hepatomegaly (52.5%), and pulmonary edema (50%). Histologic lesions in 34 cases were characterized by multi-organ infiltrates of parasitized and nonparasitized mononuclear leukocytes (MLs), and fewer multinucleate giant cells (MNGCs). Liver, lung, kidney, adrenal gland, and heart were most consistently infiltrated, followed by spleen and lymph nodes. Leukocytes were phenotyped in lung, liver, kidney, and heart specimens from 16 cases, using immunohistochemistry to detect CD20, CD3, myeloid/histiocyte antigen (MAC387), IBA-1, and CD204 surface receptors. A roan polyclonal anti- Theileria sp. (sable) antibody was applied to the same tissues to identify intraleukocytic parasite antigens. Similar proportions of intravascular and extravascular IBA-1-, CD204-, and MAC387-reactive putative monocyte-macrophages and fewer CD3-positive putative T-lymphocytes were identified in all organs, especially the lungs in infected roan. CD20-positive putative B-lymphocytes were significantly scarcer than in uninfected controls. Intraleukocytic Theileria parasites labeled consistently in affected tissues. Some parasitized and nonparasitized MLs and the MNGCs failed to label with selected leukocyte markers. Fatal theileriosis in roans may largely be the result of multi-organ monocyte-macrophage activation with associated tissue injury and overwhelming systemic inflammation. The identity of the parasitized leukocytes and characteristics of the lymphohistiocytic response require further clarification in roans.

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Severe meningeal fibrinoid vasculitis associated with Theileria taurotragi infection in two short-horned Zebu cattle

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

The Pathology of Pathogenic Theileriosis in African Wild Artiodactyls

The Pathology of Pathogenic Theileriosis in African Wild Artiodactyls

The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights

Theileriosis in naturally infected roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus)

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