Tick-borne pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance in Nigerian cattle

Abstract

BackgroundTicks and tick-borne diseases undermine cattle fitness and productivity in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. In this West African country, cattle are challenged by numerous tick species, especially during the wet season. Consequently, several TBDs are known to be endemic in Nigerian cattle, including anaplasmosis, babesiosis, cowdriosis and theilerioris (by Theileria mutans and Theileria velifera). To date, all investigations on cattle TBDs in Nigeria have been based on cytological examinations and/or on serological methods. This study aimed to ascertain the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of veterinary and zoonotic importance in cattle in Nigeria using molecular approaches.MethodsIn October 2008, 704 whole blood samples were collected from indigenous cattle in the Plateau State, Nigeria. Analysis for tick-borne pathogens was conducted by means of PCR-based reverse line blotting (RLB) and sequencing targeting a panel of five genera of microorganisms (i.e. Babesia, Theileria, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia spp.).ResultsIn total, 561/704 (82.6 %) animals were found infected, with 465 (69.6 %) of them being infected by two or more microorganisms, with up to 77 possible combinations of pathogens detected. Theileria mutans was the most prevalent microorganism (66.3 %), followed by Theileria velifera (52.4 %), Theileria taurotragi (39.5 %), Anaplasma marginale (39.1 %), Anaplasma sp. (Omatjenne) (34.7 %), Babesia bigemina (7.9 %), Anaplasma centrale (6.3 %), Anaplasma platys (3.9 %), Rickettsia massiliae (3.5 %), Babesia bovis (2.0 %) and Ehrlichia ruminantium (1.1 %). Calves were found significantly less infected than juvenile and adult cattle.ConclusionsThis study provides updated, molecular-based information on cattle TBDs in Nigeria. The molecular approach employed allowed the diagnosis of numerous positive cases including carrier statuses, multiple infections and novel pathogen detections within the indigenous cattle population. Moreover, the RLB method here described enabled the detection of veterinary agents not only pertaining to bovine health, including also those of zoonotic importance.The high prevalence recorded for T. mutans, T. velifera, A. marginale, T. taurotragi and Anaplasma sp. (Omatjenne), suggests they may be endemically established in Nigeria, whereas the lower prevalence recorded for other microorganisms (i.e. A. centrale and B. bovis) highlights a less stable epidemiological scenario, requiring further investigations.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1504-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Molecular survey and genetic characterization ofAnaplasma centrale,A. marginaleandA. bovisin cattle from Algeria

“…Our result is similar to previous reports from southern Italy (39.2%) (Carelli et al., ). Our result is in contrast to findings from other countries where the prevalence of A. centrale was much lower for example in Tunisia (15.1%) (Belkahia et al., ), Nigeria (6.3%) (Lorusso et al., ), southern Italy (13.8%) (Ceci et al., ) and Turkey (0.8% and 18%) (Aktas & Ozubek, ; Aktas et al., ).…”

“…As this species is naturally attenuated (Rar & Golovljova, ), it is used as a live vaccine in Australia, Africa and South America (Bock, de Vos, Kingston, & Carter, ). A. centrale was identified in cattle from Tunisia (Belkahia et al., ), Italy (Ceci et al., ; Zobba et al., ), Turkey (Aktas et al., ) and Nigeria (Lorusso et al., ).…”

Novel Rickettsia raoultii strain isolated and propagated from Austrian Dermacentor reticulatus ticks

“…The initial touch-down cycles were used to increase the specificity of the PCR reactions. All PCR products were used in the RLB assay as described previously [25] and were visualized using the ChemiDoc Touch Imaging System (Bio-Rad). The RLB membrane was exposed for 10 min to detect the chemiluminescence of the bound PCR products.…”

Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks infesting cattle in Nampula province, Mozambique

“…This species is considered to have low pathogenicity in cattle, thus having little economic importance (Bell-Sakyi et al 2004). Kubelová et al (2012) reported the presence of this pathogen in 14% of bovines in Angola and Lorusso et al (2016) found this pathogen in 52.4% of bovines in Nigeria. According to Wernecke et al (1979) and Capinera (2008), A. variegatum, A. hebraeum , and A. lepidum are vectors of T. velifera in South Africa and possibly also in Mozambique.…”