Molecular evidence of Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia massiliae in ixodid ticks of carnivores from South Hungary

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Hornok ◽  
José Fuente ◽  
Gábor Horváth ◽  
Isabel Fernández de Mera ◽  
Michiel Wijnveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Ehrlichia Canis ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Canine Ehrlichiosis ◽  
Rickettsia Massiliae ◽  
Blot Hybridisation

To monitor the emergence of thermophilic, Mediterranean ixodid tick species and tick-borne pathogens in southern Hungary, 348 ticks were collected from shepherd dogs, red foxes and golden jackals during the summer of 2011. Golden jackals shared tick species with both the dog and the red fox in the region.Dermacentornymphs were collected exclusively from dogs, and the sequence identification of these ticks indicated that dogs are preferred hosts of bothD. reticulatusandD. marginatusnymphs, unlike previously reported. Subadults of three ixodid species were selected for reverse line blot hybridisation (RLB) analysis to screen their vector potential for 40 pathogens/groups. Results were negative forAnaplasma,BabesiaandTheileriaspp. Investigation ofD. marginatusnymphs revealed the presence ofEhrlichia canis,Rickettsia massiliaeandBorrelia afzeliifor the first time in this tick species. These findings broaden the range of those tick-borne agents, which are typically transmitted byRhipicephalus sanguineus, but may also haveDermacentorspp. as potential or alternative vectors.Ehrlichiacaniswas also newly detected inIxodes canisugalarvae from red foxes. In absence of transovarial transmission in ticks this implies that Eurasian red foxes may play a reservoir role in the epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis.

scholarly journals Ixodid ticks on dogs in southern Mozambique

2004 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Neves ◽  
Sonia Afonso ◽  
I.G. Horak
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Rural Settlements ◽  
Genus Level ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
Haemaphysalis Leachi ◽  
The City

The objective of this study was to determine the species and distribution of ticks infesting domestic dogs in southern Mozambique. To this end 89 collections were taken from dogs and the geographic coordinates of the localities at which they were made noted. Fifty-eight of these collections were from animals in the city of Maputo and 16 from animals at rural settlements close to Maputo. A further 15 collections were made from dogs in rural environments north of Maputo. Ten ixodid tick species, of which one was only identified to genus level, were recovered. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most numerous of the ten species, and its prevalence and intensity of infestation were significantly higher on city dogs than on rural dogs (P< 0.01), whereas the converse was true for Haemaphysalis leachi (P< 0.01). Including the city of Maputo, the exact localities at which nine tick species were collected, were recorded.

scholarly journals Abundance of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and Presence of Rickettsia and Anaplasma in Ticks Infesting Domestic Animals From Northern India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brij Ranjan Misra ◽  
Niraj Kumar ◽  
Rajni Kant ◽  
Hirawati Deval ◽  
Rajeev Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Bacteria ◽  
Hematophagous Arthropods

Abstract Rickettsia and Anaplasma are bacteria that can be transmitted by hematophagous arthropods such as ticks infesting animals in close proximity to humans. The main objective of the present study was to investigate abundance of common tick species infesting domestic animals and presence of Rickettsia and Anaplasma in tick populations. Adult ticks were collected from domestic animals in rural areas and screened by molecular detection of bacterial DNA for these two genera of bacteria. A total of 1,778 adult ixodid tick specimens were collected from 200 cattle, 200 buffaloes, 200 goats, and 40 dogs. The collection consisted of four species of ixodid ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (83.8%), Hyalomma kumari (Sharif) (7.1%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (6.4%), and Dermacentor auratus (Supino) (2.7%) infesting the domestic animals. The prevalence of all the collected tick species was highest in the month of October. Anaplasma spp. was the most frequently identified bacteria (3.3%) in tested ticks. Of 17 positive tick pools for Anaplasma spp., 14 pools were from ticks infesting cattle, 2 pools of ticks collected from buffalo, and the remaining pool were ticks infesting a goat at the time of collection. Although 1.6% tick pools of R. microplus collected from cattle tested positive for Rickettsia spp., present investigation provides evidence of the most prevalent ixodid ticks infesting domestic animals and the presence of obligate intracellular bacteria, Rickettsia and Anaplasma, in these ticks collected in the Gorakhpur division of Northern India.

scholarly journals First broad-range molecular screening of tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) kaiseri, with special emphasis on piroplasms

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
Sándor Hornok ◽  
Attila D. Sándor ◽  
Gábor FÖldvári ◽  
Angela M. IonicĂ ◽  
Cornelia Silaghi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Type B ◽  
Molecular Screening ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Blot Hybridisation ◽  
First Time

AbstractRecently, the occurrence of Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) kaiseri has been reported for the first time in several European countries, but data on the molecular analysis of this hard tick species are still lacking. Therefore, in this study DNA extracts of 28 I. kaiseri (collected from dogs and red foxes in Germany, Hungary and Romania) were screened with reverse line blot hybridisation (RLB), PCR and sequencing for the presence of 43 tick-borne pathogens or other members of their families from the categories of Anaplasmataceae, piroplasms, rickettsiae and borreliae. Rickettsia helvetica DNA was detected in one I. kaiseri female (from a red fox, Romania), for the first time in this tick species. Six ticks (from red foxes, Romania) contained the DNA of Babesia vulpes, also for the first time in the case of I. kaiseri. Molecular evidence of R. helvetica and B. vulpes in engorged I. kaiseri does not prove that this tick species is a vector of the above two pathogens, because they might have been taken up by the ticks from the blood of foxes. In addition, one I. kaiseri female (from a dog, Hungary) harboured Babesia sp. badger type-B, identified for the first time in Hungary and Central Europe (i.e. it has been reported previously from Western Europe and China). The latter finding can be explained by either the susceptibility of dogs to Babesia sp. badger type-B, or by transstadial survival of this piroplasm in I. kaiseri.

scholarly journals Small mammals as hosts of immature ixodid ticks

2005 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.G. Horak ◽  
L.J. Fourie ◽  
L.E.O. Braack
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Free State ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Rhabdomys Pumilio ◽  
Haemaphysalis Leachi ◽  
Lepus Capensis ◽  
Multimammate Mice

Two hundred and twenty-five small mammals belonging to 16 species were examined for ticks in Free State, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces, South Africa, and 18 ixodid tick species, of which two could only be identified to genus level, were recovered. Scrub hares, Lepus saxatilis, and Cape hares, Lepus capensis, harboured the largest number of tick species. In Free State Province Namaqua rock mice, Aethomys namaquensis, and four-striped grass mice, Rhabdomys pumilio, were good hosts of the immature stages of Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus gertrudae, while in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Provinces red veld rats, Aethomys chrysophilus, Namaqua rock mice and Natal multimammate mice, Mastomys natalensis were good hosts of H. leachi and Rhipicephalus simus. Haemaphysalis leachi was the only tick recovered from animals in all three provinces.

The seasonal activity of adult ixodid ticks on Angora goats in the south western Orange Free State

1991 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Fourie ◽  
I. G. Horak
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Free State ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
The South ◽  
Ixodes Rubicundus ◽  
Angora Goats

Adult ixodid ticks were collected at 2-weekly intervals for a period of 23 consecutive months from 15 to 20 Angora goats on a farm in the south western Orange Free State. A total of 6 ixodid tick species were recovered. Rhipicephalus punctatus was the most abundant and prevalent tick, It was present from spring to late summer. Ixodes rubicundus was the next most abundant tick and was present mainly from March or April to July with peak numbers present in April or May. The onset of this tick's activity appeared to be stimulated by low atmospheric temperatures.

scholarly journals Ectoparasites of dogs belonging to people in resource-poor communities in North West Province, South Africa

2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N.R. Bryson ◽  
I.G. Horak ◽  
E.W. Höhn ◽  
J.P. Louw
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
North West ◽  
Canine Ehrlichiosis ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
North West Province ◽  
Haemaphysalis Leachi ◽  
Poor Communities

A total of 344 dogs belonging to people in resource-poor communities in North West Province, South Africa, was examined for ectoparasites, and all visible arthropods were collected from the left side of each dog. By doubling these numbers it was estimated that the dogs harboured 14 724 ixodid ticks, belonging to 6 species, 1028 fleas, belonging to 2 species, and 26 lice. Haemaphysalis leachi accounted for 420 and Rhipicephalus sanguineus for 14 226 of the ticks. Pure infestations of H. leachi were present on 14 dogs and of R. sanguineus on 172 dogs. Small numbers of Amblyomma hebraeum, R. appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi and R. simus were also collected. The predominance of R. sanguineus accounts for the high prevalence of canine ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis) within the survey region, compared to canine babesiosis (Babesia canis), which is transmitted by H. leachi, and is a much rarer disease.

Feline ehrlichiosis – literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol XXV (144) ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
Maria G. M. S. Solis ◽  
Marcelo de Souza Zanutto
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Ehrlichia Canis ◽  
Canine Ehrlichiosis ◽  
Available Information

Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by a bacterium belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family that can infect mammals. In Brazil, canine ehrlichiosis is caused by Ehrlichia canis, and it is endemic in some regions. The bacterium is transmitted by vectors, and especially the Rhipicephalus sanguineus. In cats the disease process is less understood due to scarce research, and lack of standardization of diagnostic tests. Lack of awareness of veterinarians about the importance of the disease in cats is also a contributing factor to scarce information. The available information suggests that the course of the disease in cats is similar to that of the dog. In this article we present a literature review on feline ehrlichiosis describing etiopathogenesis, methods of diagnostic, treatment, and prophylaxis strategies.

In vitro splenocyte proliferation responses of BALB/c mice to salivary gland extracts of three ixodid tick species (Acari: Ixodidae)

Biologia ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mária Kazimírová ◽  
Terézia Rolníková ◽  
Emília Dvorožňáková ◽  
Milan Buc
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Gland ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
In Vitro Proliferation ◽  
Murine Splenocytes ◽  
Ifn Γ

AbstractIn vitro proliferation and cytokine production were investigated in BALB/c mice splenic cell cultures that were stimulated with concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and simultaneously exposed to salivary gland extracts (SGE) of unfed and partially fed adult ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma variegatum). Generally, tick SGE enhanced proliferation of unstimulated splenocytes and SGE of unfed ticks suppressed mitogen induced proliferation. Partially fed R. appendiculatus and A. variegatum suppressed ConA responses, while partially fed I. ricinus stimulated both ConA and LPS induced proliferation. A. variegatum and R. appendiculatus females slightly enhanced LPS responses 2 days after attachment but suppressed them at the end of the slow feeding phase. In 72 h ConA induced cell cultures, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production was suppressed by SGE of all ticks, interleukin (IL)-10 production was enhanced by unfed I. ricinus and partially fed A. variegatum males and IL-5 production was enhanced by feeding R. appendiculatus females and A. variegatum males. The study revealed variability in the responsiveness of murine splenocytes to SGE of different ixodid tick species, whereby patterns of host immunomodulation within one tick species differed between sexes and changed during feeding.

scholarly journals First molecular evidence of Hepatozoon canis infection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks in Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
MohammadReza Zeinali ◽  
Farnaz Malekifard ◽  
Alaleh Rakhshanpour ◽  
Mohammad Yakhchali
Keyword(s):  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Hepatozoon Canis ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Microscopical Examination ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus Sensu Lato

Abstract Background Hepatozoon canis is a protozoan that is transmitted by the ixodid ticks. Ingesting the tick or a section of the tick organ which is infected by the mature oocysts containing infectious sporozoite is the main source of infection in dogs. Canine hepatozoonosis infects dogs in Iran, but the vector for Hepatozoon protozoa from Iran has never been demonstrated. The present study aims to detect H. canis in dogs and vector ticks in Iran. Methods During the period of 2018–2019, Blood samples and ixodid ticks were collected and examined using microscopical, molecular, and serological methods. A total of 246 blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein of pet, stray, and shelter dogs (103 stray, 99 shelter, and 44 pets) of both genders and varying ages in Northwest of Iran. Results Microscopically, infected neutrophils with Hepatozoon spp. were detected in 5 of 246 (2.03%) thin stained blood smears with low parasitemia. Indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to test the serum samples and antibodies against H. canis were detected in 31 (12.6%) of the serum samples. Molecularly, 23 out of 246 (9.34%) blood samples were found to be infected with H. canis. A comparison of the results of 3 diagnostic methods demonstrated a good agreement between IFAT and PCR and a poor agreement between microscopical examination with IFAT and PCR. There was no significant difference in different age groups and sex of sampled dogs. However, stray dogs had significant infection rate of than pets and shelter ones. In body inspection, 141 adult ticks (31 partially engorged females, 26 fully engorged female and 84 fed males) were collected from examined dogs and all ticks were belonging to species of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato). Positive reaction to H. canis was observed in the genomic DNA of the 7 ticks (4.96%). A BLAST analysis of obtaining sequences isolated from both dogs and ticks indicated a 99–100% similarity with H. canis 18S rRNA gene sequences in GenBank. This is the first study in Iran to detect H. canis in R. sanguineus tick.

scholarly journals Ticks of four-toed elephant shrews and Southern African hedgehogs

2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan G. Horak ◽  
Shaun Welman ◽  
Stacey L. Hallam ◽  
Heike Lutermann ◽  
Nomakwezi Mzilikazi
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Ixodid Tick ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Elephant Shrew ◽  
Northern Cape

Several studies on ticks infesting small mammals, including elephant shrews, have been conducted in South Africa; however, these studies have included only a single four-toed elephant shrew and no hedgehogs. This study thus aimed to identify and quantify the ixodid ticks infesting four-toed elephant shrews and Southern African hedgehogs. Four-toed elephant shrews (Petrodromus tetradactylus) were trapped in dense shrub undergrowth in a nature reserve in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal. They were separately housed, first in cages and later in glass terraria fitted with wire-mesh bases to allow detached ticks to fall through for collection. Southern African hedgehogs (Atelerix frontalis) were hand caught on a farm in the eastern region of the Northern Cape Province and all visible ticks were collected by means of tweezers while the animals were anaesthetised. The ticks from each animal were preserved separately in 70% ethanol for later identification and counting. The immature stages of five ixodid tick species were collected from the elephant shrews, of which Rhipicephalus muehlensi was the most common. It has not been recorded previously on any species of elephant shrew. Three ixodid tick species were collected from the hedgehogs. Large numbers of adult Haemaphysalis colesbergensis, which has not been encountered previously on hedgehogs, were collected from these animals. Four-toed elephant shrews are good hosts of the larvae and nymphs of R. muehlensi, and Southern African hedgehogs are good hosts of adult H. colesbergensis.

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