scholarly journals Molecular Evidence of Hemolivia mauritanica, Ehrlichia spp. and the Endosymbiont Candidatus Midichloria Mitochondrii in Hyalomma aegyptium Infesting Testudo graeca Tortoises from Doha, Qatar

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Patrícia F. Barradas ◽  
Clara Lima ◽  
Luís Cardoso ◽  
Irina Amorim ◽  
Fátima Gärtner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Testudo Graeca ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
Organ System Failure ◽  
Midichloria Mitochondrii

Tick-borne agents constitute a growing concern for human and animal health worldwide. Hyalomma aegyptium is a hard tick with a three-host life cycle, whose main hosts for adults are Palearctic tortoises of genus Testudo. Nevertheless, immature ticks can feed on a variety of hosts, representing an important eco-epidemiological issue regarding H. aegyptium pathogens circulation. Hyalomma aegyptium ticks are vectors and/or reservoirs of various pathogenic agents, such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia and Hepatozoon/Hemolivia. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma are emergent tick-borne bacteria with a worldwide distribution and zoonotic potential, responsible for diseases that cause clinical manifestations that grade from acute febrile illness to a fulminant disease characterized by multi-organ system failure, depending on the species. Babesia and Hepatozoon/Hemolivia are tick-borne parasites with increasing importance in multiple species. Testudo graeca tortoises acquired in a large animal market in Doha, Qatar, were screened for a panel of tick-borne pathogens by conventional PCR followed by bidirectional sequencing. The most prevalent agent identified in ticks was Hemolivia mauritanica (28.6%), followed by Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii (9.5%) and Ehrlichia spp. (4.7%). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Overall, 43% of the examined adult ticks were infected with at least one agent. Only 4.7% of the ticks appeared to be simultaneously infected with two agents, i.e., Ehrlichia spp. and H. mauritanica. This is the first detection of H. mauritanica, Ehrlichia spp. and Candidatus M. mitochondrii in H. aegyptium ticks collected from pet spur-thighed tortoises, in Qatar, a fact which adds to the geographical extension of these agents. The international trade of Testudo tortoises carrying ticks infected with pathogens of veterinary and medical importance deserves strict control, in order to reduce potential exotic diseases.

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), A rapidly spreading epidemic in Chennai - A standalone lab experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 4896
Author(s):  
Sripriya C.S.* ◽  
Shanthi B. ◽  
Arockia Doss S. ◽  
Antonie Raj I. ◽  
Mohana Priya
Keyword(s):  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽  
The Past ◽  
Igm Elisa ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Specific Symptoms ◽  
Symptoms And Signs

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), is a strict intracellular bacterium which is reported to be a recent threat to parts of southern India. There is re-emergence of scrub typhus during the past few years in Chennai. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness which generally causes non-specific symptoms and signs. The clinical manifestations of this disease range from sub-clinical disease to organ failure to fatal disease. This study documents our laboratory experience in diagnosis of scrub typhus in patients with fever and suspected clinical symptoms of scrub typhus infection for a period of two years from April 2014 to April 2016 using immunochromatography and IgM ELISA methods. The study was conducted on 648 patients out of whom 188 patients were found to be positive for scrub typhus. Results also showed that pediatric (0 -12 years) and young adults (20 – 39 years) were more exposed to scrub typhus infection and female patients were more infected compared to male. The study also showed that the rate of infection was higher between September to February which also suggested that the infection rate is proportional to the climatic condition. Statistical analysis showed that the mean age of the patients in this study was 37.6, standard deviation was 18.97, CV % was 50.45. 

scholarly journals Toxoplasmosis Outbreak Associated With Toxoplasma gondii-Contaminated Venison—High Attack Rate, Unusual Clinical Presentation, and Atypical Genotype

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C Schumacher ◽  
Lina I Elbadawi ◽  
Traci DeSalvo ◽  
Anne Straily ◽  
Daniel Ajzenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Wisconsin Department ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
Infection Source ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Acute Toxoplasmosis ◽  
Prior Infection

Abstract Background During 2017, in response to a physician’s report, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, began investigating an outbreak of febrile illness among attendees of a retreat where never frozen, intentionally undercooked, locally harvested venison was served. Preliminary testing tentatively identified the illness as toxoplasmosis. Methods Confirmatory human serology panels and testing of the venison to confirm and categorize the presence and type of Toxoplasma gondii were completed by French and American national reference laboratories. All 12 retreat attendees were interviewed; medical records were reviewed. Results All attendees were male; median age was 51 years (range: 22–75). After a median incubation period of 7 days, 9 (82%) of 11 exposed persons experienced illness lasting a median of 12 days. All 9 sought outpatient healthcare for symptoms including fever, chills, sweats, and headache (100%) and ocular disturbances (33%). Testing confirmed the illness as toxoplasmosis and venison as the infection source. Multiple laboratory results were atypical for toxoplasmosis, including transaminitis (86%), lymphocytopenia (88%), thrombocytopenia (38%), and leukopenia (63%). One exposed but asymptomatic person was seronegative; the other had immunity from prior infection. The T. gondii strain was identified as closely related to an atypical genotype (haplogroup 12, polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism genotype 5) common in North American wildlife but with previously uncharacterized human clinical manifestations. Conclusions The T. gondii strain contaminating the venison might explain the unusual clinical presentations. In North America, clinicians and venison consumers should be aware of risk for severe or unusual presentations of acute toxoplasmosis after consuming undercooked game meat.

Alphaviruses

2010 ◽  
pp. 557-561
Author(s):  
E.E. Ooi ◽  
L.R. Petersen ◽  
D.J. Gubler
Keyword(s):  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
The Family ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Complex Transmission ◽  
Diagnosis Of Infection

There are 29 registered alphaviruses belonging to the family Togaviridae, 16 of which are known to cause human infection. They are RNA viruses with global geographical distribution and complex transmission cycles between wild or domestic animals or birds and one or more mosquito species; humans are infected by mosquito bites. They cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from nonspecific febrile illness to acute encephalitis and death. Diagnosis of infection is made serologically by detection of IgM and IgG antibodies, virus isolation, and polymerase chain reaction, or by immunohistochemistry on tissue samples....

scholarly journals Molecular identification of Toxoplasma gondii in roadkill wild animals in Yucatan, Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Torres-Castro ◽  
Rodrigo Adán Medina-Pinto ◽  
Henry René Noh-Pech ◽  
Fernando I. Puerto ◽  
Roger Iván Rodríguez-Vivas
Keyword(s):  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Muscle Sample ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Lung Sample

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, recognized as the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic endemic disease in several countries, including Mexico. In the Yucatan State of Mexico, Toxoplasma infection has a high impact in both human and domestic animal health. Wild animals can also host zoonotic pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in roadkill wild animals in Yucatan was detected using a nested Polymerase Chain Reaction. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was identified in several organs retrieved from a Yucatan squirrel (Sciurus yucatanensis), a coatimundi (Nasua narica), and a greater grison (Galictis vittata). The amplified fragments of Toxoplasma gondii DNA were purified, sequenced, and certified by BLAST analysis. Our results confirm that Toxoplasma gondii can infect wild mammals from Yucatan, which could act as intermediate hosts and contribute to the transmission of the disease to humans and domestic animals, as well as other wild animal species. We present the first molecular evidence of Toxoplasma gondii in a squirrel and a coatimundi from Yucatan, and quite possibly in a greater grison at a global level.Figure 1. Agarose gel presenting PCR amplicons (560 bp) positive to Toxoplasma gondii. 1) C+: positive control; A: Yucatan squirrel liver sample; B: great grison femoral muscle sample; C: coatimundi kidney sample; C-: negative control. 2) A: Yucatan squirrel brain sample; B: great grison lung sample; C-: negative control.

188 DEVELOPMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE WHOLE-OVARY PERFUSION SYSTEM

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
S. Maffei ◽  
G. Galeati ◽  
G. Pennarossa ◽  
T. A. L. Brevini ◽  
G. Gandolfi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Basal Medium ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Large Animal ◽  
Perfusion System ◽  
Whole Ovaries

The different structures of a mammalian ovary require complex 3-dimensional interactions to function properly. It is difficult to access the ovary in vivo and to study its physiology in vitro, it is necessary to dissect its different parts and culture them individually. Although informative, this approach prevents the understanding of the role played by their interactions. Perfusion systems are available for ovaries of laboratory animals while organs of larger species have been maintained in culture only for a few hours. This has prompted us to develop a system that can preserve the function of a whole sheep ovary for a few days ex vivo so that it is available for analysis in controlled conditions. Twenty-four sheep ovaries were collected at the local abattoir; 18 were assigned randomly to 3 experimental groups (media A, B, and C) and 6 were immediately fixed in 10% formaldehyde and used as fresh controls. Whole ovaries were cultured for up to 4 days using a semi-open perfusion system. Organs were perfused through the ovarian artery, at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min–1 with basal medium (M199, 25 mM HEPES, 2 mM l-glutamine and 100 µg mL–1 antibiotic-antimycotic solution) supplemented with 0.4% fatty acid free BSA (medium A); or 0.4% BSA heat shock fraction (medium B); or 10% FBS, 50 ng mL–1 IGF-1, and 50 mg bovine insulin (medium C). Ovaries were stimulated with FSH (Folltropin®-V, Bioniche Animal Health Inc., Belleville, Ontario, Canada) changing medium in a pulsatile manner (1 mg mL–1 for 2 h; 0.5 mg mL–1 for 2 h; 0 mg mL–1 for 20 h), with the same cycle repeated each day of culture. At every change, aliquots were collected for oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) quantification. After culture, ovaries were examined for follicular morphology, cell proliferation, and apoptotic rate. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA (SPSS 20, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). In media A and B, all morphological parameters showed a small but significant decrease compared to fresh control, only after 3 days of culture. The different BSA in medium B did not affect follicle morphology but significantly increased cell proliferation (medium A, 28.59 ± 3.26%; medium B, 32.04 ± 2.67%) and decreased apoptosis (medium A, 32.51 ± 5.92%; medium B, 24.55 ± 2.55%). In both media, steroid concentration increased after FSH pulses (E2 range 1.95–10.50 pg mL–1; P4 range 0.34–3.08 ng mL–1), reaching levels similar to those measurable in peripheral plasma. The presence of FBS, IGF-1, and insulin in medium C allowed extension of the culture period to 4 days with a percentage of intact follicles comparable to that observed after 3 days in media A and B. Moreover, proliferation rates were comparable to fresh controls. Steroid pattern changed with P4 values dropping close to zero (range 0.03–1.18 ng mL–1) and E2 level (range 23.59–94.98 pg mL–1) increasing 10-fold, achieving a concentration similar to that measured in the ovarian vein around oestrous. Our data indicate that it is possible to support viability of large animal whole ovaries for up to 4 days, providing a physiologically relevant model for studying ovarian functions in vitro. Research was supported by AIRC IG 10376 and by the Carraresi Foundation.

scholarly journals Clinical Manifestations, Hematology, and Chemistry Profiles of the Six Most Common Etiologies from an Observational Study of Acute Febrile Illness in Indonesia

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S127-S127
Author(s):  
Herman Kosasih ◽  
Muhammad Karyana ◽  
Dewi Lokida ◽  
Bachti Alisjahbana ◽  
Emiliana Tjitra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness

scholarly journals Rural Residents in China Are at Increased Risk of Exposure to Tick-Borne PathogensAnaplasma phagocytophilumandEhrlichia chaffeensis

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijuan Zhang ◽  
Hong Liu ◽  
Bianli Xu ◽  
Zhilun Zhang ◽  
Yuming Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Urban Residents ◽  
Wild Rabbit ◽  
Wild Rodents ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

As emerging tick born rickettsial diseases caused byA. phagocytophilumandE. chaffeensis, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis have become a serious threat to human and animal health throughout the world. In particular, in China, an unusual transmission of nosocomial cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis occurred in Anhui Province in 2006 and more recent coinfection case ofA. phagocytophilumandE. chaffeensiswas documented in Shandong Province. Although the seroprevalence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (former human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, HGE) has been documented in several studies, these data existed on local investigations, and also little data was reported on the seroprevalence of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) in China. In this cross-sectional epidemiological study, indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) proposed by WHO was used to detectA. phagocytophilumandE. chaffeensisIgG antibodies for 7,322 serum samples from agrarian residents from 9 provinces/cities and 819 urban residents from 2 provinces. Our data showed that farmers were at substantially increased risk of exposure. However, even among urban residents, risk was considerable. Seroprevalence of HGA and HME occurred in diverse regions of the country and tended to be the highest in young adults. Many species of ticks were confirmed carryingA. phagocytophilumorganisms in China while several kinds of domestic animals including dog, goats, sheep, cattle, horse, wild rabbit, and some small wild rodents were proposed to be the reservoir hosts ofA. phagocytophilum. The broad distribution of vector and hosts of theA. phagocytophilumandE. chaffeensis, especially the relationship between the generalized susceptibility of vectors and reservoirs and the severity of the disease’s clinical manifestations and the genetic variation of Chinese HGA isolates in China, is urgently needed to be further investigated.

scholarly journals Case report of the patient source of the Babesia microti R1 reference strain and implications for travelers

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Stahl ◽  
Yves Poinsignon ◽  
Pascal Pouedras ◽  
Vasilica Ciubotaru ◽  
Laurence Berry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biology ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Clinical Information ◽  
The United States ◽  
Babesia Microti ◽  
Cape Cod ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Worldwide Distribution ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Endemic Areas

AbstractBackgroundIn 2002, a previously healthy 69-year-old man travelled to France from the United States and presented to our hospital with a febrile illness that subsequently was determined to be babesiosis. The blood isolated from this patient served as a source for propagation of the Babesia microti R1 strain with subsequent sequencing and annotation of the parasite genome.MethodsUpon admission, we obtained a medical history, performed a physical examination, and examined his blood for the presence of a blood borne pathogen by microscopy, PCR and indirect immunofluorescence antibody testing. Once the diagnosis of babesiosis was made, we reviewed the literature to assess the distribution of B. microti-associated babesiosis cases in immunocompetent patients from outside the USA.ResultsThe patient recalled a tick bite during the previous month on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The diagnosis was confirmed by identification of Babesia-infected red blood cells on blood smears, amplification of B. microti DNA in blood by PCR and the presence of B. microti antibody in the serum. This strain was the first isolate of B. microti to be fully sequenced and its annotated genome serves as a reference for molecular and cell biology studies aimed at understanding B. microti pathophysiology and developing diagnostic tests and therapies. A review of babesiosis cases demonstrates a worldwide distribution of B. microti and identifies potential emerging endemic areas where travelers may be at risk of contracting B. microti infection.ConclusionThis case provides clinical information about the patient infected with the R1 isolate and a review of travel risk, diagnosis and treatment of babesiosis in endemic and non-endemic areas.

Localization of the bacterial symbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii within the hard tick Ixodes ricinus by whole-mount FISH staining

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Epis ◽  
Mauro Mandrioli ◽  
Marco Genchi ◽  
Matteo Montagna ◽  
Luciano Sacchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Bacterial Symbiont ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Whole Mount ◽  
Midichloria Mitochondrii

scholarly journals Louping ill virus: an endemic tick-borne disease of Great Britain

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Jeffries ◽  
K. L. Mansfield ◽  
L. P. Phipps ◽  
P. R. Wakeley ◽  
R. Mearns ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Britain ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Ixodid Ticks ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Louping Ill ◽  
Positive Strand Rna Virus ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

In Europe and Asia, Ixodid ticks transmit tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a flavivirus that causes severe encephalitis in humans but appears to show no virulence for livestock and wildlife. In the British Isles, where TBEV is absent, a closely related tick-borne flavivirus, named louping ill virus (LIV), is present. However, unlike TBEV, LIV causes a febrile illness in sheep, cattle, grouse and some other species, that can progress to fatal encephalitis. The disease is detected predominantly in animals from upland areas of the UK and Ireland. This distribution is closely associated with the presence of its arthropod vector, the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. The virus is a positive-strand RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus, exhibiting a high degree of genetic homology to TBEV and other mammalian tick-borne viruses. In addition to causing acute encephalomyelitis in sheep, other mammals and some avian species, the virus is recognized as a zoonotic agent with occasional reports of seropositive individuals, particularly those whose occupation involves contact with sheep. Preventative vaccination in sheep is effective although there is no treatment for disease. Surveillance for LIV in Great Britain is limited despite an increased awareness of emerging arthropod-borne diseases and potential changes in distribution and epidemiology. This review provides an overview of LIV and highlights areas where further effort is needed to control this disease.

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