scholarly journals Molecular Survey of Vector-Borne Pathogens of Dogs and Cats in Two Regions of Saudi Arabia

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Abdullah D. Alanazi ◽  
Abdulaziz S. Alouffi ◽  
Mohamed S. Alyousif ◽  
Mohammad Y. Alshahrani ◽  
Hend H. A. M. Abdullah ◽  
...  

Dogs and cats play an important role as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens, yet reports of canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Saudi Arabia are scarce. Blood samples were collected from 188 free-roaming dogs and cats in Asir (70 dogs and 44 cats) and Riyadh (74 dogs), Saudi Arabia. The presence of Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., hemotropic Mycoplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Hepatozoon spp. was detected using a multiplex tandem real-time PCR. PCR-positive samples were further examined with specific conventional and real-time PCR followed by sequencing. Dogs from Riyadh tested negative for all pathogens, while 46 out of 70 dogs (65.7%) and 17 out of 44 cats (38.6%) from Asir were positive for at least one pathogen. Positive dogs were infected with Anaplasma platys (57.1%), Babesia vogeli (30%), Mycoplasma haemocanis (15.7%), and Bartonella henselae (1.4%), and cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis (13.6%), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (13.6%), B. henselae (9.2%), and A. platys (2.27%), all of which are reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Co-infection with A. platys and B. vogeli was detected in 17 dogs (24.28%), while coinfections were not detected in cats. These results suggest that effective control and public awareness strategies for minimizing infection in animals are necessary.

Author(s):  
Roberta Iatta ◽  
Alireza Sazmand ◽  
Viet-Linh Nguyen ◽  
Farzad Nemati ◽  
Muhammad Mazhar Ayaz ◽  
...  

AbstractCanine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are highly prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries, mainly due to favorable climate conditions and reduced adoption of preventive measures. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview on the prevalence of CVBDs in Iran and Pakistan where limited data are available. Blood samples were collected from 403 dogs from six provinces in Iran and Pakistan to assess the presence of pathogen DNA (i.e., Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Hepatozoon spp., filarioids, and Leishmania spp.). Sera were also screened by an immunofluorescence antibody test for the detection of antibodies against Leishmania infantum. In total, 46.9% of dogs scored positive to Hepatozoon canis being the most frequently detected (41.4%), followed by Anaplasma platys (6.4%), Ehrlichia canis (3.4%), Rickettsia spp. (2.2%), Babesia vogeli (1.0%), and L. infantum (0.3%). A seroprevalence of 9.6% to anti-L. infantum IgG was also recorded. Data reported herein demonstrate that dogs from Iran and Pakistan are at a high risk of CVBDs, particularly of canine hepatozoonosis. Effective control strategies are advocated for minimizing the risk of infection in animals and humans, also in consideration of the zoonotic potential of some pathogens detected.


Author(s):  
Aymen Abdelhaleem ◽  
Nabil Dhayhi ◽  
Mohamed Salih Mahfouz ◽  
Ommer Daffalla ◽  
Mansour Mubarki ◽  
...  

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe clinical form of the disease and has been reported in the Jazan region of southwest Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to diagnose VL by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the direct agglutination test (DAT) and to identify the causative Leishmania species. A total of 80 participants, including 30 suspected VL patients, 30 healthy endemic control individuals, and 20 malaria disease controls, were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected and tested for Leishmania DNA by real-time PCR and for antibody by the DAT. Sequencing of some amplified PCR products was used to identify the causative Leishmania species. The diagnosis of VL was successfully achieved by both real-time PCR and by DAT with 100% sensitivity. Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum species were detected by sequencing both by the kDNA and ITS1 target genes, followed a BLASTn search. The detection of VL antibody by the DAT followed by the confirmatory detection of Leishmania DNA in patient blood by PCR could promote the adoption of the much less invasive and more sensitive methods for the routine diagnosis of VL. Further study with high sample volume to evaluate the PCR and the DAT are needed, to generate more robust evidence. Based on the sequencing results, emerging studies on VL should focus on the causative Leishmania species, reservoirs, and vectors that are important in the study area.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah D Alanazi ◽  
Jan Šlapeta ◽  
Abulaziz Alouffi ◽  
Nichola Calvani ◽  
Mohamed Alyousif ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Vector-borne diseases have been increasing worldwide and reported in many animals including dogs and cats. Limited or no data are currently available regarding canine and feline vector-borne diseases in Saudi Arabia and limited information is available from other Middle Eastern countries. The aim of this study was to compare vector-borne disease prevalence between two bio-climatically distinct regions of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh province that is arid positioned at low elevation and Asir province that is humid at high elevation. Methods: Blood samples from 74d ogs from Riyadh province and 70 dogs and 44 cats from Asirprovince were collected and examined for the presence of genomic DNA of Babesias pp, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichias pp., Bartonella spp., Mycoplasma spp., and Hepatozoon spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Multiplex-tandem PCR (MT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing.Results: Seventy four dogs were tested from Riyadh province and found be negative of any pathogen. Of the 70 dogs examined from Asir province 45(64.3%) were positive. Specifically, 40 (57.1%) dogs were positive for A.platys, 20 (28.5%) for B.vogeli, 11(15.7%) for My.Haemocanis, two (2.85%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum and one (1.4%) for Br.henselae. Fourteen out of 44 cats (31.8%) were positive for one of the detected vector-borne pathogens. Six cats (13.6%) were positive for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and My.haemofelis, respectively, four cats (9.2%) were positive for Br.Henselae, two (4.54%) for Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum and one (2.27%) for A. platys. Conclusions: The results of this study report the occurrence of A. platys, B. vogeli, Br. henselae, and My. haemocanis in dogs and of A. platys, Br. henselae, My.haemofelis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum in cats from Asir province Further molecular investigations are strongly recommended in order to reduce the risk of dogs and cats acquiring vector-borne diseases in Saudi Arabia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-30
Author(s):  
Chahinez Amira DAHMANI ◽  
Ahmed BENZAOUI ◽  
Fatima Zohra SEDIKI ◽  
Leila ADDA NEGGAZ ◽  
Faouzia ZEMANI FODIL ◽  
...  

Background: Numerous studies have shown that polymorphism rs231775 of the CTLA4 gene is strongly implicated in the development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Other polymorphisms of this gene are candidates that may have an additional effect in susceptibility to AS. For the first time, we searched for the association of rs3087243 polymorphism located in the 3'UTR region of the CTLA4 gene with the development of SA in the Algerian population. Methods: The study involved 200 subjects (80 AS patients recruited at the rheumatology service and 120 healthy individuals unrelated). Genotyping was performed by real-time PCR (Taqman®). Analysis of the results was carried out by IBM.SPSS.Statictis® software. Results: The distribution of allele frequencies showed a significant association between the GG genotype of the polymorphism rs3087243 and AS risk (OR= 1.77 [0.98-3.21], p=0.004). Conclusion: Our data would suggest that the 3'UTR region of the CTLA4 gene could have an impact on the development of SA in the West Algerian population. These results need to be confirmed on a larger sample.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hend H.A.M. Abdullah ◽  
Dina Aboelsoued ◽  
Tarek K Farag ◽  
Kadria N Abdel Megeed ◽  
Sobhy Abdel-Shafy ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Equine vector borne diseases (EVBD) have been considered emerging and reemerging diseases transmitted by arthropods and most of these diseases have zoonotic concern. This study was designed to screen EVBD in equines and their vectors using molecular analyses and identify vectors by MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques.Methods A total of 335 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy equines (320 from horses and 15 from donkeys) from Cairo and Beni-Suef provinces in Egypt. A total of 166 arthropods (105 sucking flies and 61 ticks) were collected from the same animals. MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques were used to confirm the findings of morphological identification of vector. Quantitative PCR and Standard PCR coupled with sequencing were performed in equines and vectors DNA for screening multiple pathogens.Results MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques confirmed that Hippoposca equina (louse fly), Rhipicephalus annulatus (Rh. annulatus) and Rh. microplus ixodid ticks were found. In vectors, we identified Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale; 1.6%), A. platys-like (1.6%) and a new Ehrlichia sp. (4.9%) in Rh. microplus, while Ehrlichia rustica (E. rustica) was found in Rh. microplus and Rh. annulatus. Likewise, Borrelia theileri was identified in Rh. microplus (3.3%). For H. equina, Anaplasma and Borrelia sp. DNA were detected by qPCR only. In equines, A. marginale (0.6%), A. ovis (0.6%) and Theileria ovis (T. ovis; 0.6%) were found in donkeys. In horses, T. equi (1.2%) and a new Theileria sp. Africa (2.7%) were identified.Conclusions For the first time, we reported here the presence of Rh. microplus as a competent tick for Rh. annulatus in Egypt using MALDI-TOF and molecular identification. To the best of our knowledge, we provided the first detection of different pathogens as A. marginale, A. platys-like, E. rustica, new Ehrlichia sp., B. theileri in Rh. microplus, A. marginale, A. ovis and T. ovis in donkeys and a new Theileria sp. Africa in horses in Egypt.


Author(s):  
Sekovska Blagica ◽  
Stefanovska Jovana

Change in environmental and socio-economic, emerging zoonotic diseases will be an increasing challenge for public health in Europe and in Macedonia also. The risks and consequences triggered by vector-borne diseases (VBD) for public health in Macedonia are just starting to emerge in public awareness. This is clearly shown by recent events such as spread of hemorrhagic fevers in Europe. The term “public health” in the scope of this chapter suggests re-conceptualization of public health by adapting the risk governance framework developed by the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) for this purpose. The IRGC approach is distinguished from more classical risk governance approaches, inter alia, by an explicit inclusion of a systematic concern assessment. However, unfortunately, not all countries are adapted on this innovative public health model. This chapter shows results of a risk management study based on interview in depth with the officials regard public health risk, in frame of one health concept in the Republic of Macedonia.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Blanda ◽  
Rosalia D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Giudice ◽  
Kety Randazzo ◽  
Francesco La Russa ◽  
...  

Rickettsia species are an important cause of emerging infectious diseases in people and animals, and rickettsiosis is one of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. Laboratory diagnosis of Rickettsia is complex and time-consuming. This study was aimed at developing two quantitative real-time PCRs targeting ompB and ompA genes for the detection, respectively, of Rickettsia spp. and R. conorii DNA. Primers were designed following an analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences. The assays were optimized using SYBR Green and TaqMan methods and tested for sensitivity and specificity. This study allowed the development of powerful diagnostic methods, able to detect and quantify Rickettsia spp. DNA and differentiate R. conorii species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviane C. F. dos Santos ◽  
Nathalie B. F. Almeida ◽  
Thiago A. S. L. de Sousa ◽  
Eduardo N. D. Araujo ◽  
Antero S. R. de Andrade ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this study, we develop a real-time PCR strategy to directly detect and quantify DNA aptamers on functionalized graphene surfaces using a Staphylococcus aureus aptamer (SA20) as demonstration case. We show that real-time PCR allowed aptamer quantification in the range of 0.05 fg to 2.5 ng. Using this quantitative technique, it was possible to determine that graphene functionalization with amino modified SA20 (preceded by a graphene surface modification with thionine) was much more efficient than the process using SA20 with a pyrene modification. We also demonstrated that the functionalization methods investigated were selective to graphene as compared to bare silicon dioxide surfaces. The precise quantification of aptamers immobilized on graphene surface was performed for the first time by molecular biology techniques, introducing a novel methodology of wide application.


2011 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 255-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Farsang ◽  
Sandor Bernath ◽  
Mihaly Dobos-Kovacs

Haemorrhagic nephritis and enteritis of geese (HNEG) is a fatal disease caused by goose haemorrhagic polyomavirus (GHPV). The aim of our study was to investigate a field outbreak of HNEG by pathological methods and real-time PCR assay using light upon extension (LUX PCR) with special regard to the possibility of vertical transmission. This is the first time that presence of GHPV was confirmed in goslings that died within 4 days after hatching showing typical symptoms of HNEG, which indicates vertical transmissibility as the shortest incubation period of HNEG is 6 days. The way of viral transmission is a key issue and thus the disease control measurements and HNEG epizootiology may be revised based on the findings of this study.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document