Challenges in Tick-Borne Pathogen Detection: The Case for Babesia spp. Identification in the Tick Vector

Martínez-García, Grecia; Santamaria-Espinosa, Rebeca Montserrat; Lira-Amaya, José J.; Millán, Julio Vicente Figueroa

doi:10.3390/pathogens10020092

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 139 publications

(249 reference statements)

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“…Babesiosis, a disease caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Babesia spp., affects a wide variety of domestic and wild animals and even birds [1]. Two species, Pathogens 2021, 10, 1593 2 of 13 Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, are present in cattle in Central and South America [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Babesia spp. in High Altitude Cattle in Ecuador, Possible Evidence of the Adaptation of Vectors and Diseases to New Climatic Conditions

et al. 2021

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Background: Babesia species are intraerythrocytic protozoa, distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, causing anemic diseases in many animals, including cattle. This disease, called babesisosis, is transmitted from one animal to another through ticks (Tick Borne-Disease or TBD). On the other hand, Ecuador has a tropical climate that allows the development of the vector Rhipicephalus microplus, and therefore favors the transmission of Babesia spp. in cattle. Methods and principal findings: We determined the presence of Babesia spp. by PCR using 18s ribosomal gene as target (18s PCR) in 20 farms in the area of El Carmen (zone below 300 m above sea level) and 1 farm in Quito (2469 m.a.s.l.). In addition, we analyzed parameters such as age, sex, and packed cell volume (PCV) as explanatory variable associated with the disease. Results: The 18s PCR test showed that 18.94% (14.77% Babesia bovis and 4.17% Babesia bigemina) and 20.28% (14.69% B. bovis and 5.59% B. bigemina) of the cattle were positive for Babesia spp in farms sampled in El Carmen and in Quito, respectively. Age influenced the presence of animals positive for Babesia spp., but sex and PCV did not. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences showed 4 isolates of B. bovis and 3 isolates of B. bigemina in the 2 study zones, with similarities between 99.73 and 100% with other sequences. One B. bovis isolate was similar in the zone of El Carmen and Quito. Conclusion and significance: This work is the first molecular characterization of B. bigemina and B. bovis in Ecuador, and it is also the first evidence of Babesia spp. in cattle in the area of Quito at an altitude of 2469 m.a.s.l., being the highest altitude reported for animals with babesiosis and for the tick R. microplus. Climatic factors as well as mobility of tick-carrying animals without any control allow the presence of Babesiosis outbreaks in new geographical areas.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Babesia spp. in High Altitude Cattle in Ecuador, Possible Evidence of the Adaptation of Vectors and Diseases to New Climatic Conditions

et al. 2021

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“…These methods should enable both the detection and accurate identification of a wide range of Babesia species in ticks. There are presently many methods/techniques that can be used to perform such studies [ 22 ]. The wide use of combined PCR and sequencing methods has enabled the identification/confirmation of new or lesser known species of Babesia , such as B. venatorum and B. capreoli , in the widely studied I. ricinus tick.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As can be seen in Table 2 , there are only a few studies on Babesia in other tick species (questing ticks) despite the availability of suitable molecular techniques (reviewed in [ 22 ]). This is partially due to the difficulty of obtaining questing individuals of tick species with life cycles that involve one or two host species, like Rhipicephalus microplus or Hyalomma spp.…”

Section: Interactions Between Babesia and Other Tick Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The specificity of Babesia-tick vector interactions: recent advances and pitfalls in molecular and field studies

Bajer

Dwużnik-Szarek

2021

Parasites Vectors

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Background Babesia spp. are protozoan parasites of great medical and veterinary importance, especially in the northern Hemisphere. Ticks are known vectors of Babesia spp., although some Babesia-tick interactions have not been fully elucidated. Methods The present review was performed to investigate the specificity of Babesia-tick species interactions that have been identified using molecular techniques in studies conducted in the last 20 years under field conditions. We aimed to indicate the main vectors of important Babesia species based on published research papers (n = 129) and molecular data derived from the GenBank database. Results Repeated observations of certain Babesia species in specific species and genera of ticks in numerous independent studies, carried out in different areas and years, have been considered epidemiological evidence of established Babesia-tick interactions. The best studied species of ticks are Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes scapularis (103 reports, i.e. 80% of total reports). Eco-epidemiological studies have confirmed a specific relationship between Babesia microti and Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, and Ixodes scapularis and also between Babesia canis and D. reticulatus. Additionally, four Babesia species (and one genotype), which have different deer species as reservoir hosts, displayed specificity to the I. ricinus complex. Eco-epidemiological studies do not support interactions between a high number of Babesia spp. and I. ricinus or D. reticulatus. Interestingly, pioneering studies on other species and genera of ticks have revealed the existence of likely new Babesia species, which need more scientific attention. Finally, we discuss the detection of Babesia spp. in feeding ticks and critically evaluate the data on the role of the latter as vectors. Conclusions Epidemiological data have confirmed the specificity of certain Babesia-tick vector interactions. The massive amount of data that has been thus far collected for the most common tick species needs to be complemented by more intensive studies on Babesia infections in underrepresented tick species. Graphical abstract

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“…Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on the extracted DNA from all the "suspected" samples of cattle, dogs and humans, with primer sets that can detect 18S rRNA genes of Babesia/Theileria spp., namely, primers Bab5 (5 -AATTACCCAATCCTGACACAGG-3 ) and Bab8 (5 -TTTGGCAGTAGT TCGTCTTTAACA-3 ) for the first round of amplification and primers Bab6 (5 -GACACAGGG AGGTAGTGACAAGA-3 ) and Bab7 (5 -CCCAACTGCTCCTA TTAACCATTAC-3 ) for the second round of PCR (Table 1) [22]. ND: non-designated.…”

Section: Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Investigation into Plasmodium-like Piroplasms (Babesia/Theileria) among Cattle, Dogs and Humans in A Malaria-Endemic, Resource-Limited Sub-Saharan African City

et al. 2022

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Babesia and Theileria are protozoan parasites belonging to the order piroplasmida, transmitted by hard ticks, and can cause diseases known as piroplasmosis. Human infections are usually asymptomatic, except in immuno-compromised persons who present malaria-like symptoms. Moreover, microscopically, the morphologies of Babesia and Theileria can resemble that of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium. In malaria-endemic areas with limited resources, these similarities can increase the possibility of misdiagnosing a patient as having malaria instead of piroplasmosis, which may further lead to inappropriate choice of disease management. This preliminary investigation aimed at detecting Babesia/Theileria in cattle, dogs and humans in some parts of Accra. Whole blood samples were taken from febrile cattle (n = 30) and dogs (n = 33), as well as humans diagnosed with malaria (n = 150). Blood samples of all study subjects were microscopically screened for possible presence of haemoparasites. Samples whose smears had features suggestive of possible piroplasmic infection were all given the label “suspected Babesia/Theileria-infected” samples. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on extracted deoxyribonucelic acid (DNA) from all the “suspected” samples of cattle, dogs and humans, with primer sets that can detect 18S rRNA genes of Babesia/Theileria spp. In addition to this, amplification was performed on the “suspected” dog samples using the BcW-A/BcW-B primer set which detects the 18S rRNA genes of B. canis, while the BoF/BoR primer set which targets the rap-1 region of B. bovis and another primer set which detects the 18S rRNA genes of most bovine Babesia spp. (including B. divergens) were used on the suspected cattle samples. For the human samples, however, additional amplification was done on the extracted DNA using primers for the three other Babesia targeted (B. divergens, B. bovis and B. canis). Microscopy showed possible Babesia/Theileria infection suspected in all three groups of subjects in the following proportions: cattle (10/30; 33%), dogs (3/33; 9%) and humans (6/150; 4%). DNA from one-third of the “suspected” dog samples yielded amplification with Babesia canis primers. Moreover, a broad-detecting set of primers (that can amplify some Babesia and Theileria species) amplified DNA from nine (9/30; 30%) of the “suspected” cattle samples, but none from those of the humans. Although for this study conducted in the city, the Babesia/Theileria primers used did not amplify DNA from the six “suspected” human samples; the possibility of Babesia/Theileria infection in humans in other parts of the country cannot be overruled. There is therefore a need for further studies on possible emergence of human babesiosis/theileriosis in other parts of Ghana and sequencing for specific identification of any circulating strain.

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Challenges in Tick-Borne Pathogen Detection: The Case for Babesia spp. Identification in the Tick Vector

Cited by 34 publications

References 139 publications

Detection of Babesia spp. in High Altitude Cattle in Ecuador, Possible Evidence of the Adaptation of Vectors and Diseases to New Climatic Conditions

Detection of Babesia spp. in High Altitude Cattle in Ecuador, Possible Evidence of the Adaptation of Vectors and Diseases to New Climatic Conditions

The specificity of Babesia-tick vector interactions: recent advances and pitfalls in molecular and field studies

Preliminary Investigation into Plasmodium-like Piroplasms (Babesia/Theileria) among Cattle, Dogs and Humans in A Malaria-Endemic, Resource-Limited Sub-Saharan African City

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