<i>Babesia odocoilei</i> infection in a Saskatchewan elk (<i>Cervus elaphus canadensis</i>) herd

Pattullo, Kimberly M.; Wobeser, Gary A.; Lockerbie, Betty; Burgess, Hilary J.

doi:10.1177/1040638713491746

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…We detected this organism in 3.0% of the ticks tested from areas ranging from Humboldt County in the far northern part of California to San Bernardino County in Southern California, indicating that this pathogen is probably widespread among its known Cervidae and Bovidae hosts [45] in the state. B. odocoilei is known to be widely distributed in I. scapularis ticks throughout the eastern United States [45,46], where it is has been reported from as far north as Saskatchewan, Canada [47] to as far south as Tennessee [48] and is not known to cause human illness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

et al. 2015

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Ixodes pacificus ticks can harbor a wide range of human and animal pathogens. To survey the prevalence of tick-borne known and putative pathogens, we tested 982 individual adult and nymphal I. pacificus ticks collected throughout California between 2007 and 2009 using a broad-range PCR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) assay designed to detect a wide range of tick-borne microorganisms. Overall, 1.4% of the ticks were found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, 2.0% were infected with Borrelia miyamotoi and 0.3% were infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In addition, 3.0% were infected with Babesia odocoilei. About 1.2% of the ticks were co-infected with more than one pathogen or putative pathogen. In addition, we identified a novel Anaplasmataceae species that we characterized by sequencing of its 16S rRNA, groEL, gltA, and rpoB genes. Sequence analysis indicated that this organism is phylogenetically distinct from known Anaplasma species with its closest genetic near neighbors coming from Asia. The prevalence of this novel Anaplasmataceae species was as high as 21% at one site, and it was detected in 4.9% of ticks tested statewide. Based upon this genetic characterization we propose that this organism be called ‘Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense’. Knowledge of this novel microbe will provide awareness for the community about the breadth of the I. pacificus microbiome, the concept that this bacterium could be more widely spread; and an opportunity to explore whether this bacterium also contributes to human or animal disease burden.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

et al. 2015

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“…In Saskatchewan, B. odocoilei has been detected in elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) that had chronic weight loss and unthriftiness and, in the same herd, had sudden deaths [63] Any Babesia-positive ticks collected from mammals were all co-infections, and are addressed under Section 4.3.2.…”

Section: Ticks Derived From Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada

et al. 2019

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Lyme disease and human babesiosis are the most common tick-borne zoonoses in the Temperate Zone of North America. The number of infected patients has continued to rise globally, and these zoonoses pose a major healthcare threat. This tick-host-pathogen study was conducted to test for infectious microbes associated with Lyme disease and human babesiosis in Canada. Using the flagellin (flaB) gene, three members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex were detected, namely a Borrelia lanei-like spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), and a distinct strain that may represent a separate Bbsl genospecies. This novel Bbsl strain was detected in a mouse tick, Ixodes muris, collected from a House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, in Quebec during the southward fall migration. The presence of Bbsl in bird-feeding larvae of I. muris suggests reservoir competency in three passerines (i.e., Common Yellowthroat, House Wren, Magnolia Warbler). Based on the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, three Babesia species (i.e., Babesia divergens-like, Babesia microti, Babesia odocoilei) were detected in field-collected ticks. Not only was B. odocoilei found in songbird-derived ticks, this piroplasm was apparent in adult questing blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in southern Canada. By allowing live, engorged ticks to molt, we confirm the transstadial passage of Bbsl in I. muris and B. odocoilei in I. scapularis. Bbss and Babesia microti were detected concurrently in a groundhog tick, Ixodes cookei, in Western Ontario. In Alberta, a winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, which was collected from a moose, Alces alces, tested positive for Bbss. Notably, a B. divergens-like piroplasm was detected in a rabbit tick, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, collected from an eastern cottontail in southern Manitoba; this Babesia species is a first-time discovery in Canada. This rabbit tick was also co-infected with Borrelia lanei-like spirochetes, which constitutes a first in Canada. Overall, five ticks were concurrently infected with Babesia and Bbsl pathogens and, after the molt, could potentially co-infect humans. Notably, we provide the first authentic report of I. scapularis ticks co-infected with Bbsl and B. odocoilei in Canada. The full extent of infectious microorganisms transmitted to humans by ticks is not fully elucidated, and clinicians need to be aware of the complexity of these tick-transmitted enzootic agents on human health. Diagnosis and treatment must be administered by those with accredited medical training in tick-borne zoonosis.

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“…21 As well, PCR offers more sample options for the detection of B. odocoilei in cervids, including fresh or frozen ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)−treated blood, as well as spleen and velvet antler. 13 At necropsy, gross and histologic changes are nonspecific and therefore the diagnosis may be missed in areas where the disease is not considered endemic. 8 In these cases, frozen tissues may no longer be available, and the investigation of babesiosis may be retrospective using formalin-fixed tissues.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The positive status of the above sample was assigned through identification of intraerythrocytic parasites, morphologically consistent with B. odocoilei, in 1.5% of the erythrocytes on a direct smear of whole blood, and confirmed by PCR using the widely used Bab A-Bab B primer set and DNA sequencing. 13 Negative status was assigned based on the rare occurrence of cervid babesiosis in Canada, as well as a negative result on PCR using the Bab A-Bab B primer set. Specificity of the Bab306 R was also evaluated by comparing amplification of purified B. microti DNA c using the Bab A-Bab B and Bab CF-Bab 306R primer sets.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Use of the polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei 18S ribosomal RNA in formalin-fixed tissues

2014

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Abstract. The effect of fixation and storage conditions on the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for Babesia odocoilei were examined using 3 different primer sets targeting the eukaryotic 18S ribosomal RNA gene, with variably sized products of 1,723 base pairs (bp), 483 bp, and 306 bp. All primer sets performed well on fresh-frozen tissue, and storage for 1 year at −20°C did not affect PCR performance. Formalin fixation markedly affected the amplicon length that could be amplified. However, DNA was successfully amplified after storage in formalin for 2 months using the primer set with a 483-bp product, and up to 6 months using the primer set with a 306-bp product. The latter primer set successfully differentiated B. odocoilei and Babesia microti DNA; however, further evaluation is required to confirm its specificity. Treatment of tissues with formic acid, at concentrations typically used to denature prions, degraded the DNA and made it unsuitable for PCR testing.

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Babesia odocoilei infection in a Saskatchewan elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) herd

Cited by 29 publications

References 26 publications

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

Survey of Ixodes pacificus Ticks in California Reveals a Diversity of Microorganisms and a Novel and Widespread Anaplasmataceae Species

Detection and Transstadial Passage of Babesia Species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks Collected from Avian and Mammalian Hosts in Canada

Use of the polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei 18S ribosomal RNA in formalin-fixed tissues

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