Molecular and serological detection of Babesia bovis- and Babesia bigemina-infection in bovines and water buffaloes raised jointly in an endemic field

Romero-Salas, Dora; Mira, Anabela; Mosqueda, Juan; García-Vázquez, Zeferino; Hidalgo-Ruiz, Mario; Vela, Noot Aditya Ortiz; León, Adalberto A Pérez de; Florín-Christensen, Mónica; Schnittger, Leonhard

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.12.030

Cited by 50 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…[9,17,18]. Therefore, they are potential reservoirs for these pathogens and can affect the eco-epidemiology of babesiosis in cattle [19][20][21][22]. However, evidence of the vectorial capacity of R. microplus that feed on carrier buffalo is scarce.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

et al. 2020

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Water buffaloes can be infected by tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in endemic areas where cattle and buffalo coexist. Among TBPs affecting buffaloes is the Apicomplexan hemoparasites Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, transmitted by Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. However, little empirical evidence exists on whether buffalo can support TBPs’ infection and transmission. A cohort study was designed to measure the infestation levels of R. microplus in buffaloes as well as the ability of buffalo-fed ticks to transmit B. bovis and B. bigemina to their offspring. Tick infestation of different life stages was quantified in cattle and buffalo kept in field conditions in western Cuba. Engorged adult female ticks were allowed to lay eggs in controlled conditions of humidity and temperature, and reproductive parameters were measured and analyzed. Hosts and tick larvae were tested for the presence of Babesia spp. using species-specific qPCR assays. Tick infestation was not observed in adult buffaloes. However, buffalo and cattle calves were equally infested, although the larval survival rate was higher in cattle calves than in buffalo calves. All larval pools (31) obtained from the adult female ticks were positive for B. bovis, whereas only 68% (21/31) was positive for B. bigemina. Among the 10 larval pools negative for B. bigemina, three proceeded from adult females fed on Babesia-negative buffaloes. The other seven pools were from Babesia-positive animals, three from cattle and four from buffalo calves. Babesia infection levels in tick larvae, quantified by qPCR, were similar in female ticks fed on buffalo and bovine calves. We conclude that water buffalo can sustain tick vector populations and support Babesia infection in levels high enough as to be infective for ticks. Our results also validated the hypothesis that adult female ticks fed on buffalo can transmit the pathogens B. bovis and B. bigemina to their offspring. Nevertheless, further laboratory studies are needed to address the question of whether the transovarial transmission of Babesia occurs in the following settings: (1) When adult females are infected previous to the feeding on the buffalo or/and (2) when the adult females acquire the infection while feeding on the buffalo.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

et al. 2020

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“…Water buffalo raising is gaining popularity in Mexico as an alternative livestock production system [ 24 ]. In the Mexican state of Veracruz, water buffalo and cattle can share the agroecosystem [ 25 , 26 ]. Preliminary findings highlighted the risk for infection with N. caninum, Leptospira , and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in water buffaloes in Mexico [ 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroepidemiology of infection with Neospora caninum, Leptospira, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Veracruz, Mexico

Romero-Salas

Alvarado‐Esquivel

Domínguez-Aguilar

et al. 2017

EuJMI

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We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of infection with Neospora caninum, Leptospira, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 and risk factors associated with these infections in water buffaloes in Veracruz State, Mexico. Through a cross-sectional study, 144 water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) raised in 5 ranches of Veracruz were examined for anti-N. caninum and anti-bovine herpesvirus type 1 antibodies by enzyme immunoassays, and anti-Leptospira interrogans antibodies by microscopic agglutination test.Of the 144 buffaloes studied, 35 (24.3%) were positive for N. caninum, 50 (34.7%) for Leptospira, and 83 (57.6%) for bovine herpes virus. The frequencies of leptospiral serovars in buffaloes were as follows: 18.7% for Muenchen (n = 27), 10.4% for Hardjo LT (n = 15), 9.0% for Pyrogenes (n = 13), and 4.8% for Icterohaemorrhagiae (n = 7). Seropositive buffaloes were found in all 5 ranches studied. Logistic regression showed that cohabitation of buffaloes with cows was associated with infection with Leptospira (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–4.5; P = 0.03) and bovine herpesvirus (OR, 12.0; 95% CI, 4.0–36.2; P < 0.01).This is the first study that provides serological evidence of N. caninum, Leptospira, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 infections in water buffaloes in Mexico. Our findings could be used to enhance preventive measures against these infections.

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“…Therefore, control strategies against Babesia sp. Mymensingh should aim to minimize Babesia infections in both cattle and buffalo (Romero-Salas et al, 2016).…”

Section: Re Sults and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host range and geographical distribution of Babesia sp. Mymensingh

Sivakumar

Tuvshintulga

Kothalawala

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Bovine babesiosis represents a serious threat to the cattle industry in the tropics and subtropics. Although several Babesia species infect cattle, only B. bovis, B. bigemina and B. divergens are known to cause clinical babesiosis. However, our recent study demonstrated that the newly discovered Babesia sp. Mymensingh might be a virulent species capable of causing clinical babesiosis in cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the host range and geographical distribution of Babesia sp. Mymensingh on a global scale. A total of 2,860 archived DNA samples from 2,263 cattle in Sri Lanka (n = 672), the Philippines (n = 408), Vietnam (n = 460), Uganda (n = 409), Brazil (n = 164) and Argentina (n = 150); 419 buffalo in Sri Lanka (n = 327) and Vietnam (n = 92); and 127 goats and 51 sheep in Vietnam were screened using a Babesia sp. Mymensingh‐specific PCR assay. Babesia sp. Mymensingh infection was detected in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats. Cattle of all countries surveyed in this study except Brazil were found to be infected with Babesia sp. Mymensingh. The highest positive rates were recorded in cattle from the Philippines (11.3%) and Vietnam (9.6%), followed by Argentina (4.7%), Sri Lanka (1.5%) and Uganda (1.0%). Buffalo were found to be infected with this parasite in Sri Lanka (1.2%) and Vietnam (10.9%). Unexpectedly, Babesia sp. Mymensingh was also detected in sheep (2.0%) and goats (1.3%) from Vietnam. These findings were confirmed by PCR amplicon sequencing. In conclusion, our present findings indicate that Babesia sp. Mymensingh, which infects cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats, is endemic in Asia, Africa and South America.

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Molecular and serological detection of Babesia bovis- and Babesia bigemina-infection in bovines and water buffaloes raised jointly in an endemic field

Cited by 50 publications

References 27 publications

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Efficient Transovarial Transmission of Babesia Spp. in Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks Fed on Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Seroepidemiology of infection with Neospora caninum, Leptospira, and bovine herpesvirus type 1 in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Veracruz, Mexico

Host range and geographical distribution of Babesia sp. Mymensingh

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