Population dynamics of ticks infesting the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in central Tunisia

Gharbi, Mohamed; Moussi, Nawfel; Jedidi, Mohamed; Mhadhbi, Moez; Sassi, Limam; Darghouth, Mohamed Aziz

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.06.004

Cited by 33 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…These data are in agreement with what observed by Gharbi et al [25], who reported the infestation of dromedaries by these tick species in Tunisia. All tick genera identified in investigated areas have never been reported as vectors of A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. bovis, or A. centrale [36], suggesting that these tick species may be vectors of other Anaplasma species probably not yet classified.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…In central and southern regions of Tunisia, dromedary is an important source of income and is exploited for milk and meat production [19,20]. Dromedaries can be infested by a variety of tick species including Hyalomma dromedarii, H. excavatum, H. marginatum, H. lusitanicum, H. impeltatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sanguineus, R. pulchellus, R. declorotus, Amblyomma gemma, and A. variegatum [21][22][23][24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Detection of novel strains genetically related to Anaplasma platys in Tunisian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Belkahia

Saïd

Sayahi³

et al. 2015

J Infect Dev Ctries

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Introduction: Little information is currently available regarding the presence of Anaplasma species in North African dromedaries. To fill this gap in knowledge, the prevalence, risk factors, and genetic diversity of Anaplasma species were investigated in Tunisian dromedary camels. Methodology: A total of 226 camels from three different bioclimatic areas were sampled and tested for the presence of Anaplasma species by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assays. Detected Anaplasma strains were characterized by 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Results: Overall infection rate of Anaplasma spp. was 17.7%, and was significantly higher in females. Notably, A. marginale, A. centrale, A. bovis, and A. phagocytophilum were not detected. Animals were severely infested by three tick species belonging to the genus Hyalomma (H. dromedarii, H. impeltatum, and H. excavatum). Alignment, similarity comparison, and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence variants obtained in this study suggest that Tunisian dromedaries are infected by more than one novel Anaplasma strain genetically related to A. platys. Conclusions: This study reports the presence of novel Anaplasma sp. strains genetically related to A. platys in dromedaries from various bioclimatic areas of Tunisia. Findings raise new concerns about the specificity of the direct and indirect diagnostic tests routinely used to detect different Anaplasma species in ruminants and provide useful molecular information to elucidate the evolutionary history of bacterial species related to A. platys.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of novel strains genetically related to Anaplasma platys in Tunisian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Belkahia

Saïd

Sayahi³

et al. 2015

J Infect Dev Ctries

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“…Interestingly, Rickettsia spp. was identified in both H. dromedarii (8%) and H. impeltatum (10.4%) ticks that are considered as the main tick species present in camel herds in Tunisia (Gharbi et al, ). This confirmed previous findings indicating that ticks showed the highest rickettsial infection rates compared with camels, particularly H. dromedarii from Tunisia (50%) (Demoncheaux et al, ), Palestine (5%–11%) (Ereqat et al, ; Kleinerman et al, ), Egypt (42%) (Abdullah et al, ) and Algeria (8.5%) (Djerbouh et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of spotted fever group Rickettsia in camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) and their infesting ticks from Tunisia

Selmi

Saïd

Yahia

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Rickettsia species are adapted to a wide range of specific animal hosts. Camels (Camelus dromedarius) have been identified as a carrier of various zoonotic pathogens and became a focus of growing public health interest. This study reported the occurrence of rickettsial infection in camels and infesting ticks from five Tunisian governorates. Based on ompB PCR, eight out of 293 camels (2.7%) were found to be infected with Rickettsia spp. Furthermore, 13 tick specimens of Hyalomma impeltatum (10.4%) and 9 of H. dromedarii (8.0%) harboured DNA of Rickettsia bacteria with an overall prevalence rate of 9.2% (22/237). Molecular prevalence of Rickettsia infection varied significantly according to tick infestation for camels and among tick genders. Five rickettsial species, showing a potential public health interest, were revealed by sequencing. Based on ompB partial sequences, five species were identified corresponding to R. aeschlimannii, R. monacensis, R. helvetica and R. massiliae in camels and to R. africae, R. aeschlimannii, R. monacensis and R. helvetica in ticks. Based on ompA typing, three species were revealed corresponding to R. africae and R. monacensis in camels and to R. africae, R. aeschlimannii and R. monacensis in ticks. This is the first report consolidating the hypothesis that camels may serve as potential hosts for Rickettsia spp. and Hyalomma spp. ticks as possible vectors in arid and Saharan areas of Tunisia. The present data highlight the importance of preventive measures and survey that must be implemented in camel herds in order to limit the spread of these vector‐borne bacteria to animals and humans.

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“…In this context, several aspects of the biology of H. scupense are relevant to this pattern of transmission. These include (a) absence of overlap between the activity periods for adults (June–August) and immature ticks (September–November, Bouattour et al., ; Gharbi et al., ), (b) long hibernation periods, (c) one tick generation per year as evidenced by a single and short season of adult tick activity in summer (Bouattour et al., ; Gharbi et al., ), (d) dominant domestic behaviour with the non‐parasitic stages sheltering in farming structures (barns, sheds and pens), (e) a marginal, but monotropic, population infesting cattle outside farming structures including grazing areas and rangelands, emphasizing hence the risk of re‐emergence in barns (Bouattour, unpublished data) and (f) very selective trophic preference to cattle suggesting that acaricide use can be restricted to cattle.…”

Section: Agro‐ecological Zones and Transmission Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current status of tropical theileriosis in Northern Africa: A review of recent epidemiological investigations and implications for control

Gharbi

Darghouth

Elati

et al. 2020

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Tropical theileriosis caused by the apicomplexan hemoparasite Theileria annulata is a tick‐borne disease that constraints livestock production in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Four Hyalomma tick species transmit T. annulata in at least eight Africa countries (Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia). The two dominant T. annulata vector ticks present in Africa, H. scupense and H. anatolicum, underlie two different patterns of transmission, which in turn greatly influence the epidemiology of tropical theileriosis. H. dromedarii and H. lusitanicum are also capable of transmitting T. annulata in North Africa, but their roles are associated with specific production systems and agro‐ecological contexts. The emergence of resistance to the most widely used theilericidal compound, buparvaquone, continues to limit the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In addition, acaricide use is increasingly becoming unsustainable. Deployable T. annulata attenuated live vaccines established from local strains in Tunisia, Sudan and Egypt are available, and recent work has indicated that these vaccines can be protective under conditions of natural transmission. However, vaccination programmes may vary over space and time due to differences in the prevalence of disease amongst cattle populations, as well seasonal variation in vector activity. We review recent descriptive and analytical surveys on the epidemiology of T. annulata infection with reference to (a) demographic aspects such as breeds and ages of cattle herds previously exposed to distinct T. annulata infection pressures and (b) seasonal dynamics of tick activity and disease transmission. We then discuss how the wider endemic patterns that we delineate can underpin the development and execution of future vaccination programmes. We also outline options for integrated control measures targeting tick vectors and husbandry practices.

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Population dynamics of ticks infesting the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in central Tunisia

Cited by 33 publications

References 7 publications

Detection of novel strains genetically related to Anaplasma platys in Tunisian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Detection of novel strains genetically related to Anaplasma platys in Tunisian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of spotted fever group Rickettsia in camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) and their infesting ticks from Tunisia

Current status of tropical theileriosis in Northern Africa: A review of recent epidemiological investigations and implications for control

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