Abstract
Understanding host-pathogen-tick interactions remains a vitally important issue that might be better understood by basic research focused on each of the dyad interplays. Pathogens gain access to either the vector or host during tick feeding when ticks are confronted with strong hemostatic, inflammatory and immune responses. A prominent example of this is the Babesia spp.—tick—vertebrate host relationship. Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan organisms spread worldwide, with a complex life cycle. The presence of transovarial transmission in almost all the Babesia species is the main difference between their life cycle and that of other piroplasmida. With more than 100 species described so far, Babesia are the second most commonly found blood parasite of mammals after trypanosomes. The prevalence of Babesia spp. infection is increasing worldwide and is currently classified as an emerging zoonosis. Babesia microti and Babesia divergens are the most frequent etiological agents associated with human babesiosis in North America and Europe, respectively. Although the Babesia-tick system has been extensively researched, the currently available prophylactic and control methods are not efficient, and chemotherapeutic treatment is limited. Studying the molecular changes induced by the presence of Babesia in the vector will not only elucidate the strategies used by the protozoa to overcome mechanical and immune barriers, but will also contribute toward the discovery of important tick molecules that have a role in vector capacity. This review provides an overview of the identified molecules involved in Babesia-tick interactions, with an emphasis on the fundamentally important ones for pathogen acquisition and transmission.
Highlights
Parasites from the genus Babesia are responsible for causing an emerging zoonotic disease called babesiosis
At least four Ixodidae genus are recognized as Babesia vectors: Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, and Hyalomma (Sonenshine and Michael Roe, 2014)
This disease has a considerable impact on the health and economy of the livestock industry, mainly in tropical and subtropical climates, with Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus the main vectors of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, the etiological agents of bovine babesiosis (Bock et al, 2004)
Summary
Parasites from the genus Babesia are responsible for causing an emerging zoonotic disease called babesiosis. The role of this molecule in ticks is still not clear but some studies support its presence in the SGs and saliva is presumably related to a mechanism to avoid vertebrate host defense responses (Jaworski et al, 1995; Ferreira et al, 2004; Antunes et al, 2015) and may lack the anti-thrombotic and complementinhibiting characteristics that suppress host defense actions (Kim et al, 2015) The gene encoding this protein was found to be over expressed in R. annulatus infected with B. bigemina. Tick receptor of the Factor for tick gut outer surface protein A colonization (TROSPA)
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