Absence Of Ticks Research Articles

A Case Report: Treatment of Anaplasmosis and Ectoparasitic Infestation in Mixed-Breed Golden Retriever Dog

Anaplasmosis is a disease in dogs caused by intracellular gram-negative bacteria belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. A 6-month-old mixed-breed golden retriever was examined at the Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University, with complaints of itching, tick infestation, weakness, and decreased appetite. The clinical examination revealed pale mucous membranes in the mouth and eye conjunctiva, as well as an infestation of Rhipicephalus ticks on the skin. Routine hematological examination indicated the presence of anemia and thrombocytopenia. Blood smear examination confirmed the presence of Anaplasma sp. Treatment was provided in a causative and supportive manner. Causative therapy involved the administration of doxycycline at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight orally for twenty-eight days, ivermectin at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg body weight injected subcutaneously every two weeks for four weeks. Supportive therapy included the daily administration of Fufang E'jiao Jiang ®(Dong E Ejiao Co, Ltd., Shandong, China) at 2 ml/day and Sangobion® (PT. Merck Tbk, Jakarta, Indonesia) at one tablet per day for fourteen days. Treatment with doxycycline, ivermectin, Fufang E'jiao Jiang® (Dong E Ejiao Co, Ltd., Shandong, China), and Sangobion® (PT. Merck Tbk, Jakarta, Indonesia) resulted in a positive outcome for the dog, with improved activity, hair growth, good appetite, and the absence of ticks.

The efficacy of antiparasitic drug based on Lufenuron, Moxidectin, and Praziquantel against ixodidosis in dogs

The purpose of the research is to study the efficacy of antiparasitic drug based on Lufenuron, Moxidectin, Praziquantel against ixodidosis in dogs under natural conditions and during experimental infection with ixodid ticks.Materials and methods. The experiments used the drug in tablet formulation containing Lufenuron in 320 mg, Moxidectin in 9.6 mg and Praziquantel in 160 mg. To study the preventive and therapeutic acaricidal effect of the drug against ixodid ticks in the country part of the Karachaevsky District of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, two groups (10 dogs each) were formed of Alabai dogs or outbred dogs with a body weight of 16–76 kg. The dogs of the first experimental group were administered the drug in tablets. The dogs of the second group served as controls and were not treated. The experiment used clinically healthy dogs of both sexes over 6 weeks of age, spontaneously infected with Ixodidae. Animals were selected so that they were not exposed to drugs for at least 1 month prior to the experiment. The animals were kept under normal conditions throughout the experiment and received their usual food. Antiparasitic tablets were administered to the dogs individually, once, orally, mixed with food at a dose of 1 tablet per 16–32 kg of body weight. The ixodid infection was diagnosed in the dogs by clinical examination. The genus of Ixodidae was determined by typical morphological characteristics. The drug efficacy was evaluated based on reduced number or absence of ticks on the treated animals (experimental) versus the untreated animals (control). Before the experiment and after the drug, the animals were examined every hour for 48 hours, and condition, separation, separation time from the start of the drug and death of the ticks were recorded; the dogs were then examined every 5–7 days for two months.Results and discussion. The article presents study data on antiparasitic drug efficacy against ixodidosis in dogs spontaneously infected with Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus, and Dermacentor reticulatus. The result of the studies found that the antiparasitic drug (active substances were Lufenuron, Moxidectin, and Praziquantel) had a therapeutic effect that was recorded on day 5 after treatment and was 90%. The preventive efficacy was also above 70%: on day 7 and 14, this value was 90.0 and 86.9%, respectively, which indicated the duration of the preventive effect for 25–28 days. To fully evaluate the acaricidal efficacy against ixodidosis, studies were conducted on experimentally infected animals. Forty percent efficacy was determined at 48 hours after the drug; at 2 weeks after the drug, 90 %, 98.5 and 100 % efficacy were determined against ixodidosis in the dogs at 24 hours, 48 and 72 hours after the transfer of ticks, respectively. At 4 weeks after the drug, 100 % efficacy was determined against ixodidosis in the dogs at 24, 48 and 72 hours after the transfer of ticks, respectively.

Do wild suids from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, play a role in the maintenance and transmission of African swine fever to domestic pigs?

Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) and bushpigs (Potamochoerus larvatus) are considered as the wild reservoirs of ASF. They are both present in Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR), located in the Northern South African Province of KwaZulu on the border with Mozambique. In that area, the occurrence of tick-warthog sylvatic cycle of ASF has been suspected for years. To assess if wild suids represent a risk of ASF virus spillover to domestic pigs, wild suid abundance and incursions outside NGR boundaries were estimated using transect counts, fence patrols and camera traps. Also, the presence of Ornithodoros ticks was explored in 35 warthog burrows within NGR. In addition, blood samples were taken from 67 domestic pig farms located outside NGR to be tested for ASF antibodies. Information on interactions between domestic and wild suids and ASF occurrence was gathered using interviews with pig farmers (n=254) in the study area. In conclusion, the bushpigs and warthog's population estimates in NGR are 5 and 3-5individuals/km2 , respectively. Both species move out of the reserve regularly (15.4warthogs/day and 6.35bushpigs/day), with movements significantly increasing in the dry season. Some farmers observed warthogs and bushpigs as far as 8 and 19km from NGR, respectively, but no reports of direct wild-domestic suids interactions or ASF outbreaks. Also, no soft ticks were detected in all warthog burrows and all the pig blood samples were negative for ASF antibodies. The absence of ticks in warthog burrows, the absence of antibodies in pigs sampled, the absence of reported outbreaks, and no familiarity with ASF in the study area, suggest that a sylvatic cycle of ASF is, at present, unlikely in NGR. This conclusion must be confirmed by a larger survey of warthog burrows and monitoring potential antibodies in warthogs from NGR.

Prevalence of canine babesiosis and their risk factors among asymptomatic dogs in the federal capital territory, Abuja, Nigeria

Babesia sp. are intracellular parasitic organisms that affects mainly the red blood cells of most mammals, causing the disease known as babesiosis, and transmitted by ticks. Babesisosis is potentially fatal and a major disease of dogs in Nigeria. Therefore, active and routine surveillance is recommended. In this study, the infection was investigated among apparently healthy domestic dogs in six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria with the aim of determining the prevalence of the infection and the associated risk factors. Blood samples were collected from dogs (n = 480) at randomly selected households, from September 2015 to August 2016. Data regarding sampling location, sex, age, breed, use, presence or absence of ticks were recorded. Blood smears were prepared, stained with Geimsa stain, and examined under light microscope for Babesia sp. The results showed an overall prevalence of 10.8% Babesia canis infection. The prevalence among dogs examined in the six Area Councils were 6.3%, 12.5%, 10.0%, 12.5%, 11.3%, and 12.5 % for Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Council, respectively. The prevalence was highest (12.5%) among dogs from Kwali, AMAC and Gwagwalada, and lowest 5 (6.3%) among dogs from Abaji. Of the infected dogs, 13.7% were females and 8.3%, males. Dogs between 12 < 36 months old had the highest (17.0%) prevalence of infection while those of >60 months of age had the lowest (4.5%). Based on breed, the infection was more prevalent among exotic dogs (12.9%) than cross breeds (9.4%). While none of pet dogs were positive for Babesia canis, prevalence of 11.1% and 11.3% were recorded for guard and hunting dogs, respectively. Tick infestation was recorded for 254 dogs of which 17.3% had Babesia canis while only 3.5% of 226 non-infested dogs were Babesia positive. Babesia infection during the rainy season was 14.6% while 3.5% of dogs were positive during dry season. The data on monthly prevalence showed that August and September had the highest (13.5%) prevalence while January and February had the lowest (2.0%). We conclude that the canine babesiosis in the FCT was significantly dependent on age, use of dogs, tick infestation, and season. Therefore, priorities should be given to these factors while instituting control measures against the infection.

High prevalence of Anaplasma marginale in the Crioula Lageana cattle.

Bovine anaplasmosis is caused by the bacterium Anaplasma marginale; its transmission occurs through vectors such as ticks. Crioula Lageana is a native cattle breed from the South of Brazil used for beef production, with excellent meat quality. There are no studies of the epidemiology of this disease in Crioula Lageana even though tick damage is known to be frequent. Blood samples were collected from 311 Crioula Lageana cattle and subjected to DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers for the Major Surface Protein 5 (msp5) gene for the detection of the bovine anaplasmosis agent. The animals were classified according to the gender, the category and the presence or absence of ticks at the time of collection. The animal owners completed an epidemiological questionnaire to determine factors that might be associated with anaplasma infection. The prevalence of A. marginale was 79.9%. The following factors were found to be protective against infection: I) the breeding objectives (whether animals were destined for beef production and trade or solely for beef production), II) tick control rate; and III) pregnant and lactating cows and calves as the categories least affected by the hemoparasite. The main risk factor for hemoparasite acquisition was the use of organophosphates and avermectins as acaricides. Crioula Lageana cattle are in a situation of enzootic stability, with a high prevalence of A. marginale infection. The factors associated with the infection were: I) breeding objectives, II) tick control rate, III) the acaricides used, and IV) the most tick-parasitized categories of cattle.

Neonatal Anaplasma platys infection in puppies: Further evidence for possible vertical transmission

Anaplasma platys, the aetiological agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopaenia, infects platelets of dogs, usually causing mild or asymptomatic disease. Although A. platys is transmitted by ticks, as for other Anaplasma species, alternative modes of transmission may be involved. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of A. platys infection in litters of puppies, which could suggest possible vertical transmission. Twelve litters, together with the respective bitches, were included in the study for the detection of A. platys DNA by PCR, followed by sequencing. Five puppies, from 2/4 litters <28 days of age, tested positive for A. platys DNA. No puppies from eight litters 1–3 months of age tested positive for A. platys DNA. The identical sequences (16S rRNA and gltA partial gene), the absence of ticks on puppies at the time of collection and the young age of the five infected puppies suggest vertical transmission of A. platys. This mode of transmission might contribute to the maintenance and spread of the pathogen in canine populations.

First molecular identification and genetic characterization of Anaplasma ovis in sheep from Tunisia

The aims of this study consist of first estimating the molecular prevalence of Anaplasma ovis with specific species loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method in sheep (n=204) from Northern and Central Tunisia. This study also characterizes the genotypes of this Anaplasma species by partial msp4 gene sequence. The molecular prevalence of A. ovis used to record 70.1%. Prevalence rate was significantly higher in El Alia locality (governorate of Bizerte, Northern Tunisia), where it indicated 91.1%, than in Sbikha locality (governorate of Kairouan, Central Tunisia), where it indicated 49.5%. In Sbikha, A. ovis prevalence varied significantly according to two factors, i.e., gender and age. In fact, ewes were significantly more infected than ram lambs. Ticks collected on animals allowed recovering 271 ixodid ticks from El Alia. Ticks belonged to 3 species of Rhipicephalus genus: first, R. turanicus (59.78%) which was the dominant species and which was followed by R. sanguineus (36.16%) and R. annulatus (4.06%). In Sbikha, an absence of ticks was noted in all of the examined sheep. The analysis of A. ovis msp4 sequences revealed four different genotypes; two of them were previously described in Italy and two new other genotypes were classified in an independent cluster. The present work is the first published report of A. ovis infection in sheep in Tunisia. The results indicate the presence of A. ovis at a high rate; hence, the need for a survey into the medical and economic impact of the disease, and the identification of vectors of this bacterium in Tunisia must be made.

Ehrlichial infection in Cameroonian canines by Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia ewingii

Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii are agents of emerging human ehrlichioses in North America and are transmitted primarily by Amblyomma americanum ticks, while Ehrlichia canis is the globally distributed cause of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and is transmitted by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Although E. canis and Ehrlichia ruminantium are endemic in Africa, the presence of ehrlichial agents in dogs and ticks in Cameroon has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ehrlichial infections in Cameronian dogs using a combination of serologic and molecular methods. Peripheral blood was collected, clinical signs and the presence or absence of ticks on dogs (n=104) presenting for various reasons at local veterinary clinics around the Mount Cameroon region were noted. IFA identified 33 dogs (32%) with antibodies reactive with E. canis, and reactivity of these sera with all major E. canis antigens (200, 140, 95, 75, 47, 36, 28, and 19-kDa) was confirmed by immunoblotting. Multicolor real-time PCR detected ehrlichial DNA (E. canis (15) and E. ewingii (2)) in 17 dogs (16.3%), all of which had attached ticks at time of presentation. The dsb amplicons (378 bp) from E. canis and E. ewingii were identical to gene sequences from North American isolates. This study identifies canine ehrlichiosis as a prevalent unrecognized cause of disease in Cameroonian canines.

Prevalence and intensity of the blood parasite Hemolivia mariae in a field population of the skink Tiliqua rugosa.

The impacts of virulent parasites on humans or domestic animals are well documented. Less is known of the impact of parasites in natural host-parasite associations. A population of the Australian sleepy lizard Tiliqua rugosa is infected with the blood microparasite Hemolivia mariae, which is transmitted by the ectoparasitic tick Amblyomma limbatum. In most infected lizards a very small proportion, usually < 1%, of red blood cells are infected. A study of the prevalence of the microparasite in the field population found no difference either over 5 years of study or among times within a lizard activity season. Juvenile and sub-adult lizards and larger adults were less frequently infected with H. mariae than were other adults. In sub-adults this was related to a lower level of tick infestation. In adults, male and female lizards were equally frequently infected with H. mariae, but the presence or absence of ticks was not predictive of infection. The lizards' body condition was measured as the residual of the regression of log snout-vent length against log body mass. In female lizards the body condition was not affected by infection. In males the body condition declined over the sampling period each year, probably as a result of mate attendance. The body condition was poorer in male lizards with H. mariae infection than in uninfected males. Possible explanations for the associations of microparasites and host lizards are discussed.

Landscape features associated with lyme disease risk in a suburban residential environment

The landscape features of residential properties within two communities were studied in relation to the abundance of the tick vector Ixodes scapularis. Habitat types of 400 properties, located in a Lyme disease endemic area of Westchester Co., New York, USA, were categorized into lawn, ornamental, ecotone, woods, and stone wall as measured from aerial photographs and sampled for nymphal-stage ticks. Logistic regression results indicate that presence or absence of ticks is influenced by the proportion of either lawn or woodland, and total woodland area. Poisson regression results indicate the abundance of nymphs is negatively associated with proportion, area, and patch frequency of lawn, and positively associated with proportion, area, and patch frequency of woodland. Predictions of tick presence and abundance from landscape features at the scale of individual property is useful for implementing disease prevention measures.

Experimental transmission of Babesia microti infection by the oral route.

Previously we have described the transmission of malaria by the oral route in a murine model. Due to the similarities between Plasmodium and Babesia, we tried to reproduce oral transmission in parasites of the latter genus by ingestion of infected blood and by cannibalism. In the first case, experimental mice were inoculated orally with 20, 50, or 100 microliters of Babesia microti-infected blood, and in the second, each fasted experimental mouse was offered the corpse of an infected mouse serving as the bait inoculum. B. microti infection was acquired by 3.7% of all experimental animals orally inoculated with infected blood and by 15.1% of all mice inoculated by cannibalism. The approximate period of prepatency ran from 2 to 4 weeks. No control mouse acquired the infection. This represents the first time that oral transmission of babesiosis has been described. This kind of transmission may be present in nature. Babesiosis may be acquired and maintained in nature in the absence of ticks.