Tick Rhipicephalus Sanguineus Research Articles

Tick surveillance and identification in Upshur County, WV

The purpose of our project was to develop a locally valid method for tick sampling, and identification by using microscopic photographs. The pilot study started in August 2017 and continued through March 2018. The pilot study was structured around six goals including tick identification methods, tick biology, tick identification, sampling/ preservation techniques and tick collection methods suitable for West Virginia. The initial sampling method proposed was via drag sampling, as it is the standard method for obtaining ticks of all three life stages. Drag methods proved ineffective in the Fall of 2017, a factor we attribute to the uncommonly low rainfall level. Research indicates tick activity peaks during conditions of increased precipitation, which we did not experience. Instead of drag methods, we switched to another common approach which involves extraction of ticks from white- tailed deer carcasses. Ticks burrowed in deer carcasses were extracted using forceps to prevent contamination and/or damage. Ticks were obtained from 16 sites across four separate counties. Each of these counties has a recorded instance of Lyme disease. The majority of tick samples collected were blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis) and brown dog (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) ticks. The results of our study indicate that blacklegged and brown dog ticks are common species in Upshur and Fayette counties. The ticks we obtained are also part of a Lyme disease sentinel program also at WVWC.

Tick Collection and Identification Methods

The purpose of our project was to develop a locally valid method for tick sampling, and identification by using microscopic photographs. The pilot study started in August 2017 and continued through March 2018. The pilot study was structured around six goals including tick identification methods, tick biology, tick identification, sampling/ preservation techniques and tick collection methods suitable for West Virginia. The initial sampling method proposed was via drag sampling, as it is the standard method for obtaining ticks of all three life stages. Drag methods proved ineffective in the Fall of 2017, a factor we attribute to the uncommonly low rainfall level. Research indicates tick activity peaks during conditions of increased precipitation, which we did not experience. Instead of drag methods, we switched to another common approach which involves extraction of ticks from white- tailed deer carcasses. Ticks burrowed in deer carcasses were extracted using forceps to prevent contamination and/or damage. Ticks were obtained from 16 sites across four separate counties. Each of these counties has a recorded instance of Lyme disease. The majority of the samples collected were blacklegged (Ixodes scapularis) and brown dog (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) ticks. Our sample of ticks were then photographed under a microscope and then categorized in a spreadsheet.

Effects of Doxycycline Treatment on Hematological and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Dogs Naturally Infected with Ehrlichia canis

Abstract Ehrlichia canis, the etiologic agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), is mainly transmitted by the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Clinical signs of the disease can be various, depending on the stage of the disease. Typical changes in hematological and blood biochemical parameters are: severe thrombocytopenia, mild to marked non regenerative anaemia and hypoalbuminemia. In order to present the effects of the treatment protocol on several hematological and biochemistry parameters, 34 Ehrlichia canis positive dogs were compared before and after treatment with doxycycline 10mg/kg/day, in duration of four weeks. Besides the clinical sings and laboratory findings, diagnosis was confirmed by antibody tests (Bionote, Korea, AGROLABO S.p.A., Italy). The most common clinical sings were depression, lethargy, pyrexia, vomiting and anorexia. Hematological analyses were performed on the automatic hematology analyzer Exigo EosVet (Sweden), while biochemistry analyses (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine, albumin, total protein, globulin and alkaline phosphatase) were performed using the automatic analyzer ChemWell 2910 (Awareness Technology, INC, USA). Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in hematology changes was present regarding the red blood cells count, platelet count, hematocrit and hemoglobin before and after treatment. Hypoalbuminaemia (Mean 19.21 ±4.96 g/l) was the only serum biochemistry parameter with significant change before and after treatment, as well. Treatment with doxycycline in patients with E.canis resulted in significant increase of hematology parameters (red blood cells, hemoglobin, haematocrit and platelets), as well as albumins in serum.

Be tick aware: when and where to check cats and dogs for ticks

Tickborne disease represents a long established risk to human and pet populations. Increasing pet travel and importation is occurring concurrently with an expanding distribution of tick vectors and tickborne diseases,...

Detection of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Babesia spp. in dogs of Cebu, Philippines.

Background:Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Babesia spp. are canine pathogens transmitted by the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick which can cause varied clinical signs. These pathogens have been investigated in the Philippines, but coinfection has not been reported yet.Aim:The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and Babesia spp. in Philippine dogs.Materials and Methods:A total of 100 dogs from seven different veterinary establishments in Cebu, Philippines, were examined for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and Babesia spp. infection using peripheral blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Inclusion criteria included a history or presence of tick infestation, anemia, and/or thrombocytopenia. Clinical signs were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed between PCR positivity and clinical signs and hematological results.Results:A total of 10 and 18 dogs were found to be positive for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma and Babesia spp., respectively. One animal was PCR positive for both pathogens, which is the first report of coinfection in the country. The most common clinical signs observed include inappetence (89%), lethargy (80%), thrombocytopenia (85%), and anemia (74%). Analyses revealed that inappetence (p=0.044) and weight loss (p=0.028) were found statistically significant with Ehrlichia/Anaplasma infection. Basophil (p=0.001) and eosinophil counts (p=0.000) were also found significantly different between Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp.-positive and -negative dogs. On the other hand, differential monocyte count (p=0.009) was found significantly different between Babesia spp.-positive and -negative dogs.Conclusion:The present study showed low infection rates of canine ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis and babesiosis and provided additional evidence for the presence of the pathogens in the area.

Rethinking Coxiella infections in Australia

Coxiellaburnetii is the causative agent of coxiellosis in animals and Q fever in humans. Despite being a vaccine preventable disease, Q fever remains a frequently reported zoonotic infection in Australia. Recently, a Coxiella species was identified in brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) in urban and rural regions of Australia. Further molecular characterisation revealed that it is genetically identical to ‘Candidatus Coxiella massiliensis’ (KM079627) described in R. sanguineus ticks removed from humans with eschars in France and serologic cross-reactivity among ‘Ca. Coxiella massiliensis’ and C.burnetii may occur. This report highlights the need for molecular testing of seropositive companion animals and humans to determine which species of Coxiella they are infected with, in order to further assess Coxiella species associated with Coxiella infections in Australia.

Comparative Efficacy of Frontline Tri-Act<sup>®</sup> Spot on (Fipronil/Permethrin) versus Seresto<sup>®</sup> Collar (Imidacloprid/Flumethrin) against Fleas (<i>Ctenocephalides felis</i>) and Ticks (<i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i>) on Dogs with Simulation of Bi-Monthly Rain Exposure

The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy of one topical insecticide-acaricide (Frontline Tri-Act®) and of one collar (Seresto®) against fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) on dogs exposed to bi-weekly water showering. Twenty four (24) dogs were enrolled in the study. A first set of 16 dogs were acclimatised to their cages from Day 1 to 7 and a second set of 8 dogs from Day 163 to Day 169. The 24 dogs were randomly allocated to three groups (1 to 3). Dogs assigned to Group 1 were not treated and served as negative controls. Dogs assigned to Group 2 received the Seresto® collar on Day 0 and dogs in Group 3 received Frontline Tri-Act® on Days 170 and 198. The dogs were observed hourly for four hours after treatment administration for possible adverse reactions. Dogs in Groups 1 and 2 underwent water showering on Days 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84, 98, 112, 126, 143 and 157. Dogs in all groups underwent water showering on Days 173, 185, 199 and 213. Dogs were infested with approximately 100 (±4) adult, unfed C. felis fleas only on Days 177, 190, 203, and 217, in alternance with infestations with 50 adult unfed R. sanguineus on Days 182, 196, 210, and 224, to assess sustained efficacy. Fleas and ticks were removed and counted on 24 and 48 hours ± 2 hours after each infestation, respectively. Frontline Tri-Act® was >99% effective against C. felis following an initial and a second monthly administration on dogs that were water showered bi-weekly. The Seresto® collar was from 68.3% to 92.9% effective against C. felis Days 178 to 218 after collar administration. Frontline Tri-Act® was effective from 87.8% to 100% against ticks whereas Seresto collar was effective from 82.2% to 94.2% from Day 184 to Day 226.

Severe clinical forms of Mediterranean spotted fever: A case series from an endemic area in Bulgaria

Background/Aim. Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) belongs to Rickettsioses, the Spotted fever group (SFG). The causal agent is Rickettsia conorii conorii and the transmission to humans occurs through dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus bites. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with severe form of Mediterranean spotted fever admitted to Bulgarian university hospital in endemic region. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted at Stara Zagora University Hospital (Southeastern Bulgaria) between April 2015 and August 2016. During the analyzed period, 58 cases had clinical and laboratory data for MSF. Serological tests were applied for the etiological diagnosis. MSF-specific immunoglobulin (IgM) and IgG antibodies were detected in serum by indirect immunoenzyme assay (ELISA IgG/IgM, Vircell, Spain) ? R. conorii ELISA IgG sensitivity 85%, specificity 100% and R. conorii ELISA IgM sensitivity 94%, specificity 95%. Statistical analysis was made by MS Excel 2007 and SPSS Statistics, version 19.0. Results. Eighteen patients presented as severe forms. The predominant gender of them were males (78%) and 22% were females. The median age of the analyzed group was 55 years (range: 14? 78 years). Ten patients developed hepatic disorder while 4 had neurological signs. Laboratory data showed thrombocytopenia in 15 patients, mean value of platelet (PLT) count for the whole group was 108.6 ? 53.8 ? 109/L. Liver enzymes were elevated with mean value of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 161.4 ? 90.1 IU/L and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 163.9 ? 81.5 IU/L. Acute phase reactant as C-reactive protein (CRP) had mean value of 140.3 mg/L (range: 9?230 mg/L). Kidney function was impaired in some cases; the mean value of creatinine for the studied group was 134.7 ?mol/L (range: 78?313 ?mol/L) and mean value of urea was 9.6 mmol/L (range: 4.2?27.4 mmol/L). Conclusion. Bulgaria is an endemic area for tick-borne diseases. Cases of MSF are reported annually. Severe forms of MSF are not rare. Typical clinical and laboratory markers for severity should be actively searched for. Early diagnosis and proper treatment is the key to avoid complications and enable patient recovery.

Micobiota y Metarhizium asilados de larvas del gusano barrenador del ruezno (Cydia caryana)

La necesidad de contar con organismos nativos con potencial para el control biológico de plagas para el nogal pecanero, motivaron el registro de la micobiota y búsqueda de entomopatógenos en larvas del gusano barrenador del ruezno (GBR) Cydia caryana. Para ello, en el año 2013, en una huerta de nogal en La Laguna México, se recolectaron y procesaron 5 000 rueznos para extraer larvas de GBR, que fueron incubadas en cámara húmeda o suelo. De larvas obtenidas antes del 12 de septiembre y colocadas en suelo se recobró 9% de Fusarium spp. + Gliocladium spp., en contraste, ambos hongos aparecieron 40% en larvas obtenidas después de esa fecha. En larvas obtenidas en diciembre y se colocaron en cámara húmeda, Fusarium + Gliocladium spp. aparecieron 80%. Únicamente fue evidentemente a Metarhizium anisopliae como entomopatógenos de 5% de larvas del GBR colocadas en suelo después del 12 de septiembre, éste hongo también fue entomopatógenos del ácaro rojo gigante Trombidium sp., pulgón negro del nogal Melanocallis caryaefoliae, Garrapata Rhipicephalus sanguineus, y hormiga roja Solenopsis sp. Larvas de GBR pueden usarse como trampa para recobrar Metarhizium y probablemente otros hongos entomopatógenos en suelo de huertas de nogal pecanero. 
 

Canine hepatozoonosis: an update

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by two different Hepatozoon species, responsible for distinct clinical syndromes. Hepatozoonosis beyond the United States is caused by Hepatozoon canis, transmitted by the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus, whereas North American hepatozoonosis is caused by H. americanum, transmitted by Amblyomma maculatum. The former appears to be well adapted to its canine host, causing mostly subclinical or a mild clinical disease. Anorexia, depression, lethargy, fever, lymphadenopathy and body-weight loss are the most common clinical manifestations, which may be precipitated by concurrent infectious diseases or drug-induced immunosuppression. H. canis infection is mosdy diagnosed by the detection of intraneutrophilic gamonts in Giemsa-stained blood smears. Occasionally, a high level parasitemia may be observed (100% of circulating neutrophils), though moderate parasitemia (1-5%) is more common. Imidocarb dipropionate, with or without doxycycline, usually leads in rapid clinical remission and elimination of parasitemia, although relapses are not uncommon. In marked contrast, H. americanum, a recendy emerged pathogen, apparendy poorly adapted to dogs, is responsible for a severe chronic debilitating and often fatal disease. Fever, generalized pain, muscle atrophy and reluctance to move are prominent clinical symptoms attributable mainly to severe pyogranulomatous myositis and periosteal proliferative lesions. Since parasitemia is rarely found in H. americanum infection, a solid diagnosis should be based on muscle histopathology and/or serology. The combination of trimethoprime-sulphadiazine, clindamycin and pyrimethamine (induction phase), followed by long-term administration of the anticoccidial decoquinate (maintenance phase), achieves clinical remission and prolongs survival time, although relapses may frequently occur.

Effect of Ozone as Acaricide: Action of the Ozone on the Cuticle and Respiratory Spiracle of Tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato

ABSTRACTParasitoses that affect domestic animals, the Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato deserves attention for being cosmopolitan. Ozone gas has been used as an agent for insect control. The objective of this study was to verify the acaricidic effect of the ozone gas on the R. sanguineus s. l. Ticks were distributed in three groups: two controls and one submitted to ozone action. Images were obtained using a scanning electron microscope. All specimens from the group treated with ozone died after the gas application and presented other lesions on cuticle and respiratory spiracles. Ozone acted as an acaricide to the ticks.

Molecular survey of Rickettsial organisms in ectoparasites from a dog shelter in Northern Mexico.

The objective of this study was to screen and identify rickettsial organisms in ectoparasites collected from dogs in a shelter in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. One hundred dogs were inspected for ectoparasites. All the dogs were parasitized with Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, three with Heterodoxus spiniger lice and one with Ctenocephalides felis fleas. DNA was extracted from the ectoparasites found on each dog, and PCR with the primers for the Anaplasmataceae 16S rRNA and citrate synthase gltA genes were performed. Eight DNA samples obtained from ticks, three from lice and one from fleas were positive to 16S rRNA. Only one sample from C. felis and one from H. spiniger were positive to gltA. Sequence analysis of amplified products from C. felis showed identity to Rickettsia felis, Wolbachia pipientis, and Wolbachia spp., while a sequence from H. spiniger showed identity to Wolbachia spp. Herein we report the molecular detection of R. felis, W. pipientis, and Wolbachia spp. in C. felis and H. spiniger in northern Mexico. These results contribute to the knowledge of the microorganisms present in ectoparasites from dogs in Mexico.

Blood-sucking ticks (Acarina, Ixodoidea) as an essential component of the urban environment

The problem of urban ticks has arisen from the increased rate of urbanization since WWII. Expansion of municipal boundaries encompasses adjacent territories, so that large areas of wilderness together with all their inhabitants get incorporated into city limits. Current strategies of biodiversity conservation include the creation of green corridors and other forms of connectivity between wilderness and urban areas as well as between green patches within cities. All this allows various mammals and birds to migrate from their native habitats into and between various parts of the cities and to establish permanent urban populations. Medium-sized and larger animals provide adult ticks with blood meal, thus creating suitable conditions for the establishment and persistence of tick populations. Independent tick populations can exist in urban forests, parks, private properties, old cemeteries, etc. Over the last decades, the tick populations that originated from those in natural habitats around the cities have become a permanent component of urban fauna. Among such ticks, the castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus is the most important species for European cities, while the deer tick I. scapularis is of great significance for the East Coast of the United States. The taiga tick I. persulcatus is the most important species for the Russian cities and towns within its range. All these and some other ticks aggressively attack humans and their pets inside cities. The tick species especially well adapted to urban life are those which can live and reproduce in buildings. The brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus (family Ixodidae), the pigeon ticks from the reflexus group of the genus Argas, and Ornithodoros ticks (family Argasidae), which form urban and semi-urban populations, are the main urban tick pests and vectors. House infestation by ticks can lead to human infection with tick-borne pathogens or severe allergic reactions. Some tick hosts, mammals as well as birds, maintain tick-transmitted pathogens and serve as competent reservoir hosts. Urban populations of these animals can participate in the circulation of some pathogens within cities. Thus, the enlargement of urban green areas followed by their population by wild mammals and birds create good opportunities for the establishment of urban populations of tick vectors with the resulting threat to the health of urban dwellers and their pets. At the same time, our understanding of the real scope and complexity of the problem of urban ticks is far from being sufficient. Finding the ways of protecting the environment without increasing the risk to human health in modern cities is a pressing and challenging problem of our time.

Prevalence of ectoparasites of dogs and cats in Ijero and Moba LGAs, Ekiti State, Nigeria

The public health significance of ectoparasites of domestic animals and pets in developing countries is of growing importance as a result of zoonoses associated with the pathogens they transmit. Despite the serious threat that ectoparasites pose to animals and man, there is paucity of information on the fauna of ectoparasites of domestic animals in some states in Nigeria including Ekiti State. For this purpose, a cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites on dogs and cats in Ijurin and Ikosu. Information on the age, and gender were obtained by interviewing the owners. Animal’s skin was palpated and meticulously inspected, ticks and lice, that were found were transferred into labelled specimen bottles containing 70% ethanol. Fleas were fixed and cleared in 10% KOH, and examined under a light microscope. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.16.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Out of the 200 dogs and 200 cats that were examined 170 (85%) dogs and 191 (95.5%) cats were infected with two or more ectoparasites. In all, six ectoparasites species were identified comprising of two fleas (Ctenoceph alidesfelis, and C. canis), two mites (Sarcoptes scabiei, and Otodecte scynotis) and two ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Haemophys alisleachi). Infection prevalence was observed to be significantly higher in dogs and cats that were less than six months old and least in age two above p<0.05. Ectoparasite infestations prevalence observed among companion animals in this study is an indication that the animals lack adequate veterinary care and may be harboring zoonotic diseases of public health importance.Keywords: Ectoparasites; zoonoses; pet animals

Water immersion of dogs close to the time of topical fluralaner treatment does not reduce efficacy against a subsequent experimental challenge with Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato)

BackgroundFluralaner is a novel systemic ectoparasiticide for dogs and cats providing immediate and persistent flea- and tick-control after a single topical dose. Prescribing directions recommend waiting 72 h following topical administration before immersing dogs in water. The objective of this study was to determine whether water immersion immediately prior to treatment or earlier than 72 h post-treatment reduced subsequent treatment efficacy.MethodsForty (n = 40) dogs were blocked on tick carrying capacity into 5 experimental groups and all but one of the groups (untreated control) were treated topically with fluralaner (Bravecto® Spot-On Solution, Merck Animal Health, Madison, NJ, USA) at the commercial dose. Three of the four remaining groups were immersed in 38–40 °C water for a 5 min bath - either 1 h before treatment; 12 h after treatment; or 24 h after treatment. Seven days after treatment all dogs were challenged with 50 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) ticks and after 24 h attached ticks were counted and removed.ResultsEfficacies (compared to the untreated control group) were: 99.3% for no water immersion; 99.6% for immersion 1 h before treatment; 99.3% for immersion 12 h after treatment; and, 100% for immersion 24 h after treatment.ConclusionsWater immersion of dogs around the time of topical fluralaner administration did not reduce subsequent systemic acaricidal efficacy.

Molecular detection of Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Wolbachia sp. but not Ehrlichia canis in Croatian dogs.

The bacteria Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia canis are tick-borne agents that cause canine vector-borne disease. The prevalence of these pathogens in South Eastern Europe is unknown with the exception of an isolated case of A. platys detected in a dog imported into Germany from Croatia. To gain a better insight into their presence and prevalence, PCR-based screening for these bacterial pathogens was performed on domesticated dogs from different regions of Croatia. Blood samples from 1080 apparently healthy dogs from coastal and continental parts of Croatia as well as tissue samples collected from 63 deceased dogs with a history of anaemia and thrombocytopenia were collected for molecular screening by an Anaplasmataceae-specific 16S rRNA conventional PCR. Positive samples were confirmed using a second Anaplasmataceae-specific PCR assay with the PCR product sequenced for the purpose of bacterial species identification. All sequenced isolates were georeferenced and a kernel intensity estimator was used to identify clusters of greater case intensity. 42/1080 (3.8%; CI 2.7-5.0) of the healthy dogs were PCR positive for bacteria in the Anaplasmataceae. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplified from these positive samples revealed the presence of A. platys in 2.5% (CI 1.6-3.4%, 27 dogs), A. phagocytophilum in 0.3% (CI 0-0.6%, 3 dogs) and a Wolbachia endosymbiont in 1.1% (CI 0.4-1.6%, 12 dogs) of dogs screened in this study. Necropsied dogs were free from infection. Notably, no evidence of E. canis infection was found in any animal. This survey represents a rare molecular study of Anaplasmataceae in dogs in South Eastern Europe, confirming the presence of A. platys and A. phagocytophilum but not E. canis. The absence of E. canis was surprising given it has been described in all other Mediterranean countries surveyed and raises questions over the regional vector capacity of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick.

Investigation of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. in ectoparasites collected from domestic animals, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of emerging arthropod-borne pathogens Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia infection in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) collected from dogs and horses within municipality of Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro State, Southern Brazil. Samples from 280 ticks and two fleas were subjected to family or/and genus specific PCR for Anaplasmataceae, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia, followed by DNA sequencing to ensure pathogen identity. In ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus collected from dogs the DNA of Anaplasma platys and Ehrlichia canis was detected in 6.8% and 2.2% samples respectively. In two R. sanguineus confection with two pathogens was observed. In Dermacentor nitens ticks, collected from horses Francisella-like endosymbiont was found in 42.8% samples. DNA of Rickettsia felis and Wolbachia pi-petens was detected in fleas Ctenocephalides canis fleas. No DNA of Rickettsia was found in tested ticks. The findings contribute to our knowledge of tick-borne bacteria, ticks and endosymbionts distribution in Brazil.

Ticks from diverse genera encode chemokine-inhibitory evasin proteins

To prolong residence on their hosts, ticks secrete many salivary factors that target host defense molecules. In particular, the tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus has been shown to produce three salivary glycoproteins named "evasins," which bind to host chemokines, thereby inhibiting the recruitment of leukocytes to the location of the tick bite. Using sequence similarity searches, we have identified 257 new putative evasin sequences encoded by the genomes or salivary or visceral transcriptomes of numerous hard ticks, spanning the genera Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Ixodes of the Ixodidae family. Nine representative sequences were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and eight of the nine candidates exhibited high-affinity binding to human chemokines. Sequence alignments enabled classification of the evasins into two subfamilies: C8 evasins share a conserved set of eight Cys residues (four disulfide bonds), whereas C6 evasins have only three of these disulfide bonds. Most of the identified sequences contain predicted secretion leader sequences, N-linked glycosylation sites, and a putative site of tyrosine sulfation. We conclude that chemokine-binding evasin proteins are widely expressed among tick species of the Ixodidae family, are likely to play important roles in subverting host defenses, and constitute a valuable pool of anti-inflammatory proteins for potential future therapeutic applications.

Pathogens in ectoparasites from free-ranging animals: Infection with Rickettsia asembonensis in ticks, and a potentially new species of Dipylidium in fleas and lice

Vector-borne infections are persistent public health threats worldwide. In recent years, a number of mosquito-borne viruses have emerged or re-emerged to cause major disease outbreaks. Other vector-borne pathogens, however, remain understudied and much neglected especially in the developing regions of the world including Southeast Asia. In this study, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, cat louse Felicola subrostratus, and cat fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides orientis collected from free-ranging cats and dogs in Malaysia were molecularly screened for the presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria, and Dipylidium tapeworm. Our results showed the presence of Bartonella clarridgeiea, Bartonella henselae (lineage Marseille and lineage Houston-1), and Rickettsia sp. in C. felis. We also detected Rickettsia asembonensis in C. orientis and R. sanguineus s.l. Additionally, this study provides the first documentation on a potentially new species of Dipylidium infecting F. subrostratus and C. felis. Our results highlight the role of ectoparasites from free-ranging animals including cats and dogs, in harboring multiple transmissible pathogens.

The sustained speed of kill of ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) and fleas (Ctenocephalides felis felis) on dogs by a spot-on combination of fipronil and permethrin (Effitix®) compared with oral afoxolaner (NexGard®)

The rapid speed of kill of a spot-on, combination of fipronil-permethrin (Effitix®, Virbac) was shown against infestations of Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Ctenocephalides felis on dogs. Efficacy was determined against new infestations at weekly intervals for one month after treatment.Dogs were allocated randomly to either an untreated control or to a single administration, given on Day 0, of either topical fipronil-permethrin (6.7–13.4mg/kg and 60–120mg/kg, respectively) or oral afoxolaner (2.72–6.8mg/kg), based on pre-treatment, host-suitability flea counts. Dogs were infested with 50, unfed, adult R. sanguineus on Days 7, 14, 21 and 28, and with 100C. felis on Days 8, 15, 22 and 29. Tick counts were performed 0.5, 2, 6, 12 and 24h, and flea counts were performed 0.5 and 24h after each infestation.No treatment-related adverse reactions occurred. Dogs in the untreated group maintained viable infestations throughout the study. Following infestation, live tick and flea counts for dogs treated with fipronil-permethrin compared with untreated dogs were rapidly and significantly reduced with efficacy apparent at 0.5h after infestation. Flea efficacies (arithmetic mean counts) at 0.5h after infestation on Day 7 (Day 28) were significantly greater for fipronil-permethrin, 70% (34%) compared with 8% (18%) for afoxolaner (P≤0.05). Tick efficacies at 2h on Day 7 (Day 28) were 74% (63%) for fipronil-permethrin compared with 10% (0%) for afoxolaner (P≤0.05). Efficacies for tick repellency as indicated by counts of ticks off the dogs at 2h on Day 7 (Day 28) were greater for fipronil-permethrin, 32% (22%) compared with afoxolaner, 0% (0%) (P≤0.05). Anti-attachment efficacies at 12h were greater for fipronil-permethrin compared with afoxolaner. Tick efficacies at 24h, based on arithmetic (geometric) means, were significantly greater on Day 28 for fipronil-permethrin compared with afoxolaner (P≤0.05), 74% (87%) and 45% (60%), respectively, and were similar (P >0.05) on Days 7, 14 and 21. Flea efficacies, 24h after infestation were >98% and similar for both treated groups on all infestation days (P >0.05).The topically applied fipronil-permethrin containing ectoparasiticide Effitix® offers rapid efficacy against R. sanguineus and C. felis which persists for one month after a single administration in dogs. Afoxolaner is also effective although speed of kill is slower. The rapid and sustained speed of kill of both parasites by fipronil-permethrin should contribute to effective management not only of these parasites and their direct adverse effects including irritancy and allergy, but also to reducing the risk of transmitting infections.