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Vector-borne parasite infections affect both domestic and wild animals. They are often asymptomatic but can result in fatal outcomes under natural and human-induced stressors. Given the limited availability of molecular data on vector-borne parasites in Rhinoceros unicornis (greater one-horned rhinoceros), this study employed molecular tools to detect and characterize the vector-borne parasites in rescued rhinoceros in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Whole blood samples were collected from thirty-six R. unicornis during rescue and treatment operations. Piroplasmida infections were first screened using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Wolbachia was detected by amplifying 16S rRNA gene, while filarial nematodes were detected through amplification of 28S rRNA, COI, myoHC and hsp70 genes. Our results confirmed the presence of Theileria bicornis with a prevalence of 75% (27/36) having two previously unreported haplotypes (H8 and H9). Wolbachia endosymbionts were detected in 25% (9/36) of tested samples and belonged to either supergroup C or F. Filarial nematodes of the genera Mansonella and Onchocerca were also detected. There were no significant association between T. bicornis infections and the age, sex, or location from which the animals were rescued. The high prevalence of Theileria with novel haplotypes along with filarial parasites has important ecological and conservational implications and highlights the need to implement parasite surveillance programs for wildlife in Nepal. Further studies monitoring vector-borne pathogens and interspecies transmission among wild animals, livestock and human are required.
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Revealing interactions between ticks and wild animals is vital for gaining insights into the dynamics of tick-borne pathogens in the natural environment. We aimed to elucidate the factors that determine tick infestation in wild animals by investigating ticks on invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido, Japan. We first examined the composition, intensity, and seasonal variation of ticks infesting raccoons in six study areas in Hokkaido from March 2022 to August 2023. In one study area, ticks infesting tanukis (raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) were collected in May to July in both 2022 and 2023, and questing ticks were collected from the vegetation by flagging every other week in the same period. Next, we screened 17 environmental and host variables to determine factors that affect the number of ticks infesting raccoons using generalized linear (mixed) models. From 245 raccoons, we identified a total of 3,917 ticks belonging to eight species of two genera: the most prominent species were Ixodes ovatus (52.9 %), followed by Haemaphysalis megaspinosa (14.4 %), Ixodes tanuki (10.6 %), and Ixodes persulcatus (9.5 %). Ixodes ovatus was also predominant among questing ticks and ticks infesting tanukis. Although I. tanuki was frequently collected from raccoons and tanukis, it was rarely collected in the field. The variables that significantly affected the infestation on raccoons differed by genus, species and developmental stage of the tick. For instance, the infestation of adult I. ovatus was significantly affected by four variables: night-time temperature during nine days before capturing the raccoon, the size of forest area around the capture site, sex of the raccoon, and sampling season. The first two variables were also responsible for the infestation on raccoons of almost all species and stages of ticks. Our study revealed that the number and composition of ticks infesting raccoons can be affected not only by landscape of their habitats but also by weather conditions in several days before capturing.
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Echinococcus multilocularis is a cestode that causes human alveolar echinococcosis, a lethal zoonotic disease distributed in the northern hemisphere. The life cycle of this parasite is maintained in nature by voles as intermediate hosts and foxes as definitive hosts in Hokkaido, Japan. Although dogs are also susceptible to the parasite, the infection has been considered typically asymptomatic. We report the detection of E. multilocularis eggs in the diarrheal feces of a dog with chronic gastrointestinal signs, which disappeared after anthelmintic treatment. The mitochondrial genome sequence constructed by sequencing of the overlapping PCRs using DNA from the eggs was identical to the most predominant haplotype previously reported in red foxes in Hokkaido. This case highlights that Echinococcus infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis for diarrheal dogs in the disease endemic areas. Further efforts are needed to accumulate parasite genotypes in domestic dogs as well as humans to assess the risk of human infection from dogs.
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Ticks have a profound impact on public health. Haemaphysalis is one of the most widespread genera in Asia, including Japan. The taxonomy and genetic differentiation of Haemaphysalis spp. is challenging. For instance, previous studies struggled to distinguish Haemaphysalis japonica and Haemaphysalis megaspinosa due to the dearth of nucleotide sequence polymorphisms in widely used barcoding genes. The classification of H. japonica japonica and its related sub-species Haemaphysalis japonica douglasi or Haemaphysalis jezoensis is also confused due to their high morphological similarity and a lack of molecular data that support the current classification. We used mitogenomes and microbiomes of H. japonica and H. megaspinosa to gain deeper insights into the phylogenetic relationships and genetic divergence between two species. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated nucleotide sequences of protein-coding genes and ribosomal DNA genes distinguished H. japonica and H. megaspinosa as monophyletic clades, with further subdivision within the H. japonica clade. The 16S rRNA and NAD5 genes were valuable markers for distinguishing H. japonica and H. megaspinosa. Population genetic structure analyses indicated that genetic variation within populations accounted for a large proportion of the total variation compared to variation between populations. Microbiome analyses revealed differences in alpha and beta diversity between H. japonica and H. megaspinosa: H. japonica had the higher diversity. Coxiella sp., a likely endosymbiont, was found in both Haemaphysalis species. The abundance profiles of likely endosymbionts, pathogens, and commensals differed between H. japonica and H. megaspinosa: H. megaspinosa was more diverse.
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Ixodidae , Microbiota , Filogenia , RNA Ribossômico 16S , Animais , Ixodidae/microbiologia , Ixodidae/genética , Microbiota/genética , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Genoma Mitocondrial , Variação GenéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Parasitic infestations have a substantial economic impact on pig production. This study aimed to investigate the gastrointestinal (GI) helminths in pigs and to molecularly characterise two important nematodes, Ascaris and Trichuris species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 500 pig faecal samples were collected from small holder backyard pig farms in five townships within Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Microscopic examination was conducted to estimate the prevalence of GI helminth infestation in the pigs. DNA extraction and PCR were performed on faecal samples that were morphologically positive for Ascaris and Trichuris eggs. Molecular analysis was then conducted to characterise A. suum and T. suis, the most common and zoonotic helminths. RESULTS: According to microscopic examination, 69.2% (346/500) were positive for GI helminth eggs. The GI helminth species observed were A. suum, Strongyle, Strongyloides spp., T. suis, Metastrongylus spp., Hyostrongylus spp., Fasciolopsis spp., Paragonimus spp., and Schistosoma spp., with occurrences of 34.8%, 29.6%, 21.4%, 20.0%, 4.0%, 1.6%, 1.0%, 1.0%, and 0.4%, respectively. Mixed infections of GI helminths were noted in 31.0% of the samples. Overall, sampled pigs excreted mostly low levels (< 100 EPG) or moderate levels (> 100-500 EPG) of GI helminth eggs. The highest mean EPG for each parasite species was noted in A. suum. The presence of A. suum and T. suis was confirmed molecularly. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of A. suum showed high similarity with previously reported sequences. Likewise, the sequences of T. suis exhibited high similarity with the sequences reported from humans and pigs. Age was noted as an associated factor (P < 0.05) for GI helminth infection status. CONCLUSIONS: In this report, A. suum and T. suis were molecularly identified for the first time in Myanmar. It is important to extend the information among the farmers to be aware of the necessity of preventing zoonotic parasites by practicing regular deworming, proper use of anthelmintics and maintaining hygienic conditions in their pig farms.
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Ascaris suum , Helmintos , Doenças dos Suínos , Humanos , Animais , Suínos , Trichuris/genética , Mianmar , Óvulo , Fezes/parasitologia , Doenças dos Suínos/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Chickens in free-range environments are at risk of exposure to various pathogens, such as filarioids transmitted via hematophagous vectors. However, the study of filarioids in poultry has been largely neglected compared to the extensive studies focused on viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Here, we performed histological and molecular investigations of the filarioids detected in domestic chickens from two different flocks in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. In the first case, adult worms were present in the pulmonary artery and right ventricle, and microfilariae were present in multiple organs of deceased chickens. In the second case, similar filarioids were detected in the organs and blood of one necropsied layer. Phylogenetic analysis using 18S rRNA gene fragments positioned the filarioid in the same clade as that of Onchocercidae sp., previously identified in a deceased chicken from Chiba Prefecture, Japan, that is located 500 km away from Hiroshima Prefecture. Based on 28S rRNA and mitochondrial COI gene fragments, the filarioid was positioned distinctly from previously reported genera of avian filarioids. These results suggest that the filarioids are potentially associated with the health burden on domestic chickens and belong to the genus Paronchocerca. Furthermore, we developed a nested PCR assay targeting mitochondrial COI and detected the parasite DNA from the biting midge Culicoides arakawae captured near the flock, suggesting that it serves as a vector. Our findings fill the knowledge gap regarding avian filarioids, laying the groundwork for future studies examining the epidemiology, life cycle, and species diversity of this neglected parasite group.
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Filarioidea , Parasitos , Animais , Galinhas , Japão/epidemiologia , Filogenia , Filarioidea/genéticaRESUMO
Spiroplasma (Mycoplasmatales: Spiroplasmataceae) is one of the most widely distributed symbionts of arthropods. Spiroplasma species can infect their hosts via vertical or horizontal transmission. However, the mode of transmission of Spiroplasma between different arthropod taxa has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the potential for the transmission of Spiroplasma to non-native arthropod species, using 2 Spiroplasma spp. isolated from ticks, namely Spiroplasma ixodetis and Spiroplasma mirum, and 3 species of mosquito laboratory colonies, namely Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, and Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae). After feeding the adult mosquitoes with Spiroplasma-containing artificial meals, they were kept at 25 °C for 10 days. Homogenates prepared from Spiroplasma-fed mosquitoes were used to re-isolate Spiroplasma using the in vitro culture method. Nine weeks after culture initiation, the presence of Spiroplasma was tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results revealed that only S. ixodetis was detected from all 3 species of mosquitoes and re-isolated from 2 of them. The differences in the infection ability of different Spirolasma species could be attributed to several factors, including environmental effects. Nevertheless, this is the first experimental demonstration of Spiroplasma transmission among different arthropod taxa. Further studies are needed to elucidate the evolutionary mechanism that supports the survival of Spiroplasma in nature.
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Spiroplasma , Animais , Spiroplasma/fisiologia , Culex/microbiologia , Aedes/microbiologia , FemininoRESUMO
Animal movement across regions owing to human activity can lead to the introduction of pathogens, resulting in disease epidemics with medical and socioeconomic significance. Here, we validated the hypothesis that human activity, such as the transportation of infected animals, has played a significant role in introducing the zoonotic parasite Echinococcus multilocularis into Hokkaido, Japan, by synthesizing and evaluating parasite genetic data in light of historical records. Our analysis indicates that a major genetic group in Hokkaido originated from St. Lawrence Island, USA, which is in accordance with the route suggested by historical descriptions. Moreover, we identified a minor genetic group closely related to parasites found in Sichuan, China. This fact implies that parasite invasion in Japan may result from complex and inadvertent animal translocations. These findings emphasize the anthropogenic impacts on zoonotic parasite spread and provide a crucial perspective for preventing future potential epidemics.
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Many arthropods harbour bacterial symbionts, which are maintained by vertical and/or horizontal transmission. Spiroplasma is one of the most well-known symbionts of ticks and other arthropods. It is still unclear how Spiroplasma infections have spread in tick populations despite its high prevalence in some tick species. In this study, Ixodes ovatus, which has been reported to harbour Spiroplasma ixodetis at high frequencies, was examined for its vertical transmission potential under experimental conditions. Next, two isolates of tick-derived Spiroplasma, S. ixodetis and Spiroplasma mirum, were experimentally inoculated into Spiroplasma-free Haemaphysalis longicornis colonies and the presence of Spiroplasma in their eggs and larvae was tested. Our experimental data confirmed that S. ixodetis was transmitted to eggs and larvae in a vertical manner in the original host I. ovatus. In the second experiment, there was no significant difference in engorged weight, egg weight, and hatching rate between Spiroplasma-inoculated and control H. longicornis groups. This suggested that Spiroplasma infection does not affect tick reproduction. Spiroplasma DNA was only detected in the eggs and larvae derived from some individuals of S. ixodetis-inoculated groups. This has demonstrated the potential of horizontal transmission between different tick species. These findings may help understand the transmission dynamics of Spiroplasma in nature and its adaptation mechanism to host arthropod species.
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Artrópodes , Ixodes , Ixodidae , Humanos , Animais , Ixodes/microbiologia , Transmissão Vertical de Doenças Infecciosas , BactériasRESUMO
North Africa is home to more than 200 million people living across five developing economies (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco) and two Spanish exclaves (Ceuta and Melilla), many of whom are impacted by ticks and tick-borne zoonoses. Populations in Europe are also increasingly vulnerable to North African ticks and tick-borne zoonoses due to a combination of climate change and the movement of ticks across the Mediterranean on migratory birds, human travellers, and trafficked wildlife. The human-biting ticks and tick-borne zoonoses in North Africa are reviewed along with their distribution in the region. We also assess present and future challenges associated with ticks and tick-borne zoonoses in North African and highlight opportunities for collaboration and coordination between governments in Europe and North Africa to address public health challenges posed by North African ticks and tick-borne zoonoses.
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Background: Ticks are important arthropod vectors that transmit pathogens to humans and animals. Owing to favourable climatic and environmental conditions, along with animal importation from neighbouring countries, ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are widespread in Egyptian localities. Here, we review the current knowledge on the epidemiology of TBDs in Egypt in light of the One Health paradigm. Methods and results: Five scientific databases, including "Web of Science", "Scopus", "PubMed", "Science Direct", and "Google Scholar", were searched for articles describing TBDs in Egypt. A total of 18 TBDs have been reported in humans and animals, including three protozoal diseases (babesiosis, theileriosis, and hepatozoonosis), 12 bacterial diseases (anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme borreliosis, bovine borreliosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, Mediterranean spotted fever, African tick-borne fever, lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis, bartonellosis, tularaemia, Q fever, and aegyptianellosis), and three viral diseases (Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever, and Lumpy skin disease). Conclusions: Despite the circulation of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens among livestock and tick vectors, human infections have been overlooked and are potentially limited to infer the actual communicable disease burden. Therefore, facility-based surveillance of TBDs, combined with capacity building for laboratory diagnostics in healthcare facilities, is urgently required to improve diagnosis and inform policy-making in disease prevention. Additionally, collaboration between expert researchers from various disciplines (physicians, biologists, acarologists, and veterinarians) is required to develop advanced research projects to control ticks and TBDs. Considering that domestic livestock is integral to many Egyptian households, comprehensive epidemiological studies on TBDs should assess all disease contributors, including vertebrate hosts (animals, humans, and rodents) and ticks in the same ecological region, for better assessment of disease burden. Additionally, upscaling of border inspections of imported animals is required to stop crossover movements of ticks and TBDs.
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Intestinal coccidiosis caused by Eimeria protozoan species is an economically important disease, especially in poultry and cattle. Anti-coccidial drugs commonly used for controlling coccidiosis are toltrazuril (TTZ) and diclazuril (DCZ). In this study, the efficacies of TTZ and DCZ were compared using a murine model, and the effect of these treatments on the induction of acquired resistance was evaluated. Male C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with 1,000 sporulated E. vermiformis oocytes and treated with TTZ or DCZ. The recommended TTZ dose for cattle (15 mg/kg) completely prevented oocyte excretion. But, mice required 5 mg/kg of DCZ, which is five times the recommended dose for cattle, to reduce oocyte excretion. In E. vermiformis re-infection, TTZ (15 mg/kg) and DCZ (5 mg/kg) treatments did not interfere with the development of acquired resistance. Bodyweight gain was significantly higher in the TTZ-treated group than in the control (untreated/infected) group and the DCZ-treated group, and no significant difference in bodyweight gain was observed between the TTZ-treated group and the healthy (uninfected/untreated) group. Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes indicated that the relative populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were reduced in the DCZ-treated and control (untreated/infected) groups, suggesting there was immunosuppression during the infection. However, no reductions in T cell populations were observed in the TTZ-treated group. The results indicated that an optimal anti-coccidial drug is one that can completely break the parasite life cycle in the host animal.
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Doenças dos Bovinos , Coccidiose , Coccidiostáticos , Eimeria , Doenças dos Roedores , Animais , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/tratamento farmacológico , Coccidiose/tratamento farmacológico , Coccidiose/parasitologia , Coccidiose/veterinária , Coccidiostáticos/uso terapêutico , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Nitrilas , Triazinas/farmacologia , Triazinas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Ticks are the second most important vector capable of transmitting diseases affecting the health of both humans and animals. Amblyomma testudinarium Koch 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), is a hard tick species having a wide geographic distribution in Asia. In this study, we analyzed the composition of A. testudinarium whole mitogenomes from various geographical regions in Japan and investigated the population structure, demographic patterns, and phylogeographic relationship with other ixodid species. In addition, we characterized a potentially novel tick species closely related to A. testudinarium from Myanmar. Phylogeographic inference and evolutionary dynamics based on the 15 mitochondrial coding genes supported that A. testudinarium population in Japan is resolved into a star-like haplogroup and suggested a distinct population structure of A. testudinarium from Amami island in Kyushu region. Correlation analysis using Mantel test statistics showed that no significant correlation was observed between the genetic and geographic distances calculated between the A. testudinarium population from different localities in Japan. Finally, demographic analyses, including mismatch analysis and Tajima's D test, suggested a possibility of recent population expansion occurred within Japanese haplogroup after a bottleneck event. Although A. testudinarium has been considered widespread and common in East and Southeast Asia, the current study suggested that potentially several cryptic Amblyomma spp. closely related to A. testudinarium are present in Asia.
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Research on vector-associated microbiomes has been expanding due to increasing emergence of vector-borne pathogens and awareness of the importance of symbionts in the vector physiology. However, little is known about microbiomes of argasid (or soft-bodied) ticks due to limited access to specimens. We collected four argasid species (Argas japonicus, Carios vespertilionis, Ornithodoros capensis, and Ornithodoros sawaii) from the nests or burrows of their vertebrate hosts. One laboratory-reared argasid species (Ornithodoros moubata) was also included. Attempts were then made to isolate and characterize potential symbionts/pathogens using arthropod cell lines. Microbial community structure was distinct for each tick species. Coxiella was detected as the predominant symbiont in four tick species where dual symbiosis between Coxiella and Rickettsia or Coxiella and Francisella was observed in C. vespertilionis and O. moubata, respectively. Of note, A. japonicus lacked Coxiella and instead had Occidentia massiliensis and Thiotrichales as alternative symbionts. Our study found strong correlation between tick species and life stage. We successfully isolated Oc. massiliensis and characterized potential pathogens of genera Ehrlichia and Borrelia. The results suggest that there is no consistent trend of microbiomes in relation to tick life stage that fit all tick species and that the final interpretation should be related to the balance between environmental bacterial exposure and endosymbiont ecology. Nevertheless, our findings provide insights on the ecology of tick microbiomes and basis for future investigations on the capacity of argasid ticks to carry novel pathogens with public health importance.
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Theileria parva is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that causes bovine theileriosis (East Coast Fever; ECF) in central, eastern and southern Africa. In Malawi, ECF is endemic in the northern and central regions where it has negatively affected the development of dairy industry. Despite its endemic status the genetic population structure of T. parva in Malawi is currently unknown. To obtain an understanding of T. parva in Malawi, we performed population genetics analysis of T. parva populations in cattle vaccinated with the Muguga cocktail live vaccine and non-vaccinated cattle using mini- and microsatellite markers covering all the four T. parva chromosomes. The T. parva Muguga strain was included in this study as a reference strain. Linkage disequilibrium was observed when all samples were treated as a single population. There was sub-structuring among the samples as shown by the principal coordinate analysis. Majority of the samples clustered with the T. parva Muguga reference strain suggesting that the isolates in Malawi are closely related to the vaccine component, which support the current use of Muguga cocktail vaccine to control ECF. The clustering of samples from non-endemic southern region with those from endemic central region suggests expansion of the distribution of T. parva in Malawi.
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Although parasitic nematodes in the genera Murshidia and Quilonia (family Strongylidae) are recognized as major gastrointestinal parasites in Asian elephants, they have been poorly studied. Recently, light micrographs of these parasites in Myanmar have been presented, almost 100 years after the original drawings. However, the number of coronal leaflets, a key taxonomic feature of Quilonia species, has not been precisely determined based on light microscopy. The current study aimed to determine the exact number of coronal leaflets in Quilonia renniei specimens from Asian elephants in Myanmar. On the basis of scanning electron micrographs, leaflet number in females (1920, average 19.7, n = 9) was significantly higher (P < 0.005) than that in males (1619, average 18.1, n = 8). This compares with 18 coronal leaflets indicated in the original species description. Specimens bearing 19 coronal leaflets were most numerous, followed by those with 20 leaflets. Median-joining network analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences with 16 haplotypes from 19 individuals revealed no clear association between parasite populations and the number of coronal leaflets. These results highlight the importance of determining the number of coronal leaflets in the taxonomy of Q. renniei and other related Quilonia species infecting Asian elephants.
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Elefantes , Enteropatias Parasitárias , Animais , Elefantes/parasitologia , Feminino , Masculino , Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura , Mianmar/epidemiologia , StrongyloideaRESUMO
Malawi has an estimated cattle population of 1,884,803 heads, the indigenous Malawi zebu breed accounts for 91.2%, while the exotic and crossbred accounts for the remaining 8.8%. Although ticks and tick-borne diseases are widespread in Malawi, no molecular study has been conducted to investigate the tick-borne Anaplasmataceae and piroplasms infecting cattle. To provide an insight into the current status of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of cattle, a molecular survey was conducted in the central and southern regions of Malawi. A total of 191 cattle of which 132 were Malawi zebu, 44 were Holstein Friesian and 15 were Holstein-Friesian/ Malawi zebu crosses were screened for Anaplasmataceae and piroplasms using the heat shock protein groEL gene and 18S rDNA, respectively. A new 18S rDNA multiplex PCR assay was designed for Babesia and Theileria species identification without sequencing. Overall, 92.3% (n = 177) of the examined animals were infected with at least one TBP. Anaplasmataceae-positive rate was 57.6% (n = 110) while for piroplasms it was 80.1% (n = 153). The detected Anaplasmataceae were Anaplasma bovis 2.6% (n = 5), Anaplasma marginale 24.6% (n = 47), Anaplasma platys-like 13.6% (n = 26), uncharacterized Anaplasma sp. 14.1% (n = 27), and uncharacterized Ehrlichia sp. 16.2% (n = 31). The detected piroplasms were Babesia bigemina 2.6% (n = 5), Theileria mutans 73.8% (n = 141), Theileria parva 33.0% (n = 63), Theileria taurotragi 12.6% (n = 24), and Theileria velifera 53.4% (n = 102). Mixed infection rate was found in 79.6% (n = 152) of the samples analyzed. This study has shown a high burden of TBPs among cattle in Malawi which highlights the need to conceive new methods to control ticks and TBPs in order to improve animal health and productivity. The newly developed multiplex PCR assay would be a useful tool especially in resource limited settings where sequencing is not available and when mixed infections are expected.
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Anaplasmose , Babesia , Babesiose , Doenças dos Bovinos , Rickettsia , Theileria , Theileriose , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos , Carrapatos , Anaplasmose/diagnóstico , Anaplasmose/epidemiologia , Animais , Babesia/genética , Babesiose/diagnóstico , Babesiose/epidemiologia , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/diagnóstico , Doenças dos Bovinos/epidemiologia , DNA Ribossômico , Malaui/epidemiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Multiplex , Rickettsia/genética , Theileria/genética , Theileriose/diagnóstico , Theileriose/epidemiologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/diagnóstico , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/epidemiologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/veterináriaRESUMO
Freshwater snails play an essential role in the transmission of trematode parasitic flatworms that can infect wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. This study aimed to investigate the rate of cercarial infections in freshwater snails collected from two study areas, Inlay Lake and Yezin Dam, in Myanmar. A total of 4,740 snail samples were collected from Inlay Lake (n = 3,837) and Yezin Dam (n = 903), and infection rate by cercarial emergence was examined. Cercarial DNA samples were analysed by PCR. Based on morphological characteristics, eleven snail species and eight cercarial types were identified. Snails of Melanoides tuberculata in the family Thiaridae were found as the most abundant, followed by Indoplanorbis exustus of the family Planorbidae, in both study areas. The infection rate by cercarial emergence in snails in Inlay Lake and Yezin Dam was 5.8% (224/3,837) and 48.6% (439/903), respectively. Echinostome cercariae showed the highest infection rate in both study areas. Phylogenetic analysis of cercarial internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences revealed that at least seven cercaria types belonged to five digenean trematode families, two of which were zoonotic trematodes in the families of Opisthorchiidae/Heterophyidae and Schistosomatidae. Furthermore, cercarial 28S ribosomal RNA gene analysis showed that the furcocercous cercariae in Yezin Dam were identified as Schistosoma spindale, a causative agent of ruminant schistosomiasis. This is the first report on zoonotic trematode cercariae in snails in Myanmar. The findings indicate that various snail species act as intermediate host for trematode species that infect aquatic animals, mammals and humans in the country.
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Schistosomatidae , Trematódeos , Infecções por Trematódeos , Animais , Cercárias , Humanos , Lagos , Mianmar , Filogenia , Caramujos , Trematódeos/genéticaRESUMO
A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate coccidian infection and associated factors in smallholder pigs, and to identify Cystoisospora oocysts by PCR. A total of 500 pig faecal samples from 330 smallholder farms were collected in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The faecal flotation method was used to identify Eimeria and Cystoisospora species, and oocyst counts per gram (OPG) of faeces were recorded. Oocysts were differentiated after sporulation. Oocyst DNA was subjected to ITS1-targeted Cystoisospora-specific PCR. The overall coccidian oocyst detection rate by microscopic was 89.0% (445/500). Among the studied samples, 74.0% (370/500) and 70.6% (353/500), were found to be positive with Eimeria spp. and Cystoisospora suis oocysts, respectively. The sequences of C. suis detected were 100% identical to those of C. suis reported from Japan, and had 99.5% resemblance to sequences from Australia and China. Weaner pigs showed the significantly highest (p < 0.05) OPG when compared to other age groups. The highest intensity of coccidian infection (p < 0.05) was found in pigs fed local feed, pigs raised on earthen floors and pigs under poor hygienic conditions. Factors such as age, breed, feed type, and housing floors were found to be significantly associated with coccidian infection (p < 0.05). Age, as well as management factors including floor type, feed type, and hygiene practices on the farm, had a strong influence on the occurrence of coccidian infection in pigs. This is the first study in Myanmar on coccidian infection in pigs and molecular detection of C. suis.
TITLE: Forte influence des facteurs de gestion sur les infections à coccidies dans les petites exploitations porcines et première identification moléculaire de Cystoisospora suis au Myanmar. ABSTRACT: Une étude transversale a été menée pour étudier l'infection coccidienne et les facteurs associés chez les porcs dans des petites exploitations, et pour identifier les oocystes de Cystoisospora par PCR. Au total, 500 échantillons de matières fécales de porcs provenant de 330 petites exploitations agricoles ont été collectés dans la région de Nay Pyi Taw, au Myanmar. La méthode de flottation fécale a été utilisée pour identifier les espèces d'Eimeria et de Cystoisospora, et le nombre d'oocystes par gramme (OPG) de matières fécales a été déterminé. Les oocystes ont été différenciés après sporulation. L'ADN des oocystes a été soumis à une PCR spécifique à Cystoisospora, ciblée sur ITS1. Le taux global de détection d'oocystes de coccidies au microscope était de 89,0 % (445/500). Parmi les échantillons étudiés, respectivement 74,0 % (370/500) et 70,6 % (353/500) ont été trouvés positifs pour Eimeria spp. et les oocystes de Cystoisospora suis. Les séquences de C. suis détectées étaient identiques à 100 % à celles de C. suis signalées au Japon, et avaient 99,5 % de ressemblance avec des séquences d'Australie et de Chine. Les porcs sevrés ont montré un OPG significativement plus élevé (p < 0,05) par rapport aux autres groupes d'âge. L'intensité la plus élevée de l'infection coccidienne (p < 0,05) a été observée chez les porcs nourris avec des aliments locaux, les porcs élevés sur des sols en terre battue et les porcs dans de mauvaises conditions d'hygiène. Des facteurs tels que l'âge, la race, le type d'alimentation et les étages se sont avérés être significativement (p < 0,05) associés à l'infection coccidienne. L'âge, ainsi que les facteurs de gestion, notamment le type de sol, le type d'alimentation et les pratiques d'hygiène dans la ferme, ont eu une forte influence sur la survenue d'une infection coccidienne chez les porcs. Il s'agit de la première étude au Myanmar sur l'infection coccidienne chez le porc et la détection moléculaire de C. suis.