RESUMEN
Non-Human Primates (NHPs) harbor Cryptosporidium genotypes that can infect humans and vice versa. NHPs Chlorocebus aethiops and Colobus guereza and humans have overlapping territories in some regions of Ethiopia, which may increase the risk of zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium. This cross-sectional study examined the molecular prevalence and subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. from 185 fecal samples of Chlorocebus aethiops and Colobus guereza in rural and urban areas in Ethiopia. Samples were tested for Cryptosporidium infection using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subtypes were determined by sequencing a fragment of the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene (gp60). Of the 185 samples, fifty-one (27.56%) tested positive for Cryptosporidium infection. The species detected were C. parvum (n = 34), C. hominis (n = 12), and C. cuniculus (n = 3). Mixed infection with C. parvum and C. hominis were detected in 2 samples. Four C. hominis family subtypes (Ia, Ib, Id, and Ie) and one C. parvum family subtype (IIa) were identified. C. hominis IaA20 (n = 7) and C. parvum IIaA17G1R1 (n = 6) were the most prevalent subtypes detected. These results confirm that Chlorocebus aethiops and Colobus guereza can be infected with diverse C. parvum and C. hominis subtypes that can also potentially infect humans. Additional studies could help to understand the role of NHPs in the zoonotic transmission of Cryptosporidium in Ethiopia.
Asunto(s)
Criptosporidiosis , Cryptosporidium , Animales , Chlorocebus aethiops , Colobus , Estudios Transversales , Criptosporidiosis/epidemiología , Cryptosporidium/genética , Etiopía/epidemiología , Heces , Variación Genética , Genotipo , PrimatesRESUMEN
Ethiopian soft ticks Argas persicus, hard ticks including both Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp., and fleas were collected from livestock, traditional human dwellings, and cracks and crevices of trees. They were assessed in pools for the presence of Rickettsia using PCR-based methods. The extracted tick DNA was subjected to molecular screening for Rickettsia, which revealed 50.5% of the pooled samples to be positive for Rickettsia spp. These were then subjected to multi-gene analysis using both outer surface proteins and housekeeping genes with proven discriminatory potential. Sequencing of the citrate synthase and outer membrane genes clearly led to the identification of three distinct rickettsial species, Candidatus Rickettsia hoogstraalii in Argas persicus ticks; R. africae in hard tick pools, and R. felis in fleas. Furthermore, we demonstrated the presence of the plasmid-borne small heat-shock protein gene hsp2 in DNA from A. persicus ticks suggesting that Candidatus R. hoogstraalii carried by these ticks possess a plasmid. Unlike chromosomal gene sequences, the hsp2 gene failed to cluster with Candidatus R. hoogstraalii, instead falling into an isolated separate clade, suggesting a different origin for the plasmid.
Asunto(s)
Argas/microbiología , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Proteínas de la Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Citrato (si)-Sintasa/genética , Análisis por Conglomerados , ADN Bacteriano/química , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Proteínas de Choque Térmico/genética , Humanos , Ganado/parasitología , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Filogenia , Plásmidos , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Árboles/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Two regions (Jimma and Dire Dawa) in Ethiopia were investigated for the presence of soft ticks. Although no Ornithodoros spp. ticks were collected during this survey, published records of their existence in Ethiopia were found. An overwhelming infestation of Argas persicus was revealed in a village located adjacent to Dire Dawa. These ticks primarily were feeding on poultry, but were also biting humans. Furthermore, hard ticks were collected from livestock and companion animals in these regions. Collected ticks were assessed for Borrelia by real-time PCR followed by conventional PCR and sequencing to identify species present. A. persicus ticks were found to carry B. anserina in 3 of 40 (7.5%) A. persicus tick pools, whilst hard tick pools yielded 2 of 16 (12.5%) positive for B. theileri. Collectively, these borrelial species and their tick vectors are likely to have an important economic impact of particular relevance to subsistence farmers in Ethiopia.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Arácnidos/microbiología , Argas/microbiología , Borrelia/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedad de Lyme/transmisión , Ornithodoros/microbiología , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Borrelia/clasificación , Borrelia/genética , ADN Bacteriano/química , ADN Bacteriano/genética , ADN Mitocondrial/química , ADN Mitocondrial/genética , ADN Ribosómico/química , ADN Ribosómico/genética , Etiopía/epidemiología , Humanos , Ganado/parasitología , Enfermedad de Lyme/epidemiología , Enfermedad de Lyme/microbiología , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mascotas/parasitología , Filogenia , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Suelo/parasitología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/complicaciones , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Head and clothing lice from Jimma, Ethiopia were investigated for pathogenic bacteria. Genomic DNA from pools of lice was subjected to PCR analysis for Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp. Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp. and Yersinia pestis. All 102 lice pools were negative for the afore mentioned pathogens, with the exception of Bartonella species found among 6 of 65 (9.2%) head lice pools and1 of 33 clothing lice pools. Identification was achieved by sequencing the ribosomal intragenic transcribed spacer region (ITS), revealing all to be Bartonella quintana. Although established as a clothing louse-borne infection, typically causing chronic bacteraemia, trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis and endocarditis, this has only been rarely reported among head lice. The higher numbers of infected head lice pools compared with clothing lice suggests their competence for maintaining this infection within Ethiopia.
