Ticks and tick-borne pathogens from wildlife in the Free State Province, South Africa.

Eight ixodid tick species, associated with 59 free-ranging mammals belonging to 10 species, were collected at five different localities in the Free State Province, South Africa. Four of the study areas were nature reserves (Willem Pretorius, Sandveld, Tussen-die-Riviere, and Soetdoring), and one site was a private farm located in Senekal district. The collection was performed from March 2006 until June 2006. Ticks (n=569) and tissues from animals (n=52) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction, reverse line blot, and sequencing for various tick-borne pathogens belonging to the genera Babesia, Theileria, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, the known vector of Babesia bovis responsible for Asiatic redwater in South Africa, was found for the first time in the Free State Province. Rhipicephalus warburtoni [corrected] also was collected in areas in the Free State where it has not been previously described. Anaplasma marginale was detected for the first time in a gemsbok (Oryx gazella gazella). Gene sequences recovered in this study were 98-100% homologous with GenBank sequences for Anaplasma bovis, Theileria separata, and Theileria sp. Malelane sable antelope.

[Quantitative and qualitative studies of Yersinia species in the waste water of a purification plant]. / Quantitative und qualitative Untersuchung von Yersinia-Spezies im Abwasser einer Kläranlage.

During a long term investigation (October 1986 October 1987) Yersinia spp. were isolated from sewage in 5 different stages of a sewage treatment plant in Kiel (Bülk), Schleswig-Holstein, FRG. Methods applied were MPN-procedure, cold enrichment in CIN-broth and finally incubation on CIN-agar (Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin). Yersinia enterocolitica were specified according to their serotypes (O:3/O:9) and biotypes. Results (median/100 ml): sewage influent 90,000 KbE (log 4.95), aerated grit removal tank effluent 14.285 KbE (log 4.15), primary sedimentation tank effluent 20.000 KbE (log 4.30), activated sludge tank effluent 6.000 KbE (log 3.77) and final clarification effluent 260 KbE (log 2.41). After the final clarification a reduction of 99.72% was achieved. A general influence of the outward conditions (water temperature, proportion of oxygen, fecal and total coliforms, water flow, pH) on the behaviour on the Yersinia spp. could not be confirmed. The specification of the 644 germs isolated during the year showed an average proportion of 48.44% Yersinia frederiksenii, 29.5% Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 1, 18.94% Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 2, 2.8% Yersinia intermedia and 0.32% Yersinia kristensenii. Only once a pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica could be isolated (serotype O:9/biotype 2).