Rabbits as Animal Models for Anti-Tick Vaccine Development: A Global Scenario.

Studies evaluating candidate tick-derived proteins as anti-tick vaccines in natural hosts have been limited due to high costs. To overcome this problem, animal models are used in immunization tests. The aim of this article was to review the use of rabbits as an experimental model for the evaluation of tick-derived proteins as vaccines. A total of 57 tick proteins were tested for their immunogenic potential using rabbits as models for vaccination. The most commonly used rabbit breeds were New Zealand (73.8%), Japanese white (19%), Californians (4.8%) and Flemish lop-eared (2.4%) rabbits. Anti-tick vaccines efficacy resulted in up to 99.9%. Haemaphysalis longicornis (17.9%) and Ornithodoros moubata (12.8%) were the most common tick models in vaccination trials. Experiments with rabbits have revealed that some proteins (CoAQP, OeAQP, OeAQP1, Bm86, GST-Hl, 64TRP, serpins and voraxin) can induce immune responses against various tick species. In addition, in some cases it was possible to determine that the vaccine efficacy in rabbits was similar to that of experiments performed on natural hosts (e.g., Bm86, IrFER2, RmFER2, serpins and serine protease inhibitor). In conclusion, results showed that prior to performing anti-tick vaccination trials using natural hosts, rabbits can be used as suitable experimental models for these studies.

First isolation of Rickettsia amblyommatis from Amblyomma mixtum in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are the causative agent of rickettsioses and are spread to vertebrate hosts by arthropods. There are no previous reports of isolation of Rickettsia amblyommatis for Colombia. METHODS: A convenience sampling was executed in three departments in Colombia for direct collection of adult ticks on domestic animals or over vegetation. Ticks were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplifying the citrate synthase gene (gltA), and the positive sample was processed for isolation and further molecular characterization by conventional PCR. The absolute and relative frequencies were calculated for several tick species variables. All products from conventional PCR were further purified and sequenced by the Sanger technique. Representative sequences of 18 Rickettsia species were downloaded from GenBank. Consensus phylogenetic trees were constructed for the gltA, ompB, ompA, and htrA genes with 1000 replicates, calculating bootstrap values through the maximum likelihood method and the generalized time reversible substitution model in the MEGA 7.0 software program. RESULTS: One female Amblyomma mixtum collected on vegetation was amplified by qPCR (gltA), indicating a frequency of 1.6% (1/61) for Rickettsia spp. INFECTION: Sequence analysis of a rickettsial isolate from this tick in BLASTn showed 100% identity with gltA (340 base pairs [bp]), 99.87% for ompB (782 bp), 98.99% for htrA (497 bp), and 100% for ompA (488 bp) to R. amblyommatis. Concatenated phylogenetic analysis confirmed these findings indicating that the isolate is grouped with other sequences of Amblyomma cajennense complex from Panama and Brazil within the R. amblyommatis clade. CONCLUSIONS: This paper describes the isolation and early molecular identification of a R. amblyommatis strain from A. mixtum in Colombia.

Parasites Circulating in Wild Synanthropic Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): A One Health Approach.

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are affected by a wide range of protozoan and metazoan-derived parasitic diseases. Among parasites of free-ranging capybaras are soil-, water-, food- and gastropod-borne parasitosis, today considered as opportunistic infections in semiaquatic ecosystems. The overlapping of the capybara's natural ecological habitats with human and domestic animal activities has unfortunately increased in recent decades, thereby enhancing possible cross- or spillover events of zoonotic parasites. Due to this, three synanthropic wild capybara populations in the Orinoco Basin were studied for the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasite infections. A total of forty-six fecal samples were collected from free-ranging capybaras in close proximity to livestock farms. Macroscopical analyses, standard copromicroscopical techniques, coproELISA, PCR, and phylogenetic analysis revealed thirteen parasite taxa. In detail, the study indicates stages of five protozoans, four nematodes, one cestode, and three trematodes. Two zoonotic parasites were identified (i.e., Plagorchis muris, and Neobalantidium coli). The trematode P. muris represents the first report within South America. In addition, this report expands the geographical distribution range of echinocoelosis (Echinocoleus hydrochoeri). Overall, parasitological findings include two new host records (i.e., P. muris, and Entamoeba). The present findings collectively constitute baseline data for future monitoring of wildlife-derived anthropozoonotic parasites and call for future research on the health and the ecological impact of this largest semiaquatic rodent closely linked to humans, domestic and wild animals.

In vitro resistance to topical acaricides of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus from four regions of Colombia / Resistencia in vitro a acaricidas tópicos de poblaciones de garrapatas Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus provenientes de cuatro departamentos de Colombia / Resistência in vitro aos acaricidas tópicos de populações de carrapatos Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus provenientes de quatro departamentos da Colô mbia

In Colombia, the control of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus lies almost exclusively on the use of chemical acaricides. However, R. (B.) microplus has developed resistance to most of the commercially available products. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of resistance to the major topical acaricides used in Colombia. The adult immersion test was used as recommended by FAO with ticks from 7 farms originating in 4 distant Colombian regions. The efficacy of the products was calculated based on the reproductive parameters of fecundity and fertility with groups of ticks (n = 40) exposed to the recommended concentrations of each acaricide, and compared with the respective control group exposed to distilled water. In general, products containing deltamethrin (25 ppm) and amitraz (208 ppm) were less effective, with efficacy values of <20% and 10-50%, respectively. Doubling the concentration did not increase the efficacy of either compound. The combination of chlorpyrifos (312 ppm) + cypermethrin (150 ppm) showed great variation between farms, with an efficacy ranging between 22-93%. Unlike chlorpyrifos, the organophosphorus ethion (622 ppm) was 99-100% effective in completely inhibiting oviposition in 4 of the 7 farms. In conclusion, resistance to deltamethrin and amitraz is very high in seven distant strains of the Colombian territory, varies widely for chlorpyrifos, and was not detected for ethion that was 99-100% effective

El control de la garrapata Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus en Colombia radica casi exclusivamente en el uso de acaricidas químicos. Sin embargo, R. (B.) microplus ha desarrollado resistencia a la mayoría de los productos actualmente disponibles comercialmente. El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar el grado de resistencia a concentraciones recomendadas de los principales acaricidas comerciales de uso tópico en Colombia. Se empleó la prueba de inmersión de adultas (teleoginas) recomendada por la FAO con garrapatas procedentes de siete predios localizados en cuatro departamentos colombianos. La eficacia de los productos se calculó con base en los parámetros reproductivos de fecundidad y fertilidad con grupos de garrapatas (n=40) expuestas a cada acaricida, comparándolos con el respectivo grupo control expuesto a agua destilada. En general, los productos de deltametrina (25 ppm) y amitraz (208 ppm) fueron los menos efectivos, con valores de eficacia de <20% y de entre 10-50%, respectivamente. Tampoco se observó un aumento de eficacia al doblar la concentración de ambos compuestos por separado. La combinación de clorpirifos (312 ppm) + cipermetrina (150 ppm) mostró gran variación entre fincas, con una eficacia de entre el 22-93%. A diferencia  del clorpirifos, el organofosforado etión (622 ppm) sí produjo un 99-100% de eficacia inhibiendo completamente la oviposición en cuatro de las siete fincas. En conclusión, la resistencia a deltametrina y amitraz es muy alta en siete poblaciones distantes del territorio colombiano; en cuanto al clorpirifos varía mucho, y éste no parece tener resistencia cruzada con el etión que fue el de mayor eficacia.

O controle do carrapato Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus na Colô mbia está focado quase exclusivamente no uso de acaricidas químicos. Porém, R. (B.) microplus tem desenvolvido resistência à maioria dos produtos disponíveis comercialmente. O objetivo deste estudo foi valorar o grau de resistência às concentrações recomendadas dos principais acaricidas comerciais de uso tópico na Colô mbia. Foi usada a prova da imersã o de adultas (teleoginas) recomendada pela FAO com carrapatos procedentes de 7 fazendas localizadas em 4 departamentos colombianos. A eficácia dos produtos calculou-se com base nos parâmetros reprodutivos de fecundidade e fertilidade com grupos de carrapatos (n=40) expostos a cada acaricida. Em geral, os produtos deltametrina (25 ppm) e amitraz (208 ppm) foram os menos efetivos, com valores de eficácia de  <20% e de entre 10-50%, respectivamente. Também nã o foi observado aumento da eficácia ao dobrar a concentraçã o de ambos produtos por separado. A combinaçã o de clorpirifos (312 ppm) + cipermetrina (150 ppm) mostrou uma grande variaçã o entre as fazendas, com uma eficácia de 22-93%. Diferentemente do clorpirifos, o organofosforado etion (622 ppm) teve um 99-100% de eficácia por inibiçã o completa da ovoposiçã o em 4 das 7 fazendas. Em conclusã o, a resistência à deltametrina e amitraz é muito alta em 7 populações distantes do território colombiano; quanto ao clorpirifos, varia muito e este nã o parece ter resistência cruzada com o etion que foi o de maior eficácia.<20% e de entre 10-50%, respectivamente. Também não foi observado aumento da eficácia ao dobrar a concentração de ambos produtos por separado. A combinação de clorpirifos (312 ppm) + cipermetrina (150 ppm) mostrou uma grande variação entre as fazendas, com uma eficácia de 22-93%. Diferentemente do clorpirifos, o organofosforado etion (622 ppm) teve um 99-100% de eficácia por inibição completa da ovoposição em 4 das 7 fazendas. Em conclusão, a resistência à deltametrina e amitraz é muito alta em 7 populações distantes do território colombiano; quanto ao clorpirifos, varia muito e este não parece ter resistência cruzada com o etion que foi o de maior eficácia.