Quantitative and Morphological Blood Cell Findings Associated with the Presence of Antigen and/or Antibodies Against Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Sheep.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of a disease known as tick borne fever in sheep, although fever is not always present. Due to inconclusive clinical signs, diagnosis is based on the cytological or molecular detection of the microorganism in blood and/or the determination of antibodies against A. phagocytophilum. The aim of the study was to determine the alterations caused by the presence of antibodies and/or the antigen of A. phagocytophilum in the blood cell count and morphology in sheep. Cytology and indirect immunofluorescence assay were performed for detection of antibodies and the antigen of A. phagocytophilum, respectively. The samples were divided into four groups depending on the result of the antigen and antibody detection. The samples that were only positive for antigen detection had mild anemia, leukopenia (lymphopenia), and thrombocytopenia. The samples that were positive in both assays had anemia, leukopenia (neutropenia and lymphopenia), and thrombocytopenia. Samples that were positive only for antibody detection had mild leukopenia. Morphological findings in infected sheep included band neutrophils, toxic neutrophils, reactive lymphocytes, and activated monocytes. The hematological findings along with cytological and serological tests can contribute to the assessment of the stage of the disease. A combination of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia raises a strong suspicion of the disease. When the microorganism and antibodies are simultaneously present, sheep are more susceptible to secondary complications. The first reported morphological findings and the quantitative hematological alterations are indicative of an inflammatory reaction, antigenic stimulation, and stress.

Trichinella britovi as a risk factor for alternative pig production systems in Greece and Europe.

Trichinellosis is an important zoonosis and the most common source of human infection is meat from pigs and wild boars. The European Union (EU) supports alternative pig production systems (organic and free-ranging) as sustainable farming systems. However, these systems that allow outdoor access for farm animals, may create new or reintroduce old risks to public health. During the last years, alternative pig production systems (free-ranging or organic pig) are growing in popularity in Greece due to the increasing interest of consumers for organic products. The majority of the trichinellosis outbreaks in the EU were associated with pork and meat products including wild boars. In Greece, from 2009 to 2012, 37 Trichinella spp. positive free-ranging pigs were reported in free-ranging pig farms of Northern-Eastern Greece (31 were identified as T. britovi). The recent re-emerging present of the Trichinella spp. infections in free-ranging pigs and wild boars are a high risk for the consumers and should alarm the Public Health Authorities in Greece and the EU. During the last years, the organic or free-ranging pig production systems are growing in popularity in the EU. However, these systems increase the risk of Trichinella spp. infections, since pigs are possible to be infected by feeding on carcasses or the offal of hunted or dead wild animals. For this reason, it is important for Public Health Authorities to be focused on the training of hunters and farmers in order to avoid the transmission among free-ranging pigs and prevent the cases of human infection.

Correction to: The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level.

BACKGROUND: Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. METHODS: Portion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. RESULTS: Our analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region.