Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt.
Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Research Unit, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622, Giza, Egypt.
Exp Appl Acarol. 2024 Dec;93(4):849-868. doi: 10.1007/s10493-024-00957-w. Epub 2024 Sep 25.
Piroplasmosis, a disease of domestic and wild animals, is caused by tick-borne protozoa of the genera Babesia and Theileria, while anaplasmosis is caused by tick-borne bacteria of genera Anaplasma. Hyalomma dromedarii is the most dominant tick species infesting camels in Egypt and act as a vector of piroplasms, Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Ehrlichia spp. The available information concerning the detection of these pathogens in H. dromedarii infesting camels is limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the status of these pathogens in H. dromedarii ticks over four seasons of a year, in addition to investigate the infections of piroplasms and Anaplasmataceae besides their genetic diversity starting from June 2021 till April 2022. A total of 275 semi-engorged females of H. dromedarii were collected from different slaughtered camels, Toukh city slaughterhouse then investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect piroplasms (Babesia spp., Theileria spp.) and Anaplasmataceae DNA targeting 18 S rRNA and 16 S rRNA genes, respectively followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Overall, piroplasms were detected in 38 ticks (13.8%), Babesia spp. was detected in 35 ticks (12.7%), while Theileria spp. was detected in one tick (0.4%). Anaplasmataceae was detected in 57 ticks (20.7%). Mixed infections of piroplasms and Anaplasmataceae were detected in 13 ticks (5%). Single infection either with piroplasms or Anaplasmataceae was detected in 25 (9%) and 44 (16%) ticks, respectively. The highest monthly rate of piroplasms was in April (spring) and Anaplasmataceae was in July (summer). Sequence analysis revealed that Babesia bigemina, Wolbachia spp. and Anaplasma marginale are the most dominant species in the examined tick samples. To the best of our knowledge, this study confirms the presence of B. bigemina, Wolbachia spp. and A. marginale in H. dromedarii in Egypt by sequencing.
血孢子虫病是一种家畜和野生动物的疾病，由蜱传原生动物属巴贝西虫和泰勒虫引起，而无形体病是由蜱传细菌属无形体引起的。 骆驼血蜱是埃及寄生骆驼的最主要的蜱种，是血孢子虫、无形体、立克次体和埃立克体的传播媒介。 关于感染骆驼的血蜱中这些病原体的检测，目前的信息有限。 本研究旨在评估一年四个季节中 H. dromedarii 中的这些病原体的状况，此外，从 2021 年 6 月至 2022 年 4 月，还调查了血孢子虫和无形体科的感染情况及其遗传多样性。 从不同屠宰骆驼的图赫市屠宰场共采集了 275 只半饱血的 H. dromedarii 雌性蜱，然后通过聚合酶链反应 (PCR) 检测到血孢子虫（巴贝斯虫属、泰勒虫属）和针对 18S rRNA 和 16S rRNA 基因的无形体科 DNA，分别进行测序和系统发育分析。 总体而言，在 38 只蜱（13.8%）中检测到血孢子虫，在 35 只蜱（12.7%）中检测到巴贝斯虫属，在 1 只蜱（0.4%）中检测到泰勒虫属。 在 57 只蜱（20.7%）中检测到无形体科。 在 13 只蜱（5%）中检测到血孢子虫和无形体科的混合感染，在 25 只（9%）和 44 只（16%）蜱中分别检测到单一感染。 血孢子虫的最高月感染率为 4 月（春季），无形体科的最高月感染率为 7 月（夏季）。 序列分析表明，双芽巴贝斯虫、沃尔巴克氏体属和边缘无形体是检测到的蜱样本中最主要的物种。 据我们所知，本研究通过测序证实了 B. bigemina、沃尔巴克氏体属和 A. marginale 在埃及 H. dromedarii 中的存在。
