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Open Veterinary Journal Apr 2024Bloody urine is classified in farm animals as hematuria, hemoglobinuria, and myoglobinuria. In small ruminants, discolored urine is reported due to several etiologies...
BACKGROUND
Bloody urine is classified in farm animals as hematuria, hemoglobinuria, and myoglobinuria. In small ruminants, discolored urine is reported due to several etiologies which is sometimes fatal. Of these causes are babesiosis, bacillary hemoglobinuria, copper toxicity, and hypophosphatemia.
AIM
This study was designed to investigate the clinical, etiological, hematobiochemical, ultrasonographic, and pathological findings in rams and bucks with red urine syndrome.
METHODS
Eighteen male animals (nine rams and nine bucks) of 6 months to 3 years were examined. Parallel, 10 healthy controls were used. They were admitted due to red urine, voiding of only urine drops, straining during the act of urination, grunting during urination, ventral abdominal edema, and abdominal distension. The duration of the disease ranged from 2 to 30 days. A history of chronic copper toxicosis was informed in two bucks and a ram. Two blood samples were collected from diseased as well as from controls in EDTA tubes (for complete blood count testing) and in plain tubes (for serum collection).
RESULTS
Hematuria was found in 11 animals (seven bucks and four rams) while hemoglobinuria was detected in seven animals (five bucks and two rams). Sonographic findings in diseased animals included ruptured urinary bladder in 3, ruptured urethra in 5, penile calculi, uroperitoneum in 6, distended urinary bladder in 7, hydronephrosis in 5, echogenic deposits in the bladder in 3, and ventral urine accumulation in four animals. Laboratory evaluation of a Geimsa-stained blood smear confirmed the infection with Babesia in three bucks and a ram. Hemolytic anemia was marked in two bucks and a ram due to chronic copper toxicity. Biochemical abnormalities included hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentration, and hyperglycemia. Postmortem examination was carried out on six animals (four rams and two bucks).
CONCLUSION
Discolored urine in rams and bucks in this study resulted from hematuria due to urinary calculi and pelvic abscessation or from hemoglobinuria due to Babesia infection or due to copper toxicity. Hemolytic anemia was the outstanding hematological finding and hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, and hyperglycemia were the characteristic biochemical findings. Sonography of the urinary tract was very helpful in assessing the renal parenchyma, urinary bladder, and abdominal cavity for the verification of urolithiasis, hydronephrosis, intact or ruptured urinary bladder, uroperitoneum, and perforated urethra.
Topics: Animals; Male; Goat Diseases; Sheep Diseases; Sheep; Goats; Ultrasonography; Hematuria; Hemoglobinuria
PubMed: 38808288
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i4.13 -
Parasites & Vectors May 2024The endangered Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) is the largest native carnivorous mammal in Taiwan. Diseases, poor management, illegal hunting, and...
BACKGROUND
The endangered Formosan black bear (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) is the largest native carnivorous mammal in Taiwan. Diseases, poor management, illegal hunting, and habitat destruction are serious threats to the survival of bear populations. However, studies on the impact of diseases on bear populations are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a database of the hematological and plasma profiles of free-ranging Formosan black bears and investigate the occurrence of ectoparasites, blood parasites, and vector-borne pathogens.
METHODS
Formosan black bears were captured in Yushan National Park (YNP) and Daxueshan Forest Recreation Area (DSY) in Taiwan. Blood samples were collected from each bear for hematological analysis and plasma biochemistry using a hematology analyzer. Parasites and pathogens were detected using a thin blood smear with Wright-Giemsa staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Additionally, macroscopic ectoparasites were collected from bears to detect blood parasites and other pathogens. Moreover, the relationships between the bear variables (sex, age, and occurrence of parasites or pathogens), ectoparasites, and infectious agents were also analyzed.
RESULTS
In all, 21 wild bears (14 in YNP and 7 in DSY) were captured and released during the satellite tracking studies. Hematological analysis and plasma biochemistry indicated significant differences in white blood cells (WBC), segments, creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels between foot snare and culvert-captured bears. Additionally, there were significant differences in total plasma protein (TPP), creatinine, Ca, Mg, and K levels between male and female bears. Moreover, pathogen-infected bears had significantly higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR; 30 min and 1 h) and globulin levels than uninfected bears. In total, 240 ticks were collected from 13 bears, among which eight adult tick species were identified, including Haemaphysalis flava, Haemaphysalis hystricis, Amblyomma testudinarium, Ixodes ovatus, Dermacentor taiwanensis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes acutitarsus, Amblyomma javanense, and nymphs belonging to Haemaphysalis spp. PCR revealed that 13 (61.90%) and 8 (38.10%) bears harbored Hepatozoon ursi and Babesia DNA, respectively. Among the ticks examined, 157 (65.41%) and 128 (53.33%) samples were positive for H. ursi and Babesia, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish a database of the hematological and plasma profiles of wild Formosan black bears and investigate ectoparasite infestation and Hepatozoon and Babesia spp.
INFECTION
In conclusion, these findings may serve as a reference for monitoring the health and population of locally endangered bears.
Topics: Animals; Ursidae; Male; Female; Taiwan; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Tick Infestations; Animals, Wild
PubMed: 38807241
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06320-7 -
Microorganisms May 2024Over the years, tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have garnered significant interest due to their medical, veterinary and economic importance. Additionally, TBPs have drawn...
Over the years, tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have garnered significant interest due to their medical, veterinary and economic importance. Additionally, TBPs have drawn attention to how these microorganisms interact with their own vectors, increasing the risk to human and animal infection of emerging and reemerging zoonoses. In this sense, ticks, which are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites, have a key role in maintaining and transmitting TBPs among humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of neglected TBPs in mainland Portugal, namely spp., spp., spp. and . DNA fragments were detected in questing ticks collected from five different ecological areas under investigation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study reports new worldwide findings, including infecting , and sensu lato. Additionally, it presents new findings in Portugal of infecting and of presumably endosymbionts being detected in . Overall, there were 208 tick samples that were negative for all screened TBPs. The results herein obtained raise concerns about the circulation of neglected TBPs in mainland Portugal, especially in anthropophilic ticks, highlighting the importance of adopting a One Health perspective.
PubMed: 38792834
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051006 -
Microorganisms Apr 2024Three patients with relapsing and remitting borreliosis, babesiosis, and bartonellosis, despite extended anti-infective therapy, were prescribed double-dose dapsone...
Combining Double-Dose and High-Dose Pulsed Dapsone Combination Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease/Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome and Co-Infections, Including Bartonella: A Report of 3 Cases and a Literature Review.
Three patients with relapsing and remitting borreliosis, babesiosis, and bartonellosis, despite extended anti-infective therapy, were prescribed double-dose dapsone combination therapy (DDDCT) for 8 weeks, followed by one or several two-week courses of pulsed high-dose dapsone combination therapy (HDDCT). We discuss these patients' cases to illustrate three important variables required for long-term remission. First, diagnosing and treating active co-infections, including and were important. required rotations of multiple anti-malarial drug combinations and herbal therapies, and required one or several 6-day HDDCT pulses to achieve clinical remission. Second, all prior oral, intramuscular (IM), and/or intravenous (IV) antibiotics used for chronic Lyme disease (CLD)/post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), irrespective of the length of administration, were inferior in efficacy to short-term pulsed biofilm/persister drug combination therapy i.e., dapsone, rifampin, methylene blue, and pyrazinamide, which improved resistant fatigue, pain, headaches, insomnia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Lastly, addressing multiple factors on the 16-point multiple systemic infectious disease syndrome (MSIDS) model was important in achieving remission. In conclusion, DDDCT with one or several 6-7-day pulses of HDDCT, while addressing abnormalities on the 16-point MSIDS map, could represent a novel effective clinical and anti-infective strategy in CLD/PTLDS and associated co-infections including .
PubMed: 38792737
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050909 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases May 2024The transplacental transmission of parasites and hemoparasites is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of...
The transplacental transmission of parasites and hemoparasites is crucial for understanding the epidemiology of diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of hemopathogens in bovine fetuses at various gestational periods. Samples were obtained from a slaughterhouse in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and a total of 236 fetuses were collected. DNA extracted from blood samples (145) and organ samples (a pool of brain and spleen) (236) underwent a nested PCR (nPCR) assay to detect Babesia spp., Theileria spp., Trypanosoma vivax, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia minasensis, and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. Additionally, serological analysis of 145 plasma samples was conducted using the indirect fluorescent antibody test-IFAT to detect IgG against Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, A. marginale, and Trypanosoma vivax. The observed prevalence of transplacental transmission was 19.3 %, 6.2 %, 42.7 % and 2.7 %, for A. marginale, B. bigemina, 'Candidatus M. haemobos', and Mycoplasma wenyonii, respectively. The prevalence of A. marginale by gestational trimester was 16 % (13/81) in the second trimester and 23 % (14/60) in the third trimester, with no positive samples in the first trimester. Regarding the species B. bovis and B. bigemina, all evaluated animals tested negative by nPCR, and no serological evidence for B. bovis was found by the IFAT. Babesia bigemina demonstrated an overall seroprevalence of 6.2 % (9/145), with 4.8 % (7/145) in the last trimester and 1.3 % (2/145) in the second trimester of pregnancy. In total, 42.7 % (62/145) of blood samples were positive for 'Candidatus M. haemobos', with 42 % (34/81) in the middle trimester, and 43 % (26/60) in the final trimester of pregnancy. Mycoplasma wenyonni was detected in 2.7 % (4/145) blood samples, all in coinfection with 'C. M. haemobos'. The prevalence by pregnancy trimester was 25 % (1/4) in the first trimester; 1.2 % (1/81) in the second trimester and 3.3 % (2/60) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Hemopathogen DNA was detected in fetus blood samples but not the brain or spleen samples. All the samples were negative for T. vivax, Theileria spp., Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. Overall, in this study, approximately 70 % of fetuses were positive for one or more of the studied parasites. No significant associations were observed between pairs of pathogens, except 'C. M. haemobos' and A. marginale.
PubMed: 38788485
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102351 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. Limited information is available about the existence of emerging tick-borne pathogens and the...
ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. Limited information is available about the existence of emerging tick-borne pathogens and the distribution of in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study aimed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of and to detect the presence of spp., s.l., spp., and spp. in samples originating from questing ticks and ticks collected from domestic animals in various regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 402 collected ticks were widely distributed throughout the country. Of the 41 pools consisting of 205 individual ticks, 21 (51.2%) indicated the presence of spp., 17 (41.4%) of spp., 2 (4.8%) of spp., and 1 (2.4%) of s.l. after real-time PCR screening. Our study indicates that has significantly expanded its distribution and host range in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Moreover, our results represent the first detection of spp. in in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Given the demonstrated presence of emerging pathogens in questing and feeding ticks, there is an urge to establish a surveillance system for ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
PubMed: 38787273
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050421 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024Babesiosis, a zoonotic blood protozoal disease, threatens humans and animals and is difficult to treat due to growing antimicrobial resistance. The study aimed to...
Babesiosis, a zoonotic blood protozoal disease, threatens humans and animals and is difficult to treat due to growing antimicrobial resistance. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of artesunate (AS), a well-known derivative of artemisinin, against () using a murine infection model. Male BALB/c mice (6 weeks old; 15 per group) were chosen and randomly divided into 1) the control group, 2) group, and 3) the + artesunate treatment groups. AS treatment at 2 mg/kg, 4 mg/kg, and 8 mg/kg of body weight significantly ( < 0.05) reduced the load in blood smears in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, AS treatment mitigated the decrease in body weight and restored the normal state of the liver and spleen viscera index compared to the -infected group after 28 days. Hematological analysis revealed significant increases in RBC, WBC, and PLT counts post-AS treatment compared to the -infected group. Furthermore, AS administration resulted in significant reductions in total protein, bilirubin, ALT, AST, and ALP levels, along with reduced liver and spleen inflammation and lesions as observed through histopathological analysis. AS also elicited dose-dependent changes in mRNA and protein expression levels of apoptotic, proinflammatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the liver compared to the control and -infected groups. Immunolabeling revealed decreased expression of apoptotic and inflammation-related proteins in AS-treated hepatic cytoplasm compared to the -infected group. AS also in dose-dependent manner decreased apoptotic protein and increased Bcl-2. Overall, these findings underscore the potential of AS as an anti-parasitic candidate in combating pathogenesis in an infection model, suggesting its promise for clinical trials as a treatment for babesiosis.
PubMed: 38784653
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1383291 -
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases 2024We report a challenging case of persistent relapsing babesiosis in an immunocompromised host that was successfully managed with atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone)....
We report a challenging case of persistent relapsing babesiosis in an immunocompromised host that was successfully managed with atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone). Malignant B-cell transformation and immunosuppressants, such as rituximab, deplete normal B-cells which normally produce antibodies to combat Babesia infection. Treatment can be prolonged and challenging in immunocompromised hosts. Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) is a novel therapy that can be used as part of a salvage regimen in case antimicrobial resistance or failure exists. Weighing the risks and benefits of continuing cancer therapy treatment or reducing the level of immunosuppression may aid in treatment. These are just as important as the choice of antimicrobial therapy for effective treatment and eradication of Babesia infection, especially in immunocompromised hosts.
PubMed: 38774593
DOI: 10.1155/2024/7168928 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases May 2024In Egypt, tick-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal health, and the threat to dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius), the country's dominant camelid...
In Egypt, tick-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal health, and the threat to dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius), the country's dominant camelid species, is of particular concern. These animals are frequently infested with ticks, and may thus develop tick-borne diseases or become reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens. However, there is a paucity of data on tick infestation in Egyptian camels, especially in the south of the country. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the prevalence of tick infestation in southern Egyptian camel populations (in Luxor and Aswan governorates), and identify the hemoprotozoan parasites carried by camel-infesting ticks. Camels were checked for ticks during veterinary examination at quarantine and household checks, and ticks were collected from infested camels for species identification using morphological examination and PCR analyses. Tick and hemoprotozoan species were identified using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis with subsequent confirmation in phylogenetic analyses. All camel-infesting ticks belonged to the species Hyalomma dromedarii, and were clustered with ticks of this species previously found in Egypt in a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene. Molecular analysis targeting the 18S rRNA gene revealed the presence of hitherto undetected hemoprotozoan parasites, Colpodella spp., in 30/297 (10.1 %) camel-infesting ticks. In phylogenetic analysis, these Colpodella spp. were highly homologous (94-98.6 %) with Colpodella spp. previously deposited in GenBank with accession numbers OQ540590Q, MH208621, and GQ411073, which relate to Colpodella spp. previously detected from Haemaphysalis longicornis, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, and humans in China. PCR analyses with spherical body protein-4 (SBP-4) gene-specific primers revealed Babesia bovis in 16/297 (5 %) of camel-infesting ticks, however, Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata were not detected. Here, we report the first detection of Colpodella spp. in H. dromedarii in Egypt. Further epidemiological studies are needed to assess the risk to camels and humans, and the transmission dynamics. Based on the high tick infestation rates in Egyptian camels and the identification of previously unreported protozoan hemoparasites in ticks, we consider that the dromedary should be subject to surveillance as a sentinel species for tick-borne diseases in Egypt. Our findings underline the need for surveillance and collecting data on lesser known pathogens circulating in camel-infesting ticks, as part of a public health strategy for dealing with tick-borne diseases in Egypt.
PubMed: 38759344
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102352 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for bovine babesiosis, a tick-borne disease with a worldwide impact. The disease remains inefficiently controlled, and few...
INTRODUCTION
is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for bovine babesiosis, a tick-borne disease with a worldwide impact. The disease remains inefficiently controlled, and few effective drugs, including imidocarb dipropionate (ID), are currently available in endemic areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether buparvaquone (BPQ), a drug currently used to treat cattle infected with the -related parasites, could be active against parasites. Herein, we compared the effect of ID and BPQ on growth erythrocyte culture.
METHODS
We compared the effect of ID and BPQ on the culture-adapted Texas T2Bo strain of cultured parasites were incubated with ID and BPQ at two starting parasitemia levels (PPE), 0.2% and 1%. cultured parasites were treated with ID or BPQ at concentrations ranging from 10 to 300 nM, during 4 consecutive days. Parasitemia levels were daily evaluated using microscopic examination. Data was compared using the independent Student's t-test.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Both ID and BPQ significantly inhibited ( < 0.05) the growth of , regardless of the initial parasitemia used. At 1% parasitemia, BPQ had lower calculated inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50: 50.01) values than ID (IC50: 117.3). No parasites were found in wells with 0.2% starting parasitemia, treated previously with 50 nM of BPQ or ID, after 2 days of culture without drugs. At 1% parasitemia, no parasite survival was detected at 150 nM of BPQ or 300 nM of ID, suggesting that both drugs acted as babesiacidals.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the data suggests that BPQ is effective against and shows a residual effect that seems superior to ID, which is currently the first-line drug for treating bovine babesiosis globally.
PubMed: 38751779
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1407548