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Veterinary Parasitology Apr 2018Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by several Babesia spp. which have different susceptebility to anti-protozoal drugs. A few drugs and drug combinations... (Review)
Review
Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by several Babesia spp. which have different susceptebility to anti-protozoal drugs. A few drugs and drug combinations are used in the treatment of canine babesiosis often without complete parasite elimination leaving treated dogs as carriers which could relapse with clinical disease and also transmit infection further. Although the large form canine babesial species Babesia canis, Babesia vogeli and Babesia rossi are sensitive to the aromatic diamidines imidocarb dipropionate and diminazene aceturate, small form species such as Babesia gibsoni, Babesia conradae and Babesia vulpes (Theileria annae) are relatively resistant to these drugs and are treated with the combination of the hydroxynaphthoquinone atovaquone and the antibiotic azithromycin. Azithromycin and other antibiotics that have anti-protozoal properties target the apicoplast, a relict plastid found in protozoa, and exert a delayed death effect. The triple combination of clindamycin, diminazene aceturate and imidocarb dipropionate is also effective against B. gibsoni and used to treat atovaquone-resistant strains of this species. Novel drugs and the synergistic effects of drug combinations against Babesia infection should be explored further to find new treatments for canine babesiosis.
Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Babesia; Babesiosis; Dog Diseases; Dogs
PubMed: 29657012
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.03.001 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2016Canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by various species of the protozoan genus Babesia. Although it occurs worldwide, data relating to European... (Review)
Review
Canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by various species of the protozoan genus Babesia. Although it occurs worldwide, data relating to European infections have now been collected for many years. These data have boosted the publication record and increased our working knowledge of these protozoan parasites. Both the large and small forms of Babesia species (B. canis, B. vogeli, B. gibsoni, and B. microti-like isolates also referred to as "B. vulpes" and "Theileria annae") infect dogs in Europe, and their geographical distribution, transmission, clinical signs, treatment, and prognosis vary widely for each species. The goal of this review is to provide veterinary practitioners with practical guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of babesiosis in European dogs. Our hope is that these guidelines will answer the most frequently asked questions posed by veterinary practitioners.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Europe
PubMed: 27289223
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1596-0 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2017Understanding host-pathogen-tick interactions remains a vitally important issue that might be better understood by basic research focused on each of the dyad interplays.... (Review)
Review
Understanding host-pathogen-tick interactions remains a vitally important issue that might be better understood by basic research focused on each of the dyad interplays. Pathogens gain access to either the vector or host during tick feeding when ticks are confronted with strong hemostatic, inflammatory and immune responses. A prominent example of this is the spp.-tick-vertebrate host relationship. spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexan organisms spread worldwide, with a complex life cycle. The presence of transovarial transmission in almost all the species is the main difference between their life cycle and that of other piroplasmida. With more than 100 species described so far, are the second most commonly found blood parasite of mammals after trypanosomes. The prevalence of spp. infection is increasing worldwide and is currently classified as an emerging zoonosis. and are the most frequent etiological agents associated with human babesiosis in North America and Europe, respectively. Although the -tick system has been extensively researched, the currently available prophylactic and control methods are not efficient, and chemotherapeutic treatment is limited. Studying the molecular changes induced by the presence of in the vector will not only elucidate the strategies used by the protozoa to overcome mechanical and immune barriers, but will also contribute toward the discovery of important tick molecules that have a role in vector capacity. This review provides an overview of the identified molecules involved in -tick interactions, with an emphasis on the fundamentally important ones for pathogen acquisition and transmission.
Topics: Animals; Antigens; Arthropod Proteins; Babesia; Babesiosis; Calreticulin; Disease Vectors; Glycoproteins; Host-Parasite Interactions; Salivary Glands; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks
PubMed: 29034218
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00429 -
Revue Scientifique Et Technique... Aug 2015Babesiosis is the disease caused by infection of the erythrocytes of mammals by Babesia species, which are Apicomplexa protozoa belonging to the suborder Piroplasmidea... (Review)
Review
Babesiosis is the disease caused by infection of the erythrocytes of mammals by Babesia species, which are Apicomplexa protozoa belonging to the suborder Piroplasmidea and the family Babesiidae. They are different from the Theileriidae, which can also infect white blood cells and endothelial cells. Babesiosis is one of the most important tick-borne infectious diseases of domestic and wild mammals and still poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for veterinary practitioners around the world. It is an increasing problem worldwide because of the expansion of tick habitats and the increased mobility of animals, which promote the spread of parasites into new geographical areas. Babesia species can, exceptionally, infect humans, especially splenectomised or immunocompromised individuals. The majority of human cases involve B. microti, a parasite of rodents, but human infections may also be caused by B. divergens, which infects cattle, or by Babesia related to B. odocoilei, which infect cervids. The majority of new developments, in regard to taxonomy, epidemiology, pathogenesis and control, concern canine babesiosis, whereas piroplasmosis in horses or cattle retains the classical description, therefore the focus of this article will be on infection in dogs.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Europe; Humans
PubMed: 26601462
DOI: 10.20506/rst.34.2.2385 -
Parasites & Vectors Sep 2021Babesia spp. are protozoan parasites of great medical and veterinary importance, especially in the northern Hemisphere. Ticks are known vectors of Babesia spp., although... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Babesia spp. are protozoan parasites of great medical and veterinary importance, especially in the northern Hemisphere. Ticks are known vectors of Babesia spp., although some Babesia-tick interactions have not been fully elucidated.
METHODS
The present review was performed to investigate the specificity of Babesia-tick species interactions that have been identified using molecular techniques in studies conducted in the last 20 years under field conditions. We aimed to indicate the main vectors of important Babesia species based on published research papers (n = 129) and molecular data derived from the GenBank database.
RESULTS
Repeated observations of certain Babesia species in specific species and genera of ticks in numerous independent studies, carried out in different areas and years, have been considered epidemiological evidence of established Babesia-tick interactions. The best studied species of ticks are Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes scapularis (103 reports, i.e. 80% of total reports). Eco-epidemiological studies have confirmed a specific relationship between Babesia microti and Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, and Ixodes scapularis and also between Babesia canis and D. reticulatus. Additionally, four Babesia species (and one genotype), which have different deer species as reservoir hosts, displayed specificity to the I. ricinus complex. Eco-epidemiological studies do not support interactions between a high number of Babesia spp. and I. ricinus or D. reticulatus. Interestingly, pioneering studies on other species and genera of ticks have revealed the existence of likely new Babesia species, which need more scientific attention. Finally, we discuss the detection of Babesia spp. in feeding ticks and critically evaluate the data on the role of the latter as vectors.
CONCLUSIONS
Epidemiological data have confirmed the specificity of certain Babesia-tick vector interactions. The massive amount of data that has been thus far collected for the most common tick species needs to be complemented by more intensive studies on Babesia infections in underrepresented tick species.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Deer; Disease Vectors; Host-Parasite Interactions; Tick Infestations; Ticks
PubMed: 34583754
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05019-3 -
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Jul 2000Babesiosis is an emerging, tick-transmitted, zoonotic disease caused by hematotropic parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesial parasites (and those of the closely related... (Review)
Review
Babesiosis is an emerging, tick-transmitted, zoonotic disease caused by hematotropic parasites of the genus Babesia. Babesial parasites (and those of the closely related genus Theileria) are some of the most ubiquitous and widespread blood parasites in the world, second only to the trypanosomes, and consequently have considerable worldwide economic, medical, and veterinary impact. The parasites are intraerythrocytic and are commonly called piroplasms due to the pear-shaped forms found within infected red blood cells. The piroplasms are transmitted by ixodid ticks and are capable of infecting a wide variety of vertebrate hosts which are competent in maintaining the transmission cycle. Studies involving animal hosts other than humans have contributed significantly to our understanding of the disease process, including possible pathogenic mechanisms of the parasite and immunological responses of the host. To date, there are several species of Babesia that can infect humans, Babesia microti being the most prevalent. Infections with Babesia species generally follow regional distributions; cases in the United States are caused primarily by B. microti, whereas cases in Europe are usually caused by Babesia divergens. The spectrum of disease manifestation is broad, ranging from a silent infection to a fulminant, malaria-like disease, resulting in severe hemolysis and occasionally in death. Recent advances have resulted in the development of several diagnostic tests which have increased the level of sensitivity in detection, thereby facilitating diagnosis, expediting appropriate patient management, and resulting in a more accurate epidemiological description.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis; Disease Susceptibility; Humans; Phylogeny; Protozoan Vaccines; Vaccines, Synthetic
PubMed: 10885987
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.13.3.451 -
Transfusion-transmitted spp.: a changing landscape of epidemiology, regulation, and risk mitigation.Journal of Clinical Microbiology Oct 2023spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans,... (Review)
Review
spp. are tick-borne parasites with a global distribution and diversity of vertebrate hosts. Over the next several decades, climate change is expected to impact humans, vectors, and vertebrate hosts and change the epidemiology of . Although humans are dead-end hosts for tick-transmitted , human-to-human transmission of spp. from transfusion of red blood cells and whole blood-derived platelet concentrates has been reported. In most patients, transfusion-transmitted (TTB) results in a moderate-to-severe illness. Currently, in North America, most cases of TTB have been described in the United States. TTB cases outside North America are rare, but case numbers may change over time with increased recognition of babesiosis and as the epidemiology of is impacted by climate change. Therefore, TTB is a concern of microbiologists working in blood operator settings, as well as in clinical settings where transfusion occurs. Microbiologists play an important role in deploying blood donor screening assays in endemic regions, identifying changing risks for in non-endemic areas, investigating recipients of blood products for TTB, and drafting TTB policies and guidelines. In this review, we provide an overview of the clinical presentation and epidemiology of TTB. We identify approaches and technologies to reduce the risk of collecting blood products from -infected donors and describe how investigations of TTB are undertaken. We also describe how microbiologists in non-endemic regions can assess for changing risks of TTB and decide when to focus on laboratory-test-based approaches or pathogen reduction to reduce TTB risk.
Topics: Humans; United States; Babesia; Babesia microti; Blood Transfusion; Babesiosis; Blood Donors
PubMed: 37750699
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01268-22 -
Infectious Disease Clinics of North... Sep 2008Human babesiosis is an emerging intraerythrocytic infection caused by protozoal parasites transmitted by ixodid ticks. Babesiosis is endemic in the northeastern and... (Review)
Review
Human babesiosis is an emerging intraerythrocytic infection caused by protozoal parasites transmitted by ixodid ticks. Babesiosis is endemic in the northeastern and upper midwestern regions of the United States and is found sporadically in other parts of the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Babesial infections range from asymptomatic to severe and occasionally are fatal. Specific laboratory diagnosis of babesial infection is made by morphologic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smears, serology, and amplification of babesial DNA using polymerase chain reaction. The combination of atovaquone and azithromycin is the treatment of choice for mild-to-moderate illness, whereas clindamycin and quinine and exchange transfusion are indicated for severe disease.
Topics: Animals; Antiprotozoal Agents; Arachnid Vectors; Babesia; Babesiosis; DNA, Protozoan; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Ixodidae; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Severity of Illness Index; United States; Zoonoses
PubMed: 18755385
DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2008.03.010 -
Parasites & Vectors Jun 2023Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexans that digest and utilize red blood cells in a similar way to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp., but unlike the latter,...
Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic apicomplexans that digest and utilize red blood cells in a similar way to intraerythrocytic Plasmodium spp., but unlike the latter, are not sensitive to artemisinin. A comparison of Babesia and Plasmodium genomes revealed that Babesia genomes, which are smaller than those of Plasmodium, lack numerous genes, and especially haem synthesis-related genes, that are found in the latter. Single-cell sequencing analysis showed that the different treatment groups of Babesia microti with expressed pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, antioxidation-related, glycolysis-related, and glutathione-related genes were not as sensitive to artemether as Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL. In particular, pentose phosphate pathway-related, DNA replication-related, and glutathione-related genes, which were actively expressed in P. yoelii 17XNL, were not actively expressed in B. microti. Supplying iron in vivo can promote the reproduction of B. microti. These results suggest that Babesia spp. lack a similar mechanism to that of malaria parasites through which the haem or iron in hemoglobin is utilized, and that this likely leads to their insensitivity to artemisinin.
Topics: Humans; Babesia; Artemisinins; Plasmodium yoelii; Iron; Heme; Babesiosis
PubMed: 37291657
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05783-4 -
Parasites & Vectors Nov 2022The Babesia microti-like parasite is an emerging tick-borne piroplasm that has been detected in a range of hosts worldwide. Babesia vulpes, which is found in dogs and...
BACKGROUND
The Babesia microti-like parasite is an emerging tick-borne piroplasm that has been detected in a range of hosts worldwide. Babesia vulpes, which is found in dogs and foxes, has been reclassified from B. microti-like parasites. The relationships among these B. microti-like parasites and B. vulpes with respect to host range and geographical origin have not been elucidated.
METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 27 raccoon dogs in South Korea and used to screen for B. microti-like parasites based on a PCR assay targeting the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia. For comparative purposes, in addition to 18S rRNA sequences from nine raccoon dogs, we also analyzed 18S rRNA sequences from B. microti-like parasites infecting hosts in different geographical regions worldwide obtained from the GenBank database, giving 123 sequences in total. The genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among these sequences were examined based on analyses using DnaSP, MEGA, Arlequine, and BEAST software.
RESULTS
Babesia microti-like parasites were identified in nine raccoon dogs and found to be related to B. vulpes obtained from Spanish dogs. Among the 123 sequences from 14 countries and various hosts, we identified 43 haplotypes with high genetic variance. Based on the genetic variance and phylogenetic analyses, we established that the B. microti-like parasites isolated in different geographical regions and from hosts belonging to five orders showed higher among-population variation than within-population variation. Babesia vulpes parasites infecting carnivore hosts, including raccoon dogs, foxes, skunks and dogs, appear to be genetically distinct from B. microti-like parasites infecting hosts belonging to the other orders.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated the genetic variation and evolutionary relationships among 18S rRNA sequences obtained from blood samples collected from various hosts and different geographical regions. Babesia vulpes was identified from raccoon dogs in South Korea. In addition, higher genetic variations were observed among populations of different hosts and geographical origins and, in particular, low connectivity was observed among host populations in the order Carnivora and those in other orders. These results suggest the B. vulpes, a piroplasmid species pathogenic in domestic dogs and wild canines, is genetically and evolutionarily different from B. microti-like parasites.
Topics: Animals; Babesia; Babesia microti; Parasites; Babesiosis; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Foxes; Phylogeny; Raccoon Dogs
PubMed: 36329533
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05528-9