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prevalence of dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in apparently healthy and cvbd-suspect dogs in portugal--a national serological study.canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted to dogs by arthropods including ticks and insects. many cvbd-agents are of zoonotic concern, with dogs potentially serving as reservoirs and sentinels for human infections. the present study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of infection with or exposure to dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in dogs in portugal.201222452990
phylogeography and demographic history of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) (acari: ixodidae), the tropical bont tick.the genetic diversity of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) from four caribbean islands and five african countries was compared by analyzing the sequences of three gene fragments, two mitochondrial (12srdna and d-loop-dl), and one nuclear (intergenic transcribed spacer 2 [its2]). genetic variability of the its2 dna fragment consisted of only uninformative single nucleotide mutations, and therefore this gene was excluded from further analyses. mitochondrial gene divergences among african population ...201222448720
stray dogs of northern jordan as reservoirs of ticks and tick-borne hemopathogens.dogs are competent reservoir hosts of several hemopathogens including zoonotic agents and can serve as readily available source of nutrition for many blood-feeding arthropods. three hemopathogens had been detected for the first time in jordan. the pcr prevalence of anaplasma phagocytophilum, hepatozoon canis, and piroplasmid dna were 39.5%, 28.9%, and 7.9% (n=38) respectively. sequencing of amplicons of pcr with universal primers targeting the 18s rrna gene of piroplasmids shows the highest simi ...201222434363
brown dog tick (rhipicephalus sanguineus) infestation of the penis detected by dermoscopy. 201222416887
underwater survival of rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae).rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae) is a worldwide distributed tick, also due to its adaptability to different environmental conditions. in order to assess its ability to survive and to lay eggs after water immersion, 150 engorged females from southern italy were water immersed for 1-15 days whereas eggs were flooded for 1-5 days. all females survived water immersion for 48 h, some of them up to 72 h, but egg hatch rate was negatively correlated with female submersion period. all eggs flo ...201222415243
comparison of real-time quantitative pcr and culture for the diagnosis of emerging rickettsioses.isolation of rickettsia species from skin biopsies may be replaced by pcr. we evaluated culture sensitivity compared to pcr based on sampling delay and previous antibiotic treatment.201222413026
degenerative process and cell death in salivary glands of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806) (acari: ixodidae) semi-engorged female exposed to the acaricide permethrin.ticks are ectoparasites of great medical and veterinary importance around the world and synthetic chemicals such as permethrin have been used for their control. this study provides a cytochemistry analysis of both degenerative and cell death processes in salivary glands of the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus semi-engorged females exposed to 206, 1,031, and 2,062 ppm of permethrin. the results presented herein demonstrate that permethrin is a potent chemical acaricide that would act on th ...201222407742
first case of anaplasma platys infection in a dog from croatia.it is known that anaplasma (a.) platys, the causative agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia, is endemic in countries of the mediterranean basin. however, few reports are available from the balkans. this case report describes a dog, which was imported from croatia to germany in may 2010. one month later the dog was presented to a local veterinarian in germany due to intermittent/recurrent diarrhoea. diagnostic tests were performed to identify infections caused by anaplasma spp., ehrl ...201222401583
continuous in vitro cultivation of a recently identified babesia that infects small ruminants in china.babesia sp. xinjiang was isolated from a splenectomised sheep infested by rhipicephalus sanguineus and hylomma anatolicum anatolicum, collected from sheep and cattle in xinjiang province. it was considered to be a novel ovine babesia species on the basis of its morphology, pathogenicity, vector tick species and alignments of 18s ribosomal rna (18s rrna) and internal transcribed spacers (its) gene sequences. continuous in vitro cultures of the ovine parasite were established using infected sheep ...201222386948
considerations for assessing maximum critical temperatures in small ectothermic animals: insights from leaf-cutting ants.the thermal limits of individual animals were originally proposed as a link between animal physiology and thermal ecology. although this link is valid in theory, the evaluation of physiological tolerances involves some problems that are the focus of this study. one rationale was that heating rates shall influence upper critical limits, so that ecological thermal limits need to consider experimental heating rates. in addition, if thermal limits are not surpassed in experiments, subsequent tests o ...201222384147
transovarial transmission of babesia ovis by rhipicephalus sanguineus and hyalomma marginatum.rhipicephalus sanguineus and hyalomma marginatum are the most common species in sheep herds in northeast of iran. there is preliminary evidence that these species may be the vectors of babesia ovis in iran. we carried out two experiments in mashhad area, khorasan razavi province to determine whether b. ovis could be transovarially transmitted by r. sanguineus and h. marginatum.022347253
first evidence and molecular characterization of babesia vogeli in naturally infected dogs and rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in southern france.babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of animals and humans caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genera babesia and theileria. in france canine babesiosis has a high prevalence with babesia canis thought to be the main aetiological agent of the disease. babesia vogeli has already been reported to occur in europe and in other countries around the mediterranean sea. the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus, the main known vector of b. vogeli, occurs in southern france. however, only one cas ...201222342131
crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus-tick survey in endemic areas in bulgaria.the balkan peninsula and bulgaria in particular, is a well-known endemic region for crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf). this study describes the prevalence of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cchfv) among tick populations from areas, previously recognized with emerging cases of cchf disease in humans. these include regions from the southeastern (regions of kardzhali and haskovo) and central (region of stara zagora) parts of the country. for the period 2006-2010 a total of 911 adult tic ...201222337300
molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens in nigerian ticks.a molecular epidemiology investigation was undertaken in two nigerian states (plateau and nassarawa) to determine the prevalence of pathogens of veterinary and public health importance associated with ticks collected from cattle and dogs using pcr, cloning and sequencing or reverse line blot techniques. a total of 218 tick samples, amblyomma variegatum (n=153), rhipicephalus (boophilus) decoloratus (n=45), and rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=20) were sampled. pathogens identified in ticks included p ...201222326937
seroprevalence of ehrlichia canis, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in dogs in north america.this study evaluated the exposure of dogs to three different ehrlichia spp. in the south and central regions of the united states where vector-borne disease prevalence has been previously difficult to ascertain, particularly beyond the metropolitan areas.201222316160
transcriptional profiling of the murine cutaneous response during initial and subsequent infestations with ixodes scapularis nymphs.ixodes scapularis ticks are hematophagous arthropods capable of transmitting many infectious agents to humans. the process of blood feeding is an extended and continuous interplay between tick and host responses. while this process has been studied extensively in vitro, no global understanding of the host response to ticks has emerged.201222309607
the sialotranscriptome of antricola delacruzi female ticks is compatible with non-hematophagous behavior and an alternative source of food.the hosts for antricola delacruzi ticks are insectivorous, cave-dwelling bats on which only larvae are found. the mouthparts of nymphal and adult a. delacruzi are compatible with scavenging feeding because the hypostome is small and toothless. how a single blood meal of a larva provides energy for several molts as well as for oviposition by females is not known. adults of a. delacruzi possibly feed upon an unknown food source in bat guano, a substrate on which nymphal and adult stages are always ...201222306723
detection of wolbachia in the tick ixodes ricinus is due to the presence of the hymenoptera endoparasitoid ixodiphagus hookeri.the identification of micro-organisms carried by ticks is an important issue for human and animal health. in addition to their role as pathogen vectors, ticks are also the hosts for symbiotic bacteria whose impact on tick biology is poorly known. among these, the bacterium wolbachia pipientis has already been reported associated with ixodes ricinus and other tick species. however, the origins of wolbachia in ticks and their consequences on tick biology (known to be very diverse in invertebrates, ...201222292021
a novel tick antigen shows high vaccine efficacy against the dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus.ticks are acaridae ectoparasites that, while taking a blood meal, can transmit viruses, bacteria, protozoa and filarial nematodes, which cause a variety of human and animal illnesses. the use of chemical pesticides constitutes the primary measure for control of these ectoparasites. however, the intensive use of these chemicals has drawbacks such as the contamination of food, environmental pollution and development of resistance by ectoparasites. vaccination is considered a promising alternative ...201222245603
evolution, expansion and expression of the kunitz/bpti gene family associated with long-term blood feeding in ixodes scapularis.abstract: background: recent studies of the tick saliva transcriptome have revealed the profound role of salivary proteins in blood feeding. kunitz/bpti proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, such as inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. however, kunitz/bpti proteins in soft and hard ticks have different functions and molecular mechanisms. how these differences emerged and whet ...201222244187
spotted fever group rickettsia infecting ticks (acari: ixodidae) in the state of santa catarina, brazil.during 2006-2008, a total of 260 adult ticks were collected from domestic and wild animals in different regions of the state of santa catarina (sc), brazil, including areas where human cases of brazilian spotted fever have been reported. collected ticks belonging to nine species (amblyomma aureolatum, amblyomma cajennense, amblyomma dubitatum, amblyomma longirostre, amblyomma ovale, amblyomma tigrinum, dermacentor nitens, rhipicephalus microplus and rhipicephalus sanguineus) were tested by polym ...201122241112
molecular detection of bartonella species in ticks from peru.a total of 103 ticks, collected from canines, horses, donkeys, and snakes from peru, were screened for the presence of bartonella dna by polymerase chain reaction analysis. bartonella dna was detected in two ticks using bartonella 16s-23s intergenic spacer region primers and in an additional two ticks using bartonella nadh dehydrogenase gamma subunit gene (nuog) primers. bartonella rochalimae eremeeva et al., b. quintana schmincke, and b. elizabethae daly et al. dna was detected in a rhipicephal ...201122238888
trends in clinical diagnoses of rocky mountain spotted fever among american indians, 2001-2008.american indians are at greater risk for rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) than the general u.s. population. the epidemiology of rmsf among american indians was examined by using indian health service inpatient and outpatient records with an rmsf international classification of diseases, ninth revision, clinical modification diagnosis. for 2001-2008, 958 american indian patients with clinical diagnoses of rmsf were reported. the average annual rmsf incidence was 94.6 per 1,000,000 persons, wit ...022232466
an assessment of genetic variability in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene of cercopithifilaria sp. (spirurida, onchocercidae) from dog and rhipicephalus sanguineus populations.this study investigates sequence variation in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene within cercopithifilaria sp. recorded recently in italy. fourteen sequence types (haplotypes) were characterized for 163 (7.7%) amplicons from 2111 genomic dna samples prepared from skin samples from dogs and from rhipicephalus sanguineus (ticks) from different geographical areas of the mediterranean basin (i.e., italy, spain and greece). the most prevalent sequence types represented haplotypes i (70. ...201122227114
rickettsiae in arthropods collected from the north african hedgehog (atelerix algirus) and the desert hedgehog (paraechinus aethiopicus) in algeria.hedgehogs have become a popular pet despite their potential role in zoonotic disease transmission. we conducted an entomological study in a mountainous region of northeast algeria in which we collected 387 fleas (archeopsylla erinacei) and 342 ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis erinacei) from paraechinus aethiopicus and atelerix algirus hedgehogs. of the hedgehogs sampled, 77.7% and 91% were infested with fleas and ticks, respectively. significantly more ticks and fleas were colle ...201222222114
synganglion histology in different stages of rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks (acari: ixodidae).the present study performs a morpho-histological description of the central nervous system of rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in order to analyze if there are differences in this tissue among larvae, nymphs, and adults. the results showed that the central nervous system in all the life stages of r. sanguineus consists of a mass of fused nerves named synganglion. externally, this organ does not present segmentation, consisting of a single structure located ventromedially in the third anterior of t ...201222218921
serological evaluation of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in humans with high-risk professions living in enzootic regions of isfahan province of iran and genetic analysis of circulating strains.crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) is a zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected livestock, but causes a serious threat to humans with a mortality rate up to 50%. although the cchf virus (cchfv) is often transmitted by ticks, livestock-to-human and human-to-human transmission also occurs. in the current study, we focused on cchf in the province of isfahan, located in the center of iran and deemed to be the second most infected province. human and livestock sera and resident ti ...201222217167
on a cercopithifilaria sp. transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus: a neglected, but widespread filarioid of dogs.abstract:201222212459
[mediterranean spotted fever in paediatric and adult patients: two clinical aspects of the same disease].mediterranean spotted fever is an acute febrile disease caused by rickettsia conorii and transmitted to humans by the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus. nearly 400 cases are reported every year in sicily, mainly from june to september. the aim of this study is to compare the clinical and laboratory features of two different groups of patients , one of adults and one of children. the analysis included all adult patients with msf diagnosed at the institute of infectious diseases, paolo giacc ...201122212164
The effects of flumethrin (Bayticol® pour-on) on European ticks exposed to treated hairs of cattle and sheep.Tick infestations in cattle and sheep pose serious health problems when agents of diseases are transmitted. In addition, blood feeding of ticks induces enormous economic losses due to reduced weight gain of infested animals. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of exposure to hairs clipped from cattle and sheep treated with flumethrin (Bayticol®) on European ticks. The dose used was 10 ml/100 kg body weight for both animal species. At intervals of 7 days (days 7, 14, 21, 28 ...201122205348
q fever: current state of knowledge and perspectives of research of a neglected zoonosis.q fever is an ubiquitous zoonosis caused by an resistant intracellular bacterium, coxiella burnetii. in certain areas, q fever can be a severe public health problem, and awareness of the disease must be promoted worldwide. nevertheless, knowledge of coxiella burnetii remains limited to this day. its resistant (intracellular and environmental) and infectious properties have been poorly investigated. further understanding of the interactions between the infected host and the bacteria is necessary. ...201122194752
first molecular detection of theileria ovis in rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in iran.to determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern iran.201222182639
Molecular detection of rickettsial agents in ticks and fleas collected from a European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Marseilles, France.The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is a synanthropic nocturnal insectivore commonly found in the countryside and in the parks and gardens. Because hedgehogs are already involved in the transmission of a number of zoonoses, including salmonellosis and ringworm, we decided to study their possible role in the epidemiology of the spotted fever group of Rickettsia. We collected ticks and fleas from a hedgehog that was captured in the city of Marseilles in France. Using a genus-specific quant ...201122169021
bartonella and rickettsia in arthropods from the lao pdr and from borneo, malaysia.rickettsioses and bartonelloses are arthropod-borne diseases of mammals with widespread geographical distributions. yet their occurrence in specific regions, their association with different vectors and hosts and the infection rate of arthropod-vectors with these agents remain poorly studied in south-east asia. we conducted entomological field surveys in the lao pdr (laos) and borneo, malaysia by surveying fleas, ticks, and lice from domestic dogs and collected additional samples from domestic c ...201122153360
acaricidal activity of hydroethanolic formulations of thymol against rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae) and dermacentor nitens (acari: ixodidae) larvae.the aim of this study was to assess the acaricidal activity of hydroethanolic formulations of thymol at varying concentrations on rhipicephalus sanguineus and dermacentor nitens larvae. the larval packet test was used and the thymol concentrations tested were 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 and 20.0mg/ml. the control group was exposed only to water and ethanol (50/50%) and there were 10 repetitions for each treatment. the mortality was evaluated after 24h. for the r. sanguineus larvae, the mortality rates ...201122137349
Ultrastructural changes in the ovary cells of engorged Rhipicephalus sanguineus female ticks treated with esters of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis).Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a widely distributed tick species that has adapted to the urban environment, and the dog is its main host. This species is also known as a vector and reservoir of diseases caused by bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Currently, acaricides of synthetic chemical origin have been widely and indiscriminately used, leading to the development of resistance to these products by ticks and causing damage to the environment. Thus, these issues have made it necessary to seek other ...201122131265
molecular and serological detection of ehrlichia canis and babesia vogeli in dogs in colombia.ehrlichiosis and babesiosis are tick-borne diseases, caused mainly by ehrlichia canis and babesia canis, respectively, with a worldwide occurrence in dogs, whose main vector is the brown-dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. the present work aimed to detect the presence of e. canis and babesia sp. in 91 dog blood samples in colombia, by molecular and serological techniques. we also performed sequence alignment to indicate the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals. the present wo ...201122130333
distribution of rickettsia rickettsii in ovary cells of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille1806) (acari: ixodidae).abstract:201122117572
Seroprevalence and risk factors to Ehrlichia spp. and Rickettsia spp. in dogs from the Pantanal Region of Mato Grosso State, Brazil.Sera of 320 dogs from urban and rural areas of a Pantanal region of Brazil were evaluated for rickettsial (Rickettsia rickettsii, R. parkeri, R. amblyommii, R. rhipicephali, R. felis, and R. bellii) and ehrlichial (Ehrlichia canis) infection by the immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Risk factors for ehrlichiosis or rickettsiosis were also evaluated. Positive reaction against Ehrlichia spp. was detected in 227 (70.9%) dogs, 119 (74.3%) from an urban area and 108 (67.5%) from rural areas (P>0.05). Fo ...201122108015
expression of heat shock and other stress response proteins in ticks and cultured tick cells in response to anaplasma spp. infection and heat shock.ticks are ectoparasites of animals and humans that serve as vectors of anaplasma and other pathogens that affect humans and animals worldwide. ticks and the pathogens that they transmit have coevolved molecular interactions involving genetic traits of both the tick and the pathogen that mediate their development and survival. in this paper, the expression of heat shock proteins (hsps) and other stress response proteins (srps) was characterized in ticks and cultured tick cells by proteomics and t ...201022084679
starvation and overwinter do not affect the reproductive fitness of rhipicephalus sanguineus.rhipicephalus sanguineus is the most widespread tick in the world, being able to survive under different climate conditions. in this study, the longevity of r. sanguineus was investigated under laboratory and natural climate conditions in southern italy. moreover, the reproductive fitness of females after overwintering was assessed. in the environment, unfed larvae, nymphs and adults were able to survive for up to 34, 40 and 385 days, respectively. however, the longevity of larvae (44 days), nym ...201122075042
ticks collected from selected mammalian hosts surveyed in the republic of korea during 2008-2009.a tick survey was conducted to determine the relative abundance and distribution of ticks associated with selected mammals in the republic of korea (rok) during 2008-2009. a total of 918 ticks were collected from 76 mammals (6 families, 9 species) captured at 6 provinces and 3 metropolitan cities in rok. haemaphysalis longicornis (54.4%) was the most frequently collected tick, followed by haemaphysalis flava (28.5%), ixodes nipponensis (7.6%), ixodes pomerantzevi (4.8%), ixodes persulcatus (4.6% ...201122072840
experimental infection by capillary tube feeding of rhipicephalus sanguineus with bartonella vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii.it has been speculated that ticks may serve as vectors of bartonella species. circumstantial, clinical, epidemiological and serological evidence suggest that b. vinsonii subspecies berkhoffii (b. v. berkhoffii) might be transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus. the purpose of the present study was to determine whether adult r. sanguineus ticks can be infected with a b. v. berkhoffii genotype ii isolate via capillary tube feeding and whether the infection can then be transmitted from adult females ...201122062313
spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from wild animals in israel.we report molecular evidence for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr) in ticks collected from roe deer, addax, red foxes, and wild boars in israel. rickettsia aeschlimannii was detected in hyalomma marginatum and hyalomma detritum while rickettsia massiliae was present in rhipicephalus turanicus ticks. furthermore, a novel uncultured sfgr was detected in haemaphysalis adleri and haemaphysalis parva ticks from golden jackals. the pathogenicity of the novel sfgr for humans is unk ...201122049050
Hard ticks (Ixodidae) in Romania: surveillance, host associations, and possible risks for tick-borne diseases.Ticks and tick-borne diseases represent a great concern worldwide. Despite this, in Romania the studies regarding this subject has just started, and the interest of medical personnel, researchers, and citizens is increasing. Because the geographical range of many tick-borne diseases started to extend as consequences of different biological and environmental factors, it is important to study the diversity of ticks species, especially correlated with host associations. A total number of 840 ticks ...201122033737
bartonellae in animals and vectors in new caledonia.bartonellae are gram-negative facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria from the family bartonellaceae. the natural history of bartonellae consists of a reservoir/host, which is a vertebrate with chronic intravascular infection with sustained bacteremia, and a vector (usually an arthropod) that transfers the bacteria from the reservoir to a susceptible yet uninfected host. in order to reveal the sources and reservoirs of bartonella infection in animals and vectors in new caledonia, we colle ...201122018646
identification of rickettsia felis in fleas but not ticks on stray cats and dogs and the evidence of rickettsia rhipicephali only in adult stage of rhipicephalus sanguineus and rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides.rickettsia spp. are zoonotic pathogens and mainly transmitted by various arthropod vectors, such as fleas, ticks, and lice. previous epidemiological studies indicated that ectoparasites infested on dogs or cats may be infected by rickettsia spp., and transmit them to human beings accidentally. in this study, the prevalence of rickettsia infection was evaluated using fleas and ticks from stray dogs and cats in taiwan. a total of 158 pools made by 451 cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis) from 37 dogs ...201122000945
ultrastructural analysis of the oocytes of female rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806) (acari: ixodidae) ticks subjected to the action of azadirachta indica a. juss (neem).the present study provides ultrastructural information about the acaricidal effects of neem (azadirachta indica a. juss) on the ovaries of r. sanguineus engorged females. in general, the main damage caused in the oocytes was alteration in the shape of the cell and of the germinal vesicle, ring-shaped nucleolus, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and disorganization of the organelles and of the cell membranes (including the chorion), all of which indicate that these cells could be in the process of death. ...201121981820
Infection prevalences of common tick-borne pathogens in adult lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in Kentucky.Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne diseases that are reported annually in Kentucky. We conducted a survey to describe infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis ticks collected in Kentucky. During 2007-2008, we collected 287 ticks (179 D. variabilis and 108 A. americanum) from canine, feral hog, horse, raccoon, white-tailed deer, and human hosts in six counties in Kentucky. Ticks were screened for Ricke ...201121976578
monocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs.ehrlichiosis is the multiorgan infectious disease caused by small, intracellular rickettsias from the genus ehrlichia. these microorganisms are known as an etiologic factor of infections world wide in humans and in different species of animals. dog ehrlichiosis can be caused by several species of ehrlichia attacking different groups of blood cells, but most often an infection by ehrlichia canis is diagnosed with special relation to monocytes. a vector for e. canis are rhipicephalus sanguineus an ...201121957751
tick cell lines for study of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus and other arboviruses.abstract continuous cell lines derived from many of the vectors of tick-borne arboviruses of medical and veterinary importance are now available. their role as tools in arbovirus research to date is reviewed and their potential application in studies of tick cell responses to virus infection is explored, by comparison with recent progress in understanding mosquito immunity to arbovirus infection. a preliminary study of propagation of the human pathogen crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cc ...201121955214
First transcriptome of the testis-vas deferens-male accessory gland and proteome of the spermatophore from Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a ne ...201121949745
Inhibitory action of neem aqueous extract (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on the vitellogenesis of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks.The present study revealed unheard of data about the action of aqueous extracts of neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) on the vitellogenesis of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, proving that these extracts in 10 and 20% concentrations do not have the potential to kill the females; however, in lower concentrations (10%) provokes great morphological alterations in germinative cells such as the emergence of extended cytoplasmic vacuolization areas as well as the fragmentation of the germinal vesicle, ev ...201121936022
domestic dogs (canis familiaris) as reservoir hosts for rickettsia conorii.abstract rickettsia conorii is the causative agent of mediterranean spotted fever (msf) and israeli spotted fever (isf) transmitted by the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus. in areas where msf or isf are prevalent, dogs have high prevalence of r. conorii -neutralizing antibodies. however, the true role of dogs in the persistence of the r. conorii transmission cycle is unknown, and their reservoir competence for this pathogen has remained untested. we assessed the ability of dogs infected ...201121923270
effects of aggregation on the reproductive biology of rhipicephalus sanguineus females.the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus is one of the most important tick species in both veterinary and human medicine. studies on the biology of this tick are pivotal in order to develop improved control strategies. the brown dog tick is a gregarious species, tending to form large clusters in highly infested environments. this is the case of engorged females of r. sanguineus that often tend to aggregate in the environment. in the present study, we assessed whether aggregation affects r. sa ...201121909821
evaluation of glycoproteins purified from adult and larval camel ticks (hyalomma dromedarii) as a candidate vaccine.in order to identify antigens that can help prevent camel tick infestations, three major glycoproteins (glps) about 97, 66 and 40 kda in size were purified from adult and larval egyptian ticks, hyalomma (h.) dromedarii, using a single-step purification method with con-a sepharose. the purified glps were evaluated as vaccines against camel tick infestation in rabbits. the rabbits received three intramuscular inoculations of glps (20 µg/animal) on days 0, 14, and 28. in the immunoblot analysis, se ...201121897098
An unusual case of fatal pulmonary hemorrhage in pregnancy.Rickettsial diseases are common in Srilanka. The spotted fever group of rickettsiae presents in many ways, including very severe disease causing significant morbidity and mortality. A regional variation of the Rickettsia conorii subspecies and differences in clinical presentations are reported. This case describes disseminated Rickettsia conorii infection in a pregnant woman presenting with endocarditis.201121886958
Mediterranean spotted fever and encephalitis: a case report and review of the literature.Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) is a disease caused by Rickettsia conorii and transmitted by the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. It is widely distributed through southern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is an emerging or a reemerging disease in some regions. Countries of the Mediterranean basin, such as Portugal, have noticed an increased incidence of MSF over the past 10 years. It was believed that MSF was a benign disease associated with a mortality rate of 1-3% before the a ...201121879306
rnai screen reveals host cell kinases specifically involved in listeria monocytogenes spread from cell to cell.intracellular bacterial pathogens, such as listeria monocytogenes and rickettsia conorii display actin-based motility in the cytosol of infected cells and spread from cell to cell through the formation of membrane protrusions at the cell cortex. whereas the mechanisms supporting cytosolic actin-based motility are fairly well understood, it is unclear whether specific host factors may be required for supporting the formation and resolution of membrane protrusions. to address this gap in knowledge ...201121853127
exotic diseases of dogs and cats at risk of importation to ireland.: changes in legislation that facilitate movement of companion animals within the european union will expose those animals to microbial and parasitic organisms currently exotic to ireland. this paper reviewed information on the exotic diseases most likely to be introduced to ireland by travelling dogs and cats: rabies, leishmaniosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis and dirofilariosis.200521851670
spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks in cyprus.in two surveys conducted from march 1999 to march 2001 and from january 2004 to december 2006, a total of 3,950 ticks (belonging to ten different species) were collected from seven domestic and wild animals (goat, sheep, cattle, dog, fox, hare, and mouflon) from different localities throughout cyprus. in order to establish their infection rate with spotted fever rickettsiae (sfg), ticks were pooled and tested by polymerase chain reaction targeting glta and ompa genes, followed by sequencing anal ...201121833539
rhipicephalus sanguineus (ixodida, ixodidae) as intermediate host of a canine neglected filarial species with dermal microfilariae.the life cycles of filarioids of dogs presenting dermal microfilariae have been little studied. following the recent retrieval of dermal microfilariae identified as cercopithifilaria sp. in a dog from sicily (italy), this study was designed to assess the role of the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus as an intermediate host of this filarial species. an experimental tick infestation was performed on an infected dog using 300 nymphs of r. sanguineus. engorged nymphs were collected and examine ...201121831524
tick infestation and spotted-fever group rickettsia in shelter dogs, california, 2009.in response to an outbreak of rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) in baja california in early 2009, dogs at two shelters in neighbouring imperial county, california, were evaluated for ectoparasites. brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus), a recognized vector for rmsf, were found on 35 (30%) of 116 dogs but all ticks tested negative for rickettsia rickettsii by pcr.201121824367
infection by spotted fever rickettsiae in people, dogs, horses and ticks in londrina, parana state, brazil.spotted fever is a disease caused by bacteria from the genus rickettsia of the spotted fever group (sfg). rickettsia rickettsii is likely the main agent of brazilian spotted fever (bsf). with the objective of gathering information on the circulation of sfg rickettsiae in londrina, parana state, ticks from dogs and horses and also blood from dogs, horses and humans were collected in a neighbourhood of the city which presented potential for circulation of rickettsiae between hosts and vectors. amb ...201121824336
species diversity and geographic distribution of hard ticks (acari: ixodoidea: ixodidae) infesting domestic ruminants, in qazvin province, iran.this report presents the results of the first faunistic study of hard ticks in qazvin province of iran. the primary objective was to determine the species diversity and geographic distribution of hard ticks that parasitize domestic ruminants. information about the abiotic preferences of these species has been provided. a total of 286 cattle, 1,053 goats, and 2,050 sheep were examined in 13 villages in 28 flocks distributed throughout the studied areas. total direct body collections of ticks were ...201121805220
efficacy of a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene for treatment and control of tick species infesting dogs in europe.four studies were conducted to show the effectiveness of a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene in a spot-on formulation (certifect™, merial limited, ga, usa) for the therapeutic and preventive control of ixodid tick species affecting dogs in europe: ixodes ricinus, dermacentor reticulatus and rhipicephalus sanguineus. in each, untreated control dogs were compared to others treated with the novel combination. all dogs were infested with 50 adult, unfed ticks prior to treatme ...201121777735
efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene for treatment and control of induced infestations of brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus) on dogs.four laboratory studies were conducted to demonstrate that a single topical dose of a novel spot-on combination containing fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene (certifect™, merial limited, ga, usa) is efficacious against the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. in each study, 6-8 male and 6-8 female purpose-bred, laboratory mongrels, terrier cross or beagles were randomly assigned to one of two study groups (treated and untreated), based on pre-treatment parasite counts. starting on the day ...201121777733
the prevention of attachment and the detachment effects of a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene for rhipicephalus sanguineus and dermacentor variabilis on dogs.a novel combination of fipronil, amitraz and (s)-methoprene (certifect™, merial limited, ga, usa) was evaluated for the prevention of attachment of ticks and its ability to cause detachment of ticks. for the two prevention of attachment studies, 20 purpose-bred beagles were allocated each to two equal groups based on pretreatment tick counts (treated and untreated). each dog was exposed to 50 adult rhipicephalus sanguineus and dermacentor variabilis weekly starting 24h after treatment. in study ...201121777732
the combined mode of action of fipronil and amitraz on the motility of rhipicephalus sanguineus.the motility of adult rhipicephalus sanguineus was evaluated subsequent to treatments of amitraz, fipronil and the combination of fipronil plus amitraz against a vehicle control in a petri dish assay using the lemnatec scanalyzer imaging system. the assay was run using a fixed dilution of amitraz (0.32µg/cm(2)); serial dilutions of fipronil (1.3, 0.33, 0.08, 0.02, or 0.005µg/cm(2)); and the same serial dilutions of fipronil in combination with the fixed dilution of amitraz. measurement of motili ...201121777731
coinfections of rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia helvetica with borrelia lusitaniae in ticks collected in a safari park, portugal.borrelia and rickettsia bacteria are the most important tick-borne agents causing disease in portugal. identification and characterization of these circulating agents, mainly in recreational areas, is crucial for the development of preventive measures in response to the gradually increasing exposure of humans to tick vectors. a total of 677 questing ticks including dermacentor marginatus, rhipicephalus sanguineus, ixodes ricinus, hyalomma lusitanicum, h. marginatum, and haemaphysalis punctata we ...201021771525
permethrin-induced ultrastructural changes in oocytes of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806) (acari: ixodidae) semi-engorged females.currently, the most effective method for tick control is by the use of chemical acaricides such as permethrin (active ingredient of the advantage(-«) max3 acaricide, bayer), a pyrethroid with neurotoxic action. however, data about its effect on other tick systems, such as glandular and reproductive, are still scarce. this study provides ultrastructural details of the toxic effects induced in oocytes of semi-engorged rhipicephalus sanguineus females exposed to 206, 1031, and 2062 ppm of permethri ...201021771518
acariasis on pet burmese python, python molurus bivittatus in malaysia.to identify the acari present on pet burmese pythons in malaysia and to determine whether there is any potential public health risk related to handling of the snakes.201121771459
crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever: a molecular survey on hard ticks (ixodidae) in yazd province, iran.to determine the rate of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cchfv) infection in hard ticks (ixodidae) in yazd province of iran.201121771418
a survey of canine tick-borne diseases in india.abstract: background: there are few published reports on canine babesia, ehrlichia, anaplasma, hepatozoon and haemotropic mycoplasma infections in india and most describe clinical disease in individual dogs, diagnosed by morphological observation of the microorganisms in stained blood smears. this study investigated the occurrence and distribution of canine tick-borne disease (tbd) pathogens using a combination of conventional and molecular diagnostic techniques in four cities in india. results: ...201121771313
hepatozoon canis infection in ticks during spring and summer in italy.hepatozoon canis is a common protozoan of dogs, being among the most prevalent tick-borne pathogens infecting dogs around the world. it is primarily transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick. in this study we tested ticks collected from dogs and from the environment in order to track the origin of an outbreak of h. canis infection detected in october 2009 in a private dog shelter in southern italy. ticks from dogs (n?=?267) were collected during the spring of 2009, whereas tick ...201121769649
israeli spotted fever, tunisia.to the editor: mediterranean spotted fever (msf) caused by rickettsia conorii was the first rickettsiosis described in tunisia. r. conorii was thought to be the only species existing in this country. however, authors reported other rickettsioses either from spotted fever group or typhus group (1,2). in sfax, a town in southern tunisia, physicians noted patients with severe forms of msf and suspected the presence of other species or a virulent r. conorii strain. we report 2 cases of israeli spott ...201121762610
diagnosis of imported canine filarial infections in germany 2008 - 2010.filarial infections of dogs are attracting attention across europe because of the risk of spread into previously non-endemic areas (e.g. dirofilaria repens with culicidae as vectors) and as emerging zoonotic agents. the occurrence of filarial infections in german dogs has been analysed based on 8,545 samples collected either from imported animals or following travel into endemic regions. all samples were tested by means of modified knott's test and heartworm antigen assay within the period 2008 ...201121739376
mechanisms of obligatory intracellular infection with anaplasma phagocytophilum.anaplasma phagocytophilum persists in nature by cycling between mammals and ticks. human infection by the bite of an infected tick leads to a potentially fatal emerging disease called human granulocytic anaplasmosis. a. phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that replicates inside mammalian granulocytes and the salivary gland and midgut cells of ticks. a. phagocytophilum evolved the remarkable ability to hijack the regulatory system of host cells. a. phagocytophilum alters vesi ...201121734244
detection of new francisella-like tick endosymbionts in hyalomma spp. and rhipicephalus spp. (acari: ixodidae) from bulgaria.we report on the identification of two new francisella-like endosymbionts (fles) found in three different tick species from bulgaria. the fles were characterized by 16s rrna and tul4 gene sequencing and seem to lack the molecular marker rd1. these two new taxa seem to be facultative secondary endosymbionts of ticks.201121705542
babesiosis in an egyptian boy aquired from pet dog, and a general review.human babesiosis has been documented in many countries. it is a zoonotic protozoan disease of medical, veterinary and economic importance. in this study, a twelve years old boy was referred to the hospital with intermittent fever of unknown origin. on clinical, parasitological and serological bases the case proved to be babesiosis. the boy acquired the infection from his pet dog which was heavily infested with rhipicephalus sanguineus and suffered a mild feature of animal babesiosis. the patient ...201121634246
perspectives on canine and feline hepatozoonosis.two species of hepatozoon are currently known to infect dogs and cause distinct diseases. hepatozoon canis prevalent in africa, asia, southern europe, south america and recently shown to be present also in the usa causes infection mainly of hemolymphoid organs, whereas hepatozoon americanum prevalent in the southeastern usa causes myositis and severe lameness. h. americanum is transmitted by ingestion of the gulf coast tick amblyomma maculatum and also by predation on infected prey. h. canis is ...201121620568
rickettsia, ehrlichia, anaplasma, and bartonella in ticks and fleas from dogs and cats in bangkok.abstract flea and tick specimens (5-10 fleas or ticks) on dogs and cats from various sites in bangkok were tested by polymerase chain reaction and dna sequencing to detect dna of bacteria rickettsia (glta and 17 kda genes), anaplasmataceae (16s rrna gene), and bartonella (pap31 and its genes). we confirmed that rickettsia sp. related to rickettsia felis was detected in 66 of 98 (67.4%) flea specimens from dogs, whereas 8 bartonella henselae and 2 bartonella clarridgeiae were detected in 10 of 54 ...201121612535
[tick-borne diseases in the republic of croatia].this study analyses occurence, trendline, occurence by months and geographical distribution of tick-transmitted diseases: lyme borreliosis, tick-borne meningoencephalitis (tbm) and mediterranean spotted fever in the republic of croatia in the period between 1999 and 2008. the vector for lyme borreliosis and tick-borne meningoencephalitis is ixodes ricinus, while mediterranean spotted fever is transmitted by the rhipicephalus sanguineus. lyme disease is endemic in entire continental croatia and c ...201121612103
mathematical modelling of the impact of climatic conditions in france on rhipicephalus sanguineus tick activity and density since 1960.rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, has a worldwide distribution in areas with a relatively warm climate, including mild winters. this tick plays an important role as vector for various animal and human pathogens, including bacteria and protozoa. based on precise daily meteorological data from the past 40 years, combined with mathematical modelling designed to predict tick activity, two modelling approaches were developed. the first examined the evolution of the number of weeks with fa ...201121590676
effect of water flooding on the oviposition capacity of engorged adult females and hatchability of eggs of dog ticks: rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis leachi leachi.effects of water flooding on the oviposition capacity of engorged adult females and hatchability of eggs of rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis leachi leachi under laboratory conditions were investigated. the durations of time of water flooding were 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. engorged females of r. sanguineus and h. leachi leachi did not oviposit after being flooded for more than 48 and 6 hours, respectively. the preoviposition periods of both species were longer than ...201121584237
rickettsia rickettsii transmission by a lone star tick, north carolina.only indirect or circumstantial evidence has been published to support transmission of rickettsia rickettsii by amblyomma americanum (lone star) ticks in north america. this study provides molecular evidence that a. americanum ticks can function, although most likely infrequently, as vectors of rocky mountain spotted fever for humans.201121529399
experimental infection of amblyomma aureolatum ticks with rickettsia rickettsii.we experimentally infected amblyomma aureolatum ticks with the bacterium rickettsia rickettsii, the etiologic agent of rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf). these ticks are a vector for rmsf in brazil. r. rickettsii was efficiently conserved by both transstadial maintenance and vertical (transovarial) transmission to 100% of the ticks through 4 laboratory generations. however, lower reproductive performance and survival of infected females was attributed to r. rickettsii infection. therefore, bec ...201121529391
evidence of new pathogenic theileria species in dogs.babesiosis, caused by tick-borne haematozoan organisms of the genus babesia, is a parasitic disease of domestic and wild mammals. canine babesidae have historically been classified as "large babesia" (babesia canis) and "small babesia" (babesia gibsoni) based on the size of their intraerythrocytic forms. recent publications, however, suggest that the diversity of piroplasm species infecting dogs might be greater than previously appreciated. sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the ssrrna gene ...201021526030
temporal characterisation of the organ-specific rhipicephalusmicroplus transcriptional response to anaplasma marginale infection.arthropods transmit important infectious diseases of humans and animals. importantly, replication and the development of pathogen infectivity are tightly linked to vector feeding on the mammalian host; thus analysis of the transcriptomes of both vector and pathogen during feeding is fundamental to understanding transmission. using anaplasma marginale infection of rhipicephalusmicroplus as the experimental model, we tested three hypotheses exploring the temporal and organ-specific nature of the t ...201121514300
cloning of the major outer membrane protein expression locus in anaplasma platys and seroreactivity of a species-specific antigen.anaplasma platys infects peripheral blood platelets and causes infectious cyclic thrombocytopenia in canines. the genes, proteins, and antigens of a. platys are largely unknown, and an antigen for serodiagnosis of a. platys has not yet been identified. in this study, we cloned the a. platys major outer membrane protein cluster, including the p44/msp2 expression locus (p44es/msp2es) and outer membrane protein (omp), using dna isolated from the blood of four naturally infected dogs from venezuela ...201121498646
tick-borne encephalitis virus in dogs - is this an issue?abstract: the last review on tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) in dogs was published almost ten years ago. since then, this zoonotic tick-borne arbovirus has been geographically spreading and emerging in many regions in eurasia and continues to do so. dogs become readily infected with tbe virus but they are accidental hosts not capable to further spread the virus. they seroconvert upon infection but they seem to be much more resistant to the clinical disease than humans. apart from their use as sent ...201121489255
quantification of leishmania infantum dna in females, eggs and larvae of rhipicephalus sanguineus.:201121489252
diagnosis of hepatozoon canis in young dogs by cytology and pcr.abstract:201121489247
why is southern african canine babesiosis so virulent? an evolutionary perspective.abstract: canine babesiosis is a common, highly virulent disease in southern africa with even pups and juveniles being severely affected. this contrasts with bovine babesiosis, for example, where host, parasite and vector co-evolved and young animals develop immunity after infection without showing clinical signs. babesia rossi, the main causative organism of canine babesiosis in sub-saharan africa, was first described from a side-striped jackal (canis adustus) in kenya. although data are meagre ...201121489239
babesiosis due to the canine babesia microti-like small piroplasm in dogs - first report from portugal and possible vertical transmission.abstract:201121489238
one health: the importance of companion animal vector-borne diseases.abstract: the international prominence accorded the 'one health' concept of co-ordinated activity of those involved in human and animal health is a modern incarnation of a long tradition of comparative medicine, with roots in the ancient civilizations and a golden era during the 19th century explosion of knowledge in the field of infectious disease research. modern one health tends to focus on zoonotic pathogens emerging from wildlife and production animal species, but one of the most significan ...201121489237
the immunopathology of canine vector-borne diseases.abstract: the canine vector-borne infectious diseases (cvbds) are an emerging problem in veterinary medicine and the zoonotic potential of many of these agents is a significant consideration for human health. the successful diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these infections is dependent upon firm understanding of the underlying immunopathology of the diseases in which there are unique tripartite interactions between the microorganism, the vector and the host immune system. although signific ...201121489234
rickettsia rickettsii in rhipicephalus ticks, mexicali, mexico.circulation of a unique genetic type of rickettsia rickettsii in ticks of the rhipicephalus sanguineus complex was detected in mexicali, baja california, mexico. the mexican r. rickettsii differed from all isolates previously characterized from the endemic regions of rocky mountain spotted fever in northern, central, and southern americas. rhipicephalus ticks in mexicali are genetically different from rh. sanguineus found in the united states.201121485383
susceptibility of four tick species, amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes scapularis, and rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae), to nootkatone from essential oil of grapefruit.toxicity of nootkatone was determined in laboratory assays against unfed nymphs of amblyomma americanum l., dermacentor variabilis (say), ixodes scapularis say, and rhipicephalus sanguineus latreille. we determined the 50% lethal concentration (lc50) and 90% lethal concentration (lc90) of nootkatone by recording tick mortality 24 h after exposure in treated glass vials. nymphs were susceptible to nootkatone with lc50 values of 0.352, 0.233, 0.169, and 0.197 microg/cm2, and lc90 values of 1.001, ...201121485368
risk factors for african tick-bite fever in rural central africa.african tick-bite fever is an emerging infectious disease caused by the spotted fever group rickettsia, rickettsia africae, and is transmitted by ticks of the genus amblyomma. to determine the seroprevalence of exposure to r. africae and risk factors associated with infection, we conducted a cross-sectional study of persons in seven rural villages in distinct ecological habitats of cameroon. we examined 903 plasma samples by using an indirect immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to r. africae ...201121460018
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