Rhipicephalus camicasi Morel, Mouchet et Rodhain, 1976 is thought to be distributed across Africa, Arabian Peninsula and the Mediterranean region. It belongs to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806) species complex. Mitochondrial genome sequences are becoming frequently used for the identification and differentiation of tick species. In the present study, the entire mitochondrial genome of R. cf. camicasi (~15 kb) collected from a camel in Saudi Arabia was sequenced and compared with mitogenomes of two species of Rhipicephalus Koch, 1844. The mitochondrial genome is 87.8% and 91.7% identical to the reference genome of R. sanguineus (sensu stricto, former "temperate lineage") and Rhipicephalus linnaei (Audouin, 1826) (former "tropical lineage"). The current study delivers a molecular reference for material that resembles R. camicasi. We propose to consider the current material, including the complete mitogenome, as the reference for R. camicasi, until a revision using topotypical material is available.
To investigate the transmission of species of Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1907 in Timis County, Romania, 48 isolates of Cryptosporidium coccidia from 11 children, 29 calves and eight pigs were characterised by molecular analysis of two loci (SSU rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein gene). Overall, 22 isolates were amplified and sequence analyses revealed that all isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum Tyzzer, 1912. Two subtype families were identified, IIa and IId. Subtype IIdA22G1 (n = 4) was the single C. parvum subtype found in children. Subtypes found in calves included IIdA27G1 (n = 8), a novel subtype, IIdA25G1 (n = 5), IIdA22G1 (n = 2), IIdA21G1a (n = 1), and IIaA16G1R1 (n = 1). Subtype IIdA26G1 was found in a pig. These results were significantly different from previous Romanian reports, as the five subtypes of family IId identified in this study were never identified previously in this country. Thus, cattle may be a source of Cryptosporidium infections for humans and the transmission dynamics of C. parvum in Romania is more complex than previously believed., Patrícia Manuela Vieira, Narcisa Mederle, Maria Luísa Lobo, Kálmán Imre, Ovidiu Mederle, Lihua Xiao, Gheorghe Darabus, Olga Matos., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We report the molecular-phylogenetic identification of larvae of the nematode genus Gnathostoma Owen, 1836 collected from a snake, Ptyas koros Schlegel, in Laos and adult worms from the stomach of a dog in Thailand. DNA was extracted and amplified targeting the partial cox1 gene and the ITS-2 region of ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all five advanced third-stage larvae and seven adult worms were Gnathostoma spinigerum Owen, 1836. This is also the first molecular evidence of infection with G. spinigerum in a snake from Laos., Jurairat Jongthawin, Pewpan M. Intapan, Oranuch Sanpool, Penchom Janwan, Lakkhana Sadaow, Tongjit Thanchomnang, Sakhone Laymanivong, Wanchai Maleewong., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Species of Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 are vector-borne parasites that infect domestic and wild animals worldwide. Hepatozoon ursi Kubo, Uni, Agatsuma, Nagataki, Panciera et al., 2008 was reported from bears (Ursidae) in Japan and India. The present study represents the first report of infection with H. ursi in Turkish brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus) by microscopic and molecular analysis. Two dead brown bears were found in Uzundere and Pasinler districts of Erzurum. Blood and visceral organ (spleen and liver) samples were delivered to laboratory by the Nature Conservation and National Parks officers. Detected gamonts were evaluated based on morphological features and confirmed as gamonts of H. ursi. The size of gamonts and parasitemia were 8.2 × 3.5 μm (6.9-8.7 × 3.0-3.9 μm; n = 12) and 0.6% (6/1000 leukocytes), respectively. The blood and visceral organ samples were positive for species of Hepatozoon by PCR targeting partial sequence of 18S rDNA. Sequence analysis of newly obtained sequences of H. ursi showed 98.8-100% identity with previously sequenced isolates of H. ursi. Sequences of H. ursi from Erzurum were identical to each other and showed 100% identity with isolates of H. ursi from ticks Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus), Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev and Hyalomma marginatum Koch collected from two brown bears in Turkey (GenBank accession numbers MN463021, MN463022, MN905023). Analysis of partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene of H. ursi showed that Turkish isolates differ in NT substitutions found at three different positions [72 (A→G), 537 (A→G) and 570 (A→T)]. This study provides morphological and molecular data of H. ursi infection in brown bears from two districts of Erzurum, Turkey. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether brown bears have any eco-epidemiologic importance in the life cycle of H. ursi in wildlife.
Although intranuclear coccidiosis was first identified in chelonians less than 30 years ago, it is now considered an important emerging disease. Symptoms include anorexia, weakness and weight loss, potentially leading to death of the infected animal. The use of molecular tools has led to improved diagnosis and has also led to an increase in known host species. Here we report a putative intranuclear coccidium in Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger), from Morocco, based on 18S rDNA sequence analysis. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of this parasite from a freshwater terrapin species.
The consumption of horse meat has been epidemiologically linked to clinical toxoplasmosis in humans and neosporosis that may cause clinical illness in horses. Here we determined seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908 and species of Neospora Dubey, Carpenter, Speer, Topper et Uggla, 1988 in horses from Italy. Blood samples were collected from 643 apparently healthy horses from 60 farms of 51 municipalities in southern Italy. The presence of antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. were detected by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT); a titre ≥ 50 was considered positive. The same sera were also tested for antibodies against Neospora spp. by a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA); samples with ≥ 30% inhibition were considered positive. Antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. were detected in 19 (3.0%) and 15 (2.3%) horses by IFAT, respectively, without statistical difference between gender, age and breeds (p-value ≥ 0.05). Antibodies against species of Neospora were detected in 70 (10.9%) horses by cELISA with statistical difference in gender (6.0-18.5%, p-value ≥ 0.05) and breeds (0-19.4%, p-value ≥ 0.05). Although T. gondii infection rates were low, the risk of human infection should not be dismissed, particularly in Italy where consumption of raw or undercooked horse meat has a long tradition., Eva Bártová, Tereza Machačová, Kamil Sedlák, Marie Budíková, Ugo Mariani, Vincenzo Veneziano., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) is an obligate intracellular, parasitic protozoan within the phylum Apicomplexa that causes toxoplasmosis in mammalian hosts (including humans) and birds. Since meat of wild boar, Sus scrofa (Linnaeus), has been demonstrated to be a potential source of human infection, a careful evaluation of the prevalence of infection with T. gondii in hunted animals is needed to protect public health. In the Var area in southeastern France, we performed a spatio-temporal survey in order to investigate the prevalence of IgG antibodies in wild boars shot by hunters in the Canjuers military camp during two subsequent hunting seasons. Of 841 wild boars screened, antibodies (IgG) to T. gondii (modified agglutination test, cut-off 1 : 6) were found in 141 (16.8%) muscle extract samples. A significant association (p < 0.001) was found between positivity and age, but not gender, and hunting districts. The results obtained indicate that consumption of raw or undercooked meat from wild boars carries an important risk of infection with T. gondii. Wild boars may be considered as a bioindicator of parasite circulation in this ecosystem., Cédric Roqueplo, Radu Blaga, Jean-Lou Marié, Isabelle Vallée, Bernard Davoust., and Obsahuje bibliografii
In our previous work we established a T7 polymerase-driven Tetracycline-inducible protein expression system in Leishmania mexicana (Biagi, 1953). We used this system to analyse gene expression profiles during development of L. mexicana in procyclic and metacyclic promastigotes and amastigotes. The transcription of the gene of interest and the T7 polymerase genes was significantly reduced upon cell differentiation. This regulation is not locus-specific. It depends on untranslated regions flanking open reading frames of the genes analysed. In this paper, we report that the previously established conventional inducible protein expression system may not be suitable for studies on differentiation of species of Leishmania Ross, 1903 and protein expression systems might have certain limitations., Aygul Ishemgulova, Natalya Kraeva, Drahomíra Faktorová, Lucie Podešvová, Julius Lukeš, Vyacheslav Yurchenko., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae) Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch et Fauran, 1956), Parasecia soucouyanti (Brennan et Yunker, 1966), Eutrombicula lipovskyana (Wolfenbarger, 1952) and Neoschoengastia dalmati Brennan, 1951 were found in Honduras on a total of twelve bird species. Parasecia soucouyanti was recorded parasitising birds for the first time. All these mites are here reported from Honduras for the first time., Stanislav Kalúz, Ivan Literák, Stanislav Kolenčík., and Obsahuje bibliografii