An outbreak of bovine babesiosis in February, 2019, triggered by above average winter temperatures in southern England and co-infection with Babesia divergens and Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

Autor: Johnson N; Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK. Nick.Johnson@apha.gov.uk.; Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK. Nick.Johnson@apha.gov.uk., Paul Phipps L; Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK., McFadzean H; Veterinary Investigation Centre Starcross, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Staplake Mount, Starcross, Exeter, EX6 8PE, Devon, UK., Barlow AM; Wildlife Network for Disease Surveillance, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, Langford, Somerset, BS40 5DU, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Parasites & vectors [Parasit Vectors] 2020 Jun 12; Vol. 13 (1), pp. 305. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 12.
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04174-3
Abstrakt: Background: Bovine babesiosis, commonly known as redwater fever, is a sporadic tick-borne disease in the United Kingdom. Outbreaks occur during the spring, summer and autumn months when ticks are active. This study reports the findings of an investigation of an outbreak of bovine babesiosis during the winter month of February, 2019.
Methods: DNA from blood, organ and tick samples taken from affected cattle were tested for the presence of piroplasm and Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA using PCRs directed to the 18S rRNA gene and msp2 gene respectively. The species of piroplasm was confirmed by sequencing.
Results: Babesia divergens DNA was detected in the blood of five cattle displaying clinical signs of babesiosis within a herd of twenty. This parasite was also detected in three of ten ticks removed from one of the affected cattle. In addition, A. phagocytophilum was detected in three cattle tested and two of ten of the ticks.
Conclusions: An outbreak of bovine babesiosis during February is unusual as the tick vector, Ixodes ricinus, does not generally become active until temperatures rise later in the year. February of 2019 was unusual as average temperatures during the first week of the month reached over 10 °C, well above historical averages that are typically below 5 °C, and a temperature at which ticks can become active. This unusual weather event is likely to have triggered tick questing, that combined with a co-infection with two tick-borne pathogens caused the severe outbreak of disease.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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