Molecular epidemiology of certain vector-borne bacterial microorganisms in domestic animals and their ectoparasites in Egypt.
Abstract: Vector-borne bacterial diseases (VBBD) are a diverse group of tropical and subtropical zoonotic diseases. This study investigated the possibility of domestic animals to carry certain vector-borne bacterial microorganisms (VBBMs), as well as the presence of these targeted DNAs in their ectoparasites in different localities of Egypt using molecular analyses. For this study, 234 animal hosts (112 cattle, 38 sheep, 28 goats, 26 buffaloes, 22 donkeys, and 8 horses) in addition to 115 ectoparasites (95 ticks and 20 lice) were investigated for the molecular detection of Bartonella spp., Borrelia spp., and Rickettsia spp., targeting 16S-23S rRNAITS, 16S rRNA, and gltA genes, respectively. The results indicated that the overall prevalence of VBBD was observed in 17 animals (7.26%), of which 16 (6.84%) were positive for Bartonella spp. and one (0.43%) was positive for Borrelia theileri. All blood samples were negative for the DNA of Rickettsia spp. In addition, the results demonstrated that all ectoparasites were free from VBBDNA. Furthermore, of the animals examined for ectoparasite infestation, 28 (11.97%) and 5 (2.14%) represented Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks and Haematopinus tuberculatus lice, respectively, which infested animals. Analysis of epidemiological factors revealed that gender, age, and ectoparasitic infestation of animals had a significant effect on Bartonella infection, whereas no significant difference between animal species was observed. Hence, we report a potential novel Bartonella sp. from cattle and buffaloes, including a new genotype of Bo. theileri from cattle, in Egypt.
© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
Publication Date: 2021-09-27 PubMed ID: 34570262PubMed Central: 5512320DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02911-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the prevalence of certain bacteria that cause tropical and subtropical diseases, known as vector-borne bacterial diseases (VBBD), in domestic animals and the insects that infest them in Egypt. The findings show a low prevalence of these bacterial diseases among the animals studied, with no presence detected in the insects.
Vector-Borne Bacterial Diseases and the Study
- Vector-borne bacterial diseases (VBBD) are a diverse group of diseases transmitted through the bites of infected vectors like insects.
- In this study, the researchers aimed to investigate the prevalence of vector-borne bacterial microorganisms (VBBMs) in domestic animals and their ectoparasites or external parasites, such as ticks and lice, in Egypt.
- The animals included in the study were cattle, sheep, goats, buffaloes, donkeys, and horses, and the parasites were ticks and lice.
- The researchers were specifically targeting the detection of three types of bacteria: Bartonella, Borrelia, and Rickettsia, using molecular analyses on specific genes.
Findings of the Study
- Of the 234 animals studied, 17 (or 7.26%) were found to be infected with VBBD, with 16 having Bartonella and one infected with Borrelia theileri.
- However, all blood samples from the animals were negative for Rickettsia.
- Interestingly, all ectoparasites sampled were found to be free of VBBDNA, contradicting the popular understanding that they’re common disease carriers.
- Additionally, it was also observed that out of all the animals studied, a small percentage were infested with ticks and lice.
Impact of Epidemiological Factors
- Significant factors that appeared to affect the likelihood of an animal being infected with Bartonella were the gender, age, and presence of ectoparasitic infestation.
- There was no significant difference observed in the susceptibility to these VBBDs based on the species of the animal.
- A potentially new Bartonella species and a new genotype of Borrelia theileri were discovered in the cattle and buffaloes included in the study.
Cite This Article
APA
Abdullah HHAM, Elbayoumy MK, Allam AM, Ashry HM, Abdel-Shafy S.
(2021).
Molecular epidemiology of certain vector-borne bacterial microorganisms in domestic animals and their ectoparasites in Egypt.
Trop Anim Health Prod, 53(5), 484.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02911-z Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. dr.hendabdullah6@gmail.com.
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
- Department of Parasitology and Animal Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Borrelia
- Cattle
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Egypt / epidemiology
- Horses
- Molecular Epidemiology
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Rhipicephalus
- Sheep
Grant Funding
- 12050508) / National Research Centre
References
This article includes 65 references
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Mahmoud HYAH, Soliman AM, Shahat MS, Hroobi AA, Alghamdi AH, Almotayri AM, Tanaka T, Emeish WFA. Molecular detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Borrelia theileri, and Francisella-like endosymbionts in Camelus dromedarius and dogs in Luxor, Egypt. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 15;15(1):12872.
- Al-Hassani MKA, Kadhim HM, Al-Galebi AAS, Gharban HAJ. First molecular phylogeny of Bartonella bovis in Iraqi cattle. Open Vet J 2024 Sep;14(9):2361-2367.
- Koutantou M, Drancourt M, Angelakis E. Prevalence of Lyme Disease and Relapsing Fever Borrelia spp. in Vectors, Animals, and Humans within a One Health Approach in Mediterranean Countries. Pathogens 2024 Jun 17;13(6).
- El-Alfy ES, Abbas I, Elseadawy R, Saleh S, Elmishmishy B, El-Sayed SAE, Rizk MA. Global prevalence and species diversity of tick-borne pathogens in buffaloes worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasit Vectors 2023 Mar 30;16(1):115.
- Ashour R, Hamza D, Kadry M, Sabry MA. The Surveillance of Borrelia Species in Camelus dromedarius and Associated Ticks: The First Detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in Egypt. Vet Sci 2023 Feb 10;10(2).
- Abdelbaset AE, Nonaka N, Nakao R. Tick-borne diseases in Egypt: A one health perspective. One Health 2022 Dec;15:100443.
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