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Home / Equine Research Bank / Zoonoses Public Health / Observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in domestic anim...
Zoonoses and public health2007; 54(1); 8-15; doi: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.00989.x

Observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to characterize the observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005. Serological (competitive ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence antibody, n = 3299) and DNA tests (polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot, n = 2565) were conducted on horse, donkey, cattle, sheep, goat, pig and dog samples. Pathogens analysed included Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria species, and Coxiella burnetii. The most prevalent TBP were Anaplasma and Babesia species. The results reported herein suggested that cattle could serve as the major reservoir for Babesia and Theileria spp. while for Anaplasma spp. cattle, dogs, sheep and goats may be the most important reservoir species. These results expanded our knowledge about the prevalence of TBP in Sicily and provided information to understand the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and may help to implement measures to diagnose, treat and control transmission to humans and animals in this region.
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Publication Date: 2007-03-16 PubMed ID: 17359441DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.00989.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research examined the prevalence of tick-borne diseases in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy, from 2003 to 2005. The study found that the most common diseases were Anaplasma and Babesia species, and identified cattle, dogs, sheep, and goats as the major reservoirs for these diseases.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The study aimed to understand the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) in domestic animals within Sicily, Italy, during the period of 2003-2005.
  • To achieve this, a combination of serological and DNA tests were used. These included competitive ELISA, indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests, polymerase chain reaction, and reverse line blot.
  • These tests were deployed on a variety of domestic animals: horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs. The total number of tests conducted consisted of 3299 serological and 2565 DNA samples.

Examined Pathogens

  • The research focused on several key tick-borne pathogens. These included a variety of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Babesia and Theileria species, in addition to Coxiella burnetii.
  • Each of these is a known pathogen that can be transmitted by ticks and cause illness in a variety of domestic animals.

Results of the Study

  • The study found that the most prevalent tick-borne pathogens in these domestic animals were Anaplasma and Babesia species.
  • The research also suggested that the principal reservoir for Babesia and Theileria species could be cattle, while for Anaplasma species, the major reservoir appears to be an assortment of cattle, dogs, sheep, and goats. A ‘reservoir’ is an animal species that hosts a pathogen under natural conditions.

Conclusion

  • Overall, these findings offer insights into the state of TBP in Sicily, illuminating the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in the region.
  • This kind of information can be useful in devising measures to diagnose, treat and control the transmission of these diseases, not only within the animal population but also to human beings.

Cite This Article

APA
Torina A, Vicente J, Alongi A, Scimeca S, Turlá R, Nicosia S, Di Marco V, Caracappa S, de la Fuente J. (2007). Observed prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals in Sicily, Italy during 2003-2005. Zoonoses Public Health, 54(1), 8-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.00989.x

Publication

Zoonoses and public health
ISSN: 1863-1959
NlmUniqueID: 101300786
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 8-15

Researcher Affiliations

Torina, A
  • Instituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via G. Marinuzzi no. 3, 90129 Palermo, Sicily, Italy.
Vicente, J
    Alongi, A
      Scimeca, S
        Turlá, R
          Nicosia, S
            Di Marco, V
              Caracappa, S
                de la Fuente, J

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Anaplasma
                  • Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
                  • Animals
                  • Animals, Domestic
                  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
                  • Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
                  • Arachnid Vectors / parasitology
                  • Babesia
                  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
                  • Babesiosis / veterinary
                  • Cattle
                  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
                  • Ehrlichia
                  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
                  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
                  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
                  • Goats
                  • Horses
                  • Italy / epidemiology
                  • Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary
                  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                  • Sheep
                  • Swine
                  • Theileria
                  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
                  • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
                  • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary
                  • Ticks / microbiology
                  • Ticks / parasitology

                  Citations

                  This article has been cited 36 times.
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