Transmission of Babesia caballi by Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae) is restricted to one generation in the absence of alimentary reinfection on a susceptible equine host.
Abstract: The tropical horse tick, Dermacentor nitens, is a natural vector of Babesia caballi in the Americas. B. caballi, one of the etiologic agents of equine piroplasmosis, occurs widely throughout the world, but the United States and a few other countries are considered to be free of infection. B. caballi is transovarially transmitted by the one-host tick D. nitens; we tested the hypothesis that B. caballi can persist in multiple generations of D. nitens in the absence of opportunity to reacquire infection from a susceptible equine host. Partially engorged female D. nitens were collected from a B. caballi-infected horse in Puerto Rico and allowed to reattach and feed on an uninfected horse, successfully transmitting the infection. Three subsequent generations of ticks were reared on calves (nonsusceptible hosts for B. caballi), testing for B. caballi infection in each generation by feeding a sample of the larvae on naive horses. The first generation ofD. nitens reared on a nonsusceptible host transmitted B. caballi, whereas the second and third failed to transmit to naive horses, showing that D. nitens infection with B. caballi was restricted to one generation in the absence of alimentary reinfection. These results imply that, in the event of the introduction of this pathogen into areas of the continental United States where D. nitens occurs, the tick could become a short-term reservoir of B. caballi, making control of introduced infections more complex.
Publication Date: 2008-12-09 PubMed ID: 19058641DOI: 10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[1152:tobcbd]2.0.co;2Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article focuses on the ability of the tropical horse tick, Dermacentor nitens, to transmit the disease-causing parasite Babesia caballi across multiple generations without reinfection through feeding on a susceptible equine host. It found that the transmission was limited to only one generation, which might affect the control strategy for the disease in regions where this particular tick species is present.
Study Overview and Background
- The research aims to understand the role of Dermacentor nitens (tropical horse tick) in the transmission of Babesia caballi, the main cause of equine piroplasmosis. This is done by testing whether the parasite can persist in multiple generations of ticks without the opportunity for alimentary reinfection.
- Despite its widespread occurrence, the United States and a few other countries are considered to be free of B. caballi infection. Understanding the transmission mechanism can therefore offer valuable insights into disease control in such regions.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers collected partially engorged female ticks from an infected horse in Puerto Rico and allowed them to reattach and feed on a non-infected horse, successfully transmitting the infection in the process.
- Subsequent generations were reared on calves that are not susceptible to the parasite, and each generation was tested for B. caballi infection by feeding larvae on naive horses.
- The findings showed that only the first generation of ticks, which fed on the non-susceptible host, managed to transmit the B. caballi parasite while subsequent generations failed to do so. This indicates that reinfection is necessary for transmission across multiple generations.
Implications and Conclusions
- The research findings suggest that the Dermacentor nitens tick can become a short-term reservoir for B. caballi in the event that the pathogen is introduced into areas where this species of tick is prevalent.
- However, the fact that the tick can only propagate the infection to one generation without alimentary reinfection implies that controlling the disease may be more complex than previously thought.
- Further research might explore the specifics of this transmission mechanism and how it varies across different regions or different types of hosts to further aid in the disease control strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Schwint ON, Knowles DP, Ueti MW, Kappmeyer LS, Scoles GA.
(2008).
Transmission of Babesia caballi by Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae) is restricted to one generation in the absence of alimentary reinfection on a susceptible equine host.
J Med Entomol, 45(6), 1152-1155.
https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585(2008)45[1152:tobcbd]2.0.co;2 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Program in Vector-Borne Diseases, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / physiology
- Babesiosis / transmission
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Cattle
- Dermacentor / parasitology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses / parasitology
- Host-Parasite Interactions
- Larva / parasitology
- Male
Citations
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