PREVALENCE OF TICKS IN BUFFALOES IN THE UPPER SINDH PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT Tick infestation is still a major economic dilemma for the dairy owners in Pakistan. The current study reports the prevalence and bionomics of tick in the areas of upper Sindh, Pakistan. The study was carried out to identify and to quantify variation in the prevalence of bovine tick infestation with respect to host (age and species) and area studied. Random sampling was used and 1600 samples of Kundi buffaloes from the different areas were selected from extensive management systems. Prevalence of bovine tick infestation did not differ signifi cantly (OR = 0.876; p>0.05) in Kundi (179/800; 24.75%) and Nili-Ravi buffaloes (172/800; 22.3%). Hyalomma was the major tick species (10.2%; 163/1600), followed by Rhipicephalus (5.6%; 99/1600). The prevalence of ticks in calves (< 1 year) was signifi cantly (p < 0.05) higher compare to the adult animals (1-2 years and > 2 year animals). However, the prevalence of tick infestation was not associated (p > 0.05) with the location of the district. Moreover, the results of the prevalence of the ticks in the studied area provide the better understanding for evolving the strategic and tactile control of ticks in local breeds of dairy animals in the Sindh province

A Study of Ticks and Tick-Borne Livestock Pathogens in Pakistan

Background As obligate blood-feeding arthropods, ticks transmit pathogens to humans and domestic animals more often than other arthropod vectors. Livestock farming plays a vital role in the rural economy of Pakistan, and tick infestation causes serious problems with it. However, research on tick species diversity and tick-borne pathogens has rarely been conducted in Pakistan. In this study, a systematic investigation of the tick species infesting livestock in different ecological regions of Pakistan was conducted to determine the microbiome and pathobiome diversity in the indigenous ticks. Methodology/Principal findings A total of 3,866 tick specimens were morphologically identified as 19 different tick species representing three important hard ticks, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma, and two soft ticks, Ornithodorus and Argas. The bacterial diversity across these tick species was assessed by bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing using a 454-sequencing platform on 10 of the different tick species infesting livestock. The notable genera detected include Ralstonia, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Rickettsia, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus. A survey of Spotted fever group rickettsia from 514 samples from the 13 different tick species generated rickettsial-specific amplicons in 10% (54) of total ticks tested. Only three tick species Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma anatolicum, and H. dromedarii had evidence of infection with “Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii” a result further verified using a rompB gene-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. The Hyalomma ticks also tested positive for the piroplasm, Theileria annulata, using a qPCR assay. Conclusions/Significance This study provides information about tick diversity in Pakistan, and pathogenic bacteria in different tick species. Our results showed evidence for Candidatus R. amblyommii infection in Rhipicephalus microplus, H. anatolicum, and H. dromedarii ticks, which also carried T. annulata

Investigating The Molecular Aspects of Theileria Annulata In Naturally Infected Animals, Alongside A Mention of Tick Distribution In Hyderabad And Karachi

Introduction: The Theileria annulata is a haemo protozoan parasite that causes economically significant fatal tick-borne diseases in domesticated and wild animals. Methodology: The research focused on identifying Theileria annulata infection in both cattle and buffalo through molecular methods. To achieve this, DNA extraction was conducted using whole blood samples, followed by the design of specific primers for Theileria annulata and subsequent PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis. Results: Data were also collected on tick infestation and host-parasite relationship. A total of 2400 Cattle and Buffaloes were evaluated during the study. District-wise detection indicated that the highest rate of infected samples was recorded from Peri-Urban (Cattle=88.33%, Buffalo= 61.94%) and Urban areas (Cattle=65.38%, Buffalo=54.10%) of district Hyderabad, while the lowest rate was recorded from Peri-urban (Cattle=24%, Buffalo=17.9%) and Urban (20.38%, Buffalo=16.66%) areas of district Karachi, Month wise detection of Theileria annulata indicated the highest rate in July (Cattle= 74.0%, Buffalo=47.5%) and the lowest rate in December (Cattle=11.7%, Buffalo=18.1%). The prevalence of parasitic infection showed a notable increase (P<0.05) in the areas of the Suburban region than in Cityscape areas. Conclusion: In the molecular identification of Theileria annulata, the infection rate exhibited a notable difference between District Hyderabad and District Karachi, with a higher prevalence in the former and a lower incidence in the latter. Additionally, cattle displayed greater susceptibility to tick infestation in comparison to buffalo

Molecular Prevalence of Anaplasma Marginale in Cattle and Identification of Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Hyalomma, And Amblyomma Ticks from District Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad

Introduction: Anaplasma marginal is a rickettsial organism and is the causative agent in cattle anaplasmosis. This Parasite attacks the red blood cells after infection of sensitive bovine and is transmitted by ticks. Methodology: The study was aimed to detect Anaplasma marginale through PCR the prevalence of four genera (Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, Hyalomma, and Amblyomma) of ticks, twelve hundred animals were observed, 560 samples of blood randomly taken from cattle that possesses ticks on their body and these samples were shifted to the Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. The infected cattle exhibited clinical signs such as Temperature, decrease in appetite, nausea, and chills. The study was conducted over a period of one year from November 2020 to November 2021. Results: The results of the study showed a high rate of Anaplasma infection (88.33%) and a prevalence of ticks at Mirpurkhas. Month-wise data reveals that the maximum infection was shown in the month of June and the minimum in the month of November at District Mirpurkhas, while at Hyderabad, the month-wise data indicates the Maximum infection rate in the month of May, and the minimum infection was found in the month of November. Conclusion: Ticks collected from two districts of Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad proceeded for identification of Tick’s genus, and the mostly ticks which were infested on animals concerned with the Hyalomma genus (26.11%) Amblyomma genus (25.37%), Boophilus genus (24.62%), and Rhipicephalus genus (23.88%)

Prevalence and molecular detection of Babesia bigemina in water buffalo from southeastern region of Pakistan

Abstract Babesia spp. are tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasites that infect erythrocytes of a wide range of vertebrates including domestic animals, and can be associated with a considerable economic loss due to introduction of prophylactic measures, decreased production and rates of morbidity and mortality. An efficient detection assay needs to be set up for accurate diagnosis and prevention of disease. The present work is aimed at verifying the occurrence of Babesia bigemina infection in water buffaloes in the southeastern region of Pakistan by using both traditional blood smear and molecular techniques. A total of 100 blood samples were collected from tick-free and tick-infested animals (50 animals each group). The overall prevalence was recorded as 20% and 17% by using thin blood smear and PCR methods, respectively. Moreover, the analysis of infection in tick-infested and tick-free animals showed the infection rates of 36% and 4% by using blood smear method, and 30% and 4% with that of PCR method, respectively. Despite the higher prevalence rate recorded by blood smear method, which may be the result of non-specific identification of Babesia species, these results indicate that the PCR assay used in this study provides a useful tool for accurate diagnosis of the Babesia bigemina infection in bovines. Key words: Babesia bigemina, diagnosis, PCR, prevalence, blood smear techniqu

Tick species diversity infesting livestock of Pakistan.

<p>(A) Tick species prevalent in different geographic regions of Pakistan (B) Tick species prevalence in Pakistan. Species with less than 1% abundance are grouped as “others”; these include <i>Haemaphysalis kashmirensis</i> (0.98), <i>Hyalomma turanicum</i> (0.67), <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i> (0.39), <i>Hae</i>. <i>sulcata</i> (0.34), <i>Hy</i>. <i>kumari</i> (0.10), <i>Hy</i>. <i>hussaini</i> (0.08), and <i>R</i>. <i>annulatus</i> (0.08). <i>Haemaphysalis</i> is abbreviated to <i>Hae</i>. <i>Hyalomma</i> is abbreviated to <i>Hy</i>. Ticks (~ 4000) were collected from different livestock and domestic animal hosts (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, camel, dog, cat and poultry) across the country.</p

Bacterial diversity at the genus level in ticks from livestock in Pakistan.

<p>Group 1, <i>Rhipicephalus microplus</i> from cows; Group 2, <i>R</i>. <i>turanicus</i> from goats; Group 3, <i>Haemaphysalis cornupunctata</i> from sheep; Group 4, <i>Ha</i>. <i>cornupunctata</i> from goats; Group 5, <i>Ha</i>. <i>kashmerensis</i> from goats; Group 6, <i>Ha</i>. <i>montgomeryi</i> from goats; Group 7, <i>Ha</i>. <i>montgomeryi</i> from buffaloes; Group 8, <i>Ha</i>. <i>montgomeryi</i> from cows; Group 9, <i>Ha</i>. <i>bispinosa</i> from goats; Group 10, <i>Ha</i>. <i>bispinosa</i> from buffaloes; Group 11, <i>Hyalomma anatolicum</i> from cows; Group 12, <i>Hy</i>. <i>anatolicum</i> from buffaloes; Group 13, <i>Hy</i>. <i>scupense</i> from goats; Group 14, <i>Hy</i>. <i>isaaci</i> from cows; Group 15, <i>Ornithodoros tholozani</i> from buffaloes. Less than 2% of genera were removed during graph preparation. <i>Haemaphysalis</i> is abbreviated to <i>Ha</i>. <i>Hyalomma</i> is abbreviated to <i>Hy</i>.</p

Ticks tested for SFG Rickettsia.

<p>Ticks tested for SFG Rickettsia.</p

Piroplasm detection and quantification of <i>Theileria annulata</i> in <i>Hyalomma</i> ticks from livestock in Pakistan.

<p>Piroplasm detection and quantification of <i>Theileria annulata</i> in <i>Hyalomma</i> ticks from livestock in Pakistan.</p