Occurrence and molecular prevalence of Anaplasmataceae , Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African wildlife : a systematic review and meta-analysis

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL : TABLE S1: PRISMA statement checklist; TABLE S2: PRISMA checklist for abstracts; TABLE S3: additional checklist for systematic reviews and meta-analyses retrieved from Migliavaca et al., 2020; TABLE S4: critical appraisal of included studies; TABLE S5: detailed summary of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae detected in African wildlife stratified by country and detection method; TABLE S6: results of the analysis of publication bias; TABLE S7: List of papers excluded during full-text examination and relevant exclusion criteriaINTRODUCTION : Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) constitute an emerging threat to public and animal health especially in the African continent, where land-use change, and wildlife loss are creating new opportunities for disease transmission. A review of TBPs with a focus on ticks determined the epidemiology of Rhipicephalus ticks in heartwater and the affinity of each Rickettsia species for different tick genera. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to collect, map and estimate the molecular prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African wildlife. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Relevant scientific articles were retrieved from five databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Ovid and OAIster. Publications were selected according to pre-determined exclusion criteria and evaluated for risk of bias using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS). We conducted an initial descriptive analysis followed by a meta-analysis to estimate the molecular prevalence of each pathogen. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression models were employed to unravel associations with disease determinants. Finally, the quality of evidence of every estimate was finally assessed. RESULTS : Out of 577 retrieved papers, a total of 41 papers were included in the qualitative analysis and 27 in the meta-analysis. We retrieved 21 Anaplasmataceae species, six Rickettsiaceae species and Coxiella burnetii. Meta-analysis was performed for a total of 11 target pathogens. Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia ruminantium and Anaplasma centrale were the most prevalent in African bovids (13.9 %, CI: 0–52.4 %; 20.9 %, CI: 4.1–46.2 %; 13.9 %, CI: 0–68.7 %, respectively). Estimated TBPs prevalences were further stratified per animal order, family, species and sampling country. DISCUSSION : We discussed the presence of a sylvatic cycle for A. marginale and E. ruminantium in wild African bovids, the need to investigate A. phagocytophilum in African rodents and non-human primates as well as E. canis in the tissues of wild carnivores, and a lack of data and characterization of Rickettsia species and C. burnetii. CONCLUSION : Given the lack of epidemiological data on wildlife diseases, the current work can serve as a starting point for future epidemiological and/or experimental studies.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/prevetmedhj2024Centre for Veterinary Wildlife StudiesProduction Animal StudiesVeterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-beingSDG-15:Life on lan

Molecular characterisation of Babesia gibsoni infection from a Pit-bull terrier pup recently imported into South Africa

Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia gibsoni was diagnosed in a 3-month-old Pit-bull pup during a routine clinical examination. Diagnosis was confirmed by way of smear examination, PCR, Reverse Line Blot (RLB) and sequence analysis which showed 100% homology with B. gibsoni (Japan AB118032) and Babesia sp. (Oklahoma) (AF205636). Haematology showed moderate anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia. Treatment was initiated with diminazene aceturate (Berenil RTU(R) followed by 2 doses of imidocarb diproprionate (Forray-65(R) 3 days and 14 days later, respectively. Babesia gibsoni DNA was still detectable 2 weeks post-treatment on the PCR/RLB test. A 10-day course of combination drug therapy using atovaquone and azithromycin was initiated. Blood samples taken on Day 1 and Day 40 after completion of treatment were negative for B. gibsoni DNA on PCR/RLB test. The implications of a possible introduction of B. gibsoni into South Africa are discussed

Evaluation of a Real-Time PCR Test for the Detection and Discrimination of Theileria Species in the African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer)

A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay based on the cox III gene was evaluated for the simultaneous detection and discrimination of Theileria species in buffalo and cattle blood samples from South Africa and Mozambique using melting curve analysis. The results obtained were compared to those of the reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of Theileria spp. in mixed infections, and to the 18S rRNA qPCR assay results for the specific detection of Theileria parva. Theileria parva, Theileria sp. (buffalo), Theileria taurotragi, Theileria buffeli and Theileria mutans were detected by the cox III assay. Theileria velifera was not detected from any of the samples analysed. Seventeen percent of the samples had non-species specific melting peaks and 4.5% of the samples were negative or below the detection limit of the assay. The cox III assay identified more T. parva and Theileria sp. (buffalo) positive samples than the RLB assay, and also detected more T. parva infections than the 18S assay. However, only a small number of samples were positive for the benign Theileria spp. To our knowledge T. taurotragi has never been identified from the African buffalo, its identification in some samples by the qPCR assay was unexpected. Because of these discrepancies in the results, cox III qPCR products were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis indicated extensive inter- and intra-species variations in the probe target regions of the cox III gene sequences of the benign Theileria spp. and therefore explains their low detection. The cox III assay is specific for the detection of T. parva infections in cattle and buffalo. Sequence data generated from this study can be used for the development of a more inclusive assay for detection and differentiation of all variants of the mildly pathogenic and benign Theileria spp. of buffalo and cattle