| Ticks are ectoparasites (external parasites), living specifically by the blood of amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals. Some of them can also be introduced to human population. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) can transmit a number of pathogens such as protozoa, bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, rickettsia, spirochete, etc. to humans and domestic animals. The infected hosts who may suffer with organ failure and death can cause severe damage to human health, values of livestock, wild animal well-being and public health safety. The aim of this study is to detect the potential tick-borne pathogens from ticks and blood samples from livestock (mainly cattle and sheep) derived from Xinyuan County, Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County, Gongliu County, Nileke County and Zhaosu County of Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, Xinjiang, China.According to the preliminary stage of the study, the primary epidemic tick-borne diseases pathogens in these areas are Piroplasma, Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp.. Based on these results, these pathogens are chosen to be the study objects. Polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) and sequence analysis were employed to identify the infection situation of ticks and tick-borne diseases in detected blood samples in a whole epidemic cycle. These processes can show the epidemic situation in Ili systematically and comprehensively, evaluate the potential venture in environment and public health safety caused by tick-borne diseases and lay the theoretical foundation of the local prevention of these diseases.Through morphology definition to the collected ticks, five species of Ixodidae were found: Dermacentor marginatus (70.00%), Haemaphysalis punctate (19.33%), Hyalomma detritum (4.67%), Hyalomma asiaticum (2.67%) and Haemaphysalis concinna (2.00%). Classical target genes for different pathogens were chose to design and synthesis specific primers for PCR reaction, these genera pathogens were detected in ticks and blood samples, including Theileria spp. (30.67% in ticks and 42.00% in blood), Babesia spp. (21.33% in ticks and 20.67% in blood), A. bovis (10.67% in ticks and 54.33% in blood), A. phagocytophilum (18.00% in ticks and 47.00% in blood), A. marginale (12.67% in ticks and 12.00% in blood), A. ovis (8.00% in ticks and 50.67% in sheep blood), Borrelia spp.(12.67% in ticks) and Rickettsia spp. (94.00% in ticks). From April to June is the primary epidemic period of local tick-borne diseases while from July to March of next year is a relatively stable period. The infection rate of these tick-borne pathogens in livestock is related to their activeness of these ticks. At the same time, A. phagocytophilum, B. genomosp, B. garinii, B. bissettii, R.slovaca and R. raoultii etc. are detected to be tick-borne zoonotic pathogens, which indicates these areas could be natural epidemic of these pathogens. The local veterinarians and center for animal disease control and diagnosis should draw highly attention to this find in order to prevent large-scale epidemic of these diseases.This study systematically and comprehensively uses dynamic monitoring for local epidemic situation of ticks and tick-borne diseases in a specific period,and comprehend the epidemic seasons and distribution of these diseases. This information gives theoretical evidence for the evaluation of the potential venture in local public health safety and establishes a solid foundation for formulating local preventable measures. |
PDF Full Text Request