Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp.
Babesiosis is an acute and persistent tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. These hemoparasites affect vertebrates globally, resulting in symptoms such as high fever, anemia, jaundice, and even death. Advancements in molecular parasitology revealed new Babesia specie...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1277956/full |
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| author | Sezayi Ozubek Mehmet Can Ulucesme Reginaldo G. Bastos Reginaldo G. Bastos Heba F. Alzan Heba F. Alzan Jacob M. Laughery Carlos E. Suarez Carlos E. Suarez Munir Aktas |
| author_facet | Sezayi Ozubek Mehmet Can Ulucesme Reginaldo G. Bastos Reginaldo G. Bastos Heba F. Alzan Heba F. Alzan Jacob M. Laughery Carlos E. Suarez Carlos E. Suarez Munir Aktas |
| author_sort | Sezayi Ozubek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Babesiosis is an acute and persistent tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. These hemoparasites affect vertebrates globally, resulting in symptoms such as high fever, anemia, jaundice, and even death. Advancements in molecular parasitology revealed new Babesia species/genotypes affecting sheep and goats, including Babesia aktasi n. sp., which is highly prevalent in goats from Turkiye’s Mediterranean region. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of B. aktasi infection in immunosuppressed (n=7) and non-immunosuppressed (n=6) goats. These animals were experimentally infected with fresh B. aktasi infected blood, and their clinical signs, hematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored throughout the infection. The presence of parasites in the blood of immunosuppressed goats was detected by microscopic examination between 4 and 6 days after infection, accompanied by fever and increasing parasitemia. Goats that succumbed acute disease exhibited severe clinical signs, such as anemia, hemoglobinuria, and loss of appetite. However, the goats that survived showed milder clinical signs. In the non-immunosuppressed group, piroplasm forms of B. aktasi were observed in the blood within 2-5 days after inoculation, but with low (0.01-0.2%) parasitemia. Although these goats showed loss of appetite, typical signs of babesiosis were absent except for increased body temperature. Hematological analysis revealed significant decreases in the levels of red blood cells, leukocytes and platelet values post-infection in immunosuppressed goats, while no significant hematological changes were observed in non-immunosuppressed goats. In addition, serum biochemical analysis showed elevated transaminase liver enzymes levels, decreased glucose, and lower total protein values in the immunosuppressed group post-infection. Babesia aktasi, caused mild disease with minor clinical symptoms in non-immunosuppressed goats. However, in immunosuppressed goats, it exhibited remarkable pathogenicity, leading to severe clinical infections and death. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the pathogenicity of the parasite and will serve as a foundation for future research aimed at developing effective prevention and control strategies against babesiosis in small ruminants. Further research is required to investigate the pathogenicity of B. aktasi in various goat breeds, other potential hosts, the vector ticks involved, and its presence in natural reservoirs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:48:18Z |
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| id | doaj.art-82a74135ab4c4c2bbe4050f0bb547a8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:48:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-82a74135ab4c4c2bbe4050f0bb547a8d2023-11-02T09:44:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882023-11-011310.3389/fcimb.2023.12779561277956Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp.Sezayi Ozubek0Mehmet Can Ulucesme1Reginaldo G. Bastos2Reginaldo G. Bastos3Heba F. Alzan4Heba F. Alzan5Jacob M. Laughery6Carlos E. Suarez7Carlos E. Suarez8Munir Aktas9Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, TürkiyeDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, TürkiyeAnimal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United StatesParasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Giza, EgyptDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United StatesAnimal Disease Research Unit, United States Department of Agricultural (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA, United StatesDepartment of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United StatesDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, Elazig, TürkiyeBabesiosis is an acute and persistent tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. These hemoparasites affect vertebrates globally, resulting in symptoms such as high fever, anemia, jaundice, and even death. Advancements in molecular parasitology revealed new Babesia species/genotypes affecting sheep and goats, including Babesia aktasi n. sp., which is highly prevalent in goats from Turkiye’s Mediterranean region. The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of B. aktasi infection in immunosuppressed (n=7) and non-immunosuppressed (n=6) goats. These animals were experimentally infected with fresh B. aktasi infected blood, and their clinical signs, hematological and serum biochemical parameters were monitored throughout the infection. The presence of parasites in the blood of immunosuppressed goats was detected by microscopic examination between 4 and 6 days after infection, accompanied by fever and increasing parasitemia. Goats that succumbed acute disease exhibited severe clinical signs, such as anemia, hemoglobinuria, and loss of appetite. However, the goats that survived showed milder clinical signs. In the non-immunosuppressed group, piroplasm forms of B. aktasi were observed in the blood within 2-5 days after inoculation, but with low (0.01-0.2%) parasitemia. Although these goats showed loss of appetite, typical signs of babesiosis were absent except for increased body temperature. Hematological analysis revealed significant decreases in the levels of red blood cells, leukocytes and platelet values post-infection in immunosuppressed goats, while no significant hematological changes were observed in non-immunosuppressed goats. In addition, serum biochemical analysis showed elevated transaminase liver enzymes levels, decreased glucose, and lower total protein values in the immunosuppressed group post-infection. Babesia aktasi, caused mild disease with minor clinical symptoms in non-immunosuppressed goats. However, in immunosuppressed goats, it exhibited remarkable pathogenicity, leading to severe clinical infections and death. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the pathogenicity of the parasite and will serve as a foundation for future research aimed at developing effective prevention and control strategies against babesiosis in small ruminants. Further research is required to investigate the pathogenicity of B. aktasi in various goat breeds, other potential hosts, the vector ticks involved, and its presence in natural reservoirs.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1277956/fullBabesia aktasi n. sp.experimental infectiongoatimmunosuppressionpathogenicity |
| spellingShingle | Sezayi Ozubek Mehmet Can Ulucesme Reginaldo G. Bastos Reginaldo G. Bastos Heba F. Alzan Heba F. Alzan Jacob M. Laughery Carlos E. Suarez Carlos E. Suarez Munir Aktas Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Babesia aktasi n. sp. experimental infection goat immunosuppression pathogenicity |
| title | Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. |
| title_full | Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. |
| title_fullStr | Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. |
| title_short | Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp. |
| title_sort | experimental infection of non immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of babesia aktasi n sp |
| topic | Babesia aktasi n. sp. experimental infection goat immunosuppression pathogenicity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1277956/full |
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