Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom
Deer represent a major vertebrate host for all feeding stages of the hard tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> in the United Kingdom (UK), and could play a role in the persistence of tick-borne pathogens. However, there have been few studies reporting the presence of <i>Babesia</i> spp...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/640 |
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| author | Nicholas Johnson Megan Golding Laurence Paul Phipps |
| author_facet | Nicholas Johnson Megan Golding Laurence Paul Phipps |
| author_sort | Nicholas Johnson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Deer represent a major vertebrate host for all feeding stages of the hard tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> in the United Kingdom (UK), and could play a role in the persistence of tick-borne pathogens. However, there have been few studies reporting the presence of <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> in deer in the UK, and those that detected <i>Babesia</i> were unable to confirm the species. To address this, we have investigated blood samples from red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) for the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Total DNA was extracted from haemolysed blood that was removed from clotted blood sampled from culled, captive red deer. <i>Babesia</i> spp. were detected with a pan-piroplasm PCR that amplifies a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Species were identified based on identity with published sequences. <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> was detected with a probe-based PCR targeting the <i>msp2</i> gene. In addition, residual serum samples from a subset of animals were tested for the presence of anti-flavivirus antibodies. Of 105 red deer samples tested from three locations in the United Kingdom, 5 were positive for piroplasm and 5 were positive for <i>A. phagocytophilum</i>. Co-infection with both pathogens was detected in two samples from one location. No evidence for antibodies against West Nile virus were detected. However, 12% of sera tested were positive for tick-borne encephalitis virus antibodies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:08:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8c132a0e3bb42b280b04737d5ac2d68 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:08:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8c132a0e3bb42b280b04737d5ac2d682023-11-21T20:59:04ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-05-0110664010.3390/pathogens10060640Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United KingdomNicholas Johnson0Megan Golding1Laurence Paul Phipps2Arbovirus Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UKArbovirus Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UKArbovirus Research Team, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UKDeer represent a major vertebrate host for all feeding stages of the hard tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> in the United Kingdom (UK), and could play a role in the persistence of tick-borne pathogens. However, there have been few studies reporting the presence of <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> in deer in the UK, and those that detected <i>Babesia</i> were unable to confirm the species. To address this, we have investigated blood samples from red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) for the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Total DNA was extracted from haemolysed blood that was removed from clotted blood sampled from culled, captive red deer. <i>Babesia</i> spp. were detected with a pan-piroplasm PCR that amplifies a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Species were identified based on identity with published sequences. <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> was detected with a probe-based PCR targeting the <i>msp2</i> gene. In addition, residual serum samples from a subset of animals were tested for the presence of anti-flavivirus antibodies. Of 105 red deer samples tested from three locations in the United Kingdom, 5 were positive for piroplasm and 5 were positive for <i>A. phagocytophilum</i>. Co-infection with both pathogens was detected in two samples from one location. No evidence for antibodies against West Nile virus were detected. However, 12% of sera tested were positive for tick-borne encephalitis virus antibodies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/640<i>Babesia</i><i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i>red deer18S rRNA geneflavivirus |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas Johnson Megan Golding Laurence Paul Phipps Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom Pathogens <i>Babesia</i> <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> red deer 18S rRNA gene flavivirus |
| title | Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom |
| title_full | Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom |
| title_short | Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), United Kingdom |
| title_sort | detection of tick borne pathogens in red deer i cervus elaphus i united kingdom |
| topic | <i>Babesia</i> <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> red deer 18S rRNA gene flavivirus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/6/640 |
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