Biological Parameters of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) Fed on Rabbits, Sheep, and Cattle.

In order to determine the effect of various hosts on feeding performance of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, we used 3 mammalian species as hosts, cattle (Qinchuan), sheep (T an), and rabbits (Japanese white rabbit) for infest-ing ticks. Five hundreds of R. microplus larvae were exposed to each animal (3 animals/host species).

Comprehensive surveillance of the antibody response to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in small ruminants in China.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, is tick transmitted and has a wide range of mammalian reservoirs in nature, including both wild and domestic animals. To understand the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi s.

Scanning electron microscopy of all parasitic stages of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis Teng, 1980 (Acari: Ixodidae).

Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis Teng (Acta Zootaxon Sin 5:144-149, 1980) is an endemic species in China. This tick species was first described based on engorged or semi-engorged specimens, and the drawings and description in words of morphological characteristics were poor. Therefore, the present study aims to redescribe morphological characteristics of all active stages of this tick species in detail by scanning electron microscopy.

Susceptibility of the tick Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis to isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in China.

Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis, a prevalent tick species in China, causes severe economic losses. In this study, we investigated the pathogenicity of six isolates of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae to engorged female H. qinghaiensis using concentrations of 10(6), 10(7) and 10(8) conidia ml(-1).

Phylogenetic analysis of ruminant Theileria spp. from China based on 28S ribosomal RNA gene.

Species identification using DNA sequences is the basis for DNA taxonomy. In this study, we sequenced the ribosomal large-subunit RNA gene sequences (3,037-3,061 bp) in length of 13 Chinese Theileria stocks that were infective to cattle and sheep. The complete 28S rRNA gene is relatively difficult to amplify and its conserved region is not important for phylogenetic study.

Coevolutionary analyses of the relationships between piroplasmids and their hard tick hosts.

Host-parasite coevolution is a key driver of biological diversity. To examine the evolutionary relationships between piroplasmids and their hard tick hosts, we calculated the molecular clock and conducted phylogenetic analyses of both groups. Based on our results, we conclude that the divergence time of piroplasmids (∼56 Mya) is later than divergence time of their hard tick hosts (∼86 Mya).

The in vitro efficacy of deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin against engorged female Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).

Currently, the most efficient and widely used method for tick control is the application of acaricides, especially deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin, two pyrethroids with neurotoxic action. In this study, the in vitro efficacy of deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin was assessed on engorged female Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks. An in vitro bioassay (adult immersion test) was carried out to determine the LC (lethal concentration) 50 and LC90 of both compounds, calculated by probit analysis.

Additional data for a new Theileria sp. from China based on the sequences of ribosomal RNA internal transcribed spacers.

Theileria sinensis was recently isolated and named as an independent Theileria species that infects cattle in China. To date, this parasite has been described based on its morphology, transmission and molecular studies, indicating that it should be classified as a distinct species. To test the validity of this taxon, the two internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.

Phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rRNA of Babesia spp. in ruminants in China.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses are mainly based on the small ribosomal RNA subunit (18S rRNA), internal transcribed spacer regions, and other molecular markers. We compared the phylogenetic relationships of Babesia spp. using large subunit ribosomal RNA, i.

The life cycle of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks under laboratory conditions.

The developmental stages in the life cycle of Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis were investigated under laboratory conditions. The larval, nymphal and adult ticks were fed on sheep at 25-27 °C, 50 % relative humidity (RH) and exposed to daylight. All free-living stages were maintained in an incubator (28 °C with 90 % RH and a 12-h photoperiod).

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ruminants, rodents and ticks in Gansu, north-western China.

The zoonotic rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum has a broad geographical distribution and a high degree of biological and clinical diversity. To determine the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu Province, north-western China, four ruminant species, one rodent and one tick species were examined for Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. DNA from Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected by nested PCR in blood samples from 21/49 sheep (42.

A DNA barcode for Piroplasmea.

Due to the difficulty in morphological identification the development of reliable molecular tools for species distinction is a priority for piroplasma. Previous studies based on 18S rRNA and other gene sequences provided a backbone for the phylogeny of piroplasma. However, it is difficult to discriminate species in a comprehensive sample.

A recently identified ovine Babesia in China: serology and sero-epidemiology.

Babesia sp. in Xinjiang, transmitted by Hyalomma, is a large Babesia that is infective for small ruminants, but it has almost no pathogenicity in healthy sheep. On the basis of the sequences of the 18S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genes, morphological characteristics, vector tick species and pathogenicity it was identified recently as a novel Babesia species.

Evaluation of molecular methods for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi senso lato in ticks.

Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.), the agent of Lyme disease, is distributed widely worldwide.

Development of real-time polymerase chain reaction for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in China.

Universal primers and probes were selected on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of Borrelia burgdorferi in GenBank®, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detection of B. burgdorferi was established. The results showed that this method could specifically detect the B31 strain (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto), the BO23 strain (Borrelia afzelii), and the SZ strain (Borrelia garinii), without cross-reaction with genome DNA of Theileria (T.

Continuous in vitro cultivation of a recently identified Babesia that infects small ruminants in China.

Babesia sp. Xinjiang was isolated from a splenectomised sheep infested by Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Hylomma anatolicum anatolicum, collected from sheep and cattle in Xinjiang province. It was considered to be a novel ovine Babesia species on the basis of its morphology, pathogenicity, vector tick species and alignments of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) gene sequences.

BQP35 is a novel member of the intrinsically unstructured protein (IUP) family which is a potential antigen for the sero-diagnosis of Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) infection.

A new gene of Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) (BQP35) was cloned by screening a merozoite cDNA expression library with infected sheep serum and using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA was 1140bp with an open reading frame (ORF) of 936bp encoding a 35-kDa predicted polypeptide with 311 amino acid residues.

Molecular survey and genetic identification of Anaplasma species in goats from central and southern China.

Anaplasma species are obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogens that impact the health of humans and animals. Few studies have been carried out on Anaplasma infections in central and southern China. This study was conducted to determine the coinfection rates of Anaplasma ovis, A.

Detection and differentiation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks collected from sheep and cattle in China.

Background: Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex is an important endemic zoonosis whose distribution is closely related to the main ixodid tick vectors. In China, isolated cases of Lyme disease infection of humans have been reported in 29 provinces. Ticks, especially ixodid ticks are abundant and a wide arrange of Borrelia natural reservoirs are present.

Virulence of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces lilacinus to the engorged female Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick (Acari: Ixodidae).

The tick is a common ectoparasite of livestock and humans, and is responsible for the transmission of pathogens among hosts. Direct and indirect impacts of ticks include limiting the sustainable development of the animal husbandry industry and detrimental effects on human health. Despite these negative effects, the main method of controlling ticks remains the application of chemical acaricides, which can lead to ambient pollution and the development of tick resistance to them.

Biological control of engorged female Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks with different Chinese isolates of Beauveria bassiana.

Seven isolates of the fungus Beauveria bassiana (B.b) were assessed for their lethality against Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis, a prevalent tick species in China. Fourteen days after exposure to the isolates B.

Development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of Anaplasma ovis.

Anaplasma ovis is an intraerythrocytic rickettsial pathogen of small ruminants. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a nucleic acid detection method in which the target DNA can be efficiently amplified with high specificity and sensitivity under isothermal conditions. In this study, a LAMP method was developed for the specific detection of A.

Beauveria bassiana: Synergistic effect with acaricides against the tick Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (Acari: Ixodidae).

Owing to the need to combat the spread of chemical acaricide resistance in ticks, we evaluated the efficacy of a mixture of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana AT17 and acaricides for the control of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum in China. A mixture of B. bassiana AT17 at the concentration of 10(8)conidia/mL and the synthetic pyrethroid deltamethrin at concentrations of 2500, 250, 25, 5, 2.

Sequence analysis of Theileria annulata surface protein in Chinese isolates.

Objective: To study the TaSP polymorphism in three Chinese isolates of Theileria annulata.

Methods: The isolates from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium. TaSP gene was amplified from genomic DNA extracted from schizonts using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced.