Evaluation of three mitochondrial DNA markers for species identification, genetic diversity assessment, and phylogenetic positioning of five Hyalomma tick species from Tunisia.

Hyalomma ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting human and animal health. This study aimed to assess the outputs of three molecular markers (16S, 12S rRNA, and COI) for accurate tick species molecular identification, genetic diversity assessment, and phylogenetic positioning of Hyalomma tick specimens from Tunisia. A total of 20 tickspecimens were collected from different hosts including cattle, camels, and turtles in nine Tunisian governorates.

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic effect of essential oil obtained from Thymus capitatus flowers against Haemonchus contortus and Heligmosomoides polygyrus.

Sheep haemonchosis is a disease that causes serious losses in livestock production, particularly with the increase of cases of anthelmintic resistance around the world. This justifies the urgent need of alternative solutions. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical profile, in vitro, and, in vivo, anthelmintic properties of Thymus capitatus essential oil.

In vitro feeding of all life stages of two-host Hyalomma excavatum and Hyalomma scupense and three-host Hyalomma dromedarii ticks.

Ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites and can transmit various pathogens of medical and veterinary relevance. The life cycle of ticks can be completed under laboratory conditions on experimental animals, but the artificial feeding of ticks has attracted increased interest as an alternative method. This study represents the first report on the successful in vitro feeding of all life stages of two-host tick species, Hyalomma scupense and Hyalomma excavatum, and the three-host tick Hyalomma dromedarii.

Dual RNA-seq to catalogue host and parasite gene expression changes associated with virulence of T. annulata-transformed bovine leukocytes: towards identification of attenuation biomarkers.

The apicomplexan parasite Theileria annulata is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and causes an acute lymphoproliferative disease that is invariably lethal in exotic cattle breeds. The unique ability of the schizont stage of T. annulata to transform infected leukocytes to a cancer-like phenotype and the simplicity of culturing and passaging T.

Genetic diversity of Hyalomma marginatum in Tunisia is not influenced by the bio-climate.

Ticks are important ectoparasites responsible for the transmission of several pathogens with significant medical, veterinary, and economic impacts. Climate and social changes have generated substantial changes in ticks' distribution, abundance, and activity patterns, including ticks belonging to the Hyalomma marginatum species. Knowledge on the genetic structure and dynamics of H.

Cattle co-infection patterns by hemopathogens and their phylogenetic analysis during the tick season in Constantine and Mila, Northeast Algeria.

Tropical theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis are the most dominant tick-borne infections in North Africa where they cause significant economic losses in ruminants' industry. The aim of the present work was to study infections and co-infection patterns in 66 cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis in two localities, Beni Hamidene and Grarem Gouga, districts of Constantine and Mila (Northeast of Algeria), respectively. This study was conducted between early May and late September during four years 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021.

Development and field evaluation of PCR assays based on minimum length cDNA fragments required for and tick species delineation.

Introduction: and ticks are important genera that can transmit diseases to both animals and humans, including Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, tick-borne encephalitis, and several types of spotted fever. The accurate identification of tick species is essential for the effective control and prevention of tick-borne diseases. However, traditional identification methods based on morphology can be challenging and subjective, leading to errors.

Diversity and Phylogeny of Cattle Ixodid Ticks and Associated Spotted Fever Group spp. in Tunisia.

Tick-borne rickettsioses are mainly caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG) of the genus. So far, the causative agents of SFG rickettsioses have not been detected in cattle ticks from Tunisia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the diversity and phylogeny of ticks associated with cattle from northern Tunisia and their associated species.

Cultivation, cryopreservation and resuscitation of transformed cells in serum-free media.

Introduction: Tropical theileriosis is a protozoan disease caused by that affects cattle in Northern Africa, the Middle East and Asia where vector ticks of the genus occur. Various measures are applied to control the disease, including vaccination with attenuated schizonts. Cultivation of schizonts is mainly conducted in media containing Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), which has some disadvantages such as costs, batch- to-batch variation and ethical concerns.

Prevalence Assessment and Cross Validation Using Multiparametric Screening Approach in Sheep from Central Tunisia.

We conducted a 5-month-long screening of spp. and infection in sheep from central Tunisia. During this longitudinal study, we investigated the infection dynamics using both direct and indirect assessments validated with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as the gold standard method.

Sequence polymorphisms in a Theileria annulata surface protein (TaSP) known to augment the immunity induced by live attenuated cell line vaccine.

Theileria annulata is a tick-borne protozoan causing tropical theileriosis in cattle. The use of attenuated cell line vaccines in combination with subunit vaccines has been relatively successful as a control method, as exemplified by a recent study in which immunization with a local cell line followed by booster vaccinations with recombinant T. annulata surface protein (TaSP) resulted in 100% protection upon field challenge in Sudan.

Detection and molecular identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. infections in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks in Tunisia.

Tortoises of the genus Testudo are the main hosts of Hyalomma aegyptium ticks. This species serves as a vector of several zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of four pathogens associated with H.

Screening and Analysis of Tunisian Isolates Reveal the Diversity of Phylogeographic Marker and the Conservation of OmpA Protein Vaccine Candidate.

Bovine anaplasmosis caused by is a disease responsible for serious animal health problems and great economic losses all over the world. Thereby, the identification of isolates from various bioclimatic areas in each country, the phylogeographic analysis of these isolates based on the most informative markers, and the evaluation of the most promising candidate antigens are crucial steps in developing effective vaccines against a wide range of strains. In order to contribute to this challenge, a total of 791 bovine samples from various bioclimatic areas of Tunisia were tested for the occurrence of DNA through gene fragment amplification.

High Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Industrial Tunisian Poultry Meat.

Purpose: Food-borne Toxoplasma gondii infection is ranked among parasitic diseases of global concern. Toxoplasmosis is qualified as a one health disease, since it affects human health, animals, and ecosystems. The present study was performed to estimate the molecular prevalence of T.

Infection by haemopathogens and tick infestation of sheep during summer season in Constantine region, Northeast Algeria.

A study on tick infestation of 43 sheep with clinical symptoms of piroplasmosis and anaplasmosis was carried out during summer seasons of 2016 and 2017 in 34 sheep flocks from Beni Hamidene locality, district of Constantine, Northeast Algeria. Only animals with clinical symptoms of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis were checked for tick infestation. Among the 43 examined sheep, 58 ± 15% were infested by ticks.

Phenology and phylogeny of Hyalomma spp. ticks infesting one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in the Tunisian Saharan bioclimatic zone.

In this study, we report the results of a survey of Hyalomma ticks infesting one-humped camels in southern Tunisia. Examinations were conducted every second or third month on 406 camels in Tataouine district from April 2018 to October 2019. A total of 1902 ticks belonging to the genus Hyalomma were collected.

Relationships between specific antibody responses and clinical signs of dogs living in Tunisian endemic areas of canine leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum.

The first step of the diagnostic process of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is initiated by veterinarians and relies on their assessment of a high number of clinical signs common to other infectious diseases. We investigated herein the relationship between the clinical profile of 64 domestic dogs living in Tunisian endemic areas and their serological immune status with the aim to identify leishmanial serological markers of diagnosis and disease staging. Seven clinical signs were examined and a total clinical score that describes the number (TCS1) and the number plus the intensity of the clinical signs (TCS2) were determined.

Current status of tropical theileriosis in Northern Africa: A review of recent epidemiological investigations and implications for control.

Tropical theileriosis caused by the apicomplexan hemoparasite Theileria annulata is a tick-borne disease that constraints livestock production in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Four Hyalomma tick species transmit T. annulata in at least eight Africa countries (Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Ethiopia).

Comparative analysis of the Leishmania infantum-specific antibody repertoires and the autoantibody repertoires between asymptomatic and symptomatic dogs.

Leishmania (L.) infantum-infected dogs may present with a large range of clinical signs, from apparently healthy with no or few (asymptomatic dogs, AD) to several clinical signs indicators of active infection (symptomatic dogs, SD). The present study is justified by the conflicting reports describing that either L.

Development and Evaluation of a Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid Detection of Targeting the Cytochrome B Gene.

Background: is an economically important cattle disease in North Africa that occurs in subtropical and tropical areas. Accurate and rapid, molecular diagnosis of tropical theileriosis is an important issue that allows early treatment and, prevents transmission. We developed and validated a specific LAMP assay targeting the cytochrome b multicopy gene, in order to increase the DNA detection sensitivity.

Molecular identification of parasitic nematodes (Nematoda: Strongylida) in feces of wild ruminants from Tunisia.

In Tunisia and other North African countries, there is a lack of knowledge about parasite biodiversity within threatened wild ruminants and there are not any studies on their gastrointestinal nematodes. Thus the aim of this study was to identify gastrointestinal fauna in the faecal samples of Tunisian wild ruminants. A total of 262 faecal samples were collected from domestic sheep and goat, and wild ruminants (Addax, Barbary sheep, Barbary red deer, Dorcas gazelle, Slender-horned gazelle and Scimitar-horned Oryx) living in protected areas.

Prevalence, virulence and antibiotic susceptibility of Salmonella spp. strains, isolated from beef in Greater Tunis (Tunisia).

The aim of this work was to investigate the presence of Salmonella spp. in 300 beef meat samples collected from cattle carcasses of different categories (young bulls, culled heifers and culled cows). The detection of Salmonella spp.

Molecular prevalence of DNA in goats' milk and seroprevalence in Northwest Tunisia.

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide zoonosis with high impact on human and animal health. Consumption of unpasteurized milk is a risk factor of human toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of in goats' milk in Northwest of Tunisia (Jendouba Governorate).