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.

Systematic review on buparvaquone resistance associated with non-synonymous mutation in drug binding genes site of Theileria annulate.

Theileria annulata (T. annulata) is intra-erythrocytic protozoan parasite which is more prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It has a significant economic impact on the productivity of the dairy industry, and buparvaquone is used to treat infected animals in the prevalent regions of the world.

In vitro infection of bovine erythrocytes with Theileria annulata merozoites as a key step in completing the T. annulata life cycle in vitro.

Theileria annulata is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle involving a bovine host and a tick vector. It is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and is the causative agent of tropical theileriosis, a debilitating and often fatal disease in southern Europe, northern Africa and large parts of Asia. Understanding the biology of different life cycle stages is critical for the control of tropical theileriosis and requires the use of experimental animals which poses an ethical concern.

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.

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.

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.

Preliminary study on the seasonal questing of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in Ain Draham forest (north-western Tunisia) with analyses of their phylogenetic diversity.

The present study aimed to investigate the activity dynamics of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in a forest located in north-western Tunisia (Aïn Draham, Jendouba District) and assess the variation of abiotic factors (temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and relative humidity) during one year survey from September 2016 to August 2017 using the dragging sampling method. A total of 116 questing ticks was collected from the vegetation consisting of 47 adults (19 females and 28 males, sex ratio M:F = 1.47), 45 nymphs and 24 larvae representing 40.

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.

Acaricide resistance in livestock ticks infesting cattle in Africa: Current status and potential mitigation strategies.

In many African countries, tick control has recently been the responsibility of resource-poor farmers rather than central government veterinary departments. This has led to an increase in acaricide resistance, threatening the welfare of livestock farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. Resistance has evolved to the three classes of acaricides used most extensively in the continent, namely fourth-generation synthetic pyrethroids (SP), organophosphates (OP) and amidines (AM), in virtually all countries in which they have been deployed across the globe.

A climate-based model for tick life cycle: positive semigroup theory on Cauchy problem approach.

The distribution of ticks is essentially determined by the presence of climatic conditions and ecological contexts suitable for their survival and development. We build a model that explicitly takes into account each physiological state through a system of infinite differential equations where tick population density are structured on an infinite discrete set. We suppose that intrastage development process is temperature dependent (Arrhenius temperatures function) and that larvae hatching and adult mortality are temperature and water vapor deficit dependent.

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 Toxoplasma gondii frequency of infection in the genital tract of ewes previously positive for the parasite DNA in meat, in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the molecular prevalence of T. gondii along various segments of the genital tract of confirmed chronically infected ewes. Genital tracts were collected from 42 ewes; meat samples from the same ewes were previously confirmed positive for T.

Essential oil of Mentha pulegium induces anthelmintic effects and reduces parasite-associated oxidative stress in rodent model.

Following the previous findings reported by the present authors on the anthelmintic effect of hydro-ethanolic extract of Mentha pulegium, the volatile constituents of M. pulegium are now assessed in the present study by exploring its anthelmintic and its antioxidant proprieties using in vitro and in vivo assays. Egg hatch assay (EHA) and adult worm's motility assays (AWMA) were used to assess the in vitro activity against Haemonchus.

Knowledge and perception on ticks and tick-borne diseases among veterinary medicine students from the North African countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia.

Ticks are important vectors of both animal and human pathogens. The epidemiology of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) has dramatically changed in several regions in the world. As parasitology is a continuously growing field, assessing the knowledge of veterinary medicine students provides useful indicators and information on the level of intervention required to adapt parasitological courses to meet the demands in a changing world.

Individual variability among autochthonous sheep in Northern Tunisia to infection by abomasum nematodes and Babesia/Theileria parasites.

In Tunisia, livestock plays an important role in the economy; unfortunately, Tunisian sheep population faces several health challenges. The aim of this trial was to study phenotypic variability of four local sheep breeds and strains to abomasum nematodes infection and to Babesia/Theileria parasites. Faeces, blood and abomasum contents were collected from 310 sheep slaughtered in eight commercial slaughterhouses across North Tunisia.

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).

Hydro-Ethanolic Extract of Mentha pulegium Exhibit Anthelmintic and Antioxidant Proprieties In Vitro and In Vivo.

Introduction: During recent decades, the emergence of chemoresistance among synthetic anthelmintic drugs has increased the interest in screening novel natural anthelmintic compounds derived from plants. The current study is aimed to determine the chemical profile, anthelmintic and antioxidant properties of Mentha pulegium hydro-ethanolic extract.

Materials And Methods: Two tests were used to assess the in vitro anthelmintic activity of the hydro-ethanolic extract of M.

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: a review.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T.

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.

Prevalence of Theileria and Babesia species in Tunisian sheep.

In this study, the prevalence of Theileria and Babesia species in sheep was assessed with Giemsastained blood smear examination and polymerase chain reaction to identify the different piroplasms in 270 sheep from three Tunisian bioclimatic zones (north, centre, and south). The overall infection prevalence by Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.