Publications by authors named "S S Ramabu"
Article Synopsis
- Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) greatly impact livestock production and economic stability in endemic regions, but there's limited information on their effects in Botswana.
- A study involving 301 cattle was conducted in northern Botswana to assess the prevalence of TB pathogens and the diversity of ixodid ticks, comparing areas with and without fences separating wildlife from livestock.
- Results indicated a high seroprevalence of TB pathogens in cattle, with 90% for one pathogen and significant tick populations, showing that while the presence of a fence did not greatly affect pathogen prevalence, it did help lower tick burdens.
First-time detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus, BVDV-1, in cattle in Botswana.
Onderstepoort J Vet Res
October 2019
Infectious diseases are serious constraints for improving livestock productivity. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a virus causing grave economic losses throughout the cattle producing world. Infection is often not apparent, but the virus can also cause respiratory signs, diarrhoea, reproductive problems and immunosuppression.
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- A study in southeast Botswana found high Anaplasma infection rates in both beef (91%) and dairy (31%) cattle using two testing methods: cELISA and PCR.
- There was a significant difference in prevalence between beef and dairy cattle as determined by the PCR method, with beef cattle showing nearly double the infection rate.
- Overall, Anaplasma infections were widespread and endemic in the region, suggesting the need for more research to identify the specific strains infecting cattle herds.
Transmission of tick-borne pathogens requires transition between distinct host environments with infection and replication in host-specific cell types. Anaplasma marginale illustrates this transition: in the mammalian host, the bacterium infects and replicates in mature (nonnucleated) erythrocytes, while in the tick vector, replication occurs in nucleated epithelial cells. We hypothesized that proteins containing ankyrin motifs would be expressed by A.
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- The study explores how the transition of the pathogen Anaplasma marginale from mammalian hosts to tick vectors is crucial for understanding disease transmission.
- Identification of 15 proteins that are specifically upregulated in tick cells compared to infected mammalian cells suggests that these proteins play a role in adapting the bacteria to different host environments.
- The findings imply potential strategies for disrupting transmission through targeted vaccines or treatments, emphasizing the importance of understanding host-specific gene regulation.