Dermacentor silvarum (D. silvarum) is an arthropod that feeds on blood. It is a primary tick species found in northern China that poses a significant security risk to the health and life of the host, as it has the potential to transmit a variety of pathogens to humans and animals. Through ongoing research on tick genome sequences, researchers have successfully assembled and reported reference genomes for numerous tick species. These significant advances have greatly accelerated the study of tick biology and population genomics. D. silvarum samples were obtained from the body surface of free-range goats in Yulin, Shaanxi Province, China. The whole genomes of the samples were resequenced and merged with preexisting data from the National Genomics Data Center database (project ID: PRJCA002242) to analyze the genetic structure, genetic diversity, mitochondrial genetic structure, and selection signatures of D. silvarum in the Shaanxi Province. Based on the available data, the D.silvarum species in China could be classified into two main branches. These populations exhibited low nucleotide diversity. A slight discrepancy was noted between the mitochondrial phylogenetic tree and the autosomal whole-genome phylogenetic tree of D. silvarum, consistent with a previous study. In the selected analysis of D. silvarum in the Shaanxi Province, China, genes linked to immunity, iron storage, fatty acid biosynthesis, pesticide defense, and blood digestion were identified. Leutriene A4 hydrolase (LOC119466376) was also identified, although its function remains unknown. This information is crucial for understanding the biology of D. silvarum and developing management measures.

Ticks are critical vectors of numerous disease-causing microorganisms, posing significant risks to public health and the livestock industry. Research on the whole-genome sequence of ticks should continue to progress consistently, given the ongoing advancement of high-throughput sequencing technologies. In this study, we performed whole-genome resequencing of Rhipicephalus microplus (R. microplus) collected from free-range cattle in Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, China. The newly generated data were combined with the existing whole-genome resequencing data of R. microplus from the National Genomics Data Center database (project ID: PRJCA002242) for further analysis. The purpose of this analysis was to assess genomic diversity and selection signatures in the Shaanxi group. The study identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (InDels) in the Shaanxi group. R. microplus samples from China were classified into three main branches, with variations in nucleotide diversity observed among populations from different regions. Upon examining the mitochondrial genetic diversity of ticks, subtle variations were observed compared to the phylogenetic tree created using the entire autosomal genome. These differences likely result from variations in the population structure and migration patterns between the paternal and maternal lineages of the tick populations. Additionally, genes associated with pesticide resistance, metal ion transport, and antioxidant activity have been identified in the Shaanxi group. These findings provide valuable insights into tick biology, enhance our understanding of their role in disease transmission, and inform the development of effective tick control strategies.

为了能从粪便中对捻转血矛线虫卵进行特异性检测,基于捻转血矛线虫ITS2-28S基因序列设计特异性引物,通过对退火温度反应条件优化,建立捻转血矛线虫特异性PCR检测方法.结果显示,该方法成功从捻转血矛线虫卵中扩增出约270 bp的特异性片段,其最低检出质量浓度为0.298 pg/μL,敏感性较高;进一步对捻转血矛线虫、细颈线虫、粗纹食道口线虫等多种线虫的虫卵DNA样品进行扩增,该方法仅能特异性扩增出捻转血矛线虫卵的目的片段,证明特异性良好.利用所建立的PCR检测方法对120只山羊的粪便样品进行检测,显示受检样品中捻转血矛线虫阳性率为38.3％,高于显微镜检测结果(阳性率为24.2％).结果表明,该研究建立的PCR方法能够应用于临床检测山羊粪便样品中的捻转血矛线虫卵,可为山羊捻转血矛线虫病的诊断与防治提供有效技术支持.

为进一步了解犬吉氏巴贝斯虫病的发病规律和临床表现,本试验对61例西安市某动物医院犬吉氏巴贝斯虫病确诊病例进行统计分析.结果显示,该病可在多个品种、不同年龄段的犬只中进行传播,其中1～3岁易感性更高;犬只在一年四季均可感染该病,其中秋季更易感;该病的临床症状主要表现为黏膜苍白、黏膜黄染、血红蛋白尿、高热和脾肿大;患犬血涂片检查均可在红细胞内观察到吉氏巴贝斯虫虫体,部分可见异常红细胞;多数患犬在临床检查中都会出现红细胞压积(HCT)、血红蛋白(HGB)浓度、红细胞(RBC)数和血小板(PLT)数降低的现象;部分患犬还会出现炎症感染,肝、肾损伤和离子紊乱等情况.该结果为犬吉氏巴贝斯虫病的临床诊断提供了可靠的数据参考,对提升该病的诊断效率有一定的临床意义.

Blastocystis is one of the most common intestinal protists in humans and a great number of animals, including sheep and goats. High prevalence and multiple subtypes of Blastocystis have been reported in sheep in several regions of China and elsewhere. However, there is a dearth of knowledge about Blastocystis in Tibetan sheep. A total of 761 fecal samples were collected from Tibetan sheep in seven counties of Qinghai Province, northwestern China, and were examined for the prevalence and sub-types of Blastocystis using molecular technology based on the partial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of Blastocystis. The overall prevalence of Blastocystis in the investigated Tibetan sheep was 7.5% (57/761) using PCR and DNA Sanger sequencing, and differences in prevalence were observed among the ruminants from the seven counties (P < 0.01), and across four seasons (P < 0.01). Sequence analysis revealed five subtypes (ST14 (57.9%), ST10 (26.3%), ST12 (5.3%), ST21 (5.3%), and ST30 (5.3%)) of Blastocystis sp. in these Tibetan sheep, with ST14 as the predominant subtype. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Blastocystis colonization in Tibetan sheep. (c) 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:Ticks are important medical arthropods that can transmit hundreds of pathogens, such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses, leading to serious public health burdens worldwide. Unexplained fever is the most common clinical manifestation of tick-borne diseases. Since the emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases led to the hospital overload and fewer laboratory tests for tick-borne diseases. Therefore, it is essential to review the tick-borne pathogens and further understand tick-borne diseases.PURPOSE:The geographic distribution and population of ticks in the Northern hemisphere have expanded while emerging tick-borne pathogens have been introduced to China continuously. This paper focused on the tick-borne pathogens that are threatening public health in the world. Their medical significant tick vectors, as well as the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control measures, are emphasized in this document.METHODS:In this study, all required data were collected from articles indexed in English databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar.RESULTS:Ticks presented a great threat to the economy and public health. Although both infections by tick-borne pathogens and SARS-CoV-2 have fever symptoms, the history of tick bite and its associated symptoms such as encephalitis or eschar could be helpful for the differential diagnosis. Additionally, as a carrier of vector ticks, migratory birds may play a potential role in the geographical expansion of ticks and tick-borne pathogens during seasonal migration.CONCLUSION:China should assess the risk score of vector ticks and clarify the potential role of migratory birds in transmitting ticks. Additionally, the individual and collective protection, vector control, comprehensive surveillance, accurate diagnosis, and symptomatic treatment should be carried out, to meet the challenge.

In order to detect Otodectes cynotis specifically from earwax in dogs and cats,the PCR method for the detection of O.cynotis was established by the design of specific primers on the basis of 18S-ITS1gene sequence through optimizing annealing temperature and other conditions in this study.The results showed that the method had good sensitivity,which could successfully amplified a specific fragment of about 352bp from positive samples of O.cynotis.The minimum detection concentration was 0.897fg/μL,indicating high sensitivity.The PCR method was used to detect the earwax samples from 78dogs and cats.Results revealed that the positive rate of O.cynotis was 66.7%,which was higher than using microscopy（62.8%）.The population structure of 52positive samples of O.cynotis was analyzed,and no geographical differences and host-specific characteristics were found in genetic variation of rDNA ITS1sequence of O.cynotis.The results reveal that the PCR method established in this study can be applied to the clinical detection of O.cynotis in the earwax of dogs and cats,which can provide an auxiliary method for the diagnosis of otodectosis in dogs and cats.

为了解不同年份山羊源捻转血矛线虫内转录间隔区(internal transcribed spacer,ITS)基因的遗传变异情况,提取2015年-2020年间陕西省咸阳地区44株山羊源捻转血矛线虫的核糖体DNA(rDNA),对其ITS基因进行扩增、测序与分析.结果显示,44株捻转血矛线虫的ITS-1序列长度为400 bp～404 bp,种内变异率为0～4.1％,与GenBank中英国捻转血矛线虫ITS-1参考序列LS997563的相似性为97.01％～99.75％;ITS-2序列长度为231 bp,种内变异率为0～6.3％,与GenBank中尼日利亚捻转血矛线虫ITS-2参考序列LC368048的相似性为96.97％～100％.结果表明,2015年-2020年间咸阳地区山羊源捻转血矛线虫ITS-1、ITS-2基因均有不同程度的遗传变异,但未出现新的种群分化.此外,基于虫体代表性样本ITS-1、ITS-2序列构建的遗传进化树结果显示,不同国家和地区的分离株进化关系均较为接近,在ITS-1进化树中,只有捻转血矛线虫样本SX17-3与GenBank中陕西ITS-1序列(KX534100)汇于同一支上,在ITS-2进化树中,也只有SX15-8、SX17-9、SX17-113株捻转血矛线虫样本分离株与陕西ITS-1序列(KX534100)距离最近,表明捻转血矛线虫ITS基因序列的变异情况与地理条件之间无明显相关性.

Background Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi can cause important intestinal diseases in ruminants. However, data on the distribution of these three protozoan pathogens in Tibetan sheep are limited. Methods We collected 761 fecal samples from Tibetan sheep across four seasons in Qinghai Province, China, and screened the samples for Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis and E. bieneusi using PCR-based sequence analysis of the genes encoding 18S ribosomal RNA, triosephosphate isomerase and the internal transcribed spacer, respectively. Results The positivity rates of Cryptosporidium spp., G. duodenalis and E. bieneusi in Tibetan sheep were 3.68% (28/761 samples), 1.58% (12/761) and 6.44% (49/761), respectively. Four species of Cryptosporidium were identified: C. xiaoi ( n = 13 samples), C. ubiquitum ( n = 8), C. bovis ( n = 6) and C. ryanae ( n = 1). Two G. duodenalis assemblages, namely the A ( n = 2 samples) and E ( n = 10) assemblages, were detected. Five zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes were found: BEB6 ( n = 21 samples), COS-I ( n = 14), CHS3 ( n = 11) and CGS1 ( n = 2) from group 2, and PIGEBITS5 ( n = 1) from group 1. Geographic differences in the distribution of E. bieneusi , and seasonal differences for all the three protozoan pathogens were noted. Conclusions Our results elucidate the prevalence and genetic diversity of these three pathogens in Tibetan sheep across different regions and seasons, including zoonotic pathogens such as C. ubiquitum , C. ryanae , G. duodenalis assemblage A and five genotypes of E. bieneusi . Graphical Abstract

为了鉴定从汉中市牛体表采集到的蜱种类及其携带病原梨形虫(Piroplasma)的种类,在形态学初步观察的基础上,用PCR技术基于线粒体16SrDNA对蜱种类进行了分子鉴定,并基于梨形虫18S rRNA基因分别检测蜱体内携带巴贝斯虫属(Babesia)、泰勒虫属(Theileria)等病原情况.结果显示,所采集到的67只蜱全为微小扇头蜱(Rhipicephalus microplus),其中检出携带梨形虫的蜱有35只,阳性率为52.2％.其携带的梨形虫主要有牛巴贝斯虫(B.bovis)、双芽巴贝斯虫(B.bigemina)和东方泰勒虫(T.orientails)等3种,阳性率分别为1.5％、3.0％和47.7％.结果表明,汉中市牛体表寄生的硬蜱优势种为微小扇头蜱,该类蜱携带牛巴贝斯虫、双芽巴贝斯虫、东方泰勒虫等梨形虫,提示当地应该注意蜱媒梨形虫病的防控.

Background: Giardia duodenalis is an important opportunistic zoonotic intestinal protozoon, which could parasitize yaks. However, a few studies have been conducted on the seasonal infection of G. duodenalis in yaks in China. Methods: Overall, 1,027 fecal samples were collected from yaks of two age groups in seven cities of Qinghai Province, China at four seasons between May 2016 and Sep 2017. The prevalence and assemblages were analyzed by nested PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results: The overall prevalence of G. duodenalis was 2.04% (21/1027) based on triose phosphate isomease (tpi) locus. No significant differences in prevalence of the organism in yaks were found among different sampling areas. Additionally, same result was also presented in different seasons. However, there was statistically significant difference between young yaks within 6 months (8.33%, 4/48) and adult yaks over 6 months (1.73%, 17/979). The assemblage A recognized as a zoonotic assemblage (n=3) was found in yaks (>6 months) from Xining, while assemblage E (n=18) was detected from yaks in six cities. There were 5, 2 and 3 G. duodenalis subtypes detected positive at the tpi, the β-giardin (bg), and the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) loci, with 2, 2 and 3 novel subtypes, respectively. Three samples were successfully sequenced at all three loci, forming 1 assemblages A multilocus genotype (MLG) and 2 assemblages E MLGs, not reported. Conclusion: This study indicated a zoonotic potential of G. duodenalis in yaks from Qinghai Province and provides basic information about the epidemiology of G. duodenalis.

犬毛滴虫病是以腹泻为主要临床表现的寄生性原虫病,对犬的健康存在一定威胁.为了给宠物犬毛滴虫病的诊断和治疗提供临床参考,该研究基于西安某动物医院2018—2019年收治并确诊为犬毛滴虫病的典型病例进行诊治和分析.结果发现,犬的毛滴虫病在临床上可单独发生,也可与其他病原混合感染.治疗原则是用抗毛滴虫的药物驱虫,同时治疗并发症或继发感染,改善腹泻症状,调理胃肠功能,一般预后良好.

为了解猫毛滴虫病在西安地区的流行情况与分布规律,基于ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2序列片段,对西安某动物医院2018年-2019年就诊的猫粪便样品进行了套式PCR检测,调查人五毛滴虫和胎儿三毛滴虫的感染情况.结果显示,猫毛滴虫总感染率为49.1％(28/57),其中人五毛滴虫的感染率为5.3％(3/57),胎儿三毛滴虫的感染率为47.4％(27/57),二者的混合感染率为3.5％(2/57);在不同季节,猫的胎儿三毛滴虫感染率存在显著性差异(P<0.05),其中春季的感染率最高(100％),秋、冬季的感染率相对较低,分别为33.3％和31.6％;而年龄、性别、腹泻表现和品种因素等均对猫的胎儿三毛滴虫感染率无显著性影响(P>0.05).该研究结果可为猫毛滴虫病的诊断、治疗和预防提供参考.

毛滴虫是一类在人和脊椎动物的消化道和泌尿生殖道内共生的专性原生动物.毛滴虫感染可导致动物腹泻、不育、生长发育迟缓等,给养殖业造成较大损失,某些毛滴虫的种类还具有人兽共患风险.论文综述了毛滴虫的形态特征、分类,以及毛滴虫病的流行病学、致病性、诊断与防治等方面的研究进展,旨在为毛滴虫病的研究、诊断及防治等提供参考.

隐孢子虫病是由隐孢子虫寄生于人或动物所引起的常见寄生虫病,其主要症状为腹泻,是一种人兽共患病,不仅对畜牧业经济生产造成损失,也威胁着人类健康.论文从隐孢子虫病的病原学、临床症状、病理变化、诊断与防控以及该病在牦牛中的流行情况等方面进行综述,可为牦牛隐孢子虫病的研究提供参考.

Paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2), a key gene in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrena axis, influences animal growth and development. The objective of this study was to identify the association of the functional genetic variations within goat PITX2 gene with growth traits and mRNA expression levels. According to the reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) information in Guanzhong dairy goat (GZDG), we identified genotypes of the known SNPs in Hainan black goat (HNBG). Association analysis uncovered that the SNPs of AC_000163: g.18117T > C, g.18161C > G and g.18353T > C loci were significantly associated with several growth traits (e.g., body height and body length) in HNBG and GZDG breeds. According to the quantitative real-time PCR assay, beta-Actin and ribosomal protein L19 (RPL19) were the most stable expressed housekeeping genes in heart and skeletal muscle, respectively; meanwhile, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was the most stable expressed housekeeping gene in the other tissues. Based on the best housekeeping gene of varied tissues, we found the different genotypes of above loci were significantly associated with PITX2 mRNA expression in heart, muscle and small intestine. Briefly, the genetic variants of goat PITX2 associating with mRNA expression affected growth traits significantly, which would benefit for goat breeding in the future.

为了解我国西北部分地区藏香猪隐孢子虫的感染和种类分布,从陕西省和青海省采集了共450份藏香猪新鲜粪便样品,基于隐孢子虫18S rRNA基因的分子生物学方法对粪便样品中隐孢子虫感染情况及其种类进行了研究.结果显示,藏香猪隐孢子虫总感染率为14.2％,青海省藏香猪的感染率(23.9％)显著高于陕西省(3.7％)(P<0.01);不同年龄段藏香猪隐孢子虫感染率差异显著(P<0.01),其中断奶后仔猪感染率(42.9％)最高,而哺乳仔猪和成年猪均未检测到隐孢子虫的感染;序列分析发现,藏香猪的隐孢子虫均为Cryptosporidiumscrofarum.研究结果为藏香猪隐孢子虫病的防控提供了基础数据.

The parasites from buffaloes in Guizhou province, southwest China, were suspected to be sarcocysts through morphologic observation. 18S rRNA and the subunit I of cytochrome oxidase (cox1) sequences were amplified, then implemented by phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and cox1 genes both indicated the low degree of genetic diversity among the isolated sequences and other sequences of Sarcocystis fusiformis. The result shows that the sarcocysts from these buffaloes in Guizhou province S. fusiformis. This study is the first molecular characterization of S. fusiformis from Chinese buffaloes that used two genetic markers (18S rRNA and cox1 sequences) in China.

The trace element strontium has a significant impact on cartilage metabolism. However, the direct effects of strontium on alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a marker of bone growth, and bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), which plays a key role in the regulation of bone and cartilage development, are not entirely clear. In order to understand the mechanisms involved in these processes, the chondrocytes were isolated from Wistar rat articular cartilage by enzymatic digestion and cultured under standard conditions. They were then treated with strontium at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 20.0 and 100.0 μg/mL for 72 h. The mRNA abundance and protein expression levels of ALP and BMP-4 were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) and Western blot analysis. The results showed that the levels of expression of ALP and BMP-4 in chondrocytes increased as the concentration of strontium increased relative to the control group, and the difference became significant at 1.0 μg/mL strontium (P<0.05). These results indicated that strontium could be involved in cartilage development via regulating ALP and BMP-4 expression.

BACKGROUND:Blastocystis is a common protist that can infect domestic and wild animals worldwide. Yak (Bos grunniens), an ancient species which can survive in alpine regions, has supplied necessities to local residents in plateau areas for generations. However, the infections with Blastocystis in yaks has been ignored for a long time. In the present study, the infections and genotypes of Blastocystis spp. in domestic yaks from Qinghai Province (northwestern China) were explored.RESULTS:Of 1027 faecal samples collected from yaks in seven regions of Qinghai Province, northwestern China, the total prevalence of Blastocystis was 27.07% (278/1027) targeting the small subunit ribosome rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. This protist was detected in yaks within each examined age group, geographical origin and season. Significant difference in prevalence was found in yaks from different geographical origins. The highest prevalence (48.94%) was observed in animals from Haixi county. Sequence analysis revealed three animal-specific subtypes (ST10, ST12 and ST14) of Blastocystis spp. in these yaks, with ST10 being the predominant subtype widely distributed in all investigated regions, seasons and age groups. Interestingly, this is the first report about subtype ST12 infecting yaks.CONCLUSIONS:To our knowledge, this is the first systematic report on Blastocystis prevalence in yaks from China, and the findings provide fundamental data for establishing effective control measures for this protist in yaks as well as other animals in China.