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Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) infects the respiratory and genital tracts of cattle and several species of ruminants. The infection can result in different diseases such as infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in females and infectious pustular balanoposthitis in males, with a severe economic impact on livestock production. The infection causes respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis, abortions, enteritis, and fatal systemic infection in newborn calves. One of the most important characteristics of bovine herpesvirus type 1 is the establishment of a latent infection that can be reactivated under stress conditions or by treatment with high doses of corticosteroids. The present work was aimed at developing an SYBR Green I Based Real-Time RTPCR assay for the detection of bovine herpesvirus type 1, by amplifying a fragment of the viral thymidine kinase gene. The parameters of the critical components of the PCR reaction as well as the thermodynamic conditions were established. Dissociation curve analysis showed that the amplification curves were specific (Tm = 93°C ± 1°C) and that there were no unspecific amplifications. High levels of specificity, repeatability and sensitivity were obtained, with a detection limit of 100.5 TCID50/mL. Diagnostic sensitivity was assessed on the basis of nasal exudates from experimental breeding animals, reactivation of latent infection and experimental dairy farms. The SYBR Green I Based Real-Time RT-PCR assay proved to be more sensitive for the diagnosis of BoHV-1 than the endpoint PCR assay and virus isolation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector-borne diseases in horses are an emerging and re-emerging problem worldwide, because they have a huge economic impact on affected equine herds. Equine piroplasmosis is considered the most important vector-borne disease affecting the equine species, which includes horses, donkeys, mules and zebras. This disease is caused by the intra-erythrocyte parasites B. caballi and T. equi, mainly in tropical, subtropical and temperate climate regions, where the disease is endemic. These hemoparasites are responsible for significant economic losses in the equine industry, including costs for veterinary treatment, abortions, decreased performance, and death of animals in acute cases of the disease; besides the imposition of international restrictions on the export or participation in equestrian sporting and exhibition events of animals seropositive to B. caballi or T. equi. The cELISA assays for T. equi and B. caballi are the diagnostic tests recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health for the international movement of equines. Different treatment therapies are described for the control and sterilization of both hemoparasites in infected equines. This paper aimed at providing information on the main aspects related to equine piroplasmosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Babesia caballi, Theileria equi and several species of rickettsias are agents of vector-borne diseases that affect equines. The objective of this study was to detect infections by B. caballi and T. equi in horses and to identify rickettsias in horses and ticks in the western region of Cuba. Two nPCR assays were developed and standardized for the detection of B. caballi and T. equi. Blood samples from horses and ticks were collected. Identification by blood smear and molecular detection and identification of B. caballi, T. equi and Rickettsia spp. were carried out. Intraerythrocytic formations compatible with B. caballi and T. equi were observed. The nPCR showed that 25 % of the samples were positive for B. caballi, 73 % for T. equi and 20 % showed coinfection. The results were confirmed with the partial sequencing of the genes bc48 (B. caballi) and ema-1 (T. equi). The sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi demonstrated the presence of at least two genotypes of T. equi isolates in Cuba. The real time qPCR assay and sequencing revealed the presence of Rickettsia amblyommatis in A. mixtum and Rickettsia felis in D. nitens. Conclusions: These results constitute the first piece of molecular evidence of B. caballi and T. equi in horses and the first report of R. felis in D. nitens in Cuba, which broadens the knowledge about the distribution of pathogens and the spectrum of potential vectors contributing to the strengthening of management and control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dogs can be affected by several species of the genus Babesia causing important diseases in different regions of the world. Among these species are Babesia canis, B. vogeli, B. rossi, B. gibsoni, and B. vulves. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Babesia spp. in stray dogs from Havana province. Sixty dogs were studied and subjected to haematological examination, blood smear and PCR, which amplified 18S rRNA. Three animals (5 %) showed hematocrit values higher than reference values while 23 (38.3 %) showed lower hematocrit values, indicating the presence of an anemic syndrome in those dogs. According to the leukogram analysis, five dogs (8.3 %) had leukocytosis and 7 (11.6 %) had leukopenia. Thirty-one animals were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks and 10 were co-infested with Rhipicepahalus microplus ticks. Twenty percent of the samples tested positive by PCR, while microscopic examination revealed Babesia spp. merozoites in only 13.3 % of the samples. A relationship was observed between PCR-positive animals and the decrease in hematocrit value. There was no association between the presence of ticks and sex in animals positive to Babesia spp. The present study demonstrates the presence of Babesia spp. in stray dogs from Havana province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ticks and the vast array of pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. In Cuba, the major tropical island in the Caribbean, ticks are an important cause of vector-borne diseases affecting livestock production, pet animal health and, to a lesser extent, human health. The higher number of tick species in the country belong to the Argasidae family and, probably less known, is the presence of an autochthonous tick species in the island, Ixodes capromydis . Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting animal and human health in Cuba. The review covers research results including ecophysiology of ticks, the epidemiology of TBPs, and the diagnostic tools used currently in the country for the surveillance of TBPs. We also introduce the programs implemented in the country for tick control and the biotechnology research applied to the development of anti-tick vaccines., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.