Scholarlink

Background <p>Tick-borne relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus&#xa0;<i>Borrelia,</i>&#xa0;leading to fever and spirochetemia in humans and animals.&#xa0;<i>Borrelia theileri</i> is the agent of bovine relapsing fever, which is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genus <i>Rhipicephalus</i> and has been reported to cause mild disease in cattle. It has been infrequently reported in several countries over a broad geographic area; however, it has not been reported in Israel previously.</p> Methods <p>Blood samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle in 23 locations in Israel. Real-time and conventional PCR were used to detect&#xa0;<i>Borrelia</i> spp.&#xa0;and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids. PCR products were sequenced,&#xa0;and phylogenetic analysis of the <i>B. theileri</i> sequences was performed. Positive cattle were identified in a limited number of locations with no clear spatial clustering.</p> Results <p><i>Borrelia theileri</i> DNA was detected in 6 out of 439 (1.4%) blood samples. Of these, four were from beef and two from dairy cattle. No significant differences were found according to age (<i>P</i> = 0.642) and production type (<i>P</i> = 0.802) among the <i>B. theileri</i>-positive cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of the cattle-derived isolate together with <i>B. theileri</i> amplified from ixodid ticks, supporting a potential transmission cycle involving cattle and <i>Rhipicephalus</i> spp. ticks. <i>Theileria annulata</i> and <i>Babesia bigemina</i> DNA was detected in 11 (4.1%) and one (0.4%) of 268 unvaccinated cattle, respectively. Co-infection with <i>Theileria annulata</i> was found in one beef and one dairy cattle.</p> Conclusions <p>Tick-borne relapsing fever is present in the cattle population of Israel. Co-infection of <i>B. theileri</i> and bovine piroplasmids may drive clinical disease and financial losses in beef and dairy cattle. This is the first report of <i>B. theileri</i>&#xa0;infection in Israel. Future control programs should address the exposure of both beef and dairy cattle to ticks and tick-borne diseases.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Borrelia theileri infection in beef and dairy cattle in Israel: molecular detection and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月23日

查看全文
  • Dor Shwartz,
  • Harold Salant,
  • Yaarit Nachum-Biala,
  • Netta Simon,
  • Monica Leszkowicz -Mazuz,
  • Daniel Yasur-Landau,
  • Dan Gleser,
  • Eyal Klement,
  • Nir Rudoler,
  • Elad Eliahoo,
  • Gad Baneth

摘要

Background

Tick-borne relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, leading to fever and spirochetemia in humans and animals. Borrelia theileri is the agent of bovine relapsing fever, which is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus and has been reported to cause mild disease in cattle. It has been infrequently reported in several countries over a broad geographic area; however, it has not been reported in Israel previously.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle in 23 locations in Israel. Real-time and conventional PCR were used to detect Borrelia spp. and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids. PCR products were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis of the B. theileri sequences was performed. Positive cattle were identified in a limited number of locations with no clear spatial clustering.

Results

Borrelia theileri DNA was detected in 6 out of 439 (1.4%) blood samples. Of these, four were from beef and two from dairy cattle. No significant differences were found according to age (P = 0.642) and production type (P = 0.802) among the B. theileri-positive cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of the cattle-derived isolate together with B. theileri amplified from ixodid ticks, supporting a potential transmission cycle involving cattle and Rhipicephalus spp. ticks. Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina DNA was detected in 11 (4.1%) and one (0.4%) of 268 unvaccinated cattle, respectively. Co-infection with Theileria annulata was found in one beef and one dairy cattle.

Conclusions

Tick-borne relapsing fever is present in the cattle population of Israel. Co-infection of B. theileri and bovine piroplasmids may drive clinical disease and financial losses in beef and dairy cattle. This is the first report of B. theileri infection in Israel. Future control programs should address the exposure of both beef and dairy cattle to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Graphical Abstract