Pyronaridine combined with diminazene aceturate inhibits Babesia in vitro and in vivo

Objective:To evaluate the combination therapy of pyronaridine tetraphosphate and diminazene aceturate against Babesia in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Bioinformatic analysis was performed using atom pair fingerprints.An in vitro combination test was performed against Babesia bovis and Theileria equi.Moreover,the in vivo chemotherapeutic efficacy of pyronaridine tetraphosphate in combination with diminazene aceturate was investigated against the growth of Babesia microti in mice using a fluorescence inhibitory assay.Results:Pyronaridine tetraphosphate and diminazene aceturate exhibited nearly similar molecular weights.The in vitro combination of pyronaridine tetraphosphate and diminazene aceturate was synergistic on Babesia bovis and additive on Theileria equi.In addition,5 mg/kg pyronaridine tetraphosphate combined with 10 mg/kg diminazene aceturate inhibited Babesia microti growth significantly compared with those observed after treatment with 25 mg/kg diminazene aceturate alone from day 6 post treatment to day 12 post treatment.The combination therapy also normalized the hematological parameters of infected mice.Conclusions:An oral dose of pyronaridine tetraphosphate combined with a subcutaneous dose of diminazene aceturate inhibits Babesia in vitro and in mice,suggesting it might be a new paradigm for the treatment of babesiosis.

Effect of seasonal changes on predictive model of bovine babesiosis transmission

In this paper,we present an attempt at analyzing the seasonal pattern of the Babesiosis transmission dynamics in bovine and tick populations.The infestation rate plays an important role in the variation of infection.In this logic,we set out a mathematical model with variable infestation rate for the evolution of babesiosis disease.Using the(0,2)-Jacobi multi-wavelets method combined with the decoupling and quasi-linearization technique,we demonstrate the validity and applicability of our model.Then,a set of experimental data is used to validate the proposed model under the same operating conditions.The results of numerical simulations are provided to show the impact of seasonality on the transmission dynamics of Babesiosis.Eventually,a numerical study of the model varying the control parameters of babesiosis shows different scenarios about the spread of the disease.

Resolution of chronic hepatitis C following parasitosis

An inefficient cellular immune response likely leads to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Resolution of chronic HCV infection in the absence of treatment is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 39-year old white male with a 17-year history of chronic HCV infection, who eradicated HCV following a serious illness due to co-infection with Babesia (babesiosis), Borriela Borgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Ehrlichia (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis). We hypothesize that the cellular immune response mounted by this patient in response to his infection with all three agents but in particular Babesia was suffi cient to eradicate HCV.

Detection of Babesia bovis in blood samples and its effect on the hematological and serum biochemical profile in large ruminants from Southern Punjab

Objective:To determine the presence of Babesia bovis(B.bovis) in large ruminants in southern Punjab and its effect on hematological and serum biochemical profile of host animals.Methods:Blood samples were collected from 144 large ruminants,including 105 cattle and 39 buffaloes,from six districts in southern Punjab including Multan,Layyah,Muzaffar Garh,Bhakar,Bahawalnagar and Vehari.Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires.Different blood(hemoglobin,glucose) and serum(ALT,AST,LDH,cholesterol)parameters of calves and cattle were measured and compared between parasite positive and negative samples to demonstrate the effect of B.bovis on the blood and serological profile of infected animals.Results:27 out of 144 animals.from 5 out of 6 sampling districts,produced the541-bp fragment specific for B.bovis.Age of animals(P=0.02).presence of ticks on animals(P=0.04)and presence of ticks on dogs associated with herds(P=0.5) were among the major risk factors involved in the spread of bovine babesiosis in the study area.ALT concentrations were the only serum biochemical values that significantly varied between parasite positive and negative cattle.Conclusions:This study has reported for the first time the presence of B.bovis in large ruminant and the results can lead to the prevention of babesiosis in the region to increase the livestock output.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in tropical intraerythrocytic blood infection

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) determination is a classical hematological test.Although it is a non specific laboratory parameter it is still widely used in present medicine.The author hereby briefly reviews and discuses on clinical importance of ESR test for important tropical intraerythrocytic blood infection(malaria,leishmaniasis and babesiosis).

Detection of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Endemic Areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease that causes severe economic losses to the cattle industry in Brazil. Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are often carriers of Babesia spp., but there are no studies that provide an accurate estimation of this infection in animals raised in regions of endemic stability. This study was conducted to investigate Babesia bovis and B. bigemina infections in 108 water buffaloes (50 calves and 58 adult females) located in areas of S&atildeo Paulo state, where the animals were continuously exposed to Rhipicephalus microplus ticks. B. bovis and B. bigemina infections were screened by microscopic examination of blood smears, nested PCR (nPCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), which were also used to estimate the number of copies (NC) of the cytochrome b (mt-cytB) gene in the blood samples. B. bigemina was found in blood smears of three calves from Alambari herd (all with less than 0.1% parasitemia). Molecular techniques were more sensitive than blood smears to diagnose piroplasms in water buffaloes: 20.37% and 100.00% for B. bovis-infected animals and 59.26% and 100.00% for B. bigemina-infected animals, respectively for nPCR and qPCR. The NC of mt-cytB gene of B. bovis and B. bigemina in blood samples revealed significant effects (p p ≤ 0.05) for B. bigemina (2.80 ± 0.06) than for B. bovis (2.61 ± 0.05). Within each herd-age, differences between the species’ NC values were found only in Alambari calves, which showed significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) NC of B. bigemina (3.48 ± 0.13). The calves and cows from Ibaté showed the lowest NC of B. bigemina (2.29 ± 0.13 and 2.63 ± 0.14) and B. bovis (2.54 ± 0.11 and 2.37 ± 0.12), respectively. These data suggest a high prevalence of B. bovis and B. bigemina infection in the buffalo population in endemic areas of S&atildeo Paulo state.

A case of human infection with a novel Babesia species in China

Background:Babesiosis is an uncommon but emerging tick-borne disease caused by the genus Babesia.In this case study,we report a case of human infection with a novel Babesia sp.in China.Findings:The patient in question had been suffering from repetitive occurrences of mild fever of unknown origin and fatigue for 10 years.Ring forms,tetrads,and one or two dots of chromatin or trophozoite-like organisms were observed in the patient’s thin blood smears and bone marrow smears.Using a confocal laser-scanning microscope,it was observed that the patient’s serum had reactivity with the surface proteins of the B.microti strain.Electron microscopy revealed oval red blood cells with 1~2μm of knob protrusions in the cellular membrane.The results of the Babesia-specific nested PCR assay for 18S rRNA confirmed the presence of Babesia infection.The construction of a phylogenetic relationship showed clustering with B.microti and B.duncani,which was identified as a novel Babesia species and named as Babesia sp.XXB/HangZhou.Azithromycin,doxycycline,and moxifloxacin hydrochloride were shown to relieve symptoms but were not as effective after continuous usage.After atovaquone(Mepron®)administration,the patient recovered from fever and tested negative for detection of Babesia-specific genes.Conclusion:Babesia sp.XXB/HangZhou is a novel Babesia species,which causes mild babesiosis in an immunocompetent patient.