ABSTRACT
The Dogue de Bordeaux (DdB) breed has gone through several genetic 'bottle necks' and has a relatively small effective population size. Importing new stock into Israel has been limited, further narrowing the already restricted local gene-pool and increasing the chances of inherited defects. In 56 DdB dogs examined between 2003 and 2010, the authors sought to study the proportion congenital subaortic stenosis (SAS) and tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD). The aim was also to identify a probable mode of inheritance (MOI) using segregation and pedigree analyses of genealogical data available from 13/21 DdB dogs diagnosed with these conditions between 2004 and 2007. Among all breeds in the country, TVD was highest in the DdB breed, which also displayed the second highest proportion of SAS. Echocardiographic measurements and selected physical examination findings from 26 normal DdB dogs, 18 DdB dogs with SAS, and 12 DdB dogs with TVD are reported. Based on pedigree and segregation analyses, the most probable MOI appeared to be autosomal recessive. Pedigree analyses helped to identify three ancestors that might have introduced these two congenital heart defects into the local DdB population. Excluding those three dogs and their progeny from future mating could therefore reduce the prevalence of these diseases in the DdB population in Israel. The unusual local breeding circumstances may offer a unique opportunity to identify associated SAS and TVD genes in the DdB, as well as in other dog breeds.
Subject(s)
Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular/veterinary , Dog Diseases/congenital , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/veterinary , Animals , Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular/genetics , Aortic Stenosis, Subvalvular/pathology , Dog Diseases/genetics , Dogs , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/genetics , Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/pathologyABSTRACT
Rickettsioses are recognized as important emerging vector-borne infections of humans worldwide. Previous reports documented the presence of two spotted fever group rickettsiae in Israel, Rickettsia conorii israelensis and Rickettsia felis. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of rickettsiae in ticks collected from vegetation and the ground, from different parts of Israel. Non-engorged questing adult ticks were collected from 13 localities. A total of 131 tick pools, 83 of Rhipicephalus turanicus and 48 of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (each with 2-10 ticks per pool), were included in this study. In addition, 13 Hyalomma sp. ticks were collected. The ticks were molecularly screened for rickettsiae, targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) and the outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene loci. Rickettsia massiliae ompA DNA (100% sequence identity; 180 bp) was detected in 32 Rh. turanicus and 12 Rh. sanguineus tick pools. R. conorii israelensis was detected in three Rh. sanguineus pools. Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae ompA DNA (100% sequence identity; 182 bp) was found in one Hyalomma tick. This study reports the first detection of R. massiliae and R. sibirica mongolitimonae in ticks from Israel. This is the first report describing the presence of these human pathogens in the Middle East.
Subject(s)
Biodiversity , Ixodidae/parasitology , Rickettsia/classification , Rickettsia/isolation & purification , Animals , Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins/genetics , Citrate (si)-Synthase/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Israel , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Rickettsia/genetics , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Sequence HomologyABSTRACT
: Ticks are vectors of important pathogens of human and animals. Therefore, their microbial carriage capacity is constantly being investigated. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of domestic animal pathogens in ticks collected from vegetation and the ground, from different parts of Israel. Non-engorged questing adult ticks were collected from 13 localities. A total of 1196 ticks in 131 pools-83 pools of Rhipicephalus turanicus and 48 of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (with two to ten ticks per pool)-were included in this study. In addition, 13 single free-roaming Hyalomma spp. ticks were collected. Screening by molecular techniques revealed the presence of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma bovis and Babesia canis vogeli DNA in R. turanicus ticks. E. canis, A. bovis, B. canis vogeli and Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii DNA sequences were detected in R. sanguineus ticks. Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii DNA was also detected in Hyalomma spp. ticks. Neither Hepatozoon spp. nor Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in any of the ticks examined. This study describes the first detection of E. canis in the tick R. turanicus, which may serve as a vector of this canine pathogen; E. canis was the most common pathogen detected in the collected questing ticks. It also describes the first detection of A. bovis and Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii in Israel. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report describing the detection of DNA of the latter two pathogens in R. sanguineus, and of A. bovis in R. turanicus.
Subject(s)
Anaplasma/genetics , Babesia/genetics , Ehrlichia canis/genetics , Ixodes , Rhipicephalus , Rickettsia/genetics , Anaplasma/classification , Animals , Babesia/classification , Ehrlichia canis/classification , Humans , Israel , Ixodes/microbiology , Ixodes/parasitology , Molecular Typing/methods , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rhipicephalus/microbiology , Rhipicephalus/parasitology , Rickettsia/classificationABSTRACT
A 56-year-old man had acute onset of left sided weakness, spontaneous pain and hyperpathia in the left limbs. CT demonstrated a small pontine haemorrhage, in the floor of the fourth ventricle.
