Detection of Babesia caballi and Babesia equi in Dermacentor nuttalli adult ticks.

Ticks play an important role in human and veterinary medicine particularly due to their ability to transmit protozoan pathogens. In this study we have demonstrated that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR methods enabled detection of Babesia caballi and Babesia equi in field isolates of Dermacentor nuttalli adult ticks from Mongolia. Primers specific for 218 bp fragment merozoite antigen 1 (EMA-1) gene of B. equi successfully amplified products from all samples of D. nuttalli adult ticks while primers for the 430 bp fragment product from BC48 gene of B. caballi amplified products from seven of the 54 samples. Using PCR and nested PCR methods we have found mixed infections with B. equi and B. caballi in the tick vector. The amplified DNA fragment from D. nuttalli ticks was inserted into the EcoRV site of pBluescript SK and sequenced. The sequence of the 430 bp fragment was completely identical to the nucleotide sequence of the USDA strain of B. caballi. These results suggest that D. nuttalli may play an important role as a vector of both B. caballi and B. equi and also may be important in maintaining endemicity of equine piroplasmosis in Mongolia.

Molecular evidence of Babesia caballi (Nuttall and Strickland, 1910) parasite transmission from experimentally-infected SCID mice to the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neuman, 1901).

Molecular evidence that suggests the possible role of the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis and its eggs in the transmission of equine Babesia caballi parasites is presented herein. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assay for DNA in parasites, presumably acquired by ticks that were allowed to feed on splenectomized-SCID mice, experimentally exposed to in vitro-cultivated B. caballi, we have obtained positive bands that corresponded to the expected B. caballi-specific 430bp gene fragment in 50% of female ticks used, and in 75 and 25% of eggs and larval progeny, respectively. Also, parasite DNA was detected in ticks, eggs and larvae as late as the 16th to the 20th day post-host infestation. Present findings support to the potential role of H. longicornis in the transmission of B. caballi parasites. Its capability, however, to successfully transmit the infection to horses under natural conditions in the field needs to be further ascertained. To our knowledge, this is the first documented study incriminating H. longicornis as a most and likely biological vector of equine babesias.

Coordination compounds derived from the interaction of streptomycin and cobalt, nickel, copper, and calcium salts characterized by 13C NMR and spectroscopic studies. Structure and bonding properties of the streptidine fraction.

The coordination compounds of streptomycin (St), Co2(St)Cl4.13H2O (2), Co2(St)(NO3)4.7H2O (3), Ni2(St)Cl4.14H2O (4), Ni2(St)(NO3)4.14H2O (5), Cu2(St)Cl4.6H2O (6), and Ca(St)Cl2.8H2O (7) have been synthesized by the reaction of streptomycin sulfate (1) with three equivalents of the corresponding inorganic salt. The compounds (2)-(7) were characterized by electronic spectroscopy (in the solid state and in solution) by conductivity measurements and by 13C NMR in solution. The reaction of streptomycin with CuCl2 in water hydrolyzed the molecule giving the copper complex of the streptidine fraction (Std), Cu(Std)Cl.H2O (8). This compound was characterized by the same techniques. Detailed x-ray diffraction and 13C NMR studies of streptidine sulfate (9) were carried out.

Pneumobilia associated with small-bowel obstruction.

We present a patient who was admitted complaining of nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distention. A roentgenogram of the abdomen revealed a dilated stomach and pneumobilia. At surgery, he was found to have proximal small-bowel obstruction. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pneumobilia associated with proximal small-bowel obstruction not associated with a gallstone.