Detection of the agent of heartwater, Cowdria ruminantium, in Amblyomma ticks by PCR: Validation and application of the assay to field ticks

Journal of Clinical Microbiology

Volumn 38, Issue 4, 2000, Pages 1539-1544

  Peter, Trevor F ^a   Barbet, Anthony F ^b   Alleman, Arthur R ^b   Simbi, Bigboy H ^a   Burridge, Michael J ^b   Mahan, Suman M ^a,c  

^a UF/USAID/SADC Heartwater Res Proj   (Zimbabwe)

^b University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

BACTERIAL DNA;

ACCURACY; AMBLYOMMA; ARTICLE; BACTERIUM DETECTION; DNA DETERMINATION; EHRLICHIA; EHRLICHIA RUMINANTIUM; HEARTWATER DISEASE; NONHUMAN; POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; VALIDATION PROCESS;

ACARI; AMBLYOMMA; AMBLYOMMA HEBRAEUM; AMBLYOMMA VARIEGATUM; BACTERIA (MICROORGANISMS); COWDRIA RUMINANTIUM; EHRLICHIA; EHRLICHIA CHAFFEENSIS; EHRLICHIA RUMINANTIUM; RICKETTSIALES;

EID: 0033996997     PISSN: 00951137     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1128/jcm.38.4.1539-1544.2000     Document Type: Article

References (62)

1. Allsopp, M. E. T. P., C. M. Hattingh, S. W. Vogel, and B. A. Allsopp. 1999. Evaluation of 16S, map 1 and pCS20 probes for the detection of Cowdria and Ehrlichia species. Epidemiol. Infect. 122:323-328.
2. Anderson, B. E., K. G. Sims, J. G. Olson, J. E. Childs, J. F. Piesman, C. M. Happ, G. O. Maupin, and B. J. B. Johnson. 1993. Amblyomma americanum: a potential vector of human ehrlichiosis. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 49:239-244.
3. Bell-Sakyi, L., E. B. M. Koney, O. Dogbey, J. Abbam, and K. G. Aning. 1996. Isolation and in vitro cultivation in Ghana of Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater, p. 46-51. In E. B. M. Koney and K. G. Aning (ed.), Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Congress of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association. The Information Support Unit, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana.
4. Birnie, E. F., M. J. Burridge, E. Camus, and N. Barre. 1985. Heartwater in the Caribbean: isolation of Cowdria ruminantium from Antigua. Vet. Rec. 116:121-123.
5. Bowie, M. V., G. R. Reddy, S. M. Semu, S. M. Mahan, and A. F. Barbet. 1999. Potential value of major antigenic protein 2 for serological diagnosis of heartwater and related ehrlichial infections. Clin. Diagn. Lab. Immunol. 6:209-215.
6. Burket, C. T., C. N. Vann, R. R. Pinger, C. L. Chatot, and F. E. Steiner. 1998. Minimum infection rate of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) by Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichieae) in southern Indiana. J. Med. Entomol. 35:653-659.
7. Byrom, B., and C. E. Yunker. 1990. Improved culture conditions for Cowdria ruminantium (Rickettsiales), the agent of heartwater disease of domestic ruminants. Cytotechnology 4:285-290.
8. Byrom, B., C. E. Yunker, P. L. Donovan, and G. E. Smith. 1991. In vitro isolation of Cowdria ruminantium from plasma of infected ruminants. Vet. Microbiol. 26:263-268.
9. Camus, E., and N. Barre. 1987. Epidemiology of heartwater in Guadeloupe and in the Caribbean. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 54:419-426.
10. Camus, E., and N. Barre. 1992. The role of Amblyomma variegatum in the transmission of heartwater with special reference to Guadeloupe. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 653:33-41.
11. Camus, E., N. Barre, D. Martinez, and G. Uilenberg. 1996. Heartwater (cowdriosis). A review, 2nd ed. Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France.
12. Cowdry, E. V. 1925. Studies on the etiology of heartwater. I. Observation of a rickettsia, Rickettsia ruminantium (n. sp.), in the tissues of infected animals. J. Exp. Med. 42:253-274.
13. Cowdry, E. V. 1925. Studies on the etiology of heartwater II Rickettsia ruminantium (n. sp.) in the tissues of ticks transmitting the disease. J. Exp. Med. 42:231-245.
14. Du Plessis, J. L. 1985. A method for determining the Cowdria ruminantium infection rate of Amblyomma hebraeum: effects in mice injected with tick homogenates. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 52:55-61.
15. Du Plessis, J. L. 1993. The relationship between Cowdria and Ehrlichia: change in the behaviour of ehrlichial agents passaged through Amblyomma hebraeum. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:131-143.
16. Du Plessis, J. L., J. D. Bezuidenhout, M. S. Brett, E. Camus, F. Jongejan, S. M. Mahan, and D. Martinez. 1993. Serodiagnosis of heartwater: a comparison of five tests. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:123-129.
17. Du Plessis, J. L., P. J. Loock, and C. J. F. Ludemann. 1992. Adult Amblyomma hebraeum burdens and heartwater endemic stability in cattle. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 59:75-89.
18. Du Plessis, J. L., L. Van Gas, J. A. Olivier, and J. D. Bezuidenhout. 1989. The heterogeneity of Cowdria ruminantium stocks: cross-immunity and serology in sheep and pathogenicity to mice. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 56: 195-201.
19. Du Plessis, J. L., and L. Malan. 1987. Problems with the interpretation of epidemiological data in heartwater: a study on 23 farms. Onderstepoort J. Vet. Res. 54:427-433.
20. Gueye, K. L., M. Mbengue, T. Dieye, A. Diouf, M. Seye, and M. F. Seye. 1993. Cowdriosis in Senegal: some epidemiologic aspects. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:217-221.
21. Gueye, K. L., M. Mbengue, and A. Diouf. 1993. Epidemiologie de la cowdriose au Senegal. I. Etude de la transmission et du taux d'infection d'Amblyomma variegatum (Fabricious, 1947) dans la region des Niayes. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:441-447.
22. Haig, D. A. 1952. Note on the use of the while mouse for the transport of strains of heartwater. J. S. Afr. Vet. Med. Assoc. 23:167-170.
23. Ilemobade, A. A., and P. Leeflang. 1977. Epidemiology of heartwater in Nigeria. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 30:149-155.
24. Jongejan, F., N. de Vries, H. Nieuwenhuys, A. H. M. van Vliet, and L. A. Wassink. 1993. The immunodominant 32 kilodalton protein of Cowdria ruminantium is conserved within the genus Ehrlichia. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:145-152.
25. Jongejan, F., A. J. van Winklehoff, and G. Uilenberg. 1984. Isolation and transmission of Cowdria ruminantium (causal agent of heartwater disease) in the Blue Nile Province. Sudan. Vet. Res. Commun. 8:141-145.
26. Jordaan, J. O., and J. A. F. Baker. 1981. Survival rate on the host and mating capacity of Amblyomma hebraeum (Koch) male ticks, p. 115-117. In G. B. Whitehead and J. D. Gibson (ed.), Tick biology and control. Tick Research Unit, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
27. Katz, J. B., A. F. Barbet, S. M. Mahan, D. Kumbula, J. M. Lockhart, M. K. Keel, J. E. Dawson, J. G. Olson, and S. A. Ewing. 1996. A recombinant antigen from the heartwater agent Cowdria ruminantium reactive with antibodies in some southeastern United States white-tailed deer (Odocoileus, virgininanus), but not cattle sera. J. Wildl. Dis. 32:424-430.
28. Katz, J. B., R. DeWald, J. E. Dawson, E. Camus, D. Martinez, and R. Mondry. 1997. Development and evaluation of a recombinant antigen, monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA for heartwater serodiagnosis. J. Vet. Diagn. Investig. 9:130-135.
29. Kocan, K. M., S. P. Morzaria, W. P. Voigt, W. P. Kiare, and A. D. Irvin. 1986. Demonstration of colonies of Cowdria ruminantium in midgut epithelial cells of Amblyomma variegatum. Am. J. Vet. Res. 48:356-360.
30. Kocan, K. M., R. A. I. Norval, and P. L. Donovan. 1993. Development and transmission of Cowdria ruminantium by Amblyomma males transferred from infected to susceptible sheep. Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 46:183-188.
31. Kock, N. D., A. H. M. van Vliet, K. Charlton, and F. Jongejan. 1995. Detection of Cowdria ruminantium in blood and bone marrow samples from clinically normal, free-ranging Zimbabwean wild ungulates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:2501-2504.
32. Lockhart, J. M., W. R. Davidson, D. E. Stallknecht, J. E. Dawson, and E. W. Howerth. 1997. Isolation of Ehrlichia chaffeensis from wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) confirms their role as natural reservoir hosts. J. Clin. Microbiol. 35:1681-1686.
33. Mahan, S. M., H. R. Andrew, N. Tebele, M. J. Burridge, and A. F. Barbet. 1995. Immunization of sheep with inactivated Cowdria ruminantium provides protection against heartwater. Res. Vet. Sci. 58:46-49.
34. Mahan, S. M., B. Allsopp, K. M. Kocan, G. H. Palmer, and F. Jongejan. 1999. Vaccine strategies for Cowdria ruminantium and their applications to other ehrlichial infections. Parasitol. Today 15:290-294.
35. Mahan, S. M., T. C. McGuire, S. M. Semu, M. V. Bowie, F. Jongejan, F. R. Rurangirwa, and A. F. Barbet. 1994. Molecular cloning of a gene encoding the immunogenic 21 kD protein of Cowdria ruminantium. Microbiology 140:2135-2142.
36. Mahan, S. M., T. F. Peter, B. D. Perry, L. Modisa, G. Axsel, N. Bryson, L. van der Merwe, P. van der Reit, J. Pistorius, P. Dlamini, L. Makala, G. Munyama, A. F. Barbet, and M. J. Burridge. 1998. Characterization of heartwater challenge at field sites in six SADC countries, p. 30. In Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Association of Institutions of Tropical Veterinary Medicine (AITVM).
37. Mahan, S. M., T. F. Peter, S. M. Semu, B. H. Simbi, R. A. I. Norval, and A. F. Barbet. 1995. Laboratory reared Amblyomma hebraeum and A. variegatum differ in their susceptibility to infection with Cowdria ruminantium. Epidemiol. Infect. 115:345-353.
38. Mahan, S. M., T. F. Peter, B. H. Simbi, and M. J. Burridge. 1998. PCR detection of Cowdria ruminantium infection in ticks and animals from heartwater-endemic regions of Zimbabwe. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 849:85-87.
39. Mahan, S. M., T. F. Peter, B. H. Simbi, B. H., K. M. Kocan, E. Camus, A. F. Barbet, and M. J. Burridge. 2000. Comparison of efficacy of American and African Amblyomma ticks as vectors of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) by molecular analyses and transmission trials. J. Parasitol. 86:44-49.
40. Mahan, S. M., S. M. Semu, T. F. Peter, and F. Jongejan. 1998. Evaluation of the MAP IB ELISA for cowdriosis with field sera from livestock in Zimbabwe. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 849:259-261.
41. Mahan, S. M., G. E. Smith, and B. Byrom. 1994. Concanavalin A-stimulated bovine T-cell supernatants inhibit growth of Cowdria ruminantium in vitro. Infect. Immun. 62:747-750.
42. Mahan, S. M., N. Tebele, D. Mukwedeya, S. Semu, C. B. Nyathi, L. A. Wassink, P. J. Kelly, T. Peter, and A. F. Barbet. 1993. An immunoblotting assay for heartwater based on the immunodominant 32-kilodalton protein of Cowdria ruminantium detects false positives in field sera. J. Clin. Microbiol. 31:2729-2737.
43. Mahan, S. M., S. D. Waghela, T. C. McGuire, F. R. Rurangirwa, L. A. Wassink, and A. F. Barbet. 1992. A cloned DNA probe for Cowdria ruminantium hybridizes with eight heartwater strains and detects infected sheep. J. Clin. Microbiol. 30:981-986.
44. Meltzer, M. I., B. D. Perry, and P. L. Donachie. 1996. Mortality percentages related to heartwater and the economic impact of heartwater disease on large scale commercial farms in Zimbabwe. Prev. Vet. Med. 2:187-199.
45. Mukhebi, A. W., T. Chamboko, C. J. O'Callaghan, T. F. Peter, R. L. Kruska, G. F. Medley, S. M. Mahan, and B. D. Perry. 1999. An assessment of the economic impact of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) and its control in Zimbabwe. Prev. Vet. Med. 39:173-189.
46. Ngumi, P. N., R. M. Rumberia, S. M. Williamson, K. J. Sumption, A. C. Lesau, and D. P. Kariuki. 1997. Isolation of the causative agent of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium) from three Amblyomma species in eight districts of Kenya. Vet. Rec. 140:13-16.
47. Norval, R. A. I., H. R. Andrew, and C. E. Yunker. 1990. Infection rates with Cowdria ruminantium of nymphs and adults of the bont tick Amblyomma hebraeum collected in the field in Zimbabwe. Vet. Parasitol. 36:277-283.
48. Norval, R. A. I., B. D. Perry, M. I. Meltzer, R. L. Kruska, and T. H. Booth. 1994. Factors affecting the distributions of the ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and A. variegatum in Zimbabwe: implications of reduced acaricide usage. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 18:383-407.
49. O'Callaghan, C. J., G. F. Medley, T. F. Peter, and B. D. Perry. 1998. Investigating the epidemiology of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) by means of a transmission dynamic model. Parasitology 117:49-61.
50. Peter, T. F., E. C. Anderson, M. J. Burridge, and S. M. Mahan. 1998. Demonstration of a carrier state for Cowdria ruminantium in wild ruminants from Africa. J. Wildl. Dis. 34:567-575.
51. Peter, T. F., N. R. Bryson, B. D. Perry, C. J. O'Callaghan, G. F. Medley, G. E. Smith, G. Mlambo, I. G. Horak, M. J. Burridge, and S. M. Mahan. 1999. Cowdria ruminantium infection in ticks in the Kruger National Park. Vet. Rec. 145:304-307.
52. Peter, T. F., S. L. Deem, A. F. Barbet, R. A. I. Norval, B. H. Simbi, P. J. Kelly, and S. M. Mahan. 1995. Development and evaluation of PCR assay for detection of low levels of Cowdria ruminantium infection in Amblyomma ticks not detected by DNA probe. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:166-172.
53. Purchase, H. S. 1945. A simple and rapid method for demonstrating Rickettsia ruminantium (Cowdry, 1925) in heartwater brains. Vet. Rec. 57:413-414.
54. Savadye, D. T., P. J. Kelly, and S. M. Mahan. 1998. Evidence to show that an agent that cross-reacts serologically with Cowdria ruminantium in Zimbabwe is transmitted by ticks. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 22:111-122.
55. Smith, G. E., E. C. Anderson, M. J. Burridge, T. F. Peter, and S. M. Mahan. 1998. Growth of Cowdria ruminantium in tissue culture endothelial cell lines from wild African mammals. J. Wildl. Dis. 32:297-304.
56. Synge, B. A. 1978. Brain biopsy for the diagnosis of heartwater. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 10:45-48.
57. Uilenberg, G., E. Camus, and N. Barre. 1985. Quelques observations sur une souche de Cowdria ruminantium isolee en Guadeloupe (Antilles francaises). Rev. Elev. Med. Vet. Pays Trop. 38:34-42.
58. van Vliet, A. H. M., F. Jongejan, and B. A. M. van der Zeyst. 1992. Phylogenetic position of Cowdria ruminantium (Rickettsiales) determined by analysis of amplified 16S ribosomal DNA sequences. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 42:494-498.
59. van Vliet, A. H. M., B. A. M. van der Zeijst, E. Camus, S. M. Mahan, D. Martinez, and F. Jongejan. 1995. Use of a specific immunogenic region on the Cowdria ruminantium MAPI protein in a serological assay. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:2405-2410.
60. Waghela, S. D., F. R. Rurangirwa, S. M. Mahan, C. E. Yunker, T. B. Crawford, A. F. Barbet, M. J. Burridge, and T. C. McGuire. 1991. A cloned DNA probe identifies Cowdria ruminantium in Amblyomma variegatum ticks. J. Clin. Microbiol. 29:2571-2577.
61. Yunker, C. E., B. Byrom, and S. Semu. 1988. Cultivation of Cowdria ruminantium in bovine vascular endothelial cells. Kenya Vet. 12:12-16.
62. Yunker, C. E., S. M. Mahan, S. D. Waghela, T. C. McGuire, F. R. Rurangirwa, A. F. Barbet, and L. A. Wassink. 1993. Detection of Cowdria ruminantium by means of a DNA probe, pCS20, in infected bont ticks, Amblyomma hebraeum, the major vector of heartwater in southern Africa. Epidemiol. Infect. 110:95-104.