Genomic epidemiological survey on livestock babesisosis in Turkey and establishment of practical control strategy

• Project/Area Number: 18KK0188
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 42:Veterinary medical science, animal science, and related fields
• Research Institution: Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: XUAN Xuenan 帯広畜産大学, 原虫病研究センター, 教授 (10292096)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 川瀬 摂 獨協医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (40435996) ; 五十嵐 慎 帯広畜産大学, 原虫病研究センター, 教授 (60374766) ; 正谷 達謄 岐阜大学, 応用生物科学部, 准教授 (70614072) ; 井口 愛子 鳥取大学, 農学部, 講師 (90777020)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-10-09 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,810,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,110,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥6,110,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,410,000)
• Keywords: バベシア症 / マダニ媒介 / 家畜 / 疫学調査 / ゲノム解析 / トルコ / 診断法 / 制御法 / バベシア / マダニ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

(1) We conducted a molecular survey of tick-borne protozoan diseases in horses, cattle, sheep, and goats over a wide area, mainly in the central region of Turkey. As a result, it was found that protozoa of the genus Babesia and Theileria spp. infect these domestic animals at high rates. (2) We isolated the sheep Babesia (B. ovis), which is most widely distributed in Turkey and poses an economic threat, and established an experimental infection system using sheep. (3) We analyzed the entire genome sequence of B. ovis and constructed a genome database. (4) Based on the genome database, we identified promising antigen molecules (BoSA1/BoSA2: merozoite surface/secretory antigens). (5) ELISAs for detecting specific antibody or sculpting antigens based on recombinant BoSA1/BoSA2 were established. (6) These method will contribute to control ovine babesiosis effetely in Turkey.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

この研究では、トルコにおける羊に広範に流行し、もっとも大きな経済損失を与えているバベシア株を特定し、その全ゲノムの解析を行い、ゲノムデータベースを構築した。このゲノムデータベースに基づいて有望な診断抗原分子BoSA1/BoSA2を特定し、組換えBoSA1/BoSA2をベースとした羊バベシア症に対する迅速診断法を確立した。この診断法を有効利用することにより今後羊バベシア症を迅速・正確に診断し、その対策を講ずる上で、画期的なことになると期待される。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Protozoan and rickettsial pathogens in ticks collected from infested cattle from Turkey (2022)
  • Author(s): Ji et al.
  • Journal Title: Pathogens Volume: 11 Issue: 5 Pages: 500-500
  • DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050500
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Asurvey on equine tick-borne diseases: The molecular detection of Babesia ovis DNA in Turkish racehorses (2021)
  • Author(s): Ceylan et al.
  • Journal Title: Ticks Tick Borne Dis Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Pages: 101784-101784
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101784
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Primary tick-borne pprotozoan and rickettsial infections of animals in Turkey (2021)
  • Author(s): Ceylan O et al.
  • Journal Title: Pathogens Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Pages: 231-231
  • DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020231
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] T-ck-borne hamoparasites of sheep: A molecular research in Turkey (2021)
  • Author(s): Cenlan O et al.
  • Journal Title: Pahtogens Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Pages: 162-162
  • DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020162
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Molecular detection and assessment of risk factors for tick-borne diseases in sheep and goats from turkey (2020)
  • Author(s): Benedicto et al.
  • Journal Title: Acta Parasitol Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Pages: 723-732
  • DOI: 10.2478/s11686-020-00207-0
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Assay methods for in vitro and in vivo anti-Babesia drug efficacy testing: Current progress, outlook, and challenges (2020)
  • Author(s): Rizk et al.
  • Journal Title: Vet Parasitol Volume: 279 Pages: 109013-109013
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.109013
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] ransient Transfection of the Zoonotic Parasite Babesia microti (2020)
  • Author(s): Liu M, Ji S, Rizk MA, Adjou Moumouni PF, Galon EM, Li J, Li Y, Zheng W, Benedicto B, Tumwebaze MA, Asada M, Xuan X
  • Journal Title: Pathogens Volume: 9(2) Issue: 2 Pages: 108-108
  • DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020108
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Ovine babesiosis: the main tick-borne disease of sheep in Turkey (2022)
  • Author(s): Seven et al.
  • Organizer: 4th International Symposium on Strategies for the Control of Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
• [Presentation] Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens among febrile sheep and goats from Turkey (2019)
  • Author(s): Benedicto et al.
  • Organizer: 第65回日本寄生虫学会・日本衛生動物学会北日本支部合同大会