Rhipicephalus turanicus, a new vector of Hepatozoon canis

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 144; no. 6; pp. 730 - 737
• Main Authors: GIANNELLI, ALESSIO, LIA, RICCARDO PAOLO, ANNOSCIA, GIADA, BUONAVOGLIA, CANIO, LORUSSO, ELEONORA, DANTAS-TORRES, FILIPE, BANETH, GAD, OTRANTO, DOMENICO
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Accidents; Aging (natural); Amphibians; Amplification; Animals; Arachnid Vectors - parasitology; Arachnids; Biotechnology; Birds; Blood cells; Blood circulation; Bone marrow; Carnivores; Cell lines; Coccidiosis - transmission; Coccidiosis - veterinary; Collection; Controlled conditions; Cotton; Cultivation; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease transmission; Diseases; Dissection; DNA; Eggs; Eucoccidiida - growth & development; Eucoccidiida - physiology; Female; Females; Foxes - blood; Foxes - parasitology; Gastrointestinal tract; Hair; Hemolymph; Hygiene; Italy; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Leukocytes - parasitology; Life cycles; Male; Mammals; Medicine; Molting; Monocytes - parasitology; Morphology; Muscles; Organs; Oviposition; Parasitemia - parasitology; Parasitemia - veterinary; Parasitology; Pests; Polyethylenes; Protozoa; Reproduction (biology); Reptiles & amphibians; Rhipicephalus - parasitology; Sexual reproduction; Spatial distribution; Tick Infestations - parasitology; Tick Infestations - veterinary; Vectors; Vertebrates; Veterinary medicine; Hepatozoon canis; development; cells; sporogony; tick-borne pathogen; tick; Rhipicephalus turanicus; fox
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S003118201600250X

The distribution of Hepatozoon canis mainly encompasses areas where its main tick vector, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, is present. However, the detection of this pathogen in dogs, foxes and golden jackals well outside the areas inhabited by this tick species reinforced the hypothesis that additional ixodids are involved in the life cycle and transmission of this protozoon. The present study provides, for the first time, data supporting the sporogonic development of H. canis in specimens of Rhipicephalus turanicus collected from a naturally infected fox from southern Italy. The epidemiological role of R. turanicus as a vector of H. canis is discussed, along with information on the potential use of cell cultures for the experimental infection with H. canis sporozoites. The in vitro infection of canine leucocytes by sporozoites from ticks is proposed as a potential tool for future in-depth studies on the biology of H. canis.