Investigation of Tickborne Pathogens within Naturally Infected Brown Dog Tick (Ixodidae: Rhipicephalus Sanguineus) in Egypt by Light and Electron Microscopy

Abstract

Tick borne pathogens present a significant health challenge to animals and human because a single tick may transmit multiple pathogens to a mammalian host during feeding. The present study detected tick-borne pathogens from pet dogs. A total of 666 ticks were collected from 144 pet and sheltered dogs in Egypt from April to September 2018. For hemolymph, midgut and salivary gland smears 546 ticks were used as well as 360 egg smears from 120 female tick were examined by light microscope. The infected ticks were prepared for transmission electron microscopy. Ticks were identified; Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Light microscopy showed infection rates of 44.69, 68.50 and 15.75%, in hemolymph, midgut and salivary gland, respectively. Hepatozoon canis recorded the highest rates in hemolymph and midgut (49.82 and 35.89%, respectively), but Theileria spp. was the lowest (0.73 and 2.93%, respectively). In salivary gland smears, Babesia canis was detected in 13.55% and Theileria spp. in 1.83%. Mixed infection in same tick was recorded in 4.76 and 0.37% in midgut and salivary gland smears, respectively. Babesia canis stages were recovered from 15% of egg smears. R. sanguineus was naturally infected by Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon and Anaplasma phagocytophilum as well as mixed infections of protozoa accompanied by a complicated sign of diseases and failure in accurate diagnosis.