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Hammami I, Timoumi O, Larbi I, Rekik S, Maghzaoua D, Gharbi M. First report of Sarcocystis falcatula in naturally infected Razorbill auks (Alca torda) collected in Tunisian Mediterranean Sea shores. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:193. [PMID: 38656629 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Sarcocystis spp. are apicomplexan cyst-forming parasites that can infect numerous vertebrates, including birds. Sarcosporidiosis infection was investigated in three muscles (breast, right and left thigh muscle) and one organ (heart) of four Razorbill auks (Alca torda) stranded between November and December 2022 on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Nabeul and Bizerte governorates, Northern Tunisia. Two of the four tested A. torda were PCR positive for 18S rRNA Sarcocystis spp. gene. Among the examined 16 muscles/organs, only one breast and one right thigh were Sarcocystis spp. PCR-positive (12.5% ± 8.3, 2/16). Our results showed a relatively high molecular prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in Razorbill auks (A. torda). Sarcocystis spp. sequence described in the present study (GenBank number: OR516818) showed 99.56-100% identity to Sarcocystis falcatula. In conclusion, our results confirmed the infection of Razorbill auks (A. torda) by S. falcatula. Further research is needed on different migratory seabirds' species in order to identify other Sarcocystis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Hammami
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Oumayma Timoumi
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Imen Larbi
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, LR 11 IPT 03, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Universite de Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Syrine Rekik
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Dhekra Maghzaoua
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratory of Parasitologie, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Univ. Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, 2020, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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Rekik S, Hammami I, Timoumi O, Maghzaoua D, Khamassi Khbou M, Schulz A, Groschup MH, Gharbi M. A Review on Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Infections in Tunisia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38457645 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic tick-borne disease, caused by an arbovirus of the genus Orthonairovirus and the family Nairoviridae. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is widespread in several regions of the world. While the virus is not pathogenic to all susceptible livestock and wild mammals, it can lead to severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. In this review, we compiled published data on CCHFV infections in humans, animals, and ticks in Tunisia. Based on that, we discussed the epidemiology and the distribution patterns of CCHFV infections highlighting the risk factors for this virus in the country. CCHF infection prevalence in humans was estimated to 2.76% (5/181) and 5% (2/38) in Tunisian febrile patients and Tunisian slaughterhouse workers, respectively. Concurrently, seroprevalence in domestic ungulates (sheep, goats, cattle, and dromedaries) ranged from zero to 89.7%, and only one Hyalomma impeltatum tick specimen collected from dromedaries in southern Tunisian was positive for CCHFV by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (0.6%; 1/165). As Tunisian studies on CCHFV are geographically scattered and limited due to very small sample sizes, further studies are needed to improve the knowledge on the epidemiology of CCHF in Tunisia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Rekik
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Ines Hammami
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Oumayma Timoumi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Dhekra Maghzaoua
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Médiha Khamassi Khbou
- Laboratory of Infectious Animal Diseases, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoonoses, and Sanitary Regulation, University of Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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