Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36399958›Full record

ArticleTicks and tick-borne diseases2023

Cytauxzoon felis in salivary glands of Amblyomma americanum.

Tzushan S Yang, Mason V Reichard, Jennifer E Thomas, Laura S Miller, Henry S Marr, Michael Karounos, Aaron J Bell, Adam J Birkenheuer

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 44% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Can Domestic Cats Act as Reservoirs ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Tzushan S YangDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Mason V ReichardDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Jennifer E ThomasDepartment of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
Laura S MillerDepartment of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Henry S MarrDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Michael KarounosDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA.
Aaron J BellAnalytical Instrumentation Facility, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
Adam J BirkenheuerDepartment of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA. Electronic address: ajbirken@ncsu.edu.
North Carolina State University · USOklahoma State University · US

Funding

Comparative Medicine and Translational Research Training ProgramT32OD011130 · OD · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · PI Lauren Virginia Schnabel · 2012 to 2026
$7.8M
NIH HHS T32 OD011130
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cytauxzoon felis is a tick-borne piroplasmid hemoparasite that causes life-threatening disease in cats. Despite the critical role that ticks play in pathogen transmission, our knowledge regarding the C. felis life cycle remains limited to the feline hosts. Specific life stages of C. felis within the tick host have never been visualized microscopically and previous investigations have been limited to molecular detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sporozoites are the infectious stage of piroplasmids that are transmitted by ticks. In other tick-borne piroplasmids, sporozoite-based vaccines play a key role in disease prevention and management. We believe sporozoites have similar potential for cytauxzoonosis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use different molecular and microscopic techniques to detect and evaluate C. felis sporozoites in tick salivary glands (SG). A total of 140 Amblyomma americanum adults that were fed on C. felis-infected cats as nymphs were included for this study. Specifically, dissected SGs were quartered and subjected to C. felis RT-PCR, RNAscope® in situ hybridization (ISH), histology, direct azure staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytauxzoon felis RT-PCR was also performed on half tick (HT) carcasses after SG dissection. Cytauxzoon felis RNA was detected in SGs of 17/140 ticks. Of these, 7/17 ticks had microscopic visualization via ISH and/or TEM. The remaining 10/17 ticks had only molecular detection of C. felis in SGs via RT-PCR without visualization. Cytauxzoon felis RNA was detected solely in HT carcasses via RT-PCR in 9/140 ticks. In ISH-positive tick SGs, hybridization signals were present in cytoplasms of SG acinar cells. TEM captured rare C. felis organisms with characteristic ultrastructural features of sporozoites. This study describes the first direct visualization of any developing stage of C. felis in ticks. Forthcoming studies should employ a combination of molecular and microscopic techniques to investigate the C. felis life cycle in A. americanum.

Indexed as

AmblyommaSalivary GlandsAnimalsCatsMicroscopy, Electron, TransmissionCytauxzoon felisIn situ hybridizationSalivary glandsSporozoitesTick

Identifiers

PMID36399958
PMCPMC10698755
OpenAlexW4306931945

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.