Dromedary camels are the natural reservoirs of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Camels are mostly bred in East African countries then exported into Africa and Middle East ...for consumption. To understand the distribution of MERS-CoV among camels in North Africa and the Middle East, we conducted surveillance in Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. We also performed longitudinal studies of three camel herds in Egypt and Jordan to elucidate MERS-CoV infection and transmission. Between 2016 and 2018, a total of 4027 nasal swabs and 3267 serum samples were collected from all countries. Real- time PCR revealed that MERS-CoV RNA was detected in nasal swab samples from Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia. Microneutralization assay showed that antibodies were detected in all countries. Positive PCR samples were partially sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was built. The tree suggested that all sequences are of clade C and sequences from camels in Egypt formed a separate group from previously published sequences. Longitudinal studies showed high seroprevalence in adult camels. These results indicate the widespread distribution of the virus in camels. A systematic active surveillance and longitudinal studies for MERS-CoV are needed to understand the epidemiology of the disease and dynamics of viral infection.
Dromedary camels are natural host of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, there are limited studies of MERS-CoV infection of other domestic mammals exposed to ...infected dromedaries. We expanded our surveillance among camels in Egypt, Tunisia, and Senegal to include other domestic mammalian species in contact with infected camels. A total of 820 sera and 823 nasal swabs from cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, buffaloes, mules, and horses were collected. Swabs were tested using RT-PCR and virus RNA-positive samples were genetically sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. Sera were screened using virus microneutralization tests and positive sera (where available) were confirmed using plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNT). We detected 90% PRNT confirmed MERS-CoV antibody in 35 (55.6%) of 63 sera from sheep collected from Senegal, two sheep (1.8%) of 114 in Tunisia and a goat (0.9%) of 107 in Egypt, with titres ranging from 1:80 to ≥1:320. We detected MERS-CoV RNA in swabs from three sheep (1.2%) of 254 and five goats (4.1%) of 121 from Egypt and Senegal, as well as one cow (1.9%) of 53 and three donkeys (7.1%) of 42 from Egypt. Partial sequences of the RT-PCR amplicons confirmed specificity of the results. This study showed that domestic livestock in contact with MERS-CoV infected camels may be at risk of infection. We recommend expanding current MERS-CoV surveillance in animals to include other livestock in close contact with dromedary camels. The segregation of camels from other livestock in farms and live animal markets may need to be considered.
Phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary history and systematics of tapeworms of the family Catenotaeniidae were studied using nucleotide sequences of the partial 28S nuclear rDNA (ca. 1,500 bp) and ...mitochondrial 12S–16S DNA (ca. 820 bp) genes. The tapeworm material consists of 29 species, including type species of the genera Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904, Catenotaenioides Haukisalmi, Hardman and Henttonen, 2010, Pseudocatenotaenia Tenora, Mas‐Coma, Murai and Feliu, 1980, Skrjabinotaenia Akhumyan, 1946, Meggittina Lynsdale, 1953, and Hemicatenotaenia Tenora, 1977. The basal phylogenetic structure of the Catenotaeniidae remains unresolved, but it is shown that most of the catenotaeniids in Eurasia and Africa comprise a large clade represented by species of Catenotaenia, Catenotaenioides, Skrjabinotaenia and Meggittina, parasitizing murid, cricetid, nesomyid and sciurid rodents. The results suggest that the divergence and early radiation of this clade have occurred in murid rodents (represented by Apodemus spp. and Mus musculus in the present material) in western Eurasia, followed by colonization of Africa, most likely independently of the colonization of their murid hosts between these continents. There is very little evidence of cophylogeny between hosts and parasites, suggesting that host transfers have played a major role in the divergence of catenotaeniids. In Africa, catenotaeniids have radiated in other murid and nesomyid rodents, and later colonized Madagascar and recolonized Eurasia. The results also show that the subfamily Skrjabinotaeniinae (including Skrjabinotaenia and Meggittina) is monophyletic, but the Catenotaeniinae (including Catenotaenia, Catenotaenioides, Pseudocatenotaenia and Hemicatenotaenia) is clearly non‐monophyletic. In addition, the genera Catenotaenia and Skrjabinotaenia were both found to be non‐monophyletic. Based on the phylogenetic and morphological evidence, several taxonomical changes, mainly new combinations, are proposed. Overall, the present results suggest that the family Catenotaeniidae is in need of major systematic revision.
Meggittina numida
n. sp. (Cyclophyllidea: Catenotaeniidae: Skrjabinotaeniinae) is described from the small intestine of the Shaw’s jird
Meriones shawi
(Duvernoy) (Rodentia, Muridae, Gerbillinae) ...trapped in central Tunisia. The new species can be distinguished from the four other members of
Meggittina
Lynsdale, 1953 by the high number of proglottids (8–25
vs
max. 6) and by the elongated strobila (8.2–60 mm in length
vs
max. 5.6 mm).
M numida
n. sp. further differs from
M. cricetomydis
(Hockley, 1961) in the direction of gravid proglottids; from
M. baeri
Lynsdale, 1953 in having narrower and much longer strobila; from
M. aegyptiaca
(Wolfgang, 1956) in the greater number of testes and the larger cirrus-sac; and from
M. gerbilli
in the position of the genital pore. The diagnosis of
Meggittina
is amended in order to include the most specific features of
M. numida
n. sp. as follows: strobila consisting of a small scolex, wide neck and one to twenty-five proglottids. This is the first species of
Meggittina
described from Tunisia. The taxonomic relationships of
Meggittina
spp. are discussed in the light of the description of the new species.
Assessing the extant distribution of wildlife species is a crucial step towards promoting their protection and management in the light of global biodiversity decline, and even more so when ...threatened, vulnerable, rare, or endemic taxa are concerned. In this context, we present an overview of the biogeography of two freshwater turtle species, namely the Mediterranean pond turtle Mauremys leprosa and the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis, as a basis for Conservation Action Plans. Mauremys leprosa is widely distributed in the north and centre of Tunisia and has viable populations in most of the study sites. Based on the evaluation of its biogeography, the size, structure and genetics of four populations, it appears that this species is currently not threatened in Tunisia. In contrast, E. orbicularis, which is represented in eastern Algeria and Tunisia by an endemic, undescribed subspecies, was absent from 11 historical sites in Tunisia, and only isolated small populations and scattered individuals were present in the extreme north of the country. Our study thus suggests that this subspecies is declining in Tunisia and its status is probably close to Endangered (EN). Therefore, it needs special attention and urgent conservation measures.
The tufted ghost crab Ocypode cursor (Linnaeus, 1758) is the only Ocypode species present in the Mediterranean Sea. It is widely distributed in the eastern Mediterranean, but its presence in the ...central Mediterranean Sea is confirmed mainly in the south coasts of Sicily and Malta. The present study reports the first record of the species in the centeral and the southern coasts of Tunisia.
PDF
