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Published on: July 23, 2017
Effects of anti-tick cocktail vaccine against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus
Saiki Imamura1, Satoru Konnai, Itabajara da Silva Júnior Vaz
1Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan.
Abstract:
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus serpin-3 (RAS-3), R. appendiculatus serpin-4 (RAS-4) and a 36-kDa immuno-dominant protein of R. appendiculatus (RIM36) were reported as candidate antigens for the anti-tick vaccine to control ixodid ticks. In the present study, we generated recombinant proteins of RAS-3 (rRAS-3), RAS-4 (rRAS-4) and RIM36 (rRIM36), and assessed their potency as an anti-tick cocktail vaccine in cattle model. RT-PCR analysis showed that RAS-3, RAS-4 and RIM36 transcripts were detected in both adult male and female ticks during feeding. Immunization of cattle with the combination of rRAS-3, rRAS-4 and rRIM36 had raised antibodies against all recombinants and anti-sera had reacted with the molecules from the tick salivary gland extract. Tick infestation challenge demonstrated protective immunity against female ticks, resulting in mortality rates of 39.5 and 12.8% for the vaccinated and control groups, respectively. Moreover, the mortality rate of Theileria parva-infected female ticks was 48.5 and 10.8% in the vaccinated and control group, respectively. In order to evaluate the levels of pathogen transmission capacity by T. parva-infected ticks fed on immunized cattle, the occurrence of T. parva in the bovine parotid lymph node and peripheral blood was also determined and quantified by real-time PCR. Although the infection with T. parva could not be protected by the vaccine, the occurrence of pathogen in peripheral blood was delayed 1 to 2 days after the infestation challenge in vaccinated group. These results suggest that this cocktail vaccine plays a role in the prevention of tick infestation.
Insights
A new anti-tick cocktail vaccine using recombinant proteins RAS-3, RAS-4, and RIM36 showed protective immunity in cattle against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus tick infestation. The vaccine reduced tick mortality and delayed pathogen transmission.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is a significant ixodid tick vector of diseases in cattle.
- Candidate antigens like RAS-3, RAS-4, and RIM36 have been identified for anti-tick vaccine development.
- Effective vaccines are crucial for controlling tick populations and tick-borne diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a cocktail vaccine comprising recombinant Rhipicephalus appendiculatus serpin-3 (rRAS-3), serpin-4 (rRAS-4), and immuno-dominant protein RIM36 (rRIM36) in a cattle model.
- To assess the vaccine's impact on tick infestation, mortality, and pathogen transmission.
Main Methods:
- Generation of recombinant proteins rRAS-3, rRAS-4, and rRIM36.
- Immunization of cattle with the recombinant protein cocktail.
- RT-PCR analysis to detect antigen transcripts in ticks.
- Antibody detection and reaction assays with tick salivary gland extracts.
- Tick infestation challenge experiments with naive and Theileria parva-infected ticks.
- Real-time PCR to quantify pathogen occurrence in cattle.
Main Results:
- RAS-3, RAS-4, and RIM36 transcripts were present in feeding adult ticks.
- Vaccinated cattle developed antibodies against the recombinant proteins.
- The cocktail vaccine induced protective immunity, significantly increasing female tick mortality (39.5% vs. 12.8% in controls).
- Vaccination also increased mortality in Theileria parva-infected ticks (48.5% vs. 10.8% in controls).
- While not preventing T. parva infection, the vaccine delayed pathogen presence in peripheral blood by 1-2 days.
Conclusions:
- The rRAS-3, rRAS-4, and rRIM36 cocktail vaccine demonstrates potential for controlling Rhipicephalus appendiculatus tick infestations in cattle.
- The vaccine contributes to reducing tick burden and delaying pathogen transmission, offering a novel strategy for tick control.
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