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Hemoplasmosis caused by Mycoplasma spp. have been associated with major economic losses in the global dairy production. Hemoplasma studies in the Philippines are limited despite its potential impact. This study mainly aimed to detect the presence of hemoplasma species in dairy water buffaloes and cattle and know their ectoparasite biodiversity in Bohol, Philippines. Detection of Mycoplasma spp. was performed using peripheral blood smear examination (PBSE) and standard PCR using whole blood samples collected from 100 dairy water buffaloes and 40 dairy cattle. Available records on the average annual, monthly and daily milk production were compared between PCR-positive and PCR-negative animals. Ectoparasites were manually collected and identified. While PBSE results were all negative, PCR testing showed that 80% (80 water buffaloes and 32 cattle) were positive for Mycoplasma spp. On the other hand, a total of 1436 ectoparasites were collected (609 Haematopinus and 827 Rhipicephalus spp.). DNA sequencing revealed that obtained sequences (193 bp) from 7 animals were 99.5 to 100% similar to registered Mycoplasma wenyonii sequences. The study reports the first molecular characterization of M. wenyonii in the Philippines and probably the first detection in dairy water buffaloes in Southeast Asia., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The water buffalo industry is a vital part of the Philippine livestock economy and is an essential contributor to the developing local dairy industry. Although relatively less susceptible to diseases, water buffaloes can still be infected and can act as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). However, limited information is available regarding the prevalence of tick-borne infections in water buffaloes in the Philippines. This study was conducted to identify TBPs harbored by water buffaloes and to characterize these pathogens molecularly. One hundred water buffalo blood samples collected from three areas in Bohol, Visayas region, Philippines were screened for various TBPs using pathogen-specific PCR assays. TBPs were detected in 46% of the samples (39% singly infected, 7% coinfected). The pathogens detected were Anaplasma marginale (29%), Babesia bovis (21%), and B. bigemina (3%). None of the blood samples were positive for Theileria annulata, T. orientalis, and B. ovata. A. marginale infection rates were significantly higher (37.5%) among water buffaloes aged ≤6 years (P = 0.046) than those >6 years old (18.2%) and was detected only in Bulgarian Murrah (36.1%) and US Murrah (25.9%) breeds. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that groEL sequences of A. marginale were 100% identical with isolates from the Philippines (Batangas and Cebu) and China. Two B. bigemina RAP-1a gene sequences were identical to each other and were homologous with previous isolates from Thailand, Indonesia, Uruguay, and the Philippines. Moreover, four B. bovis SBP-2 partial sequences obtained in this study had 92.4-99.7% identities. This study is the first molecular detection and characterization of A. marginale, B. bigemina and B. bovis in water buffaloes in the Visayas region, and the first molecular confirmation of B. bovis infection in water buffaloes in the country. The findings presented in this study may serve as baseline data for crafting effective tick-borne disease surveillance and prevention programs in Bohol and in the Philippines., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can cause anemia in horses. In the Philippines, serological detection of these parasites has only been reported in the Northern area (Luzon). In this study, 105 horses from Cebu and Bohol, Philippines were tested using peripheral blood smear examination (PBSE), immunochromatographic test (ICT) strips, and PCR. Clinical history, presenting clinical signs and complete blood count were obtained. Results revealed that although all horses were negative using PBSE, 23 (21.9%) were positive (12 for T. equi, and 11 for B. caballi) using ICT. PCR revealed 26 and 2 horses positive for T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. All positive horses showed no clinical signs. Partial DNA sequences of representative amplicons were found 100% identical to GenBank registered T. equi and B. caballi sequences. Statistical analyses revealed that location was found associated with T. equi PCR positivity and B. caballi seropositivity. This study documents the first serological detection of T. equi and B. caballi in horses in the southern area of the Philippines, and their first molecular detection and characterization in the country., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain to be a global animal health threat. Developing countries like the Philippines is not exempt to this. Despite the potential impact TBDs can give to these countries, local government initiatives and researches remain to be limited. In the Philippines, most epidemiological studies were confined only to specific areas, and predominantly in the Northern Area. Due to its unique geography and limited studies, the current nationwide status of most TBDs could not be clearly established. This review mainly covered published studies and presented challenges in the conduct of TBD research in the Philippines, which may be similar to other Southeast Asian or developing countries. To date, reported livestock TBD pathogens in the Philippines include Anaplasma, Babesia, Theileria, and Mycoplasma spp. With the ubiquitous presence of the Rhipicephalus microplus ticks in the country, it is highly probable that other pathogens transmitted by these vectors could be present. Despite studies on different TBDs in the livestock sector, the Philippine government has not yet heightened its efforts to implement tick control measures as part of the routine animal health program for local farmers. Further studies might be needed to determine the nationwide prevalence of TBDs and the presence of other possible tick species and TBD pathogens. The Philippine scenario may present situations that are similar to other developing countries., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Babesia vogeli is a tick-borne protozoal pathogen that infects erythrocytes. In Southeast Asia, this pathogen has only been reported in Thailand. In this study, nine dogs presented at three different veterinary clinics in Cebu City, Philippines were found positive for B. vogeli. DNA was extracted from blood samples and tested using a PCR for genus Babesia and a PCR specific for B. vogeli (both based on the 18S rRNA gene). Blood smears (triplicate) from each sample were found negative. All positive amplicons were sequenced and were found to be 99.4% identical to registered B. vogeli sequences at Genbank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed monophyletic grouping of Philippine sequences with the registered A. platys Genbank sequences. This is the first report of B. vogeli infection in dogs in the Philippines., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2016.10.001.The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Despite the large population of stray dogs in Thailand, there is limited information on the prevalence of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs). In this study, a molecular survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Babesia spp., Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon spp., Anaplasma platys and Mycoplasma spp. in dogs in Thailand. Of the 181 dog blood samples tested by PCR, 78/181 (43.1%) were found to be infected with one or more pathogens. The overall prevalence rates of Mycoplasma spp., Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., A. platys and E. canis infections were 19.9%, 18.8%, 9.4%, 4.4% and 3.9%, respectively. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Mycoplasma infection in Thailand in dogs. The current findings are important for future surveillance of CVBDs and designing appropriate approaches for diagnosis and control for the diseases in Thailand., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Theileria orientalis and hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas) can cause anemia in cattle. Cattle infected with one of these two pathogens tend to resist infection by the other pathogen. This is called the "interference phenomenon". However, the detailed investigation of this phenomenon using molecular techniques has not been performed until now. We used PCR to analyze blood samples from cattle grazing in two pastures, and investigated interference between T. orientalis and hemoplasmas. Results indicate that single infection with T. orientalis or hemoplasmas was more common than co-infections. The degree of anemia observed in co-infected animals was significantly milder compared to those only infected with T. orientalis. These findings revealed that the interaction between these two pathogens in cattle demonstrated interference., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ehrlichia canis infection of dogs in the Philippines has been detected by serological and peripheral blood smear examination methods, but not by molecular means. Anaplasma platys infection in dogs has not yet been officially reported, although it is suspected to occur in the country. Thus, sensitive and specific molecular techniques were used in this study to demonstrate the presence of both E. canis and A. platys in the Philippines. A total of 164 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks was collected from 36 dogs. Seven tick samples were found positive with E. canis and one sample with A. platys. To further characterize these pathogens, molecular analyses based on citrate synthase and heat-shock operon genes were also performed. Philippine strains were found to be not divergent from strains from other countries. The present results are the first molecular detection and analyses of E. canis and A. platys in ticks from dogs in the Philippines., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)