Growth of Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater, in a tick cell line.

ruminantium) grown in tick cell lines

• Heartwater can cause high mortality amongst cattle, sheep and goats. It is caused by the tick-borne organism Cowdria ruminantium. • The disease has a major impact upon the development of livestock owning communities especially those in small-holder dairy schemes. • Existing vaccines against heartwater, a tickborne disease which is a major constraint to small ruminant production in sub-Saharan...

A chemically defined medium for the growth of Cowdria ruminantium.

Chemically defined media, termed SFMC-23 and SFMC-36, were devised for the in vitro culture of Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater in domestic ruminants. Both media were based on Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium nutrient mixture Ham F-12 (DME/F-12) containing various supplements. Medium SFMC-23 and SFMC-36 supported the long-term growth of the Welgevonden stock of C. rumina...

Detection of the agent of heartwater, Cowdria ruminantium, in Amblyomma ticks by PCR: validation and application of the assay to field ticks.

We have previously reported that the pCS20 PCR detection assay for Cowdria ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater disease of ruminants, is more sensitive than xenodiagnosis and the pCS20 DNA probe for the detection of infection in the vector Amblyomma ticks. Here, we further assessed the reliability of the PCR assay and applied it to field ticks. The assay detected DNA of 37 isolates of...

Identification of drugs effective against Cowdria ruminantium using a mouse screening system.

Heartwater is a tick-transmitted rickettsial infection of ruminants, caused by Cowdria ruminantium. The tetracyclines are the only compounds available for therapy of the disease. A screen, using mice infected with C. ruminantium, was developed and used to identify new compounds with potential for the control of heartwater. A series of di-4-methyl-thiosemicarbazones was shown to be highly active...

DFID ANIMAL HEALTH PROGRAMME PROJECT R7363 FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT Investigation of the immunogenic potential of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium) grown in tick cell lines