Dermacentor variabilis Does Not Transstadially Transmit the U.S. Isolate of Theileria orientalis Ikeda: A Controlled Acquisition and Transmission Study

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In this paper, the authors examined whether D. variabilis can transstadially transmit T. orientalis or not. Although the result was negative data, they provided valuable information for this parasite’s transmission. The manuscript is well written and I have just a few comments for this manuscript.

Comments

1. Though the authors discussed in the last paragraph, ① the ability of ticks to transmit the piroplasma parasites, and ② competency of the parasite to undergo tick stage lifecycle are key of this experiment. If the authors have information regarding the following points, I recommend adding the information.

① Have this D. variabilis colony proven transmission of T. equi or any other piroplasma parasites?

② The authors have shown H. longicornis can transmit T. orientalis. Did they use the same batch of the parasites (or have they confirmed this batch of the parasites can transmit in any ticks)?

If ① and ② are not clear, I recommend the authors to tone down the title.

2. The authors should check the abbreviations in the manuscript and they should spell them out in the manuscript (I mean not in the figure legends).

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The Mekata et al. result (10%) is quite different to those presented by Lawrence et al. 2016 (0%), Hammer et al 2016 (0%) and Swilks et al., 2017 (2%). If trans-placental fetal infection can lead to abortion, then logically the calves shouldn't take 3 months to become PCR positive. Was the Mekata study flawed, maybe the calves were left on dams allowing transmission by lice?

Line 52 Abortions are not always a common occurrence with infection, see.

Cluster analysis of the clinical histories of cattle affected with bovine anaemia associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda type infection.

KE Lawrence , SF Forsyth, BL Vaatstra, AMJ McFadden, DJ Pulford , K

Govindaraju & WE Pomroy

Line 89 please give full name for PPE abbreviation.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

In the study titled "Dermacentor variabilis's Vector Capacity for Transmitting Theileria orientalis Ikeda's U.S. Isolate to Cattle," conducted by Onzere et al., the researchers investigated the vector capacity of D. variabilis. Given the limited number of researchers conducting such studies worldwide, the data presented in this manuscript holds significant value. However, the manuscript requires revisions before it can be considered for publication.

Line 205: Were the cattle used in the experiment examined for theileria babesia anaplasm before the experiment? Following the splenectomy operation, a period of 4-8 weeks was observed, and at the end of this period, to account for the possibility of relapse, were they re-examined for Theileria, Babesia, and Anaplasma?

Line 216: MPSP should be italic.

D. variabilis is known to be a 3-host tick. The authors used unfed nymphs for transtadial transmission. Why weren't unfed larvae used?

How was PPE calculated? Where did the blood samples come from? Please specify in the method section.

Lines 113-117: After four days of feeding, five male and five female ticks were removed from each calf, dissected, and their salivary glands tested for T. orientalis via PCR. T. orientalis was not detected in the salivary glands of any of the assayed ticks (Table 2), suggesting that D. variabilis ticks did not acquire T. orientalis while feeding on Calf 1.

 It is very valuable for the authors to show this data, but we do not know how many percent of ticks are infected transtadially. Therefore, more ticks could be examined here.

Lines 91-93: Calf 1 did not develop any clinical signs of severe T. orientalis, and no other significant abnormalities were detected on CBC or serum chemistry panel.

Why didn't clinical infection develop in Calf 1. Can you give some information about how many passages the blood stabilate used here is? Is there an attenuation in the blood stabilate used?

Lines 195-199: Please add reference.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf