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Kim KG, Hwang DJ, Park JW, Ryu MG, Kim Y, Yang SJ, Lee JE, Lee GS, Lee JH, Park JS, Seo JM, Kim SH. Distribution and pathogen prevalence of field-collected ticks from south-western Korea: a study from 2019 to 2022. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12336. [PMID: 38811622 PMCID: PMC11136998 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61126-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks are known vectors of various pathogens, including the severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp. This study aims to investigate the distribution and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in southwestern Korea from 2019 to 2022. A total of 13,280 ticks were collected during the study period, with H. longicornis accounting for 86.1% of the collected ticks. H. flava, I. nipponensis and A. testudinarium comprised 9.4%, 3.6%, and 0.8% of the ticks, respectively. Among 983 pools tested, Rickettsia spp. (216 pools, 1.6% MIR) were the most prevalent pathogens across all tick species, with R. japonica and R. monacensis frequently detected in I. nipponensis and Haemaphysalis spp., respectively. Borrelia spp. (28 pools, 0.2% MIR) were predominantly detected in I. nipponensis (27 pools, 13.8% MIR, P < 0.001). Co-infections, mainly involving Rickettsia monacensis and Borrelia afzelii, were detected in I. nipponensis. Notably, this study identified R. monacensis for the first time in A. testudinarium in South Korea. These findings offer valuable insights into the tick population and associated pathogens in the region, underscoring the importance of tick-borne disease surveillance and prevention measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang Gon Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea.
| | - Da Jeong Hwang
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Wook Park
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Geum Ryu
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Jin Yang
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Eun Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Gi Seong Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hye Lee
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Sun Park
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Mi Seo
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Hee Kim
- Division of Infectious Disease Investigation, Health and Environment Research Institute of Gwangju, 584 Mugindae-ro, Seo-gu, Gwangju, 61954, Republic of Korea.
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Mbiri P, Matomola OC, Muleya W, Mhuulu L, Diegaardt A, Noden BH, Changula K, Chimwamurombe P, Matos C, Weiss S, Nepolo E, Chitanga S. Molecular Detection and Characterization of Rickettsia Species in Ixodid Ticks from Selected Regions of Namibia. Microorganisms 2024; 12:912. [PMID: 38792739 PMCID: PMC11124484 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12050912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Rickettsial pathogens are among the emerging and re-emerging vector-borne zoonoses of public health importance. Reports indicate human exposure to Rickettsial pathogens in Namibia through serological surveys, but there is a lack of data on infection rates in tick vectors, hindering the assessment of the relative risk to humans. Our study sought to screen Ixodid ticks collected from livestock for the presence of Rickettsia species in order to determine infection rates in ticks and to determine the Rickettsia species circulating in the country. We collected and pooled Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus ticks from two adjacent regions of Namibia (Khomas and Otjozondjupa) and observed an overall minimum Rickettsia infection rate of 8.6% (26/304), with an estimated overall pooled prevalence of 9.94% (95% CI: 6.5-14.3). There were no statistically significant differences in the estimated pooled prevalence between the two regions or tick genera. Based on the nucleotide sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis of the outer membrane protein A (n = 9) and citrate synthase (n = 12) genes, BLAST analysis revealed similarity between Rickettsia africae (n = 2) and Rickettsia aeschlimannii (n = 11), with sequence identities ranging from 98.46 to 100%. Our initial study in Namibia indicates that both zoonotic R. africae and R. aeschlimannii are in circulation in the country, with R. aeschlimannii being the predominant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pricilla Mbiri
- Department of Production Animal Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia;
| | - Ophelia Chuma Matomola
- Department of Preclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia;
| | - Walter Muleya
- Department of Preclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Lusia Mhuulu
- Department of Human Biology and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia; (L.M.); (A.D.); (E.N.)
| | - Azaria Diegaardt
- Department of Human Biology and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia; (L.M.); (A.D.); (E.N.)
| | - Bruce Howard Noden
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA;
| | - Katendi Changula
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka 10101, Zambia;
| | - Percy Chimwamurombe
- Department of Natural and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science & Technology, Windhoek 10005, Namibia;
| | - Carolina Matos
- Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (C.M.); (S.W.)
| | - Sabrina Weiss
- Centre for International Health Protection, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (C.M.); (S.W.)
| | - Emmanuel Nepolo
- Department of Human Biology and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia; (L.M.); (A.D.); (E.N.)
| | - Simbarashe Chitanga
- Department of Preclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Private Bag 13301, Windhoek 10005, Namibia;
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 50110, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
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Gual-Gonzalez L, Self SCW, Zellars K, Meyer M, Dye-Braumuller KC, Evans CL, Cantillo-Barraza O, Torres MW, Nolan MS. Eco-epidemiology of Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia parkeri in naturally infected ticks (Acari: Ixodida) from South Carolina. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:33. [PMID: 38273414 PMCID: PMC10811935 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06099-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is the largest group of Rickettsia species of clinical and veterinary importance emerging worldwide. Historically, SFGR cases were linked to Rickettsia rickettsii, the causal agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; however, recently discovered species Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia amblyommatis have been shown to cause a wide range of clinical symptoms. The role of R. amblyommatis in SFGR eco-epidemiology and the possible public health implications remain unknown. METHODS This study evaluated statewide tick surveillance and land-use classification data to define the eco-epidemiological relationships between R. amblyommatis and R. parkeri among questing and feeding ticks collected across South Carolina between 2021 and 2022. Questing ticks from state parks and feeding ticks from animal shelters were evaluated for R. parkeri and R. amblyommatis using reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) on pooled samples. A Bayesian multivariable logistic regression model for pool testing data was used to assess associations between R. parkeri or R. amblyommatis infection and land-use classification variables among questing ticks. The Spearman correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between the two tested pathogens. RESULTS The infection prevalence for R. amblyommatis was 24.8% (23.4-26.3%) among questing ticks, and 39.5% (37.4-42.0%) among feeding ticks; conversely, for R. parkeri it was 19.0% (17.6-20.5%) among questing ticks and 22.4% (20.3-24.5%) among feeding ticks. A negative, refractory correlation was found between the species, with ticks significantly more likely to contain one or the other pathogen, but not both simultaneously. The Bayesian analysis revealed that R. amblyommatis infection was positively associated with deciduous, evergreen, and mixed forests, and negatively associated with hay and pasture fields, and emergent herbaceous wetlands. Rickettsia parkeri infection was positively associated with deciduous, mixed, and evergreen forests, herbaceous vegetation, cultivated cropland, woody wetlands, and emergent herbaceous wetlands, and negatively associated with hay and pasture fields. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to evaluate the eco-epidemiological factors driving tick pathogenicity in South Carolina. The negative interactions between SFGR species suggest the possible inhibition between the two pathogens tested, which could have important public health implications. Moreover, land-use classification factors revealed environments associated with tick pathogenicity, highlighting the need for tick vector control in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Gual-Gonzalez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Stella C W Self
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Kia Zellars
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Madeleine Meyer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | | | - Chris L Evans
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, South Carolina Public Health Laboratory, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Omar Cantillo-Barraza
- Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Myriam W Torres
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Melissa S Nolan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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Majid A, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T, Yen TY, Tsai KH, Ali A. First report of spotted fever group Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Hyalomma turanicum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi infesting domestic animals: updates on the epidemiology of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1283814. [PMID: 38163073 PMCID: PMC10756324 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Rickettsia spp. have long been known as causative agents for zoonotic diseases. We have previously characterized Rickettsia spp. in different ticks infesting a broad range of hosts in Pakistan; however, knowledge regarding Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma ticks is missing. This study aimed to obtain a better understanding about R. aeschlimannii in Pakistan and update the knowledge about its worldwide epidemiology. Among 369 examined domestic animals, 247 (66%) were infested by 872 ticks. Collected ticks were morphologically delineated into three genera, namely, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, and Haemaphysalis. Adult females were the most prevalent (number ₌ 376, 43.1%), followed by nymphs (303, 34.74%) and males (193, 22.13%). Overall, genomic DNA samples of 223 tick were isolated and screened for Rickettsia spp. by the amplification of rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB partial genes using conventional PCR. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8 of 223 (3.58%) ticks including nymphs (5 of 122, 4.0%) and adult females (3 of 86, 3.48%). The rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences were detected in Hyalomma turanicum (2 nymphs and 1 adult female), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (1 nymph and 1 adult female), and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (2 nymphs and 1 adult female). These rickettsial sequences showed 99.71-100% identity with R. aeschlimannii and phylogenetically clustered with the same species. None of the tested Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis cornupunctata, and Haemaphysalis sulcata ticks were found positive for rickettsial DNA. Comprehensive surveillance studies should be adopted to update the knowledge regarding tick-borne zoonotic Rickettsia species, evaluate their risks to humans and livestock, and investigate the unexamined cases of illness after tick bite among livestock holders in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Majid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tsai-Ying Yen
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
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Hoang MTT, Ngo VP, Stenos J, Ng-Nguyen D. The presence of Rickettsia felis in communities in the central highlands of Vietnam. Acta Trop 2023; 248:107034. [PMID: 37793492 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.107034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia felis is an emerging flea-borne spotted fever pathogen that causes febrile illness in humans. In Vietnam, R. felis was detected in hospitalized patients, but there is no information on its presence in the Vietnamese community. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the presence of R. felis in humans of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. A total of 158 blood and 213 serum samples were subjected to PCR and IFAT, respectively, to detect the presence of R. felis DNA and antibodies against R. felis. PCR assays detected R. felis DNA in four out of 158 blood samples, accounting for a prevalence of 2.53 % (95 % CI: 0.81 %-6.76 %). Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of R. felis and R. felis genotype RF2125 in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The result of IFAT identified seven out of 213 serum samples (3.29 %, 95 % CI: 1.45 %-6.93 %) positive for antibodies against R. felis. This study was the first to demonstrate the presence of active R. felis infections in the communities in the Central Highlands of Vietnam utilizing both molecular and serological methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh-Trang Thi Hoang
- Faculty of Medicine, Buon Ma Thuot Medical University, 298 Ha Huy Tap St., Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam
| | - Van-Phuong Ngo
- Faculty of Medicine, Buon Ma Thuot Medical University, 298 Ha Huy Tap St., Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Dinh Ng-Nguyen
- Faculty of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Tay Nguyen University, 567 Le Duan St., Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province, Vietnam.
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Xue J, Chen SS, Jian R, Chen GQ, Xie G, Du L, Guo WP. Molecular evidence of Rickettsia canadensis in ticks, Hebei, China. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 115:105506. [PMID: 37742909 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
China was affected severely by tick-borne rickettsiosis, and more than 10 Rickettsia species pathogenic to humans have been identified. In recent years, several Rickettsia members, with unknown pathogenicity, firstly identified abroad have been found in China. In this study, parasitic and questing ticks were recovered from two sampling sites in Hebei, China. Specific primers targeting outer membrane protein B (ompB) gene were designed to test the presence of Rickettsia canadensis by nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). As a result, a total of 428 ticks, including 232 ticks (including 230 Haemaphysalis longicornis and two H. japonica) from Laiyuan County and 196 (H. longicornis) from Luanping County, were collected. Sequencing of PCR products with the expected size and subsequently BLAST showed that 38H. longicornis ticks tested positive for R. canadensis, with an overall positive rate of 8.8%. In addition, 800-bp ompB gene and nearly complete citrate synthase (gltA) gene were recovered from six randomly selected positive samples to better understand their genetic characteristics. Nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analyses showed that R. canadensis presented geographical clustering with evidence that variants identified in the current study presented closer genetic relationship with others identified in Asian than those found in North America. In addition, epidemiological data suggested that H. longicornis may be the competent vector, and more attention should be paid to R. canadensis due to its zoonotic potential. In sum, R. canadensis was confirmed to be present in Hebei Province, China, and its surveillance in ticks should be strengthened due to potential pathogenicity, higher positive rate in ticks and wide distribution of possible vector tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xue
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Si-Si Chen
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Rui Jian
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Guo-Qing Chen
- Yancheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guangcheng Xie
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Luanying Du
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Wen-Ping Guo
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China.
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Babu NN, Jayaram A, Auti AM, Bhandari Y, Shetty U, Arunkumar G. Rickettsia africae and other unclassified Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group in ticks of the Western Ghats, India. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 90:429-440. [PMID: 37347433 PMCID: PMC10406665 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00814-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
The spotted fever group (SFG) of Rickettsia are zoonotic disease-causing pathogens, commonly transmitted by hard ticks to a wide range of hosts, including humans. Rickettsia conorii is the common SFG recognised in India, whereas most of the infections due to other group species go undifferentiated at the species level. Hence, this study was conducted to screen host-seeking ticks in the Western Ghats region, India, for the DNA of SFG Rickettsia. The ticks were collected from Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra states of India during a survey conducted between November 2017 and January 2018. In total, 288 tick pools were screened for Rickettsia spp. DNA using pan-Rickettsia real-time PCR, and conventional PCR targeting the gltA, OmpA and 17-kDa protein-coding genes. Nucleotide sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using the NCBI BLAST tool to identify submitted sequences with higher homology. Neighbour-joining trees were constructed using the reference sequences of the GenBank database. Overall, Rickettsia spp. DNA was detected in 27.2% (62/228 pools) of host-seeking ticks across the Western Ghats region, with an estimated minimum infection rate of 0.057. Upon phylogenetic analysis, it was identified that the detected sequences were highly similar (> 99% sequence homology) to R. africae, Candidatus R. laoensis and an un-categorised Rickettsia species, and they were widely carried by Haemaphysalis ticks. The current study is the first report of R. africae and Candidatus R. laoensis in ticks in India. Although the pathogenicity of these species is not well documented, they may pose a potential threat to both animal and the human population in this geographical region.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Naren Babu
- Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University), Manipal, India.
| | - Anup Jayaram
- Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University), Manipal, India
| | - Amogh Milind Auti
- Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University), Manipal, India
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania 'Luigi vanvitelli', Naples, Italy
| | - Yuvraj Bhandari
- Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University), Manipal, India
| | - Ujwal Shetty
- Manipal Institute of Virology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University), Manipal, India
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Chaloemthanetphong A, Ahantarig A, Apanaskevich DA, Hirunkanokpun S, Baimai V, Trinachartvanit W. A novel Rickettsia, Candidatus Rickettsia takensis, and the first record of Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis in Dermacentor from Northwestern Thailand. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10044. [PMID: 37344542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Three hundred and forty-four tick samples were collected from vegetation at Taksin Maharat National Park, Tak province, northwestern Thailand. They were morphologically identified and molecularly confirmed by 16S rRNA and COI genes as Dermacentor laothaiensis (n = 105), D. steini (n = 139), and D. auratus (n = 100). These ticks were examined for the spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGRs) using PCR and DNA sequencing of six genes; 17-kDa, gltA, 16S rRNA, ompA, ompB, and sca4. Of these ticks, 6.10% (21/344) gave positive results for the presence of SFGRs. Phylogenetic analyses of the SFGRs clearly indicated that a novel genotype assigned as Candidatus Rickettsia takensis was detected in D. laothaiensis (19/105) and at lesser frequency in D. steini (1/139). Furthermore, Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis was also found at a low frequency in D. auratus (1/100), the first record in Thailand. Although, the pathogenicities of these SFGRs remain unknown, our findings suggest potential risks of SFGRs being transmitted via ticks near the border between Thailand and Myanmar, a gateway of daily migrations of local people and visitors both legal and illegal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aummarin Chaloemthanetphong
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Research Cluster, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Arunee Ahantarig
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Research Cluster, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- United States National Tick Collection, The James H. Oliver, Jr. Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30460-8056, USA
| | - Supanee Hirunkanokpun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Visut Baimai
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Research Cluster, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Wachareeporn Trinachartvanit
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Biodiversity Research Cluster, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Xiang Y, Zhou J, Yu F, Zhang Y, Li S, Hu Y, Liang W, Liu Q. Characterization of bacterial communities in ticks parasitizing cattle in a touristic location in southwestern China. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023:10.1007/s10493-023-00799-y. [PMID: 37285110 PMCID: PMC10293413 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00799-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate tick species around Mount Fanjing and analyze bacterial communities in two species - Rhipicephalus microplus and Haemaphysalis longicornis - parasitizing cattle in Tongren, Guizhou province, Southwest China, using high-throughput sequencing methods. In April 2019, ticks were collected from five sites in Jiangkou County, Yinjiang County, and Songtao County. In total, 296 ticks were collected, comprising two genera and three species: H. longicornis, Haemaphysalis flava, and R. microplus. Rhipicephalus microplus was the most representative species (57.4%) within the collected group, being the dominant species in Tongren City, followed by H. longicornis (39.5%) and H. flava (3.0%). Beta-diversity analysis revealed differences in bacterial community composition among the tick species. The bacterial community structure of R. microplus collected in the three counties was highly similar. Chlorella and Bacillus were highly abundant in H. longicornis. Rickettsia was detected at high relative abundance in R. microplus but in low relative abundance in H. longicornis, suggesting that Rickettsia is more associated with R. microplus than with H. longicornis. More in-depth investigations are needed to determine the pathogenic risk of Rickettsia and its relationship with the host. This is the first survey on tick-borne bacterial communities in this area, which is of great significance for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases locally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Xiang
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Jingzhu Zhou
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
| | - Fuxun Yu
- Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550002, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Shijun Li
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China
| | - Yong Hu
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China
| | - Wenqin Liang
- Guizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550004, China.
- School of Public Health, the key Laboratory of Environmental Polution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550025, China.
| | - Qiyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
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10
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Papp M, Tóth AG, Valcz G, Makrai L, Nagy SÁ, Farkas R, Solymosi N. Antimicrobial resistance gene lack in tick-borne pathogenic bacteria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8167. [PMID: 37210378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35356-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne infections, including those of bacterial origin, are significant public health issues. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, is driven by specific genetic determinants, primarily by the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of bacteria. In our work, we investigated the occurrence of ARGs in the genomes of tick-borne bacterial species that can cause human infections. For this purpose, we processed short/long reads of 1550 bacterial isolates of the genera Anaplasma (n = 20), Bartonella (n = 131), Borrelia (n = 311), Coxiella (n = 73), Ehrlichia (n = 13), Francisella (n = 959) and Rickettsia (n = 43) generated by second/third generation sequencing that have been freely accessible at the NCBI SRA repository. From Francisella tularensis, 98.9% of the samples contained the FTU-1 beta-lactamase gene. However, it is part of the F. tularensis representative genome as well. Furthermore, 16.3% of them contained additional ARGs. Only 2.2% of isolates from other genera (Bartonella: 2, Coxiella: 8, Ehrlichia: 1, Rickettsia: 2) contained any ARG. We found that the odds of ARG occurrence in Coxiella samples were significantly higher in isolates related to farm animals than from other sources. Our results describe a surprising lack of ARGs in these bacteria and suggest that Coxiella species in farm animal settings could play a role in the spread of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Papp
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Gréta Tóth
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Gábor Valcz
- Translational Extracellular Vesicle Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network-Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
- Department of Image Analysis, 3DHISTECH Ltd., Budapest, 1141, Hungary
| | - László Makrai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1143, Hungary
| | - Sára Ágnes Nagy
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary.
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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11
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Cao XQ, Gu XL, Zhang L, Xu J, Han HJ, Yu XJ. Molecular detection of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella in ticks from free-ranging sheep in Gansu Province, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102137. [PMID: 36738629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ticks pose a serious threat to public health as carriers and often vectors of zoonotic pathogens. There are few systematic studies on the prevalence and genetic diversity of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Western China. In this study, 465 ticks were collected from free-ranging sheep in Gansu Province in China. Ticks were divided into 113 pools and tick DNA was extracted from these ticks. PCR assays were performed using specific primers to screen for tick-borne pathogens as well as sequence analysis based on the 16S rRNA (rrs), ompB, gltA, ompA genes for Rickettsia, rrs, groEL genes for Anaplasma, and ssrA and rpoB genes for Bartonella. The PCR results showed that the minimum infection rates with Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella were 16.8% (78/465), 18.9% (88/465), and 0.9% (4/465), respectively. Sequence analysis based on the concatenated sequences of rrs-ompB-gltA-ompA indicated that the Rickettsia species identified in the ticks belonged to Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia slovaca, and Rickettsia sibirica, respectively; phylogenetic analysis based on the groEL gene showed that all Anaplasma strains identified were Anaplasma ovis; and phylogenetic analysis based on the ssrA and rpoB genes indicated that all Bartonella strains in the ticks belonged to Bartonella melophagi. The results of this study showed that ticks in Gansu Province harbored multiple pathogens that may cause rickettsial diseases and bartonellosis. These diseases were neglected in the area and physicians and public health workers need to pay attention to their diagnoses to prevent human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qian Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui-Ju Han
- School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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12
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Eriksson A, Filion A, Labruna MB, Muñoz-Leal S, Poulin R, Fischer E, Graciolli G. Effects of forest loss and fragmentation on bat-ectoparasite interactions. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1391-1402. [PMID: 37039866 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07839-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Human land use causes habitat loss and fragmentation, influencing host-parasite associations through changes in infestation rates, host mortality and possibly local extinction. Bat-ectoparasite interactions are an important host-parasite model possibly affected by such changes, as this system acts as both reservoirs and vectors of several pathogens that can infect different wild and domestic species. This study aimed to assess how the prevalence and abundance of bat ectoparasites respond to forest loss, fragmentation, and edge length. Bats and ectoparasites were sampled at twenty sites, forming a gradient of forest cover, in southwestern Brazil during two wet (2015 and 2016) and two dry (2016 and 2017) seasons. Effects of landscape metrics on host abundance as well as parasite prevalence and abundance were assessed through structural equation models. Nine host-parasite associations provided sufficient data for analyses, including one tick and eight flies on four bat species. Forest cover positively influenced the prevalence or abundance of three fly species, but negatively influenced one fly and the tick species. Prevalence or abundance responded positively to edge length for three fly species, and negatively for the tick. In turn, number of fragments influenced the prevalence or abundance of four fly species, two positively and two negatively. Our results support species-specific responses of ectoparasites to landscape features, and a tendency of host-generalist ticks to benefit from deforestation while most host-specialist flies are disadvantaged. Differences in host traits and abundance, along with parasite life cycles and environmental conditions, are possible explanations to our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Eriksson
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa E Silva S/N, CEP 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brasil.
- Departamento de Biologia e Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, nº 2367, CEP 78060-900, Cuiabá, Brasil.
| | - Antoine Filion
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebástian Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Casilla 537, 3780000, Chillán, Chile
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Erich Fischer
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa E Silva S/N, CEP 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brasil
| | - Gustavo Graciolli
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Avenida Costa E Silva S/N, CEP 79070-900, Campo Grande, Brasil
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13
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Zhang YY, Sun YQ, Chen JJ, Teng AY, Wang T, Li H, Hay SI, Fang LQ, Yang Y, Liu W. Mapping the global distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae: a systematic review with modelling analysis. Lancet Digit Health 2023; 5:e5-e15. [PMID: 36424337 PMCID: PMC10039616 DOI: 10.1016/s2589-7500(22)00212-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging and re-emerging spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are increasingly recognised worldwide as threats to public health, yet their global distribution and associated risk burden remain poorly understood. METHODS In this systematic review and modelling analysis, we mapped global distributions of all confirmed species of SFG rickettsiae (SFGR) detected in animals, vectors, and human beings, using data collected from the literature. We assessed ecological drivers for the distributions of 17 major SFGR species using machine learning algorithms, and mapped model-predicted risks. FINDINGS Between Jan 1, 1906, and March 31, 2021, we found reports of 48 confirmed SFGR species, with 66 133 human infections worldwide, with a large spatial variation across the continents. 198 vector species were detected to carry 47 of these Rickettsia spp. (146 ticks, 24 fleas, 15 mosquitoes, six mites, four lice, two keds, and one bug). Based on model-predicted global distributions of the 17 major SFGR species, we found five spatial clusters aggregated by ecological similarity in terms of environmental and ecoclimatic features. Rickettsia felis is the leading SFGR species to which 4·4 billion (95% CI 3·8-5·3 billion) people are at risk, followed by Rickettsia conorii (3·7 billion) and Rickettsia africae (3·6 billion). INTERPRETATION The wide spectrum of vectors is contributing substantially to the increasing incidence of SFGR infections among humans. Awareness, diagnosis, and surveillance of SFGR infections should be improved in the high-risk regions, especially in areas where human infections are underreported. FUNDING National Key Research and Development Program of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yan-Qun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ai-Ying Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Simon I Hay
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China; Shanghai Institute of Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Statistics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China; Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China; Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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14
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First detection and molecular identification of Rickettsia massiliae, a human pathogen, in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from Southern Taiwan. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010917. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rickettsia massiliae was firstly detected and identified in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks infested on dogs in Taiwan. A total of 1154 Rh. sanguineus ticks collected from 158 dogs of four districts of Tainan city were examined for Rickettsia infection by nested-PCR assay targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein B (ompB) genes of Rickettsia. The Rickettsia infection was detected with a general infection rate of 2.77%, and was detected in male, female and nymphal stage with an infection rate of 2.77%, 3.22% and 1.32%, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed by comparing the gltA and ompB sequences obtained from 9 Taiwan strains and 16 other strains representing 13 genospecies of Rickettsia. Results revealed that all Taiwan strains were genetically affiliated to the same clades of R. massiliae (spotted fever group) and R. felis (transitional group), and can be discriminated from other genospecies of Rickettsia. This study provides the first evidence of R. massiliae, a pathogenic spotted fever Rickettsia, identified in Rh. sanguineus ticks and highlight the potential threat for the regional transmission of Rickettsia infection among humans in Taiwan.
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Chao LL, Erazo E, Robinson M, Liang YF, Shih CM. First detection and molecular identification of a pathogenic spotted fever group Rickettsia, R. massiliae, from Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks infesting dogs in southern Taiwan. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106666. [PMID: 36030046 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne Rickettsia pathogens become an emerging zoonotic infection worldwide. The prevalence and genetic identity of Rickettsia infection was determined firstly in Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides ticks collected from dogs in southern Taiwan. A total of 141 Rh. haemaphysaloides ticks were examined for Rickettsia infection by nested-PCR assay targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein B (ompB) genes of Rickettsia. The Rickettsia infection was detected with a general infection rate of 2.84%, and was detected in male and female ticks with an infection rate of 3.13% and 2.60%, respectively. Genetic relationships were analyzed by comparing the gltA and ompB sequences obtained from 4 Taiwan strains and 15 other strains representing 13 genospecies of Rickettsia. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that all Taiwan strains were genetically affiliated with the R. massiliae (spotted fever group) and can be distinguished from other genospecies of Rickettsia. These results demonstrate the epidemiological significance of a human pathogenic Rickettsia species (R. massiliae) detected in Rh. haemaphysaloides ticks. Further study focused on the vector competence of this tick species may help to illustrate the potential threat for human infection in southern Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Lian Chao
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Esmeralda Erazo
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Melissa Robinson
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - You-Fu Liang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-Ming Shih
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
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16
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Gui Z, Cai H, Qi DD, Zhang S, Fu SY, Yu JF, Si XY, Cai T, Mao R. Identification and genetic diversity analysis of Rickettsia in Dermacentor nuttalli within inner Mongolia, China. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:286. [PMID: 35934699 PMCID: PMC9358909 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05387-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The genus Rickettsia contains the lineages spotted fever group (SFG), typhus group (TG), and transitional group (TRG). The spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is transmitted by ticks. The tick species Dermacentor nuttalli is considered the main vector carrying SFGR in Inner Mongolia. Studying the genetic diversity and population structure of Rickettsia is essential for developing effective control strategies and predicting evolutionary trends of Rickettsia.
Methods
In 2019 we collected 408 D. nuttalli in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, detected the percentage of Rickettsia-positive specimens, and characterized the haplotypes. From the Rickettsia-positive ticks, the gltA and ompA genes were extracted, amplified, and sequenced.
Results
Ten haplotypes of the gltA gene and 22 haplotypes of the ompA gene were obtained. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the haplotypes G1–G7 and G9 of the gltA gene cluster with Rickettsia raoultii, while G8 and G10 cluster with Rickettsia sibirica. Haplotypes O1–O15, O18 and O20–O22 of the ompA gene cluster with R. raoultii, while O16 and O19 cluster with R. sibirica. The average haplotype diversity was 0.3 for gltA and 0.7 for ompA. The average nucleotide diversity was greater than 0.05. Neutrality tests were nonsignificant for Tajima’s D results and Fu’s Fs results. The fixation index values (FST) showed that the degree of genetic differentiation between most sampled populations was small (FST < 0.05), whereas some populations showed a medium (FST > 0.05) or large (FST > 0.15) degree of differentiation. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the variation within populations was greater than that between populations. The mismatch analysis of Rickettsia showed double peaks.
Conclusions
We found two Rickettsia spp. (R. raoultii and R. sibirica). The high genetic disparity of Rickettsia allows for easy adaption to different environments. Genetic differentiation between populations is small, and Rickettsia populations do not show a geographically differentiated structure. The high rates of retention and infection of Rickettsia in D. nuttalli together with the animal husbandry exchange in Inner Mongolia gradually led to the harmonization of genetic characteristics of Rickettsia across various regions. Overall, the significant genetic diversity and geographical structure of Rickettsia in D. nuttalli are critical for SFGR control.
Graphical Abstract
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Systematic Surveillance of Rickettsial Diseases in 27 Hospitals from 26 Provinces throughout Vietnam. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7060088. [PMID: 35736967 PMCID: PMC9231031 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7060088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In Vietnam, the public health burden of rickettsial infections continues to be underestimated due to knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of these diseases. We conducted a systematic study among 27 hospitals from 26 provinces in eight ecological regions throughout Vietnam to investigate the prevalence, distribution, and clinical characteristics of rickettsial diseases. We recruited 1834 patients in the study from April 2018 to October 2019. The findings showed that rickettsial diseases were common among undifferentiated febrile patients, with 564 (30.8%) patients positive by qPCR for scrub typhus, murine typhus or spotted fever. Scrub typhus (484, 85.8%) was the most common rickettsial disease, followed by murine typhus (67, 11.9%) and spotted fever (10, 1.8%). Rickettsial diseases were widely distributed in all regions of Vietnam and presented with nonspecific clinical manifestations.
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18
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Richards AL. Available data do not suggest Rickettsia rickettsii has been found in Indonesia. ECOHEALTH 2022; 19:3-4. [PMID: 34462848 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01551-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Allen L Richards
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
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19
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Shih CM, Chao LL. First detection and genetic identification of Rickettsia infection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks collected from Southern Taiwan. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 85:291-304. [PMID: 34708287 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00669-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence and genetic identity of Rickettsia infection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) ticks were determined in Taiwan. In total 1153 ticks were examined for Rickettsia infection by PCR assay targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA) of Rickettsia. The prevalence of Rickettsia infection in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks with a general infection rate of 2.2%, and was detected in nymph, male and female stages of R. sanguineus s.l. ticks with an infection rate of 3.1, 2.0 and 1.1%, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed by comparing the gltA sequences obtained from four Taiwan strains and 16 other strains representing 13 genospecies of Rickettsia. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that one Taiwan strain was genetically affiliated with the Japan isolate (GRA-1 strain) which belongs to the spotted fever group (R. parkeri/R. honei) and three Taiwan strains were genetically affiliated with the transitional group of Rickettsia (R. felis). Intra- and inter-species analysis also indicated the genetic distance (GD) of the Taiwan strains with a lower level of GD < 0.011, 0.023 and 0.003 as compared with the type strains of R. parkeri, R. honei and R. felis, respectively. Our findings reveal the first detection of Rickettsia infections (R. parkeri/R. honei and R. felis) in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks of Taiwan. These results also highlight the epidemiological significance of diverse Rickettsia species existed in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks and the potential threat for the geographical transmission of Rickettsia infection in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Ming Shih
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Li-Lian Chao
- M.Sc. Program in Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan, Republic of China.
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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20
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An Update on the Laboratory Diagnosis of Rickettsia spp. Infection. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101319. [PMID: 34684267 PMCID: PMC8541673 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia species causing human illness are present globally and can cause significant disease. Diagnosis and identification of this intracellular bacteria are challenging with many available diagnostic modalities suffering from several shortcomings. Detection of antibodies directed against Rickettsia spp. via serological methods remains widely used with a broad range of sensitivity and specificity values reported depending on the assay. Molecular methods, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, enables species-specific identification with a fast turnaround time; however, due to resource requirements, use in some endemic settings is limited. Reports on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and metagenomics to diagnose Rickettsia spp. infection have been increasing. Despite offering several potential advantages in the diagnosis and surveillance of disease, genomic approaches are currently only limited to reference and research laboratories. Continued development of Rickettsia spp. diagnostics is required to improve disease detection and epidemiological surveillance, and to better understand transmission dynamics.
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Schmidt WP, Devamani CS, Elangovan D, Alexander N, Rose W, Prakash JAJ. Clinical characteristics of and antibody response to spotted fever group rickettsial infections in South India: Case series and serological cohort study. Trop Med Int Health 2021; 26:1616-1623. [PMID: 34597443 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The clinical and serological characteristics of spotted fever group rickettsial (SFGR) infections in South Asia are poorly understood. We studied the clinical presentation and the IgM/IgG response in cases enrolled at two health care centres in South India. METHOD We enrolled 77 patients. Fifty-seven of these patients were recruited at a tertiary care centre, the remaining 20 at a community hospital (secondary care level). Diagnostic tests included IgM and IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction. Over a period of 1 year, 41 cases were followed up for repeated sero-analysis. RESULTS Median age was 9 years (range 1-79). A rash was present in 74% of cases (57/77). In cases aged <15 years, rash was present in 94% (44/47) vs. 43% (13/30) in cases aged ≥15 years. An eschar was found in two cases (3%). Severe infection or complications occurred in 10 cases (13%). These included central nervous system infection (6/77, 8%), kidney injury (3/77, 4%), shock (3/77, 4%), lung involvement (2/77, 3%) and peripheral gangrene (2/77, 3%). IgM antibody levels increased faster after fever onset than IgG antibodies, peaking at 50 and 60 days, respectively. After the peak, IgM and IgG levels showed a slow decline over one year with less than 50% of cases showing persistent IgG antibody levels. CONCLUSION Spotted fever group rickettsial infections in South India may be under-diagnosed, as many cases may not develop a rash. The proportion of cases developing severe infection seems lower than for scrub typhus in this region. IgG seroprevalence may substantially underestimate the proportion in a population with past SFGR infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolf-Peter Schmidt
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.,Department for Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Carol S Devamani
- Rural Unit for Health & Social Affairs, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Divyaa Elangovan
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Neal Alexander
- MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Winsley Rose
- Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - John A J Prakash
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
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Khan SA, Bora T, Thangaraj JWV, Murhekar MV. Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae among Children with Acute Febrile Illness, in Gorakhpur, India. J Trop Pediatr 2021; 67:5865482. [PMID: 32607585 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Seasonal outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome have been occurring in Gorakhpur division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh during monsoon and post-monsoon months. Orientia tsutsugamushi was identified as the major aetiology of these outbreaks. Orientia tsutsugamushi was also identified as one of the important aetiology of febrile illness among children attending peripheral health facilities. The present study was undertaken to detect antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and typhus group rickettsiae (TGR) among children with acute febrile illness presenting at peripheral health facilities in Gorakhpur district. Of the 224 blood samples tested, SFGR infection was detected in 13 (6%) patients. None of the samples tested positive for TGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siraj A Khan
- Medical Entomology, Arbovirology and Rickettsial Disease Division, Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast Region, Dibrugarh, Assam 786010, India
| | - Trishna Bora
- Medical Entomology, Arbovirology and Rickettsial Disease Division, Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast Region, Dibrugarh, Assam 786010, India
| | | | - Manoj V Murhekar
- Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Molecular Detection and Genetic Identification of Rickettsia Infection in Ixodes granulatus Ticks, an Incriminated Vector for Geographical Transmission in Taiwan. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061309. [PMID: 34208514 PMCID: PMC8233880 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Rickettsia pathogens have become an emerging source of zoonotic infections and have a major impact on human health worldwide. In this study, the prevalence and genetic identity of Rickettsia infections in Ixodes granulatus ticks was firstly determined in Kinmen Island of Taiwan. A total of 247 I. granulatus ticks were examined for Rickettsia infection by nested-PCR assay targeting the citrate synthase (gltA) gene of Rickettsia. The Rickettsia infection was detected with a general infection rate of 4.86%, and was detected in nymph, male and female stages with an infection rate of 3.81%, 0% and 6.84%, respectively. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed by comparing the gltA sequences obtained from four Taiwan strains and 19 other strains representing 13 genospecies of Rickettsia. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that all Taiwan strains were genetically affiliated to the genospecies of spotted fever (R. parkeri) and transitional (R. felis) groups of Rickettsia. Our findings reveal the first detection of R. parkeri-like and R. felis in I. granulatus ticks from Kinmen Island. As a tourist island between Taiwan and mainland China, these results demonstrate the epidemiological significance of diverse Rickettsia species existed in I. granulatus ticks and highlight the potential threat of geographical transmission among humans in the Taiwan area.
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Hoseini Z, Alipour H, Azizi K, Soltani A. Molecular-based Survey of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Fars Province, Southern Iran, during 2017-18. Open Microbiol J 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1874434602014010281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives:
Since there have not been any studies on the roles of the Iranian mosquitoes in the transmission of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burneti, the present study investigates the roles of mosquitoes in the transmission of the pathogens using the PCR techniques for the first time in Iran.
Methods:
The present study was conducted in Fars province during the activity seasons of mosquitoes in 2017-18. The primer design was done to investigate the probability of mosquito’s contamination with Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii. The conventional PCR was used after the extraction of DNA from mosquitoes to study the contamination.
Results:
A total of 1103 adult mosquitoes were collected and identified. Among them, 3 genera and 11 species were identified, including Anopheles (25.74%), Culex (51.84%) and Culiseta (22.39%) genera. All tested mosquitoes were negative in terms of contamination to Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii.
Conclusion:
Based on the results, mosquitoes are not considered as vectors of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in this part of the country currently. Further studies on a larger scale are needed to examine the exact role of mosquitoes (as a possible vector with high abundance and mobility) in the transmission of these pathogens in tropical areas of Iran.
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Piotrowski M, Rymaszewska A. Expansion of Tick-Borne Rickettsioses in the World. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1906. [PMID: 33266186 PMCID: PMC7760173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These infections are among the oldest known diseases transmitted by vectors. In the last three decades there has been a rapid increase in the recognition of this disease complex. This unusual expansion of information was mainly caused by the development of molecular diagnostic techniques that have facilitated the identification of new and previously recognized rickettsiae. A lot of currently known bacteria of the genus Rickettsia have been considered nonpathogenic for years, and moreover, many new species have been identified with unknown pathogenicity. The genus Rickettsia is distributed all over the world. Many Rickettsia species are present on several continents. The geographical distribution of rickettsiae is related to their vectors. New cases of rickettsioses and new locations, where the presence of these bacteria is recognized, are still being identified. The variety and rapid evolution of the distribution and density of ticks and diseases which they transmit shows us the scale of the problem. This review article presents a comparison of the current understanding of the geographic distribution of pathogenic Rickettsia species to that of the beginning of the century.
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Paris DH, Kelly DJ, Fuerst PA, Day NPJ, Richards AL. A Brief History of the Major Rickettsioses in the Asia-Australia-Pacific Region: A Capstone Review for the Special Issue of TMID. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5040165. [PMID: 33121158 PMCID: PMC7709643 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5040165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The rickettsioses of the "Far East" or Asia-Australia-Pacific region include but are not limited to endemic typhus, scrub typhus, and more recently, tick typhus or spotted fever. These diseases embody the diversity of rickettsial disease worldwide and allow us to interconnect the various contributions to this special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. The impact of rickettsial diseases-particularly of scrub typhus-was substantial during the wars and "police actions" of the last 80 years. However, the post-World War II arrival of effective antibiotics reduced their impact, when recognized and adequately treated (chloramphenicol and tetracyclines). Presently, however, scrub typhus appears to be emerging and spreading into regions not previously reported. Better diagnostics, or higher population mobility, change in antimicrobial policies, even global warming, have been proposed as possible culprits of this phenomenon. Further, sporadic reports of possible antibiotic resistance have received the attention of clinicians and epidemiologists, raising interest in developing and testing novel diagnostics to facilitate medical diagnosis. We present a brief history of rickettsial diseases, their relative importance within the region, focusing on the so-called "tsutsugamushi triangle", the past and present impact of these diseases within the region, and indicate how historically, these often-confused diseases were ingeniously distinguished from each another. Moreover, we will discuss the importance of DNA-sequencing efforts for Orientia tsutsugamushi, obtained from patient blood, vector chiggers, and rodent reservoirs, particularly for the dominant 56-kD type-specific antigen gene (tsa56), and whole-genome sequences, which are increasing our knowledge of the diversity of this unique agent. We explore and discuss the potential of sequencing and other effective tools to geographically trace rickettsial disease agents, and develop control strategies to better mitigate the rickettsioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H. Paris
- Department of Medicine, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +41-61-284-8111
| | - Daryl J. Kelly
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.J.K.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Paul A. Fuerst
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (D.J.K.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Nicholas P. J. Day
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Programme, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
- Center for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 7LJ, UK
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
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Ghafar A, Khan A, Cabezas-Cruz A, Gauci CG, Niaz S, Ayaz S, Mateos-Hernández L, Galon C, Nasreen N, Moutailler S, Gasser RB, Jabbar A. An Assessment of the Molecular Diversity of Ticks and Tick-Borne Microorganisms of Small Ruminants in Pakistan. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091428. [PMID: 32957540 PMCID: PMC7563897 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated ticks and tick-borne microorganisms of small ruminants from five districts of the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Pakistan. Morphological (n = 104) and molecular (n = 54) characterization of the ticks revealed the presence of six ixodid ticks: Rhipicephalus (Rh.) haemaphysaloides, Rh. microplus, Rh. turanicus, Haemaphysalis (Hs.) punctata, Hs. sulcata and Hyalomma anatolicum. Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequence data for two mitochondrial (16S and cytochrome c oxidase 1) and one nuclear (second internal transcribed spacer) DNA regions provided strong support for the grouping of the six tick species identified in this study. Microfluidic real-time PCR, employing multiple pre-validated nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, detected 11 potential pathogens and endosymbionts in 72.2% of the ticks (n = 54) tested. Rickettsia (R.) massiliae was the most common pathogen found (42.6% of ticks) followed by Theileria spp. (33.3%), Anaplasma (A.) ovis and R. slovaca (25.9% each). Anaplasma centrale, A. marginale, Ehrlichia spp., R. aeschlimannii, R. conorii and endosymbionts (Francisella- and Coxiella-like) were detected at much lower rates (1.9–22.2%) in ticks. Ticks from goats (83.9%) carried significantly higher microorganisms than those from sheep (56.5%). This study demonstrates that ticks of small ruminants from the FATA are carrying multiple microorganisms of veterinary and medical health significance and provides the basis for future investigations of ticks and tick-borne diseases of animals and humans in this and neighboring regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Ghafar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Adil Khan
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Charles G. Gauci
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Sadaf Niaz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Sultan Ayaz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Clemence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Nasreen Nasreen
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences, The Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; (S.N.); (S.A.); (N.N.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.C.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (C.G.); (S.M.)
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee 3030, Victoria, Australia; (A.G.); (A.K.); (C.G.G.); (R.B.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Morand S, Chaisiri K, Kritiyakan A, Kumlert R. Disease Ecology of Rickettsial Species: A Data Science Approach. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:E64. [PMID: 32349270 PMCID: PMC7344507 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5020064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We present an approach to assess the disease ecology of rickettsial species by investigating open databases and by using data science methodologies. First, we explored the epidemiological trend and changes of human rickettsial disease epidemics over the years and compared this trend with knowledge on emerging rickettsial diseases given by published reviews. Second, we investigated the global diversity of rickettsial species recorded in humans, domestic animals and wild mammals, using the Enhanced Infectious Disease Database (EID2) and employing a network analysis approach to represent and quantify transmission ecology of rickettsial species among their carriers, arthropod vectors or mammal reservoirs and humans. Our results confirmed previous studies that emphasized the increasing incidence in rickettsial diseases at the onset of 1970. Using the Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network (GIDEON) database, it was even possible to date the start of this increase of global outbreaks in rickettsial diseases in 1971. Network analysis showed the importance of domestic animals and peridomestic mammals in sharing rickettsial diseases with humans and other wild animals, acting as important hubs or connectors for rickettsial transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Morand
- CNRS ISEM—CIRAD ASTRE—Montpellier University, 34090 Montpellier, France
- Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Kittipong Chaisiri
- Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand;
| | - Anamika Kritiyakan
- Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand;
| | - Rawadee Kumlert
- The Office of Disease Prevention and Control 12, Songkhla Province (ODPC12), Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Songkhla 90000, Thailand;
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Zhao S, Yang M, Liu G, Hornok S, Zhao S, Sang C, Tan W, Wang Y. Rickettsiae in the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) and the bat soft tick Argas vespertilionis (Ixodida: Argasidae). Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:10. [PMID: 31918751 PMCID: PMC6953312 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3885-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing molecular evidence supports that bats and/or their ectoparasites may harbor vector-borne bacteria, such as bartonellae and borreliae. However, the simultaneous occurrence of rickettsiae in bats and bat ticks has been poorly studied. Methods In this study, 54 bat carcasses and their infesting soft ticks (n = 67) were collected in Shihezi City, northwestern China. The heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, small intestine and large intestine of bats were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Soft ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers (17-kDa, gltA, ompA and ompB). Results All bats were identified as Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and their ticks as Argas vespertilionis. Molecular analyses showed that DNA of Rickettsia parkeri, R. lusitaniae, R. slovaca and R. raoultii was present in bat organs/tissues. In addition, nine of the 67 bat soft ticks (13.43%) were positive for R. raoultii (n = 5) and R. rickettsii (n = 4). In the phylogenetic analysis, these bat-associated rickettsiae clustered together with conspecific sequences reported from other host and tick species, confirming the above results. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, DNA of R. parkeri, R. slovaca and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in bat organs/tissues. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii and R. rickettsii in bat ticks. To our knowledge, R. parkeri was not known to occur in Asia. Our results highlight the need to assess rickettsial agents in a broader range of bat species and associated tick species.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- School of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Liu
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunli Sang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Tan
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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