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Vaschalde PJ, Flores FS, Tauro LB, Monje LD. Wild birds as hosts of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and Anaplasmataceae (Rickettsiales) in the Atlantic rainforest ecoregion, Argentina. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2025; 39:187-199. [PMID: 39470731 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 10/08/2024] [Indexed: 11/01/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the presence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species infecting wild birds and their associated ticks in two localities: Moconá Provincial Park (MPP) and Piñalito Provincial Park (PPP), within the Atlantic rainforest ecoregion of Argentina. A total of 142 birds were captured representing 34 species, 28 genera, 15 families and five orders. Ticks were collected from 33 of these birds, comprising 19 species, 14 genera and one order. A total of 59 ticks were collected and identified as Amblyomma calcaratum (13 larvae and four nymphs), Amblyomma longirostre (31 larvae and four nymphs), Amblyomma ovale (one larva and one nymph) and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (five larvae). All samples were screened for detection of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Four bird species tested positive for Anaplasmataceae, with three closely related to Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species previously reported in A. calcaratum adults from a site 15 km away from MPP. The fourth Anaplasmataceae agent was phylogenetically related to Ehrlichia strains reported in Amblyomma triste from the Delta and Parana Islands ecoregion. Additionally, two Rickettsia species were detected and molecularly identified within ticks collected from birds: Rickettsia amblyommatis in A. longirostre larvae and Rickettsia rhipicephali in H. leporispalustris larvae. These findings suggest that birds may play a significant role in the spread of ticks and their associated tick-borne pathogens across diverse biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula J Vaschalde
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Fernando S Flores
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba (CIEC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura B Tauro
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
| | - Lucas D Monje
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL)/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, UNL, Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Nasirian H. Hard Tick Species Parasitism Levels in Domestic Ruminants with Their Distribution and Role as Vectors: A Detailed Global Meta-analysis and Systematic Review. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1-105. [PMID: 37987883 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00724-8] [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: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This comprehensive global meta-analysis reviews the parasitism levels of tick genera and species, life stages, seasonality, attachment sites, the global mean ranks of tick species parasitism rates and records, and their distribution and role as vectors. METHODS From the 418 papers identified, 390 papers were selected to become part of the study. RESULTS The genera recorded as infesting domestic ruminants were Rhipicephalus (42 species), Haemaphysalis (32 species), Hyalomma (19 species), Amblyomma (18 species), Ixodes (10 species), Dermacentor (8 species), Margaropus and Nosomma (1 species). Globally, domestic ruminants are more infested by adult females and males than by the nymphal and larval stages of the tick species. The global tick species parasitism levels at the attachment sites of domestic ruminants were, in order, tail and anal region, neck and dewlap, scrotum or udder, ear region, thigh and abdomen, and dorsal surface. CONCLUSIONS Among 131 species of eight genera of hard ticks recorded infesting domestic ruminants, 42 species had mean ranks of tick species parasitism rates up to 10%, and 37 species had mean ranks of tick species parasitism up to 10 records. Briefly, the higher the indexes of tick species parasitism rates and records, the more important their role as vectors. In addition, the majority of them are found among tick species-infested humans with nearly high ranks of tick species parasitism rates and records that double their medical, veterinary, and zoonotic importance to be the most common vectors and reservoirs of bacterial, protozoan, and viral pathogenic microorganisms, causing severe infectious diseases, and as a result, can be more dangerous to humans and domestic ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Nasirian
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
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Copa GN, Flores FS, Tarragona EL, Lamattina D, Sebastian PS, Gil JF, Mangold AJ, Venzal JM, Nava S. Analysis of the tick communities associated to domestic mammals in rural areas of the Yungas montane forest from Argentina. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 39:100850. [PMID: 36878633 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100850] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to describe the tick community associated to domestic mammals in rural areas from the Yungas lower montane forest of Argentina. The circulation of tick-borne pathogens was also analyzed. Samples of ticks parasitizing cattle, horses, sheep and dogs were carried out in different seasons, and questing ticks were collected from vegetation and analyzed to detect the presence of Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Borrelia and Babesia by a battery of different PCRs. The structure of the tick communities was analyzed through the Chao1 species richness estimator, the Shannon-Wiener index and the Horn index of community similarity. Eight tick species were collected in the study area: Amblyomma sculptum, Rhipicephalus microplus, Amblyomma hadanii, Dermacentor nitens, Amblyomma ovale, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes pararicinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu stricto. However, A. sculptum was by far the dominant species in the tick assemblages analyzed, and this was reflected in the low diversity values obtained. Dermacentor nitens, A. sculptum and R. microplus were the three species associated to horses. The predominance of A. sculptum was also observed in the tick samples obtained from dogs, even on two tick species, namely A. ovale and R. sanguineus s.s., which have dogs as the principal domestic host. Rhipicephalus microplus and A. sculptum were the most abundant ticks on cattle, while few specimens of I. pararicinus, A. hadanii and D. nitens were found on bovines. Dermacentor nitens ticks were found to be infected with B. caballi, which indicate the circulation of this pathogen of horses in the Yungas area. The detection of a strain of Borrelia sp. belonging to the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex in I. pararicinus is consistent with previous findings made in Argentina, but the public health relevance of this vector-microorganism association is far from being similar to that occurs in the northern hemisphere because there are practically no records of these tick species parasitizing humans in South America. The tick community of rural areas of the Yungas lower montane forest is composed by species which are potential vectors of pathogenic microorganism with veterinary and public health importance, circulating in a human-wildlife-livestock interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griselda N Copa
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Salta, Argentina
| | - Fernando S Flores
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba (CIEC) - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Evelina L Tarragona
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Daniela Lamattina
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT), Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Patrick S Sebastian
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Josè F Gil
- Instituto de Investigaciones de Enfermedades Tropicales, Sede Regional Orán, Universidad Nacional de Salta, Orán, Argentina
| | - Atilio J Mangold
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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Richardson EA, Roe RM, Apperson CS, Ponnusamy L. Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020493. [PMID: 36838458 PMCID: PMC9960904 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.
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Detailed new insights about tick infestations in domestic ruminant groups: a global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Parasit Dis 2022; 46:526-601. [DOI: 10.1007/s12639-021-01460-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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Mathison BA, Sapp SGH. An annotated checklist of the eukaryotic parasites of humans, exclusive of fungi and algae. Zookeys 2021; 1069:1-313. [PMID: 34819766 PMCID: PMC8595220 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1069.67403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The classification of "parasites" in the medical field is a challenging notion, a group which historically has included all eukaryotes exclusive of fungi that invade and derive resources from the human host. Since antiquity, humans have been identifying and documenting parasitic infections, and this collective catalog of parasitic agents has expanded considerably with technology. As our understanding of species boundaries and the use of molecular tools has evolved, so has our concept of the taxonomy of human parasites. Consequently, new species have been recognized while others have been relegated to synonyms. On the other hand, the decline of expertise in classical parasitology and limited curricula have led to a loss of awareness of many rarely encountered species. Here, we provide a comprehensive checklist of all reported eukaryotic organisms (excluding fungi and allied taxa) parasitizing humans resulting in 274 genus-group taxa and 848 species-group taxa. For each species, or genus where indicated, a concise summary of geographic distribution, natural hosts, route of transmission and site within human host, and vectored pathogens are presented. Ubiquitous, human-adapted species as well as very rare, incidental zoonotic organisms are discussed in this annotated checklist. We also provide a list of 79 excluded genera and species that have been previously reported as human parasites but are not believed to be true human parasites or represent misidentifications or taxonomic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blaine A. Mathison
- Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT, USAInstitute for Clinical and Experimental PathologySalt Lake CityUnited States of America
| | - Sarah G. H. Sapp
- Parasitic Diseases Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USACenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaUnited States of America
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Aguilar-Díaz H, Quiroz-Castañeda RE, Cobaxin-Cárdenas M, Salinas-Estrella E, Amaro-Estrada I. Advances in the Study of the Tick Cattle Microbiota and the Influence on Vectorial Capacity. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:710352. [PMID: 34485437 PMCID: PMC8415903 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.710352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The information from the tick cattle microbiota suggests that the microbial populations may modulate a successful infection process of the tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, there is a need to know the microbial population and their interactions. In this mini-review, we present several examples of how microbiota regulates the survival of pathogens inside the tick and contributes to fitness, adaptation, and tick immunity, among others. The communication between the tick microbiota and the host microbiota is vital to understanding the pathogen transmission process. As part of the tick microbiota, the pathogen interacts with different microbial populations, including the microorganisms of the host microbiota. These interactions comprise a microsystem that regulates the vectorial capacity involved in tick-borne diseases. The knowledge we have about the vectorial capacity contributes to a better understanding of tick-borne pathogens. Additionally, using approaches based on multi-omics strategies applied to studying the microbiota and its microbiome allows the development of strategies to control ticks. The results derived from those studies reveal the dynamics of the microbiota and potential targets for anti-tick vaccine development. In this context, the anti-microbiota vaccines have emerged as an alternative with a good prognosis. Some strategies developed to control other arthropods vectors, such as paratransgenesis, could control ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Aguilar-Díaz
- Unidad de Artropodología del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Rosa Estela Quiroz-Castañeda
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Mayra Cobaxin-Cárdenas
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Salinas-Estrella
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Itzel Amaro-Estrada
- Unidad de Anaplasmosis del Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Morelos, Mexico
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de Siqueira SM, da Costa Maia R, do Nascimento Ramos V, da Silva Rodrigues V, Szabó MPJ. Rhipicephalus microplus and Amblyomma sculptum (Ixodidae) infestation of Nellore cattle (Bos taurus indicus) in a farm of the Brazilian Cerrado: seasonality and infestation patterns. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 84:659-672. [PMID: 34138398 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00636-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We herein describe zebuine cattle tick infestation in a farm in southeast Brazil with an examination accurate enough to detect tick immatures and species other than R. microplus. Cattle were inspected monthly for ticks from May 2015 to May 2017 and 7604 ticks were collected along 276 bovine inspections. Rhipicephalus microplus was the dominant species (7197 specimens, 94.5% from the total), but Amblyomma sculptum was also collected (407/5.5%). Horse tick infestations were evaluated for comparison purposes of A. sculptum infestations of a primary host sharing pastures with bovines. Ticks were counted on the left side of 4-12 horses every 3 months from October 2015 to October 2017. Overall, 68 horse inspections were performed and 1702 ticks were collected: Dermacentor nitens (805 specimens/47.3% of the total), A. sculptum (733/43.1%) and R. microplus (164/9.6%). Overall mean tick abundance on bovines was low if compared to that of taurine cattle and counting revealed four annual generations of R. microplus. The interval between infestation peaks was 3 months, irrespective of the season, and an increase in tick counts from spring onward, as described in the south of Brazil, was not seen. Amblyomma sculptum infestation abundance was minor but constant and in high prevalence. Cattle infestation with A. sculptum seems to depend on pasture sharing with other domestic and wild hosts that are its primary hosts and provide engorged females to complete their life cycle. The impact of such tick sharing among several host species on tick-borne pathogen transmission remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Maciel de Siqueira
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289/Campus Umuarama - Bloco 2S, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo da Costa Maia
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289/Campus Umuarama - Bloco 2S, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil
| | - Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289/Campus Umuarama - Bloco 2S, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil
| | - Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289/Campus Umuarama - Bloco 2S, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil
| | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289/Campus Umuarama - Bloco 2S, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil.
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Kassiri H, Nasirian H. New insights about human tick infestation features: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:17000-17028. [PMID: 33641105 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13102-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
There are many studies that provide information regarding ticks infesting humans. However, there is no a meta-analysis about the global ranks of tick infestation rates and records, global monthly tick bites and annually and periodically trends of tick infestation rates, and the global tick infestation rates among years, mounts, regions, and countries. The study provides new insights about the above objectives in a global context and therefore performed. After a preliminary review of the 610 papers representing objective areas, 241 were selected for detailed meta-analysis. In general, the global ranks of tick species were, respectively, between 0.01-85.4% and 1-53 for human infestation rates and records. Twenty-six and sixteen tick species have more than 10% and 10 records of human tick infestation rates and records, respectively. It seems these tick species tend to be more blood-feeding on humans and as a result can be more dangerous to humans. The outcome of study demonstrated that there is no difference between seasonal human tick infestation patterns in the northern and southern hemispheres. The most global monthly mean tick bites in humans were observed in June then followed in July, August, May, and September. The global annually and periodically trends of tick infestation rates in humans exhibited decreasing trends over the past decades suggesting the preventive measure to prohibit human tick infestation have been successful. It seems that the ranks of tick infestation rates and records in humans may be as two indexes to illustrate the degree of importance of tick infesting humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Kassiri
- Department of Medical Entomology, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Hassan Nasirian
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:4091-4111. [PMID: 33788021 PMCID: PMC8599228 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07072-4] [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: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Medium sized opossums (Didelphis spp.) are among the most fascinating mammals of the Americas, playing important ecological roles (e.g., dispersal of seeds and control of insect populations) in the environment they inhabit. Nevertheless, as synanthropic animals, they are well adapted to human dwellings, occupying shelters within the cities, peripheral areas, and rural settings. These marsupials can harbor numerous pathogens, which may affect people, pets, and livestock. Among those, some protozoa (e.g., Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii), helminths (e.g., Ancylostoma caninum, Trichinella spiralis, Alaria marcianae, Paragonimus spp.) and arthropods (e.g., ticks, fleas) present substantial public health and veterinary importance, due to their capacity to cause disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Here, we reviewed the role played by opossums on the spreading of zoonotic parasites, vectors, and vector-borne pathogens, highlighting the risks of pathogens transmission due to the direct and indirect interaction of humans and domestic animals with Didelphis spp. in the Americas.
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Abstract
The taxonomy of parasites of medical and public health importance is rapidly evolving. This minireview provides an update of taxonomic revisions and additions in the field of medical parasitology from January 2018 to May 2020. Several established human parasites have been reassigned to different genera over the past 2 years, while a number of novel parasites of humans have been identified. A comprehensive summary of these changes is provided here, and Taenia suihominis is proposed as a replacement name for Taenia asiaticus Eom et al., which is a homonym of Taenia asiatica von Linstow.
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12
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Sebastian PS, Flores FS, Saracho-Bottero MN, Tarragona EL, Venzal JM, Nava S. Molecular detection of rickettsial bacteria in ticks of the genus Ixodes from the Southern Cone of America. Acta Trop 2020; 210:105588. [PMID: 32553859 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
To obtain information about rickettsial bacteria in ticks of the genus Ixodes from Argentina and Uruguay, specimens of I. fuscipes (previously named as I. aragaoi), Ixodes pararicinus, Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis, and Ixodes sp. were tested targeting the rickettsial gltA and ompA genes. Rickettsial bacteria was detected in all of these species. Rickettsia found in Ixodes sp. is closely related to Ca. Rickettsia mendelii, which was previously detected in I. ricinus of the Czech Republic and later in I. brunneus from the USA. Phylogenetic analyses of the Rickettsia strains found in I. fuscipes, I. pararicinus, and Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis showed that these strains form a clade together with R. buchneri detected in I. scapularis from the USA, which is closely related to R. monacensis from Europe. Rickettsia buchneri, R. cooleyi and the Rickettsia detected in I. fuscipes, I. pararicinus, and Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis clustered together in a clade well supported, which suggest that they are different strains of R. buchneri. The phylogenetic analysis shows that Ixodes ticks that are closely related in evolutionary terms (i.e. Ixodes species from the I. ricinus complex, I. brunneus-Ixodes sp.) share closely related rickettsial strains. The results of this study show that rickettsial bacteria are present in Ixodes ticks from Argentina and describe the first detection of Ca. R. mendelii in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S Sebastian
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Fernando S Flores
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICiVet-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CP 3080, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María N Saracho-Bottero
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Evelina L Tarragona
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Flores FS, Saracho-Bottero MN, Sebastian PS, Venzal JM, Mangold AJ, Nava S. Borrelia genospecies in Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis (Acari: Ixodidae) from Argentina. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101546. [PMID: 32993952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the presence of Borrelia infection in Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis ticks from Argentina. Specimens of Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis were collected on vegetation and birds in five locations belonging the most humid part of the Chaco Biogeographic Province. Specimens were tested for Borrelia infection by nested-PCR targeting the flaB gene and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region (IGS), sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. A total of 48 Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis (12 questing adults from vegetation and 20 nymphs and 16 larvae on nine bird species: Arremon flavirostris, Basileuterus culicivorus, Campylorhamphus trochilirostris, Myiothlypis leucoblephara, Tachyphonus rufus, Thlypopsis sordida, Turdus amaurochalinus, Turdus rufiventris and Troglodytes aedon) were collected. Twelve adults, 14 nymphs and 11 larvae (3 individually and 8 in 3 pools) were analyzed. Partial sequences were detected in 6 adults, 11 nymphs and 4 larvae (2 individual and 2 pools). Phylogenetically, the Borrelia found in Ixodes sp. cf. I. affinis belongs to the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.) complex. The partial sequences obtained from the borrelian gene flaB and IGS were associated to two groups formed by sequences previously detected in Ixodes fuscipes, Ixodes longiscutatus and Ixodes pararicinus from the Southern Cone of America in northern Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay. The results of this work suggest that the haplotypes of B. burgdorferi s. l. complex detected in the three species of the I. ricinus complex distributed in the Southern Cone of America are related and widely distributed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando S Flores
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICiVet-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - María N Saracho-Bottero
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Patrick S Sebastian
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000 Salto, Uruguay
| | - Atilio J Mangold
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Sebastian PS, Tarragona EL, Saracho Bottero MN, Nava S. Phylogenetic divergence between Rickettsia amblyommatis strains from Argentina. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 69:101418. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Carvalho LA, Maya L, Armua-Fernandez MT, Félix ML, Bazzano V, Barbieri AM, González EM, Lado P, Colina R, Díaz P, Labruna MB, Nava S, Venzal JM. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infecting Ixodes auritulus ticks in Uruguay. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 80:109-125. [PMID: 31807933 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the southern cone of South America different haplotypes of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) have been detected in Ixodes spp. from Argentina, southern Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. So far, Lyme borreliosis has not been diagnosed in Uruguay and the medical relevance of the genus Ixodes in South America is uncertain. However, the growing number of new genospecies of Bbsl in the southern cone region and the scarce information about its pathogenicity, reservoirs and vectors, highlights the importance of further studies about spirochetes present in Uruguay and the region. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Bbsl in Ixodes auritulus ticks collected from birds and vegetation in two localities of southeastern Uruguay. In total 306 I. auritulus were collected from 392 passerine birds sampled and 1110 ticks were collected by flagging in vegetation. Nymphs and females were analyzed for Borrelia spp. by PCR targeting the flagellin (fla) gene and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region (IGS). The phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia spp. positive samples from passerine birds and vegetation revealed the presence of four fla haplotypes that form a clade within the Bbsl complex. They were closely related to isolates of Borrelia sp. detected in I. auritulus from Argentina and Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis A Carvalho
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
| | - Leticia Maya
- Laboratorio de Virología, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - María T Armua-Fernandez
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Valentin Bazzano
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Amalia M Barbieri
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando M. de Paiva 87, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Enrique M González
- Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Casilla de Correos 399, 11.000, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paula Lado
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA
| | - Rodney Colina
- Laboratorio de Virología, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Díaz
- Departamento de Patología Animal (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando M. de Paiva 87, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
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Flores FS, Muñoz-Leal S, Diaz A, Labruna MB. Wild birds as host of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in northwestern Argentina. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1586-1589. [PMID: 30104124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.) spirochetes are associated with a wide range of vectors and hosts. Birds are important hosts in the ecology of some hard ticks (Ixodidae) in northwestern Argentina, where B. burgdorferi s.l. have been detected in Ixodes pararicinus. We evaluated Borrelia infection in ticks collected from wild birds by molecular analysis through the presence of Borrelia DNA (by nested-PCR targeting the fla gene). A total of 381 ticks (357 larvae and 24 nymphs) belonging to four species (I. pararicinus, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris and Amblyomma sp.) were collected. Partial sequences of the fla gene of Borrelia (100% identical to Borrelia sp. haplotype I from Argentina) were detected in 9 of 70 tick pools (6 pools of larvae and 1 pool of nymphs of I. pararicinus, and in 2 pools of H. juxtakochi larvae) collected on Turdus rufiventris, Syndactila rufosuperciliata and Troglodytes aedon. The results of this study suggest that resident birds have reservoir capacity for Borrelia sp. haplotype I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando S Flores
- Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Adrián Diaz
- Instituto de Virología "Dr. J. M. Vanella", CONICET, Facultad Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Enfermera Gordillo Gomez s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, CONICET- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-270, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Records of ticks on humans in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1296-1301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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