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Ortega N, Arcenillas-Hernández I, Villa MI, González MD, Caro MR. Molecular identification of Borrelia and SFG Rickettsia spp. in hard ticks parasitizing domestic and wild animals in southeastern Spain. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1785-1790. [PMID: 38231370 PMCID: PMC11147859 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10292-x] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Lyme disease and the spotted fever group rickettsiosis, involve bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia and Rickettsia, respectively. These infections are the most important tick-borne zoonotic diseases involving ticks as vectors. Descriptive and epidemiological studies are essential to determine the animal hosts involved in the maintenance of these diseases. In the present study, 94 tick pool samples from 15 different host species located in the Region of Murcia (southeastern, Spain) were analysed. Ticks were morphologically identified as: Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Ixodes Ricinus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Our results showed that 5.3% of the tick pool samples carried Borrelia spp. DNA, and 20.2% carried SFG Rickettsia DNA. In every hard tick pool Spot Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. DNA were detected, except for H. lusitanicum. Likewise, D. marginatum was the only species in which Borrelia spp. DNA was not detected. Barbary sheep and wild boar were the host species in which tick pools showed DNA presence of both pathogens. This study increases the knowledge about the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA and SFG Rickettsia spp. DNA in different hard tick species from this geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ortega
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain.
| | - I Arcenillas-Hernández
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - M I Villa
- Dirección General de Salud Pública y Adicciones. Servicio de Seguridad Alimentaria y Zoonosis, Consejería de Salud de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M D González
- Dirección General de Salud Pública y Adicciones. Servicio de Seguridad Alimentaria y Zoonosis, Consejería de Salud de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Caro
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
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Habib J, Zenner L, Garel M, Mercier A, Poirel MT, Itty C, Appolinaire J, Amblard T, Benedetti P, Sanchis F, Benabed S, Abi Rizk G, Gibert P, Bourgoin G. Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from the wild mountain ungulates mouflon and chamois in 4 regions of France. Parasite 2024; 31:21. [PMID: 38602373 PMCID: PMC11008225 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024011] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are major vectors of various pathogens of health importance, such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. The problems associated with ticks and vector-borne pathogens are increasing in mountain areas, particularly in connection with global climate change. We collected ticks (n = 2,081) from chamois and mouflon in 4 mountainous areas of France. We identified 6 tick species: Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. sanguineus s.l., Haemaphysalis sulcata, H. punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. We observed a strong variation in tick species composition among the study sites, linked in particular to the climate of the sites. We then analysed 791 ticks for DNA of vector-borne pathogens: Babesia/Theileria spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. ovis, and Rickettsia of the spotted fever group (SFG). Theileria ovis was detected only in Corsica in Rh. bursa. Babesia venatorum (2 sites), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (B. afzelii and B. garinii; 2 sites) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3 sites) were detected in I. ricinus. Anaplasma ovis was detected at one site in I. ricinus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. SFG Rickettsia were detected at all the study sites: R. monacensis and R. helvetica in I. ricinus at the 3 sites where this tick is present; R. massiliae in Rh. sanguineus s.l. (1 site); and R. hoogstraalii and Candidatus R. barbariae in Rh. bursa in Corsica. These results show that there is a risk of tick-borne diseases for humans and domestic and wild animals frequenting these mountain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jad Habib
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
- Université Libanaise, Faculté d’Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département de Médecine Vétérinaire 3 rue de l'université Beyrouth Lebanon
| | - Lionel Zenner
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Mathieu Garel
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Antoine Mercier
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Marie-Thérèse Poirel
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Christian Itty
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Appui aux Acteurs et Mobilisation des Territoires, Direction Régionale Occitanie 7 rue du Four, Fagairolles 34610 Castanet-le-Haut France
| | - Joël Appolinaire
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Thibaut Amblard
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Pierre Benedetti
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Espaces Naturels de Corse Funtanella 20218 Moltifao France
| | - Frédéric Sanchis
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Unité Espaces Naturels de Corse Funtanella 20218 Moltifao France
| | - Slimania Benabed
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
| | - Georges Abi Rizk
- Université Libanaise, Faculté d’Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département de Médecine Vétérinaire 3 rue de l'université Beyrouth Lebanon
| | - Philippe Gibert
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, Service Anthropisation et Fonctionnement des Écosystèmes Terrestres 5 allée de Bethléem, Z.I. Mayencin 38610 Gières France
| | - Gilles Bourgoin
- Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup – Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, Laboratoire de Parasitologie Vétérinaire 1 avenue Bourgelat BP 83 69280 Marcy-l’Etoile France
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive 43 bd du 11 novembre 1918 69622 Villeurbanne France
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Li F, Zhao S, Li E, Xie S, Wang N, Tan W, Wang Y. Detection of Rickettsia raoultii in Vermipsylla alakurt-Like Fleas of Sheep in Northwestern China. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:776-784. [PMID: 38418764 PMCID: PMC11001666 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00809-y] [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: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To date, a total of 2574 validated flea species have been discovered. Vermipsyllidae is a family of fleas that comprises at least eight species. Vermipsylla is a genus of the family Vermipsyllidae within the order Siphonaptera of fleas. Here a novel Vermipsylla species was described, and rickettsial agent was also detected in it. METHODS A total of 128 fleas were collected directly from 260 pastured sheep in China. Of these, eight representative fleas (four males and four females) were identified by key morphological features. Meanwhile, 120 flea DNAs, including six flea samples for molecular taxonomy, were subjected to Rickettsia spp. DNA detection. The molecular identity of fleas was determined by amplification and sequenmce analysis of four genetic markers (the 28S rDNA genes, the 18S rDNA genes, the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and subunit II). In addition, five Rickettsia-specific gene fragments were used to identify the species of the rickettsial agents. The amplified products were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. RESULTS The morphological characteristics of the flea species identified in this study were similar to Vermipsylla alakurt, but presented difference in hair number of the metepimeron, the third tergum, the genitals and the tibiae of hind leg. The 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and COII genetic markers from fleas showed the highest identity to those of V. alakurt, shared 98.45% (954/969), 95.81% (892/931) and 85.86% (571/665) similarities, respectively. However, the COI sequence showed the highest identity to that of Dorcadia ioffi with 88.48% (576/651) similarity. Rickettsia raoutii tested positive in 14.17% (17/120) flea DNA samples. CONCLUSION Our study reports the detection of R. raoultii in V. alakurt-like fleas infesting sheep in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengshi Li
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ente Li
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Songsong Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University Medical School, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Tan
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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Köseoğlu AE, Can H, Güvendi M, Erkunt Alak S, Değirmenci Döşkaya A, Karakavuk M, Döşkaya M, Ün C. Molecular characterization of Anaplasma ovis Msp4 protein in strains isolated from ticks in Turkey: A multi-epitope synthetic vaccine antigen design against Anaplasma ovis using immunoinformatic tools. Biologicals 2024; 85:101749. [PMID: 38325003 DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2024.101749] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens increasingly threaten animal and human health as well as cause great economic loss in the livestock industry. Among these pathogens, Anaplasma ovis causing a decrease in meat and milk yield is frequently detected in sheep in many countries including Turkey. This study aimed to reveal potential vaccine candidate epitopes in Msp4 protein using sequence data from Anaplasma ovis isolates and then to design a multi-epitope protein to be used in vaccine formulations against Anaplasma ovis. For this purpose, Msp4 gene was sequenced from Anaplasma ovis isolates (n:6) detected in ticks collected from sheep in Turkey and the sequence data was compared with previous sequences from different countries in order to detect the variations of Msp4 gene/protein. Potential vaccine candidate and diagnostic epitopes were predicted using various immunoinformatics tools. Among the discovered vaccine candidate epitopes, antigenic and conserved were selected, and then a multi-epitope protein was designed. The designed vaccine protein was tested for the assessment of TLR-2, IgG, and IFN-g responses by molecular docking and immune simulation analyses. Among the discovered epitopes, EVASEGSGVM and YQFTPEISLV epitopes with properties of high antigenicity, non-allergenicity, and non-toxicity were proposed to be used for Anaplasma ovis in further serodiagnostic and vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Efe Köseoğlu
- Duisburg-Essen University, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Essen, Germany
| | - Hüseyin Can
- Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Vaccine Studies, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Mervenur Güvendi
- Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Sedef Erkunt Alak
- Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Aysu Değirmenci Döşkaya
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Vaccine Studies, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Muhammet Karakavuk
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Vaccine Studies, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Odemis Vocational School, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Mert Döşkaya
- Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Vaccine Studies, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkiye
| | - Cemal Ün
- Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Molecular Biology Section, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Vaccine Development Application and Research Center, İzmir, Turkiye; Ege University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Vaccine Studies, İzmir, Turkiye.
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5
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Baz-Flores S, Herraiz C, Peralbo-Moreno A, Barral M, Arnal MC, Balseiro A, Cano-Terriza D, Castro-Scholten S, Cevidanes A, Conde-Lizarralde A, Cuadrado-Matías R, Escribano F, de Luco DF, Fidalgo LE, Hermoso-de Mendoza J, Fandos P, Gómez-Guillamón F, Granados JE, Jiménez-Martín D, López-Olvera JR, Martín I, Martínez R, Mentaberre G, García-Bocanegra I, Ruiz-Fons F. Mapping the risk of exposure to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the Iberian Peninsula using Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a model. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102281. [PMID: 37995393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102281] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen that can cause a lethal haemorrhagic disease in humans. Although the virus appears to be endemically established in the Iberian Peninsula, CCHF is an emerging disease in Spain. Clinical signs of CCHFV infection are mainly manifested in humans, but the virus replicates in several animal species. Understanding the determinants of CCHFV exposure risk from animal models is essential to predicting high-risk exposure hotspots for public health action. With this objective in mind, we designed a cross-sectional study of Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Spain and Portugal. The study analysed 5,291 sera collected between 2006 and 2022 from 90 wild boar populations with a specific double-antigen ELISA to estimate CCHFV serum prevalence and identify the main determinants of exposure probability. To do so, we statistically modelled exposure risk with host- and environment-related predictors and spatially projected it at a 10 × 10 km square resolution at the scale of the Iberian Peninsula to map foci of infection risk. Fifty-seven (63.3 %) of the 90 populations had at least one seropositive animal, with seroprevalence ranging from 0.0 to 88.2 %. Anti-CCHFV antibodies were found in 1,026 of 5,291 wild boar (19.4 %; 95 % confidence interval: 18.3-20.5 %), with highest exposure rates in southwestern Iberia. The most relevant predictors of virus exposure risk were wild boar abundance, local rainfall regime, shrub cover, winter air temperature and soil temperature variation. The spatial projection of the best-fit model identified high-risk foci as occurring in most of western and southwestern Iberia and identified recently confirmed risk foci in eastern Spain. The results of the study demonstrate that serological surveys of CCHFV vector hosts are a powerful, robust and highly informative tool for public health authorities to take action to prevent human cases of CCHF in enzootic and emergency settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Baz-Flores
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Cesar Herraiz
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Marta Barral
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Mari Cruz Arnal
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Balseiro
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Alazne Conde-Lizarralde
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Raúl Cuadrado-Matías
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fernando Escribano
- Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre "El Valle", Ctra. Subida del Valle 62, 30150, La Alberca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Daniel Fernández de Luco
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luis Eusebio Fidalgo
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal y Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias (APAyCCV) Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Javier Hermoso-de Mendoza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Félix Gómez-Guillamón
- Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - José E Granados
- Parque Nacional y Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, Carretera Antigua de Sierra Nevada km 7, 18071 Pinos Genil, Granada, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jorge R López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health (WE&H) research group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Martín
- Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - Remigio Martínez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agrària (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III,.
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6
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Valcárcel F, Elhachimi L, Vilá M, Tomassone L, Sánchez M, Selles SMA, Kouidri M, González MG, Martín-Hernández R, Valcárcel Á, Fernández N, Tercero JM, Sanchis J, Bellido-Blasco J, González-Coloma A, Olmeda AS. Emerging Hyalomma lusitanicum: From identification to vectorial role and integrated control. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:425-459. [PMID: 37144688 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12660] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the Mediterranean basin, the tick species Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch stands out among other species of the Hyalomma genus due to its wide distribution, and there is great concern about its potential role as a vector and/or reservoir and its continuous expansion to new areas because of climate warming and human and other animal movements. This review aims to consolidate all the information on H. lusitanicum, including taxonomy and evolution, morphological and molecular identification, life cycle, sampling methods, rearing under laboratory conditions, ecology, hosts, geographical distribution, seasonality, vector role and control methods. The availability of adequate data is extremely relevant to the development of appropriate control strategies in areas where this tick is currently distributed as well as in new areas where it could become established in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - L Elhachimi
- Département de parasitologie et de Santé Publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M Vilá
- Grupo de Investigación COPAR (GI-2120; USC), Departamento de Patoloxia Animal, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - L Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - M Sánchez
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - S M A Selles
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
- Laboratory of Research on Local Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M Kouidri
- Laboratory of Farm Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M G González
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - R Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF-Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Marchamalo, 19180, Spain. Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-ESF/EC-FSE), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Á Valcárcel
- Lokimica S.L., c/ Valdemorillo, Madrid, Spain
- Veterinary Pathobiology section, University College Dublín, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - N Fernández
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - J M Tercero
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - J Sanchis
- Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - J Bellido-Blasco
- Sección de Epidemiología, Centro de Salud Pública de Castelló, CIBER-ESP. Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castelló, Spain
| | | | - A S Olmeda
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, Madrid, Spain
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Rataud A, Galon C, Bournez L, Henry PY, Marsot M, Moutailler S. Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Tick Larvae Feeding on Breeding Birds in France. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080946. [PMID: 36015066 PMCID: PMC9414652 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds play a role in maintaining tick-borne diseases by contributing to the multiplication of ticks and pathogens on a local scale during the breeding season. In the present study, we describe the diversity of tick and pathogen species of medical and veterinary importance in Europe hosted by 1040 captured birds (56 species) during their breeding season in France. Of the 3114 ticks collected, Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species (89.5%), followed by I. frontalis (0.8%), I. arboricola (0.7%), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.5%), H. punctata (0.5%), Hyalomma spp. (0.2%), and Rhipicephalus spp. (0.06%). Because they may be representative of the bird infection status for some pathogen species, 1106 engorged tick larvae were screened for pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was the most prevalent pathogen genus in bird-feeding larvae (11.7%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (7.4%), Anaplasma spp. (5.7%), Babesia spp. (2.3%), Ehrlichia spp. (1.4%), and B. miyamotoi (1%). Turdidae birds (Turdus merula and T. philomelos), Troglodytes troglodytes, and Anthus trivialis had a significantly higher prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected larvae than other pathogen genera. This suggests that these bird species could act as reservoir hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. during their breeding season, and thus play an important role in acarological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rataud
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Université Paris Est, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Laure Bournez
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Henry
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV UMR 7179), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 91800 Brunoy, France
- Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux (CRBPO), Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR 7204), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Maud Marsot
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Université Paris Est, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (S.M.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (S.M.)
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8
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Molecular Detection and Genetic Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Goats from the Southern Part of Thailand. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040477. [PMID: 35456152 PMCID: PMC9032176 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne hemoprotozoan and rickettsial diseases affect the health and productivity of small ruminants in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite the large population of goats in the southern part of Thailand, there is limited information on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of Theileria spp., T. ovis, T. orientalis, Babesia ovis, Anaplasma ovis, and A. marginale in 262 goats from three provinces in the southern part of Thailand. In this investigation, Theileria spp. and A. ovis were detected while T. ovis, B. ovis, and A. marginale were not detected. Overall infection rates of Theileria spp. and A. ovis were 10.3% and 1.5%, respectively. The co-infections of two parasites was observed in 1.5% of goats. Sequence analysis showed the presence of T. luwenshuni and T. orientalis in the goat samples. This study is the first to use the molecular detection of T. orientalis in Thai goats, and presents genetic characterization using the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. In the phylogenetic analysis, the T. orientalis MPSP sequence was classified as type 7. The A. ovis major surface protein 4 (MSP4) gene sequences shared high identities and similarity with each other and clustered with isolates from other regions. This study provides information about the prevalence and genetic diversity of tick-borne pathogens in goats in the study area, and is expected to be valuable for the development of effective control measures to prevent disease in animals in Thailand.
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9
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Selim A, Weir W, Khater H. Prevalence and risk factors associated with tropical theileriosis in Egyptian dairy cattle. Vet World 2022; 15:919-924. [PMID: 35698515 PMCID: PMC9178591 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.919-924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Theileria annulata is the most prevalent piroplasm infecting cattle across Egypt. Theileriosis is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of theileriosis in cattle and their associated risk factors for infection. Materials and Methods: A total of 570 blood samples were collected from cattle from five governorates (administrative districts) in Egypt and examined using a polymerase chain reaction assay to estimate the prevalence of tropical theileriosis and assess the associated risk factors Results: The overall prevalence rate was 16.49%, with the Alexandria district having the highest prevalence. The results revealed that the risk of theileriosis was elevated in older cattle (odds ratio [OR]=8.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6-21.9), especially in summers (OR=3.07, 95% CI: 1.4-6.3). Cattle heavily infested with ticks were at particular risk (OR=3.05, 95% CI: 2.1-4.5), as were those to which acaricide had not been applied (OR=13.7, 95% CI: 5.6-33.6). Conclusion: Understanding the risk factors associated with T. annulata infection and regular infection monitoring could reduce infection rates and economic losses and is essential for the implementation of efficient control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelfattah Selim
- Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt
| | - William Weir
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 464 Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Hanem Khater
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Toukh 13736, Egypt
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Babesia and Theileria Identification in Adult Ixodid Ticks from Tapada Nature Reserve, Portugal. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020222. [PMID: 35215163 PMCID: PMC8876925 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This study, conducted in a nature reserve in southern Portugal, investigated the frequency and diversity of tick-borne piroplasms in six species of adult ixodid ticks removed from 71 fallow deer (Dama dama) and 12 red deer (Cervus elaphus), collected over the period 2012–2019. The majority of 520 ticks were Ixodes ricinus (78.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus, and Ixodes hexagonus. The R. sanguineus ticks collected from the deer were clearly exophilic, in contrast to the endophilic species usually associated with dogs. Four tick-borne piroplasms, including Theileria spp., and the zoonotic species, Babesia divergens and Babesia microti, were detected. B. divergens 18S rDNA, identical to that of the bovine reference strain U16370 and to certain strains from red deer, was detected in I. ricinus ticks removed from fallow deer. The sporadic detection of infections in ticks removed from the same individual hosts suggests that the piroplasms were present in the ticks rather than the hosts. Theileria sp OT3 was found in I. ricinus and, along with T. capreoli, was also detected in some of the other tick species. The natural vector and pathogenic significance of this piroplasm are unknown.
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11
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Remesar S, Castro-Scholten S, Cano-Terriza D, Díaz P, Morrondo P, Jiménez-Martín D, Rouco C, García-Bocanegra I. Molecular identification of zoonotic Rickettsia species in Ixodidae parasitizing wild lagomorphs from Mediterranean ecosystems. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e992-e1004. [PMID: 34738325 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A survey study was carried out to identify tick species parasitizing wild lagomorphs in Mediterranean ecosystems in southern Spain and to determine the occurrence of Rickettsia species present in these ticks in this region. A total of 1304 European wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 58 Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) were individually examined for the presence of ticks. Ticks were found in 42.9% and 50% of the wild rabbits and hares sampled, respectively. A total of 1122 ticks were collected and five species, including Rhipicephalus pusillus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Haemaphysalis hispanica, Ixodes ventalloi and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), were microscopically and molecularly identified at the 16S rRNA gene. This is the first study on Ixodidae parasitizing Iberian hares. The presence of Rickettsia DNA was assessed in 254 tick pools (according to hunting states, lagomorph species, tick species and tick development stage) using PCR assays targeting the rOmpA, rOmpB and gltA. Twenty-seven pools (10.6%) were positive to Rickettsia DNA. Five zoonotic Rickettsia species were identified, being Rickettsia massiliae the most frequent (4.7%), followed by Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae (2.8%), Rickettsia slovaca (2.0%), Rickettsia aeschlimannii (0.8%) and Rickettsia africae (0.4%). The results suggest that wild rabbits and Iberian hares are parasitized by a wide range of tick species and that these lagomorphs may play an important role in the sylvatic cycle of some zoonotic Rickettsia species in Mediterranean ecosystems. Our data represent the first report of R. massiliae, R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca and R africae in ticks collected in wild lagomorphs in Europe, and the first report of not imported R. africae in this continent. Since R. slovaca and R. africae DNA was detected in tick species different to their main vectors, further studies are warranted to unravel the role of wild lagomorphs in the epidemiology of these vector-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Remesar
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Pablo Díaz
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Patrocinio Morrondo
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos Rouco
- Departamento de Botánica, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Animal Health and Zoonosis Research Group (GISAZ), Department of Animal Health, University of Cordoba, Córdoba, Spain
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12
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Buxton M, Buxton MP, Machekano H, Nyamukondiwa C, Wasserman RJ. A Survey of Potentially Pathogenic-Incriminated Arthropod Vectors of Health Concern in Botswana. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10556. [PMID: 34639855 PMCID: PMC8508065 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Arthropod vectors play a crucial role in the transmission of many debilitating infections, causing significant morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the economic significance of arthropods to public health, public knowledge on vector biology, ecology and taxonomic status remains anecdotal and largely unexplored. The present study surveyed knowledge gaps regarding the biology and ecology of arthropod vectors in communities of Botswana, across all districts. Results showed that communities are largely aware of individual arthropod vectors; however, their 'potential contribution' in disease transmission in humans, livestock and wildlife could not be fully attested. As such, their knowledge was largely limited with regards to some aspects of vector biology, ecology and control. Communities were strongly concerned about the burden of mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies and ticks, with the least concerns about fleas, bedbugs and lice, although the same communities did not know of specific diseases potentially vectored by these arthropods. Knowledge on arthropod vector control was mainly limited to synthetic chemical pesticides for most respondents, regardless of their location. The limited knowledge on potentially pathogen-incriminated arthropod vectors reported here has large implications for bridging knowledge gaps on the bio-ecology of these vectors countrywide. This is potentially useful in reducing the local burden of associated diseases and preventing the risk of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases under global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mmabaledi Buxton
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 016, Palapye 10071, Botswana; (H.M.); (C.N.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Malebogo Portia Buxton
- Department of Sociology, University of Botswana, P/Bag UB 0022, Gaborone 00704, Botswana;
| | - Honest Machekano
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 016, Palapye 10071, Botswana; (H.M.); (C.N.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Casper Nyamukondiwa
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 016, Palapye 10071, Botswana; (H.M.); (C.N.); (R.J.W.)
| | - Ryan John Wasserman
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, P/Bag 016, Palapye 10071, Botswana; (H.M.); (C.N.); (R.J.W.)
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
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13
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Castillo-Contreras R, Magen L, Birtles R, Varela-Castro L, Hall JL, Conejero C, Aguilar XF, Colom-Cadena A, Lavín S, Mentaberre G, López-Olvera JR. Ticks on wild boar in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (Spain) are infected with spotted fever group rickettsiae. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e82-e95. [PMID: 34331835 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) constitute an emerging public health concern favoured by multidimensional global changes. Amongst these, increase and spread of wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are of special concern since this species can act as a reservoir of zoonotic pathogens and promote tick abundance. Thus, we aimed to make a first assessment of the risk by TBPs resulting from wild boar and ticks in the vicinity of a highly populated area. Between 2014 and 2016, we collected spleen samples and 2256 ticks from 261 wild boars (out of 438 inspected) in the metropolitan area of Barcelona (MAB; northeast Spain). We morphologically identified four tick species: Hyalomma lusitanicum (infestation prevalence: 33.6%), Dermacentor marginatus (26.9%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (18.9%) and R. bursa (0.2%). Ticks were pooled according to species and individual host. A total of 180 tick pools and 167 spleen samples were screened by real-time PCR and/or reverse line blot hybridization assay for Ehrlichia sp., Anaplasma sp., Babesia sp., Rickettsia sp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Coxiella burnetii. Seventy-two out of the 180 tick pools were positive to Rickettsia spp. (minimum prevalence of 8.7%), including Rickettsia massiliae, R. slovaca and R. raoultii. We did not detect Rickettsia spp. in wild boar spleens nor other TBPs in ticks or wild boars. Since the ticks identified can bite humans, and the recorded spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are zoonotic pathogens, there is a risk of SFG rickettsiae transmission for MAB inhabitants. Our results suggest a broader distribution of H. lusitanicum, competent vector for the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus than previously known. Wild boar is not a Rickettsia spp. reservoir according to the spleen negative results. However, its abundance could favour tick life cycle and abundance, and its proximity to humans could promote the infection risk by Rickettsia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Magen
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Richard Birtles
- University of Salford Tick Infections Group, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Lucía Varela-Castro
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jessica L Hall
- University of Salford Tick Infections Group, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Carles Conejero
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernandez Aguilar
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreu Colom-Cadena
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.,Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agraria, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Jorge R López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Ectoparasites of wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Southern Italy. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2021; 24:100555. [PMID: 34024372 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100555] [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] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus is a widespread mammal that may act as host for ectoparasites and reservoir for some vector-borne pathogens. Study aims were to investigate the arthropod fauna that may infect the European wild rabbit, to assess the ecological indexes and to investigate tick preferred attachment sites. The survey was conducted on 105 wild rabbits hunted by poachers in a Mediterranean woodland area in the province of Ragusa. Animals were individually examined for ectoparasite presence and the tick load assessed on eleven body anatomical sites. Ticks and fleas were found on 79 (75.2%) and 3 (2.9%) out of the 105 examined rabbits, respectively. Three tick species were identified; Rhipicephalus pusillus was the most abundant followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus and Ixodes gibbosus. Although ticks were found on all anatomical sites, ears, forelimbs, and abdomen were those more frequently infected. All the collected fleas were identified as Spilopsyllus cuniculi. Some of the ectoparasite species found on examined wild rabbits are recognized as potential vectors of pathogens of animal and human concern, such as, Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae and Rickettsia massiliae. The most abundant tick species found in this study is the main vector of some zoonotic pathogens; therefore, the possible role of O. cuniculus in their maintenance should be further investigated.
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15
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Filipe D, Parreira R, Pereira A, Galvão N, Cristóvão JM, Nunes M, Vieira ML, Campino L, Maia C. Preliminary comparative analysis of the resolving power of COX1 and 16S-rDNA as molecular markers for the identification of ticks from Portugal. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2021; 24:100551. [PMID: 34024368 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The utility of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COX1) and 16S ribosomal DNA (16S-rDNA) sequence analyses as a complementary/alternative tool to classical taxonomy, for the identification of some of the most prevalent hard tick species from Portugal was evaluated using BOLD-ID (COX1 only), BLASTn and phylogenetic tree reconstruction based on multiple nucleotide sequence alignments. Both molecular markers proved suitable for identifying ticks to a species level, but specific aspects that limit their resolving power must be considered. Their accuracy of tick identification in all life stages and of the other tick species described in the South of Europe is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Filipe
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (NOVA), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André Pereira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno Galvão
- Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - José Manuel Cristóvão
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica Nunes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Maria Luísa Vieira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lenea Campino
- Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Maia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT/NOVA, Lisboa, Portugal.
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16
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Morikawa M, Mitarai S, Kojima I, Okajima M, Hatai H, Takano A, Shimoda H, Maeda K, Matsuu A, Yoshida A, Hayashi K, Ozawa M, Masatani T. Detection and molecular characterization of Babesia sp. in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from western Japan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101695. [PMID: 33677233 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Wild animals often act as reservoirs of tick-borne Babesia and Theileria spp., which cause piroplasmosis. Therefore, epidemiological investigations about the distribution of these parasites in wild animals are important for evaluating the transmission risk to humans and livestock. In this study, we surveyed Babesia and Theileria spp. infecting wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Kagoshima and Yamaguchi prefectures and Tsushima island, which are all in western Japan, and performed molecular genetic analyses on the samples. DNA was extracted from either blood or liver samples of wild boar captured in Kagoshima prefecture in 2015, 2016, and 2018 and from blood samples from wild boar captured in Yamaguchi prefecture in 2013-2015 and Tsushima island in 2018. PCR screening for the partial 18S ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA) of both Babesia and Theileria spp. in wild boar revealed that 63.9 % (140 of 219 samples) were positive. Sequencing of all positive samples revealed that they were all the same Babesia species. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses showed that the parasite is closely related to Babesia sp. previously detected in the hard tick, Amblyomma testudinarium in Kagoshima, and further analyses suggested that this species is genetically related to Babesia gibsoni. On the other hand, no Theileria were detected in any of the samples. In summary, we observed a high prevalence of B. gibsoni-like Babesia sp. in wild boar in western regions of Japan. The host range, distribution, pathogenicity, and life cycle of this protozoan should be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momoko Morikawa
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Sumire Mitarai
- Laboratory of Animal Hygiene, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Isshu Kojima
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Misuzu Okajima
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Hatai
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Laboratory of Veterinary Histopathology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Ai Takano
- Laboratory of Veterinary Epidemiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimoda
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan; Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Ken Maeda
- Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1, Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan; Department of Veterinary Science, The National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Aya Matsuu
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Ayako Yoshida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-Kibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan; Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, 1-1 Gakuen-Kibanadai-Nishi, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Kei Hayashi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3 Ikoinooka, Imabari, 794-8555, Ehime, Japan
| | - Makoto Ozawa
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Laboratory of Animal Hygiene, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Masatani
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Research Center, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan; Laboratory of Zoonotic Diseases, Faculty of Applied Biosciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
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17
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Díaz-Sánchez S, Fernández AM, Habela MA, Calero-Bernal R, de Mera IGF, de la Fuente J. Microbial community of Hyalomma lusitanicum is dominated by Francisella-like endosymbiont. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101624. [PMID: 33418339 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Exploring tick associations with complex microbial communities and single-microbial partners, especially intracellular symbionts, has become crucial to understand tick biology. Of particular interest are the underlying interactions with biological consequences i.e. tick fitness, vector competence. In this study, we first sequenced the 16S rRNA bacterial phylogenetic marker in adult male ticks of Hyalomma lusitanicum collected from 5 locations in the province of Cáceres to explore the composition of its microbial community. Overall, 16S rRNA sequencing results demonstrated that the microbial community of H. lusitanicum is mostly dominated by Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLEs) (ranging from 52% to 99% of relative abundance) suggesting it is a key taxon within the microbial community and likely a primary endosymbiont. However, further research is required to explore the mechanisms underlying the interaction between FLEs and H. lusitanicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Díaz-Sánchez
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Alberto Moraga Fernández
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Miguel A Habela
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Calero-Bernal
- Animal Health Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Universidad s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain; SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel G Fernández de Mera
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- SaBio. Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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18
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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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19
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Barradas PF, Mesquita JR, Ferreira P, Amorim I, Gärtner F. Detection of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and dogs from different districts of Portugal. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101536. [PMID: 32993945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Dogs are highly exposed to pathogens transmitted by ectoparasites. The Mediterranean climate of Southern Europe, together with the presence of stray and/or neglected pets in close proximity with humans, contribute for tick expansion and stand for increased risk to infections in humans due to the zoonotic potential of many of these agents. The aim of this study was to perform a molecular survey in dogs (suspected of tick-borne disease and/or infested with ticks), as well as in ticks collected from those animals, from 12 districts of Portugal to investigate the occurrence of Rickettsia spp. and other tick-borne pathogens (Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Hepatozoon). Additionally, a serological survey of spotted fever group Rickettsia in Portuguese dogs was performed using an in-house immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A total of 200 whole-blood samples and 221 Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. ticks were collected from dogs. A total of 14 (7 %) blood samples and 10 (4.5 %) ticks yielded presumptively positive 420-bp amplicons using the Rickettsia spp. partial ompB nested PCR. Screening of the ompB-positive samples using the gltA gene showed 8 positive ticks. All Rickettsia ompB and gltA sequences had the highest identity with R. massiliae. The Rickettsia-positive dogs were further tested for other tick-borne pathogens and were found to be infected with Babesia spp. (n = 5), but not with Ehrlichia, Anaplasma or Hepatozoon. Of the 149 dog serum specimens tested in the serological assay, 103 (69 %) were positive for IgG antibodies against spotted fever group Rickettsia. Antibodies were found in dogs from all the studied districts, in 55 (53 %) of the stray and in 48 (47 %) of the owned dogs. Our study detected and characterized for the first time R. massiliae in dogs from Portugal, broadening the geographical range of this canine pathogen and adding knowledge to the impact of this disease in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia F Barradas
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - João R Mesquita
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit), Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Ferreira
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Irina Amorim
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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20
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Ribeiro DM, Salama AAK, Vitor ACM, Argüello A, Moncau CT, Santos EM, Caja G, de Oliveira JS, Balieiro JCC, Hernández-Castellano LE, Zachut M, Poleti MD, Castro N, Alves SP, Almeida AM. The application of omics in ruminant production: a review in the tropical and sub-tropical animal production context. J Proteomics 2020; 227:103905. [PMID: 32712373 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2020.103905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The demand for animal products (e.g. dairy and beef) in tropical regions is expected to increase in parallel with the public demand for sustainable practices, due to factors such as population growth and climate change. The necessity to increase animal production output must be achieved with better management and production technologies. For this to happen, novel research methodologies, animal selection and postgenomic tools play a pivotal role. Indeed, improving breeder selection programs, the quality of meat and dairy products as well as animal health will contribute to higher sustainability and productivity. This would surely benefit regions where resource quality and quantity are increasingly unstable, and research is still very incipient, which is the case of many regions in the tropics. The purpose of this review is to demonstrate how omics-based approaches play a major role in animal science, particularly concerning ruminant production systems and research associated to the tropics and developing countries. SIGNIFICANCE: Environmental conditions in the tropics make livestock production harder, compared to temperate regions. Due to global warming, the sustainability of livestock production will become increasingly problematic. The use of novel omics technologies could generate useful information to understand adaptation mechanisms of resilient breeds and/or species. The application of omics to tropical animal production is still residual in the currently available literature. With this review, we aim to summarize the most notable results in the field whilst encouraging further research to deal with the future challenges that animal production in the tropics will need to face.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Ribeiro
- LEAF Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ahmed A K Salama
- Group of Research in Ruminants (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana C M Vitor
- CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Anastasio Argüello
- Animal Production and Biotechnology group, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Cristina T Moncau
- FZEA - Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Edson M Santos
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil
| | - Gerardo Caja
- Group of Research in Ruminants (G2R), Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juliana S de Oliveira
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil
| | - Júlio C C Balieiro
- FMVZ - School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Maya Zachut
- Department of Ruminant Science, Institute of Animal Sciences Agricultural Research Organization/Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion 7505101, Israel
| | - Mirele D Poleti
- FZEA - Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte - 225, 13635-900 Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - Noemi Castro
- Animal Production and Biotechnology group, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain
| | - Susana P Alves
- CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. da Universidade Técnica, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André M Almeida
- LEAF Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal.
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21
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Pontarolo GH, Kühl LF, Pedrassani D, Campos M, Figueiredo FB, Valente JDM, Gonçalves LR, André MR, Vieira TSWJ, Vieira RFDC, Roque de Barros Filho I. 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemoalbiventris', a novel hemoplasma species in white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Brazil. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:565-572. [PMID: 32644252 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Opossums of the genus Didelphis are considered synanthropic animals due to their close contact with human beings. Previously, two species of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) have been detected in opossums: 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemodidelphidis' in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) and a potentially novel hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. in the white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Brazil. Accordingly, the aims of this study were as follows: (a) to determine the prevalence of hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. in free-ranging opossums, (b) to characterize molecularly the hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. infecting opossums and (c) to determine factors associated with hemoplasma infection in opossums from Canoinhas municipality, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. For this purpose, 50 white-eared opossums (33 captured and 17 road-killed animals) were evaluated by a pan-hemoplasma PCR assay based on 16S rRNA. Six out of 50 (12%; 95% CI: 5.6%-23.8%) opossums were infested by Ctenocephalides felis fleas. Twenty out of 50 (40%; 95% CI: 26.41%-54.82%) opossums tested positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. by PCR. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S and 23S rRNA gene fragments confirmed that animals were infected by a potentially novel hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. previously reported in white-eared opossums from Brazil. No significant association was found between gender (p = .7759), trap area (p = .0887) or presence of fleas (p = .3811) and positivity for hemoplasmas. The potentially novel hemoplasma species seems to be highly prevalent in white-eared opossums from the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Mato Grosso do Sul. Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes along with epidemiological data, the name 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemoalbiventris' is proposed for this novel organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giane Helenita Pontarolo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade do Contestado, Canoinhas, Brazil.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Luís Felipe Kühl
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade do Contestado, Canoinhas, Brazil
| | - Daniela Pedrassani
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade do Contestado, Canoinhas, Brazil
| | - Monique Campos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fiocruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia, Teriogenologia e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia, Teriogenologia e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, Brazil
| | | | - Rafael Felipe da Costa Vieira
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Global One Health initiative (GOHi), The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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22
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Cicculli V, Oscar M, Casabianca F, Villechenaud N, Charrel R, de Lamballerie X, Falchi A. Molecular Detection of Spotted-Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks Collected from Domestic and Wild Animals in Corsica, France. Pathogens 2019; 8:pathogens8030138. [PMID: 31487899 PMCID: PMC6789605 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens8030138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
To obtain a better understanding of the current magnitude of tick-borne rickettsioses in Corsica, we used molecular methods to characterize the occurrence of Rickettsia spp. in ixodid ticks collected from domestic and wild animals. The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting the gltA gene and by sequencing of gltA and ompA partial genes for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. Infection rates were calculated as the maximum-likelihood estimation (MLE) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). In total, 1117 ticks belonging to four genera (Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Ixodes, and Dermacentor) were collected from cattle, sheep, wild boars, and companion animals during July-August 2017 and July 2018-January 2019. Overall, Rickettsia DNA was detected in 208 of 349 pools of ticks (MLE = 25.6%, 95% CI: 22.6-28.8%). The molecular analysis revealed five different rickettsial species of the spotted-fever group (SFG). We highlighted the exclusive detection of Candidatus Ri. barbariae in R. bursa and of Ri. aeschlimanii in H. marginatum. Rickettsia slovaca was detected in D. marginatus collected from wild boars. This study provides the first evidence of the presence of Ri. monacensis in I. ricinus ticks isolated from a dog in Corsica. In conclusion, our data revealed wide dispersal of SFG Rickettsiae and their arthropod hosts in Corsica, highlighting the need for surveillance of the risk of infection for people living and/or working close to infected or infested animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Cicculli
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse-Inserm, 20250 EA7310 Corte, France
| | - Maestrini Oscar
- Laboratoire de Recherches sur le Développement de l'Elevage (Research Laboratory for the Development of Livestock), 20250 UR045 Corte, France
| | - Francois Casabianca
- Laboratoire de Recherches sur le Développement de l'Elevage (Research Laboratory for the Development of Livestock), 20250 UR045 Corte, France
| | - Natacha Villechenaud
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse-Inserm, 20250 EA7310 Corte, France
| | - Remi Charrel
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Université, IRD 190, Inserm 1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), 13000 Marseille, France
| | - Xavier de Lamballerie
- Unité des Virus Emergents (UVE: Aix Marseille Université, IRD 190, Inserm 1207, IHU Méditerranée Infection), 13000 Marseille, France
| | - Alessandra Falchi
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse-Inserm, 20250 EA7310 Corte, France.
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Maia C, Cristóvão JM, Pereira A, Parreira R, Campino L. Detection of Rickettsia conorii israelensis DNA in the Blood of a Cat and a Dog From Southern Portugal. Top Companion Anim Med 2019; 36:12-15. [PMID: 31472723 DOI: 10.1053/j.tcam.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne rickettsioses represent emerging threats to public health worldwide. The aim of this work was the screening for the presence of Rickettsia spp. in the blood of dogs and cats from southern Portugal. A PCR product of the expected size was amplified from DNA extracts obtained from blood samples of 29 out of 225 (12.9%) cats and in 2 out of 375 (.5%) dogs using genus-specific primers targeting Rickettsia gltA. Rickettsia conorii israelensis was identified by phylogenetical analysis of partial ompB sequences, amplified from blood samples taken from both a cat and a dog. The obtained results reinforce the idea that domestic animals may act as sentinels for the presence of vector-borne Rickettsia spp. in a given geographical area. In addition, rickettsioses should be included in the differential diagnosis of canine and feline vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Maia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - José Manuel Cristóvão
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André Pereira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisbon, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Lenea Campino
- Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT-UNL, Lisbon, Portugal
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Roth A, Akad F, Zonstein I, King R, Orshan L, Erster O. Molecular characterization of six Hyalomma species using mitochondrial markers. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:911-917. [PMID: 31054919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.04.015] [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: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hyalomma species (Acari: Ixodidae) are vectors of several human and animal pathogens. However, due to their similar morphological properties, classification of related Hyalomma species is often challenging. Here we describe a combined approach for molecular characterization of six Hyalomma species: H. aegyptium, H. dromedarii, H. excavatum, H. impeltatum, H. marginatum and H. turanicum. This procedure was developed using a combination of PCR amplification of four molecular markers, followed by sequencing and species-specific restriction analysis. Segments from the following genes were used as markers: 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, Cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COX1), and Cytochrome B (CytB). Phylogenetic analysis based on the amplified sequences was consistent with the morphology-based classification. It revealed relative close proximity of H. excavatum, H. marginatum and H. turanicum, and close proximity of H. aegyptium and H. dromedarii to each other. H. impeltatum was examined using the COX1 and CytB markers, and in both cases was located on a separate clade from the other five species. Digestion of the amplified products using specific restriction enzymes enabled clear distinction between the six species. This report is the first to describe CytB marker sequences of the studied species, and the first to describe COX1 marker sequences of H. aegyptium, H. excavatum, H. impeltatum and H. turanicum. The information obtained in this study may therefore be useful for future combined morphological-molecular Hyalomma characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asael Roth
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Fouad Akad
- Entomology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Irina Zonstein
- Entomology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roni King
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Laor Orshan
- Entomology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Division of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel.
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Hansford KM, Carter D, Gillingham EL, Hernandez-Triana LM, Chamberlain J, Cull B, McGinley L, Paul Phipps L, Medlock JM. Hyalomma rufipes on an untraveled horse: Is this the first evidence of Hyalomma nymphs successfully moulting in the United Kingdom? Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:704-708. [PMID: 30876825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
During September 2018, a tick was submitted to Public Health England's Tick Surveillance Scheme for identification. The tick was sent from a veterinarian who removed it from a horse in Dorset, England, with no history of overseas travel. The tick was identified as a male Hyalomma rufipes using morphological and molecular methods and then tested for a range of tick-borne pathogens including; Alkhurma virus, Anaplasma, Babesia, Bhanja virus, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever virus, Rickettsia and Theileria. The tick tested positive for Rickettsia aeschlimannii, a spotted fever group rickettsia linked to a number of human cases in Africa and Europe. This is the first time H. rufipes has been reported in the United Kingdom (UK), and the lack of travel by the horse (or any in-contact horses) suggests that this could also be the first evidence of successful moulting of a Hyalomma nymph in the UK. It is postulated that the tick was imported into the UK on a migratory bird as an engorged nymph which was able to complete its moult to the adult stage and find a host. This highlights that passive tick surveillance remains an important method for the detection of unusual species that may present a threat to public health in the UK. Horses are important hosts of Hyalomma sp. adults in their native range, therefore, further surveillance studies should be conducted to check horses for ticks in the months following spring bird migration; when imported nymphs may have had time to drop off their avian host and moult to adults. The potential human and animal health risks of such events occurring more regularly are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK.
| | - Daniel Carter
- Diagnostic and Genomic Technologies, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK
| | - Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK
| | - Luis M Hernandez-Triana
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - John Chamberlain
- Virology & Pathogenesis, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Liz McGinley
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - L Paul Phipps
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Diseases Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK; Virology & Pathogenesis, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
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26
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Takhampunya R, Korkusol A, Pongpichit C, Yodin K, Rungrojn A, Chanarat N, Promsathaporn S, Monkanna T, Thaloengsok S, Tippayachai B, Kumfao N, Richards AL, Davidson SA. Metagenomic Approach to Characterizing Disease Epidemiology in a Disease-Endemic Environment in Northern Thailand. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:319. [PMID: 30863381 PMCID: PMC6399164 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we used a metagenomic approach to analyze bacterial communities from diverse populations (humans, animals, and vectors) to investigate the role of these microorganisms as causative agents of disease in human and animal populations. Wild rodents and ectoparasites were collected from 2014 to 2018 in Nan province, Thailand where scrub typhus is highly endemic. Samples from undifferentiated febrile illness (UFI) patients were obtained from a local hospital. A total of 200 UFI patient samples were obtained and 309 rodents and 420 pools of ectoparasites were collected from rodents (n = 285) and domestic animals (n = 135). The bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced with the Illumina. Real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm the next-generation sequencing (NGS) results and to characterize pathogen species. Several pathogens were detected by NGS in all populations studied and the most common pathogens identified included Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Leptospira spp., and Orientia tsutsugamushi. Interestingly, Anaplasma spp. was detected in patient, rodent and tick populations, although they were not previously known to cause human disease from this region. Candidatus Neoehrlichia, Neorickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., and Ehrlichia spp. were detected in rodents and their associated ectoparasites. The same O. tsutsugamushi genotypes were shared among UFI patients, rodents, and chiggers in a single district indicating that the chiggers found on rodents were also likely responsible for transmitting to people. Serological testing using immunofluorescence assays in UFI samples showed high prevalence (IgM/IgG) of Rickettsia and Orientia pathogens, most notably among samples collected during September–November. Additionally, a higher number of seropositive samples belonged to patients in the working age population (20–60 years old). The results presented in this study demonstrate that the increased risk of human infection or exposure to chiggers and their associated pathogen (O. tsutsugamushi) resulted in part from two important factors; working age group and seasons for rice cultivation and harvesting. Evidence of pathogen exposure was shown to occur as there was seropositivity (IgG) in UFI patients for bartonellosis as well as for anaplasmosis. Using a metagenomic approach, this study demonstrated the circulation and transmission of several pathogens in the environment, some of which are known causative agents of illness in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratree Takhampunya
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Achareeya Korkusol
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | - Artharee Rungrojn
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nitima Chanarat
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sommai Promsathaporn
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Taweesak Monkanna
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sasikanya Thaloengsok
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Bousaraporn Tippayachai
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Allen L Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Silas A Davidson
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok, Thailand
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Kazimírová M, Hamšíková Z, Špitalská E, Minichová L, Mahríková L, Caban R, Sprong H, Fonville M, Schnittger L, Kocianová E. Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:495. [PMID: 30176908 PMCID: PMC6122462 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3068-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. RESULTS Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, 1686 Hurlingham, Prov. de Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET, C1033AAJ Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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28
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Liu X, Yang M, Liu G, Zhao S, Yuan W, Xiao R, Hazihan W, Hornok S, Wang Y. Molecular evidence of Rickettsia raoultii, "Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae" and a novel Babesia genotype in marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna) at the China-Kazakhstan border. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:450. [PMID: 30075738 PMCID: PMC6090811 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3033-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, two road-killed marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna) were molecularly analysed for tick-borne pathogens. Rickettsia raoultii, "Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae" and a novel Babesia genotype have been identified, for the first time in marbled polecat. DNA of this Babesia sp. genotype was also present in four out of 15 Haemaphysalis erinacei ticks collected from the Babesia PCR-positive marbled polecat. Results of this study suggest that marbled polecats may serve as reservoirs for these bacteria and protozoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiafei Liu
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- School of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1#, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Wumei Yuan
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Ronghai Xiao
- Inspection and Comprehensive Technology Center of Ruili Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, No.75, Ruihong Road, Ruili, 678600, Yunnan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wurelihazi Hazihan
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China.
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Mohammed-Ahmed GM, Hassan SM, El Hussein AM, Salih DA. Molecular, serological and parasitological survey of Theileria annulata in North Kordofan State, Sudan. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 13:24-29. [PMID: 31014883 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
This survey was conducted to detect Theileria annulata infection in indigenous (Zebu) and cross (indigenous × Friesian) cattle (n 604) of different sex & age groups, and to investigate prevalence of ticks infesting cattle in North Kordofan State, Sudan. Ticks, blood smears, serum samples and blood spots on filter paper were collected from four municipalities at four monthly intervals during the period from August 2008 to July 2009. Out of 604 blood smears, 69 (11.4%, 95% CI: 16.9-5.9) were positive for Theileria piroplasms; whereas, out of 240 serum samples, 164 (68.3%, 95% CI: 89.3-47.3) were positive for antibodies against T. annulata using IFA test. Using PCR, out of 100 blood spots on filter paper, 8 (8%, 95% CI: 9.6-6.4) revealed T. annulata DNA. The highest prevalence of Theileria spp. piroplasms and T. annulata antibodies was recorded in August (15.9 ± 4.6) followed by February (13.3 ± 3.8) and the lowest was in May (3.9 ± 1.0). Among cattle breeds, the highest prevalence of piroplasms (11.9 ± 5.0) and T. annulata antibodies (68.9 ± 10) was among zebu cattle. PCR assays revealed the highest prevalence rate of T. annulata DNA in February (12.5 ± 1.4) followed by August (6.1 ± 0.7) and the lowest was in May (5.7 ± 0.7). According to cattle breeds, T. annulata DNA was detected in cross-bred cattle (3.3 ± 0.4) more than zebu cattle (10 ± 1.6). Seven tick species belonging to four genera and were identified, Amblyomma lepidum, Hyalomma dromedarii, H. impeltatum, H. rufipes, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, R. annulatus. The most abundant tick species was H. rufipes followed by H. impeltatum, R. e. evertsi, H. dromedarii, R. decoloratus, A. lepidum and R. annulatus. Theileria annulata has been detected for the first time in North Kordofan State, though at a low prevalence rate. This finding is an alarming situation since tropical theileriosis is an emerging disease and it is widely believed that this economically important tick-borne parasite does not exist in this state. The possible alternative vector(s) of T. annulata in the absence of the known vector H. anatolicum is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - S M Hassan
- University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 32, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - A M El Hussein
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 8067, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - D A Salih
- Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 8067, Khartoum, Sudan.
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