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Kelava S, Apanaskevich DA, Shao R, Gofton AW, Mans BJ, Teo EJM, Norval G, Barker D, Nakao R, Barker SC. Insights from entire mitochondrial genome sequences into the phylogeny of ticks of the genera Haemaphysalis and Archaeocroton with the elevation of the subgenus Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 back to the status of a genus. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 38:189-204. [PMID: 38469668 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
We used entire mitochondrial (mt) genome sequences (14.5-15 kbp) to resolve the phylogeny of the four main lineages of the Haematobothrion ticks: Alloceraea, Archaeocroton, Bothriocroton and Haemaphysalis. In our phylogenetic trees, Alloceraea was the sister to Archaeocroton sphenodonti, a tick of an archetypal reptile, the tuatara, from New Zealand, to the exclusion of the rest of the species of Haemaphysalis. The mt genomes of all four of the Alloceraea species that have been sequenced so far had a substantial insert, 132-312 bp, between the tRNA-Glu (E) gene and the nad1 gene in their mt genomes. This insert was not found in any of the other eight subgenera of Haemaphysalis. The mt genomes of 13 species of Haemaphysalis from NCBI GenBank were added to the most recent data set on Haemaphysalis and its close relatives to help resolve the phylogeny of Haemaphysalis, including five new subgenera of Haemaphysalis not previously considered by other authors: Allophysalis (structurally primitive), Aboimisalis (structurally primitive), Herpetobia (structurally intermediate), Ornithophysalis (structurally advanced) and Segalia (structurally advanced). We elevated Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 to the status of genus because Alloceraea Schulze, 1919 is phylogenetically distinct from the other subgenera of Haemaphysalis. Moreover, we propose that the subgenus Allophysalis is the sister to the rest of the Haemaphysalis (14 subgenera) and that the 'structurally primitive' subgenera Hoogstraal and Kim comprise early diverging lineages. Our matrices of the pairwise genetic difference (percent) of mt genomes and partial 16S rRNA sequences indicated that the mt genome sequence of Al. kitaokai (gb# OM368280) may not be Al. kitaokai Hoogstraal, 1969 but rather another species of Alloceraea. In a similar way, the mt genome sequence of H. (Herpetobia) nepalensis Hoogstraal, 1962 (gb# NC_064124) was only 2% genetically different to that of H. (Allophysalis) tibetensis Hoogstraal, 1965 (gb# OM368293): this indicates to us that they are the same species. Alloceraea cretacea may be better placed in a genus other than Alloceraea Schulze, 1919. Reptiles may have been the host to the most recent common ancestor of Archaeocroton and Alloceraea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kelava
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- Institute for Coastal Sciences, US National Tick Collection, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
| | - Renfu Shao
- Centre for Bioinnovation, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander W Gofton
- Health and Biosecurity, CSIRO, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
- The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Ernest J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gerrut Norval
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dayana Barker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Cotes-Perdomo AP, Sánchez-Vialas A, Thomas R, Jenkins A, Uribe JE. New insights into the systematics of the afrotropical Amblyomma marmoreum complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and the genome of a novel Rickettsia africae strain using morphological and metagenomic approaches. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102323. [PMID: 38387163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102323] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The Amblyomma marmoreum complex includes afrotropical species, such as Amblyomma sparsum, a three-host tick that parasitizes reptiles, birds, and mammals, and is a recognized vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium. However, the lack of morphological, genetic and ecological data on A. sparsum has caused considerable confusion in its identification. In this study, we used microscopy and metagenomic approaches to analyze A. sparsum ticks collected from a puff adder snake (Bitis arietans) in southwest Senegal (an endemic rickettsioses area) in order to supplement previous morphological descriptions, provide novel genomic data for the A. marmoreum complex, and describe the genome of a novel spotted fever group Rickettsia strain. Based on stereoscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphological evaluations, we provide high-quality images and new insights about punctation and enameling in the adult male of A. sparsum to facilitate identification for future studies. The metagenomic approach allowed us assembly the complete mitochondrial genome of A. sparsum, as well as the nearly entire chromosome and complete plasmid sequences of a novel Rickettsia africae strain. Phylogenomic analyses demonstrated a close relationship between A. sparsum and Amblyomma nuttalli for the first time and confirmed the position of A. sparsum within the A. marmoreum complex. Our results provide new insights into the systematics of A. sparsum and A. marmoreum complex, as well as the genetic diversity of R. africae in the Afrotropical region. Future studies should consider the possibility that A. sparsum may be a vector for R. africae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea P Cotes-Perdomo
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern, Norway; Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 2José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Alberto Sánchez-Vialas
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 2José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Richard Thomas
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern, Norway
| | - Juan E Uribe
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), 2José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain.
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3
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Uribe JE, Kelava S, Nava S, Cotes-Perdomo AP, Castro LR, Rivera-Paéz FA, Perea S, Mans BJ, Gofton A, Teo EJM, Zardoya R, Barker SC. New insights into the molecular phylogeny, biogeographical history, and diversification of Amblyomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) based on mitogenomes and nuclear sequences. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:139. [PMID: 38500136 PMCID: PMC10946108 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06131-w] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amblyomma is the third most diversified genus of Ixodidae that is distributed across the Indomalayan, Afrotropical, Australasian (IAA), Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic ecoregions, reaching in the Neotropic its highest diversity. There have been hints in previously published phylogenetic trees from mitochondrial genome, nuclear rRNA, from combinations of both and morphology that the Australasian Amblyomma or the Australasian Amblyomma plus the Amblyomma species from the southern cone of South America, might be sister-group to the Amblyomma of the rest of the world. However, a stable phylogenetic framework of Amblyomma for a better understanding of the biogeographic patterns underpinning its diversification is lacking. METHODS We used genomic techniques to sequence complete and nearly complete mitochondrial genomes -ca. 15 kbp- as well as the nuclear ribosomal cluster -ca. 8 kbp- for 17 Amblyomma ticks in order to study the phylogeny and biogeographic pattern of the genus Amblyomma, with particular emphasis on the Neotropical region. The new genomic information generated here together with genomic information available on 43 ticks (22 other Amblyomma species and 21 other hard ticks-as outgroup-) were used to perform probabilistic methods of phylogenetic and biogeographic inferences and time-tree estimation using biogeographic dates. RESULTS In the present paper, we present the strongest evidence yet that Australasian Amblyomma may indeed be the sister-group to the Amblyomma of the rest of the world (species that occur mainly in the Neotropical and Afrotropical zoogeographic regions). Our results showed that all Amblyomma subgenera (Cernyomma, Anastosiella, Xiphiastor, Adenopleura, Aponomma and Dermiomma) are not monophyletic, except for Walkeriana and Amblyomma. Likewise, our best biogeographic scenario supports the origin of Amblyomma and its posterior diversification in the southern hemisphere at 47.8 and 36.8 Mya, respectively. This diversification could be associated with the end of the connection of Australasia and Neotropical ecoregions by the Antarctic land bridge. Also, the biogeographic analyses let us see the colonization patterns of some neotropical Amblyomma species to the Nearctic. CONCLUSIONS We found strong evidence that the main theater of diversification of Amblyomma was the southern hemisphere, potentially driven by the Antarctic Bridge's intermittent connection in the late Eocene. In addition, the subgeneric classification of Amblyomma lacks evolutionary support. Future studies using denser taxonomic sampling may lead to new findings on the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of Amblyomma genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan E Uribe
- Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology Department (BEBD), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
- Invertebrate Zoology Department, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Samuel Kelava
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Santiago Nava
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela (EEA Rafaela), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Andrea P Cotes-Perdomo
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences of Technology, University of South-Eastern, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Lyda R Castro
- Grupo de Investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Paéz
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Silvia Perea
- Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology Department (BEBD), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Ernest J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Rafael Zardoya
- Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology Department (BEBD), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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Mancuso E, Di Domenico M, Di Gialleonardo L, Menegon M, Toma L, Di Luca M, Casale F, Di Donato G, D’Onofrio L, De Rosa A, Riello S, Ferri A, Serra L, Monaco F. Tick Species Diversity and Molecular Identification of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae Collected from Migratory Birds Arriving from Africa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2036. [PMID: 37630596 PMCID: PMC10458931 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of migratory birds in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens along their routes from Africa to Europe is increasingly emerging. Wild birds can host several tick species, often infected by bacteria responsible for zoonoses. The aim of the study is to assess the possible introduction of exotic ticks carried by migratory birds into Italy from Africa and to detect the presence of Rickettsia species and Coxiella burnetii they may harbor. During a two-year survey, we collected ticks from migratory birds captured during their short stop-over on Ventotene Island. Specimens were first identified by morphology or sequencing molecular targets when needed, and then tested by real-time PCR for the presence of selected pathogens. A total of 91% of the collection consisted of sub-Saharan ticks, more than 50% of which were infected by Rickettsia species belonging to the spotted fever group, mainly represented by R. aeschlimannii. In contrast, the suspected C. burnetii detected in two soft ticks were confirmed as Coxiella-like endosymbionts and not the pathogen. Although there are still gaps in the knowledge of this dispersal process, our findings confirm the role of migratory birds in the spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, suggesting the need for a continuous surveillance to monitor the potential emergence of new diseases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Marco Di Domenico
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Luigina Di Gialleonardo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Michela Menegon
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Luciano Toma
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Marco Di Luca
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesca Casale
- Dipartimento Malattie Infettive, Reparto Malattie Trasmesse da Vettori, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (M.M.); (L.T.); (M.D.L.); (F.C.)
| | - Guido Di Donato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Laura D’Onofrio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Angela De Rosa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
| | - Sara Riello
- Riserva Naturale Statale “Isole di Ventotene e Santo Stefano”, 04031 Ventotene, Italy;
| | - Andrea Ferri
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (A.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Lorenzo Serra
- Area Avifauna Migratrice, Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia, Italy; (A.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (M.D.D.); (L.D.G.); (G.D.D.); (L.D.); (A.D.R.); (F.M.)
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Mans BJ. Paradigms in tick evolution. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:475-486. [PMID: 37061441 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
The study of tick evolution may be classified into disciplines such as taxonomy and systematics, biogeography, evolution and development (evo-devo), ecology, and hematophagy. These disciplines overlap and impact each other to various extents. Advances in one field may lead to paradigm shifts in our understanding of tick evolution not apparent to other fields. The current study considers paradigm shifts that occurred, are in the process, or may occur in future for the disciplines that study tick evolution. Some disciplines have undergone significant changes, while others may still be developing their own paradigms. Integration of these various disciplines is essential to come to a holistic view of tick evolution; however, maturation of paradigms may be necessary before this vision can be attained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
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Kelava S, Mans BJ, Shao R, Barker D, Teo EJM, Chatanga E, Gofton AW, Moustafa MAM, Nakao R, Barker SC. Seventy-eight entire mitochondrial genomes and nuclear rRNA genes provide insight into the phylogeny of the hard ticks, particularly the Haemaphysalis species, Africaniella transversale and Robertsicus elaphensis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102070. [PMID: 36455382 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hoogstraal and Kim (1985) proposed from morphology, three groups of Haemaphysalis subgenera: (i) the "structurally advanced"; (ii) the "structurally intermediate"; and (iii) the "structurally primitive" subgenera. Nuclear gene phylogenies, however, did not indicate monophyly of these morphological groups but alas, only two mitochondrial (mt) genomes from the "structurally intermediate" subgenera had been sequenced. The phylogeny of Haemaphysalis has not yet been resolved. We aimed to resolve the phylogeny of the genus Haemaphysalis, with respect to the subgenus Alloceraea. We presented 15 newly sequenced and annotated mt genomes from 15 species of ticks, five species of which have not been sequenced before, and four new 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA nuclear gene sequences. Our datasets were constructed from 10 mt protein-coding genes, cox1, and the 18S and 28S nuclear rRNA genes. We found a 132-bp insertion between tRNA-Glu (E) gene and the nad1 gene in the mt genome of Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) inermis that resembles insertions in H. (Alloceraea) kitaokai and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) geigyi. Our mt phylogenies had the three species of Amblyomma (Aponomma) we sequenced embedded in the main clade of Amblyomma: Am. (Aponomma) fimbriatum, Am. (Aponomma) gervaisi and Am. (Aponomma) latum. This is further support for the hypothesis that the evolution of eyes appears to have occurred in the most-recent-common-ancestor of Amblyocephalus (i.e. Amblyomminae plus Rhipicephalinae) and that eyes were subsequently lost in the most-recent-common-ancestor of the subgenus Am. (Aponomma). Either Africaniella transversale or Robertsicus elaphensis, or perhaps Af. transversale plus Ro. elaphensis, appear to be the sister-group to the rest of the metastriate Ixodida. Our cox1 phylogenies did not indicate monophyly of the "structurally primitive", "structurally intermediate" nor the "structurally advanced" groups of Haemaphysalis subgenera. Indeed, the subgenus Alloceraea may be the only monophyletic subgenus of the genus Haemaphysalis sequenced thus far. All of our mt genome and cox1 phylogenies had the subgenus Alloceraea in a clade that was separate from the rest of the Haemaphysalis ticks. If Alloceraea is indeed the sister to the rest of the Haemaphysalis subgenera this would resonate with the argument of Hoogstraal and Kim (1985), that Alloceraea was a subgenus of "primitive" Haemaphysalis. Alectorobius capensis from Japan had a higher genetic-identity to A. sawaii, which was also from Japan, than to the A. capensis from South Africa. This indicates that A. capensis from Japan may be a cryptic species with respect to the A. capensis from South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kelava
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida 1709, South Africa; The Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
| | - Renfu Shao
- Centre for Bioinnovation and School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD 4556, Australia
| | - Dayana Barker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia
| | - Ernest J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Elisha Chatanga
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | | | - Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia.
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7
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Hard ticks in Burmese amber with Australasian affinities. Parasitology 2023; 150:157-171. [PMID: 36341553 PMCID: PMC10090639 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Three examples of metastriate hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) with apparent affinities to modern Australasian genera are described from the mid-Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma) Burmese amber of Myanmar. Two nymphs of Bothriocroton muelleri sp. nov. represent the oldest (and only) fossil record of this genus, living members of which are restricted to Australia and predominantly feed on monitor lizards, snakes and echidnas. A female of Archaeocroton kaufmani sp. nov. shares its basis capitulum shape with the tuatara tick Archaeocroton sphenodonti (Dumbleton, 1943), the only extant member of this genus and an endemic species for New Zealand. The presence of 2 Australasian genera in Burmese amber is consistent with a previous record of an Ixodes Latreille, 1795 tick from this deposit which resembles Australian members of this genus. They further support an emerging hypothesis that fauna of the amber forest, which may have been on an island at the time of deposition, was at least partly Gondwanan in origin. A revised evolutionary tree for Ixodida is presented compiling data from several new Burmese amber ticks described in the last few years.
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8
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Distribution of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Animals and Their Ticks in the Countries of the Mediterranean Basin between 2000 and 2021: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061236. [PMID: 35744755 PMCID: PMC9228937 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) include a wide range of bacteria, parasites and viruses that cause a large spectrum of animal, human and zoonotic tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The object of this review was to establish an inventory and an analysis of TBPs found in domestic animals in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin. This geographic area occupies a central position between several continents and is an area of movement for animals, humans and pathogens of interest and their vectors, which is important in terms of animal and human health. In this systematic review, we included a total of 271 publications produced between 2000–2021 concerning TBPs in domestic animals. Among this literature, we found a total of 90 pathogen species (known as TBPs) reported in the 20 countries of the area; these were detected in tick species from domestic animals and were also directly detected in domestic animals. In all, 31 tick species were recorded and 12 domestic animal species, the latter comprising nine livestock and three pet species. More than 50% of the publications were from Western Europe. Island data were extracted and assessed, as islands of the Mediterranean Basin were represented in 16% of the publications and 77.8% of the TBPs reported. Our results show the importance of islands in the monitoring of TBPs, despite the low percentage of publications.
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9
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Mohamed WMA, Moustafa MAM, Thu MJ, Kakisaka K, Chatanga E, Ogata S, Hayashi N, Taya Y, Ohari Y, Naguib D, Qiu Y, Matsuno K, Bawm S, Htun LL, Barker SC, Katakura K, Ito K, Nonaka N, Nakao R. Comparative mitogenomics elucidates the population genetic structure of
Amblyomma testudinarium
in Japan and a closely related
Amblyomma
species in Myanmar. Evol Appl 2022; 15:1062-1078. [PMID: 35899249 PMCID: PMC9309438 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13426] [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: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are the second most important vector capable of transmitting diseases affecting the health of both humans and animals. Amblyomma testudinarium Koch 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), is a hard tick species having a wide geographic distribution in Asia. In this study, we analyzed the composition of A. testudinarium whole mitogenomes from various geographical regions in Japan and investigated the population structure, demographic patterns, and phylogeographic relationship with other ixodid species. In addition, we characterized a potentially novel tick species closely related to A. testudinarium from Myanmar. Phylogeographic inference and evolutionary dynamics based on the 15 mitochondrial coding genes supported that A. testudinarium population in Japan is resolved into a star‐like haplogroup and suggested a distinct population structure of A. testudinarium from Amami island in Kyushu region. Correlation analysis using Mantel test statistics showed that no significant correlation was observed between the genetic and geographic distances calculated between the A. testudinarium population from different localities in Japan. Finally, demographic analyses, including mismatch analysis and Tajima’s D test, suggested a possibility of recent population expansion occurred within Japanese haplogroup after a bottleneck event. Although A. testudinarium has been considered widespread and common in East and Southeast Asia, the current study suggested that potentially several cryptic Amblyomma spp. closely related to A. testudinarium are present in Asia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wessam Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- Division of Bioinformatics, International Institute for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine South Valley University Qena Egypt
| | - May June Thu
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- Department of Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health, Zabu Thiri, Nay Pyi Taw 15011 Myanmar
| | - Keita Kakisaka
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Elisha Chatanga
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources Lilongwe Malawi
| | - Shohei Ogata
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Naoki Hayashi
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Yurie Taya
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Yuma Ohari
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Doaa Naguib
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- Department of Hygiene and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Mansoura University Mansoura Egypt
| | - Yongjin Qiu
- Division of International Research Promotion, International Institute for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Keita Matsuno
- Division of Risk Analysis and Management, International Institute for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- International Collaboration Unit, International Institute for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
- One Health Research Center Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Saw Bawm
- Department of International Relations and Information Technology University of Veterinary Science Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology University of Veterinary Science Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
| | - Lat Lat Htun
- Department of Pharmacology and Parasitology University of Veterinary Science Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar
| | - Stephen C. Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Ken Katakura
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Kimihito Ito
- Division of Bioinformatics, International Institute for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Nariaki Nonaka
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Hokkaido University Sapporo Hokkaido Japan
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10
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Amarga AKS, Supsup CE, Tseng HY, Kwak ML, Lin SM. The Asian turtle tick Amblyomma geoemydae Cantor, 1847 (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Philippines: first confirmed local host and locality with a complete host index. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101958. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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11
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Mofokeng LS, Smit NJ, Cook CA. Molecular screening of ticks of the genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting South African reptiles with comments on their potential to act as vectors for Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi (Dias, 1953) (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 16:163-167. [PMID: 34584839 PMCID: PMC8455905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
In South Africa, the role of reptilian ticks in the transmission of haemoparasites is lacking, in part, due to limited information on tick diversity and their associated haemoparasites. The aim of this research was to identify tick species parasitizing reptiles and to molecularly screen these ectoparasites for species of the blood apicomplexan genus Hepatozoon. Samples were collected from Ndumo Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Cape Columbine region, Western Cape. Reptiles collected included 2 snakes, 2 monitor lizards of a single species respectively, as well as 17 tortoises of four species. Ticks collected from these were morphologically identified as Amblyomma latum (n = 2) and Amblyomma marmoreum (n = 98), this identification was molecularly confirmed using 16S rRNA and CO1 genes. Screening for Hepatozoon was done by amplifying the 18S rRNA gene. A species of Hepatozoon, Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi, was identified from A. marmoreum ticks, with an overall prevalence of 10%. This Hepatozoon species, has been described parasitizing tortoises from southern Africa, and has been reported from ticks infesting tortoises from Kenya, East Africa. Even though ticks have been suggested to be the likely vector of this Hepatozoon species, with this supported by the findings of Hepatozoon-like developmental stages in ticks collected off of infected tortoises, a recent systematic revision placed this species in a newly erected genus Bartazoon, a genus vectorised by biting insects. The present study thus provides further support for ticks acting as the potential vectors of H. fitzsimonsi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehlohonolo S. Mofokeng
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North - West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa
| | - Nico J. Smit
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North - West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa
| | - Courtney A. Cook
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North - West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa
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12
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Hornok S, Kontschán J, Takács N, Chaber AL, Halajian A, Szekeres S, Sándor AD, Plantard O. Rickettsiaceae in two reptile-associated tick species, Amblyomma exornatum and Africaniella transversale: First evidence of Occidentia massiliensis in hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101830. [PMID: 34624588 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101830] [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: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
All species of hard ticks associated with reptiles as hosts throughout their life cycle, are currently assigned to genera including Amblyomma and Africaniella. Among these species, based on literature data, Africaniella transversale has never been investigated for the presence of tick-borne pathogens. In this study, seven DNA extracts (two from A. transversale and five from Amblyomma exornatum) were screened for the presence of important tick-borne protozoa (piroplasms) and bacteria (Anaplasmataceae and Rickettsiaceae) with conventional PCRs and sequencing. A new heat shock protein chaperonin (groEL) gene-specific PCR was also developed to identify Occidentia spp. in these samples. In A. transversale, Occidentia massiliensis (previously detected in rodent-associated soft ticks) and Rickettsia hoogstraalii were present. While the latter was molecularly identical with formerly reported sequences of this rickettsia, the genotype of O. massiliensis was new based on sequence and phylogenetic analyses of its groEL gene. In A. exornatum, a Rickettsia genotype closely related to R. tamurae and R. monacensis, was detected. The ompA sequence of this genotype was identical to that of Rickettsia sp. Ae-8 reported from A. exornatum in a reptile breeding facility in the USA. These results show that A. transversale might carry O. massiliensis which (unless having a symbiotic nature in ticks) may originate either from the reptile host of this hard tick species or the rodent prey of reptiles. This is also the first detection of the reptile tick-associated Rickettsia sp. Ae-8 (phylogenetically aligning with R. tamurae, R. monacensis) in Africa, i.e. within the original geographical range of A. exornatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, ELKH, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anne-Lise Chaber
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ali Halajian
- Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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13
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Kelava S, Mans BJ, Shao R, Moustafa MAM, Matsuno K, Takano A, Kawabata H, Sato K, Fujita H, Ze C, Plantard O, Hornok S, Gao S, Barker D, Barker SC, Nakao R. Phylogenies from mitochondrial genomes of 120 species of ticks: Insights into the evolution of the families of ticks and of the genus Amblyomma. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101577. [PMID: 33120251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The evolution and phylogenetic relationships of the ticks at both the family and genus levels are contested. The genus Amblyomma and its subgenera are in a state of flux; moreover, the relationships among the three tick families are controversial due to conflicting phylogenetic support for different arrangements of the three families of living ticks. With 18 newly sequenced mitochondrial (mt) genomes of ticks included, we executed the largest mt genome phylogenetic study of ticks so far. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from one sea spider mt genome, one horseshoe crab, five mite mt genomes and 146 tick mt genomes from 120 species: 153 mt genomes in total. Sixteen phylogenetic trees were inferred from 10 datasets using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. We describe the first novel mt gene-arrangement for the metastriate Ixodidae in Amblyomma (Africaniella) transversale. Also, three unusual partial 16S rRNA gene inserts were found in the mt genome of Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) kitaokai: we consider the possible role of past genome translocation events in the formation of these inserts. Our phylogenies revealed evidence that: (i) the genus Amblyomma is polyphyletic with respect to Amblyomma (Africaniella) transversale; (ii) the subgenus Aponomma is apparently embedded in the genus Amblyomma; (iii) Haemaphysalis (Segalia) parva and Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) kitaokai form a clade to the exclusion of other Haemaphysalis species; and (iv) the phylogenetic position of the family Nuttalliellidae is unstable among phylogenies from different datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Kelava
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; The Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa; The Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, 1709, South Africa
| | - Renfu Shao
- School of Science and Engineering, GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4558, Australia
| | | | - Keita Matsuno
- Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ai Takano
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Hiromi Fujita
- Mahara Institute of Medical Acarology, 56-3 Aratano, Anan-shi, Tokushima, 779-1510, Japan
| | - Chen Ze
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050024, China
| | | | - Sandor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Shan Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Dayana Barker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - Stephen C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
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