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Nepveu-Traversy ME, Fausther-Bovendo H, Babuadze G(G. Human Tick-Borne Diseases and Advances in Anti-Tick Vaccine Approaches: A Comprehensive Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:141. [PMID: 38400125 PMCID: PMC10891567 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review explores the field of anti-tick vaccines, addressing their significance in combating tick-borne diseases of public health concern. The main objectives are to provide a brief epidemiology of diseases affecting humans and a thorough understanding of tick biology, traditional tick control methods, the development and mechanisms of anti-tick vaccines, their efficacy in field applications, associated challenges, and future prospects. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant and escalating threat to global health and the livestock industries due to the widespread distribution of ticks and the multitude of pathogens they transmit. Traditional tick control methods, such as acaricides and repellents, have limitations, including environmental concerns and the emergence of tick resistance. Anti-tick vaccines offer a promising alternative by targeting specific tick proteins crucial for feeding and pathogen transmission. Developing vaccines with antigens based on these essential proteins is likely to disrupt these processes. Indeed, anti-tick vaccines have shown efficacy in laboratory and field trials successfully implemented in livestock, reducing the prevalence of TBDs. However, some challenges still remain, including vaccine efficacy on different hosts, polymorphisms in ticks of the same species, and the economic considerations of adopting large-scale vaccine strategies. Emerging technologies and approaches hold promise for improving anti-tick vaccine development and expanding their impact on public health and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hugues Fausther-Bovendo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
| | - George (Giorgi) Babuadze
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
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He M, Zhang L, Hu H, Liu X, Zhang C, Xin Y, Liu B, Chen Z, Xu K, Liu Y. Complete genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses of a new spotted-fever Rickettsia heilongjiangensis strain B8. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2153085. [PMID: 36440590 PMCID: PMC9930820 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2153085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia heilongjiangensis, a tick-borne obligate intracellular bacterium and causative agent of spotted fever in China, has attracted increasing concern regarding its capability in causing human rickettsiosis. Here, we conducted a genomic analysis of a new R. heilongjiangensis strain B8 (B8) isolated from the serum of a patient who had been bitten by a Haemaphysalis longicornis tick in Anhui Province, China. The present study sought to identify exclusive genes that might be associated with the pathogenicity of B8 using comparative genomics. Specifically, the sequences of B8 were assembled into one circular chromosome of 1,275,081 bp and predicted to contain 1447 genes. Comparative genome analyses were performed based on the genome of B8 and 28 spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsial genomes deposited in NCBI. Phylogenomic analyses indicated the B8 strain was clustered within the R. heilongjiangensis species; however, a sum of 112 and 119 B8-unique genes was identified when compared with R. heilongjiangensis and R. japonica strains, respectively. Functional annotation analyses revealed that these B8-unique genes were mainly annotated to defence mechanisms, lipid transport and metabolism, cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis. These data indicate B8 rather represents a previously undescribed human-pathogenic SFG rickettsia lineage, which may be an intermediate lineage of R. heilongjiangensis and R. japonica. Overall, this study isolated a new strain of R. heilongjiangensis in East-Central China for the first time, and provided potential B8-unique genetic loci that could be used for the discrimination of B8 from other R. heilongjiangensis and closely related SFG Rickettsial strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maozhang He
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haoran Hu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cong Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Xin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Boyu Liu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kehan Xu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China,Kehan Xu Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical, The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui230032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical; The Key Laboratory of Microbiology and Parasitology of Anhui Province, The Key Laboratory of Zoonoses of High Institutions in Anhui, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People’s Republic of China, Yan Liu
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Kask L, Påhlson C, Staxäng K, Nilsson K. Signatures in in vitro infection of NSC-34 mouse neurons and their cell nucleus with Rickettsia helvetica. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:113. [PMID: 37085774 PMCID: PMC10120103 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02859-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia helvetica, a spotted fever rickettsia, is transmitted to humans via ticks in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. The central nervous system is a crucial target for rickettsial diseases, which has been reported for 12 of the 31 species, of which R. helvetica is one. This study aimed, in an experimental model, to identify characteristics of R. helvetica infection in a mouse neuronal cell line, NSC-34. RESULTS NSC-34, a fusion cell line of mouse motor spinal cord neurons and neuroblastoma cells, was used as a model. Propagation of R. helvetica in neurons was confirmed. Short actin tails were shown at the polar end of the bacteria, which makes it likely that they can move intracellularly, and even spread between cells. Another protein, Sca4, which with the cell adhesion protein vinculin enables the passage of the cell membrane, was expressed during infection. No significant increase in TNFα levels was seen in the infected neurons, which is of interest because TNFα protects the host cell from infection-induced apoptotic death which is crucial for host cell survival. The bacteria were also shown to invade and grow in the cell nucleus of the neuron. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that a R. helvetica infection may be harmful to NSC-34 neurons under these in vitro conditions, but the full effects of the infection on the cell need to be studied further, also on human neurons, to also understand the possible significance of this infection in relation to pathogenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Kask
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Carl Påhlson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Staxäng
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology-Biovis Platform, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Crandall KE, Kerr JT, Millien V. Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogens in Central Canada: Recent Detections of Babesia odocoilei and Rickettsia rickettsii. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:535-544. [PMID: 36264197 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0036] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The spread of emerging tick-borne pathogens has steadily increased in Canada with the widespread establishment of tick vectors and vertebrate hosts. At present, Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium causing Lyme disease, is the most common tick-borne pathogen in Canada and primarily transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. A low prevalence of other emerging tick-borne pathogens, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Francisella tularensis have also been detected through surveillance efforts in Canada. Although Rickettsia rickettsii has been historically detected in Haemaphysalis leporispalustris in Canada, the current prevalence and geographic extent of this pathogen is unknown. Material and Methods: In this study, we assessed the presence and prevalence of several emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks and hosts collected through tick dragging and small mammal trapping in Central Canada. Results: Nested PCR testing detected three pathogen species in ticks, with Babesia odocoilei and B. burgdorferi in I. scapularis in addition to R. rickettsii in H. leporispalustris. Three pathogen species were detected in small mammals by nested PCR including B. odocoilei in Blarina brevicauda, Babesia microti in Peromyscus leucopus, and a Hepatozoon species in P. leucopus and Peromyscus maniculatus. B. burgdorferi and Babesia species were the pathogens most often detected in our samples, suggesting they are widely distributed across Central Canada. We also detected B. odocoilei and R. rickettsii beyond their known geographic distribution. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that emerging tick-borne pathogens may be present outside defined risk areas identified by current surveillance efforts in Canada. As a result, emerging tick-borne pathogens introduced by the dispersal of infected ticks by migratory birds or maintained by hosts and vectors through cryptic transmission cycles may go undetected. More comprehensive testing including all tick life stages and additional tick-borne pathogens will help detect the spread and potential risk of emerging or re-emerging tick-borne pathogens for human and wildlife populations throughout Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E Crandall
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Canada.,Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jeremy T Kerr
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Gui Z, Cai H, Wu L, Miao Q, Yu JF, Cai T, Mao R. Visual closed dumbbell-mediated isothermal amplification (CDA) for on-site detection of Rickettsia raoultii. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010747. [PMID: 36084136 PMCID: PMC9491570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are important zoonoses, threatening human health seriously and gradually attracting more attention in the world. SFG rickettsiae are classified as neglected pathogens. If these pathogens are detected at all, they are usually recognized very late in the infection through indirect detection of specific antibodies. Previous studies have shown that Rickettsia raoultii (R. raoultii), a member of the SFG rickettsiae, occurs with increasing incidence in remote countries. Therefore, a rapid detection method for R. raoultii is in urgently need. In this study, a R. raoultii diagnosis method by closed dumbbell-mediated isothermal amplification (R-CDA) assay targeting a conserved sequence of the outer membrane protein A (OmpA) gene with high sensitivity and specificity was developed. This assay offered a rapid and simple method for on-site detection of R. raoultii. Firstly, four pairs of R-CDA primers were designed and the optimum primer set was selected to amplify target gene specifically and effectively. Then, a pair of outer primer was designed to accelerate the reaction based on the inner primers to establish the RO-CDA reaction. In addition, the results of real-time amplification curves, melting curves and end-point colorimetric judgements showed that the established visual RO-CDA reaction could accurately detect R. raoultii without cross-reaction with other closely related pathogens. Furthermore, the detection limit of visual RO-CDA assay was 10 copies/μL, which was feasible for on-site detection with merits of easy-operation, rapidity, high sensitivity, and specificity. In conclusion, the developed RO-CDA detection method could be helpful for pathogen screening and epidemic prevention at the point of care. Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are important neglected zoonoses throughout the world, with expanding known distribution, among which R. raoultii is an emerging member. As the clinical symptoms of R. raoultii is similar to other diseases, the accurate diagnosis of the pathogen based on the detection of genome plays a vital role in effective treatment and control at low infection levels. Due to the lack of on-site detection technology of Rickettsia raoultii in remote areas, the pathogen can only be treated in the late infection stage with specific clinical symptoms. Closed dumbbell-mediated isothermal amplification (CDA) is a method that rapidly amplifies nucleic acids under isothermal condition, which can help to resolve the problem of point of care detection for R. raoultii. The established R. raoultii detection approach based on CDA was feasible for on-site detection with merits of easy-operation, rapidity, high sensitivity, and specificity. At last, compared with PCR and LAMP, CDA method is simpler and more efficient to detect R. raoultii, which helps to improve the efficiency of detection and strengthen the prevention and control of this neglected but widely distributed disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Gui
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Hao Cai
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Lin Wu
- Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Qing Miao
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
| | - Jing feng Yu
- Department of Parasitology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- * E-mail: (JY); (TC); (RM)
| | - Ting Cai
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- * E-mail: (JY); (TC); (RM)
| | - Rui Mao
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors of Zhejiang Province, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- Ningbo Institute of Life and Health Industry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, China
- * E-mail: (JY); (TC); (RM)
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American dog ticks along their expanding range edge in Ontario, Canada. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11063. [PMID: 35773456 PMCID: PMC9247098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15009-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The American dog tick, Dermacentorvariabilis, is a tick of public and veterinary health importance in North America. Using passive tick surveillance data, we document distribution changes for the American dog tick in Ontario, Canada, from 2010 through 2018. Dermacentorvariabilis submissions from the public were geocoded and aggregated—from large to small administrative geographies—by health region, public health unit (PHU) and Forward Sortation Area (FSA). PHU hot spots with high rates of D. variabilis submissions were (1) Brant County, Haldimand-Norfolk and Niagara Regional in the Central West region and (2) Lambton and Winsor-Essex County in the South West region. The number of established D. variabilis populations with ≥ 6 submissions per year increased significantly during the study at regional (PHUs: 22 to 31) and local (FSAs: 27 to 91) scales. The range of D. variabilis increased similarly to the positive control (Ixodesscapularis) during the study and in contrast to the static range of the negative control (Ixodescookei). Submission hot spots were in warmer, low elevation areas with poorly drained soils, compared to the province’s low submission areas. Dermacentorvariabilis is spreading in Ontario and continued research into their vector ecology is required to assess medicoveterinary health risks.
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Systematic Surveillance of Rickettsial Diseases in 27 Hospitals from 26 Provinces throughout Vietnam. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7060088. [PMID: 35736967 PMCID: PMC9231031 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7060088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In Vietnam, the public health burden of rickettsial infections continues to be underestimated due to knowledge gaps in the epidemiology of these diseases. We conducted a systematic study among 27 hospitals from 26 provinces in eight ecological regions throughout Vietnam to investigate the prevalence, distribution, and clinical characteristics of rickettsial diseases. We recruited 1834 patients in the study from April 2018 to October 2019. The findings showed that rickettsial diseases were common among undifferentiated febrile patients, with 564 (30.8%) patients positive by qPCR for scrub typhus, murine typhus or spotted fever. Scrub typhus (484, 85.8%) was the most common rickettsial disease, followed by murine typhus (67, 11.9%) and spotted fever (10, 1.8%). Rickettsial diseases were widely distributed in all regions of Vietnam and presented with nonspecific clinical manifestations.
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Usananan P, Kaenkan W, Sudsangiem R, Baimai V, Trinachartvanit W, Ahantarig A. Phylogenetic Studies of Coxiella-Like Bacteria and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks Collected From Vegetation in Chaiyaphum Province, Thailand. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:849893. [PMID: 35464383 PMCID: PMC9020810 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.849893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks can transmit a wide variety of pathogens, including bacteria. Here, we report the detection of tick-associated bacteria in Chaiyaphum Province, northeastern Thailand. There have been few reports of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in the study areas, which are evergreen forests dominated by plateaus at elevations of approximately 1,000 m. In total, 94 ticks were collected from vegetation. They were screened for the presence of Coxiella, Francisella, Rickettsia, and Borrelia bacteria using PCR assays. In this study, we found ticks from two genera, Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma, that were positive for Coxiella-like bacteria (CLB) and Rickettsia. Francisella and Borrelia spp. were not detected in these two tick genera. The results revealed the evolutionary relationships of CLB in Amblyomma testudinarium, Haemaphysalis lagrangei, and Haemaphysalis obesa ticks using the 16S rRNA and rpoB markers, which clustered together with known isolates of ticks from the same genera. In contrast, the groEL marker showed different results. On the basis of the groEL phylogenetic analysis and BLAST results, three groups of CLB were found: (1) CLB from A. testudinarium grouped as a sister clade to CLB from Ixodes ricinus; (2) CLB from Haemaphysalis lagrangei was distantly related to CLB from Haemaphysalis wellingtoni; and (3) CLB from A. testudinarium grouped as sister clade to CLB from Amblyomma from French Guiana and Brazil. For Rickettsia studies, phylogenetic trees of the gltA, ompB, and sca4 genes revealed two groups of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsiae: (1) SFG Rickettsiae that formed a sister clade with Rickettsia tamurae AT-1 (belong to the Rickettsia helvetica subgroup) in A. testudinarium and (2) SFG Rickettsiae that formed a distantly related group to Rickettsia rhipicephali 3-7-female6-CWPP (belong to the Rickettsia massiliae subgroup) in A. testudinarium. This study expanded our knowledge of the diversity of tick-borne Coxiella and Rickettsia bacteria. The pathogenic roles of these bacteria also need to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawiga Usananan
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Warissara Kaenkan
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ronnayuth Sudsangiem
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Visut Baimai
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Arunee Ahantarig
- Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Arunee Ahantarig
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Moonlighting in Rickettsiales: Expanding Virulence Landscape. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7020032. [PMID: 35202227 PMCID: PMC8877226 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7020032] [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: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The order Rickettsiales includes species that cause a range of human diseases such as human granulocytic anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), human monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis), scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii), murine typhus (R. typhi), Mediterranean spotted fever (R. conorii), or Rocky Mountain spotted fever (R. rickettsii). These diseases are gaining a new momentum given their resurgence patterns and geographical expansion due to the overall rise in temperature and other human-induced pressure, thereby remaining a major public health concern. As obligate intracellular bacteria, Rickettsiales are characterized by their small genome sizes due to reductive evolution. Many pathogens employ moonlighting/multitasking proteins as virulence factors to interfere with multiple cellular processes, in different compartments, at different times during infection, augmenting their virulence. The utilization of this multitasking phenomenon by Rickettsiales as a strategy to maximize the use of their reduced protein repertoire is an emerging theme. Here, we provide an overview of the role of various moonlighting proteins in the pathogenicity of these species. Despite the challenges that lie ahead to determine the multiple potential faces of every single protein in Rickettsiales, the available examples anticipate this multifunctionality as an essential and intrinsic feature of these obligates and should be integrated into available moonlighting repositories.
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Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Simin V, Foucault-Simonin A, Galon C, Wu-Chuang A, Mijatović D, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Clinical Aspects and Detection of Emerging Rickettsial Pathogens: A "One Health" Approach Study in Serbia, 2020. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:797399. [PMID: 35154030 PMCID: PMC8825779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.797399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks carry numerous pathogens that, if transmitted, can cause disease in susceptible humans and animals. The present study describes our approach on how to investigate clinical presentations following tick bites in humans. To this aim, the occurrence of major tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in human blood samples (n = 85) and the ticks collected (n = 93) from the same individuals were tested using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. A field study based on One Health tenets was further designed to identify components of a potential chain of infection resulting in Rickettsia felis infection in one of the patients. Ticks species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Five patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including erythema migrans, local non-specific reactions, and cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction. Although Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. DNAs were detected in tick samples, different Rickettsia species were the most common TBPs identified in the ticks. The presence of TBPs such as Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti in ticks was further confirmed by DNA sequencing. Two of the patients with local skin lesions had IgG reactive against spotted fever group rickettsiae, while IgM specific to B. afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii were detected in the patient with erythema migrans. Although R. felis infection was detected in one human blood sample, none of the components of the potential chain of infection considered in this study tested positive to this pathogen either using direct pathogen detection in domestic dogs or xenodiagnosis in ticks collected from domestic cats. The combination of high-throughput screening of TBPs and One Health approaches might help characterize chains of infection leading to human infection by TBPs, as well as prevalence of emerging rickettsial pathogens in the Balkan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Department of Microbiology With Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Verica Simin
- Department for Microbiological & Other Diagnostics, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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11
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Ponnusamy L, Sutton H, Mitchell RD, Sonenshine DE, Apperson CS, Roe RM. Tick Ecdysteroid Hormone, Global Microbiota/ Rickettsia Signaling in the Ovary versus Carcass during Vitellogenesis in Part-Fed (Virgin) American Dog Ticks, Dermacentor variabilis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1242. [PMID: 34201013 PMCID: PMC8228290 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061242] [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: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The transovarial transmission of tick-borne bacterial pathogens is an important mechanism for their maintenance in natural populations and transmission, causing disease in humans and animals. The mechanism for this transmission and the possible role of tick hormones facilitating this process have never been studied. Injections of physiological levels of the tick hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), into part-fed (virgin) adult females of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, attached to the host caused a reduction in density of Rickettsia montanensis in the carcass and an increase in the ovaries compared to buffer-injected controls. This injection initiates yolk protein synthesis and uptake by the eggs but has no effect on blood feeding. Francisella sp. and R. montanensis were the predominant bacteria based on the proportionality in the carcass and ovary. The total bacteria load increased in the carcass and ovaries, and bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas increased in the carcass after the 20E injection. The mechanism of how the Rickettsia species respond to changes in tick hormonal regulation needs further investigation. Multiple possible mechanisms for the proliferation of R. montanensis in the ovaries are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loganathan Ponnusamy
- Department of Entomology and Plath Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.P.); (H.S.); (R.D.M.III); (C.S.A.)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Haley Sutton
- Department of Entomology and Plath Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.P.); (H.S.); (R.D.M.III); (C.S.A.)
- North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA
| | - Robert D. Mitchell
- Department of Entomology and Plath Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.P.); (H.S.); (R.D.M.III); (C.S.A.)
- Office of Pesticide Programs, Invertebrate and Vertebrate Branch 1, Registration Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20460, USA
| | - Daniel E. Sonenshine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA;
| | - Charles S. Apperson
- Department of Entomology and Plath Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.P.); (H.S.); (R.D.M.III); (C.S.A.)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Richard Michael Roe
- Department of Entomology and Plath Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (L.P.); (H.S.); (R.D.M.III); (C.S.A.)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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12
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Current tools for the diagnosis and detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia. Acta Trop 2021; 218:105887. [PMID: 33713627 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105887] [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: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae causes a number of diseases in humans worldwide, which can range from mild to highly lethal. Since the clinical presentations of rickettsioses caused by SFG rickettsiae are variable and may be similar to the diseases caused by other rickettsiae, such as Orientia tsutsugamushi (agent for scrub typhus), Coxiella burnetii (agent for Q fever) and the typhus group rickettsiae (agents for epidemic and murine typhus), the accurate diagnosis of infections caused by SFG Rickettsia remains challenging especially in resource-poor settings in developing countries. This review summarizes the various diagnostic and detection tools that are currently available for the confirmation of infections by SFG rickettsiae. The advantages and challenges pertaining to the different serological and molecular detections methods, as well as new assays in development, are discussed. The utility of the detection tools contributing to the surveillance of SFG rickettsiae in arthropods and animals are reviewed.
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13
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Schmerer N, Schulte LN. Long noncoding RNAs in bacterial infection. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1664. [PMID: 33989449 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Infectious and inflammatory diseases remain major causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. To combat bacterial infections, the mammalian immune system employs a myriad of regulators, which secure the effective initiation of inflammatory responses while preventing pathologies due to overshooting immunity. Recently, the human genome has been shown to be pervasively transcribed and to generate thousands of still poorly characterized long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). A growing body of literature suggests that lncRNAs play important roles in the regulatory circuitries controlling innate and adaptive immune responses to bacterial pathogens. This review provides an overview of the roles of lncRNAs in the interaction of human and rodent host cells with bacterial pathogens. Further decoding of the lncRNA networks that underlie pathological inflammation and immune subversion could provide new insights into the host cell mechanisms and microbial strategies that determine the outcome of bacterial infections. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Schmerer
- Institute for Lung Research, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Leon N Schulte
- Institute for Lung Research, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.,German Center for Lung Research, Giessen, Germany
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14
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Alkishe A, Raghavan RK, Peterson AT. Likely Geographic Distributional Shifts among Medically Important Tick Species and Tick-Associated Diseases under Climate Change in North America: A Review. INSECTS 2021; 12:225. [PMID: 33807736 PMCID: PMC8001278 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ticks rank high among arthropod vectors in terms of numbers of infectious agents that they transmit to humans, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Increasing temperature is suspected to affect tick biting rates and pathogen developmental rates, thereby potentially increasing risk for disease incidence. Tick distributions respond to climate change, but how their geographic ranges will shift in future decades and how those shifts may translate into changes in disease incidence remain unclear. In this study, we have assembled correlative ecological niche models for eight tick species of medical or veterinary importance in North America (Ixodes scapularis, I. pacificus, I. cookei, Dermacentor variabilis, D. andersoni, Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus), assessing the distributional potential of each under both present and future climatic conditions. Our goal was to assess whether and how species' distributions will likely shift in coming decades in response to climate change. We interpret these patterns in terms of likely implications for tick-associated diseases in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelghafar Alkishe
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya
| | - Ram K. Raghavan
- Center for Vector-borne and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
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15
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Watkins RR, David MZ. Approach to the Patient with a Skin and Soft Tissue Infection. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2021; 35:1-48. [PMID: 33494872 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The diagnosis of a skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) requires careful attention to a patient's history, physical examination, and diagnostic test results. We review for many bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens that cause SSTIs the clues for reaching a diagnosis, including reported past medical history, hobbies and behaviors, travel, insect bites, exposure to other people and to animals, environmental exposures to water, soil, or sand, as well as the anatomic site of skin lesions, their morphology on examination, and their evolution over time. Laboratory and radiographic tests are discussed that may be used to confirm a specific diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard R Watkins
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, 224 West Exchange Street, Akron, OH 44302, USA; Department of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Michael Z David
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Blockley Hall 707, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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16
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Kristof MN, Allen PE, Yutzy LD, Thibodaux B, Paddock CD, Martinez JJ. Significant Growth by Rickettsia Species within Human Macrophage-Like Cells Is a Phenotype Correlated with the Ability to Cause Disease in Mammals. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020228. [PMID: 33669499 PMCID: PMC7934685 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia are significant sources of tick-borne diseases in humans worldwide. In North America, two species in the spotted fever group of Rickettsia have been conclusively associated with disease of humans: Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Rickettsia parkeri, the cause of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. Previous work in our lab demonstrated non-endothelial parasitism by another pathogenic SFG Rickettsia species, Rickettsia conorii, within THP-1-derived macrophages, and we have hypothesized that this growth characteristic may be an underappreciated aspect of rickettsial pathogenesis in mammalian hosts. In this work, we demonstrated that multiple other recognized human pathogenic species of Rickettsia, including R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, Rickettsia africae, and Rickettsiaakari can grow within target endothelial cells as well as within PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. In contrast, Rickettsia bellii, a Rickettsia species not associated with disease of humans, and R. rickettsii strain Iowa, an avirulent derivative of pathogenic R. rickettsii, could invade both cell types but proliferate only within endothelial cells. Further analysis revealed that similar to previous studies on R. conorii, other recognized pathogenic Rickettsia species could grow within the cytosol of THP-1-derived macrophages and avoided localization with two different markers of lysosomal compartments; LAMP-2 and cathepsin D. R. bellii, on the other hand, demonstrated significant co-localization with lysosomal compartments. Collectively, these findings suggest that the ability of pathogenic rickettsial species to establish a niche within macrophage-like cells could be an important factor in their ability to cause disease in mammals. These findings also suggest that analysis of growth within mammalian phagocytic cells may be useful to predict the pathogenic potential of newly isolated and identified Rickettsia species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Nathan Kristof
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Paige E. Allen
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Lane D. Yutzy
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Brandon Thibodaux
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Christopher D. Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA;
| | - Juan J. Martinez
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-225-578-9297
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17
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Nelder MP, Russell CB, Johnson S, Li Y, Cronin K, Warshawsky B, Brandon N, Patel SN. Assessing human exposure to spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae in Ontario, Canada (2013-2018): a retrospective, cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:523. [PMID: 32682398 PMCID: PMC7368706 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing the burden of rickettsial infections in Ontario, Canada, is challenging since rickettsial infections are not reportable to public health. In the absence of reportable disease data, we assessed the burden of rickettsial infections by examining patient serological data and clinical information. METHODS Our retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients who had Rickettsia serological testing ordered by their physician, in Ontario, from 2013 to 2018. We tested sera from 2755 non-travel patients for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and typhus group rickettsiae (TGR) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) (positive IgG titers ≥1:64). We classified cases using a sensitive surveillance case definition: confirmed (4-fold increase in IgG titers between acute and convalescent sera with clinical evidence of infection), possible (single positive sera with clinical evidence) and previous rickettsial infection (single positive sera without clinical evidence). We classified cases seropositive for both SFGR and TGR as unspecified Rickettsia infections (URIs). RESULTS Less than 5% of all patients had paired acute and convalescent sera tested, and of these, we found a single, laboratory-confirmed SFGR case, with a 4-fold increase in IgG titers and evidence of fever, maculopapular rash and headache. There were 45 possible (19 SFGR, 7 TGR, 19 URI) and 580 previous rickettsial infection (183 SFGR, 89 TGR, 308 URI) cases. The rate of positive tests for SFGR, TGR and URI combined (all case classifications) were 4.4 per 100,000 population. For confirmed and possible cases, the most common signs and symptoms were fever, headache, gastrointestinal complaints and maculopapular rash. The odds of having seropositive patients increased annually by 30% (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-1.39). CONCLUSIONS The rates of rickettsial infections in Ontario are difficult to determine. Based on confirmed and possible cases, rates are low, but inclusion of previous rickettsial infection cases would indicate higher rates. We highlight the need for education regarding the importance of testing acute and convalescent sera and consistent completion of the laboratory requisition in confirming rickettsial disease. We suggest further research in Ontario to investigate rickettsial agents in potential vectors and clinical studies employing PCR testing of clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Curtis B Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Johnson
- Informatics, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ye Li
- Informatics, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kirby Cronin
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Bryna Warshawsky
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas Brandon
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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18
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Schjørring S, Jepsen MT, Sørensen CA, Valentiner-Branth P, Kantsø B, Petersen RF, Skovgaard O, Krogfelt KA. Laboratory Diagnostics of Rickettsia Infections in Denmark 2008-2015. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9060133. [PMID: 32575502 PMCID: PMC7345066 DOI: 10.3390/biology9060133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsiosis is a vector-borne disease caused by bacterial species in the genus Rickettsia. Ticks in Scandinavia are reported to be infected with Rickettsia, yet only a few Scandinavian human cases are described, and rickettsiosis is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rickettsiosis in Denmark based on laboratory findings. We found that in the Danish individuals who tested positive for Rickettsia by serology, the majority (86%; 484/561) of the infections belonged to the spotted fever group. In contrast, we could confirm 13 of 41 (32%) PCR-positive individuals by sequencing and identified all of these as R. africae, indicating infections after travel exposure. These 13 samples were collected from wound/skin material. In Denmark, approximately 85 individuals test positive for Rickettsia spp. annually, giving an estimated 26% (561/2147) annual prevalence among those suspected of rickettsiosis after tick bites. However, without clinical data and a history of travel exposure, a true estimation of rickettsiosis acquired endemically by tick bites cannot be made. Therefore, we recommend that both clinical data and specific travel exposure be included in a surveillance system of Rickettsia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schjørring
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (M.T.J.); (R.F.P.)
- European Program for Public Health Microbiology Training (EUPHEM), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 27180 Solnar, Sweden
| | - Martin Tugwell Jepsen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (M.T.J.); (R.F.P.)
- Scandtick Innovation, Project Group, InterReg, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden;
| | - Camilla Adler Sørensen
- Scandtick Innovation, Project Group, InterReg, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden;
- Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Palle Valentiner-Branth
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Bjørn Kantsø
- Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Randi Føns Petersen
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (M.T.J.); (R.F.P.)
- Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Ole Skovgaard
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (K.A.K.)
| | - Karen A. Krogfelt
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (M.T.J.); (R.F.P.)
- Scandtick Innovation, Project Group, InterReg, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden;
- Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark;
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
- Correspondence: (O.S.); (K.A.K.)
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19
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A Szakacs T, Wood H, Russell CB, Nelder MP, Patel S. An apparent, locally acquired case of rickettsialpox ( Rickettsia akari) in Ontario, Canada. JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2020; 5:115-119. [PMID: 36338184 PMCID: PMC9602889 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2019-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsialpox, caused by Rickettsia akari, is a spotted fever group rickettsiae transmitted to humans through the bite of the house mouse mite (Liponyssoides sanguineus). Worldwide, rickettsialpox is most commonly associated with exposure to rodents in urban environments. Here, we present the case of a 47-year-old woman from Brantford, Ontario, with fever, eschar on the right leg, expanding erythema, and right groin lymphadenopathy. Early in infection, R. akari serology was negative (IgG <1:64), but convalescent titre increased to 1:1,024. The patient did not travel outside of Ontario in the previous year. She denied any rodent or arthropod exposures in her home, but recently visited a friend's home infested with bats and mice. The patient was afebrile after treatment with doxycycline, with resolution of most clinical and laboratory findings in 5 days. This is the first rickettsialpox case reported in Canada and highlights the importance of obtaining convalescent serology to assist in the diagnosis of rickettsial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A Szakacs
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brant Community Healthcare System, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heidi Wood
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Curtis B Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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20
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Pawelczyk O, Asman M, Solarz K. The molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in cat and dog fleas collected from companion animals. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2019; 66. [PMID: 31823859 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2019.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Companion animals can be infested by various species of parasitic insects. Cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (C. felis felis) (Bouché, 1835) and dog flea Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis, 1826) belong to multihost external parasites of mammals, which most frequently occur on domestic cats Felis catus Linnaeus and dogs Canis familiaris Linnaeus. The main aim of this study was to investigate the presence of pathogens, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum (syn. Ehrlichia phagocytophila) and Rickettsia spp., in adult C. felis and C. canis fleas. Flea sampling has been realised from January 2013 to April 2017 in veterinary clinics, animal shelters and pet grooming salons. Fleas were collected from domestic cats and dogs, directly from the pet skin or hair. Then, the DNA was isolated from a single flea by using the alkaline hydrolysis and samples were screened for the presence of pathogens using PCR method. Anaplasma phagocytophilum has occurred in 29% of examined C. felis and 16% of C. canis individuals. In turn, the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in cat fleas population was only 3%, and the dog fleas 7%. The present study showed the presence of pathogenic agents in cat and dog fleas, which indicates the potential role of these insects in circulation of A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in the natural habitat. Furthermore, exposition to these flea species, whose hosts are domestic cats and dogs, can pose a potential risk of infection for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Pawelczyk
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Marek Asman
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Solarz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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21
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Gérardin P, Zemali N, Bactora M, Camuset G, Balleydier E, Pascalis H, Guernier V, Mussard C, Bertolotti A, Koumar Y, Naze F, Picot S, Filleul L, Pages F, Tortosa P, Jaubert J. Seroprevalence of typhus group and spotted fever group Rickettsia exposures on Reunion island. BMC Res Notes 2019; 12:387. [PMID: 31288833 PMCID: PMC6617902 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4416-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Murine typhus has been increasingly reported on Reunion island, Indian ocean, following documentation of eight autochthonous infections in 2012–2013. We conducted a serosurvey to assess the magnitude of the seroprevalence of rickettsioses in the population. Two hundred and forty-one stored frozen sera taken from the 2009 Copanflu-RUN cohort were analysed using an immunofluorescence assay allowing to distinguish typhus group (TGR) and spotted fever group Rickesttsiae (SFGR). Seropositivity was defined for a dilution titre of Rickettsia IgG antibodies ≥ 1:64. Seroprevalence was weighted to account for the discrepancy between the Copanflu-RUN subset and the general population, as to infer prevalence at community level. Prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) were measured using log-binomial models. Results The weighted seroprevalences of typhus group rickettsioses and spotted fever group rickettsioses were of 12.71% (95% CI 8.84–16.58%) and 17.68% (95% CI 13.25–22.11%), respectively. Pooled together, data suggested that a fifth of the population had been exposed at least to one Rickettsia group. Youths (< 20 years) were less likely seropositive than adults (adjusted PPR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01–0.91). People living in the western dryer part of the island were more exposed (adjusted PPR 2.53, 95% CI 1.07–5.97). Rickettsioses are endemic on Reunion island and circulated before their first identification as murine typhus in year 2011. Surprisingly, since isolation of Rickettsia africae from Amblyomma variegatum in year 2004 or isolation of Rickettsia felis from Amblyomma loculosum, no autochthonous cases of African tick-bite fever or flea-borne spotted fever has yet been diagnosed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4416-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Gérardin
- INSERM Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1410 Epidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), Groupe Hospitalier Sud Réunion, BP 350, 97448, Saint Pierre Cedex, Reunion, France. .,UM 134 PIMIT Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, CYROI, Université de La Réunion, Sainte Clotilde, Reunion, France.
| | - Naël Zemali
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Virologie et Parasitologie, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Marie Bactora
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Virologie et Parasitologie, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Guillaume Camuset
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Elsa Balleydier
- Cellule d'Intervention Régionale et d'Epidémiologie, Océan Indien, Santé Publique France, French National Public Health Agency, Saint Denis, Reunion, France
| | - Hervé Pascalis
- UM 134 PIMIT Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, CYROI, Université de La Réunion, Sainte Clotilde, Reunion, France
| | - Vanina Guernier
- Geelong Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Corinne Mussard
- INSERM Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1410 Epidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), Groupe Hospitalier Sud Réunion, BP 350, 97448, Saint Pierre Cedex, Reunion, France
| | - Antoine Bertolotti
- INSERM Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1410 Epidémiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), Groupe Hospitalier Sud Réunion, BP 350, 97448, Saint Pierre Cedex, Reunion, France.,Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Yatrika Koumar
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Florence Naze
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Virologie et Parasitologie, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Sandrine Picot
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Virologie et Parasitologie, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
| | - Laurent Filleul
- Cellule d'Intervention Régionale et d'Epidémiologie, Océan Indien, Santé Publique France, French National Public Health Agency, Saint Denis, Reunion, France
| | - Frédéric Pages
- Cellule d'Intervention Régionale et d'Epidémiologie, Océan Indien, Santé Publique France, French National Public Health Agency, Saint Denis, Reunion, France
| | - Pablo Tortosa
- UM 134 PIMIT Processus Infectieux en Milieu Insulaire Tropical, INSERM 1187, CNRS 9192, IRD 249, CYROI, Université de La Réunion, Sainte Clotilde, Reunion, France
| | - Julien Jaubert
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Virologie et Parasitologie, CHU de la Réunion, Saint Pierre, Reunion, France
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22
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Rogovskyy AS, Threadgill DW, Akimov IA, Nebogatkin IV, Rogovska YV, Melnyk MV, Rogovskyy SP. Borrelia and Other Zoonotic Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks Collected from the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone on the 30th Anniversary of the Nuclear Disaster. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:466-473. [PMID: 31112094 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The 26th of April 2016 marked 30 years since the Chernobyl accident has occurred in Ukraine. As a result, the uninhabited Chernobyl region has been directly exposed to ionizing radiation for >30 years. Most work has focused on identifying associations between levels of radiation and the abundance, distribution, and mutation rates of plants and animals. Much less, however, is known about microbial communities in this affected region. To date, there are no reports on the prevalence of any tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ). The objective of our study was to examine the abundance of I. ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in the CEZ and to investigate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and other zoonotic agents in these ixodid ticks. Methods: A total of 260 questing I. ricinus and 100 D. reticulatus adult ticks were individually polymerase chain reaction analyzed for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, and/or Rickettsia spp. Results: The respective infections rates were identified and compared with those of ixodid ticks that were concurrently collected from Kyiv. The significant differences between the infection rates of the CEZ and Kyiv ticks were observed for Rickettsia raoultii in D. reticulatus ticks (53.0% vs. 35.7%, respectively; p < 0.05) and Bartonella spp. (8.1% vs. 2.7%; P < 0.05) in I. ricinus ticks. Conclusions: Although the current data clearly demonstrated that the prevalence of some zoonotic pathogens were significantly higher in the ixodid ticks from the CEZ, a more comprehensive systematic approach is required to examine the causal effect of long-term ionizing radiation on adaptive changes of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem S Rogovskyy
- 1 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - David W Threadgill
- 1 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.,2 Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Igor A Akimov
- 3 I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Igor V Nebogatkin
- 3 I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Yuliya V Rogovska
- 1 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Maria V Melnyk
- 4 Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Sergii P Rogovskyy
- 3 I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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23
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Curto P, Riley SP, Simões I, Martinez JJ. Macrophages Infected by a Pathogen and a Non-pathogen Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Reveal Differential Reprogramming Signatures Early in Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:97. [PMID: 31024862 PMCID: PMC6467950 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite their high degree of genomic similarity, different spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia are often associated with very different clinical presentations. For example, Rickettsia conorii causes Mediterranean spotted fever, a life-threatening disease for humans, whereas Rickettsia montanensis is associated with limited or no pathogenicity to humans. However, the molecular basis responsible for the different pathogenicity attributes are still not understood. Although killing microbes is a critical function of macrophages, the ability to survive and/or proliferate within phagocytic cells seems to be a phenotypic feature of several intracellular pathogens. We have previously shown that R. conorii and R. montanensis exhibit different intracellular fates within macrophage-like cells. By evaluating early macrophage responses upon insult with each of these rickettsial species, herein we demonstrate that infection with R. conorii results in a profound reprogramming of host gene expression profiles. Transcriptional programs generated upon infection with this pathogenic bacteria point toward a sophisticated ability to evade innate immune signals, by modulating the expression of several anti-inflammatory molecules. Moreover, R. conorii induce the expression of several pro-survival genes, which may result in the ability to prolong host cell survival, thus protecting its replicative niche. Remarkably, R. conorii-infection promoted a robust modulation of different transcription factors, suggesting that an early manipulation of the host gene expression machinery may be key to R. conorii proliferation in THP-1 macrophages. This work provides new insights into the early molecular processes hijacked by a pathogenic SFG Rickettsia to establish a replicative niche in macrophages, opening several avenues of research in host-rickettsiae interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Curto
- Ph.D. Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal.,Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Sean P Riley
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Isaura Simões
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Coimbra, Portugal.,Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Juan J Martinez
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
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24
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Hazihan W, Dong Z, Guo L, Rizabek K, Askar D, Gulzhan K, Kudaibergen M, Kenjebaevich AN, Talgat T, Kairullayev K, Wang Y. Molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks parasitizing pet dogs in Shihezi City, northwestern China. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2019; 77:73-81. [PMID: 30649634 PMCID: PMC6341051 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-00337-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
A total of 178 adult ticks were collected from 32 pet dogs from five veterinary clinics in Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China. All the ticks were identified by comprehensive morphological and genetic analyses, and rickettsiae were detected by seven Rickettsia-specific genetic markers in the ticks. The ticks collected were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Twenty-one of the 178 samples (11.8%) were positive for rickettsiae. Among these, in 13 (61.9%) samples Candidatus R. barbariae were identified, in five (23.8%) samples R. massiliae, and in three (14.3%) samples R. conorii. This study indicates that more attention should be paid to rickettsial infection in pet dogs and their ticks, because the latter may pose an epidemiological risk for tick-borne transmission of rickettsiae to human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wurelihazi Hazihan
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000 Xinjiang China
| | - Zhihui Dong
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shihezi, 832002 China
| | - Liping Guo
- School of Medicine, Sun yat-sen university, Guangzhou, 510080 China
| | - Kadyken Rizabek
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | - Dzhunysov Askar
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | - Kulmanova Gulzhan
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | - Mahanov Kudaibergen
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | | | - Tolegen Talgat
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | - Kenesbay Kairullayev
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, 050010 Kazakhstan
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Shihezi, 832002 China
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25
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Hornok S, Baneth G, Grima A, Takács N, Kontschán J, Meli M, Suter V, Salant H, Farkas R, Hofmann-Lehmann R. Molecular investigations of cat fleas ( Ctenocephalides felis) provide the first evidence of Rickettsia felis in Malta and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis in Israel. New Microbes New Infect 2018; 25:3-6. [PMID: 29988839 PMCID: PMC6031890 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia felis, the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever, occurs on all continents except Antarctica, owing to the cosmopolitan distribution of its cat flea vector. In this study, cat fleas were collected in two countries where the occurrence of R. felis was either unknown (Malta) or where accurate prevalence data were lacking (Israel). Altogether 129 fleas were molecularly analysed for the presence of rickettsial DNA. On the basis of three genetic markers, R. felis was identified in 39.5% (15/38) of the cat fleas from Malta. Sequences showed 100% identity to each other and to relevant sequences in GenBank. Among the 91 cat fleas from Israel, two (2.2%) contained the DNA of Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis. Phylogenetically, the R. felis and Candidatus R. senegalensis identified here clustered separately (with high support) but within one clade, which was a sister group to that formed by the typhus group and spotted fever group rickettsiae. This is the first record of R. felis in Malta and of Candidatus R. senegalensis outside its formerly reported geographical range including Africa, Asia and North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - G. Baneth
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Yehoshua Hankin, Israel
| | - A. Grima
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - N. Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - J. Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - M.L. Meli
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V. Suter
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - H. Salant
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Yehoshua Hankin, Israel
| | - R. Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - R. Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory and Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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26
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Obaidat MM, Alshehabat MA. Zoonotic Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis, Borrelia burgdorferi, and spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) in different types of dogs. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:3407-3412. [PMID: 30066107 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6033-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Dogs can carry and share zoonotic pathogens with humans. This problem is understudied in different parts of the world, including Jordan. This study determined the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Dirofilaria immitis, and Borrelia burgdorferi using the SNAP 4Dx Plus test and spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) using enzyme immunoassay IgG test in different types of dogs (farm/breeding, police, and stray) in Jordan. The results showed a very high seroprevalence (87%) of SFGR in dogs all over Jordan. Specifically, the seroprevalence was 97.0, 90.5 and 71.2% in farm, stray, and police dogs, respectively. Overall, 9.9% of dogs were seropositive for A. phagocytophilum. Specifically, 14.9% of farm, 14.3% of stray, and 0% of police dogs were seropositive. None of the studied dogs had D. immitis, E. canis, or B. burgdorferi. It can be concluded that SFGR and A. phagocytophilum are endemic in Jordan. This study suggests that controlling stray dogs and monitoring dog breeding farms should be considered as control measures to limit the transmission of SFGR and A. phagocytophilum and to limit their public health impact in Jordan. Moreover, further follow-up studies are needed to study these pathogens in the human population in Jordan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad M Obaidat
- Department of Pathology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.
| | - Musa A Alshehabat
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
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27
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Rogovskyy A, Batool M, Gillis DC, Holman PJ, Nebogatkin IV, Rogovska YV, Rogovskyy MS. Diversity of Borrelia spirochetes and other zoonotic agents in ticks from Kyiv, Ukraine. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:404-409. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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28
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Clow KM, Weese JS, Rousseau J, Jardine CM. Microbiota of field-collected Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis from eastern and southern Ontario, Canada. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:235-244. [PMID: 29042239 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The microbiota of hard ticks has been an area of growing interest due to the potential role that the broader microbial community may play in pathogen carriage and transmission. In the last two decades, Ontario, Canada has experienced rapid changes in the risk of tick-borne disease, primarily due to the range expansion of Ixodes scapularis. Another human-biter, Dermacentor variabilis, is a longstanding resident of the province, but currently poses minimal risk of pathogen transmission. To examine the microbiota of these two species, we collected adult and nymphal I. scapularis and D. variabilis from the eastern and southern regions of the province via tick dragging, and conducted next generation sequencing of 19 samples (composed of 45 ticks) via Illumina MiSeq. A total of 1400469 sequences were detected (median 69118/sample; range 23350-155227). The most abundant families of bacteria were unclassified Clostridiales and Ruminococcaceae for both I. scapularis and D. variabilis. No significant differences in the relative abundances of any phylum, class, order, family or genus were detected between locations (east vs south), sex, life stage or tick species. There were no differences in community membership or structure based on unifrac and AMOVA analyses. Female and male ticks had lower microbial diversity when compared to nymphs, based on the Simpson's index and Shannon evenness index. The findings of our study differ from previous studies of these tick species conducted in other geographic areas, and highlight the potential role geography and related ecological factors may have in shaping the tick microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Clow
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Joyce Rousseau
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Claire M Jardine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada; Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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29
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Curto P, Simões I, Riley SP, Martinez JJ. Differences in Intracellular Fate of Two Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in Macrophage-Like Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2016; 6:80. [PMID: 27525249 PMCID: PMC4965480 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2016.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are recognized as important agents of human tick-borne diseases worldwide, such as Mediterranean spotted fever (Rickettsia conorii) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii). Recent studies in several animal models have provided evidence of non-endothelial parasitism by pathogenic SFG Rickettsia species, suggesting that the interaction of rickettsiae with cells other than the endothelium may play an important role in pathogenesis of rickettsial diseases. These studies raise the hypothesis that the role of macrophages in rickettsial pathogenesis may have been underappreciated. Herein, we evaluated the ability of two SFG rickettsial species, R. conorii (a recognized human pathogen) and Rickettsia montanensis (a non-virulent member of SFG) to proliferate in THP-1 macrophage-like cells, or within non-phagocytic cell lines. Our results demonstrate that R. conorii was able to survive and proliferate in both phagocytic and epithelial cells in vitro. In contrast, R. montanensis was able to grow in non-phagocytic cells, but was drastically compromised in the ability to proliferate within both undifferentiated and PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. Interestingly, association assays revealed that R. montanensis was defective in binding to THP-1-derived macrophages; however, the invasion of the bacteria that are able to adhere did not appear to be affected. We have also demonstrated that R. montanensis which entered into THP-1-derived macrophages were rapidly destroyed and partially co-localized with LAMP-2 and cathepsin D, two markers of lysosomal compartments. In contrast, R. conorii was present as intact bacteria and free in the cytoplasm in both cell types. These findings suggest that a phenotypic difference between a non-pathogenic and a pathogenic SFG member lies in their respective ability to proliferate in macrophage-like cells, and may provide an explanation as to why certain SFG rickettsial species are not associated with disease in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Curto
- PhD Programme in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of CoimbraCoimbra, Portugal
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell BiologyCoimbra, Portugal
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary MedicineBaton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Isaura Simões
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell BiologyCoimbra, Portugal
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary MedicineBaton Rouge, LA, USA
- Biocant, Biotechnology Innovation CenterCantanhede, Portugal
| | - Sean P. Riley
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary MedicineBaton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Juan J. Martinez
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary MedicineBaton Rouge, LA, USA
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30
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Wood H, Dillon L, Patel SN, Ralevski F. Prevalence of Rickettsia species in Dermacentor variabilis ticks from Ontario, Canada. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1044-1046. [PMID: 27318438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about the prevalence of rickettsial species in Dermacentor ticks in eastern Canada. In this study, Dermacentor ticks from the province of Ontario, Canada, were tested for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsial (SFGR) species, Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. Rickettsia rickettsii was not detected in any ticks tested, but R. montanensis was detected at a prevalence of 2.2% in D. variabilis (17/778). Two other SFGR species, R. parkeri and Candidatus R. andeanae, were detected individually in 2 Amblyomma maculatum ticks. Rickettsia peacockii, a non-pathogenic endosymbiont, was detected in two D. andersonii ticks. Given the highly abundant nature of D. variabilis, surveillance for human pathogens in this species of tick has important public health implications, but the lack of detection of known human pathogens indicates a low risk of infection via this tick species in Ontario. However, the detection of R. parkeri in an adventive A. maculatum tick indicates that health care providers should be aware of the possibility of spotted fever rickettsioses in individuals with a history of travel outside of Ontario and symptoms compatible with a spotted fever rickettsiosis. Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis, human pathogens also potentially transmitted by D. variabilis, were not detected in a subset of the ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Wood
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Liz Dillon
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Filip Ralevski
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Yunik MEM, Galloway TD, Lindsay LR. Assessment of prevalence and distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in Manitoba, Canada, in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 15:103-8. [PMID: 25700040 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the distribution and prevalence of the spotted fever group rickettsiae in Canada. We conducted active surveillance for tick-associated rickettsiae in 10 localities in Manitoba. A total of 1044 adult American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), were collected and screened for spotted fever group rickettsiae. Rickettsia montanensis was the only species of rickettsia detected. The mean prevalence of infection was 9.8% (range, 0.00-21.74% among localities). The proportion of infected male and female ticks was not significantly different; however, tick populations near the northern limit of D. variabilis distribution in Manitoba had a lower prevalence of infection compared to tick populations from more southern localities in the province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E M Yunik
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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32
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The WH2 Domain and Actin Nucleation: Necessary but Insufficient. Trends Biochem Sci 2016; 41:478-490. [PMID: 27068179 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Two types of sequences, proline-rich domains (PRDs) and the WASP-homology 2 (WH2) domain, are found in most actin filament nucleation and elongation factors discovered thus far. PRDs serve as a platform for protein-protein interactions, often mediating the binding of profilin-actin. The WH2 domain is an abundant actin monomer-binding motif comprising ∼17 amino acids. It frequently occurs in tandem repeats, and functions in nucleation by recruiting actin subunits to form the polymerization nucleus. It is found in Spire, Cordon Bleu (Cobl), Leiomodin (Lmod), Arp2/3 complex activators (WASP, WHAMM, WAVE, etc.), the bacterial nucleators VopL/VopF and Sca2, and some formins. Yet, it is argued here that the WH2 domain plays only an auxiliary role in nucleation, always synergizing with other domains or proteins for this activity.
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St John HK, Adams ML, Masuoka PM, Flyer-Adams JG, Jiang J, Rozmajzl PJ, Stromdahl EY, Richards AL. Prevalence, Distribution, and Development of an Ecological Niche Model of Dermacentor variabilis Ticks Positive for Rickettsia montanensis. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:253-63. [PMID: 26900673 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia montanensis has long been considered a nonpathogenic member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae. However, the infection potential of R. montanensis is being revisited in light of its recent association with a case of human infection in the United States and the possibility that additional cases may have been misdiagnosed as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. To this end, DNA was extracted from American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) removed from Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and their dependents at DoD medical treatment facilities (MTFs) during 2002-2012 (n = 4792). These 4792 samples were analyzed for the presence of R. montanensis (n = 36; 2.84%) and all vector DNA was confirmed to be of D. variabilis origin using a novel Dermacentor genus-specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction procedure, Derm, and a novel Dermacentor species multilocus sequence typing assay. To assess the risk of R. montanensis infection, the positive and negative samples were geographically mapped utilizing MTF site locations. Tick localities were imported into a geographical information systems (GIS) program, ArcGIS, for mapping and analysis. The ecological niche modeling (ENM) program, Maxent, was used to estimate the probability of tick presence in eastern United States using locations of both R. montanensis-positive and -negative ticks, climate, and elevation data. The ENM for R. montanensis-positive D. variabilis estimated high probabilities of the positive ticks occurring in two main areas, including the northern Midwest and mid-Atlantic portions of the northeastern regions of United States, whereas the R. montanensis-negative D. variabilis tick model showed a wider estimated range. The results suggest that R. montanensis-positive and -negative D. variabilis have different ranges where humans may be at risk and are influenced by similar and different factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi K St John
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
- 2 Henry M. Jackson Foundation , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Melissa L Adams
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
- 2 Henry M. Jackson Foundation , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Penny M Masuoka
- 2 Henry M. Jackson Foundation , Bethesda, Maryland
- 3 Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Johanna G Flyer-Adams
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Ju Jiang
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
- 2 Henry M. Jackson Foundation , Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Patrick J Rozmajzl
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Ellen Y Stromdahl
- 4 Laboratory Sciences, Army Public Health Center , Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
| | - Allen L Richards
- 1 Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
- 3 Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland
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Clow KM, Ogden NH, Lindsay LR, Michel P, Pearl DL, Jardine CM. Distribution of Ticks and the Risk of Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne Pathogens of Public Health Significance in Ontario, Canada. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:215-22. [PMID: 26870937 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the northward spread of Ixodes scapularis across Ontario, Canada, has accelerated and the risk of Lyme disease has increased. Active surveillance is a recognized and effective method for detecting reproducing populations of I. scapularis. In this study, we conducted field sampling consistent with an active surveillance approach from May to October 2014 at 104 sites in central, eastern, and southern Ontario to determine the current distribution of I. scapularis and other tick species, and enhance our understanding of the geographic risk associated with Borrelia burgdorferi and other tick-borne pathogens of public health significance in this region. I. scapularis was present at 20 of the 104 sites visited. Individuals of the tick species Dermacentor variabilis, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and Ixodes dentatus were also collected. I. scapularis was positive by PCR for B. burgdorferi at five sites. These sites formed a significant spatial cluster in eastern Ontario. No ticks were PCR positive for Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. This study provides an up-to-date picture of the distribution of I. scapularis and other tick species, and the risk of B. burgdorferi and other pathogens of public health significance in central, eastern, and southern Ontario. This information may allow for more effective surveillance efforts and public health interventions for Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M Clow
- 1 Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- 2 National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- 3 National Microbiology Laboratory , Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Pascal Michel
- 4 Office of the Chief Science Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - David L Pearl
- 5 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph, Canada
| | - Claire M Jardine
- 1 Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph , Guelph, Canada
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Yunik MEM, Galloway TD, Lindsay LR. Ability of Unfed Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) to Survive a Second Winter as Adults in Manitoba, Canada, Near the Northern Limit of Their Range. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 52:138-142. [PMID: 26336297 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tju061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
One thousand seven hundred unfed field-collected adult Dermacentor variabilis (Say) were overwintered in 34 outdoor enclosures near the northern limit of their distribution in Manitoba, Canada. At the northern limits of the range of D. variabilis, it had always been assumed that unfed adult ticks questing in spring succumbed before the next winter and were not part of the population observed in the following year. Survival of the collected ticks was assessed on two occasions. In midwinter, an average 39.4% (SE ± 2.50) of the ticks were still alive, while an average 19.9% (SE ± 1.14) survived to April. Female ticks had significantly higher survivorship than males. The ability to survive an additional winter allows ticks to act in a greater capacity as reservoirs for tick-associated pathogens in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E M Yunik
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2. Corresponding author, e-mail:
| | - Terry D Galloway
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2. Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3E 3R2
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Hanen L, Mouna S, Faten F, Raida BS, Moez J, Yosra C, Sahar EA, Sameh M, Zouhir B. An unusual cause of optic neuritis: rickettsiosis disease. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2014. [DOI: 10.12980/apjtb.4.2014apjtb-2014-0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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Denison AM, Amin BD, Nicholson WL, Paddock CD. Detection of Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, and Rickettsia akari in skin biopsy specimens using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Clin Infect Dis 2014; 59:635-42. [PMID: 24829214 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciu358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, and Rickettsia akari are the most common causes of spotted fever group rickettsioses indigenous to the United States. Infected patients characteristically present with a maculopapular rash, often accompanied by an inoculation eschar. Skin biopsy specimens are often obtained from these lesions for diagnostic evaluation. However, a species-specific diagnosis is achieved infrequently from pathologic specimens because immunohistochemical stains do not differentiate among the causative agents of spotted fever group rickettsiae, and existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays generally target large gene segments that may be difficult or impossible to obtain from formalin-fixed tissues. METHODS This work describes the development and evaluation of a multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of these 3 Rickettsia species from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) skin biopsy specimens. RESULTS The multiplex PCR assay was specific at discriminating each species from FFPE controls of unrelated bacterial, viral, protozoan, and fungal pathogens that cause skin lesions, as well as other closely related spotted fever group Rickettsia species. CONCLUSIONS This multiplex real-time PCR demonstrates greater sensitivity than nested PCR assays in FFPE tissues and provides an effective method to specifically identify cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rickettsialpox, and R. parkeri rickettsiosis by using skin biopsy specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Denison
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch
| | - Bijal D Amin
- Department of Pathology, Division of Surgical Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
| | - William L Nicholson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Christopher D Paddock
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch
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An Approach to Skin Lesions in the Returning Traveler. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s40506-013-0003-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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