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Santodomingo A, Thomas R, Thompson M, Robbiano S, Espinoza P, Muñoz-Leal S. Experimental transmission of a novel relapsing fever group Borrelia harbored by Ornithodoros octodontus (Ixodida: Argasidae) in Chile. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:241-252. [PMID: 38321309 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes of genus Borrelia thrive in enzootic cycles involving Ornithodoros spp. (Argasidae) mainly, and rodents. The isolation of these spirochetes usually involves a murine model in which ticks are fed and the spirochetes detected in blood several days later. Such an experiment also demonstrates that a given species of tick is competent in the transmission of the bacteria. Here, soft ticks Ornithodoros octodontus were collected in Northern Chile with the objective to experimentally determine its capacity to transmit a Borrelia sp. detected in a previous study. Two Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used to feed nymphs and adults of O. octodontus and the spirochetes in blood were inspected by dark-field microscopy and nested PCR. Although spirochetes were not seen in blood, DNA was detected in only one animal 11 days after the ticks were fed. Genetic sequences of Borrelia flaB, clpX, pepX, recG, rplB, and uvrA genes retrieved from DNA extraction of positive blood were employed to construct two phylogenetic analyses. On the one hand, the flaB tree showed the Borrelia sp. transmitted by O. octodontus clustering with Borrelia sp. Alcohuaz, which was previously detected in that same tick species. On the other hand, concatenated clpX-pepX-recG-rplB-uvrA demonstrated that the characterized spirochete branches together with "Candidatus Borrelia caatinga", a recently discovered species from Brazil. Based on the genetic profile presented in this study, the name "Candidatus Borrelia octodonta" is proposed for the species transmitted by O. octodontus. The fact that spirochetes were not observed in blood of guinea pigs, may reflect the occurrence of low spirochetemia, which could be explained because the susceptibility of infection varies depending on the rodent species that is used in experimental models. Although the vertebrate reservoir of "Ca. Borrelia octodonta" is still unknown, Octodon degus, a rodent species that is commonly parasitized by O. octodontus, should be a future target to elucidate this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Michele Thompson
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Sofía Robbiano
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Espinoza
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- ONG Dosel, San Fabián, Chile
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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López Y, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Muñoz-Leal S, Contreras V, Calderón A, Rivero R, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD, Mattar S. Borrelia puertoricensis in opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from Colombia. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:448. [PMID: 38049822 PMCID: PMC10694944 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06016-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Borrelia comprises pathogenic species of bacteria that pose a significant risk to public health. Borrelia spp. are emerging or reemerging infectious agents worldwide with complex transmission cycles, and many species use rodents as vertebrate reservoir hosts. Spirochetes morphologically compatible with Borrelia have been recurrently observed in opossums; however, there is currently a lack of genetic evidence confirming infection or supporting that these marsupials are hosts of Borrelia spirochetes. METHODS During 2017, 53 serum samples of Didelphis marsupialis from the municipality of Colosó (department of Sucre, Colombia) were collected and allocated in a serum bank. DNA extracted from the serum samples was submitted to a Borrelia genus-specific real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently derived from semi-nested PCR protocols to obtain large fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes. Obtained amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. One positive sample was randomly selected for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Obtained reads were mapped to genomes of Borrelia spp. and sequences of two genes used in a multilocus sequence typing scheme retrieved for taxonomic assignment and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS Overall, 18.8% (10/53) of the samples were positive by qPCR. Of them, 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10) were positive for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes after semi-nested PCRs, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of one sample sequenced with NGS yielded 22 reads of genus Borrelia with different sizes. Two housekeeping genes, rplB and pyrG, were recovered. Nucleotide pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, flaB, rplB and pyrG genes showed that the Borrelia sp. found in opossums from Colosó corresponded to Borrelia puertoricensis. CONCLUSIONS We describe the first molecular evidence to our knowledge of B. puertoricensis in Colombia, specifically in opossums, and the first detection of this spirochete in a vertebrate host since its isolation from Ornithodoros puertoricensis in Panama. This detection is also relevant because of the epidemiological importance of opossums as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Verónica Contreras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Alfonso Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Ricardo Rivero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia.
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Silva-Ramos CR, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Serna-Rivera CC, Mattar S, Hidalgo M. Etiologies of Zoonotic Tropical Febrile Illnesses That Are Not Part of the Notifiable Diseases in Colombia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2154. [PMID: 37763998 PMCID: PMC10535066 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In Colombia, tropical febrile illnesses represent one of the most important causes of clinical attention. Febrile illnesses in the tropics are mainly zoonotic and have a broad etiology. The Colombian surveillance system monitors some notifiable diseases. However, several etiologies are not monitored by this system. In the present review, we describe eleven different etiologies of zoonotic tropical febrile illnesses that are not monitored by the Colombian surveillance system but have scientific, historical, and contemporary data that confirm or suggest their presence in different regions of the country: Anaplasma, Arenavirus, Bartonella, relapsing fever group Borrelia, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia, Hantavirus, Mayaro virus, Orientia, Oropouche virus, and Rickettsia. These could generate a risk for the local population, travelers, and immigrants, due to which they should be included in the mandatory notification system, considering their importance for Colombian public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá 110110, Colombia;
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología—SAI, Bogotá 110110, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. Serna-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias (CENTAURO), Línea de Investigación Zoonosis Emergentes y Re-Emergentes, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050034, Colombia;
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales 170004, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería 230001, Colombia;
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
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Ballados-González GG, Bravo-Ramos JL, Grostieta E, Andrade-López AN, Ramos-Vázquez JR, Chong-Guzmán LA, Moctezuma-Díaz LÁ, Colunga-Salas P, Miranda-Caballero CI, Álvarez-Castillo L, Cruz-Romero A, Aguilar-Domínguez M, Becker I, Sánchez-Montes S. Confirmation of the presence of Rickettsia felis infecting Ornithodoros puertoricensis in Mexico. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:219-227. [PMID: 36346249 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Soft ticks are neglected competent vectors of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, among which bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Borrelia stand out. In Mexico, previous studies have shown the presence of a member of the Ornithodoros talaje complex in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae Kerr) from southeastern Mexico. However, its specific identification has not been achieved. Two D. virginiana were treated in a private clinic during the period of April-May 2022. Tick larvae were manually removed, DNA extraction was performed, and some genes from various bacterial and parasitic pathogens were amplified and sequenced. A total of 96 larvae were recovered, which were morphologically identified as Ornithodoros puertoricensis (Ixodida: Argasidae Fox); the 16 S sequences showed a similarity of 96.79%-99.51% with sequences of O. puertoricensis from Panama and Colombia. The presence of Rickettsia felis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae Bouyer et al.) was detected in 15 specimens from one host. The soft tick O. puertoricensis is recorded for the first time as an ectoparasite of the Virginia opossum in America and represents the second report for this soft tick in Mexico since 1963. This represents the most northern record of this tick species in its geographic distribution and brings a new soft tick-Rickettsia association.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José L Bravo-Ramos
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Estefania Grostieta
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Pablo Colunga-Salas
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Carlos I Miranda-Caballero
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Lucía Álvarez-Castillo
- Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Anabel Cruz-Romero
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Túxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Mexico
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Robayo-Sánchez LN, López Y, Muñoz-Leal S, Ramírez-Hernández A, Aleman A, Cortés-Vecino JA, Mattar S, Faccini-Martínez ÁA. Laboratory life cycle of Ornithodoros puertoricensis (Ixodida: Argasidae) collected in the Colombian Caribbean. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 88:387-395. [PMID: 36333560 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00759-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Three studies on the biology of Ornithodoros puertoricensis are available in the literature, using different hosts and incubation temperatures. In a previous study, we identified O. puertoricensis in the Colombian Caribbean. The aim of the present work was to analyze life cycle data along one generation from these specimens under laboratory conditions. Eggs of O. puertoricensis were collected in between fragments of bahareque material in a rural dwelling in the municipality of Planeta Rica (Córdoba Department, Colombia), and transported to the laboratory. All post-egg stages (i.e., larvae, nymphs, and adults) were incubated at 27 °C and 85% RH and fed on laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Sixteen engorged larvae were obtained to start a laboratory colony. Average feeding period for larvae was 4.6 days (4-5). The first nymphal instar (N1) did not require feeding and the subsequent nymphal stages (N2, N3, and N4) and adults had feeding periods ranging from 55 to 75 min. Average pre-molting period in nymphs was 15 days (10-21). Most of the N3 molted to males and all N4 molted to females. Two gonotrophic cycles were recorded: the first had a preoviposition period of 12 days (7-18) and produced 190 eggs (171-223), the second lasted 6.6 days (6-7) and produced 146 eggs (104-201). The mean life cycle duration (from parental eggs to F1 eggs) was 70.7 days (58.7-82.7) without fasting periods. The collected data agree with previous studies even with differences in hosts and maintenance conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Natalia Robayo-Sánchez
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C, Colombia
| | - Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C, Colombia
- Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá D.C, Colombia
| | - Ader Aleman
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Jesús Alfredo Cortés-Vecino
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Research Institute, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud - FUCS, Bogotá D.C, Colombia.
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá D.C, Colombia.
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Stewart PE, Raffel SJ, Gherardini FC, Bloom ME. Kinetics of tick infection by the relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia hermsii acquired through artificial membrane feeding chambers. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13479. [PMID: 35931720 PMCID: PMC9356064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17500-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The relapsing fever agent Borrelia hermsii is transmitted by the tick Ornithodoros hermsi. To study the B. hermsii-tick interactions required for pathogen acquisition and transmission we developed an artificial membrane feeding system for O. hermsi nymphs and adults that results in a high percentage of engorgement. This system provides the nutritional requirements necessary for the tick to develop, mate, and produce viable eggs. By inoculating the blood with B. hermsii, we were able to obtain infected ticks for quantitative studies on pathogen acquisition and persistence. These ticks subsequently transmitted the spirochetes to mice, validating this system for both acquisition and transmission studies. Using this feeding method, a mutant of the antigenic variation locus of B. hermsii (Vmp-) that is incapable of persisting in mice was acquired by ticks at equivalent densities as the wild-type. Furthermore, Vmp is not required for persistence in the tick, as the mutant and wild-type strains are maintained at similar numbers after ecdysis and subsequent feeding. These results support the theory that Vmp is an adaptation for mammalian infection but unnecessary for survival within the tick. Interestingly, B. hermsii numbers severely declined after acquisition, though these ticks still transmitted the infection to mice. This procedure reduces animal use and provides a safe, highly controlled and well-contained alternative method for feeding and maintaining O. hermsi colonies. Importantly, this system permits quantitative studies with B. hermsii strains through ingestion during the blood meal, and thus more closely recapitulates pathogen acquisition in nature than other artificial systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip E Stewart
- Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA.
| | - Sandra J Raffel
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Frank C Gherardini
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Marshall E Bloom
- Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Silva-Ramos CR, Santodomingo AM, Ramírez-Hernández A, Costa FB, Labruna MB, Muñoz-Leal S. Historical overview and update on relapsing fever group Borrelia in Latin America. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:196. [PMID: 35676728 PMCID: PMC9175325 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever group Borrelia (RFGB) are motile spirochetes transmitted to mammalian or avian hosts through the bite of hematophagous arthropods, such as soft ticks (Argasidae), hard ticks (Ixodidae) and the human clothing lice. RFGB can infect pets such as dogs and cats, as well as birds, cattle and humans. Borrelia recurrentis, B. anserina and B. theileri are considered to have worldwide distribution, affecting humans, domestic birds and ruminants, respectively. Borrelia spp. associated with soft ticks are transmitted mainly by Ornithodoros ticks and thrive in endemic foci in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Nowadays, human cases of soft tick-borne relapsing fever remain neglected diseases in several countries, and the impact these spirochetes have on the health of wild and domestic animals is largely understudied. Human infection with RFGB is difficult to diagnose, given the lack of distinguishing clinical features (undifferentiated febrile illness). Clinically, soft tick or louse-borne relapsing fever is often confused with other etiologies, such as malaria, typhoid or dengue. In Latin America, during the first half of the twentieth century historical documents elaborated by enlightened physicians were seminal, and resulted in the identification of RFGB and their associated vectors in countries such as Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Argentina. Almost 80 years later, research on relapsing fever spirochetes is emerging once again in Latin America, with molecular characterizations and isolations of novel RFGB members in Panama, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile. In this review we summarize historical aspects of RFGB in Latin America and provide an update on the current scenario regarding these pathogens in the region. To accomplish this, we conducted an exhaustive search of all the published literature for the region, including old medical theses deposited in libraries of medical academies. RFGB were once common pathogens in Latin America, and although unnoticed for many years, they are currently the focus of interest among the scientific community. A One Health perspective should be adopted to tackle the diseases caused by RFGB, since these spirochetes have never disappeared and the maladies they cause may be confused with etiologies with similar symptoms that prevail in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Research Institute, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud - FUCS, Bogotá, Colombia.,Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia.,Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adriana M Santodomingo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia. .,Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile.
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8
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Kneubehl AR, Krishnavajhala A, Leal SM, Replogle AJ, Kingry LC, Bermúdez SE, Labruna MB, Lopez JE. Comparative genomics of the Western Hemisphere soft tick-borne relapsing fever borreliae highlights extensive plasmid diversity. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:410. [PMID: 35641918 PMCID: PMC9158201 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08523-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a globally prevalent, yet under-studied vector-borne disease transmitted by soft and hard bodied ticks. While soft TBRF (sTBRF) spirochetes have been described for over a century, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms facilitating vector and host adaptation is poorly understood. This is due to the complexity of their small (~ 1.5 Mb) but fragmented genomes that typically consist of a linear chromosome and both linear and circular plasmids. A majority of sTBRF spirochete genomes' plasmid sequences are either missing or are deposited as unassembled sequences. Consequently, our goal was to generate complete, plasmid-resolved genomes for a comparative analysis of sTBRF species of the Western Hemisphere. RESULTS Utilizing a Borrelia specific pipeline, genomes of sTBRF spirochetes from the Western Hemisphere were sequenced and assembled using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing technologies. Included in the analysis were the two recently isolated species from Central and South America, Borrelia puertoricensis n. sp. and Borrelia venezuelensis, respectively. Plasmid analyses identified diverse sequences that clustered plasmids into 30 families; however, only three families were conserved and syntenic across all species. We also compared two species, B. venezuelensis and Borrelia turicatae, which were isolated ~ 6,800 km apart and from different tick vector species but were previously reported to be genetically similar. CONCLUSIONS To truly understand the biological differences observed between species of TBRF spirochetes, complete chromosome and plasmid sequences are needed. This comparative genomic analysis highlights high chromosomal synteny across the species yet diverse plasmid composition. This was particularly true for B. turicatae and B. venezuelensis, which had high average nucleotide identity yet extensive plasmid diversity. These findings are foundational for future endeavors to evaluate the role of plasmids in vector and host adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Kneubehl
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Sebastián Muñoz Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Adam J Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Luke C Kingry
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sergio E Bermúdez
- Medical Entomology Department, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panamá City, Panamá
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva E Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária E Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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9
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Ticks infesting humans in Central America: A review of their relevance in public health. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2021; 2:100065. [PMID: 36589874 PMCID: PMC9795346 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2021.100065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that parasitize most groups of terrestrial or semiaquatic vertebrates. Humans are accidental hosts to the ticks; however, in humans the ticks can cause damages varying from simple irritation to severe allergies, toxicosis, paralysis, and the transmission of pathogens, some of which can be fatal. Central America represents a narrow isthmus between North and South America and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The importance of tick-borne diseases in this region is manifested by fatal outbreaks caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, severe and mild cases of other rickettsioses, ehrlichiosis, and tick-borne relapsing fevers, in addition to cases paralysis and strong allergic reactions. Even so, this information is scarce in most countries of this region, and there are no epidemiological data. In this article we present a review of the ticks that parasitize humans in Central America, covering data from the 19th Century to the present day. Of nearly 80 tick species reported in Central America, 28 species are reported on humans. This list includes species that thrive within homes, grazing areas and, to a lesser extent, in wild environments, both in lowland and high mountain forests. The most important genus in this region is Amblyomma, followed by Rhipicephalus and Ornithodoros, and to a lesser extent Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Dermacentor. These data provide information on the tick species most commonly associated with humans in Central America, and highlight the potential for tick-borne diseases in wild, rural and urban regions.
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10
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Sánchez-Montes S, Santoyo-Colín V, Zapata-Marín A, López-Pérez AM, Gil-Alarcón G, Arenas P, Zazueta-Islas HM, Solís-Cortés M, Salceda-Sánchez B, Colunga-Salas P, Becker I, Gual-Sill F. Rediscovering an old friend: the case of Ixodes dampfi in a protected natural reserve in central Mexico. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3899-3904. [PMID: 34546439 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07318-1] [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: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The tick Ixodes dampfi Cooley 1943, a member of the Pholeoixodes subgenus, was first described from gophers (Geomys sp.) collected in the state of Mexico. However, information on the origin and parasite-host association of I. dampfi is lacking. Here, new records of the occurrence of this tick species were provided nearly 80 years since its original description, in addition to new localities, genetic data, and host-parasite records. A total of four hosts (one Bassariscus astutus, two Didelphis virginiana, and one Peromyscus gratus) from three orders (Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, and Rodentia) were parasitised by seven I. dampfi females. Sequences of the 16S rDNA gene from the ticks exhibited a similarity ranging from 97 (389/403 bp) to 100% (403/403 bp), with the unique sequence of I. dampfi available on GenBank (AF549837). Additionally, Rickettsia-specific 16S rDNA, htrA, and ompA gene assays generated sequences in four of the seven I. dampfi specimens (57.14%). Partial sequences revealed 99-100% genetic identities with Candidatus Rickettsia angustus (GenBank accession HF935069, HF935072, HF935078) and Candidatus Rickettsia kingi (GenBank accession HF935068, HF935071, HF935077) from Canada. Our results represent the first record of this elusive ectoparasite in a natural protected area, which is a triumph for conservation, as accelerated defaunation processes pose the risk of coextinction for many groups of vertebrates and their ectoparasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Carretera Tuxpan Tampico Kilómetro 7.5, Universitaria, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Veracruz, C.P. 92870, México. .,Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
| | - Verónica Santoyo-Colín
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Carretera Tuxpan Tampico Kilómetro 7.5, Universitaria, Tuxpan de Rodríguez Cano, Veracruz, C.P. 92870, México.,Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Del. Coyoacán, CP. 04960, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Alejandro Zapata-Marín
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Del. Coyoacán, CP. 04960, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Andrés M López-Pérez
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Guillermo Gil-Alarcón
- Secretaría de la Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel- REPSA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Arenas
- Secretaría de la Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel- REPSA, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Héctor M Zazueta-Islas
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Marlene Solís-Cortés
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Beatriz Salceda-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos, Secretaría de Salud, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Colunga-Salas
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.,Instituto de Biotecnología y Ecología Aplicada, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa de Enríquez, Veracruz, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Fernando Gual-Sill
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Del. Coyoacán, CP. 04960, Ciudad de México, México. .,Dirección General de Zoológicos y Conservación de la Fauna Silvestre, Secretaría del Medio Ambiente de la Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, México.
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