1
|
Gonçalves TDS, Sampaio-Júnior FD, Barrozo PHM, de Farias DM, Alves LB, de Souza EEG, de Aguiar AB, Nery BWB, Gering AP, Linardi PM, Martins TF, Scofield A. Tick and flea infestations in captive Tapirus terrestris and Tapirus kabomani (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in the Brazilian Amazon. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102234. [PMID: 37499566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102234] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to identify tick and flea species infesting captive tapirs (Tapirus terrestris and Tapirus kabomani) in the Brazilian Amazon. Ectoparasites were collected from tapirs chemically restrained in Zoo-botanical Parks, breeding facilities, conservationists and, environmental compensation areas in the states of Amapá, Amazonas, and Pará. After collection, the tick and flea specimens were placed in plastic pots containing isopropanol and identified according to dichotomous keys. Ectoparasite infestations were observed in 55% (18/33) tapirs, of which 61% (11/18) were single infestations with ticks or fleas, and 39% (7/18) were mixed infestations with different species of ticks and/or fleas. In total, 227 ticks (15 larvae, 107 nymphs, 38 females and 67 males) and 14 fleas (eight females and six males) were collected, identifying four tick species (Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto , Amblyomma naponense, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, and Amblyomma pacae) and three flea species and/or subspecies (Ctenocephalides felis felis, Rhopalopsyllus australis australis, and Tunga penetrans). In conclusion, infestations with Ixodidae ticks and Rhopalopsyllidae, Pulicidae and Tungidae fleas were found in captive tapirs in the Brazilian Amazon, and A. cajennense s.s. was the most frequent species. Additionally, the present study reports new associations between A. pacae and R. a. australis with T. terrestris and between A. cajennense s.s. with T. kabomani.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thamirys de Souza Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Francisco Dantas Sampaio-Júnior
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Marques Barrozo
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Diana Maria de Farias
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Larissa Borges Alves
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Elda Ely Gomes de Souza
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Adriano Bezerra de Aguiar
- Center for Research and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals (CEPRAS), Balbina Hydroelectric Dam, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazonas, Brazil
| | | | - Ana Paula Gering
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Federal University of Tocantins North (UFNT), Araguaína, Tocantins, Brazil
| | - Pedro Marcos Linardi
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil; Pasteur Institute (IP) of the São Paulo State Department of Health (SES/SP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Scofield
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Animal Health in the Amazon, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Vanat V, Aeby S, Greub G. Ticks and Chlamydia-Related Bacteria in Swiss Zoological Gardens Compared to in Contiguous and Distant Control Areas. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2468. [PMID: 37894126 PMCID: PMC10609390 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of numerous agents of medical importance and may be infected by various Chlamydia-related bacteria, such as members of Parachlamydiaceae and Rhabdochlamydiaceae families, which are sharing the same biphasic life cycle with the pathogenic Chlamydia. However, the veterinary importance of ticks and of their internalized pathogens remains poorly studied. Thus, we wondered (i) whether the prevalence of ticks was higher in zoological gardens than in control areas with similar altitude, vegetation, humidity and temperature, and (ii) whether the presence of Chlamydia-related bacteria in ticks may vary according to the environment in which the ticks are collected. A total of 212 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected, and all were tested for the presence of DNA from any member of the Chlamydiae phylum using a pan-Chlamydiae quantitative PCR (qPCR). We observed a higher prevalence of ticks outside animal enclosures in both zoos, compared to in enclosures. Tick prevalence was also higher outside zoos, compared to in enclosures. With 30% (3/10) of infected ticks, the zoological gardens presented a prevalence of infected ticks that was higher than that in contiguous areas (13.15%, 10/76), and higher than the control distant areas (8.65%, 9/104). In conclusion, zoological gardens in Switzerland appear to contain fewer ticks than areas outside zoological gardens. However, ticks from zoos more often contain Chlamydia-like organisms than ticks from contiguous or distant control areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Vanat
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center (CHUV), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland; (V.V.); (S.A.)
| | - Sébastien Aeby
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center (CHUV), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland; (V.V.); (S.A.)
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center (CHUV), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland; (V.V.); (S.A.)
- Service of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Center (CHUV), 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dvořáková A, Klímová A, Alaverdyan J, Černý J. Postindustrial Landscapes Are Neglected Localities That May Play an Important Role in the Urban Ecology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases-A Pilot Study. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050648. [PMID: 37242319 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous recent studies have shown that ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a considerable threat in urban areas, such as parks, playgrounds, zoos, cemeteries, etc. Abandoned postindustrial localities, and other types of vague terrain, are other examples of urban wilderness areas that have been absolutely neglected in respect to ticks and tick-borne pathogens thus far, even though they provide ideal biotopes for ticks. METHODS The abundance of ticks and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes were compared between a city park and an adjacent abandoned construction waste disposal site in Prague, Czechia from June to October 2021. RESULTS The results showed that ticks and borrelia spirochetes are present at the city park as well as at the abandoned construction waste disposal site, although in lower numbers. DISCUSSION According to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in an urban postindustrial landscape. More detailed studies are needed to uncover the role of these localities in the ecology of ticks and ecoepidemiology of tick-borne diseases in urban areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dvořáková
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anita Klímová
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Johana Alaverdyan
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Černý
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hrnková J, Golovchenko M, Musa AS, Needham T, Italiya J, Ceacero F, Kotrba R, Grubhoffer L, Rudenko N, Cerný J. Borrelia spirochetes in European exotic farm animals. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:996015. [PMID: 36246336 PMCID: PMC9554260 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.996015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a broad spectrum of pathogens, threatening both animal and human health. Tick survival and proliferation are strongly dependent on host selection and suitability. The hard tick Ixodes ricinus, which is widespread throughout most of Europe, is a host generalist capable of feeding on many different vertebrate species. Pasture-kept exotic farm animals may be at a high risk for tick and tick-borne pathogens infestations but research characterizing this is currently lacking. This study focused on the detection of Borrelia spirochetes (including Borrelia miyamotoi) in exotic farm animals. Using nested-PCR with Borrelia-specific primers, 121 serum samples from 54 exotic farm animals of several species bred in four different farms in Bohemia and Moravia (Czechia) were tested. Positive samples were sequenced for the identification of Borrelia species. The prevalence of Borrelia DNA in the samples ranged from 13 to 67%, depending on the sampling site. The sequencing results confirmed the DNA presence of multiple spirochete species from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Only one sample from an ostrich (Struthio camelus) was found to be positive for Borrelia myiamotoi. The results show that exotic farm animals can serve as hosts for hard ticks and can be infected by Borrelia spirochetes, transmitted by hard ticks. Therefore, these animals could play a relevant role in maintaining Borrelia spirochetes in nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johana Hrnková
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Johana Hrnková
| | - Marina Golovchenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceské Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Abubakar Sadiq Musa
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tersia Needham
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jignesh Italiya
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Francisco Ceacero
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Radim Kotrba
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czechia
| | - Libor Grubhoffer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceské Budějovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Ceské Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Natalie Rudenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceské Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jirí Cerný
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Behnke-Borowczyk J, Gwiazdowicz DJ. Do ectoparasites of the slow loris Nycticebus pygmaeus, pose a danger to humans? Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00791-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractStaff working with nocturnal mammals at Poznań Zoo, noticed erythematous bite marks on their hands and parts of their necks. No perpetrators were immediately obvious, but the bite marks were experienced mainly by persons caring for the slow loris Nycticebus pygmaeus. The purpose of this study was to collect ectoparasites from four N. pygmaeus, to identify the species involved and to ascertain whether they carry any pathogenic organisms that might pose a health risk to people who have been bitten. A total of 51 Ornithonyssus bacoti (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) mites were collected from the coats of four slow loris, 37 of which were used for molecular analysis to determine if the mites were carrying any disease-causing organisms. DNA was extracted and screened for candidate pathogens including Babesia spp. and Rickettsia spp., but none were identified. The authors suspect that because the zoo differs in its sanitary and veterinary conditions from those found in nature, the results obtained here may differ markedly from those existing in the natural environment. Although we cannot be certain at this stage that the mites did not carry other pathogens in addition to those that were detectable by the primers that were used, the erythematous reaction to bite marks likely reflects a response to secretions of the mites rather than to transmitted pathogens.
Collapse
|