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Luz HR, de Campos CEC, Costa-Junior LM, Santos ES, Hass A, Sousa DM, de Moares E Silva RM, Rocha JM, Albuquerque GR, Argolo AJ, Zacariotti R, de Paula CD, Pereira LCM, Nicola PA, Faccini JLH, Horta MC, Nogueira RMS, DallAgnol LT, Labruna MB, Martins TF. Ticks parasitizing cold-blooded animals from three different Brazilian biomes; with note for males of Amblyomma rotundatum. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102377. [PMID: 39013352 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102377] [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: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Ticks parasitize a wide variety of wild animals, including amphibians and reptiles. In addition to the possibility of microorganism transmission to these hosts, ticks can also cause severe bleeding, and high parasitism can lead to death. Therefore, knowing the diversity of ticks parasitizing amphibians and reptiles is important for conservation and preservation measures for these vertebrates. In the present study, we report parasitism by ticks in amphibians and reptiles from different Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest). Ticks were collected from amphibians and reptiles deposited from the Herpetological Collection of the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís (Maranhão State), the State University Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus (Bahia State), and the Federal University of São Francisco Valley (Univasf), Petrolina (Pernambuco State). Additionally, ticks were collected from amphibians and reptiles captured and road-killed in the Amazon biome, at Maranhão and Amapá States. Specimens of ticks were photographed under a Zeiss stereomicroscope (5.1 zoom). Map with the locations were made using the Qgis program. Overall, 1973 specimens of amphibians and reptiles were examined. A total of 927 ticks were collected: 98 larvae, 421 nymphs and 408 adults. Six species of ticks were identified: Amblyomma rotundatum and Amblyomma dissimile the most frequent, and Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma nodosum and Amblyomma humerale, occasionally. Surprisingly, a total of twelve males of A. rotundatum were collected. Here we report new records of association between cold-blooded animals and ticks and reinforce the absence of A. dissimile in the Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Additionally, we report new records of A. rotundatum males on reptiles in the Amazon biome. This last record allows us to speculate about a possible association of A. rotundatum males with reptiles and the Amazon biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermes Ribeiro Luz
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Eduardo Costa de Campos
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Herpetology Laboratory, Bionorte Network Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitscheck, km 02 - Jardim Marco Zero, Macapá, AP 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Livio Martins Costa-Junior
- Parasite Control Laboratory, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Ercileide Silva Santos
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Herpetology Laboratory, Bionorte Network Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitscheck, km 02 - Jardim Marco Zero, Macapá, AP 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Adriani Hass
- Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Dauana Mesquita Sousa
- Parasite Control Laboratory, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Ruth Myrian de Moares E Silva
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Biodiversity and Conservation of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Josiane Moreira Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | - George Rego Albuquerque
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Antonio Jorge Argolo
- Postgraduate Program in Zoology, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - João Luiz Horacio Faccini
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leonardo Teixeira DallAgnol
- Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil; São Paulo State Department of Health, Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP 05402-000, Brazil
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Tsai KH, Batool S, Khan A, Cossío-Bayúgar R, Swelum AA, Niaz S, Nasreen N, Ben Said M, Khan A. Infestation prevalence, spatio-temporal distribution, phylogenetic positioning, and pathogen investigation of Argas persicus ticks in domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) from Pakistan. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 52:101044. [PMID: 38880575 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101044] [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: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Soft ticks pose significant health risks as vectors of various pathogens. This study explored the spatio-temporal distribution and genetic relationships of the soft tick species Argas persicus infesting domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) across different districts in Pakistan. An examination of 778 hens revealed a notable tick infestation prevalence of 70.82%, with a total of 1299 ticks collected from 551 hens. The overall mean intensity was 2.19 soft ticks per infested chicken, and the overall mean abundance was 1.61 soft ticks per examined hen. Morphological identification confirmed all collected ticks (n = 1210) as A. persicus, comprising 719 males, 333 females, 121 nymphs, and 38 larvae. The Haveli, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli districts had the highest infestation rates, while Bagh had the lowest. Molecular analyses of tick DNA, focusing on 16S rDNA and 12S rDNA sequences, revealed genetic similarities among A. persicus soft ticks from Pakistan and other regions, providing insights into their evolutionary history. Importantly, no Babesia, Rickettsia, or Anaplasma infections were detected in the examined samples. These findings enhance the understanding of soft tick infestation patterns and the genetic diversity of A. persicus in the studied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Global Health Program, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Sidra Batool
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Afshan Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Raquel Cossío-Bayúgar
- Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Km 11. 5 Carretera Federal Cuernavaca- Cuautla, No. 8534, Col. Progreso, CP 62550 Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico.
| | - Ayman A Swelum
- Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sadaf Niaz
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Nasreen Nasreen
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan.
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Department of Basic Sciences, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia; Laboratory of Microbiology, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia.
| | - Adil Khan
- Department of Zoology, Bacha Khan University Charsadda, Charsadda 24420, Pakistan.
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Lee DAB, Barros-Battesti DM, Arantes PVC, Sada JM, Sanches GS, André MR, Lima VFS. First report of unusual case of parasitism by Amblyomma nodosum (Neumann, 1889) in a yellow cururu toad (Rhinella icterica) in the Northeastern Brazilian Caatinga. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2024; 33:e005324. [PMID: 38958294 PMCID: PMC11253816 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612024031] [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: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The Amblyomma genus (Arachnida: Ixodidae) is widely distributed in South America, with 34 species occurring in Brazil. Amblyomma nodosum Neumann 1889 is a species that predominantly feeds on Passeriformes during immature stages (larvae and nymphs) and anteaters (Myrmecophagidae) during adult stages. The aim of the present study is to report, for the first time, an unusual case of parasitism by adults of A. nodosum on a yellow cururu toad (Rhinella icterica) captured in the city of Nossa Senhora da Glória, Sergipe state (Northeastern Brazil) in the Caatinga biome, and also investigate the presence of DNA of Rickettsia in the collected material. DNA was extracted from all specimens collected (N=8) and subjected to PCR assays based on the tick 16S rRNA endogenous gene and gltA gene for Rickettsia sp. All samples (8/8; 100%) were positive for the 16S rRNA endogenous gene and two amplicons (obtained from one male and one female) were purified and sequenced. The BLASTn analysis of the sequences revealed a high degree of similarity (95-100%) with A. nodosum sequences previously deposited on GenBank, while the phylogenetic analysis clustered the sequences obtained in the same clade as A. nodosum sequences from Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Antônio Braga Lee
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Paulo Vitor Cadina Arantes
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Jovêncio Mateus Sada
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Gustavo Seron Sanches
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução, e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – FCAV, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Victor Fernando Santana Lima
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária do Sertão, Universidade Federal de Sergipe – UFS, Campus do Sertão, Nossa Senhora da Glória, SE, Brasil
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Tojal SD, da Costa IN, Aguirre ADAR, Martins TF, Labruna MB, Meneguetti DUDO, Bernarde PS, da Cruz KS, Lima JM, Prolo SL, Camargo LMDA. Parasitism by Amblyomma rotundatum on Teiidae lizards in the eastern part of the state of Acre, Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e004923. [PMID: 37672468 PMCID: PMC10503821 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023050] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to report on the occurrence of parasitism by Amblyomma rotundatum ticks on two species of Teiidae lizards and test the presence of rickettsiae in the collected ticks, in the western Brazilian Amazon region. Ticks were collected in July 2019, from a fragment of terra firme forest in the municipality of Senador Guiomard, Acre, Brazil. Two lizards that were infested by immature stages of ticks were caught using mist net and Tomahawk traps. Ectoparasites were collected manually, and the lizard specimens were identified and released at the same location where they had been caught. Three nymphs and 49 larvae were collected from Ameiva ameiva, while 25 nymphs and nine larvae were collected from Tupinambis cuzcoensis, which are both in the family Teiidae. The ticks were identified morphologically as belonging to the genus Amblyomma. Nymphs were identified at species level through molecular analysis, resulting in the tick species Amblyomma rotundatum. This is the first record of parasitism by the tick A. rotundatum on T. cuzcoensis lizard, and the first report of an association between A. rotundatum and the lizard species A. ameiva and T. cuzcoensis in Acre, in the western part of the Amazon region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Delgado Tojal
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal São João del-Rei – UFSJ, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
- Laboratório de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | - Ivaneide Nunes da Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz de Rondônia – Fiocruz/RO, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil
- Laboratório de Entomologia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz de Rondônia – Fiocruz/RO, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil
| | | | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo – SUCEN, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo – FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo – FMVZ/USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Dionatas Ulises de Oliveira Meneguetti
- Laboratório de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde na Amazônia Ocidental, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | - Paulo Sérgio Bernarde
- Laboratório de Herpetologia, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Cruzeiro do Sul, AC, Brasil
| | - Karoline Silva da Cruz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde na Amazônia Ocidental, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | - Jônatas Machado Lima
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
| | - Sergio Luiz Prolo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Inovação e Tecnologia para a Amazônia – PPGCITA, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, Acre, Brasil
| | - Luís Marcelo de Aranha Camargo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal São João del-Rei – UFSJ, Divinópolis, MG, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde na Amazônia Ocidental, Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo – ICB5/USP, Monte Negro, RO, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Epidemiologia da Amazônia Ocidental – INCT-EpiAmO, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil
- Centro de Pesquisas em Medicina Tropical – CEPEM, Porto Velho, RO, Brasil
- Departamento de Medicina, Centro Universitário FAEMA, RO, Brasil
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Aguilar G, Mitchell MA. Reptile Dermatology. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2023; 26:409-424. [PMID: 36965878 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2022.12.005] [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: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles are being presented more frequently to veterinarians because they increase in popularity. As with domestic pets, dermatologic conditions are common findings in captive reptiles and can be associated with husbandry and nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases, and neoplasia. To have success with these cases, it is important to take a stepwise and strategic approach, starting with a thorough anamnesis and physical examination. From there, diagnostic tests should be pursued, with an understanding of the limitations of each diagnostic test. By understanding these limitations, the veterinary scientist can determine the best path to a diagnosis and treatment for the case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela Aguilar
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1909 Skin Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Mark A Mitchell
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1909 Skin Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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Abstract
Reptiles, as well as other vertebrate groups, harbour a significant diversity of parasitic organisms, from nematodes and other helminths to viruses and bacteria. The Northeast is one of the richest regions in Brazil in terms of the reptile diversity, number of species and endemism. Parasites are diverse organisms and knowledge about the parasitic fauna of vertebrates is an important factor in understanding the ecological relationships between hosts and the environment. Studies on the parasitic fauna of reptiles in South America have increased in the past few years. The present review is a compilation of 122 studies published from 1924 to 2021. We present information on 101 species of reptiles from five groups (amphisbaenians, crocodile, testudines, snakes and lizards) and 183 parasitic taxa belonging to four phyla: Nematoda; Arthropoda; Platyhelminthes; and Acanthocephala. Nematodes were the most frequently recorded species. Lizards and snakes had more records of parasitism and higher levels of parasite richness and diversity. Ceará was the state with most studies and recorded cases of parasite-host association. The Caatinga and Atlantic Forest were the most investigated environments. The objective of this review was to contribute knowledge on the parasitic biodiversity in reptiles from Northeast Brazil, which may help identify gaps in our knowledge and guide future studies.
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Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan J, Napoli E, Perles L, Marino M, Spadola F, Berny P, España B, Brianti E, Beugnet F, Otranto D. Afoxolaner (NexGard®) in pet snakes for the treatment and control of Ophionyssus natricis (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:6. [PMID: 36609309 PMCID: PMC9825044 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05611-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ophionyssus natricis is the main species of mite that infests captive reptiles. High infestations may result in the host experiencing general discomfort and deleterious effects, even death. Moreover, O. natricis is an important vector of reptile vector-borne diseases and is considered to be the putative vector of the Reptarenavirus, the causal agent of the inclusion body disease. Despite the cosmopolitan distribution of O. natricis in captive reptiles, treatment options are limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of afoxolaner (NexGard®; Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany) in heavily infested, privately owned snakes, evaluate the prevalence of mites and drug availability in the plasma of treated snakes (pharmacokinetics) and perform a clinical examination of animals. METHODS The study was conducted in two snake breeding facilities, where many snakes were infested with mites. Each animal was clinically examined and weighed, and mite infestations were assessed on the animals and in their enclosures (environment). Animals were treated with a dose of 2.5 mg afoxolaner per kilogram body weight (2.5 mg/kg) administered orally. All animals were examined pre-treatment (T0) and at various time points post-treatment (T1, 6 h; T2, 24 h; T3, 14 days; T4, 28 days). The collected mites were morphologically identified at the species level and the species identity also confirmed molecularly. RESULTS Overall, 81 snakes from the two participating facilities (i.e. 70 from site 1 and 11 from site 2) were screened, and 31 (38.3%) snakes were found to have at least one mite. All mites were identified morphologically and molecularly as O. natricis. Lampropeltis was the genus of snakes with highest number of infested individuals. Mites were found to be alive on snakes at T1, but at T2 only dead mites were observed, and at T3 and T4 mites were no longer present on the animals or in their environment. No side effects were observed in the treated snakes. CONCLUSIONS A single oral administration of afoxolaner at 2.5 mg/kg was a safe treatment for snakes and 100% effective for the eradication of natural O. natricis infestation without the need to treat the environment of the snake.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ettore Napoli
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Livia Perles
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
| | - Matteo Marino
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Filippo Spadola
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Philippe Berny
- grid.434200.10000 0001 2153 9484Toxicology Lab, Vetagro Sup., 1 Av Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy L’étoile, France
| | - Bernadette España
- grid.434200.10000 0001 2153 9484Toxicology Lab, Vetagro Sup., 1 Av Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy L’étoile, France
| | - Emanuele Brianti
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Frederic Beugnet
- grid.484445.d0000 0004 0544 6220Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Lyon, France
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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Szentivanyi T, Vincze O. Tracking wildlife diseases using community science: an example through toad myiasis. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01623-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AbstractParasite and pathogen surveillance is crucial for understanding trends in their distributions and host spectra, as well as to document changes in their population dynamics. Nevertheless, continuous surveillance is time-consuming, underfunded due to the non-charismatic nature of parasites/pathogens, and research infrastructure is usually limited to short-term surveillance efforts. Species observation data provided by the public can contribute to long-term surveillance of parasites using photographic evidence of infections shared on community science platforms. Here, we used public photo repositories to document the occurrence across space and time of Lucilia spp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a parasite inducing nasal toad myiasis in the European toad Bufo bufo (Anura: Bufonidae). We found a total of 262 toad myiasis observations on iNaturalist (n = 132), on GBIF (n = 86), on Flickr (n = 41), and on observation.org (n = 3). Our results indicate that the distribution of toad myiasis is regionally limited, despite its host being widely distributed and abundant across a wide region in Europe. Observations were found in 12 countries with relatively low prevalence, including Belgium (3.90%, CI 2.44–6.18), Denmark (1.26%, CI 0.89–1.80), France (0.45%, CI 0.14–1.38), Germany (1.27%, CI 0.92–1.75), Lithuania (0.50%, CI 0.13–1.98), Luxembourg (1.30%, CI 0.42–3.95), the Netherlands (2.71%, CI 1.61–4.52), Poland (0.89%, CI 0.34–2.35), Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) (4.76%, CI 0.67–27.14), Switzerland (NA), Ukraine (0.87%, CI 0.12–5.91), and in the UK (0.45%, CI 0.28–0.72). Nevertheless, the number of uploaded observations of both parasite infection and host presence indicates a stable increase likely due to the growing popularity of community science websites. Overall, community science is a useful tool to detect and monitor certain wildlife diseases and to recognize potential changes in disease dynamics through time and space.
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Salazar‐Fillippo AA, Teunkens B, Leirs H, Frouz J, van Diggelen R, Miko L. Quantitative assessment of the dispersal of soil-dwelling oribatid mites via rodents in restored heathlands. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9653. [PMID: 36582773 PMCID: PMC9793290 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Heathland restoration using topsoil removal requires the re-colonization of above- and belowground communities. Oribatid mites play a key role in the comminution of organic matter and are frequently early colonizers during succession despite their limited mobility. Whereas the assembly of their communities may take decades, passive dispersal likely dominates colonization processes, but especially dispersal via other animals (phoresy) remains poorly studied. Compared to other potential hosts, movement habits and ecology of small rodents may provide dispersal advantages to oribatid communities. We studied dispersal of oribatid mites via small rodents in restored heathland sites of different age. We measured movement patterns of small rodents and extracted mites from their pelts and nests to estimate annual contributions of these rodents to the dispersal of oribatids. We also discussed phoretic estimates reported on other host groups as a reference. Probability estimates of oribatids in pelts and nests showed lower occurrence frequencies compared to other reported phoretic hosts. However, local rodent communities may aid the dispersal of up to 41,000 oribatid mites per year. We highlight the high diversity of oribatid species mounting rodents, unlike strong species-specific filters reported in other passive pathways. We found that over half (58%) of the oribatid species reproduced asexually and over a third (32%) had a soil-dwelling lifestyle. We also observed that rodents often travel short distances below 40 m, but occasionally reach distances of up to 100 m, especially in earlier successional stages. Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that rodents may contribute to assembly processes of soil-dwelling oribatid communities given the slow turnover rate of this group in heathlands. This is accomplished through short-distance dispersal, and especially in sites at early stages of succession. To our knowledge, we are the first to quantitatively assess the potential dispersal of oribatid mites via rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés A. Salazar‐Fillippo
- Geobiology Research Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental StudiesCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Bert Teunkens
- Geobiology Research Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Jan Frouz
- Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental StudiesCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
- Institute of Soil Biology, Biological Centre Academy of Sciences of the Czech RepublicCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Rudy van Diggelen
- Geobiology Research Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Ladislav Miko
- Geobiology Research Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
- Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental StudiesCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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10
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de Paula LGF, do Nascimento RM, Franco ADO, Szabó MPJ, Labruna MB, Monteiro C, Krawczak FDS. Seasonal dynamics of Amblyomma sculptum: a review. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:193. [PMID: 35668507 PMCID: PMC9169286 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05311-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amblyomma sculptum is a hard tick that is associated with domestic animals and the transmission of Brazilian spotted fever. This association has motivated several field studies on this ixodid tick within its distribution area in South America. Thorough knowledge of the seasonal dynamics of A. sculptum in different ecological scenarios is required in order to better understand the biological characteristics of this tick and develop techniques for the control and prevention of diseases transmitted by this vector. In this article, we systematically review the seasonal dynamics of A. sculptum and tick collection methodology. METHODS A systematic search of the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Scielo databases was carried out for articles (including dissertations and theses) on the population dynamics of A. sculptum. The inclusion criterion was the report of seasonal dynamic studies on A. sculptum through surveys carried out for at least 1 year with, as methodology, tick collection in the environment and/or tick count/collection on A. sculptum primary hosts (horses or capybaras). Studies carried out before the reclassification of Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato in 2014, which referred to Amblyomma cajennense in areas where it is currently known that only A. sculptum occurs, were also included. Articles meeting the inclusion criterion, but not available in online databases, were also added based on the authors' experience on the subject. Sixteen articles and one thesis were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. RESULTS Most of the studies were carried out in the southeastern region of Brazil, with a few also carried out in the northeast, center-west and south of Brazil and northwest of Argentina. Five techniques/methods were applied across these studies: CO2 traps, dragging, flagging, visual searches and tick counting on animals, used alone or in combination. CONCLUSION Seasonal dynamics of A. sculptum was found to be similar in almost all of the areas studied, with larvae predominating during the autumn, nymphs in the winter and adults in the spring and summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiza Gabriella Ferreira de Paula
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Rafael Moreira do Nascimento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Artur de Oliveira Franco
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, 74.605-050, Brazil
| | - Matias Pablo Juan Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil.,Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, 74.605-050, Brazil
| | - Felipe da Silva Krawczak
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil. .,Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74.690-900, Brazil.
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11
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Bassini-Silva R, Barros-Battesti DM, Jacinavicius FDC. Reinstatement of Eutrombicula butantanensis (Fonseca, 1932) (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae). Syst Parasitol 2022; 99:557-562. [PMID: 35633440 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-022-10045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Eutrombicula Ewing is currently represented with more than 80 species worldwide parasitizing amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In the present study, we examined the type series and additional material of two Neotropical chigger's species: Eutrombicula butantanensis (Fonseca) and E. ophidica (Fonseca). Eutrombicula butantanensis (Fonseca) was previously synonymized with E. alfreddugesi (Oudemans). However, we are proposing the reinstatement of E. butantanensis as a valid species. Besides that, we are proposing that E. ophidica is a junior synonym of E. butantanensis. Beyond the morphological similarities, E. butantanensis and E. ophidica were initially described to the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and were accidentally collected parasitizing the skin of a human. Besides that, we are increasing the knowledge about E. butantanensis on Brazil's national territory, recording new locality and host associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Bassini-Silva
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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12
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Pinter A, Prist PR, Marrelli MT. Biodiversity and public health interface. BIOTA NEOTROPICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2021-1280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Alongside modernity, the human activity has been a key factor in global environmental risks, with worldwide anthropic modification being the cause of the emergence of diseases for wild and livestock animals, and even humans. In special, the increase in the spatial distribution and in the incidence of some emerging infectious diseases (EID) are directly associated to deforestation and global climate changes. Moreover, the arise of new EID agents, such as the SARS-COV-2 have been reported for the last 30 years. On the other hand, biodiversity has been shown to be a key indicator for ecosystem health, and to pose a role to increase the promotion of human public health. In neotropical regions, and in special, in Brazil, several infectious diseases have been demonstrated to be directly affected for the biodiversity loss, such as malaria, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, yellow fever, urban arboviruses, spotted fever, amongst other. To better understand the ecosystem capacity of regulation of infectious diseases, FAPESP BIOTA program have supported researchers and research projects to increase knowledge about Brazilian biodiversity and the ecosystems, such as diversity of bird bioagents, venomous animals biodiversity, diversity of mosquitos species in forest patches inside urban areas, propagation of the yellow fever virus over fragmented forest territories, loss of ecological corridors and occurrence of spotted fever and malaria, amongst others. It is noteworthy that FAPESP BIOTA is a successful program and must be expanded as an important tool for present and future public health promotion.
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Dantas-Torres F, Picelli AM, Sales KGDS, Sousa-Paula LCD, Mejia P, Kaefer IL, Viana LA, Pessoa FAC. Ticks on reptiles and amphibians in Central Amazonia, with notes on rickettsial infections. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:129-144. [PMID: 34914021 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00682-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles and amphibians are exceptional hosts for different ectoparasites, including mites and ticks. In this study, we investigated tick infestations on reptiles and amphibians trapped in Central Amazonia, and also assessed the presence of rickettsial infections in the collected ticks. From September 2016 to September 2019, 385 reptiles (350 lizards, 20 snakes, 12 tortoises, and three caimans) and 120 amphibians (119 anurans and one caecilian) were captured and examined for ectoparasites. Overall, 35 (10%) lizards, three (25%) tortoises and one (0.8%) toad were parasitized by ticks (124 larvae, 32 nymphs, and 22 adults). In lizards, tick infestation varied significantly according to landscape category and age group. Based on combined morphological and molecular analyses, these ticks were identified as Amblyomma humerale (14 larvae, 12 nymphs, 19 males, and one female), Amblyomma nodosum (three larvae, one nymph, and one female), and Amblyomma rotundatum (four larvae, three nymphs, and one female), and Amblyomma spp. (103 larvae and 16 nymphs). Our study presents the first records of A. nodosum in the Amazonas state and suggests that teiid lizards are important hosts for larvae and nymphs of A. humerale in Central Amazonia. Moreover, a nymph of A. humerale collected from a common tegu (Tupinambis teguixin) was found positive for Rickettsia amblyommatis, which agrees with previous reports, suggesting that the A. humerale-R. amblyommatis relationship may be more common than currently recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, PE, Brazil.
| | - Amanda Maria Picelli
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | | | - Paulo Mejia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Igor Luis Kaefer
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lucio André Viana
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Felipe Arley Costa Pessoa
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, AM, Brazil
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Rich but random: parasite communities of snouted treefrog, Scinax fuscovarius (Anura: Hylidae), in Bodoquena Mountains, western Brazil. Parasitol Res 2021; 121:11-19. [PMID: 34820717 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07378-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Hosts represent discrete habitats that contain finite parasite communities, and individual hosts can be used as replicates in parasitism studies, such as investigations of the processes that mediate the formation of parasite communities. However, within a single host population, there may be singularities among individuals that affect parasite contact rates. Accordingly, the goals of the present study were to document the parasites associated with the small treefrog Scinax fuscovarius, to verify possible variation and co-occurrences in parasite infracommunities, and to assess the effects of host characteristics (size and sex) on infracommunity structure. Treefrog specimens (n = 75) were collected from the Bodoquena Mountains in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. After collection, the specimens were transported to the laboratory, and examined for parasitic. The parasites found were removed, fixed, and identified. Patterns in parasite infracommunity organization were analyzed using the checkerboard score index, which was calculated using a presence-absence matrix. The matrix was randomized under the null hypothesis that the infracommunities independently represent the component community. Forty-two (56%) of the individuals harbored at least one parasite, and a total of 500 metazoan parasites were recovered, with a particularly rich composite community of 18 taxa, including 13 nematodes, two trematodes, one cestode, one oligochaete, and one mite larvae. The parasite species were randomly distributed among the infracommunities, with no evidence of co-occurrence, segregation, or aggregation. However, both body size and sex influenced infection, with larger hosts harboring more parasites and parasites were more abundant in male specimens and more species rich in female specimens. These results suggest that the parasite infracommunities of S. fuscovarius are shaped by both random factors and individual host characteristics.
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Sgroi G, Iatta R, Paolo Lia R, Latrofa MS, Samarelli R, Camarda A, Otranto D. Trypanosoma ( Megatrypanum) pestanai in Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles) and Ixodidae ticks, Italy. Parasitology 2021; 148:1516-1521. [PMID: 34218830 PMCID: PMC11010210 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021001190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomes are haemoflagellate protozoa transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods causing infections in a wide range of mammals, including humans. Adult badgers (Meles meles, n = 2), displaying severe paralysis, ataxia and severe ectoparasite infestation, were rescued from a peri-urban area of Bari (southern Italy). Blood samples and ectoparasites were screened for Trypanosoma spp. by the combined PCR/sequencing approach, targeting a fragment of 18S rRNA gene. Smears of haemolymph, guts and salivary glands of the alive ticks were microscopically observed. No haematological alterations, except thrombocytopenia, were found. Trypomastigotes and epimastigotes were observed in the blood smears of both badgers and Trypanosoma pestanai was molecularly identified. Out of 33 ticks (i.e. n = 31 Ixodes canisuga, n = 2 Ixodes ricinus) and two fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), 11 specimens (n = 5 I. canisuga engorged nymphs, n = 4 engorged females and n = 2 I. ricinus engorged females) tested positive only for T. pestanai DNA. All smears from ticks were negative. The present study firstly revealed T. pestanai in Ixodidae and badgers from Italy, demonstrating the occurrence of the protozoan on the peninsula. Further studies are needed to clarify the occurrence of the only known vector of this parasite, Paraceras melis flea, as well as other putative arthropods involved in the transmission of T. pestanai.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Sgroi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
| | - Roberta Iatta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Paolo Lia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
| | | | - Rossella Samarelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
| | - Antonio Camarda
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
- Osservatorio Faunistico Regionale della Puglia, 70020Bitetto, Italy
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010Valenzano, Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
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16
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Mendoza-Roldan JA, Mendoza-Roldan MA, Otranto D. Reptile vector-borne diseases of zoonotic concern. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 15:132-142. [PMID: 34026483 PMCID: PMC8121771 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Reptile vector-borne diseases (RVBDs) of zoonotic concern are caused by bacteria, protozoa and viruses transmitted by arthropod vectors, which belong to the subclass Acarina (mites and ticks) and the order Diptera (mosquitoes, sand flies and tsetse flies). The phyletic age of reptiles since their origin in the late Carboniferous, has favored vectors and pathogens to co-evolve through millions of years, bridging to the present host-vector-pathogen interactions. The origin of vector-borne diseases is dated to the early cretaceous with Trypanosomatidae species in extinct sand flies, ancestral of modern protozoan hemoparasites of zoonotic concern (e.g., Leishmania and Trypanosoma) associated to reptiles. Bacterial RVBDs are represented by microorganisms also affecting mammals of the genera Aeromonas, Anaplasma, Borrelia, Coxiella, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia, most of them having reptilian clades. Finally, reptiles may play an important role as reservoirs of arborivuses, given the low host specificity of anthropophilic mosquitoes and sand flies. In this review, vector-borne pathogens of zoonotic concern from reptiles are discussed, as well as the interactions between reptiles, arthropod vectors and the zoonotic pathogens they may transmit.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
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17
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Manoj RRS, Latrofa MS, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Otranto D. Molecular detection of Wolbachia endosymbiont in reptiles and their ectoparasites. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3255-3261. [PMID: 34292377 PMCID: PMC8397688 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07237-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Wolbachia, a maternally transmitted Gram-negative endosymbiont of onchocercid nematodes and arthropods, has a role in the biology of their host; thus it has been exploited for the filariasis treatment in humans. To assess the presence and prevalence of this endosymbiont in reptiles and their ectoparasites, blood and tail tissue as well as ticks and mites collected from them were molecularly screened for Wolbachia DNA using two sets of primers targeting partial 16S rRNA and Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) genes. Positive samples were screened for the partial 12S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) genes for filarioids. Of the different species of lizards (Podarcis siculus, Podarcis muralis and Lacerta bilineata) and snakes (Elaphe quatuorlineata and Boa constrictor constrictor) screened from three collection sites, only P. siculus scored positive for Wolbachia 16S rRNA. Among ectoparasites collected from reptiles (Ixodes ricinus ticks and Neotrombicula autumnalis, Ophionyssus sauracum and Ophionyssus natricis mites), I. ricinus (n = 4; 2.8%; 95% CI, 0.9–7) from P. siculus, N. autumnalis (n = 2 each; 2.8%; 95% CI, 0.9–6.5) from P. siculus and P. muralis and O. natricis (n = 1; 14.3%; 95% CI, 0.7–55.4) from Boa constrictor constrictor scored positive for Wolbachia DNA. None of the positive Wolbachia samples scored positive for filarioids. This represents the first report of Wolbachia in reptilian hosts and their ectoparasites, which follows a single identification in the intestinal cells of a filarioid associated with a gecko. This data could contribute to better understand the reptile filarioid-Wolbachia association and to unveil the evolutionary pattern of Wolbachia in its filarial host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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Bassini-Silva R, Huang-Bastos M, Morais DH, Alcantara EP, Ávila RW, Welbourn C, Ochoa R, Barros-Battesti DM, Jacinavicius FDC. A new species of Hannemania Oudemans, 1911 (Trombidiformes: Leeuwenhoekiidae) from Brazil. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1944687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Bassini-Silva
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo-FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Matheus Huang-Bastos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo-FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Drausio Honorio Morais
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Monte Carmelo, Brazil
| | - Edna Paulino Alcantara
- Setor de Parasitologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP-Botucatu), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Robson Waldemar Ávila
- Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Cal Welbourn
- Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, National Insect and Mite Collection, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ron Ochoa
- Systematic Entomology Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Universidade de São Paulo-FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Patologia, Reprodução e Saúde Única, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias-UNESP, Jaboticabal, Brazil
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Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:4091-4111. [PMID: 33788021 PMCID: PMC8599228 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07072-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Medium sized opossums (Didelphis spp.) are among the most fascinating mammals of the Americas, playing important ecological roles (e.g., dispersal of seeds and control of insect populations) in the environment they inhabit. Nevertheless, as synanthropic animals, they are well adapted to human dwellings, occupying shelters within the cities, peripheral areas, and rural settings. These marsupials can harbor numerous pathogens, which may affect people, pets, and livestock. Among those, some protozoa (e.g., Leishmania infantum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii), helminths (e.g., Ancylostoma caninum, Trichinella spiralis, Alaria marcianae, Paragonimus spp.) and arthropods (e.g., ticks, fleas) present substantial public health and veterinary importance, due to their capacity to cause disease in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Here, we reviewed the role played by opossums on the spreading of zoonotic parasites, vectors, and vector-borne pathogens, highlighting the risks of pathogens transmission due to the direct and indirect interaction of humans and domestic animals with Didelphis spp. in the Americas.
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Bassini-Silva R, Jacinavicius FDC, Huang-Bastos M, Dowling APG, Barros-Battesti DM. A Checklist of Macronyssid Species (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) From Brazil. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:625-633. [PMID: 33257994 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Macronyssid mites are parasites of reptiles, birds, and mammals. A checklist of macronyssid species of Brazil is provided, containing 13 genera and 26 species collected from 99 host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Bassini-Silva
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Matheus Huang-Bastos
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ashley P G Dowling
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, FMVZ-USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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21
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Hrnková J, Schneiderová I, Golovchenko M, Grubhoffer L, Rudenko N, Černý J. Role of Zoo-Housed Animals in the Ecology of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens-A Review. Pathogens 2021; 10:210. [PMID: 33669161 PMCID: PMC7919684 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ubiquitous ectoparasites, feeding on representatives of all classes of terrestrial vertebrates and transmitting numerous pathogens of high human and veterinary medical importance. Exotic animals kept in zoological gardens, ranches, wildlife parks or farms may play an important role in the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), as they may serve as hosts for local tick species. Moreover, they can develop diseases of varying severity after being infected by TBPs, and theoretically, can thus serve as reservoirs, thereby further propagating TBPs in local ecosystems. The definite role of these animals in the tick-host-pathogen network remains poorly investigated. This review provides a summary of the information currently available regarding ticks and TBPs in connection to captive local and exotic wildlife, with an emphasis on zoo-housed species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johana Hrnková
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00 Suchdol, Czech Republic;
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00 Suchdol, Czech Republic;
| | - Irena Schneiderová
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00 Suchdol, Czech Republic;
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 2 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marina Golovchenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (M.G.); (L.G.); (N.R.)
| | - Libor Grubhoffer
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (M.G.); (L.G.); (N.R.)
- Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Natalie Rudenko
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (M.G.); (L.G.); (N.R.)
| | - Jiří Černý
- Centre for Infectious Animal Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00 Suchdol, Czech Republic;
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6, 165 00 Suchdol, Czech Republic;
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22
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Detection of Rickettsia sp. strain Itinguçú in Ornithodoros faccinii (Acari: Argasidae) parasitizing the toad Rhinella ornata (Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101680. [PMID: 33545505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The pivotal role of amphibians in food webs and their value as indicators of disequilibrium in ecosystem health have long been recognized by wildlife biologists. However, massive pathogen-induced declines in global amphibian populations reported during the last 30 years served to alert the scientific community that knowledge of amphibian disease ecology, including parasitic and vector-borne conditions, was and remains incipient. Herein, we report the detection of a Rickettsia bacterium infecting larvae of the argasid tick Ornithodoros faccinii, collected from the toad Rhinella ornata, in Southeastern Brazil. Fragments of the genes 16S rDNA, gltA, htrA, sca1, sca4, and ompB were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but the sequence encoding the ompA antigen was not detected. Nucleotide sequencing and multi-locus (gltA, htrA, sca1, and sca4) phylogenetic analyses characterized the bacterium, designated Rickettsia sp. strain Itinguçú, as a novel member of the spotted fever group (SFG) of the Rickettsia, closely related to the Rickettsia massiliae and to a lesser extent the Rickettsia helvetica subgroups. The apparent absence of the ompA protein together with limited levels of nucleotide (90.5 %) and amino acid (82-83 %) sequence identity, relative to the ompB gene of other species in the R. massiliae subgroup, were unusual features that may reflect adaptation to selective pressures exerted by the tick and/or amphibian immune systems. The ompB sequence was exploited to develop a low-cost method for differential identification of Rickettsia sp. strain Itinguçú, based on restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of amplicons (PCR-RFLP). The characterization of this novel bacterium provided an unprecedented record of infection by an SFG Rickettsia in a member of the family Argasidae infesting a cold-blooded animal and raised the number of tick-associated Rickettsia reported in Brazil to sixteen. Moreover, it highlighted the value of and the requirement for continued and extended surveillance of wildlife as potential sources of emerging tick-borne pathogens.
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23
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Mendoza-Roldan JA, Modry D, Otranto D. Zoonotic Parasites of Reptiles: A Crawling Threat. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:677-687. [PMID: 32448703 PMCID: PMC7203055 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Reptiles are reservoirs of a wide range of pathogens, including many protozoa, helminths, pentastomids, and arthropod parasitic species, some of which may be of public health concern. In this review we discuss the zoonotic risks associated with human–reptile interactions. Increased urbanization and introduction of exotic species of reptile may act as drivers for the transmission of zoonotic parasites through the environment. In addition, being a part of human diet, reptiles can be a source of life-threatening parasitoses, such as pentastomiasis or sparganosis. Finally, reptiles kept as pets may represent a risk to owners given the possibility of parasites transmitted by direct contact or fecal contamination. Awareness of reptile-borne zoonotic parasitoses is important to advocate control, prevention, and surveillance of these neglected diseases. Species of protozoa, helminths, pentastomids, and arthropod vectors exploit reptiles as definitive or paratenic hosts, which may represent a public health concern. The zoonotic risk is associated with human–reptile interactions and includes environmental contamination, reptile consumption, or keeping reptiles as pets. Exotic reptile species may introduce new zoonotic parasites in a previously nonendemic region. Pentastomiasis and sparganosis are life-threatening food-borne parasitoses. In our households, if precautions are not taken, reptiles may transmit zoonotic parasites by direct contact or fecal contamination. Trained veterinarians, physicians, and public health officials are important to advocate for proper diagnostics, parasite identification and treatment, as well as for surveillance strategies and food inspection in areas where reptiles are consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Modry
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UVPS, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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