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Croci C, Erriquez L, Bisaglia B, Bellinzona G, Olivieri E, Sassera D, Castelli M. Genome sequence of Ehrlichia muris from Ixodes ricinus collected in Italy on a migratory bird provides epidemiological and evolutionary insights. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102409. [PMID: 39488869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102409] [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: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 10/04/2024] [Accepted: 10/06/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
Ticks are prominent vectors of several zoonotic diseases. Tick-borne pathogens include the members of the genus Ehrlichia, which are obligate intracellular bacteria infecting immune and hematopoietic cells. Ehrlichia muris predominantly affects rodents, but was also reported to be a human pathogen. The known geographical distribution of this bacterium ranges from Asia, to the USA and eastern Europe. In the present work, we report the finding of E. muris in an Ixodes ricinus tick collected from a migratory bird (Turdus iliacus) in Italy, southern Europe. We sequenced the total DNA from this tick sample, and, thanks to a dedicated bioinformatic pipeline, selectively assembled the genome of the bacterium, which represents the first one for E. muris from Europe. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were then performed. Accounting for tick species distribution, bird migratory routes, and molecular phylogeny of the bacterium, it is likely that this bird transported the tick to Italy from an endemic area of E. muris, such as eastern Europe. In addition, comparative genomic analyses highlighted that E. muris and other Ehrlichia spp. display copy number variations in two families of membrane proteins, likely due to recent gene duplication, deletion and recombination events. These differences are probably a source of variability for surface antigens to evade host immunity, with a potential role in host adaptation and specificity. The present results underline the impact of migratory birds on the spread of tick-borne pathogens towards non-endemic areas, highlighting the need for further epidemiological surveillance at bird ringing stations in Italy, and advocating further investigations on possible local transmission of E. muris in competent mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Croci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Luca Erriquez
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Greta Bellinzona
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Italy.
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Enríquez S, Félix ML, Bermúdez S, Mosquera V, Farovitch L, Vaca F, Guevara JM, Venzal JM. Molecular detection of rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from Ecuador. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:2869-2876. [PMID: 38916692 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10410-3] [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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Rickettsiales are obligate intracellular bacteria that need vertebrates and arthropods to maintain their life cycles. Some species of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia are transmitted by ticks to both animals and humans and can cause mild to severe and even fatal cases. In the Americas, there is substantial data on rickettsial agents, encompassing both clinical cases and the detection of these agents in ticks, but in Ecuador, the information about them remains poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect molecularly rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks in both parasitic and free-living phases collected from domestic animals and pasture in five localities across three coastal provinces of Ecuador. Rickettsia parkeri, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, and Ehrlichia sp. were recorded in A. maculatum for the first time in Ecuador. These records were made in a region where antibodies to the Spotted Fever Rickettsia Group were detected in humans. Additional studies are needed to characterize Ehrlichia sp. at a specific level. Furthermore, recognizing the specific Rickettsiales species circulating in the ticks and the hosts within a region is crucial for assessing potential contact risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Enríquez
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis - CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Hospital del Día Building, Third Floor, Jerónimo Leiton and Gatto Sobral Streets, Quito, Ecuador.
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Sergio Bermúdez
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, City of Panama, Panama
| | - Vanessa Mosquera
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis - CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Hospital del Día Building, Third Floor, Jerónimo Leiton and Gatto Sobral Streets, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Franklin Vaca
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis - CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Hospital del Día Building, Third Floor, Jerónimo Leiton and Gatto Sobral Streets, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Juan Manuel Guevara
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis - CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Hospital del Día Building, Third Floor, Jerónimo Leiton and Gatto Sobral Streets, Quito, Ecuador
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
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3
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Bermúdez C SE, Félix ML, Domínguez A L, Araúz D, Venzal JM. Molecular screening of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks from rural areas of Panama, with the first record of Ehrlichia minasensis in Rhipicephalus microplus from Central America. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1301-1308. [PMID: 38221589 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10306-2] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
During a molecular screening of rickettsial, borrelial and protozoal agents in ticks from rural areas of Panama, we detected DNA of Rickettsia amblyommatis in four Amblyomma mixtum collected from horses in a locality in Los Santos province. Ehrlichia minasensis and Anaplasma marginale were identified from three and two Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively, collected on cows from Chiriqui province. No DNA from other tick-borne agents was found. These results increase the information of R. amblyommatis and A. marginale in Panama, and also mark the first record of E. minasensis in Central America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama.
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDEClBA), Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay.
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Lillian Domínguez A
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Departamento Investigación en Virología y Biotecnología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
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Lira-Amaya JJ, Beristain-Ruiz DM, Racanco-Delgado J, Garza-Hernández JA, Vital-García C, Santamaria-Espinosa M, Martínez-García G, Alvarez-Martínez A, Quezada-Casasola A, Rojas-Martínez C, Alvarado-Robles B, Figueroa-Millán JV. Molecular Detection and Characterization of Ehrlichia canis Isolates from Three Geographic Regions in Mexico: A Retrospective Study. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1629. [PMID: 37629486 PMCID: PMC10456115 DOI: 10.3390/life13081629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) is the most common tick-borne disease affecting domestic dogs and other wild canids. It has a worldwide distribution and is associated with the presence of the brown dog tick. Few studies have been conducted in Mexico to identify and characterize Ehrlichia canis genetic variability. In the present study, 111 dogs of different sex, breed, and age from three geographic regions in Mexico were included. All of them had a previous history of tick infestation and/or the presence of one or more clinical signs compatible with CME. All dogs were tested by a commercial ELISA and nested PCR assay for the detection of E. canis. In addition, we analyzed the E. canis genetic diversity from the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained in this study, along with 15 additional sequences described for E. canis in Mexico and obtained from GeneBank. Serological detection by commercial ELISA results showed overall infection rates of 85.58% (95/111), including 73.1% (30/41) in samples from Guerrero state; 75% (15/20) in Morelos; and 100% (50/50) in Chihuahua. On the other hand, molecular detection (nPCR assay) showed 31.5% (35/111) overall infection rate, with 41.4% (17/41) in Guerrero state; 55% (11/20) in Morelos; and 14% (7/50) in Chihuahua. We observed a high 16S rRNA gene sequence conservancy in most of the E. canis isolates in the three geographical areas from Mexico, including those analyzed in this research, suggesting a common geographic origin among isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Juan Lira-Amaya
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Diana M. Beristain-Ruiz
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Jesús Racanco-Delgado
- Unidad Académica de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Km. 3.5, de la Carretera Altamirano-Iguala, Ciudad Altamirano 39640, Guerrero, Mexico;
| | - Javier A. Garza-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista, Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico;
| | - Cuauhcihuatl Vital-García
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Montserrat Santamaria-Espinosa
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Grecia Martínez-García
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Antonio Alvarez-Martínez
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Andrés Quezada-Casasola
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Carmen Rojas-Martínez
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
| | - Beatriz Alvarado-Robles
- Departamento de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Anillo Envolvente y Estocolmo s/n Colonia Progresista AP 1729-D Cd., Ciudad Juárez 32310, Chihuahua, Mexico; (D.M.B.-R.); (C.V.-G.); (A.Q.-C.); (B.A.-R.)
| | - Julio V. Figueroa-Millán
- CENID-Salud Animal e Inocuidad, INIFAP, Carretera Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Jiutepec 62550, Morelos, Mexico; (J.J.L.-A.); (M.S.-E.); (G.M.-G.); (A.A.-M.); (C.R.-M.)
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Prado RFS, Araújo IM, Cordeiro MD, Baêta BDA, da Silva JB, da Fonseca AH. Diversity of tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) in military training areas in Southeastern Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2022; 31:e001322. [PMID: 35648978 PMCID: PMC9901875 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612022027] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens belong to one of the two main groups of occupational biohazards, and occupational exposure to such agents puts soldiers at risk of zoonotic infections, such as those caused by rickettsiae. There are few studies on acarological fauna and occupational risk in military areas in Brazil. Thus, the present study aimed to analyze the diversity of ticks present in the military training areas of municipalities in the Southeast Region of Brazil. The ticks were collected from the selected areas using the dragging and flagging techniques as well as by visual detection on the operators' clothing, and environmental information was also recorded. A total of ten species were collected from the 66 surveyed areas, belonging to five genera and nine species: Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma aureolatum, Dermacentor nitens, Rhipicephalus spp., Ixodes spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. The frequent presence of tick species in military training areas along with traces and sightings of wild animals, most commonly capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), in most of the studied areas, indicates high levels of exposure of the military to tick vectors of spotted fever group rickettsiae and the possible occurrence of infections among the troops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubens Fabiano Soares Prado
- Hospital Veterinário, Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras – AMAN, Resende, RJ, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Izabela Mesquita Araújo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Bruna de Azevedo Baêta
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
| | - Jenevaldo Barbosa da Silva
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri – UFVJM, Unaí, MG, Brasil
| | - Adivaldo Henrique da Fonseca
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro – UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ Brasil
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Cicuttin GL, De Salvo MN, Venzal JM, Nava S. Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia sp. and Candidatus Midichloria sp. associated to ticks from a protected urban area in Buenos Aires City (Argentina). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:271-282. [PMID: 35024989 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00684-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the infection with Rickettsiales in ticks and birds from the main protected urban area of Buenos Aires City (Argentina). One Amblyomma aureolatum (0.2%) and one Ixodes auritulus (0.1%) were positive by PCR targeting Rickettsia 23S-5S rRNA intergenic spacer. Phylogenetic analysis shows to findings in A. aureolatum are closely to Rickettsia bellii and for I. auritulus are related to 'Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii'. One I. auritulus (0.1%) and three A. aureolatum (0.6%) were positive by PCR for a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene of the Anaplasmataceae family. The sequences obtained from A. aureolatum were phylogenetically related to Midichloriaceae endosymbionts. The sequence from I. auritulus s.l. had 100% identity with Ehrlichia sp. Magellanica from Chile and two genotypes of Ehrlichia sp. from Uruguay. The results of our study show that Rickettsia and Ehrlichia are present in ticks in the main protected urban area of Buenos Aires City.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel L Cicuttin
- Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Av. Díaz Vélez 4821, CP 1405, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - María N De Salvo
- Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Av. Díaz Vélez 4821, CP 1405, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Nava
- IDICAL (INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), E.E.A. INTA Rafaela, Ruta 34, Km 227, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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