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Paskey AC, Schully KL, Voegtly LJ, Arnold CE, Cer RZ, Frey KG, Blair PW, Clark DV, Ge H, Richards AL, Farris CM, Bishop-Lilly KA. A proof of concept for a targeted enrichment approach to the simultaneous detection and characterization of rickettsial pathogens from clinical specimens. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1387208. [PMID: 38659991 PMCID: PMC11039911 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1387208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection with either Rickettsia prowazekii or Orientia tsutsugamushi is common, yet diagnostic capabilities are limited due to the short window for positive identification. Until now, although targeted enrichment had been applied to increase sensitivity of sequencing-based detection for various microorganisms, it had not been applied to sequencing of R. prowazekii in clinical samples. Additionally, hybridization-based targeted enrichment strategies had only scarcely been applied to qPCR of any pathogens in clinical samples. Therefore, we tested a targeted enrichment technique as a proof of concept and found that it dramatically reduced the limits of detection of these organisms by both qPCR and high throughput sequencing. The enrichment methodology was first tested in contrived clinical samples with known spiked-in concentrations of R. prowazekii and O. tsutsugamushi DNA. This method was also evaluated using clinical samples, resulting in the simultaneous identification and characterization of O. tsutsugamushi directly from clinical specimens taken from sepsis patients. We demonstrated that the targeted enrichment technique is helpful by lowering the limit of detection, not only when applied to sequencing, but also when applied to qPCR, suggesting the technique could be applied more broadly to include other assays and/or microbes for which there are limited diagnostic or detection modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian C. Paskey
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
- Leidos, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Kevin L. Schully
- Austere Environments Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO), Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Logan J. Voegtly
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
- Leidos, Reston, VA, United States
| | - Catherine E. Arnold
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA, United States
| | - Regina Z. Cer
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Kenneth G. Frey
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Paul W. Blair
- Austere Environments Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO), Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Danielle V. Clark
- Austere Environments Consortium for Enhanced Sepsis Outcomes (ACESO), Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hong Ge
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Christina M. Farris
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Kimberly A. Bishop-Lilly
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Department, Biological Defense Research Directorate, Naval Medical Research Command, Frederick, MD, United States
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Su S, Hong M, Cui MY, Gui Z, Ma SF, Wu L, Xing LL, Mu L, Yu JF, Fu SY, Gao RJ, Qi DD. Microbial diversity of ticks and a novel typhus group Rickettsia species (Rickettsiales bacterium Ac37b) in Inner Mongolia, China. Parasite 2023; 30:58. [PMID: 38084939 PMCID: PMC10714680 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks can carry multiple pathogens, and Inner Mongolia's animal husbandry provides excellent environmental conditions for ticks. This study characterized the microbiome of ticks from different geographical locations in Inner Mongolia; 905 Dermacentor nuttalli and 36 Ixodes persulcatus were collected from sheep in three main pasture areas and from bushes within the forested area. Mixed DNA samples were prepared from three specimens from each region and tick species. Microbial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and α and β diversity were determined. The predominant bacterial genera were Rickettsia (54.60%), including Rickettsiales bacterium Ac37b (19.33%) and other Rickettsia (35.27%), Arsenophonus (11.21%), Candidatus Lariskella (10.84%), and Acinetobacter (7.17%). Rickettsia bellii was identified in I. persulcatus, while Rickettsiales bacterium Ac37b was found in D. nuttalli from Ordos and Chifeng. Potential Rickettsia and Anaplasma coinfections were observed in the Ordos region. Tick microbial diversity analysis in Inner Mongolia suggests that sheep at the sampling sites were exposed to multiple pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Su
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Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010059 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Mei Hong
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School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010110 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Meng-Yu Cui
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Graduate School, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010059 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Zheng Gui
- First Hospital of Jilin University Changchun 130021 China
| | - Shi-Fa Ma
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Hulunbuir Mental Health Center Hulunbuir 022150 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Lin Wu
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Beijing Guoke Biotechnology Co., Ltd 102200 Beijing China
| | - Li-Li Xing
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Department of Infection Control, Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 010000 China
| | - Lan Mu
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School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010110 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Jing-Feng Yu
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School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010110 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Shao-Yin Fu
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Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Science Hohhot 010031 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Rui-Juan Gao
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School of Basic Medicine, Inner Mongolia Medical University Hohhot 010110 Inner Mongolia China
| | - Dong-Dong Qi
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Hulunbuir Mental Health Center Hulunbuir 022150 Inner Mongolia China
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Zhang L, Han J, Zhou Q, He Z, Sun SW, Li R, Li RS, Zhang WK, Wang YH, Xu LL, Lu ZH, Shao ZJ. Differential microbial composition in parasitic vs. questing ticks based on 16S next-generation sequencing. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264939. [PMID: 38192286 PMCID: PMC10773790 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264939] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction As tick-borne diseases rise to become the second most prevalent arthropod-transmitted disease globally, the increasing investigations focus on ticks correspondingly. Factors contributed to this increase include anthropogenic influences, changes in vertebrate faunal composition, social-recreational shifts, and climatic variation. Employing the 16S gene sequence method in next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows comprehensive pathogen identification in samples, facilitating the development of refined approaches to tick research omnidirectionally. Methods In our survey, we compared the microbial richness and biological diversity of ticks in Wuwei City, Gansu province, differentiating between questing ticks found in grass and parasitic ticks collected from sheep based on 16S NGS method. Results The results show Rickettsia, Coxiella, and Francisella were detected in all 50 Dermacentor nuttalli samples, suggesting that the co-infection may be linked to specific symbiotic bacteria in ticks. Our findings reveal significant differences in the composition and diversity of microorganisms, with the Friedmanniella and Bordetella genera existing more prevalent in parasitic ticks than in questing ticks (p < 0.05). Additionally, the network analysis demonstrates that the interactions among bacterial genera can be either promotive or inhibitive in ticks exhibiting different lifestyles with the correlation index |r| > 0.6. For instance, Francisella restrains the development of 10 other bacteria in parasitic ticks, whereas Phyllobacterium and Arthrobacter enhance colonization across all tick species. Discussion By leveraging NGS techniques, our study reveals a high degree of species and phylogenetic diversity within the tick microbiome. It further highlights the potential to investigate the interplay between bacterial genera in both parasitic and questing ticks residing in identical habitat environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zhen-Hua Lu
- Department of Epidemiology, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhong-Jun Shao
- Department of Epidemiology, Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, School of Public Health, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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Richardson EA, Roe RM, Apperson CS, Ponnusamy L. Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020493. [PMID: 36838458 PMCID: PMC9960904 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.
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Ixodid diversity and detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected on birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106673. [PMID: 36041496 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106673] [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: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Brazilian Atlantic Forest helds one of the most diverse and unique avifauna in the world. Many vertebrate species are reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens, and birds are an important group among them due to their mobility which facilitates the dispersion of ticks and the infectious agents they carry. This study brings data on the tick diversity parasitizing birds and the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in these arthropods. Birds (n = 773) were captured, identified, and banded at Mata do Paraíso Research, Training, and Environmental Education Center located in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Birds were checked for the presence of ticks, which were individually collected, identified, and molecularly processed through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of Rickettsia spp. A total of 130 individuals were infested by ticks, and 479 tick specimens were collected, showing a seasonal distribution of the life stages throughout the year. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma longirostre (59/479); Amblyomma calcaratum (20/479); Amblyomma varium (3/479); Amblyomma sculptum (2/479) and Amblyomma spp. larvae (395/479). Seasonal distribution of the life stages of ticks was observed along the year and significant negative correlations were found between temperature and collected ticks and temperature and infested birds. From the evaluated samples of ticks, 25.44% (n= 43/169) scored positive for Rickettsia spp., and sequence analysis indicated high nucleotide identity with Rickettsia rhipicephali, R. massiliae, R. africae and R. honei marmionii. The potential for dispersal of ticks by birds added to the aggressiveness of species of the genus Amblyomma and the zoonotic potential of some species of Rickettsia are quite worrying when we consider that the study area is widely attended by students, researchers, people from the city and neighboring municipalities.
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Santana MDS, Hoppe EGL, Carraro PE, Calchi AC, de Oliveira LB, Bressianini do Amaral R, Mongruel ACB, Machado DMR, Burger KP, Barros-Batestti DM, Machado RZ, André MR. Molecular detection of vector-borne agents in wild boars (Sus scrofa) and associated ticks from Brazil, with evidence of putative new genotypes of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and hemoplasmas. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2808-e2831. [PMID: 35717607 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate, by molecular techniques, the occurrence of Anaplasmataceae, Bartonellaceae, Rickettsiaceae, Mycoplasmataceae, Coxiellaceae e Babesiidae/Theileriidae agents in blood samples of free-living wild boars (Sus scrofa) and associated ticks in southeastern Brazil. For this purpose, 67 blood samples and 265 ticks (264 Amblyomma sculptum and one A. ovale) were analyzed. In the screening for Anaplasmataceae agents by a PCR assay based on the 16S rRNA gene, 5.97% blood samples and 50.54% ticks were positive. In the PCR assay for Ehrlichia spp. based on the dsb gene, 9.24% of ticks were positive. Despite the low occurrence, a possible new 16S rRNA genotype of Anaplasma sp. was detected in a wild boar's blood sample. According to phylogenetic analyses based on the groEL, gltA, sodB genes and ITS (23S-5S rRNA) intergenic region, it was found that A. sculptum and A. ovale ticks collected from wild boars carry Ehrlichia genotypes phylogenetically associated with E. ewingii, E. ruminantium, and new Ehrlichia genotypes previously detected in horses, peccaries, and ticks collected from jaguars. In the screening for hemoplasmas by a qPCR based on the 16S rRNA gene, 88.06% of blood samples and 8.69% of ticks were positive. Mycoplasma suis, M. parvum and a possible new hemoplasma genotype were detected in wild boars in southeastern Brazil. In the screening for Bartonella spp. using a nuoG-based qPCR assay, 3.8% of tick samples were positive. Phylogenetic inferences positioned four nuoG and one r gltA Bartonella sequences into the same clade as Bartonella machadoae. No blood or tick samples from wild boars showed to be positive in the qPCR for Coxiella burnetii based on the IS1111 gene. On the other hand, only 1.6% of ticks was positive in the nested PCR assay for piroplasmids based on the 18S rRNA gene. A 18S rRNA sequence detected in a pool of A. sculptum nymphs was phylogenetically close to Cytauxzoon felis sequences previously detected in cats from the United States. Rickettsia sp. closely related to R. bellii was detected in a pool of A. sculptum nymphs. This is the first report of hemoplasmas, B. machadoae and Cytauxzoon spp. in A. sculptum. Wild boars and associated ticks do not seem to participate in the epidemiological cycle of C. burnetii in the region studied. This invasive mammal species may act as a potential disperser of ticks infected with Ehrlichia spp., Bartonella spp., hemotropic mycoplasmas, and Cytauxzoon, and may bring important epidemiological implications in the transmission of bartonelosis, ehrlichiosis, hemoplasmosis, and cytauxzoonosis to humans and animals, more specifically to horses, rodents, pigs, and cats. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus de Souza Santana
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Estevam Guilherme Lux Hoppe
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Eduardo Carraro
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Cláudia Calchi
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Laryssa Borges de Oliveira
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Renan Bressianini do Amaral
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Anna Claudia Baumel Mongruel
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Dália Monique Ribeiro Machado
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Karina Paes Burger
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Batestti
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction, and One Health - Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences/University State Paulista (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
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Ebani VV, Mancianti F. Potential Role of Avian Populations in the Epidemiology of Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8120334. [PMID: 34941861 PMCID: PMC8709085 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8120334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds often are carriers of hard and/or soft ticks harboring pathogens of humans and veterinary concern. Migratory avian species, which cover long distance by their flight, may deeply influence the ticks’ distribution worldwide; in particular, they can introduce in a given geographic area new tick species and related tick-borne pathogens. Studies about the detection of tick-borne agents in birds are not numerous, whereas more attention has been turned to the presence of these microorganisms in ticks carried by birds. The present review focused on the role of avian populations in the epidemiology of rickettsioses and babesioses, which represent two severe problems for the health of humans and other mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-221-6968
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Dantas-Torres F, Braz ARDS, Sales KGDS, Sousa-Paula LCD, Diniz GTN, Correia JMS. Tick infestation on birds in an urban Atlantic Forest fragment in north-eastern Brazil. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 85:305-318. [PMID: 34668142 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00660-0] [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: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Birds are important hosts for various tick species, playing a significant role in their biological life cycle and dispersion. In this study, we investigated tick infestations on birds trapped in an urban remnant of Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco state, Brazil. From February 2015 to March 2017, 541 birds belonging to 52 species were trapped with mist nets and examined for ectoparasites. Birds trapped in the late successional forest were significantly more infested than birds trapped in the early successional forest. In the same way, ectoparasite infestation varied significantly according to bird weight and collection plot. Overall, 198 birds (36.6%) belonging to 27 species were parasitized by ectoparasites (i.e., ticks, lice and/or mites). Ectoparasites were effectively collected from 111 birds, of which 99 belonging to 20 species were infested by ticks (n = 261), namely, Amblyomma longirostre (13 nymphs), Amblyomma nodosum (21 nymphs), Amblyomma varium (one nymph), and Amblyomma spp. (five nymphs and 221 larvae). Most of the ticks (> 90%) were collected from Passeriformes. This study provides the second record of A. varium in Pernambuco state and confirms that birds, especially Passeriformes, are important hosts for larvae and nymphs of Amblyomma spp. in the Atlantic Forest biome of Pernambuco.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil.
| | - Anderson Rafael Dos Santos Braz
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, Department of Biology, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Kamila Gaudêncio da Silva Sales
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Lucas Christian de Sousa-Paula
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - George Tadeu Nunes Diniz
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Jozelia Maria Sousa Correia
- Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Anfíbios e Répteis, Department of Biology, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
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Estrada-Peña A, Binder LC, Nava S, Szabó MPJ, Labruna MB. Exploring the ecological and evolutionary relationships between Rickettsia and hard ticks in the Neotropical region. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101754. [PMID: 34126403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study addresses a meta-analysis of the distribution of Rickettsia spp. in the Neotropical region, as well as their associations with ticks and vertebrates. A total of 219 published reports on Rickettsia in ticks in the target region were compiled, providing 599 records of 31 species of Rickettsia recorded in 50 species of Ixodidae. The aim is to capture the phylogenetic relationships between rickettsiae and the ticks carrying them in the target region, with a focus on the co-speciation ticks-rickettsiae. We compared the phylogeny of ticks, the records of rickettsiae, the environmental gradients colonized by ticks and the effect of the phylogenetic composition of vertebrates feeding ticks on the detection of Rickettsia in ticks. Results show that differences in rickettsial composition in ticks do not depend on the vertebrate's blood-source. This is the first time this result is demonstrated. This study pinpoints that some Neotropical rickettsial organisms are associated with well-defined phylogenetical clusters of ticks. Secondarily, and probably only in a few cases, rickettsiae share species of phylogenetically distant ticks distributed along a gradient of environmental traits in which the ticks overlap (i.e., the different strains of Rickettsia parkeri sensu lato). We outline the importance of some ticks that share hosts and habitat: these ticks may act as "bridges" for the circulation of rickettsial species. There are also many species of Rickettsia that have been detected so far in only one tick species, pointing to a tight relationship or to the lack of data preventing conclusions about the detection of these bacteria in other ticks. Two species, namely Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia bellii have been recorded in the majority of ticks in the region (mainly Amblyomma spp.) and seem to be not associated with definite tick species because they may be an essential symbiont of the ticks. We conclude that an adequate analysis of rickettsiae-ticks-habitat is necessary to address the human health issues derived from the infections by rickettsiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Miguel Servet, 177. 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; Group of Research on Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - Lina C Binder
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária. São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Santiago Nava
- IDICAL (INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), E.E.A. Rafaela, Ruta 34 km 227, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Matias P J Szabó
- Hospital Veterinário, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Mato Grosso, 3289 - Bloco 2S - Umuarama, Uberlândia, MG, 38405-314, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária. São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
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Kristof MN, Allen PE, Yutzy LD, Thibodaux B, Paddock CD, Martinez JJ. Significant Growth by Rickettsia Species within Human Macrophage-Like Cells Is a Phenotype Correlated with the Ability to Cause Disease in Mammals. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020228. [PMID: 33669499 PMCID: PMC7934685 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia are significant sources of tick-borne diseases in humans worldwide. In North America, two species in the spotted fever group of Rickettsia have been conclusively associated with disease of humans: Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Rickettsia parkeri, the cause of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. Previous work in our lab demonstrated non-endothelial parasitism by another pathogenic SFG Rickettsia species, Rickettsia conorii, within THP-1-derived macrophages, and we have hypothesized that this growth characteristic may be an underappreciated aspect of rickettsial pathogenesis in mammalian hosts. In this work, we demonstrated that multiple other recognized human pathogenic species of Rickettsia, including R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, Rickettsia africae, and Rickettsiaakari can grow within target endothelial cells as well as within PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. In contrast, Rickettsia bellii, a Rickettsia species not associated with disease of humans, and R. rickettsii strain Iowa, an avirulent derivative of pathogenic R. rickettsii, could invade both cell types but proliferate only within endothelial cells. Further analysis revealed that similar to previous studies on R. conorii, other recognized pathogenic Rickettsia species could grow within the cytosol of THP-1-derived macrophages and avoided localization with two different markers of lysosomal compartments; LAMP-2 and cathepsin D. R. bellii, on the other hand, demonstrated significant co-localization with lysosomal compartments. Collectively, these findings suggest that the ability of pathogenic rickettsial species to establish a niche within macrophage-like cells could be an important factor in their ability to cause disease in mammals. These findings also suggest that analysis of growth within mammalian phagocytic cells may be useful to predict the pathogenic potential of newly isolated and identified Rickettsia species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Nathan Kristof
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Paige E. Allen
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Lane D. Yutzy
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Brandon Thibodaux
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
| | - Christopher D. Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA;
| | - Juan J. Martinez
- Vector Borne Disease Laboratories, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; (M.N.K.); (P.E.A.); (L.D.Y.); (B.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-225-578-9297
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11
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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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Cutler SJ, Vayssier-Taussat M, Estrada-Peña A, Potkonjak A, Mihalca AD, Zeller H. Tick-borne diseases and co-infection: Current considerations. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101607. [PMID: 33220628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Over recent years, a multitude of pathogens have been reported to be tick-borne. Given this, it is unsurprising that these might co-exist within the same tick, however our understanding of the interactions of these agents both within the tick and vertebrate host remains poorly defined. Despite the rich diversity of ticks, relatively few regularly feed on humans, 12 belonging to argasid and 20 ixodid species, and literature on co-infection is only available for a few of these species. The interplay of various pathogen combinations upon the vertebrate host and tick vector represents a current knowledge gap. The impact of co-infection in humans further extends into diagnostic challenges arising when multiple pathogens are encountered and we have little current data upon which to make therapeutic recommendations for those with multiple infections. Despite these short-comings, there is now increasing recognition of co-infections and current research efforts are providing valuable insights into dynamics of pathogen interactions whether they facilitate or antagonise each other. Much of this existing data is focussed upon simultaneous infection, however the consequences of sequential infection also need to be addressed. To this end, it is timely to review current understanding and highlight those areas still to address.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally J Cutler
- School of Health, Sport & Bioscience, University of East London, London, E15 4LZ, UK.
| | | | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Aleksandar Potkonjak
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Hervé Zeller
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Solna, Sweden
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