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Gharbi Z, Ouni A, Balti G, Bouattour A, Chabchoub A, M'ghirbi Y. First Evidence of Rickettsia conorii Infection in Dogs in Northern Tunisia. Vet Sci 2024; 11:402. [PMID: 39330781 PMCID: PMC11435778 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11090402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was carried out, between April 2021 and June 2022, to understand the role of dogs in the circulation of rickettsiosis in Tunisia. The presence of specific IgG antibodies against Rickettsia conorii was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence test. By qPCR, blood and ticks were collected from 136 dogs examined at the Canine Department of National School for Veterinary Medicine of Tunisia. These dogs were also analyzed to detect Rickettsia DNA. The rate of Rickettsia seropositivity in 136 dogs was 55.14%. A total of 51 (53%) seropositive dogs showed clinical and biological signs such as fever and anorexia as well as thrombocytopenia and anemia. By qPCR, targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene, no Rickettsia DNA was detected in the blood. On the other hand, qPCR followed by sequencing revealed the presence of R. conorii subsp. raoultii in 7 tick pools of the 51 pools composed of the 227 ticks collected. A One Health approach to raise the awareness of dog owners to control tick infestations is imperative, given the dangers of canine zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyneb Gharbi
- National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ahmed Ouni
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ghofrane Balti
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ahmed Chabchoub
- National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Youmna M'ghirbi
- Laboratory of Viruses, Vectors and Hosts (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
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Vega-García E, Palacios G, Pérez JA, Vélez-Tobarias M, Torres-Vega AM, Ascaso-Terrén C, Carmelo E. A molecular toolbox for fast and convenient diagnosis of emerging and reemerging bacterial pathogens causing fever of intermediate duration. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:649-657. [PMID: 38270806 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Fever of intermediate duration (FID) is defined as a fever in the community without a specific origin or focus, with a duration between 7 and 28 days. FID is often caused by pathogens associated with animal contact or their arthropods parasites, such as ticks, fleas, or lice. The purpose of this work is to design a collection of molecular tools to promptly and accurately detect common bacterial pathogens causing FID, including bacteria belonging to genera Rickettsia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia, as well as Coxiella burnetii. METHODS Reference DNA sequences from a collection of Rickettsia, Bartonella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species were used to design genus-specific primers and FRET probes targeted to conserved genomic regions. For C. burnetii, primers previously described were used, in combination with a newly designed specific probe. Real-time PCR assays were optimized using reference bacterial genomic DNA in a background of human genomic DNA. RESULTS The four real-time PCR assays can detect as few as ten copies of target DNA from those five genera of FDI-causing bacteria in a background of 300 ng of human genomic DNA, mimicking the low microbial load generally found in patient's blood. CONCLUSION These assays constitute a fast and convenient "toolbox" that can be easily implemented in diagnostic laboratories to provide timely and accurate detection of bacterial pathogens that are typical etiological causes of febrile syndromes such as FID in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elva Vega-García
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUESTPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Génesis Palacios
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUESTPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - José A Pérez
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUESTPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Microbiología, Biología Celular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - Mónica Vélez-Tobarias
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de La Palma (HULP), Breña Alta, La Palma, Spain
| | - Ana María Torres-Vega
- Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Insular Ntra. Sra. de los Reyes (HINSR), Valverde, El Hierro, Spain
| | | | - Emma Carmelo
- Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUESTPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), Avenida Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez S/N, 38200, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
- Departamento de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
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Backus L, Foley J, Chung C, Virata S, Zazueta OE, López-Pérez A. Tick-borne pathogens detected in sheltered dogs during an epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a One Health challenge. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 261:375-383. [PMID: 36563069 DOI: 10.2460/javma.22.08.0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess exposure to and infection with 3 pathogens (Rickettsia rickettsii, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia canis) vectored by brown dog ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) in sheltered dogs at the western US-Mexico border. ANIMALS 239 dogs in shelters in San Diego and Imperial counties, US, and Mexicali and Tijuana, Mexico. PROCEDURES Each dog had blood drawn and basic demographic data collected. PCR was performed to determine active infection with Rickettsia spp, E canis, and A platys. Serology was performed to determine exposure to Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species. RESULTS 2 of 78 (2.6%) dogs sampled in Tijuana were actively infected with R rickettsii. A single brown dog tick collected from a dog in Tijuana was PCR-positive for R rickettsii. Infection with E canis and A platys ranged across shelters from 0% to 27% and 0% to 33%, respectively. Dogs in all 4 locations demonstrated exposure to all 3 pathogens, though Rickettsia and Ehrlichia seropositivity was highest in Mexicali (81% and 49%, respectively) and Anaplasma seropositivity was highest in Tijuana (45%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE While infection and exposure were highest in sheltered dogs in the southern locations, dogs in all locations demonstrated exposure to all pathogens, demonstrating the potential for emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens with significant public health consequences in southern California and northern Baja California. In addition, veterinarians and shelter staff should be aware that Ehrlichia or Anaplasma infection may co-occur with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is a human health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Backus
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Janet Foley
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Claire Chung
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Sophia Virata
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Oscar E Zazueta
- 2Departamento Estatal de Epidemiología, Instituto de Servicios de Salud Pública del Estado de Baja California, Mexicali, México
| | - Andrés López-Pérez
- 1Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
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Madder M, Day M, Schunack B, Fourie J, Labuschange M, van der Westhuizen W, Johnson S, Githigia SM, Akande FA, Nzalawahe JS, Tayebwa DS, Aschenborn O, Marcondes M, Heylen D. A community approach for pathogens and their arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) in cats of sub-Saharan Africa. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:321. [PMID: 36085039 PMCID: PMC9461260 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05436-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly studied in companion animals. Given their socioeconomic importance, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part of the WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. Methods In six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Namibia) in both rural and urban settings, 160 infested cats were sampled to assess their ectoparasite community (ticks and fleas), as well as the micro-parasite prevalence within those ectoparasites (60 and 118 pools of ticks and fleas, respectively) and blood (276 cats, including 116 non-infested). Results Almost two thirds of all infested cats originated from Tanzania and Kenya. Despite the large macro-geographical variation, no consistent difference was found in ectoparasite diversity and numbers between East and West Africa. Far more flea-infested than tick-infested cats were found. The most dominant ectoparasite was Ctenocephalides felis. Among the ticks, the exophilic Haemaphysalis spp. were the commonest, including species that are not typically linked with companion animals (Haemaphysalis spinulosa and Haemaphysalis elliptica). The most prevalent pathogens found in the blood and fleas were Bartonella henselae and Mycoplasma haemofelis. In the ticks, the dog-associated Hepatozoon canis was most commonly found. A high degree of co-parasitism was found in all countries and habitats. Conclusions Our continent-wide standardized field study highlights the cat’s potential to serve as a reservoir of pathogens that can be transmitted to humans or livestock, especially when cats are expected to become more commonly kept in African villages and towns. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05436-y.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Day
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Sherry Johnson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, CBAS, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel Maina Githigia
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology & Parasitology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Foluke Adedayo Akande
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | | | - Dickson Stuart Tayebwa
- Research Center for Tropical Diseases and Vector Control, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ortwin Aschenborn
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Ondekaremba, Namibia
| | | | - Dieter Heylen
- Eco-Epidemiology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.,Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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A community approach of pathogens and their arthropod vectors (ticks and fleas) in dogs of African Sub-Sahara. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:576. [PMID: 34784947 PMCID: PMC8594167 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05014-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Arthropod-borne pathogens and their vectors are present throughout Africa. They have been well-studied in livestock of sub-Saharan Africa, but poorly in companion animals. Given the socio-economic importance of companion animals, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN), as part of the WSAVA Foundation, initiated a standardized multi-country surveillance study. METHODS Macro-geographic variation in ectoparasite (ticks and fleas) and pathogen communities in dogs was assessed through molecular screening of approximately 100 infested dogs in each of six countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Namibia), both in rural and urban settings. The most important intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors within the subpopulation of infested dogs were evaluated. RESULTS Despite the large macro-geographic variation in the dogs screened, there was no consistent difference between East and West Africa in terms of the diversity and numbers of ticks. The highest and lowest numbers of ticks were found in Nigeria and Namibia, respectively. Most often, there was a higher diversity of ticks in rural habitats than in urban habitats, although the highest diversity was observed in an urban Uganda setting. With the exception of Namibia, more fleas were collected in rural areas. We identified tick species (including Haemaphysalis spinulosa) as well as zoonotic pathogens (Coxiella burnetti, Trypanosoma spp.) that are not classically associated with companion animals. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant tick, with a preference for urban areas. Exophilic ticks, such as Haemaphysalis spp., were more often found in rural areas. Several multi-host ticks occurred in urban areas. For R. sanguineus, housing conditions and additional pets were relevant factors in terms of infestation, while for a rural tick species (Haemaphysalis elliptica), free-roaming dogs were more often infested. Tick occurrence was associated to the use of endoparasiticide, but not to the use of ectoparasiticide. The most prevalent tick-borne pathogen was Hepatozoon canis followed by Ehrlichia canis. High levels of co-parasitism were observed in all countries and habitats. CONCLUSIONS As dogs share a common environment with people, they have the potential to extend the network of pathogen transmission to humans. Our study will help epidemiologists to provide recommendations for surveillance and prevention of pathogens in dogs and humans.
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Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101318. [PMID: 34684266 PMCID: PMC8537292 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) considerably impair equine health and productivity. Moreover, TBDs, particularly equine piroplasmosis, impede international movement and trade of equids, which is a vital component of the global horse racing industry. In the Philippines, horse racing is a lucrative industry generating millions of USD annually. However, information on equine TBDs is scarce. This study intended to describe molecularly the equine tick-borne infections in a racehorse park in Cavite, Philippines and identify the risk factors associated with the infections. One hundred twenty-four (n = 124) thoroughbred racehorses were sampled and screened for selected tick-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Racehorses were positive for Babesia caballi (12.10%; 15/124), Theileria equi (0.81%; 1/124), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (10.48%; 13/124), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (38.71%; 48/124), A. marginale (0.81%; 1/124), and Coxiella burnetii (0.81%; 1/124). Rickettsia was not detected in the samples. Gender was determined as a significant risk factor for B. caballi infection. Sequencing analysis revealed that seven partial 18S rRNA B. caballi isolates shared 98.63–100% identity with each other and were classified as genotype A. Meanwhile, the sequence obtained from the lone T. equi-positive sample was 99.77% identical to isolates from Spain, Switzerland, China, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea, and was confirmed as genotype E based on the 18S rRNA gene. Eight Anaplasma 16S rRNA partial sequences were highly identical to A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis. Partial sequences of Borrelia 5–23S rRNA were most closely related to B. japonica and other Borrelia sp. isolates from various countries. This study reports the first molecular detection of Borrelia and Anaplasma and the identification of B. caballi and T. equi genotypes in racehorses in the Philippines. Findings from this study shall be useful in crafting equine tick and TBD control and prevention programs in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloiza May Galon
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Adrian Miki Macalanda
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.M.); (X.X.)
| | - Mary Margarett Garcia
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
| | - Chrysler James Ibasco
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
| | - Anatolio Garvida
- Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park, Philippine Racing Club Inc., Naic 4110, Philippines;
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Iqra Zafar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Yae Hasegawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Mingming Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China;
| | - Rochelle Haidee Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; (R.H.Y.); (A.Y.)
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Adrian Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; (R.H.Y.); (A.Y.)
| | - Florencia Claveria
- Biology Department, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines;
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.M.); (X.X.)
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Development of a Multiplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method for Simultaneous Detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae and Malaria Parasites by Dipstick DNA Chromatography. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:diagnostics10110897. [PMID: 33147773 PMCID: PMC7694008 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10110897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae causes febrile illness in humans worldwide. Since SFG rickettsiosis’s clinical presentation is nonspecific, it is frequently misdiagnosed as other febrile diseases, especially malaria, and complicates proper treatment. Aiming at rapid, simple, and simultaneous detection of SFG Rickettsia spp. and Plasmodium spp., we developed a novel multiple pathogen detection system by combining a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method and dipstick DNA chromatography technology. Two primer sets detecting SFG Rickettsia spp. and Plasmodium spp. were mixed, and amplified products were visualized by hybridizing to dipstick DNA chromatography. The multiplex LAMP with dipstick DNA chromatography distinguished amplified Rickettsia and Plasmodium targeted genes simultaneously. The determined sensitivity using synthetic nucleotides was 1000 copies per reaction for mixed Rickettsia and Plasmodium genes. When genomic DNA from in vitro cultured organisms was used, the sensitivity was 100 and 10 genome equivalents per reaction for Rickettsia monacensis and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. Although further improvement will be required for more sensitive detection, our developed simultaneous diagnosis technique will contribute to the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated febrile illness caused by either SFG Rickettsia spp. or Plasmodium spp. in resource-limited endemic areas. Importantly, this scheme is potentially versatile for the simultaneous detection of diverse infectious diseases.
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Establishment of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification assay for rapid and sensitive detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Southeast Asia. Acta Trop 2020; 210:105541. [PMID: 32492397 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a common fever in parts of Southern and Southeast Asia. As delayed diagnosis of scrub typhus leads to inappropriate treatment and high mortality rates, of up to 70%, sensitive and rapid detection of O. tsutsugamushi is required for timely and appropriate treatment. Molecular assays, such as PCR and real-time PCR, have been shown to be more sensitive than conventional immunoassay, however, they are only available in centralized laboratories. In contrast to PCR assays, Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) is conducted under a constant temperature ranging from 24°C to 45°C. Therefore, this technology is very promising for nucleic acid testing in the field, and in resource-limited areas. An RPA assay for the detection of O. tsutsugamushi based on the target gene encoding for the 47 kDa outer membrane protein has been reported, but the primer and probe sequences of this assay are suboptimal for detection of the majority of recently published sequences of O. tsutsugamushi isolates from Southeast Asia. We have established a real-time RPA assay with primer and probe sequences that are optimized for most Southeast Asia's isolates of O. tsutsugamushi. As a result, the new RPA assay showed better performance than the previous assay in detecting O. tsutsugamushi in clinical samples of scrub typhus cases found in Vietnam. The specificity of RPA assay was also evaluated using genomic DNA from microorganisms commonly encountered in the differential diagnosis of scrub typhus, and blood samples from healthy controls and O. tsutsugamushi negative confirmed cases.
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Blanda V, D’Agostino R, Giudice E, Randazzo K, La Russa F, Villari S, Vullo S, Torina A. New Real-Time PCRs to Differentiate Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia conorii. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25194431. [PMID: 32992475 PMCID: PMC7582818 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia species are an important cause of emerging infectious diseases in people and animals, and rickettsiosis is one of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. Laboratory diagnosis of Rickettsia is complex and time-consuming. This study was aimed at developing two quantitative real-time PCRs targeting ompB and ompA genes for the detection, respectively, of Rickettsia spp. and R. conorii DNA. Primers were designed following an analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences. The assays were optimized using SYBR Green and TaqMan methods and tested for sensitivity and specificity. This study allowed the development of powerful diagnostic methods, able to detect and quantify Rickettsia spp. DNA and differentiate R. conorii species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Blanda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
| | - Rosalia D’Agostino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
| | - Elisabetta Giudice
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
| | - Kety Randazzo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
| | - Francesco La Russa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Sara Villari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
| | - Stefano Vullo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
| | - Alessandra Torina
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (R.D.); (K.R.); (S.V.); (S.V.); (A.T.)
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Hocquart M, Drouet H, Levet P, Raoult D, Parola P, Eldin C. Cellulitis of the face associated with SENLAT caused by Rickettsia slovaca detected by qPCR on scalp eschar swab sample: An unusual case report and review of literature. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:1142-1145. [PMID: 31213411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne rickettsioses are infectious diseases caused by obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the spotted fever groupof Rickettsia. METHODS We describe an unusual case of SENLAT (Scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy after tick bite), caused byRickettsia slovaca, associated with a cellulitis of the face in a 70-year-old woman, and diagnosed using qPCR on a scalp eschar swab. We review the literature regarding cases of SENLAT-associated-cellulitis and case of SENLAT diagnosed by qPCR on scalp eschar swabs. RESULTS We found only one previous report of SENLAT associated with a cellulitis of the face. It was a nine-year-old French girl diagnosed by seroconversion for Rickettsia sp. Our review of the literature showed that qPCR on eschar swab samples is a less invasive method than performing cutaneous biopsy of the eschar and has good sensitivity and specificity (90% and 100%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS We report the second case of cellulitis of the face associated with the SENLAT syndrome. Detection of Rickettsia by qPCR on swab sample of the scalp eschar is a simple, noninvasive technique allowing rapid diagnosis and treatment when SENLAT is suspected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Hocquart
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Hortense Drouet
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Paul Levet
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Carole Eldin
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
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11
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Rickettsia massiliae infection after a tick bite on the eyelid. Travel Med Infect Dis 2018; 26:66-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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A Concise Review of the Epidemiology and Diagnostics of Rickettsioses: Rickettsia and Orientia spp. J Clin Microbiol 2018; 56:JCM.01728-17. [PMID: 29769278 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01728-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsioses are globally distributed and caused by the family Rickettsiaceae, which comprise a diverse and expanding list of organisms. These include two genera, Rickettsia and Orientia Serology has been traditionally the mainstay of diagnosis, although this has been limited by cross-reactions among closely related members and diminished sensitivity/utility in the acute phase of illness. Other techniques, such as nucleic acid amplification tests using blood specimens or tissue swabs/biopsy specimens, sequencing, and mass spectrometry, have emerged in recent years for both pathogen and vector identification. This paper provides a concise review of the rickettsioses and the traditional and newer technologies available for their diagnosis.
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13
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Identification of rickettsial immunoreactive proteins using a proximity ligation assay Western blotting and the traditional immunoproteomic approach. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 58:17-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Cherry CC, Denison AM, Kato CY, Thornton K, Paddock CD. Diagnosis of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses in U.S. Travelers Returning from Africa, 2007-2016. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018; 99:136-142. [PMID: 29848404 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGRs), such as African tick bite fever (ATBF), are among the most commonly diagnosed diseases for ill travelers returning from southern Africa. We summarized demographic, clinical, and diagnostic features of imported SFGR cases in U.S. travelers returning from Africa who had laboratory specimens submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnosis of SFGR was performed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay, immunohistochemical staining, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or culture. Cases were defined as probable SFGR, confirmed SFGR, or confirmed ATBF. Clinical and epidemiological categorical variables were described as counts and proportions; continuous variables were described using geometric mean titers, median, and range. One hundred and twenty-seven patients satisfied laboratory criteria for confirmed or probable SFGR. Fever was the most common symptom (N = 88; 69%), followed by ≥ 1 eschars (N = 70; 55%). Paired serums were submitted for 36 patients (28%); 12 patients (33%) had nonreactive initial serum sample but converted to a titer ≥ 64 with the convalescent sample. Twenty-seven patients (21%) had infection with Rickettsia africae based on PCR analysis of eschar swab (N = 8) or biopsy (N = 23). Fifteen patients had eschar biopsy or swab samples and serum sample(s) submitted together; 9 (60%) had PCR-positive eschar results and nonreactive acute serology. Health-care providers should consider SFGR when evaluating patients for a febrile illness with eschar and compatible foreign travel history. Polymerase chain reaction testing of eschar biopsies or swabs provides a confirmed diagnosis in early stages of disease; eschar swabs or biopsies are an underutilized diagnostic technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara C Cherry
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Amy M Denison
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cecilia Y Kato
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Katrina Thornton
- Epidemiology Elective Program, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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15
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Ayachit A, Ayachit G, Joshi S, Sameera VV. Commentary: Rickettsial retinitis - Direct bacterial infection or an immune-mediated response? Indian J Ophthalmol 2017; 65:1041-1043. [PMID: 29044083 PMCID: PMC5678311 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_681_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva Ayachit
- Department of Vitreoretina, M M Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka, India
| | - Guruprasad Ayachit
- Department of Vitreoretina, M M Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka, India
| | - Shrinivas Joshi
- Department of Vitreoretina, M M Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka, India
| | - V V Sameera
- Department of Vitreoretina, M M Joshi Eye Institute, Hubli, Karnataka, India
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16
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State of the art of diagnosis of rickettsial diseases: the use of blood specimens for diagnosis of scrub typhus, spotted fever group rickettsiosis, and murine typhus. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2017; 29:433-9. [PMID: 27429138 PMCID: PMC5029442 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW With improved malaria control, acute undifferentiated febrile illness studies in tropical regions reveal a startling proportion of rickettsial illnesses, especially scrub typhus, murine typhus, and spotted fever group rickettsioses. Laboratory diagnosis of these infections evolved little over the past 40 years, but combinations of technologies like PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification, with refined rapid diagnostic tests and/or ELISA, are promising for guidance for early antirickettsial treatment. RECENT FINDINGS The long-term reliance on serological tests - useful only late in rickettsial infections - has led to underdiagnosis, inappropriate therapies, and undocumented morbidity and mortality. Recent approaches integrate nucleic acid amplification and recombinant protein-based serological tests for diagnosing scrub typhus. Optimized using Bayesian latent class analyses, this strategy increases diagnostic confidence and enables early accurate diagnosis and treatment - a model to follow for lagging progress in murine typhus and spotted fever. SUMMARY A laboratory diagnostic paradigm shift in rickettsial infections is evolving, with replacement of indirect immunofluorescence assay by the more objective ELISA coupled with nucleic acid amplification assays to expand the diagnostic window toward early infection intervals. This approach supports targeted antirickettsial therapy, reduces morbidity and mortality, and provides a robust evidence base for further development of diagnostics and vaccines.
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17
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Stewart A, Armstrong M, Graves S, Hajkowicz K. Rickettsia australis and Queensland Tick Typhus: A Rickettsial Spotted Fever Group Infection in Australia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:24-29. [PMID: 28719297 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia australis, the etiologic agent of Queensland tick typhus (QTT), is increasingly being recognized as a cause of community-acquired acute febrile illness in eastern Australia. Changing human population demographics, climate change, and increased understanding of expanding vector distribution indicate QTT is an emerging public health threat. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, treatment principles, and future directions of this disease. Increased recognition of QTT will enable consideration of and prompt treatment of R. australis infection by clinicians in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Stewart
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Mark Armstrong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Stephen Graves
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Geelong, Australia
| | - Krispin Hajkowicz
- School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
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18
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Prado IC, Chino META, Dos Santos AL, Souza ALA, Pinho LG, Lemos ERS, De-Simone SG. Development of an electrochemical immunosensor for the diagnostic testing of spotted fever using synthetic peptides. Biosens Bioelectron 2017; 100:115-121. [PMID: 28886455 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2017] [Revised: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spotted fever is a rare acute and multisystemic febrile infectious disease with a mortality rate of ≥50% without adequate antibiotic treatment, and in diagnosed and treated cases, of approximately 2.5%. Currently, the applied test to diagnose this disease is the indirect immunofluorescence reaction, however two samples of paired sera are necessary to confirm the diagnosis, since using only one sample may allow for confusion with cross reactions. OmpA is an outer membrane protein present in the R. rickettsia, the etiological agent of spotted fever, able to activate dendritic and macrophage cells. It also presents immunogenicity properties, and is considered a target for the development of diagnostic tests for spotted fever. In this context, an amperometric immunosensor was developed for the identification of sera antibodies (human IgG) from patients with spotted fever aimed at improving sensitivity and minimize sample volume. The development of the immunosensor was conducted using a synthetic peptide, derivative from the H6PGA4 R. rickettsia protein, homologous to OmpA. Amperometric responses were generated at -0.6 to 0.6V, at a scan rate of 0.025Vs-1 for 20 cycles, a limit of detection of approximately 10ngmL-1 for the synthetic peptides and 0.01µgmL-1 for the humam serum, a sensitivity of 2.59µA, adequate for the detection of spotted fever antibodies. The construction of this immunosensor, capable of identifying circulating antibodies in real time, can also be applied in the diagnosis of other infectious-parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis C Prado
- Center of Technological Development in Health (CDTS)/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Neglected Diseases (INCT-IDN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Mônica E T A Chino
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Pharmaceuticals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Antonia L Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Pharmaceuticals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - André L A Souza
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Pharmaceuticals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciano G Pinho
- Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Pharmaceuticals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Elba R S Lemos
- Hantavirus and Rickettsia Laboratory, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Salvatore G De-Simone
- Center of Technological Development in Health (CDTS)/National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation on Neglected Diseases (INCT-IDN), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Laboratory of Experimental and Computational Biochemistry of Pharmaceuticals, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Biology Institute, Federal University Fluminense, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
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19
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Theunissen C, Cnops L, Van Esbroeck M, Huits R, Bottieau E. Acute-phase diagnosis of murine and scrub typhus in Belgian travelers by polymerase chain reaction: a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:273. [PMID: 28407761 PMCID: PMC5390359 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2385-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Theunissen
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Nationale straat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Lieselotte Cnops
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Nationale straat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marjan Van Esbroeck
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Nationale straat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ralph Huits
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Nationale straat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Bottieau
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Nationale straat 155, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
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20
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Chochlakis D, Mantadakis E, Thomaidis S, Tselentis Y, Chatzimichael A, Psaroulaki A. Retraction: First human case of Rickettsia sibirica mongolotimonae infection in Northern Greece in a teenager from Thrace. Jpn J Infect Dis 2016. [PMID: 27795477 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2016.302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This article has been retracted by the authors under the agreement between the Editor-in-Chief, Masayuki Saijo and authors.
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21
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Papp S, Rauch J, Kuehl S, Richardt U, Keller C, Osterloh A. Comparative evaluation of two Rickettsia typhi-specific quantitative real-time PCRs for research and diagnostic purposes. Med Microbiol Immunol 2016; 206:41-51. [PMID: 27696011 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-016-0480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsioses are caused by intracellular bacteria of the family of Rickettsiaceae. Rickettsia (R.) typhi is the causative agent of endemic typhus. The disease occurs worldwide and is one of the most prevalent rickettsioses. Rickettsial diseases, however, are generally underdiagnosed which is mainly due to the lack of sensitive and specific methods. In addition, methods for quantitative detection of the bacteria for research purposes are rare. We established two qPCRs for the detection of R. typhi by amplification of the outer membrane protein B (ompB) and parvulin-type PPIase (prsA) genes. Both qPCRs are specific and exclusively recognize R. typhi but no other rickettsiae including the closest relative, R. prowazekii. The prsA-based qPCR revealed to be much more sensitive than the amplification of ompB and provided highly reproducible results in the detection of R. typhi in organs of infected mice. Furthermore, as a nested PCR the prsA qPCR was applicable for the detection of R. typhi in human blood samples. Collectively, the prsA-based qPCR represents a reliable method for the quantitative detection of R. typhi for research purposes and is a promising candidate for differential diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Papp
- Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Rauch
- Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Svenja Kuehl
- Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulricke Richardt
- Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Keller
- Institute for Virology, University Medical Center Gießen and Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Anke Osterloh
- Department of Immunology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359, Hamburg, Germany.
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22
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Detection of dengue, west Nile virus, rickettsiosis and leptospirosis by a new real-time PCR strategy. SPRINGERPLUS 2016; 5:671. [PMID: 27350908 PMCID: PMC4899400 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2318-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV) infection causes sudden fever along with several nonspecific signs and symptoms and in severe cases, death. DENV is transmitted to people by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, whose populations increase during rainy season. West Nile Virus (WNV), Rickettsia spp. and Leptospira spp. are fever-causing pathogens that share many of the initial symptoms of DENV infection and also thrive in the rainy season. Outbreaks in some regions may be due to any of these pathogens that can co-circulate. Plus, they are clinically indistinguishable until severe symptoms appear, even though these diseases should be treated differently. An effective differential diagnosis would help clinicians and vector control departments to make right decisions for control and treatment of these diseases. Therefore, we developed four different SYBR green®-based reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for simultaneous detection of DENV, WNV, Rickettsia spp. and Leptospira spp. The assay has been optimized to yield results in less than 1 h; and in order to reduce contamination risk, all reagents were premixed and lyophilized on 96 well plates and thus only requires the addition of water and total nucleic acids from the sample. Sensitivities of the assays were less than 100 copies of nucleic acid targeted for these four pathogens. Assays did not show cross reactivity with any of the four pathogens nor to human nucleic acids. We are presenting a sensitive and selective kit that detects four relevant pathogens from tropical regions, that is quick, cost-effective and easy to use.
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23
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Bolaños-Rivero M, Carranza-Rodríguez C, Hernández-Cabrera M, Pisos-Álamo E, Jaén-Sánchez N, Pérez-Arellano JL. Usefulness of the early molecular diagnosis of Q fever and rickettsial diseases in patients with fever of intermediate duration. Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2016; 35:655-658. [PMID: 27026285 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimc.2016.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 02/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Most cases of fever of intermediate duration (FDI) in Spain are associated with infectious diseases (mainly Q fever and rickettsia infections). In clinical practice, the causal diagnosis of these entities is based on immunodiagnostic techniques, which are of little help in the early stages. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of molecular techniques for the early diagnosis of Q fever and rickettsia diseases in patients with FDI. A PCR method was used to detect the presence of genetic material of Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. in blood specimens from 271 patients with FDI. The specificity of both techniques is high, allowing diagnosis in cases undiagnosed by specific antibodies detection. These data suggest that the use of molecular techniques, with proper selection of the study specimen, and using appropriate primers is a useful tool in the early diagnosis of the main causes of FDI, especially if serology is negative or inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Bolaños-Rivero
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
| | - Cristina Carranza-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España; Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
| | - Michele Hernández-Cabrera
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España; Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
| | - Elena Pisos-Álamo
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España; Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
| | - Nieves Jaén-Sánchez
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España; Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España
| | - José-Luis Pérez-Arellano
- Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Medicina Tropical, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Materno Infantil de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España; Departamento de Ciencias Médicas y Quirúrgicas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
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24
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Zaharia M, Popescu CP, Florescu SA, Ceausu E, Raoult D, Parola P, Socolovschi C. Rickettsia massiliae infection and SENLAT syndrome in Romania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:759-762. [PMID: 27034192 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this prospective study is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of rickettsioses in Romania, where only Rickettsia conorii is known by clinicians but new Rickettsia species have been identified recently in ticks. A total of eight patients, including a nine-year-old child, were included between June 2011 and June 2012, in the Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania. Seven cases presented during summer months and one in spring. Six patients presented a generalized rash with fever, myalgia and skin eschar. The last two patients presented a typical SENLAT syndrome, characterized by scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy. Using serological tools, we confirmed for the first time two cases of Rickettsia massiliae, the agent of spotted fever disease, and one case of Rickettsia slovaca, and one case of R. slovacaRickettsia raoultii the agents of SENLAT syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Zaharia
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Petru Popescu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Simin Aysel Florescu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Emanoil Ceausu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France.
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25
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Bohacsova M, Mediannikov O, Kazimirova M, Raoult D, Sekeyova Z. Arsenophonus nasoniae and Rickettsiae Infection of Ixodes ricinus Due to Parasitic Wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149950. [PMID: 26901622 PMCID: PMC4762546 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arsenophonus nasoniae, a male-killing endosymbiont of chalcid wasps, was recently detected in several hard tick species. Following the hypothesis that its presence in ticks may not be linked to the direct occurrence of bacteria in tick's organs, we identified A. nasoniae in wasps emerging from parasitised nymphs. We confirmed that 28.1% of Ixodiphagus hookeri wasps parasitizing Ixodes ricinus ticks were infected by A. nasoniae. Moreover, in examined I. ricinus nymphs, A. nasoniae was detected only in those, which were parasitized by the wasp. However, in part of the adult wasps as well as in some ticks that contained wasp's DNA, we did not confirm A. nasoniae. We also found, that in spite of reported male-killing, some newly emerged adult wasp males were also infected by A. nasoniae. Additionally, we amplified the DNA of Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia monacensis (known to be Ixodes ricinus-associated bacteria) in adult parasitoid wasps. This may be related either with the digested bacterial DNA in wasp body lumen or with a role of wasps in circulation of rickettsiae among tick vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Bohacsova
- Department of Rickettsiology, Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Unite de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) IRD 198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Kazimirova
- Department of Medical Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Didier Raoult
- Unite de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) IRD 198, CNRS 7278, INSERM 1095, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU) Mediterranee-Infection, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Zuzana Sekeyova
- Department of Rickettsiology, Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- * E-mail:
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Khrouf F, Sellami H, Elleuch E, Hattab Z, Ammari L, Khalfaoui M, Souissi J, Harrabi H, M'ghirbi Y, Tiouiri H, Ben Jemaa M, Hammami A, Letaief A, Bouattour A, Znazen A. Molecular diagnosis of Rickettsia infection in patients from Tunisia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:653-656. [PMID: 26897395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Diagnosis of rickettsioses had largely benefited from the development of molecular techniques. Unfortunately, in Tunisia, despite the large number of rickettsial cases registered every year, the Rickettsia species remain unidentified. In this study, we aimed to detect the Rickettsia species in clinical samples using molecular tests. A study was established to analyze skin biopsies, cutaneous swabs, and cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from clinically suspected patients to have rickettsial infection. Two molecular techniques were used to detect Rickettsia DNA: quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) and reverse line blot test (RLB). An analysis of the RLB hybridization assay results revealed the presence of Rickettsia DNA in skin biopsies (40.6%) and swabs (46.7%). Rickettsia conorii was the most prevalent identified species among tested samples. Other species of interest include Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia massiliae. Using qPCR positivity rates in skin biopsies was 63.7% against 80% in swabs. R. conorii was the most frequently detected species, followed by R. typhi. The agreement between the two techniques was 68.6% (kappa=0.33). Molecular tests, especially using specific probes qPCR, allow for a rapid, better and confident diagnosis in clinical practice. They improve the survey of Mediterranean spotted fever which is considered to be the most important rickettsial infection in humans in Tunisia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Khrouf
- Laboratory of Entomology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hanene Sellami
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory "MPH", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Emna Elleuch
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Zouhour Hattab
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Lamia Ammari
- Infectious Diseases Department, La Rabta University Hospital of Tunis, Tunis University, Tunisia
| | - Moncef Khalfaoui
- Infectious Diseases Department, Menzel Bourguiba Regional Hospital, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Jihed Souissi
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Hejer Harrabi
- Infectious Diseases Department, La Rabta University Hospital of Tunis, Tunis University, Tunisia
| | - Youmna M'ghirbi
- Laboratory of Entomology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hanene Tiouiri
- Infectious Diseases Department, La Rabta University Hospital of Tunis, Tunis University, Tunisia
| | - Mounir Ben Jemaa
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Adnene Hammami
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory "MPH", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Amel Letaief
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Laboratory of Entomology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Abir Znazen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory "MPH", Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
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Luce-Fedrow A, Mullins K, Kostik AP, St John HK, Jiang J, Richards AL. Strategies for detecting rickettsiae and diagnosing rickettsial diseases. Future Microbiol 2016; 10:537-64. [PMID: 25865193 DOI: 10.2217/fmb.14.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsial diseases and scrub typhus constitute a group of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. The cosmopolitan distribution of the vectors that transmit rickettsiae and orientiae leads to a worldwide prevalence of these diseases. Despite their significant historical status, detection and diagnosis of these diseases are still evolving today. Serological methods remain among the most prevalent techniques used for the detection/diagnosis of rickettsial diseases and scrub typhus. Molecular techniques have been instrumental in increasing the sensitivity/specificity of diagnosis, identifying new Rickettsia and Orientia species and have enhanced epidemiological capabilities when used in combination with serological methods. In this review, we discuss these techniques and their associated pros and cons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Luce-Fedrow
- Naval Medical Research Center, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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Development of Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assays for Detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi or Rickettsia typhi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003884. [PMID: 26161793 PMCID: PMC4498641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensitive, specific and rapid diagnostic tests for the detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi) and Rickettsia typhi (R. typhi), the causative agents of scrub typhus and murine typhus, respectively, are necessary to accurately and promptly diagnose patients and ensure that they receive proper treatment. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays using a lateral flow test (RPA-nfo) and real-time fluorescent detection (RPA-exo) were developed targeting the 47-kDa gene of O. tsutsugamushi or 17 kDa gene of R. typhi. The RPA assay was capable of detecting O. tsutsugamushi or R. typhi at levels comparable to that of the quantitative PCR method. Both the RPA-nfo and RPA-exo methods performed similarly with regards to sensitivity when detecting the 17 kDa gene of R. typhi. On the contrary, RPA-exo performed better than RPA-nfo in detecting the 47 kDa gene of O. tsutsugamushi. The clinical performance of the O. tsutsugamushi RPA assay was evaluated using either human patient samples or infected mouse samples. Eight out of ten PCR confirmed positives were determined positive by RPA, and all PCR confirmed negative samples were negative by RPA. Similar results were obtained for R. typhi spiked patient sera. The assays were able to differentiate O. tsutsugamushi and R. typhi from other phylogenetically related bacteria as well as mouse and human DNA. Furthermore, the RPA-nfo reaction was completed in 20 minutes at 37oC followed by a 10 minute incubation at room temperature for development of an immunochromatographic strip. The RPA-exo reaction was completed in 20 minutes at 39oC. The implementation of a cross contamination proof cassette to detect the RPA-nfo fluorescent amplicons provided an alternative to regular lateral flow detection strips, which are more prone to cross contamination. The RPA assays provide a highly time-efficient, sensitive and specific alternative to other methods for diagnosing scrub typhus or murine typhus. Historically, rickettsial pathogens are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality during military operations. Rickettsial diseases, lately, are reemerging in areas of known abundance or emerging in areas of unknown existence, posing a significant medical concern for local residents and travelers. The diseases are difficult to diagnose as they often share similar symptoms with many other diseases in the same geographical areas. Therefore, it is particularly challenging for clinicians to provide a timely and accurate diagnosis. A recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA)-based nucleic acid detection platform has been used to develop accurate, sensitive, specific, and easy-to-perform assays to detect O. tsutsugamushi or R. typhi, indicative of scrub typhus or murine typhus, respectively. These RPA assays provide similar limits of detection and specificity to that of qPCR. Unlike qPCR, they require no thermocycler and provide multiple end-point monitoring options amendable to different laboratory capabilities. This work presents an alternative assay platform for early detection of O. tsutsugamushi or R. typhi infection so that timely treatment can be prescribed in well-equipped laboratories as well as resource limited areas.
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The rebirth of culture in microbiology through the example of culturomics to study human gut microbiota. Clin Microbiol Rev 2015; 28:237-64. [PMID: 25567229 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00014-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 522] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial culture was the first method used to describe the human microbiota, but this method is considered outdated by many researchers. Metagenomics studies have since been applied to clinical microbiology; however, a "dark matter" of prokaryotes, which corresponds to a hole in our knowledge and includes minority bacterial populations, is not elucidated by these studies. By replicating the natural environment, environmental microbiologists were the first to reduce the "great plate count anomaly," which corresponds to the difference between microscopic and culture counts. The revolution in bacterial identification also allowed rapid progress. 16S rRNA bacterial identification allowed the accurate identification of new species. Mass spectrometry allowed the high-throughput identification of rare species and the detection of new species. By using these methods and by increasing the number of culture conditions, culturomics allowed the extension of the known human gut repertoire to levels equivalent to those of pyrosequencing. Finally, taxonogenomics strategies became an emerging method for describing new species, associating the genome sequence of the bacteria systematically. We provide a comprehensive review on these topics, demonstrating that both empirical and hypothesis-driven approaches will enable a rapid increase in the identification of the human prokaryote repertoire.
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Znazen A, Sellami H, Elleuch E, Hattab Z, Ben Sassi L, Khrouf F, Dammak H, Letaief A, Ben Jemaa M, Hammami A. Comparison of two quantitative real time PCR assays for Rickettsia detection in patients from Tunisia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003487. [PMID: 25706392 PMCID: PMC4338037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) offers rapid diagnosis of rickettsial infections. Thus, successful treatment could be initiated to avoid unfavorable outcome. Our aim was to compare two qPCR assays for Rickettsia detection and to evaluate their contribution in early diagnosis of rickettsial infection in Tunisian patients. Patients and methods Included patients were hospitalized in different hospitals in Tunisia from 2007 to 2012. Serology was performed by microimmunofluorescence assay using R. conorii and R. typhi antigens. Two duplex qPCRs, previously reported, were performed on collected skin biopsies and whole blood samples. The first duplex amplified all Rickettsia species (PanRick) and Rickettsia typhi DNA (Rtt). The second duplex detected spotted fever group Rickettsiae (RC00338) and typhus group Rickettsiae DNA (Rp278). Results Diagnosis of rickettsiosis was confirmed in 82 cases (57.7%). Among 44 skin biopsies obtained from patients with confirmed diagnosis, the first duplex was positive in 24 samples (54.5%), with three patients positive by Rtt qPCR. Using the second duplex, positivity was noted in 21 samples (47.7%), with two patients positive by Rp278 qPCR. Among79 whole blood samples obtained from patients with confirmed diagnosis, panRick qPCR was positive in 5 cases (6.3%) among which two were positive by Rtt qPCR. Using the second set of qPCRs, positivity was noted in four cases (5%) with one sample positive by Rp278 qPCR. Positivity rates of the two duplex qPCRs were significantly higher among patients presenting with negative first serum than those with already detectable antibodies. Conclusions Using qPCR offers a rapid diagnosis. The PanRick qPCR showed a higher sensitivity. Our study showed that this qPCR could offer a prompt diagnosis at the early stage of the disease. However, its implementation in routine needs cost/effectiveness evaluation. Rickettsial diagnosis is challenging in routine laboratory. Serology offers only retrospective diagnosis. We aimed to introduce molecular methods in routine diagnosis of these infections. The lack of standardized methods led us to compare real time PCR assays previously reported in order to implement a clear strategies for diagnosis of these infections in our laboratory. Real time PCR proposed by Renvoisé et al includes two PCRs, one to detect spotted fever group and another to detect typhus group Rickettsiae. The real time PCR proposed by Giullieri et al includes a first PCR detecting 16rDNA of all Rickettsiae and if it is positive a second PCR detecting R. typhi should be performed. This second Real time PCR was shown to offer a slight higher sensitivity with a lower cost in our study. Skin biopsy specimens were more likely to show positive results than whole blood samples. Finally, positivity rates were higher among patients presenting at the first stage of the disease, essentially with negative serology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abir Znazen
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory “MPH”, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
- * E-mail:
| | - Hanen Sellami
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory “MPH”, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Emna Elleuch
- Infectious diseases department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Zouhour Hattab
- Infectious diseases department, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | | | - Fatma Khrouf
- Laboratory of entomology, Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hassen Dammak
- Intensive care unit, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Amel Letaief
- Infectious diseases department, Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Mounir Ben Jemaa
- Infectious diseases department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Adnene Hammami
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Research Laboratory “MPH”, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia
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Gastellier L, Lanternier F, Renvoisé A, Rivière S, Raoult D, Lortholary O, Lecuit M. Noneruptive fever revealing murine typhus in a traveler returning from Tunisia. J Travel Med 2015; 22:67-9. [PMID: 25158857 DOI: 10.1111/jtm.12154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia species are increasingly being recognized as a cause of infection among returning travelers. Murine typhus (MT) was mistakenly thought to have disappeared in the 1970s in Tunisia, yet recent serological data show that Rickettsia typhi, the causative agent of MT, still circulates in the Tunisian population. We report here a case of MT in a woman returning from Tunisia and hospitalized in France. Her presentation was nonspecific, with acute noneruptive fever. Diagnosis was confirmed by cross-adsorption and immunoblotting. Clinicians taking care of returning travelers with fever should be aware of MT, and know how to diagnose and treat it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gastellier
- Université Paris Descartes, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Centre d'Infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, Institut Imagine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
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Eremeeva ME, Shpynov SN, Tokarevich NK. MODERN APPROACHES TO LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF RICKETTSIAL DISEASES. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2014. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-2014-2-113-134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. We present a concise review of contemporary laboratory methods for diagnosis of rickettsioses with special emphasis on diseases known in Russian Federation. Classic and emerging rickettsioses are transmitted by a diverse and expanding group of arthropod vectors including ticks, fleas, lice and mites. While epidemiological and clinical clues can provide information important for initial suspicion of rickettsial infection, sensitive and specific laboratory methods are necessary for providing probable or confirmed diagnosis of the rickettsial infection. Accurate and rapid confirmation of rickettsial infection is important for ensuring proper clinical care and prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. Correct identification of the etiology of rickettsial diseases is also important for early identification of clustered cases, novel foci of infections, and for timely initiation of public health responses to these potentially fatal infections.
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Qi Y, Gong W, Xiong X, Jiang J, Wang Y, Jiao J, Duan C, Wen B. Microarray of surface-exposed proteins of Rickettsia heilongjiangensis for serodiagnosis of Far-eastern spotted fever. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:332. [PMID: 24938647 PMCID: PMC4071148 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Far-eastern spotted fever (FESF) is an important emerging infectious disease in Northeast Asia. The laboratory diagnosis of FESF in hospitals is mainly based on serological methods. However, these methods need to cultivate rickettsial cells as diagnostic antigens, which is both burdensome and dangerous. Methods Eleven surface-exposed proteins (SEPs) were identified in our previous study and their recombinant proteins (rSEPs) fabricated on a microarray were serologically analyzed with seventeen paired sera from patients suffered from FESF in this study. Results All the rSEPs showed sensitivities of between 53% and 82% to acute-phase sera and of between 65% and 82% to convalescent-phase sera, and all the rSEPs except rRplA showed specificities of between 80% and 95%. The combination assay of two, three, or four of the four rSEPs (rOmpA-2, rOmpB-3, rRpsB, and rSdhB) showed better sensitivities of between 76% and 94% to the acute-phase sera or between 82% and 100% to the convalescent-phase sera and acceptable specificities of between 75% and 90%. Conclusions Our results suggest that the four rSEPs are more likely candidate antigens for serological diagnosis of FESF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bohai Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 20 Dong-Dia-Jie Street, Fengtai, Beijing, China.
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Parola P, Paddock CD, Socolovschi C, Labruna MB, Mediannikov O, Kernif T, Abdad MY, Stenos J, Bitam I, Fournier PE, Raoult D. Update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach. Clin Microbiol Rev 2013; 26:657-702. [PMID: 24092850 PMCID: PMC3811236 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00032-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 929] [Impact Index Per Article: 84.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. However, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. Several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that were considered nonpathogenic for decades are now associated with human infections, and novel Rickettsia species of undetermined pathogenicity continue to be detected in or isolated from ticks around the world. This remarkable expansion of information has been driven largely by the use of molecular techniques that have facilitated the identification of novel and previously recognized rickettsiae in ticks. New approaches, such as swabbing of eschars to obtain material to be tested by PCR, have emerged in recent years and have played a role in describing emerging tick-borne rickettsioses. Here, we present the current knowledge on tick-borne rickettsiae and rickettsioses using a geographic approach toward the epidemiology of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | | | - Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Tahar Kernif
- Service d'Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Mohammad Yazid Abdad
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Idir Bitam
- University of Boumerdes, Boumerdes, Algeria
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
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Foissac M, Socolovschi C, Raoult D. [Update on SENLAT syndrome: scalp eschar and neck lymph adenopathy after a tick bite]. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2013; 140:598-609. [PMID: 24090889 DOI: 10.1016/j.annder.2013.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 07/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
SENLAT syndrome, also known as TIBOLA/DEBONEL, is an emerging disease in France. The major symptoms are necrotic eschar on the scalp associated with painful cervical lymphadenopathy. It occurs mainly in women and children during the cold seasons after a bite by a Dermacentor tick, responsible for transmitting Rickettsia slovaca or Rickettsia raoultii. Cutaneous swabs are safe, easy and reliable tools that should be used routinely by physicians to confirm diagnosis. In this particular disease, they should be preferred to serology, which is less sensitive. Doxycycline is the antibiotic of choice for this syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Foissac
- Aix Marseille université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
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« Lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis » due à Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae. Ann Dermatol Venereol 2013; 140:521-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annder.2013.04.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2012] [Revised: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Edouard S, Parola P, Socolovschi C, Davoust B, La Scola B, Raoult D. Clustered cases of Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae infection, France. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 19:337-8. [PMID: 23460995 PMCID: PMC3559049 DOI: 10.3201/eid1902.120863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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38
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Allison RW, Little SE. Diagnosis of rickettsial diseases in dogs and cats. Vet Clin Pathol 2013; 42:127-44. [DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin W. Allison
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology; Center for Veterinary Health Sciences; Oklahoma State University; Stillwater; OK; USA
| | - Susan E. Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology; Center for Veterinary Health Sciences; Oklahoma State University; Stillwater; OK; USA
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Abstract
In recent years, quantitative real-time PCR tests have been extensively developed in clinical microbiology laboratories for routine diagnosis of infectious diseases, particularly bacterial diseases. This molecular tool is well-suited for the rapid detection of bacteria directly in clinical specimens, allowing early, sensitive and specific laboratory confirmation of related diseases. It is particularly suitable for the diagnosis of infections caused by fastidious growth species, and the number of these pathogens has increased recently. This method also allows a rapid assessment of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes or gene mutations. Although this genetic approach is not always predictive of phenotypic resistances, in specific situations it may help to optimize the therapeutic management of patients. Finally, an approach combining the detection of pathogens, their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, their virulence factors and bacterial load in clinical samples could lead to profound changes in the care of these infected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Maurin
- Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Département des Agents Infectieux, Institut de Biologie et Pathologie, CHU de Grenoble, Université Joseph Fourier Grenoble 1, France.
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Point-of-care laboratory of pathogen diagnosis in rural Senegal. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e1999. [PMID: 23350001 PMCID: PMC3547848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In tropical Africa, where the spectrum of the bacterial pathogens that cause fevers is poorly understood and molecular-based diagnostic laboratories are rare, the time lag between test results and patient care is a critical point for treatment of disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We implemented POC laboratory in rural Senegal to resolve the time lag between test results and patient care. During the first year of the study (February 2011 to January 2012), 440 blood specimens from febrile patients were collected in Dielmo and Ndiop villages. All samples were screened for malaria, dengue fever, Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Tropheryma whipplei, Rickettsia conorii, R. africae, R. felis, and Bartonella spp. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We identified DNA from at least one pathogenic bacterium in 80/440 (18.2%) of the samples from febrile patients. B. crocidurae was identified in 35 cases (9.5%), and R. felis DNA was found in 30 cases (6.8%). The DNA of Bartonella spp. was identified in 23/440 cases (4.3%), and DNA of C. burnetii was identified in 2 cases (0.5%). T. whipplei (0.2%) was diagnosed in one patient. No DNA of R. africae or R. conorii was identified. Among the 7 patients co-infected by two different bacteria, we found R. felis and B. crocidurae in 4 cases, B. crocidurae and Bartonella spp. in 2 cases, and B. crocidurae and C. burnetii in 1 case. Malaria was diagnosed in 54 cases. In total, at least one pathogen (bacterium or protozoa) was identified in 127/440 (28.9%) of studied samples. Here, the authors report the proof of concept of POC in rural tropical Africa. Discovering that 18.2% of acute infections can be successfully treated with doxycycline should change the treatment strategy for acute fevers in West Africa.
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Assessment of real-time PCR assay for detection of Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia rickettsii in banked clinical samples. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 51:314-7. [PMID: 23135935 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01723-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two novel real-time PCR assays were developed for the detection of Rickettsia spp. One assay detects all tested Rickettsia spp.; the other is specific for Rickettsia rickettsii. Evaluation using DNA from human blood and tissue samples showed both assays to be more sensitive than nested PCR assays currently in use at the CDC.
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Description of "yaaf", the vesicular fever caused by acute Rickettsia felis infection in Senegal. J Infect 2012; 66:536-40. [PMID: 23068450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Revised: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia felis is an emerging infection in Africa and may account for 3-4% of ambulatory febrile fevers. We report herein a case of R. felis infection, for which we propose the name "yaaf", meaning vesicle, in an 8-month-old girl who was diagnosed in the field by real-time PCR analysis of a skin lesion; these PCR analysis was performed at a local experimental point-of-care laboratory. The clinical presentation was polymorphous skin lesions, including papules, vesicles, erosions and ulcers. The patient did not produce antibodies against Rickettsia. We suggest that this disease may be a primary infection caused by R. felis.
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Kernif T, Socolovschi C, Bitam I, Raoult D, Parola P. Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in North Africa. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2012; 26:455-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2012.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Kowalczewska M, Vellaiswamy M, Nappez C, Vincentelli R, Scola BL, Raoult D. Protein candidates for the serodiagnosis of rickettsioses: 1. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 64:130-3. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2011.00906.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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