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Deak G, Ionică AM, Péter Á, Sándor AD, Matei IA, D'Amico G, Liénard E, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD, Bouhsira E. Fleas of wild carnivores in Romania: diversity, distribution, and host-associations. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:148. [PMID: 38515160 PMCID: PMC10956227 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06235-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fleas are important hematophagous insects, infesting mammals and birds with a worldwide distribution. Fleas of medical importance have been reported from various carnivores worldwide, such as felids, canids, or mustelids. Romania hosts a wide carnivore diversity, but very little is known about flea species that parasitize these animals in Romania. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the fleas' diversity and their distribution in a relatively large and diverse number of wild carnivore hosts from Romania. METHODS From 2013 to 2021, 282 carcasses of wild carnivores from different locations in Romania were collected and examined for the presence of ectoparasites. All collected fleas were morphologically identified using specific keys and descriptions. An analysis of the co-occurrence networks was performed. RESULTS A total of 11 flea species were identified: Pulex irritans (41.09%), Paraceras melis (20.11%), Ctenocephalides felis (7.33%), Ctenocephalides canis (7.83%), Monopsyllus sciurorum (11.11%), Chaetopsylla trichosa (21.96%), Chaetopsylla homoea (5.5%), Chaetopsylla tuberculaticeps (100%), Chaetopsylla rothschildi (13.33%), Chaetopsylla sp. (14.34%), Chaetopsylla globiceps (5.12%), Echidnophaga gallinacea (10%). The statistical analyses showed a significant difference between the infestation of Martes foina with females being more frequently infected than males (66% versus 33%). Paraceras melis infesting Meles meles had a significantly higher prevalence in female badgers than in males (× 2 = 7.7977, P < 0.01) and higher intensities of infestations in males than in females (t = 1.871, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This is the first large-scale study investigating the distribution and diversity of flea species infesting wild carnivores in Romania. Three flea species were identified for the first time in Romania (E. gallinacea, C. homoea, and C. tuberculaticeps).
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgiana Deak
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila David Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-UVMB Climate Change: New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Microbiology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca-Napoca, Romania
| | - Emilie Bouhsira
- InTheres, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France
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Ming M, Yuan S, Fu H, Li X, Zhang H, Liu T, Bu F, Wu X. Influence of biotic and abiotic factors on flea species population dynamics on Lasiopodomys brandtii. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:185-191. [PMID: 37575662 PMCID: PMC10422677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.05.006] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Brandt's Vole (Lasiopodomys brandtii) is one of the most abundant rodent species in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, China, and one of the main carriers of Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium. There have been several instances of plague transmission among L. brandtii, and all of their dominant flea species are known carriers of plague. Little work has been done to understand the regulation of flea abundance on L. brandtii by biotic and abiotic factors. Here, we examine the impacts of host and climate variation on flea abundance on L. brandtii in May, July, and September of 2021 in the East Ujumqin Banner, Xilinhot City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. We arrived at the following conclusions: 1) There were 8 flea species representing 2 families and 5 genera collected from L. brandtii, and Frontopsylla luculenta, Neopsylla pleskei orientalis, and Amphipsylla primaris mitis were most common. 2) Host body weight, host age, season, temperature, and humidity are key factors influencing flea abundance on L. brandtii. 3) Flea species vary in their respective responses to factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ming
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Heping Fu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Haoting Zhang
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Tao Liu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Fan Bu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
| | - Xiaodong Wu
- College of Grassland, Resources and Environment, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Rodent Ecology and Pest Controlled, Inner Mongolia. Hohhot, China
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources of the Ministry of Education. Hohhot, China
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Pontifes PA, Fernández‐González A, García‐Peña GE, Roche B, Suzán G. Drivers of flea abundance in wild rodents across local and regional scales in the Chihuahuan Desert, northwestern Mexico. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paulina A. Pontifes
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
- Departamento de Etología Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Adriana Fernández‐González
- Departamento de Etología Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Gabriel E. García‐Peña
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad C3 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
| | - Benjamin Roche
- MIVEGEC (Infectious Diseases and Vectors: Ecology, Genetics, Evolution and Control), IRD (Research Institute for Sustainable Development), CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) University of Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Departamento de Etología Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Ciudad de México Mexico
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AbouLaila M, Menshawy S. Infection rate and molecular characterization of Echidnophaga gallinacea in chickens from Matrouh Governorate, Egypt. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 22:100457. [PMID: 33308720 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Echidnophaga gallinacea is the sticktight flea of chickens. It causes dermatitis and ulcers in the skin and carries some disease-causing agents such as Rickettsia and Bartonella. This study was conducted to detect the infection rate and elucidate the molecular characterization of E. gallinacea in chickens from El-Dabaa City, Matrouh Governorate, Egypt. The fleas were collected from infected chickens and identified morphologically. The internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) gene PCR method was used for molecular characterization. Based on the morphology, the collected fleas were confirmed as E. gallinacea. The overall infection rate was 5%, with 4.5% in female and 10% in male chickens. ITS-1 PCR revealed a specific band of 488 bp. The ITS-1 gene sequence from Egypt occurred in the same phylogenetic clade as that from Cameroon, with a percentage identity of 98.47%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud AbouLaila
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, El-Behera, Egypt.
| | - Soad Menshawy
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, El-Behera, Egypt
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Mohammadi A, Sedaghat MM, Abai MR, Darvish J, Mobedi I, Mahmoudi A, Mostafavi E. Wild Rodents and Their Ectoparasites in an Enzootic Plague Focus, Western Iran. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:334-347. [PMID: 32077816 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Entomological surveys of ectoparasites and their hosts are an essential tool for assessing the risks of rodent-borne diseases transmitted to humans by arthropod vectors. Objectives: This study was carried out to update the epidemiological data of plague with respect to species compositions of the rodents and their ectoparasites at enzootic foci located in Kurdistan Province, Iran. Methods: The rodents' habitats were selected based on past records of plague and subclimates in each study district with especial attention to the vegetation type. The trapped rodents were anesthetized using a chloroform chamber, and the animals were then examined for ectoparasites by brushing their hair over a pan containing water. The ectoparasites were collected with a fine brush and preserved in 70% ethanol in screw cap tubes. Results: A total of 208 rodents were trapped from three districts. Taxonomic ranking of the rodents indicated that the specimens belonged to 2 suborders of Myomorpha and Sciuromorpha, 4 families (Muridae, Muscardinidae, Cricetidae, and Sciuridae), 7 genera, including Meriones, Apodemus, Mus, Sciurus, Microtus, and Dryomys, and 15 species. Out of 208 rodents, only 56 (26.9%) were infested with 22 species of ectoparasites. Totally, 312 ectoparasites were isolated from 56 rodents, including 12 flea species (54.5%), 6 mite species (27.3%), 3 tick species (13.6%), and one louse species (4.6%). Five species of fleas were recorded for the first time in Kurdistan Province, including Ctenophthalmus iranus persicus, Paraceras melis melis, Nosopsyllus iranus iranus, Paraceras sp., and Ctenophyllus spp. Conclusion: The finding revealed new records for rodents and ectoparasites in Kurdistan Province, as well as changes in dominant rodent species and their ectoparasites compared to previous studies. This phenomenon can influence the changes in the incidence of plague and its epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Abai
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jamshid Darvish
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Iraj Mobedi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Mahmoudi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Hernández-Urbina CF, Vital-García C, Escárcega Ávila AM, Colima AG, Sánchez-Olivas MP, Clemente-Sánchez F. First report of Siphonaptera parasites in Canis latrans in the Flora and Fauna Protection Area, Médanos de Samalayuca Chihuahua, Mexico. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 20:100379. [PMID: 32448515 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Siphonaptera are hematophage parasite vectors of both human and animal diseases. We aimed to identify ectoparasites parasitizing a coyote population (Canis latrans) in the northwest region of the Flora and Fauna Protection Area Médanos de Samalayuca, Chihuahua, Mexico. We captured 21 coyotes (15 males and 6 females) during the summer and winter of 2018. The individuals were anesthetized and thoroughly examined for ectoparasites. We found that 43% of the coyotes were infested. Based on characteristics such as the absence of pronotal and genal combs in the head, we identified 15 specimens as Pulex irritans. This is the first report of P. irritans in coyotes in Médanos de Samalayuca Chihuahua, Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Francisco Hernández-Urbina
- Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua CP 32310, Mexico
| | - Cuauhcihuatl Vital-García
- Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua CP 32310, Mexico.
| | - Angélica M Escárcega Ávila
- Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua CP 32310, Mexico
| | - Ana Gatica Colima
- Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad Animal, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua CP 32310, Mexico
| | - Martha P Sánchez-Olivas
- Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Departamento de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Anillo Envolvente del PRONAF y Estocolmo s/n. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua CP 32310, Mexico
| | - Fernando Clemente-Sánchez
- Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus San Luis Potosí, Ciudad de Salinas Hidalgo, Municipio de Salinas, Iturbide 73, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí CP 78600, Mexico
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Shu C, Jiang M, Yang M, Xu J, Zhao S, Yin X, Wang B, Sheng J, Wang Y. Flea surveillance on wild mammals in northern region of Xinjiang, northwestern China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 11:12-16. [PMID: 31879590 PMCID: PMC6920291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Flea distribution in northern region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) and fluctuations of the annual fleas index in Alataw Pass were investigated. During a 4-year (2015-2018) study, 5789 fleas were collected directly from 15 mammals at eight counties in northern XUAR of northwestern China. Nineteen flea species, belonging to sixteen genera and seven families, were further confirmed by four genetic markers (18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, COI and COII) after morphological observation. Pulex irritans and Paraceras crispum parasitizing Asian badgers (Meles leucurus) were recorded for the first time. In addition, the fluctuations of the annual fleas index in Alataw Pass were surveyed. Xenopsylla gerbilli minax, Xenopsylla conformis conformis and Nosopsyllus laeviceps laeviceps were highly detected in the warm season while Paradoxopsyllus repandus, Ctenophthalmus dolichus dolichus and Coptopsylla lamellifer ardua were only found in the cold season. These findings extend our knowledge of flea species, distribution and annual fluctuations especially in China-Kazakhstan border.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Shu
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- School of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xu
- Urumqi Customs, Xinjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 830001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Yin
- Alataw Customs, Alataw Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 833418, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoju Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinliang Sheng
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, People's Republic of China
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Guzmán-Cornejo C, Sánchez-Montes S, Caso A, Rendón-Franco E, Muñoz-García CI. Molecular detection of Rickettsia rickettsii in ticks associated with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in northeast Mexico. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:1105-1108. [PMID: 31201126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The study of rickettsial agents associated with ticks from wild felines is scarce. In Europe, three species of Rickettsia have been detected (Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia massiliae, and Rickettsia monacensis) in ticks collected from the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, no studies have been conducted on another lynx species. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks associated with bobcats (Lynx rufus) collected in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. During 1999 and 2004, nine bobcats from two municipalities of the state were trapped and visually inspected for the presence of ticks. A total of 95 ticks were collected from these lynxes. Ticks were preserved in 96% ethanol. Subsequently we identified the presence of Rickettsia DNA by the amplification of several fragments of genes 17 kDa, ompA and ompB. Recovered sequences were concatenated, aligned, and compared with those of reference deposited in GenBank. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Maximum Likelihood method. The ticks were morphologically identified as belonging to the species Dermacentor variabilis. We selected a subset of 60 ticks which were examined, and 5% (3/60) were positive with an identity of 99% to sequences of R. rickettsii deposited in GenBank. The results obtained represent the first record of R. rickettsii in ticks associated with wild carnivores, and in particular with bobcats distributed in northeast of Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Arturo Caso
- Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Emilio Rendón-Franco
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Claudia I Muñoz-García
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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