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Moerbeck L, Parreira R, Szczotko M, Seixas G, Velez R, Dmitryjuk M, Santos AS, Domingos A, Antunes S. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens Circulating in Peri-Domestic Areas in Mainland Portugal. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1006. [PMID: 38792834 PMCID: PMC11123758 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051006] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the years, tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) have garnered significant interest due to their medical, veterinary and economic importance. Additionally, TBPs have drawn attention to how these microorganisms interact with their own vectors, increasing the risk to human and animal infection of emerging and reemerging zoonoses. In this sense, ticks, which are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites, have a key role in maintaining and transmitting TBPs among humans and animals. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of neglected TBPs in mainland Portugal, namely Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Neoehrlichia mikurensis. DNA fragments were detected in questing ticks collected from five different ecological areas under investigation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study reports new worldwide findings, including B. bigemina infecting Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Additionally, it presents new findings in Portugal of N. mikurensis infecting I. ricinus and of presumably Wolbachia endosymbionts being detected in I. ricinus. Overall, there were 208 tick samples that were negative for all screened TBPs. The results herein obtained raise concerns about the circulation of neglected TBPs in mainland Portugal, especially in anthropophilic ticks, highlighting the importance of adopting a One Health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Moerbeck
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.P.); (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.P.); (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Szczotko
- Students’ Parasitology “Vermis” Science Club, Department of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Gonçalo Seixas
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.P.); (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Velez
- Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Dr. Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (CEVDI-INSA), 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; (R.V.); (A.S.S.)
| | - Małgorzata Dmitryjuk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Ana Sofia Santos
- Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Dr. Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (CEVDI-INSA), 2965-575 Águas de Moura, Portugal; (R.V.); (A.S.S.)
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Domingos
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.P.); (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sandra Antunes
- Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.P.); (G.S.); (A.D.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health (LA-REAL), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (UNL), Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
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Ansah-Owusu J, Addo SO, Tawiah-Mensah CNL, Obuam PK, Malm ROT, Yartey KN, Yanney JN, Torto FA, Accorlor SK, Dadzie SK. Tick-borne pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance in cattle ticks in Ghana. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:44. [PMID: 38095712 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08071-3] [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: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors involved in the transmission of pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance. In this study, ticks were collected from cattle in Navrongo, Kintampo, and Kumasi and screened for pathogen DNA using PCR and Sanger sequencing. A total of 454 ticks were collected, morphologically identified and confirmed using primers that target the 660-bp segment of the mitochondrial COI gene. The predominant tick species was Amblyomma variegatum (70.26%). DNA was extracted from 85 tick pools and screened for the presence of Rickettsia DNA based on the 639 bp of the outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma DNA based on the 345 bp fragment of the 16SrRNA gene and Babesia/ Theileria DNA based on the 560 bp fragment of the ssrRNA gene. From the 85 tick pools, the DNA of pathogens detected were Rickettsia africae (36.47%), Rickettsia aeschlimannii (16.47%), Ehrlichia canis (2.35%), Babesia occultans (1.18%), Theileria velifera (1.18%) and a symbiont Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii (8.24%). This study reports the first molecular detection of Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense (1.18%) in Ghana. Coinfections were recorded in 8.24% of the tick pools. The findings of this study highlight the importance of tick species in Ghana and the need to adopt effective control measures to prevent pathogen spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Ansah-Owusu
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Seth Offei Addo
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
| | | | - Patrick Kwasi Obuam
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, School of Public Health, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odoi-Teye Malm
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kevin Nii Yartey
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Jennifer Nyamekye Yanney
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Francisca Adai Torto
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Stephen Kwabena Accorlor
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Samuel K Dadzie
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Briggs C, Smith E, Vansandt J, Carr B, Loftin K, McDermott EG. PREVALENCE OF EHRLICHIA AND ANAPLASMA SPP. IN TICKS COLLECTED FROM CATTLE AND DEER IN ARKANSAS, USA. J Parasitol 2023; 109:530-536. [PMID: 37903502 DOI: 10.1645/23-53] [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] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, is widespread in cattle in the southeast United States. The pathogen is biologically transmitted by Dermacentor spp. ticks, and mechanically transmitted by biting flies and via fomites. Despite high reported regional seroprevalence, Dermacentor spp. are rare on cattle in the southeast. To identify other putative An. marginale vectors, and to characterize cattle exposure to other tick-borne pathogens, we collected ticks from Arkansas cattle herds in 2020-2022. Recognizing that deer are important hosts for some of the same tick species that parasitize cattle, we also collected ticks from hunter-killed deer in the fall and winter of 2021. Ticks were screened for bacteria in the family Anaplasmataceae using qPCR. Positive samples were further amplified using a PCR assay targeting the groEL gene, and the resulting amplicons were sequenced for identification. A total of 3,794 ticks were collected, the majority of which were Amblyomma americanum. Amblyomma americanum was the most common species on cattle, and Ixodes scapularis was most common on deer. No ticks were positive for An. marginale, though Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in deer-collected I. scapularis, as well as in a single engorged Am. americanum from cattle. Amblyomma americanum from cattle were infected with Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrilichia chaffeensis, and Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. Cattle in Arkansas are exposed to several ehrlichial pathogens and may also be exposed to An. phagocytophilum. The importance of these pathogens, particularly Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, in causing cattle disease in Arkansas deserves further study, as does the importance of mechanical transmission of An. marginale in bovine anaplasmosis epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cierra Briggs
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
| | - Elizabeth Smith
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
| | - Jordan Vansandt
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
| | - Brandon Carr
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
| | - Kelly Loftin
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
| | - Emily G McDermott
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
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Bhosale CR, Wilson KN, Ledger KJ, White ZS, Dorleans R, De Jesus CE, Wisely SM. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Recreational Greenspaces in North Central Florida, USA. Microorganisms 2023; 11:756. [PMID: 36985329 PMCID: PMC10057063 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030756] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne infections are an increasing medical and veterinary concern in the southeastern United States, but there is limited understanding of how recreational greenspaces influence the hazard of pathogen transmission. This study aimed to estimate the potential human and companion animal encounter risk with different questing tick species, and the bacterial or protozoal agents they carry in recreational greenspaces. We collected ticks bimonthly along trails and designated recreational areas in 17 publicly accessible greenspaces, in and around Gainesville, Florida, USA. We collected Amblyomma americanum, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes affinis, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. Across the six tick species collected, we detected 18 species of bacteria or protozoa within the Babesia, Borrelia, Cytauxzoon, Cryptoplasma (Allocryptoplasma), Ehrlichia, Hepatozoon, Rickettsia, and Theileria genera, including pathogens of medical or veterinary importance. While tick abundance and associated microorganism prevalence and richness were the greatest in natural habitats surrounded by forests, we found both ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in manicured groundcover. This relationship is important for public health and awareness, because it suggests that the probability of encountering an infected tick is measurable and substantial even on closely manicured turf or gravel, if the surrounding landcover is undeveloped. The presence of medically important ticks and pathogenic microorganisms in recreational greenspaces indicates that public education efforts regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases are warranted in this region of the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanakya R. Bhosale
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328, USA
| | - Kristen N. Wilson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Kimberly J. Ledger
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zoe S. White
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Rayann Dorleans
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Carrie E. De Jesus
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Molecular survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in livestock ticks from Kassena-Nankana, Ghana; with a first report of Anaplasma capra and Ehrlichia minasensis. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:92. [PMID: 36795247 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03430-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens harm livestock production and pose a significant risk to public health. To combat these effects, it is necessary to identify the circulating pathogens to create effective control measures. This study identified Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ticks collected from livestock in the Kassena-Nankana Districts between February 2020 and December 2020. A total of 1550 ticks were collected from cattle, sheep and goats. The ticks were morphologically identified, pooled and screened for pathogens using primers that amplify a 345 bp fragment of the 16SrRNA gene and Sanger sequencing. The predominant tick species collected was Amblyomma variegatum (62.98%). From the 491 tick pools screened, 34 (6.92%) were positive for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma. The pathogens identified were Ehrlichia canis (4.28%), Ehrlichia minasensis (1.63%), Anaplasma capra (0.81%) and Anaplasma marginale (0.20%). This study reports the first molecular identification of the above-mentioned Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ticks from Ghana. With the association of human infections with the zoonotic pathogen A. capra, livestock owners are at risk of infections, calling for the development of effective control measures.
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Morris CN, Gaff HD, Berghaus RD, Wilson CM, Gleim ER. Tick Species Composition, Collection Rates, and Phenology Provide Insights into Tick-Borne Disease Ecology in Virginia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1993-2005. [PMID: 35996864 PMCID: PMC9667727 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To better understand tick ecology in Virginia and the increasing Lyme disease incidence in western Virginia, a comparative phenological study was conducted in which monthly collections were performed at twelve sampling locations in southwestern Virginia (high Lyme disease incidence) and 18 equivalent sampling locations in southeastern Virginia (low Lyme disease incidence) for one year. In western Virginia, we also explored the effect of elevation on collection rates of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) and Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae). In total, 35,438 ticks were collected (33,106 A. americanum; 2,052 I. scapularis; 134 Ixodes affinis Neumann [Acari: Ixodidae]; 84 Dermacentor variabilis [Say] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 49 Dermacentor albipictus [Packard] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 10 Haemaphysalis leporispalustris [Packard] [Acari: Ixodidae]; 2 Ixodes brunneus Koch [Acari: Ixodidae]; 1 Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann [Acari: Ixodidae]). Within southwestern Virginia, Ixodes scapularis collection rates were not influenced by elevation, unlike A. americanum which were collected more frequently at lower elevations (e.g., below 500 m). Notably, I. scapularis larvae and nymphs were commonly collected in southwestern Virginia (indicating that they were questing on or above the leaf litter) but not in southeastern Virginia. Questing on or above the leaf litter is primarily associated with northern populations of I. scapularis. These findings may support the hypothesis that I. scapularis from the northeastern United States are migrating into western Virginia and contributing to the higher incidence of Lyme disease in this region. This comparative phenological study underscores the value of these types of studies and the need for additional research to further understand the rapidly changing tick-borne disease dynamics in Virginia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciera N Morris
- Department of Biology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA 24020, USA
| | - Holly D Gaff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
- University of KwaZulu-Natal, School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Sciences, Durban, South Africa
| | - Roy D Berghaus
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - C Morgan Wilson
- Department of Biology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA 24020, USA
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Diniz PPV, Moura de Aguiar D. Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2022; 52:1225-1266. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2022.07.002] [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]
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Eisen L. Tick species infesting humans in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102025. [PMID: 35973261 PMCID: PMC10862467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The data for human tick encounters in the United States (US) presented in this paper were compiled with the goals of: (i) presenting quantitative data across the full range of native or recently established human biting ixodid (hard) and argasid (soft) tick species with regards to their frequency of infesting humans, based on published records of ticks collected while biting humans or crawling on clothing or skin; and (ii) providing a guide to publications on human tick encounters. Summary data are presented in table format, and the detailed data these summaries were based on are included in a set of Supplementary Tables. To date, totals of 36 ixodid species (234,722 specimens) and 13 argasid species (230 specimens) have been recorded in the published literature to infest humans in the US. Nationally, the top five ixodid species recorded from humans were the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (n=158,008 specimens); the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (n=36,004); the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (n=26,624); the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus (n=4,158); and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni (n=3,518). Additional species with more than 250 ticks recorded from humans included Ixodes cookei (n=2,494); the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis (n=809); the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (n=714); the winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus (n=465); and the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum (n=335). The spinose ear tick, Otobius megnini (n=69), and the pajaroello tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus (n=55) were the argasid species most commonly recorded from humans. Additional information presented for each of the 49 tick species include a breakdown of life stages recorded from humans, broad geographical distribution in the US, host preference, and associated human pathogens or medical conditions. The paper also provides a history of publications on human tick encounters in the US, with tables outlining publications containing quantitative data on human tick encounters as well as other notable publications on human-tick interactions. Data limitations are discussed. Researchers and public health professionals in possession of unpublished human tick encounter data are strongly encouraged to publish this information in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In future papers, it would be beneficial if data consistently were broken down by tick species and life stage as well as host species and ticks found biting versus crawling on clothing or skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
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Basit MA, Ijaz M, Khan JA, Ashraf K, Abbas RZ. Molecular Evidence and Hematological Profile of Bovines Naturally Infected with Ehrlichiosis in Southern Punjab, Pakistan. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:72-78. [PMID: 34138414 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00433-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ehrlichiosis is one of the tick-borne diseases, which is not only neglected in Pakistan but only a few reports have been documented throughout the globe. The purpose of this study is to highlight and report the neglected pathogen from bovines in Pakistan. METHODS In this study, the pathogen was detected initially based on microscopy, followed by the molecular confirmation and phylogenetic analysis of the pathogen from bovines from south Punjab, Pakistan. The hematological parameters were also assessed in Ehrlichia positive and negative animals. The information of different disease determinants was analyzed by a logistic regression model on SPSS. RESULTS The study has reported an 11.98% (23/192) prevalence of Ehrlichiosis from bovines. The prevalence was slightly more in cattle (13.5%) as compared to the buffaloes (10.4%). The previous tick's history and tick control methods were proved to be the key factors with the occurrence of the disease. The isolates from Pakistan Ehrlichia spp. Pakistan/31, 36, and 8 clustered with the isolates from the USA, Nicaraguan, France, South Africa, and Uganda. Platelet count, hemoglobin level, and hematocrit were found significantly decreased in Ehrlichia affected animals when compared to the healthy bovines. CONCLUSION This is the first report of ehrlichiosis from bovines in Pakistan and will provide the roadmap for future research.
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Lippi CA, Ryan SJ, White AL, Gaff HD, Carlson CJ. Trends and Opportunities in Tick-Borne Disease Geography. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2021-2029. [PMID: 34027972 PMCID: PMC8577696 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a growing problem in many parts of the world, and their surveillance and control touch on challenging issues in medical entomology, agricultural health, veterinary medicine, and biosecurity. Spatial approaches can be used to synthesize the data generated by integrative One Health surveillance systems, and help stakeholders, managers, and medical geographers understand the current and future distribution of risk. Here, we performed a systematic review of over 8,000 studies and identified a total of 303 scientific publications that map tick-borne diseases using data on vectors, pathogens, and hosts (including wildlife, livestock, and human cases). We find that the field is growing rapidly, with the major Ixodes-borne diseases (Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis in particular) giving way to monitoring efforts that encompass a broader range of threats. We find a tremendous diversity of methods used to map tick-borne disease, but also find major gaps: data on the enzootic cycle of tick-borne pathogens is severely underutilized, and mapping efforts are mostly limited to Europe and North America. We suggest that future work can readily apply available methods to track the distributions of tick-borne diseases in Africa and Asia, following a One Health approach that combines medical and veterinary surveillance for maximum impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A Lippi
- Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation (QDEC) Lab, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sadie J Ryan
- Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation (QDEC) Lab, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- College of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Alexis L White
- Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation (QDEC) Lab, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Holly D Gaff
- Department of Biology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Colin J Carlson
- Center for Global Health Science and Security, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Abstract
Public health messaging in the eastern United States has historically underemphasized the risks posed by lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), focusing instead on blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). This gap persists despite mounting evidence that lone star ticks also play an important role in disease ecology as confirmed vectors for a wide variety of tick-borne pathogens. These pathogens include several distinct bacterial agents that cause ehrlichiosis and tularensis in humans and dogs, a protozoal agent that causes cytauxzoonosis in cats, and emerging viruses such as Heartland, Bourbon, and Tacaribe. Lone star ticks are additionally linked to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, southern tick-associated rash illness, and alpha-gal syndrome, a condition marked by immune reactions to ingestion of mammalian meat. Moreover, their distribution in North America is expanding due to changing climatic factors and land use patterns. Lone star ticks are the most commonly encountered tick in Delaware, especially in Sussex and Kent Counties, and make up the vast majority of ticks collected in the first two years of the state’s tick surveillance program. Given the magnitude of lone star ticks’ medical and veterinary import, it is vital for healthcare professionals and health educators to devote more attention to this emerging threat.
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Vasconcelos EJR, Roy C, Geiger JA, Oney KM, Koo M, Ren S, Oakley BB, Diniz PPVP. Data analysis workflow for the detection of canine vector-borne pathogens using 16 S rRNA Next-Generation Sequencing. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:262. [PMID: 34332568 PMCID: PMC8325813 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02969-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) impact both human and veterinary medicine and pose special public health challenges. The main bacterial vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) of importance in veterinary medicine include Anaplasma spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia. Taxon-targeted PCR assays are the current gold standard for VBP diagnostics but limitations on the detection of genetically diverse organisms support a novel approach for broader detection of VBPs. We present a methodology for genetic characterization of VBPs using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and computational approaches. A major advantage of NGS is the ability to detect multiple organisms present in the same clinical sample in an unsupervised (i.e. non-targeted) and semi-quantitative way. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) presented here combines industry-standard microbiome analysis tools with our ad-hoc bioinformatic scripts to form a complete analysis pipeline accessible to veterinary scientists and freely available for download and use at https://github.com/eltonjrv/microbiome.westernu/tree/SOP . RESULTS We tested and validated our SOP by mimicking single, double, and triple infections in genomic canine DNA using serial dilutions of plasmids containing the entire 16 S rRNA gene sequence of (A) phagocytophilum, (B) v. berkhoffii, and E. canis. NGS with broad-range 16 S rRNA primers followed by our bioinformatics SOP was capable of detecting these pathogens in biological replicates of different dilutions. These results illustrate the ability of NGS to detect and genetically characterize multi-infections with different amounts of pathogens in a single sample. CONCLUSIONS Bloodborne microbiomics & metagenomics approaches may help expand the molecular diagnostic toolbox in veterinary and human medicine. In this paper, we present both in vitro and in silico detailed protocols that can be combined into a single workflow that may provide a significant improvement in VBP diagnostics and also facilitate future applications of microbiome research in veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elton J. R. Vasconcelos
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
- Leeds Omics, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Chayan Roy
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Joseph A. Geiger
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Kristina M. Oney
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Melody Koo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Songyang Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Brian B. Oakley
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
| | - Pedro Paulo V. P. Diniz
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East 2nd Street, CA 91766 − 1854 Pomona, USA
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13
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Saleh MN, Allen KE, Lineberry MW, Little SE, Reichard MV. Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission. Vet Parasitol 2021; 294:109392. [PMID: 33971481 PMCID: PMC9235321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions. In this review, we provide a summary of the complex and diverse life histories, distinct morphologies, and questing and feeding behaviors of the more common ticks of dogs and cats in North America with a focus on recent changes in geographic distribution. We also review pathogens of dogs and cats associated with the different tick species, some of which can cause serious, potentially fatal disease, and describe the zoonotic risk posed by ticks of pets. Understanding the natural history of ticks and the maintenance cycles responsible for providing an ongoing source of tick-borne infections is critical to effectively combatting the challenges ticks pose to the health of pets and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States.
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
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14
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Gillingham EL, Cull B, Pietzsch ME, Phipps LP, Medlock JM, Hansford K. The Unexpected Holiday Souvenir: The Public Health Risk to UK Travellers from Ticks Acquired Overseas. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E7957. [PMID: 33138220 PMCID: PMC7663673 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Overseas travel to regions where ticks are found can increase travellers' exposure to ticks and pathogens that may be unfamiliar to medical professionals in their home countries. Previous studies have detailed non-native tick species removed from recently returned travellers, occasionally leading to travel-associated human cases of exotic tick-borne disease. There are 20 species of tick endemic to the UK, yet UK travellers can be exposed to many other non-native species whilst overseas. Here, we report ticks received by Public Health England's Tick Surveillance Scheme from humans with recent travel history between January 2006 and December 2018. Altogether, 16 tick species were received from people who had recently travelled overseas. Confirmed imports (acquired outside of the UK) were received from people who recently travelled to 22 countries. Possible imports (acquired abroad or within the UK) were received from people who had recently travelled to eight European countries. Species-specific literature reviews highlighted nine of the sixteen tick species are known to vector at least one tick-borne pathogen to humans in the country of acquisition, suggesting travellers exposed to ticks may be at risk of being bitten by a species that is a known vector, with implications for novel tick-borne disease transmission to travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Maaike E. Pietzsch
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - L. Paul Phipps
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK;
| | - Jolyon M. Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Kayleigh Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
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15
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Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are a growing global health threat. The Stockholm Paradigm suggests that their toll will grow tragically in the face of climate change, in particular. The best research protocol for predicting and preventing infectious disease emergence states that an urgent search must commence to identify unknown human and animal pathogens. This short communication proposes that the ethnobiological knowledge of indigenous and impoverished communities can be a source of information about some of those unknown pathogens. I present the ecological and anthropological theory behind this proposal, followed by a few case studies that serve as a limited proof of concept. This paper also serves as a call to action for the medical anthropology community. It gives a brief primer on the EID crisis and how anthropology research may be vital to limiting its havoc on global health. Local knowledge is not likely to play a major role in EID research initiatives, but the incorporation of an awareness of EIDs into standard medical anthropological practice would have myriad other benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hampton Gray Gaddy
- Institute of Human Sciences, University of Oxford, 58a Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2 6QS, United Kingdom.
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16
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Kim TK, Tirloni L, Berger M, Diedrich JK, Yates JR, Termignoni C, da Silva Vaz I, Mulenga A. Amblyomma americanum serpin 41 (AAS41) inhibits inflammation by targeting chymase and chymotrypsin. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 156:1007-1021. [PMID: 32320803 PMCID: PMC11005088 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.04.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Ticks inject serine protease inhibitors (serpins) into their feeding sites to evade serine protease-mediated host defenses against tick-feeding. This study describes two highly identitical (97%) but functionally different Amblyomma americanum tick saliva serpins (AAS41 and 46) that are secreted at the inception of tick-feeding. We show that AAS41, which encodes a leucine at the P1 site inhibits inflammation system proteases: chymase (SI = 3.23, Ka = 5.6 ± 3.7X103M-1 s-1) and α-chymotrypsin (SI = 3.18, Ka = 1.6 ± 4.1X104M-1 s-1), while AAS46, which encodes threonine has no inhibitory activity. Similary, rAAS41 inhibits rMCP-1 purified from rat peritonuem derived mast cells. Consistently, rAAS41 inhibits chymase-mediated inflammation induced by compound 48/80 in rat paw edema and vascular permeability models. Native AAS41/46 proteins are among tick saliva immunogens that provoke anti-tick immunity in repeatedly infested animals as revealed by specific reactivity with tick immune sera. Of significance, native AAS41/46 play critical tick-feeding functions in that RNAi-mediated silencing caused ticks to ingest significantly less blood. Importantly, monospecific antibodies to rAAS41 blocked inhibitory functions of rAAS41, suggesting potential for design of vaccine antigens that provokes immunity to neutralize functions of this protein at the tick-feeding site. We discuss our findings with reference to tick-feeding physiology and discovery of effective tick vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA; Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Markus Berger
- Centro de Pesquisa Experimental, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jolene K Diedrich
- Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John R Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Termignoni
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
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17
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Gettings JR, Self SCW, McMahan CS, Brown DA, Nordone SK, Yabsley MJ. Local and regional temporal trends (2013-2019) of canine Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence in the USA. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:153. [PMID: 32228712 PMCID: PMC7106614 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04022-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the USA, there are several Ehrlichia spp. of concern including Ehrlichia canis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis, and “Panola Mountain Ehrlichia”. Of these, E. canis is considered the most clinically relevant for domestic dogs, with infection capable of causing acute, subclinical, and chronic stages of disease. Changes in climate, land use, habitats, and wildlife reservoir populations, and increasing contact between both human and dog populations with natural areas have resulted in the increased risk of vector-borne disease throughout the world. Methods A Bayesian spatio-temporal binomial regression model was applied to serological test results collected from veterinarians throughout the contiguous USA between January 2013 and November 2019. The model was used to quantify both regional and local temporal trends of canine Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence and identify areas that experienced significant increases in seroprevalence. Results Regionally, increasing seroprevalence occurred within several states throughout the central and southeastern states, including Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas. The underlying local trends revealed increasing seroprevalence at a finer scale. Clusters of locally increasing seroprevalence were seen from the western Appalachian region into the southern Midwest, along the Atlantic coast in New England, parts of Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and in a couple areas of the Mountain region. Clusters of locally decreasing seroprevalence were seen throughout the USA including New York and the mid-Atlantic states, Texas, the Midwest, and California. Conclusions Canine Ehrlichia spp. seroprevalence is increasing in both endemic and non-endemic areas of the USA. The findings from this study indicate that dogs across a wide area of the USA are at risk of exposure and these results should provide veterinarians and pet owners with the information they need to make informed decisions about prevention of tick exposure.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna R Gettings
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, USA.
| | - Stella C W Self
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 29208, USA
| | - Christopher S McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, 29634, USA
| | - D Andrew Brown
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, 29634, USA
| | - Shila K Nordone
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, 27607, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, USA
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18
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Kim TK, Tirloni L, Pinto AFM, Diedrich JK, Moresco JJ, Yates JR, da Silva Vaz I, Mulenga A. Time-resolved proteomic profile of Amblyomma americanum tick saliva during feeding. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0007758. [PMID: 32049966 PMCID: PMC7041860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum ticks transmit more than a third of human tick-borne disease (TBD) agents in the United States. Tick saliva proteins are critical to success of ticks as vectors of TBD agents, and thus might serve as targets in tick antigen-based vaccines to prevent TBD infections. We describe a systems biology approach to identify, by LC-MS/MS, saliva proteins (tick = 1182, rabbit = 335) that A. americanum ticks likely inject into the host every 24 h during the first 8 days of feeding, and towards the end of feeding. Searching against entries in GenBank grouped tick and rabbit proteins into 27 and 25 functional categories. Aside from housekeeping-like proteins, majority of tick saliva proteins belong to the tick-specific (no homology to non-tick organisms: 32%), protease inhibitors (13%), proteases (8%), glycine-rich proteins (6%) and lipocalins (4%) categories. Global secretion dynamics analysis suggests that majority (74%) of proteins in this study are associated with regulating initial tick feeding functions and transmission of pathogens as they are secreted within 24–48 h of tick attachment. Comparative analysis of the A. americanum tick saliva proteome to five other tick saliva proteomes identified 284 conserved tick saliva proteins: we speculate that these regulate critical tick feeding functions and might serve as tick vaccine antigens. We discuss our findings in the context of understanding A. americanum tick feeding physiology as a means through which we can find effective targets for a vaccine against tick feeding. The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is a medically important species in US that transmits 5 of the 16 reported tick-borne disease agents. Most recently, bites of this tick were associated with red meat allergies in humans. Vaccination of animals against tick feeding has been shown to be a sustainable and an effective alternative to current acaricide based tick control method which has several limitations. The pre-requisite to tick vaccine development is to understand the molecular basis of tick feeding physiology. Toward this goal, this study has identified proteins that A. americanum ticks inject into the host at different phases of its feeding cycle. This data set has identified proteins that A. americanum inject into the host within 24–48 h of feeding before it starts to transmit pathogens. Of high importance, we identified 284 proteins that are present in saliva of other tick species, which we suspect regulate important role(s) in tick feeding success and might represent rich source target antigens for a tick vaccine. Overall, this study provides a foundation to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating tick feeding physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Kwon Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucas Tirloni
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Antônio F. M. Pinto
- Foundation Peptide Biology Lab, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, Californai, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jolene K. Diedrich
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - James J. Moresco
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - John R. Yates
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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19
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Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG. My Mother's Story: Tick Borne Ehrlichiosis and a Life Well-Lived. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 20:319-324. [PMID: 31841654 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Edward B Breitschwerdt
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ricardo G Maggi
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
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20
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Colle AC, Mendonça RFBD, Maia MO, Freitas LDC, Witter R, Marcili A, Aguiar DMD, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB, Rossi RV, Pacheco RDC. Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in small mammals from Brazilian Amazonia. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2019; 28:592-604. [PMID: 31800885 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612019086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Small non-volant mammals (marsupials and small rodents) were captured at three different timepoints from 23 forest fragments across three municipalities (Alta Floresta, Sinop and Cláudia) covering the Amazonian biome of the Mato Grosso State in Midwestern Brazil. The animal tissues (liver and spleen) and blood were screened using molecular tools for the detection of Babesia, Coxiella, Cytauxzoon, Hepatozoon, Theileria, and Anaplasmataceae agents. A total of 230 specimens (78 rodents and 152 marsupials) were trapped. Hepatozoon and Piroplasmorida agents were detected in the common opossums (Didelphis marsupialis). In turn, all samples (blood, liver, or spleen) collected from the small mammals were negative for the genus Coxiella and the family Anaplasmataceae, as detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Phylogenetic analyses inferred from partial sequences of the 18S rRNA gene highlighted the occurrence of new Hepatozoon and Piroplasmorida haplotypes. Future studies determining the role of common opossum (D. marsupialis) in the epidemiological cycles of Hepatozoon and Babesia under natural conditions in the Amazonian biome are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Colle
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Ravena Fernanda Braga de Mendonça
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade - PPG-ECB, Instituto de Biociências - IB, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Maerle Oliveira Maia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Leodil da Costa Freitas
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Rute Witter
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal, Universidade de Santo Amaro - UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal - VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - FMVZ, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal - VPS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia - FMVZ, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Rogério Vieira Rossi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade - PPG-ECB, Instituto de Biociências - IB, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.,Laboratório de Mastozoologia, Instituto de Biociências - IB, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
| | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil
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21
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Sanchez-Vicente S, Tagliafierro T, Coleman JL, Benach JL, Tokarz R. Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases. mBio 2019; 10:e02055-19. [PMID: 31506314 PMCID: PMC6737246 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02055-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases have doubled in the last 12 years, and their geographic distribution has spread as well. The clinical spectrum of tick-borne diseases can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections, with a disproportionate incidence in children and the elderly. In the last few years, new agents have been discovered, and genetic changes have helped in the spread of pathogens and ticks. Polymicrobial infections, mostly in Ixodes scapularis, can complicate diagnostics and augment disease severity. Amblyomma americanum ticks have expanded their range, resulting in a dynamic and complex situation, possibly fueled by climate change. To document these changes, using molecular biology strategies for pathogen detection, an assessment of 12 microbes (9 pathogens and 3 symbionts) in three species of ticks was done in Suffolk County, New York. At least one agent was detected in 63% of I. scapularis ticksBorrelia burgdorferi was the most prevalent pathogen (57% in adults; 27% in nymphs), followed by Babesia microti (14% in adults; 15% in nymphs), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (14% in adults; 2% in nymphs), Borrelia miyamotoi (3% in adults), and Powassan virus (2% in adults). Polymicrobial infections were detected in 22% of I. scapularis ticks, with coinfections of B. burgdorferi and B. microti (9%) and of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum (7%). Three Ehrlichia species were detected in 4% of A. americanum ticks. The rickettsiae constituted the largest prokaryotic biomass of all the ticks tested and included Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia buchneri, and Rickettsia montanensis The high rates of polymicrobial infection in ticks present an opportunity to study the biological interrelationships of pathogens and their vectors.IMPORTANCE Tick-borne diseases have increased in prevalence in the United States and abroad. The reasons for these increases are multifactorial, but climate change is likely to be a major factor. One of the main features of the increase is the geographic expansion of tick vectors, notably Amblyomma americanum, which has brought new pathogens to new areas. The clinical spectrum of tick-borne diseases can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections, with a disproportionate incidence in children and the elderly. In addition, new pathogens that are cotransmitted by Ixodes scapularis have been discovered and have led to difficult diagnoses and to disease severity. Of these, Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, continues to be the most frequently transmitted pathogen. However, Babesia microti, Borrelia miyamotoi (another spirochete), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Powassan virus are frequent cotransmitted agents. Polymicrobial infection has important consequences for the diagnosis and management of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Sanchez-Vicente
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - James L Coleman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jorge L Benach
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Marcelino I, Colomé-Calls N, Holzmuller P, Lisacek F, Reynaud Y, Canals F, Vachiéry N. Sweet and Sour Ehrlichia: Glycoproteomics and Phosphoproteomics Reveal New Players in Ehrlichia ruminantium Physiology and Pathogenesis. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:450. [PMID: 30930869 PMCID: PMC6429767 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Unraveling which proteins and post-translational modifications (PTMs) affect bacterial pathogenesis and physiology in diverse environments is a tough challenge. Herein, we used mass spectrometry-based assays to study protein phosphorylation and glycosylation in Ehrlichia ruminantium Gardel virulent (ERGvir) and attenuated (ERGatt) variants and, how they can modulate Ehrlichia biological processes. The characterization of the S/T/Y phosphoproteome revealed that both strains share the same set of phosphoproteins (n = 58), 36% being overexpressed in ERGvir. The percentage of tyrosine phosphorylation is high (23%) and 66% of the identified peptides are multi-phosphorylated. Glycoproteomics revealed a high percentage of glycoproteins (67% in ERGvir) with a subset of glycoproteins being specific to ERGvir (n = 64/371) and ERGatt (n = 36/343). These glycoproteins are involved in key biological processes such as protein, amino-acid and purine biosynthesis, translation, virulence, DNA repair, and replication. Label-free quantitative analysis revealed over-expression in 31 proteins in ERGvir and 8 in ERGatt. While further PNGase digestion confidently localized 2 and 5 N-glycoproteins in ERGvir and ERGatt, respectively, western blotting suggests that many glycoproteins are O-GlcNAcylated. Twenty-three proteins were detected in both the phospho- and glycoproteome, for the two variants. This work represents the first comprehensive assessment of PTMs on Ehrlichia biology, rising interesting questions regarding ER–host interactions. Phosphoproteome characterization demonstrates an increased versatility of ER phosphoproteins to participate in different mechanisms. The high number of glycoproteins and the lack of glycosyltransferases-coding genes highlight ER dependence on the host and/or vector cellular machinery for its own protein glycosylation. Moreover, these glycoproteins could be crucial to interact and respond to changes in ER environment. PTMs crosstalk between of O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation could be used as a major cellular signaling mechanism in ER. As little is known about the Ehrlichia proteins/proteome and its signaling biology, the results presented herein provide a useful resource for further hypothesis-driven exploration of Ehrlichia protein regulation by phosphorylation and glycosylation events. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the data set identifier PXD012589.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Marcelino
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, France.,ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Unitè TReD-Path (Transmission Rèservoirs et Diversitè des Pathogènes), Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, Les Abymes, France
| | - Núria Colomé-Calls
- Proteomics Laboratory, Vall Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Philippe Holzmuller
- ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Frédérique Lisacek
- Proteome Informatics, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Geneva, Switzerland.,Computer Science Department and Section of Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yann Reynaud
- Unitè TReD-Path (Transmission Rèservoirs et Diversitè des Pathogènes), Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, Les Abymes, France
| | - Francesc Canals
- Proteomics Laboratory, Vall Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nathalie Vachiéry
- ASTRE, CIRAD, INRA, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
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23
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Gondard M, Cabezas-Cruz A, Charles RA, Vayssier-Taussat M, Albina E, Moutailler S. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Caribbean: Current Understanding and Future Directions for More Comprehensive Surveillance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:490. [PMID: 29238699 PMCID: PMC5713125 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods of significant importance to human and veterinary medicine. They transmit a vast array of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths. Most epidemiological data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in the West Indies are limited to common livestock pathogens such as Ehrlichia ruminantium, Babesia spp. (i.e., B. bovis and B. bigemina), and Anaplasma marginale, and less information is available on companion animal pathogens. Of note, human tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain almost completely uncharacterized in the West Indies. Information on TBP presence in wildlife is also missing. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and TBPs affecting human and animal health in the Caribbean, and introduce the challenges associated with understanding TBD epidemiology and implementing successful TBD management in this region. In particular, we stress the need for innovative and versatile surveillance tools using high-throughput pathogen detection (e.g., high-throughput real-time microfluidic PCR). The use of such tools in large epidemiological surveys will likely improve TBD prevention and control programs in the Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gondard
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceské Budejovice, Czechia
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceské Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Roxanne A. Charles
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Emmanuel Albina
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, France
- INRA, UMR 1319 ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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24
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Soares HS, Marcili A, Barbieri ARM, Minervino AHH, Malheiros AF, Gennari SM, Labruna MB. Novel Anaplasma and Ehrlichia organisms infecting the wildlife of two regions of the Brazilian Amazon. Acta Trop 2017; 174:82-87. [PMID: 28690147 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
During 2009-2012, wild animals were sampled in the Amazon biome of Brazil. Animal tissues and blood were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting DNA of the bacterial family Anaplasmataceae (genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Wolbachia) and the genus Borrelia. Overall, 181 wild animals comprising 36 different species (2 reptiles, 5 birds, and 29 mammals) were sampled. All birds and reptiles were negative by all PCR assays, as well as all mammals for the Borrelia PCR assay. Anaplasmataceae agents were searched by PCR assays targeting two different genes, the ribosomal 16S rRNA gene and the protein-coding dsb gene. Three dsb closely related haplotypes were generated from 3 white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari). In a phylogenetic analysis inferred from dsb partial sequences, these haplotypes grouped with previously reported Ehrlichia haplotypes from jaguar (Panthera onca) and horse from Brazil, suggesting that they could all represent a single species, yet to be properly characterized. A unique dsb haplotype was generated from a sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and could also represent a different Ehrlichia species. All these dsb haplotypes formed a clade sister to the Ehrlichia ruminantium clade. Three distinct 16S rRNA gene haplotypes were generated from a wild guinea pig (Cavia sp.), a woolly mouse opossum (Micoureus demerarae), and two from robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.). In a phylogenetic analysis inferred from 16S rRNA gene partial sequence, these haplotypes grouped within the Wolbachia clade, and are likely to represent Wolbachia organisms that were infecting invertebrate metazoarians (e.g., filarids) associated with the sampled mammals. Two deer (Mazama americana) samples yielded two distinct 16S rRNA gene sequences, one identical to several sequences of Anaplasma bovis, and an unique sequence that grouped in a clade with different Anaplasma species. Our results indicate that a variety of genetically distinct Anaplasmataceae organisms, including potentially new Ehrlichia species, circulate under natural conditions in the Amazonian wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert S Soares
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Mestrado em Medicina e Bem estar animal, Universidade Santo Amaro, Av. Prof. Eneas de Siqueira Neto, 340, São Paulo, 04529-300, Brazil
| | - Amália R M Barbieri
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio H H Minervino
- Institute of Biodiversity and Forest, Federal University of Western Pará, Avenida Vera Paz S/N, Salé, 68000-000 Santarém, PA, Brazil
| | - Antonio F Malheiros
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso-UNEMAT, Cáceres, MT, Brazil
| | - Solange M Gennari
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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25
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Gofton AW, Waudby HP, Petit S, Greay TL, Ryan UM, Irwin PJ. Detection and phylogenetic characterisation of novel Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in Amblyomma triguttatum subsp. from four allopatric populations in Australia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:749-756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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26
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Abstract
A vast number of novel tick-related microorganisms and tick-borne disease agents have been identified in the past 20 years, and more are being described due to several factors, from the curiosity of clinicians faced with unusual clinical syndromes to new tools used by microbiologists and entomologists. Borrelioses, ehrlichioses, anaplasmosis, and tick-borne rickettsial diseases are some of the emerging diseases that have been described throughout the world in recent years. In this article, we focus on the bacterial agents and diseases that have been recognized in the past 3 years and refer to major recent reviews of other recognized infections.
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27
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Allerdice MEJ, Hecht JA, Karpathy SE, Paddock CD. Evaluation of Gulf Coast Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma Species. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:481-484. [PMID: 28031351 PMCID: PMC11063997 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma maculatum Koch (the Gulf Coast tick) is an aggressive, human-biting ixodid tick distributed throughout much of the southeastern United States and is the primary vector for Rickettsia parkeri, an emerging human pathogen. Amblyomma maculatum has diverse host preferences that include white-tailed deer, a known reservoir for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, including the human pathogens E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis. To examine more closely the potential role of A. maculatum in the maintenance of various pathogenic Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species, we screened DNA samples from 493 questing adult A. maculatum collected from six U.S. states using broad-range Anaplasmataceae and Ehrlichia genus-specific PCR assays. Of the samples tested, four (0.8%) were positive for DNA of Ehrlichia ewingii, one (0.2%) was positive for Anaplasma platys, and one (0.2%) was positive for a previously unreported Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia muris and an uncultivated Ehrlichia species from Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in Japan. No ticks contained DNA of Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia canis, the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, or Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This is the first identification of E. ewingii, A. platys, and the novel Ehrlichia in questing Gulf Coast ticks; nonetheless the low prevalence of these agents suggests that A. maculatum is not likely an important vector of these zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E J Allerdice
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (; ; ; )
| | - Joy A Hecht
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (; ; ; )
| | - Sandor E Karpathy
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (; ; ; )
| | - Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 (; ; ; )
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28
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Ehrlichioses: An Important One Health Opportunity. Vet Sci 2016; 3:vetsci3030020. [PMID: 29056728 PMCID: PMC5606584 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci3030020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichioses are caused by obligately intracellular bacteria that are maintained subclinically in a persistently infected vertebrate host and a tick vector. The most severe life-threatening illnesses, such as human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis and heartwater, occur in incidental hosts. Ehrlichia have a developmental cycle involving an infectious, nonreplicating, dense core cell and a noninfectious, replicating reticulate cell. Ehrlichiae secrete proteins that bind to host cytoplasmic proteins and nuclear chromatin, manipulating the host cell environment to their advantage. Severe disease in immunocompetent hosts is mediated in large part by immunologic and inflammatory mechanisms, including overproduction of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), which is produced by CD8 T lymphocytes, and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Immune components that contribute to control of ehrlichial infection include CD4 and CD8 T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-12, and antibodies. Some immune components, such as TNF-α, perforin, and CD8 T cells, play both pathogenic and protective roles. In contrast with the immunocompetent host, which may die with few detectable organisms owing to the overly strong immune response, immunodeficient hosts die with overwhelming infection and large quantities of organisms in the tissues. Vaccine development is challenging because of antigenic diversity of E. ruminantium, the necessity of avoiding an immunopathologic response, and incomplete knowledge of the protective antigens.
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29
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Sayler KA, Loftis AD, Beatty SK, Boyce CL, Garrison E, Clemons B, Cunningham M, Alleman AR, Barbet AF. Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Host-Seeking Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Odocoileus virginianus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) in Florida. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:949-956. [PMID: 27117680 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is an aggressive tick that is expanding its geographic range within the United States. This tick is the vector for the human and veterinary pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii and is associated with other microbes of unspecified pathogenicity including Rickettsia amblyommii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, and Borrelia lonestari In Florida, there has been sparse contemporary data on the prevalence of these organisms in host-seeking lone star ticks. To determine the prevalence of this tick and associated microbes in North Central Florida state parks, ∼1,500 lone star tick specimens were collected between 2010 and 2012 analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. Additionally, 393 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman), samples were analyzed for pathogen prevalence using molecular methods and serology. In lone star ticks, 14.6, 15.6, and 57.1% were positive for E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Rickettsia spp. DNA, respectively. Panola Mountain Ehrlichia or B. lonestari DNA were each detected in nearly 2% of tick specimens. In white-tailed deer, 7.3% were PCR positive for E. chaffeensis, 6.0% for E. ewingii, and 3.2% for rickettsial species. Approximately 45% of white-tailed deer specimens had antibodies to Ehrlichia spp., and <1% had antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi In summary, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and spotted fever group rickettsia are highly prevalent in host-seeking lone star ticks and in white-tailed deer in Florida. The molecular and serological evidence of these microbes underscore their zoonotic potential in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; ),
- Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608
| | - Amanda D Loftis
- Department of Microbiology, Midwestern University Glendale, 19555 N 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 , and
| | - Sarah K Beatty
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Carisa L Boyce
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Elina Garrison
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Bambi Clemons
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Mark Cunningham
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish & Wildlife Research Institute, 1105 SW Williston Rd., Gainesville, FL 32601 (; ; )
| | - Arthur R Alleman
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 (; ; ; )
| | - Anthony F Barbet
- Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, 2015 SW 16th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608
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Loftis AD, Kelly PJ, Paddock CD, Blount K, Johnson JW, Gleim ER, Yabsley MJ, Levin ML, Beati L. Panola Mountain Ehrlichia in Amblyomma maculatum From the United States and Amblyomma variegatum (Acari: Ixodidae) From the Caribbean and Africa. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:696-698. [PMID: 26744465 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME) has been suggested as an emerging pathogen of humans and dogs. Domestic goats and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are also susceptible and likely serve as reservoirs. Experimentally, both the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum (L.)) and the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch) can transmit PME among deer and goats. In the current study, we detected PME in adult wild-caught A. maculatum from the United States and Amblyomma variegatum (F.) from the Caribbean and Africa. This significantly expands the range, potential tick vectors, and risk for exposure to PME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda D Loftis
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis (; ),
| | - Patrick J Kelly
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis (; )
| | - Christopher D Paddock
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333 (; )
| | - Keith Blount
- Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, CO 80840
| | - Jason W Johnson
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752
| | - Elizabeth R Gleim
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA (; )
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, 589 DW Brooks Drive, Athens Georgia 30602
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway, Newton, GA, and
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA (; )
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Georgia, 589 DW Brooks Drive, Athens Georgia 30602
| | - Michael L Levin
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333 (; )
| | - Lorenza Beati
- The U.S. National Tick Collection, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Avenue - Building 204, P.O. Box 8056, Statesboro, Georgia 30460
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31
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Dahlgren FS, Heitman KN, Behravesh CB. Undetermined Human Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis in the United States, 2008-2012: A Catch-All for Passive Surveillance. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2015; 94:299-301. [PMID: 26621564 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Human ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are potentially severe illnesses endemic in the United States. Several bacterial agents are known causes of these diseases: Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia muris-like agent, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia species, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Because more than one agent may be present in one area, cases of human ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis may be reported as "human ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis undetermined" when the available evidence does not suggest an etiology to the species level. Here, we present a brief summary of these undetermined cases with onset of symptoms from 2008 to 2012 reported to two passive surveillance systems in the United States. The reported incidence rate during this time was 0.52 cases per million person-years. Many cases (24%) had positive polymerase chain reaction results. Enhanced surveillance in an area where several of these etiologic agents are endemic may provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scott Dahlgren
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kristen Nichols Heitman
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Casey Barton Behravesh
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Guillemi EC, Tomassone L, Farber MD. Tick-borne Rickettsiales: Molecular tools for the study of an emergent group of pathogens. J Microbiol Methods 2015; 119:87-97. [PMID: 26471201 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2015.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of molecular techniques in recent years has enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis of Rickettsiales, a bacterial order which includes significant emerging and re-emerging pathogens of humans and animals. Molecular detection enables the accurate identification at the species level, providing additional information on the epidemiology and course of the clinical cases. Moreover, PCR and enzyme restriction analysis of the vector blood meal can be employed to study the tick feeding source and possibly identify pathogen's reservoir. Here, we review the molecular tools available for the identification and characterization of tick-borne bacteria from the genera Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma and for the study of ticks feeding behavior. We summarize the significant criteria for taxonomic identification of Rickettsiales species and propose a procedure algorithm for the classification of bacterial isolates as members of this order.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana C Guillemi
- Inst. de Biotecnología, INTA Castelar. Los Reseros y N. Repetto, 1686 Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Laura Tomassone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - Marisa D Farber
- Inst. de Biotecnología, INTA Castelar. Los Reseros y N. Repetto, 1686 Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Sayler KA, Loftis AD, Mahan SM, Barbet AF. Development of a Quantitative PCR Assay for Differentiating the Agent of Heartwater Disease, Ehrlichia ruminantium, from the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2015; 63:e260-e269. [PMID: 25807955 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME) is an emerging Ehrlichia sp. reported in ten US states. Based on the sequence homology of all known genes, PME is closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium (ER), the causative agent of heartwater. Heartwater is an economically important tick-borne disease of cattle, sheep and goats responsible for stock losses in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, ER was imported to the Caribbean islands in the 19th century, and the presence of this foreign animal disease in the Caribbean poses a threat to the US mainland. If introduced, a heartwater outbreak would cause massive losses of naïve livestock. The serologic assay of choice to diagnose heartwater is cross-reactive with Ehrlichia spp., including PME, as we demonstrate here, which would confound disease surveillance in the event of a heartwater outbreak. The purpose of this study was to develop a diagnostic assay capable of rapidly distinguishing between these pathogens. Using synthetic MAP-1B peptides for ER and PME, we tested the cross-reactivity of this assay using sera from infected livestock. The MAP-1B ELISA cannot distinguish between animals infected with PME and ER. Therefore, a dual-plex Taqman™ qPCR assay targeting the groEL gene of PME and ER was developed and validated. Primers were designed that are conserved among all known strains of ER, allowing for the amplification of strains from the Caribbean and Africa. The assay is highly sensitive (10 copies of DNA) and specific. This assay distinguishes between infection with PME and ER and will be a valuable tool in the event of heartwater outbreak on the US mainland, or for epidemiological studies involving either disease-causing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Sayler
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. .,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - A D Loftis
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - S M Mahan
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Zoetis, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
| | - A F Barbet
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Harmon JR, Scott MC, Baker EM, Jones CJ, Hickling GJ. Molecular identification of Ehrlichia species and host bloodmeal source in Amblyomma americanum L. from two locations in Tennessee, United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:246-52. [PMID: 25682494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Revised: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The current status of tick-borne diseases in the southeastern United States is challenging to define due to emerging pathogens, uncertain tick/host relationships, and changing disease case definitions. A golf-oriented retirement community on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee experienced an ehrlichiosis outbreak in 1993, prompting efforts to reduce the local tick population using '4-Poster' acaricide devices targeting white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). In 2009, the prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in questing ticks was surveyed in the area and compared to a Tennessee state park where acaricide had not been applied. The range of wildlife hosts that immature Amblyomma americanum fed upon and the role that these hosts may play in pathogen dynamics were investigated using a reverse line blot (RLB) bloodmeal analysis technique. Amblyomma americanum was by far the most common tick species in both study areas (>99% of ticks collected). Of 303 adult and nymphal A. americanum tested at the retirement community, six were positive for Ehrlichia chaffeensis (2.0%), 16 were positive for E. ewingii (5.3%), and six were positive for Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (2.0%). This is the first confirmation of Panola Mountain Ehrlichia in A. americanum from the state of Tennessee. The 9.3% prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks from the retirement community was similar to that detected at the state park site (5.5%), suggesting that the 4-Poster treatment had not been sufficient to reduce Ehrlichia spp. cycling in the tick population. At both study sites, A. americanum fed on a wide range of mammal and bird species, with a minority of detectable bloodmeals coming from deer. Of the Ehrlichia-infected nymphs with positive bloodmeal identification, none fed on deer, indicating that multiple vertebrate species are contributing to sylvatic maintenance of Ehrlichia spp. at these sites. This highlights the difficulty of attempting to reduce the risk of tick-borne disease through host-targeted interventions alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica R Harmon
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, United States; University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Center for Wildlife Health, United States.
| | - M Cathy Scott
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Center for Wildlife Health, United States
| | - Ellen M Baker
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Center for Wildlife Health, United States
| | - Carl J Jones
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, United States
| | - Graham J Hickling
- University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Center for Wildlife Health, United States
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Lee S, Kakumanu ML, Ponnusamy L, Vaughn M, Funkhouser S, Thornton H, Meshnick SR, Apperson CS. Prevalence of Rickettsiales in ticks removed from the skin of outdoor workers in North Carolina. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:607. [PMID: 25533148 PMCID: PMC4301950 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0607-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-transmitted rickettsial diseases, such as ehrlichiosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis, are significant sources of morbidity and mortality in the southern United States. Because of their exposure in tick-infested woodlands, outdoor workers experience an increased risk of infection with tick-borne pathogens. As part of a double blind randomized-controlled field trial of the effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing in preventing tick bites, we identified tick species removed from the skin of outdoor workers in North Carolina and tested the ticks for Rickettsiales pathogens. Methods Ticks submitted by study participants from April-September 2011 and 2012 were identified to species and life stage, and preliminarily screened for the genus Rickettsia by nested PCR targeting the 17-kDa protein gene. Rickettsia were further identified to species by PCR amplification of 23S-5S intergenic spacer (IGS) fragments combined with reverse line blot hybridization with species-specific probes and through cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of 23S-5S amplicons. Ticks were examined for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma by nested PCR directed at the gltA, antigen-expressing gene containing a variable number of tandem repeats, 16S rRNA, and groESL genes. Results The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) accounted for 95.0 and 92.9% of ticks submitted in 2011 (n = 423) and 2012 (n = 451), respectively. Specimens of American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum) and black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) were also identified. In both years of our study, 60.9% of ticks tested positive for 17-kDa. “Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii”, identified in all four tick species, accounted for 90.2% (416/461) of the 23S-5S-positive samples and 52.9% (416/787) of all samples tested. Nucleotide sequence analysis of Rickettsia-specific 23S-5S IGS, ompA and gltA gene fragments indicated that ticks, principally A. americanum, contained novel species of Rickettsia. Other Rickettsiales, including Ehrlichia ewingii, E. chaffeensis, Ehrlichia sp. (Panola Mountain), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, were infrequently identified, principally in A. americanum. Conclusions We conclude that in North Carolina, the most common rickettsial exposure is to R. amblyommii carried by A. americanum. Other Rickettsiales bacteria, including novel species of Rickettsia, were less frequently detected in A. americanum but are relevant to public health nevertheless. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-014-0607-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangmi Lee
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA. .,Present address: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Madhavi L Kakumanu
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA.
| | - Loganathan Ponnusamy
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA.
| | - Meagan Vaughn
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Sheana Funkhouser
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Haley Thornton
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA.
| | - Steven R Meshnick
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Charles S Apperson
- Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7647, Raleigh, NC, 27695-7647, USA.
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Fitak RR, Kelly DJ, Daniels MK, Jiang J, Richards AL, Fuerst PA. The prevalence of rickettsial and ehrlichial organisms in Amblyomma americanum ticks collected from Ohio and surrounding areas between 2000 and 2010. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:797-800. [PMID: 25108789 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, feeds upon a variety of hosts and is a known vector of several human pathogens. In Ohio, populations of A. americanum have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance and distribution, thereby elevating the public health concerns regarding bites from this species. We used a set of PCR assays to detect the presence of ehrlichial and rickettsial species in A. americanum ticks submitted to the Ohio Department of Health Zoonotic Disease Program over an 11-year period (2000-2010). We did not detect the presence of known pathogens Rickettsia rickettsii or Ehrlichia chaffeensis, but we did identify the presence of two other bacterial species: 'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii', and Ehrlichia sp. Panola Mountain. 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' was the most common species identified (30.2%), whereas the ehrlichiae was quite rare (0.6%). With growing evidence implicating both 'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii' and Ehrlichia sp. Panola Mountain in mild to moderate human disease, our results support the importance of continued monitoring of A. americanum ticks for the presence of potential pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R Fitak
- Dept. of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Daryl J Kelly
- Dept. of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Dept., Navy Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Mary K Daniels
- Zoonotic Disease Program, Ohio Dept. of Health, Reynoldsburg, OH, USA.
| | - Ju Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Dept., Navy Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Allen L Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Dept., Navy Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| | - Paul A Fuerst
- Dept. of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Killmaster LF, Loftis AD, Zemtsova GE, Levin ML. Detection of bacterial agents in Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) from Georgia, USA, and the use of a multiplex assay to differentiate Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2014; 51:868-872. [PMID: 25118421 PMCID: PMC5659119 DOI: 10.1603/me13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is the most common and most aggressive human biting tick in the Southeastern United States. It is known to transmit the agents of human ehrlichioses, Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii. In addition, it carries agents of unspecified pathogenicity to humans, including Rickettsia amblyommii, Borrelia lonestari, and the newly emerging Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME). Surveillance of these ticks for recognized or emerging pathogens is necessary for assessing the risk of human infection. From 2005 to 2009, we surveyed A. americanum ticks from four locations in the state of Georgia. Ticks (1,183 adults, 2,954 nymphs, and 99 larval batches) were tested using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay designed to detect and discriminate DNA from Rickettsia spp., E. chaffeensis, and E. ewingii. This assay was capable of detecting as few as 10 gene copies of the aforementioned agents. Ticks were also tested for PME and B. lonestari by nested PCR. The prevalence of infection ranged from 0 to 2.5% for E. chaffeensis, 0 to 3.9% for E. ewingii, 0 to 2.2% for PME, 17 to 83.1% for R. amblyommii, and 0 to 3.1% for B. lonestari. There were 46 (4.1%) individual adults positive for two agents, and two females that were each positive for three agents. Two larval batches were positive for both B. lonestari and R. amblyommii, indicating the potential for transovarial transmission of both agents from a single female. Although infrequent in occurrence, the dynamics of coinfections in individual ticks should be explored further, given the potential implications for differential diagnosis and severity of human illness.
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Radulović ŽM, Kim TK, Porter LM, Sze SH, Lewis L, Mulenga A. A 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:518. [PMID: 24962723 PMCID: PMC4099483 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple tick saliva proteins, the majority of which are unknown, confer tick resistance in repeatedly infested animals. The objective of this study was to identify the 24-48 h fed Amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. The 24-48 h tick-feeding phase is critical to tick parasitism as it precedes important events in tick biology, blood meal feeding and disease agent transmission. Fed male, 24 and 96 h fed female phage display cDNA expression libraries were biopanned using rabbit antibodies to 24 and 48 h fed A. americanum female tick saliva proteins. Biopanned immuno-cDNA libraries were subjected to next generation sequencing, de novo assembly, and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS More than 800 transcripts that code for 24-48 h fed A. americanum immuno-proteins are described. Of the 895 immuno-proteins, 52% (464/895) were provisionally identified based on matches in GenBank. Of these, ~19% (86/464) show high level of identity to other tick hypothetical proteins, and the rest include putative proteases (serine, cysteine, leukotriene A-4 hydrolase, carboxypeptidases, and metalloproteases), protease inhibitors (serine and cysteine protease inhibitors, tick carboxypeptidase inhibitor), and transporters and/or ligand binding proteins (histamine binding/lipocalin, fatty acid binding, calreticulin, hemelipoprotein, IgG binding protein, ferritin, insulin-like growth factor binding proteins, and evasin). Others include enzymes (glutathione transferase, cytochrome oxidase, protein disulfide isomerase), ribosomal proteins, and those of miscellaneous functions (histamine release factor, selenoproteins, tetraspanin, defensin, heat shock proteins). CONCLUSIONS Data here demonstrate that A. americanum secretes a complex cocktail of immunogenic tick saliva proteins during the first 24-48 h of feeding. Of significance, previously validated immunogenic tick saliva proteins including AV422 protein, calreticulin, histamine release factor, histamine binding/lipocalins, selenoproteins, and paramyosin were identified in this screen, supporting the specificity of the approach in this study. While descriptive, this study opens opportunities for in-depth tick feeding physiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Željko M Radulović
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Tae K Kim
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Lindsay M Porter
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Sing-Hoi Sze
- />Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX77843 USA
- />Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Lauren Lewis
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- />Department of Entomology, AgriLife Research, Texas A & M University, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX77843 USA
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Aguiar DM, Ziliani TF, Zhang X, Melo ALT, Braga IA, Witter R, Freitas LC, Rondelli ALH, Luis MA, Sorte ECB, Jaune FW, Santarém VA, Horta MC, Pescador CA, Colodel EM, Soares HS, Pacheco RC, Onuma SSM, Labruna MB, McBride JW. A novel Ehrlichia genotype strain distinguished by the TRP36 gene naturally infects cattle in Brazil and causes clinical manifestations associated with ehrlichiosis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:537-44. [PMID: 24915874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A novel Ehrlichia genotype most closely related to E. canis was reported in North American cattle in 2010, and a similar agent was subsequently identified in the hemolymph of Brazilian Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks and isolated in 2012. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this or other novel ehrlichial agents naturally infect Brazilian cattle. Using PCR targeting the genus-conserved dsb gene, DNA from this novel ehrlichial agent in Brazilian cattle was detected. Attempts to isolate the organism in vitro were performed using DH82 cells, but morulae and ehrlichial DNA could only be detected for approximately one month. In order to further molecularly characterize the organism, PCR was performed using primers specific for multiple E. canis genes (dsb, rrs, and trp36). Sequence obtained from the conserved rrs and dsb genes demonstrated that the organism was 99-100% identical to the novel Ehrlichia genotypes previously reported in North American cattle (rrs gene) and Brazilian ticks (rrs and dsb genes). However, analysis of the trp36 gene revealed substantial strain diversity between these Ehrlichia genotypes strains, including divergent tandem repeat sequences. In order to obtain preliminary information on the potential pathogenicity of this ehrlichial agent and clinical course of infection, a calf was experimentally infected. The calf showed clinical signs of ehrlichiosis, including fever, depression, lethargy, thrombocytopenia, and morulae were observed in peripheral blood monocytes. This study reports a previously unrecognized disease-causing Ehrlichia sp. in Brazilian cattle that is consistent with the genotype previously described in North America cattle and ticks from Brazil. Hence, it is likely that this is the organism previously identified as Ehrlichia bovis in Brazil in 1982. Furthermore, we have concluded that strains of these Ehrlichia genotypes can be molecularly distinguished by the trp36 gene, which has been widely utilized to define E. canis strain diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Aguiar
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA; Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
| | - Thayza F Ziliani
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Xiaofeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Andreia L T Melo
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Isis A Braga
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Rute Witter
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Leodil C Freitas
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias, HOVET-UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | | | - Michele A Luis
- Clinica Médica de Grandes Animais, HOVET-UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Eveline C B Sorte
- Laboratório de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, HOVET-UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Felipe W Jaune
- Laboratório de Virologia e Rickettsioses, Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (HOVET-UFMT), Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Vamilton A Santarém
- Laboratório de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva II, Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil
| | - Mauricio C Horta
- Colegiado do curso de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | | | - Edson M Colodel
- Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária, HOVET-UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Herbert S Soares
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Richard C Pacheco
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária e Doenças Parasitárias, HOVET-UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
| | - Selma S M Onuma
- Estação Ecológica de Taiamã, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da biodiversidade (ICMBio), Cáceres, MT, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jere W McBride
- Department of Pathology, Center of Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development and Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Gaines DN, Operario DJ, Stroup S, Stromdahl E, Wright C, Gaff H, Broyhill J, Smith J, Norris DE, Henning T, Lucas A, Houpt E. Ehrlichia and spotted fever group Rickettsiae surveillance in Amblyomma americanum in Virginia through use of a novel six-plex real-time PCR assay. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014; 14:307-16. [PMID: 24746145 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The population of the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum has expanded in North America over the last several decades. It is known to be an aggressive and nondiscriminatory biter and is by far the most common human-biting tick encountered in Virginia. Few studies of human pathogen prevalence in ticks have been conducted in our state since the mid-twentieth century. We developed a six-plex real-time PCR assay to detect three Ehrlichia species (E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Panola Mountain Ehrlichia) and three spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR; R. amblyommii, R. parkeri, and R. rickettsii) and used it to test A. americanum from around the state. Our studies revealed a presence of all three Ehrlichia species (0-24.5%) and a high prevalence (50-80%) of R. amblyommii, a presumptively nonpathogenic SFGR, in all regions surveyed. R. parkeri, previously only detected in Virginia's Amblyomma maculatum ticks, was found in A. americanum in several surveyed areas within two regions having established A. maculatum populations. R. rickettsii was not found in any sample tested. Our study provides the first state-wide screening of A. americanum ticks in recent history and indicates that human exposure to R. amblyommii and to Ehrlichiae may be common. The high prevalence of R. amblyommii, serological cross-reactivity of all SFGR members, and the apparent rarity of R. rickettsii in human biting ticks across the eastern United States suggest that clinical cases of tick-borne disease, including ehrlichiosis, may be commonly misdiagnosed as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and that suspicion of other SFGR as well as Ehrlichia should be increased. These data may be of relevance to other regions where A. americanum is prevalent.
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Qurollo BA, Davenport AC, Sherbert BM, Grindem CB, Birkenheuer AJ, Breitschwerdt EB. Infection with Panola Mountain Ehrlichia sp. in a dog with atypical lymphocytes and clonal T-cell expansion. J Vet Intern Med 2013; 27:1251-5. [PMID: 23875820 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- B A Qurollo
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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Almeida AP, Souza TD, Marcili A, Labruna MB. Novel Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon agents infecting the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in southeastern Brazil. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2013; 50:640-646. [PMID: 23802461 DOI: 10.1603/me12272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated infection by vector-borne agents in 58 crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous L.) that were road-killed in an Atlantic rainforest reserve in the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil. Spleen, lung, or blood samples collected from the foxes were tested in the laboratory by a battery of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting bacteria of the genera Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia; and protozoa of the genera Babesia, Hepatozoon, and Leishmania. Of the targeted organisms, evidence of infection in the foxes was detected for Ehrlichia and Hepatozoon organisms only. Overall, six (10.3%) foxes were infected by an ehrlichial agent closely related to an ehrlichial agent recently detected in free-ranging Jaguars [(Panthera onca (L.)] in central-western Brazil, and to Ehrlichia ruminantium. For Hepatozoon, 28 (48.3%) foxes were infected by an agent closely related to Hepatozoon sp. Curupira 2 and H. americanum; and one (1.7%) fox was infected by an organism closely related to reptile-associated Hepatozoon agents. Finally, 11 (19.0%) foxes were found infested by Amblyomma cajennense (F.) nymphs, which were all PCR negative for the range of vector-borne agents cited above. Because the haplotypes found in free-ranging foxes are genetically closely related to pathogens of great veterinary importance, namely E. ruminantium and H. americanum, it is highly desirable to know if these novel organisms have any important role as agents of diseases in domestic animals and wildlife in Brazil.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Brazil/epidemiology
- Coccidiosis/epidemiology
- Coccidiosis/veterinary
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- DNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- DNA, Protozoan/genetics
- DNA, Protozoan/metabolism
- Ehrlichia/classification
- Ehrlichia/genetics
- Ehrlichia/isolation & purification
- Ehrlichiosis/epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis/veterinary
- Eucoccidiida/classification
- Eucoccidiida/genetics
- Eucoccidiida/isolation & purification
- Foxes
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/metabolism
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary
- Sequence Homology
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliny P Almeida
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Cidade Universitária, 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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43
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Leydet BF, Liang FT. Detection of human bacterial pathogens in ticks collected from Louisiana black bears (Ursus americanus luteolus). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:191-6. [PMID: 23415850 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
There are 4 major human-biting tick species in the northeastern United States, which include: Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. The black bear is a large mammal that has been shown to be parasitized by all the aforementioned ticks. We investigated the bacterial infections in ticks collected from Louisiana black bears (Ursus americanus subspecies luteolus). Eighty-six ticks were collected from 17 black bears in Louisiana from June 2010 to March 2011. All 4 common human-biting tick species were represented. Each tick was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting select bacterial pathogens and symbionts. Bacterial DNA was detected in 62% of ticks (n=53). Rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of an emerging spotted fever group rickettsiosis, was identified in 66% of A. maculatum, 28% of D. variabilis, and 11% of I. scapularis. The Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, was detected in 2 I. scapularis, while one A. americanum was positive for Borrelia bissettii, a putative human pathogen. The rickettsial endosymbionts Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, rickettsial endosymbiont of I. scapularis, and Rickettsia amblyommii were detected in their common tick hosts at 21%, 39%, and 60%, respectively. All ticks were PCR-negative for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp., and Babesia microti. This is the first reported detection of R. parkeri in vector ticks in Louisiana; we also report the novel association of R. parkeri with I. scapularis. Detection of both R. parkeri and B. burgdorferi in their respective vectors in Louisiana demands further investigation to determine potential for human exposure to these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian F Leydet
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
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Stromdahl EY, Hickling GJ. Beyond Lyme: Aetiology of Tick-borne Human Diseases with Emphasis on the South-Eastern United States. Zoonoses Public Health 2012; 59 Suppl 2:48-64. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2012.01475.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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45
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Rar V, Golovljova I. Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia” bacteria: Pathogenicity, biodiversity, and molecular genetic characteristics, a review. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 11:1842-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Lobanov VA, Gajadhar AA, Al-Adhami B, Schwantje HM. Molecular study of free-ranging mule deer and white-tailed deer from British Columbia, Canada, for evidence of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. Transbound Emerg Dis 2011; 59:233-43. [PMID: 21933360 DOI: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01259.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Twenty-three free-ranging white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus) and six mule deer (MD; Odocoileus hemionus) from south-central British Columbia, Canada, were tested for Anaplasma marginale by msp5 gene-specific PCR and Ehrlichia spp. by 16S rRNA or citrate synthase (gltA) gene-specific PCR, as well as by PCR with universal 16S rRNA primers detecting a wide range of bacteria. No deer tested positive for A. marginale. Amplification with universal 16S rRNA primers followed by sequencing of cloned fragments detected an Anaplasma sp. in one of 23 (4.3%) WTD and six of six (100%) MD and Bartonella sp. in four of 23 (17.4%) WTD. The Anaplasma sp. was genetically distinct from A. marginale and all other recognized members of the genus. Four of six (66.7%) MD and 0 of 23 (0%) WTD were Ehrlichia positive by PCR with primers for 16S rRNA and gltA genes. The sequences of gltA PCR fragments were identical to each other and to the respective region of the gltA gene of an Ehrlichia sp. which we detected previously in naturally infected cattle from the same area, suggesting the possibility of biological transmission of this rickettsia between cattle and wild cervids. Antibodies reactive with the MSP5 protein of A. marginale were detected using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in two of six (33.3%) MD, but not in WTD. The two seropositive MD were PCR positive for both the Anaplasma sp. and Ehrlichia sp. detected in this study, suggesting a reaction of antibodies against one or both of these rickettsias with the MSP5 antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- V A Lobanov
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Centre for Food-Borne and Animal Parasitology, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Vieira RFDC, Biondo AW, Guimarães AMS, Dos Santos AP, Dos Santos RP, Dutra LH, Diniz PPVDP, de Morais HA, Messick JB, Labruna MB, Vidotto O. Ehrlichiosis in Brazil. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 20:1-12. [PMID: 21439224 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612011000100002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Ehrlichiosis is a disease caused by rickettsial organisms belonging to the genus Ehrlichia. In Brazil, molecular and serological studies have evaluated the occurrence of Ehrlichia species in dogs, cats, wild animals and humans. Ehrlichia canis is the main species found in dogs in Brazil, although E. ewingii infection has been recently suspected in five dogs. Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA has been detected and characterized in mash deer, whereas E. muris and E. ruminantium have not yet been identified in Brazil. Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis caused by E. canis appears to be highly endemic in several regions of Brazil, however prevalence data are not available for several regions. Ehrlichia canis DNA also has been detected and molecularly characterized in three domestic cats, and antibodies against E. canis were detected in free-ranging Neotropical felids. There is serological evidence suggesting the occurrence of human ehrlichiosis in Brazil but its etiologic agent has not yet been established. Improved molecular diagnostic resources for laboratory testing will allow better identification and characterization of ehrlichial organisms associated with human ehrlichiosis in Brazil.
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Efficacy of a novel topical combination of fipronil, amitraz and (S)-methoprene for treatment and control of induced infestations with four North American tick species (Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum and Amblyomma maculatum) on dogs. Vet Parasitol 2011; 179:324-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Wiwanitkit V. The usefulness of case reports in managing emerging infectious disease. J Med Case Rep 2011; 5:194. [PMID: 21599907 PMCID: PMC3113999 DOI: 10.1186/1752-1947-5-194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2010] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases are an important problem in medicine. Case reports usually document episodes in the early emerging phase or in a small outbreak. Although the case report is considered weak evidence in medical literature, it is usually the first report when there is a new emerging infectious disease. There is no doubt that case reports can provide useful information for further case series, reviews and studies. This editorial focuses on the usefulness of the case report on emerging infectious disease to the medical society. Publication in this area is highly welcomed by the journal and can serve as a future point of reference.
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Nakao R, Stromdahl EY, Magona JW, Faburay B, Namangala B, Malele I, Inoue N, Geysen D, Kajino K, Jongejan F, Sugimoto C. Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for rapid detection of Ehrlichia ruminantium. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:296. [PMID: 21087521 PMCID: PMC3000401 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2010] [Accepted: 11/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rickettsial bacterium Ehrlichia ruminantium is the causative agent of heartwater, a potential zoonotic disease of ruminants transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma. The disease is distributed in nearly all of sub-Saharan Africa and some islands of the Caribbean, from where it threatens the American mainland. This report describes the development of two different loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays for sensitive and specific detection of E. ruminantium. Results Two sets of LAMP primers were designed from the pCS20 and sodB genes. The detection limits for each assay were 10 copies for pCS20 and 5 copies for sodB, which is at least 10 times higher than that of the conventional pCS20 PCR assay. DNA amplification was completed within 60 min. The assays detected 16 different isolates of E. ruminantium from geographically distinct countries as well as two attenuated vaccine isolates. No cross-reaction was observed with genetically related Rickettsiales, including zoonotic Ehrlichia species from the USA. LAMP detected more positive samples than conventional PCR but less than real-time PCR, when tested with field samples collected in sub-Saharan countries. Conclusions Due to its simplicity and specificity, LAMP has the potential for use in resource-poor settings and also for active screening of E. ruminantium in both heartwater-endemic areas and regions that are at risk of contracting the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakao
- Department of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0020, Japan
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