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Kazakov DV, Khasnatinov MA, Antonovskaia AA, Gorobeyko UV. Bat ectoparasites: chigger mites (Trombiculidae), ticks (Ixodidae and Argasidae), and bugs (Cimicidae) in the Eastern Palaearctic. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:83. [PMID: 38182821 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08093-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
Nine species-level taxa of bat ectoparasites, three chigger mites (Trombiculidae), three hard (Ixodidae), and one soft tick (Argasidae) species, as well as two bug (Cimicidae) species from nine bat species hosts were detected in the Eastern Palaearctic. Trombiculid larvae of Leptotrombidium schlugerae, Leptotrombidium album, and Ascoschoengastia latyshevi were first recorded on bats in the temperate zone of eastern Russia. L. schlugerae was more abundant than A. latyshevi in the same study sites in Eastern Siberia, and the main hosts of both chigger species were Plecotus ognevi and Eptesicus nilssonii. Ixodid ticks Dermacentor marginatus, Ixodes simplex, and Ixodes sp. were sampled from bats in Kazakhstan, the Far East, and Eastern Siberia, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on Cox1, 16S rDNA, and ITS2 sequences of I. simplex showed that the specimens from the Far East grouped into a clade distributed in the Eastern Palaearctic and India. In turn, the specimen of Ixodes sp. from Eastern Siberia was most closely related to Ixodes soricis and Ixodes angustus with p-distance of 9.8-10.7% (Cox1), suggesting that this tick probably belongs to a new species. Argas vespertilionis larvae were collected from three widespread bat species in Kazakhstan. Two bug species, Cimex pipistrelli and Cimex aff. lectularius, were recorded in the Far East and Eastern Siberia, respectively. Specimens from Transbaikalia were morphologically identified as Cimex lectularius. However, they differed from the latter by 12.5-12.9% of Cox1 sequences, indicating that C. aff. lectularius may be a new species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis V Kazakov
- Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), University of Tyumen, Volodarskogo, 6, 625003, Tyumen, Russia.
| | - Maxim A Khasnatinov
- Federal State Public Science Institution "Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems", Timiryazeva, 16, Irkutsk, 664003, Russia
| | - Anastasia A Antonovskaia
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory, 1-12, Moscow, 119234, Russia
| | - Uliana V Gorobeyko
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 100-Letiya Vladivostoka, Vladivostok, 159, 690022, Russia
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Ali AAB, Taha MA. Controlling Argas arboreus and A. persicus (Acari: Argasidae) by Adiantum capillus-veneris L. extracts with phytochemical analysis. Vet Parasitol 2023; 324:110067. [PMID: 37924609 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110067] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
Argas species are parasites associated mostly with birds. Their infestations of the host may cause blood loss, resulting in anemia and finally death. Egypt loses millions of tons annually from birds because of these parasites. In addition, they can transmit pathogens to animals and humans. The acaricidal effects of the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Adiantum capillus-veneris at different concentrations (1-4%) against semi-fed adults of Argas arboreus and A. persicus were investigated during 30 days after treatments. Mobility and mortality, acaricide efficacy, and the concentration that kills 50% of specimens (LC50) were estimated. The percentage of dead adults of both Argas species appeared during 6 days considerably until 30 days was significantly increased after treatment of either ethanol or methanol extracts of Adiantum at 1-4%, versus control groups. Ethanolic extracts (100% mortality) were more effective than methanolic ones (90% mortality) for both Argas species. Argas arboreus (80% efficacy and 5.9% LC50) was more resistant than A. persicus (100% efficacy and 4.1% LC50). Generally, males were more resistant than females. The chemical profile (by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis) for the ethanolic extract of Ad. capillus-veneris at 4% (the most effective extract) was provided for the first time, which showed that the major group was sugars and sugar alcohols, and the main components were thymol-ß-d-glucopyranoside, D-(-)-Tagatofuranose, D-Arabinose, D-Galactose, D-(-)-Fructofuranose and Anthracene, 1-methyl. The efficiency of all these components was discussed. Based on the findings, bioactive compounds present in Ad. capillus-veneris have the potential to be applied as substitutes for synthetic acaricides and a biological control agent in the management of A. arboreus and A. persicus ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Ali Baioumy Ali
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Mai Ahmed Taha
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, Egypt
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Fritzsche A, Zaenker S, Gottwald J, Keil R, Zaenker C, Bröker M, Chitimia-Dobler L. Distribution of the soft tick Carios vespertilionis in lowlands and low mountain regions of Germany. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 91:89-97. [PMID: 37500955 PMCID: PMC10462504 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00822-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
In Germany, the knowledge about ticks infesting bats is limited, and is restricted only to a few studies, most of them dating back decades. To further improve our knowledge on ticks parasitising bats, healthy and sick bats in central Germany were examined for ticks. In total 519 larvae and one nymph of Carios vespertilionis were collected from nine bat species: Eptesicus nilssonii, Eptesicus serotinus, Myotis daubentonii, Myotis myotis, Nyctalus leisleri, Pipistrellus nathusii, Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Vespertilio murinus. Either the presence of C. vespertilionis was new for some areas or it was confirmed in some federal states in central Germany. The infestation rate was mostly low (n = 1-5 larvae/bat). However, in two cases a high number of ticks was observed. The highest infestation of 97 C. vespertilionis larvae was recorded on one Parti-coloured bat (V. murinus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Fritzsche
- Institute of Animal Ecology and Nature Education, Laubach/Gonterskirchen, Germany
| | - Stefan Zaenker
- Hesse Federation for Cave and Karst Research, Fulda, Germany
| | | | - Renate Keil
- , Sandstraße 7, 30629 Hannover 5 Pappelweg 30, 35041, Marburg, Germany
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Menegon M, Casale F, Mancuso E, Di Luca M, Severini F, Monaco F, Toma L. Argas ticks (Ixodida: Argasidae) on migratory birds from Africa: first record of a genotype close to Argas africolumbae in Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102205. [PMID: 37244156 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102205] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In spring, migratory birds reach Europe, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa or from northern African countries. Avian species may be implicated in the spread of pathogens, either as reservoirs, hosts or carriers of infected ectoparasites. In 2021, on Ventotene Island (Latium region, Italy) within a project focused on the potential incoming pathogens via migratory birds from Africa, we found two larvae of Argas sp., on the redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, that shared morphological features with the African Argas (Argas) africolumbae. Comparison of the tested larval DNA sequences to the adult reference sequences showed the highest identity (> 92%) with homologous sequences of A. africolumbae collected in South Africa and in Spain. This study reports the first detection of Argas africolumbae-like specimens in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Menegon
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - F Casale
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - E Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario 64100 Teramo, Italy; Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", 61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - M Di Luca
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - F Severini
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - F Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - L Toma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Cholleti H, de Jong J, Blomström AL, Berg M. Investigation of the Virome and Characterization of Issyk-Kul Virus from Swedish Myotis brandtii Bats. Pathogens 2022; 12:pathogens12010012. [PMID: 36678360 PMCID: PMC9861107 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bats are reservoirs for many different viruses, including some that can be transmitted to and cause disease in humans and/or animals. However, less is known about the bat-borne viruses circulating in Northern European countries such as in Sweden. In this study, saliva from Myotis brandtii bats, collected from south-central Sweden, was analyzed for viruses. The metagenomic analysis identified viral sequences belonging to different viral families, including, e.g., Nairoviridae, Retroviridae, Poxviridae, Herpesviridae and Siphoviridae. Interestingly, through the data analysis, the near-complete genome of Issyk-Kul virus (ISKV), a zoonotic virus within the Nairoviridae family, was obtained, showing 95-99% protein sequence identity to previously described ISKVs. This virus is believed to infect humans via an intermediate tick host or through contact with bat excrete. ISKV has previously been found in bats in Europe, but not previously in the Nordic region. In addition, near full-length genomes of two novel viruses belonging to Picornavirales order and Tymoviridae family were characterized. Taken together, our study has not only identified novel viruses, but also the presence of a zoonotic virus not previously known to circulate in this region. Thus, the results from these types of studies can help us to better understand the diversity of viruses circulating in bat populations, as well as identify viruses with zoonotic potential that could possibly be transmitted to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harindranath Cholleti
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| | - Johnny de Jong
- Swedish Biodiversity Centre (CBM), SLU, P.O. Box 7016, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anne-Lie Blomström
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikael Berg
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), P.O. Box 7028, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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Kazim AR, Houssaini J, Ehlers J, Tappe D, Heo CC. Soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) in the island nations of Southeast Asia: A review on their distribution, associated hosts and potential pathogens. Acta Trop 2021; 223:106085. [PMID: 34389326 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) are the second major family of the blood feeding metastriates and vectors of a number of viral and bacterial pathogens for both humans and animals. Despite the growing effort on tick surveillance and studies worldwide, there is still limited information on the soft tick distribution in the island nations of Southeast Asia, especially species that are medically and veterinarily important. With the aim to provide an overview of the current status of knowledge on soft tick distribution in the island nations of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste), this article reviews the species of soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) and their associated hosts and pathogens, with the addition of a pictorial summary and list of tick species discovered in this region. The most prevalent soft tick genus is Carios, and the host species most associated with findings of soft ticks in this region are bats, particularly of the Pteropodidae and Vespertilionidae families. Furthermore, the only known pathogen originating from soft ticks in the island nations of Southeast Asia was the Keterah virus, which was isolated from Argas pusillus tick in Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Kazim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - J Houssaini
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - J Ehlers
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - D Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - C C Heo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Sugimoto S, Suda Y, Nagata N, Fukushi S, Yoshikawa T, Kurosu T, Mizutani T, Saijo M, Shimojima M. Characterization of Keterah orthonairovirus and evaluation of therapeutic candidates against Keterah orthonairovirus infectious disease. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101834. [PMID: 34656945 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101834] [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: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The species Keterah orthonairovirus is a member of the genus Orthonairovirus. Few studies have focused on this species, and there remains no treatment for Issyk-Kul fever, an infectious disease caused by a Keterah orthonairovirus. This study was performed to characterize this species using two viruses, Issyk-Kul virus (ISKV) and Soft tick bunyavirus (STBV), in cell culture and type I interferon receptor knockout (IFNAR-/-) mice and to evaluate the efficacy of serum transfusion using a mouse model of ISKV infection. The two viruses replicated in many kinds of mammal- and tick-derived cell lines but showed few different characteristics in tropism and antigenicity against anti-viral sera in cell culture. Neither virus caused clinical signs in wild-type mice, but both caused lethal infection in IFNAR-/- mice. ISKV caused more acute death than STBV in IFNAR-/- mice. In both viral infections in IFNAR-/- mice, macroscopic abnormalities were prominent in the liver. Similar levels of viral genome between ISKV- and STBV-infected IFNAR-/- mice were observed in blood, liver, lymphoid tissues and adrenal gland at moribund stages. Hematologic abnormalities in IFNAR-/- mice infected with these viruses, including leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, and biochemical abnormalities indicating liver damage were prominent. In addition, blood levels of many kinds of cytokines and chemokines such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were elevated. ISKV-immunized serum transfusion after infection delayed the time to death of IFNAR-/- mice. Thus, the present study showed that the species Keterah orthonairovirus could proliferate in most mammal-derived cell lines and cause severe liver lesions and death in IFNAR-/- mice and that serum transfusion might be effective in treatment against Issyk-Kul fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoko Sugimoto
- Research and Education Center for Prevention of Global Infectious Disease of Animal, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan; Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Yuto Suda
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan; Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Noriyo Nagata
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Shuetsu Fukushi
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Tomoki Yoshikawa
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kurosu
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mizutani
- Research and Education Center for Prevention of Global Infectious Disease of Animal, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan; Cooperative Division of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-0054, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saijo
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan
| | - Masayuki Shimojima
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-7-1 Gakuen, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo 208-0011, Japan. shimoji-@nih.go.jp
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Sándor AD, Mihalca AD, Domşa C, Péter Á, Hornok S. Argasid Ticks of Palearctic Bats: Distribution, Host Selection, and Zoonotic Importance. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:684737. [PMID: 34239915 PMCID: PMC8258102 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.684737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The soft ticks (Ixodida: Argasidae) are ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates with a wide geographic distribution, occurring on all continents. These ticks are obligate blood-feeders, most of them show high degrees of host-specialization and several species in arid and tropical regions are important parasites of livestock and men. Species commonly occurring on domestic animals and man are generally well-known, with many studies focusing on their ecology, distribution or vectorial role. However, wildlife-specialist soft ticks are less studied. Nearly half of all soft tick species are bat specialists, with five species (Carios vespertilionis, Chiropterargas boueti, Chiropterargas confusus, Reticulinasus salahi, and Secretargas transgariepinus) occurring in the Western Palearctic. There is no comprehensive study on the distribution, hosts or pathogens in these soft ticks, although most species were shown to carry several viral, bacterial, or protozoan pathogens and also to occasionally infest humans. Based on a literature survey and 1,120 distinct georeferenced records, we present here the geographical range, host selection and vectorial potential for bat-specialist soft ticks occurring in the Western Palearctic (chiefly Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East). Carios vespertilionis shows the largest distribution range and was found on most host species, being ubiquitous wherever crevice-roosting bats occur. All the other species were located only in areas with Mediterranean climate, with Ch. boueti, Chiropteraragas confusus, and R. salahi are missing entirely from Europe. These three species have a host spectrum of bats roosting primarily in caves, while S. transgariepinus and Ca. vespertilionis is feeding primarily on crevice-roosting bat species. All but one of these soft tick species are known to feed on humans and may be vectors of important disease agents (Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., several nairo-, and flaviviruses). As several crevice-roosting bat species show a continuous adaptation to human-altered areas, with certain species becoming common city-dwellers in the Western Palearctic, the study of bat specialist soft ticks is also important from an epidemiologic point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristian Domşa
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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Jaenson TGT, Wilhelmsson P. First Record of a Suspected Human-Pathogenic Borrelia Species in Populations of the Bat Tick Carios vespertilionis in Sweden. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1100. [PMID: 34065313 PMCID: PMC8160990 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The bat tick Cariosvespertilionis has been reported from Sweden to occasionally feed on humans resulting in disease symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate C. vespertilionis as a potential vector and reservoir of Borrelia species. In 2015 and 2018 in south-central Sweden, C. vespertilionis ticks were collected from a wooden bat box harboring Soprano pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus pygmaeus. In addition, one C. vespertilionis tick found inside a house in southern Sweden in 2019 was collected. Ticks were screened for Borrelia spp. using a genus-specific quantitative PCR assay. The Borrelia species of the positive specimens were determined by conventional PCR followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 24% (22 of 92) of the analyzed C. vespertilionis ticks were Borrelia-positive. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the bacteria belong to the relapsing fever group of borreliae; some of them appear to be identical with Borrelia sp. CPB1, a spirochete only found twice before-in the United Kingdom and in France. Our results also indicate a temporal and spatial distribution of this Borrelia species. Since C. vespertilionis occasionally bites humans, and since it exhibits a high prevalence of Borrelia bacteria, it is possible that it presents a risk of human disease. Further studies are needed to characterize Borrelia sp. CPB1 to determine if it is human-pathogenic and to determine if C. vespertilionis is a vector and/or reservoir of this agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden
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Nuclear (18S-28S rRNA) and mitochondrial genome markers of Carios (Carios) vespertilionis (Argasidae) support Carios Latreille, 1796 as a lineage embedded in the Ornithodorinae: re-classification of the Carios sensu Klompen and Oliver (1993) clade into its respective subgenera. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101688. [PMID: 33652332 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Argasid systematics remains controversial with widespread adherence to the Hoogstraal (1985) classification scheme, even though it does not reflect evolutionary relationships and results in paraphyly for the main genera of soft ticks (Argasidae), namely Argas and Ornithodoros. The alternative classification scheme, proposed by Klompen and Oliver (1993), has problems of its own: most notably paraphyly of the subgenus Pavlovskyella and the controversial grouping together of the subgenera Alectorobius, Antricola, Carios, Chiropterargas, Nothoaspis, Parantricola, Reticulinasus and Subparmatus into the genus Carios. Recent phylogenetic analyses of 18S/28S rRNA sequences and mitochondrial genomes agree with the scheme of Klompen and Oliver (1993), with regard to the paraphyly of Pavlovskyella, placement of Alveonasus, Ogadenus, Proknekalia and Secretargas in the Argasinae and placement of Carios and Chiropterargas in the Ornithodorinae (Mans et al., 2019). The Carios clade and its constituent subgenera remain controversial, since the phylogenetic position of its type species Carios (Carios) vespertilionis Latreille, 1796 (formerly Argas vespertilionis) has not been determined with confidence. The current study aimed to resolve Carios sensu lato Klompen and Oliver, 1993, and Carios sensu stricto Hoogstraal, 1985, by determining and analysing phylogenetic nuclear and mitochondrial markers for C. (C.) vespertilionis. Both the nuclear and mitochondrial markers support placement of Carios s.s. within the subfamily Ornithodorinae, but to the exclusion of the clade that includes the 6 other subgenera that are part of Carios s.l. Klompen and Oliver (1993), namely Alectorobius, Antricola, Nothoaspis, Parantricola, Reticulinasus and Subparmatus. These 6 subgenera form a monophyletic clade that might be placed as new subgenera within the genus Alectorobius, or elevated to genera. Given the substantial differences in biology among these subgenera, we propose that these 6 subgenera be elevated to genera. Thus, we propose to modify the classification scheme of Mans et al. (2019) so that the subfamily Argasinae now has six genera, Alveonasus, Argas (subgenera Argas and Persicargas), Navis, Ogadenus, Proknekalia and Secretargas, and the subfamily Ornithodorinae has nine genera, Alectorobius, Antricola (subgenera Antricola and Parantricola), Carios, Chiropterargas, Nothoaspis, Ornithodoros (subgenera Microargas, Ornamentum, Ornithodoros, Pavlovskyella and Theriodoros), Otobius, Reticulinasus and Subparmatus (genera indicated in bold).
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11
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Guzmán-Cornejo C, Rebollo-Hernández A, Troyo A, Moreira-Soto RD, Hernández LV, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB, Nava S, Venzal JM. New records and phylogenetic position of Ornithodoros knoxjonesi (Ixodida: Argasidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101473. [PMID: 32723648 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101473] [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: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Larvae of Ornithodoros knoxjonesi collected at five localities in three countries were studied using morphological and molecular methods to confirm this species' taxonomic validity. The larva of O. knoxjonesi is characterized as having 14 pairs of dorsal setae, eight pairs of ventral setae, plus a posteromedian seta; an elongate dorsal plate, tapered anteriorly; and a hypostome that is narrower near its midlength, with posteriorly projecting denticles. Although the larvae of O. knoxjonesi and Ornithodoros peropteryx are morphologically quite similar, the larva of O. knoxjonesi is characterized as having dorsal setae that are wider at the tip than at the base, while in O. peropteryx these setae are narrower at the tip than at the base; moreover, the dorsal setae are shorter in O. knoxjonesi (Al 0.037-0.065; Pl 0.035-0.059) than in O. peropteryx (Al 0.120-0.132; Pl 0.080-0.096). These species also differ in that O. knoxjonesi possesses only the Al seta on tarsus I, whereas O. peropteryx has both Al and Pl setae. And while both species have two setae on coxae I-III, in O. knoxjonesi the anterior seta is tapering and smooth and the posterior is fringed, while both setae are fringed in O. peropteryx. At the molecular level, based on a maximum likelihood analysis using approximately 400 bp of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene, O. knoxjonesi appears as an independent lineage, separated from O. peropteryx by a genetic distance of 16.28 %. Balantiopteryx plicata is a common host of O. knoxjonesi; however, in this work we report Pteronotus personatus and Pteronotus gymnonotus as new hosts of this tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Mexico City, Mexico.
| | - Andrea Rebollo-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVE), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Rolando D Moreira-Soto
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVE), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ligia V Hernández
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, Campus Agropecuario León, AP 68, LN, Nicaragua
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, SF, Argentina
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Rivera 1350, CP 50000 Salto, ST, Uruguay
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12
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Sándor AD, Corduneanu A, Péter Á, Mihalca AD, Barti L, Csősz I, Szőke K, Hornok S. Bats and ticks: host selection and seasonality of bat-specialist ticks in eastern Europe. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:605. [PMID: 31881931 PMCID: PMC6935181 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3861-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites may actively seek for hosts and may use a number of adaptive strategies to promote their reproductive success and host colonization. These strategies will necessarily influence their host specificity and seasonality. Ticks are important ectoparasites of vertebrates, which (in addition to directly affecting their hosts) may transmit a number of pathogens. In Europe, three hard tick species (Ixodidae: Ixodes ariadnae, I. simplex and I. vespertilionis) and at least two soft tick species (Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and A. vespertilionis) are specialized for bats. Methods Here we report data on the host range of these ticks and the seasonality of tick infestation on wild caught bats in south-east Europe. We collected 1803 ticks from 30 species of bats living in underground shelters (caves and mines) from Romania and Bulgaria. On the basis of tick–host associations, we tested several hypotheses on host–parasite evolutionary adaptations regulating host specificity, seasonality and sympatric speciation. Results We observed significant differences in host specificity and seasonality of abundance between the morphologically different bat specialist ticks (I. simplex and I. vespertilionis) likely caused by their host choice and their respective host-seeking behavior. The two highly generalist, but morphologically similar tick species (I. ariadnae and I. vespertilionis) showed temporal differences in occurrence and activity, thus exploiting significantly different host communities while occurring in geographical sympatry. Conclusions We conclude that bat-specialist ticks show a wide range of adaptations to their hosts, with differences in specificity, seasonality of occurrence, the prevalence and intensity of infestation and all these contribute to a successful division of temporal niches of ticks sharing morphologically similar hosts occurring in geographical sympatry. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Levente Barti
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
| | - István Csősz
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
| | - Krisztina Szőke
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
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13
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Sheng J, Jiang M, Yang M, Bo X, Zhao S, Zhang Y, Wureli H, Wang B, Tu C, Wang Y. Tick distribution in border regions of Northwestern China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:665-669. [PMID: 30833199 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine tick species occurring in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), especially on border regions. A total of 22,994 ticks (including 22,629 adults, 365 larvae and nymphs), belonging to six tick genera (i.e. Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Argas) and fourteen tick species, were collected from ten animal hosts in thirty-five counties (cities) in XUAR during 2011 - 2017. Rhipicephalus turanicus, Dermacentor niveus, Hyalomma asiaticum and Dermacentor marginatus were dominantly sampled from domestic animals while Dermacentor nuttalli, Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis concinna, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, Dermacentor silvarum, Hyalomma scupense and Argas persicus were sporadically found. Based on 16S rDNA, phylogenetic analyses showed that: i) R. turanicus genotypes in XUAR showed geographical separation, and belonged to clade I (major distribution in the Central Asian) rather than clade II (major distribution in the Mediterranean Basin); ii) Ixodes kaiseri, firstly sampled from Asian badgers (Meles leucurus), was in ancestral position compared to European tick species when combining COI haplotypes; and iii) Haemaphysalis erinacei from marbled polecats in China was a separate genotype compared with that in Mediterranean and Europe. Our findings suggest that geographical range plays a more important role than host-association in tick phylogeny, especially for R. turanicus, I. kaiseri and H. erinacei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinliang Sheng
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
| | - Meihua Yang
- School of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
| | - Xinwen Bo
- The Breed & Biotechnology Key Laboratory of Sheep in XinJiang Bingtuan/Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, China.
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- The Breed & Biotechnology Key Laboratory of Sheep in XinJiang Bingtuan/Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Institute, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832000, China.
| | - Hazihan Wureli
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
| | - Baoju Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Changchun Tu
- Institue of Veterinary Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Jilin, Changchun, 1300062, China.
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
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14
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Sándor AD, Földvári M, Krawczyk AI, Sprong H, Corduneanu A, Barti L, Görföl T, Estók P, Kováts D, Szekeres S, László Z, Hornok S, Földvári G. Eco-epidemiology of Novel Bartonella Genotypes from Parasitic Flies of Insectivorous Bats. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2018; 76:1076-1088. [PMID: 29705820 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bats are important zoonotic reservoirs for many pathogens worldwide. Although their highly specialized ectoparasites, bat flies (Diptera: Hippoboscoidea), can transmit Bartonella bacteria including human pathogens, their eco-epidemiology is unexplored. Here, we analyzed the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella strains sampled from 10 bat fly species from 14 European bat species. We found high prevalence of Bartonella spp. in most bat fly species with wide geographical distribution. Bat species explained most of the variance in Bartonella distribution with the highest prevalence of infected flies recorded in species living in dense groups exclusively in caves. Bat gender but not bat fly gender was also an important factor with the more mobile male bats giving more opportunity for the ectoparasites to access several host individuals. We detected high diversity of Bartonella strains (18 sequences, 7 genotypes, in 9 bat fly species) comparable with tropical assemblages of bat-bat fly association. Most genotypes are novel (15 out of 18 recorded strains have a similarity of 92-99%, with three sequences having 100% similarity to Bartonella spp. sequences deposited in GenBank) with currently unknown pathogenicity; however, 4 of these sequences are similar (up to 92% sequence similarity) to Bartonella spp. with known zoonotic potential. The high prevalence and diversity of Bartonella spp. suggests a long shared evolution of these bacteria with bat flies and bats providing excellent study targets for the eco-epidemiology of host-vector-pathogen cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihály Földvári
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Aleksandra I Krawczyk
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Levente Barti
- Romanian Bat Protection Association - Central Branch, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Romania
| | - Tamás Görföl
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Estók
- Department of Zoology, Eszterházy Károly University, Eger, Hungary
| | - Dávid Kováts
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 2 István Street, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary
| | - Zoltán László
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 2 István Street, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 2 István Street, Budapest, H-1078, Hungary.
- Evolutionary Systems Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Tihany, Hungary.
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15
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Mans BJ, Featherston J, Kvas M, Pillay KA, de Klerk DG, Pienaar R, de Castro MH, Schwan TG, Lopez JE, Teel P, Pérez de León AA, Sonenshine DE, Egekwu NI, Bakkes DK, Heyne H, Kanduma EG, Nyangiwe N, Bouattour A, Latif AA. Argasid and ixodid systematics: Implications for soft tick evolution and systematics, with a new argasid species list. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:219-240. [PMID: 30309738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The systematics of the genera and subgenera within the soft tick family Argasidae is not adequately resolved. Different classification schemes, reflecting diverse schools of scientific thought that elevated or downgraded groups to genera or subgenera, have been proposed. In the most recent classification scheme, Argas and Ornithodoros are paraphyletic and the placement of various subgenera remains uncertain because molecular data are lacking. Thus, reclassification of the Argasidae is required. This will enable an understanding of soft tick systematics within an evolutionary context. This study addressed that knowledge gap using mitochondrial genome and nuclear (18S and 28S ribosomal RNA) sequence data for representatives of the subgenera Alectorobius, Argas, Chiropterargas, Ogadenus, Ornamentum, Ornithodoros, Navis (subgen. nov.), Pavlovskyella, Persicargas, Proknekalia, Reticulinasus and Secretargas, from the Afrotropical, Nearctic and Palearctic regions. Hard tick species (Ixodidae) and a new representative of Nuttalliella namaqua (Nuttalliellidae), were also sequenced with a total of 83 whole mitochondrial genomes, 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes generated. The study confirmed the utility of next-generation sequencing to retrieve systematic markers. Paraphyly of Argas and Ornithodoros was resolved by systematic analysis and a new species list is proposed. This corresponds broadly with the morphological cladistic analysis of Klompen and Oliver (1993). Estimation of divergence times using molecular dating allowed dissection of phylogeographic patterns for argasid evolution. The discovery of cryptic species in the subgenera Chiropterargas, Ogadenus and Ornithodoros, suggests that cryptic speciation is common within the Argasidae. Cryptic speciation has implications for past biological studies of soft ticks. These are discussed in particular for the Ornithodoros (Ornithodoros) moubata and Ornithodoros (Ornithodoros) savignyi groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa.
| | - Jonathan Featherston
- The Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Marija Kvas
- The Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Kerry-Anne Pillay
- The Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council-Biotechnology Platform, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Daniel G de Klerk
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Ronel Pienaar
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Minique H de Castro
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Tom G Schwan
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Paediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Paediatric Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Pete Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX, United States
| | - Daniel E Sonenshine
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States; Vector Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH), Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Noble I Egekwu
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., United States
| | - Deon K Bakkes
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Heloise Heyne
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Esther G Kanduma
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, P.O BOX 30197, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nkululeko Nyangiwe
- Döhne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X15, Stutterheim, 4930, South Africa
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Laboratoire d'Entomologie, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Abdalla A Latif
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, Westville, South Africa
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16
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Pienaar R, de Klerk DG, Putterill JF, Mans BJ. Notes on maternal behaviour in soft ticks: Specifically observed in Argas (Argas) striatus Bedford, 1932 and Argas (Secretargas) transgariepinus White, 1846. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:889-895. [PMID: 29598898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Maternal behaviour (carrying of larvae on the opisthosoma) in ticks has thus far only been observed in Antricola (Parantricola) marginatus and was considered a unique derived adaptation of this genus. The authors extend this observation to two additional argasid species, namely Argas (Argas) striatus and Argas (Secretargas) transgariepinus. In addition, brooding behaviour over eggs were observed with A. (S.) transgariepinus. Maternal behaviour may be an evolutionary adaptation to ecological challenges in habitats unsuited for larval survival and may be related to the presence of pulvilli in larvae. This adaptation might have been present in the ancestral tick lineage since pulvilli occur in all tick families, and may have been derived from a more ancient adaptation in chelicerates where maternal behaviour was common. Female A. (S.) transgariepinus also possess a unique area on their ventral abdomen that is absent in males and may be a unique adaptation for maternal behaviour in this species. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes for both species indicate that they are unique lineages that group basal to other members of the Argas genus, supporting the possibility that they harbour ancestral traits for this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronel Pienaar
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa.
| | - Daniel G de Klerk
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - John F Putterill
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Ben J Mans
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa.
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17
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Hornok S, Szőke K, Görföl T, Földvári G, Tu VT, Takács N, Kontschán J, Sándor AD, Estók P, Epis S, Boldogh S, Kováts D, Wang Y. Molecular investigations of the bat tick Argas vespertilionis (Ixodida: Argasidae) and Babesia vesperuginis (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) reflect "bat connection" between Central Europe and Central Asia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2017; 72:69-77. [PMID: 28536802 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0140-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Argas vespertilionis is a geographically widespread haematophagous ectoparasite species of bats in the Old World, with a suspected role in the transmission of Babesia vesperuginis. The aims of the present study were (1) to molecularly screen A. vespertilionis larvae (collected in Europe, Africa and Asia) for the presence of piroplasms, and (2) to analyze mitochondrial markers of A. vespertilionis larvae from Central Asia (Xinjiang Province, Northwestern China) in a phylogeographical context. Out of the 193 DNA extracts from 321 A. vespertilionis larvae, 12 contained piroplasm DNA (10 from Hungary, two from China). Sequencing showed the exclusive presence of B. vesperuginis, with 100% sequence identity between samples from Hungary and China. In addition, A. vespertilionis cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (cox1) and 16S rRNA gene sequences had 99.1-99.2 and 99.5-100% similarities, respectively, between Hungary and China. Accordingly, in the phylogenetic analyses A. vespertilionis from China clustered with haplotypes from Europe, and (with high support) outside the group formed by haplotypes from Southeast Asia. This is the first molecular evidence on the occurrence of B. vesperuginis in Asia. Bat ticks from hosts in Vespertilionidae contained only the DNA of B. vesperuginis (in contrast with what was reported on bat ticks from Rhinolophidae and Miniopteridae). Molecular taxonomic analyses of A. vespertilionis and B. vesperuginis suggest a genetic link of bat parasites between Central Europe and Central Asia, which is epidemiologically relevant in the context of any pathogens associated with bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Krisztina Szőke
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Görföl
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Vuong Tan Tu
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Péter Estók
- Department of Zoology, Eszterházy Károly University, Eger, Hungary
| | - Sara Epis
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sándor Boldogh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Aggtelek National Park Directorate, Jósvafő, Hungary
| | - Dávid Kováts
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
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