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Wang N, Yu HJ, Han XY, Li C, Ye RZ, Du LF, Liu YT, Zhang MZ, Shi XY, Zhu DY, Shi W, Jia N, Jiang JF, Sun Y, Zhao L, Cui XM, Cao WC. Genomic characterization of an emerging Rickettsia barbariae isolated from tick eggs in northwestern China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2396870. [PMID: 39193640 PMCID: PMC11378659 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2396870] [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: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
The continual emergence of tick-borne rickettsioses has garnered widespread global attention. Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae (Candidatus R. barbariae), which emerged in Italy in 2008, has been detected in humans from northwestern China. However, the lack of Candidatus R. barbariae genome and isolated strains limits the understanding of its biological characteristics and genomic features. Here, we isolated the Rickettsia for the first time from eggs of Rhipicephalus turanicus in northwestern China, and assembled its whole genome after next-generation sequencing, so we modified the proposed name to Rickettsia barbariae (R. barbariae) to conform to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome revealed that it was most closely related to the pathogenic Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia africae. All virulence factors, present in the pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae, were identified in the R. barbariae isolate. These findings highlight the pathogenic potential of R. barbariae and the necessity for enhanced surveillance of the emerging Rickettsia in the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Jun Yu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Feng Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Zhu Zhang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dai-Yun Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqiang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, AMMS, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Jia Y, Zhang Y, Wu X, Dong Z, Xie S, Li W, Liu Q, Lu X, Wang Y. Clinical and historical infection of Tacheng tick virus 2: A retrospective investigation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012168. [PMID: 38870100 PMCID: PMC11175498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tacheng tick virus 2 (TcTV-2) is an emerging tick-borne virus belonging to the genus Uukuvirus in the family Phenuiviridae. Initially isolated in 2019 from a patient in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, who developed fever and headache after a tick bite, TcTV-2 was concurrently molecularly detected in hard ticks across various countries, including China, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Turkey. This study conducted a retrospective epidemiological investigation of TcTV-2 infection. METHODOLOGY In this retrospective cohort study, we collected samples from 47 tick-bitten patients, 984 herdsmen, 7 Asian badgers, 13 red foxes, and 168 Hyalomma asiaticum tick egg batches. Patients' samples were primarily analyzed by using high-throughput sequencing, targeting the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and viral cDNA libraries. Typical tick-borne pathogens were further confirmed using RT-PCR and detected in Asian badgers, red foxes and Hy. asiaticum tick egg batches. We also conducted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detected specific IgM and IgG antibodies against TcTV-2 in herdsmen. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to genetically characterize TcTV-2 detected in this study. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS TcTV-2 was detected in various samples, including blood, urine, and throat swabs from 12.77% (6/47) tick-bitten patients. It was found in blood samples of 14.29% (1/7) of wild badgers, 7.69% (1/13) of red foxes, and 13.69% (23/168) of Hy. asiaticum egg batches. Furthermore, ELISA results revealed that 9.55% (94/984) of the serum samples (34 from males and 60 from females) were tested positive for TcTV-2-specific IgG, while 2.95% (29/984, 7 males and 22 females) showed positivity for TcTV-2-specific IgM. Additionally, 1.02% (10/984, 4 males and 6 females) of the sera tested positive for both TcTV-2-specific IgM and IgG. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the TcTV-2 strains detected in this study were genetically similar, regardless of their origin and host species. CONCLUSIONS Clinical symptoms of TcTV-2 infection in patients are nonspecific, with common symptoms including headache, fever, asthenia, vomiting, myalgia, rash, and meningitis-like signs. TcTV-2 can be detected in blood, urine, and throat swab samples of infected patients. Among local herdsmen, 9.55% tested positive for TcTV-2-specific IgG and 2.95% for TcTV-2-specific IgM. Importantly, TcTV-2 can be transovarially transmitted in Hy. asiaticum ticks, and the Asian badgers and red foxes are potential reservoirs of TcTV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Jia
- The People’s Hospital of Xixian, Xinyang, China
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Xuanchen Wu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zhihui Dong
- The Sixth Division Hospital of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Wujiaqu, China
| | - Songsong Xie
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Tarim University, Aral, China
| | - Quan Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobo Lu
- The First Hospital Xinjiang Medical University, Urmqi, China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
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Zhang B, Zhang N, Zheng T, Lu M, Baoli B, Jie R, Wang X, Li K. Tick-borne bacterial agents in Hyalomma asiaticum ticks from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:167. [PMID: 38566227 PMCID: PMC10985858 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hyalomma ticks are widely distributed in semi-arid zones in Northwest China. They have been reported to harbor a large number of zoonotic pathogens. METHODS In this study, a total of 334 Hyalomma asiaticum ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from four locations in Xinjiang, Northwest China, and the bacterial agents in them were investigated. RESULTS A putative novel Borrelia species was identified in ticks from all four locations, with an overall positive rate of 6.59%. Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae, a human pathogen frequently reported in Europe, was detected for the second time in China. Two Ehrlichia species (Ehrlichia minasensis and Ehrlichia sp.) were identified. Furthermore, two Anaplasma species were characterized in this study: Candidatus Anaplasma camelii and Anaplasma sp. closely related to Candidatus Anaplasma boleense. It is the first report of Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in China. CONCLUSIONS Six bacterial agents were reported in this study, many of which are possible or validated pathogens for humans and animals. The presence of these bacterial agents may suggest a potential risk for One Health in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Institute of Medical Sciences of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Niuniu Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Institute of Medical Sciences of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Tao Zheng
- Xinjiang 474 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group CO.LTD, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Miao Lu
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Bierk Baoli
- Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center of Mulei Kazak Autonomous County, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Runda Jie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Institute of Medical Sciences of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Endemic Diseases, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Xinjiang 474 Hospital, China RongTong Medical Healthcare Group CO.LTD, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
| | - Kun Li
- National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changping District, Beijing, 102206, China.
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Ma R, Li C, Gao A, Jiang N, Li J, Hu W, Feng X. Tick species diversity and potential distribution alternation of dominant ticks under different climate scenarios in Xinjiang, China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012108. [PMID: 38683839 PMCID: PMC11081513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are a hematophagous parasite and a vector of pathogens for numerous human and animal diseases of significant importance. The expansion of tick distribution and the increased risk of tick-borne diseases due to global climate change necessitates further study of the spatial distribution trend of ticks and their potential influencing factors. This study constructed a dataset of tick species distribution in Xinjiang for 60 years based on literature database retrieval and historical data collection (January 1963-January 2023). The distribution data were extracted, corrected, and deduplicated. The dominant tick species were selected for analysis using the MaxEnt model to assess their potential distribution in different periods under the current and BCC-CSM2.MR mode scenarios. The results indicated that there are eight genera and 48 species of ticks in 108 cities and counties of Xinjiang, with Hyalomma asiaticum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Haemaphysalis punctatus being the top four dominant species. The MaxEnt model analysis revealed that the suitability areas of the four dominant ticks were mainly distributed in the north of Xinjiang, in areas such as Altay and Tacheng Prefecture. Over the next four periods, the medium and high suitable areas within the potential distribution range of the four tick species will expand towards the northwest. Additionally, new suitability areas will emerge in Altay, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, and other local areas. The 60-year tick dataset in this study provides a map of preliminary tick distribution in Xinjiang, with a diverse array of tick species and distribution patterns throughout the area. In addition, the MaxEnt model revealed the spatial change characteristics and future distribution trend of ticks in Xinjiang, which can provide an instrumental data reference for tick monitoring and tick-borne disease risk prediction not only in the region but also in other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Chunfu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Ai Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Na Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Jian Li
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Basic Medical College, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Feng
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University-The University of Edinburgh, Shanghai, China
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Majid A, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T, Yen TY, Tsai KH, Ali A. First report of spotted fever group Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Hyalomma turanicum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi infesting domestic animals: updates on the epidemiology of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1283814. [PMID: 38163073 PMCID: PMC10756324 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283814] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Rickettsia spp. have long been known as causative agents for zoonotic diseases. We have previously characterized Rickettsia spp. in different ticks infesting a broad range of hosts in Pakistan; however, knowledge regarding Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma ticks is missing. This study aimed to obtain a better understanding about R. aeschlimannii in Pakistan and update the knowledge about its worldwide epidemiology. Among 369 examined domestic animals, 247 (66%) were infested by 872 ticks. Collected ticks were morphologically delineated into three genera, namely, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, and Haemaphysalis. Adult females were the most prevalent (number ₌ 376, 43.1%), followed by nymphs (303, 34.74%) and males (193, 22.13%). Overall, genomic DNA samples of 223 tick were isolated and screened for Rickettsia spp. by the amplification of rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB partial genes using conventional PCR. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8 of 223 (3.58%) ticks including nymphs (5 of 122, 4.0%) and adult females (3 of 86, 3.48%). The rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences were detected in Hyalomma turanicum (2 nymphs and 1 adult female), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (1 nymph and 1 adult female), and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (2 nymphs and 1 adult female). These rickettsial sequences showed 99.71-100% identity with R. aeschlimannii and phylogenetically clustered with the same species. None of the tested Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis cornupunctata, and Haemaphysalis sulcata ticks were found positive for rickettsial DNA. Comprehensive surveillance studies should be adopted to update the knowledge regarding tick-borne zoonotic Rickettsia species, evaluate their risks to humans and livestock, and investigate the unexamined cases of illness after tick bite among livestock holders in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Majid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tsai-Ying Yen
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
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Li SA, Zhang L, Li Z, Song HN, Que ZW, Zhao SY, Li YY, Guo YL, Wu JY. Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis in Melophagus ovinus from southern Xinjiang, China. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:865-870. [PMID: 37341627 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Melophagus ovinus is a hematophagous insect that is distributed worldwide and plays a crucial role in transmitting disease-causing pathogens. From June 2021 to March 2022, a total of 370 M. ovinus were collected from 11 sampling points in southern Xinjiang, China. The specimens were identified using morphological and molecular analyses. Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis were detected from all the samples using seven Rickettsia-specific genetic markers and the msp-4 gene of A. ovis. Approximately 11% of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for Rickettsia spp., and Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae was the most predominant species (35/41; 85.4%), while R. massiliae was least prevalent (6/41; 14.6%). Approximately 10.5% (39/370) of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for A. ovis of genotype III, which was co-detected with Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus (3/370; 0.8%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of R. massiliae and Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus globally. The detection and control of insect-borne diseases originating from M. ovinus should be strengthened in southern Xinjiang, an area important to animal husbandry and production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Ang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Tarim Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Control, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Liu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Tarim Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Control, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zheng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Tarim Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Control, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Hao-Nan Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China
- Engineering Laboratory of Tarim Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Control, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ze-Wei Que
- Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Si-Yu Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ying-Ying Li
- Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yu-Ling Guo
- Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jun-Yuan Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China
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Dong Q, Yang M, Li F, Jia Y, Rizabek K, Kairullayev K, Bauyrzhan O, Adil K, Oralhazi K, Wang Y. Spotted fever group rickettsiae in hard ticks in eastern and southern Kazakhstan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102238. [PMID: 37722147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102238] [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: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Infections with spotted fever group rickettsiae represent a worldwide health problem, characterized by persistent high fever, headache, and rash in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. To date, the occurrence of Rickettsia species in hard ticks has not been thoroughly studied, especially in eastern and southern Kazakhstan. A total of 1,245 adult ticks, comprising 734 Dermacentor marginatus, 219 Hyalomma scupense, 144 Hyalomma asiaticum, 84 Hyalomma marginatum, 48 Rhipicephalus turanicus, and 16 Haemaphysalis erinacei, collected from East Kazakhstan, Abay, Jetsu, Almaty, Jambyl, South Kazakhstan and Qyzylorda oblasts of Kazakhstan, were used to screen rickettsial agents using molecular methods. Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis were identified using sequencing, and 31.5% (392/1245) of ticks carried rickettsial agents. The difference in the natural landscapes explains the variety of the collected ticks and expands our knowledge of Rickettsia species and their geographical distribution in Kazakhstan. To the best of our knowledge, this study reports the first finding of R. heilongjiangensis in Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyan Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Fengshi Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Jia
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Kadyken Rizabek
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty Oblast 835004, Kazakhstan
| | - Kenesbay Kairullayev
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty Oblast 835004, Kazakhstan
| | - Otarbayev Bauyrzhan
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty Oblast 835004, Kazakhstan
| | - Ketan Adil
- Tacheng Area Animal Disease Control and Diagnosis Center, Tacheng, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 834700, People's Republic of China
| | - Kazkhan Oralhazi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China.
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Zeb J, Song B, Khan MA, Senbill H, Aziz MU, Hussain S, Waris A, E-Tabor A, Sparagano OA. Genetic diversity of vector-borne pathogens in ixodid ticks infesting dogs from Pakistan with notes on Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia raoultii and Dirofilaria immitis detection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:214. [PMID: 37381006 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05804-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-/tick-borne pathogens (V/TBPs) pose a potential threat to human and animal health globally. Information regarding canine V/TBPs is scarce and no specific study has been conducted so far to explore the microbial diversity within ticks infesting dogs from Pakistan. Herein, this knowledge gap is addressed by assessing the genetic diversity and prevalence pattern of V/TBPs in ixodid ticks with special implications for public and canine health. METHODS A total of 1150 hard ticks were collected from 300 dogs across central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. After morpho-molecular identification, 120 tick samples were screened for the presence of V/TBPs by amplifying 16S rRNA/gltA (Rickettsia/Ehrlichia and Wolbachia sp.), 18S rRNA (Theileria sp.) and cox1 (Dirofilaria sp.) genes through PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic study. RESULTS In toto, 50 ixodid ticks (50/120, 41.7%) were found positive for V/TBPs DNA. The detected V/TBPs were categorized into five genera and eight species, viz. Ehrlichia (E. canis and Ehrlichia sp.), Rickettsia (R. massiliae, R. raoultii and Rickettsia sp.), Theileria (T. annulata), Dirofilaria (D. immitis) and Wolbachia (Wolbachia sp.). The pathogen prevalence patterns showed that R. massiliae was the most prevalent zoonotic V/TBP (19.5%), followed by E. canis (10.8%), Rickettsia sp. (7.5%), R. raoultii (6.7%), T. annulata (5.8%), D. immitis (5.8%), Wolbachia sp. (4.2%) and Ehrlichia sp. (3.3%), respectively. Among the screened tick species, most Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato samples were found positive for V/TBP DNA (20/20,100%) followed by Rh. turanicus sensu stricto (13/20, 65%), Hyalomma dromedarii (8/20, 40%), Rh. haemaphysaloides (6/20, 30%), Hy. excavatum (2/20, 10%) and Rh. microplus (1/20, 5%). Co-occurrence of V/TBP was also detected in tick specimens (single V/TBP infection: 32 ticks; double and triple: 13 and 5 tick samples). The detected pathogens shared a phylogenetic relationship with similar isolates published in NCBI GenBank from Old and New World countries. CONCLUSION Ixodid ticks infesting dogs harbor a diverse array of V/TBPs including zoonotic agents from Pakistan. Furthermore, the presence of D. immitis in ticks that infest dogs raises the possibility that this parasite has either attained its dead-end host (i.e. the tick) while feeding on dogs or has expanded its range of intermediate/paratenic hosts. Further research work is needed to investigate the epidemiology and confirm the vector competence of screened tick species for these pathogens from Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehan Zeb
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Baolin Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Munsif Ali Khan
- Vector-Borne Diseases Control Unit, District Health Office, Abbottabad, 22010, Pakistan
| | - Haytham Senbill
- Department of Applied Entomology and Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21545, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Umair Aziz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Sabir Hussain
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Abdul Waris
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Ala E-Tabor
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Olivier Andre Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, 518057, 999077, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
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9
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Cao XQ, Gu XL, Zhang L, Xu J, Han HJ, Yu XJ. Molecular detection of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella in ticks from free-ranging sheep in Gansu Province, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102137. [PMID: 36738629 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102137] [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: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Ticks pose a serious threat to public health as carriers and often vectors of zoonotic pathogens. There are few systematic studies on the prevalence and genetic diversity of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Western China. In this study, 465 ticks were collected from free-ranging sheep in Gansu Province in China. Ticks were divided into 113 pools and tick DNA was extracted from these ticks. PCR assays were performed using specific primers to screen for tick-borne pathogens as well as sequence analysis based on the 16S rRNA (rrs), ompB, gltA, ompA genes for Rickettsia, rrs, groEL genes for Anaplasma, and ssrA and rpoB genes for Bartonella. The PCR results showed that the minimum infection rates with Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella were 16.8% (78/465), 18.9% (88/465), and 0.9% (4/465), respectively. Sequence analysis based on the concatenated sequences of rrs-ompB-gltA-ompA indicated that the Rickettsia species identified in the ticks belonged to Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia slovaca, and Rickettsia sibirica, respectively; phylogenetic analysis based on the groEL gene showed that all Anaplasma strains identified were Anaplasma ovis; and phylogenetic analysis based on the ssrA and rpoB genes indicated that all Bartonella strains in the ticks belonged to Bartonella melophagi. The results of this study showed that ticks in Gansu Province harbored multiple pathogens that may cause rickettsial diseases and bartonellosis. These diseases were neglected in the area and physicians and public health workers need to pay attention to their diagnoses to prevent human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Qian Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hui-Ju Han
- School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Ji'nan, Shandong, China.
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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10
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Ma H, Ai J, Kang M, Li J, Sun Y. The life cycle of Dermacentor nuttalli from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau under laboratory conditions and detection of spotted fever group Rickettsia spp. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1126266. [PMID: 36908514 PMCID: PMC9998488 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1126266] [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: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermacentor nuttalli has been a focus of study because tick-borne pathogens have been widely identified in this tick from northern and southwestern China. The aim of this study was to characterize the life cycle of D. nuttalli under laboratory conditions and to detect spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia in the midgut and salivary glands of both field-collected and first laboratory generation adults. D. nuttalli ticks were collected in the field on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from March to April 2021 and their life cycle was studied under laboratory conditions. Tick identify was molecularly confirmed, and SFG Rickettsia were detected in the midgut and salivary glands of males and females by PCR targeting different rickettsial genes. The results showed that the life cycle of D. nuttalli under laboratory conditions was completed in an average of 86.1 days. High positivity of Rickettsia spp. was detected in the midgut and salivary glands of both males (92.0%) and females (93.0%) of field-collected D. nuttalli ticks. However, a relatively lower positivity (4.0-6.0%) was detected in first laboratory generation adults. Furthermore, sequencing analysis showed that the Rickettsia sequences obtained in this study shared 98.6 to 100% nucleotide identity with Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii isolated from Dermacentor spp. in China. Phylogenetic analysis of Rickettsia spp. based on the gltA, ompA, ompB and sca4 genes revealed that the Rickettsia sequences obtained could be classified as belonging to R. slovaca and R. raoultii clades. This study described for the first time the life cycle of D. nuttalli from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau under laboratory conditions. Two species of SFG Rickettsia were detected in the midgut and salivary glands of males and females in both field-collected and first laboratory-generation adults of D. nuttalli. Our study provides new insights into pathogen detection in ticks in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the relationships among hosts, ticks, and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejia Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Jingkai Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Ming Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Jixu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Yali Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China.,Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogen Diagnosis for Animal Diseases and Green Technical Research for Prevention and Control, Qinghai University, Xining, China
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11
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Zhao L, Ma YM, Yang B, Han WX, Zhao WH, Chai HL, Zhang ZS, Zhan YJ, Wang LF, Xing Y, Yu LF, Wang JL, Ding YL, Liu YH. Comparative analysis of microbial communities in different growth stages of Dermacentor nuttalli. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:1021426. [PMID: 36311671 PMCID: PMC9614212 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1021426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks were identified as arthropods that are pathogenic vectors. Dermacentor nuttalli is one of the dominant tick species in Inner Mongolia, and it carries and transmits a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. However, at present, only the detection of D. nuttalli adult ticks and D. nuttalli different developmental stages carrying one specific pathogen, or the next-generation sequencing of D. nuttalli adult ticks were available. In this study, we investigated the microbial community structures of D. nuttalli in different growth stages under laboratory artificial feeding conditions. Total DNA was extracted from seven growth stages (female adult ticks, eggs, larval ticks, engorged larval ticks, nymphal ticks, engorged nymphal ticks, and second-generation adult ticks) obtained from laboratory artificial feeding of engorged D. nuttalli female ticks in Inner Mongolia. Then, the 16S rDNA V3-V4 hypervariable region was amplified to construct an Illumina PE250 library. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform. The sequencing data were analyzed using molecular biology software and platforms. The Illumina PE250 sequencing results showed that the egg stage had the highest diversity and number of species (28.74%, 98/341), while the engorged nymph stage had the lowest diversity and number of species (9.72%, 21/216). A total of 387 genera of 22 phyla were annotated in D. nuttalli, with 9 phyla and 57 genera found throughout all 7 growth stages. The dominant phylum was Proteobacteria; the dominant genera were Arsenophonus and Rickettsia; and the genera with the highest relative abundance in the 7 growth stages were Pseudomonas, Paenalcaligenes, Arsenophonus, Arsenophonus, Pseudomonas, Arsenophonus, and Rickettsia, respectively. Among the 23 exact species annotated, Brucella melitensis exhibits pathogeny that poses a serious threat to humans and animals. In this study, the microbial community composition at different growth stages of D. nuttalli was comprehensively analyzed for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China,Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot, China
| | - Yi-Min Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Animal Disease Control Center of Ordos, Ordos City, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Han
- Inner Mongolia Saikexing Reproductive Biotechnology (Group) Co., Ltd., Hohhot, China
| | - Wei-Hong Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Hai-Liang Chai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhan-Sheng Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yong-Jie Zhan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Li-Feng Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Yu Xing
- Shanghai Origingene Bio-pharm Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Lu-Fei Yu
- Shanghai Origingene Bio-pharm Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Jin-Ling Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China,Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot, China
| | - Yu-Lin Ding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China,Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot, China
| | - Yong-Hong Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China,Key Laboratory of Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Technology in Animal Disease, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot, China,*Correspondence: Yong-Hong Liu
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12
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Gui Z, Cai H, Qi DD, Zhang S, Fu SY, Yu JF, Si XY, Cai T, Mao R. Identification and genetic diversity analysis of Rickettsia in Dermacentor nuttalli within inner Mongolia, China. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:286. [PMID: 35934699 PMCID: PMC9358909 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05387-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The genus Rickettsia contains the lineages spotted fever group (SFG), typhus group (TG), and transitional group (TRG). The spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is transmitted by ticks. The tick species Dermacentor nuttalli is considered the main vector carrying SFGR in Inner Mongolia. Studying the genetic diversity and population structure of Rickettsia is essential for developing effective control strategies and predicting evolutionary trends of Rickettsia.
Methods
In 2019 we collected 408 D. nuttalli in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, detected the percentage of Rickettsia-positive specimens, and characterized the haplotypes. From the Rickettsia-positive ticks, the gltA and ompA genes were extracted, amplified, and sequenced.
Results
Ten haplotypes of the gltA gene and 22 haplotypes of the ompA gene were obtained. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the haplotypes G1–G7 and G9 of the gltA gene cluster with Rickettsia raoultii, while G8 and G10 cluster with Rickettsia sibirica. Haplotypes O1–O15, O18 and O20–O22 of the ompA gene cluster with R. raoultii, while O16 and O19 cluster with R. sibirica. The average haplotype diversity was 0.3 for gltA and 0.7 for ompA. The average nucleotide diversity was greater than 0.05. Neutrality tests were nonsignificant for Tajima’s D results and Fu’s Fs results. The fixation index values (FST) showed that the degree of genetic differentiation between most sampled populations was small (FST < 0.05), whereas some populations showed a medium (FST > 0.05) or large (FST > 0.15) degree of differentiation. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the variation within populations was greater than that between populations. The mismatch analysis of Rickettsia showed double peaks.
Conclusions
We found two Rickettsia spp. (R. raoultii and R. sibirica). The high genetic disparity of Rickettsia allows for easy adaption to different environments. Genetic differentiation between populations is small, and Rickettsia populations do not show a geographically differentiated structure. The high rates of retention and infection of Rickettsia in D. nuttalli together with the animal husbandry exchange in Inner Mongolia gradually led to the harmonization of genetic characteristics of Rickettsia across various regions. Overall, the significant genetic diversity and geographical structure of Rickettsia in D. nuttalli are critical for SFGR control.
Graphical Abstract
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13
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Guo J, Song S, Cao S, Sun Z, Zhou Q, Deng X, Zhao T, Chai Y, Zhu D, Chen C, Baryshnikov PI, Blair HT, Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhang H. Molecular Detection of Zoonotic and Veterinary Pathogenic Bacteria in Pet Dogs and Their Parasitizing Ticks in Junggar Basin, North-Western China. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:895140. [PMID: 35898544 PMCID: PMC9311330 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.895140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recognized epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for pathogens that cause numerous zoonotic and veterinary diseases, data regarding the pathogens of pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in the Junggar Basin are scarce. In this study, a total of 178 blood samples and 436 parasitic ticks were collected from pet dogs in Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), north-western China. All ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus sensu stricto (s.s.) according to morphological and molecular characteristics. Rh. turanicus s.s. ticks were collected from pet dogs in China for the first time. Seven tick-borne pathogens, such as Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia massiliae, Candidatus R. barbariae, Brucella spp., Rickettsia sibirica, and Anaplasma ovis, were detected from ticks, whereas the first five bacteria were detected from blood samples of dogs. Brucella spp. was the most predominant pathogen in both blood samples and ticks of pet dogs, with the detection rates of 16.29 and 16.74%, respectively. Moreover, 17 ticks and 1 blood sample were co-infected with two pathogens, and 1 tick was co-infected with three pathogens. This study provided molecular evidence for the occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Brucella spp. circulating in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Junggar Basin, north-western China. These findings extend our knowledge of the tick-borne pathogens in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Central Asia; therefore, further research on these pathogens and their role in human and animal diseases is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Guo
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Shengnan Song
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Shuzhu Cao
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Zhihua Sun
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Qiyue Zhou
- College of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Xingmei Deng
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Tianyi Zhao
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yingjin Chai
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Dexin Zhu
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Chuangfu Chen
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - P. I. Baryshnikov
- College of Veterinary, Altai National Agricultural University, Barnaul, Russia
| | - Hugh T. Blair
- International Sheep Research Center, School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Zhen Wang
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- *Correspondence: Zhen Wang
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Yuanzhi Wang
| | - Hui Zhang
- State International Joint Research Center for Animal Health Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
- Hui Zhang
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14
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Jia W, Chen S, Chi S, He Y, Ren L, Wang X. Recent Progress on Tick-Borne Animal Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance in China. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020355. [PMID: 35215952 PMCID: PMC8875255 DOI: 10.3390/v14020355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose a growing threat to human and animal health, which has brought great losses to livestock production. With the continuous expansion of human activities and the development of natural resources, there are more and more opportunities for humans to contract ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, research on ticks and tick-borne diseases is of great significance. This paper reviews recent progress on tick-borne bacterial diseases, viral diseases, and parasitic diseases in China, which provides a theoretical foundation for the research of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijuan Jia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; (W.J.); (S.C.); (Y.H.)
| | - Si Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Key Lab for Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China;
| | - Shanshan Chi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; (W.J.); (S.C.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yunjiang He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; (W.J.); (S.C.); (Y.H.)
| | - Linzhu Ren
- College of Animal Sciences, Key Lab for Zoonoses Research, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China;
- Correspondence: (L.R.); (X.W.); Tel.: +86-15924529577 (X.W.)
| | - Xueli Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao 028000, China; (W.J.); (S.C.); (Y.H.)
- Correspondence: (L.R.); (X.W.); Tel.: +86-15924529577 (X.W.)
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15
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Zhang Y, Jiang L, Yang Y, Xie S, Yuan W, Wang Y. A tick bite patient with fever and meningitis co-infected with Rickettsia raoultii and Tacheng tick virus 1: a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1187. [PMID: 34823477 PMCID: PMC8620164 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06877-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing numbers of tick-borne pathogens are being discovered, including those that infect humans. However, reports on co-infections caused by two or more tick-borne pathogens are scarce. CASE PRESENTATION A 38-year-old male farmer was bitten by a hard tick, presented with fever (37.7 °C), severe headache and ejection vomiting. Lumbar puncture was performed in the lateral decubitus. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear, and analysis showed severe increased pressure (320 mm H2O), mild leukocytosis (126.0 × 106/L, mononuclear cells accounting for 73%) and elevated total protein concentration (0.92 g/L). Bacterial cultures of CSF and blood were negative. The diagnosis of Rickettsia raoultii and Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) co-infection was confirmed by amplifying four rickettsial genetic markers and the partial small (S) RNA segment of TcTV-1 from the patient's blood. The patient gradually recovered after treatment with levofloxacin and ribavirin. CONCLUSIONS This is the first reported co-infection case with fever and meningitis caused by R. raoultii and TcTV-1. It is vital to screen for multiple pathogens in tick-bitten patients, especially in those with severe complex symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Liang Jiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yicheng Yang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Songsong Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wumei Yuan
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
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16
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Xu N, Gai W, Zhang Y, Wang W, Wang G, Dasch GA, Eremeeva ME. Confirmation of Rickettsia conorii Subspecies indica Infection by Next-Generation Sequencing, Shandong, China. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2691-2694. [PMID: 34545782 PMCID: PMC8462315 DOI: 10.3201/eid2710.204764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe 3 similar cases of rickettsial disease that occurred after tick bites in a mountainous rural area of Shandong Province, China. Next-generation sequencing indicated the etiologic agent of 1 patient was Rickettsia conorii subspecies indica. This agent may be more widely distributed across China than previously thought.
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17
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Ni J, Ren Q, Lin H, Aizezi M, Luo J, Luo Y, Ma Z, Chen Z, Liu W, Guo J, Qu Z, Xu X, Wu Z, Tan Y, Wang J, Li Y, Guan G, Luo J, Yin H, Liu G. Molecular Evidence of Bartonella melophagi in Ticks in Border Areas of Xinjiang, China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:675457. [PMID: 34239911 PMCID: PMC8258404 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.675457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella are gram-negative intracellular bacteria; certain species of Bartonella can cause diseases in mammals and humans. Ticks play a major role in the transmission of Bartonella. Xinjiang is the largest province in China according to land area and has one-third of the tick species in China; the infection rate of Bartonella in ticks in the Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail. Therefore, this study investigated tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang border areas, and the purpose of the study was to fill in gaps in information regarding the genetic diversity of tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang. We tested 1,549 tick samples from domestic animals (sheep and cattle) for Bartonella using ribC-PCR. Positive samples from the ribC-PCR assay for Bartonella spp. were further subjected to PCR assays targeting the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes followed by phylogenetic analyses. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2.19% (34/1,549) of tick samples, and the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes of ribC gene-positive samples were amplified to identify nine samples of Bartonella melophagi. In this study, molecular analysis was used to assess the presence and genetic diversity of B. melophagi in ticks collected from sheep and cattle from Xinjiang, China. This study provides new information on the presence and identity of B. melophagi in ticks from sheep and cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiaoyun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hanliang Lin
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Malike Aizezi
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Jin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Zhan Ma
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Ze Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenge Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zegong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yangchun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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18
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Belkahia H, Selmi R, Zamiti S, Daaloul-Jedidi M, Messadi L, Ben Said M. Zoonotic Rickettsia Species in Small Ruminant Ticks From Tunisia. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:676896. [PMID: 34124229 PMCID: PMC8187766 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.676896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses present a significant public health threat among emerging tick-borne diseases. In Tunisia, little is known about tick-borne Rickettsia pathogens. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Rickettsia species in small ruminant ticks from Tunisia. Adult ticks (n = 694) were collected from goats and sheep in northern Tunisia. Obtained ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 434) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (n = 260). Selected ticks (n = 666) were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by PCR targeting a partial sequence of the ompB gene followed by sequence analysis. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 122 (18.3%) tested tick samples. The infection rates in Rh. turanicus and Rh. sanguineus s.l. ticks were 23.4 and 9.5%, respectively. The overall prevalence of rickettsial DNA was markedly higher in ticks collected from goats (23.2%) compared to those infesting sheep (7.9%). The detection of rickettsial DNA was significantly higher in ticks from the governorate of Beja (39.0%) than those from the governorate of Bizerte (13.9%). Two additional genes, the outer membrane protein A gene (ompA) and the citrate synthase gene (gltA), were also targeted for further characterization of the detected Rickettsia species. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences (n = 106) of the three different genes revealed that positive ticks are infected with different isolates of two Spotted Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia, namely, Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia monacensis, closely related to those infecting camels and associated ticks from Tunisia, and humans and small ruminant ticks from neighboring countries like Italy, France, and Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanène Belkahia
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Rachid Selmi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.,Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sayed Zamiti
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Monia Daaloul-Jedidi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Lilia Messadi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.,Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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19
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Wang Q, Guo WB, Pan YS, Jiang BG, Du CH, Que TC, Zhan L, Wu JH, Yu MH, Cui XM, Zhao L, Xu DL, Xia LY, Ye RZ, Li J, Li LF, Wei W, Zhou YH, Jiang JF, Jia N, Cao WC. Detection of Novel Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Southwestern China. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1363-1369. [PMID: 33399212 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Spotted fever group rickettsiae, mainly maintained and transmitted by ticks, are important etiological agents of (re)emerging zoonotic diseases worldwide. It is of great significance to investigate spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks in different areas for the prevention and control of rickettsioses. In this study, a total of 305 ticks were collected from wild and domestic animals in Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi provinces of southwestern China during 2017-2019 and examined for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsiae by PCR with primers targeting the partial gltA, ompA, rrs, and htrA genes. Results showed that two spotted fever group rickettsiae species, including the pathogenic Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) and a potential novel species Rickettsia sp. sw (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), were identified. The Ca. R. jingxinensis sequences were recovered from Rhipicephalus microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks and phylogenetically clustered with previous Ca. R. jingxinensis, Ca. R. longicornii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), and Rickettsia sp. XY118 (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) strains. Rickettsia sp. sw was detected in Amblyomma geoemydae (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Rh. microplus. Interestingly, as far as we know, this was the first report of Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in A. geoemydae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that this potential novel species was closely related to R. aeschlimannii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) with gltA and ompA genes and grouped in a cluster composed of R. montanensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), R. raoultii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), R. aeschlimannii, R. massiliae (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), and R. rhipicephali (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) with htrA, while formed a separate clade with rrs. The pathogenicity of Rickettsia sp. sw should be further confirmed. These results expand the knowledge of the geographical distribution and vector distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in China and are useful for assessing the potential public health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Bin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Sheng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Hong Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Dali, Yunnan, P. R. China
| | - Teng-Cheng Que
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Terrestrial Wildlife Medical-Aid and Monitoring Epidemic Diseases Research Center, Nanning, Guangxi, P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhan
- Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Hong Wu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, P. R. China
| | - Ming-Hui Yu
- Wulong County Animal Husbandry Bureau, Wulong, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Lin Zhao
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Da-Li Xu
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
| | - Luo-Yuan Xia
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Lian-Feng Li
- Shanghai Institute for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P. R. China
| | - Yu-Hao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P. R. China
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20
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Liu G, Zhao S, Tan W, Hornok S, Yuan W, Mi L, Wang S, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Hazihan W, Gu X, Wang Y. Rickettsiae in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks in northwestern China. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:204. [PMID: 33874985 PMCID: PMC8054388 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04718-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previously, twelve Rickettsia species were identified in ticks, fleas, sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) and a tick-bitten patient in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks. METHODS During 2018-2019, 12 red foxes, one marbled polecat and their ticks were sampled in two counties and a city of the XUAR. The heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of these 13 carnivores were dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard ticks were identified both morphologically and molecularly. All samples were examined for the presence of rickettsiae by amplifying four genetic markers (17-kDa, gltA, ompA, sca1). RESULTS A total of 26 adult ticks and 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga, nine Ixodes kaiseri, six Haemaphysalis erinacei and one Dermacentor marginatus) were collected from red foxes, and four Ha. erinacei ticks were removed from the marbled polecat. Analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences indicated that 2-32 nucleotides differed between I. canisuga, I. kaiseri and Ha. erinacei from northwestern China and Europe. Rickettsia raoultii was detected in three red foxes, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae in a red fox, Rickettsia sibirica in a red fox and a marbled polecat, and R. raoultii in two tick species (I. canisuga and D. marginatus). CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, I. canisuga and I. kaiseri have not been previously reported from red foxes in China. The DNA of R. sibirica and R. raoultii was detected for the first time in the organs of red foxes, and R. sibirica in the organs of a marbled polecat. This is also the first molecular evidence for the presence of R. raoultii in I. canisuga. Our findings expand the range of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife species and associated ticks in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal & Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wenbo Tan
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Wumei Yuan
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Ligu Mi
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Suwen Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yanyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wurelihazi Hazihan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal & Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xinli Gu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal & Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
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21
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Pilgrim J, Thongprem P, Davison HR, Siozios S, Baylis M, Zakharov EV, Ratnasingham S, deWaard JR, Macadam CR, Smith MA, Hurst GDD. Torix Rickettsia are widespread in arthropods and reflect a neglected symbiosis. Gigascience 2021; 10:6187866. [PMID: 33764469 PMCID: PMC7992394 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab021] [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: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsia are intracellular bacteria best known as the causative agents of human and animal diseases. Although these medically important Rickettsia are often transmitted via haematophagous arthropods, other Rickettsia, such as those in the Torix group, appear to reside exclusively in invertebrates and protists with no secondary vertebrate host. Importantly, little is known about the diversity or host range of Torix group Rickettsia. Results This study describes the serendipitous discovery of Rickettsia amplicons in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), a sequence database specifically designed for the curation of mitochondrial DNA barcodes. Of 184,585 barcode sequences analysed, Rickettsia is observed in ∼0.41% of barcode submissions and is more likely to be found than Wolbachia (0.17%). The Torix group of Rickettsia are shown to account for 95% of all unintended amplifications from the genus. A further targeted PCR screen of 1,612 individuals from 169 terrestrial and aquatic invertebrate species identified mostly Torix strains and supports the “aquatic hot spot” hypothesis for Torix infection. Furthermore, the analysis of 1,341 SRA deposits indicates that Torix infections represent a significant proportion of all Rickettsia symbioses found in arthropod genome projects. Conclusions This study supports a previous hypothesis that suggests that Torix Rickettsia are overrepresented in aquatic insects. In addition, multiple methods reveal further putative hot spots of Torix Rickettsia infection, including in phloem-feeding bugs, parasitoid wasps, spiders, and vectors of disease. The unknown host effects and transmission strategies of these endosymbionts make these newly discovered associations important to inform future directions of investigation involving the understudied Torix Rickettsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Pilgrim
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Panupong Thongprem
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Helen R Davison
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Stefanos Siozios
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, University of Liverpool, 8 West Derby Street, Liverpool L69 7BE, UK
| | - Evgeny V Zakharov
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Sujeevan Ratnasingham
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Jeremy R deWaard
- Centre for Biodiversity Genomics, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Craig R Macadam
- Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Balallan House, 24 Allan Park, Stirling FK8 2QG, UK
| | - M Alex Smith
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Summerlee Science Complex, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Gregory D D Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
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22
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López-Pérez AM, Chaves A, Sánchez-Montes S, Foley P, Uhart M, Barrón-Rodríguez J, Becker I, Suzán G, Foley J. Diversity of rickettsiae in domestic, synanthropic, and sylvatic mammals and their ectoparasites in a spotted fever-epidemic region at the western US-Mexico border. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:609-622. [PMID: 33667026 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Over one hundred cases of human rickettsiosis, many fatal, are reported annually across the US-Mexico transboundary region, representing a likely undercount. Although cases are often attributed to Rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, multiple other Rickettsia pathogens are present in North America. We conducted multiple-host surveillance of domestic, synanthropic, and sylvatic mammals and their ectoparasites to investigate the ecology of Rickettsia species in this region. A total of 499 mammals, including 83 dogs, 23 wild carnivores, five lagomorphs, and 388 rodents were sampled, and 413 fleas and 447 ticks belonging to 15 and 4 species, respectively, were collected during 2017 and 2018. We detected Rickettsia spp. DNA in one blood sample of coyote (Canis latrans), 11 ear tissues of rodents (10.6%), and 79 ectoparasites (9.5%). Of the 64 Rickettsia-positive fleas, 54 were Echidnophaga gallinacea and 10 were Pulex simulans, while of the 15 ticks, 11 were Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and four Ixodes pacificus. The DNA sequence alignment of gltA and ompB regions revealed one and ten genetic variants of Rickettsia spp., respectively. These variants were clustered in clades of zoonotic species (R. felis, R. massiliae, R. parkeri, R. rickettsii, and R. typhi) and organisms of unknown pathogenic significance (R. asembonensis and Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae). The finding of a coyote infected with R. rickettsii and the multiple zoonotic SFG rickettsial agents in the study area suggest that: 1) wild canids could serve as an amplifying host for RMSF, an alternate host for Rh. sanguineus s.l. ticks, and a means to spread infection and ticks over large areas; and 2) at least some of the human rickettsiosis cases attributed to R. rickettsii could be caused by other Rickettsia species. This study strongly supports the importance of multiple-host and vector eco-epidemiological studies and the One Health approach to better understand disease in a RMSF-epidemic region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M López-Pérez
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Andrea Chaves
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México.,División de Investigación, Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Patrick Foley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Marcela Uhart
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Julio Barrón-Rodríguez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ingeborg Becker
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, región Tuxpan, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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23
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Thongprem P, Evison SEF, Hurst GDD, Otti O. Transmission, Tropism, and Biological Impacts of Torix Rickettsia in the Common Bed Bug Cimex lectularius (Hemiptera: Cimicidae). Front Microbiol 2020; 11:608763. [PMID: 33424811 PMCID: PMC7785988 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.608763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The torix group of Rickettsia have been recorded from a wide assemblage of invertebrates, but details of transmission and biological impacts on the host have rarely been established. The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a hemipteran insect which lives as an obligatory hematophagous pest of humans and is host to a primary Wolbachia symbiont and two facultative symbionts, a BEV-like symbiont, and a torix group Rickettsia. In this study, we first note the presence of a single Rickettsia strain in multiple laboratory bed bug isolates derived from Europe and Africa. Importantly, we discovered that the Rickettsia has segregated in two laboratory strains, providing infected and uninfected isogenic lines for study. Crosses with these lines established transmission was purely maternal. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis indicates Rickettsia infection in oocytes, bacteriomes, and other somatic tissues. We found no evidence that Rickettsia infection was associated with sex ratio distortion activity, but Rickettsia infected individuals developed from first instar to adult more slowly. The impact of Rickettsia on fecundity and fertility resulted in infected females producing fewer fertile eggs. However, we could not find any evidence for cytoplasmic incompatibility associated with Rickettsia presence. These data imply the existence of an unknown benefit to C. lectularius carrying Rickettsia that awaits further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panupong Thongprem
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie E. F. Evison
- Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory D. D. Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver Otti
- Animal Population Ecology, Animal Ecology I, Bayreuth Center for Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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24
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Wang Q, Pan YS, Jiang BG, Ye RZ, Chang QC, Shao HZ, Cui XM, Xu DL, Li LF, Wei W, Xia LY, Li J, Zhao L, Guo WB, Zhou YH, Jiang JF, Jia N, Cao WC. Prevalence of Multiple Tick-Borne Pathogens in Various Tick Vectors in Northeastern China. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 21:162-171. [PMID: 33347789 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Tick-borne bacteria and protozoa can cause a variety of human and animal diseases in China. It is of great importance to monitor the prevalence and dynamic variation of these pathogens in ticks in ever-changing natural and social environment. Materials and Methods: Ticks were collected from Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces of northeastern China during 2018-2019 followed by morphological identification. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. was examined by PCR and Sanger sequencing. The obtained sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis through Mega 7.0. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0. Results: A total of 250 ticks from 5 species of 3 genera were collected. Ixodes and Haemaphysalis ticks carried more species of pathogens than Dermacentor, and the pathogens detected in Haemaphysalis japonica varied significantly among different sampling sites. The infection rates of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. were 41.2%, 0, 2.0%, 7.2%, 1.2%, and 7.2%, respectively. Twelve pathogens were identified, among which Rickettsia raoultii (29.6%), Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae (9.2%), and Theileria equi (4.4%) were the three most common ones. Rickettsia had its dominant vector, that is, R. raoultii had high infection rates in Dermacentor nuttalli and Dermacentor silvarum, Ca. R. tarasevichiae in Ixodes persulcatus, and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis in H. japonica. Interestingly, unclassified species were observed, including a Rickettsia sp., an Ehrlichia sp., a Borrelia sp., and a Babesia sp. Coinfections with different pathogens were identified in 9.2% of all tested ticks, with I. persulcatus most likely to be coinfected (23.8%) and Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. as the most common combination (16.7%). Conclusions: The results of this study reflect high diversity and complexity of pathogens in ticks, which are useful for designing more targeted and effective control measures for tick-borne diseases in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Sheng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Qiao-Cheng Chang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, P.R. China
| | - Hong-Ze Shao
- Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science Research Institute of Jilin Province, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Da-Li Xu
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lian-Feng Li
- Shanghai Institute for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, P.R. China
| | - Luo-Yuan Xia
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lin Zhao
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Bin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Hao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Na Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, P.R. China
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Piotrowski M, Rymaszewska A. Expansion of Tick-Borne Rickettsioses in the World. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1906. [PMID: 33266186 PMCID: PMC7760173 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These infections are among the oldest known diseases transmitted by vectors. In the last three decades there has been a rapid increase in the recognition of this disease complex. This unusual expansion of information was mainly caused by the development of molecular diagnostic techniques that have facilitated the identification of new and previously recognized rickettsiae. A lot of currently known bacteria of the genus Rickettsia have been considered nonpathogenic for years, and moreover, many new species have been identified with unknown pathogenicity. The genus Rickettsia is distributed all over the world. Many Rickettsia species are present on several continents. The geographical distribution of rickettsiae is related to their vectors. New cases of rickettsioses and new locations, where the presence of these bacteria is recognized, are still being identified. The variety and rapid evolution of the distribution and density of ticks and diseases which they transmit shows us the scale of the problem. This review article presents a comparison of the current understanding of the geographic distribution of pathogenic Rickettsia species to that of the beginning of the century.
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Moreno-Salas L, Espinoza-Carniglia M, Lizama-Schmeisser N, Torres-Fuentes LG, Silva-de La Fuente MC, Lareschi M, González-Acuña D. Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:523. [PMID: 33069260 PMCID: PMC7568392 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and/or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile. Methods The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1315 fleas collected from 1512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas. Results DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infection levels in fleas varied between species of flea. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged between 0–35.1%. Areas of lower human density showed the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree showed two well-differentiated clades with Rickettsia bellii positioned as basal in one clade. The second clade was subdivided into two subclades of species related to Rickettsia of the spotted fever group. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 flea species of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucila Moreno-Salas
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Mario Espinoza-Carniglia
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores CEPAVE (CONICET CCT-La Plata-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Nicol Lizama-Schmeisser
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Concepción, Chile
| | | | - María Carolina Silva-de La Fuente
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Chillán, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marcela Lareschi
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores CEPAVE (CONICET CCT-La Plata-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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27
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Distribution and molecular characterization of rickettsiae in ticks in Harbin area of Northeastern China. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008342. [PMID: 32497120 PMCID: PMC7272007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are world-spreading infectious zoonoses. Ticks serve as reservoirs and vectors for Rickettsia and play a key role in transmission of rickettsioses. Most of the Chinese rickettsiosis patients are reported from Northeastern China but the distribution of tick and tick-borne Rickettsia species in Northeastern China remain poorly studied. In this study, a total of 1,286 ticks were captured from the seven counties of Harbin, an area in Northeastern China, and the tick-borne Rickettsia species were identified by PCR and sequencing of rrs, gltA, groEL, ompA and 17-kDa antigen-encoding genes. Of the 5 identified tick species, Haemaphysalis longicornis and Ixodes persulcatus were the predominant tick species in the livestock and vegetation, respectively. Rickettsia raoultii and “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae” were the two detectable Rickettsia species in the ticks with a 28.8% positive rate but no rickettsiae were found in ticks of Haemaphysalis concinna. R. raoultii detected in 37.6% of the Dermacentor nuttalli, Dermacentor silvarum and H. longicornis ticks while “Ca. R. tarasevichiae” was only present in 22.8% of the I. persulcatus ticks. In particular, the positive rate of both R. raoultii and “Ca. R. tarasevichiae” in ticks from the livestock (40.7%) was significantly higher than that from the vegetation (19.5%). The results indicate that the tick and tick-borne Rickettsia species are diverse in different regions of Harbin due to geographic difference and the ticks from livestock may play a more important role in transmission of rickettsioses to human. Rickettsiosis is a tick-borne infectious disease of global importance. The disease has been prevailing in Northeastern China but the distribution of tick and tick-borne Rickettsia species from different areas of Northeastern China remain poorly studied. We collected a total of 1,286 ticks in the seven counties with different geographic environments of Harbin, an area of Northeastern China, and all the ticks were classified as Dermacentor nuttalli, Dermacentor silvarum, Haemaphysalis concinna, Haemaphysalis longicornis or Ixodes persulcatus. A total of 28.8% of the ticks tested positive for either Rickettsia raoultii or “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae”, in which 37.6% of the D. nuttalli, D. silvarum and H. longicornis ticks were positive for R. raoultii while 22.8% of the I. persulcatus ticks were positive for “Ca. R. tarasevichiae”. The positive rate of both R. raoultii and “Ca. R. tarasevichiae” in ticks from the livestock (40.7%) was significantly higher than that from the vegetation (19.5%). All the data indicate that ticks in the Harbin area have a high infection rate with Rickettsia species and domestic animals may have a tick-livestock rickettsial circulation that may play an important role in transmission of rickettsioses.
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28
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Li Y, Wen X, Li M, Moumouni PFA, Galon EM, Guo Q, Rizk MA, Liu M, Li J, Ji S, Tumwebaze MA, Byamukama B, Chahan B, Xuan X. Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks collected from livestock in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101478. [PMID: 32723638 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) that are of importance to humans and animals globally. However, information about the tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of tick species of domestic animals and tick-borne pathogens by using morphological molecular identification and sequence analysis in Turpan, Qitai, Altay, Hejing, Nileke, and Zhaosu counties (XUAR). A total of 5822 adult ticks (females and males) from 12 tick species were identified from 5 animal species (cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and horses) in 6 counties in the XUAR. Collected tick species included Dermacentor marginatus (24.7 %), Dermacentor nuttalli (20.8 %), Hyalomma anatolicum (13.7 %), Dermacentor niveus (13.1 %), Haemaphysalis punctata (10.7 %), Dermacentor silvarum (7.1 %), Dermacentor pavlovskyi (3.9 %), Hyalomma asiaticum (2.2 %), Rhipicephalus pumilio (1.9 %), Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (0.7 %), Rhipicephalus turanicus (0.6 %), and Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi (0.6 %). Furthermore, 750 partially engorged adult ticks (females and males), including H. anatolicum (250), D. nuttalli (250), and D. marginatus (250), were individually separated according to species and sampling site, used for DNA extraction, and then screened for tick-borne pathogens. The most common pathogen was Rickettsia raoultii (36.80 %), followed by Brucella sp. (26.2 %), Anaplasma ovis (22.4 %), Babesia caballi (14.8 %), Theileria equi (8.7 %), and Theileria ovis (8.5 %). The sequencing of 6 genes showed a 96-100 % nucleotide identity between the sequences in this study and those deposited in GenBank. This study provides a scientific reference for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases in the XUAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchang Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Xiuxiu Wen
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Min Li
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Paul Franck Adjou Moumouni
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Eloiza May Galon
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Qingyong Guo
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China
| | - Mohamed Abdo Rizk
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516, Egypt
| | - Mingming Liu
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Jixu Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Maria Agnes Tumwebaze
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Benedicto Byamukama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Bayin Chahan
- Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
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Špitalská E, Kraljik J, Miklisová D, Boldišová E, Sparagano OAE, Stanko M. Circulation of Rickettsia species and rickettsial endosymbionts among small mammals and their ectoparasites in Eastern Slovakia. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2047-2057. [PMID: 32382991 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are known as causative agents of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, such as spotted fevers, epidemic typhus and endemic typhus. Different species of ticks, mites and fleas could act as reservoirs and arthropod vectors of different pathogenic Rickettsia species. The aim of this work was to establish active surveillance of Rickettsia spp. in mites, ticks and fleas collected from small mammals (rodents and shrews) in Eastern Slovakia. A total of 964 animal ear biopsies, 871 mites, 667 ticks and 743 fleas were collected from small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia. All specimens were identified using specialized taxonomic keys, and were conserved in ethanol until DNA extraction was performed. After DNA extraction, identification of Rickettsia species was performed by PCR-based methods. The total prevalence of rickettsiae from ear biopsies was 4.6% (95% CI, 3.2-5.9), in tested mites 9.3% (95% CI, 7.4-11.2), 17.2% (95% CI, 14.3-20.1) in I. ricinus ticks and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.2-4.8) in fleas. Sequence analysis of the partial gltA gene and Rickettsia helvetica-, Rickettsia slovaca-, Rickettsia raoultii- species specific real-time PCR tests revealed the presence of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts. These pathogenic and symbiotic species were confirmed in the following ectoparasite species-Laelaps jettmari, Haemogamasus nidi, Laelaps agilis and Eulaelaps stabularis mites, Ixodes ricinus ticks, Ctenophthalmus solutus, C. assimilis and Megabothris turbidus fleas infesting host-Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus small mammals. These results confirm the circulation of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts in mites, ticks and fleas collected on small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Dana Miklisová
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Boldišová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Olivier A E Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
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Human Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Infecting Yaks ( Bos grunniens) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9040249. [PMID: 32231020 PMCID: PMC7238049 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9040249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Area (QTPA) is a plateau with the highest average altitude, located in Northwestern China. There is a risk for interspecies disease transmission, such as spotted fever rickettsioses. However, information on the molecular characteristics of the spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. in the area is limited. This study performed screenings, and detected the DNA of human pathogen, SFG Rickettsia spp., with 11.3% (25/222) infection rates in yaks (Bosgrunniens). BLASTn analysis revealed that the Rickettsia sequences obtained shared 94.3–100% identity with isolates of Rickettsia spp. from ticks in China. One Rickettsia sequence (MN536161) had 100% nucleotide identity to two R. raoultii isolates from Chinese Homo sapiens, and one isolate from Qinghai Dermacentorsilvarum. Meanwhile, another Rickettsia sequence (MN536157) shared 99.1–99.5% identity to one isolate from Dermacentor spp. in China. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis of SFG Rickettsia spp. ompA gene revealed that these two sequences obtained from yaks in the present study grouped with the R. slovaca and R. raoultii clades with isolates identified from Dermacentor spp. and Homo sapiens. Our findings showed the first evidence of human pathogen DNA, SFG Rickettsia spp., from animals, in the QTPA.
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Huercha, Song R, Li M, Fan X, Hu Z, Wu L, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Ma Y, Bayin C. Caracterization of glutathione S-transferase of Dermacantor marginatus and effect of the recombinant antigen as a potential anti-tick vaccine. Vet Parasitol 2020; 279:109043. [PMID: 32070900 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Dermacentor marginatus is one of the main tick species in northwestern China, and is a vector of various tick-borne pathogens. Tick control method largely depends on chemical agents, but the disadvantages of using such approach would cause environmental damage and the risk of developing tick resistance to acaricides. Vaccination of tick protective antigen is an eco-friendly approach which is an alternative and promising method to mitigate tick infestation in livestock. In the study, a mu-class glutathione S-transferase (GST) sequence of D. marginatus was cloned and the recombinant protein (rDmGST) was expressed. Transcriptional level of the GST was measured together with native GST activity of the tick. Finally, A vaccine trial on rabbits against D. marginatus was proceeded to evaluate the anti-tick effect of rDmGST. Results reveled that the CDs of the D. margiantus glutathione S-transferase mu 1 gene has 669 base pair nucleotide sequence encoding a 223 amino acid. The deduced GST protein sequence had over 95 % similarity with that of D. variabilis. The rDmGST was efficiently expressed soluble and purified by His trap affinity chromatography. Enzyme activity of native GST and transcriptional profiles of the GST showed up-regulation in different stages and organs of D. marginaus during blood feeding. Polyclonal antibody reacted with rDmGST in Western blotting. Tick challenge on rDmGST inoculated rabbits showed reductions in adult female engorgement rate, total egg mass and egg hatching rate with an overall vaccine efficacy of 43.69 %. The results of the experiment indicated the GST has potential value to be an effective protective antigen of D. marginatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huercha
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China; Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Ruiqi Song
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China; Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Min Li
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xinli Fan
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhengxiang Hu
- Bayingol Vocational and Technical College, Korla 841000, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lijiang Wu
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yongchang Li
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Wei Zhang
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yuhui Ma
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China
| | - Chahan Bayin
- Parasitology Laboratory, College of Veterinary, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830053, Xinjiang, China.
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Potts R, Molina I, Sheele JM, Pietri JE. Molecular detection of Rickettsia infection in field-collected bed bugs. New Microbes New Infect 2020; 34:100646. [PMID: 32025311 PMCID: PMC6997558 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2019.100646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bed bugs are now one of the most prevalent human-associated, blood-feeding pests in the urban world, but few studies of their association with human pathogens have been conducted since their resurgence. Here, we used PCR to screen samples of field-collected bed bugs (Cimex spp.) for the presence of Rickettsia bacteria and we describe the first detection of an uncharacterized Rickettsia in Cimex lectularius in nature. Rickettsia was detected in 5/39 (12.8%) of the bed bug samples tested. In particular, three pools from the USA and two individual insects from the UK were positive for Rickettsia DNA. Sequencing and analysis of a fragment of the citrate synthase gene (gltA) from positive samples from each country revealed that the Rickettsia detected in both were identical and were closely related to a Rickettsia previously detected in the rat flea Nosopsyllus laeviceps. Additional experiments indicated that the Rickettsia localizes to multiple tissues in the bed bug and reaches high titres. Attempts were made to infect mammalian cells in culture but these efforts were inconclusive. Our findings suggest that Rickettsia are secondary endosymbionts of bed bugs and have potential implications for both bed bug control and public health. However, further investigation is required to determine the pathogenicity of this Rickettsia, its transmission mechanisms, and its contributions to bed bug physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Potts
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - I Molina
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, SD, USA
| | - J M Sheele
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - J E Pietri
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Vermillion, SD, USA
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Dong Z, Yang Y, Wang Q, Xie S, Zhao S, Tan W, Yuan W, Wang Y. A case with neurological abnormalities caused by Rickettsia raoultii in northwestern China. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:796. [PMID: 31510926 PMCID: PMC6737699 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4414-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The number of new rickettsial species are rapidly increasing, and increasing numbers of Rickettsia raoultii (R. raoultii) infection cases have been detected in humans. However, neurological abnormalities caused by R. raoultii are rarely reported, especially in northwestern China. Case presentation A 36-year-old Kazakh shepherd with an attached tick on part temporalis, presented with right eyelid droop, lethargy, fever, headache, fever (38.0–41.0 °C) and erythematous rash. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed cerebrospinal pressure of 200 mm H2O, leukocyte count of 300.0 × 106/L, adenosine deaminase of 2.15 U/L, and total protein concentration of 0.93 g/L. The diagnosis of R. raoultii infection was confirmed by six genetic markers, and semi-quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for rickettsial antigen. The patient gradually recovered after treatment with doxycycline and ceftriaxone. R. raoultii DNA was found both in a tick detached from this patient and in 0.18% (2/1107) of blood samples collected from local shepherds. Conclusions This is the first reported case with neurological abnormalities caused by R. raoultii in northwestern China. It is vital to detect rickettsial agents both in blood and CSF for tick bite patients with neurological abnormalities. Public health workers and physicians should pay attention to neurological abnormalities caused by Rickettsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Dong
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yicheng Yang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Kaifeng Central Hospital, Henan, 475000, China
| | - Songsong Xie
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University Medical College, Shihezi, 832002, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wenbo Tan
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Wumei Yuan
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832002, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
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34
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Černý J, Buyannemekh B, Needham T, Gankhuyag G, Oyuntsetseg D. Hard ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Mongolia-A review. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101268. [PMID: 31471272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) pose a considerable threat to human and animal health in Mongolia; a large and sparsely inhabited country whose economy is largely dependent on animal production. Intensive contact between herdsmen and their livestock, together with the use of pastures without fencing, allows contact between wildlife, domestic animals and humans, thus creating ideal conditions for epizoonoses and zoonoses. Consequently, ticks and TBPs cause significant medical, veterinary, and economical concern. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about this zoonotic problem in Mongolia, focusing on tick species from the genera Ixodes, Haemaphysalis, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus, which are associated with particular vegetation zones of the country. The most important tick species of medical and veterinary concern are Ixodes persulcatus and Dermacentor nuttalli, which are found in northern boreal forests and central steppes, respectively. These tick species transmit a wide variety of TBPs, including tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia bacteria, and Babesia parasites infecting rodents, wild ungulates, livestock, and humans. Despite basic characteristics of the biology of ticks and TBPs in Mongolia being known, further research is needed to gain more precise and quantitative data on what tick species and TBPs are currently present within Mongolia, and their effects on human health and animal production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Černý
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Tersia Needham
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Gantulga Gankhuyag
- Institute of General and Experimental Biology of Mongolian Academy of Sciences, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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Zhang J, Lu G, Li J, Kelly P, Li M, Wang J, Huang K, Qiu H, You J, Zhang R, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wu H, Wang C. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia bellii in Mosquitoes. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:802-809. [PMID: 31306085 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To add to the limited information on Rickettsia in mosquitoes in China, we carried out a PCR survey on convenience samples of 3051 mosquitoes collected with hand nets in and around domestic dwellings in 25 provinces. Five species of mosquitoes were identified: Culex pipiens pallens (n = 1620), Aedes albopictus (806), Armigeres subalbatus (377), Anopheles sinensis (168), and Culex tritaeniorhynchus (80). A Rickettsia nested-PCR targeting the variable domain of gltA showed Rickettsia felis in four mosquito species of 16 provinces Cx. pipiens pallens (1.8%, 29/1620); Ae. albopictus (1.2%, 10/806); An. sinensis (1.2%, 2/168); and Ar. subalbatus (2.1%, 8/377). Rickettsia bellii was also widespread, occurring in 12 provinces and 2 species: Cx. pipiens pallens (4.3%, 69/1620) and An. sinensis (0.6%, 1/168). R. felis and R. bellii were found in almost similar numbers in female [1.5% (27/1809) and 1.2% (21/1809), respectively] as in male mosquitoes [1.8% (22/1242) and 4.0% (49/1242), respectively]. Our results indicated that mosquitoes in China are widely infected with R. felis, the agent of human flea-borne spotted fever, and that R. bellii can also occur outside of the Americas and its usual tick hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Guangwu Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jing Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Patrick Kelly
- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, West Indies
| | - Min Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ke Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Haixiang Qiu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jinfeng You
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yaoyao Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Hongzhuan Wu
- Program in Microbiology, Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama
| | - Chengming Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
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