1
|
Zarka J, Heylen D, Sprong H, Fonville M, Elst J, Matthysen E. Xenodiagnosis in the wild: A methodology to investigate infectiousness for tick-borne bacteria in a songbird reservoir. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 6:100210. [PMID: 39318442 PMCID: PMC11421356 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
A crucial factor to predict the persistence and spread of infections in natural systems is the capacity of reservoir hosts to maintain the infection and transmit it to others. This is known to greatly vary within and between species and through time, although the latter part of the variation is often less well understood in the wild. Borrelia garinii is one of the causal agents of Lyme disease in humans and is transmitted among avian hosts by the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Great tits are known to be a reservoir in Europe for B. garinii. For tick-borne pathogens like B. garinii, infectiousness or host-to-vector transmission can be measured using xenodiagnosis where pathogen-free vectors are fed on a host, and the blood-fed vectors are subsequently tested for the pathogen. Here we describe and evaluate a methodology to quantify infectiousness for tick-borne pathogens in individual wild great tits (Parus major), involving captures and recaptures of targeted individuals. The methodology can potentially be applied to other species where recapturing is sufficiently guaranteed. We successfully recaptured most of the infested great tits two to three days after initial infestation (i.e. just before ticks have fully fed) with sufficient numbers of I. ricinus larval ticks, which were subsequently screened for B. garinii using a newly developed B. garinii-specific real-time PCR assay. Higher larval tick numbers were recovered from birds during the breeding seasons than during the winter months. Our novel B. garinii-qPCR performed well, and greatly reduced the amount of Sanger sequencing needed. Preliminary results suggest both seasonal and individual variation in infectiousness; heterogeneity that needs to be unravelled to further understand the contribution of resident birds to the epidemiology of B. garinii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Zarka
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Joris Elst
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Erik Matthysen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
López-Pérez AM, Backus L, Beati L, Klompen H, Rubino F, Foley J. Novel Rickettsia and host records for argasid ticks, including Alveonasus cooleyi, on wild mammals in Baja California, Mexico. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 93:459-472. [PMID: 38888666 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00935-2] [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: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
We conducted surveillance of mammals to investigate their associations with argasid ticks and tick-borne pathogens. During 2021, a total of 20 wild carnivores and 57 lagomorphs were sampled, and 39 argasid ticks belonging to two species were collected. All mammals and ticks were tested by molecular assays to detect Borrelia and Rickettsia infections. Nine ticks identified as Otobius megnini were collected from two coyotes (Canis latrans) and 30 Alveonasus cooleyi (McIvor 1941) were collected from six bobcats (Lynx rufus) and one rabbit (Sylvilagus auduboni). We detected Rickettsia spp. DNA in 21 of the 27 (77.8%) tested Av. cooleyi and none of the O. megnini. No ticks were PCR-positive for borreliae and all mammals were PCR-negative for both pathogen genera. Phylogenetic analysis based on gltA, htrA, and 16 S rRNA targets revealed that all rickettsiae from Av. cooleyi clustered with ancestral group rickettsiae, likely representing a novel species of possibly endosymbiotic Rickettsia. The significance of Av. cooleyi and the newly identified Rickettsia sp. to the health of wildlife is unknown, and further work is indicated to determine whether they may be relevant to public health or carnivore conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés M López-Pérez
- Red de Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología A.C, Xalapa, Veracruz, México.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Laura Backus
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Animal Science, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA, USA
| | - Lorenza Beati
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, U.S. National Tick Collection, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, USA
| | - Hans Klompen
- Acarology Laboratory, Ecology Evolution and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Francesca Rubino
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Janet Foley
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mongruel ACB, Medici EP, da Costa Canena A, Machado RZ, Clay K, Labruna MB, André MR. First molecular detection of Borrelia sp. in tapirs (Tapirus terrestris). Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:2767-2774. [PMID: 38713407 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10406-z] [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: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Borrelia theileri is a tick-borne spirochete causative agent of fever, apathy and reduced food consumption in cattle. Molecular diagnosis has expanded the understanding of Borrelia theileri with new hosts and geographical locations being described. The present study aimed to describe the first molecular detection of B. theileri in wild tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) from South America. Blood DNA samples obtained from 99 tapirs sampled in Pantanal (n = 61) and Cerrado (n = 38) biomes were screened using a qPCR assay based on the 16 S rRNA gene of Borrelia sp. Positive samples in the qPCR assay were subjected to PCR assays to allow characterization of fragments from 16 S rRNA and flaB genes. Two (2/99; 2.0%) animals from Pantanal biome were positive in the qPCR and one sample presented bands of expected size for the flaB protocol. Amplicons from this sample were successfully cloned and sequenced. In the phylogenetic analysis, Borrelia sp. from T. terrestris grouped together with B. theileri sequences previously detected in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks and cattle from Minas Gerais State in Brazil, Rhipicephalus geigyi from Mali, and R. microplus and Haemaphysalis sulcata from Pakistan. This finding contributes to our knowledge regarding susceptible hosts species for B. theileri. More studies are necessary to understand the potential effects of B. theileri on tapir's health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Claudia Baumel Mongruel
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP) - Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Emília Patrícia Medici
- Iniciativa Nacional para Conservação da Anta Brasileira (INCAB), Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ) , Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Escola Superior de Conservação Ambiental e Sustentabilidade (ESCAS/IPÊ) - Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
- Tapir Specialist Group (TSG), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN SSC), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ariel da Costa Canena
- Iniciativa Nacional para Conservação da Anta Brasileira (INCAB), Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ) , Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP) - Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keith Clay
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal (VPS), Faculdade de Ciências Veterinárias e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Vector-Borne Bioagents Laboratory (VBBL), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP) - Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Guérin M, Vandevenne M, Brans A, Matagne A, Marquant R, Prost E, Octave S, Avalle B, Maffucci I, Padiolleau-Lefèvre S. Production, purification, and quality assessment of borrelial proteins CspZ from Borrelia burgdorferi and FhbA from Borrelia hermsii. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:425. [PMID: 39042328 PMCID: PMC11266248 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13195-2] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Borrelia, spirochetes transmitted by ticks, are the etiological agents of numerous multisystemic diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF). This study focuses on two surface proteins from two Borrelia subspecies involved in these diseases: CspZ, expressed by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (also named BbCRASP-2 for complement regulator-acquiring surface protein 2), and the factor H binding A (FhbA), expressed by Borrelia hermsii. Numerous subspecies of Borrelia, including these latter, are able to evade the immune defenses of a variety of potential vertebrate hosts in a number of ways. In this context, previous data suggested that both surface proteins play a role in the immune evasion of both Borrelia subspecies by interacting with key regulators of the alternative pathway of the human complement system, factor H (FH) and FH-like protein 1 (FHL-1). The recombinant proteins, CspZ and FhbA, were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by one-step metal-affinity chromatography, with yields of 15 and 20 mg or pure protein for 1 L of cultured bacteria, respectively. The purity was evaluated by SDS-PAGE and HPLC and is close to about 95%. The mass of CspZ and FhbA was checked by mass spectrometry (MS). Proper folding of CspZ and FhbA was confirmed by circular dichroism (CD), and their biological activity, namely their interaction with purified FH from human serum (recombinant FH15-20 and recombinant FHL-1), was characterized by SPR. Such a study provides the basis for the biochemical characterization of the studied proteins and their biomolecular interactions which is a necessary prerequisite for the development of new approaches to improve the current diagnosis of LB and TBRF. KEY POINTS: • DLS, CD, SEC-MALS, NMR, HPLC, and MS are tools for protein quality assessment • Borrelia spp. possesses immune evasion mechanisms, including human host complement • CspZ and FhbA interact with high affinity (pM to nM) to human FH and rFHL-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mickaël Guérin
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Marylène Vandevenne
- Robotein®, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Sart-Tilman, Liège, 4000, Belgium
- Centre for Protein Engineering, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Liège, Sart- Tilman), 4000, Belgium
| | - Alain Brans
- Protein Factory, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Sart-Tilman, Liège, 4000, Belgium
- Centre for Protein Engineering, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Liège, Sart- Tilman), 4000, Belgium
| | - André Matagne
- Laboratory of Enzymology and Protein Folding, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Sart-Tilman, Liège, 4000, Belgium
- Centre for Protein Engineering, InBioS Research Unit, University of Liège, Building B6, Quartier Agora, Allée du 6 Août, 13, Liège, Sart- Tilman), 4000, Belgium
| | - Rodrigue Marquant
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Elise Prost
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Stéphane Octave
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Bérangère Avalle
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Irene Maffucci
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France
| | - Séverine Padiolleau-Lefèvre
- Unité de Génie Enzymatique et Cellulaire (GEC), CNRS UMR 7025, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Compiègne, 60203, France.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Koutantou M, Drancourt M, Angelakis E. Prevalence of Lyme Disease and Relapsing Fever Borrelia spp. in Vectors, Animals, and Humans within a One Health Approach in Mediterranean Countries. Pathogens 2024; 13:512. [PMID: 38921809 PMCID: PMC11206712 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060512] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Borrelia has been divided into Borreliella spp., which can cause Lyme Disease (LD), and Borrelia spp., which can cause Relapsing Fever (RF). The distribution of genus Borrelia has broadened due to factors such as climate change, alterations in land use, and enhanced human and animal mobility. Consequently, there is an increasing necessity for a One Health strategy to identify the key components in the Borrelia transmission cycle by monitoring the human-animal-environment interactions. The aim of this study is to summarize all accessible data to increase our understanding and provide a comprehensive overview of Borrelia distribution in the Mediterranean region. Databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google were searched to determine the presence of Borreliella and Borrelia spp. in vectors, animals, and humans in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 3026 were identified and screened and after exclusion of papers that did not fulfill the including criteria, 429 were used. After examination of the available literature, it was revealed that various species associated with LD and RF are prevalent in vectors, animals, and humans in Mediterranean countries and should be monitored in order to effectively manage and prevent potential infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Koutantou
- Diagnostic Department and Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Emmanouil Angelakis
- Diagnostic Department and Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tang T, Zhu Y, Zhang YY, Chen JJ, Tian JB, Xu Q, Jiang BG, Wang GL, Golding N, Mehlman ML, Lv CL, Hay SI, Fang LQ, Liu W. The global distribution and the risk prediction of relapsing fever group Borrelia: a data review with modelling analysis. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2024; 5:e442-e451. [PMID: 38467129 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent discovery of emerging relapsing fever group Borrelia (RFGB) species, such as Borrelia miyamotoi, poses a growing threat to public health. However, the global distribution and associated risk burden of these species remain uncertain. We aimed to map the diversity, distribution, and potential infection risk of RFGB. METHODS We searched PubMed, Web of Science, GenBank, CNKI, and eLibrary from Jan 1, 1874, to Dec 31, 2022, for published articles without language restriction to extract distribution data for RFGB detection in vectors, animals, and humans, and clinical information about human patients. Only articles documenting RFGB infection events were included in this study, and data for RFGB detection in vectors, animals, or humans were composed into a dataset. We used three machine learning algorithms (boosted regression trees, random forest, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression) to assess the environmental, ecoclimatic, biological, and socioeconomic factors associated with the occurrence of four major RFGB species: Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia lonestari, Borrelia crocidurae, and Borrelia hermsii; and mapped their worldwide risk level. FINDINGS We retrieved 13 959 unique studies, among which 697 met the selection criteria and were used for data extraction. 29 RFGB species have been recorded worldwide, of which 27 have been identified from 63 tick species, 12 from 61 wild animals, and ten from domestic animals. 16 RFGB species caused human infection, with a cumulative count of 26 583 cases reported from Jan 1, 1874, to Dec 31, 2022. Borrelia recurrentis (17 084 cases) and Borrelia persica (2045 cases) accounted for the highest proportion of human infection. B miyamotoi showed the widest distribution among all RFGB, with a predicted environmentally suitable area of 6·92 million km2, followed by B lonestari (1·69 million km2), B crocidurae (1·67 million km2), and B hermsii (1·48 million km2). The habitat suitability index of vector ticks and climatic factors, such as the annual mean temperature, have the most significant effect among all predictive models for the geographical distribution of the four major RFGB species. INTERPRETATION The predicted high-risk regions are considerably larger than in previous reports. Identification, surveillance, and diagnosis of RFGB infections should be prioritised in high-risk areas, especially within low-income regions. FUNDING National Key Research and Development Program of China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jian-Bo Tian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Lin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Nick Golding
- Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia; School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Max L Mehlman
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chen-Long Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Simon I Hay
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bermúdez C SE, Félix ML, Domínguez A L, Araúz D, Venzal JM. Molecular screening of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks from rural areas of Panama, with the first record of Ehrlichia minasensis in Rhipicephalus microplus from Central America. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1301-1308. [PMID: 38221589 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10306-2] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
During a molecular screening of rickettsial, borrelial and protozoal agents in ticks from rural areas of Panama, we detected DNA of Rickettsia amblyommatis in four Amblyomma mixtum collected from horses in a locality in Los Santos province. Ehrlichia minasensis and Anaplasma marginale were identified from three and two Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively, collected on cows from Chiriqui province. No DNA from other tick-borne agents was found. These results increase the information of R. amblyommatis and A. marginale in Panama, and also mark the first record of E. minasensis in Central America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama.
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDEClBA), Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay.
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Lillian Domínguez A
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Departamento Investigación en Virología y Biotecnología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Polli MG, Martins MM, Rodrigues VDS, Rezende LM, Suzin A, Maia RDC, Souza ACP, Muñoz-Leal S, Szabó MPJ, Yokosawa J. Molecular detection of Borrelia sp. in Ornithodoros cavernicolous (Acari: Argasidae) in midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102303. [PMID: 38113807 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites that can transmit to vertebrate hosts several pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Among these agents, some Borrelia species some Borrelia species cause disease in humans and other vertebrate hosts; therefore, they have medical and veterinary health importance. To gather additional information on Borrelia species in Brazil, the current study aimed to detect the presence of these species in Ornithodoros cavernicolous ticks collected in September 2019 from cement pipes that are used by bats as shelter in a farm located in the midwestern region of Brazil. DNA samples obtained from 18 specimens of O. cavernicolous were subjected of two polymerase chain reactions, targeting a segment of the Borrelia fla B gene. Of the samples tested, only one (6 %, 1/18) showed amplification. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA showed more than 97 % (293/300) identity with a sequence of a Borrelia sp. detected in blood collected from a bat from Macaregua Cave, Colombia, and more than 97 % (292/300) detected in lungs from vampire bats from northeastern Brazil. The deduced amino acid sequences were identical to each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences formed a group of Borrelia species (putatively associated with bats) that is closely related to sequences of Borrelia species of the Lyme borreliosis group. Further investigations should be carried out in order to determine whether the sequence of the Borrelia sp. we found belongs to a new taxon. It will also be of great importance to determine which vertebrate hosts, besides bats, O. cavernicolous ticks can parasitize in order to investigate whether the Borrelia sp. we found may be transmitted and cause disease to the other vertebrate hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayara Garcia Polli
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICBIM), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil
| | - Maria Marlene Martins
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Lais Miguel Rezende
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Sciences, UFU, FAMEV, Brazil
| | - Adriane Suzin
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Instituto de Biologia, UFU, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo da Costa Maia
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Prado Souza
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | | | - Jonny Yokosawa
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICBIM), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lucca V, Nuñez S, Pucheta MB, Radman N, Rigonatto T, Sánchez G, Del Curto B, Oliva D, Mariño B, López G, Bonin S, Trevisan G, Stanchi NO. Lyme Disease: A Review with Emphasis on Latin America. Microorganisms 2024; 12:385. [PMID: 38399789 PMCID: PMC10892289 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme Group) is the causative agent of Lyme disease, transmitted to humans through tick bites carrying the bacteria. Common symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and the characteristic erythema migrans skin rash. If left untreated, the infection can affect joints, the cardiac system, and the nervous system. Diagnosis relies on symptoms, clinical signs (such as the rash), and potential exposure to infected ticks, with laboratory tests proving valuable when appropriately employed with validated methods. Most cases of Lyme disease respond effectively to a few weeks of antibiotic treatment. In Latin America, knowledge of Lyme disease is limited and often confounded, underscoring the significance of this review in aiding medical professionals in recognizing the disease. This study delves explicitly into Lyme disease in Argentina, neighboring countries, and other Latin American nations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanina Lucca
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Sandra Nuñez
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Noreste, Corrientes 3400, Argentina; (T.R.)
| | - María Belen Pucheta
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Nilda Radman
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Teresita Rigonatto
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Noreste, Corrientes 3400, Argentina; (T.R.)
| | - Graciela Sánchez
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Noreste, Corrientes 3400, Argentina; (T.R.)
| | - Beatriz Del Curto
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Dolores Oliva
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Betina Mariño
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Esperanza 3080, Argentina;
| | - Giuliana López
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
| | - Serena Bonin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy; (S.B.); (G.T.)
| | - Giusto Trevisan
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34100 Trieste, Italy; (S.B.); (G.T.)
| | - Nestor Oscar Stanchi
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral, Roque Sáenz Peña 3700, Argentina (S.N.); (M.B.P.)
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Santodomingo A, Thomas R, Thompson M, Robbiano S, Espinoza P, Muñoz-Leal S. Experimental transmission of a novel relapsing fever group Borrelia harbored by Ornithodoros octodontus (Ixodida: Argasidae) in Chile. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:241-252. [PMID: 38321309 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes of genus Borrelia thrive in enzootic cycles involving Ornithodoros spp. (Argasidae) mainly, and rodents. The isolation of these spirochetes usually involves a murine model in which ticks are fed and the spirochetes detected in blood several days later. Such an experiment also demonstrates that a given species of tick is competent in the transmission of the bacteria. Here, soft ticks Ornithodoros octodontus were collected in Northern Chile with the objective to experimentally determine its capacity to transmit a Borrelia sp. detected in a previous study. Two Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used to feed nymphs and adults of O. octodontus and the spirochetes in blood were inspected by dark-field microscopy and nested PCR. Although spirochetes were not seen in blood, DNA was detected in only one animal 11 days after the ticks were fed. Genetic sequences of Borrelia flaB, clpX, pepX, recG, rplB, and uvrA genes retrieved from DNA extraction of positive blood were employed to construct two phylogenetic analyses. On the one hand, the flaB tree showed the Borrelia sp. transmitted by O. octodontus clustering with Borrelia sp. Alcohuaz, which was previously detected in that same tick species. On the other hand, concatenated clpX-pepX-recG-rplB-uvrA demonstrated that the characterized spirochete branches together with "Candidatus Borrelia caatinga", a recently discovered species from Brazil. Based on the genetic profile presented in this study, the name "Candidatus Borrelia octodonta" is proposed for the species transmitted by O. octodontus. The fact that spirochetes were not observed in blood of guinea pigs, may reflect the occurrence of low spirochetemia, which could be explained because the susceptibility of infection varies depending on the rodent species that is used in experimental models. Although the vertebrate reservoir of "Ca. Borrelia octodonta" is still unknown, Octodon degus, a rodent species that is commonly parasitized by O. octodontus, should be a future target to elucidate this issue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Michele Thompson
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Sofía Robbiano
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Espinoza
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- ONG Dosel, San Fabián, Chile
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nepveu-Traversy ME, Fausther-Bovendo H, Babuadze G(G. Human Tick-Borne Diseases and Advances in Anti-Tick Vaccine Approaches: A Comprehensive Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:141. [PMID: 38400125 PMCID: PMC10891567 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review explores the field of anti-tick vaccines, addressing their significance in combating tick-borne diseases of public health concern. The main objectives are to provide a brief epidemiology of diseases affecting humans and a thorough understanding of tick biology, traditional tick control methods, the development and mechanisms of anti-tick vaccines, their efficacy in field applications, associated challenges, and future prospects. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant and escalating threat to global health and the livestock industries due to the widespread distribution of ticks and the multitude of pathogens they transmit. Traditional tick control methods, such as acaricides and repellents, have limitations, including environmental concerns and the emergence of tick resistance. Anti-tick vaccines offer a promising alternative by targeting specific tick proteins crucial for feeding and pathogen transmission. Developing vaccines with antigens based on these essential proteins is likely to disrupt these processes. Indeed, anti-tick vaccines have shown efficacy in laboratory and field trials successfully implemented in livestock, reducing the prevalence of TBDs. However, some challenges still remain, including vaccine efficacy on different hosts, polymorphisms in ticks of the same species, and the economic considerations of adopting large-scale vaccine strategies. Emerging technologies and approaches hold promise for improving anti-tick vaccine development and expanding their impact on public health and agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hugues Fausther-Bovendo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
| | - George (Giorgi) Babuadze
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
López Y, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Muñoz-Leal S, Contreras V, Calderón A, Rivero R, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD, Mattar S. Borrelia puertoricensis in opossums (Didelphis marsupialis) from Colombia. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:448. [PMID: 38049822 PMCID: PMC10694944 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06016-4] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Borrelia comprises pathogenic species of bacteria that pose a significant risk to public health. Borrelia spp. are emerging or reemerging infectious agents worldwide with complex transmission cycles, and many species use rodents as vertebrate reservoir hosts. Spirochetes morphologically compatible with Borrelia have been recurrently observed in opossums; however, there is currently a lack of genetic evidence confirming infection or supporting that these marsupials are hosts of Borrelia spirochetes. METHODS During 2017, 53 serum samples of Didelphis marsupialis from the municipality of Colosó (department of Sucre, Colombia) were collected and allocated in a serum bank. DNA extracted from the serum samples was submitted to a Borrelia genus-specific real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Positive samples were subsequently derived from semi-nested PCR protocols to obtain large fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes. Obtained amplicons were subjected to Sanger sequencing. One positive sample was randomly selected for next-generation sequencing (NGS). Obtained reads were mapped to genomes of Borrelia spp. and sequences of two genes used in a multilocus sequence typing scheme retrieved for taxonomic assignment and phylogenetic analyses. RESULTS Overall, 18.8% (10/53) of the samples were positive by qPCR. Of them, 80% (8/10) and 60% (6/10) were positive for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes after semi-nested PCRs, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of one sample sequenced with NGS yielded 22 reads of genus Borrelia with different sizes. Two housekeeping genes, rplB and pyrG, were recovered. Nucleotide pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, flaB, rplB and pyrG genes showed that the Borrelia sp. found in opossums from Colosó corresponded to Borrelia puertoricensis. CONCLUSIONS We describe the first molecular evidence to our knowledge of B. puertoricensis in Colombia, specifically in opossums, and the first detection of this spirochete in a vertebrate host since its isolation from Ornithodoros puertoricensis in Panama. This detection is also relevant because of the epidemiological importance of opossums as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá, Colombia
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Verónica Contreras
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Alfonso Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Ricardo Rivero
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
- Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Khan M, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T, Chang SC, Chen CC, Ali A. Molecular evidence of Borrelia theileri and closely related Borrelia spp. in hard ticks infesting domestic animals. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1297928. [PMID: 38089703 PMCID: PMC10715414 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1297928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks pose significant threats to hosts by transmitting Borrelia spp., which are grouped into Lyme borreliae, relapsing fever borreliae (RF), and reptiles- and monotremes-associated borreliae. The RF borreliae encompass a group of Borrelia species predominantly transmitted by soft ticks, but some of its members can also be transmitted by hard ticks. Information on the detection and genetic characterization of tick-borne RF borreliae, including Borrelia theileri, is notably rare in Asia, particularly in Pakistan. Herein, we employed molecular techniques to detect borreliae in hard ticks collected from domestic animals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Ticks were subjected to morphological analysis, followed by DNA extraction and PCR amplification of partial fragments of borrelial 16S rRNA and flaB genes. A total of 729 ticks were collected from 264 hosts, with Haemaphysalis cornupunctata (12.9%; 94/729) being the most prevalent, followed by Hyalomma anatolicum (11.7%; 85/729), Rhipicephalus microplus (10.0%; 73/729), Haemaphysalis kashmirensis (9.1%; 66/729), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (8.5%; 62/729), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (8%; 58/729), Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (6.2%; 45/729), Rhipicephalus turanicus (5.5%; 40/729), Hyalomma dromedarii and Ixodes kashmirensis (4.4%; 32/729 each), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (4.1%; 30/729), Haemaphysalis sulcata and Hyalomma scupense (3.8%; 28/729 each), Haemaphysalis danieli (2.9%; 21/729), Hyalomma kumari (2.6%; 19/729), and Hyalomma isaaci (2.2%; 16/729). Based on 16S rRNA detection of Borrelia spp., only R. turanicus yielded positive results, resulting in an overall infection rate of 0.3% (2/160), while using flaB-based detection, four tick species including R. microplus, R. turanicus, Ha. sulcata, and Ha. cornupunctata showed positive results, yielding an overall infection rate of 6.9% (11/160). The amplified DNA fragments of borrelial 16S rRNA and flaB in R. turanicus from goats shared maximum identities of 100 and 99.40% with Borrelia theileri, respectively. Amplified borrelial flaB fragments in R. microplus from cows and sheep displayed 100% identity with B. theileri, while flaB fragments in Ha. cornupunctata and Ha. sulcata from goats revealed identities of 99.32 and 99.75% with undetermined RF Borrelia spp., respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clustering of B. theileri from R. microplus and R. turanicus with the same species, while Borrelia spp. from Ha. cornupunctata and Ha. sulcata with undetermined RF Borrelia spp. Notably, this research marks the first documentation of B. theileri in R. turanicus and the identification of RF Borrelia spp. in Ha. cornupunctata and Ha. sulcata.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 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
| | - Shun-Chung Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chin Chen
- Department of Pathology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan
- Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zahid H, Alouffi A, Almutairi MM, Ateeq M, Tanaka T, Chang SC, Chen CC, Ali A. Argas persicus and Carios vespertilionis Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of Borrelia anserina. Vet Sci 2023; 10:628. [PMID: 37888580 PMCID: PMC10610582 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10100628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Argasid ticks have the vectorial potential for transmitting disease-causing pathogens to avian hosts, resulting in economic losses that may not be fully estimated. Borrelia species are the responsible agents of borreliosis in poultry, animals and humans. Our previous studies have reported a high prevalence of Argas persicus infesting domestic fowls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. However, molecular screening and genetic characterization of Borrelia spp. in A. persicus have been neglected in Pakistan. In this study, we focused on the molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of Borrelia spp. associated with A. persicus ticks infesting domestic fowls and ducks, and Carios vespertilionis infesting bats in selected districts of KP. Overall, 1818 ticks, including females (415; 23%), males (345; 19%), nymphs (475; 26%) and larvae (583; 32%), were collected from 27 locations in nine districts (Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Chitral, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur and Hangu) from domestic fowls, ducks and their shelters, and bats. A subset of 197 ticks was selected for DNA extraction and PCR to amplify fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase (cox) gene for ticks and flagellin B (flaB) for the detection and genetic characterization of associated Borrelia spp. Among these, only Borrelia anserina DNA was detected in 40 ticks (27.2%) of different life stages, where highest prevalence was found in female ticks (18; 45%), followed by nymphs (12; 30%), larvae (7; 17.5%) and males (3; 7.5%). Tick infestation in shelters (1081; 77%) was higher than on hosts (323; 23%). The resultant cox amplicons of A. persicus showed 100% identity with the same species reported from Pakistan, China, Iran, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Egypt and C. vespertilionis show 100% identity with the species reported from Pakistan, China, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam, Spain, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Hungry, and clustered with the aforementioned species in the phylogenetic tree. The obtained Borrelia sequences showed 100% identity with B. anserina and revealed a close resemblance to the relapsing fever group and clustered in a monophyletic clade with B. anserina from India, Iran and Brazil in a phylogenetic tree. These results establish the first molecular characterization of B. anserina in A. persicus infesting domestic fowls and ducks in the region, as well as their shelters. To effectively control zoonotic consequences, country-wide surveillance research should be encouraged to screen soft ticks infesting various birds for associated pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hafsa Zahid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan;
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muhammad Ateeq
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan;
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
| | - Shun-Chung Chang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 60002, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chin Chen
- Department of Pathology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 60002, Taiwan;
- Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan 717, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioindustry Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan;
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
de la Fuente J, Estrada-Peña A, Rafael M, Almazán C, Bermúdez S, Abdelbaset AE, Kasaija PD, Kabi F, Akande FA, Ajagbe DO, Bamgbose T, Ghosh S, Palavesam A, Hamid PH, Oskam CL, Egan SL, Duarte-Barbosa A, Hekimoğlu O, Szabó MPJ, Labruna MB, Dahal A. Perception of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Worldwide. Pathogens 2023; 12:1258. [PMID: 37887774 PMCID: PMC10610181 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this comprehensive review study, we addressed the challenge posed by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with growing incidence affecting human and animal health worldwide. Data and perspectives were collected from different countries and regions worldwide, including America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The results updated the current situation with ticks and TBD and how it is perceived by society with information bias and gaps. The study reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary and international collaborations to advance in the surveillance, communication and proposed future directions to address these challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Group in Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Rafael
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonóma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico;
| | - Sergio Bermúdez
- Medical Entomology Research Department, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panama City 0816-02593, Panama;
| | - Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-18, Nishi-9, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan;
| | - Paul D. Kasaija
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Fredrick Kabi
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Foluke Adedayo Akande
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Dorcas Oluwakemi Ajagbe
- Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, College of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Timothy Bamgbose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu City 221102, Osun State, Nigeria;
| | - Srikant Ghosh
- Entomology Laboratory, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India;
- IVRI-Eastern Regional Station, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata 700037, West Bengal, India
| | - Azhahianambi Palavesam
- Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600051, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Penny H. Hamid
- Department of Animal Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia;
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Siobhon L. Egan
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Amanda Duarte-Barbosa
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Olcay Hekimoğlu
- Division of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara 06800, Turkey;
| | - Matias P. J. Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, Uberlândia 38400-902, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil;
| | - Ananta Dahal
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan 44200, Nepal;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Muñoz-Leal S, Venzal JM, Kneubehl AR, Lopez JE, Martins TF, Labruna MB. Description of a new Pavlovskyella species (Acari: Argasidae) from Chile. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:968-977. [PMID: 37455018 PMCID: PMC10496437 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Soft ticks (Argasidae) of the Pavlovskyella Pospelova-Shtrom subgenus are important vectors of relapsing fever spirochetes, which are agents of disease globally. South American representatives of the Pavlovskyella subgenus include 3 species: Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) brasiliensis Aragão, Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) furcosus Neumann, and Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) rostratus Aragão. Here, we describe a fourth species based on morphological and mitogenomic evidence of ticks collected in burrows of unknown hosts in central Chile. The larva of the new species separates from other South American soft ticks by the following combination of characters: 13 pairs of dorsolateral setae, dorsal plate hexagonal, hypostome blunt with denticles from apex almost to the base. Adults of this new species lack cheeks, possess a dorsoventral groove, and have humps, similar to O. (P.) brasiliensis; however, they lack bulging structures on the flanks of idiosoma. Moreover, females and males differ from O. (P.) rostratus by having 3 humps instead of spurs in tarsi I and from O. (P.) furcosus because of their smaller size and thinner anterior lip of the genital aperture in females. The phylogenetic analysis performed with mitogenomes of the Argasidae family depicts the new Pavlovskyella species from Chile in a monophyletic clade with other South American species in the subgenus, confirming a regional group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte – Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000 Salto, Uruguay
| | - Alexander R Kneubehl
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Área Técnica de Doenças Vinculadas a Vetores e Hospedeiros Intermediários, Instituto Pasteur, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Deng YP, Fu YT, Yao C, Shao R, Zhang XL, Duan DY, Liu GH. Emerging bacterial infectious diseases/pathogens vectored by human lice. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 55:102630. [PMID: 37567429 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2023.102630] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Human lice have always been a major public health concern due to their vector capacity for louse-borne infectious diseases, like trench fever, louse-borne relapsing fever, and epidemic fever, which are caused by Bartonella quintana, Borrelia recurrentis, and Rickettsia prowazekii, respectively. Those diseases are currently re-emerging in the regions of poor hygiene, social poverty, or wars with life-threatening consequences. These louse-borne diseases have also caused outbreaks among populations in jails and refugee camps. In addition, antibodies and DNAs to those pathogens have been steadily detected in homeless populations. Importantly, more bacterial pathogens have been detected in human lice, and some have been transmitted by human lice in laboratories. Here, we provide a comprehensive review and update on louse-borne infectious diseases/bacterial pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ping Deng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Tian Fu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
| | - Renfu Shao
- Centre for Bioinnovation, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Australia
| | - Xue-Ling Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - De-Yong Duan
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Silva-Ramos CR, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Serna-Rivera CC, Mattar S, Hidalgo M. Etiologies of Zoonotic Tropical Febrile Illnesses That Are Not Part of the Notifiable Diseases in Colombia. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2154. [PMID: 37763998 PMCID: PMC10535066 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In Colombia, tropical febrile illnesses represent one of the most important causes of clinical attention. Febrile illnesses in the tropics are mainly zoonotic and have a broad etiology. The Colombian surveillance system monitors some notifiable diseases. However, several etiologies are not monitored by this system. In the present review, we describe eleven different etiologies of zoonotic tropical febrile illnesses that are not monitored by the Colombian surveillance system but have scientific, historical, and contemporary data that confirm or suggest their presence in different regions of the country: Anaplasma, Arenavirus, Bartonella, relapsing fever group Borrelia, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia, Hantavirus, Mayaro virus, Orientia, Oropouche virus, and Rickettsia. These could generate a risk for the local population, travelers, and immigrants, due to which they should be included in the mandatory notification system, considering their importance for Colombian public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Servicio de Infectología, Hospital Militar Central, Bogotá 110110, Colombia;
- Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología—SAI, Bogotá 110110, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. Serna-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias (CENTAURO), Línea de Investigación Zoonosis Emergentes y Re-Emergentes, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050034, Colombia;
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales 170004, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Montería 230001, Colombia;
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Laroche M, Weeks ENI. Vector-borne bacterial diseases: a neglected field of infectious diseases research. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:177-178. [PMID: 36789732 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen Laroche
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Emma N I Weeks
- University of Florida Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Vázquez-Guerrero E, Gordillo-Pérez G, Ríos-Sarabia N, Lopez JE, Ibarra JA. Case Report: Exposure to Relapsing Fever Group Borreliae in Patients with Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Mexico. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:510-512. [PMID: 36646078 PMCID: PMC9978560 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever (RF) borreliosis is a neglected disease in Mexico. A retrospective serological survey using diagnostic antigens GlpQ and BipA from Borrelia turicatae was performed to evaluate human exposure to RF borreliae. Seventy serum samples were used from a cohort of patients with undifferentiated febrile illness in Mexico. Four samples were positive to GlpQ and three to BipA. Results indicate that RF borreliae continue to circulate in regions of Mexico and pose a risk to human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Vázquez-Guerrero
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Gordillo-Pérez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Nora Ríos-Sarabia
- Unidad de Investigación Médica de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Job E. Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - J. Antonio Ibarra
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
A Novel Relapsing Fever Group Borrelia Isolated from Ornithodoros Ticks of the Brazilian Caatinga. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020370. [PMID: 36838336 PMCID: PMC9964043 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever group (RFG) borreliosis remains neglected as a human disease and little is known on its maintenance in ticks and vertebrates, especially in South America. Therefore, this study investigated borrelial infection in Ornithodoros ticks collected in rodent-inhabited rock formations in the Brazilian semiarid region, within the Caatinga biome. Collected ticks (Ornithodoros rietcorreai and Ornithodoros cf. tabajara) were allowed to feed under laboratory conditions on guinea pigs, which had blood samples examined daily by dark-field microscopy. No spirochetes were visualized in the blood of any of four O. rietcorreai-infested guinea pigs. Contrastingly, spirochetes were visualized between 9 and 39 days after tick feeding in the blood of three guinea pigs, each infested with O. cf. tabajara ticks from a different locality. Guinea pig infection was confirmed by passages into experimental animals and by generating DNA sequences of Borrelia spp. from the blood of spirochetemic guinea pigs. Three O. cf. tabajara populations were infected by the same borrelial organism, which was characterized as a novel RFG agent (named as 'Candidatus Borrelia caatinga') based on 10 Borrelia loci (rrs, flaB, glpQ, gyrB, clpX, pepX, pyrG, recG, rplB and uvrA). We demonstrated that O. cf. tabajara is a competent vector of the novel Borrelia sp. isolates, although none of the infected rodents developed clinical illness.
Collapse
|
22
|
Jorge FR, Muñoz-Leal S, de Oliveira GMB, Serpa MCA, Magalhães MML, de Oliveira LMB, Moura FBP, Teixeira BM, Labruna MB. Novel Borrelia Genotypes from Brazil Indicate a New Group of Borrelia spp. Associated with South American Bats. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:213-217. [PMID: 36269279 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial genus Borrelia comprises vector-borne spirochetes that have been classified into three major groups: the relapsing fever group (RFG), the Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner sensu lato group (Bbsl), and the reptile-monotreme group (RMG). All three groups have been associated mainly with ticks and wild animals, especially rodents, birds, and reptiles. Here, we searched for Borrelia infection among 99 vampire bats [Desmodus rotundus (É. Geoffroy)] (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from the Brazilian semiarid region. Through molecular investigation of bat internal organs, haplotypes of a potentially novel Borrelia organism were detected in 5% (5/99) of the bats. Borrelia DNA was detected in the liver, blood, spleen, kidney and brain, suggesting a systemic infection. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from partial sequences of the borrelial rrs and flaB genes indicated that the vampire bat-associated Borrelia sp. of this study form a monophyletic group with a newly reported Borrelia associated with a Colombia bat, distinct from the three main currently recognized groups of Borrelia spp., Bbsl, RFG, and RMG. These novel bat-associated Borrelia spp. from South America might have arisen through an independent event along the borrelial evolutionary history, since previous molecular reports of Borrelia organisms in bats or bat-associated ticks from Africa, Europe, and North America were all classified in the RFG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe R Jorge
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
- PostGraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, State University of Ceará - Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Glauber M B de Oliveira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina A Serpa
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Meylling M L Magalhães
- PostGraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, State University of Ceará - Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, Brazil
| | - Lorena M B de Oliveira
- PostGraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, State University of Ceará - Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Francisco B P Moura
- Department of Anthropozoonoses, Department of Health of Ceará, Av. Almirante Barroso, 600 - Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Bruno M Teixeira
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
First molecular detection of Borrelia theileri subclinical infection in a cow from Brazil. Vet Res Commun 2022; 47:963-967. [DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-10020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
24
|
Puri BK, Monro JA. Detection of 41-kDa bacterial flagellin protein by the lymphocyte transformation test-memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 11:72-77. [PMID: 36187894 PMCID: PMC9520187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Diagnosis of human infection by various species of the bacterial genus Borrelia is mainly reliant on serological testing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture but such serological tests have been reported to have heterogeneous sensitivities, while Borrelia PCR and culture have been reported as being of modest diagnostic value. It has been suggested that the adjunctive use of the lymphocyte transformation test-memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay (LTT-MELISA) may be helpful in this regard; however, the clinical usefulness of this assay has been questioned. The Borrelia immunodominant 41-kDa flagellin protein almost always gives rise to a marked human antibody response following infection. It was therefore decided to determine whether the LTT-MELISA detects the human antibody response to this antigen. METHODS Blood samples from consecutive patients with possible borreliosis attending a clinic were independently tested by both Western blots and LTT-MELISA. RESULTS After omitting cases with indeterminate Western blot results and equivocal LTT-MELISA results, multiple linear regression modelling demonstrated that the 41-kDa flagellin immunoglobulin (Ig) M level was predictable from two LTT-MELISA variables (F 2,51 = 5.981, P = 0.005). Similarly, the corresponding 41-kDa IgG model also contained two LTT-MELISA variables (F 2,57 = 3.700, P = 0.031). CONCLUSION It is concluded that the LTT-MELISA appears to be able to detect the response to this antigen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean A Monro
- Breakspear Medical GroupHemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK
| |
Collapse
|