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Qorbani A, Khalili M, Nourollahifard S, Mostafavi E, Farrokhnia M, Esmaeili S. Diversity of Rickettsia species in collected ticks from Southeast Iran. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:279. [PMID: 38937767 PMCID: PMC11210027 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04142-4] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia occurs worldwide and rickettsiosis is recognized as an emerging infection in several parts of the world. Ticks are reservoir hosts for pathogenic Rickettsia species in humans and domestic animals. Most pathogenic Rickettsia species belong to the spotted Fever Group (SFG). This study aimed to identify and diagnose tick fauna and investigate the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from domestic animals and dogs in the rural regions of Kerman Province, Southeast Iran. In this study, tick species (fauna) were identified and 2100 ticks (350 pooled samples) from two genera and species including Rhipicephalus linnaei (1128) and Hyalomma deteritum (972) were tested to detect Rickettsia genus using Real-time PCR. The presence of the Rickettsia genus was observed in 24.9% (95%CI 20.28-29.52) of the pooled samples. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii (48.98%), Rickettsia conorii israelensis (28.57%), Rickettsia sibirica (20.41%), and Rickettsia helvetica (2.04%) in the positive samples. The results showed a significant association between county variables and the following variables: tick spp. (p < 0.001), Rickettsia genus infection in ticks (p < 0.001) and Rickettsia spp. (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant association between tick species and host animals (dogs and domestic animals) (p < 0.001), Rickettsia spp infection in ticks (p < 0.001), and Rickettsia spp. (p < 0.001). This study indicates a high prevalence of Rickettsia spp. (SFG) in ticks of domestic animals and dogs in rural areas of Kerman Province. The health system should be informed of the possibility of rickettsiosis and the circulating species of Rickettsia in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Qorbani
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Khalili
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran.
| | - Saeidreza Nourollahifard
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Hamadan, Kabudar Ahang, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Farrokhnia
- Department of internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Saber Esmaeili
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Hamadan, Kabudar Ahang, Iran
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging infectious diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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Xu J, Gu XL, Jiang ZZ, Cao XQ, Wang R, Peng QM, Li ZM, Zhang L, Zhou CM, Qin XR, Yu XJ. Pathogenic Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from cattle and laboratory hatched tick larvae. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011546. [PMID: 37647577 PMCID: PMC10468208 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011546] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The order Rickettsiales contains a group of vector-borne gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria, which often cause human emerging infectious diseases and economic losses for dairy and meat industries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution of the pathogens including Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in the order Rickettsiales in ticks from Yueyang, a prefecture-level city of Hunan Province in Sothern China, and assess the potentiality of transovarial transmission of these rickettsial organisms. METHODS Ticks were collected from cattle in a farm in Yueyang City and the tick DNA was used as template to amplify the htrA, rrs, gltA, ompA and ompB genes of Rickettsia as well as rrs and groEL genes of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. RESULTS All ticks (465) collected were the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. PCR showed the minimum infection rate (MIR) was 1.5% (7/465) for Candidatus Rickettsia xinyangensis, 1.9% (9/465) for C. Anaplasma boleense, 1.3% (6/465) for Anaplasma platys, 0.6% (3/465) for A. marginale, and 1.17% (2/465) for each of A. bovis, Ehrlichia minasensis, and a non-classified Ehrlichia sp. A human pathogen, C. Rickettsia xinyangensis and A. platys were detected in 100% (3/3) and 33.3% (2/6) laboratory-hatched larval pools from infected females respectively. CONCLUSION Our study revealed a diversity of pathogenic rickettsial species in R. microplus ticks from Hunan Province suggesting a threat to people and animals in China. This study also provided the first molecular evidence for the potential transovarial transmission of C. Rickettsia xinyangensis and A. platys in R. microplus, indicating that R. microplus may act as the host of these two pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Ze-Zheng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Xiao-Qian Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Qiu-Ming Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Ze-Min Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Chuan-Min Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Xiang-Rong Qin
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan City, China
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Igolkina Y, Yakimenko V, Tikunov A, Epikhina T, Tancev A, Tikunova N, Rar V. Novel Genetic Lineages of Rickettsia helvetica Associated with Ixodes apronophorus and Ixodes trianguliceps Ticks. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1215. [PMID: 37317189 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Ixodes apronophorus is an insufficiently studied nidicolous tick species. For the first time, the prevalence and genetic diversity of Rickettsia spp. in Ixodes apronophorus, Ixodes persulcatus, and Ixodes trianguliceps ticks from their sympatric habitats in Western Siberia were investigated. Rickettsia helvetica was first identified in I. apronophorus with a prevalence exceeding 60%. "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" dominated in I. persulcatus, whereas I. trianguliceps were infected with "Candidatus Rickettsia uralica", R. helvetica, and "Ca. R. tarasevichiae". For larvae collected from small mammals, a strong association was observed between tick species and rickettsiae species/sequence variants, indicating that co-feeding transmission in studied habitats is absent or its impact is insignificant. Phylogenetic analysis of all available R. helvetica sequences demonstrated the presence of four distinct genetic lineages. Most sequences from I. apronophorus belong to the unique lineage III, and single sequences cluster into the lineage I alongside sequences from European I. ricinus and Siberian I. persulcatus. Rickettsia helvetica sequences from I. trianguliceps, along with sequences from I. persulcatus from northwestern Russia, form lineage II. Other known R. helvetica sequences from I. persulcatus from the Far East group into the lineage IV. The obtained results demonstrated the high genetic variability of R. helvetica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev Avenue 8, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Valeriy Yakimenko
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Foci Infections, Mira Avenue 7, 644080 Omsk, Russia
| | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev Avenue 8, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tamara Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev Avenue 8, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Aleksey Tancev
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Foci Infections, Mira Avenue 7, 644080 Omsk, Russia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev Avenue 8, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Lavrentiev Avenue 8, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
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Shtrek SV, Rudakov NV, Shpynov SN, Sannikov AV, Samoylenko IE, Shchuchinova LD, Trotsenko OE, Dragomeretskaya AG, Matushchenko EV. Genotyping of rickettsias circulating in the territories of the Altai Republic and Khabarovsk krai. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2023. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-gor-2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to verificate of the causative agent of Siberian tick-borne typhus (STT) upon ixodic tick mixed infection on the territory of the Altai Republic and Khabarovsk Krai using an integrated molecular biological approach. Materials and methods. The material for the study was presented as 304 imago of ixodic mites of six species. The ticks were collected on the territory of the Altai Republic and the Khabarovsk Krai in the years 20142022. Rickettsia DNA was identified by two-round PCR using genus- and species-specific primers for gltA and ompA genes, followed by sequencing and using PCR reagent kits RealBest DNA R. sibirica/R. heilongjiangensis (Vector-Best, Novosibirsk). Results. The detection of rickettsia in ticks in the Altai Republic was 82.6% (CI: 69.196.1), in the Khabarovsk Krai 53.1% (CI: 44.961.3). The species composition of rickettsias in various species of ixodic mites in these territories, endemic to Siberian tick typhus, is characterized by the presence of mixed forms. Rickettsia sibirica and R. raoultii were found in ticks Dermacentor nuttalli, Haemaphysalis concinna, D. silvarum. Only Candidatus R. tarasevichiae were detected in Ixodes persulcatus, I. pavlovsky mites and I. pavlovsky/persulcatus hybrids. The DNA of R. heilongjiangensis was found in H. mites. concinna in the Khabarovsk Krai. The DNA of Candidatus R. tarasevichiae is also present in the ticks of D. nuttalli and H. concinna from the Altai Republic. The DNA of the classic pathogenic species, R. sibirica, was detected in ticks D. nuttalli and H. concinna in the Altai Republic, ticks D. silvarum, H. concinna and H. japonica douglasi in the Khabarovsk Krai. In addition, in the Khabarovsk Krai, the DNA of R. heilongjiangensis was detected in H. concinna ticks, and a DNA fragment common to R. sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae and R. conorii was detected in H. japonica douglasi ticks, which requires further study. Candidatus R. tarasevichiae is common in Ixodes mites (I. persulcatus, I. pavlovsky and their hybrids), in the Altai Republic in D. nuttalli and H. concinna. R mites. raoultii was detected in ticks of the genus Dermacentor D. nuttalli in the Altai Republic and D. silvarum in the Khabarovsk Krai. Conclusions. During molecular biological monitoring of rickettsias in endemic territories, the detection of R. raoultii masks the presence of the etiological agent of STT R. sibirica. This phenomenon makes it possible to explain the high incidence of STT in the studied territories, with the rare detectability of R. sibirica DNA during molecular biological screening in ixodic mites.
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Kartashov MY, Krivosheina EI, Svirin KA, Tupota NL, Ternovoi VA, Loktev VB. Genotyping of tick-borne infections and determination of tick species attacking the humans in Novosibirsk and its suburbs. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2022. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-got-1979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The south of Western Siberia traditionally belongs to the regions with an unfavorable epidemiological situation for infections transmitted by ticks. Approximately 20 thousand people annually seek medical care after a tick bite in Novosibirsk and its suburbs.
The purpose of this work was to determine the species composition of ticks attacking humans in the territory of Novosibirsk and its suburbs by determining the nucleotide sequence of the fragment of the tick mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase COI during the spring-summer season of 2018, determination of infection of individual ticks with viral and bacterial tick-borne infections, followed by genotyping of identified pathogens by PCR methods, by determination of nucleotide sequences and phylogenetic analysis.
It is established that ticks of five species attack the humans: Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes pavlovskyi, Dermacentor reticulatus, Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor nuttali in the Novosibirsk metropolis. The majority of tick attacks on humans are associated with I. pavlovskyi (43.6%) and D. reticulatus (41.2%) ticks. The genetic material of the tick-borne encephalitis virus was detected in 3.6%, borrelia - 13.8% and rickettsia - 23.1% individual ticks collected from humans. Genotyping of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in the collected ticks showed the presence of the Siberian genotype of TBEV in 83% cases, and the Far Eastern genotype of TBEV in 17% of ticks. The Kemerovo virus could not be detected. Genetic material from Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. has been detected in all five tick species attacking the local human population. The bulk of the identified Borrelia spp. isolates were genotyped as Borrelia garinii (86%) and 13% of the isolates as Borrelia afzelii species. The genetic material of Borrelia miyamotoi was found in one individual tick. Ticks of the genus Dermacentor have been found to infect by Rickettsia raoultii, and ticks of the genus Ixodes are overwhelmingly infected with Rickettsia tarasevichiae. Moreover, in single I. persulcatus tick was infected by Rickettsia helvetica.
Thus, the human population of Novosibirsk and its suburbs is attacking by five species of ixodid ticks with the predominant dominance of I. pavlovskyi and D. reticulatus ticks. The genetic material of the following tick-borne infections was found: Siberian and Far Eastern genotype of TBEV, B. garinii, B. afzelii, B. miyamotoi, R. raoulti, R. tarasevichiae and R. helvetica in the individual ticks collected from humans.
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Igolkina Y, Rar V, Krasnova E, Filimonova E, Tikunov A, Epikhina T, Tikunova N. Occurrence and clinical manifestations of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia: First Russian cases of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia slovaca infections. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101927. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Yan Y, Wang K, Cui Y, Zhou Y, Zhao S, Zhang Y, Jian F, Wang R, Zhang L, Ning C. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analyses of Anaplasma spp. in Haemaphysalis longicornis from goats in four provinces of China. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14155. [PMID: 34238975 PMCID: PMC8266805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93629-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma species, which are distributed worldwide, are gram-negative obligate intracellular tick-borne bacteria that pose a threat to human and animal health. Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks play a vital role as vectors in the transmission of Anaplasma pathogens. However, the Anaplasma species carried by H. longicornis in China are yet to be characterized. In this study, 1074 H. longicornis specimens were collected from goats in four provinces of China from 2018 to 2019 and divided into 371 sample pools. All tick sample pools were examined for the presence of Anaplasma species via nested PCR amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA, major surface protein 4 (msp4), or citric acid synthase (gltA) genes, which were sequenced to determine the molecular and phylogenetic characteristics of the isolates. The overall Anaplasma spp-positive rate of H. longicornis was determined to be 26.68% (99/371). The percentage prevalence of A. phagocytophilum-like1, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. marginale, and A. capra were 1.08% (4/371), 13.21% (49/371), 13.21% (49/371), 1.35% (5/371), and 10.24% (38/371), respectively, and the co-infection rate of two or more types of Anaplasma was 6.47% (24/371). Phylogenetic analyses led to the classification of A. phagocytophilum into an A. phagocytophilum-like1 (Anaplasma sp. Japan) group. Anaplasma bovis sequences obtained in this study were 99.8–100% identical to those of an earlier strain isolated from a Chinese tick (GenBank accession no. KP314251). Anaplasma ovis sequences showed 99.3–99.6% identity to an A. ovis human strain identified from a Cypriot patient (GenBank accession no. FJ460443). Only one msp4 sequence of A. marginale was detected and was grouped with those of other A. marginale isolates, and these A. capra isolates obtained in this present study may be zoonotic. The detection and characterization of four Anaplasma species in H. longicornis in this study have added to the current knowledge of the parasite and provided data on multiple Anaplasma species with veterinary and medical significance from four provinces of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqun Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Kunlun Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Cui
- School of Biotechnology and Food, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, 476000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongchun Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Yajun Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuchun Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongjun Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Longxian Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China
| | - Changshen Ning
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Longzihu Campus of Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzihu University Area, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou, 450046, People's Republic of China.
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Rar V, Tkachev S, Tikunova N. Genetic diversity of Anaplasma bacteria: Twenty years later. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 91:104833. [PMID: 33794351 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The genus Anaplasma (family Anaplasmataceae, order Rickettsiales) includes obligate intracellular alphaproteobacteria that multiply within membrane-bound vacuoles and are transmitted by Ixodidae ticks to vertebrate hosts. Since the last reclassification of Anaplasmataceae twenty years ago, two new Anaplasma species have been identified. To date, the genus includes eight Anaplasma species (A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. centrale, A. ovis, A. bovis, A. platys, A. odocoilei, and A. capra) and a large number of unclassified genovariants that cannot be assigned to known species. Members of the genus can cause infection in humans and a wide range of domestic animals with different degrees of severity. Long-term persistence which, in some cases, is manifested as cyclic bacteremia has been demonstrated for several Anaplasma species. Zoonotic potential has been shown for A. phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and for some other Anaplasma spp. that suggests a broader medical relevance of this genus. Genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. has been intensively studied in recent years, and it has been shown that some Anaplasma spp. can be considered as a complex of genetically distinct lineages differing by geography, vectors, and host tropism. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge concerning the natural history, pathogenic properties, and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. and some unclassified genovariants with particular attention to their genetic characteristics. The high genetic variability of Anaplasma spp. prompted us to conduct a detailed phylogenetic analysis for different Anaplasma species and unclassified genovariants, which were included in this review. The genotyping of unclassified genovariants has led to the identification of at least four distinct clades that might be considered in future as new candidate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Sergey Tkachev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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Rar V, Yakimenko V, Tikunov A, Makenov M, Epikhina T, Tancev A, Tikunova N. Genetic variability of Anaplasmataceae circulating in small mammals and ticks in an Ixodes persulcatus/Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric area in Russian Siberia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101499. [PMID: 32631790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A total of 705 rodents from Myodes, Microtus, and Apodemus genera, 396 adult questing Ixodes persulcatus, and 115 Ixodes larvae and nymphs taken from rodents (and then molted under laboratory conditions to nymphs and adults) were collected in 2013-2018 in Omsk province, Russian Siberia, and examined for the presence of Anaplasmataceae. DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 29.5 % rodents, 3.8 % questing I. persulcatus, two molted adult I. persulcatus, and one molted adult Ixodes trianguliceps. Ehrlichia muris DNA was found in specimens from 12.1 % rodents, 3.0 % questing I. persulcatus, 14 % molted adult I. persulcatus, and one molted adult I. trianguliceps. Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA was found in 0.6 % blood samples. It was suggested that in the studied area A. phagocytophilum and E. muris are mainly transmitted to small rodents by I. trianguliceps and I. persulcatus, respectively. Based on groEL gene sequence analysis, three phylogenetic clusters of A. phagocytophilum (clusters 4, 5, 6, according to Jaarsma et al., 2019) were identified. Most of genotyped A. phagocytophilum isolates obtained from rodents (87.6 %) and a single isolate found in a molted adult I. trianguliceps belonged to cluster 5. Cluster 6 contained 11.8 % genotyped specimens from rodents, and one questing and two molted adult I. persulcatus, while cluster 4 included specimens from 93 % genotyped questing I. persulcatus and one vole. The finding of A. phagocytophilum from clusters 5 and 6 in voles from the same sampling area indicated that clusters 5 and 6 segregate according to the tick-carriers, but not the geography. Most of the genotyped specimens of E. muris and N. mikurensis corresponded to typical genotypes detected in Asian Russia previously. In addition, new genetic variants of E. muris and N. mikurensis, which significantly differed from other known isolates and formed separate branches on phylogenetic trees, were identified in several voles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | | | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Marat Makenov
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia
| | - Tamara Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Aleksey Tancev
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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Rar V, Yakimenko V, Tikunov A, Tancev A, Epikhina T, Tikunova N. Long-term persistence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia muris in wild rodents. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101440. [PMID: 32305237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Wild animals are reservoir hosts for a number of tick-transmitted agents, and long-term persistence of the agents is a key factor for their effective transmission from animal hosts to ticks. To study the persistence of Anaplasmataceae in rodents, 59 adult Myodes spp. voles (M. rutilus, M. rufocanus, and M. glareolus) were captured in Omsk Province, Asian Russia, freed from all ectoparasites, and kept in individual cages. Their blood samples were regularly analyzed for the presence of DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris, and "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis". Anaplasma phagocytophilum, E. muris, and mixed infections were found in 29 (49 %), 17 (29 %), and 14 (24 %) voles, respectively. DNA of "Candidatus N. mikurensis" was not identified. Long-term persistence of A. phagocytophilum and E. muris in naturally infected Myodes spp. was shown for the first time. Thus, 12 animals with A. phagocytophilum were found infected for more than three months and four of them carried the bacterium throughout 22-55 weeks of observation. Four voles were infected with E. muris for 26-40 weeks. Fragments of groESL operon were sequenced for genotyping A. phagocytophilum and E. muris. In voles with A. phagocytophilum, the determined sequences belonged to two phylogenetic clusters. Most sequences were identical or closely related to those found in small mammals and Ixodes trianguliceps ticks from Western Siberia and European countries; one sequence was previously identified in rodents and Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks from Asian Russia. Sequences of groESL fragments from E. muris were close to those determined previously in small mammals and I. persulcatus ticks from Siberia. In addition, a new groESL sequence of E. muris was identified in one vole and the sequence substantially differed from all known corresponding E. muris sequences (≥ 14 mismatches).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Aleksey Tancev
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia
| | - Tamara Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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11
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Rudakov N, Samoylenko I, Shtrek S, Igolkina Y, Rar V, Zhirakovskaia E, Tkachev S, Kostrykina T, Blokhina I, Lentz P, Tikunova N. A fatal case of tick-borne rickettsiosis caused by mixed Rickettsia sibirica subsp. sibirica and "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" infection in Russia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101278. [PMID: 31477530 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
North Asian tick-typhus (NATT), also known as Siberian tick typhus, is the main tick-borne rickettsiosis in Siberia, Russia. Recently, a fatal infection in a four-year-old girl with typical tick-borne rickettsiosis symptoms (fever, rash, eschar at the site of the tick bite, myalgia) and meningeal syndrome was registered. In order to identify the etiology of this infection, blood and brain samples from the patient were examined for the presence of a wide range of tick-transmitted agents and enteric viruses by polymerase chain reaction with subsequent sequencing. Rickettsia sibirica subsp. sibirica and "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" DNA was identified in both blood and brain samples. Rickettsia sibirica was characterized by the gltA, ompA and ompB genes, and "Candidatus R. tarasevichiae" was characterized by the gltA and ompB genes. We report the first case of mixed R. sibirica and "Candidatus R. tarasevichiae" human infection with a fatal outcome in Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Rudakov
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia; Omsk State Medical University, Omsk, Russia.
| | - Irina Samoylenko
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia.
| | - Sergey Shtrek
- Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, Omsk, Russia; Omsk State Medical University, Omsk, Russia.
| | - Yana Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Elena Zhirakovskaia
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Sergey Tkachev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Tatiana Kostrykina
- The Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, Regional Department in Krasnoyarsk Province, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
| | - Inga Blokhina
- Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Krasnoyarsk Region, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
| | - Petr Lentz
- Kuraginsky District Hospital, Krasnoyarsk region, Kuragino, Russia.
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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12
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Turebekov N, Abdiyeva K, Yegemberdiyeva R, Dmitrovsky A, Yeraliyeva L, Shapiyeva Z, Amirbekov A, Oradova A, Kachiyeva Z, Ziyadina L, Hoelscher M, Froeschl G, Dobler G, Zinner J, Frey S, Essbauer S. Prevalence of Rickettsia species in ticks including identification of unknown species in two regions in Kazakhstan. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:197. [PMID: 31053085 PMCID: PMC6500025 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3440-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over 60 years ago clinical patterns resembling tick-borne rickettsioses have been described for the first time in Kazakhstan. Since 1995 the incidence of clinical cases of tick-borne rickettsioses in humans seems to be rising but studies on epidemiological data regarding the occurring etiological agents, tick vector species, prevalence and distribution throughout Kazakhstan are still scarce to date. The aim of the study was molecular investigation of ticks for spotted-fever group rickettsiae in the endemic Kyzylorda region and the so far considered as non-endemic Almaty region. A total of 2341 ticks was collected in the two regions in Kazakhstan and sorted in 501 pools: Ixodes persulcatus (243); Dermacentor marginatus (129); Haemaphysalis punctata (104); Hyalomma asiaticum (17); Dermacentor reticulatus (3); and Rhipicephalus turanicus (5). Pools were tested for Rickettsia spp. using real-time PCR. For positive samples multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed. RESULTS The calculated minimum infection rate (MIR) for rickettsiae in the investigated ticks in Almaty region varied between 0.4-15.1% and 12.6-22.7% in the Kyzylorda region. At least four different Rickettsia species were identified in the two selected regions of Kazakhstan. Two of these are already known to science: Rickettsia raoultii and R. slovaca, the latter being reported for the first time in Almaty region One new form, "Candidatus R. yenbekshikazakhensis", was described by MLST of six gene fragments in Almaty region and one new genotype, "genotype R. talgarensis" was detected using three gene fragments. CONCLUSIONS Kazakh physicians should be aware of rickettsioses after tick bites in both regions studied. Both, R. raoultii and R. slovaca should be included in the diagnostics. The role for human diseases has further to be investigated for the newly described rickettsiae, "Candidatus R. yenbekshikazakhensis" and "Genotype R. talgarensis".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurkeldi Turebekov
- Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Central Reference Laboratory, Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Karlygash Abdiyeva
- Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Central Reference Laboratory, Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Diseases, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Ravilya Yegemberdiyeva
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey Dmitrovsky
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Lyazzat Yeraliyeva
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanna Shapiyeva
- Scientific Practical Center of Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Aday Amirbekov
- Research Institute of Applied and Fundamental Medicine, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Aksoltan Oradova
- Research Institute of Applied and Fundamental Medicine, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zulfiya Kachiyeva
- Research Institute of Applied and Fundamental Medicine, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Lyazzat Ziyadina
- Scientific Practical Center of Sanitary Epidemiological Expertise and Monitoring, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Michael Hoelscher
- Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maxmilians-University, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Guenter Froeschl
- Center for International Health, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maxmilians-University, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Department Virology & Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Josua Zinner
- Department Virology & Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Frey
- Department Virology & Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Essbauer
- Department Virology & Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, German Center for Infection Research, Munich Partner site, Munich, Germany.
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13
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Han R, Yang JF, Mukhtar MU, Chen Z, Niu QL, Lin YQ, Liu GY, Luo JX, Yin H, Liu ZJ. Molecular detection of Anaplasma infections in ixodid ticks from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Infect Dis Poverty 2019; 8:12. [PMID: 30728069 PMCID: PMC6366118 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-019-0522-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma species are tick-transmitted obligate intracellular bacteria that infect many wild and domestic animals and humans. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in ixodid ticks of Qinghai Province is poorly understood. In this study, a total of 1104 questing adult ticks were investigated for the infection of Anaplasma species. As a result, we demonstrated the total infection rates of 3.1, 11.1, 5.6, and 4.5% for A. phagocytophilum, A. bovis, A. ovis and A. capra, respectively. All of the tick samples were negative for A. marginale. The positive rates of A. phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. capra in different tick species were significantly different. The positive rates of A. capra and A. bovis in the male ticks were significantly higher than that in the female ticks. Sequence analysis of A. ovis showed 99.5-100% identity to the previous reported isolates. The sequences of A. phagocytophilum had 100% identity to strains Ap-SHX21, JC3-3 and ZAM dog-181 from sheep, Mongolian gazelles, and dogs. Two genotypes of A. capra were found based on 16S rRNA, citrate synthase (gltA) gene and heat shock protein (groEL) gene analysis. In conclusion, A. bovis, A. ovis, A. phagocytophilum, and A. capra were present in the ticks in Qinghai Province. Anaplasma infection is associated with tick species, gender and distribution. These data will be helpful for understanding prevalence status of Anaplasma infections in ticks in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Han
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
- Qinghai Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Xining, 810003 China
| | - Ji-Fei Yang
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Muhammad Uzair Mukhtar
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Ze Chen
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Qing-Li Niu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Yuan-Qing Lin
- Qinghai Provincial Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Xining, 810003 China
| | - Guang-Yuan Liu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Jian-Xun Luo
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
| | - Hong Yin
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009 China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- 0000 0001 0018 8988grid.454892.6State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, 730046 China
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14
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Kohn M, Krücken J, McKay-Demeler J, Pachnicke S, Krieger K, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Dermacentor reticulatus in Berlin/Brandenburg (Germany): Activity patterns and associated pathogens. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:191-206. [PMID: 30385074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dermacentor reticulatus is one of the most important European tick species. However, its spatial distribution, seasonality and regional vector role are not well known. This study aimed to gather information about abundance patterns of questing ticks and associated pathogens in unfed female adult D. reticulatus in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. Using the flagging method, questing ticks were collected at four sites in 2010-2012 and 2000 D. reticulatus were analysed regarding infection with Rickettsia, Babesia, Borrelia and Anaplasmataceae by conventional or real-time PCR. Dermacentor reticulatus showed a bimodal activity pattern: highest numbers of adult ticks were recorded between March and end of May (mean 50 ticks/h) and from mid-August until end of November (mean 102 ticks/h). During summer, almost complete inactivity was observed (mean 0.4 ticks/h). Sporadic samplings from December to February revealed tick activity also during winter (mean 47 ticks/h), which was characterised by large fluctuations. Using negative binomial regression analysis, significant influences of the variables sampling site, season and temperature on the abundance of questing D. reticulatus were determined. The parameters relative humidity and year were not of significant importance. PCR analyses showed an average prevalence of 64% for Rickettsia sp. Large differences in pathogen frequencies were observed between sampling sites (31.4-78.3%). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant influence of the sampling site but not of season and year. Examinations regarding other pathogen groups indicated prevalences of 0.25% (Borrelia sp.) and 0.05% (Anaplasmataceae) but absence of Babesia sp. Sequencing of positive samples revealed infections with Rickettsia raoultii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia afzelii and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The study shows stable populations of D. reticulatus in Berlin/Brandenburg. People should be aware of ticks throughout the year since Ixodes ricinus is co-endemic and active in spring, summer and autumn while adult D. reticulatus are active throughout the year and even in winter during periods of frost as long as it is warming up during the day. Prevalence of R. raoultii in the present study is among the highest described for D. reticulatus. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected for the first time in D. reticulatus, illustrating the importance of screening studies to evaluate the pathogen structure in D. reticulatus populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareen Kohn
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janina McKay-Demeler
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Klemens Krieger
- Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
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15
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Moore TC, Pulscher LA, Caddell L, von Fricken ME, Anderson BD, Gonchigoo B, Gray GC. Evidence for transovarial transmission of tick-borne rickettsiae circulating in Northern Mongolia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006696. [PMID: 30148847 PMCID: PMC6128658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Transstadial transmission of tick-borne rickettsiae has been well documented. Few studies, however, have evaluated the role of transovarial transmission of tick-borne rickettsiae, particularly in nature within the host-vector ecosystem. This cross-sectional study aimed to understand the role of transovarial transmission of tick-borne rickettsiae among feeding ticks at different life stages. Tick eggs laid by engorged wild-caught adult female ticks were pooled and tested for Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. using molecular techniques, while adult fed ticks were tested individually. Additionally, larval and nymphal ticks were collected in the wild from small mammals, pooled and tested for Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. There were 38 fed adult and 618 larvae/nymphs (60 pools total) Dermacentor spp. ticks collected from livestock and rodents. All individual adult ticks and tick pools were positive for Rickettsia spp. While none of the larvae/nymphs were positive for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., two adult fed ticks were positive. Rickettsia spp. DNA was detected in 91% (30/33) of the pooled eggs tested, and one pool of eggs tested positive for Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. Sequencing data revealed Rickettsia spp. shared ≥99% identity with R. raoultii ompA. Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. shared ≥89% identity with A. ovis 16S ribosomal RNA. This study identified potential transovarial transmission of Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma spp. among D. nuttalli ticks. Additional studies are needed to further assess the proportion of transovarial transmission occurring in nature to better understand the burden and disease ecology of tick-borne rickettsiae in Mongolia. In this study, we evaluate the probability or likelihood that tick-borne rickettsiae might be transmitted vertically from wild engorged adult female ticks collected throughout the Northern region of Mongolia during the summer of 2016. While significant effort has been directed to study tick-borne rickettsiae, this public health challenge is complicated by the limited knowledge and understanding of tick and tick-borne rickettsiae ecology within Mongolia. Tick-borne rickettsiae of concern to humans and animals in this region of the world are Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. Using molecular techniques, we detected rickettsiae among all Dermacentor spp. tick life stages and demonstrated potential vertical transmission of Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp. among wild engorged adult female Dermacentor nuttalli ticks. We believe our findings provide important information regarding the ecology of key rickettsiae associated with tick-borne disease in Mongolia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. Moore
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura A. Pulscher
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Luke Caddell
- Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael E. von Fricken
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Benjamin D. Anderson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Gregory C. Gray
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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16
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Igolkina Y, Rar V, Vysochina N, Ivanov L, Tikunov A, Pukhovskaya N, Epikhina T, Golovljova I, Tikunova N. Genetic variability of Rickettsia spp. in Dermacentor and Haemaphysalis ticks from the Russian Far East. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1594-1603. [PMID: 30121164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Russian Far East is an endemic region for tick-borne rickettsioses. However, the prevalence and genetic variability of Rickettsia species in this region have not been extensively investigated. In this study, 188 Dermacentor silvarum, 439 Haemaphysalis concinna, and 374 Haemaphysalis japonica adult ticks were collected from four locations in Khabarovsk Province and three locations in Amur Province in the Russian Far East. These ticks were examined for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by amplifying a fragment of the gltA gene. Identified rickettsiae were genotyped by sequencing of the gltA, 16S rRNA, ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes. In the examined ticks, Rickettsia heilongjiangensis, the causative agent of Far-Eastern tick-borne rickettsiosis, was found in 10.5% of H. concinna and in 1.9% of H. japonica ticks, while Rickettsia sibirica, the agent of Siberian tick typhus, was detected in only one H. concinna tick. In addition, Rickettsia raoultii was found predominantly in D. silvarum (>70%) and significantly less frequently in Haemaphysalis ticks (<3%). "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" was found in all examined tick species (1.6-5.3% in different species). Notably, this study is the first observation of "Candidatus R. tarasevichiae" in D. silvarum ticks. Moreover, DNA of Rickettsia canadensis was found for the first time in a H. japonica tick; DNA of Rickettsia aeschlimannii was revealed for the first time in H. concinna and H. japonica ticks. "Candidatus Rickettsia principis" and "Candidatus Rickettsia rara" were found in Haemaphysalis spp. ticks. "Candidatus R. principis" was associated with H. japonica and identified in 5.6% of the examined ticks, while "Candidatus R. rara" was found more frequently in H. concinna (3.0%) compared to H. japonica ticks (1.1%). In this study, "Candidatus R. principis" and "Candidatus R. rara" were characterized for the first time by the 16S rRNA, ompA, ompB, and sca4 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nelya Vysochina
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - Leonid Ivanov
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | | | - Tamara Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Irina Golovljova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Department of Virology, National Institute for Health Development, Estonia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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17
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Chilton NB, Dergousoff SJ, Lysyk TJ. Prevalence of Anaplasma bovis in Canadian populations of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1528-1531. [PMID: 30064965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PCR and DNA sequencing were used to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma bovis in Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) collected in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. These analyses revealed that A. bovis DNA was present in 35 (2.1%) of 1679 ticks collected at 12 of the 24 localities. The discovery of A. bovis in host-seeking female and male D. andersoni from multiple locations in southern Canada may have important implications for diagnosis of anaplasmosis in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Timothy J Lysyk
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
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Obiegala A, Silaghi C. Candidatus Neoehrlichia Mikurensis—Recent Insights and Future Perspectives on Clinical Cases, Vectors, and Reservoirs in Europe. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-018-0085-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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19
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Gofton AW, Waudby HP, Petit S, Greay TL, Ryan UM, Irwin PJ. Detection and phylogenetic characterisation of novel Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in Amblyomma triguttatum subsp. from four allopatric populations in Australia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:749-756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Igolkina Y, Krasnova E, Rar V, Savelieva M, Epikhina T, Tikunov A, Khokhlova N, Provorova V, Tikunova N. Detection of causative agents of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia, Russia: identification of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia sibirica DNA in clinical samples. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017; 24:199.e9-199.e12. [PMID: 28606645 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main causative agent of tick-borne rickettsioses in Siberia is considered to be Rickettsia sibirica; however, only a few cases have been genetically confirmed. Other pathogenic species of Rickettsia have been detected in ixodid ticks in Western Siberia. The aim of this study was to detect the aetiological agents of tick-borne rickettsioses in Western Siberia and compare their clinical manifestations. METHODS A total of 273 blood and 44 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 273 patients hospitalized because of tick-transmitted infection in April-September 2016 were examined for the presence of Rickettsia spp., using nested PCR with subsequent sequencing. RESULTS DNA of Rickettsia spp. was found in samples from 10 patients. The gltA gene fragment sequence analysis revealed R. sibirica DNA in seven patients (blood samples) and Rickettsia raoultii DNA in three patients (two blood and one CSF sample). Most patients infected with R. sibirica showed typical clinical symptoms, including high-grade fever (38.9-39.5°С), myalgia, rash, eschar at the site of the tick bite, and elevated levels of serum aminotransferases. In contrast, patients infected with R. raoultii showed nonspecific symptoms with short-term fever (37.2-37.7°С); one patient had a short episode of meningeal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS We report the first finding of R. raoultii DNA in clinical samples from Russian patients. The clinical manifestations of this rickettsiosis were nonspecific and differed from those caused by R. sibirica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - E Krasnova
- Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Novosibirsk Municipal Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases No. 1, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - V Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - M Savelieva
- Novosibirsk Municipal Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases No. 1, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - T Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - A Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - N Khokhlova
- Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Novosibirsk Municipal Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases No. 1, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - V Provorova
- Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Novosibirsk Municipal Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases No. 1, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - N Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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21
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Rar V, Livanova N, Tkachev S, Kaverina G, Tikunov A, Sabitova Y, Igolkina Y, Panov V, Livanov S, Fomenko N, Babkin I, Tikunova N. Detection and genetic characterization of a wide range of infectious agents in Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks in Western Siberia, Russia. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:258. [PMID: 28545549 PMCID: PMC5445278 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2186-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Ixodes pavlovskyi tick species, a member of the I. persulcatus/I. ricinus group, was discovered in the middle of the 20th century in the Russian Far East. Limited data have been reported on the detection of infectious agents in this tick species. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic variability of a wide range of infectious agents in I. pavlovskyi ticks collected in their traditional and recently invaded habitats, the Altai Mountains and Novosibirsk Province, respectively, which are both located within the Western Siberian part of the I. pavlovskyi distribution area. RESULTS This study reports the novel discovery of Borrelia bavariensis, Rickettsia helvetica, R. heilongjiangensis, R. raoultii, "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae", Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" and Babesia microti in I. pavlovskyi ticks. In addition, we confirmed the previous identification of B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. miyamotoi, as well as tick-borne encephalitis and Kemerovo viruses in this tick species. The prevalence and some genetic characteristics of all of the tested agents were compared with those found in I. persulcatus ticks that were collected at the same time in the same locations, where these tick species occur in sympatry. It was shown that the prevalence and genotypes of many of the identified pathogens did not significantly differ between I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks. However, I. pavlovskyi ticks were significantly more often infected by B. garinii and less often by B. bavariensis, B. afzelii, "Ca. R. tarasevichiae", and E. muris than I. persulcatus ticks in both studied regions. Moreover, new genetic variants of B. burgdorferi (sensu lato) and Rickettsia spp. as well as tick-borne encephalitis and Kemerovo viruses were found in both I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks. CONCLUSION Almost all pathogens that were previously detected in I. persulcatus ticks were identified in I. pavlovskyi ticks; however, the distribution of species belonging to the B. burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex, the genus Rickettsia, and the family Anaplasmataceae was different between the two tick species. Several new genetic variants of viral and bacterial agents were identified in I. pavlovskyi and I. persulcatus ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia Livanova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Sergey Tkachev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Galina Kaverina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Yuliya Sabitova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Yana Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Victor Panov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Stanislav Livanov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nataliya Fomenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Igor Babkin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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22
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Kartashov MY, Glushkova LI, Mikryukova TP, Korabelnikov IV, Egorova YI, Tupota NL, Protopopova EV, Konovalova SN, Ternovoi VA, Loktev VB. Detection of Rickettsia helvetica and Candidatus R. tarasevichiae DNA in Ixodes persulcatus ticks collected in Northeastern European Russia (Komi Republic). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:588-592. [PMID: 28433730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The number of tick-borne infections in the northern European regions of Russia has increased considerably in the last years. In the present study, 676 unfed adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks were collected in the Komi Republic from 2011 to 2013 to study tick-borne rickettsioses. Rickettsia spp. DNA was detected by PCR in 51 (7.6%) ticks. The nucleotide sequence analysis of gltA fragments (765bp) from 51 ticks indicated that 60.8% and 39.2% of the ticks were infected with Rickettsia helvetica and Candidatus R. tarasevichiae, respectively. The gltA fragments showed 100% identity with those of Candidatus R. tarasevichiae previously discovered in Siberia and China, whereas R. helvetica showed 99.9% sequence identity with European isolates. The ompB had 8 nucleotide substitutions, 6 of which resulted in amino acid substitutions. In the sca9 gene, 3 nucleotide substitutions were detected, and only one resulted in amino acid substitution. The smpA, ompW, and β-lactamase genes of R. helvetica also showed a high level of sequence identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Yu Kartashov
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia; Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | | | - Tamara P Mikryukova
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | | | | | - Natalia L Tupota
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Elena V Protopopova
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Svetlana N Konovalova
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Ternovoi
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Valery B Loktev
- State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology "Vector", Department of Molecular Virology for Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis, Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Region, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia; Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia; Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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23
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Igolkina Y, Bondarenko E, Rar V, Epikhina T, Vysochina N, Pukhovskaya N, Tikunov A, Ivanov L, Golovljova I, Ivanov М, Tikunova N. Genetic variability of Rickettsia spp. in Ixodes persulcatus ticks from continental and island areas of the Russian Far East. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1284-1289. [PMID: 27424272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia spp. are intracellular Gram-negative bacteria transmitted by arthropods. Two potentially pathogenic rickettsiae, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae and Rickettsia helvetica, have been found in unfed adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and genetic variability of Rickettsia spp. in I. persulcatus ticks collected from different locations in the Russian Far East. In total, 604 adult I. persulcatus ticks collected from four sites in the Khabarovsk Territory (continental area) and one site in Sakhalin Island were examined for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by real-time PCR. Nested PCR with species-specific primers and sequencing were used for genotyping of revealed rickettsiae. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected in different sites varied from 67.9 to 90.7%. However, the proportion of different Rickettsia species observed in ticks from Sakhalin Island significantly differed from that in ticks from the Khabarovsk Territory. In Sakhalin Island, R. helvetica prevailed in examined ticks, while Candidatus R. tarasevichiae was predominant in the Khabarovsk Territory. For gltA and ompB gene fragments, the sequences obtained for Candidatus R. tarasevichiae from all studied sites were identical to each other and to the known sequences of this species. According to sequence analysis of gltA, оmpB and sca4 genes, R. helvetica isolates from Sakhalin Island and the Khabarovsk Territory were identical to each other, but they differed from R. helvetica from other regions and from those found in other tick species. For the first time, DNA of pathogenic Rickettsia heilongjiangensis was detected in I. persulcatus ticks in two sites from the Khabarovsk Territory. The gltA, ompA and оmpB gene sequences of R. heilongjiangensis were identical to or had solitary mismatches with the corresponding sequences of R. heilongjiangensis found in other tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - E Bondarenko
- Join-stock company "Vector-Best", Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - V Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - T Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - N Vysochina
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - N Pukhovskaya
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - A Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - L Ivanov
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - I Golovljova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Department of Virology, National Institute for Health Development, Estonia
| | - М Ivanov
- Join-stock company "Vector-Best", Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - N Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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24
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Mărcuţan ID, Kalmár Z, Ionică AM, D'Amico G, Mihalca AD, Vasile C, Sándor AD. Spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks of migratory birds in Romania. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:294. [PMID: 27207258 PMCID: PMC4875720 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1565-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds are important hosts and dispersers of parasitic arthropods and vector-borne zoonotic pathogens. Particularly migratory species may carry these parasites over long distances in short time periods. Migratory hotspots present ideal conditions to get a snapshot of parasite and pathogen diversity of birds migrating between continents. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and diversity of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from birds at a migratory hot-spot in the Danube Delta, Romania, eastern Europe. METHODS DNA was extracted from ticks that were collected from migratory birds in the Danube Delta during migratory seasons in 2011-2012. Two 360 bp fragments of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and a 381 bp fragment Gene gltA were PCR amplified and analyzed by sequence analysis (performed at Macrogen Europe, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Nucleotide sequences were compared to reference sequences available in the GenBank database, using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. RESULTS Four hundred ticks of four different species were found on 11 bird species. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection was 14 % (56/400, CI: 11.7-29.1), with significantly more nymphs hosting rickettsial infection compared to larvae (48 vs 7; P < 0.001). Significantly more ticks in nymphal stage were hosting Rickettsia spp. infection in spring, than in autumn. Four different genospecies were found: R. monacensis (29 ticks), R. helvetica (13), R. massiliae (3) and R. slovaca (2). The seasonal distribution of different Rickettsia spp. was heterogeneous; with most of the R. monacensis-infected ticks were found in spring, while more R. helvetica were found in autumn than spring. R. massiliae was found only in autumn and R. slovaca was found only in spring. CONCLUSION This study has shown that birds migrating through eastern Europe may carry ticks infected with a high diversity of rickettsial pathogens, with four Rickettsia spp. recorded. Migratory direction was important for pathogen burden, with seasonal differences in the occurrence of individual Rickettsia species. Here we report the first individual records of different Rickettsia spp. in H. concinna (R. monacensis), I. arboricola (R. helvetica, R. massiliae) and I. redikorzevi (R. helvetica) and also the first geographical record of occurrence of R. massiliae in Romania, representing the easternmost observation on the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan-Daniel Mărcuţan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Cozma Vasile
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, Cluj Napoca, Romania.
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Moustafa MAM, Taylor K, Nakao R, Shimozuru M, Sashika M, Rosà R, Thu MJ, Rizzoli A, Tsubota T. Dynamics, co-infections and characteristics of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in Hokkaido small mammals, Japan. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:922-928. [PMID: 27166277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Many of the emerging infectious diseases originate in wildlife and many of them are caused by vector-borne pathogens. In Japan, zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are frequently detected in both ticks and wildlife. Here, we studied the infection rates of potentially zoonotic species, including Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Neoehrlichia and Babesia spp., in Hokkaido's most abundant small mammals as they relate to variable extrinsic factors that might affect the infection rates of these pathogens. A total of 412 small mammals including 64 Apodemus argenteus, 219 Apodemus speciosus, 78 Myodes rufocanus, 41 Myodes rutilus, 6 Myodes rex and 4 Sorex unguiculatus were collected from Furano and Shari sites in Hokkaido, Japan, in 2010 and 2011 and were examined by multiplex PCR for TBPs. A reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) was then developed for the specific detection of 13 potentially zoonotic TBPs. A total of 4 TBPs were detected: Anaplasma sp. AP-sd, Ehrlichia muris, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Babesia microti. The infection rates were 4.4% (18/412), 1.2% (5/412), 13.1% (54/412) and 17.2% (71/412), respectively. The infection rates of each of the detected TBPs were significantly correlated with host small mammal species. A total of 22 (two triple and 20 double) co-infection cases were detected (5.3%). The most frequent co-infection cases occurred between Candidatus N. mikurensis and B. microti 68.2% (15/22). Further studies are required to examine human exposure to these zoonotic TBPs in Hokkaido.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kyle Taylor
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michito Shimozuru
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mariko Sashika
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Roberto Rosà
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - May June Thu
- Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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Silaghi C, Beck R, Oteo JA, Pfeffer M, Sprong H. Neoehrlichiosis: an emerging tick-borne zoonosis caused by Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 68:279-97. [PMID: 26081117 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9935-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing a systemic inflammatory syndrome mostly in persons with underlying hematologic or autoimmune diseases. As it is neither well-known nor well-recognized, it might be misdiagnosed as recurrence of the underlying disease or as an unrelated arteriosclerotic vascular event. The pathogen is transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes and is closely associated with rodents in which transplacental transmission occurs. Transovarial transmission in ticks has not yet been shown. Infection rates vary greatly in ticks and rodents, but the causes for its spatiotemporal variations are largely unknown. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the geographical distribution and clinical importance of Ca. N. mikurensis. By elucidating the life history traits of this pathogen and determining more accurately its incidence in the human population, a better assessment of its public health relevance can be made. Most urgent research needs are the in vitro-cultivation of the pathogen, the development of specific serological tests, the determination of the full genomic sequence, the routine implementation of molecular diagnosis in diseased patients with a particular panel of underlying diseases, and promoting the knowledge about neoehrlichiosis among general practitioners, hospital physicians and the risk groups such as forest workers or immune-compromised people to raise awareness about this disease that can easily be treated when correctly diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- National Center for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Relja Beck
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - José A Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute for Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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27
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Yang J, Liu Z, Niu Q, Liu J, Xie J, Chen Q, Chen Z, Guan G, Liu G, Luo J, Yin H. Evaluation of different nested PCRs for detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ruminants and ticks. BMC Vet Res 2016; 12:35. [PMID: 26911835 PMCID: PMC4765105 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0663-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a causative agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in mammals, which has a broad geographical distribution and a high degree of clinical diversity. Currently, numerous PCR assays have been developed and used for the detection of A. phagocytophilum in various specimens. However, their performance varies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of five nested PCR assays by detection of 363 ruminant and tick samples, and to select the most appropriate methods for the sensitive detection of A. phagocytophilum in environmental or clinical samples. RESULTS Positive PCR results for A. phagocytophilum were obtained in 75 (20.7%), 42 (11.6%) and 19 (5.2%) specimens with primer sets EC (EC9/EC12a and SSAP2f/SSAP2r), EE (EE1/EE2 and EE3/EE4) and ge (ge3a/ge10r, ge9f/ge2), respectively. The amplification of template DNA with the primer set MSP (MAP4AP5/MSP4AP3, msp4f/msp4r) could not be obtained in both ruminants and ticks, and a low specificity of the EL primers [EL(569)F/EL(1193)R, EL(569)F/EL(1142)R] in tick samples was observed. Our results revealed that the nested PCR with primer set EC complementary to the 16S rRNA gene was the most sensitive assay for detection of A. phagocytophilum in ruminant and tick specimens. A. phagocytophilum was detected in 47 (35.1%) sheep, 12 (10.4%) cattle, and 17 (14.9%) ticks. Two A. phagocytophilum genotypes were identified, that varied between sheep and cattle in sample collection sites. CONCLUSIONS This report provides more valuable information for the diagnosis and management of granulocytic anaplasmosis in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jifei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China.
| | - Zhijie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China.
| | - Qingli Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China.
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China.
| | - Jingying Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China.
| | - Qiuyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. 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 Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. 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 Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. 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 Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. 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 Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. 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 Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730046, P. R. China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, P. R. China.
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Meng H, Xu S, Yu Z, Li N, Wang R, Gao X, Yang X, Liu J. Abundance and seasonal activity of Haemaphysalis concinna (Acari: Ixodidae) at the border between China and Russia in Northern Inner Mongolia, China. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:1. [PMID: 26728523 PMCID: PMC4700674 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1291-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Haemaphysalis concinna, a three-host tick vector of several pathogens, poses a high risk to the health of humans and livestock. However, knowledge of the seasonal activities, relative density and other ecological characteristics of this tick is quite limited and fragmentary. This knowledge gap represents a bottleneck in our understanding of the health risks associated with tick-borne pathogens. Methods We conducted a two-year study from April 2012 to March 2014 in Northern Inner Mongolia situated on the China-Russia border, China, to investigate the seasonal activities and relative density of the three developmental stages of H. concinna. During the study period, feeding ticks were removed weekly from domestic sheep and their attachment sites were recorded. Questing ticks were collected weekly from five habitats (broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, shrubs, grassland and mixed coniferous forest) using the flagging-dragging method of capture. Rodents were captured and examined on two consecutive nights each week from June to September in 2012. Results H. concinna ticks were found mainly in shrubs and grasslands habitats. Adults were encountered from February to October with the major peak occurring in June. Larvae, which were observed mainly from late April to late September, reached peak numbers in late July. Nymphs were observed mainly from March to October, and their numbers peaked in early July. H. concinna adults and nymphs were found attached to sheep and their most favored sites of attachment were the face and ears. H. concinna larvae were found on two rodent species, Apodemus peninsulae and Eutamias sibiricus. Conclusion The relative density and seasonal activities of H. concinna have been systematically reported for Northern Inner Mongolia, China. The information about the hosts infested by H. concinna and its preferred attachment sites on sheep will help efforts to control this tick and the tick-borne diseases carried by it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Meng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China. .,Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China.
| | - Shiqi Xu
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, 067000, China.
| | - Zhijun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Ningxin Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Rongrong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Xiaohe Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Xiaolong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
| | - Jingze Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China.
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Karnath C, Obiegala A, Speck S, Essbauer S, Derschum H, Scholz H, Kiefer D, Tserennorov D, Dashdavaa O, Tsogbadrakh N, Jigjav B, Pfeffer M. Detection of Babesia venatorum, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Mongolia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:357-60. [PMID: 26739031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Information about the prevalence and geographical distribution of tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp. is still rare in Mongolia. We tested 275 Ixodes persulcatus ticks for A. phagocytophilum, Cand. N. mikurensis and Babesia spp. and 125 Dermacentor nuttalli ticks especially for Babesia spp. using different PCR methods. Ticks were collected from three provinces (Selenge, Arkhangai, Khentii) in Mongolia. DNA of A. phagocytophilum, Cand. N. mikurensis and Babesia spp. were found with a prevalence of 6.2%, 1.5% and 3.3% in each case in I. persulcatus ticks. This is the first time Cand. N. mikurensis was found in ticks from Mongolia. Sequence analysis of Babesia spp.-positive amplicons showed exclusively B. venatorum, which had also not been mentioned in Mongolia before. On the contrary, all D. nuttalli ticks tested negatively for Babesia spp. This study demonstrates that all three zoonotic pathogens are present in I. persulcatus ticks in Mongolia, and justify the need for further investigations of a more detailed genetic characterization of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Karnath
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Speck
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Holger Scholz
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Kiefer
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Granitov V, Shpynov S, Beshlebova O, Arsenjeva I, Dedkov V, Safonova M, Stukolova O, Pantjukhina A, Tarasevich I. New evidence on tick-borne rickettsioses in the Altai region of Russia using primary lesions, serum and blood clots of molecular and serological study. Microbes Infect 2015; 17:862-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Revised: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Genetic variability of Rickettsia spp. in Ixodes persulcatus/Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas from Western Siberia, Russia: Identification of a new Candidatus Rickettsia species. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2015; 34:88-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Kurilshikov A, Livanova NN, Fomenko NV, Tupikin AE, Rar VA, Kabilov MR, Livanov SG, Tikunova NV. Comparative Metagenomic Profiling of Symbiotic Bacterial Communities Associated with Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes pavlovskyi and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131413. [PMID: 26154300 PMCID: PMC4496043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes pavlovskyi, and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks inhabiting Western Siberia are responsible for the transmission of a number of etiological agents that cause human and animal tick-borne diseases. Because these ticks are abundant in the suburbs of large cities, agricultural areas, and popular tourist sites and frequently attack people and livestock, data regarding the microbiomes of these organisms are required. Using metagenomic 16S profiling, we evaluate bacterial communities associated with I. persulcatus, I. pavlovskyi, and D. reticulatus ticks collected from the Novosibirsk region of Russia. A total of 1214 ticks were used for this study. DNA extracted from the ticks was pooled according to tick species and sex. Sequencing of the V3-V5 domains of 16S rRNA genes was performed using the Illumina Miseq platform. The following bacterial genera were prevalent in the examined communities: Acinetobacter (all three tick species), Rickettsia (I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus) and Francisella (D. reticulatus). B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi sequences were detected in I. persulcatus and I. pavlovskyi but not in D. reticulatus ticks. The pooled samples of all tick species studied contained bacteria from the Anaplasmataceae family, although their occurrence was low. DNA from A. phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was first observed in I. pavlovskyi ticks. Significant inter-species differences in the number of bacterial taxa as well as intra-species diversity related to tick sex were observed. The bacterial communities associated with the I. pavlovskyi ticks displayed a higher biodiversity compared with those of the I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus ticks. Bacterial community structure was also diverse across the studied tick species, as shown by permutational analysis of variance using the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity metric (p = 0.002). Between-sex variation was confirmed by PERMANOVA testing in I. persulcatus (p = 0.042) and I. pavlovskyi (p = 0.042) ticks. Our study indicated that 16S metagenomic profiling could be used for rapid assessment of the occurrence of medically important bacteria in tick populations inhabiting different natural biotopes and therefore the epidemic danger of studied foci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kurilshikov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
- * E-mail:
| | - Natalya N. Livanova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nataliya V. Fomenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexey E. Tupikin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vera A. Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Marsel R. Kabilov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Nina V. Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Detection and identification of Rickettsia species in Ixodes tick populations from Estonia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:689-94. [PMID: 26096853 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A total of 1640 ticks collected in different geographical parts of Estonia were screened for the presence of Rickettsia species DNA by real-time PCR. DNA of Rickettsia was detected in 83 out of 1640 questing ticks with an overall prevalence of 5.1%. The majority of the ticks infected by rickettsiae were Ixodes ricinus (74 of 83), while 9 of the 83 positive ticks were Ixodes persulcatus. For rickettsial species identification, a part of the citrate synthase gltA gene was sequenced. The majority of the positive samples were identified as Rickettsia helvetica (81 out of 83) and two of the samples were identified as Rickettsia monacensis and Candidatus R. tarasevichiae, respectively. Genetic characterization based on the partial gltA gene showed that the Estonian sequences within the R. helvetica, R. monacensis and Candidatus R. tarasevichiae species demonstrated 100% similarity with sequences deposited in GenBank, originating from Rickettsia species distributed over large territories from Europe to Asia.
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34
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Rar VA, Pukhovskaya NM, Ryabchikova EI, Vysochina NP, Bakhmetyeva SV, Zdanovskaia NI, Ivanov LI, Tikunova NV. Molecular-genetic and ultrastructural characteristics of 'Candidatus Ehrlichia khabarensis', a new member of the Ehrlichia genus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:658-67. [PMID: 26096852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recently, a new Ehrlichia genetic variant, Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk, was identified in tissue samples of small mammals captured in the Russian Far East. To further characterize Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk, tissue homogenate from a naturally infected gray red-backed vole (Myodes rufocanus) was passaged three times in newborn laboratory mice. Using nested PCR Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk DNA was detected in tissue samples from infected mice at 1-4 weeks post inoculation. Electron microscopic examination revealed morulae containing gram-negative bacterial cells in monocytes of mouse spleen and liver. The size and ultrastructure of these cells corresponded to those described previously and allowed us to identify the bacteria as Ehrlichia sp. The comparison of ehrlichial 16S rRNA, groEL and gltA genes and putative GroEL and GltA amino acid sequences has demonstrated that Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk, like Ehrlichia ruminantium, is more distant from all other Ehrlichia species than these species are between themselves. Phylogenetic analysis has shown that Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk belongs to the clade formed by Ehrlichia spp. but clusters separately from other Ehrlichia species and genetic variants. These data indicate that Ehrlichia sp. Khabarovsk can be considered as a new candidate species. We propose to designate it as 'Candidatus Ehrlichia khabarensis' according to the territory where this species was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- V A Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - N M Pukhovskaya
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - E I Ryabchikova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - N P Vysochina
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - S V Bakhmetyeva
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - N I Zdanovskaia
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - L I Ivanov
- Khabarovsk Antiplague Station, Khabarovsk, Russian Federation
| | - N V Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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Wennerås C. Infections with the tick-borne bacterium Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Clin Microbiol Infect 2015; 21:621-30. [PMID: 25770773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, which has rodents as its natural hosts, is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in Europe and Asia. This intracellular bacterium causes the infectious disease neoehrlichiosis. Immunocompromised patients may contract a severe form of neoehrlichiosis with high fever and vascular/thromboembolic events. As it is not detected with routine culture-based methods, neoehrlichiosis is underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
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Rar VA, Epikhina TI, Yakimenko VV, Malkova MG, Tancev AK, Bondarenko EI, Ivanov MK, Tikunova NV. Genetic variability of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks and voles from Ixodes persulcatus/Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas from Western Siberia, Russia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:854-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 06/27/2014] [Accepted: 07/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Eremeeva ME, Shpynov SN, Tokarevich NK. MODERN APPROACHES TO LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF RICKETTSIAL DISEASES. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2014. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-2014-2-113-134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. We present a concise review of contemporary laboratory methods for diagnosis of rickettsioses with special emphasis on diseases known in Russian Federation. Classic and emerging rickettsioses are transmitted by a diverse and expanding group of arthropod vectors including ticks, fleas, lice and mites. While epidemiological and clinical clues can provide information important for initial suspicion of rickettsial infection, sensitive and specific laboratory methods are necessary for providing probable or confirmed diagnosis of the rickettsial infection. Accurate and rapid confirmation of rickettsial infection is important for ensuring proper clinical care and prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. Correct identification of the etiology of rickettsial diseases is also important for early identification of clustered cases, novel foci of infections, and for timely initiation of public health responses to these potentially fatal infections.
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Movila A, Dubinina HV, Sitnicova N, Bespyatova L, Uspenskaia I, Efremova G, Toderas I, Alekseev AN. Comparison of tick-borne microorganism communities in Ixodes spp. of the Ixodes ricinus species complex at distinct geographical regions. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2014; 63:65-76. [PMID: 24356921 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-013-9761-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing the tick-borne microorganism communities of Ixodes ricinus (sheep tick) and Ixodes persulcatus (taiga tick) from the I. ricinus species complex in distinct geographical regions of Eastern Europe and European Russia, we demonstrated differences between the two ticks. Taiga ticks were more frequently mono- and co-infected than sheep ticks: 24.4 % (45/184 tested ticks) versus 17.5 % (52/297) and 4.3 % (8/184) versus 3.4 % (10/297), respectively. Ginsberg co-infection index values were significant at the various sites. Diversity of the tick-borne microorganism communities was estimated by the Shannon index, reaching values of 1.71 ± 0.46 and 1.20 ± 0.15 at the sheep-tick and the taiga-tick harbored sites, respectively. Richness of the tick-borne microorganism community in the sheep tick collection sites was about twice the value of the taiga tick collection sites. Future investigations are warranted to further characterize the peculiarities of the tick-borne microorganism communities among the ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Movila
- Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya emb., 1, St-Petersburg, 199034, Moscow, Russia,
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Grankvist A, Andersson PO, Mattsson M, Sender M, Vaht K, Höper L, Sakiniene E, Trysberg E, Stenson M, Fehr J, Pekova S, Bogdan C, Bloemberg G, Wennerås C. Infections with the tick-borne bacterium "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" mimic noninfectious conditions in patients with B cell malignancies or autoimmune diseases. Clin Infect Dis 2014; 58:1716-22. [PMID: 24647019 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciu189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is a newly discovered noncultivatable bacterium spread among ticks and rodents in Europe and Asia that can infect humans, particularly immunocompromised patients. METHODS We compiled clinical and laboratory data from 11 patients with hematological malignances or autoimmune diseases who were diagnosed with Candidatus N. mikurensis infection in Europe 2010-2013. Both published (6) and unpublished cases (5) were included. RESULTS The patients had a median age of 67, were mostly male (8/11), and resided in Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. All but one had ongoing or recent immune suppressive treatment and a majority were splenectomized (8/11). Less than half of them recalled tick exposure. The most frequent symptoms were fever (11/11), localized pain afflicting muscles and/or joints (8/11), vascular and thromboembolic events (6/11), that is, deep vein thrombosis (4), transitory ischemic attacks (2), pulmonary embolism (1), and arterial aneurysm (1). Typical laboratory findings were elevated C-reactive protein, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, and anemia. Median time from onset of symptoms to correct diagnosis was 2 months. In at least 4 cases, the condition was interpreted to be due to the underlying disease, and immunosuppressive therapy was scheduled. All patients recovered completely when doxycycline was administered. CONCLUSIONS Candidatus N. mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen that may give rise to a systemic inflammatory syndrome in persons with hematologic or autoimmune diseases that could be mistaken for recurrence of the underlying disease and/or unrelated arteriosclerotic vascular events. Awareness of this new pathogen is warranted among rheumatologists, hematologists, oncologists, and infectious disease specialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Grankvist
- Department of Clinical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Per-Ola Andersson
- Department of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | | | - Monica Sender
- Department of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Krista Vaht
- Department of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Linnea Höper
- Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Egidija Sakiniene
- Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Estelle Trysberg
- Department of Rheumatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
| | - Martin Stenson
- Department of Medicine, Kungälv Hospital, Kungälv, Sweden
| | - Jan Fehr
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sona Pekova
- Laboratory for Molecular Diagnostics, CHAMBON Laboratories, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologische Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Guido Bloemberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska Academy, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg Department of Hematology and Coagulation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg
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Radulović Z, Porter LM, Kim TK, Mulenga A. Comparative bioinformatics, temporal and spatial expression analyses of Ixodes scapularis organic anion transporting polypeptides. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:287-98. [PMID: 24582512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Revised: 12/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (Oatps) are an integral part of the detoxification mechanism in vertebrates and invertebrates. These cell surface proteins are involved in mediating the sodium-independent uptake and/or distribution of a broad array of organic amphipathic compounds and xenobiotic drugs. This study describes bioinformatics and biological characterization of 9 Oatp sequences in the Ixodes scapularis genome. These sequences have been annotated on the basis of 12 transmembrane domains, consensus motif D-X-RW-(I,V)-GAWW-X-G-(F,L)-L, and 11 conserved cysteine amino acid residues in the large extracellular loop 5 that characterize the Oatp superfamily. Ixodes scapularis Oatps may regulate non-redundant cross-tick species conserved functions in that they did not cluster as a monolithic group on the phylogeny tree and that they have orthologs in other ticks. Phylogeny clustering patterns also suggest that some tick Oatp sequences transport substrates that are similar to those of body louse, mosquito, eye worm, and filarial worm Oatps. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that all 9 I. scapularis Oatp sequences were expressed during tick feeding. Ixodes scapularis Oatp genes potentially regulate functions during early and/or late-stage tick feeding as revealed by normalized mRNA profiles. Normalized transcript abundance indicates that I. scapularis Oatp genes are strongly expressed in unfed ticks during the first 24h of feeding and/or at the end of the tick feeding process. Except for 2 I. scapularis Oatps, which were expressed in the salivary glands and ovaries, all other genes were expressed in all tested organs, suggesting the significance of I. scapularis Oatps in maintaining tick homeostasis. Different I. scapularis Oatp mRNA expression patterns were detected and discussed with reference to different physiological states of unfed and feeding ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeljko Radulović
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Lindsay M Porter
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Tae K Kim
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Texas A & M University AgriLife Research, Department of Entomology, 2475 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Glatz M, Müllegger RR, Maurer F, Fingerle V, Achermann Y, Wilske B, Bloemberg GV. Detection of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a tick population from Austria. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 5:139-44. [PMID: 24345313 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA was discovered in Ixodes ricinus ticks in 1999 and is referred to as an emerging human pathogen since its first detection in patients with febrile illness reported in 2010. In recent years, Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis has been detected in ticks from several European, Asian, and African countries. However, no epidemiological data exist for Austria, which is a highly endemic region for tick-transmitted diseases. To assess the geographic spread and prevalence of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis sympatric with other tick-transmitted pathogens, we analysed 518 I. ricinus ticks collected in 2002 and 2003 in Graz, Austria. The prevalence of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis was 4.2%, that of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato 25.7%, and that of Anaplasma phagocytophilum 1%. Coinfections with Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis and B. burgdorferi sensu lato were found in 2.3% of all ticks. Thus, the results show a relatively high prevalence of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Austrian ticks suggesting a high probability for the occurrence of undiagnosed human infections in Austria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Glatz
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Robert R Müllegger
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Dermatology, State Hospital Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Florian Maurer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Yvonne Achermann
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University and University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bettina Wilske
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Guido V Bloemberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:31. [PMID: 23885337 PMCID: PMC3717505 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants in Ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern Europe. In recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with Ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. A. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. However, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal conditions, and considerable underreporting of clinical incidents is suspected in both human and veterinary medicine. Several variants of A. phagocytophilum have been genetically characterized. Identification and stratification into phylogenetic subfamilies has been based on cell culturing, experimental infections, PCR, and sequencing techniques. However, few genome sequences have been completed so far, thus observations on biological, ecological, and pathological differences between genotypes of the bacterium, have yet to be elucidated by molecular and experimental infection studies. The natural transmission cycles of various A. phagocytophilum variants, the involvement of their respective hosts and vectors involved, in particular the zoonotic potential, have to be unraveled. A. phagocytophilum is able to persist between seasons of tick activity in several mammalian species and movement of hosts and infected ticks on migrating animals or birds may spread the bacterium. In the present review, we focus on the ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum, especially the role of wildlife in contribution to the spread and sustainability of the infection in domestic livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Sandnes, Norway.
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Víchová B, Majláthová V, Nováková M, Stanko M, Hviščová I, Pangrácová L, Chrudimský T, Čurlík J, Petko B. Anaplasma infections in ticks and reservoir host from Slovakia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 22:265-72. [PMID: 23770268 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a worldwide distributed bacterium with a significant medical and veterinary importance. It grows within the phagosome of infected neutrophils and is responsible for human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), tick-borne fever (TBF) of small ruminants and cattle, canine and equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, but infects also a great variety of wildlife species. Wild ungulates and rodents are considered reservoirs of infection in natural foci. The objective of this study was to determine the spectrum of animal species involved in the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in Slovakia and to analyze the variability of obtained nucleotide sequences, in order to determine whether genotypes from Slovakia cluster according to host-species or geographical location. Several animal species and vector ticks were screened for the presence of members of the family Anaplasmataceae using PCR based methods. Additional data on the molecular evidence of Anaplasma ovis and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis are presented. These pathogens were detected in tested sheep flocks and rodents with the mean infection rates of 8.16% and 10.75%, respectively. A. phagocytophilum was genotyped by 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequencing. Bacterial DNA was confirmed in questing ixodid ticks, in domesticated canine, wild rodents and several species of wild ungulates. In European isolates, 16S rRNA gene does not seem to be an appropriate locus for the analyses of heterogeneity as it is too conservative. Similarly, 16S rRNA isolates from our study did not reveal any polymorphisms. All isolates were identical in overlapped region and showed identity with sequences from ticks, horses or ruminants previously isolated elsewhere in the world. On the other hand, the groESL heat shock operon is widely used for determination of diversity and the analyses have already revealed considerable degree of heterogeneity. Tested ungulates were infected with A. phagocytophilum to a considerable extent. High proportions of red and roe deer tested positive and the rates of infection reached over 60.0%. GroEL sequences from canine, wild ungulates and ticks from Slovakia clustered within a clade together with isolates from horses, humans, wild ungulates and ticks from Slovakia or elsewhere in the world. Sequences from rodents clustered apart from those obtained from wild ungulates, ticks and humans. These results suggest that European rodents do not harbour A. phagocytophilum strains with strong zoonotic potential such as those from United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Viktória Majláthová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mária Nováková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Lofflerova 10, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Hviščová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Pangrácová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Chrudimský
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Čurlík
- Institute for Breeding and Diseases of Animals and Fishes, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Petko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
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Silaghi C, Woll D, Mahling M, Pfister K, Pfeffer M. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in rodents in an area with sympatric existence of the hard ticks Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, Germany. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:285. [PMID: 23216786 PMCID: PMC3533915 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM) has been described in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus and rodents as well as in some severe cases of human disease. The aims of this study were to identify DNA of CNM in small mammals, the ticks parasitizing them and questing ticks in areas with sympatric existence of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany. Methods Blood, transudate and organ samples (spleen, kidney, liver, skin) of 91 small mammals and host-attached ticks from altogether 50 small mammals as well as questing I. ricinus ticks (n=782) were screened with a real-time PCR for DNA of CNM. Results 52.7% of the small mammals were positive for CNM-DNA. The majority of the infected animals were yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Small mammals with tick infestation were more often infected with CNM than small mammals without ticks. Compared with the prevalence of ~25% in the questing I. ricinus ticks, twice the prevalence in the rodents provides evidence for their role as reservoir hosts for CNM. Conclusion The high prevalence of this pathogen in the investigated areas in both rodents and ticks points towards the need for more specific investigation on its role as a human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802 Munich, Germany.
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Abstract
Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, 1930 (I. persulcatus) is distributed from the western to the eastern borders of Russia where it is found in the taiga and in mixed forests of the European type. This tick is a known vector of viral (tick-borne encephalitis virus), spirochetal (Borrelia spp.), and protozoan (Babesia spp.) agents. In this work, we analyzed the phylogenetic position of I. persulcatus within the Prostriata based on its 18S rRNA gene. Furthermore, we review the relationship of this tick with 9 Alphaproteobacteria from the genera Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma which are found in I. persulcatus in the territory of Russia. These observations suggest that I. persulcatus may be one of the more important vectors and reservoirs of Alphaproteobacteria and other microorganisms in Russia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav Shpynov
- FBUN Omsk Scientific Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections, 7, Prospect Myra, Omsk 644080, Russia.
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Richter D, Kohn C, Matuschka FR. Absence of Borrelia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks. Parasitol Res 2012; 112:107-11. [PMID: 22955502 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3110-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To determine whether Dermacentor reticulatus ticks are infected by Borrelia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, or Anaplasma phagocytophilum, we collected questing adults in the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, examined them for the presence of DNA of these pathogens, and compared the infection rates to those of sympatric Ixodes ricinus ticks. Questing D. reticulatus adults appeared not to harbor the bacterial pathogens that are prevalent in I. ricinus ticks. Based on our sample size, the estimated prevalence of each of these pathogens in D. reticulatus ticks would be well below three tenth of a percent (<0.3 %). For pathogens which so rarely infect D. reticulatus ticks, this tick likely plays no epidemiologic vector role for either their enzootic transmission cycle in nature or their transmission to people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dania Richter
- Abteilung Parasitologie, Institut für Pathologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Malteserstraße 74-100, 12249, Berlin, Germany.
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Speck S, Derschum H, Damdindorj T, Dashdavaa O, Jiang J, Kaysser P, Jigjav B, Nyamdorj E, Baatar U, Munkhbat E, Choijilsuren O, Gerelchuluun O, Römer A, Richards AL, Kiefer D, Scholz H, Wölfel R, Zöller L, Dobler G, Essbauer S. Rickettsia raoultii, the predominant Rickettsia found in Mongolian Dermacentor nuttalli. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012; 3:227-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Revised: 04/16/2012] [Accepted: 04/16/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Jahfari S, Fonville M, Hengeveld P, Reusken C, Scholte EJ, Takken W, Heyman P, Medlock JM, Heylen D, Kleve J, Sprong H. Prevalence of Neoehrlichia mikurensis in ticks and rodents from North-west Europe. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:74. [PMID: 22515314 PMCID: PMC3395572 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoehrlichia mikurensis s an emerging and vector-borne zoonosis: The first human disease cases were reported in 2010. Limited information is available about the prevalence and distribution of Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Europe, its natural life cycle and reservoir hosts. An Ehrlichia-like schotti variant has been described in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks, which could be identical to Neoehrlichia mikurensis. METHODS Three genetic markers, 16S rDNA, gltA and GroEL, of Ehrlichia schotti-positive tick lysates were amplified, sequenced and compared to sequences from Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Based on these DNA sequences, a multiplex real-time PCR was developed to specifically detect Neoehrlichia mikurensis in combination with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in tick lysates. Various tick species from different life-stages, particularly Ixodes ricinus nymphs, were collected from the vegetation or wildlife. Tick lysates and DNA derived from organs of wild rodents were tested by PCR-based methods for the presence of Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Prevalence of Neoehrlichia mikurensis was calculated together with confidence intervals using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS The three genetic markers of Ehrlichia schotti-positive field isolates were similar or identical to Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Neoehrlichia mikurensis was found to be ubiquitously spread in the Netherlands and Belgium, but was not detected in the 401 tick samples from the UK. Neoehrlichia mikurensis was found in nymphs and adult Ixodes ricinus ticks, but neither in their larvae, nor in any other tick species tested. Neoehrlichia mikurensis was detected in diverse organs of some rodent species. Engorging ticks from red deer, European mouflon, wild boar and sheep were found positive for Neoehrlichia mikurensis. CONCLUSIONS Ehrlichia schotti is similar, if not identical, to Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is present in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks throughout the Netherlands and Belgium. We propose that Ixodes ricinus can transstadially, but not transovarially, transmit this microorganism, and that different rodent species may act as reservoir hosts. These data further imply that wildlife and humans are frequently exposed to Neoehrlichia mikurensis-infected ticks through tick bites. Future studies should aim to investigate to what extent Neoehrlichia mikurensis poses a risk to public health.
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"Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis," Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and lyme disease spirochetes in questing european vector ticks and in feeding ticks removed from people. J Clin Microbiol 2012; 50:943-7. [PMID: 22205824 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.05802-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To estimate the likelihood of people coming into contact with the recently described tick-borne agent "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis," we compared its prevalence to those of Lyme disease spirochetes and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing adult Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in various Central European sites and examined ticks, which had been removed from people, for the presence of these pathogens. Whereas spirochetes infected questing adult ticks most frequently (22.3%), fewer than a third as many ticks were infected by "Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (6.2%), and about a sixth harbored A. phagocytophilum (3.9%). On average, every twelfth encounter of a person with an I. ricinus tick (8.1%) may bear the risk of acquiring "Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis." Although a fifth of the people (20%) had removed at least one tick infected by "Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis," none displayed symptoms described for this pathogen, suggesting that its transmission may not be immediate and/or that immunocompetent individuals may not be affected. Because immunosuppressed patients may be at a particular risk of developing symptoms, it should be considered that "Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis" appears to be the second most common pathogen in I. ricinus ticks. In our survey, only Borrelia afzelii appears to infect Central European vector ticks more frequently.
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Lane RS, Mun J, Peribáñez MA, Fedorova N. Differences in prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. infection among host-seeking Dermacentor occidentalis, Ixodes pacificus, and Ornithodoros coriaceus ticks in northwestern California. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011; 1:159-67. [PMID: 21359090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies revealed that the Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis) is infected occasionally with the agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) or human granulocytic anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) and that it is an inefficient experimental vector of B. burgdorferi. The relationship of the pajahuello tick (Ornithodoros coriaceus) to each of these bacterial zoonotic agents has not been reported. The primary bridging vector of both bacterial zoonotic agents to humans is the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). Because of the spatial and temporal overlap of D. occidentalis and O. coriaceus populations with those of I. pacificus in natural foci of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in northwestern California, we conducted field and laboratory studies to determine if the Pacific Coast tick or the pajahuello tick potentially may serve as secondary vectors of either bacterium. Our findings reconfirmed that wild-caught D. occidentalis ticks are infected infrequently with B. burgdorferi or A. phagocytophilum, but some adult ticks from dense woodlands or chaparral were found to contain 2 important veterinary pathogens for the first time (Anaplasma bovis, A. ovis). The high prevalence of A. bovis infection (4.3%, n=185 ticks) within chaparral-derived ticks suggests that D. occidentalis could be an efficient vector of this rickettsia. Experimental attempts to transmit borreliae or Anaplasma spp. that may have been present in >100 wild-caught D. occidentalis adults to naïve rabbits were unsuccessful. Anaplasma spp. were not detected in O. coriaceus, but one (4.3%) of 23 nymphs was infected with B. bissettii. This finding and an antecedent report of a B. burgdorferi-like spirochete from the same tick species demonstrate that O. coriaceus sometimes acquires and transstadially passes Lyme disease group spirochetes. I. pacificus nymphs inhabiting a woodland nidus of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum had a 5-fold higher prevalence of borreliae than adult ticks from the same generational cohort. In contrast to the results of preceding studies carried out at the same site, none of the nymphal or adult ticks was PCR-positive for A. phagocytophilum. This suggests that the distribution of this rickettsia is highly focal or variable from year-to-year within this particular woodland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S Lane
- Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
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