1
|
Milani M, Naddaf SR, Ziapour SP, Sepahi AA, Rohani M. Borrelia theileri infections in Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks from the north of Iran. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 93:81-95. [PMID: 38869723 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00924-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Ticks serve as vectors and reservoirs of various Borrelia species, potentially causing diseases in humans and animals. Mazandaran, a fertile green land in northern Iran, provides ample grazing grounds for livestock and harbors at least 26 hard tick species. This study investigated Borrelia infection in hard ticks from forest areas in this region and compared their genetic identity with the species data in the GenBank database. A total of 2,049 ticks were collected manually from mammalian hosts or using dragging and flagging methods. These ticks were then grouped into 190 pools and 41 individuals based on host, species, developmental stage, and gender. A real-time PCR (qPCR) detected Borrelia DNA in 26 pools from female, male, and nymph of Rhipicephalus annulatus (n = 17) and Ixodes ricinus (n = 9) ticks and one individual female Haemaphysalis punctata tick. The generated partial flaB and glpQ sequences from qPCR-positive Rh. annulatus ticks exhibited the highest identities of 98.1-100% and 98.2% with Borrelia theileri and closely related undefined isolates. Additionally, in phylogenetic analysis, these sequences clustered within well-supported clades with B. theileri and the closely related undefined isolates from various geographic regions, confirming the presence of B. theileri in the north of Iran. Divergence in B. theileri flaB and glpQ sequences across various geographical areas suggests potential subspeciation driven by adaptations to different tick species. This divergence in our flaB sequences implies the possible introduction of B. theileri-infected ticks from different geographical origins into Iran.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Milani
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saied Reza Naddaf
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Seyyed Payman Ziapour
- Department of Parasitology, Zoonoses Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Amol, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Abbas Akhavan Sepahi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, North Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Rohani
- Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Majid A, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Tanaka T, Yen TY, Tsai KH, Ali A. First report of spotted fever group Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Hyalomma turanicum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi infesting domestic animals: updates on the epidemiology of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1283814. [PMID: 38163073 PMCID: PMC10756324 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne Rickettsia spp. have long been known as causative agents for zoonotic diseases. We have previously characterized Rickettsia spp. in different ticks infesting a broad range of hosts in Pakistan; however, knowledge regarding Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma ticks is missing. This study aimed to obtain a better understanding about R. aeschlimannii in Pakistan and update the knowledge about its worldwide epidemiology. Among 369 examined domestic animals, 247 (66%) were infested by 872 ticks. Collected ticks were morphologically delineated into three genera, namely, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, and Haemaphysalis. Adult females were the most prevalent (number ₌ 376, 43.1%), followed by nymphs (303, 34.74%) and males (193, 22.13%). Overall, genomic DNA samples of 223 tick were isolated and screened for Rickettsia spp. by the amplification of rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB partial genes using conventional PCR. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8 of 223 (3.58%) ticks including nymphs (5 of 122, 4.0%) and adult females (3 of 86, 3.48%). The rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences were detected in Hyalomma turanicum (2 nymphs and 1 adult female), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (1 nymph and 1 adult female), and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (2 nymphs and 1 adult female). These rickettsial sequences showed 99.71-100% identity with R. aeschlimannii and phylogenetically clustered with the same species. None of the tested Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis cornupunctata, and Haemaphysalis sulcata ticks were found positive for rickettsial DNA. Comprehensive surveillance studies should be adopted to update the knowledge regarding tick-borne zoonotic Rickettsia species, evaluate their risks to humans and livestock, and investigate the unexamined cases of illness after tick bite among livestock holders in the country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Majid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Tsai-Ying Yen
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Valcárcel F, Elhachimi L, Vilá M, Tomassone L, Sánchez M, Selles SMA, Kouidri M, González MG, Martín-Hernández R, Valcárcel Á, Fernández N, Tercero JM, Sanchis J, Bellido-Blasco J, González-Coloma A, Olmeda AS. Emerging Hyalomma lusitanicum: From identification to vectorial role and integrated control. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:425-459. [PMID: 37144688 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the Mediterranean basin, the tick species Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch stands out among other species of the Hyalomma genus due to its wide distribution, and there is great concern about its potential role as a vector and/or reservoir and its continuous expansion to new areas because of climate warming and human and other animal movements. This review aims to consolidate all the information on H. lusitanicum, including taxonomy and evolution, morphological and molecular identification, life cycle, sampling methods, rearing under laboratory conditions, ecology, hosts, geographical distribution, seasonality, vector role and control methods. The availability of adequate data is extremely relevant to the development of appropriate control strategies in areas where this tick is currently distributed as well as in new areas where it could become established in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - L Elhachimi
- Département de parasitologie et de Santé Publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M Vilá
- Grupo de Investigación COPAR (GI-2120; USC), Departamento de Patoloxia Animal, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - L Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - M Sánchez
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - S M A Selles
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
- Laboratory of Research on Local Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M Kouidri
- Laboratory of Farm Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M G González
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - R Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF-Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Marchamalo, 19180, Spain. Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-ESF/EC-FSE), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Á Valcárcel
- Lokimica S.L., c/ Valdemorillo, Madrid, Spain
- Veterinary Pathobiology section, University College Dublín, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - N Fernández
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - J M Tercero
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - J Sanchis
- Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - J Bellido-Blasco
- Sección de Epidemiología, Centro de Salud Pública de Castelló, CIBER-ESP. Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castelló, Spain
| | | | - A S Olmeda
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ullah S, Alouffi A, Almutairi MM, Islam N, Rehman G, Ul Islam Z, Ahmed H, Júnior IDSV, Labruna MB, Tanaka T, Ali A. First Report of Rickettsia conorii in Hyalomma kumari Ticks. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091488. [PMID: 37174525 PMCID: PMC10177544 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
As a vector of wide range of pathogenic agents, ticks pose health threats to wild and domestic animals, and humans. Information is unavailable about the prevalence and spatial survey of Hyalomma kumari ticks and associated Rickettsia spp. in Pakistan. Concerning this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to molecularly detect Rickettsia species associated with H. kumari infesting small ruminants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 409 H. kumari ticks were collected from 163/295 infested hosts with an infestation rate of 55.25%. A total of 204 females, 158 males, and 47 nymphs were collected. Goats were heavily infested by 224 ticks having an infestation rate of 58.33% (98/168), whereas sheep were infested by 185 ticks having a lesser infestation rate of 51.18% (65/127). Genomic DNA extracted from ticks was used for the amplification of tick (cox I, 16S rRNA, ITS-2) species and Rickettsia (gltA, ompA, and ompB) partial genes. Eighty-three ticks were subjected to PCR, and 8/83 (9.6%) were found positive for rickettsial agents. The cox I and 16S rRNA sequences of H. kumari showed 98.90-99.74% identity with H. kumari sequences reported from Pakistan, and phylogenetically clustered to the corresponding species reported from Pakistan and India. The obtained rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences showed 100% identity with Rickettsia sp. of the Rickettsia conorii reported from Pakistan. In the phylogenetic trees, rickettsial sequences clustered with uncharacterized Rickettsia sp. from Pakistan and R. conorii from Israel, Russia, South Africa, and India. The present molecular based detection of H. kumari-associated R. conorii will facilitate effective surveillance in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashal M Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nabila Islam
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Gauhar Rehman
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Zia Ul Islam
- Department of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Haroon Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz Júnior
- Centro de Biotecnologia and Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91501-970, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-060, Brazil
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang X, Zhao Y, Chuai X, Cao Q, Meng H, Liu J, Chen Z. The life cycle of Hyalomma scupense (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102019. [PMID: 35963189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The life cycle of Hyalomma scupense on rabbit hosts was investigated under laboratory conditions. Hy. scupense exhibited one- and two-host life cycles of 163.2 and 161.4 days, respectively. The incubation of eggs required an average period of 52 days, which was the longest period among the four developmental stages. The average time for pre-feeding of larvae was 3.5 days. It took 20 days for larvae to become engorged nymphs and 52.3 days to become engorged females. The duration of the pre-feeding, feeding, pre-oviposition, and oviposition stages of female adults was 2.3, 13.5, 27.5, and 27.9 days, respectively. The average weight of engorged females was 390.0 mg (ranging from 129.3 mg to 828.6 mg), which was 28.95 times the weight of unfed females. There was a positive relationship between the weight and the number of eggs laid by engorged females (r = 0.927). The reproductive efficiency index (REI) was 8.63.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, China.
| | - Yuqi Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Xia Chuai
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Qiao Cao
- Shijiazhuang Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050041, China
| | - Hao Meng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Jiaze Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Ze Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Alam S, Khan M, Alouffi A, Almutairi MM, Ullah S, Numan M, Islam N, Khan Z, Aiman O, Zaman Safi S, Tanaka T, Ali A. Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Ticks and Molecular Survey of Anaplasma marginale, with Notes on Their Phylogeny. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081663. [PMID: 36014081 PMCID: PMC9413622 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) are medically important ectoparasites that feed on all classes of terrestrial vertebrates. Recently, we molecularly characterized hard ticks and associated Anaplasma spp. in the northern and central regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan; however, this knowledge was missing in the southern regions. This study aimed to investigate tick prevalence, host range, genetic diversity, and molecular survey of Anaplasma spp. in a wide range of tick species in two distinct physiographic regions of southern KP. A total of 1873 hard ticks were randomly collected from 443/837 hosts (cattle, Asian water buffaloes, horses, goats, sheep, dogs, and camels) in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Orakzai districts of KP. Overall, 12 tick species were morphologically identified, among which Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent species (390/1873, 20.9%), followed by Hy. anatolicum (294, 15.7%), Rhipicephalus microplus (262, 14%), Hy. scupense (207, 11.1%), R. sanguineus (136, 7.3%), R. turanicus (121, 6.5%), Haemaphysalis cornupunctata (107, 5.7%), R. haemaphysaloides (110, 5.9%), Ha. montgomeryi (87, 4.6%), Hy. isaaci (58, 3.1%), Ha. bispinosa (54, 2.9%), and Ha. sulcata (47, 2.5%). The extracted DNA from a subset of each tick species was subjected to PCR to amplify cox1 or 16S rRNA sequences of ticks and 16S rRNA sequences of Anaplasma spp. The tick cox1 sequences showed 99–100% identities with the sequences of the same species, whereas 16S rRNA sequences of R. turanicus, Ha. montgomeryi and Ha. sulcata showed 97–100% identities with the corresponding species. The 16S rRNA sequence of Ha. cornupunctata showed 92% identity with the species from the same subgenus, such as Ha. punctata. The 16S rRNA sequence of Anaplasma spp. showed 100% identity with Anaplasma marginale. Moreover, 54 ticks were found positive for A. marginale with a total infection rate of 17.2%. The highest infection rate was recorded in Hy. dromedarii (31.1%) and the lowest in each R. haemaphysaloides and R. sanguineus (20%). All the cox1 or 16S rRNA sequences in phylogenetic trees clustered with the same species, except Ha. cornupunctata, which clustered with the Ha. (Aboimisalis) punctata. In this study, Ha. cornupunctata was reported for the first time at the molecular level. The genetic characterization of ixodid ticks and molecular detection of associated A. marginale will assist in the epidemiological surveillance of these parasites in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shumaila Alam
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Mehran Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Numan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Nabila Islam
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Zaibullah Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Ome Aiman
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
| | - Sher Zaman Safi
- Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom 42610, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Khan Z, Shehla S, Alouffi A, Kashif Obaid M, Zeb Khan A, Almutairi MM, Numan M, Aiman O, Alam S, Ullah S, Zaman Safi S, Tanaka T, Ali A. Molecular Survey and Genetic Characterization of Anaplasma marginale in Ticks Collected from Livestock Hosts in Pakistan. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131708. [PMID: 35804607 PMCID: PMC9264954 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ticks transmit different disease-causing agents to humans and animals. Pakistan is an agricultural country, the rural economy mainly relies on livestock farming, and tick infestation is a severe constraint to its livelihood. The genus Anaplasma comprises obligate Gram-negative intracellular bacteria multiplying within the host cells and can be transmitted to humans and animals through the tick vector. The current study aimed to molecularly characterize the Anaplasma spp. in hard ticks infesting livestock in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The present study reported nine species of hard ticks infesting different hosts. The most prevalent tick life stage was adult females, followed by nymphs and adult males. In the phylogenetic tree, 16S rDNA sequences of Anaplasma spp. clustered with sequences of A. marginale. The hard ticks act as a carrier for the transmission of A. marginale. Further extensive country-wide research is required to explore the diverse tick species and the associated pathogens in Pakistan. Abstract Ticks transmit pathogens to animals and humans more often than any other arthropod vector. The rural economy of Pakistan mainly depends on livestock farming, and tick infestations cause severe problems in this sector. The present study aimed to molecularly characterize the Anaplasma spp. in hard ticks collected from six districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Ticks were collected from various livestock hosts, including cattle breeds (Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, Sahiwal, and Achai), Asian water buffaloes, sheep, and goats from March 2018 to February 2019. Collected ticks were morphologically identified and subjected to molecular screening of Anaplasma spp. by amplifying 16S rDNA sequences. Six hundred seventy-six ticks were collected from infested hosts (224/350, 64%). Among the nine morphologically identified tick species, the highest occurrence was noted for Rhipicephalus microplus (254, 37.6%), followed by Hyalomma anatolicum (136, 20.1%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (119, 17.6%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (116, 17.1%), Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (14, 2.1%), Hyalomma dromedarii (11, 1.6%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (10, 1.5%), Hyalomma scupense (8, 1.2%), and Haemaphysalis kashmirensis (8, 1.2%). The occurrence of tick females was highest (260, 38.5%), followed by nymphs (246, 36.4%) and males (170, 25.1%). Overall, the highest occurrence of ticks was recorded in the Peshawar district (239, 35.3%), followed by Mardan (183, 27.1%), Charsadda (110, 16.3%), Swat (52, 7.7%), Shangla (48, 7.1%), and Chitral (44, 6.5%). Among these ticks, Anaplasma marginale was detected in R. microplus, R. turanicus, and R. haemaphysaloides. The 16S rDNA sequences showed high identity (98–100%) with A. marginale reported from Australia, China, Japan, Pakistan, Thailand, Uganda, and the USA. In phylogenetic analysis, the sequence of A. marginale clustered with the same species reported from Australia, China, Pakistan, Thailand, Uruguay, and the USA. Further molecular work regarding the diversity of tick species and associated pathogens is essential across the country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaibullah Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Shehla Shehla
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muhammad Kashif Obaid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Alam Zeb Khan
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muhammad Numan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Ome Aiman
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Shumaila Alam
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
| | - Sher Zaman Safi
- Faculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom 42610, Selangor, Malaysia;
- Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials, Lahore Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (A.A.)
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; (Z.K.); (S.S.); (M.K.O.); (M.N.); (O.A.); (S.A.); (S.U.)
- Correspondence: (T.T.); (A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Morozov A, Tischenkov A, Silaghi C, Proka A, Toderas I, Movila A, Frickmann H, Poppert S. Prevalence of Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Birds in the Republic of Moldova. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061111. [PMID: 35744630 PMCID: PMC9227923 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological knowledge on pathogens in ticks feeding on birds in Moldova is scarce. To reduce this gap of information, a total of 640 migrating and native birds of 40 species were caught from 2012 to 2015 and examined for the presence of ticks in the Republic of Moldova. Altogether, 262 ticks belonging to five tick species (Ixodes ricunus n = 245, Ixodes frontalis n = 12, Haemaphysalis punctata n = 2, Hyalomma marginatum n = 2 (only males), Dermacentor marginatus n = 1) were collected from 93 birds. Of these ticks, 250 (96%) were at the stage of a nymph and 9 at the stage of a larva (3%). One imago of I. frontalis and two imagoes of Hy. marginatum were found. Generally, ticks infested 14.1% of the assessed birds belonging to 12 species. DNA was extracted from individual ticks with subsequent PCR targeting Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp. in general, as well as relapsing fever-associated Borrelia spp., in particular, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Babesia spp. and Coxiella burnetii. The bird species Turdus merula showed the heaviest infestation with ticks and the highest incidence of infected ticks. Altogether, 32.8% of the assessed ticks (n = 86) were positive for one of the pathogens. DNA of Borrelia spp. was found in 15.2% (40/262) of the investigated ticks; in 7.6% of ticks (20/262), DNA of rickettsiae was detected; 6.9% (18/262) of the ticks were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA; in 1.5% of the ticks (4/262), DNA of Neoehrlichia mikurensis was detected, followed by 1.5% (4/262) Babesia microti and 1.5% (4/262) Borrelia miyamotoi. Within the B. burgdorferi complex, B. garinii (n = 36) was largely predominant, followed by B. valaisiana (n = 2) and B. lusitaniae (n = 2). Among the detected Rickettsia spp., R. monacensis (n = 16), R. helvetica (n = 2) and R. slovaca (n = 1) were identified. In conclusion, the study provided some new information on the prevalence of ticks on birds in Moldova, as well as the presence of DNA of pathogens in the ticks. By doing so, it provided an additional piece in the puzzle of the global epidemiology of tick-transmitted infectious diseases from a geographic side from where respective surveillance data are scarce.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandr Morozov
- Center of Research of Biological Invasions, Institute of Zoology, MD-2012 Chisinau, Moldova; (A.P.); (I.T.); (A.M.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (S.P.)
| | - Alexei Tischenkov
- Natural Geography Department, Shevchenko Transnistria State University, MD-3300 Tiraspol, Moldova;
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80802 Munich, Germany;
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andrei Proka
- Center of Research of Biological Invasions, Institute of Zoology, MD-2012 Chisinau, Moldova; (A.P.); (I.T.); (A.M.)
| | - Ion Toderas
- Center of Research of Biological Invasions, Institute of Zoology, MD-2012 Chisinau, Moldova; (A.P.); (I.T.); (A.M.)
| | - Alexandru Movila
- Center of Research of Biological Invasions, Institute of Zoology, MD-2012 Chisinau, Moldova; (A.P.); (I.T.); (A.M.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Comprehensive Care, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Hagen Frickmann
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany;
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Sven Poppert
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine Hamburg, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (A.M.); (S.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bell-Sakyi L, Hartley CS, Khoo JJ, Forth JH, Palomar AM, Makepeace BL. New Cell Lines Derived from European Tick Species. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061086. [PMID: 35744603 PMCID: PMC9228755 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick cell lines are important tools for research on ticks and the pathogens they transmit. Here, we report the establishment of ten new cell lines from European ticks of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus originating from Germany and Spain. For each cell line, the method used to generate the primary culture, a morphological description of the cells and species confirmation by sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene are presented. Further molecular analysis of the two new Ixodes ricinus cell lines and three existing cell lines of the same species revealed genetic variation between cell lines derived from ticks collected in the same or nearby locations. Collectively, these new cell lines will support research into a wide range of viral, bacterial and protozoal tick-borne diseases prevalent in Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (C.S.H.); (J.J.K.); (B.L.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Catherine S. Hartley
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (C.S.H.); (J.J.K.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (C.S.H.); (J.J.K.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Jan Hendrik Forth
- Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany;
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ana M. Palomar
- Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, 26006 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain;
| | - Benjamin L. Makepeace
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (C.S.H.); (J.J.K.); (B.L.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bai Y, Zhang Y, Su Z, Tang S, Wang J, Wu Q, Yang J, Moming A, Zhang Y, Bell-Sakyi L, Sun S, Shen S, Deng F. Discovery of Tick-Borne Karshi Virus Implies Misinterpretation of the Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Seroprevalence in Northwest China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:872067. [PMID: 35685931 PMCID: PMC9173002 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.872067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite few human cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), high rates of TBEV seroprevalence were reported among humans and animals in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China. In this study, the Karshi virus (KSIV) was identified and isolated from Hyalomma asiaticum ticks in Xinjiang. It belongs to the genus Flavivirus of the family Flaviviridae and is closely related to TBEV. KSIV infects cell lines from humans, other mammals and ticks, and causes encephalitis in suckling mice. High minimum infection rates (4.96%) with KSIV were detected among tick groups. KSIV infections have occurred in sheep and marmots, resulting in antibody-positive rates of 2.43 and 2.56%, respectively. We further found that, of the KSIV antibody-positive serum samples from animals, 13.9% had TBEV exposure showing cross-reaction to KSIV, and 11.1% had KSIV infection resulting in cross-reaction to TBEV; 8.3% were likely to have co-exposure to both viruses (or may be infected with one of them and present cross-reactivity with the other). The results revealed a substantial KSIV prevalence among ticks in Xinjiang, indicating exposure of animals to KSIV and TBEV. The findings implied misinterpretation of the high rates of TBEV seroprevalence among humans and animals in previous studies. There is a need to develop detection methods to distinguish KSIV from TBEV and to perform an in-depth investigation of KSIV and TBEV prevalence and incidence in Northwestern China, which would enhance our preparation to provide medical treatment of emerging diseases caused by tick-borne viral pathogens such as KSIV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanfang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhengyuan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiaoli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Abulimiti Moming
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yujiang Zhang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, China
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Surong Sun
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, China
| | - Shu Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and National Virus Resource Centre, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lado S, Futas J, Plasil M, Loney T, Weidinger P, Camp JV, Kolodziejek J, Kannan DO, Horin P, Nowotny N, Burger PA. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Past Infections Are Associated with Two Innate Immune Response Candidate Genes in Dromedaries. Cells 2021; 11:8. [PMID: 35011568 PMCID: PMC8750074 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dromedaries are an important livestock, used as beasts of burden and for meat and milk production. However, they can act as an intermediate source or vector for transmitting zoonotic viruses to humans, such as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). After several outbreaks of CCHFV in the Arabian Peninsula, recent studies have demonstrated that CCHFV is endemic in dromedaries and camel ticks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There is no apparent disease in dromedaries after the bite of infected ticks; in contrast, fever, myalgia, lymphadenopathy, and petechial hemorrhaging are common symptoms in humans, with a case fatality ratio of up to 40%. We used the in-solution hybridization capture of 100 annotated immune genes to genotype 121 dromedaries from the UAE tested for seropositivity to CCHFV. Through univariate linear regression analysis, we identified two candidate genes belonging to the innate immune system: FCAR and CLEC2B. These genes have important functions in the host defense against viral infections and in stimulating natural killer cells, respectively. This study opens doors for future research into immune defense mechanisms in an enzootic host against an important zoonotic disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lado
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jan Futas
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Plasil
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tom Loney
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
| | - Pia Weidinger
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Jeremy V. Camp
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jolanta Kolodziejek
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | | | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.F.); (M.P.); (P.H.)
- RG Animal Immunogenomics, CEITEC VETUNI Brno, 61242 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Nowotny
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates; (T.L.); (N.N.)
- Viral Zoonoses, Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections Group, Institute of Virology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (P.W.); (J.V.C.); (J.K.)
| | - Pamela A. Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Akyildiz G, Guven E, Tufek H, Bente D, Vatansever Z, Kar S. Monthly dynamics of the cold-adapted one-host biological north form of Hyalomma scupense under the influence of the warm summer subtype of the Mediterranean climate in Turkey. Parasitol Int 2021; 85:102427. [PMID: 34314861 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The one-host biological north form / ecotype of Hyalomma scupense Schulze, 1919 (Acari, Ixodidae) is reported for the first time in Turkey herein. Following the first detection of the tick, a longitudinal field study was carried out to fill gaps in the data concerning its biological features. This study also aimed to determine how the monthly activation dynamics of this relatively cold climate-adapted species is characterized under the influence of the warm summer subtype of the Mediterranean climate. During this study, which was carried out on a monthly basis in 2014, H. scupense was found on cattle from 5 out of 18 villages screened in Thrace (the European part of Turkey). The field study revealed that i) this north ecotype of H. scupense exhibits winter one-host behavior beginning in October (with larval stages) and ending in April (with engorged adults); ii) engorged females detach from the cattle, drop on the floors of barns during night and accumulate on piled bedding contaminated with slurry manure; iii) in the late spring, engorged females lay eggs, and larvae hatch in the same area; and iv) larvae become active in autumn as the weather grows cooler. The results indicated that although one-host H. scupense is known to be distinctly adapted to cold conditions, it can also be effectively established in relatively temperate regions and complete its life cycle with some modifications in the timing of its monthly activation dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gurkan Akyildiz
- Department of Biology, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
| | - Esin Guven
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hakan Tufek
- Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Caycuma Vocational High School, Zonguldak, Turkey.
| | - Dennis Bente
- Galveston National Laboratory, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States of America.
| | - Zati Vatansever
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary, Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey
| | - Sirri Kar
- Department of Biology, Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Yang Y, Tong J, Ruan H, Yang M, Sang C, Liu G, Hazihan W, Xu B, Hornok S, Rizabek K, Gulzhan K, Liu Z, Wang Y. Genetic Diversity of Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the South and East Regions of Kazakhstan and Northwestern China. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2021; 59:103-108. [PMID: 33684994 PMCID: PMC7939963 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.1.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To date, there is no report on the genetic diversity of ticks in these regions. A total of 370 representative ticks from the south and east regions of Kazakhstan (SERK) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) were selected for molecular comparison. A fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene, ranging from 631 bp to 889 bp, was used to analyze genetic diversity among these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated 7 tick species including Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus and Haemaphysalis erinacei from the SERK clustered together with conspecific ticks from the XUAR. The network diagram of haplotypes showed that i) Hy. asiaticum from Almaty and Kyzylorda Oblasts together with that from Yuli County of XUAR constituted haplogroup H-2, and the lineage from Chimkent City of South Kazakhstan was newly evolved; and ii) the R. turanicus ticks sampled in Israel, Almaty, South Kazakhstan, Usu City, Ulugqat and Baicheng Counties of XUAR were derivated from an old lineage in Alataw City of XUAR. These findings indicate that: i) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei shared genetic similarities between the SERK and XUAR; and ii) Hy. marginatum and D. reticulatus show differences in their evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Yang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China.,Emergency Department, Shihezi City People's Hospital, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Tong
- Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832008, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyin Ruan
- Department of Stomatology, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunli Sang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Wurelihazi Hazihan
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasitology and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest 1078, Hungary
| | - Kadyken Rizabek
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty Oblast 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Kulmanova Gulzhan
- Department of Food Engineering, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty Oblast 050010, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 830000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region 832002, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Naddaf SR, Mahmoudi A, Ghasemi A, Rohani M, Mohammadi A, Ziapour SP, Nemati AH, Mostafavi E. Infection of hard ticks in the Caspian Sea littoral of Iran with Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever borreliae. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101500. [PMID: 32993956 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The Caspian Sea littoral of Iran is home to various hard tick species, including Ixodes ricinus, the notorious vector of Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Eurasia. Here, in this area, we examined I. ricinus and other hard ticks, along with common rodents and small mammals for LB and relapsing fever (RF) borreliae infection. Ticks were collected from various mammalian hosts, including sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses, dogs, donkeys, rodents, and hedgehogs. Rodents and small mammals were live-captured from different habitats. A real-time PCR for 16S rRNA sequence revealed borrelial DNA in 71 out of 501 (≈14 %) specimens belonging to I. ricinus and Rhipicephalus ticks. None of the rodents and small mammals showed borrelial infection in the viscera. PCR amplification and sequencing of a 600-bp sequence of the flaB identified Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia valaisiana, and the RF Borrelia, B. miyamotoi in I. ricinus ticks. The RF-like Borrelia in Rhipicephalus ticks shared the highest identity (98.97 %) with an isolate infecting Haemaphysalis megaspinosa ticks in Japan. Our phylogeny and BLAST analysis suggest the range extension of the European I. ricinus-associated borreliae into the north of Iran.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saied Reza Naddaf
- Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Mahmoudi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ahmad Ghasemi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Rohani
- National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran; Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammadi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Seyyed Payman Ziapour
- Department of Parasitology, Zoonosis Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Amol, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - Amir Hesam Nemati
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Ehsan Mostafavi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran; National Reference Laboratory for Plague, Tularemia and Q Fever, Research Centre for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Akanlu, Kabudar Ahang, Hamadan, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Alanazi AD, Nguyen VL, Alyousif MS, Manoj RRS, Alouffi AS, Donato R, Sazmand A, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Dantas-Torres F, Otranto D. Ticks and associated pathogens in camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:110. [PMID: 32111251 PMCID: PMC7048137 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3973-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Camel production in Saudi Arabia is severely affected by various diseases and by inadequate veterinary services. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affect the health and wellbeing of camels consequently diminishing their productivity and performances. In addition, camels may act as hosts for TBPs (e.g. Anaplasma phagocytophilum) causing diseases in humans. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of ixodid ticks and molecularly investigate the associated pathogens in camels from Saudi Arabia. METHODS Blood and tick samples were collected from camels (n = 170) in Riyad Province of Saudi Arabia. Ticks were morphologically identified, and blood of camels were molecularly screened for apicomplexan (i.e. Babesia spp., Theileria spp., Hepatozoon spp.) and rickettsial parasites (i.e. Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp.). RESULTS Of the 170 camels examined, 116 (68.2%; 95% CI: 60.9-75.1%) were infested by ticks with a mean intensity of 2.53 (95% CI: 2.4-2.6). In total of 296 ticks collected, Hyalomma dromedarii was the most prevalent (76.4%), followed by Hyalomma impeltatum (23.3%) and Hyalomma excavatum (0.3%). Of the tested animals, 13 (7.6%; 95% CI: 4.3-12.8%) scored positive to at least one TBP, with Anaplasma platys (5.3%; 95% CI: 2.7-9.9%) being the most prevalent species, followed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma sp., Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis (0.6% each; 95% CI: 0.04-3.4%). None of the camels were found to be co-infected with more than one pathogen. All samples tested negative for Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. CONCLUSIONS The present study reveals the occurrence of different tick species and TBPs in camels from Saudi Arabia. Importantly, these camels may carry A. phagocytophilum and A. platys, representing a potential risk to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah D Alanazi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Viet Linh Nguyen
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Mohamed S Alyousif
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranju R S Manoj
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Abdulaziz S Alouffi
- Life Science and Environment Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ridolfi Donato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico della Puglia e della Basilicata, Bari, Italy
| | - Alireza Sazmand
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
| | | | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy.,Department of Immunology, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. .,Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kasi KK, Arnim F, Schulz A, Rehman A, Chudhary A, Oneeb M, Sas MA, Jamil T, Maksimov P, Sauter‐Louis C, Conraths FJ, Groschup MH. Crimean‐Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in ticks collected from livestock in Balochistan, Pakistan. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 67:1543-1552. [DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Khushal Khan Kasi
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
- Livestock and Dairy Development Department Disease Investigation Laboratory Quetta Balochistan Pakistan
| | - Felicitas Arnim
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Abdul Rehman
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Amna Chudhary
- Department of Parasitology University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Oneeb
- Department of Parasitology University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore Pakistan
| | - Miriam Andrada Sas
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Tariq Jamil
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute for Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses Jena Germany
| | - Pavlo Maksimov
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Carola Sauter‐Louis
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Epidemiology Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Friedrich‐Loeffler‐Institut Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases Greifswald‐Insel Riems Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Schulz A, Karger A, Bettin B, Eisenbarth A, Sas MA, Silaghi C, Groschup MH. Molecular discrimination of Hyalomma tick species serving as reservoirs and vectors for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in sub-Saharan Africa. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101382. [PMID: 32008996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The species identification of tick vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), especially Hyalomma (H.) species, is a prerequisite to understand the eco-epidemiology of this disease and to reveal vector and virus reservoir species. However, the morphologic species discrimination can be difficult for damaged or blood-fed ticks and in case of species intercrosses. Therefore, we used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis to distinguish the most common Hyalomma species from sub-Saharan Africa (H. truncatum, H. rufipes and H. dromedarii). Within the last years, MALDI-TOF MS analysis based on tick leg proteins has been shown to be a reliable method to distinguish several tick species. For this purpose, a reference spectral library of several European, American and African tick species was established. In this study, six different Hyalomma species were tested, all of which were all clearly distinguishable by mass spectrometric analyses. Moreover, MALDI TOF- MS was able to confirm morphologic findings where sequencing provided ambiguous results. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the CO1 gene amplification of ticks has been developed for the unequivocal species identification by amplicon sequencing and specific restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern analysis. RFLP proved to be a feasible auxiliary discrimination tool for selected Hyalomma species when access to sequencing methods is not available, as for instance during field studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Schulz
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - A Karger
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - B Bettin
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Virology and Cell Biology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - A Eisenbarth
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - M A Sas
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - C Silaghi
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Infectology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - M H Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Balinandi S, Mugisha L, Bbira J, Kabasa W, Nakayiki T, Bakkes DK, Lutwama JJ, Chitimia-Dobler L, Malmberg M. General and Local Morphological Anomalies in Amblyomma lepidum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rhipicephalus decoloratus Infesting Cattle in Uganda. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:873-877. [PMID: 30576463 PMCID: PMC6467642 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Morphological abnormalities in ticks seem to be rare phenomena in nature, and are underreported in Africa. In this article, we describe general and local anomalies in two Amblyomma lepidum females and one Rhipicephalus decoloratus female collected from cattle in Moroto and Kasese districts, Uganda. One A. lepidum specimen displayed metagynander gynandromorphism with the presence of both male and female features in the same organism. The second A. lepidum female showed slight asymmetry and lacked a genital aperture. The R. decoloratus displayed multiple anomalies that included asymmetry on the right side in association with ectromely, chitinous formations and constrictions on the left side. This article presents the first report of metagynander gynandromorphism, as well as genital aperture absence which is not linked to gynandromorphism, in A. lepidum collected from cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Balinandi
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Reemrging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lawrence Mugisha
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Ecohealth Research Group, Conservation & Ecosystem Health Alliance (CEHA), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Johnson Bbira
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - William Kabasa
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources & Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Teddy Nakayiki
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Reemrging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Deon K Bakkes
- Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum, Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Julius J Lutwama
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Reemrging Infections, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Department of Virology-Rickettsiology, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
- Parasitology Unit, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Maja Malmberg
- Section of Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- SLU Global Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Chitimia-Dobler L, Schaper S, Rieß R, Bitterwolf K, Frangoulidis D, Bestehorn M, Springer A, Oehme R, Drehmann M, Lindau A, Mackenstedt U, Strube C, Dobler G. Imported Hyalomma ticks in Germany in 2018. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:134. [PMID: 30909964 PMCID: PMC6434826 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3380-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hyalomma marginatum and Hyalomma rufipes are two-host tick species, which are mainly distributed in southern Europe, Africa and middle-eastern Asia. They are well-known vectors of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and other viruses as well as Rickettsia aeschlimannii. In recent years, these tick species have been found sporadically in Germany, but they do not belong to the autochthonous tick fauna in Germany. Methods Ticks with unusual morphology were collected and sent from private persons or public health offices to involve institutions for morphological identification and further testing. All ticks identified as Hyalomma spp. were tested using molecular detection methods for CCHF virus, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii and Coxiella-like organisms, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. Results Thirty-five ticks with an unusual appearance or behaviour were reported to us during summer-autumn 2018. For 17 of them, the description or photos implied that they belong to the hard tick genus Hyalomma. The remaining 18 ticks were sent to us and were identified as adult Hyalomma marginatum (10 specimens) or adult Hyalomma rufipes (8 specimens). All ticks tested negative for CCHF virus, Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella-like organisms, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. The screening for rickettsiae gave positive results in 9 specimens . The Rickettsia species in all cases was identified as R. aeschlimannii. Conclusions These results show that exotic tick species imported into Germany were able to develop from the nymphal to the adult stage under appropriate weather conditions. Fifty percent of the ticks carried R. aeschlimannii, a human pathogen, while CCHF virus or other pathogens were not detected. Imported Hyalomma ticks may be the source of exotic diseases acquired in Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany.,Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sabine Schaper
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Ramona Rieß
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Bitterwolf
- Public Health Office Main-Kinzig, Barbarossastrasse 24, 63571, Gelnhausen, Germany
| | | | - Malena Bestehorn
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Rainer Oehme
- Baden-Wuerttemberg State Health Office, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Marco Drehmann
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Alexander Lindau
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, Emil Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sajid M, Kausar A, Iqbal A, Abbas H, Iqbal Z, Jones M. An insight into the ecobiology, vector significance and control of Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): A review. Acta Trop 2018; 187:229-239. [PMID: 30118698 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Acari:Ixodoidea) are important ectoparasites infesting livestock and human populations around the globe. Ticks can cause damage directly by affecting the site of infestation, or indirectly as vectors of a wide range of protozoa, bacteria and viruses which ultimately lead to lowered productivity of livestock populations. Hyalomma is a genus of hard ticks, having more than 30 species well-adapted to hot, humid and cold climates. Habitat diversity, vector ability, and emerging problem of acaricidal resistance in enzootic regions typify this genus in various countries around the world. This paper reviews the epidemiology, associated risk factors (temperature, climate, age, sex, breed etc.), vector role, vector-pathogen association, and reported control strategies of genus Hyalomma. The various proteins in saliva of Hyalomma secreted into the blood stream of host and the prolonged attachment are responsible for the successful engorgement of female ticks in spite of host immune defense system. The various immunological approaches that have been tried by researchers in order to cause tick rejection are also discussed. In addition, the novel biological control approaches involving the use of entomo-pathogenic nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) serovar thuringiensis H14; an endotoxin, for their acaricidal effect on different species and life cycle stages of Hyalomma are also presented.
Collapse
|
21
|
Pun SK, Guglielmone AA, Tarragona EL, Nava S, Maharjan M. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Nepal: First record of Amblyomma varanense (Supino), with an update of species list. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:526-534. [PMID: 29396197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 01/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Males and females specimens of Amblyomma were collected from Orthriophis hodgsoni (Squamata: Colubridae) caught during routine herpetological work in Kathmandu. Morphological characteristics led to the diagnosis of A. varanense, constituting the second Nepalese species for the genus after the collection of Amblyomma gervaisi, also from a colubrid snake, almost 100 years ago. Amblyomma varanense is the 55th species found in the country, and preceded for the collection of 21 species of Haemaphysalis, 14 Ixodes, 6 Rhipicephalus, 6 Hyalomma, 4 Dermacentor, 1 Amblyomma, 1 Anomalohimalaya and 1 species of Nosomma. Eleven and 19 species have been found on humans and domestic mammals, respectively, evidencing the medical and economic importance of Nepalese Ixodidae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Kumar Pun
- Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Alberto A Guglielmone
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, ruta 34 km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Evelina L Tarragona
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, ruta 34 km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnica, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, ruta 34 km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| | - Mahendra Maharjan
- Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Hekimoglu O, Ozer AN. Distribution and phylogeny of Hyalomma ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Turkey. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2017; 73:501-519. [PMID: 29177952 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The genus Hyalomma includes some of the most medically and veterinarily important tick species in the world. To clarify and identify the current distribution of the species of Hyalomma, field studies were conducted in 65 localities in Turkey and five localities in Cyprus. Additionally, using mitochondrial 12S and 16S ribosomal DNA, specimens of Hyalomma from Turkey, H. excavatum from Cyprus, H. marginatum from Spain and Italy were evaluated together with the available sequences obtained from Genbank. Morphological and molecular analyses demonstrated the presence of four species in Turkey: H. marginatum, H. excavatum, H. aegyptium and H. asiaticum. Hyalomma marginatum is the dominant species in the Central and Northern parts of Turkey, whereas H. excavatum distributes mostly in the Southern parts. Hyalomma asiaticum is restricted to the Southeastern Anatolia. However, some sympatric regions were observed for these species. Phylogenetic trees obtained with Maximum Likelihood method demonstrated five clades. Data supported previous conclusions, but placed H. asiaticum, H. scupense, H. dromedarii and H. aegyptium in different clades with high bootstrap values. Specimens of H. anatolicum group and H. marginatum complex are sister groups. Pairwise distance analyses of these groups showed 2.8 and 3% differences for 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA, respectively. Therefore, additional analyses with the samples from different locations using different markers need to evaluate the exact status of the species of these groups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olcay Hekimoglu
- Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Ayşe Nurdan Ozer
- Division of Ecology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06800, Ankara, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sands AF, Apanaskevich DA, Matthee S, Horak IG, Harrison A, Karim S, Mohammad MK, Mumcuoglu KY, Rajakaruna RS, Santos-Silva MM, Matthee CA. Effects of tectonics and large scale climatic changes on the evolutionary history of Hyalomma ticks. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2017. [PMID: 28625763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Hyalomma Koch, 1844 are ixodid ticks that infest mammals, birds and reptiles, to which 27 recognized species occur across the Afrotropical, Palearctic and Oriental regions. Despite their medical and veterinary importance, the evolutionary history of the group is enigmatic. To investigate various taxonomic hypotheses based on morphology, and also some of the mechanisms involved in the diversification of the genus, we sequenced and analysed data derived from two mtDNA fragments, three nuclear DNA genes and 47 morphological characters. Bayesian and Parsimony analyses based on the combined data (2242 characters for 84 taxa) provided maximum resolution and strongly supported the monophyly of Hyalomma and the subgenus Euhyalomma Filippova, 1984 (including H. punt Hoogstraal, Kaiser and Pedersen, 1969). A predicted close evolutionary association was found between morphologically similar H. dromedarii Koch, 1844, H. somalicum Tonelli Rondelli, 1935, H. impeltatum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929 and H. punt, and together they form a sister lineage to H. asiaticum Schulze and Schlottke, 1929, H. schulzei Olenev, 1931 and H. scupense Schulze, 1919. Congruent with morphological suggestions, H. anatolicum Koch, 1844, H. excavatum Koch, 1844 and H. lusitanicum Koch, 1844 form a clade and so also H. glabrum Delpy, 1949, H. marginatum Koch, 1844, H. turanicum Pomerantzev, 1946 and H. rufipes Koch, 1844. Wide scale continental sampling revealed cryptic divergences within African H. truncatum Koch, 1844 and H. rufipes and suggested that the taxonomy of these lineages is in need of a revision. The most basal lineages in Hyalomma represent taxa currently confined to Eurasia and molecular clock estimates suggest that members of the genus started to diverge approximately 36.25 million years ago (Mya). The early diversification event coincides well with the collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates, an event that was also characterized by large scale faunal turnover in the region. Using S-Diva, we also propose that the closure of the Tethyan seaway allowed for the genus to first enter Africa approximately 17.73Mya. In concert, our data supports the notion that tectonic events and large scale global changes in the environment contributed significantly to produce the rich species diversity currently found in the genus Hyalomma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arthur F Sands
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- United States National Tick Collection, The James H. Oliver, Jr. Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, United States
| | - Sonja Matthee
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Ivan G Horak
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Alan Harrison
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahid Karim
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, United States
| | - Mohammad K Mohammad
- Iraq Natural History Research Centre and Museum, University of Baghdad, Bab Al-Muadham, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Kosta Y Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Maria M Santos-Silva
- Centro de Estudos de Vectores e Doenças Infecciosas Doutor Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Aguas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Conrad A Matthee
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ixodoidea of the Western Palaearctic: A review of available literature for identification of species. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:512-525. [PMID: 28286142 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
We aim to produce a review of the most important literature references necessary for the identification of ticks of the families Ixodidae and Argasidae in Europe and northern Africa (i.e. the Western Palaearctic region). The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint a set of critically selected papers that contain reliable information on morphology, taxonomic keys, and comparative discussions which are critical for the identification of the ticks reported in the target region. When necessary, comments are provided on the systematic position of a species, or on suitable papers already addressing the issue. This review includes a list of 216 references which cover all Ixodoidea species reported as permanent residents of the Western Palaearctic, namely 28 species of the genus Ixodes, two Dermacentor, seven Haemaphysalis, nine Hyalomma, eight Rhipicephalus, five Argas and about seven species of Ornithodoros.
Collapse
|
25
|
First report of the tick Hyalomma scupense (natural vector of bovine tropical theileriosis) on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica. Vet Parasitol 2016; 216:33-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
26
|
Abstract
Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of Equidae, including horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras, caused by either of two protozoan parasites, Theileria equi or Babesia caballi. These parasites are biologically transmitted between hosts via tick vectors, and although they have inherent differences they are categorized together because they cause similar pathology and have similar morphologies, life cycles, and vector relationships. To complete their life cycle, these parasites must undergo a complex series of developmental events, including sexual-stage development in their tick vectors. Consequently, ticks are the definitive hosts as well as vectors for these parasites, and the vector relationship is restricted to a few competent tick species. Because the vector relationship is critical to the epidemiology of these parasites, we highlight current knowledge of the vector ecology of these tick-borne equine pathogens, emphasizing tick transmissibility and potential control strategies to prevent their spread.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Glen A Scoles
- Animal Diseases Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Pullman, Washington 99164; ,
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Mathison BA, Gerth WJ, Pritt BS, Baugh S. Introduction of the exotic tick Hyalomma truncatum on a human with travel to Ethiopia: a case report. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 6:152-4. [PMID: 25435012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
An Oregon resident returned from a photography trip to Ethiopia with a male Hyalomma truncatum tick attached to the skin on his lower back. The tick was identified morphologically and deposited in the U.S. National Tick Collection housed at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia. The public health importance of Hyalomma species of ticks and diagnostic dilemmas with identifying exotic ticks imported into the U.S. are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Blaine A Mathison
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - William J Gerth
- Oregon State University Plant Clinic, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | | | - Stephen Baugh
- Legacy Medical Group Northwest, Portland, OR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sherifi K, Cadar D, Muji S, Robaj A, Ahmeti S, Jakupi X, Emmerich P, Krüger A. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus clades V and VI (Europe 1 and 2) in ticks in Kosovo, 2012. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3168. [PMID: 25255381 PMCID: PMC4177860 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being a small country, Kosovo represents one of the few foci of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Europe. The distribution of Kosovar tick vectors and the evolution of CCHF virus in ticks are both as yet unknown. A better description of the extent and the genetic diversity of CCHFV in ticks from endemic settings is essential, in order to be controlled. We investigated the 2012 distribution of Kosovar ticks alongside the prevalence and the phylogeography of tick-derived CCHFV. Hyalomma marginatum dominated in the endemic municipalities with 90.2% versus 24.3% in the non-endemic regions. Of 1,102 tested ticks, 40 (3.6%) were CCHFV-positive, belonging to H. marginatum (29), Rhipicephalus bursa (10), and Ixodes ricinus (1). The virus strains clustered with clade V and VI related sequences. They fell into two lineages: Kosovo I and II. Kosovo I comprised strains recovered exclusively from R. bursa ticks and was closely related to AP92 prototype strain. Kosovo II clustered into Kosovo IIa, including human-derived strains, and IIb including only strains detected in H. marginatum and I. ricinus. Our phylogeographic reconstruction suggests two temporally distinct CCHFV introductions: the most probable location of the most recent common ancestor of Kosovo I lineage was in Greece (63 years ago) and that of lineages IIa-b in Turkey (35 years ago). After each CCHFV introduction into Kosovo, subsequent lineage expansions suggest periods of in situ evolution. The study provides the first insight into the genetic variability and the origin of CCHFV in ticks from Kosovo. Our findings indicate the spreading of CCHFV to non-endemic areas, which underlines the importance of further studies in order to monitor and predict future CCHF outbreaks in Kosovo. The AP92-like strains appear to be more widespread than previously thought and may provide a promising target for experimental studies due to their assumed low pathogenicity. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the most widespread tick-borne virus affecting humans. Its distribution coincides with that of Old World Hyalomma tick vectors. The virus circulates in an enzootic cycle, where hard ticks are both vectors and reservoirs, and mammals the amplifying hosts. Accidentally, humans become infected as dead-end hosts. One of the few CCHF-endemic European countries is Kosovo, where an annual average of ten sporadic cases, with a mean mortality rate of 18%, are reported. In this study, the tick distribution, CCHFV prevalence and the phylogeography of the tick-derived strains from 2012 were investigated. The majority of ticks belonged to Hyalomma marginatum, the main vector of CCHFV. Indeed, of 40 CCHFV-positive ticks, 29 were H. marginatum. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that 30 viral strains formed a distinct lineage within clade V (Europe 1) and were closely related to previously known strains from humans and ticks from the Balkans. However, ten isolates from Rhipicephalus bursa ticks, collected in a non-endemic region, turned out to cluster within a very divergent CCHFV clade (Europe 2), so far only known from Greece and Turkey. Since these strains presumably develop only subclinical or mild infections in humans, they might be suitable for experimental vaccine studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kurtesh Sherifi
- Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine, University of “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Daniel Cadar
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Skender Muji
- Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine, University of “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Avni Robaj
- Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine, University of “Hasan Prishtina”, Prishtina, Kosovo
| | - Salih Ahmeti
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Clinical Centre, Prishtina, Kosova
| | - Xhevat Jakupi
- Department of Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova
| | - Petra Emmerich
- Department of Virology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Krüger
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gharbi M, Darghouth MA. A review of Hyalomma scupense (Acari, Ixodidae) in the Maghreb region: from biology to control. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:2. [PMID: 24507485 PMCID: PMC3917376 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2014002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Hyalomma scupense (syn. Hyalomma detritum) is a two-host domestic endophilic tick of cattle and secondarily other ungulates in the Maghreb region (Africa). This species transmits several pathogens, among which two are major livestock diseases: Theileria annulata and Theileria equi. Various other pathogens are also transmitted by this tick species, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia bovis. Hyalomma scupense is common in sub-humid and semi-arid areas of several regions in the world, mainly in the Maghreb region. In this region, adults attach to animals during the summer season; larvae and nymphs attach to their hosts during autumn, but there is a regional difference in H. scupense phenology. There is an overlap between immature and adult ticks, leading in some contexts to a dramatic modification of the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. This tick species attaches preferentially to the posterior udder quarters and thighs. Tick burdens can reach 130 ticks per animal, with a mean of 60 ticks. Calves are 70 times less infested than adult cattle. The control can be implemented through six options: (i) rehabilitation of the farm buildings by roughcasting and smoothing the outer and inner surfaces of the enclosures and walls. This control option should be recommended to be combined with a thorough cleaning of the farm and its surrounding area. With regard to Theileria annulata infection, this control option is the most beneficial. (ii) Acaricide application to animals during the summer season, targeting adults. (iii) Acaricide application during the autumn period for the control of the immature stages. (iv) Acaricide application to the walls: many field veterinarians have suggested this option but it is only partially efficient since nymphs enter deep into the cracks and crevices. It should be used if there is a very high tick burden or if there is a high risk of tick-borne diseases. (v) Manual tick removal: this method is not efficient since the ticks can feed on several other animal species in the farm. This control option can lead to a reduction of the tick population, but not a decrease in tick-borne disease incidence. (vi) Vaccination: this control option consists of injecting the protein Hd86; trials have shown a partial effect on nymphs, with no effect on adult ticks. Combination of two of these control options is recommended in regions where there are high burdens of important tick vectors. Further studies are needed to improve our knowledge on this tick species in the Maghreb region, since the number of published studies on Hyalomma scupense in this region is very limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Aziz Darghouth
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Abstract
The present paper is based on original and literature data. In Croatia the first studies on the occurrence of ixodid species were made about 80 years ago. The number of tick species recorded in Croatia considerably increased during the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s of the past century. A total of 21 species of hard tick belonging to 5 genera have been recorded in Croatia. Ixodes is the best represented genus, with seven species recorded. Haemaphysalis is represented by six species, followed by Rhipicephalus with four species. Dermacentor and Hyalomma are represented by two species each. The ticks were collected on 47 different host species. Eleven tick species were collected on Bos taurus and Ovis aries, followed by Capra hircus and Equus caballus with 8 species and Canis lupus familiaris with 6 species. On the remaining 42 host species one, two or three tick species were collected. The most widespread tick is Ixodes ricinus which was found on 25 different host species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stjepan Krčmar
- Department of Biology, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Cara Hadrijana 8/A, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Mihalca AD, Dumitrache MO, Magdaş C, Gherman CM, Domşa C, Mircean V, Ghira IV, Pocora V, Ionescu DT, Sikó Barabási S, Cozma V, Sándor AD. Synopsis of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Romania with update on host associations and geographical distribution. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2012; 58:183-206. [PMID: 22544174 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9566-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The current paper is a synoptic review of the distribution and host associations of the 25 species of hard tick fauna (family Ixodidae) in Romania. In addition to a full literature survey, original data is presented, based on eight years of occasional or targeted sample collection. The literature data on geographical distribution was transposed digitally to the decimal degree coordinate system. For each species, an updated distribution map is given together with all historical data and new host associations. Overall, our paper records 58 new tick-host associations for Romania: 20 for Ixodes ricinus, 1 for I. apronophorus, 6 for I. arboricola, 2 for I. hexagonus, 9 for I. redikorzevi, 1 for I. trianguliceps, 2 for I. vespertilionis, 2 for Haemaphysalis punctata, 1 for H. sulcata, 2 for H. concinna, 1 for D. marginatus, 4 for Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, 1 for R. bursa and 6 for Hyalomma marginatum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
|