1
|
Bermúdez C SE, Félix ML, Domínguez A L, Araúz D, Venzal JM. Molecular screening of tick-borne microorganisms in ticks from rural areas of Panama, with the first record of Ehrlichia minasensis in Rhipicephalus microplus from Central America. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1301-1308. [PMID: 38221589 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-024-10306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
During a molecular screening of rickettsial, borrelial and protozoal agents in ticks from rural areas of Panama, we detected DNA of Rickettsia amblyommatis in four Amblyomma mixtum collected from horses in a locality in Los Santos province. Ehrlichia minasensis and Anaplasma marginale were identified from three and two Rhipicephalus microplus, respectively, collected on cows from Chiriqui province. No DNA from other tick-borne agents was found. These results increase the information of R. amblyommatis and A. marginale in Panama, and also mark the first record of E. minasensis in Central America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio E Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama.
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDEClBA), Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay.
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Lillian Domínguez A
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena y Calle 35, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - Dimelza Araúz
- Departamento Investigación en Virología y Biotecnología, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Panama
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Rivera, Salto, Uruguay
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Torres-Bustamante M, Cantillo-Barraza O, Ko AI, Wunder EA, Quintero-Vélez JC. Eco-epidemiological study of seropositivity against Rickettsia and Leptospira agents in rural areas of Urabá, Colombia. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3760267. [PMID: 38260656 PMCID: PMC10802693 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3760267/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Rickettsioses and leptospirosis are infectious diseases that are often underdiagnosed due to a lack of knowledge about their epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, among others. Objetive to characterize the seroprevalence and seroincidence of both Rickettsia and Leptospira agents and determine the risk factors for these outcomes in rural areas of Urabá, Antioquia. Methods a secondary data analysis using information on Rickettsia and Leptospira exposure from a prior prospective study that explored sociocultural and ecological aspects of Rickettsia infection in rural Urabá, Colombia. A multinomial mixed logistic regression model was employed to analyze factors linked to seroprevalent cases of Rickettsia, Leptospira and both, along with descriptive analyses of seroincident cases. Results the concomitant seroprevalence against Rickettsiaand Leptospira was 9.38% [95%CI 6.08%-13.37%] (56/597). The factors associated with this seroprevalence were age (ORa= 1.02 [95%CI 1.007-1.03]), male gender (ORa= 3.06 [95%CI 1.75-5.37]), fever history (ORa= 1.71 [95%CI 1.06-2.77]) the presence of breeding pigs (ORa= 2.29 [95%CI 1.36-3.88]), peridomicile yucca crops(ORa= 2.5 [95%CI 1.1-5.62]), and deforestation practices(ORa= 1.74 [95%CI 1.06-2.87]). The concomitant seroincidence against Rickettsia and Leptospira was 1.09% (3/274) [95%CI 0.29%-4.05%], three cases were female, with a median age of 31.83 years-old (IQR 8.69-56.99). At the household level, all the seroincident cases had households built partially or totally with soil floors, wooden walls, and zinc roofs. Two seroincident cases described the presence of equines, canines, and domestic chickens in intra or peri-domicile. Finally, two cases were exposed to synanthropic rodents, and one case to tick infestation. Conclusion there is evidence of seroprevalent and seroincident cases of seropositivity against both Rickettsia and Leptospira in rural areas of Urabá, Colombia. These findings can help improve public health surveillance systems in preventing, detecting, and attending to the different clinical cases caused by these pathogens.
Collapse
|
3
|
Dye-Braumuller KC, Lynn MK, Cornejo Rivas PM, Lee C, Rodríguez Aquino MS, Chandler JG, Trout Fryxell RR, Self SCW, Kanyangarara M, Nolan MS. First Report of Multiple Rickettsia sp., Anaplasma sp., and Ehrlichia sp. in the San Miguel Department of El Salvador from Zoonotic Tick Vectors. Acta Trop 2023; 242:106909. [PMID: 37030489 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neglected bacterial zoonoses are a group of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that are commonly underdiagnosed and underreported due to their undifferentiated febrile illness symptomology. Spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR), a subset of tick-borne bacterial zoonoses, belong in this group. There is a dichotomy in the reporting and recognition of these pathogens in Central America: countries with reduced human development scores-like El Salvador-have little to no research or surveillance dedicated to these pathogens and the diseases they cause. This was the third-ever tick survey in El Salvador, highlighting the knowledge gap in this country. A total of 253 ticks were collected from 11 animals at two farm sites and one veterinary office. Standard and quantitative PCR were used to detect presence of SFGR, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma sp. pathogens in ticks. Ehrlichia sp. were detected in 2.4% of all collected ticks and Anaplasma sp. were detected in 5.5% of all ticks. Rickettsia rickettsii was amplified in 18.2% of ticks, and amplicons similar to R. parkeri, and R. felis were found in 0.8% and 0.4%, of collected ticks, respectively. This is the first report of these pathogenic bacterial species in El Salvador. This study emphasizes the need for further surveillance and research including incorporating additional human seroprevalence and testing to understand the public health burden in this country.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyndall C Dye-Braumuller
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA
| | - Mary K Lynn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA
| | - P Michelle Cornejo Rivas
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de El Salvador, Health Research and Development Center, University of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Christopher Lee
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA
| | - Marvin S Rodríguez Aquino
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud, Universidad de El Salvador, Health Research and Development Center, University of El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Jennifer G Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Rebecca R Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA
| | - Stella C W Self
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA
| | - Mufaro Kanyangarara
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA
| | - Melissa S Nolan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Richardson EA, Roe RM, Apperson CS, Ponnusamy L. Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020493. [PMID: 36838458 PMCID: PMC9960904 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.
Collapse
|
5
|
Martínez Díaz HC, Gil-Mora J, Betancourt-Ruiz P, Silva-Ramos CR, Matiz-González JM, Villalba-Perez MA, Ospina-Pinto MC, Ramirez-Hernández A, Olaya-M LA, Bolaños E, Cuervo C, Benavides E, Hidalgo M. Molecular detection of tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in ticks collected from domestic animals from Cauca, Colombia. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106773. [PMID: 36417982 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Some hard ticks' species can act as vectors of a wide variety of pathogens of human and animal importance such as Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia spp. In Colombia, a total of forty-six tick species have been described, and some of them have been implicated as vectors of some infectious agents. The department of Cauca is one of the thirty-two departments of Colombia. Most of its population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture as the main economic activity, favoring exposure to ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the tick species and tick-borne pathogens circulating in this region. From August to November 2017, ticks were collected from dogs, horses and cattle from eight rural areas of four municipalities in the department of Cauca. All collected ticks were classified according to taxonomic keys and organized in pools. DNA was extracted from all tick pools for molecular confirmation of tick species and detection of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia spp. A total of 2809 ticks were collected which were grouped in 602 pools. Ticks were morphologically identified as Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato, Dermacentor nitens, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. The molecular identity of A. cajennense s.l. was confirmed as Amblyomma patinoi. A total of 95% of the pools scored positive for members of the Anaplasmataceae family, of which, 7.8% and 7.3% were positive to Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp., respectively, being identified as Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia minasensis and Ehrlichia canis; and 16.1% were positive for Rickettsia spp. with high identity for Rickettsia asembonensis, Rickettsia felis and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis. This is the first report describing the natural infection of ticks with rickettsial pathogens and the occurrence of A. patinoi ticks in Cauca department, Colombia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidy-Carolina Martínez Díaz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juliana Gil-Mora
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Paola Betancourt-Ruiz
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - J Manuel Matiz-González
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María-Alejandra Villalba-Perez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María Catalina Ospina-Pinto
- Grupo Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Ramirez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Claudia Cuervo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Efraín Benavides
- Grupo Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de La Salle, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Carrera 7 No. 40 - 62 D.C., Bogotá, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Polsomboon Nelson S, Bourke BP, Badr R, Tarpey J, Caicedo-Quiroga L, Leiva D, Pott M, Cruz A, Chao CC, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Jiang L, Jiang J, Farris CM, Linton YM. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and Associated Pathoge Collected From Domestic Animals and Vegetation in Stann Creek District, Southeastern Belize, Central America. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1749-1755. [PMID: 35904108 PMCID: PMC9473654 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Data on the prevalence and distribution of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Belize are lacking. Ticks (n = 564) collected from dogs, horses, and vegetation in two villages in Stann Creek District in southeastern Belize in 2018, were molecularly identified and screened for tick-borne nonviral human pathogens. The identity of 417 ticks was molecularly confirmed by DNA barcoding as Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (66.43%), Amblyomma ovale Koch (15.59%), Dermacentor nitens Neumann (11.51%), Amblyomma sp. ADB0528 (3.6%), and the remainder being small records (2.87%) of Amblyomma coelebs Neumann, Amblyomma imitator Kohls, Amblyomma tapirellum Dunn, Amblyomma auricularium Conil, and Amblyomma maculatum Koch. Individual tick extracts were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Babesia microti, Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Anaplasma spp. using available conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest was identified in five specimens of A. ovale, and one other unidentified tick, all collected from dogs. Another unidentified tick-also collected from a dog-tested positive for an undefined but previously detected Ehrlichia sp. With the exception of D. nitens, all eight other tick species identified in this study were collected on dogs, suggesting that dogs could be usefully employed as sentinel animals for tick surveillance in Belize.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suppaluck Polsomboon Nelson
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, Suitland, MD, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), One Health Branch, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Brian P Bourke
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, uitland, MD, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), One Health Branch, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Caicedo-Quiroga
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, Suitland, MD, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), One Health Branch, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Donovan Leiva
- Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize
| | - Marie Pott
- Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize
| | - Alvaro Cruz
- Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize
| | - Chien-Chung Chao
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Nicole L Achee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - John P Grieco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Le Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ju Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christina M Farris
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit (WRBU), Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, Suitland, MD, USA
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), One Health Branch, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zapata-Serna Y, Rojas-Rodríguez AE, Pérez-Cárdenas JE, Aricapa-Giraldo HJ, Hidalgo-Diaz M, Rivera-Páez FA. Prevalence of rickettsias in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) collected in domestic animals of the northern region of Caldas department, Colombia. REVISTA U.D.C.A ACTUALIDAD & DIVULGACIÓN CIENTÍFICA 2022. [DOI: 10.31910/rudca.v25.n1.2022.1850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
8
|
Ortiz DI, Piche-Ovares M, Romero-Vega LM, Wagman J, Troyo A. The Impact of Deforestation, Urbanization, and Changing Land Use Patterns on the Ecology of Mosquito and Tick-Borne Diseases in Central America. INSECTS 2021; 13:20. [PMID: 35055864 PMCID: PMC8781098 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Central America is a unique geographical region that connects North and South America, enclosed by the Caribbean Sea to the East, and the Pacific Ocean to the West. This region, encompassing Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua, is highly vulnerable to the emergence or resurgence of mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases due to a combination of key ecological and socioeconomic determinants acting together, often in a synergistic fashion. Of particular interest are the effects of land use changes, such as deforestation-driven urbanization and forest degradation, on the incidence and prevalence of these diseases, which are not well understood. In recent years, parts of Central America have experienced social and economic improvements; however, the region still faces major challenges in developing effective strategies and significant investments in public health infrastructure to prevent and control these diseases. In this article, we review the current knowledge and potential impacts of deforestation, urbanization, and other land use changes on mosquito-borne and tick-borne disease transmission in Central America and how these anthropogenic drivers could affect the risk for disease emergence and resurgence in the region. These issues are addressed in the context of other interconnected environmental and social challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana I. Ortiz
- Biology Program, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA 16172, USA
| | - Marta Piche-Ovares
- Laboratorio de Virología, Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
- Departamento de Virología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 40104, Costa Rica
| | - Luis M. Romero-Vega
- Departamento de Patología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia 40104, Costa Rica;
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVe), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
| | - Joseph Wagman
- Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Center for Malaria Control and Elimination, PATH, Washington, DC 20001, USA;
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Vectores (LIVe), Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica;
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 11501, Costa Rica
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Charles RA, Bermúdez S, Banović P, Alvarez DO, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Corona-González B, Etter EMC, Rodríguez González I, Ghafar A, Jabbar A, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in Central America and the Caribbean: A One Health Perspective. Pathogens 2021; 10:1273. [PMID: 34684222 PMCID: PMC8538257 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks have complex life cycles which involve blood-feeding stages found on wild and domestic animals, with humans as accidental hosts. At each blood-feeding stage, ticks can transmit and/or acquire pathogens from their hosts. Therefore, the circulation of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), especially the zoonotic ones, should be studied in a multi-layered manner, including all components of the chain of infections, following the 'One Health' tenets. The implementation of such an approach requires coordination among major stakeholders (such as veterinarians, physicians, acarologists, and researchers) for the identification of exposure and infection risks and application of effective prevention measures. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Central America and the Caribbean and the challenges associated with the implementation of 'One Health' surveillance and control programs in the region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roxanne A Charles
- Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Sergio Bermúdez
- Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panama 0816-02593, Panama
| | - Pavle Banović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Microbiology with Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | | | - Belkis Corona-González
- Department of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque 32700, Cuba
| | - Eric Marcel Charles Etter
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, 97170 Guadeloupe, France
- ASTRE, University de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, 34398 Montpellier, France
| | - Islay Rodríguez González
- Department of Mycology-Bacteriology, Institute of Tropical Medicine Pedro Kourí, Marianao 13, Havana 10400, Cuba
| | - Abdul Ghafar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, the University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, the University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Durden LA, Bermúdez S, Vargas GA, Sanjur BE, Gillen L, Brown LD, Greiman SE, Eremeeva ME. Fleas (Siphonaptera) Parasitizing Peridomestic and Indigenous Mammals in Panamá and Screening of Selected Fleas for Vector-Borne Bacterial Pathogens. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1316-1321. [PMID: 33215205 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa253] [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: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In total, 341 fleas belonging to 16 species were collected from 78 host mammals belonging to 10 species in Panamá from 2010 to 2016. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) predominated on domestic dogs and was also recorded from domestic cats, the raccoon, Procyon lotor (Linnaeus) and the common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis Linnaeus. The largest number of flea species (7) was recorded from D. marsupialis and the most common flea on that host was the ctenophthalmid, Adoratopsylla intermedia copha Jordan. One Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild), was collected from D. marsupialis. Native rodents were parasitized by indigenous ceratophyllid, rhopalopsyllid, and stephanocircid fleas. The Mexican deermouse, Peromyscus mexicanus (Saussure), was parasitized by six species of ceratophyllids belonging to the mostly Central American genera, Baculomeris, Jellisonia, Kohlsia and Plusaetis. The long-tailed singing mouse, Scotinomys xerampelinus (Bangs), was parasitized by Plocopsylla scotinomi Tipton and Méndez, the only species of stephanocircid flea known from Central America. Twenty-six pools of extracted flea DNA representing 5 flea species (C. felis, Pulex echidnophagoides (Wagner), Pulex simulans Baker, A. intermedia copha, and P. scotinomi) and 79 individual fleas were all real-time polymerase chain reaction negative for Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, and Bartonella henselae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
| | | | - Géminis A Vargas
- Departmento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactes, Universidad de Chiriqui, University City, El Cabrero, David, Chiriqui, Panamá
| | - Boris E Sanjur
- Departmento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactes, Universidad de Chiriqui, University City, El Cabrero, David, Chiriqui, Panamá
| | - Laura Gillen
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
| | - Lisa D Brown
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
| | | | - Marina E Eremeeva
- Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hensley JR, Zambrano ML, Williams-Newkirk AJ, Dasch GA. Detection of Rickettsia Species, and Coxiella-Like and Francisella-Like Endosymbionts in Amblyomma americanum and Amblyomma maculatum from a Shared Field Site in Georgia, United States of America. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:509-516. [PMID: 33956519 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Two abundant species of aggressive ticks commonly feed on humans in Georgia: the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum) and the Lone Star tick (A. americanum). A. maculatum is the primary host of Rickettsia parkeri, "Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae," and a Francisella-like endosymbiont (AmacFLE), whereas A. americanum is the primary host for R. amblyommatis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and a Coxiella-like endosymbiont (AamCLE). Horizontal transmission of R. parkeri from A. maculatum to A. americanum by co-feeding has been described, and R. amblyommatis has been found infrequently in A. maculatum ticks. We assessed the prevalence of these agents and whether exchange of tick-associated bacteria is common between A. maculatum and A. americanum collected from the same field site. Unengorged ticks were collected May-August 2014 in west-central Georgia from a 4.14 acre site by flagging and from humans and canines traversing that site. All DNA samples were screened with quantitative PCR assays for the bacteria found in both ticks, and the species of any Rickettsia detected was identified by species-specific TaqMan assays or sequencing of the rickettsial ompA gene. Only R. amblyommatis (15) and AamCLE (39) were detected in 40 A. americanum, while the 74 A. maculatum only contained R. parkeri (30), "Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae" (3), and AmacFLE (74). Neither tick species had either Ehrlichia species. Consequently, we obtained no evidence for the frequent exchange of these tick-borne agents in a natural setting despite high levels of carriage of each agent and the common observance of infestation of both ticks on both dogs and humans at this site. Based on these data, exchange of these Rickettsia, Coxiella, and Francisella agents between A. maculatum and A. americanum appears to be an infrequent event.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine R Hensley
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maria L Zambrano
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amanda J Williams-Newkirk
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Sciences and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gregory A Dasch
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bermúdez S, Martínez-Mandiche J, Domínguez L, Gonzalez C, Chavarria O, Moreno A, Góndola J, Correa N, Rodríguez I, Castillo B, Smith D, Martínez AA. Diversity of Rickettsia in ticks collected from wild animals in Panama. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101723. [PMID: 33857748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents new data about Rickettsia species detected in ticks collected from wild animals, using 16S rRNA, gltA and ompA. Rickettsia DNA was found in 66 of 101 ticks. Using EZ BioCloud libraries were produced reads that identified Rickettsia aeschlimannii, and Illumina BaseSpace produced reads of Rickettsia rickettsii group, Rickettsia bellii group, and unclassified Rickettsia. Using gltA and ompA gene-specific primers, R. aeschlimannii could not be confirmed, but detection of Rickettsia amblyommatis was achieved in Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma geayi, Amblyomma mixtum, and Amblyomma pacae; R. bellii from Amblyomma dissimile, "Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi" from A. dissimile, Rickettsia spp. closely related to R. raoultii from A. geayi, Rickettsia tamurae from A. dissimile, and Rickettsia endosymbionts of Ixodes from Ixodes affinis. There were no databases available specifically for 16S rRNA of Neotropical Rickettsia, highlighting the need to use species primers over only 16S rRNA primers to achieve more accurate interpretations and identifications. These findings increase the number of Rickettsia species detected in Panama and highlight the need to establish isolates to further characterize the nature of Rickettsia in the area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bermúdez
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station, Coiba AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama.
| | | | | | | | - Oris Chavarria
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama
| | - Ambar Moreno
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama
| | | | - Néstor Correa
- Panamerican Conservation Association, Panama, Panama
| | | | | | | | - Alexander A Martínez
- Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama, Panama; Coiba Scientific Station, Coiba AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama; Panamerican Conservation Association, Panama, Panama; Summit, Municipal Park, Panama, Panama.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Molaei G, Mertins JW, Stafford KC. Enduring Challenge of Invasive Ticks: Introduction of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on a Human Traveler Returning from Central America. J Parasitol 2021; 106:670-674. [PMID: 33089326 DOI: 10.1645/20-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction of exotic tick vectors of bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and filarial parasites into the United States has accelerated in recent years, primarily because of globalization, increased frequency of travel, and a rise in legal and illegal animal trades. We herein report introduction of a live specimen of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum on a human into the United States from Central America, and we review 4 previous similar incidents. This tick species occurs widely in the neotropics, from western and southern Mexico, southwards through Central America, to the northern half of South America. It is a potential vector of bacterial agents of spotted fever group rickettsioses, raising concern that if A. oblongoguttatum ticks become established in this country, they might also be able to carry pathogens of human and veterinary concern. Given the potential for exotic ticks as vectors of numerous pathogens, proper surveillance, interception, and identification of these ticks are vital to protecting human and veterinary health. Rigorous governmental inspections of imported livestock and pet animals at ports of entry and educating human travelers and medical practitioners about the risks should be part of an overall national tick program.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goudarz Molaei
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8034
| | - James W Mertins
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Diagnostics and Biologics, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010
| | - Kirby C Stafford
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bermúdez C S, Zaldívar Y, Domínguez A L, Hernández M, de Antinori MEB, Krawczak FS. Rickettsia amblyommatis isolated from Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodida) from two sites in Panama. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101597. [PMID: 33099170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia amblyommatis is widely distributed in the Americas, and has been reported to infect different species of ticks within its distribution. In Panama, R. amblyommatis is the most common Rickettsia and its presence was molecularly detected in nine species of ticks and one flea species. This work described the isolation of R. amblyommatis in Vero cells by shell vial technique, from Amblyomma mixtum ticks collected from a captive tapir from Gamboa (Colon province), and a horse from El Valle de Antón (Cocle province). These represent the first isolations of R. amblyommatis in Panama.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama; Estación Científica Coiba, Coiba AIP, Panama.
| | - Yamitzel Zaldívar
- Departamento de Investigación y Riesgo Biológico 3, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama
| | - Lillian Domínguez A
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama
| | - Michelle Hernández
- Departamento de Investigación y Riesgo Biológico 3, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama
| | | | - Felipe S Krawczak
- Setor de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Uribe JE, Nava S, Murphy KR, Tarragona EL, Castro LR. Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Amblyomma ovale, comparative analyses and phylogenetic considerations. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 81:421-439. [PMID: 32564254 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we sequenced two complete mitochondrial genomes of Amblyomma ovale, a tick of public health importance. Sequencing two distinct individuals, the resulting mitochondrial genomes were 14,756 and 14,760 bp in length and maintained the same gene order previously reported in Amblyomma. These were combined with RNA-seq derived mitochondrial sequences from three additional species, Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma maculatum, and Amblyomma moreliae, to carry out mitogenome comparative and evolutionary analyses against all previously published tick mitochondrial genomes. We described a derivative genome rearrangement that isolates Ixodes from the remaining Ixodidae and consists of both a reverse translocation as well as an event of Tandem Duplication Random Loss. Genetic distance analyses indicated that cox2, nd1, nd5, and 16S are good candidates for future population studies in A. ovale. The phylogenetic analyses corroborated the utility of complete mitochondrial genomes as phylogenetic markers within the group. This study further supplements the genome information available for Amblyomma and facilitates future evolutionary and population genetic studies within the genus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan E Uribe
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitutional Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA.
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, Rafaela, CP 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Katherine R Murphy
- Laboratories of Analytical Biology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20013, USA
| | - Evelina L Tarragona
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, Rafaela, CP 2300, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lyda R Castro
- Grupo de Investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chitimia-Dobler L, Schaper S, Mansfeld P, Gonschorrek J, Bröker M, Nava S. Detection of Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Germany on a Human Traveler Returning From Cuba. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:962-964. [PMID: 31808809 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The importation of exotic ticks to Germany on infested humans is rarely reported. Here we describe the detection of an Amblyomma mixtum nymph harboring Rickettsia amblyommatis by a tourist returning from a holiday trip to Cuba. Tick infestation may be neglected by tourists. Therefore, careful anamnesis and diagnosis should be carried out when tourists return from tropical and subtropical countries suffering from nonspecific symptoms, such as fever and malaise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
- University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Guzmán-Cornejo C, Herrera-Mares A, Ugalde-Medina A, López-Pérez AM, Del Castillo-Martínez L, Acosta-Gutiérrez R, Cabrera-Garrido M, Morales-Malacara JB. Arthropods Associated with Mammals. Their Importance as Part of the Richness in a Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:780-787. [PMID: 31880772 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Chamela Biological Station (ChBS) is located in the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the State of Jalisco. This represents one of the core areas of the Chamela-Cuixmala Biosphere Reserve, characterized by one of the most threatened ecosystems, the tropical dry forest. Although accumulated knowledge of biological diversity, only few studies have been focused on ectoparasites or ectodytes associated with mammals, only 23 arthropod taxa had been recorded. In order to increase knowledge about arthropods associated with Mexican mammals, the objective of this work was to record the richness of arthropods (mites, ticks, lice, and fleas) associated with small and medium-sized mammals in the ChBS. A total of 81 hosts belonging to four orders, six families and nine species were captured. From these hosts, 4,946 arthropods were recovered: 4,007 mites, 673 ticks, 230 lice, and 36 fleas. Among medium-sized mammals, Nasua narica (L.) and Didelphis virginiana Kerr showed the highest levels of richness, with six arthropod taxa; among rodents, Heteromys pictus (Thomas) had the highest number of associated species (five). Within the 22 arthropod taxa registered in the present work, 12 represent new records for the reserve, and 3 represent new records for Mexico. With this study, the arthropod fauna associated with mammals in the ChBS has been raised to 38 taxa. In terms of biological conservation, knowledge of the species that inhabit natural reserves must be a priority, since this represents the baseline for species protected, not only in Mexico but around the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Angel Herrera-Mares
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ana Ugalde-Medina
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Andrés M López-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades y una Salud, Departamento de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Laura Del Castillo-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Roxana Acosta-Gutiérrez
- Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera", Departamento de Biología Evolutiva; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Martín Cabrera-Garrido
- Museo de Zoología "Alfonso L. Herrera", Departamento de Biología Evolutiva; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Juan B Morales-Malacara
- Laboratorio de Espeleobiología y Acarología, Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus Juriquilla. Boulevard Juriquilla, Querétaro, Querétaro, México
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Tyrrell JD, Qurollo BA, Tornquist SJ, Schlaich KG, Kelsey J, Chandrashekar R, Breitschwerdt EB. Molecular identification of vector-borne organisms in Ehrlichia seropositive Nicaraguan horses and first report of Rickettsia felis infection in the horse. Acta Trop 2019; 200:105170. [PMID: 31518572 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Certain vector-borne organisms serve as etiological agents of equine disease. After previously identifying a new Ehrlichia species in horses from Mérida, we aimed to determine the infection frequency and screen for a wide range of vector-borne organisms from 93 tick-exposed, Ehrlichia seropositive horses in this region. PCR assays were performed to identify infection by organisms within the following genera: Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Leishmania, Mycoplasma, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia and Theileria. Overall, 90/93 horses (96.8%) were infected with one or more vector-borne organisms. Ninety (96.8%) horses were infected with Theileria equi and 21 (26.8%) with Babesia caballi. Nine (9.7%) horses were infected with the novel Ehrlichia species previously designated H7, reported in horses from Nicaragua and Brazil. Two horses (2.2%) were infected with Rickettsia felis. Anaplasma, Bartonella, Leishmania, Mycoplasma, or Neorickettsia species DNA was not amplified from any horse. Ticks collected from horses infected with vector-borne organisms were identified as Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato and Dermacentor nitens. Horses in Mérida are infected by a range of vector-borne organisms, including B. caballi, T. equi, Ehrlichia species H7, and R. felis. To the authors' knowledge, this constitutes the first report of molecular detection of R. felis in horses.
Collapse
|
19
|
Ojeda-Chi MM, Rodriguez-Vivas RI, Esteve-Gasent MD, Pérez de León AA, Modarelli JJ, Villegas-Perez SL. Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Mexico: Prevalence, incidence, co-infection and factors associated. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2019; 67:101351. [PMID: 31525571 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.101351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsial infections in dogs of Mexico were investigated. A total of 246 dogs were blood sampled and initially screened to detect Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia rickettsii by a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. Sixty-five dogs were monitored and sampled twice 7-8 months apart. Using the qPCR, 72 positive dogs to E. canis were detected (prevalence of 29.26%). These dogs were also tested by nested PCR to detect the same pathogens. None of the studied dogs were positive to E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, R. rickettsii nor A. phagocytophilum by both PCR assays. The cumulative incidence of E. canis infection was 38.46%. Sequencing analysis of the nested PCR products revealed 100% and 98.1% identity of E. canis and R. parkeri, respectively. We found a dog co-infected with E. canis and R. parkeri.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melina M Ojeda-Chi
- Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Roger I Rodriguez-Vivas
- Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
| | - Maria D Esteve-Gasent
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, College Station, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA
| | - Joseph J Modarelli
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sandra L Villegas-Perez
- Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Maggi RG, Krämer F. A review on the occurrence of companion vector-borne diseases in pet animals in Latin America. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:145. [PMID: 30917860 PMCID: PMC6438007 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Companion vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are an important threat for pet life, but may also have an impact on human health, due to their often zoonotic character. The importance and awareness of CVBDs continuously increased during the last years. However, information on their occurrence is often limited in several parts of the world, which are often especially affected. Latin America (LATAM), a region with large biodiversity, is one of these regions, where information on CVBDs for pet owners, veterinarians, medical doctors and health workers is often obsolete, limited or non-existent. In the present review, a comprehensive literature search for CVBDs in companion animals (dogs and cats) was performed for several countries in Central America (Belize, Caribbean Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico) as well as in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana (British Guyana), Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela) regarding the occurrence of the following parasitic and bacterial diseases: babesiosis, heartworm disease, subcutaneous dirofilariosis, hepatozoonosis, leishmaniosis, trypanosomosis, anaplasmosis, bartonellosis, borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, mycoplasmosis and rickettsiosis. An overview on the specific diseases, followed by a short summary on their occurrence per country is given. Additionally, a tabular listing on positive or non-reported occurrence is presented. None of the countries is completely free from CVBDs. The data presented in the review confirm a wide distribution of the CVBDs in focus in LATAM. This wide occurrence and the fact that most of the CVBDs can have a quite severe clinical outcome and their diagnostic as well as therapeutic options in the region are often difficult to access and to afford, demands a strong call for the prevention of pathogen transmission by the use of ectoparasiticidal and anti-feeding products as well as by performing behavioural changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo G. Maggi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and the Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
| | - Friederike Krämer
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Local host-tick coextinction in neotropical forest fragments. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:225-233. [PMID: 30742810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligatory parasites with complex life cycles that often depend on larger bodied vertebrates as final hosts. These traits make them particularly sensitive to local coextinction with their host. Loss of wildlife abundance and diversity should thus lead to loss of tick abundance and diversity to the point where only generalist tick species remain. However, direct empirical tests of these hypotheses are lacking, despite their relevance to our understanding of tick-borne disease emergence in disturbed environments. Here, we compare vertebrate and tick communities across 12 forest islands and peninsulas in the Panama Canal that ranged 1000-fold in size (2.6-2811.3 ha). We used drag sampling and camera trapping to directly assess the abundance and diversity of communities of questing ticks and vertebrate hosts. We found that the abundance and species richness of ticks were positively related to those of wildlife. Specialist tick species were only present in fragments where their final hosts were found. Further, less diverse tick communities had a higher relative abundance of the generalist tick species Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, a potential vector of spotted fever group rickettsiosis. These findings support the host-parasite coextinction hypothesis, and indicate that loss of wildlife can indeed have cascading effects on tick communities. Our results also imply that opportunities for pathogen transmission via generalist ticks may be higher in habitats with degraded tick communities. If these patterns are general, then tick identities and abundances serve as useful bioindicators of ecosystem health, with low tick diversity reflecting low wildlife diversity and a potentially elevated risk of interspecific disease transmission via remaining host species and generalist ticks.
Collapse
|
22
|
Eraso-Cadena MP, Molina-Guzmán LP, Cardona X, Cardona-Arias JA, Ríos-Osorio LA, Gutierrez-Builes LA. Serological evidence of exposure to some zoonotic microorganisms in cattle and humans with occupational exposure to livestock in Antioquia, Colombia. CAD SAUDE PUBLICA 2018; 34:e00193617. [PMID: 30329003 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311x00193617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Coxiella genera are considered emerging pathogens and livestock is one of the contexts where the transmission of these microorganisms can occur. The goal of this study was to determine serological evidence for the exposure to these bacteria in cattle and humans with occupational exposure to livestock in the subregions North and Magdalena Medio, Antioquia, Colombia, and to explore related factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 48 livestock farms distributed in six municipalities from both subregions: Belmira, Entrerríos and San Pedro de los Milagros (North), and Puerto Berrío, Puerto Nare and Puerto Triunfo (Magdalena Medio). Blood samples from 332 people and 384 bovines were evaluated by serology (IgM and IgG) screening for bacteria from the Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Coxiella genera. Seropositivity in humans from both regions was 42.4% (95%CI: 31.2-55.1) for Anaplasma, 74.2% (95%CI: 66.0-84.4) for Ehrlichia, 72.5% (95%CI: 62.1-82.0) for Rickettsia, and 60.7% (95%CI: 59.7-69.1) for Coxiella burnetii. In cattle, seropositivity was 31.6% (95%CI: 19.9-44.2), 66.8% (95%CI: 55.2-78.1), 64.6% (95%CI: 53.8-74.5), and 61.6% (95%CI: 51.9-69.2), respectively. History of biting by ticks, milking, vaccination, having dogs and hens in the residence, as well as the consumption of raw milk derivatives were some factors associated with the infection by the bacteria studied. The results suggest a previous and recent exposure to these zoonotic bacteria genera in people with occupational exposure to livestock, as well as in cattle in the two studied subregions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Licet Paola Molina-Guzmán
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia.,Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Ximena Cardona
- Departamento de Asistencia Técnica, COLANTA, Medellín, Colombia
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Vasconcelos VO, Costa EGL, Moreira VR, Morais-Costa F, Duarte ER. Efficacy of plants extracts from the Cerrado against adult female of Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2018; 75:419-427. [PMID: 30073431 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0276-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Dermacentor nitens tick is commonly found in the equine auditory canal, where it causes economic losses due to its direct damage, causing blood spoliation, stress, transmission of pathogens, and predisposition to myasis and secondary bacterial infection in its hosts. In this study we evaluated the effect of ethanolic extracts of Cerrado plants on biological parameters of engorged females of D. nitens. Ethanolic extracts were prepared from the leaves of Schinopsis brasiliensis, Piptadenia viridiflora, Ximenia americana, and Serjania lethalis at 25-150 mg mL-1. Groups of 10 engorged adult females were treated with these extracts and compared with a control containing distilled water and another control with organophosphate, using five replicates for each group. Compared with the control with water, S. lethalis and X. americana extracts at 100 and 150 mg mL-1 significantly inhibited the posture ability. Differently, extracts of S. brasiliensis and P. viridiflora were the most effective in inhibiting larval hatching. Extracts of X. americana and P. viridiflora showed effective inhibition of reproductive parameters of the tick, presenting dose-dependent effect with IC90 78.86 and 78.94 mg mL-1, respectively. Theses effective extracts contained low condensed tannin levels and their HPLC chromatograms revealed the presence of flavonoids. The efficacies of P. viridiflora and X. americana extracts were higher than 90% indicating that these extracts are promising as alternative agents for D. nitens control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V O Vasconcelos
- Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Avenida Dr. Ruy Braga, S/N - Bairro Vila Mauricéia, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 39401-089, Brazil.
| | - E G L Costa
- Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Praça Primavera, 40 - Bairro Primavera, Itapetinga, Bahia, 45700-000, Brazil
| | - V R Moreira
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000 - Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 39400-006, Brazil
| | - F Morais-Costa
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000 - Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 39400-006, Brazil
| | - E R Duarte
- Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000 - Bairro Universitário, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 39400-006, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Tsachev I, Pantchev N, Marutsov P, Petrov V, Gundasheva D, Baymakova M. Serological Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia Spp. Infections in Horses from Southeastern Bulgaria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:588-594. [PMID: 29969382 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme Borreliosis and granulocytic anaplasmosis are less extensively studied in horses than in dogs and humans. Equine ehrlichiosis is not known in Europe and is in the initial stage of investigation in South, Central, and North America. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of these infections in Bulgaria. A total of 155 horses were investigated from five regions in Southeastern Bulgaria. Horses were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp. antibodies by a commercial rapid ELISA test. B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum antibodies were found in all five regions (Burgas, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, and Kardzhali) at frequencies of 36/155 (23.2%; 95% CI: 16.8-30.7%; ranging by region from 6.4% to 50%) and 31/155 (20%; 95% CI: 14-27.2%; ranging by region from 10% to 30.8%), respectively. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were found in horses from three regions (Burgas, Stara Zagora, and Haskovo) at a rate of 6/155 (3.9%; 95% CI: 1.4-8.2%; ranging by region from 5.7% to 6.4%). The combination of B. burgdorferi/A. phagocytophilum (11/155; 7.1%; 95% CI: 3.6-12.3%) was the most common coexposure observed, followed by B. burgdorferi/Ehrlichia spp. (2/155; 1.3%; 95% CI: 0.2-4.6%) and A. phagocytophilum/Ehrlichia spp. (1/155; 0.6%; 95% CI: 0-3.5%). The study shows that horses in Bulgaria are exposed or coexposed to three tick-transmitted zoonotic bacterial species. Furthermore, it reports Ehrlichia spp. seroreactivity in equines in Europe.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Tsachev
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- 2 Department of Infectious Diseases, IDEXX Laboratories , Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Plamen Marutsov
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Vladimir Petrov
- 1 Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Dimitrina Gundasheva
- 3 Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Magdalena Baymakova
- 4 Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy , Sofia, Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
In this paper, we present a historical review of rickettsiosis in Central America and also the most recent findings of Rickettsia in ectoparasites. All countries of Central America have records of rickettsiosis. Regarding the typhus group rickettsioses, there is clinical or serological evidence of Rickettsia prowazekii in Guatemala, Rickettsia typhi in Panama, Guatemala, and Costa Rica and unidentified species of the typhus group in El Salvador. Concerning spotted fever group rickettsiosis, there is serological evidence of infection by Rickettsia akari in Costa Rica and confirmed cases involving Rickettsia rickettsii in Panama and Costa Rica. There are also reports of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in acute patients from Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Serological studies in Central America show reactivity of Rickettsia ambyommatis, Rickettsia bellii, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia rhipicephali, and R. rickettsii in domestic and wild mammals. Eight species of Rickettsia have been detected in ectoparasites from Central America: R. africae (or very similar), R. amblyommatis, R. asembonensis, R. bellii, R. felis, R. parkeri, R. rhipicephali, and R. rickettsii, in addition to undescribed strains such as Atlantic Rainforest, Colombianensi, IbR/CRC, Barva, Aragaoi, and Candidatus "Rickettsia nicoyana;" the latter being the only one associated with Argasidae (Ornithodoros knoxjonesi). R. amblyommatis is the most common species in Central America, seeing as it has been reported in 10 species of ticks and one of fleas in five of the seven countries of the region. In this study, we demonstrate that the genus Rickettsia is widely distributed in Central America and that rickettsiosis could be an underestimated problem in the absence of greater diagnostic efforts in undetermined febrile cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Sergio E Bermúdez
- Department of Medical Entomology, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panamá,
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Vector Research Laboratory, Tropical Diseases Research Center, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Aguirre AAR, Garcia MV, Costa IND, Csordas BG, Rodrigues VDS, Medeiros JF, Andreotti R. New records of tick-associated spotted fever group Rickettsia in an Amazon-Savannah ecotone, Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1038-1044. [PMID: 29625922 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 03/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Human rickettsiosis has been recorded in the Amazon Biome. However, the epidemiological cycle of causative rickettsiae has not been fully accounted for in the Amazon region. This study investigates the presence of spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. in free-living unfed ticks of the Amblyomma genus. The study was conducted in seven municipalities in Rondonia State, Brazil, where the main biomes are Amazon forest, Brazilian Savannah and their ecotones (areas of ecological tension between open ombrophilous forest and savannah). The following tick species were collected: Amblyomma cajennense (sensu lato) s.l., A. cajennense (sensu stricto) s.s., A. coelebs, A. naponense, A. oblongoguttatum, A. romitii, A. scalpturatum and A. sculptum. A total of 167 adults, 248 nymphs and 1004 larvae were subjected to DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the presence of SFG Rickettsia spp. PCR-positive samples included: one A. cajennense s.s. female and one A. cajennense s.l. male from a rural area in Vilhena Municipality; 10 nymphs and a sample of larvae of A. cajennense s.l. from a peri-urban area in Cacoal Municipality; and an A. oblongoguttatum adult male from a rural area of Pimenta Bueno Municipality. All sequences obtained exhibited 100% identity with Rickettsia amblyommatis sequences. This is the first confirmation of SFG Rickettsia in an A. oblongoguttatum tick. Furthermore, this is the first record of SFG Rickettsia in the municipalities targeted by this study. These results warn that SFG Rickettsia circulation poses a threat in Rondonia State (among Amazon-Savannah ecotones), and that this threat is increased by the fact that SFG Rickettsia infect a human-biting tick species hitherto unconfirmed as a vector.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A A R Aguirre
- Plataforma de Criação e Experimentação Animal, Fiocruz Rondônia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, n° 7671, Bairro Lagoa, Porto Velho, RO, CEP 76812-245, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Costa e Silva, Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79070-900, Brazil.
| | - Marcos Valério Garcia
- Laboratórios de Biologia Molecular e do Carrapato, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Av. Rádio Maia, n° 830, Zona Rural, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79106-550, Brazil
| | - Ivaneide Nunes da Costa
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Fiocruz Rondônia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua da Beira, n° 7671, Bairro Lagoa, Porto Velho, RO, CEP 76812-245, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR 364, Km 9,5, Porto Velho, RO, CEP 76801-059, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Guimarães Csordas
- Laboratórios de Biologia Molecular e do Carrapato, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Av. Rádio Maia, n° 830, Zona Rural, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79106-550, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Costa e Silva, Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79070-900, Brazil
| | - Vinícius da Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratórios de Biologia Molecular e do Carrapato, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Av. Rádio Maia, n° 830, Zona Rural, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79106-550, Brazil
| | - Jansen Fernandes Medeiros
- Laboratório de Entomologia Médica, Fiocruz Rondônia, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua da Beira, n° 7671, Bairro Lagoa, Porto Velho, RO, CEP 76812-245, Brazil
| | - Renato Andreotti
- Laboratórios de Biologia Molecular e do Carrapato, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Av. Rádio Maia, n° 830, Zona Rural, Campo Grande, MS, CEP 79106-550, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Polsomboon S, Hoel DF, Murphy JR, Linton YM, Motoki M, Robbins RG, Bautista K, Bricen O I, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Ching WM, Chao CC. Molecular Detection and Identification of Rickettsia Species in Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Belize, Central America. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1718-1726. [PMID: 28981693 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in Belize, Central America. We tested ixodid ticks for the presence of Rickettsia species in three of the six northern and western Belizean districts. Ticks were collected from domestic animals and tick drags over vegetation in 23 different villages in November 2014, February 2015, and May 2015. A total of 2,506 collected ticks were identified to the following species: Dermacentor nitens Neumann (46.69%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (19.55%), Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) (19.47%), Amblyomma cajennense complex (9.74%), Amblyomma maculatum Koch (3.47%), Amblyomma ovale Koch (0.68%), Ixodes nr affinis (0.16%), Amblyomma nr maculatum (0.12%), and Amblyomma nr oblongoguttatum (0.12%). Ticks were pooled according to species, life stage (larva, nymph, or adult), and location (n = 509) for DNA extraction and screened for genus Rickettsia by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). All 42 positive pools were found to be positive for spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia in pools of A. cajennense complex (n = 33), A. maculatum (n = 4), A. nr maculatum (n = 1), A. ovale (n = 1), R. sanguineus (n = 1), and I. nr affinis (n = 2). Rickettsia amblyommatis was identified from A. cajennense complex and A. nr maculatum. Rickettsia parkeri was found in A. maculatum, and Rickettsia sp. endosymbiont was detected in I. nr affinis. The presence of infected ticks suggests a risk of tick-borne rickettsioses to humans and animals in Belize. This knowledge can contribute to an effective tick management and disease control program benefiting residents and travelers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suppaluck Polsomboon
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - David F Hoel
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Jittawadee R Murphy
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814
| | - Yvonne-Marie Linton
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, MRC-534, Suitland, MD 20746
- Smithsonian Institution, Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560
| | - Maysa Motoki
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, MRC-534, Suitland, MD 20746
- Department of Entomology, Institut Pasteur du Laos, Sisattanak District, PO Box 3560, Vientiane, Laos, PDR
| | - Richard G Robbins
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, MRC-534, Suitland, MD 20746
| | - Kim Bautista
- Ministry of Health, Vector Control Office, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
| | - Ireneo Bricen O
- Ministry of Health, Vector Control Office, Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
- Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC), Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk District, Belize
| | - Nicole L Achee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 239 Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - John P Grieco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, 239 Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN 46556
| | - Wei-Mei Ching
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Disease Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| | - Chien-Chung Chao
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Disease Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cordeiro MD, de Azevedo Baêta B, Cepeda PB, Teixeira RC, Ribeiro CCDU, de Almeida Valim JR, Pinter A, da Fonseca AH. Experimental infection of Rickettsia parkeri in the Rhipicephalus microplus tick. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:93-96. [PMID: 29102467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate, by means of artificial feeding, the interaction between a pathogenic rickettsia and the hard tick R. microplus. We used partially engorged females fed on calves free of Rickettsia spp. Group 1 (G1), containing 20 ticks, was fed bovine blood only. Group 2 (G2), containing 20 ticks, was fed blood containing uninfected VERO cells, and group 3 (G3), containing 40 ticks, was fed blood containing VERO cells infected with Rickettsia parkeri. Biological parameters of the non-parasitic phase and a possible bacterial transmission to the tick eggs and to guinea pigs were evaluated. At the end of oviposition, all G3 females were PCR-positive for genes specific for the genus Rickettsia. Although no guinea pigs were infected, the experimental infection of R. microplus by R. parkeri caused a deleterious effect on the oviposition and provided the first report of transovarian transmission of rickettsia in this tick.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Dias Cordeiro
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, BR465, Km 07, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bruna de Azevedo Baêta
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, BR465, Km 07, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Patricia Barizon Cepeda
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, BR465, Km 07, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rafaella Câmara Teixeira
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, BR465, Km 07, 23890-000 Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Adriano Pinter
- Superintendência de Controle de Endemias (Sucen), Rua Cardeal Arcoverde, 2878, São Paulo 05408-003, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Ramírez-Hernández A, Barreto C, Forero-Becerra E, Millán D, Valbuena E, Sánchez-Alfonso AC, Imbacuán-Pantoja WO, Cortés-Vecino JA, Polo-Terán LJ, Yaya-Lancheros N, Jácome J, Palomar AM, Santibáñez S, Portillo A, Oteo JA, Hidalgo M. Epidemiology of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses and Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Villeta, Colombia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:782-788. [PMID: 28722568 PMCID: PMC5590559 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Etiology of acute undifferentiated febrile syndrome (AUFS) is often unknown, leading to inaccurate diagnosis and treatment. Villeta town has been identified as an endemic area for spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses but little is known about possible amplifier hosts and other Rickettsia species different from Rickettsia rickettsii. Besides, few studies have approached other AUFS etiologies in the region. We investigated the role of dengue, leptospirosis, rickettsioses, human anaplasmosis, and Q fever as possible causes of AUFS in patients from Villeta. Sera specimens and ticks from animals as well as ticks from vegetation were studied for the presence of different Rickettsia spp. Among 104 sera from patients with AUFS, 16.4%, 24.0%, and 2.9% patients seroconverted to dengue, Leptospira, and SFG Rickettsia, respectively, with a case of probable coinfection or cross-reaction with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. None of the samples were reactive for Coxiella burnetii. Sera samples from 74 horses, 118 dogs, and 62 bovines were collected and showed 33.8%, 14.4%, and 50.0% of seroprevalence for SFG Rickettsia, respectively. A total of 1,287 ixodid ticks were collected from animals/vegetation and processed in pools for polymerase chain reaction. Among them, 1.7% was positive for Rickettsia genes, and Rickettsia amblyommii, R. rickettsii, and Rickettsia spp. were found. These results confirm the circulation of dengue, different SFG Rickettsia species and the relevance of other etiologies like leptospirosis and human anaplasmosis. Further studies must identify different epidemiological variables to establish proper surveillance and control programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A. Faccini-Martínez
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Christian Barreto
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elkin Forero-Becerra
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Diego Millán
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Elkin Valbuena
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andrea C. Sánchez-Alfonso
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Wilson O. Imbacuán-Pantoja
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús A. Cortés-Vecino
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Luis J. Polo-Terán
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
- Grupo Salud Pública Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Néstor Yaya-Lancheros
- Grupo Salud Pública Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jorge Jácome
- Departamento de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ana M. Palomar
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Sonia Santibáñez
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Portillo
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - José A. Oteo
- Departamento de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro de Rickettsiosis y Enfermedades Transmitidas por Artrópodos Vectores, Hospital San Pedro–CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Ferrell AM, Brinkerhoff RJ, Bernal J, Bermúdez SE. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens of dogs along an elevational and land-use gradient in Chiriquí province, Panamá. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2017; 71:371-385. [PMID: 28417248 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Systematic acarological surveys are useful tools in assessing risk to tick-borne infections, especially in areas where consistent clinical surveillance for tick-borne disease is lacking. Our goal was to identify environmental predictors of tick burdens on dogs and tick-borne infectious agents in dog-derived ticks in the Chiriquí Province of western Panama to draw inferences about spatio-temporal variation in human risk to tick-borne diseases. We used a model-selection approach to test the relative importance of elevation, human population size, vegetative cover, and change in landuse on patterns of tick parasitism on dogs. We collected 2074 ticks, representing four species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. microplus, Amblyomma ovale, and Ixodes boliviensis) from 355 dogs. Tick prevalence ranged from 0 to 74% among the sites we sampled, and abundance ranged from 0 to 20.4 ticks per dog with R. sanguineus s.l. being the most commonly detected tick species (97% of all ticks sampled). Whereas elevation was the best single determinant of tick prevalence and abundance on dogs, the top models also included predictor variables describing vegetation cover and landuse change. Specifically, low-elevation areas associated with decreasing vegetative cover were associated with highest tick occurrence on dogs, potentially because of the affinity of R. sanguineus for human dwellings. Although we found low prevalence of tick-borne pathogen genera (two Rickettsia-positive ticks, no R. rickettsia or Ehrlichia spp.) in our study, all of the tick species we collected from dogs are known vectors of zoonotic pathogens. In areas where epidemiological surveillance infrastructure is limited, field-based assessments of acarological risk can be useful and cost-effective tools in efforts to identify high-risk environments for tick-transmitted pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - R Jory Brinkerhoff
- Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
| | - Juan Bernal
- Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí, David, Panama
| | - Sergio E Bermúdez
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Panama City, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Life cycle and parasitic competence of Dermacentor nitens Neumann, 1897 (Acari: Ixodidae) on different animal species. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:379-384. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
32
|
Esser HJ, Foley JE, Bongers F, Herre EA, Miller MJ, Prins HH, Jansen PA. Host body size and the diversity of tick assemblages on Neotropical vertebrates. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2016; 5:295-304. [PMID: 27812506 PMCID: PMC5078680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Identifying the factors that influence the species diversity and distribution of ticks (Acari: Ixodida) across vertebrate host taxa is of fundamental ecological and medical importance. Host body size is considered one of the most important determinants of tick abundance, with larger hosts having higher tick burdens. The species diversity of tick assemblages should also be greater on larger-bodied host species, but empirical studies testing this hypothesis are lacking. Here, we evaluate this relationship using a comparative dataset of feeding associations from Panama between 45 tick species and 171 host species that range in body size by three orders of magnitude. We found that tick species diversity increased with host body size for adult ticks but not for immature ticks. We also found that closely related host species tended to have similar tick species diversity, but correcting for host phylogeny did not alter the relationships between host body size and tick species diversity. The distribution of tick species was highly aggregated, with approximately 20% of the host species harboring 80% of all tick species, following the Pareto principle or 20/80 Rule. Thus, the aggregated pattern commonly observed for tick burdens and disease transmission also holds for patterns of tick species richness. Our finding that the adult ticks in this system preferentially parasitize large-bodied host species suggests that the ongoing anthropogenic loss of large-bodied vertebrates is likely to result in host-tick coextinction events, even when immature stages feed opportunistically. As parasites play critical roles in ecological and evolutionary processes, such losses may profoundly affect ecosystem functioning and services.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen J. Esser
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panamá, Panama
| | - Janet E. Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Frans Bongers
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Edward Allen Herre
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panamá, Panama
| | - Matthew J. Miller
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panamá, Panama
- Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73072-7029, USA
| | - Herbert H.T. Prins
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick A. Jansen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panamá, Panama
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
First report of "Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii" in west coast of Mexico. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1139-1145. [PMID: 27616774 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We report the first case of "Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii" detected in Amblyomma mixtum ticks on humans on the west coast of Mexico. This is the most western record of "Ca. R. amblyommii" in the Western Hemisphere, representing the first record for the western coast of the Americas. Even if the record is far from the previously known locations for the species it does not represent a new record regarding temperature, precipitation and topographic parameters. Since "Ca. R. amblyommii" antibodies have been detected in patients suspected of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and the tick A. mixtum has been associated with humans, it is important to consider "Ca. R. amblyommii" as a potential risk for the human population that has not been considered at risk before.
Collapse
|
34
|
Düttmann C, Flores B, Kadoch Z N, Bermúdez C S. Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of livestock in Nicaragua, with notes about distribution. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 70:125-135. [PMID: 27392740 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-016-0059-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We document the species of ticks that parasitize livestock in Nicaragua. The study was based on tick collection on cattle and horses from 437 farms in nine departments. Of 4841 animals examined (4481 cows and 360 horses), 3299 were parasitized, which represent 68 % of the bovines and 67 % of the equines in study: 59 cows and 25 horses were parasitized by more than one species. In addition, 280 specimens of the entomological museum in León were examined. The ticks found on cattle were Rhipicephalus microplus (75.2 % of the ticks collected), Amblyomma mixtum (20.8 %), A. parvum (2.6 %), A. tenellum (0.7 %), A. maculatum (0.7 %). While the ticks collected from the horses were: Dermacentor nitens (41.5 %), A. mixtum (31.7 %), R. microplus (13.8 %), A. parvum (6.5 %), A. tenellum (3.3 %), D. dissimilis (2.4 %) and A. maculatum (0.8 %).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Düttmann
- Centro Veterinario de Diagnóstico e Investigación, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, León, Nicaragua
| | - Byron Flores
- Centro Veterinario de Diagnóstico e Investigación, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, León, Nicaragua
| | - Nathaniel Kadoch Z
- Dirección Ejecutiva de Cuarentena Agropecuaria, Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario, Chiriquí, Panama
| | - Sergio Bermúdez C
- Departamento de Investigación en Entomología Médica, Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, Avenida Justo Arosemena, Apo. Postal 0816-02593, Panama, Panama.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Troyo A, Moreira-Soto RD, Calderon-Arguedas Ó, Mata-Somarribas C, Ortiz-Tello J, Barbieri ARM, Avendaño A, Vargas-Castro LE, Labruna MB, Hun L, Taylor L. Detection of rickettsiae in fleas and ticks from areas of Costa Rica with history of spotted fever group rickettsioses. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1128-1134. [PMID: 27592065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Outbreaks of spotted fevers have been reported in Costa Rica since the 1950s, although vectors responsible for transmission to humans have not been directly identified. In this study, species of Rickettsia were detected in ectoparasites from Costa Rica, mostly from five study sites where cases of spotted fevers have been reported. Ticks and fleas were collected using drag cloths or directly from domestic and wild animals and pooled according to species, host, and location. Pools were analyzed initially by PCR to detect a fragment of Rickettsia spp. specific gltA gene, and those positive were confirmed by detection of htrA and/or ompA gene fragments. Partial sequences of the gltA gene were obtained, as well as at least one ompA and/or ompB partial sequence of each species. Rickettsia spp. were confirmed in 119 of 497 (23.9%) pools of ticks and fleas analyzed. Rickettsia rickettsii was identified in one nymph of Amblyomma mixtum and one nymph of Amblyomma varium. Other rickettsiae present were 'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii' in A. mixtum, Amblyomma ovale, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l.; Rickettsia bellii in Amblyomma sabanerae; Rickettsia felis in Ctenocephalides felis; and Rickettsia sp. similar to 'Candidatus R. asemboensis' in C. felis, Pulex simulans, A. ovale, and Rhipicephalus microplus. Results show the presence of rickettsiae in vectors that may be responsible for transmission to humans in Costa Rica, and evidence suggests exposure to rickettsial organisms in the human environment may be common. This is the first study to report R. rickettsii in A. varium and in A. mixtum in Costa Rica.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Troyo
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| | - Rolando D Moreira-Soto
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Ólger Calderon-Arguedas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Carlos Mata-Somarribas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Jusara Ortiz-Tello
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Amália R M Barbieri
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adrián Avendaño
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Luis E Vargas-Castro
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laya Hun
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Lizeth Taylor
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales and Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Moreira-Soto A, Carranza MV, Taylor L, Calderón-Arguedas O, Hun L, Troyo A. Exposure of dogs to spotted fever group rickettsiae in urban sites associated with human rickettsioses in Costa Rica. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:748-753. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
37
|
Miller MJ, Esser HJ, Loaiza JR, Herre EA, Aguilar C, Quintero D, Alvarez E, Bermingham E. Molecular Ecological Insights into Neotropical Bird-Tick Interactions. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155989. [PMID: 27203693 PMCID: PMC4874597 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the tropics, ticks parasitize many classes of vertebrate hosts. However, because many tropical tick species are only identifiable in the adult stage, and these adults usually parasitize mammals, most attention on the ecology of tick-host interactions has focused on mammalian hosts. In contrast, immature Neotropical ticks are often found on wild birds, yet difficulties in identifying immatures hinder studies of birds' role in tropical tick ecology and tick-borne disease transmission. In Panama, we found immature ticks on 227 out of 3,498 individually-sampled birds representing 93 host species (24% of the bird species sampled, and 13% of the Panamanian land bird fauna). Tick parasitism rates did not vary with rainfall or temperature, but did vary significantly with several host ecological traits. Likewise, Neotropical-Nearctic migratory birds were significantly less likely to be infested than resident species. Using a molecular library developed from morphologically-identified adult ticks specifically for this study, we identified eleven tick species parasitizing birds, indicating that a substantial portion of the Panamanian avian species pool is parasitized by a diversity of tick species. Tick species that most commonly parasitized birds had the widest diversity of avian hosts, suggesting that immature tick species are opportunistic bird parasites. Although certain avian ecological traits are positively associated with parasitism, we found no evidence that individual tick species show specificity to particular avian host ecological traits. Finally, our data suggest that the four principal vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the Neotropics rarely, if ever, parasitize Panamanian birds. However, other tick species that harbor newly-discovered rickettsial parasites of unknown pathogenicity are frequently found on these birds. Given our discovery of broad interaction between Panamanian tick and avian biodiversity, future work on tick ecology and the dynamics of emerging tropical tick-borne pathogens should explicitly consider wild bird as hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Miller
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Department of Biology, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Helen J. Esser
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jose R. Loaiza
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Centralamerican Master’s Program in Entomology, University of Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Edward Allen Herre
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Celestino Aguilar
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT-AIP), Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Diomedes Quintero
- G. B. Fairchild Invertebrate Museum, University of Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Eric Alvarez
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Centralamerican Master’s Program in Entomology, University of Panama, Panama City, Republic of Panama
| | - Eldredge Bermingham
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, Republic of Panama
- Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Rivera-Páez FA, Labruna MB, Martins TF, Sampieri BR, Camargo-Mathias MI. Amblyomma mixtum Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae): First record confirmation in Colombia using morphological and molecular analyses. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:842-848. [PMID: 27062448 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Up to some years ago, the taxon Amblyomma cajennense represented a single tick species in the New World, from southern United States to northern Argentina. Recent studies, based on genetic, reproductive and morphological data reorganized this taxon into a complex of the following 6 valid species: A. cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma interandinum, Amblyomma tonelliae, and Amblyomma patinoi. According to this classification, the A. cajennense complex is currently represented in Colombia by only one species, A. patinoi. Because the Colombian land is surrounded by confirmed records of A. mixtum in Panama and Ecuador, and by A. cajennense s.s. in Venezuela and the Brazilian Amazon, it is possible that these two species could also occur in Colombia. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of ticks of the A. cajennense complex in the Orinoquía region of Colombia. A total of 246 adult ticks of the Amblyomma genus were collected in three sampled regions: 71 females and 110 males in Arauca (Arauca Department), 27 females and 20 males in Nunchía (Casanare Department), and 10 females and 8 males in Yopal (Casanare Department). Based on morphological and molecular analyses, these ticks were identified as A. mixtum. Molecular analyses consisted of DNA sequences of two molecular markers, the nuclear second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). The presence of A. mixtum in Colombia is of medical relevance, since this species is incriminated as a vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central America.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil; Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 Apartado Aéreo 275 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago F Martins
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 05508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno Rodrigues Sampieri
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil
| | - Maria I Camargo-Mathias
- Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, Avenida 24-A, 1515, Bairro Bela Vista, SP, Rio Claro CEP 13506-900, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Ticks and rickettsiae from wildlife in Belize, Central America. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:62. [PMID: 26831147 PMCID: PMC4736261 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1348-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The agents of spotted fevers in Latin America are Rickettsia rickettsii, R. parkeri, Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest, and R. massiliae. In Continental Central America, R. rickettsii remains the only known pathogenic tick-borne rickettsia. In the present study, ticks were collected from wild mammals in natural areas of Belize. Besides providing new data of ticks from Belize, we investigated rickettsial infection in some of these ticks. Our results provide ticks harboring rickettsial agents for the first time in Central America. METHODS Between 2010 and 2015, wild mammals were lived-trapped in the tropical broadleaf moist forests of central and southern Belize. Ticks were collected from the animals and identified to species by morphological and molecular analysis (DNA sequence of the tick mitochondrial 16S RNA gene). Some of the ticks were tested for rickettsial infection by molecular methods (DNA sequences of the rickettsial gltA and ompA genes). RESULTS A total of 84 ticks were collected from 8 individual hosts, as follows: Amblyomma pacae from 3 Cuniculus paca; Amblyomma ovale and Amblyomma coelebs from a Nasua narica; A. ovale from an Eira Barbara; A. ovale, Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum, and Ixodes affinis from a Puma concolor; and A. ovale, A. coelebs, A. cf. oblongoguttatum, and I. affinis from two Panthera onca. Three rickettsial agents were detected: Rickettsia amblyommii in A. pacae, Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest in A. ovale, and Rickettsia sp. endosymbiont in Ixodes affinis. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides unprecedented records of ticks harboring rickettsial agents in the New World. An emerging rickettsial pathogen of South America, Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest, is reported for the first time in Central America. Besides expanding the distribution of 3 rickettsial agents in Central America, our results highlight the possible occurrence of Rickettsia sp. strain Atlantic rainforest-caused spotted fever human cases in Belize, since its possible vector, A. ovale, is recognized as one of the most important human-biting ticks in the Neotropical region.
Collapse
|
40
|
Karpathy SE, Allerdice MEJ, Sheth M, Dasch GA, Levin ML. Co-Feeding Transmission of the Ehrlichia muris-Like Agent to Mice (Mus musculus). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:145-50. [PMID: 26824725 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ehrlichia muris-like agent (EMLA) is a newly recognized human pathogen found in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Ecological investigations have implicated both the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, as playing roles in the maintenance of EMLA in nature. The work presented here shows that I. scapularis is an efficient vector of EMLA in a laboratory mouse model, but that Dermacentor variabilis, another frequent human biting tick found in EMLA endemic areas, is not. Additionally, I. scapularis larvae are able to acquire EMLA through co-feeding with infected nymphs. As EMLA only persists in mouse blood for a relatively short period of time, co-feeding transmission may play an important role in the maintenance of EMLA in ticks, and subsequently may play a role in limiting the geographic distribution of this pathogen in areas where co-feeding of larvae and nymphs is less common.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandor E Karpathy
- 1 Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michelle E J Allerdice
- 1 Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mili Sheth
- 1 Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gregory A Dasch
- 1 Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michael L Levin
- 1 Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , Atlanta, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Ramírez-Hernández A, Forero-Becerra E, Cortés-Vecino JA, Escandón P, Rodas JD, Palomar AM, Portillo A, Oteo JA, Hidalgo M. Molecular Evidence of Different Rickettsia Species in Villeta, Colombia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:85-7. [PMID: 26789730 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to detect and identify Rickettsia species in ticks collected in rural areas of Villeta, Colombia. Tick specimens were collected from domestic animals and walls of houses in five rural villages of Villeta town and from humans in Naranjal village (same town). Moreover, a flea collected from the same area was also processed. DNA was extracted and tested by conventional, semi-nested, and nested PCR reactions targeting rickettsial genes. In the ticks collected from humans from Naranjal village, a nymph of Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato was amplified using primers for ompA and sequenced (100% identity with "Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii"). Last, three amplicons from the Ctenocephalides felis flea, corresponding to gltA, ompB, and 16S rRNA genes, showed high identity with R. felis (98.5%, 97.3%, and 99.2%, respectively) and "Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis" (99.7% and 100%, respectively). To our knowledge, these results correspond to the first molecular detection in Colombia of "Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii" and "Ca. Rickettsia asemboensis" in fleas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jesús A Cortés-Vecino
- 2 Veterinary Parasitology Research Group, Universidad Nacional de Colombia , Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Patricia Escandón
- 4 Microbiology Group, Instituto Nacional de Salud , Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan D Rodas
- 5 CENTAURO Research Group, Universidad de Antioquia , Medellin, Colombia
| | - Ana M Palomar
- 6 Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-borne Diseases , Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Portillo
- 6 Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-borne Diseases , Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - José A Oteo
- 6 Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-borne Diseases , Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Marylin Hidalgo
- 1 Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana , Bogotá, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Nunes EDC, Vizzoni VF, Navarro DL, Iani FCDM, Durães LS, Daemon E, Soares CAG, Gazeta GS. Rickettsia amblyommii infecting Amblyomma sculptum in endemic spotted fever area from southeastern Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2015; 110:1058-61. [PMID: 26676317 PMCID: PMC4708027 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760150266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rickettsia bacteria include the aetiological agents for the
human spotted fever (SF) disease. In the present study, a SF groupRickettsia
amblyommii related bacterium was detected in a field collected
Amblyomma sculptum (Amblyomma cajennense species
complex) tick from a Brazilian SF endemic site in southeastern Brazil, in the
municipality of Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais. Genetic analysis based on genes
ompA,ompB and htrA showed that
the detected strain, named R. amblyommii str. JF, is related to the
speciesR. amblyommii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emília de Carvalho Nunes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Vinicius Figueiredo Vizzoni
- Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Daniel Leal Navarro
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | | | - Liliane Silva Durães
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Erik Daemon
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brasil
| | - Carlos Augusto Gomes Soares
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Gilberto Salles Gazeta
- Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
O'Nion VL, Montilla HJ, Qurollo BA, Maggi RG, Hegarty BC, Tornquist SJ, Breitschwerdt EB. Potentially novel Ehrlichia species in horses, Nicaragua. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 21:335-8. [PMID: 25625228 PMCID: PMC4313632 DOI: 10.3201/eid2102.140290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia sp. DNA was amplified from 4 Ehrlichia-seroreactive horses from Mérida, Nicaragua. Sequencing of 16S rDNA, sodB, and groEL genes indicated that the bacterium is most likely a novel Ehrlichia species. The tick vector and the potential for canine and human infection remain unknown.
Collapse
|
44
|
Novakova M, Literak I, Chevez L, Martins TF, Ogrzewalska M, Labruna MB. Rickettsial infections in ticks from reptiles, birds and humans in Honduras. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:737-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
45
|
Beck DL, Orozco JP. Diurnal questing behavior of Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodidae). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2015; 66:613-621. [PMID: 26063403 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9928-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The diurnal questing behavior of Amblyomma mixtum Koch was monitored in the laboratory while held on a 12:12 diurnal cycle, and outdoors, using actographic chambers to determine the daily incidences of questing for a host. Nymphs and adults increased their questing activity during the morning. Adult activity peaked in the morning and continued until afternoon, whereas nymphal activity peaked in the afternoon. Nymphs and adults returned to the bottom of the chambers at night. The questing pattern for nymphs held outdoors was similar to that observed indoors. Both nymphs and adults had a higher average questing height when held at 95% RH than at 56% RH. The increase in average questing height was found to be due to fewer ticks questing-and for adults, a decrease in the mean questing height-at lower RH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David L Beck
- Department of Biology, Tennessee Technological University, Box 5063, Cookeville, TN, 38505, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Rivas JJ, Moreira-Soto A, Alvarado G, Taylor L, Calderón-Arguedas O, Hun L, Corrales-Aguilar E, Morales JA, Troyo A. Pathogenic potential of a Costa Rican strain of 'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii' in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and protective immunity against Rickettsia rickettsii. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015. [PMID: 26210090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
'Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii' is a spotted fever group rickettsia that is not considered pathogenic, although there is serologic evidence of possible infection in animals and humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenic potential of a Costa Rican strain of 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' in guinea pigs and determine its capacity to generate protective immunity against a subsequent infection with a local strain of Rickettsia rickettsii isolated from a human case. Six guinea pigs were inoculated with 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' strain 9-CC-3-1 and two controls with cell culture medium. Health status was evaluated, and necropsies were executed at days 2, 4, and 13. Blood and tissues were processed by PCR to detect the gltA gene, and end titers of anti-'Candidatus R. amblyommii' IgG were determined by indirect immunofluorescence. To evaluate protective immunity, another 5 guinea pigs were infected with 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' (IGPs). After 4 weeks, these 5 IGPs and 3 controls (CGPs) were inoculated with pathogenic R. rickettsii. Clinical signs and titers of anti-Rickettsia IgG were determined. IgG titers reached 1:512 at day 13 post-infection with 'Candidatus R. amblyommii'. On day 2 after inoculation, two guinea pigs had enlarged testicles and 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' DNA was detected in testicles. Histopathology confirmed piogranulomatous orchitis with perivascular inflammatory infiltrate in the epididymis. In the protective immunity assay, anti-Rickettsia IgG end titers after R. rickettsii infection were lower in IGPs than in CGPs. IGPs exhibited only transient fever, while CGP showed signs of severe disease and mortality. R. rickettsii was detected in testicles and blood of CGPs. Results show that the strain 9-CC-3-1 of 'Candidatus R. amblyommii' was able to generate pathology and an antibody response in guinea pigs. Moreover, its capacity to generate protective immunity against R. rickettsii may modulate the epidemiology and severity of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in areas where both species circulate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan J Rivas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Andrés Moreira-Soto
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Virología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Gilberth Alvarado
- Centro de Investigación en Estructuras Microscópicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Lizeth Taylor
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Virología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Olger Calderón-Arguedas
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Entomología Médica, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Laya Hun
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Virología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Virología, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Juan Alberto Morales
- Servicio de Patología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Adriana Troyo
- Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica; Sección de Entomología Médica, Facultad de Microbiología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Williams-Newkirk AJ, Rowe LA, Mixson-Hayden TR, Dasch GA. Characterization of the bacterial communities of life stages of free living lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum). PLoS One 2014; 9:e102130. [PMID: 25054227 PMCID: PMC4108322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) is an abundant and aggressive biter of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife in the southeastern-central USA and an important vector of several known and suspected zoonotic bacterial pathogens. However, the biological drivers of bacterial community variation in this tick are still poorly defined. Knowing the community context in which tick-borne bacterial pathogens exist and evolve is required to fully understand the ecology and immunobiology of the ticks and to design effective public health and veterinary interventions. We performed a metagenomic survey of the bacterial communities of questing A. americanum and tested 131 individuals (66 nymphs, 24 males, and 41 females) from five sites in three states. Pyrosequencing was performed with barcoded eubacterial primers targeting variable 16S rRNA gene regions 5–3. The bacterial communities were dominated by Rickettsia (likely R. amblyommii) and an obligate Coxiella symbiont, together accounting for 6.7–100% of sequences per tick. DNAs from Midichloria, Borrelia, Wolbachia, Ehrlichia, Pseudomonas, or unidentified Bacillales, Enterobacteriaceae, or Rhizobiales groups were also detected frequently. Wolbachia and Midichloria significantly co-occurred in Georgia (p<0.00001), but not in other states. The significance of the Midichloria-Wolbachia co-occurrence is unknown. Among ticks collected in Georgia, nymphs differed from adults in both the composition (p = 0.002) and structure (p = 0.002) of their bacterial communities. Adults differed only in their community structure (p = 0.002) with males containing more Rickettsia and females containing more Coxiella. Comparisons among adult ticks collected in New York and North Carolina supported the findings from the Georgia collection despite differences in geography, collection date, and sample handling, implying that the differences detected are consistent attributes. The data also suggest that some members of the bacterial community change during the tick life cycle and that some sex-specific attributes may be detectable in nymphs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Jo Williams-Newkirk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Lori A. Rowe
- Biotechnology Core Facility Branch, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Tonya R. Mixson-Hayden
- Laboratory Branch, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gregory A. Dasch
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Santamaria A, Calzada JE, Saldaña A, Yabsley MJ, Gottdenker NL. Molecular Diagnosis and Species Identification ofEhrlichiaandAnaplasmaInfections in Dogs from Panama, Central America. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014; 14:368-70. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Santamaria
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, ICGES, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Jose E. Calzada
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, ICGES, Panama City, Panamá
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Azael Saldaña
- Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud, ICGES, Panama City, Panamá
- CIDEP, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Panamá
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Nicole L. Gottdenker
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Nava S, Beati L, Labruna MB, Cáceres AG, Mangold AJ, Guglielmone AA. Reassessment of the taxonomic status of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) with the description of three new species, Amblyomma tonelliae n. sp., Amblyomma interandinum n. sp. and Amblyomma patinoi n. sp., and reinstatement of Amblyomma mixtum Koch, 1844, and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 (Ixodida: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:252-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 11/04/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
50
|
Parola P, Paddock CD, Socolovschi C, Labruna MB, Mediannikov O, Kernif T, Abdad MY, Stenos J, Bitam I, Fournier PE, Raoult D. Update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach. Clin Microbiol Rev 2013; 26:657-702. [PMID: 24092850 PMCID: PMC3811236 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00032-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 916] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia. These zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. However, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. Several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that were considered nonpathogenic for decades are now associated with human infections, and novel Rickettsia species of undetermined pathogenicity continue to be detected in or isolated from ticks around the world. This remarkable expansion of information has been driven largely by the use of molecular techniques that have facilitated the identification of novel and previously recognized rickettsiae in ticks. New approaches, such as swabbing of eschars to obtain material to be tested by PCR, have emerged in recent years and have played a role in describing emerging tick-borne rickettsioses. Here, we present the current knowledge on tick-borne rickettsiae and rickettsioses using a geographic approach toward the epidemiology of these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | | | - Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Universidade de São Paulo, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Tahar Kernif
- Service d'Ecologie des Systèmes Vectoriels, Institut Pasteur d'Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
| | - Mohammad Yazid Abdad
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Idir Bitam
- University of Boumerdes, Boumerdes, Algeria
| | - Pierre-Edouard Fournier
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod-Borne Bacterial Diseases, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|