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Han XY, Du LF, Lin ZT, Li C, Xiong T, Zhu WJ, Ye RZ, Wang N, Wang YF, Gao WY, Zhao L, Cui XM, Cao WC. Genomic characters of Anaplasma bovis and genetic diversity in China. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2323153. [PMID: 38442029 PMCID: PMC10916922 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2323153] [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: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of Anaplasma bovis or A. bovis-like infection in humans from China and the United States of America has raised concern about the public health importance of this pathogen. Although A. bovis has been detected in a wide range of ticks and mammals in the world, no genome of the pathogen is available up to now, which has prohibited us from better understanding the genetic basis for its pathogenicity. Here we describe an A. bovis genome from metagenomic sequencing of an infected goat in China. Anaplasma bovis had the smallest genome of the genus Anaplasma, and relatively lower GC content. Phylogenetic analysis of single-copy orthologue sequence showed that A. bovis was closely related to A. platys and A. phagocytophilum, but relatively far from intraerythrocytic Anaplasma species. Anaplasma bovis had 116 unique orthogroups and lacked 51 orthogroups in comparison to other Anaplasma species. The virulence factors of A. bovis were significantly less than those of A. phagocytophilum, suggesting less pathogenicity of A. bovis. When tested by specific PCR assays, A. bovis was detected in 23 of 29 goats, with an infection rate up to 79.3% (95% CI: 64.6% ∼94.1%). The phylogenetic analyses based on partial 16S rRNA, gltA and groEL genes indicated that A. bovis had high genetic diversity. The findings of this study lay a foundation for further understanding of the biological characteristics and genetic diversity of A. bovis, and will facilitate the formulation of prevention and control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Feng Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhe-Tao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Run-Ze Ye
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-Fei Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wan-Ying Gao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Yean S, Prasetyo DB, Marcombe S, Hadi UK, Kazim AR, Tiawsirisup S, Chinh VD, Matsuno K, Low VL, Bonnet S, Boulanger N, Lam TTY, Abdad MY, Herbreteau V, Chavatte JM, Sum S, Ren T, Sakuntabhai A, Maquart PO, Rakotonirina A, Boyer S. Challenges for ticks and tick-borne diseases research in Southeast Asia: Insight from the first international symposium in Cambodia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012269. [PMID: 38985826 PMCID: PMC11236135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks, as critical vectors of a variety of pathogens, pose a significant public health challenge globally. In Southeast Asia (SEA), ticks are responsible for transmitting a diverse array of pathogens affecting humans and animals. The geographical and ecological diversity of SEA provides a unique environment that supports a wide range of tick species, which complicates the management and study of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS This article synthesizes findings from the first international symposium on ticks and TBDs in Southeast Asia, held in Phnom Penh on June 22 and 23, 2023. It highlights regional efforts to understand tick ecology and pathogen transmission. This paper proposes to present a summary of the various presentations given during the symposium following 3 main parts. The first one is devoted to the state of knowledge regarding ticks and TBDs in SEA countries, with presentations from 6 different countries, namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The second part focuses on the development of new research approaches on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and TBDs. The last part is a summary of the round table discussion held on the final day, with the aim of defining the most important challenges and recommendations for researches on TBP and TBD in the SEA region. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Key topics discussed include advancements in diagnostic tools, such as MALDI-TOF MS and proteomics, and the development of sustainable strategies for tick management and disease prevention. The symposium facilitated the exchange of knowledge and collaborative networks among experts from various disciplines, promoting a unified approach to tackling TBDs in the region. The symposium underscored the need for enhanced surveillance, diagnostics, and inter-regional cooperation to manage the threat of TBDs effectively. Recommendations include the establishment of a regional database for tick identification and the expansion of vector competence studies. These initiatives are crucial for developing targeted interventions and understanding the broader implications of climate change and urbanization on the prevalence of TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sony Yean
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Didot Budi Prasetyo
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | | | - Upik Kesumawati Hadi
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Abdul Rahman Kazim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Vu Duc Chinh
- National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Keita Matsuno
- International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Van Lun Low
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sarah Bonnet
- Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-borne pathogens Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, INRAE USC 1510, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Boulanger
- University of Strasbourg and French Reference Center Lyme, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | | | - Jean-Marc Chavatte
- National Public Health Laboratory–National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Ministry of Health, Singapore
| | - Samuth Sum
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Theary Ren
- National Animal Health and Production Research Institute, General Directorate of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Anavaj Sakuntabhai
- Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-borne pathogens Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 2000, INRAE USC 1510, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Olivier Maquart
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Antsa Rakotonirina
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sebastien Boyer
- Medical and Veterinary Entomology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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3
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Loyola S, Palacios-Salvatierra R, Cáceres-Rey O, Richards AL. Rickettsia asembonensis Isolated from Four Human Cases with Acute Undifferentiated Febrile Illness in Peru. Pathogens 2024; 13:489. [PMID: 38921787 PMCID: PMC11206278 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Rickettsioses, often underreported, pose public health challenges. Rickettsia asembonensis is a potential emerging pathogen that was previously detected in humans, animals, and a variety of arthropods. While its pathogenicity in humans remains unclear, it poses a potential public health threat. Here, we present an extended epidemiological, diagnostic, and genetic analysis of the information provided in a preliminary report on the investigation of rickettsiae in Peru. In particular, we report the detection of R. asembonensis in blood specimens collected from four human patients with an acute undifferentiated fever of a seven- to nine-day duration, all of whom tested negative for other vector-borne pathogens. Additionally, we describe the replicative capacity of the R. asembonensis isolates in cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steev Loyola
- School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima 15102, Peru
- Doctorado en Medicina Tropical, School of Medicine, Universidad de Cartagena, Cartagena de Indias 130014, Colombia
| | - Rosa Palacios-Salvatierra
- Postgraduate Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15081, Peru
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, School of Biological Sciences, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima 15081, Peru
| | - Omar Cáceres-Rey
- Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Lima 15072, Peru
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
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Laukaitis-Yousey HJ, Macaluso KR. Cat Flea Coinfection with Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia typhi. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:201-213. [PMID: 38422214 PMCID: PMC11035851 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Flea-borne rickettsioses, collectively referred to as a term for etiological agents Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia typhi, and RFLOs (R. felis-like organisms), has become a public health concern around the world, specifically in the United States. Due to a shared arthropod vector (the cat flea) and clinical signs, discriminating between Rickettsia species has proven difficult. While the effects of microbial coinfections in the vector can result in antagonistic or synergistic interrelationships, subsequently altering potential human exposure and disease, the impact of bacterial interactions within flea populations remains poorly defined. Methods: In this study, in vitro and in vivo systems were utilized to assess rickettsial interactions in arthropods. Results: Coinfection of both R. felis and R. typhi within a tick-derived cell line indicated that the two species could infect the same cell, but distinct growth kinetics led to reduced R. felis growth over time, regardless of infection order. Sequential flea coinfections revealed the vector could acquire both Rickettsia spp. and sustain coinfection for up to 2 weeks, but rickettsial loads in coinfected fleas and feces were altered during coinfection. Conclusion: Altered rickettsial loads during coinfection suggest R. felis and R. typhi interactions may enhance the transmission potential of either agent. Thus, this study provides a functional foundation to disentangle transmission events propelled by complex interspecies relationships during vector coinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna J. Laukaitis-Yousey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kevin R. Macaluso
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
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Candasamy S, Ayyanar E, Devaraju P, Kumar A, Zaman K, Bhaskar Mishra B, Srinivasan L, Purushothaman J. Evidence on the prevalence of emerging and re-emerging tick- and flea-borne rickettsial agents in acute encephalitis syndrome endemic areas of northeast Uttar Pradesh, India. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 38:23-37. [PMID: 37736686 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with unknown aetiology are reported every year in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India, and Orientia tsutsugamushi, the rickettsial pathogen, responsible for scrub typhus has been attributed as the primary cause of AES problem. However, information on the prevalence of other rickettsial infections is lacking. Hence, this study was carried out to assess any occurrence of tick- and flea-borne rickettsial agents in villages reporting AES cases in this district. In total, 825 peridomestic small mammals were trapped, by setting 9254 Sherman traps in four villages with a trap success rate of 8.9%. The Asian house shrew, Suncus murinus, constituted the predominant animal species (56.2%) and contributed to the maximum number (87.37%) of ectoparasites. In total, 1552 ectoparasites comprising two species of ticks and one species each of flea and louse were retrieved from the trapped rodents/shrews. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick, was the predominant species retrieved from the trapped rodents/shrews, and the overall infestation rate was 1.75 per animal. In total, 4428 ectoparasites comprising five tick species, three louse species and one flea species were collected from 1798 domestic animals screened. Rhipicephalus microplus was the predominant tick species collected from the domestic animals. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, constituted 1.5% of the total ectoparasites. Of all the ectoparasite samples (5980) from domestic animals and rodents, tested as 1211 pools through real-time PCR assays, 64 pools were positive for 23S rRNA gene of rickettsial agents. The PCR-positive samples were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). In BLAST and phylogenetic analysis, the ectoparasites were found to harbour Rickettsia asembonensis (n = 9), Rickettsia conorii (n = 3), Rickettsia massiliae (n = 29) and Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis (n = 1). A total of 22 pools were detected to have multiple rickettsial agents. The prevalence of fleas and high abundance of tick vectors with natural infections of rickettsial agents indicates the risk of transmission of tick- and flea-borne rickettsial diseases in rural villages of Gorakhpur. Further epidemiological studies are required to confirm the transmission of these agents to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elango Ayyanar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Puducherry, India
| | - Panneer Devaraju
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Puducherry, India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Puducherry, India
| | - Kamran Zaman
- ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre (ICMR-RMRC), Gorakhpur, India
- ICMR-National Institute of Traditional Medicine Belagavi (ICMR-NITM Belagavi), Belagavi, India
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Beliavskaia A, Tan KK, Sinha A, Husin NA, Lim FS, Loong SK, Bell-Sakyi L, Carlow CKS, AbuBakar S, Darby AC, Makepeace BL, Khoo JJ. Metagenomics of culture isolates and insect tissue illuminate the evolution of Wolbachia, Rickettsia and Bartonella symbionts in Ctenocephalides spp. fleas. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001045. [PMID: 37399133 PMCID: PMC10438800 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While fleas are often perceived simply as a biting nuisance and a cause of allergic dermatitis, they represent important disease vectors worldwide, especially for bacterial zoonoses such as plague (transmitted by rodent fleas) and some of the rickettsioses and bartonelloses. The cosmopolitan cat (Ctenocephalides felis ) and dog (Ctenocephalides canis ) fleas, as well as Ctenocephalides orientis (restricted to tropical and subtropical Asia), breed in human dwellings and are vectors of cat-scratch fever (caused by Bartonella spp.) and Rickettsia spp., including Rickettsia felis (agent of flea-borne spotted fever) and Rickettsia asembonensis , a suspected pathogen. These Rickettsia spp. are members of a phylogenetic clade known as the ‘transitional group’, which includes both human pathogens and arthropod-specific endosymbionts. The relatively depauperate flea microbiome can also contain other endosymbionts, including a diverse range of Wolbachia strains. Here, we present circularized genome assemblies for two C. orientis -derived pathogens (Bartonella clarridgeiae and R. asembonensis ) from Malaysia, a novel Wolbachia strain (w Cori), and the C. orientis mitochondrion; all were obtained by direct metagenomic sequencing of flea tissues. Moreover, we isolated two Wolbachia strains from Malaysian C. felis into tick cell culture and recovered circularized genome assemblies for both, one of which (w CfeF) is newly sequenced. We demonstrate that the three Wolbachia strains are representatives of different major clades (‘supergroups’), two of which appear to be flea-specific. These Wolbachia genomes exhibit unique combinations of features associated with reproductive parasitism or mutualism, including prophage WO, cytoplasmic incompatibility factors and the biotin operon of obligate intracellular microbes. The first circularized assembly for R. asembonensis includes a plasmid with a markedly different structure and gene content compared to the published plasmid; moreover, this novel plasmid was also detected in cat flea metagenomes from the USA. Analysis of loci under positive selection in the transitional group revealed genes involved in host–pathogen interactions that may facilitate host switching. Finally, the first B. clarridgeiae genome from Asia exhibited large-scale genome stability compared to isolates from other continents, except for SNPs in regions predicted to mediate interactions with the vertebrate host. These findings highlight the paucity of data on the genomic diversity of Ctenocephalides -associated bacteria and raise questions regarding how interactions between members of the flea microbiome might influence vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Beliavskaia
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Kim-Kee Tan
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Amit Sinha
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, 01938, USA
| | - Nurul Aini Husin
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Fang Shiang Lim
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Shih Keng Loong
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | | | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC), Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Alistair C. Darby
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Benjamin L. Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK
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7
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Cândido SL, de Assis Pereira N, de Oliveira Rosa Fonseca MJ, de Campos Pacheco R, Morgado TO, Colodel EM, Nakazato L, Dutra V, Vieira TSWJ, de Aguiar DM. Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia sp. in neotropical primates from Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102179. [PMID: 36989601 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The Anaplasmataceae family includes obligate, arthropod-transmitted intracellular bacteria that can be zoonotic and potentially fatal. Studies focusing on the interaction between neotropical primates and the agents of this family are scarce. The present study aimed to identify agents of the Anaplasmataceae family in the whole blood of free-living and captive neotropical primates in the State of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Thirty-eight samples of six nonhuman primate (NHP) species were collected in seven municipalities and analysed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of the dsb, groEL, 16S rRNA, and gltA genes. DNA fragments similar to those of Ehrlichia canis were detected in Sapajus apella and Ehrlichia chaffeensis from Mico melanurus. The sequences generated in this study and homologous sequences retrieved from GenBank® were used for phylogenetic analyses to characterize the Ehrlichial agents detected in NHPs. The agents were then grouped into clades corresponding to different isolates from the NHP species. In addition, an Anaplasma sp. closely related to Anaplasma marginale was identified in two S. apella individuals. These findings shed light on the susceptibility of neotropical NHPs to Anaplasmataceae agents. These bacteria are known to be transmitted by ticks, which can also serve as possible sources of infection for other animals, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéfhano Luís Cândido
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Nathalia de Assis Pereira
- Virology and Rickettsiosis Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | | | - Richard de Campos Pacheco
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases Veterinary Parasitology of Domestic and Wild Animals, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Thais Oliveira Morgado
- Wild Animals Sector, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Edson Moleta Colodel
- Veterinary Pathology Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Luciano Nakazato
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Valéria Dutra
- Veterinary Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - FAVET, Veterinary Hospital - HOVET, Federal University of Mato Grosso - UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil
| | - Thállitha Samih Wischral Jayme Vieira
- Vector-Borne Diseases Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Paraná - UFPR, 1540 Funcionários Street, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brazil
| | - Daniel Moura de Aguiar
- Virology and Rickettsiosis Laboratory, HOVET, FAVET, UFMT, 2367 Fernando Correa Avenue, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900, Brazil.
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8
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Sun J, Liu H, Yao XY, Zhang YQ, Lv ZH, Shao JW. Circulation of four species of Anaplasmataceae bacteria in ticks in Harbin, northeastern China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102136. [PMID: 36736131 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Ticks play an important role in the evolution and transmission of Anaplasmataceae bacteria which are agents of emerging infectious diseases. In this study, a total of 1286 adult ticks belonging to five species were collected from cattle, goats, horses and vegetation in Harbin area, Heilongjiang province, northeastern China. The tick-borne Anaplasmataceae bacteria were identified by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rRNA (rrs) and heat shock protein-60 encoding (groEL) genes. The results showed that Ixodes persulcatus was dominant (38.8%, 499/1283) among the five tick species, and Anaplasmataceae bacteria were detected in all tick species with an overall prevalence of 7.4%. Four species of Anaplasmataceae bacteria (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma bovis, and "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis"), which are pathogenic to humans and/or animals, were identified from tick samples by phylogenetic analyzes of the rrs and groEL gene sequences. Interestingly, the cluster 1 strains were first identified in Asian, and a novel cluster was also detected in this study. These data revealed the genetic diversity of Anaplasmataceae bacteria circulating in ticks in Harbin area, highlighting the need to investigate these tick-borne pathogens and their risks to human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Sun
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hong Liu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xin-Yan Yao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yu-Qian Zhang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhi-Hang Lv
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jian-Wei Shao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China.
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9
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Khan SA, Saikia J, Bora T, Khamo V, Rahi M. Rickettsiae in fleas infesting domestic pets of eastern Himalayan terrains of India. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2022; 116:595-598. [DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trab184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Flea-borne rickettsioses have been limitedly explored in the Indian sub-Himalayan belt, including the North Eastern Region (NER) of India. This study investigates the presence of rickettsiae hosts and their probable pathogens in the disease-endemic hilly state of the NER of India.
Methods
Entomological surveys were carried out in disease-reporting localities in a hilly state in India. Fleas collected from domesticated animals were processed for detection of a Rickettsia-specific 17-kDa gene.
Results
Sequence analysis revealed Rickettsia felis in six flea pools (40%), Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis in two pools (13.3%) and Rickettsia asembonensis in one pool (6.6%).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans as potential carriers of R. felis and R. felis–like organisms in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siraj A Khan
- Department of Medical Entomology, Arbovirology and Rickettsial diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre , Northeast Region, Post Box 105, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Jahnabi Saikia
- Department of Medical Entomology, Arbovirology and Rickettsial diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre , Northeast Region, Post Box 105, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Trishna Bora
- Department of Medical Entomology, Arbovirology and Rickettsial diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research-Regional Medical Research Centre , Northeast Region, Post Box 105, Dibrugarh 786010, Assam, India
| | - Vinotsole Khamo
- Health Care and Research laboratory, Naga Hospital Authority , Kohima 797001, Nagaland, India
| | - Manju Rahi
- Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research , Ansari Nagar New Delhi 110029, India
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10
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Aung A, Kaewlamun W, Narapakdeesakul D, Poofery J, Kaewthamasorn M. Molecular detection and characterization of tick-borne parasites in goats and ticks from Thailand. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101938. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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11
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Urdapilleta M, Pech-May A, Lamattina D, Burgos EF, Balcazar DE, Ferrari WAO, Lareschi M, Salomón OD. Ecology of fleas and their hosts in the trifinio of north-east Argentina: first detection of Rickettsia asembonensis in Ctenocephalides felis felis in Argentina. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 36:20-29. [PMID: 34455608 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fleas are important in public health due to their role as parasites and vectors of pathogens, including Rickettsia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity, abundance and prevalence of fleas and the presence of Rickettsia in the trifinio of north-east Argentina. Fleas from household and synanthropic animals were obtained from urban and periurban areas. They were taxonomically identified and samples of 227 fleas in 86 pools were analysed by polymerase chain reaction targeting the gltA and ompB genes of Rickettsia spp. The study revealed that Ctenocephalides felis felis was dominant on dogs, cats and opossums, with higher prevalence in the periurban area. The Shannon-Wiener and Morisita-Horn indices expressed differences in the diversity and similarity values of the absolute abundances of the species between the areas compared. DNA amplifications revealed 30.8% C. f. felis pools positive for Rickettsia spp. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the haplotype obtained was identical to Rickettsia asembonensis from Peru and Brazil. This is the first detection in Argentina of R. asembonensis that infects C. f. felis, and we emphasize the importance of conducting research from a 'One Health' perspective on the role of opossums and rodents in the integration of the transmission cycles of rickettsial bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Urdapilleta
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT-ANLIS) (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - A Pech-May
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT-ANLIS) (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - D Lamattina
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT-ANLIS) (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - E F Burgos
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT-ANLIS) (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
| | - D E Balcazar
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - W A O Ferrari
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
- Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud (INBIAS-CONICET-UNRC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - M Lareschi
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - O D Salomón
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical (INMeT-ANLIS) (Ministerio de Salud de la Nación), Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina
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12
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First report of Rickettsia asembonensis in small ruminants. Vet Res Commun 2022; 46:979-983. [PMID: 35190932 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-022-09904-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsioses is a group of emerging infectious diseases in Southeast Asia caused by Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria in the Rickettsiae tribe. However, there is limited information regarding the vertebrate hosts of Rickettsia spp. in this region. This study aims to detect and identify Rickettsia agents present in wildlife and domesticated animals in Malaysia using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing of citrate synthase gene (gltA), followed by genotyping and phylogenetic analysis. Rickettsia sp. was detected in 2 (0.67%) of 300 wildlife and domesticated animal blood samples. The positive samples were derived from a goat (5.56% of 18) and a sheep (2.22% of 45). Both sequences demonstrated 99.64% sequence similarity to Rickettsia asembonensis, a species that is known to infect humans and macaques. This study reported for the first time the detection of R. asembonensis in sheep and goats in Malaysian farms, suggesting this species may be adapting to a wider range of animals, specifically farm animals. Therefore, this bacterium may pose a zoonotic threat to the local community particularly to the farmworkers or animal handlers. The low infection rate of this pathogen across different animals highlighted the need of continuous surveillance of emerging and reemerging pathogens among animal populations.
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13
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Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080953. [PMID: 34451417 PMCID: PMC8399139 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Small wild mammals are an important element in the emergence and transmission of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). Among these species, hedgehogs have been found to be a reservoir of VBPs and host of arthropod vectors. Surveillance of VBPs in wildlife and their arthropods are crucial in a one health context. We conducted an exploratory study to screen Atelerix algirus hedgehogs and their infesting ticks and fleas for VBPs using a high throughput microfluidic real-time PCR system. Tested biopsies from hedgehogs were found to be naturally infected by Theileria youngi, Hepatozoon sp., Ehrlichia ewingii, Coxiella burnetii, and Candidatus Ehrlichia shimanensis. Similarly, Haemaphysalis erinacei and Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick species were infected by Ehrlichia ewingii, Rickettsia spp., Rickettsia massiliae, Borrelia sp., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia lusitaniae and Anaplasma sp. Archaeopsylla erinacei fleas were infected by Rickettsia asembonensis, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia massiliae. Co-infections by two and three pathogens were detected in hedgehogs and infesting ticks and fleas. The microfluidic real-time PCR system enabled us not only to detect new and unexpected pathogens, but also to identify co-infections in hedgehogs, ticks, and fleas. We suggest that hedgehogs may play a reservoir role for VBPs in Tunisia and contribute to maintaining enzootic pathogen cycles via arthropod vectors.
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Rar V, Tkachev S, Tikunova N. Genetic diversity of Anaplasma bacteria: Twenty years later. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 91:104833. [PMID: 33794351 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.104833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The genus Anaplasma (family Anaplasmataceae, order Rickettsiales) includes obligate intracellular alphaproteobacteria that multiply within membrane-bound vacuoles and are transmitted by Ixodidae ticks to vertebrate hosts. Since the last reclassification of Anaplasmataceae twenty years ago, two new Anaplasma species have been identified. To date, the genus includes eight Anaplasma species (A. phagocytophilum, A. marginale, A. centrale, A. ovis, A. bovis, A. platys, A. odocoilei, and A. capra) and a large number of unclassified genovariants that cannot be assigned to known species. Members of the genus can cause infection in humans and a wide range of domestic animals with different degrees of severity. Long-term persistence which, in some cases, is manifested as cyclic bacteremia has been demonstrated for several Anaplasma species. Zoonotic potential has been shown for A. phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and for some other Anaplasma spp. that suggests a broader medical relevance of this genus. Genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. has been intensively studied in recent years, and it has been shown that some Anaplasma spp. can be considered as a complex of genetically distinct lineages differing by geography, vectors, and host tropism. The aim of this review was to summarize the current knowledge concerning the natural history, pathogenic properties, and genetic diversity of Anaplasma spp. and some unclassified genovariants with particular attention to their genetic characteristics. The high genetic variability of Anaplasma spp. prompted us to conduct a detailed phylogenetic analysis for different Anaplasma species and unclassified genovariants, which were included in this review. The genotyping of unclassified genovariants has led to the identification of at least four distinct clades that might be considered in future as new candidate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Sergey Tkachev
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
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15
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Chaorattanakawee S, Korkusol A, Tippayachai B, Promsathaporn S, Poole-Smith BK, Takhampunya R. Amplicon-Based Next Generation Sequencing for Rapid Identification of Rickettsia and Ectoparasite Species from Entomological Surveillance in Thailand. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020215. [PMID: 33669463 PMCID: PMC7920428 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Next generation sequencing (NGS) technology has been used for a wide range of epidemiological and surveillance studies. Here, we used amplicon-based NGS to species identify Rickettsia and their arthropod hosts from entomological surveillance. METHODS During 2015-2016, we screened 1825 samples of rodents and ectoparasites collected from rodents and domestic mammals (dog, cat, and cattle) across Thailand for Rickettsia. The citrate synthase gene was amplified to identify Rickettsia to species, while the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit I (COI) and subunit II (COII) genes were used as target genes for ectoparasite identification. All target gene amplicons were pooled for library preparation and sequenced with Illumina MiSeq platform. RESULT The highest percentage of Rickettsia DNA was observed in fleas collected from domestic animals (56%) predominantly dogs. Only a few samples of ticks from domestic animals, rodent fleas, and rodent tissue were positive for Rickettisia DNA. NGS based characterization of Rickettsia by host identified Rickettsia asembonensis as the most common bacteria in positive fleas collected from dogs (83.2%) while "Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis" was detected in only 16.8% of Rickettsia positive dog fleas. Sequence analysis of COI and COII revealed that almost all fleas collected from dogs were Ctenocephalides felis orientis. Other Rickettsia species were detected by NGS including Rickettsia heilongjiangensis from two Haemaphysalis hystricis ticks, and Rickettsia typhi in two rodent tissue samples. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the utility of NGS for high-throughput sequencing in the species characterization/identification of bacteria and ectoparasite for entomological surveillance of rickettsiae. A high percentage of C. f. orientis are positive for R. asembonensis. In addition, our findings indicate there is a risk of tick-borne Spotted Fever Group rickettsiosis, and flea-borne murine typhus transmission in Tak and Phangnga provinces of Thailand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwanna Chaorattanakawee
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Ratchawithi Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Achareeya Korkusol
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
| | - Bousaraporn Tippayachai
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
| | - Sommai Promsathaporn
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
| | - Betty K. Poole-Smith
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
| | - Ratree Takhampunya
- Department of Entomology, US Army Medical Directorate of the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (USAMD-AFRIMS), Bangkok 10400, Thailand; (S.C.); (A.K.); (B.T.); (S.P.); (B.K.P.-S.)
- Correspondence:
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16
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Caravedo Martinez MA, Ramírez-Hernández A, Blanton LS. Manifestations and Management of Flea-Borne Rickettsioses. Res Rep Trop Med 2021; 12:1-14. [PMID: 33574726 PMCID: PMC7873028 DOI: 10.2147/rrtm.s274724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Murine typhus and flea-borne spotted fever are undifferentiated febrile illnesses caused by Rickettsia typhi and Rickettsia felis, respectively. These organisms are small obligately intracellular bacteria and are transmitted to humans by fleas. Murine typhus is endemic to coastal areas of the tropics and subtropics (especially port cities), where rats are the primary mammalian host and rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) are the vector. In the United States, a cycle of transmission involving opossums and cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are the presumed reservoir and vector, respectively. The incidence and distribution of murine typhus appear to be increasing in endemic areas of the US. Rickettsia felis has also been reported throughout the world and is found within the ubiquitous cat flea. Flea-borne rickettsioses manifest as an undifferentiated febrile illness. Headache, malaise, and myalgia are frequent symptoms that accompany fever. The incidence of rash is variable, so its absence should not dissuade the clinician to consider a rickettsial illness as part of the differential diagnosis. When present, the rash is usually macular or papular. Although not a feature of murine typhus, eschar has been found in 12% of those with flea-borne spotted fever. Confirmatory laboratory diagnosis is usually obtained by serology; the indirect immunofluorescence assay is the serologic test of choice. Antibodies are seldom present during the first few days of illness. Thus, the diagnosis requires acute- and convalescent-phase specimens to document seroconversion or a four-fold increase in antibody titer. Since laboratory diagnosis is usually retrospective, when a flea-borne rickettsiosis is considered, empiric treatment should be initiated. The treatment of choice for both children and adults is doxycycline, which results in a swift and effective response. The following review is aimed to summarize the key clinical, epidemiological, ecological, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of flea-borne rickettsioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A Caravedo Martinez
- Department of Internal Medicine – Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | | | - Lucas S Blanton
- Department of Internal Medicine – Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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17
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Fang LZ, Lei SC, Yan ZJ, Xiao X, Liu JW, Gong XQ, Yu H, Yu XJ. Detection of Multiple Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava Ticks Collected from Hedgehogs in Central China. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020115. [PMID: 33498714 PMCID: PMC7911675 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Tickborne intracellular bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma, Coxiella burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia cause emerging infectious diseases worldwide. PCR was used to amplify the genes of these pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks collected from hedgehogs in Central China. Among 125 samples including 20 egg batches, 24 engorged females, and 81 molted male and female adult ticks, the DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed that the minimum infection rate of the ticks was 4% (5/125) for A. bovis, 3.2% (4/125) for C. burnetti, 9.6%, (12/125) for E. ewingii, and 5.6% for Rickettsia including R.japonica (3.2%, 4/125) and R. raoultii (2.4%, 3/125), respectively. The prevalence of these pathogens was significantly higher in dead engorged females (83.3%, 20/24) than in eggs (5%, 1/20) and molted ticks (8.6%, 7/81). Our study indicated that H. flava ticks could be infected with multiple species of tickborne pathogens including Anaplasma, C. burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia in Central China, and the prevalence of these pathogens was reduced during transovarial and transstadial transmission in ticks, suggesting that ticks may not be real reservoirs but only vectors for these tickborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Zhu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Si-Cong Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | | | - Xiao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- Lab Animal Research Center, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Jian-Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Xiao-Qing Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Hao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
| | - Xue-Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; (L.-Z.F.); (S.-C.L.); (X.X.); (J.-W.L.); (X.-Q.G.); (H.Y.)
- Correspondence:
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18
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Nataraj N, Muthuraman K, Sundaram D, Ayyanar E, Ashokkumar M, Kasinathan G, Devaraju P. Molecular detection of Candidatus Rickettsia asembonensis in fleas collected from pets and domestic animals in Puducherry, India. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 34:498-502. [PMID: 32432803 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia are obligate intracellular pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors. The re-emergence of several rickettsioses imposes severe global health burden. In addition to the well-established rickettsial pathogens, newer rickettsial species and their pathogenic potentials are being uncovered. There are many reports of spotted and typhus fever caused by rickettsiae in India. Hence, in this study we screened the ectoparasites of pet and domestic animals for the presence of rickettsia using polymerase chain reaction. Nine cat flea samples (Ctenocephalides felis felis), that tested positive for the presence of rickettsia were subjected to Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Nucleotide sequencing and Phylogenetic analysis of gltA, ompB and 16rrs genes revealed that the rickettsiae detected in cat fleas was Rickettsia asembonensis. Further studies are required to assess Rickettsia asembonensis pathogenic potential to human and its enzootic maintenance of in various hosts and vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Nataraj
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - K Muthuraman
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - D Sundaram
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - E Ayyanar
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - M Ashokkumar
- Division of Microbiology & Molecular Biology, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - G Kasinathan
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
| | - P Devaraju
- Division of Vector Biology and Control, ICMR-Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR-VCRC), Indira Nagar, Puducherry, India
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Nguyen HM, Theppannga W, Vongphayloth K, Douangngeun B, Blacksell SD, Robinson MT. Screening of ectoparasites from domesticated dogs for bacterial pathogens in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:862-868. [PMID: 32649049 PMCID: PMC7983881 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Arthropod-borne diseases are widespread worldwide and are a complex interaction between animals, humans and ectoparasites. The understanding of the diversity and epidemiology of organisms transmitted by arthropod vectors, and the role of hosts and vectors in transmission of infections remain limited in Lao PDR. What knowledge does exist is primarily focused on more rural regions of the country. This study screened ectoparasites from domestic dogs in Vientiane city for the presence of bacterial pathogens of zoonotic importance. A total of 3,511 arthropod vectors were collected from 112 dogs. Vectors collected were Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks, Ctenocephalides felis felis and Ctenocephalides felis orientis fleas and Heterodoxus spiniger lice. A sub-sample of vectors from each dog was analysed by PCR to identify the potential bacteria. From 129 vector pools, Rickettsia spp. was detected in 6.7% (7/105) pools of ticks, 86.4% (19/22) pools of fleas and both pools of lice. Sequencing analysis confirmed Rickettsia felis in 13 flea pools and one louse pool and Rickettsia asembonensis in six flea pools. Anaplasmataceae was identified in 14.3% (15/105) tick pools and 100% (22/22) flea pools. Sequencing revealed the presence of Anaplasma platys in ticks and Wolbachia pipientis in fleas. Leptospira spp. was detected in one tick and one louse pool, and Brucella spp. was detected in 12.4% (13/105) tick pools. All samples were negative for Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii and Borrelia burgdorferi. This is the first study providing evidence of R. asembonensis in fleas in Laos. Results from this study show arthropods are potential vectors to transmit zoonotic infection in Vientiane city, suggesting humans are at risk of zoonotic infections in the city.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Manh Nguyen
- Lao Tropical and Public Health InstituteVientianeLaos
- Present address:
Faculty of MedicineFaculty of Nursing SciencesUniversité LavalQuébecQCCanada
| | | | | | | | - Stuart D. Blacksell
- Mahidol‐Oxford Tropical Medicine Research UnitBangkokThailand
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Matthew T. Robinson
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Lao‐Oxford‐Mahosot Hospital‐Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Microbiology LaboratoryMahosot HospitalVientianeLaos
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20
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Hamzaoui BE, Zurita A, Cutillas C, Parola P. Fleas and flea-borne diseases of North Africa. Acta Trop 2020; 211:105627. [PMID: 32652054 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
North Africa has an interesting and rich wildlife including hematophagous arthropods, and specifically fleas, which constitute a large part of the North African fauna, and are recognised vectors of several zoonotic bacteria. Flea-borne organisms are widely distributed throughout the world in endemic disease foci, where components of the enzootic cycle are present. Furthermore, flea-borne diseases could re-emerge in epidemic form because of changes in the vector-host ecology due to environmental and human behaviour modifications. We need to know the real incidences of flea-borne diseases in the world due to this incidence could be much greater than are generally recognized by physicians and health authorities. As a result, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed by health care professionals who are unaware of the presence of these infections and thus do not take them into consideration when attempting to determine the cause of a patient's illness. In this context, this bibliographic review aims to summarise the main species of fleas present in North Africa, their geographical distribution, flea-borne diseases, and their possible re-emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma El Hamzaoui
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME; IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
| | - Antonio Zurita
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Cristina Cutillas
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME; IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
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21
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Moreno-Salas L, Espinoza-Carniglia M, Lizama-Schmeisser N, Torres-Fuentes LG, Silva-de La Fuente MC, Lareschi M, González-Acuña D. Molecular detection of Rickettsia in fleas from micromammals in Chile. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:523. [PMID: 33069260 PMCID: PMC7568392 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04388-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsial diseases are considered important in public health due to their dispersal capacity determined by the particular characteristics of their reservoirs and/or vectors. Among the latter, fleas play an important role, since the vast majority of species parasitize wild and invasive rodents, so their detection is relevant to be able to monitor potential emerging diseases. The aim of this study was to detect, characterize, and compare Rickettsia spp. from the fleas of micromammals in areas with different human population densities in Chile. Methods The presence of Rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing in 1315 fleas collected from 1512 micromammals in 29 locations, with different human population densities in Chile. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to identify the variables that may explain Rickettsia prevalence in fleas. Results DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 13.2% (174 of 1315) of fleas tested. Fifteen flea species were found to be Rickettsia-positive. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was higher in winter, semi-arid region and natural areas, and the infection levels in fleas varied between species of flea. The prevalence of Rickettsia among flea species ranged between 0–35.1%. Areas of lower human density showed the highest prevalence of Rickettsia. The phylogenetic tree showed two well-differentiated clades with Rickettsia bellii positioned as basal in one clade. The second clade was subdivided into two subclades of species related to Rickettsia of the spotted fever group. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 15 flea species of micromammals in Chile. In this study, fleas were detected carrying Rickettsia DNA with zoonotic potential, mainly in villages and natural areas of Chile. Considering that there are differences in the prevalence of Rickettsia in fleas associated with different factors, more investigations are needed to further understand the ecology of Rickettsia in fleas and their implications for human health.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucila Moreno-Salas
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Mario Espinoza-Carniglia
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores CEPAVE (CONICET CCT-La Plata-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Nicol Lizama-Schmeisser
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Concepción, Chile
| | | | - María Carolina Silva-de La Fuente
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Chillán, Chile.,Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Marcela Lareschi
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores CEPAVE (CONICET CCT-La Plata-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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22
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Ferreira FC, Fonseca DM, Hamilton G, Price D. Metagenomic analysis of human-biting cat fleas in urban northeastern United States of America reveals an emerging zoonotic pathogen. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15611. [PMID: 32973327 PMCID: PMC7519146 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72956-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
An infestation of cat fleas in a research center led to the detection of two genotypes of Ctenocephalides felis biting humans in New Jersey, USA. The rarer flea genotype had an 83% incidence of Rickettsia asembonensis, a recently described bacterium closely related to R. felis, a known human pathogen. A metagenomics analysis developed in under a week recovered the entire R. asembonensis genome at high coverage and matched it to identical or almost identical (> 99% similarity) strains reported worldwide. Our study exposes the potential of cat fleas as vectors of human pathogens in crowded northeastern U.S, cities and suburbs where free-ranging cats are abundant. Furthermore, it demonstrates the power of metagenomics to glean large amounts of comparative data regarding both emerging vectors and their pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco C Ferreira
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA.
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, 20008, USA.
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - George Hamilton
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Dana Price
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
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23
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Sharifah N, Heo CC, Ehlers J, Houssaini J, Tappe D. Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in animals and humans in the island nations of Southeast Asia: A review. Acta Trop 2020; 209:105527. [PMID: 32447029 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites and major vectors of pathogens that cause infectious diseases in humans and animals worldwide including mammals, birds and reptiles. Despite the growing scientific effort in the 20th century, there is still limited information on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Southeast Asia, especially concerning medical, veterinary, socioeconomic and agricultural aspects in the island nations. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of ticks and their pathogens in the island nations of Southeast Asia and peninsular Malaysia. We aim to stimulate further research studies on ticks and tick-borne pathogens of human and veterinary importance in this geographical region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadiah Sharifah
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chong Chin Heo
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Julian Ehlers
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jamal Houssaini
- Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia; Institute of Pathology, Laboratory and Forensic Medicine (I-PPerForM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Jalan Hospital, 47000 Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Dennis Tappe
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
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24
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Nguyen VL, Colella V, Greco G, Fang F, Nurcahyo W, Hadi UK, Venturina V, Tong KBY, Tsai YL, Taweethavonsawat P, Tiwananthagorn S, Tangtrongsup S, Le TQ, Bui KL, Do T, Watanabe M, Rani PAMA, Dantas-Torres F, Halos L, Beugnet F, Otranto D. Molecular detection of pathogens in ticks and fleas collected from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:420. [PMID: 32799914 PMCID: PMC7429691 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04288-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks and fleas are considered amongst the most important arthropod vectors of medical and veterinary concern due to their ability to transmit pathogens to a range of animal species including dogs, cats and humans. By sharing a common environment with humans, companion animal-associated parasitic arthropods may potentially transmit zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). This study aimed to molecularly detect pathogens from ticks and fleas from companion dogs and cats in East and Southeast Asia. Methods A total of 392 ticks and 248 fleas were collected from 401 infested animals (i.e. 271 dogs and 130 cats) from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, and molecularly screened for the presence of pathogens. Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. while fleas were screened for the presence of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. Result Of the 392 ticks tested, 37 (9.4%) scored positive for at least one pathogen with Hepatozoon canis being the most prevalent (5.4%), followed by Ehrlichia canis (1.8%), Babesia vogeli (1%), Anaplasma platys (0.8%) and Rickettsia spp. (1%) [including Rickettsia sp. (0.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (0.3%) and Rickettsia felis (0.3%)]. Out of 248 fleas tested, 106 (42.7%) were harboring at least one pathogen with R. felis being the most common (19.4%), followed by Bartonella spp. (16.5%), Rickettsia asembonensis (10.9%) and “Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis” (0.4%). Furthermore, 35 Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were subjected to phylogenetic analysis, of which 34 ticks belonged to the tropical and only one belonged to the temperate lineage (Rh. sanguineus (sensu stricto)). Conclusion Our data reveals the circulation of different VBPs in ticks and fleas of dogs and cats from Asia, including zoonotic agents, which may represent a potential risk to animal and human health.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Viet-Linh Nguyen
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Colella
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy.,Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Grazia Greco
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Fang Fang
- School of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Wisnu Nurcahyo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakata, Indonesia
| | | | - Virginia Venturina
- College of Veterinary Science & Medicine, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
| | | | - Yi-Lun Tsai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | | | | | | | - Thong Quang Le
- Faculty of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
| | - Khanh Linh Bui
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thom Do
- Biodiversity Conservation and Tropical Disease Research Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Malaika Watanabe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | | | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy.,Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Recife, Brazil
| | - Lenaig Halos
- Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Lyon, France
| | | | - Domenico Otranto
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Bari, Bari, Italy. .,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
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25
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Guo WP, Tie WF, Meng S, Li D, Wang JL, Du LY, Xie GC. Extensive genetic diversity of Anaplasma bovis in ruminants in Xi'an, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101477. [PMID: 32723632 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma bovis is an organism significant to cattle and buffalo since it is one of the causative agents of bovine anaplasmosis. Previous studies have shown the worldwide distribution of A. bovis. However, most of these studies about its genetic diversity only focused on the rrs gene. In this study, DNA of A. bovis was detected in blood samples of cattle and goats in Xi'an city, China by nested-PCR. Near full-length rrs, groEL, and gltA genes were amplified successfully from the positive samples. Genetic analysis showed that specific genetic marker (an insertion and a deletion) was found in the rrs sequences in some strains, as well as clone 88 from monkeys in previous study. Phylogenetic analysis based on the rrs, groEL, and gltA genes revealed that A. bovis circulating in Xi'an exhibited great genetic diversity. Our results also indicated that variants outside China presented geographic clustering, and all A. bovis isolates based on the groEL or gltA gene also showed a host origin clustering. Also of note was that the phylogenetic analyses of the groEL and gltA genes suggested that both frequent dispersals over long distances in recent years and local adaptation over long evolutionary timescales played important roles in the distribution and evolution of A. bovis in China. Finally, a potential recombination event in the genome of Zhouzhi-cattle-10 based on inconsistent positions in the groEL and gltA trees was also observed. These results also reinforce the need for assessing the pathogenicity to humans of A. bovis variants with specific marker in the rrs gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ping Guo
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China.
| | - Wei-Fang Tie
- College of Hetao, Bayannur, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Su Meng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Jiang-Li Wang
- Laboratory of Microbiology Detection, Chengde Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, Chengde, China
| | - Luan-Ying Du
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China
| | - Guang-Cheng Xie
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, College of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, China.
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26
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Phomjareet S, Chaveerach P, Suksawat F, Jiang J, Richards AL. Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia Infection of Cats and Cat Fleas in Northeast Thailand. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:566-571. [PMID: 32744925 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia species cause rickettsioses, which are zoonotic diseases found worldwide, and are transmitted by arthropods such as lice, fleas, ticks, and mites. In Thailand, flea infestations are common among cats and dogs. This study aimed at determining the exposure to spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) of cats in surrounding areas of Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, Muang district, Maha Sarakham province and rickettsial infection among cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, collected from dogs of the surrounding area of Waeng Noi district, Khon Kaen province. Forty-two cat sera were assessed for IgG antibody titers against SFGR by a group-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevalence of seroreactive cats was 4.76% (2/42). DNA preparations from 23 individual cat fleas from three dogs were assessed by Rickettsia genus-specific, group-specific, and species-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays. Positive results were confirmed by ompB gene fragment sequencing. Twenty-one of 23 cat fleas were positive for Rickettsia asembonensis, and the other two DNA preparations were negative for rickettsial DNA. This study's finding indicates that companion cats and dogs in Northeast Thailand are exposed to SFGR and that exposure may be due to infection with R. asembonensis, an organism known to infect humans, monkeys, and dogs. Clinicians for humans and animals in Northeast Thailand should be aware of rickettsial infections among their patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirirat Phomjareet
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Prapansak Chaveerach
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Fanan Suksawat
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Ju Jiang
- Rickettsial Diseases Research Program, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Allen L Richards
- Rickettsial Diseases Research Program, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,International Visiting Scholar, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
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27
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Low VL, Tan TK, Khoo JJ, Lim FS, AbuBakar S. An overview of rickettsiae in Southeast Asia: Vector-animal-human interface. Acta Trop 2020; 202:105282. [PMID: 31778642 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsioses are emerging, and re-emerging diseases caused by obligate intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria that infect humans and animals worldwide. Various rickettsiae such as Orientia, Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia have been circulated in companion, domesticated and wild animals through bites of infected ticks, fleas, lice or mites. This review summarizes the infections of rickettsiae, including the newly discovered regional species Rickettsia thailandii, Candidatus Rickettsia sepangensis, Candidatus Rickettsia johorensis, Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis, Candidatus Rickettsia mahosotii, Candidatus Rickettsia khammouanensis, Candidatus Anaplasma pangolinii, and other novel genotypes in vectors, humans and animals in Southeast Asia. Issues on some unidentified rickettsiae that elicit immune responses and production of antibodies that are cross-reactive with the antigens used are discussed. Knowledge gaps which required attention are also identified in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Lun Low
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Tiong Kai Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fang Shiang Lim
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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28
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Satjanadumrong J, Robinson MT, Hughes T, Blacksell SD. Distribution and Ecological Drivers of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in Asia. ECOHEALTH 2019; 16:611-626. [PMID: 30993545 PMCID: PMC6910891 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01409-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Spotted fever group and related rickettsia (SFGR) are a neglected group of pathogens that belong to the genus Rickettsia. SFGR are zoonotic and are transmitted by arthropod vectors, primarily ticks, fleas and mites to accidental hosts. These emerging and re-emerging infections are widely distributed throughout the world. Land-use change and increasing human-wildlife conflict compound the risk of SFGR infection to local people in endemic areas and travelers to these regions. In this article, we discuss the rickettsial organisms causing spotted fever and related diseases, their arthropod vectors in Asia and the impact of land-use change on their spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaruwan Satjanadumrong
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Matthew T Robinson
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Tom Hughes
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- EcoHealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stuart D Blacksell
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, 420/6 Rajvithee Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit (LOMWRU), Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.
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29
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Guo WP, Wang X, Li YN, Xu G, Wang YH, Zhou EM. GroEL gene typing and genetic diversity of Anaplasma bovis in ticks in Shaanxi, China. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2019; 74:103927. [PMID: 31220612 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.103927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma bovis, causative agent of bovine anaplasmosis, is usually identified by nested-PCR amplifying the rrs gene. However, it is difficult to determine the genetic relationship among different variants within A. bovis using this gene because of high conservation. In this study, two tick species, identified as Rhipicephalus microplus and Haemaphysalis longicornis based on morphological and molecular methods by analyzing COI gene, were collected from cattle, goat or sheep. Subsequently, A. bovis was initially detected by PCR amplifying the rrs gene in ticks in Shaanxi Province, China. The sequencing and Blast results showed that some false positive samples were found when only based on the amplification of partial rrs gene, presenting these sequences resembled those of other Alphaproteobacteria rather than A. bovis. Although major surface proteins genes were proposed and used successfully to identify members within Anaplasmataceae, these genes were unavailable for A. bovis. Hence, primers targeting the groEL gene were designed and a PCR assay was developed. The PCR products were sequenced and similarity and phylogenetic analysis suggested all these sequences are the groEL gene of A. bovis. In addition, phylogenetic analysis based on the groEL gene also revealed the genetic diversity of A. bovis worldwide, as well as in Shaanxi Province of China, which wasn't reflected by analyzing the rrs gene. In sum, groEL gene is important for molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of A. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ping Guo
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Diagnostic Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xiaoquan Wang
- Xuwang Town Comprehensive Agricultural Service Station, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ya-Ning Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Diagnostic Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Diagnostic Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi-Han Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Diagnostic Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - En-Min Zhou
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Veterinary Pharmacology and Diagnostic Technology, Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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30
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Kho KL, Tan PE, Tay ST. Diversity of Rickettsiae in Feeding and Questing Ticks Collected From a Malaysian Forest Reserve Area. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:547-552. [PMID: 30304529 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
High seropositivity to Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia felis has been reported in Malaysian indigenous community living in settlements adjacent to forest areas. The current study was conducted to determine the type and distribution of rickettsiae in feeding and questing ticks that were collected from a forest reserve area at Kuala Lompat in Pahang, Malaysia. Using PCR assays targeting citrate synthase (gltA), outer membrane protein A (ompA) and B (ompB) genes, rickettsiae were detected from approximately one-third of 98 ticks (mainly Dermacentor and Haemaphysalis spp.) collected from the forest reserve. BLAST analysis reveals the predominance of Rickettsia sp. RF2125 in both feeding and questing ticks and Rickettsia sp. TCM1 in the questing ticks. Sequences exhibiting close genetic relationship with Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia tamurae, Rickettsia heilongjiangensis, and Rickettsia asiatica were also detected from the ticks. This study highlights the diversity of rickettsial species and potential tick vectors which may contribute to the high seropositivity observed among the local communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ling Kho
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Poai Ean Tan
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Maina AN, Jiang J, Luce-Fedrow A, St John HK, Farris CM, Richards AL. Worldwide Presence and Features of Flea-Borne Rickettsia asembonensis. Front Vet Sci 2019; 5:334. [PMID: 30687724 PMCID: PMC6338025 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickettsia asembonensis, the most well-characterized rickettsia of the Rickettsia felis-like organisms (RFLO), is relatively unknown within the vector-borne diseases research community. The agent was initially identified in peri-domestic fleas from Asembo, Kenya in an area in which R. felis was associated with fever patients. Local fleas collected from domestic animals and within homes were predominately infected with R. asembonensis with < 10% infected with R. felis. Since the identification of R. asembonensis in Kenya, it has been reported in other locations within Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, and South America. With the description of R. asembonensis-like genotypes across the globe, a need exists to isolate these R. asembonensis genotypes in cell culture, conduct microscopic, and biological analysis, as well as whole genome sequencing to ascertain whether they are the same species. Additionally, interest has been building on the potential of R. asembonensis in infecting vertebrate hosts including humans, non-human primates, dogs, and other animals. The current knowledge of the presence, prevalence, and distribution of R. asembonensis worldwide, as well as its arthropod hosts and potential as a pathogen are discussed in this manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice N Maina
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Ju Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Alison Luce-Fedrow
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Department of Biology, Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, United States
| | - Heidi K St John
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Christina M Farris
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States
| | - Allen L Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States.,Department of Preventative Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Molecular investigation of Anaplasma spp. in domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 13:141-147. [PMID: 31014863 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma spp. are Gram-negative obligate intracellular, tick-borne bacteria which are of medical and veterinary importance. Little information is available on Anaplasma infection affecting domestic and wildlife animals in Malaysia. This study investigated the presence of Anaplasma spp. in the blood samples of domestic and wildlife animals in Peninsular Malaysia, using polymerase chain reaction (EHR-PCR) assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasmataceae. High detection rates (60.7% and 59.0%, respectively) of Anaplasma DNA were noted in 224 cattle (Bos taurus) and 78 deer (77 Rusa timorensis and one Rusa unicolor) investigated in this study. Of the 60 amplified fragments obtained for sequence analysis, Anaplasma marginale was exclusively detected in cattle while Anaplasma platys/Anaplasma phagocytophilum was predominantly detected in the deer. Based on sequence analyses of the longer fragment of the 16S rRNA gene (approximately 1000 bp), the occurrence of A. marginale, Anaplasma capra and Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in cattle, Candidatus A. camelii in deer and Anaplasma bovis in a goat was identified in this study. To assess whether animals were infected with more than one species of Anaplasma, nested amplification of A. phagocytophilum, A. bovis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis DNA was performed for 33 animal samples initially screened positive for Anaplasmataceae. No amplification of E. chaffeensis DNA was obtained from animals investigated. BLAST analyses of the 16S rDNA sequences from three deer (R. timorensis), a buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and a cow (B. taurus) reveal similarity with that of Candidatus Anaplasma boleense strain (GenBank accession no.: KX987335). Sequence analyses of the partial gene fragments of major surface protein (msp4) gene from two deer (R. timorensis) and a monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) show the detection of a strain highly similar (99%) to that of A. phagocytophilum strain ZJ-China (EU008082). The findings in this study show the occurrence of various Anaplasma species including those newly reported species in Malaysian domestic and wildlife animals. The role of these animals as reservoirs/maintenance hosts for Anaplasma infection are yet to be determined.
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Nelson K, Maina AN, Brisco A, Foo C, Croker C, Ngo V, Civen R, Richards AL, Fujioka K, Wekesa JW. A 2015 outbreak of flea-borne rickettsiosis in San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County, California. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006385. [PMID: 29677221 PMCID: PMC5931684 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although flea-borne rickettsiosis is endemic in Los Angeles County, outbreaks are rare. In the spring of 2015 three human cases of flea-borne rickettsiosis among residents of a mobile home community (MHC) prompted an investigation. Fleas were ubiquitous in common areas due to presence of flea-infested opossums and overabundant outdoor cats and dogs. The MHC was summarily abated in June 2015, and within five months, flea control and removal of animals significantly reduced the flea population. Two additional epidemiologically-linked human cases of flea-borne rickettsiosis detected at the MHC were suspected to have occurred before control efforts began. Molecular testing of 106 individual and 85 pooled cat fleas, blood and ear tissue samples from three opossums and thirteen feral cats using PCR amplification and DNA sequencing detected rickettsial DNA in 18.8% of the fleas. Seventeen percent of these cat fleas tested positive for R. felis-specific DNA compared to under two (<2) percent for Candidatus R. senegalensis-specific DNA. In addition, serological testing of 13 cats using a group-specific IgG-ELISA detected antibodies against typhus group rickettsiae and spotted fever group rickettsiae in six (46.2%) and one (7.7%) cat, respectively. These results indicate that cats and their fleas may have played an active role in the epidemiology of the typhus group and/or spotted fever group rickettsial disease(s) in this outbreak. Outbreaks of flea-borne rickettsiosis are rare despite the endemic status in Los Angeles County. In the spring of 2015 three human cases of flea-borne rickettsiosis among residents of a mobile home community (MHC) prompted an investigation. Fleas were found in all common areas at the MHC due to presence of flea-infested opossums and overabundant outdoor cats and dogs. The MHC was summarily abated in June 2015, and within five months, flea control and removal of animals significantly reduced the flea population. Two additional epidemiologically-linked human cases detected at the MHC were considered to have occurred before control efforts began. Molecular testing of cat fleas, immunological testing of opossums and feral cats collected at the site indicated active transmission of flea-borne rickettsiosis. This study represents the first flea-borne rickettsial outbreak that summary abatement approach was used to reduce its intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Nelson
- San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, West Covina, California, United States of America
| | - Alice N. Maina
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Angela Brisco
- San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, West Covina, California, United States of America
| | - Chelsea Foo
- Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Curtis Croker
- Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Van Ngo
- Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Rachel Civen
- Acute Communicable Disease Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Community Health Services Program, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kenn Fujioka
- San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, West Covina, California, United States of America
| | - J. Wakoli Wekesa
- San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, West Covina, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Koh FX, Kho KL, Kisomi MG, Wong LP, Bulgiba A, Tan PE, Lim YAL, Nizam QNH, Panchadcharam C, Tay ST. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma Infections: Serological Evidence and Tick Surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 55:269-276. [PMID: 29202206 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Little information is available on human anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis in Southeast Asia despite increasing reports of the detection of Anaplasma spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in the ticks. We report herein the serological findings against the tick-borne pathogens in a group of animal farm workers (n = 87) and indigenous people (n = 102) in Peninsular Malaysia. IgG antibodies against Ehrlichia chaffeensis were detected from 29.9% and 34.3% of farm workers and indigenous people, respectively, using commercial indirect immunofluorescence assays. Comparatively, only 6.9% of the indigenous people but none of the animal farm workers were seropositive to Anaplasma phagocytophilum. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasmataceae was used to identify Anaplastamataceae in ticks collected from various locations adjacent to the areas where the serological survey was conducted. In this study, a total of 61.5% of ticks infesting farm animals, 37.5% of ticks infesting peri-domestic animals in rural villages, 27.3% of ticks collected from wildlife animals, and 29.1% of questing ticks collected from forest vegetation were positive for Anaplasmataceae DNA. Sequence analyses of 16S rRNA gene region (238 bp) provide the identification for Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma platys, A. phagocytophilum, and Anaplasma spp. closely related to Candidatus Cryptoplasma californiense in ticks. E. chaffeensis DNA was not detected from any ticks, instead, Ehrlichia sp. strain EBm52, Ehrlichia mineirensis and Candidatus Ehrlichia shimanensis are the only Ehrlichia sp. identified from cattle ticks in this study. Further investigation is required to ascertain the occurrence of zoonotic transmission of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma infections in Peninsular Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fui Xian Koh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kai Ling Kho
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Masoumeh Ghane Kisomi
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Li Ping Wong
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Awang Bulgiba
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Poai Ean Tan
- Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yvonne Ai Lian Lim
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Center, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Chandrawathani Panchadcharam
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Center, Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Low VL, Prakash BK, Tan TK, Sofian-Azirun M, Anwar FHK, Vinnie-Siow WY, AbuBakar S. Pathogens in ectoparasites from free-ranging animals: Infection with Rickettsia asembonensis in ticks, and a potentially new species of Dipylidium in fleas and lice. Vet Parasitol 2017; 245:102-105. [PMID: 28969827 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne infections are persistent public health threats worldwide. In recent years, a number of mosquito-borne viruses have emerged or re-emerged to cause major disease outbreaks. Other vector-borne pathogens, however, remain understudied and much neglected especially in the developing regions of the world including Southeast Asia. In this study, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, cat louse Felicola subrostratus, and cat fleas Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides orientis collected from free-ranging cats and dogs in Malaysia were molecularly screened for the presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria, and Dipylidium tapeworm. Our results showed the presence of Bartonella clarridgeiea, Bartonella henselae (lineage Marseille and lineage Houston-1), and Rickettsia sp. in C. felis. We also detected Rickettsia asembonensis in C. orientis and R. sanguineus s.l. Additionally, this study provides the first documentation on a potentially new species of Dipylidium infecting F. subrostratus and C. felis. Our results highlight the role of ectoparasites from free-ranging animals including cats and dogs, in harboring multiple transmissible pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Lun Low
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Batah Kunalan Prakash
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Tiong Kai Tan
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mohd Sofian-Azirun
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Wei Yin Vinnie-Siow
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Sazaly AbuBakar
- Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre (TIDREC), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Silva AB, Vizzoni VF, Costa AP, Costa FB, Moraes-Filho J, Labruna MB, Gazêta GS, de Maria Seabra Nogueira R. First report of a Rickettsia asembonensis related infecting fleas in Brazil. Acta Trop 2017; 172:44-49. [PMID: 28427962 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The present study was performed in a non-endemic area for spotted fever (SF) in Imperatriz microregion, state of Maranhão, Brazil. Blood samples and ectoparasites were collected from 300 dogs of the Imperatriz microregion. Canine serum samples were tested individually by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), using five Rickettsia isolates from Brazil. Antibodies reactive to at least one of the five species of Rickettsia were detected in 1.6% of the dogs (5/300). These sera were considered reactive to Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia amblyommatis or very closely related species. The ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Latreille), and the fleas, identified as Ctenocephalides felis, were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of rickettsial DNA. More than 78% (83/106) of the C. felis fleas were found to be infected with Rickettsia species using gltA as rickettsial PCR targets, whereas no evidence of Rickettsia spp. was found in R. sanguineus s. l. Genetic analysis based on genes gltA, htrA and ompB showed that the detected strain, is most closely related to Rickettsia asembonensis (formerly Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis). The present study is the first report of a R. asembonensis related infecting C. felis fleas in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arannadia Barbosa Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação do Mestrado em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ/IOC), Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses (LIRN), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Figueiredo Vizzoni
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ/IOC), Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses (LIRN), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Andréa Pereira Costa
- Programa de Pós-graduação do Mestrado em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil
| | - Francisco Borges Costa
- Programa de Pós-graduação do Mestrado em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil
| | - Jonas Moraes-Filho
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gilberto Salles Gazêta
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz/Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ/IOC), Laboratório de Referência Nacional em Vetores das Riquetsioses (LIRN), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rita de Maria Seabra Nogueira
- Programa de Pós-graduação do Mestrado em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, MA, Brazil.
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Gofton AW, Waudby HP, Petit S, Greay TL, Ryan UM, Irwin PJ. Detection and phylogenetic characterisation of novel Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in Amblyomma triguttatum subsp. from four allopatric populations in Australia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:749-756. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Kho KL, Koh FX, Hasan LIM, Wong LP, Kisomi MG, Bulgiba A, Nizam QNH, Tay ST. Rickettsial seropositivity in the indigenous community and animal farm workers, and vector surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia. Emerg Microbes Infect 2017; 6:e18. [PMID: 28400593 PMCID: PMC5457682 DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsioses are emerging zoonotic diseases that are often neglected in many countries in Southeast Asia. Rickettsial agents are transmitted to humans through exposure to infected arthropods. Limited data are available on the exposure of indigenous community and animal farm workers to the aetiological agents and arthropod vectors of rickettsioses in Peninsular Malaysia. Serological analysis of Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia felis was performed for 102 individuals from the indigenous community at six rural villages and 87 workers from eight animal farms in Peninsular Malaysia in a cross-sectional study. The indigenous community had significantly higher seropositivity rates for R. conorii (P<0.001) and R. felis (P<0.001), as compared to blood donors from urban (n=61). Similarly, higher seropositivity rates for R. conorii (P=0.046) and R. felis (P<0.001) were noted for animal farm workers, as compared to urban blood donors. On the basis of the sequence analysis of gltA, ompA and ompB, various spotted fever group rickettsiae closely related to R. raoultii, R. heilongjiangensis, R. felis-like organisms, R. tamurae, Rickettsia sp. TCM1, R. felis, Rickettsia sp. LON13 and R. hulinensis were identified from tick/flea samples in animal farms, indigenous villages and urban areas. This study describes rickettsial seropositivity of the Malaysian indigenous community and animal farm workers, and provides molecular evidence regarding the presence of rickettsial agents in ticks/fleas infesting domestic animals in Peninsular Malaysia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ling Kho
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fui Xian Koh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Li Ping Wong
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Masoumeh Ghane Kisomi
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Awang Bulgiba
- Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62630 Putrajaya, Malaysia
| | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Sansyzbayev Y, Nurmakhanov T, Berdibekov A, Vilkova A, Yeskhodzhayev O, St John HK, Jiang J, Farris CM, Richards AL. Survey for Rickettsiae Within Fleas of Great Gerbils, Almaty Oblast, Kazakhstan. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 17:172-178. [PMID: 27992288 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known of the endemicity of flea-borne rickettsiae in Kazakhstan. Thus, a survey for rickettsiae within great gerbil fleas was conducted in Almaty oblast. High prevalence of Rickettsia asembonensis was detected among Xenopsylla gerbilli, demonstrating that flea-borne rickettsiae are endemic to southeastern Kazakhstan. Interestingly, no Rickettsia typhi were detected in these same fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yerlan Sansyzbayev
- 1 Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Disease , Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Talgat Nurmakhanov
- 1 Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Disease , Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Almas Berdibekov
- 1 Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Disease , Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Anna Vilkova
- 1 Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Disease , Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Olzhas Yeskhodzhayev
- 1 Kazakh Scientific Center for Quarantine and Zoonotic Disease , Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | | | - Ju Jiang
- 2 Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
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Maina AN, Fogarty C, Krueger L, Macaluso KR, Odhiambo A, Nguyen K, Farris CM, Luce-Fedrow A, Bennett S, Jiang J, Sun S, Cummings RF, Richards AL. Rickettsial Infections among Ctenocephalides felis and Host Animals during a Flea-Borne Rickettsioses Outbreak in Orange County, California. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160604. [PMID: 27537367 PMCID: PMC4990410 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 07/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to a resurgence of flea-borne rickettsioses in Orange County, California, we investigated the etiologies of rickettsial infections of Ctenocephalides felis, the predominant fleas species obtained from opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and domestic cats (Felis catus), collected from case exposure sites and other areas in Orange County. In addition, we assessed the prevalence of IgG antibodies against spotted fever group (SFGR) and typhus group (TGR) rickettsiae in opossum sera. Of the 597 flea specimens collected from opossums and cats, 37.2% tested positive for Rickettsia. PCR and sequencing of rickettsial genes obtained from C. felis flea DNA preparations revealed the presence of R. typhi (1.3%), R. felis (28.0%) and R. felis-like organisms (7.5%). Sera from opossums contained TGR-specific (40.84%), but not SFGR-specific antibodies. The detection of R. felis and R. typhi in the C. felis fleas in Orange County highlights the potential risk for human infection with either of these pathogens, and underscores the need for further investigations incorporating specimens from humans, animal hosts, and invertebrate vectors in endemic areas. Such studies will be essential for establishing a link in the ongoing flea-borne rickettsioses outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice N. Maina
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Carrie Fogarty
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Laura Krueger
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Kevin R. Macaluso
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America
| | - Antony Odhiambo
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Kiet Nguyen
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Alison Luce-Fedrow
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
- Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA, United States of America
| | - Stephen Bennett
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Ju Jiang
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
| | - Sokanary Sun
- West Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Ontario, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert F. Cummings
- Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District, Garden Grove, CA, United States of America
| | - Allen L. Richards
- Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America
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Kho KL, Koh FX, Singh HKL, Zan HAM, Kukreja A, Ponnampalavanar S, Tay ST. Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses and Murine Typhus in a Malaysian Teaching Hospital. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2016; 95:765-768. [PMID: 27402519 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available on the etiological agents of rickettsioses in southeast Asia. Herein, we report the molecular investigation of rickettsioses in four patients attending a teaching hospital in Malaysia. DNA of Rickettsia sp. RF2125, Rickettsia typhi, and a rickettsia closely related to Rickettsia raoultii was detected in the blood samples of the patients. Spotted fever group rickettsioses and murine typhus should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with nonspecific febrile illness in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ling Kho
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fui Xian Koh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | | | - Anjanna Kukreja
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Sun Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Molecular detection of Anaplasma spp. in pangolins (Manis javanica) and wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Peninsular Malaysia. Vet Parasitol 2016; 227:73-6. [PMID: 27523941 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2016] [Revised: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma spp. infects a wide variety of wildlife and domestic animals. This study describes the identification of a novel species of Anaplasma (Candidatus Anaplasma pangolinii) from pangolins (Manis javanica) and Anaplasma bovis from wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Malaysia. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, Candidatus Anaplasma pangolinii is identified in a distinct branch within the family Anaplasmataceae, exhibiting the closest sequence similarity with the type strains of Anaplasma bovis (97.7%) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (97.6%). The sequence also aligned closely (99.9%) with that of an Anaplasma spp. (strain AnAj360) detected from Amblyomma javanense ticks. The nearly full length sequence of the 16S rRNA gene derived from two wild boars in this study demonstrated the highest sequence similarity (99.7%) to the A. bovis type strain. Partial 16S rRNA gene fragments of A. bovis were also detected from a small population of Haemaphysalis bispinosa cattle ticks in this study. Our finding suggests a possible spread of two Anaplasma species in the Malaysian wildlife and ticks. The zoonotic potential of the Anaplasma species identified in this study is yet to be determined.
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Brown LD, Banajee KH, Foil LD, Macaluso KR. Transmission mechanisms of an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:237. [PMID: 27117813 PMCID: PMC4847369 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1511-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne pathogens must overcome arthropod infection and escape barriers (e.g. midgut and salivary glands) during the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) before subsequent transmission to another host. This particular timespan is undetermined for the etiological agent of flea-borne spotted fever (Rickettsia felis). Artificial acquisition of R. felis by blood-feeding cat fleas revealed dissemination to the salivary glands after seven days; however, this length of time is inconsistent with co-feeding studies that produced infectious cat fleas within 24 h of infection. In the current study, we demonstrated that an alternative mechanism is responsible for the early-phase transmission that typifies flea-borne R. felis spread. METHODS Co-feeding transmission bioassays were constructed to assess temporal dynamics of R. felis amongst cat fleas, including exposure time to produce infectious fleas and association time to transmit infection to naïve fleas. Additional experiments examined the proportion of R. felis-exposed cat fleas with contaminated mouthparts, as well as the likelihood for cat fleas to release R. felis from their mouthparts following exposure to an infectious bloodmeal. The potential for mechanical transmission of R. felis by co-feeding cat fleas was further examined using fluorescent latex beads, as opposed to a live pathogen, which would not require a biological mechanism to achieve transmission. RESULTS Analyses revealed that R. felis-infected cat fleas were infectious to naïve fleas less than 24 h after exposure to the pathogen, but showed no rickettsial dissemination to the salivary glands during this early-phase transmission. Additionally, the current study revealed that R. felis-infected cat fleas must co-feed with naïve fleas for more than 12 h in order for early-phase transmission to occur. Further evidence supported that contaminated flea mouthparts may be the source of the bacteria transmitted early, and demonstrated that R. felis is released from the mouthparts during brief probing events. Moreover, the use of fluorescent latex beads supports the notion that early-phase transmission of R. felis is a mechanical mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Determination of the transmission mechanisms utilized by R. felis is essential to fully understand the vulnerability of susceptible vertebrate hosts, including humans, to this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D. Brown
- />Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, SVM-3213, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Kaikhushroo H. Banajee
- />Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, SVM-3213, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Lane D. Foil
- />Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, LSB-413, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
| | - Kevin R. Macaluso
- />Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, SVM-3213, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
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44
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Brown LD, Christofferson RC, Banajee KH, Del Piero F, Foil LD, Macaluso KR. Cofeeding intra- and interspecific transmission of an emerging insect-borne rickettsial pathogen. Mol Ecol 2016; 24:5475-89. [PMID: 26414611 PMCID: PMC4831916 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are known as the primary vector and reservoir of Rickettsia felis, the causative agent of flea-borne spotted fever; however, field surveys regularly report molecular detection of this infectious agent from other blood-feeding arthropods. The presence of R. felis in additional arthropods may be the result of chance consumption of an infectious bloodmeal, but isolation of viable rickettsiae circulating in the blood of suspected vertebrate reservoirs has not been demonstrated. Successful transmission of pathogens between actively blood-feeding arthropods in the absence of a disseminated vertebrate infection has been verified, referred to as cofeeding transmission. Therefore, the principal route from systemically infected vertebrates to uninfected arthropods may not be applicable to the R. felis transmission cycle. Here, we show both intra- and interspecific transmission of R. felis between cofeeding arthropods on a vertebrate host. Analyses revealed that infected cat fleas transmitted R. felis to naïve cat fleas and rat fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) via fleabite on a nonrickettsemic vertebrate host. Also, cat fleas infected by cofeeding were infectious to newly emerged uninfected cat fleas in an artificial system. Furthermore, we utilized a stochastic model to demonstrate that cofeeding is sufficient to explain the enzootic spread of R. felis amongst populations of the biological vector. Our results implicate cat fleas in the spread of R. felis amongst different vectors, and the demonstration of cofeeding transmission of R. felis through a vertebrate host represents a novel transmission paradigm for insect-borne Rickettsia and furthers our understanding of this emerging rickettsiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa D Brown
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Rebecca C Christofferson
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Kaikhushroo H Banajee
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Fabio Del Piero
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Lane D Foil
- Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, LSB-413, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Kevin R Macaluso
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Skip Bertman Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
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Kolo AO, Sibeko-Matjila KP, Maina AN, Richards AL, Knobel DL, Matjila PT. Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Rickettsiae and Anaplasma spp. in Domestic Dogs and Their Ectoparasites in Bushbuckridge, South Africa. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:245-52. [PMID: 26974185 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the order Rickettsiales are small, obligate intracellular bacteria that are vector-borne and can cause mild to fatal diseases in humans worldwide. There is little information on the zoonotic rickettsial pathogens that may be harbored by dogs from rural localities in South Africa. To characterize rickettsial pathogens infecting dogs, we screened 141 blood samples, 103 ticks, and 43 fleas collected from domestic dogs in Bushbuckridge Municipality, Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, between October 2011 and May 2012 using the reverse line blot (RLB) and Rickettsia genus and species-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays. Results from RLB showed that 49% of blood samples and 30% of tick pools were positive for the genus-specific probes for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma; 16% of the blood samples were positive for Ehrlichia canis. Hemoparasite DNA could not be detected in 36% of blood samples and 30% of tick pools screened. Seven (70%) tick pools and both flea pools were positive for Rickettsia spp; three (30%) tick pools were positive for Rickettsia africae; and both flea pools (100%) were positive for Rickettsia felis. Sequencing confirmed infection with R. africae and Candidatus Rickettsia asemboensis; an R. felis-like organism from one of the R. felis-positive flea pools. Anaplasma sp. South Africa dog strain (closely related to Anaplasma phagocytophilum), A. phagocytophilum, and an Orientia tsutsugamushi-like sequence were identified from blood samples. The detection of emerging zoonotic agents from domestic dogs and their ectoparasites in a rural community in South Africa highlights the potential risk of human infection that may occur with these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agatha O Kolo
- 1 Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Alice N Maina
- 2 Department of Viral and Rickettsial Disease, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Allen L Richards
- 2 Department of Viral and Rickettsial Disease, Naval Medical Research Center , Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Darryn L Knobel
- 3 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine , Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Paul T Matjila
- 1 Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria , Pretoria, South Africa
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