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Luz HR, de Campos CEC, Costa-Junior LM, Santos ES, Hass A, Sousa DM, de Moares E Silva RM, Rocha JM, Albuquerque GR, Argolo AJ, Zacariotti R, de Paula CD, Pereira LCM, Nicola PA, Faccini JLH, Horta MC, Nogueira RMS, DallAgnol LT, Labruna MB, Martins TF. Ticks parasitizing cold-blooded animals from three different Brazilian biomes; with note for males of Amblyomma rotundatum. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102377. [PMID: 39013352 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102377] [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: 02/25/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Ticks parasitize a wide variety of wild animals, including amphibians and reptiles. In addition to the possibility of microorganism transmission to these hosts, ticks can also cause severe bleeding, and high parasitism can lead to death. Therefore, knowing the diversity of ticks parasitizing amphibians and reptiles is important for conservation and preservation measures for these vertebrates. In the present study, we report parasitism by ticks in amphibians and reptiles from different Brazilian biomes (Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest). Ticks were collected from amphibians and reptiles deposited from the Herpetological Collection of the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís (Maranhão State), the State University Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilhéus (Bahia State), and the Federal University of São Francisco Valley (Univasf), Petrolina (Pernambuco State). Additionally, ticks were collected from amphibians and reptiles captured and road-killed in the Amazon biome, at Maranhão and Amapá States. Specimens of ticks were photographed under a Zeiss stereomicroscope (5.1 zoom). Map with the locations were made using the Qgis program. Overall, 1973 specimens of amphibians and reptiles were examined. A total of 927 ticks were collected: 98 larvae, 421 nymphs and 408 adults. Six species of ticks were identified: Amblyomma rotundatum and Amblyomma dissimile the most frequent, and Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma nodosum and Amblyomma humerale, occasionally. Surprisingly, a total of twelve males of A. rotundatum were collected. Here we report new records of association between cold-blooded animals and ticks and reinforce the absence of A. dissimile in the Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Additionally, we report new records of A. rotundatum males on reptiles in the Amazon biome. This last record allows us to speculate about a possible association of A. rotundatum males with reptiles and the Amazon biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermes Ribeiro Luz
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil.
| | - Carlos Eduardo Costa de Campos
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Herpetology Laboratory, Bionorte Network Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitscheck, km 02 - Jardim Marco Zero, Macapá, AP 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Livio Martins Costa-Junior
- Parasite Control Laboratory, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Ercileide Silva Santos
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Herpetology Laboratory, Bionorte Network Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Federal University of Amapá, Rod. Juscelino Kubitscheck, km 02 - Jardim Marco Zero, Macapá, AP 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Adriani Hass
- Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Dauana Mesquita Sousa
- Parasite Control Laboratory, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Ruth Myrian de Moares E Silva
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Biodiversity and Conservation of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Josiane Moreira Rocha
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | - George Rego Albuquerque
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | - Antonio Jorge Argolo
- Postgraduate Program in Zoology, State University of Santa Cruz, Rod. Jorge Amado, Km 16 - Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA 45662-900, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - João Luiz Horacio Faccini
- Parasite Control Laboratory. Post-Graduation Program in Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), Biodiversity and Conservation, Health and Environment of Center of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leonardo Teixeira DallAgnol
- Post-Graduation Program in Health and Environment, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA 65085-580, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil; São Paulo State Department of Health, Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, SP 05402-000, Brazil
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Weck BC, Santodomingo A, Serpa MCA, de Oliveira GM, Jorge FR, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB. Isolation and molecular characterization of a novel relapsing fever group Borrelia from the white-eared opossum Didelphis albiventris in Brazil. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 6:100193. [PMID: 39041050 PMCID: PMC11261286 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to detect, isolate and to characterize by molecular methods a relapsing fever group (RFG) Borrelia in white-eared opossums (Didelphis albiventris) from Brazil. During 2015-2018, when opossums (Didelphis spp.) were captured in six municipalities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, molecular analyses revealed the presence of a novel RFG Borrelia sp. in the blood of seven opossums (Didelphis albiventris), out of 142 sampled opossums (4.9% infection rate). All seven infected opossums were from a single location (Ribeirão Preto municipality). In a subsequent field study in Ribeirão Preto during 2021, two new opossums (D. albiventris) were captured, of which one contained borrelial DNA in its blood. Macerated tissues from this infected opossum were inoculated into laboratory animals (rodents and rabbits) and two big-eared opossums (Didelphis aurita), which had blood samples examined daily via dark-field microscopy. No spirochetes were visualized in the blood of the laboratory animals. Contrastingly, spirochetes were visualized in the blood of the two D. aurita opossums between 12 and 25 days after inoculation. Blood samples from these opossums were used for a multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) based on six borrelial loci. Phylogenies inferred from MLST genes positioned the sequenced Borrelia genotype into the RFG borreliae clade basally to borreliae of the Asian-African group, forming a monophyletic group with another Brazilian isolate, "Candidatus B. caatinga". Based on this concatenated phylogenetic analysis, which supports that the new borrelial isolate corresponds to a putative new species, we propose the name "Candidatus Borrelia mimona".
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara C. Weck
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Adriana Santodomingo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Maria Carolina A. Serpa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Glauber M.B. de Oliveira
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Felipe R. Jorge
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
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3
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de Oliveira GMB, Muñoz-Leal S, Nava S, Horta MC, Bernardi L, Venzal JM, Labruna MB. New records of soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) from caves in Brazil, with a morphological study of Ornithodoros fonsecai and an analysis of the taxonomic status of Antricola inexpectata. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102331. [PMID: 38461653 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102331] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we report soft ticks from bat-inhabiting caves in different areas of Brazil. From 2010 to 2019, we collected 807 tick specimens from nine caves located in four Brazilian states among two biomes. Ticks were morphologically identified as Antricola guglielmonei (282 specimens), Ornithodoros cavernicolous (260 specimens), and Ornithodoros fonsecai (265 specimens). Whereas A. guglielmonei was collected on bat guano in hot caves, O. cavernicolous and O. fonsecai were collected in cracks and crevices on the walls of cold caves, sometimes in the same chamber. Morphological identifications were corroborated by molecular and phylogenetic analyses inferred from tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene partial sequences. The sequences of A. guglielmonei, O. cavernicolous and O. fonsecai collected in this study clustered with conspecific GenBank sequences from different localities of Brazil. Remarkably, a clade containing 12 sequences of O. fonsecai was clearly bifurcated, denoting a degree of genetic divergence (up to 5 %) of specimens from Cerrado/Atlantic Forest biomes with the specimens from the Caatinga biome. To further evaluate this divergence, we performed morphometric analysis of the larval stage of different O. fonsencai populations by principal component analysis, which indicated that the larvae from Caatinga populations were generally smaller than the larvae from other biomes. Some of the present A. guglielmonei specimens were collected from the type locality of Antricola inexpectata. Comparisons of these specimens with the type specimens of A. inexpectata and A. guglielmonei indicated that they could not be separated by their external morphology. Hence, we are relegating A. inexpectata to a synonym of A. guglielmonei. This proposal is corroborated by our phylogenetic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber M B de Oliveira
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (IDICAL, INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela (INTA E.E.A. Rafaela), Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Maurício C Horta
- Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE, Brazil
| | - Leopoldo Bernardi
- Departamento de Entomologia, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG, Brazil
| | - José Manuel Venzal
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Polli MG, Martins MM, Rodrigues VDS, Rezende LM, Suzin A, Maia RDC, Souza ACP, Muñoz-Leal S, Szabó MPJ, Yokosawa J. Molecular detection of Borrelia sp. in Ornithodoros cavernicolous (Acari: Argasidae) in midwestern Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102303. [PMID: 38113807 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites that can transmit to vertebrate hosts several pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Among these agents, some Borrelia species some Borrelia species cause disease in humans and other vertebrate hosts; therefore, they have medical and veterinary health importance. To gather additional information on Borrelia species in Brazil, the current study aimed to detect the presence of these species in Ornithodoros cavernicolous ticks collected in September 2019 from cement pipes that are used by bats as shelter in a farm located in the midwestern region of Brazil. DNA samples obtained from 18 specimens of O. cavernicolous were subjected of two polymerase chain reactions, targeting a segment of the Borrelia fla B gene. Of the samples tested, only one (6 %, 1/18) showed amplification. The nucleotide sequence of the amplified DNA showed more than 97 % (293/300) identity with a sequence of a Borrelia sp. detected in blood collected from a bat from Macaregua Cave, Colombia, and more than 97 % (292/300) detected in lungs from vampire bats from northeastern Brazil. The deduced amino acid sequences were identical to each other. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences formed a group of Borrelia species (putatively associated with bats) that is closely related to sequences of Borrelia species of the Lyme borreliosis group. Further investigations should be carried out in order to determine whether the sequence of the Borrelia sp. we found belongs to a new taxon. It will also be of great importance to determine which vertebrate hosts, besides bats, O. cavernicolous ticks can parasitize in order to investigate whether the Borrelia sp. we found may be transmitted and cause disease to the other vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayara Garcia Polli
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICBIM), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil
| | - Maria Marlene Martins
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Lais Miguel Rezende
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Veterinary Sciences, UFU, FAMEV, Brazil
| | - Adriane Suzin
- Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Instituto de Biologia, UFU, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo da Costa Maia
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Prado Souza
- Post-Graduation Program in Applied Immunology and Parasitology, UFU, ICBIM, Brazil; Laboratory of Ixodology (LabIx), Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FAMEV), UFU, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | | | - Jonny Yokosawa
- Laboratory of Microorganisms of Cerrado (Brazilian Savannah), Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICBIM), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU), Uberlândia, Brazil.
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Santodomingo A, Thomas R, Thompson M, Robbiano S, Espinoza P, Muñoz-Leal S. Experimental transmission of a novel relapsing fever group Borrelia harbored by Ornithodoros octodontus (Ixodida: Argasidae) in Chile. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:241-252. [PMID: 38321309 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes of genus Borrelia thrive in enzootic cycles involving Ornithodoros spp. (Argasidae) mainly, and rodents. The isolation of these spirochetes usually involves a murine model in which ticks are fed and the spirochetes detected in blood several days later. Such an experiment also demonstrates that a given species of tick is competent in the transmission of the bacteria. Here, soft ticks Ornithodoros octodontus were collected in Northern Chile with the objective to experimentally determine its capacity to transmit a Borrelia sp. detected in a previous study. Two Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) were used to feed nymphs and adults of O. octodontus and the spirochetes in blood were inspected by dark-field microscopy and nested PCR. Although spirochetes were not seen in blood, DNA was detected in only one animal 11 days after the ticks were fed. Genetic sequences of Borrelia flaB, clpX, pepX, recG, rplB, and uvrA genes retrieved from DNA extraction of positive blood were employed to construct two phylogenetic analyses. On the one hand, the flaB tree showed the Borrelia sp. transmitted by O. octodontus clustering with Borrelia sp. Alcohuaz, which was previously detected in that same tick species. On the other hand, concatenated clpX-pepX-recG-rplB-uvrA demonstrated that the characterized spirochete branches together with "Candidatus Borrelia caatinga", a recently discovered species from Brazil. Based on the genetic profile presented in this study, the name "Candidatus Borrelia octodonta" is proposed for the species transmitted by O. octodontus. The fact that spirochetes were not observed in blood of guinea pigs, may reflect the occurrence of low spirochetemia, which could be explained because the susceptibility of infection varies depending on the rodent species that is used in experimental models. Although the vertebrate reservoir of "Ca. Borrelia octodonta" is still unknown, Octodon degus, a rodent species that is commonly parasitized by O. octodontus, should be a future target to elucidate this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Michele Thompson
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Sofía Robbiano
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Pablo Espinoza
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- ONG Dosel, San Fabián, Chile
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.
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Lourenço EC, Famadas KM, Gomes LAC, Bergallo HG. Ticks (Ixodida) associated with bats (Chiroptera): an updated list with new records for Brazil. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2335-2352. [PMID: 37597061 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07935-y] [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: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Bats harbor diverse groups of ectoparasites, such as insects and mites like ticks (Ixodida). Some species of ticks with records for bats and humans have already been reported with the occurrence of pathogens. This research article aims to document new geographical and host records of ticks infesting bats in Rio de Janeiro state, Southeastern Brazil, and provides a list of tick species associated with bats in Brazil. We counted 12 argasid ticks and five ixodid ticks associated with six individuals of bats. Larvae of Amblyomma sp., Ixodes sp., Ornithodoros sp., and Ornithodoros hasei and one nymph of Amblyomma sculptum parasitizing Artibeus obscurus, Phyllostomus hastatus, Micronycteris sp., Molossus fluminensis, and Carollia perspicillata in different localities of Rio de Janeiro state were studied. We carried out a systematic review with the descriptors: tick bat Brazil. We considered data from 42 articles in the systematic review. We compiled eleven records of Ixodidae, and 160 records of Argasidae. Ornithodoros cavernicolous were the most recorded tick species. Overall, we registered 171 tick-bat or roost-bat associations with 85 records of these infesting bats. The review also shows the occurrence of tick species associated with bats, and we present new records on ticks parasitizing bats in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabete Captivo Lourenço
- Mammal Ecology Laboratory, Ecology Department, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
| | - Kátia Maria Famadas
- Hemoparasites and Vectors Laboratory, Parasitology Animal Department, Rio de Janeiro Rural Federal University, Rio de Janeiro state, Seropédica, Brazil
| | - Luiz Antonio Costa Gomes
- Institutional Platform Biodiversity and Wildlife Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
| | - Helena Godoy Bergallo
- Mammal Ecology Laboratory, Ecology Department, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil
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Ossa-López PA, Mancilla-Agrono LY, Micolta LFB, Ramírez-Chaves HE, Agudelo JDC, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB, Lloyd V, Rivera-Páez FA. Morphological and molecular confirmation of Ornithodoros hasei (Schulze, 1935) (Acari: Argasidae) in Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102142. [PMID: 36791538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102142] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
A large number of tick species are proven vectors for the transmission of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses. Soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) in South America have been found to be the most frequent carriers of borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG); however, there are several information gaps specially on the taxonomy and distribution of some tick species. Here, we used light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and PCR amplification of a fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene to evaluate 174 larvae of Ornithodoros (Argasidae) collected from three bat species (Eptesicus orinocensis, Molossus rufus and Noctilio albiventris) in the Orinoquia Region of Colombia. The morphological and molecular results confirmed that all the analyzed larvae corresponded to Ornithodoros hasei. Comparisons of mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences showed low genetic divergence (0% - 0.3%) between larvae of the Department of Arauca in the Orinoquia Region and higher genetic divergence (3.4 - 4.7%) in sequences from other American countries. Our work represents the most recent collection of this species in Colombia and provides a molecular evaluation for the first time. Moreover, a new association of O. hasei with bats such as E. orinocensis is documented. Considering the wide distribution of O. hasei in the American Continent, and its putative role as vector for Borrelia, integrative studies that involve morphological, morphometric, molecular data and experimental crosses are needed to determine if the higher genetic distances are associated with cryptic speciation, as detected in other tick complexes, or represent genetic divergences among geographically different populations of O. hasei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Ossa-López
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia; Doctorado en Ciencias, Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia
| | - Lorys Y Mancilla-Agrono
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia
| | - Lizeth Fernanda Banguero Micolta
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia
| | - Héctor E Ramírez-Chaves
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia; Centro de Museos, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia
| | - Juan David Carvajal Agudelo
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo-USP, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP CEP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Vett Lloyd
- Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, 35B York St. Sackville, New Brunswick E4L 1G7, Canada
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, Manizales, Caldas 170004, Colombia.
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8
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A Novel Relapsing Fever Group Borrelia Isolated from Ornithodoros Ticks of the Brazilian Caatinga. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020370. [PMID: 36838336 PMCID: PMC9964043 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne relapsing fever group (RFG) borreliosis remains neglected as a human disease and little is known on its maintenance in ticks and vertebrates, especially in South America. Therefore, this study investigated borrelial infection in Ornithodoros ticks collected in rodent-inhabited rock formations in the Brazilian semiarid region, within the Caatinga biome. Collected ticks (Ornithodoros rietcorreai and Ornithodoros cf. tabajara) were allowed to feed under laboratory conditions on guinea pigs, which had blood samples examined daily by dark-field microscopy. No spirochetes were visualized in the blood of any of four O. rietcorreai-infested guinea pigs. Contrastingly, spirochetes were visualized between 9 and 39 days after tick feeding in the blood of three guinea pigs, each infested with O. cf. tabajara ticks from a different locality. Guinea pig infection was confirmed by passages into experimental animals and by generating DNA sequences of Borrelia spp. from the blood of spirochetemic guinea pigs. Three O. cf. tabajara populations were infected by the same borrelial organism, which was characterized as a novel RFG agent (named as 'Candidatus Borrelia caatinga') based on 10 Borrelia loci (rrs, flaB, glpQ, gyrB, clpX, pepX, pyrG, recG, rplB and uvrA). We demonstrated that O. cf. tabajara is a competent vector of the novel Borrelia sp. isolates, although none of the infected rodents developed clinical illness.
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9
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López Y, Muñoz-Leal S, Martínez C, Guzmán C, Calderón A, Martínez J, Galeano K, Muñoz M, Ramírez JD, Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Mattar S. Molecular evidence of Borrelia spp. in bats from Córdoba Department, northwest Colombia. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:5. [PMID: 36604762 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05614-y] [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: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Borrelia is composed of two well-defined monophyletic groups, the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bb) and the relapsing fever (RF) group borreliae. Recently, a third group, associated with reptiles and echidnas, has been described. In general, RF group borreliae use rodents as reservoir hosts; although neotropical bats may also be involved as important hosts, with scarce knowledge regarding this association. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA in bats from the department of Córdoba in northwest Colombia. METHODS During September 2020 and June 2021, 205 bats were captured in six municipalities of Córdoba department, Colombia. Specimens were identified using taxonomic keys and DNA was extracted from spleen samples. A Borrelia-specific real-time PCR was performed for the 16S rRNA gene. Fragments of the 16S rRNA and flaB genes were amplified in the positive samples by conventional PCR. The detected amplicons were sequenced by the Sanger method. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed in IQ-TREE with maximum likelihood based on the substitution model TPM3+F+I+G4 with bootstrap values deduced from 1000 replicates. RESULTS Overall, 10.2% (21/205) of the samples were found positive by qPCR; of these, 81% (17/21) and 66.6% (14/21) amplified 16S rRNA and flaB genes, respectively. qPCR-positive samples were then subjected to conventional nested and semi-nested PCR to amplify 16S rRNA and flaB gene fragments. Nine positive samples for both genes were sequenced, and seven and six sequences were of good quality for the 16S rRNA and flaB genes, respectively. The DNA of Borrelia spp. was detected in the insectivorous and fruit bats Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina, Phyllostomus discolor, and Uroderma sp. The 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 97.66-98.47% identity with "Borrelia sp. clone Omi3," "Borrelia sp. RT1S," and Borrelia sp. 2374; the closest identities for the flaB gene were 94.02-98.04% with "Borrelia sp. Macaregua." For the 16S rRNA gene, the phylogenetic analysis showed a grouping with "Candidatus Borrelia ivorensis" and "Ca. Borrelia africana," and for the flaB gene showed a grouping with Borrelia sp. Macaregua and Borrelia sp. Potiretama. The pathogenic role of the Borrelia detected in this study is unknown. CONCLUSIONS We describe the first molecular evidence of Borrelia spp. in the department of Córdoba, Colombia, highlighting that several bat species harbor Borrelia spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Caty Martínez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Camilo Guzmán
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Alfonso Calderón
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Jairo Martínez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Ketty Galeano
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia
| | - Marina Muñoz
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Juan David Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Biotecnología-UR (CIMBIUR), Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia.,Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Research Institute, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud-FUCS, Bogotá, Colombia.,Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología-SAI, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Colombia.
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10
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Nogueira BCF, Campos AK, Muñoz-Leal S, Pinter A, Martins TF. Soft and hard ticks (Parasitiformes: Ixodida) on humans: A review of Brazilian biomes and the impact of environmental change. Acta Trop 2022; 234:106598. [PMID: 35841953 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Records of accidental parasitism by ticks in humans from Brazil are scarce, with most being reported by researchers who are parasitized during their research and by professionals who work with animals. In order to compile these records, an extensive literature review was carried out. Our revision includes studies published between 1909 and 2022, including nine species of the Argasidae family and 32 species of the Ixodidae family that were reported biting humans in the six biomes of the Brazilian territory. The species with the highest number of records of human parasitism was Amblyomma sculptum, followed by Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, and Amblyomma brasiliense. The Atlantic Forest was the most frequent biome where human parasitism occurred, probably due to the greater number of inhabitants, universities, and researchers in the region; however, this does not mean that this biome is more conducive to the development of ticks and their parasitism in humans. In addition to Amblyomma ovale, a vector of Rickettsia parkeri in the country, two of the main species that act as vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii, A. sculptum, and Amblyomma aureolatum, have been reported, which is quite worrying considering that the wide distribution of the species and life stages most frequently mentioned in parasitism (i.e., nymphs and adults) are the ones that favour pathogen transmission. This research provides a significant contribution to the knowledge of tick species associated with human parasitism in Brazil; however, due to environmental change potentiated by deforestation and fires, it is expected that there will be a geographic expansion of some tick species and the pathogens that use them as a vector and an increase in human parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Kanadani Campos
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriano Pinter
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Laboratórios Especializados, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
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11
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Carvajal-Agudelo JD, Ramírez-Chaves HE, Ossa-López PA, Rivera-Páez FA. Bacteria related to tick-borne pathogen assemblages in Ornithodoros cf. hasei (Acari: Argasidae) and blood of the wild mammal hosts in the Orinoquia region, Colombia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 87:253-271. [PMID: 35829939 PMCID: PMC9424158 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00724-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Interest in research on soft ticks has increased in recent decades, leading to valuable insight into their role as disease vectors. The use of metagenomics-based analyses have helped to elucidate ecological factors involved in pathogen, vector, and host dynamics. To understand the main bacterial assemblages present in Ornithodoros cf. hasei and its mammalian hosts, 84 ticks and 13 blood samples from bat hosts (Chiroptera) were selected, and the 16S rRNA gene V4 region was sequenced in five pools (each one related to each host-tick pairing). Bacterial taxonomic assignment analyses were performed by comparing operational taxonomic units (OTUs) shared between ticks and their host blood. This analysis showed the presence of Proteobacteria (38.8%), Enterobacteriaceae (25%), Firmicutes (12.3%), and Actinobacteria (10.9%) within blood samples, and Rickettsiaceae (39%), Firmicutes (25%), Actinobacteria (13.1%), and Proteobacteria (9%) within ticks. Species related to potentially pathogenic genera were detected in ticks, such as Borrelia sp., Bartonella tamiae, Ehrlichia sp. and Rickettsia-like endosymbiont, and the presence of these organisms was found in all analyzed bat species (Cynomops planirostris, Molossus pretiosus, Noctilio albiventris), and O. cf. hasei. About 41-48.6% of bacterial OTUs (genera and species) were shared between ticks and the blood of bat hosts. Targeted metagenomic screening techniques allowed the detection of tick-associated pathogens for O. cf. hasei and small mammals for the first time, enabling future research on many of these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan D Carvajal-Agudelo
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 N° 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Héctor E Ramírez-Chaves
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 N° 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
- Centro de Museos, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 N° 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Paula A Ossa-López
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 N° 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
- Doctorado en Ciencias, Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Fredy A Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 N° 26-10, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
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12
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Silva-Ramos CR, Santodomingo AM, Ramírez-Hernández A, Costa FB, Labruna MB, Muñoz-Leal S. Historical overview and update on relapsing fever group Borrelia in Latin America. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:196. [PMID: 35676728 PMCID: PMC9175325 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever group Borrelia (RFGB) are motile spirochetes transmitted to mammalian or avian hosts through the bite of hematophagous arthropods, such as soft ticks (Argasidae), hard ticks (Ixodidae) and the human clothing lice. RFGB can infect pets such as dogs and cats, as well as birds, cattle and humans. Borrelia recurrentis, B. anserina and B. theileri are considered to have worldwide distribution, affecting humans, domestic birds and ruminants, respectively. Borrelia spp. associated with soft ticks are transmitted mainly by Ornithodoros ticks and thrive in endemic foci in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Nowadays, human cases of soft tick-borne relapsing fever remain neglected diseases in several countries, and the impact these spirochetes have on the health of wild and domestic animals is largely understudied. Human infection with RFGB is difficult to diagnose, given the lack of distinguishing clinical features (undifferentiated febrile illness). Clinically, soft tick or louse-borne relapsing fever is often confused with other etiologies, such as malaria, typhoid or dengue. In Latin America, during the first half of the twentieth century historical documents elaborated by enlightened physicians were seminal, and resulted in the identification of RFGB and their associated vectors in countries such as Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Argentina. Almost 80 years later, research on relapsing fever spirochetes is emerging once again in Latin America, with molecular characterizations and isolations of novel RFGB members in Panama, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile. In this review we summarize historical aspects of RFGB in Latin America and provide an update on the current scenario regarding these pathogens in the region. To accomplish this, we conducted an exhaustive search of all the published literature for the region, including old medical theses deposited in libraries of medical academies. RFGB were once common pathogens in Latin America, and although unnoticed for many years, they are currently the focus of interest among the scientific community. A One Health perspective should be adopted to tackle the diseases caused by RFGB, since these spirochetes have never disappeared and the maladies they cause may be confused with etiologies with similar symptoms that prevail in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Research Institute, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud - FUCS, Bogotá, Colombia.,Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia.,Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adriana M Santodomingo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia. .,Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile.
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13
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Dantas-Torres F, Marzochi MCA, Muñoz-Leal S, Sales KGDS, Sousa-Paula LCD, Moraes-Filho J, Labruna MB. Ornithodoros cf. mimon infected with a spotted fever group Rickettsia in Brazil. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106541. [PMID: 35623399 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ornithodoros mimon is an argasid tick primarily associated with bats that also infest other animals including birds, opossums and humans. In this paper, we report the finding of an argasid species resembling O. mimon, which similarly may be found in human dwellings and parasitize humans in Brazil. We also provide molecular evidence that this argasid tick species may carry a rickettsial organism, whose pathogenicity remains unknown. A total of 16 ticks (two females, two males and 12 nymphs) were collected in the bedroom and in the attic of a human house, where cases of "insect" bites have been recurrent. These ticks were identified morphologically and genetically as Ornithodoros cf. mimon. Upon PCR testing, four of these ticks (one female and three nymphs) were positive for human blood and for a bacterium closely related to "Candidatus Rickettsia paranaensis". In conclusion, we report for the first time in Brazil an argasid tick species morphologically and genetically related to O. mimon, which feeds on humans and carry a rickettsial organism belonging to the spotted fever group. Further studies are needed to formally assess the taxonomic status of this tick species and also to investigate the pathogenicity of its associated rickettsial organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Recife, Brazil.
| | - Mauro C A Marzochi
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | | | | | - Jonas Moraes-Filho
- Mestrado e Doutorado em Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Jorge FR, de Oliveira LMB, Magalhães MML, Weck B, de Oliveira GMB, Serpa MCA, Moura FBP, Júnior RSL, Dos Santos JML, Teixeira BM, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB. New records of soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) in the Caatinga biome of Brazil, with a phylogenetic analysis of argasids using the nuclear Histone 3 (H3) gene. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2022; 86:567-581. [PMID: 35305191 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00709-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In Brazil, 19 species of the genus Ornithodoros (Acari: Argasidae) have been reported. The medical and veterinary importance of Ornithodoros ticks has increased substantially in recent decades, with the discovery of various relapsing fever Borrelia infecting Ornithodoros ticks. Herein, argasid ticks were collected during 2019-2020 from caves, abandoned nests and homes in various regions of Ceará State, Brazilian semiarid-Caatinga biome. In total, 289 ticks were collected and identified into five species: Ornithodoros cavernicolous (176 specimens), Ornithodoros fonsecai (81), Ornithodoros mimon (12), Ornithodoros rietcorreai (4), and a fifth species provisionally retained as Ornithodoros sp. Ubajara. Tick identifications were corroborated by a phylogenetic analysis inferred using the 16S rRNA gene. To extend the molecular characterization, DNA samples were tested by an additional PCR assay targeting the nuclear Histone 3 (H3) gene. Because there were no H3 sequences of argasids in GenBank, we extended this PCR assay for additional Ornithodoros species, available in our laboratory. In total, 15 partial sequences of the H3 gene were generated for 10 Ornithodoros species, showing 0% intraspecific polymorphism, and 1.5-11.6% interspecific polymorphism. Phylogenetic analyses inferred segregated Ornithodoros sp. Ubajara as a potential novel species. Our results also highlight the potential of the H3 gene for deeper phylogenetic analyses of argasids. The present study provides new data for argasid ticks of the genus Ornithodoros in the Caatinga biome. Because some of these tick species are human-biting ticks, active surveillance for the incidence of human infection due to Ornithodoros-borne agents is imperative in the Caatinga biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe R Jorge
- Veterinary Science Graduate Program at Ceará State University, Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, 60714-903, Brazil
| | - Lorena M B de Oliveira
- Veterinary Science Graduate Program at Ceará State University, Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700 - Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE, 60714-903, Brazil
| | - Meylling M L Magalhães
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, 62050-100, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Weck
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Glauber M B de Oliveira
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Maria Carolina A Serpa
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Francisco B P Moura
- Department of Anthropozoonoses, Department of Health of Ceará, Av. Almirante Barroso, 600 - Praia de Iracema, Fortaleza, CE, 60060-440, Brazil
| | - Romilson S Lopes Júnior
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, 62050-100, Brazil
| | - Jessica M L Dos Santos
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, 62050-100, Brazil
| | - Bruno M Teixeira
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, INTA University Center - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE, 62050-100, Brazil.
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Av. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-270, Brazil
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15
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB, Angerami RN. Borrelioses in Brazil: Is it time to consider tick-borne relapsing fever a neglected disease in Brazil? Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2021; 54:e0443. [PMID: 34787267 PMCID: PMC8582954 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0443-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, Galveston TX, USA.,Asociación Colombiana de Infectología, Committee of Tropical Medicine, Zoonoses and Travel Medicine, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Universidad de Concepción, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Nogueira Angerami
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Hospital de Clínicas, Seção de Epidemiologia Hospitalar, Campinas, SP, Brasil
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López Y, Robayo-Sánchez LN, Muñoz-Leal S, Aleman A, Arroyave E, Ramírez-Hernández A, Cortés-Vecino JA, Mattar S, Faccini-Martínez ÁA. Ornithodoros puertoricensis (Ixodida: Argasidae) Associated With Domestic Fowl in Rural Dwellings From Córdoba Department, Caribbean Colombia. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:704399. [PMID: 34250072 PMCID: PMC8260938 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.704399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks of genus Ornithodoros are nidicolous parasites associated with a wide array of vertebrates. In humans, their bites cause hypersensitivity reactions and are capable to transmit pathogens of health concern. In the department of Córdoba, Caribbean region of Colombia, the first report of an Ornithodoros soft tick was made in 1980 by Betancourt, who described the collection of Ornithodoros talaje in human dwellings. Nevertheless, current the records of O. talaje made in South America have been questioned and likely correspond to misidentifications with morphologically similar species. Between October and December of 2020, we visited rural areas of four localities from three municipalities within the department of Córdoba: Cuero Curtido and Severá (municipality of Cereté), El Espanto (municipality of Planeta Rica), and Arroyo Negro (municipality of San Carlos). Search for soft ticks was performed in 46 human domiciles and peridomiciliary areas. We searched in areas frequented by domestic animals, inspecting cracks in the walls and fowl nests. Infestation by soft ticks was found in 13% (6/46) of visited houses. Overall, 215 ticks were collected (26 larvae, 144 nymphs and 45 adults) from nests of domestic birds or in the adjacent walls. Larvae, nymphs and adults were morphologically identified as Ornithodoros puertoricensis. Molecular identification of ticks was confirmed by sequencing the tick mitochondrial 16S gene of adults, pools of nymphs and larvae. Pairwise comparisons showed a 99% of identity with O. puertoricensis from Panama. This study reports for the first time O. puertoricensis associated with domestic fowl in rural dwellings in Colombia, and expands the geographical distribution of this tick species toward the Córdoba department. Importantly, local people described exposure to tick bites while sleeping in infested houses; therefore, the transmission of soft tick-borne pathogens is now of concern in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesica López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Laura Natalia Robayo-Sánchez
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillan, Chile
| | - Ader Aleman
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
| | - Esteban Arroyave
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jesús Alfredo Cortés-Vecino
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Salim Mattar
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas del Trópico, Universidad de Córdoba, Monteria, Colombia
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Muñoz-Leal S, Venzal JM, Jorge FR, Teixeira BM, Labruna MB. A new species of soft tick from dry tropical forests of Brazilian Caatinga. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101748. [PMID: 34052668 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Ornithodoros tabajara n. sp. is described from laboratory-reared larvae and adult specimens collected in the Brazilian Caatinga. This new species shares the ecological niche with Ornithodoros rietcorreai and is likely associated with colonial rodents of genus Kerodon. However, O. tabajara n. sp. is morphologically easy to distinguish from O. rietcorreai and other Neotropical Ornithodoros by a unique combination of characters: larva with 17 pairs of dorsal setae (seven anterolateral, three central and seven posterolateral), sub-oval dorsal plate, hypostome blunt apically with dentition formula 2/2 along its extension, only one pair of posthypostomal setae, six pairs of sternal setae, posteromedian setae absent, and leave-shaped anal valves; alive adults with whitish islands of mammillae symmetrically distributed on dorsum (not visible in ethanol-preserved specimens), and median disk merging with posteromedian file. A phylogenetic analysis performed with mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences points O. tabajara n. sp. as O. rietcorreai's sister taxon, which rises the hypothesis of sympatric speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Patología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil.
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y enfermedades transmitidas, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000 Salto, Uruguay
| | - Felipe R Jorge
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias (PPGCV), MINTER - Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE)/Centro Universitário INTA - UNINTA, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Av. Dr. Silas Munguba, 1700, Itaperi, Fortaleza, CE 60714-903, Brazil
| | - Bruno M Teixeira
- Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas em Animais Silvestres - NEPAS, Curso de Medicina Veterinária, Mestrado em Biotecnologia, Centro Universitário INTA - UNINTA, R. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359, Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE 62050-100, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP 05508-270, Brazil
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