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Ullah S, Alouffi A, Khan M, Khan M, Tila H, Tanaka T, da Silva Vaz I, Almutairi MM, Ali A. Molecular detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii, Rickettsia sp. and Coxiella burnetii in ticks collected from camels. Sci Rep 2024; 14:22129. [PMID: 39333333 PMCID: PMC11436945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73663-7] [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: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne bacteria of the genera Rickettsia and Coxiella cause several emerging veterinary and human infectious diseases. Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are medically important vectors due to their potential role in the transmission of pathogens to vertebrate hosts. There is an inadequate knowledge on tick-borne Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting transhumant camels in Pakistan. In this study, we conducted a molecular survey for screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. in ticks infesting camels. Seven hard tick species including Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma scupense, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma turanicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l were confirmed on camels in three distinct physiographic regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A subset of morphologically identified ticks were subjected to molecular assays for the genetic characterization of ticks and the detection and genetic characterization of Rickettsia and Coxiella species using standard genetic markers. Ticks screened for pathogens resulted in the detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii and Coxiella burnetii. The molecular analysis further reveals the presences of an undetermined Rickettsia aeschlimannii-like species, that is making a distinct phylogenetic clade with R. aeschlimannii. The detection of pathogens in camel ticks poses potential health hazards as these ticks frequently bites humans. Molecular screening of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella spp. associated with camel ticks is a preliminary step toward the surveillance of evaluating their zoonotic threats in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, 9500, 91501-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Momin Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Hadia Tila
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
- Laboratory of Animal Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science/Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8572, Japan
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, 9500, 91501-970, RS, Brazil
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre, 9090, 91540-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Mashal M Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23200, Pakistan.
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Khan Z, Ullah F, Ullah S, Ibrahim M, Khan M, Rehman G, Tanaka T, Almutairi MM, Alouffi A, Ali A. Molecular detection of Anaplasma bovis, Candidatus Anaplasma boleense and Rickettsia spp. in ticks infesting small ruminants. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:408. [PMID: 39261829 PMCID: PMC11389282 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04259-6] [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: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. are intracellular vector-borne pathogens and harbored by a wide range of ticks and vertebrate hosts. Aim of this study was to molecularly characterize Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. in different ticks collected from livestock hosts in nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. In total, 862 ticks were collected from cattle, goats and sheep. Highest tick's infestation was observed on cattle 56.14% (32/57), followed by goats 45.45% (40/88), and sheep 42.05% (45/107). Rhipicephalus microplus (305/862, 35.38%) was predominant species, followed by Haemaphysalis sulcata (243/862, 28.19%), Hyalomma anatolicum (133/862, 15.42%), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (120/862, 13.92%), and Hyalomma kumari (61/862, 7.07%). A subset of 135 ticks were screened for Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. based on the amplification of partial 16 S rDNA and outer-membrane protein A (ompA) fragments, respectively. In total, 16 ticks (11.85%) were positive for Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. Obtained 16 S rDNA sequences for Anaplasma spp. detected in Ha. bispinosa and Ha. sulcata showed 99.98% identity with Anaplasma bovis, while other detected in Rh. microplus showed 99.84% identity with Candidatus Anaplasma boleense. Similarly, detected ompA sequence in Ha. sulcata showed 100% identity with Rickettsia sp. and 97.93% with Rickettsia slovaca, and another sequence detected in Rh. microplus showed 100% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii. In phylogenetic trees, these sequences clustered with corresponding species from Pakistan, China, Turkey, South Korea, South Africa, and Herzegovina. This is the first study reporting detection of A. bovis in Ha. bispinosa and Ha. sulcata, Ca. A. boleense in Rh. microplus collected from goats, and R. slovaca-like in Ha. sulcata. Our results enforce the need for regular surveillance of Rickettsiales in hard ticks infesting livestock in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaibullah Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan
| | - Farman Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan
| | - Mohammed Ibrahim
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan
| | - Momin Khan
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Gauhar Rehman
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
- Laboratory of Animal Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural Science/Faculty of Agriculture, Tohoku University, Sendai , 980-8572, Japan
| | - Mashal M Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, 12354, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, 23180, Pakistan.
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Ali A, Khan M, Ullah Z, Numan M, Tsai KH, Alouffi A, Almutairi MM, Tanaka T. First record of Alectorobius coniceps (Ixodoidea: Argasidae) and Dermacentor sp. (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) in Pakistan. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1326734. [PMID: 38292134 PMCID: PMC10824997 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1326734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alectorobius species are soft ticks primarily infesting birds, such as swallows, while Dermacentor species are hard ticks mainly infesting mammals, such as small ruminants. This study for the first time reported on the morphological and molecular bases of two tick species, namely A. coniceps and a Dermacentor sp. in Pakistan. The former species was examined in swallows' nests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while the latter species was examined in small ruminants in Balochistan province. In total, 25 ticks were collected, with 14 ticks morphologically identified as A. coniceps (males = 9 and females = 5) and 11 ticks identified as Dermacentor sp. (males = 7 and females = 4). Following morphological identification, molecular identification was gained by obtaining 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences for these ticks. The BLAST results for the 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences from A. coniceps shared a maximum identity of 97.46% and 96.49% with the same species from Malta. The BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences from Dermacentor sp. showed maximum identities of 98.42% and 97.45% with Dermacentor pavlovskyi from China. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA and cox1 of A. coniceps showed a close evolutionary relationship with the same species. The case of Dermacentor sp., based on 16S DNA and cox1, indicated a close evolutionary relationship with Dermacentor pavlovskyi from China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Mehran Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Zafar Ullah
- Department of Zoology, University of Loralai, Loralai, Balochistan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Numan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Kun-Hsien Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Abdulaziz Alouffi
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashal M. Almutairi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tetsuya Tanaka
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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