34 research outputs found
Diversity of Haemaphysalis-associated piroplasms of ruminants in Central-Eastern Europe, Hungary
Description of a new tick species, Ixodes collaris n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae), from bats (Chiroptera: Hipposideridae, Rhinolophidae) in Vietnam
Contributions to the phylogeny of Ixodes (Pholeoixodes) canisuga, I. (Ph.) kaiseri, I. (Ph.) hexagonus and a simple pictorial key for the identification of their females
Background: In Europe, hard ticks of the subgenus Pholeoixodes (Ixodidae: Ixodes) are usually associated with burrow-dwelling mammals and terrestrial birds. Reports of Pholeoixodes spp. from carnivores are frequently contradictory, and their identification is not based on key diagnostic characters. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to identify ticks collected from dogs, foxes and badgers in several European countries, and to reassess their systematic status with molecular analyses using two mitochondrial markers. Results: Between 2003 and 2017, 144 Pholeoixodes spp. ticks were collected in nine European countries. From accurate descriptions and comparison with type-materials, a simple illustrated identification key was compiled for adult females, by focusing on the shape of the anterior surface of basis capituli. Based on this key, 71 female ticks were identified as I. canisuga, 21 as I. kaiseri and 21 as I. hexagonus. DNA was extracted from these 113 female ticks, and from further 31 specimens. Fragments of two mitochondrial genes, cox1 (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) and 16S rRNA, were amplified and sequenced. Ixodes kaiseri had nine unique cox1 haplotypes, which showed 99.2-100% sequence identity, whereas I. canisuga and I. hexagonus had eleven and five cox1 haplotypes, respectively, with 99.5-100% sequence identity. The distribution of cox1 haplotypes reflected a geographical pattern. Pholeoixodes spp. ticks had fewer 16S rRNA haplotypes, with a lower degree of intraspecific divergence (99.5-100% sequence identity) and no geographical clustering. Phylogenetic analyses were in agreement with morphology: I. kaiseri and I. hexagonus (with the similar shape of the anterior surface of basis capituli) were genetically more closely related to each other than to I. canisuga. Phylogenetic analyses also showed that the subgenus Eschatocephalus (bat ticks) clustered within the subgenus Pholeoixodes. Conclusions: A simple, illustrated identification key is provided for female Pholeoixodes ticks of carnivores (including I. hexagonus and I. rugicollis) to prevent future misidentification of these species. It is also shown that I. kaiseri is more widespread in Europe than previously thought. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the subgenus Pholeoixodes is not monophyletic: either the subgenus Eschatocephalus should be included in Pholeoixodes, or the latter subgenus should be divided, which is a task for future studies
Screening of bat faeces for arthropod-borne apicomplexan protozoa: Babesia canis and Besnoitia besnoiti-like sequences from Chiroptera
Identification of novel Coxiella burnetii genotypes from Ethiopian ticks
Background:
Coxiella burnetii
, the etiologic agent of Q fever, is a highly infectious
zoonotic bacterium. Genetic information about the strains of this worldwide
distributed agent circulating on the African continent is limited. The aim of the
present study was the genetic characterization of
C. burnetii
DNA samples
detected in ticks collected from Ethiopian cattle and their comparison with other
genotypes found previously in other parts of the world.
Methodology/Principal Findings:
A total of 296 tick samples were screened by
real-time PCR targeting the IS
1111
region of
C. burnetii
genome and from the 32
positive samples, 8 cases with sufficient
C. burnetii
DNA load (
Amblyomma
cohaerens
,n
5
6;
A. variegatum
,n
5
2) were characterized by multispacer sequence
typing (MST) and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).
One novel sequence type (ST), the proposed ST52, was identified by MST. The
MLVA-6 discriminated the proposed ST52 into two newly identified MLVA
genotypes: type 24 or AH was detected in both
Amblyomma
species while type 26
or AI was found only in
A. cohaerens
.
Conclusions/Significance:
Both the MST and MLVA genotypes of the present
work are closely related to previously described genotypes found primarily in cattle
samples from different parts of the globe. This finding is congruent with the source
hosts of the analyzed Ethiopian ticks, as these were also collected from cattle. The
present study provides genotype information of
C. burnetii
from this seldom studied
East-African region as well as further evidence for the presumed host-specific
adaptation of this agent
Emerging horizons for tick-borne pathogens: from the ‘one pathogen–one disease’ vision to the pathobiome paradigm
Ticks as vectors of several notorious zoonotic pathogens, represent an important and
increasing threat for human, animal health in Europe. Recent application of new
technology revealed the complexity of the tick microbiome that might impact upon its
vectorial capacity. Appreciation of these complex systems is expanding our vision of
tick-borne pathogens leading us to evolve a more integrated view that embraces the
“pathobiome” representing the pathogenic agent integrated within its abiotic and
biotic environments.
In this review, we will explore how this new vision will revolutionize our understanding
of tick-borne diseases. We will discuss the implications in terms of research
approach for the future in order to efficiently prevent and control the threat posed by
ticks
Dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise
Dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. It has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. Dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. It has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. Its high adaptiveness gives an edge to this tick species as shown by new data on the emergence and establishment of D. reticulatus populations throughout Europe. The tick has been the research focus of a growing number of scientists, physicians and veterinarians. Within the Web of Science database, more than a fifth of the over 700 items published on this species between 1897 and 2015 appeared in the last three years (2013–2015). Here we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the systematics, ecology, geographical distribution and recent spread of the species and to highlight the great spectrum of possible veterinary and public health threats it poses. Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is a severe leading canine vector-borne disease in many endemic areas. Although less frequently than Ixodes ricinus, D. reticulatus adults bite humans and transmit several Rickettsia spp., Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus or Tick-borne encephalitis virus. We have not solely collected and reviewed the latest and fundamental scientific papers available in primary databases but also widened our scope to books, theses, conference papers and specialists colleagues’ experience where needed. Besides the dominant literature available in English, we also tried to access scientific literature in German, Russian and eastern European languages as well. We hope to inspire future research projects that are necessary to understand the basic life-cycle and ecology of this vector in order to understand and prevent disease threats. We conclude that although great strides have been made in our knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of this species, several gaps still need to be filled with basic research, targeting possible reservoir and vector roles and the key factors resulting in the observed geographical spread of D. reticulatus. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1599-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users