RESUMO
Neglected bacterial zoonoses are a group of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) that are commonly underdiagnosed and underreported due to their undifferentiated febrile illness symptomology. Spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGR), a subset of tick-borne bacterial zoonoses, belong in this group. There is a dichotomy in the reporting and recognition of these pathogens in Central America: countries with reduced human development scores-like El Salvador-have little to no research or surveillance dedicated to these pathogens and the diseases they cause. This was the third-ever tick survey in El Salvador, highlighting the knowledge gap in this country. A total of 253 ticks were collected from 11 animals at two farm sites and one veterinary office. Standard and quantitative PCR were used to detect presence of SFGR, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma sp. pathogens in ticks. Ehrlichia sp. were detected in 2.4% of all collected ticks and Anaplasma sp. were detected in 5.5% of all ticks. Rickettsia rickettsii was amplified in 18.2% of ticks, and amplicons similar to R. parkeri, and R. felis were found in 0.8% and 0.4%, of collected ticks, respectively. This is the first report of these pathogenic bacterial species in El Salvador. This study emphasizes the need for further surveillance and research including incorporating additional human seroprevalence and testing to understand the public health burden in this country.
Assuntos
Rickettsia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos , Carrapatos , Animais , Humanos , Rickettsia/genética , Ehrlichia/genética , Carrapatos/microbiologia , Anaplasma/genética , Zoonoses Bacterianas , El Salvador , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Fleas and ticks represent the two main groups of ectoparasites that infest companion animals. In particular, the flea Ctenocephalides felis felis and several members of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex are the main vectors of a wide range of pathogens on the American continent. They are competent vectors for several members of the genus Rickettsia, which encompass at least 15 pathogenic obligate intracellular bacteria that colonize the endothelial cells of vertebrates. In Mexico, 10 species of Rickettsia belonging to three groups have been detected in six species of ectoparasites from dogs in 9 of the 32 states of the country. However, in some larger regions of the country, active epidemiological surveillance has not been carried out. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the presence of members of the genus Rickettsia in fleas and ticks of dogs and cats in the state of Puebla, Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out to collect ectoparasites of dogs and cats during August to November 2019. Samples were fixed in 70% ethanol and examined to identify the presence of Rickettsia DNA by the amplification and sequencing of specific fragments of the gltA and ompB genes using conventional PCR. The recovered sequences were compared with those deposited in GenBank, and phylogenetic analyses were carried out to identify the position of the pathogens detected with respect to the valid species previously reported worldwide. Additionally, ecological parameters of the ectoparasite infestations were also calculated. We recovered 196 ectoparasites belonging to two species, 33 C. felis felis and 163 R. sanguineus s.l. (Rhipicephalus linnaei), parasitizing 46 hosts (42 dogs and 4 cats) in 11 localities of the state of Puebla. We detected the presence of Rickettsia felis in three pools of C. felis felis, and five from R. sanguineus s.l. Our work provides the first record of R. felis in hard ticks of Mexico and Central America, with new collection localities for this pathogen in central Mexico.
Assuntos
Doenças do Gato , Doenças do Cão , Felis , Infestações por Pulgas , Rhipicephalus sanguineus , Rickettsia felis , Rickettsia , Sifonápteros , Animais , Gatos , Cães , Sifonápteros/microbiologia , Rickettsia felis/genética , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Filogenia , Estudos Transversais , Células Endoteliais , México/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/microbiologia , Infestações por Pulgas/epidemiologia , Infestações por Pulgas/veterinária , Rickettsia/genéticaRESUMO
Ticks are a group of obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites that play a critical role in transmitting several important zoonotic pathogens that can infect animals and humans. Viruses are part of the tick microbiome and are involved in the transmission of important diseases. Furthermore, the little information on these as etiological agents of zoonoses suggests the need to study these microorganisms. For this reason, in this study, we sought to characterize the virome in Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor nitens, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., which were collected from different domestic animals in Antioquia, Colombia. RNA sequencing was used for virome characterization in these three tick species, using RNA-dependent polymerase as a marker gene. Forty-eight sequences corresponding to 14 different viruses were identified, some of which were previously identified in the tick's virome. Overall, these data indicate that ticks from domestic animals in cattle farms harbor a wide viral diversity at the local scale. Thus, the metatranscriptomic approach provides important baseline information for monitoring the tick virome and to develop future studies on their biology, host-virus interactions, host range, worldwide distribution, and finally, their potential role as emerging vector-borne agents.
Assuntos
Animais Domésticos/virologia , Dermacentor/virologia , Rhipicephalus/virologia , Infestações por Carrapato/veterinária , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/veterinária , Viroma , Animais , Bovinos , Doenças dos Bovinos/virologia , Colômbia , Doenças do Cão/virologia , Cães , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/virologia , Cavalos , Masculino , Ovinos , Doenças dos Ovinos/virologia , Carneiro Doméstico , Infestações por Carrapato/parasitologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Carrapatos/virologiaRESUMO
We determined the prevalence of infection and genetic identity of Hepatozoon spp. harbored by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks in Taiwan. A total of 1082 ticks were collected from dogs and DNA extraction was performed from individual tick specimens. Hepatozoon infection was detected by performing a nested-PCR assay based on the 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (ssrRNA) gene. The genetic identity of detected Hepatozoon was identified by gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Hepatozoon infection was detected in nymphs, males and females of R. sanguineus s. l. ticks with an infection rate of 20.8%, 22.8% and 29.4%, respectively. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these Hepatozoon spp. of Taiwan were genetically affiliated to the same clade within the genospecies of H. canis and can be discriminated from other genospecies of H. americanum and H. felis. Intraspecies analysis based on the genetic distance (GD) values indicates a lower level (GD < 0.005) genetic divergence within the same genospecies of H. canis detected in Taiwan, Brazil and Spain. Interspecies analysis also reveals a higher heterogeneity of Taiwan strains distinguished from other genospecies of H. felis (GD > 0.040) and H. americanum (GD > 0.056). This study provides the first molecular evidence of H. canis detected and identified in various stages of R. sanguineus s. l. ticks in Taiwan. Detection of H. canis in unfed male ticks may imply the possible mechanism of transstadial survival in R. sanguineus s. l. ticks. Further investigations on Hepatozoon spp. harbored by various vector ticks in Taiwan may illustrate the epidemiological significance of this parasite.
Assuntos
Coccidiose/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Cães/parasitologia , Eucoccidiida/genética , Rhipicephalus sanguineus/parasitologia , Animais , Vetores Aracnídeos/parasitologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Coccidiose/epidemiologia , DNA de Protozoário/genética , Eucoccidiida/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Masculino , Ninfa/parasitologia , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Prevalência , RNA Ribossômico 18S/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Espanha/epidemiologia , Taiwan/epidemiologiaRESUMO
El conocimiento de las especies de ectoparásitos presentes en los animales de compañía tiene implicancias tanto en medicina veterinaria como en salud humana, ya que varios agentes tienen la potencialidad de transmitirse del animal al humano y viceversa. Se revisaron 466 garrapatas remitidas al Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional (CIPaR) durante los años 2010 y 2013, recolectadas en 217 perros de zonas urbanas de la provincia de Mendoza. El 83,5% (n=385) fueron identificadas como Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (84 machos y 199 hembras - relación 1:2,37 -, 65 ninfas y 37 larvas), mientras que el 16,5% (n=76) fue identificado como Amblyomma tigrinum (10 machos y 61 hembras - relación 1:6,1 -, y cinco ejemplares adultos en mal estado, imposibilitando su sexado). Adicionalmente, cinco ejemplares adultos sólo se identificaron como pertenecientes al género Amblyomma, ya que por encontrarse ingurgitados no se pudo realizar la determinación de especie. Éste registro es un importante aporte al conocimiento de las especies de garrapatas presentes en perros (Canis familiaris) en la provincia de Mendoza.
Knowledge of the ectoparasitic agents of pets has implications both in veterinary medicine and public health since several agents have the potential to spread from animal to human and vice versa. Ticks sent to the Centro de Investigación en Parasitología Regional (CIPaR) during 2010 to 2013 were analysed. 466 adult ticks were collected from 217 dog in urban areas from Mendoza province, Argentina. Of these, 83.5% (n=385) specimens were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (84 male and 199 female - ratio 1:2.37 -, 65 nymphs and 37 larvae), while 16.5% (n = 76) were identified as Amblyomma tigrinum (10 males and 61 females - ratio 1:6.1 -, and five adults in bad condition, which precluded their sexing). In addition, five adult specimens, identified as Amblyomma, were not identified to the species level since they were fully engorged. This report is an important contribution to the knowledge of the species of ticks in dogs (Canis familiaris) in the province of Mendoza.
RESUMO
Rangelia vitalii is the etiologic agent of canine rangeliosis, a severe piroplasmosis that affects domestic dogs in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. While R. vitalii is one of the most pathogenic tick-borne pathogens for dogs in the world, its tick vector has remained unknown. The present study evaluated the vector competence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (both tropical and temperate species), Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma tigrinum, and Amblyomma sculptum for R. vitalii. These six tick species were selected for the study because they comprise the main tick species infesting dogs within the distribution area of canine rangeliosis in South America. Acquisition feeding of the above six tick species was performed on domestic dogs showing clinical signs of canine rangeliosis, after being experimentally infected through intravenous inoculation or infestation with R. vitalii-infected ticks. Thereafter, engorged ticks were evaluated for transstadial and transovarial passages of R. vitalii through molecular analysis after molting or oviposition and egg hatching. The resultant ticks were evaluated for their competence to transmit R. vitalii to susceptible dogs. Among the six tick species, only A. aureolatum was able to acquire and perpetuate R. vitalii by transstadial and transovarial passages, as demonstrated by >5% infection rates of ticks after hatching or molting. When exposed to transmission feeding, only A. aureolatum ticks were competent to transmit R. vitalii to dogs, which became severely ill, and the results confirmed by molecular methods and blood smear examination to have acquired rangeliosis. Results of the present study, coupled with epidemiological data, indicate that A. aureolatum is a natural vector of R. vitalii. Our results also indicate that R. vitalii is the first Piroplasmorida agent to be transovarially transmitted in Amblyomma ticks.
Assuntos
Vetores Aracnídeos/genética , Doenças do Cão/transmissão , Ixodidae/fisiologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/transmissão , Infestações por Carrapato/veterinária , Animais , Animais Domésticos/parasitologia , Vetores Aracnídeos/parasitologia , Argentina/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Vetores de Doenças , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/parasitologia , Cães , Feminino , Ixodidae/classificação , Ixodidae/parasitologia , Ovário/parasitologia , Piroplasmida/isolamento & purificação , Piroplasmida/fisiologia , Infecções Protozoárias em Animais/epidemiologia , Infestações por Carrapato/epidemiologia , Infestações por Carrapato/parasitologia , Uruguai/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Resumen Actualmente, el estudio de la borreliosis canina adquiere mayor relevancia, ya que el perro es considerado como un importante centinela del complejo Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, el cual podría desempeñar un papel clave en la dispersión de garrapatas de las áreas selváticas al ambiente doméstico. En México, la distribución y presencia de genoespecies patógenas de B. burgdorferi en perros y sus garrapatas aún no ha sido investigada. Por tal motivo, la presente investigación tiene como objetivo detectar y estimar la prevalencia de B burgdorferi s.l. en perros y sus garrapatas en dos comunidades rurales de Yucatán, México. En cada comunidad se visitaron 50 viviendas donde se estudiaron 144 muestras de sangre de perros por punción de la vena safena, así como la colecta de sus garrapatas. Se colectaron un total de 846 garrapatas de las especies Ixodes affinis (33 / 846), Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (786 / 846) y Amblyomma mixtum (27 / 846). Para detectar la presencia de B. burgdorferi s.l. en dichas muestras, se amplificó el gen conservado flaB y las lipoproteínas de membrana externa, ospC y p66, mediante el uso de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa. La prevalencia obtenida en sangre de perros fue de 17.3 % (25 / 144) para flaB, 12.50 % (18 / 144) para el gen p66 y 1.38 % (2 / 144) para el gen ospC. De las garrapatas analizadas, R. sanguineus s.l. tuvo una prevalencia de infección de 0.89 %, A. mixtum de 5.88 % e I. affinis de 15.15 %, siendo esta última especie la que presentó mayor prevalencia. Dos perros y sus garrapatas I. affinis fueron positivos al gen flaB. Solamente una garrapata R. sanguineus s.l. fue positiva al gen p66 y ninguna especie de garrapata fue positiva al gen ospC. Este estudio confirma la existencia de B. burgdorferi s.l. en perros y sus garrapatas en comunidades rurales de Yucatán, México. La detección de Borrelia en perros podría ser un criterio importante para la evaluación del riesgo de borreliosis en humanos, ya que el perro puede emplearse como indicador epidemiológico para la identificación de nuevos focos de esta enfermedad.
Abstract In Mexico, the distribution and the presence of pathogenic genospecies of B. burgdorferi in dogs and their ticks has not been extensively investigated. The study of canine borreliosis is acquiring greater relevance, since the dog is considered to be an important sentinel for pathogens pertaining to the complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; in addition, dogs could be playing a key role in the spread of ticks from forested areas into the domestic environment. This study aimed to detect and estimate the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs and their ticks in two rural communities of Yucatán, Mexico. In each community, 50 houses were visited, where 144 blood samples from dogs were studied by puncture of the saphenous vein, as well as the collection of their ticks. To detect the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in these samples, the conserved gene flaB, p66 and ospC were PCR amplified. A total of 144 dog blood samples, and 846 of ticks were obtained from the examined animals. Considering tick species, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (786 / 846) was common, while Ixodes affinis (33 / 846), and Amblyomma mixtum (27 / 846) resulted less frequent. As per gene conservation, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in canine blood was 17.3 % (25 / 144) to flaB, 12.50 % (18 / 144) for p66 and 1.38 % (2 / 144) for the ospC gene. Within the analyzed ticks, R. sanguineus s.l. had a prevalence of 0.89 %, A. mixtum 5.88 % and I. affinis 15.15 %, being this last species the one that presented higher prevalence. Two dogs and their ticks I. affinis were positive to the flaB gene. Only a tick R. sanguineus s.l. was positive to the gene p66 and no tick species was positive the ospC gene. This study confirmed the existence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in dogs and their ticks in rural communities of Yucatán, Mexico. The detection of Borrelia in dogs may be an important criterion for the evaluation of the risk of borreliosis in humans, since the dog can be used as an epidemiological indicator for the identification of new outbreaks of this disease. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 428-437. Epub 2018 March 01.
RESUMO
Although vector-borne diseases are globally widespread with considerable impact on animal production and on public health, few reports document their presence in Central America. This study focuses on the detection and molecular identification of species belonging to selected bacterial genera (Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Rickettsia) in ticks sampled from dogs in Costa Rica by targeting several genes: 16S rRNA/dsb genes for Ehrlichia; 16S rRNA/groEL genes for Anaplasma, and ompA/gltA/groEL genes for Rickettsia. PCR and sequence analyses provides evidences of Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l ticks, and allow establishing the presence of Rickettsia monacensis in Ixodes boliviensis. Furthermore, the presence of recently discovered Mediterranean A. platys-like strains is reported for the first time in Central America. Results provide new background on geographical distribution of selected tick-transmitted bacterial pathogens in Costa Rica and on their molecular epidemiology, and are pivotal to the development of effective and reliable diagnostic tools in Central America.