1. Phylogenetic evidence for a clade of tick-associated trypanosomes
- Author
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Koual, Rachid, Buysse, Marie, Grillet, Justine, Binetruy, Florian, Ouass, Sofian, Sprong, Hein, Duhayon, Maxime, Boulanger, Nathalie, Jourdain, Frédéric, Alafaci, Aurélien, Verdonck, Julien, Verheyden, Hélène, Rispe, Claude, Plantard, Olivier, Duron, Olivier, Maladies infectieuses et vecteurs : écologie, génétique, évolution et contrôle (MIVEGEC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD [France-Sud])-Université de Montpellier (UM), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment [Bilthoven] (RIVM), Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risques et Ecosystèmes (UMR ASTRE), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), Département Systèmes Biologiques (Cirad-BIOS), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), UR 7290 VBP, Ecologie et biologie des interactions (EBI), Université de Poitiers-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Unité de recherche Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage (CEFS), Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), LTSER ZA PYRenees GARonne, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Biologie, Epidémiologie et analyse de risque en Santé Animale (BIOEPAR), École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l'alimentation Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), ANR-10-LABX-0025,CEBA,CEnter of the study of Biodiversity in Amazonia(2010), and ANR-10-LABX-0004,CeMEB,Mediterranean Center for Environment and Biodiversity(2010)
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Mammals ,Trypanosoma ,Ixodes ,Placenta ,Trypanosoma pestanai ,Trypanosome specificity ,Infectious Diseases ,Amblyomma ,Pregnancy ,[SDV.BA.ZV]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Animal biology/Vertebrate Zoology ,Vertebrates ,Animals ,Parasitology ,Female ,Phylogeny - Abstract
Background Trypanosomes are protozoan parasites of vertebrates that are of medical and veterinary concern. A variety of blood-feeding invertebrates have been identified as vectors, but the role of ticks in trypanosome transmission remains unclear. Methods In this study, we undertook extensive molecular screening for the presence and genetic diversity of trypanosomes in field ticks. Results Examination of 1089 specimens belonging to 28 tick species from Europe and South America led to the identification of two new trypanosome strains. The prevalence may be as high as 4% in tick species such as the castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus, but we found no evidence of transovarial transmission. Further phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA, EF1-α, hsp60 and hsp85 gene sequences revealed that different tick species, originating from different continents, often harbour phylogenetically related trypanosome strains and species. Most tick-associated trypanosomes cluster in a monophyletic clade, the Trypanosoma pestanai clade, distinct from clades of trypanosomes associated with transmission by other blood-feeding invertebrates. Conclusions These observations suggest that ticks may be specific arthropod hosts for trypanosomes of the T. pestanai clade. Phylogenetic analyses provide further evidence that ticks may transmit these trypanosomes to a diversity of mammal species (including placental and marsupial species) on most continents. Graphical Abstract
- Published
- 2022
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