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Diversity of Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, and Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii as pathogens in the tick populations of Slovakia, Central Europe.
- Source :
-
Ticks and tick-borne diseases [Ticks Tick Borne Dis] 2018 Jul; Vol. 9 (5), pp. 1207-1211. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 May 03. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms was evaluated by PCR in 605 individuals and by randomly sequencing 66 samples. Four species of rickettsiae (R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. helvetica and R. monacensis) were identified and reported with an overall prevalence range between 0.4 and 50.3% (±8.0) depending on tick species, sex and locality. Partial sequencing of the gltA gene of 5 chosen samples in H. inermis showed 99% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia hungarica. The total prevalence of C. burnetii in ticks was 2.2 ± 1.7%; bacteria were confirmed in I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks. The sequences from 2 D. reticulatus males and 1 I. ricinus female ticks were compared to GenBank submissions and a 99.8% match was obtained with the pathogenic C. burnetii. Coxiella-like endosymbionts were registered in all three species of ticks from all studied sites with an average prevalence of 32.7 ± 3.7%. A phylogenetic analysis of this Coxiella sp. showed that it does not group with the pathogenic C. burnetii. The prevalence of Francisella-like microorganisms in questing ticks was 47.9 ± 3.9%, however H. inermis (n = 108) were not infested. Obtained sequences were 98% identical with previously identified Francisella-like endosymbionts in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms were identified for the first time in Slovakia, they might be considered as a non-pathogenic endosymbiont of I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. inermis, and future investigations could aim to assess their role in these ticks. However, this work provided further data and broadened our knowledge on bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts present in ticks in Slovakia to help understanding co-infestations, combined treatments and public health issues linked to tick bites.<br /> (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Bacterial Infections epidemiology
Bacterial Infections transmission
Coxiella cytology
Coxiella genetics
Coxiella isolation & purification
Coxiella pathogenicity
Coxiella burnetii genetics
Coxiella burnetii pathogenicity
DNA, Bacterial genetics
Dermacentor microbiology
Female
Francisella classification
Francisella genetics
Francisella pathogenicity
Ixodes microbiology
Male
Phylogeny
Public Health
Rickettsia genetics
Rickettsia pathogenicity
Slovakia epidemiology
Symbiosis
Arachnid Vectors microbiology
Coxiella burnetii isolation & purification
Francisella isolation & purification
Ixodidae microbiology
Rickettsia isolation & purification
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1877-9603
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Ticks and tick-borne diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 29748120
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.05.002