Cercopithifilaria spp. in ticks of companion animals from Asia: new putative hosts and vectors.

Cercopithifilaria bainae, Cercopithifilaria grassi, and Cercopithifilaria sp. II sensu Otranto et al., 2013 tick borne filarioids are typically found in dogs. Among them, Cercopithifilaria bainae has a worldwide distribution according to the occurrence of its tick vector, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.). Nevertheless, in Asian countries, despite the wide presence of this tick species, data on Cercopithifilaria spp. are scant. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the occurrence of these dermal filarioids in ixodid ticks collected on dogs and cats from Asian countries, providing a better epidemiological picture on their distribution in this continent. Ticks (n = 687) of the species Rhipicephalus sanguineus s. l. (n = 667), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (n = 8), Haemaphysalis longicornis (n = 7), Haemaphysalis campanulata (n = 1), Haemaphysalis wellingtoni (n = 2), Haemaphysalis hystricis (n = 1), and Ixodes sp. (n = 1) were collected on dogs and cats under the frame of previous studies in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Tick samples were molecularly screened for Cercopithifilaria spp. by conventional PCR and real-time PCR using two pair of primers targeting partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene. Overall, Cercophitifilaria spp. DNA was detected in 9.5% (n = 65/687) of the tick specimens tested, with C. bainae being the most prevalent species (8.9%), followed by C. grassii (0.6%). Most Cercophitifilaria spp. positive ticks were collected on dogs (92.3%; 60/65); whereas ticks collected on cats represented 7.7% of the positive specimens. In addition, Cercopithifilaria spp. were mostly detected in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks (96.9%; 63/65), followed by Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (3.1%; 2/65). Data herein presented demonstrate the occurrence of dermal tick borne filarioids of the genus Cercopithifilaria in several Asian countries, with C. bainae being the most prevalent species. We also report for the first time the molecular detection of C. bainae in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks collected on cats, as well as in R. haemaphysaloides ticks, suggesting that the biological cycle of this filarioid species may involve other intermediate and definitive hosts than R. sanguineus s.l. and dogs. However, confirmatory studies on the role of other tick species and domestic cats on the biology of C. bainae are advocated.

Leishmania spp. in Squamata reptiles from the Mediterranean basin.

Leishmania tarentolae is a nonpathogenic trypanosomatid species isolated from geckoes in the Mediterranean basin. In Italy, L. tarentolae and Leishmania infantum occur in sympatry in areas where canine leishmaniosis (CanL) is endemic. Here, we investigated the prevalence and distribution of L. tarentolae in reptilian hosts and the presence of L. infantum in the same animals in southern Italy. From April 2020 to April 2021, lizards and snakes were captured in urban, peri-urban sites, natural parks, and dog shelters. Blood was individually sampled and assessed for the presence of Leishmania spp. by cytology and/or molecular biology. Captured lizards were euthanized and their tissues/organs were tested by duplex real-time-PCR for the detection of L. infantum and L. tarentolae and the positive ones were amplified by conventional PCR to confirm the species identification by sequencing. Samples were also screened by real-time PCR for L. infantum kDNA minicircle. Of the 259 collected Squamata reptiles, 34 (13.1%) specimens scored positive for Leishmania spp., with a prevalence of 10% for L. tarentolae (n = 26) and of 3.1% for L. infantum (n = 8). Positive lizards were mostly Podarcis siculus (n = 26) from dog shelters, with six specimens positive for L. infantum. In addition, L. tarentolae was detected in one Podarcis filfolensis lizard, and in five T. mauritanica geckos (with one gecko and P. filfolensis lizard showing amastigote-like forms in thrombocytes), whereas L. infantum was detected in one T. mauritanica, and one Hemidactylus turcicus. Data herein reported demostrate that saurian reptiles living in CanL endemic areas of the Mediterranean basin may be exposed to both L. tarentolae and L. infantum indicating a sympatric circulation of these species in different vertebrate hosts. Moreover, this study represents the first molecular evidence of L. infantum infection in European reptiles.