First report of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp. in Amblyomma gervaisi ticks infesting monitor lizards (Varanus begalensis) of Pakistan.
Infect Genet Evol
; 118: 105569, 2024 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38354994
ABSTRACT
Ticks pose significant health risks to both wildlife and humans due to their role as vectors for various pathogens. In this study, we investigated tick infestation patterns, tick-associated pathogens, and genetic relationships within the tick species Amblyomma gervaisi, focusing on its prevalence in monitor lizards (Varanus bengalensis) across different districts in Pakistan. We examined 85 monitor lizards and identified an overall mean intensity of 19.59 ticks per infested lizard and an overall mean abundance of 11.98 ticks per examined lizard. All collected ticks (n = 1019) were morphologically identified as A. gervaisi, including 387 males, 258 females, 353 nymphs, and 21 larvae. The highest tick prevalence was observed in the Buner district, followed by Torghar and Shangla, with the lowest prevalence in Chitral. Lizard captures primarily occurred from May to October, correlating with the period of higher tick infestations. Molecular analysis was conducted on tick DNA, revealing genetic similarities among A. gervaisi ticks based on 16S rDNA and ITS2 sequences. Notably, we found the absence of A. gervaisi ITS2 sequences in the NCBI GenBank, highlighting a gap in existing genetic data. Moreover, our study identified the presence of pathogenic microorganisms, including Ehrlichia sp., Candidatus Ehrlichia dumleri, Anaplasma sp., Francisella sp., Rickettsia sp., and Coxiella sp., in these ticks. BLAST analysis revealed significant similarities between these pathogenic sequences and known strains, emphasizing the potential role of these ticks as vectors for zoonotic diseases. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS2 and mitochondrial 16S rDNA genes illustrated the genetic relationships of A. gervaisi ticks from Pakistan with other Amblyomma species, providing insights into their evolutionary history. These findings contribute to our understanding of tick infestation patterns, and tick-borne pathogens in monitor lizards, which has implications for wildlife health, zoonotic disease transmission, and future conservation efforts. Further research in this area is crucial for a comprehensive assessment of the risks associated with tick-borne diseases in both wildlife and humans.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Rickettsia
/
Infestaciones por Garrapatas
/
Garrapatas
/
Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas
/
Lagartos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Animals
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Infect Genet Evol
/
Infect. gent. evol
/
Infection, genetics and evolution
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
/
GENETICA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Pakistán