RESUMEN
Arboviruses are a group of diseases that are transmitted by an arthropod vector. Since they are part of the Neglected Tropical Diseases that pose several public health challenges for countries around the world. The arboviruses' dynamics are governed by a combination of climatic, environmental, and human mobility factors. Arboviruses prediction models can be a support tool for decision-making by public health agents. In this study, we propose a systematic literature review to identify arboviruses prediction models, as well as models for their transmitter vector dynamics. To carry out this review, we searched reputable scientific bases such as IEE Xplore, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Scopus. We search for studies published between the years 2015 and 2020, using a search string. A total of 429 articles were returned, however, after filtering by exclusion and inclusion criteria, 139 were included. Through this systematic review, it was possible to identify the challenges present in the construction of arboviruses prediction models, as well as the existing gap in the construction of spatiotemporal models.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Arbovirus/virología , Arbovirus/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Aprendizaje Automático , Enfermedades Desatendidas/virología , Salud Pública/métodos , Animales , Infecciones por Arbovirus/epidemiología , Infecciones por Arbovirus/transmisión , Arbovirus/patogenicidad , Arbovirus/fisiología , Vectores Artrópodos/virología , Humanos , Aprendizaje Automático/normas , Aprendizaje Automático/tendencias , Modelos Estadísticos , Enfermedades Desatendidas/epidemiología , Salud Pública/tendenciasRESUMEN
Questing behavior and host associations of immature blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, from the southeastern United States are known to differ from those in the north. To elucidate these relationships we describe host associations of larval and nymphal I. scapularis from 8 lizard species sampled from 5 sites in the southeastern U.S. Larvae and nymphs attached in greater numbers to larger lizards than to smaller lizards, with differential levels of attachment to different lizard species. Blacklegged ticks are generally attached to skinks of the genus Plestiodon in greater numbers per unit lizard weight than to anoles (Anolis) or fence lizards (Sceloporus). The broad-headed skink, Plestiodon laticeps (Schneider), was a particularly important host for immature I. scapularis in our study and in several previous studies of tick-host associations in the southeast. Blacklegged ticks show selective attachment to Plestiodon lizard hosts in the southeast, but whether this results from behavioral host preferences or from ecological factors such as timing or microhabitat distributions of tick questing and host activity remains to be determined.
Asunto(s)
Ixodes , Lagartos/parasitología , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Biodiversidad , Ecosistema , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Larva , Ninfa , Densidad de Población , Estaciones del Año , Sudeste de Estados Unidos , Especificidad de la Especie , Infestaciones por GarrapatasRESUMEN
Understanding how multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales (MDRE) are transmitted in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is critical for implementing robust policies to curb the increasing burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we analysed samples from surgical site infections (SSIs), hospital surfaces (HSs) and arthropods (summer and winter 2016) to investigate the incidence and transmission of MDRE in a public hospital in Pakistan. We investigated Enterobacterales containing resistance genes (blaCTX-M-15, blaNDM and blaOXA-48-like) for identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing. Genotypes, phylogenetic relationships and transmission events for isolates from different sources were investigated using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis with a cut-off of ≤20 SNPs. Escherichia coli (14.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.9%) and Enterobacter cloacae (16.3%) were the main MDRE species isolated. The carbapenemase gene blaNDM was most commonly detected, with 15.5%, 15.1% and 13.3% of samples positive in SSIs, HSs and arthropods, respectively. SNP (≤20) and spatiotemporal analysis revealed linkages in bacteria between SSIs, HSs and arthropods supporting the One Health approach to underpin infection control policies across LMICs and control AMR.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/microbiología , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae/microbiología , Enterobacteriaceae/aislamiento & purificación , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/microbiología , Animales , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/efectos de los fármacos , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Enterobacteriaceae/clasificación , Enterobacteriaceae/efectos de los fármacos , Enterobacteriaceae/genética , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae/epidemiología , Infecciones por Enterobacteriaceae/transmisión , Microbiología Ambiental , Variación Genética , Hospitales , Humanos , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Pakistán/epidemiología , Filogenia , Plásmidos/genética , Prevalencia , Estaciones del Año , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/epidemiología , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/transmisión , beta-Lactamasas/genéticaRESUMEN
Voluntary contributions by citizen scientists can gather large datasets covering wide geographical areas, and are increasingly utilized by researchers for multiple applications, including arthropod vector surveillance. Online platforms such as iNaturalist accumulate crowdsourced biological observations from around the world and these data could also be useful for monitoring vectors. The aim of this study was to explore the availability of observations of important vector taxa on the iNaturalist platform and examine the utility of these data to complement existing vector surveillance activities. Of ten vector taxa investigated, records were most numerous for mosquitoes (Culicidae; 23,018 records, 222 species) and ticks (Ixodida; 16,214 records, 87 species), with most data from 2019-2020. Case studies were performed to assess whether images associated with records were of sufficient quality to identify species and compare iNaturalist observations of vector species to the known situation at the state, national and regional level based on existing published data. Firstly, tick data collected at the national (United Kingdom) or state (Minnesota, USA) level were sufficient to determine seasonal occurrence and distribution patterns of important tick species, and were able to corroborate and complement known trends in tick distribution. Importantly, tick species with expanding distributions (Haemaphysalis punctata in the UK, and Amblyomma americanum in Minnesota) were also detected. Secondly, using iNaturalist data to monitor expanding tick species in Europe (Hyalomma spp.) and the USA (Haemaphysalis longicornis), and invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Europe, showed potential for tracking these species within their known range as well as identifying possible areas of expansion. Despite known limitations associated with crowdsourced data, this study shows that iNaturalist can be a valuable source of information on vector distribution and seasonality that could be used to supplement existing vector surveillance data, especially at a time when many surveillance programs may have been interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Ciencia Ciudadana , Colaboración de las Masas , Culicidae/clasificación , Garrapatas/clasificación , Distribución Animal , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/fisiología , Ciencia Ciudadana/métodos , Colaboración de las Masas/métodos , Culicidae/fisiología , Bases de Datos Factuales , Europa (Continente) , Humanos , Especies Introducidas , Densidad de Población , Garrapatas/fisiología , Reino Unido , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
Arthropod vectors have historically been identified morphologically, and more recently using molecular biology methods. However, both of these methods are time-consuming and require specific expertise and equipment. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, which has revolutionized the routine identification of microorganisms in clinical microbiology laboratories, was recently successfully applied to the identification of arthropod vectors. Since then, the robustness of this identification technique has been confirmed, extended to a large panel of arthropod vectors, and assessed for detecting blood feeding behavior and identifying the infection status in regard to certain pathogenic agents. In this study, we summarize the state-of-the-art of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry applied to the identification of arthropod vectors (ticks, mosquitoes, phlebotomine sand-flies, fleas, triatomines, lice and Culicoides), their trophic preferences and their ability to discriminate between infection statuses.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/patogenicidad , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización Desorción , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/química , Artrópodos/química , Artrópodos/clasificación , Artrópodos/patogenicidad , Técnicas de Laboratorio Clínico , Enfermedades Transmisibles/etiología , Enfermedades Transmisibles/transmisión , Entomología , HumanosRESUMEN
Ticks are considered the second most important vectors of pathogens worldwide, after mosquitoes. This study provides a systematic review of vector-host relationships between ticks and mammals (domestic and wild) and consolidates information from studies conducted in Colombia between 1911 and 2020. Using the PRISMA method, 71 scientific articles containing records for 51 tick species (Argasidae and Ixodidae) associated with mammals are reported. The existing information on tick-mammal associations in Colombia is scarce, fragmented, or very old. Moreover, 213 specimens were assessed based on morphological and molecular analyses, which allowed confirming eight tick species associated with mammals: Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma mixtum, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma varium, Ixodes luciae, and Ixodes tropicalis. Several tick species are molecularly confirmed for Colombia and nine new relationships between ticks and mammals are reported. This research compiles and confirms important records of tick-mammal associations in Colombia.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/fisiología , Mamíferos/parasitología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas/fisiología , Animales , Argasidae/clasificación , Argasidae/genética , Argasidae/fisiología , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/genética , Colombia , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Ixodidae/clasificación , Ixodidae/genética , Ixodidae/fisiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitología , Garrapatas/clasificación , Garrapatas/genéticaRESUMEN
Ticks exist across diverse environments and transmit numerous pathogens. Due to their long and unique life cycles, these arthropods likely evolved robust epigenetic mechanisms that provide sustainable responses and buffers against extreme environmental conditions. Herein, we highlight how the study of the epigenetic basis of tick biology and vectorial capacity will enrich our knowledge of tick-borne infections.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/crecimiento & desarrollo , Transmisión de Enfermedad Infecciosa , Epigénesis Genética , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas/fisiología , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/genética , Humanos , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/genética , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/transmisión , Garrapatas/microbiología , Garrapatas/parasitología , Garrapatas/virologíaRESUMEN
Numerous arthropod taxa are important in human and veterinary medicine. The salivary secretions and feces of arthropods can cause allergic reactions in host vertebrates or harbor pathogens. Also, bites can be a risk factor for secondary infections. Documenting the diversity of arthropods of medical and veterinary importance remains an important aspect of disease control and prevention. We provide new records of ectoparasitic arthropods from Mexico that are of potential medical or veterinary relevance. Scanning electron microscopy along with amplification and sequencing of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene (16S rRNA) was used to confirm some species identities. We report the cat louse Felicola subrostratus from cats and the chewing louse Heterodoxus spiniger from dogs, which are common ectoparasites but largely not reported in Mexico. The chigger Eutrombicula alfreddugesi is common on wild lizards (Squamata). For the first time, E. alfreddugesi is reported on Hemidactylus frenatus (common house gecko). This reptile has a close relationship with humans and its chiggers can cause dermatitis (i.e., trombiculiasis) or transmit pathogens. In addition, the common bed bug Cimex lectularius is reported for the first time in the state of Yucatan, an atypical area for its natural distribution. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Cimex lectularius from Yucatan is closely related to genetic sequences of Cimex lectularius from China. Knowing the regional distribution of arthropods allows the design and implementation of prevention strategies for those that have potential roles as reservoirs or vectors.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Enfermedades de los Gatos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Infestaciones por Piojos/veterinaria , Lagartos/parasitología , Infestaciones por Ácaros/veterinaria , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/ultraestructura , Chinches/clasificación , Gatos , Perros , Femenino , Humanos , Ischnocera/ultraestructura , Infestaciones por Piojos/parasitología , Masculino , México , Microscopía Electrónica de Rastreo , Infestaciones por Ácaros/parasitología , Siphonaptera/ultraestructura , Trombiculidae/ultraestructuraRESUMEN
African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most important diseases in Suidae due to its significant health and socioeconomic consequences and represents a major threat to the European pig industry, especially in the absence of any available treatment or vaccine. In fact, with its high mortality rate and the subsequent trade restrictions imposed on affected countries, ASF can dramatically disrupt the pig industry in afflicted countries. In September 2018, ASF was unexpectedly identified in wild boars from southern Belgium in the province of Luxembourg, not far from the Franco-Belgian border. The French authorities rapidly commissioned an expert opinion on the risk of ASF introduction and dissemination into metropolitan France. In Europe, the main transmission routes of the virus comprise direct contact between infected and susceptible animals and indirect transmission through contaminated material or feed. However, the seasonality of the disease in some pig farms in Baltic countries, including outbreaks in farms with high biosecurity levels, have led to questions on the possible involvement of arthropods in the transmission of the virus. This review explores the current body of knowledge on the most common arthropod families present in metropolitan France. We examine their potential role in spreading ASF-by active biological or mechanical transmission or by passive transport or ingestion-in relation to their bio-ecological properties. It also highlights the existence of significant gaps in our knowledge on vector ecology in domestic and wild boar environments and in vector competence for ASFV transmission. Filling these gaps is essential to further understanding ASF transmission in order to thus implement appropriate management measures.
Asunto(s)
Virus de la Fiebre Porcina Africana/fisiología , Fiebre Porcina Africana/transmisión , Vectores Artrópodos/virología , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Ecosistema , Sus scrofa/virología , Fiebre Porcina Africana/epidemiología , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/fisiología , Granjas , Francia/epidemiología , PorcinosRESUMEN
The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is one of the worst global health crises of this generation. The core of this pandemic is the rapid transmissibility of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, its high morbidity and mortality, and the presence of infectious asymptomatic carriers. As a result, COVID-19 has dominated this year's headlines and commanded significant research attention. As we consider SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that scientists, governments, the media, and the general population also come to grips with the everyday cost of parasitic diseases. Plasmodium (malaria), schistosomes, filarial worms, hookworms, Ascaris, whipworms, and other protozoan and metazoan parasites take a tremendous toll on local communities. Yet, because most of these diseases are no longer endemic to developed countries, their research and intervention are not funded at levels that are proportional to their global morbidity and mortality. The scientific and public health communities must indeed vigorously fight SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, but while doing so and beyond, it will be essential to demonstrate steadfast resolve toward understanding and combating the parasitic diseases that for centuries have haunted humankind.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19/epidemiología , Enfermedades Parasitarias/prevención & control , Enfermedades Parasitarias/transmisión , Parasitología , SARS-CoV-2 , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/parasitología , COVID-19/mortalidad , COVID-19/prevención & control , Congresos como Asunto/tendencias , Educación a Distancia , Humanos , Museos/tendencias , Enfermedades Parasitarias/economía , Enfermedades Parasitarias/epidemiología , Parasitología/educación , Parasitología/tendencias , Pobreza , Caracoles/parasitología , Sociedades Científicas , Suelo/parasitología , Agua/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Eriophyoids affect crops around the globe directly or indirectly as virus vectors. Eriophyoid systematics initiated over a century ago, yet more than 90% of their fauna remain undescribed. Morphological identification is challenging because of a limited number of traits, cryptic speciation and complex life cycle reported for many species in the group. Nucleic acids extraction for mite identification is challenging due to their microscopic size with researchers using pooled samples leading to polymorphisms and inconclusive results. Identification of mite virus vectors is a tiresome task that could be simplified with a protocol that allows for the detection of viruses in the individual specimen. This communication describes an innovative, highly efficient extraction and detection pipeline. Direct Reverse Transcriptase - Polymerase Chain Reaction (Drt-PCR) assays were implemented in the molecular identification of eriophyoids and detection of viruses present in their bodies. The reverse transcription step allows for amplification from a single mite or egg, as in addition to the genomic DNA, it incorporates the abundant transcripts of targeted genes, whereas it also allows for the amplification of viruses. This communication provides an efficient, sensitive and cost-effective alternative that can be implemented in pest identification and detection as well as biological and ecological studies.
Asunto(s)
Arbovirus/aislamiento & purificación , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/virología , Clasificación/métodos , Ácaros/clasificación , Ácaros/virología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa/veterinaria , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/anatomía & histología , Femenino , Ácaros/anatomía & histología , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa/métodos , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Estudo dos carrapatos como vetor de doenças aos humanos.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Animales , Masculino , Femenino , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Fiebre Maculosa de las Montañas Rocosas/transmisión , Control de Ácaros y Garrapatas , Argasidae/clasificación , Ixodidae/clasificación , Vigilancia Sanitaria Ambiental , Notificación de EnfermedadesRESUMEN
The populations of many pathogen species consist of a collection of common and rare strains but the factors underlying this strain-specific variation in frequency are often unknown. Understanding frequency variation among strains is particularly challenging for vector-borne pathogens where the strain-specific fitness depends on the performance in both the vertebrate host and the arthropod vector. Two sympatric multiple-strain tick-borne pathogens, Borrelia afzelii and B. garinii, that use the same tick vector, Ixodes ricinus, but different vertebrate hosts were studied. 454-sequencing of the polymorphic ospC gene was used to characterize the community of Borrelia strains in a local population of I. ricinus ticks over a period of 11 years. Estimates of the reproduction number (R0), a measure of fitness, were obtained for six strains of B. afzelii from a previous laboratory study. There was substantial variation in prevalence among strains and some strains were consistently common whereas other strains were consistently rare. In B. afzelii, the strain-specific estimates of R0 in laboratory mice explained over 70% of the variation in the prevalences of the strains in our local population of ticks. Our study shows that laboratory estimates of fitness can predict the community structure of multiple-strain pathogens in the field.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos , Aptitud Genética , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/genética , Vectores de Enfermedades/clasificación , Prevalencia , Garrapatas/clasificación , Garrapatas/genéticaRESUMEN
Ebola virus is a pathogen responsible for a severe disease that affects humans and several animal species. To date, the natural reservoir of this virus is not known with certainty, although it is believed that fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) play an important role in maintaining the virus in nature. Although information on viral transmission from animals to humans is not clear, the role of arthropods has come under suspicion. In this article, we review the potential role of arthropods in spreading Ebola virus, acting as mechanical or biological vectors.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/fisiología , Artrópodos/virología , Reservorios de Enfermedades , Ebolavirus/fisiología , Fiebre Hemorrágica Ebola/transmisión , Fiebre Hemorrágica Ebola/virología , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/virología , Quirópteros/fisiología , Quirópteros/virología , Reservorios de Enfermedades/virología , Fiebre Hemorrágica Ebola/epidemiología , Humanos , Zoonosis/epidemiología , Zoonosis/virologíaRESUMEN
Mansonella ozzardi (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) is an understudied filarial nematode, originally described by Patrick Manson in 1897, that can be transmitted by two families of dipteran vectors, biting midges (most of them members of the genus Culicoides) and black flies (genus Simulium). With a patchy geographic distribution from southern Mexico to northwestern Argentina, human infection with M. ozzardi is highly prevalent in some of the Caribbean islands, along riverine communities in the Amazon Basin, and on both sides of the border between Bolivia and Argentina. There is no clinical entity unequivocally associated with M. ozzardi infection, although fever, arthralgia, headache, cold lower extremities, and itchy cutaneous rashes are occasionally mentioned in case report series. More recently, ocular manifestations (especially keratitis) have been associated with mansonelliasis, opening an important area of investigation. Here, we briefly review the biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical aspects of M. ozzardi infection and point to some existing knowledge gaps, aiming to stimulate a research agenda to help filling them.
Asunto(s)
Mansonella , Mansoneliasis/epidemiología , Mansoneliasis/parasitología , Enfermedades Desatendidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades Desatendidas/parasitología , Animales , Antihelmínticos/farmacología , Antihelmínticos/uso terapéutico , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/parasitología , Humanos , Mansonella/efectos de los fármacos , Mansonella/crecimiento & desarrollo , Mansonella/aislamiento & purificación , Mansonella/fisiología , Mansoneliasis/diagnóstico , Mansoneliasis/terapia , Enfermedades Desatendidas/diagnóstico , Enfermedades Desatendidas/terapia , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
The rapid and reliable identification of arthropod vector species is an essential component of the fight against vector-borne diseases. However, owing to the lack of entomological expertise required for the morphological identification method, development of alternative and complementary tools is needed. This review describes the main methods used for arthropod identification, focusing on the emergence of protein profiling using MALDI-TOF MS technology. Sample preparation, analysis of reproducibility, database creation and blind tests for controlling accuracy of this tool for arthropod identification are described. The advantages and limitations of the MALDI-TOF MS method are illustrated by emphasizing different hematophagous arthropods, including mosquitoes and ticks, the top two main vectors of infectious diseases.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Entomología/métodos , Animales , Técnicas de Genotipaje/métodos , Espectrometría de Masa por Láser de Matriz Asistida de Ionización Desorción/métodosRESUMEN
This work was performed to detect Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group in Amblyomma ticks likely to infest humans in rural areas from northwestern Argentina. Free-living ticks were collected and determined as Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma neumanni and Amblyomma tonelliae. Rickettsia infection was determined by polymerase chain reactions which amplify fragments of the rickettsial genes gltA and ompA. A high frequency (35/44, 79.5%) of Candidatus "Rickettsia andeanae" was observed in A. tigrinum ticks, and Candidatus "Rickettsia amblyommii" was found in three out of 14 nymphs of A. neumanni. All 14 Amblyomma tonelliae ticks were negative for rikettsiae. The infection with spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks aggressive for humans reveals the potential risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens of people inhabiting rural areas of northwestern Argentina.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Rickettsia/transmisión , Rickettsia , Población Rural , Garrapatas/microbiología , Animales , Argentina , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/microbiología , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Masculino , Filogenia , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Vigilancia en Salud Pública/métodos , Rickettsia/clasificación , Rickettsia/genética , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Factores de Riesgo , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/prevención & control , Garrapatas/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To date, anaplasmosis has been reported to be a subclinical disease in Indian and Arabian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) and llamas (Lama glama). However, no information on Anaplasma infection in two-humped Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) in China has been published to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in domestic Bactrian camels and ticks in Xinjiang, China. FINDINGS: A total of 382 ticks were collected from the Bactrian camels and from environmental sources. Of these, 84 were morphologically identified as belonging to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group and genetically identified (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA and the cytochrome c oxidase 1 genes) as R. sanguineus group ticks (temporally designated as Rhipicephalus sp. Xinjiang). PCR testing showed that 7.2% (20/279) of the camels harbored Anaplasma platys DNA. However, microscopic examination revealed no A. platys inclusions in blood smears from the camels. The PCR prevalence of A. platys DNA was 9.5% (6/63) in Rhipicephalus sp. Xinjiang from the Bactrian camels and 14.3% (3/21) in Rhipicephalus sp. Xinjiang from the vegetation. A. platys DNA was not detected by PCR in other tick species (Hyalomma asiaticum, Dermacentor niveus and Hyalomma dromedarii), and no other Anaplasma species were detected in these samples. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of A. platys in Bactrian camels in Xinjiang, China. The moderate positivity observed indicates that these animals might be a natural host for this pathogen in China.
Asunto(s)
Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Anaplasmosis/microbiología , Vectores Artrópodos/microbiología , Camelus/microbiología , Garrapatas/microbiología , Anaplasma/genética , Anaplasma/fisiología , Anaplasmosis/transmisión , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , China , Garrapatas/clasificaciónRESUMEN
The Iriomote cat (IC), Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis, and the Tsushima leopard cat (TLC), Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, are endangered subspecies of leopard cats in Japan. In addition to habitat destruction and road kills, infectious diseases may threaten their populations, and infection with arthropod-borne pathogens has been reported in both subspecies. Infestations with ectoparasites, especially ticks, have frequently been observed in ICs and TLCs. In the present study, ticks collected from captured ICs and TLCs between November 2011 and January 2012 were morphologically identified and the prevalence of the pathogens Bartonella sp., Babesia sp., Ehrlichia sp., Anaplasma sp., Hepatozoon sp., and hemoplasmas in the ticks was molecularly evaluated. The ticks Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. hystricis, and Amblyomma testudinarium were obtained from ICs, and H. megaspinosa, Ixodes tanuki, H. campanulata, and A. testudinarium were collected from TLCs. The pathogens Hepatozoon felis, Babesia sp., and Anaplasma bovis were detected in ticks obtained from ICs, while H. felis. Babesia sp., Ehrlichia sp., E. muris, 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', and Bartonella henselae were found in ticks from TLCs. To protect and conserve these endangered animals, continuous monitoring and additional surveys will be necessary to understand the role of ticks as disease vectors in Japanese wildcats.
Asunto(s)
Vectores Artrópodos , Felidae/parasitología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas , Anaplasma/genética , Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Animales , Vectores Artrópodos/clasificación , Vectores Artrópodos/microbiología , Vectores Artrópodos/parasitología , Babesia/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Bartonella/genética , Bartonella/aislamiento & purificación , Secuencia de Bases , Ehrlichia/genética , Ehrlichia/aislamiento & purificación , Eucoccidiida/genética , Eucoccidiida/aislamiento & purificación , Femenino , Japón/epidemiología , Masculino , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Filogenia , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Especificidad de la Especie , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas/clasificación , Garrapatas/microbiología , Garrapatas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Abstract Ticks harbor numerous pathogens of significance to human and animal health. A better understanding of the pathogens carried by ticks in a given geographic area can alert health care providers of specific health risks leading to better diagnosis and treatments. In this study, we tested 226 Ixodes ricinis ticks from Southern Germany using a broad-range PCR and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry assay (PCR/ESI-MS) designed to identify tick-borne bacterial and protozoan pathogens in a single test. We found 21.2% of the ticks tested carried Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato consisting of diverse genospecies; a surprisingly high percentage of ticks were infected with Babesia microti (3.5%). Other organisms found included Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Of further significance was our finding that more than 7% of ticks were infected with more than one pathogen or putative pathogen.