Bacterial Microbiota in Unfed Ticks (Dermacentor nuttalli) From Xinjiang Detected Through 16S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing and Culturomics

Abstract

Background: Ticks are a major arthropod vector of zoonotic diseases affecting both humans and domestic animals worldwide. Thus, studying tick microbiota would aid in understanding of the potential threats posed by ticks. Methods: Approximately 8,000 unfed ticks, identified as Dermacentor nuttalli, were collected from the sylvosteppe in the western Tianshan mountains. To investigate their potential pathogens, we divided the ticks into 36 groups of 200–300 individuals each for examination with culturomics and 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. Results: A total of 237 bacterial genera were identified with the two methods. Culturomics identified 46 bacterial species from 23 genera, predominantly Pseudomonas, Pantoea, and Bacillus, whereas 16S rDNA sequencing identified 461 OTUs from 233 genera, predominantly Pseudomonas (53.8%), Coxiella (17.2%), and Pantoea (6.4%). Coxiella, Rickettsia, and ten other genera were discovered only by sequencing, because optimal cultivating conditions were not used for their isolation, whereas Arthrobacter and three other genera were discovered only through culturomics. Conclusions: Several of the identified bacteria, such as line-related sepsis-causing Delftia acidovorans and the pneumonia agent Acinetobacter pittii, can cause human diseases. Thus, both sequencing and culturomics methods are crucial for comprehensive understanding of the microbiota of D. nuttalli.

Co-existence of Multiple Anaplasma Species and Variants in Ticks Feeding on Hedgehogs or Cattle Poses Potential Threats of Anaplasmosis to Humans and Livestock in Eastern China

“…Several genera of ticks have their own set of preferred hosts, and the associations of ticks with their hosts indicate their roles in TBP circulation (Islam et al, 2006;Spengler and Estrada-Peña, 2018). Therefore, to some extent, the acquisition of epidemiological information on hosts and their predominantly parasitic tick species, as well as the fact that TBPs that harbor and transmit, may be advantageous for the development of prevention and control strategies for tick-borne diseases (Chisu et al, 2020;Song et al, 2021).…”

High prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks from wild hedgehogs rather than domestic bovine in Jiangsu province, Eastern China

“…Nevertheless, investigations on epidemiological data of animal hosts, their attached tick species, and the tick harboring and transmitting Rickettsia spp. may benefit the prevention and control strategy development for spotted fever ( Chisu et al., 2020 ; Song et al., 2021 ; Qi et al., 2022 ).…”

“…Ticks are the second most important vectors of pathogens (only to mosquitoes), causing diseases in both animals and humans and economic losses in livestock husbandry. They can also transmit a variety of pathogenic organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa ( Yu et al., 2016 ; Huang et al., 2021 ; Song et al., 2021 ). In them, Rickettsiae are worldwide distributed and cause mild, severe, or even life-threatening Rickettsial diseases ( Parola et al., 2013 ).…”

Interference with LTβR signaling by tick saliva facilitates transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes

“…I. persulcatus and I. ovatus ticks were collected and passed several times to obtain pathogen-free nymphs at the Kunming Institute of Zoology ( 45 , 46 ). I. scapularis ticks were obtained from Oklahoma State University’s tick-rearing facility and maintained by established methods ( 47 ).…”