Bat ticks revisited: Ixodes ariadnae sp. nov. and allopatric genotypes of I. vespertilionis in caves of Hungary

Hornok, Sándor; Kontschán, Jenő; Kováts, Dávid; Kovacs, Richard J.; Angyal, Dorottya; Görföl, Tamás; Polacsek, Zsolt; Kalmár, Zsuzsa; Mihalca, Andrei Daniel

doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-202

Cited by 40 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…the bat tick ( Ixodes simplex ) and the long-legged bat tick ( Ixodes vespertilionis ) [ 1 ]. Recently, however, a new tick species has been discovered to parasitize chiropterans, hitherto reported only from Hungary [ 2 ]. The significance of bat ticks is increased by the fact that bats frequently live close to (or in) human dwellings, and at least I. vespertilionis may feed on humans [ 3 ] and has been reported to be a potential vector of zoonotic bartonellae [ 4 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions to the morphology and phylogeny of the newly discovered bat tick species, Ixodes ariadnae in comparison with I. vespertilionis and I. simplex

Hornok

Kontschán

Estrada-Peña

et al. 2015

Parasites & Vectors

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BackgroundRecently a new hard tick species, Ixodes ariadnae has been discovered, adding to the two known ixodid tick species (I. vespertilionis and I. simplex) of bats in Europe.FindingsScanning electron microscopic comparison of adult females of these species shows morphological differences concerning the palps, the scutum, the Haller’s organ, the coxae, as well as the arrangement and fine structure of setae. Molecular analysis of 10 geographically different isolates revealed 90-95% sequence homology in the 12S and 16S rDNA genes of bat tick species. Based on 12S rDNA sequences, genotypes of I. ariadnae clustered closest to I. simplex, whereas according to their 16S rDNA gene they were closest to I. vespertilionis. The subolesin gene of I. ariadnae had only 91% sequence homology with that of I. ricinus, and is the longest known among hard tick species.ConclusionsThe present study illustrates the morphology and clarifies the phylogenetic relationships of the three known bat tick species that occur in Europe. According to its subolesin gene I. ariadnae may have a long evolutionary history.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions to the morphology and phylogeny of the newly discovered bat tick species, Ixodes ariadnae in comparison with I. vespertilionis and I. simplex

Hornok

Kontschán

Estrada-Peña

et al. 2015

Parasites & Vectors

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“…ariadnae belong to Vespertilionidae [11, 19], those of I . vespertilionis to Rhinolophidae, while I .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…all three developmental stages that need a blood meal (larvae and nymphs for moulting, females for oviposition) will typically suck blood on bats, as exemplified by I . ariadnae [11]. While these three tick species and their genotypes appear to be widely distributed across the Palaearctic [12], only few data are available on their vector potential.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA of Piroplasms of Ruminants and Dogs in Ixodid Bat Ticks

Hornok¹,

Szőke²,

Kováts³

et al. 2016

PLoS ONE

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In this study 308 ticks (Ixodes ariadnae: 26 larvae, 14 nymphs, five females; I. vespertilionis: 89 larvae, 27 nymphs, eight females; I. simplex: 80 larvae, 50 nymphs, nine females) have been collected from 200 individuals of 17 bat species in two countries, Hungary and Romania. After DNA extraction these ticks were molecularly analysed for the presence of piroplasm DNA. In Hungary I. ariadnae was most frequently identified from bat species in the family Vespertilionidae, whereas I. vespertilionis was associated with Rhinolophidae. Ixodes ariadnae was not found in Romania. Four, four and one new bat host species of I. ariadnae, I. vespertilionis and I. simplex were identified, respectively. DNA sequences of piroplasms were detected in 20 bat ticks (15 larvae, four nymphs and one female). I. simplex carried piroplasm DNA sequences significantly more frequently than I. vespertilionis. In I. ariadnae only Babesia vesperuginis DNA was detected, whereas in I. vespertilionis sequences of both B. vesperuginis and B. crassa. From I. simplex the DNA of B. canis, Theileria capreoli, T. orientalis and Theileria sp. OT3 were amplified, as well as a shorter sequence of the zoonotic B. venatorum. Bat ticks are not known to infest dogs or ruminants, i.e. typical hosts and reservoirs of piroplasms molecularly identified in I. vespertilionis and I. simplex. Therefore, DNA sequences of piroplasms detected in these bat ticks most likely originated from the blood of their respective bat hosts. This may indicate either that bats are susceptible to a broader range of piroplasms than previously thought, or at least the DNA of piroplasms may pass through the gut barrier of bats during digestion of relevant arthropod vectors. In light of these findings, the role of bats in the epidemiology of piroplasmoses deserves further investigation.

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“…1), but have never been sought for with molecular methods. During the past years research on bat ectoparasites broadened in this region of Central Europe (Hornok et al, 2014(Hornok et al, , 2016(Hornok et al, , 2017. Bats are highly protected mammals in Hungary and in Romania; consequently, research on pathogens associated with bats focused on non-invasive sampling methods, e.g., ectoparasites and faeces (Hornok et al, 2012(Hornok et al, , 2015a.…”

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DNA of free-living bodonids (Euglenozoa: Kinetoplastea) in bat ectoparasites: potential relevance to the evolution of parasitic trypanosomatids

Szőke

Sándor

Boldogh

et al. 2017

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica

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Kinetoplastids are flagellated protozoa, including principally free-living bodonids and exclusively parasitic trypanosomatids. In the most species-rich genus, Trypanosoma, more than thirty species were found to infect bats worldwide. Bat trypanosomes are also known to have played a significant role in the evolution of T. cruzi, a species with high veterinary medical significance. Although preliminary data attested the occurrence of bat trypanosomes in Hungary, these were never sought for with molecular methods. Therefore, amplification of an approx. 900-bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene of kinetoplastids was attempted from 307 ixodid and 299 argasid ticks collected from bats, and from 207 cimicid bugs collected from or near bats in Hungary and Romania. Three samples, one per each bat ectoparasite group, were PCR positive. Sequencing revealed the presence of DNA from free-living bodonids (Bodo saltans and neobodonids), but no trypanosomes were detected. The most likely source of bodonid DNA detected here in engorged bat ectoparasites is the blood of their bat hosts. However, how bodonids were acquired by bats, can only be speculated. Bats are known to drink from

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Bat ticks revisited: Ixodes ariadnae sp. nov. and allopatric genotypes of I. vespertilionis in caves of Hungary

Cited by 40 publications

References 11 publications

Contributions to the morphology and phylogeny of the newly discovered bat tick species, Ixodes ariadnae in comparison with I. vespertilionis and I. simplex

Contributions to the morphology and phylogeny of the newly discovered bat tick species, Ixodes ariadnae in comparison with I. vespertilionis and I. simplex

DNA of Piroplasms of Ruminants and Dogs in Ixodid Bat Ticks

DNA of free-living bodonids (Euglenozoa: Kinetoplastea) in bat ectoparasites: potential relevance to the evolution of parasitic trypanosomatids

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