Evaluating Transmission Paths for Three Different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Using Artificial Feeding

Król, Nina; Militzer, Nina; Stöbe, Elisa; Nijhof, Ard M.; Pfeffer, Martin; Kempf, Volkhard A. J.; Obiegala, Anna

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9050901

“…Since then, a number of novel Bartonella strains have been identified from Australia, including novel species described from marsupials and their ectoparasites (ticks and fleas) [118–120]. While generally considered to be transmitted by fleas, reports of Bartonella species isolated from ticks are increasing, as studies take a broader approach to surveillance of vector-associated microbes [65, 121, 122]. Identification of Bartonella in fed ticks does not mean they are a viable vector, but it does highlight that future studies should include ticks when exploring candidate vectors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The bacterial biome of ticks and their wildlife hosts at the urban–wildland interface

Egan

¹

,

Taylor

²

,

Banks

³

et al. 2021

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Advances in sequencing technologies have revealed the complex and diverse microbial communities present in ticks (Ixodida). As obligate blood-feeding arthropods, ticks are responsible for a number of infectious diseases that can affect humans, livestock, domestic animals and wildlife. While cases of human tick-borne diseases continue to increase in the northern hemisphere, there has been relatively little recognition of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in Australia. Over the past 5 years, studies using high-throughput sequencing technologies have shown that Australian ticks harbour unique and diverse bacterial communities. In the present study, free-ranging wildlife (n=203), representing ten mammal species, were sampled from urban and peri-urban areas in New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA). Bacterial metabarcoding targeting the 16S rRNA locus was used to characterize the microbiomes of three sample types collected from wildlife: blood, ticks and tissue samples. Further sequence information was obtained for selected taxa of interest. Six tick species were identified from wildlife: Amblyomma triguttatum, Ixodes antechini, Ixodes australiensis, Ixodes holocyclus, Ixodes tasmani and Ixodes trichosuri. Bacterial 16S rRNA metabarcoding was performed on 536 samples and 65 controls, generating over 100 million sequences. Alpha diversity was significantly different between the three sample types, with tissue samples displaying the highest alpha diversity (P<0.001). Proteobacteria was the most abundant taxon identified across all sample types (37.3 %). Beta diversity analysis and ordination revealed little overlap between the three sample types (P<0.001). Taxa of interest included Anaplasmataceae , Bartonella , Borrelia , Coxiellaceae , Francisella , Midichloria , Mycoplasma and Rickettsia . Anaplasmataceae bacteria were detected in 17.7% (95/536) of samples and included Anaplasma , Ehrlichia and Neoehrlichia species. In samples from NSW, ‘Ca. Neoehrlichia australis’, ‘Ca. Neoehrlichia arcana’, Neoehrlichia sp. and Ehrlichia sp. were identified. A putative novel Ehrlichia sp. was identified from WA and Anaplasma platys was identified from QLD. Nine rodent tissue samples were positive for a novel Borrelia sp. that formed a phylogenetically distinct clade separate from the Lyme Borrelia and relapsing fever groups. This novel clade included recently identified rodent-associated Borrelia genotypes, which were described from Spain and North America. Bartonella was identified in 12.9% (69/536) of samples. Over half of these positive samples were obtained from black rats (Rattus rattus), and the dominant bacterial species identified were Bartonella coopersplainsensis and Bartonella queenslandensis . The results from the present study show the value of using unbiased high-throughput sequencing applied to samples collected from wildlife. In addition to understanding the sylvatic cycle of known vector-associated pathogens, surveillance work is important to ensure preparedness for potential zoonotic spillover events.

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“…These results demonstrated that I. ricinus is a competent vector for both B. henselae and B. birtlesii [19,20]. More recently, B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis DNA were found across the developmental stages of experimentally infected I. ricinus, suggesting more evidence on the potential Bartonella transmission by ticks [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Investigation of Transovarial Transmission of Bartonella henselae in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Ticks Using Artificial Feeding

Wechtaisong

¹

,

Bonnet

²

,

Chomel

³

et al. 2021

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Bartonella henselae is a slow-growing, Gram-negative bacterium that causes cat scratch disease in humans. A transstadial transmission of the bacteria from larvae to nymphs of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) ticks, suspected to be a potential vector of the bacteria, has been previously demonstrated. The present study aims to investigate transovarial transmission of B. henselae from R. sanguineus s.l. adults to their instars. Adult ticks (25 males and 25 females) were fed through an artificial feeding system on B. henselae-infected goat blood for 14 days, and 300 larvae derived from the experimentally B. henselae-infected females were fed on noninfected goat blood for 7 days. Nested PCR and culture were used to detect and isolate B. henselae in ticks and blood samples. Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in midguts, salivary glands, and carcasses of the semi-engorged adults and pooled tick feces (during feeding and post-feeding periods). After the oviposition period, B. henselae DNA was detected in salivary glands of females (33.3%), but not in pooled eggs or larvae derived from the infected females. However, B. henselae DNA was detected by nested PCR from the blood sample during larval feeding, while no viable B. henselae was isolated by culture. According to our findings, following infected blood meal, B. henselae could remain in the tick midguts, move to other tissues including salivary glands, and then be shed through tick feces with limited persistency. The presence of bacterial DNA in the blood during larval feeding shows the possibility of transovarial transmission of B. henselae in R. sanguineus s.l. ticks.

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“…The generalist tick I. ricinus , has often been used in studies performed to clarify its competence to transmit the bacteria. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of B. henselae , B. grahamii , and B. schoenbuchensis have been recently demonstrated [ 56 ], while the transmission of B. birtlesii to susceptible mice, using laboratory-infected I. ricinus , was previously achieved [ 57 ]. Rhipicephalus sanguineus being the most prevalent tick in companion animals, has recently been used in similar studies [ 58 , 59 ] but evidence that this tick species can be the vector of Bartonella sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Survey of Bartonella Species in Stray Cats and Dogs, Humans, and Questing Ticks from Portugal

Torrejón

¹

,

Sanches

²

,

Moerbeck

³

et al. 2022

Pathogens

4

0

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Bartonella spp. comprises emergent and re-emergent fastidious Gram-negative bacteria with worldwide distribution. Cats are the main reservoir hosts for Bartonella henselae and dogs represent opportunistic hosts for the bacteria. Even though ticks may also play a role in transmission, their competence as vectors for Bartonella spp. has not been totally understood. Considering only a few studies had a focus on screening Bartonella in animals, humans and ectoparasites in Portugal, this study aimed to address the molecular occurrence of Bartonella sp. in 123 stray cats, 25 stray dogs, 30 humans from Lisbon and 236 questing ticks within the country. Using a qPCR targeting the nuoG gene, it was possible to detect Bartonella sp. DNA on 20.32% of cat samples (25/123). From these positive samples, 13 sequences were characterized as B. henselae, 11 as B. clarridgeiae and 1 presented co-infection with both species. The absolute quantification of nuoGBartonella DNA in sampled cats ranged from 2.78 × 10 to 1.03 × 105 copies/µL. The sampled dogs, humans and ticks were negative. These results showed that B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae are circulating in stray cats from Lisbon. Additional and more extended studies should be conducted to determine the impact of such infections on humans, particularly those in constant and direct contact with cats.

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Evaluating Transmission Paths for Three Different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Using Artificial Feeding

Cited by 26 publications

References 51 publications

The bacterial biome of ticks and their wildlife hosts at the urban–wildland interface

The bacterial biome of ticks and their wildlife hosts at the urban–wildland interface

Investigation of Transovarial Transmission of Bartonella henselae in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Ticks Using Artificial Feeding

Molecular Survey of Bartonella Species in Stray Cats and Dogs, Humans, and Questing Ticks from Portugal

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