Molecular characterization of ‘Candidatus Rickettsia vini’ in Ixodes arboricola from the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Nováková, Markéta; Bulkova, Alexandra; Costa, Francisco Borges; Krištín, Anton; Krist, Miloš; Krause, Frantisek; Líznarová, Eva; Labruna, Marcelo Bahia; Literák, Ivan

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.02.006

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…belongs to the SFG and is most closely related to R. japonica and R. heilongjiangensis , which is in compliance with previous studies [11, 14]. In this study, we amplified different and longer fragments of the ompB and htrA genes of R. vini that have not been previously published.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Through molecular analyses (PCR detection), infection rates of R. vini in I. arboricola ticks up to 100 % have been reported [10, 11, 14]; however, we found only three out of 18 males positive for Rickettsia -like organisms using the hemolymph test. This may be caused by higher sensitivity of PCR detection, when compared to the hemolymph test, or/and because not all R. vini- infected ticks contain rickettsiae in their hemolymph.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Sequences obtained from different passages of all three isolates were 100 % identical. BLAST analysis of the gltA partial sequence showed 100 % (1092/1092 nt) similarity to the corresponding sequence of two strains of R. vini from the Czech Republic and Spain (KJ626330, JF803266) [11, 14]. The ompA partial sequence revealed 100 % (590/590 nt) similarity to the corresponding sequence of R. vini from Spain (JF758828) [14].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was named ‘ Candidatus Rickettsia vini’ and until now it has been detected in Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey [9–11]. This bacterium has been molecularly detected mainly in Ixodes arboricola ticks, in which the prevalence is high (reaching 90–100 %) [11, 12]. It has rarely been found in immature stages of Ixodes ricinus [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Rickettsia vini n. sp. (Rickettsiaceae) infecting the tick Ixodes arboricola (Acari: Ixodidae)

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundRecently, a new rickettsia named ‘Candidatus Rickettsia vini’ belonging to the spotted fever group has been molecularly detected in Ixodes arboricola ticks in Spain, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Turkey, with prevalence reaching up to 100 %. The aim of this study was to isolate this rickettsia in pure culture, and to describe it as a new Rickettsia species.MethodsA total of 148 ornitophilic nidicolous ticks Ixodes arboricola were collected in a forest near Breclav (Czech Republic) and examined for rickettsiae. Shell vial technique was applied to isolate rickettsiae in Vero cells. Rickettsial isolation was confirmed by optical microscopy and sequencing of partial sequences of the rickettsial genes gltA, ompA, ompB, and htrA. Laboratory guinea pigs and chickens were used for experimental infestations and infections. Animal blood sera were tested by immunofluorescence assay employing crude antigens of various rickettsiae.ResultsRickettsia vini n. sp. was successfully isolated from three males of I. arboricola. Phylogenetic analysis of fragments of 1092, 590, 800, and 497 nucleotides of the gltA, ompA, ompB, and htrA genes, respectively, showed closest proximity of R. vini n. sp. to Rickettsia japonica and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis belonging to the spotted fever group. Experimental infection of guinea pigs and chickens with R. vini led to various levels of cross-reactions of R. vini-homologous antibodies with Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, ‘Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii’, Rickettsia rhipicephali, Rickettsia bellii, and Rickettsia felis. Laboratory infestations by R. vini-infected I. arboricola larvae on chickens led to no seroconversion to R. vini n. sp., nor cross-reactions with R. rickettsii, R. parkeri, ‘Ca. R. amblyommii’, R. rhipicephali, R. bellii or R. felis.ConclusionsOur results suggest that R. vini n. sp. is possibly a tick endosymbiont, not pathogenic for guinea pigs and chickens. Regarding specific phenotypic characters and significant differences of DNA sequences in comparison to the most closely related species (R. japonica and R. heilongjiangensis), we propose to classify the isolate as a new species, Rickettsia vini.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1742-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Rickettsia vini n. sp. (Rickettsiaceae) infecting the tick Ixodes arboricola (Acari: Ixodidae)

et al. 2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While former studies regularly detected Rickettsia spp. in I. arboricola collected from migratory birds, these belonged to R. monacensis and ‘Candidatus Rickettsia vini ’ [ 25 – 27 ]. Ixodes redikorzevi has a Palaearctic distribution, being primarily a small mammal parasite, with sporadic occurrences on humans [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks of migratory birds in Romania

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundBirds are important hosts and dispersers of parasitic arthropods and vector-borne zoonotic pathogens. Particularly migratory species may carry these parasites over long distances in short time periods. Migratory hotspots present ideal conditions to get a snapshot of parasite and pathogen diversity of birds migrating between continents. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and diversity of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from birds at a migratory hot-spot in the Danube Delta, Romania, eastern Europe.MethodsDNA was extracted from ticks that were collected from migratory birds in the Danube Delta during migratory seasons in 2011–2012. Two 360 bp fragments of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and a 381 bp fragment Gene gltA were PCR amplified and analyzed by sequence analysis (performed at Macrogen Europe, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Nucleotide sequences were compared to reference sequences available in the GenBank database, using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool.ResultsFour hundred ticks of four different species were found on 11 bird species. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection was 14 % (56/400, CI: 11.7–29.1), with significantly more nymphs hosting rickettsial infection compared to larvae (48 vs 7; P < 0.001). Significantly more ticks in nymphal stage were hosting Rickettsia spp. infection in spring, than in autumn. Four different genospecies were found: R. monacensis (29 ticks), R. helvetica (13), R. massiliae (3) and R. slovaca (2). The seasonal distribution of different Rickettsia spp. was heterogeneous; with most of the R. monacensis-infected ticks were found in spring, while more R. helvetica were found in autumn than spring. R. massiliae was found only in autumn and R. slovaca was found only in spring.ConclusionThis study has shown that birds migrating through eastern Europe may carry ticks infected with a high diversity of rickettsial pathogens, with four Rickettsia spp. recorded. Migratory direction was important for pathogen burden, with seasonal differences in the occurrence of individual Rickettsia species. Here we report the first individual records of different Rickettsia spp. in H. concinna (R. monacensis), I. arboricola (R. helvetica, R. massiliae) and I. redikorzevi (R. helvetica) and also the first geographical record of occurrence of R. massiliae in Romania, representing the easternmost observation on the continent.

show abstract

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in wild birds in Greece

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Wild birds are common hosts of ticks and can transport them for long distances, contributing to the spreading of tick-borne pathogens. The information about ticks on birds and tick-borne pathogens in Greece is limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and species of ticks infesting wild resident birds (mostly small passerines) in Greece, and to assess Borrelia and Rickettsia infection in the collected ticks. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was performed by nested PCR targeting the flaB gene. Rickettsia spp. were detected by PCR targeting the gltA and ompA genes. Seven (2 %) out of 403 birds examined in northern Greece in 2013 were infested with 15 ticks, identified as Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes acuminatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma aegyptium and Hyalomma sp. All ticks were negative for Borrelia spp. while four of them were positive for rickettsiae (Rickettsia aeschlimannii in H. aegyptium and Rickettsia sp. in I. frontalis, H. aegyptium and H. marginatum). Ixodes acuminatus is reported for the first time in Greece and Sylvia borin is reported as a new host record for I. acuminatus.

show abstract

Molecular characterization of ‘Candidatus Rickettsia vini’ in Ixodes arboricola from the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Cited by 18 publications

References 28 publications

Rickettsia vini n. sp. (Rickettsiaceae) infecting the tick Ixodes arboricola (Acari: Ixodidae)

Rickettsia vini n. sp. (Rickettsiaceae) infecting the tick Ixodes arboricola (Acari: Ixodidae)

Spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks of migratory birds in Romania

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in wild birds in Greece

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About