Molecular Detection of Zoonotic and Veterinary Pathogenic Bacteria in Pet Dogs and Their Parasitizing Ticks in Junggar Basin, North-Western China

Abstract

Despite the recognized epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for pathogens that cause numerous zoonotic and veterinary diseases, data regarding the pathogens of pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in the Junggar Basin are scarce. In this study, a total of 178 blood samples and 436 parasitic ticks were collected from pet dogs in Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), north-western China. All ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus sensu stricto (s.s.) according to morphological and molecular characteristics. Rh. turanicus s.s. ticks were collected from pet dogs in China for the first time. Seven tick-borne pathogens, such as Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia massiliae, Candidatus R. barbariae, Brucella spp., Rickettsia sibirica, and Anaplasma ovis, were detected from ticks, whereas the first five bacteria were detected from blood samples of dogs. Brucella spp. was the most predominant pathogen in both blood samples and ticks of pet dogs, with the detection rates of 16.29 and 16.74%, respectively. Moreover, 17 ticks and 1 blood sample were co-infected with two pathogens, and 1 tick was co-infected with three pathogens. This study provided molecular evidence for the occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Brucella spp. circulating in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Junggar Basin, north-western China. These findings extend our knowledge of the tick-borne pathogens in pet dogs and their parasitic ticks in Central Asia; therefore, further research on these pathogens and their role in human and animal diseases is required.

Detection of Brucella in Dermacentor Ticks of Wild Boar with Brucellosis

“…was identified in 0.58% goats and vegetation ticks (H. longicornis) [17], 1.32% of vegetation or sheep ticks (D. nuttalli) [18], 26.5% cattle and sheep ticks (H. anatolicum, D. nuttalli, and D. marginatus) [16], or 89.0% vegetation or sheep ticks (D. nuttalli) [3] depending on the studies. Brucella prevalence in dog ticks ranged from 12.4% in Lao PDR (R. sanguineus) [19] to 16.74% in China (R. turanicus) [20]. The spatial heterogenicity of Brucella prevalence in ticks underlines the complexity of brucellosis in the different epidemiological scenarios.…”

“…Similarly, Brucella spp. was a prevalent pathogen in Rhipicephalus sanguineus parasitizing dogs in Lao PDR [19] and in Rhipicephalus turanicus and canine blood samples in North-Western China [20], thus posing owners at risk of contracting brucellosis and raising important public health implications [19,20]. Furthermore, adult female D. marginatus or D. nuttalli collected from sheep, cattle, or vegetation in China were demonstrated by both molecular and culture methods to transovarially and transstadially transmit B. melitensis and B. abortus [3,21].…”

Tick-borne bacterial agents in Hyalomma asiaticum ticks from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China

“…As previously reported, R. sibirica has been reported in Xinjiang as well as elsewhere in China; however, almost all of them are R. sibirica subsp. sibirica or only identified to species level [ 23 – 26 ]. So far as we know, this may be the second report of R. sibirica subsp.…”

Genetic diversity of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in companion dogs and cats, Tianjin, China

“…In China, more than 20 Rickettsia species have been identified among diverse ticks ( 41 ) as hosts of ticks, dogs, and cats are naturally at risk for rickettsial infection. To date, several investigations have been performed, and at least six Rickettsia species, R. felis ( 13 , 14 ), R. massiliae , Candidatus R. barbariae ( 15 ), R. conorii ( 16 ), R. raoultii , and Candidatus R. tarasevichiae ( 13 ) have been identified in dogs. In addition, the positive rate of Rickettsia infection in dogs ranged from 0.8 to 8.0%.…”

“…In China, limited studies have been performed to determine the presence of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in companion cats and dogs. Regarding SFGR, Rickettsia felis ( 13 , 14 ), Rickettsia massiliae ( 15 ), Rickettsia conorii ( 16 ), Rickettsia raoultii , and Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae ( 13 ) have been identified in dogs. Regarding Bartonella , Bar.…”