Screening for tick-borne and tick-associated viruses in ticks collected in Ghana

Amoa-Bosompem, Michael; Kobayashi, Daisuke; Faizah, Astri Nur; Kimura, Shohei; Antwi, A; Agbosu, Esinam; Pratt, Deborah; Ohashi, Mitsuko; Bonney, Joseph Humphrey Kofi; Dadzie, Samuel; Ejiri, Hiroko; Ohta, Nobuhiro; Sawabe, Kyoko; Iwanaga, Shiroh; Isawa, Haruhiko

doi:10.1007/s00705-021-05296-4

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 33 publications

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“…Ticks are responsible for the transmission of arboviruses, which are known as tick-borne viruses. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) associated with livestock was the first tick-borne virus reported in Ghana [ 43 ], which was followed by Dugbe and Odaw viruses [ 48 , 49 ]. All these viruses were investigated in the Greater Accra region, and detection was confirmed via RT-PCR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arbovirus Epidemiology: The Mystery of Unnoticed Epidemics in Ghana, West Africa

et al. 2022

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It is evident that all the countries surrounding Ghana have experienced epidemics of key arboviruses of medical importance, such as the recent dengue fever epidemic in Burkina Faso. Therefore, Ghana is considered a ripe zone for epidemics of arboviruses, mainly dengue. Surprisingly, Ghana never experienced the propounded deadly dengue epidemic. Indeed, it is mysterious because the mosquito vectors capable of transmitting the dengue virus, such as Aedes aegypti, were identified in Ghana through entomological investigations. Additionally, cases may be missed, as the diagnostic and surveillance capacities of the country are weak. Therefore, we review the arbovirus situation and outline probable reasons for the epidemic mystery in the country. Most of the recorded cases of arbovirus infections were usually investigated via serology by detecting IgM and IgG immunoglobulins in clinical samples, which is indicative of prior exposure but not an active case. This led to the identification of yellow fever virus and dengue virus as the main circulating arboviruses among the Ghanaian population. However, major yellow fever epidemics were reported for over a decade. It is important to note that the reviewed arboviruses were not frequently detected in the vectors. The data highlight the necessity of strengthening the diagnostics and the need for continuous arbovirus and vector surveillance to provide an early warning system for future arbovirus epidemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arbovirus Epidemiology: The Mystery of Unnoticed Epidemics in Ghana, West Africa

et al. 2022

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Rhipicephalus simus ticks: new hosts for phleboviruses

Munjita,

Mubemba,

Tembo

et al. 2024

Parasitology

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Ticks are widespread arthropods that transmit microorganisms of veterinary and medical significance to vertebrates, including humans. Rhipicephalus simus, an ixodid tick frequently infesting and feeding on humans, may play a crucial role in transmitting infectious agents across species. Despite the known association of many Rhipicephalus ticks with phleboviruses, information on R. simus is lacking. During a study in a riverine area in Lusaka Zambia, ten R. simus ticks were incidentally collected from the grass and bushes and subjected to metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) in 2 pools of 5. Analysis detected a diverse microbial profile, including bacteria 82% (32/39), fungi 15.4% (6/39), and viruses 2.6% (1/39). Notably, viral sequence LSK-ZM-102022 exhibited similarity to tick phleboviruses, sharing 74.92% nucleotide identity in the RdRp gene and 72% in the NP gene with tick-borne phlebovirus (TBPV) from Greece and Romania, respectively. Its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) encoding region carried conserved RdRp and endonuclease domains characteristic of phenuiviridae viruses. Phylogenetic analysis positioned LSK-ZM-102022 in a distinct but lone lineage within tick phleboviruses basal to known species like brown dog tick phlebovirus and phlebovirus Antigone. Pair-wise genetic distance analysis revealed similar findings. This study emphasizes the urgency of further research on the ecology, transmission dynamics, and pathogenic potential of LSK-ZM-102022 and related TBPVs, crucial for local and global preparedness against emerging tick-borne diseases.

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Tick-Borne Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Pathogens, Research Focus, and Implications for Public Health

Djiman,

Biguezoton,

Saegerman

2024

Pathogens

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Sub-Saharan Africa, with its hot and humid climate, is a conducive zone for tick proliferation. These vectors pose a major challenge to both animal and human health in the region. However, despite the relevance of emerging diseases and evidence of tick-borne disease emergence, very few studies have been dedicated to investigating zoonotic pathogens transmitted by ticks in this area. To raise awareness of the risks of tick-borne zoonotic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and to define a direction for future research, this systematic review considers the trends of research on tick-borne bacteria, parasites, and viruses from 2012 to 2023, aiming to highlight the circulation of these pathogens in ticks, cattle, sheep, goats, and humans. For this purpose, three international databases were screened to select 159 papers fitting designed inclusion criteria and used for qualitative analyses. Analysis of these studies revealed a high diversity of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total of 37 bacterial species, 27 parasite species, and 14 viruses identified. Among these, 27% were zoonotic pathogens, yet only 11 studies investigated their presence in humans. Furthermore, there is growing interest in the investigation of bacteria and parasites in both ticks and ruminants. However, research into viruses is limited and has only received notable interest from 2021 onwards. While studies on the detection of bacteria, including those of medical interest, have focused on ticks, little consideration has been given to these vectors in studies of parasites circulation. Regarding the limited focus on zoonotic pathogens transmitted by ticks, particularly in humans, despite documented cases of emerging zoonoses and the notable 27% proportion reported, further efforts should be made to fill these gaps. Future studies should prioritize the investigation of zoonotic pathogens, especially viruses, which represent the primary emerging threats, by adopting a One Health approach. This will enhance the understanding of their circulation and impact on both human and animal health. In addition, more attention should be given to the risk factors/drivers associated to their emergence as well as the perception of the population at risk of infection from these zoonotic pathogens.

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Screening for tick-borne and tick-associated viruses in ticks collected in Ghana

Cited by 4 publications

References 33 publications

Arbovirus Epidemiology: The Mystery of Unnoticed Epidemics in Ghana, West Africa

Arbovirus Epidemiology: The Mystery of Unnoticed Epidemics in Ghana, West Africa

Rhipicephalus simus ticks: new hosts for phleboviruses

Tick-Borne Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Pathogens, Research Focus, and Implications for Public Health

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