Ticks infesting dogs in rural communities of Yucatan, Mexico and molecular diagnosis of rickettsial infection

Ojeda-Chí, Melina Maribel; Rodríguez-Vivas, Róger Iván; Esteve-Gasent, Maria D.; León, Adalberto A. Pérez de; Modarelli, Joseph J.; Villegas-Perez, Sandra Luz

doi:10.1111/tbed.12990

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Despite these limitations, this study highlights the significance of molecular surveillance screening in order to characterize areas where active infections occur. Furthermore, it is important to note the zoonotic implication of B. turicatae (Christensen et al, 2017), E. canis (Ojeda-Chi et al, 2019), and A. platys (Maggi, Mascarelli, Havenga, Naidoo, & Breitschwerdt, 2013) detected in this study.…”

Section: Babesial Molecular Findingsmentioning

confidence: 74%

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Modarelli

Tomeček

Piccione

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Summary Tick‐borne diseases (TBD), caused by borrelial, rickettsial and babesial pathogens, are common across the United States and can cause severe clinical disease in susceptible hosts, such as domestic dogs. However, there are limited TBD molecular epidemiological reports for dogs in Texas, and none for the non‐Lyme borrelial pathogen responsible for causing tick‐borne relapsing fever (TBRF). Therefore, data to support the prevalence of TBRF in the canine population is inadequate. This study aimed to characterize the molecular prevalence of 11 causative agents responsible for three TBD groups within domestic dogs with an emphasis on pathogen distribution within Texas ecoregions. A total representative number of 1,171 whole‐blood samples were collected opportunistically from two Texas veterinary diagnostic laboratories. A layerplex real‐time PCR assay was utilized to screen the dog samples for all 11 pathogens simultaneously. The overall molecular infection prevalence of disease was 0.68% borrelial, 1.8% rickettsial and 0.43% babesial pathogens, for a TBD total of 2.73% across Texas. Higher molecular prevalence was observed when analysed by ecoregion distinction, including 5.78% rickettsial infections by Ehrlichia canis and Anaplasma platys in the Rolling Plains ecoregion, and an average of 1.1% Borrelia turicatae and 1.0% Babesia gibsoni across detected ecoregions. To our knowledge, our findings indicate the first molecular detection of A. platys in Texas, and the first report of coinfections with E. canis and A. platys in dogs of Texas. The zoonotic concerns associated with TBDs, in conjunction with dogs’ implication as an effective sentinel for human disease, highlight the importance of characterizing and monitoring regions associated with active infections in dogs. Surveillance data obtained from this study may aid public health agencies in updating maps depicting high‐risk areas of disease and developing preventative measures for the affected areas.

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Section: Babesial Molecular Findingsmentioning

confidence: 74%

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Modarelli

Tomeček

Piccione

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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“…Ticks are both vectors and reservoirs for several rickettsial agents and studies have reported the importation of tick‐infested animals, which were later found to be carrying rickettsiae, many of which are pathogenic to humans (Erster, Roth, Avni, King, & Shkap, ; Ojeda‐Chi et al, ; Parola et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogenic Rickettsia in ticks of spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) sold in a Qatar live animal market

Barradas

Mesquita

Lima

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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The dissemination of vector arthropods harbouring zoonotic pathogens through the uncontrolled transboundary trade of exotic and pet animals poses an important threat to Public Health. In the present report, we describe the introduction of pathogenic Rickettsia africae and R. aeschlimanni in ticks removed from imported tortoises in Qatar. A total of 21 ticks were collected from pet spur‐thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) from Doha, May 2018, and studied for species identification and characterization of Rickettsia spp. Morphological and molecular analysis of ticks allowed their identification as Hyalomma aegyptium. Molecular analysis of partial ompA and gltA genes showed that Rickettsia sequences found on these ticks clustered with sequences classified as R. aeschilimanii and R. africae. Since pre‐adult stages of H. aegyptium also feed on humans, this tick species may play a role in the transmission of R. aeschilimanii and R. africae. We alert for the introduction of non‐native pets as vehicles for tick importation, known vectors for animal and human pathogenic agents. Importation of exotic species into non‐autochthonous countries deserves strict control to enforce robust surveillance and mitigate potential exotic diseases epidemics.

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“…This study, despite the aforementioned considerations, achieved the goal of simultaneously screening for 11 targets through layerplex methodology. The assay has also demonstrated effectiveness as a valuable surveillance assay 5,37,38 , and molecular diagnostic tool (https://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests/tickpath-layerplex-qpcr/). Collectively, these findings provide support for additional studies to further validate the layerplex qPCR capabilities in terms of applying the methodology to different disease groups that require the detection of a broad spectrum of pathogens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tick-borne diseases (TBD) affecting domestic dogs are prevalent throughout the United States and are regarded as an emerging infectious threat 1 . The risk of exposure to some of these pathogens, such as Ec in humans or Bp in both dogs and humans, remains to be fully recognized because documentation of infection in patients is limited 3,5 . Additionally, species of tick-borne protozoa in the genus Babesia (Bab) have a worldwide distribution and infection can result in various levels of clinical severity 6 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TickPath Layerplex: adaptation of a real-time PCR methodology for the simultaneous detection and molecular surveillance of tick-borne pathogens

Modarelli

Ferro

León

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Tick-borne diseases (TBD) are common across the United States and can result in critical and chronic diseases in a variety of veterinary patients. Moreover, borreliosis, anaplasmosis, rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis are zoonotic and have been cited as the most common TBDs. Molecular diagnostic methodologies utilized for screening domestic dogs for these causative agents include real-time PCR (qPCR) assays in both singleplex and multiplex formats. However, current limitations of qPCR instruments restrict the number of fluorogenic labels that can be differentiated by the instrument for a given reaction. This study describes the development of the TickPath Layerplex, a diagnostic assay based on qPCR methodology that was adapted for the simultaneous detection and characterization of 11 pathogens responsible for causing 5 common TBDs in domestic dogs. The analytical and diagnostic performance of the layerplex assay was evaluated and shown to be compatible with common instruments utilized in molecular diagnostic laboratories. Test results revealed no inhibition or reduction in sensitivity during validation of the layerplex assay, and the limit of detection was determined to be near 16 genome copy equivalents per microliter. Overall, the high sensitivity, specificity, and screening capability of the assay demonstrate its utility for broadly screening dogs for common TBDs.

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Ticks infesting dogs in rural communities of Yucatan, Mexico and molecular diagnosis of rickettsial infection

Cited by 23 publications

References 47 publications

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Molecular prevalence and ecoregion distribution of select tick‐borne pathogens in Texas dogs

Pathogenic Rickettsia in ticks of spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) sold in a Qatar live animal market

TickPath Layerplex: adaptation of a real-time PCR methodology for the simultaneous detection and molecular surveillance of tick-borne pathogens

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