Transmission of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia massiliae DNA by Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) ticks during artificial feeding

Olivieri, Emanuela; Wijnveld, Michiel; Bonga, M.E.B.C.; Berger, Laura; Manfredi, Maria Teresa; Veronesi, Fabrizia; Jongejan, Frans

doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3075-2

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…Oligonucleotide probes containing an N-terminal N-(trifluoracetamidohexyl-cyanoethyl,N,N-diisopropyl phosphoramidite [TFA])-C6 amino linker were synthesised by Thermo Fisher Scientific. Specific probes targeted eight Ehrlichia/Anaplasma species, In addition to one catch-all probe for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, specific probes to differentiate Ehrlichia ruminantium from a range of related species were included; these were Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis.Finally, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia africae and Rickettsia raoultii, as well as a catch-all probe for Rickettsia detection, completed the membrane[18].…”

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Amblyomma hebraeum is the predominant tick species on goats in the Mnisi Community Area of Mpumalanga Province South Africa and is co-infected with Ehrlichia ruminantium and Rickettsia africae

Jongejan

Berger

Busser

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, ticks of the genus Amblyomma are vectors of heartwater disease in domestic ruminants, caused by the rickettsial pathogen Ehrlichia ruminantium. Immature stages of these ticks often bite humans, whereby they act as vectors of tick-bite fever caused by Rickettsia africae. Moreover, Amblyomma ticks cause considerable damage to livestock due to their feeding behaviour. In South Africa, we studied the relative abundance of Amblyomma hebraeum ticks on goats of emerging farmers in Mpumalanga Province. A selected number of A. hebraeum nymphs and adult ticks was tested for co-infection with E. ruminantium and R. africae. Methods: A total of 630 indigenous goats, belonging to farmers in the Mnisi Community area, were examined for ticks in 2013 and 2014. All ticks were identified, and a selected number was tested by PCR with reverse line blot hybridisation (RLB).Results: In total, 13,129 ticks were collected from goats distributed over 17 different households. Amblyomma hebraeum was the predominant species collected, followed by Rhipicephalus microplus. Small numbers of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus simus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis were also identified. A. hebraeum was present throughout the year, with peak activity of adults in summer (November) and nymphs in winter (July). The ratio between adults and nymphs ranged from 1:2.7 in summer to 1:55.1 in winter. The mean prevalence of infection for E. ruminantium by PCR/RLB in adult ticks was 17.4% (31/178), whereas 15.7% (28/178) were infected with R. africae. In nymphs, 28.4% were infected with E. ruminantium and 38.8% carried R. africae infection. Co-infections of E. ruminantium and R. africae in adult and nymphal ticks were 3.9% (7/178) and 10% (14.9), respectively. Lameness of goats due to predilection of ticks for the interdigital space of their feet was observed in 89% of the households.Conclusions: Goats act as important alternative hosts for cattle ticks, which underscored the necessity to include goats in tick control programs. It is suggested to use acaricide-impregnated leg-bands as a sustainable method to kill ticks and prevent lameness in goats. The continuous challenge of goats by considerable numbers of E. ruminantium- infected ticks is a major obstacle for upgrading the indigenous goat breeds. Humans appear to be at risk to contract tick-bite fever in this area.

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Amblyomma hebraeum is the predominant tick species on goats in the Mnisi Community Area of Mpumalanga Province South Africa and is co-infected with Ehrlichia ruminantium and Rickettsia africae

Jongejan

Berger

Busser

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…Previously, artificial feeding was used for experiments with different tick species, mostly I. ricinus , I. scapularis , Dermacentor reticulatus , and Rhipicephalus sanguineus [ 15 , 16 , 18 , 22 , 23 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. In total, 57.5% of nymphs and 71.2% of females from the current study engorged, which is in line with previous data from artificial feeding on non-infected blood (47.7% and 80.7%, respectively) [ 19 , 30 ].…”

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

et al. 2021

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Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria.

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“…All probes used to differentiate Babesia , Theileria [ 20 ], Anaplasma and Ehrlichia [ 21 ] are listed in Table 1 . Moreover, probes for the differentiation of Rickettsia species were also added to the membrane (Table 1 ) [ 22 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…was included as a catch-all probe together with specific probes for differentiating eight Borrelia species. Finally, Rickettsia conorii , R. helvetica , R. massiliae , R. raoultii , a catch-all probe for Rickettsia detection [ 22 ] plus a specific probe for “ Candidatus Midichloria mitochondria” detection completed the membrane.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Tekenscanner”: a novel smartphone application for companion animal owners and veterinarians to engage in tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance in the Netherlands

et al. 2019

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BackgroundThe engagement of companion animal owners into the process of collecting epidemiological data can be facilitated through smartphone applications. In April 2018, the “tekenscanner“ (Dutch for tick scanner) app was launched with the aim of engaging pet owners and veterinarians to record ticks removed from their pets and submit these ticks for identification and pathogen testing. Tick-borne pathogens identified in ticks removed from dogs and cats during the first 6 months after the app was launched in the Netherlands are reported.MethodsThe tekenscanner app was used to record the geographical coordinates of ticks removed from dogs or cats onto a map of the Netherlands. A barcode was assigned to each tick for the easy tracking of each submission to our laboratory for taxonomic identification. Thereafter, DNA extracted from the ticks was PCR amplified, subjected to reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) and screened for a broad range of tick-borne pathogens. Results were added to the same app, usually within 2 weeks after the submission of each tick.ResultsThe app was downloaded 5591 times and resulted in the collection of 1273 georeferenced and barcoded ticks, with a peak submission in May and June of 2018. There were 1005 ticks collected from 406 dogs and 268 ticks collected from 111 cats. Ixodes ricinus was the predominant species (90.0%), with all stages found on dogs as well as on cats. Ixodes hexagonus (7.3%) female and nymphal ticks were also identified on both hosts, whereas adults of Dermacentor reticulatus (2.4%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.2%) were exclusively found on dogs. Nearly 15% of the ticks recovered from dogs carried one or more pathogens, whereas 13.8% of the ticks removed from cats were infected. Ixodes ricinus collected from dogs contained Borrelia spp. (1.9%), Babesia spp. (0.7%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.3%), “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (2.9%) and Rickettsia helvetica (7.3%). Ixodes ricinus recovered from cats were infected with Borrelia spp. (1.9%), Babesia spp. (0.4%), A. phagocytophilum (1.9%), “Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (2.6%) and R. helvetica (6.7%). Ixodes hexagonus ticks (n = 93) were not infected. Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, found only in autumn, were infected with Rickettsia raoultii (16 %) and A. phagocytophilum. Three R. sanguineus, on dogs from France and the USA imported into the Netherlands, were all negative.ConclusionsThe tekenscanner app is a versatile tool to use for submission of ticks and facilitated the fast feedback of test results. Community engagement through the app is suitable for identifying hotspots for ticks and tick-borne pathogens and provided an early warning system for exotic ticks invading the Netherlands.

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Transmission of Rickettsia raoultii and Rickettsia massiliae DNA by Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) ticks during artificial feeding

Cited by 22 publications

References 50 publications

Amblyomma hebraeum is the predominant tick species on goats in the Mnisi Community Area of Mpumalanga Province South Africa and is co-infected with Ehrlichia ruminantium and Rickettsia africae

Amblyomma hebraeum is the predominant tick species on goats in the Mnisi Community Area of Mpumalanga Province South Africa and is co-infected with Ehrlichia ruminantium and Rickettsia africae

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

“Tekenscanner”: a novel smartphone application for companion animal owners and veterinarians to engage in tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance in the Netherlands

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