Zoonotic Rickettsia Species in Small Ruminant Ticks From Tunisia

Belkahia, Hanène; Selmi, Rachid; Zamiti, Sayed; Dâaloul-Jedidi, Monia; Messadi, Lilia; Saïd, Mourad Ben

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.676896

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…cornupunctata ticks infesting cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats were found to be positive for R. massiliae . Previously, R. massiliae has been detected in tick species of the genera Rhipicephalus , Haemaphysalis , Hyalomma , and Dermacentor , collected from dogs, small ruminants, and cattle in China, Iran, Nigeria, Tunisia, Portugal, Argentina, and the USA [ 17 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. Rickettsia massiliae in Rh.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of SFG Rickettsia massiliae and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii with Different Hard Ticks Infesting Livestock Hosts

Shehla,

Ullah,

Alouffi

et al. 2023

Pathogens

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Ixodid ticks are responsible for the transmission of various intracellular bacteria, such as the Rickettsia species. Little Information is available about the genetic characterization and epidemiology of Rickettsia spp. The current study was designed to assess the tick species infesting various livestock hosts and the associated Rickettsia spp. in Pakistan. Ticks were collected from different livestock hosts (equids, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and camels); morphologically identified; and screened for the genetic characterization of Rickettsia spp. by the amplification of partial fragments of the gltA, ompA and ompB genes. Altogether, 707 ticks were collected from 373 infested hosts out of 575 observed hosts. The infested hosts comprised 105 cattle, 71 buffaloes, 70 sheep, 60 goats, 34 camels, and 33 equids. The overall occurrence of Rickettsia spp. was 7.6% (25/330) in the tested ticks. Rickettsia DNA was detected in Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (9/50, 18.0%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (13/99, 13.1%), Haemaphysalis cornupunctata (1/18, 5.5%), and Rhipicephalus microplus (2/49, 4.1%); however, no rickettsial DNA was detected in Hyalomma anatolicum (71), Hyalomma dromedarii (35), and Haemaphysalis sulcata (8). Two Rickettsia agents were identified based on partial gltA, ompA, and ompB DNA sequences. The Rickettsia species detected in Rh. haemaphysaloides, Rh. turanicus, and Rh. microplus showed 99–100% identity with Rickettsia sp. and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii, and in the phylogenetic trees clustered with the corresponding Rickettsia spp. The Rickettsia species detected in Rh. haemaphysaloides, Rh. turanicus, Rh. microplus, and Ha. cornupunctata showed 100% identity with R. massiliae, and in the phylogenetic trees it was clustered with the same species. Candidatus R. shennongii was characterized for the first time in Rh. haemaphysaloides, Rh. turanicus, and Rh. microplus. The presence of SFG Rickettsia spp., including the human pathogen R. massiliae, indicates a zoonotic risk in the study region, thus stressing the need for regular surveillance.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of SFG Rickettsia massiliae and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii with Different Hard Ticks Infesting Livestock Hosts

Shehla,

Ullah,

Alouffi

et al. 2023

Pathogens

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“…conorii, R. conorii subsp. israelensis, R. aeschlimannii, R. sibirica mongolitimonae, R. massiliae, R. slovaca, R. raoultii, and R. monacensis (81,84,125,181). In Algeria, both R. conorii subsp.…”

Section: North Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…sanguineus s.l. ticks collected from livestock in Tunisia (70,84,197), Morocco (103), and Algeria (67). Similarly, R. monacensis DNA was detected in Rh.…”

Section: North Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the epidemiological relationship between ticks and rickettsial infection in Africa

Onyiche

Labruna²,

Saito³

2022

Front. Trop. Dis

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Tick-borne rickettsioses are emerging and re-emerging diseases of public health concern caused by over 30 species of Rickettsia. Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods with over 700 species of Ixodid ticks known worldwide. The escalating geographical dispersal of tick vectors and concomitant increase in the incidences of tick-borne diseases have fueled interest in the ecology of tick-borne pathogens. This review focuses on aspects of the Rickettsia pathogen, including biology, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetic diversity, epidemiology of the disease, and the role of vertebrate host in the perpetuation of rickettsioses in Africa. Our review also highlights some of the species of Rickettsia that are responsible for disease, the role of tick vectors (both hard and soft ticks) and the species of Rickettsia associated with diverse tick species across the continent. Additionally, this article emphasizes the evolutionary perspective of rickettsiae perpetuation and the possible role of amplifying vertebrate host and other small mammals, domestic animals and wildlife in the epidemiology of Rickettsia species. We also specifically, discussed the role of avian population in the epidemiology of SFG rickettsiae. Furthermore, we highlighted tick-borne rickettsioses among travelers due to African tick-bite fever (ATBF) and the challenges to surveillance of rickettsial infection, and research on rickettsiology in Africa. Our review canvasses the need for more rickettsiologists of African origin based within the continent to further research towards understanding the biology, characterization, and species distribution, including the competent tick vectors involved in their transmission of rickettsiae across the continent in collaboration with established researchers in western countries. We further highlighted the need for proper funding to encourage research despite competing demands for resources across the various sectors. We finalize by discussing the similarities between rickettsial diseases around the world and which steps need to be taken to help foster our understanding on the eco-epidemiology of rickettsioses by bridging the gap between the growing epidemiological data and the molecular characterization of Rickettsia species.

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“…The genus Rickettsia is classified into four groups: spotted fever group (SFG), typhus group (TG), transitional group (TRG), and ancestral group (AG). To date, more than 30 species and subspecies have been reported worldwide with several of these (SFG, TG) circulating in domestic and wild mammals (Belkahia et al, 2021; Selmi et al, 2021), and approximately one‐half to two‐thirds of these species have been confirmed as human pathogens (Faccini‐Martinez et al, 2014). As vector‐borne pathogens that are mainly transmitted to humans and other animals through arthropods, the common vectors of this genus include ticks, fleas, and mites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis in Melophagus ovinus from southern Xinjiang, China

Zhang

et al. 2023

Medical Vet Entomology

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Melophagus ovinus is a hematophagous insect that is distributed worldwide and plays a crucial role in transmitting disease‐causing pathogens. From June 2021 to March 2022, a total of 370 M. ovinus were collected from 11 sampling points in southern Xinjiang, China. The specimens were identified using morphological and molecular analyses. Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis were detected from all the samples using seven Rickettsia‐specific genetic markers and the msp‐4 gene of A. ovis. Approximately 11% of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for Rickettsia spp., and Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae was the most predominant species (35/41; 85.4%), while R. massiliae was least prevalent (6/41; 14.6%). Approximately 10.5% (39/370) of the M. ovinus specimens were positive for A. ovis of genotype III, which was co‐detected with Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus (3/370; 0.8%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detection of R. massiliae and Candidatus R. barbariae in M. ovinus globally. The detection and control of insect‐borne diseases originating from M. ovinus should be strengthened in southern Xinjiang, an area important to animal husbandry and production.

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Zoonotic Rickettsia Species in Small Ruminant Ticks From Tunisia

Cited by 9 publications

References 51 publications

Association of SFG Rickettsia massiliae and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii with Different Hard Ticks Infesting Livestock Hosts

Association of SFG Rickettsia massiliae and Candidatus Rickettsia shennongii with Different Hard Ticks Infesting Livestock Hosts

Unraveling the epidemiological relationship between ticks and rickettsial infection in Africa

Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma ovis in Melophagus ovinus from southern Xinjiang, China

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