Tick Fauna and Associated Rickettsia, Theileria, and Babesia spp. in Domestic Animals in Sudan (North Kordofan and Kassala States)

Andrea Springer; Yassir Adam Shuaib; Makarim Habib Isaa; Malaz Isam-Eldin Ezz-Eldin; Abdinasir Yusuf Osman; Idris Ahmed Yagoub; Mohamed Abdalsalam Abdalla; Amel Omer Bakiet; Saad El-Tiab Mohmed-Noor; Sabine Schaper; Ramona Rieß; Gerhard Dobler; Christina Strube; Deon K. Bakkes; Lidia Chitimia-Dobler

doi:10.3390/microorganisms8121969

Tick Fauna and Associated Rickettsia, Theileria, and Babesia spp. in Domestic Animals in Sudan (North Kordofan and Kassala States)

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8121969 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 1969

Author(s):

Andrea Springer ◽

Yassir Adam Shuaib ◽

Makarim Habib Isaa ◽

Malaz Isam-Eldin Ezz-Eldin ◽

Abdinasir Yusuf Osman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Animal Production ◽

Rickettsia Conorii ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Theileria Lestoquardi ◽

Rickettsia Africae ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Rickettsia Massiliae ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi

Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have a major economic impact on animal production worldwide. In the present study, 2410 ticks were collected from January to August 2017 from livestock and other domestic animals in North Kordofan and Kassala, Sudan, for species identification and investigation of Rickettsia spp. and piroplasms, either individually or as pools containing up to 10 ticks by molecular methods. In total, 13 tick species were identified by morphology and 16S rDNA sequencing. The most frequent tick species were Hyalomma impeltatum (24.90%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (18.84%), Amblyomma lepidum (16.06%), and Rhipicephalus camicasi (12.49%). A pan-Rickettsia real-time PCR revealed an overall minimum infection rate (MIR) with Rickettsia spp. of 5.64% (136 positive tick pools/2410 total ticks). Rickettsia africae and Rickettsia aeschlimannii were the most frequently identified species by sequencing. Furthermore, the following highly pathogenic livestock parasites were detected: Theileria annulata, Theileria lestoquardi, Theileria equi, and Babesia caballi. The present study documented Rhipicephalus afranicus as well as Rickettsia conorii israelensis, Rickettsia massiliae, and Babesia pecorum for the first time in Sudan. These findings are significant for the animal production sector as well as in terms of One Health, as the detected Rickettsia spp. can cause serious illness in humans.

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Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. Ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ivan G. Horak ◽

Heloise Heyne ◽

Ali Halajian ◽

Shalaine Booysen ◽

Willem J. Smit

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Tick Species ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Causative Organism ◽

Amblyomma Hebraeum ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

North West ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi

The aim of the study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks that infest horses and donkeys in South Africa and to identify those species that act as vectors of disease to domestic livestock. Ticks were collected opportunistically from 391 horses countrywide by their owners or grooms, or by veterinary students and staff at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Ticks were also collected from 76 donkeys in Limpopo Province, 2 in Gauteng Province and 1 in North West province. All the ticks were identified by means of a stereoscopic microscope. Horses were infested with 17 tick species, 72.1% with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 19.4% with Amblyomma hebraeum and 15.6% with Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was recovered from horses in all nine provinces of South Africa and R. decoloratus in eight provinces. Donkeys were infested with eight tick species, and 81.6% were infested with R. evertsi evertsi, 23.7% with A. hebraeum and 10.5% with R. decoloratus. Several tick species collected from the horses and donkeys are the vectors of economically important diseases of livestock. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi is the vector of Theileria equi, the causative organism of equine piroplasmosis. It also transmits Anaplasma marginale, the causative organism of anaplasmosis in cattle. Amblyomma hebraeum is the vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative organism of heartwater in cattle, sheep and goats, whereas R. decoloratus transmits Babesia bigemina, the causative organism of babesiosis in cattle.

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The global importance of ticks

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182004005967 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 129 (S1) ◽

pp. S3-S14 ◽

Cited By ~ 837

Author(s):

F. JONGEJAN ◽

G. UILENBERG

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Health ◽

Tick Species ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Global Economy ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Animal Production ◽

Reliable Data ◽

Economic Losses ◽

The Impact

Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animal and human health worldwide and are the cause of significant economic losses. Approximately 10% of the currently known 867 tick species act as vectors of a broad range of pathogens of domestic animals and humans and are also responsible for damage directly due to their feeding behaviour. The most important tick species and the effects they cause are listed. The impact on the global economy is considered to be high and although some estimates are given, there is a lack of reliable data. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animal production and public health and their control are discussed.

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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

10.21203/rs.2.18698/v2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Frans Jongejan ◽

Laura Berger ◽

Suzanne Busser ◽

Iris Deetman ◽

Manon Jochems ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Tick Species ◽

Amblyomma Hebraeum ◽

Ehrlichia Ruminantium ◽

Mpumalanga Province ◽

Rickettsia Africae ◽

Community Area

Abstract The authors have withdrawn this preprint from Research Square

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Tick species and tick-borne infections identified in population from a rural area of Spain

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268805004061 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 133 (5) ◽

pp. 943-949 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

FRANCISCO JESÚS MERINO ◽

TERESA NEBREDA ◽

JOSE LUIS SERRANO ◽

PEDRO FERNÁNDEZ-SOTO ◽

ANTONIO ENCINAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Tick Species ◽

Medical Advice ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Dermacentor Marginatus ◽

Rickettsia Slovaca ◽

Rickettsia Massiliae ◽

Rhipicephalus Bursa

To determine the tick species that bite humans in the province of Soria (Spain) and ascertain the tick-borne pathogens that threaten people's health in that province, 185 tick specimens were collected from 179 patients who sought medical advice at health-care centres. The ticks were identified, and their DNA examined by PCR for pathogens. Most ticks were collected in autumn and spring (59 and 57 respectively). Nine species of ticks were identified, the most frequent being Dermacentor marginatus (55·7%), Ixodes ricinus (12·4%) and Rhipicephalus bursa (11·9%). Ninety-seven females, 66 males, 21 nymphs and one larva were identified. Twenty-six ticks carried DNA from Rickettsia spp. (11 Rickettsia slovaca, 6 Rickettsia spp. RpA4/DnS14, 1 Rickettsia massiliae/Bar29, and 8 unidentified); two ticks carried DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and seven ticks harboured DNA from Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

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The comparative prevalence of five ixodid tick species infesting cattle and goats in Maputo Province, Mozambique

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v76i2.45 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

C. De Matos ◽

C. Sitoe ◽

L. Neves ◽

J.O. Nothling ◽

I.G. Horak

Keyword(s):

Host Species ◽

Tick Species ◽

Ixodid Tick ◽

Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus ◽

Boophilus Microplus ◽

Amblyomma Hebraeum ◽

Chi Square ◽

Exact Test ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi

This study compares the prevalence of ixodid tick species on cattle and goats in Maputo Province. Adult ticks as well as the nymphs of three species, and only the adults of two species were collected from sets of five cattle at 21 localities throughout the province and compared with those collected from similar sets of goats at the same places. Amblyomma hebraeum adults and / or nymphs were present on cattle and on goats at all 21 localities, and 90 cattle and 22 goats were infested with adult ticks. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus adults and / or nymphs were collected from cattle at 20 and from goats at 15 localities, and 92 cattle and 34 goats were infested [Chi-square test (×2), P < 0.001]. The total length of several maturing female R. (Boophilus) microplus collected from cattle and goats exceeded 5 mm, indicating that they successfully engorge on both host species. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus adults and / or nymphs were present on cattle at 15 and on goats at 13 localities, but 28 cattle and only one goat were infested with adult ticks (×2, P < 0.001). Adult Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi were recovered from cattle at 20 and from goats at 17 localities, and 74 cattle and 69 goats were infested. Adult Rhipicephalus simus were collected from cattle at 18 and from goats at 11 localities (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.04), and 60 cattle and 14 goats were infested (×2, P < 0.001). These findings underscore the advisability of including goats in acaricide application programmes designed for the control of tick-borne diseases in cattle at the same locality.

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Ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea) of Ethiopia. I. Distribution, ecology and host relationships of species infesting livestock

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300008373 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 71 (2) ◽

pp. 339-359 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rupert G. Pegram ◽

Harry Hoogstraal ◽

Hilda Y. Wassef

Keyword(s):

Common Species ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Arid Areas ◽

Eastern Ethiopia ◽

Ornithodoros Savignyi ◽

Boophilus Decoloratus ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi ◽

The Common ◽

Host Relationships ◽

Semi Arid

AbstractIn a survey of adult ticks infesting livestock in Ethiopia, 33 species and subspecies were identified. The distribution and abundance of each are discussed in relation to ecology (altitude, climate and vegetation). Amblyomma variegatum (F.) is the most widespread and abundant tick parasitising cattle. A. cohaerens Dön. is common on cattle in wetter western habitats but is replaced by A. gemma Dön. in drier eastern areas. A. lepidum Dön. occupies intermediate habitats. The distribution of Boophilus decoloratus (Koch) is similar to that of A. variegatum. Hyalomma truncatum Koch and H. marginatum rufipes Koch are both common except in extremely arid and humid zones. H. anatolicum anatolicum Koch, H. anatolicum excavatum Koch, H. dromedarii Koch, H. erythraeum Tonelli-Rondelli, and H. impeltatum Schulze & Schlottke are usually associated with camels in semi-arid areas of eastern Ethiopia. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi Neum., R. sanguineus (Latr.) group and R. simus Koch do not display marked ecological preferences. East of the Rift Valley in semi-arid areas below 2000 m, R. pulchellus (Gerst.) is abundant on cattle and camels. R. longicoxatus Neum. and R. pravus Dön. inhabit drier localities, but R. lunulatus Neum. occurs only in wetter western areas. Species taken infrequently were A. nuttalli Dön., A. sparsum Neum., B. annulatus (Say), Haemaphysalis aciculifer Warb., H. leachii (Aud.), H. parmata Neum., H. spinulosa Neum., Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch, H. marginatum turanicum Pom., H. punt Hoogst., Kaiser & Pedersen, Ornithodoros savignyi (Aud.), R. longus Neum., R. muhsamae Morel & Vassiliades, and R. senegalensis Koch. The seasonal dynamics of the common species and observations on their relationships to tick-borne diseases of man and domestic animals are discussed.

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Urban family cluster of spotted fever rickettsiosis linked to Rhipicephalus sanguineus infected with Rickettsia conorii subsp. caspia and Rickettsia massiliae

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.10.008 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (5-6) ◽

pp. 389-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Aurélie Renvoisé ◽

Pascal Delaunay ◽

Elea Blanchouin ◽

Isabelle Cannavo ◽

Eric Cua ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spotted Fever ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Rickettsia Conorii ◽

Family Cluster ◽

Rickettsia Massiliae ◽

Urban Family

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Coxiella burnetii is widespread in ticks (Ixodidae) in the Xinjiang border areas of China

10.21203/rs.2.18156/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Jun Ni ◽

Hanliang Lin ◽

Xiaofeng Xu ◽

Qiaoyun Ren ◽

Malike Aizezi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Rate ◽

Coxiella Burnetii ◽

Tick Species ◽

Q Fever ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

High Infection ◽

Haemaphysalis Punctata ◽

Border Areas ◽

Hyalomma Rufipes

Abstract Background The gram-negative Coxiella burnetii bacterium is the pathogen that causes Q fever. The bacterium is transmitted to animals via ticks and can cause infection in domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. As the provincial-level administrative region with the largest land area in China, Xinjiang has many endemic tick species; however, the distribution of C. burnetii in ticks in Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail.Results For the current study, 1507 ticks were collected from livestock at 22 sampling sites in ten border regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region from 2018 to 2019. C. burnetii was detected in 205/348 (58.91%) Dermacentor nuttalli ; in 110/146 (75.34%) Dermacentor pavlovskyi ; in 66/80 (82.50%) Dermacentor silvarum ; in 15/32 (46.90%) Dermacentor niveus ; in 28/132 (21.21%) Hyalomma rufipes ; in 24/25 (96.00%) Hyalomma anatolicum ; in 219/312 (70.19%) Hyalomma asiaticum ; in 252/338 (74.56%) Rhipicephalus sanguineus ; and in 54/92 (58.70%) Haemaphysalis punctata . Among these samples, C. burnetii was detected in D. pavlovskyi for the first time. The infection rate of R. sanguineus was 74.56% (252/338), which was the highest among the four tick genera sampled, whereas the infection rate of H. anatolicum was 96% (24/25), which was the highest among the nine tick species sampled. A sequence analysis indicated that 63 16S rRNA sequences could be found in four newly established genotypes: CXJ-1 (n = 18), CXJ-2 (n = 33), CXJ-3 (n = 6), and CXJ-4 (n = 6).Conclusions This study indicates that CXJ-2 might represent the main C. burnetii genotype in the ticks in Xinjiang because it was detected in eight of the tick species studied. The high infection rate of C. burnetii detected in the ticks found in domestic animals may indicate a high likelihood of Q fever infection in both domestic animals and humans.

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Taxonomic Relationships among Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae as Revealed by Antigenic Analysis with Monoclonal Antibodies

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.36.4.887-896.1998 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 887-896 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Wenbin Xu ◽

Didier Raoult

Keyword(s):

Monoclonal Antibodies ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Spotted Fever ◽

Rickettsia Conorii ◽

Spotted Fever Group ◽

Antigenic Analysis ◽

Taxonomic Relationships ◽

Rickettsia Africae ◽

Rickettsia Slovaca ◽

Rickettsia Sibirica

The spotted fever group (SFG) is made up of more than 20 different rickettsial species and strains. Study of the taxonomic relationships among the group has been attempted by phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic analyses. In this study, we determined taxonomic relationships among the SFG rickettsiae by comparative analysis of immunogenic epitopes reactive against a panel of monoclonal antibodies. A total of 98 monoclonal antibodies, which were directed against epitopes on the major immunodominant proteins or on the lipopolysaccharide-like antigens of strains of Rickettsia africae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia akari, Rickettsia sibirica, and Rickettsia slovaca, were used in the study. The distribution and expression of the epitopes among 29 SFG rickettsiae and Rickettsia bellii were assessed by determination of reaction titers in a microimmunofluorescence assay. The results were scored as numerical taxonomic data, and cluster analysis was used to construct a dendrogram. The architecture of this dendrogram was consistent with previous taxonomic studies, and the implications of this and other findings are discussed.

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