Genetic diversity of vector-borne pathogens in ixodid ticks infesting dogs from Pakistan with notes on Ehrlichia canis, Rickettsia raoultii and Dirofilaria immitis detection

Author:

Zeb Jehan,Song Baolin,Khan Munsif Ali,Senbill Haytham,Aziz Muhammad Umair,Hussain Sabir,Waris Abdul,E-Tabor Ala,Sparagano Olivier Andre

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundVector-/tick-borne pathogens (V/TBPs) pose a potential threat to human and animal health globally. Information regarding canine V/TBPs is scarce and no specific study has been conducted so far to explore the microbial diversity within ticks infesting dogs from Pakistan. Herein, this knowledge gap is addressed by assessing the genetic diversity and prevalence pattern of V/TBPs in ixodid ticks with special implications for public and canine health.MethodsA total of 1150 hard ticks were collected from 300 dogs across central Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. After morpho-molecular identification, 120 tick samples were screened for the presence of V/TBPs by amplifying16S rRNA/gltA(Rickettsia/EhrlichiaandWolbachiasp.),18S rRNA(Theileriasp.) andcox1(Dirofilariasp.) genes through PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic study.ResultsIn toto, 50 ixodid ticks (50/120, 41.7%) were found positive for V/TBPs DNA. The detected V/TBPs were categorized into five genera and eight species, viz.Ehrlichia(E. canisandEhrlichiasp.),Rickettsia(R. massiliae, R. raoultiiandRickettsiasp.),Theileria(T. annulata),Dirofilaria(D. immitis) andWolbachia(Wolbachiasp.). The pathogen prevalence patterns showed thatR. massiliaewas the most prevalent zoonotic V/TBP (19.5%), followed byE. canis(10.8%),Rickettsiasp. (7.5%), R. raoultii(6.7%),T. annulata(5.8%),D. immitis(5.8%),Wolbachiasp. (4.2%) andEhrlichiasp. (3.3%), respectively. Among the screened tick species, mostRhipicephalus sanguineussensu lato samples were found positive for V/TBP DNA (20/20,100%) followed byRh. turanicussensu stricto (13/20, 65%),Hyalomma dromedarii(8/20, 40%),Rh. haemaphysaloides(6/20, 30%),Hy. excavatum(2/20, 10%) andRh. microplus(1/20, 5%). Co-occurrence of V/TBP was also detected in tick specimens (single V/TBP infection: 32 ticks; double and triple: 13 and 5 tick samples). The detected pathogens shared a phylogenetic relationship with similar isolates published in NCBI GenBank from Old and New World countries.ConclusionIxodid ticks infesting dogs harbor a diverse array of V/TBPs including zoonotic agents from Pakistan. Furthermore, the presence ofD. immitisin ticks that infest dogs raises the possibility that this parasite has either attained its dead-end host (i.e. the tick) while feeding on dogs or has expanded its range of intermediate/paratenic hosts. Further research work is needed to investigate the epidemiology and confirm the vector competence of screened tick species for these pathogens from Pakistan.Graphical Abstract

Funder

Olivier Andre Sparagano

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Infectious Diseases,Parasitology,General Veterinary

Cited by 3 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3