Ali Halajian1, Ana M Palomar2, Aránzazu Portillo3, Heloise Heyne4, Lourdes Romero5, José A Oteo6. 1. Department of Biodiversity (Zoology), University of Limpopo, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa. Electronic address: ali_hal572002@yahoo.com. 2. Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address: ampalomar@riojasalud.es. 3. Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address: aportillo@riojasalud.es. 4. Epidemiology, Parasites & Vectors (EPV), ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR), South Africa. Electronic address: heyneh@arc.agric.za. 5. Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address: lrbarruete@riojasalud.es. 6. Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain. Electronic address: jaoteo@riojasalud.es.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In rural South Africa, people are in close contact with tick-infested donkeys. This study aimed to investigate the presence of spotted fever group Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Coxiella species in these arthropods. METHOD: 376 ticks (7 species) from donkeys from Limpopo Province (South Africa) were pooled and analyzed using PCR assays for the bacterium detection. RESULTS: Rickettsia africae was amplified in 6 Amblyomma hebraeum, 1 Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and 5 Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi pools. Rickettsia aeschlimannii was found in 1 Hyalomma rufipes, 1 Rh. appendiculatus and 2 Rh. e. evertsi pools. Three Rhipicephalus simus specimens were infected with a new Rickettsia strain that showed low identity with any validated Rickettsia species. Ehrlichia canis was detected in 2 Rh. e. evertsi pools and in one of them Anaplasma bovis was amplified. An Am. hebraeum pool showed infection with Anaplasma ovis and another with Coxiella burnetii. CONCLUSION: South African donkeys are involved in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens and other associated agents such as C. burnetii with Health importance. A potential new Rickettsia species, with unknown pathogenic potential, has been detected in the anthropophilic Rh. simus.
BACKGROUND: In rural South Africa, people are in close contact with tick-infested donkeys. This study aimed to investigate the presence of spotted fever group Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Coxiella species in these arthropods. METHOD: 376 ticks (7 species) from donkeys from Limpopo Province (South Africa) were pooled and analyzed using PCR assays for the bacterium detection. RESULTS:Rickettsia africae was amplified in 6 Amblyomma hebraeum, 1 Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and 5 Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi pools. Rickettsia aeschlimannii was found in 1 Hyalomma rufipes, 1 Rh. appendiculatus and 2 Rh. e. evertsi pools. Three Rhipicephalus simus specimens were infected with a new Rickettsia strain that showed low identity with any validated Rickettsia species. Ehrlichia canis was detected in 2 Rh. e. evertsi pools and in one of them Anaplasma bovis was amplified. An Am. hebraeum pool showed infection with Anaplasma ovis and another with Coxiella burnetii. CONCLUSION: South African donkeys are involved in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens and other associated agents such as C. burnetii with Health importance. A potential new Rickettsia species, with unknown pathogenic potential, has been detected in the anthropophilic Rh. simus.
Authors: Kashif Kamran; Ali Akbar; Mahrukh Naseem; Abdul Samad; Jahangir Khan Achakzai; Zia Ur Rehman; Muhammad Sohail Sajid; Abid Ali Journal: Front Vet Sci Date: 2022-09-02