Vlademiro Magaia1, Elisa Taviani2, Nidia Cangi3, Luis Neves4. 1. Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique. magaiavlade@gmail.com. 2. Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique. etaviani@gmail.com. 3. Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique. nidicangi@yahoo.com.br. 4. Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique. Luis.Neves@up.ac.za.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Rickettsia are Gram-negative and obligate intracellular bacteria, which cause typhus and spotted fever-like diseases in humans. In Africa, Rickettsia africae of the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia (SFGR) is the etiologic agent of the African Tick-Bite Fever. The disease is transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, which serve as vectors and reservoirs of Rickettsia. In this study, we aimed to detect Rickettsia species in ticks collected from cattle in south and central Mozambique. METHODOLOGY: DNA from 412 adult ticks and 22 pools of larvae were extracted and tested for the presence of Rickettsia genes gltA, ompA and ompB by PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that in adult ticks, 79.5% (n = 330), 66% (n = 274) and 67% (n = 275) samples were positive for gltA, ompA and ompB genes, respectively. Among the 22 pools of larvae analysed, 77.2% (n = 17) were positive for the three genes tested. The infection rates ranged from 43% to 100% for Rickettsia by gltA in all locations studied, with maximum values of 100% observed in the districts of Maputo province namely Changalane, Boane and Matutuine district. The phylogenetic analysis of amplified sequences revealed that samples under study grouped with R. africae for the 3 genes. CONCLUSION: The study showed that Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia represented by R. africae widely circulate in Amblyomma ticks collected in south and central regions of Mozambique. Copyright (c) 2020 Vlademiro Magaia, Elisa Taviani, Nidia Cangi, Luis Neves.
INTRODUCTION:Rickettsia are Gram-negative and obligate intracellular bacteria, which cause typhus and spotted fever-like diseases in humans. In Africa, Rickettsia africae of the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia (SFGR) is the etiologic agent of the African Tick-Bite Fever. The disease is transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, which serve as vectors and reservoirs of Rickettsia. In this study, we aimed to detect Rickettsia species in ticks collected from cattle in south and central Mozambique. METHODOLOGY: DNA from 412 adult ticks and 22 pools of larvae were extracted and tested for the presence of Rickettsia genes gltA, ompA and ompB by PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed that in adult ticks, 79.5% (n = 330), 66% (n = 274) and 67% (n = 275) samples were positive for gltA, ompA and ompB genes, respectively. Among the 22 pools of larvae analysed, 77.2% (n = 17) were positive for the three genes tested. The infection rates ranged from 43% to 100% for Rickettsia by gltA in all locations studied, with maximum values of 100% observed in the districts of Maputo province namely Changalane, Boane and Matutuine district. The phylogenetic analysis of amplified sequences revealed that samples under study grouped with R. africae for the 3 genes. CONCLUSION: The study showed that Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia represented by R. africae widely circulate in Amblyomma ticks collected in south and central regions of Mozambique. Copyright (c) 2020 Vlademiro Magaia, Elisa Taviani, Nidia Cangi, Luis Neves.
Entities:
Keywords:
ATBF; Amblyomma; R. africae; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia