Molecular detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and tick-borne encephalitis viruses in ixodid ticks collected from vegetation, Republic of Korea, 2014

Yun, Seok-Min,Lee, Ye-Ji,Choi, WooYoung,Kim, Heung-Chul,Chong, Sung-Tae,Chang, Kyu-Sik,Coburn, Jordan M.,Klein, Terry A.,Lee, Won-Ja Elsevier 2016 Ticks and tick-borne diseases Vol.7 No.5

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Ticks play an important role in transmission of arboviruses responsible for emerging infectious diseases, and have a significant impact on human, veterinary, and wildlife health. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), little is known about information regarding the presence of tick-borne viruses and their vectors. A total of 21,158 ticks belonging to 3 genera and 6 species collected at 6 provinces and 4 metropolitan areas in the ROK from March to October 2014 were assayed for selected tick-borne pathogens. <I>Haemaphysalis longicornis</I> (n=17,570) was the most numerously collected, followed by <I>H<I>aemaphysalis</I> flava</I> (n=3317), <I>Ixodes nipponensis</I> (n=249), <I>Amblyomma testudinarium</I> (n=11), <I>H<I>aemaphysalis</I> phasiana</I> (n=8), and <I> <I>Ixodes</I> turdus</I> (n=3). Ticks were pooled (adults 1–5, nymphs 1–30, and larvae 1–50) and tested by one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or nested RT-PCR for the detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia virus (SFTSV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Powassan virus (POWV), Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), and Langat virus (LGTV). The overall maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) [estimated numbers of viral RNA positive ticks/1000 ticks] for SFTSV and TBEV was 0.95 and 0.43, respectively, while, all pools were negative for POWV, OHFV, and LGTV.</P> <P>The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of SFTSV, TBEV, POWV, OHFV, and LGTV in ixodid ticks collected from vegetation in the ROK to aid our understanding of the epidemiology of tick-borne viral diseases. Results from this study emphasize the need for continuous tick-based arbovirus surveillance to monitor the emergence of tick-borne diseases in the ROK.</P>

Characterization of microbiota diversity of engorged ticks collected from dogs in China

Seongjin Wang,Xiuguo Hua,Li Cui 대한수의학회 2021 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.22 No.3

Background: Ticks are one of the most common external parasites in dogs, and are associated with the transmission of a number of major zoonoses, which result in serious harm to human health and even death. Also, the increasing number of pet dogs and pet owners in China has caused concern regarding human tick-borne illnesses. Accordingly, studies are needed to gain a complete understanding of the bacterial composition and diversity of the ticks that parasitize dogs. Objectives: To date, there have been relatively few reports on the analysis of the bacterial community structure and diversity in ticks that parasitize dogs. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbial composition and diversity of parasitic ticks of dogs, and assessed the effect of tick sex and geographical region on the bacterial composition in two tick genera collected from dogs in China. Methods: A total of 178 whole ticks were subjected to a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) next generation sequencing analysis. The Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was used to characterize the bacterial communities of the collected ticks. Sequence analysis and taxonomic assignment were performed using QIIME 2 and the GreenGene database, respectively. After clustering the sequences into taxonomic units, the sequences were quality-filtered and rarefied. Results: After pooling 24 tick samples, we identified a total of 2,081 operational taxonomic units, which were assigned to 23 phyla and 328 genera, revealing a diverse bacterial community profile. The high, moderate and low prevalent taxa include 46, 101, and 182 genera, respectively. Among them, dominant taxa include environmental bacterial genera, such as Psychrobacter and Burkholderia. Additionally, some known tick-associated endosymbionts were also detected, including Coxiella, Rickettsia, and Ricketssiella. Also, the potentially pathogenic genera Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were detected in the tick pools. Moreover, our preliminary study found that the differences in microbial communities are more dependent on the sampling location than tick sex in the tick specimens collected from dogs. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the need for future research on the microbial population present in ticks collected from dogs in China.

Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens from Ticks Collected from Cattle and Wild Animals in Tanzania in 2012

Tae Yun Kim,You Shine Kwak,Ju Yeong Kim,Sung-Hyun Nam,In-Yong Lee,Simon Mduma,Julius Keyyu,Robert Fyumagwa,Tai-Soon Yong 대한기생충학열대의학회 2018 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.56 No.3

This study was aimed to disclose the prevalence rate of tick-borne pathogens from ticks collected from cattle and wild animals in Tanzania in 2012. Ticks were collected from slaughtered cattle and dead wild animals from November 5 to December 23, 2012 and identified. PCR for detecting Anaplasmataceae, Piroplamidae, Rickettsiaceae, Borrelia spp., and Coxiella spp. were done. Among those tested, Rickettsiaceae, Piroplasmidae, and Anaplasmataceae, were detected in ticks from the 2 regions. Rickettsiaceae represented the major tick-borne pathogens of the 2 regions. Ticks from animals in Maswa were associated with a higher pathogen detection rate compared to that in ticks from Iringa. In addition, a higher pathogen detection rate was observed in ticks infesting cattle than in ticks infesting wild animals. All examined ticks of the genus Amblyomma were infected with diverse pathogens. Ticks of the genera Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma were infected with 1 or 2 pathogens. Collectively, this study provides important information regarding differences in pathogen status among various regions, hosts, and tick species in Tanzania. Results in this study will affect the programs to prevent tick-borne diseases (TBD) of humans and livestock in Tanzania.

Tick bite caused by male Amblyomma testudinarium in a Korean woman

( Ji Hong Lim ),( Jin Hee Kang ),( Miri Kim ),( Hyun Jeong Park ),( Baik Kee Cho ) 대한피부과학회 2015 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.67 No.1

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that parasitize various species of vertebrates. In Korea, approximately 40 human cases have been reported since 1982. The most common species causing tick bites in Korea are Ixodes nipponensis. Amblyomma testudinarium is a tropical tick and found mainly in the Indian Peninsula, South East Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan. A. testudinarium accounts for 10% of all tick bite cases in Japan. In Korea, however, only few reports of the tick bite by A. testudinarium have been reported. A 53-year-old woman presented with asymptomatic pedunculated mass on her buttock. She was attacked by the tick while climbing the Jungbyung mountain located in Changwon City, the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula. It was identified as male A. testudinarium according to its morphological characteristics. Histological examination showed dense inflammatory infiltration of neutrophils and eosinophils, and dilated vessels on the dermis beneath the biting site of the tick. To the best of our knowledge, our patient is the second case of tick bite from this species and the first tick bite from the male tick recorded in Korea. Here, we report a case of tick bite by male A. testudinarium in a woman.

Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in ticks from grazing cattle in Korea

Kang, S.W.,Doan, H.T.T.,Choe, S.E.,Noh, J.H.,Yoo, M.S.,Reddy, K.E.,Kim, Y.H.,Kweon, C.H.,Jung, S.C.,Chang, K.Y. Elsevier 2013 Parasitology international Vol.62 No.3

This study was carried out to identify the tick species that infest grazing cattle and to determine the presence of tick-borne pathogens transmitted by these ticks in Korea. A total of 903 ticks (categorized into 566 tick pools) were collected from five provinces during 2010-2011. The most prevalent tick species was Haemaphysalis longicornis, followed by three Ixodes spp. ticks. The collected ticks were infected with both rickettsial and protozoan pathogens. In all, 469 (82.9%) tick pools tested positive for the Anaplasma/Ehrlichia 16S rRNA gene, whereas 67 (11.8%) were positive for the Babesia/Theileria 18S rRNA gene. Among the rickettsial pathogens, E. canis was detected with the highest rate (22.3%), followed by A. platys (20%), E. chaffeensis (19.4%), E. ewingii (19.3%), Rickettsia sp. (12.4%), A. phagocytophilum (5.5%) and E. muris (0.5%). Among the protozoan pathogens, T. equi was detected with the highest rate (7.2%), followed by T. sergenti/T. buffeli (3.7%) and B. caballi (0.35%). Simultaneous infections with up to seven pathogens were also identified. In particular, ticks infected with rickettsial pathogens were also infected with protozoan pathogens (22 samples). All five provinces investigated infected with tick-borne pathogens.

Tick-borne rickettsial pathogens in questing ticks, removed from humans and animals in Mexico

Carolina G. Sosa-Gutierrez,Margarita Vargas-Sandoval,Javier Torres,Guadalupe Gordillo-Pérez 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.3

Tick-borne rickettsial diseases (TBRD) are commonly encountered in medical and veterinary clinical settings. The control of these diseases is difficult, requiring disruption of a complex transmission chain involving a vertebrate host and ticks. The geographical distribution of the diseases is related to distribution of the vector, which is an indicator of risk for the population. A total of 1,107 ticks were collected by tick dragging from forests, ecotourism parks and hosts at 101 sites in 22 of the 32 states of Mexico. Collected ticks were placed in 1.5 mL cryovials containing 70% ethanol and were identified to species. Ticks were pooled according to location/host of collection, date of collection, sex, and stage of development. A total of 51 ticks were assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm species identification using morphological methods. A total of 477 pools of ticks were assayed using PCR techniques for selected tick-borne pathogens. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was the most commonly detected pathogen (45 pools), followed by, Ehrlichia (E.) canis (42), Rickettsia (R.) rickettsii (11), E. chaffeensis (8), and R. amblyommii (1). Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the tick most frequently positive for selected pathogens. Overall, our results indicate that potential tick vectors positive for rickettsial pathogens are distributed throughout the area surveyed in Mexico.

Tick‐borne viruses: Current trends in large‐scale viral surveillance

Park Ki Beom,Jo Yong Hun,Kim Nam‐Yeon,Lee Wook‐Gyo,Lee Hee‐Il,Cho Shin‐Hyeong,Patnaik Bharat Bhusan,Han Yeon Soo 한국곤충학회 2020 Entomological Research Vol.50 No.8

Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit pathogens, such as tick-borne viruses, to their hosts. Tick-borne viruses are diverse: they can be categorized into two orders, nine families, and at least 12 genera. Almost 25% of these viruses are infectious to humans and some are a serious threat to public health. The global rise in tick-borne virus diseases has been linked to climate change which has reduced tick mortality in the winter and extended their active period. The spread of tick-borne viral diseases to humans has received significant interest due to the increased threat to human life; epidemiological monitoring of tick-borne viruses using molecular, immunological, and environmental methods is now a priority. Nevertheless, many tick-borne diseases remain undiagnosed, which poses a challenge to public administration and health care officials. This review discusses three major tick-borne RNA viruses that cause serious infection in humans: severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus. Specifically, we discuss the epidemiological monitoring, vector control measures, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and environmental determinants related to these viruses. Furthermore, we review the current surveillance of these tick-borne viruses with a specific focus on diagnostic approaches that employ molecular interventions such as viral nucleic acid isolation, PCR-based diagnostics, and high-throughput sequencing technologies.

Coinfection of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus and Coxiella burnetii in Developmental Stage of Hard Ticks in Subtropical Region of Korea

Yoo Jeong Rae,Heo Sang Taek,Kim Misun,Kim Miyeon,Kang Myeong Jin,Kim Eui Tae,Kang Su Yeon,Lee Keun Hwa 대한의학회 2023 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.38 No.20

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is transmitted through tick bites. Ticks are potential vectors for the bacterium Coxiella burnetii that causes Query fever. Here, we analyzed SFTSV and C. burnetii co-infection rates in ticks in rural areas of Jeju Island, South Korea. Methods: Free ticks were collected from the natural environment of the island between 2016 and 2019, and SFTSV RNA was extracted. Additionally, ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to identify Coxiella species. Results: Haemaphysalis longicornis was the most common tick species followed by H. flava. Tick number gradually increased from April, peaked in August, and was lowest in March. Of all the collected ticks, 82.6% (2,851/3,458) were nymphs, 17.9% (639/3,458) adults, and 0.1% (4/3,458) larvae. SFTSV-infected ticks comprised 12.6% of all ticks; their numbers were the lowest in November–December, increased from January, and were mostly identified in the adult stage during June–August. C. burnetii infections were detected in 4.4% of the SFTSVinfected H. longicornis ticks. C. burnetii co-infection was mainly observed in the nymph stage of H. longicornis, with the highest infection rate in January, followed by December and November. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Jeju Island has a high SFTSV and potential C. burnetii infection in ticks. This study provides important insights regarding SFTS and Q fever risk to humans in South Korea.

Detection and Genotyping of Coxiella-like Endosymbionts in Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis Ticks Infesting Pets and Livestock in Puducherry, India

Panneer Devaraju,Aravindhan Appakannu Gopal,Waseema Arif,Lakshmy Srinivasan,Terence Nathan Anthony,Mathivanan Ashokkumar 대한미생물학회 2024 Journal of Bacteriology and Virology Vol.54 No.1

Ticks are obligate blood-feeders that are vectors for several pathogens of public health and veterinary importance. Ticks were reported to have endosymbionts such as Coxiella-like, Francisella-like, Midichloria mitochondrii, Wolbachia, etc. With limited data on endosymbionts in ticks from India, we explored the endosymbiont diversity in ticks infesting the pets and livestock in Puducherry. Ectoparasites were collected from pet and domestic animals in 11 veterinary dispensaries between August to September 2022 and identified by taxonomical keys and sequencing of 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and Cytochrome oxidase subunit I genes. Wolbachia, Coxiella-like, Francisella-like and Midichloria mitochondrii endosymbionts were screened by PCR and their presence was confirmed by sequencing. A total of 984 ectoparasites including 5 tick, 3 lice, and 1 flea species were retrieved from 304 animals. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, and Haemaphysalis bispinosa ticks were positive for the presence of Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) clustering under the clades B and C. Further, vertical transmission of CLEs in the field-collected R. sanguineus ticks was also demonstrated. This study offers an overview of the endosymbionts harbored by ticks in Puducherry with the first report of CLEs in H. bispinosa ticks and the transovarial transmission of endosymbionts in R. sanguineus ticks.

Presence of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. DNA in ticks, but absence of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. and of <i>Leptospira</i> spp. DNA in blood of fever patients in Madagascar

Hagen, Ralf Matthias,Frickmann, Hagen,Ehlers, Julian,Krü,ger, Andreas,Margos, Gabriele,Hizo-Teufel, Cecilia,Fingerle, Volker,Rakotozandrindrainy, Raphael,Kalckreuth, Vera von,Im, Justin,Pak, Gi De Elsevier 2018 Acta tropica Vol.177 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The occurrence of tick-borne relapsing fever and leptospirosis in humans in Madagascar remains unclear despite the presence of their potential vectors and reservoir hosts.</P> <P>We screened 255 <I>Amblyomma variegatum</I> ticks and 148 <I>Rhipicephalus microplus</I> ticks from Zebu cattle in Madagascar for <I>Borrelia</I>-specific DNA. <I>Borrelia</I> spp. DNA was detected in 21 <I>Amblyomma variegatum</I> ticks and 2 <I>Rhipicephalus microplus</I> ticks. One <I>Borrelia</I> found in one <I>Rhipicephalus microplus</I> showed close relationship to <I>Borrelia theileri</I> based on genetic distance and phylogenetic analyses on 16S rRNA and <I>flaB</I> sequences. The borreliae from <I>Amblyomma variegatum</I> could not be identified due to very low quantities of present DNA reflected by high cycle threshold values in real-time-PCR. It is uncertain whether these low numbers of <I>Borrelia</I> spp. are sufficient for transmission of infection from ticks to humans.</P> <P>In order to determine whether spirochaete infections are relevant in humans, blood samples of 1009 patients from the highlands of Madagascar with fever of unknown origin were screened for <I>Borrelia</I> spp. − and in addition for <I>Leptospira</I> spp. − by real-time PCR. No target DNA was detected, indicating a limited relevance of these pathogens for humans in the highlands of Madagascar.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> <I>Borrelia</I> spp. DNA was detected in <I>Amblyomma (A.) variegatum</I> ticks and <I>Rhipicephalus (R.) microplus</I> ticks in Madagascar. </LI> <LI> DNA of a <I>Borrelia (B.) theileri</I>-related borreliae was detected in <I>R. microplus</I> for the first time in Madagascar. </LI> <LI> Only low amounts of <I>Borrelia</I> spp. DNA were detected in the assessed ticks, indicating low numbers of organisms and indicating an at the most limited risk of transmission to humans. </LI> <LI> <I>Borrelia</I> spp. DNA was absent in the blood of fever patients from the highlands in Madagascar. </LI> <LI> <I>Leptospira</I> (<I>L.</I>) spp. DNA was absent in the blood of fever patients from the highlands in Madagascar. </LI> </UL> </P>