Rickettsia conorii Israeli tick typhus strain isolated from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in Portugal

This report describes the first establishment of five isolates of R. conorii Israeli tick typhus (ITT) strain from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in different regions of Portugal. Ticks were collected on two separate expeditions that took place in Bragan?a, Montesinho Natural Park, and Portalegre City.     

Experimental infection models of ticks of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group with Rickettsia conorii

Rhipicephalus sanguineus group ticks collected on dogs in Thailand were maintained in the laboratory over several generations to test methods to infect these ticks with Rickettsia conorii, the agent of Mediterranean spotted fever. Three methods were tested: (1) infection of adults and nymphs through artificially induced bacteremic rabbit, (2) capillary feeding of solution containing 5 x 10(3) and 5 x 10(5)pfu/mL of R. conorii to adult female ticks, and (3) immersion of engorged nymphs which were "one leg-cut," "two leg-cut," or "cuticle cut" in solution containing R. conorii. The most efficient method to infect adult ticks with R. conorii was infection of ticks through the bacteremic rabbit (71.4%). The best method to infect nymphs with R. conorii was immersion of "one leg-cut" engorged nymphs in solution containing R. conorii (30%). Interestingly, a high mortality of the ticks infected with R. conorii was observed regardless of the method used. The harmful effect of R. conorii on Rh. sanguineus group ticks from Thailand is discussed including the role of the geographic origin of the ticks and the difficulties to identify ticks within this group to the species level.     

A focus of dogs and Rickettsia massiliae-infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus in California

A recurrent focus of Rhipicephalus sanguineus infestation was investigated in a suburban area of southern California after reports of suspected Rocky Mountain spotted fever in two dogs on the same property. Abundant quantities of Rh. sanguineus were collected on the property and repeatedly from each dog, and Rickettsia massiliae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Whole blood and serum samples from four dogs were tested by using PCR and microimmunofluorescent assay for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae. Serum samples from all four dogs contained antibodies reactive with R. massiliae, R. rhipicephali, R. rickettsii, and 364D Rickettsia but no rickettsial DNA was detected by PCR of blood samples. Serum cross-absorption and Western blot assays implicated R. massiliae as the most likely spotted fever group rickettsiae responsible for seropositivity. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of R. massiliae in ticks in California.     

Immunoglobulin G binding proteins in male Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks

Three abundant immunoglobulin G binding proteins (IGBPs) of29kDa (IGBP-MA), 25kDa (IGBP-MB), and 21 kDa (IGBP-MC) were isolated from partly fed male Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks using an agar-ose-IgG column. After separating the proteins by SDS-PA GE, each individual IGBP band was cutou tfrom the gel and used to raise antiserum in guinea pigs. Using immuno-blotting, each of the three IGBPs was shown to be antigenically distinct, and specific for feeding male R. appendiculatus ticks. They were detected in the salivary glands of male ticks that had been feeding in either the presence of absence of female ticks, and appeared to be glycoproteins. The smallest protein, IGBP-MC, bound to guinea pig IgG (on which species the ticks were fed) and also bound to human and bovine IgG, whereas IGBP-MA and possibly IGBP-MB only bound to guinea pig IgG. The function of IGBPs in tick salivary glands and their significance in male ticks are discussed.     

First molecular detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in Iran

ObjectiveTo determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.MethodsAbout 425 domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr city in northern Iran were inspected for tick infestations. Twenty tick specimens (13 females and 7 males) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (R. sanguineus), the most common tick in the study area, were tested by PCR amplification against 18s rRNA genome of Theileria spp using specie specific primers and then the PCR products were sequenced for species identification by comparison with data base available in GenBank.ResultsAbout 323 ticks were collected from 102 animals (88 sheep, 12 goats and 2 cattle). The prevalence of ticks infesting animals was R. sanguineus (82.35%), Rhipicephalus bursa (R. bursa) (0.3%), Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) (15.2%), Boophilus annulatus (B. annulatus) (1.2%), Haemaphysalis punctata (H. punctata) (0.3%) and Haemaphysalis numidiana (H. numidiana) (0.6%). Eleven (55%) tick specimens were PCR positive against genome of Theileria ovis (T. ovis). Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed presence of T. ovis in one R. sanguinus.ConclusionsThis is the first report of tick infection to T. ovis in Iran. Due to dominant prevalence of R. sanguineus as well as its infection to T. ovis, it is postulated this tick is the main vector of ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.     

蜱中人粒细胞埃立克体DNA的PCR检测及序列分析

目的了解吉林地区蜱种感染人粒细胞埃立克体的情况。方法采用16S rRNA基因特异引物进行半套式PCR,检测吉林省部分林区蜱中人粒细胞埃立克体DNA,并对扩增产物进行克隆和测序,与已知序列进行同源性比较。结果从采集于吉林地区的全沟硬蜱中检出人粒细胞埃立克体的特异性DNA片段,阳性率为1.98%。扩增产物经克隆、测序发现吉林地区人粒细胞埃立克体扩增片段与美国人粒细胞埃立克体分离株(GenBank注册号为U02521)16SrRNA基因序列相对应片段相差2个核苷酸,同源性为99.7%。结论吉林地区的全沟硬蜱携带人粒细胞埃立克体,提示吉林地区可能存在人粒细胞埃立克体病的自然疫源地。     

Theileria parva piroplasmosis in mice, and its attempted transmission with Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks.

Theileria parva piroplasm infection of mouse erythrocytes was detected, following intraperitoneal inoculation of mice with irradiated cultures of T. parva-infected bovine lymphoid cells. Infection could not be transmitted to cattle using Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks.     

福建厦门微小牛蜱中埃立克体的检测与鉴定

目的 检测福建厦门微小牛蜱携带的埃立克体，进行分类鉴定。方法 采用套式PCR方法检测埃立克体，然后对阳性标本中的埃立克体进行16SrRNA全基因序列测定并分析。结果 共检测吸血微小牛蜱标本299份，27份阳性，阳性率为9．0％。选择其中的1份阳性样本扩增16SrRNA的全基因序列，全长1458bp，序列对比显示与泰缅边境和越南的埃立克体同源性为99．9％，相差2个碱基；与西藏埃立克体同源性为99．7％，相差4个碱基；与非洲埃立克体同源性为99．6％，相差7个碱基；与中国南方的查菲埃立克体同源性为98．9％，相差17个碱基。结论 从福建厦门微小牛蜱中检测到埃立克体，可能是一个埃立克体新的亚种。     

Detection of Rickettsia africae in patients and ticks along the coastal region of Cameroon

Rickettsia africae was identified in seven (6%) of 118 patients with acute fevers of unknown etiology proven not to be malaria or typhoid fever from clinics along the coastal region of Cameroon by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the citrate synthase (gltA) and outer membrane protein A (ompA) genes of Rickettsia. The majority (71%) of the patients were female. Clinical manifestations included fever (100%), headache (71%), myalgia (71%), arthralgia (43%), pulmonary involvement (29%), and diffuse rash (14%). Moreover, R. africae was detected by PCR amplification and sequence analysis of the gltA and ompA genes in 62 (75%) of 83 adult Amblyomma variegatum ticks collected from cattle in the same region. These results confirm the presence of a previously unrecognized infectious disease in the indigenous Cameroonian population, as well as extend the established range of R. africae.     

Ultrastructural study of the infection process of Rickettsia conorii in the salivary glands of the vector tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus

This work was designed to study the infection process of Rickettsia conorii in the salivary glands of experimentally infected Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. One hundred six uninfected engorged nymphs were intracelomically inoculated with approximately 2 x 10(3) plaque-forming units of a rickettsial suspension. After the molt, unfed and fed adults were dissected, and the salivary glands were extracted and processed for transmission electron microscopy observation. Three different uninfected control groups were used for (1) evaluating the impact of the inoculation procedure, (2) establishing the feeding period of infected ticks, and (3) ultrastructural characterization of the salivary glands. Overall, 75.5% (80 of 106) of the nymphs inoculated with rickettsiae died during the molt or soon after hatching into adult instars; 50% (12 of 24) of the remaining infected adults showed severe malformations compromising their viability. In apparently healthy specimens, time of engorgement was longer. The contrast with the negative control groups was statistically significant, suggesting that R. conorii exerts a strong negative effect on the vector ticks. The ultrastructural study showed that in the salivary glands of infected ticks, rickettsial growth occurs preferentially in central, peripheral, and interstitial acini cells.     

Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Bartonella in ticks and fleas from dogs and cats in Bangkok

Flea and tick specimens (5-10 fleas or ticks) on dogs and cats from various sites in Bangkok were tested by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing to detect DNA of bacteria Rickettsia (gltA and 17?kDa genes), Anaplasmataceae (16S rRNA gene), and Bartonella (pap31 and its genes). We confirmed that Rickettsia sp. related to Rickettsia felis was detected in 66 of 98 (67.4%) flea specimens from dogs, whereas 8 Bartonella henselae and 2 Bartonella clarridgeiae were detected in 10 of 54 (18.5%) flea specimens from cats. Further, this work provides the first evidence of 10 Ehrlichia canis (3.3%), 7 Anaplasma platys (2.3%), and 2 Wolbachia spp. (0.66%) in 304 Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick specimens in Thailand.     

The species composition of mosquitoes and ticks in Armenia

Comprehensive epidemiological, entomological, virological, and parasitological studies were conducted to examine the species composition and size of bloodsucking arthropoda (mosquitoes and ticks). A total of 64,567 mosquitoes and 45,180 Ixodes ticks were collected. Among the mosquitoes, Anopheles maculipennis was a prevalent species (81.6%). In all climatic zones, Dermacentor marginatus was the largest in number and most abundant during flag collections from cattle and plants (62.5% and 95.5%, respectively). Virological studies of the collected field material identified 125 strains of arboviruses belonging to 10 viruses: Tyaginya, Sindbis, Batai, Dkhori, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile fever, Tamdy, KGL, Geta, and Bkhandzha. The identified arboviruses are environmentally associated with both mosquitoes and ticks. The larger number and diversity of bloodsucking artropoda present a potential risk of outbursts of arbovirus infections on the territory of the republic.