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. 2023 Dec 15:14:1283814.
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283814. eCollection 2023.

First report of spotted fever group Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Hyalomma turanicum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi infesting domestic animals: updates on the epidemiology of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii

Abdul Majid  1 , Mashal M Almutairi  2 , Abdulaziz Alouffi  3 , Tetsuya Tanaka  4 , Tsai-Ying Yen  5 , Kun-Hsien Tsai  5 , Abid Ali  1
Affiliations

First report of spotted fever group Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Hyalomma turanicum, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi infesting domestic animals: updates on the epidemiology of tick-borne Rickettsia aeschlimannii

Abdul Majid et al. Front Microbiol. .

Abstract

Tick-borne Rickettsia spp. have long been known as causative agents for zoonotic diseases. We have previously characterized Rickettsia spp. in different ticks infesting a broad range of hosts in Pakistan; however, knowledge regarding Rickettsia aeschlimannii in Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma ticks is missing. This study aimed to obtain a better understanding about R. aeschlimannii in Pakistan and update the knowledge about its worldwide epidemiology. Among 369 examined domestic animals, 247 (66%) were infested by 872 ticks. Collected ticks were morphologically delineated into three genera, namely, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, and Haemaphysalis. Adult females were the most prevalent (number ₌ 376, 43.1%), followed by nymphs (303, 34.74%) and males (193, 22.13%). Overall, genomic DNA samples of 223 tick were isolated and screened for Rickettsia spp. by the amplification of rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB partial genes using conventional PCR. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8 of 223 (3.58%) ticks including nymphs (5 of 122, 4.0%) and adult females (3 of 86, 3.48%). The rickettsial gltA, ompA, and ompB sequences were detected in Hyalomma turanicum (2 nymphs and 1 adult female), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (1 nymph and 1 adult female), and Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (2 nymphs and 1 adult female). These rickettsial sequences showed 99.71-100% identity with R. aeschlimannii and phylogenetically clustered with the same species. None of the tested Rhipicephalus microplus, Hyalomma isaaci, Hyalomma scupense, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Haemaphysalis cornupunctata, and Haemaphysalis sulcata ticks were found positive for rickettsial DNA. Comprehensive surveillance studies should be adopted to update the knowledge regarding tick-borne zoonotic Rickettsia species, evaluate their risks to humans and livestock, and investigate the unexamined cases of illness after tick bite among livestock holders in the country.

Keywords: Haemaphysalis bispinosa; Haemaphysalis montgomeryi; Hyalomma turanicum; Rickettsia aeschlimannii; ticks.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map showing locations in seven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where ticks were collected from domestic animals.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenetic analysis based on the gltA sequences of Rickettsia aeschlimannii. The obtained sequences of the present study are indicated in bold and underlined fonts. Rickettsia akari and Rickettsia australis were used as out-group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Phylogenetic analysis based on the ompA sequences of R. aeschlimannii. The sequences obtained in this study are indicated in bold and underlined fonts. Rickettsia australis is used as an out-group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the ompB genes of R. aeschlimannii. The obtained sequences in the present study are indicated in bold and underlined fonts. Rickettsia australis used as an out-group.
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