Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Bartonella Spp. in Northern Bats (Eptesicus nilssonii) and Their Blood-Sucking Ectoparasites in Hokkaido, Japan

Molecular Characterization and Genetic Diversity of Clade E-Human Head Lice from Guinea

10.20944/preprints202012.0454.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alissa Hammoud ◽

Meriem Louni ◽

Mamadou Cellou Baldé ◽

Abdoul habib Beavogui ◽

Philippe Gautret ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Polymorphism ◽

Gene Polymorphisms ◽

Head Louse ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Human Head ◽

Head Lice ◽

Acinetobacter Species ◽

Pediculus Humanus ◽

Blood Sucking

Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse, is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that occurs in six divergent mitochondrial haplogroups (A, D, B, F, C and E), each exhibiting a particular geographic distribution. A few years ago, several studies reported the presence of different pathogenic agents in head lice specimens from different clades collected worldwide. These findings suggest that head louse could be a vector for dangerous diseases and therefore a serious public health problem. Herein, we aimed to study the mitochondrial genetic diversity, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms profile of head lice collected in Guinea, as well as to screen for the pathogens present in these lice. In 2018, a total of 155 head lice were collected from 49 individuals at the Medicals Centers of rural (Maférinyah village) and urban (Kindia city) areas, in Guinea. All head lice were subjected to genetic analysis and screened for the presence of several pathogens using molecular tools. The results showed that all head lice belonged to the haplogroups C/E using the duplex qPCR which detects both clades. Standard PCR and sequencing revealed that all specimens belonged to the haplogroup E, including 8 haplotypes, whither 6 new identified for the first time in this study. The study of the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms in our Guinean head lice revealed that 7/40 (17.5%) of our tested samples exhibit three different polymorphism profiles compared to the clade A-head lice PHUM540560 gene profile, while the remaining specimens 33/40 (82,5%) showed the same PHUM540560 gene polymorphism profile as the previously reported clade A-body lice. Molecular investigations of the targeted pathogens revealed only the presence of Acinetobacter species in 9% of our samples using real time PCR. Sequencing results identified highlighted the presence of several Acinetobacter species, including Acinetobacter baumannii (14.3%), Acinetobacter nosocomialis (14.3%), Acinetobacter variabilis (14.3%), Acinetobacter haemolyticus (7.2%), Acinetobacter towneri (7.2%). Furthermore, a candidate new species of Acinetobacter sp. (7.2%) was detected. Positive specimens were collected from 24,5% individuals in Maférinyah. We also investigated in our study the carbapenem’s-resistant profile of A. baumannii, none of our specimens were positive for the following resistance genes blaOXA-21, blaOXA-24 and blaOXA-58. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to report the existence of the Guinean haplogroup E, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphism profile as well as the presence of Acinetobacter species in head lice collected from Guinea.

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Prevalence And Genetic Diversity of Bartonella Spp. In Northern Bats (Eptesicus Nilssonii) And Their Blood-Sucking Ectoparasites In Hokkaido, Japan

10.21203/rs.3.rs-670515/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kei Nabeshima ◽

Shingo Sato ◽

R. Jory Brinkerhoff ◽

Murasaki Amano ◽

Hidenori Kabeya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Potential Vector ◽

Genotype Iii ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

The Uk

Abstract We investigated the prevalence of Bartonella in northern bats (Eptesicus nilssonii) and their ectoparasites from Hokkaido, Japan. Two batbugs (Cimex japonicus) and 174 bat fleas (Ischnopsyllus needhami) were collected from the bats. Bartonella bacteria were isolated from 32 (26.0%) of 123 bats examined. Though Bartonella DNA was detected in 79 (45.5%) of bat fleas, the bacterium was isolated from only one bat flea (0.6%). The gltA sequences of the isolates were categorized into genotypes I, II, and III, which were found in common between the bats and fleas. The gltA sequences of genotypes I and II showed 97.6% similarity with the gene from E. nilssonii in Finland and a bat flea from E. serotinus in the Netherlands. The rpoB sequences of the genotypes showed 98.9% similarity with strain 44722 from E. serotinus in Georgia. The gltA and rpoB sequences of genotype III showed 95.9% and 96.7% similarity with strains from two different species of shrews in Kenya and France, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Bartonella isolates of genotypes I and II clustered with strains from Eptesicus bats in Georgia and Finland, Myotis bats in Romania and the UK, and a bat flea from an Eptesicus bat in Finland. In contrast, genotype III formed a clade with B. florencae, B. acomydis, and B. birtlesii. These data suggest that northern bats in Japan harbor two Bartonella species and I. needhami likely serves as a potential vector of Bartonella transmission in the bats.

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Molecular Characterization and Genetic Diversity of Haplogroup E Human Lice in Guinea, West Africa

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 257

Author(s):

Alissa Hammoud ◽

Meriem Louni ◽

Mamadou Cellou Baldé ◽

Abdoul Habib Beavogui ◽

Philippe Gautret ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Gene Polymorphisms ◽

Head Louse ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Head Lice ◽

Acinetobacter Species ◽

Pediculus Humanus ◽

Blood Sucking ◽

Pathogenic Agents ◽

First Time

Pediculus humanus capitis, the head louse, is an obligate blood-sucking ectoparasite that occurs in six divergent mitochondrial clades (A, D, B, F, C and E). Several studies reported the presence of different pathogenic agents in head lice specimens collected worldwide. These findings suggest that head louse could be a dangerous vector and a serious public health problem. Herein, we aimed to study the mitochondrial genetic diversity, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms profile of head lice collected in Guinea, as well as to screen for their associated pathogens. In 2018, a total of 155 head lice were collected from 49 individuals at the Medicals Centers of rural (Maférinyah village) and urban (Kindia city) areas, in Guinea. Specimens were subjected to a genetic analysis and pathogens screening using molecular tools. Results showed that all head lice belonged to eight haplotypes in the E haplogroup, with six newly identified for the first time. The study of the PHUM540560 gene polymorphisms of our clade E-head lice revealed that 82.5% exhibited the same polymorphism profile as the previously reported clade A-body lice. Screening for targeted pathogens revealed the presence of Acinetobacter spp., while sequencing highlighted the presence of several species, including Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter nosocomialis, Acinetobacter variabilis, Acinetobacter towneri and for the first time Acinetobacter haemolyticus. Our study is the first to report the existence of the Guinean haplogroup E, the PHUM540560 gene polymorphism profile as well as the presence of Acinetobacter species in head lice collected from Guinea.

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