Quantitative PCR-Based Parasite Burden Estimation of Babesia gibsoni in the Vector Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae), Fed on an Experimentally Infected Dog

A cDNA encoding the vitellogenin receptor of the ixodid tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (HlVgR) was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA is 5631 bp, including an intact ORF encoding an expected protein with 1782 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the HlVgR cDNA revealed two ligand-binding domains with four class A cysteine-rich repeats in the first domain and eight in the second domain similar to those of insect VgRs. The immunoblot analysis detected ~197 kDa protein in both tick ovary and egg. The developmental expression profile demonstrated that HlVgR mRNA exists throughout the ovarian development, and the transcriptional level is especially high in the previtellogenic period. Immuno electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that the localization of HlVgR is detected on the external surface of oocyte plasma membrane. RNAi showed that eggs of HlVgR dsRNA-injected adult ticks had not developed into fully mature oocytes and laid abnormal eggs. The Babesia parasite DNA was not detected in the eggs of HlVgR dsRNA-injected tick that fed on Babesia gibsoni infected dog, whereas it was detected in the eggs of PBS-injected ticks and noninjected ticks. Expression of HlVgR was increased by the vitellogenic hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. These results indicate that HlVgR, which is produced by the developing oocytes, is essential for Vg uptake, egg development in the H. longicornis tick, and transovarial transmission of Babesia parasites.

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The current strategies and underlying mechanisms in the control of the vector tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis: implications for future integrated management

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101905 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 101905

Author(s):

Chuks F. Nwanade ◽

Min Wang ◽

Sisi Li ◽

Zhijun Yu ◽

Jingze Liu

Keyword(s):

Integrated Management ◽

Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽

Vector Tick ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

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Observation of kinetes of Babesia ovata in the hemolymph of the vector tick Haemaphysalis longicornis.

The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science ◽

10.1292/jvms1939.49.1145 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 1145-1147 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Seiichi HIGUCHI ◽

Naoyuki ITOH ◽

Seiichi KAWAMURA ◽

Yoshio YASUDA

Keyword(s):

Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽

Vector Tick ◽

Babesia Ovata

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Molecular Detection and Phylogeny of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Dogs in the Republic of Korea

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10050613 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 613

Author(s):

A-Tai Truong ◽

Jinhyeong Noh ◽

Yeojin Park ◽

Hyun-Ji Seo ◽

Keun-Ho Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Surveillance ◽

Large Scale ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Republic Of Korea ◽

16S Rrna Genes ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽

Babesia Gibsoni ◽

The Republic ◽

And Control

Ticks are important vectors of various pathogens that result in clinical illnesses in humans and domestic and wild animals. Information regarding tick infestations and pathogens transmitted by ticks is important for the identification and prevention of disease. This study was a large-scale investigation of ticks collected from dogs and their associated environments in the Republic of Korea (ROK). It included detecting six prevalent tick-borne pathogens (Anaplasma spp., A. platys, Borrelia spp., Babesia gibsoni, Ehrlichia canis, and E. chaffeensis). A total of 2293 ticks (1110 pools) were collected. Haemaphysalis longicornis (98.60%) was the most frequently collected tick species, followed by Ixodes nipponensis (0.96%) and H. flava (0.44%). Anaplasma spp. (24/1110 tick pools; 2.16%) and Borrelia spp. (4/1110 tick pools; 0.36%) were detected. The phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA genes revealed that the Anaplasma spp. detected in this study were closely associated with A. phagocytophilum reported in humans and rodents in the ROK. Borrelia spp. showed phylogenetic relationships with B. theileri and B. miyamotoi in ticks and humans in Mali and Russia. These results demonstrate the importance of tick-borne disease surveillance and control in dogs in the ROK.

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Molecular investigation of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from tick-bitten humans in the southwestern region of the Republic of Korea

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0252992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (6) ◽

pp. e0252992

Author(s):

Mi Seon Bang ◽

Choon-Mee Kim ◽

Sang-Hyun Pyun ◽

Dong-Min Kim ◽

Na Ra Yun

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Spotted Fever ◽

Common Species ◽

Republic Of Korea ◽

Spotted Fever Group ◽

Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽

Babesia Gibsoni ◽

Specific Pcr ◽

Rickettsia Monacensis ◽

The Republic

In this study, we investigated the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from tick-bitten humans in the southwestern provinces of the Republic of Korea (ROK). We identified 33 ticks from three tick species, namely Amblyomma testudinarium (60.6%), Haemaphysalis longicornis (27.3%), and Ixodes nipponensis (12.1%) in order of occurrence via morphology and 16S rDNA-targeting polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Tick-borne pathogens were detected in 16 ticks using pathogen-specific PCR. From the results, 12 ticks (36.4%) tested positive for spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia: Rickettsia monacensis (1/12), R. tamurae (8/12), and Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis (3/12). Three ticks (9.1%) were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In addition, three ticks (9.1%) tested positive for Babesia gibsoni (1/3) and B. microti (2/3). In conclusion, we identified three tick species; the most common species was A. testudinarium, followed by H. longicornis and I. nipponensis. SFG Rickettsia, A. phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp. were the most frequently detected pathogens in ticks removed from tick-bitten humans. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. tamurae and Ca. R. jingxinensis detection in Korea. The present results will contribute to the understanding of tick-borne infections in animals and humans in the ROK.

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