scholarly journals Molecular Investigation of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks removed from Tick-Bitten Humans in the Republic of Korea

2019 ◽  
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 ◽  
Sfg Rickettsia

Abstract Background Tick-borne infections are continuously increasing due to climate change, increased outdoor activities and increased travel between countries. This study was to investigate the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from tick-bitten humans in southwest provinces of Republic of Korea (ROK). Methods Ticks were obtained from those tick-bitten humans between May 2014 and September 2017 in Jeollanam provinces and Gwangju metropolitan city in ROK. The presence of the tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from tick-bitten humans was analyzed using pathogen-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results 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 by morphology and 16S rDNA-targeting PCR. Tick-borne pathogens were found 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). Conclusions 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. R. tamurae and Ca. R. jingxinensis were firstly detected in Korea. The present results will contribute to the understanding of tick-borne infections in animals and humans in the ROK.

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

PLoS ONE ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Classification of Tick Species and Detection of Tick-borne Pathogens in Yanbian, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jixu Li ◽  
Shuang Zhang ◽  
Wanfeng Liang ◽  
Shaowei Zhao ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
North Korea ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Ixodes Persulcatus ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Severe Fever

Abstract BackgroundYanbian is located at the junction between China, Russia, and North Korea. We aimed to determine the species distribution and pathogens carried by ticks in Yanbian.MethodsA total of 2673 unattached ticks were collected from eight counties and cities in Yanbian and classified morphologically. Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae (CRT), spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR), severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), Theileria, and other pathogens were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction followed by phylogenetic and genotypic analyses.ResultsAccording to the morphological classification, the main tick species in Yanbian were Haemaphysalis longicornis, Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor silvarum, Haemaphysalis japonica, and Haemaphysalis concinna. Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae, spotted fever group Rickettsia, severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, and Theileria orientalis were detected in H. longicornis, Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae, spotted fever group Rickettsia, and severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus were detected in I. persulcatus, H. japonica, and D. silvarum, but only severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was detected in H. concinna. Mixed infection with Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae and severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was found in I. persulcatus and H. japonica. The gene sequences of all tested pathogens exhibited 95.7%–100% homology with sequences registered in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis showed that different spotted fever group Rickettsia and severe fever thrombocytopenia syndrome virus genotypes were closely related to the Korean strains. We provide the first evidence for the presence of the spotted fever group Rickettsia genotypes of Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii, ompA, ompB, sca4, and rrs, in Haemaphysalis longicornis in Yanbian. ConclusionsThese results provide epidemiological data to support the prevention and control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the border areas of China, North Korea, and Russia.

scholarly journals Development of a Multiplex Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Method for Simultaneous Detection of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae and Malaria Parasites by Dipstick DNA Chromatography

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 897
Author(s):  
Lavel Chinyama Moonga ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Naoko Kawai ◽  
Ryo Nakao ◽  
Chihiro Sugimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detection System ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Lamp Method ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification ◽  
Rickettsia Monacensis ◽  
Sfg Rickettsia

Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae causes febrile illness in humans worldwide. Since SFG rickettsiosis’s clinical presentation is nonspecific, it is frequently misdiagnosed as other febrile diseases, especially malaria, and complicates proper treatment. Aiming at rapid, simple, and simultaneous detection of SFG Rickettsia spp. and Plasmodium spp., we developed a novel multiple pathogen detection system by combining a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method and dipstick DNA chromatography technology. Two primer sets detecting SFG Rickettsia spp. and Plasmodium spp. were mixed, and amplified products were visualized by hybridizing to dipstick DNA chromatography. The multiplex LAMP with dipstick DNA chromatography distinguished amplified Rickettsia and Plasmodium targeted genes simultaneously. The determined sensitivity using synthetic nucleotides was 1000 copies per reaction for mixed Rickettsia and Plasmodium genes. When genomic DNA from in vitro cultured organisms was used, the sensitivity was 100 and 10 genome equivalents per reaction for Rickettsia monacensis and Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. Although further improvement will be required for more sensitive detection, our developed simultaneous diagnosis technique will contribute to the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated febrile illness caused by either SFG Rickettsia spp. or Plasmodium spp. in resource-limited endemic areas. Importantly, this scheme is potentially versatile for the simultaneous detection of diverse infectious diseases.

scholarly journals First report of the molecular detection of human pathogen Rickettsia raoultii in ticks from the Republic of Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Misbah Tariq ◽  
Jun-Won Seo ◽  
Da Young Kim ◽  
Merlin Jayalal Lawrence Panchali ◽  
Na Ra Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Citrate Synthase ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Rickettsia Raoultii ◽  
Rickettsial Infections ◽  
The Republic

Abstract Background Rickettsial diseases associated with the spotted fever group constitute a growing number of newly identified Rickettsia pathogens and their tick vectors in various parts of the world. At least 15 distinct tick species belonging to six genera have shown the presence of Rickettsia raoultii. Herein, we report the detection of R. raoultii in ticks from the Republic of Korea (ROK). Methods Thirty-five ticks were collected from 29 patients with tick bites in Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam Province, ROK. The ticks were identified using molecular, morphological, and taxonomic characteristics. All samples were screened for presence of Rickettsia species using nested polymerase chain reactions of their outer membrane protein (ompA) and citrate synthase (gltA) genes. The amplified products were sequenced for subsequent phylogenetic analyses. Results Sequencing data showed the DNA sequences of R. raoultii in three Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. All three tick samples were 99.4–100% similar to previously reported partial sequences of ompA of R. raoultii strains CP019435 and MF002523, which formed a single clade with the reference strains. Conclusions We provide the first description and molecular identification of R. raoultii detected in H. longicornis ticks in the ROK. This observation extends the geographical distribution of R. raoultii. Screening of human samples for this pathogen will provide information about the prevalence of rickettsial infections in this region.

Collaborating With Community Scientists Across Arkansas to Update Tick Distributions and Pathogen Prevalence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia and Ehrlichia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley P G Dowling ◽  
Sean G Young ◽  
Kelly Loftin
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia ◽  
Community Science ◽  
Tick Distributions

Abstract Tick-borne diseases (TBD) in humans have dramatically increased over recent years and although the bulk of cases are attributable to Lyme Disease in the Northeastern US, TBDs like spotted fever rickettsiosis and ehrlichiosis heavily impact other parts of the country, namely the mid-south. Understanding tick and pathogen distributions and prevalence traditionally requires active surveillance, which quickly becomes logistically and financially unrealistic as the geographic area of focus increases. We report on a community science effort to survey ticks across Arkansas to obtain updated data on tick distributions and prevalence of human tick-borne disease-causing pathogens in the most commonly encountered ticks. During a 20-mo period, Arkansans submitted 9,002 ticks from 71 of the 75 counties in the state. Amblyomma americanum was the most common tick species received, accounting for 76% of total tick submissions. Nearly 6,000 samples were screened for spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) and Ehrlichia, resulting in general prevalence rates of 37.4 and 5.1%, respectively. In addition, 145 ticks (2.5%) were infected with both SFGR and Ehrlichia. Arkansas Department of Health reported 2,281 spotted fever and 380 ehrlichiosis cases during the same period as our tick collections. Since known SFGR vectors Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum were not the most common ticks submitted, nor did they have the highest prevalence rates of SFGR, it appears that other tick species play the primary role in infecting humans with SFGR. Our investigation demonstrated the utility of community science to efficiently and economically survey ticks and identify vector-borne disease risk in Arkansas.

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in China.

2021 ◽  
pp. 492-499
Author(s):  
Hao Li ◽  
Li-Qun Fang ◽  
Wei Liu
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Expert Opinion ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Potential Influence ◽  
Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae ◽  
Tick Vectors

Abstract This expert opinion provides an overview of the type and distribution of tick species and emerging tick-borne pathogens in tick vectors and human beings (such as Anaplasma, Babesia, spotted fever group rickettsiae, Borrelia and viruses) in China and considers the potential influence of global warming and climate change.

scholarly journals Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Multiple Hard Tick Species from Fairfax County, Virginia

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 482-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler C. Henning ◽  
John M. Orr ◽  
Joshua D. Smith ◽  
Jorge R. Arias ◽  
Douglas E. Norris
Keyword(s):  
Tick Species ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Hard Tick ◽  
Fairfax County ◽  
Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae

scholarly journals Detection of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes ricinus in the French Pyrenees and first identification of Rickettsia monacensis in France

Parasite ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toufic Akl ◽  
Gilles Bourgoin ◽  
Marie-Line Souq ◽  
Joël Appolinaire ◽  
Marie-Thérèse Poirel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ixodes Ricinus ◽  
Pathogen Detection ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Rupicapra Pyrenaica ◽  
Rickettsia Monacensis ◽  
Animal Pathogens ◽  
Questing Ticks ◽  
Pyrenean Chamois ◽  
First Time

Ticks are important vectors of several human and animal pathogens. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of important tick-borne infections in questing ticks from an area in Southwestern France (Hautes-Pyrénées) inhabited by Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) experiencing high tick burden. We examined adult and nymph ticks collected by the flag dragging method from 8 to 15 sites in the Pic de Bazès during the years 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. PCR assays were conducted on selected ticks for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Randomly selected positive samples were submitted for sequence analysis. A total of 1971 questing ticks were collected including 95 males, 101 females and 1775 nymphs. All collected ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Among them, 696 ticks were selected for pathogen detection and overall prevalence was 8.4% for B. burgdorferi s.l.; 0.4% for Babesia spp.; 6.1% for A. phagocytophilum; 17.6% for Rickettsia spp.; and 8.1% for SFG Rickettsia. Among the sequenced pathogens, we detected in this population of ticks the presence of Babesia sp. EU1 and Rickettsia helvetica, as well as Rickettsia monacensis for the first time in France. The detection of these pathogens in the Pic de Bazès highlights the potential infection risks for visitors to this area and the Pyrenean chamois population.

scholarly journals Rickettsia spp. in Five Tick Species Collected in Central California

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1596-1603
Author(s):  
Cameron J Osborne ◽  
Alya J Wakeman-Hill ◽  
Steven E Loa ◽  
Paul R Crosbie ◽  
Tricia A Van Laar
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Ixodes Pacificus ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Central California ◽  
Pathogen Surveillance

Abstract Tick-borne disease surveillance in North America has long focused on Lyme disease, though there is currently a significant shift towards comprehensive pathogen surveillance in ticks. Central California has often been overlooked in regular tick-borne pathogen surveillance despite the presence of numerous medically important tick species. The bacterial genus Rickettsia contains tick-borne species that are known pathogens, such as those in the spotted fever group; nonpathogenic endosymbionts; and many species with unknown pathogenic potential. Five common tick species (Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls [Acari: Ixodidae], Dermacentor occidentalis Marx [Acari: Ixodidae], D. variabilis Say, Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille [Acari: Ixodidae], and Ornithodoros parkeri Cooley [Acari: Argasidae]) of California were collected by both traditional and modern techniques, and subsequently screened for Rickettsia spp. Many individuals from all five tick species were PCR positive for Rickettsia spp., and a combination of species-specific primers, a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay, and DNA sequencing was used to further characterize the species composition in these ticks. Probable Rickettsia philipii (Rickettsia 364D) was detected in one (1.56%) D. occidentalis collected in Fresno County; R. rhipicephali was detected in 23.4% of D. occidentalis from Fresno Co.; R. bellii was detected in 88.2% of D. variabilis, 7.8% of D. occidentalis, and in one R. rhipicephalus (1.1%) from Fresno Co.; R. monacensis str. Humboldt was detected in three (100%) of I. pacificus collected in both Fresno and Madera Co.; and an uncharacterized Rickettsia was detected in (26.4%) of O. parkeri collected in both Fresno and Madera Co. The findings in this study highlight the need for ongoing surveillance in this region of California.

Comparison of an oligo-chip based assay with PCR method to measure the prevalence of tick-borne pathogenic bacteria in central Slovakia

Biologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Kocianová ◽  
Dušan Blaškovič ◽  
Katarína Smetanová ◽  
Katarína Schwarzová ◽  
Vojtech Boldiš ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Francisella Tularensis ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Spotted Fever Group ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractTicks are well-known vectors for a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. We examined the presence of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in central Slovakia using oligo-chip based assay. Rickettsiae were detected in 5.6% of examined ticks. Borreliae and anaplasmae were identified in 2.1% and 2.8% ticks, respectively. All tested samples were negative for presence of Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. All these results were compared with those obtained by PCR analysis, and a close correlation between them was found. In addition, rickettsiae of spotted fever group (SFG), Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were found in ticks using genera or species-specific PCR methods. They are circulating in 10 out of 18 studied localities.

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