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Medical and veterinary entomology2020; 35(2); 207-212; doi: 10.1111/mve.12480

Molecular detection and identification of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from horses in Cuba.

Abstract: Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are obligatory intracellular bacteria that cause disease in humans and other animals. Ixodid ticks are the principal vectors of SFG rickettsiae. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and species identity of SFG rickettsiae in ticks and horses from urban and rural areas of western Cuba using PCR assays. Tick samples, collected from 79 horses, consisted of 14 Amblyomma mixtum adults, 111 Dermacentor nitens adults and 19 pools of D. nitens nymphs (2-5 individuals/pool). The PCR results revealed the presence of Rickettsia spp. in 64% of the A. mixtum adults, 16% of the D. nitens adults, and 11% of the pooled samples of D. nitens nymphs. In contrast, Rickettsia spp. was not detected in any of the 200 horse blood samples included in this study. DNA sequence data of the rickettsial 17 kDa antigen gene showed that Rickettsia amblyommatis was present in A. mixtum; and Rickettsia felis in D. nitens. This is the first report of R. felis in D. nitens in Cuba. The present study extends our knowledge of the potential vector spectrum and distribution of SFG rickettsiae pathogens in western Cuba.
© 2020 The Royal Entomological Society.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-16 PubMed ID: 32936461DOI: 10.1111/mve.12480Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research sought to identify the presence and species of Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiae, a disease-causing bacteria, in ticks collected from horses in western Cuba and to understand the potential distribution of this pathogen.

Methodology

The key methods used for this study involved:

  • Collection of tick samples: These were obtained from 79 horses, involving different types of ticks and their stages – Amblyomma mixtum adults, Dermacentor nitens adults, and pooled samples of D. nitens nymphs.
  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) assays: These laboratory techniques were used to detect the presence of SFG rickettsiae in the collected tick samples by amplifying their DNA.
  • DNA sequencing: The researchers used this method to identify the specific rickettsiae species present in the ticks.

Findings

Key findings from this research included:

  • The PCR results revealed the presence of Rickettsia species (SFG rickettsiae) in 64% of the A. mixtum adults, 16% of the D. nitens adults, and 11% of the pooled samples of D. nitens nymphs.
  • Rickettsia was not detected in the horse blood samples that were also examined in this study, indicating that the horses were not infected at the time of study.
  • DNA sequencing data showed the presence of specific Rickettsia species. Rickettsia amblyommatis was found in A. mixtum, while Rickettsia felis was present in D. nitens.
  • The study marks the first report of finding R. felis in D. nitens in Cuba.

Implications

The results of this study are significant because they:

  • Expand our understanding of the potential vectors and distribution of SFG rickettsiae in western Cuba, thus contributing to public health knowledge and potentially informing disease control measures.
  • Represent the first record of the R. felis species in D. nitens ticks in Cuba, adding to global records of rickettsiae and their host species.

Overall, by detecting and identifying different SFG rickettsiae species in tick populations associated with horses, this research underscores the importance of ongoing surveillance and control of ticks to mitigate the risk of rickettsial diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Díaz-Sánchez AA, Chilton NB, Roblejo-Arias L, Fonseca-Rodríguez O, Marrero-Perera R, Diyes CP, Yunik MEM, Lobo-Rivero E, Corona-González B. (2020). Molecular detection and identification of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from horses in Cuba. Med Vet Entomol, 35(2), 207-212. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12480

Publication

Medical and veterinary entomology
ISSN: 1365-2915
NlmUniqueID: 8708682
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 2
Pages: 207-212

Researcher Affiliations

Díaz-Sánchez, A A
  • Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba.
  • Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
Chilton, N B
  • Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
Roblejo-Arias, L
  • Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba.
Fonseca-Rodríguez, O
  • Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, 901 87, Sweden.
Marrero-Perera, R
  • Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba.
Diyes, C P
  • Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
Yunik, M E M
  • Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
Lobo-Rivero, E
  • Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba.
Corona-González, B
  • Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (CENSA), Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, 32700, Cuba.

MeSH Terms

  • Amblyomma / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / microbiology
  • Cuba / epidemiology
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Dermacentor / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Ixodidae / microbiology
  • Nymph / microbiology
  • Pathology, Molecular
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Rickettsia / genetics
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / epidemiology
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / microbiology
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / veterinary
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary

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This article includes 19 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Piloto-Sardiñas E, Foucault-Simonin A, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernández L, Marrero-Perera R, Abuin-Denis L, Roblejo-Arias L, Díaz-Corona C, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Woźniak A, Moutailler S, Corona-González B, Cabezas-Cruz A. Dynamics of Infections in Cattle and Rhipicephalus microplus: A Preliminary Study. Pathogens 2023 Jul 30;12(8).
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  2. Richardson EA, Roe RM, Apperson CS, Ponnusamy L. Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity. Microorganisms 2023 Feb 16;11(2).
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  3. Danchenko M, Benada O, Škultéty Ľ, Sekeyová Z. Culture Isolate of Rickettsia felis from a Tick. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Apr 4;19(7).
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  4. Charles RA, Albina E, Gondard M, Aprelon R, Galon C, Trotman M, Bowen C, Melville S, Sylvester K, Musai L, Morris M, Oura C, Moutailler S, Georges K. Diversity of Ticks in the Caribbean Region and Detection of Their Pathogens Using BioMark Technology. Transbound Emerg Dis 2025;2025:8135946.
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  5. Badillo-Viloria M, Mattar S, Remesar S, de la Rosa-Jaramillo S, García-Bocanegra I, Miranda J, Portillo A, Cervera-Acedo C, Oteo JA, Cano-Terriza D. Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae in Ticks From Domestic Animals in Northern Colombia. Zoonoses Public Health 2025 Aug;72(5):421-434.
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  7. Díaz-Corona C, Roblejo-Arias L, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Foucault-Simonin A, Galon C, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernández L, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Wozniak A, Castro-Montes de Oca MK, Lobo-Rivero E, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Corona-González B, Cabezas-Cruz A. Microfluidic PCR and network analysis reveals complex tick-borne pathogen interactions in the tropics. Parasit Vectors 2024 Jan 4;17(1):5.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-06098-0pubmed: 38178247google scholar: lookup
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