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Ticks and tick-borne diseases2020; 11(5); 101478; doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101478

Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks collected from livestock in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

Abstract: Ticks carry and transmit a wide range of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and protozoa) that are of importance to humans and animals globally. However, information about the tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China, is scarce. This study investigated the occurrence of tick species of domestic animals and tick-borne pathogens by using morphological molecular identification and sequence analysis in Turpan, Qitai, Altay, Hejing, Nileke, and Zhaosu counties (XUAR). A total of 5822 adult ticks (females and males) from 12 tick species were identified from 5 animal species (cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and horses) in 6 counties in the XUAR. Collected tick species included Dermacentor marginatus (24.7 %), Dermacentor nuttalli (20.8 %), Hyalomma anatolicum (13.7 %), Dermacentor niveus (13.1 %), Haemaphysalis punctata (10.7 %), Dermacentor silvarum (7.1 %), Dermacentor pavlovskyi (3.9 %), Hyalomma asiaticum (2.2 %), Rhipicephalus pumilio (1.9 %), Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (0.7 %), Rhipicephalus turanicus (0.6 %), and Hyalomma asiaticum kozlovi (0.6 %). Furthermore, 750 partially engorged adult ticks (females and males), including H. anatolicum (250), D. nuttalli (250), and D. marginatus (250), were individually separated according to species and sampling site, used for DNA extraction, and then screened for tick-borne pathogens. The most common pathogen was Rickettsia raoultii (36.80 %), followed by Brucella sp. (26.2 %), Anaplasma ovis (22.4 %), Babesia caballi (14.8 %), Theileria equi (8.7 %), and Theileria ovis (8.5 %). The sequencing of 6 genes showed a 96-100 % nucleotide identity between the sequences in this study and those deposited in GenBank. This study provides a scientific reference for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases in the XUAR.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2020-06-02 PubMed ID: 32723638DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101478Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The study investigates the variety of tick species in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), an area in Northwestern China, and the pathogens these ticks carry that can cause diseases in both humans and animals. Over 5,800 ticks from twelve different species were examined, some of which were found to transmit harmful pathogens prevalent in this region.

Diversity of Ticks and Sampling Sites

  • A total of 5822 adult ticks were found in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), collected from cattle, goats, sheep, camels, and horses in six different counties.
  • These ticks came from 12 different species, the most common of which was the Dermacentor marginatus, making up almost a quarter of the ticks found.

Molecular Identification of Tick-Borne Pathogens

  • For further examination, 750 adult ticks from three representative species underwent DNA extraction to screen for tick-borne pathogens.
  • Six genes were sequenced to identify the pathogens and compare their nucleotide sequence with those available in existing databases (GenBank).
  • The ticks were found to carry a range of pathogens, with the most common being Rickettsia raoultii. Other prevalent pathogens included Brucella species, Anaplasma ovis, Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, and Theileria ovis.

Implications of the Study

  • The findings provide valuable information about the diversity of ticks and their associated pathogens in the XUAR, which previously had not been well explored.
  • Understanding the presence and variety of these tick-borne diseases can lead to better preventative measures and control strategies in this region.
  • The gene sequencing results not only contribute to a better understanding of tick-borne diseases but also help in developing specific molecular diagnostic tools.

Cite This Article

APA
Li Y, Wen X, Li M, Moumouni PFA, Galon EM, Guo Q, Rizk MA, Liu M, Li J, Ji S, Tumwebaze MA, Byamukama B, Chahan B, Xuan X. (2020). Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens harbored by ticks collected from livestock in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 11(5), 101478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101478

Publication

Ticks and tick-borne diseases
ISSN: 1877-9603
NlmUniqueID: 101522599
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 5
Pages: 101478
PII: S1877-959X(19)30526-6

Researcher Affiliations

Li, Yongchang
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Wen, Xiuxiu
  • Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
Li, Min
  • Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
Moumouni, Paul Franck Adjou
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Galon, Eloiza May
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Guo, Qingyong
  • Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China.
Rizk, Mohamed Abdo
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, 35516, Egypt.
Liu, Mingming
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Li, Jixu
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ji, Shengwei
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Tumwebaze, Maria Agnes
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Byamukama, Benedicto
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan.
Chahan, Bayin
  • Parasitology Laboratory, Veterinary College, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China. Electronic address: 2514062881@qq.com.
Xuan, Xuenan
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Hokkaido, Japan. Electronic address: gen@obihiro.ac.jp.

MeSH Terms

  • Anaplasma ovis / isolation & purification
  • Animals
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Brucella / isolation & purification
  • Camelus / parasitology
  • Cattle / parasitology
  • China
  • Female
  • Goats / parasitology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Ixodidae / microbiology
  • Ixodidae / parasitology
  • Male
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Sheep, Domestic / parasitology
  • Species Specificity
  • Theileria / isolation & purification

Citations

This article has been cited 32 times.
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