Molecular evidence of bacteria in Melophagus ovinus sheep keds and Hippobosca equina forest flies collected from sheep and horses in northeastern Algeria.
Abstract: The sheep ked, Melophagus ovinus, and the forest fly, Hippobosca equina, are parasitic dipteran insects of veterinary importance. As hematophagous insects, they might be considered as potential vectors of diseases which may be transmissible to humans and animals. The purpose of this study was to present initial primary data about these two species in Algeria. To do so, we conducted a molecular survey to detect the presence of bacterial DNA in flies collected in Algeria. A total of 712 flies including, 683 Melophagus ovinus and 29 Hippobosca equina were collected from two regions in northeastern Algeria. Monitoring the monthly kinetics of M. ovinus infestations showed something resembling annual activity, with a high prevalence in January (21.67%) and May (20.94%). Real-time quantitative PCR assays showed that for 311 tested flies, 126 were positive for the Bartonella spp. rRNA intergenic spacer gene and 77 were positive for Anaplasmataceae. A random selection of positive samples was submitted for sequencing. The DNA of Bartonella chomelii and Bartonella melophagi were amplified in, respectively, five and four H. equina. 25 M. ovinus positive samples were infected by Bartonella melophagi. Amplification and sequencing of the Anaplasma spp. 23S rRNA gene revealed that both species were infected by Wolbachia sp. which had previously been detected in Cimex lectularius bed bugs. Overall, this study expanded knowledge about bacteria present in parasitic flies of domestic animals in Algeria.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-05-10 PubMed ID: 31300097DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2019.05.010Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigated the presence of harmful bacteria in two types of parasitic flies collected from sheep and horses in northeastern Algeria, revealing that these insects could potentially be vectors for various diseases that could affect humans and animals.
Background
- The study focused on two types of hematophagous (blood-sucking) and parasitic insect species, the sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) and the forest fly (Hippobosca equina).
- These insects are of significant concern in veterinary medicine as they are often linked with various disease transmissions.
- The researchers aimed to glean primary data about these species and their associated diseases in Algeria. They conducted a molecular survey to detect the presence of bacterial DNA in these insects.
Methodology
- The team collected a total of 712 flies including 683 sheep keds and 29 forest flies from two regions in northeastern Algeria.
- They monitored the monthly patterns of sheep ked infestations, which showed a pattern of annual activity with high prevalence in January and May.
- They used real-time quantitative PCR assays to test for the presence of specific bacterial genes within these insects.
Findings
- Out of 311 tested flies, 126 were found to have Bartonella spp. rRNA intergenic spacer gene and 77 had Anaplasmataceae.
- A selection of positive samples was submitted for sequencing which confirmed the presence of Bartonella chomelii and Bartonella melophagi in the H. equina. Similarly, 25 M. ovinus that tested positive were infected by Bartonella melophagi.
- They also found that both species were infected by the Wolbachia sp., which had previously been detected in bed bugs (Cimex lectularius).
Conclusion
- The research expanded the knowledge about the types of bacteria present in parasitic flies of domestic animals in Algeria, indicating that these insects could be potential vectors of diseases that may pose a hazard to humans and animals.
- This work underscores the need for further monitoring and research to understand the disease transmission dynamics of these insects and develop preventive measures.
Cite This Article
APA
Boucheikhchoukh M, Mechouk N, Benakhla A, Raoult D, Parola P.
(2019).
Molecular evidence of bacteria in Melophagus ovinus sheep keds and Hippobosca equina forest flies collected from sheep and horses in northeastern Algeria.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 65, 103-109.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2019.05.010 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Université Chadli Bendjedid, Département des Sciences Vétérinaires, El Tarf, 36000, Algeria. Electronic address: m.boucheikhchoukh@yahoo.fr.
- Université Badji Mokhtar, Laboratoire EcoSATq, Annaba, 23200, Algeria. Electronic address: noureddinemechouk@gmail.com.
- Université Chadli Bendjedid, Département des Sciences Vétérinaires, El Tarf, 36000, Algeria. Electronic address: benakhlaahmed@gmail.com.
- Aix Marseille Univ., IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France. Electronic address: didier.raoult@gmail.com.
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Univ., IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, France. Electronic address: philippe.parola@univ-amu.fr.
MeSH Terms
- Algeria / epidemiology
- Anaplasmataceae / genetics
- Animals
- Bacteria / genetics
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Bartonella / genetics
- DNA, Bacterial / genetics
- Diptera / microbiology
- Disease Vectors
- Female
- Forests
- Horses / parasitology
- Male
- Rickettsia / genetics
- Sheep / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Peña-Espinoza M, Em D, Shahi-Barogh B, Berer D, Duscher GG, van der Vloedt L, Glawischnig W, Rehbein S, Harl J, Unterköfler MS, Fuehrer HP. Molecular pathogen screening of louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) from domestic and wild ruminants in Austria.. Parasit Vectors 2023 Jun 2;16(1):179.
- Maślanko W, Szwaj E, Gazda M, Bartosik K. Hippobosca equina L. (Hippoboscidae: Hippobosca)-An Old Enemy as an Emerging Threat in the Palearctic Zone.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Dec 17;19(24).
- Liu YH, Ma YM, Tian HO, Yang B, Han WX, Zhao WH, Chai HL, Zhang ZS, Wang LF, Chen L, Xing Y, Ding YL, Zhao L. First determination of DNA virus and some additional bacteria from Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) in Tibet, China.. Front Microbiol 2022;13:988136.
- Wang X, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Cheng F, Xing X, Wen F, Hu Y, Chen C, Wei B, Bai P, Wang X, Liu Y, Zhang H, Hao B, Wang S. Tandem mass tag labeled quantitative proteomic analysis of differential protein expression on total alkaloid of Aconitum flavum Hand.-Mazz. against melophagus ovinus.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:951058.
- Soliman SM, Attia MM, Al-Harbi MS, Saad AM, El-Saadony MT, Salem HM. Low host specificity of Hippobosca equina infestation in different domestic animals and pigeon.. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022 Apr;29(4):2112-2120.
- Werszko J, Asman M, Witecka J, Steiner-Bogdaszewska Ż, Szewczyk T, Kuryło G, Wilamowski K, Karbowiak G. The role of sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) as potential vector of protozoa and bacterial pathogens.. Sci Rep 2021 Jul 29;11(1):15468.
- Ni J, Ren Q, Lin H, Aizezi M, Luo J, Luo Y, Ma Z, Chen Z, Liu W, Guo J, Qu Z, Xu X, Wu Z, Tan Y, Wang J, Li Y, Guan G, Luo J, Yin H, Liu G. Molecular Evidence of Bartonella melophagi in Ticks in Border Areas of Xinjiang, China.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:675457.
- Majerová K, Gutiérrez R, Fonville M, Hönig V, Papežík P, Hofmannová L, Lesiczka PM, Nachum-Biala Y, Růžek D, Sprong H, Harrus S, Modrý D, Votýpka J. Hedgehogs and Squirrels as Hosts of Zoonotic Bartonella Species.. Pathogens 2021 Jun 1;10(6).
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