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Parasites & vectors2021; 14(1); 363; doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-04836-w

Risk factors associated with tick infestations on equids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with notes on Rickettsia massiliae detection.

Abstract: Studies on ticks infesting equids are lacking in various parts of the world, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of ticks infesting equids, associated risk factors and rickettsial detection in ticks from equids in KP. Methods: Inspection of 404 equid hosts from November 2018 to October 2019 resulted in the collection of 550 ticks. Data on tick-associated risk factors were collected from equid owners by means of a questionnaire. After morphological identification, partial DNA sequences of the tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were used for taxonomic confirmation of species. Partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes were used for Rickettsia detection in ticks. Results: A total of 550 tick specimens were collected on 324 (80.2%) of the equids inspected, of which 161 were horses (50%), 145 (45%) were donkeys and 18 were mules (5%). The ticks were identified as belonging to the following five species: Rhipicephalus microplus (341 specimens, 62% of the total ticks), Rh. haemaphysaloides (126, 23%), Rh. turanicus (39, 7%), Rh. sanguineus (s.l.) (33, 6%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (11, 2%). The most prevalent tick life stage was adult females (279, 51%) followed by adult males (186, 34%) and nymphs (85, 15%). Higher tick infestations were observed on male equids (relative risk [RR] 0.7432, P < 0.0005) and adult equids (RR 1.268, P < 0.0020). Ticks were frequently attached to the axial region of horses (55, 21%), sternum of donkeys (44, 21%) and belly of mules (19, 23%) (P < 0.04). Temporal patterns of tick infestation in association with temperature and humidity were highly significant (P < 0.05). Risk factors, such as animal housing (P < 0.0003), living management (P < 0.006), grazing type (P < 0.01) and location in hilly areas (P < 0.02), significantly enhanced the chances for tick infestation. Tick species analyzed in this study were phylogenetically related to species from Afghanistan, China, South Africa and Taiwan. Partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes obtained from Rh. microplus and Rh. haemaphysaloides were 100% identical to the spotted fever group pathogen Rickettsia massiliae. Conclusions: Equids exposed to significant risk factors were infected by one or more of at least five tick species in KP, Pakistan, and some of the ticks harbored the human pathogen R. massiliae.
Publication Date: 2021-07-13 PubMed ID: 34256806PubMed Central: PMC8276440DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04836-wGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research article discusses a study conducted to understand the diversity of ticks infesting equids, the risk factors associated with tick infestations, and the detection of a certain bacterium in ticks from equids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study discovered that certain behaviours and environments significantly increased the risk of tick infestation and found that some of the ticks carried the Rickettsia massiliae, a potentially harmful pathogen to humans.

Methodology

  • The data for the study was collected by inspecting 404 equid hosts from November 2018 to October 2019, resulting in the collection of 550 ticks.
  • A questionnaire was administered to equid owners to collect data on tick-associated risk factors.
  • The collected ticks were morphologically identified and taxonomic confirmation of species was done using partial DNA sequences of the tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene.
  • Rickettsia detection in ticks was done using partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes.

Results

  • Of the 450 ticks collected, 62% were identified as Rhipicephalus microplus, 23% as Rh. haemaphysaloides, 7% as Rh. turanicus, 6% as Rh. sanguineus (s.l.) and 2% as Hyalomma anatolicum.
  • Higher tick infestations were observed on male equids and adult equids. Ticks were mostly attached to the axial region of horses, sternum of donkeys and belly of mules.
  • Temporal patterns of tick infestation in relation with temperature and humidity were significantly high.
  • Lifestyle factors such as animal housing, living management, grazing type and location in hilly areas increased the risk of tick infestation.
  • The detected tick species were found to be related to species from Afghanistan, China, South Africa and Taiwan.
  • Partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes obtained from Rh. microplus and Rh. haemaphysaloides were 100% identical to the spotted fever group pathogen Rickettsia massiliae, a potentially harmful bacteria to humans.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that equids exposed to certain risk factors in KP, Pakistan were infected by one or more of at least five tick species some of which carried R. massiliae, potentially posing a health risk to humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Ali A, Zahid H, Zeb I, Tufail M, Khan S, Haroon M, Tufail M, Bilal M, Hussain M, Alouffi AS, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB. (2021). Risk factors associated with tick infestations on equids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with notes on Rickettsia massiliae detection. Parasit Vectors, 14(1), 363. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04836-w

Publication

ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 363
PII: 363

Researcher Affiliations

Ali, Abid
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. uop_ali@yahoo.com.
Zahid, Hafsa
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Zeb, Ismail
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Tufail, Muhammad
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Khan, Sulaiman
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Haroon, Muhammad
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Tufail, Muhammad
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Bilal, Muhammad
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Hussain, Majid
  • Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Alouffi, Abdulaziz S
  • King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Muñoz-Leal, Sebastián
  • Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile.
Labruna, Marcelo B
  • Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Female
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Male
  • Nymph / microbiology
  • Pakistan / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Rickettsia / genetics
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
  • Risk Factors
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary
  • Ticks / classification
  • Ticks / genetics

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 31 times.
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