Some aspects on tick species in Mongolia and their potential role in the transmission of equine piroplasms, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi L.

The research study focuses on examining different types of ticks in Mongolia and their role in the transmission of various diseases like equine piroplasms, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi to grazing animals. The study highlights significant risks to the equine population and potential threats to human health due to the presence of these disease-carrying ticks.

Study Methodology

• During the study, 528 adult ticks were collected. These ticks were gathered from grazing animals or directly from the ground across ten different provinces in Mongolia.
• The collected ticks were subjected to DNA extraction and tested using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for various pathogens.

Tick Species Distribution

• The majority of ticks belonged to the Dermacentor nuttalli species (76.1%) and were found in all ecozones except the eastern desert.
• The study also detected other species like Dermacentor marginatus (8.3%), Dermacentor silvarum (1.1%), Ixodes persulcatus (3.0%), and Hyalomma asiaticum (11.4%).
• D. marginatus, D. silvarum, and I. persulcatus were primarily found in the northern forest areas while H. asiaticum was discovered only in the southern semi-desert regions.

Detection of Pathogens

• Anaplasma spp. were found in D. marginatus and D. nuttalli (2.5% positive) and were identified as Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
• 2.5% of the ticks (mostly in I. persulcatus) were found to carry Borrelia spp., identified as Borrelia garinii.
• Babesia spp., identified as Babesia caballi, were discovered in 40% of the ticks. These were found in all five tick species.
• 3.5% of the ticks were positive for Theileria spp., identified as Theileria equi. D. silvarum was the only tick species that did not test positive for this pathogen.

Implications of the Study

• The study did not detect any ticks carrying the tick-borne encephalitis virus.
• The presence of parasitic piroplasms in all collected provinces underlines the high risk of equine piroplasmosis in Mongolia.
• This discovery poses a significant threat to the nomadic population who rely on horses for transport and for the conservation of indigenous horse populations like Przewalski’s horses.
• Pathogens that can potentially transmit diseases to humans, like B. garinii and A. phagocytophilum, were discovered among the ticks, indicating a higher health risk to humans in contact with these ticks or animals infested by them.