Anaplasmataceae closely related to Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Neorickettsia helminthoeca from birds in Central Europe, Hungary

Abstract

Increasing amount of data attest that (in the context of vector-borne infections) birds are not only important as hosts of blood-sucking arthropod vectors, but also as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens. From 2015 to 2019 cadavers of 100 birds (from 45 species, nine orders) were collected in Hungary, and their organs were screened for DNA from a broad range of vector-borne bacteria with PCR and sequencing. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of Anaplasmataceae, and sequencing identified bacteria closely related to Neorickettsia helminthoeca and Ehrlichia chaffeensis in a Eurasian teal (Anas crecca) and a song thrush (Turdus philomelos), respectively. All samples were PCR negative for rickettsiae, borreliae, Francisella and Coxiella spp., as well as for piroplasms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a Neorickettsia and an Ehrlichia sp., which belong to the phylogenetic groups of N. helminthoeca and E. chaffeensis, respectively, from Europe. The potential presence of these two vector-borne bacteria needs to be taken into account during future studies on the eco-epidemiology of Anaplasmataceae in Europe.

Molecular characterization of novel Ehrlichia genotypes in Ixodes auritulus from Uruguay

“…Some Ehrlichia species are considered pathogenic for humans and domestic animals, and currently mammals are the only group of vertebrates demonstrated to sustain infections in nature ( Rar & Golovljova, 2011 ; Gofton et al., 2018 ). However, molecular evidence for a group of ehrlichiae that may infect Magellanic penguins ( S. magellanicus ) was reported in Chile ( Muñoz-Leal et al., 2019 ), and sequences of 16S rRNA gene related to E. chaffeensis were retrieved from a song thrush ( Turdus philomelos ) in Hungary ( Hornok et al., 2020 ). In this study, we detected Ehrlichia DNA in I. auritulus , a tick that feeds chiefly on birds ( Nava et al., 2017 ; Guglielmone et al., 2020 ), reinforcing the hypothesis that avian hosts should be evaluated as competent hosts for bacteria of this genus.…”

Rickettsiales in the WHO European Region: an update from a One Health perspective

“…strain Omatjenne was discovered in Turkey in the Black Sea region in samples from asymptomatic and symptomatic cows [ 39 ], Erlichia ovina was discovered in samples from sheep in central Italy [ 40 ] and Anaplasma capra in samples from cattle in Kyrgyzstan [ 41 ]. In Europe, three species with unclear taxonomy but similarity to known human pathogens have been described: two Anaplasma phagocytophilum -like species isolated from clinically ill cows in Turkey [ 42 ] and one Ehrlichia species closely related to Ehrlichia chaffeensis identified in a bird sample in northern Hungary [ 43 ] . Species of known human pathogenicity identified in animal samples were Rickettsia typhi [ 44 ] , R. conorii [ 45 ] , R. conorii subsp.…”

“…Neorickettsia spp. were found in birds in Hungary and in wild animals in central Europe [ 43 ]; Additional file 1 : Table S4.

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Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks parasitizing wild lagomorphs from Spain: characterization of a novel Ehrlichia species

“…HF strain was detected in Ixodes ricinus collected from the European wood mouse ( Apodemus sylvaticus ) in France [ 45 ], as well as in Ixodes apronophorus , Ixodes ricinus and R. sanguineus collected from dogs and foxes in Romania [ 46 , 47 ]. In addition, a strain similar to Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia muris was detected in song thrush ( Turdus philomelos ) from Hungary [ 48 ].…”