Bacterial and protozoan agents found in Hyalomma aegyptium (L., 1758) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) collected from Testudo graeca L., 1758 (Reptilia: Testudines) in Corum Province of Turkey

Akveran, Gönül Arslan; Karasartova, Djursun; Keskin, Adem; Comba, Arzu; Çelebі, Bekіr; Mumcuoglu, Kosta Y.; Taylan-Özkan, Ayşegül

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101458

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…The same occurs for R. aeschlimannii and R. sibirica mongolitimonae that have been also described to be associated with other species of Hyalomma or other tick species (Barradas et al., 2020b; de Sousa et al., 2006; Ereqat et al., 2016; Orkun et al., 2019). Our study corroborates previous descriptions of the presence of R. aeschlimanii in H. aegyptium collected from T. graeca in Turkey (Akveran et al., 2020; Orkun et al., 2014). We identify for the first time the presence of R. sibirica mongolitimonae in H. aegyptium in Algeria, although previous studies have detected R. aeschlimannii , and other pathogens, such as the Crimean‐Congo virus in H. aegyptium ticks collected in this country (Bitam et al., 2009; Kautman et al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Ehrlichia bacteria are responsible for ehrlichiosis, and ticks infecting amphibians and reptiles are potential carriers of Ehrlichia strains pathogenic to humans (Andoh et al., 2015). The prevalence detected in our study (8.39%) was lower than those reported in H. aegyptium ticks infecting tortoises in Turkey (30.2%, Akveran et al., 2020). Although we were not able to identify the Ehrlichia species detected in our study, its 16S ribosomal RNA sequence was very similar (99.62%) to E. ewingii , one of the pathogenic species infecting humans (Harris et al., 2016).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

“…The highest prevalence has been reported in Romania (84%; Široký et al., 2009) and Iran (100%; Javanbakht et al., 2015). Regarding North Africa and Anatolia, prevalence reported include 51.9% in Turkey (Akveran et al., 2020) and between 6.25‐30.4% in Algeria (Široký et al., 2009; Tiar et al., 2010), while there are no positive reports in Morocco or Tunisia (Harris et al., 2013; Laghzaoui et al., 2020; Široký et al., 2009). Our study also indicates a higher prevalence in Turkey than in Algeria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) in North Africa and Anatolia

Norte

Harris

Silveira

et al. 2021

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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Ticks carry a diverse community of microorganisms including non‐pathogenic symbionts, commensals, and pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. The assessment of tick‐borne microorganisms (TBM) in tortoises and their ticks is essential to understand their eco‐epidemiology, and to map and monitor potential pathogens to humans and other animals. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of microorganisms found in ticks collected from the spur‐thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Ticks feeding on wild T. graeca were collected, and pathogens were screened by polymerase chain reaction using group‐specific primers. In total, 131 adult Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from 92 T. graeca in Morocco (n = 48), Tunisia (n = 2), Algeria (n = 70), and Turkey (n = 11). Bacteria and protozoa detected included Hemolivia mauritanica (22.9%), Midichloria mitochondrii (11.4%), relapsing‐fever borreliae (8.4%), Ehrlichia spp. (7.6%), Rickettsia spp. (3.4%), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.9%), Francisella spp. (0.9%), and Wolbachia spp. (0.8%). The characterization of Rickettsia included R. sibirica mongolitimonae (Algeria), R. aeschlimannii (Turkey), and R.africae (Morocco). Hemolivia mauritanica and Ehrlichia spp. prevalence varied significantly with the sampling region/country. We did not detect significant associations in microorganism presence within ticks, nor between microorganism presence and tick mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. This is the first report of Francisella persica‐like, relapsing fever borreliae, M. mitochondrii, and Wolbachia spp. in H. aegyptium ticks collected from wild hosts from the South and Eastern Mediterranean region, and of R. sibirica mongolitimonae and R. africae in H. aegyptium from Algeria and Morocco, respectively. Given that T. graeca is a common species in commercial and non‐commercial pet trade, the evaluation of the role of this species and its ticks as hosts for TBM is particularly relevant for public health.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) in North Africa and Anatolia

Norte

Harris

Silveira

et al. 2021

Transbounding Emerging Dis

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“…Our results demonstrate a lower occurrence of H. aegyptium infected with Ehrlichia spp. (4.7%) when compared with recent work, which has shown an occurrence of 30.2% [38].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 39%

“…Infected humans [33] and dogs [37] may manifest fever, malaise, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and abnormal liver function. Tick species that are vectors of these pathogens, such as Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, Haemaphysalis and Hyalomma, also parasitize humans, thus posing a considerable risk [38]. Our results demonstrate a lower occurrence of H. aegyptium infected with Ehrlichia spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Molecular Evidence of Hemolivia mauritanica, Ehrlichia spp. and the Endosymbiont Candidatus Midichloria Mitochondrii in Hyalomma aegyptium Infesting Testudo graeca Tortoises from Doha, Qatar

Barradas

Lima

Cardoso

et al. 2020

Animals

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Tick-borne agents constitute a growing concern for human and animal health worldwide. Hyalomma aegyptium is a hard tick with a three-host life cycle, whose main hosts for adults are Palearctic tortoises of genus Testudo. Nevertheless, immature ticks can feed on a variety of hosts, representing an important eco-epidemiological issue regarding H. aegyptium pathogens circulation. Hyalomma aegyptium ticks are vectors and/or reservoirs of various pathogenic agents, such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia and Hepatozoon/Hemolivia. Ehrlichia and Anaplasma are emergent tick-borne bacteria with a worldwide distribution and zoonotic potential, responsible for diseases that cause clinical manifestations that grade from acute febrile illness to a fulminant disease characterized by multi-organ system failure, depending on the species. Babesia and Hepatozoon/Hemolivia are tick-borne parasites with increasing importance in multiple species. Testudo graeca tortoises acquired in a large animal market in Doha, Qatar, were screened for a panel of tick-borne pathogens by conventional PCR followed by bidirectional sequencing. The most prevalent agent identified in ticks was Hemolivia mauritanica (28.6%), followed by Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii (9.5%) and Ehrlichia spp. (4.7%). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Hepatozoon spp. Overall, 43% of the examined adult ticks were infected with at least one agent. Only 4.7% of the ticks appeared to be simultaneously infected with two agents, i.e., Ehrlichia spp. and H. mauritanica. This is the first detection of H. mauritanica, Ehrlichia spp. and Candidatus M. mitochondrii in H. aegyptium ticks collected from pet spur-thighed tortoises, in Qatar, a fact which adds to the geographical extension of these agents. The international trade of Testudo tortoises carrying ticks infected with pathogens of veterinary and medical importance deserves strict control, in order to reduce potential exotic diseases.

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Detection and molecular identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. infections in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks in Tunisia

et al. 2022

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Bacterial and protozoan agents found in Hyalomma aegyptium (L., 1758) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) collected from Testudo graeca L., 1758 (Reptilia: Testudines) in Corum Province of Turkey

Cited by 13 publications

References 50 publications

Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) in North Africa and Anatolia

Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur‐thighed tortoise ( Testudo graeca ) in North Africa and Anatolia

Molecular Evidence of Hemolivia mauritanica, Ehrlichia spp. and the Endosymbiont Candidatus Midichloria Mitochondrii in Hyalomma aegyptium Infesting Testudo graeca Tortoises from Doha, Qatar

Detection and molecular identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. infections in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks in Tunisia

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