Bothriocroton concolor (Acari: Ixodidae) on the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo: A New Host-Parasite Relationship

Oorebeek, Margot; Rismiller, Peggy D.

doi:10.1093/jmedent/44.5.901

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This bacterium is associated with hard ticks and can be pathogenic to both the tick hosts and to mammals if transmitted ( Leclerque and Kleespies, 2012 ). Echidnas can often be infested with hard ticks, and there is even a species of tick that is recognised to live almost exclusively on echidnas ( Bothriocroton concolor ; Roberts, 1970 ), although this species has also been observed on Kangaroo Island kangaroos ( Oorebeek and Rismiller, 2007 ). In three samples (located in Kangaroo Island and Waitpinga in SA, and Wamboin in NSW), Rickettsiella was 80–90% of total bacterial abundance indicating echidnas may be frequently ingesting ticks, which has been observed in the wild (P. Rismiller, Pers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes

et al. 2022

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The gut microbiome plays a vital role in health and wellbeing of animals, and an increasing number of studies are investigating microbiome changes in wild and managed populations to improve conservation and welfare. The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is an iconic Australian species, the most widespread native mammal, and commonly held in zoos. Echidnas are cryptic animals, and much is still unknown about many aspects of their biology. Furthermore, some wild echidna populations are under threat, while echidnas held in captivity can have severe gastric health problems. Here, we used citizen science and zoos to collect echidna scats from across Australia to perform the largest gut microbiome study on any native Australian animal. Using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of scat samples, we characterised and compared the gut microbiomes of echidnas in wild (n = 159) and managed (n = 44) populations, which were fed four different diets. Wild echidna samples were highly variable, yet commonly dominated by soil and plant-fermenting bacteria, while echidnas in captivity were dominated by gut commensals and plant-fermenting bacteria, suggesting plant matter may play a significant role in echidna diet. This work demonstrates significant differences between zoo held and wild echidnas, as well as managed animals on different diets, revealing that diet is important in shaping the gut microbiomes in echidnas. This first analysis of echidna gut microbiome highlights extensive microbial diversity in wild echidnas and changes in microbiome composition in managed populations. This is a first step towards using microbiome analysis to better understand diet, gastrointestinal biology, and improve management in these iconic animals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes

et al. 2022

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“…All ticks removed from echidna hosts for the present study were B. concolor , a known specialist tick species usually restricted to parasitising echidnas (family Tachyglossidae) [ 53 , 63 ]; however, kangaroos ( Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus ) were recently recorded as a new host of B. concolor on Kangaroo Island, South Australia [ 64 ]. Bothriocroton concolor has a relatively wide distribution including both coastal and sub-coastal regions of Queensland and New South Wales, as well as inland New South Wales; whereas the distribution of I. holocyclus (the host of the first isolate reported by Gofton et al [ 52 ]) is mainly restricted to coastal regions of the eastern Australia [ 53 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Borrelia species detected in echidna ticks, Bothriocroton concolor, in Australia

Loh

Gofton

et al. 2016

Parasites Vectors

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BackgroundTo date, little has been documented about microorganisms harboured within Australian native ticks or their pathogenic potential. Recently, a Borrelia sp. related to the Relapsing Fever (RF) group was identified in a single tick removed from a wild echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). The present study investigated the presence of Borrelia in 97 Bothriocroton concolor ticks parasitizing echidnas in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, Australia, using nested PCR with Borrelia-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA (16S) and flaB genes.ResultsBorrelia-specific PCR assays confirmed the presence of a novel Borrelia sp. related to the RF and reptile-associated (REP) spirochaetes in 38 (39 %) B. concolor ticks. This novel Borrelia sp. was identified in 41 % of the B. concolor ticks in Queensland and New South Wales, but not in any ticks from Victoria. The resulting flaB sequences (407 bp) were 88 and 86 % similar to the flaB sequences from Borrelia turcica and Borrelia hermsii, respectively. Of the ticks confirmed as Borrelia-positive following the flaB assay, 28 were positive with the 16S assay. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S sequences (1097 bp) suggests that these sequences belong to a novel Borrelia sp., which forms a unique monophyletic clade that is similar to, but distinct from, RF Borrelia spp. and REP-associated Borrelia spp.ConclusionsWe conclude that the novel Borrelia sp. identified in this study does not belong to the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex, and that the phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S gene sequences suggests it forms a unique monophyletic cluster in the genus Borrelia, potentially forming a fourth major group in this genus associated with monotremes in Australia. However, a thorough molecular characterisation will be required to confirm the phylogenetic position of this unique Borrelia sp. The zoonotic potential and pathogenic consequences of this novel Borrelia sp. are unknown at the current time.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1627-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum ticks are described to be present in several marsupial and rodent populations but have also not been implicated as a vector of piroplasms (Waudby et al, 2007). Several species of ticks have been found on a population of kangaroos on an island off the southern coast of Australia including Bothriocroton concolor , Ixodes hirsti and Haemaphysalis bancrofti (Oorebeek and Rismiller, 2007). Our preliminary observations that Haemaphysalis spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Observation of a novel Babesia spp. in Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in Australia

Dawood

Morgan

Busfield³

et al. 2013

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Bothriocroton concolor (Acari: Ixodidae) on the Kangaroo Island Kangaroo: A New Host-Parasite Relationship

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes

Characterising the Gut Microbiomes in Wild and Captive Short-Beaked Echidnas Reveals Diet-Associated Changes

Novel Borrelia species detected in echidna ticks, Bothriocroton concolor, in Australia

Observation of a novel Babesia spp. in Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in Australia

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