Detection of Rickettsia and a Novel Haemaphysalis shimoga Symbiont Bacterium in Ticks in Thailand

Abstract

In this study, we identified two Haemaphysalis species present at the Khao Yai National Park in Thailand and investigated the presence of rickettsia in these ticks. A total of 166 Haemaphysalis specimens were collected randomly under leaves along visitor paths at five locations in the park. Male and female adults of two different Haemaphysalis species, H. shimoga and H. lagrangei, were identified. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed Rickettsia bacteria in these two Haemaphysalis species; this study represents the first time such presence has been reported in Thailand. The infection rates of Rickettsia were in both H. shimoga (7.41%) and H. lagrangei (10.17%) at these locations in addition to two pools of Haemahysalis nymphs (28.57%). Furthermore, 25.93% of H. shimoga showed positive results that matched Haemaphysalis longicornis symbionts (92% sequence identity) and the Coxeilla burnetti 16S ribosomal RNA gene (90% sequence identity). We propose that this is a novel H. shimoga symbiont bacterium in Thailand and might be a novel Coxeilla-like agent or Coxeilla sp. found in H. shimoga. In contrast, we did not observe any Wolbachia bacteria, which also belong to the order Rickettsiales, in the same group of Haemaphysalis ticks. Furthermore, PCR was used to detect three other genera of bacteria, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Borrelia, none of which were identified in the Haemaphysalis ticks studied.

Detection of Coxiella-like endosymbiont in Haemaphysalis tick in Thailand

“…For example, Coxiella-like bacteria (SD28, SD35 and HSKY 3) in H. shimoga ticks were grouped in the same clade. In addition, they were also clustered with a bacterial symbiont of H. shimoga (HQ287535) from a previous study (Ahantarig et al, 2011). Interestingly, Coxiella-like bacteria from one nymph pool were separated into a different clade from other Coxiella spp.…”

“…In Thailand, one study reported on Coxiella-like symbionts in Haemaphysalis ticks using a molecular technique, PCR which suggested that Haemaphysalis shimoga ticks harbour a novel Coxiella-like symbiont (Ahantarig et al, 2011). This was the first report of the existence of Coxiella-like bacteria in Haemaphysalis ticks in Thailand.…”

Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach

“…The most recent report also shows that this rickettsia is widely distributed in northern China (436) and Mongolia (404). Similar rickettsiae were also identified in D. niveus ticks in China (GenBank accession numbers JQ664721 and JQ664722); H. hystricis ticks in Japan (accession number JQ697956); and Haemaphysalis ornithophila, Haemaphysalis shimoga, Haemaphysalis lagrangei, and A. testudinarium ticks in Thailand (437). It was also detected in D. marginatus ticks in Turkey (299) and Georgia (290).…”

Coinfection of Dermacentor silvarum Olenev (Acari: Ixodidae) by Coxiella-Like, Arsenophonus-Like, and Rickettsia-Like Symbionts

“…To date, various Coxiella-like microorganisms have been detected in both hard and soft ticks (21,32,33,34,35,36,37,38). Interestingly, Coxiella-like microorganisms exhibited diverse 16S rRNA genotypes from different tick species.…”