Evaluating Functional Dispersal in a Nest Ectoparasite and Its Eco-Epidemiological Implications

Rataud, Amalia; Dupraz, Marlène; Toty, Céline; Blanchon, Thomas; Vittecoq, Marion; Choquet, Rémi; McCoy, Karen D.

doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.570157

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…This species has been detected in Asia and its pathogenicity is unknown (61). This strain is also close to the human-pathogenic B. ducani that has been identified in North America, the United Kingdom and Australia (65). To our knowledge, Babesia spp.…”

Section: Tick-borne Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The sedentary lifestyle of soft ticks could imply a limited role of these ticks in the circulation of infectious agents ( 66 ). However, as indicated by this study, the high re-use of cavities within and between years by different bird species could importantly enhance the spread of microorganisms associated with soft nidicolous ticks, such as Argas ticks.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Novel Genotypes of Nidicolous Argas Ticks and Their Associated Microorganisms From Spain

et al. 2021

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The knowledge of the distribution, richness and epidemiological importance of soft ticks of the genus Argas is incomplete. In Spain, five Argas species have been recorded, including three ornitophilic nidicolous ticks, but their associated microorganisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate ticks from bird nests and their microorganisms. Ticks were collected extensively from natural cavities and nest-boxes used by European rollers (Coracias garrulus) and little owls (Athene noctua) in Southeastern and Central Spain. Ticks were morphologically and genetically identified and corresponding DNA/RNA tick extracts were analyzed [individually (n = 150) or pooled (n = 43)] using specific PCR assays for bacteria (Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella, Borrelia, Coxiella/Rickettsiella, and Rickettsia spp.), viruses (Flaviviruses, Orthonairoviruses, and Phenuiviruses), and protozoa (Babesia/Theileria spp.). Six Argas genotypes were identified, of which only those of Argas reflexus (n = 8) were identified to the species level. Two other genotypes were closely related to each other and to Argas vulgaris (n = 83) and Argas polonicus (n = 33), respectively. These two species have not been previously reported from Western Europe. Two additional genotypes (n = 4) clustered with Argas persicus, previously reported in Spain. The remaining genotype (n = 22) showed low sequence identity with any Argas species, being most similar to the African Argas africolumbae. The microbiological screening revealed infection with a rickettsial strain belonging to Rickettsia fournieri and Candidatus Rickettsia vini group in 74.7% of ticks, mainly comprising ticks genetically related to A. vulgaris and A. polonicus. Other tick endosymbionts belonging to Coxiella, Francisella and Rickettsiella species were detected in ten, one and one tick pools, respectively. In addition, one Babesia genotype, closely related to avian Babesia species, was found in one tick pool. Lastly, Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella, Borrelia, and viruses were not detected. In conclusion, five novel Argas genotypes and their associated microorganisms with unproven pathogenicity are reported for Spain. The re-use of nests between and within years by different bird species appears to be ideal for the transmission of tick-borne microorganisms in cavity-nesting birds of semiarid areas. Further work should be performed to clarify the taxonomy and the potential role of soft Argas ticks and their microorganisms in the epidemiology of zoonoses.

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Section: Tick-borne Microorganismsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Genotypes of Nidicolous Argas Ticks and Their Associated Microorganisms From Spain

et al. 2021

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“…YLG transmission in the rather unique and simplified environment of a single seabird breeding colony where the Yellow-legged gull is the sole vertebrate host (so the only source of pathogens for ticks), O. maritimus the sole tick species (so the only possible tick vector), and Babesia sp. YLG the unique blood parasite species detected in gull chicks (Bonsergent et al, 2022; Dupraz et al, 2017; Rataud et al, 2020). In this environment, we were certain of the active transmission of Babesia sp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Here, we examine this question in more detail, focusing on this pathosystem in the particular context of a single YLG colony on the islet of Carteau (Gulf of Fos, Camargue, France). On this islet, there is only one vertebrate host (i.e., a mono-specific breeding colony of YLGs) and only one tick species ( O. maritimus ) (Dupraz et al, 2017; Rataud et al, 2020). In this simplified ecosystem, we analyzed the transmission of Babesia sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A soft tick vector ofBabesiasp. YLG in Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) nests

Bonsergent

Vittecoq

Leray

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Babesia sp. YLG has been recently described in Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) chicks and belongs to the Peircei clade in the new classification of Piroplasms. Here, we studied Babesia sp. YLG vectorial transmission by ticks in the simplified environment of a single seabird breeding colony where the Yellow-legged gull is the sole vertebrate host, Ornithodoros maritimus (syn. Alectorobius maritimus, Mans et al. 2021) the sole tick species, and Babesia sp. YLG is the unique blood parasite species previously detected in gull chicks in the colony. We collected ticks over four years, maintained certain individuals through moulting or oviposition, and dissected fresh ticks to isolate different organs and test for the presence of the parasite using molecular assays. We report the first strong evidence of a Piroplasmidae transmitted by a soft tick. Indeed, Babesia sp. YLG DNA was detected in the salivary glands of nymphs, females and males, a necessary organ to infect for transmission to a new vertebrate host. Parasite DNA was also found in tick ovaries, which could indicate possible transovarial transmission. Our detection of Babesia sp. YLG DNA in several male testes and in endospermatophores, and notably in a parasite-free female (uninfected ovaries and salivary glands), raise the interesting possibility of sexual transmission from infected males to uninfected females. Future work in this system will now need to focus on the degree to which the parasite can be maintained locally by ticks and the epidemiological consequences of infection for both O. maritimus and the avian host.

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“…However, recent studies show a null effect of bird species and site on community structuration of some specific group of arthropods (e.g., moths, Boyes & Lewis 2019). This situation could be attributable to the limited dispersal capacity of arthropods at both local (Lundqvist 1988;Rataud et al 2019) and biogeographical scales (Poulin 2011;Fecchio et al 2017) suggesting that arthropods transfer between nests via direct contact with infected birds (López-Rull & García 2015). Under this scenario, the close spatial proximity of nests may increase the similarity of arthropod assemblages reducing beta-diversity between nests.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing climatic and intrinsic factors that drive arthropod diversity in bird nests

Carvallo¹,

López-Aliste

Lizama

et al. 2020

Gayana (Concepc.)

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Evaluating Functional Dispersal in a Nest Ectoparasite and Its Eco-Epidemiological Implications

Cited by 9 publications

References 38 publications

Novel Genotypes of Nidicolous Argas Ticks and Their Associated Microorganisms From Spain

Novel Genotypes of Nidicolous Argas Ticks and Their Associated Microorganisms From Spain

A soft tick vector ofBabesiasp. YLG in Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) nests

Assessing climatic and intrinsic factors that drive arthropod diversity in bird nests

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