‘Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae’ in Ixodes persulcatus Ticks Collected in Russia

Abstract

We collected 209 Ixodes persulcatus ticks in various regions of Russia, including the southern Urals and western and eastern Siberia. Using PCR amplification and sequencing of the citrate synthase-encoding gene (gltA), we detected a new rickettsial genotype, which we named "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae." This bacterium was found in 9.27%, 10.0%, and 20.5% of the ticks collected in western Siberia, eastern Siberia, and the southern Urals, respectively. "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" exhibited a 98% and 96% nucleotide sequence homology, with the 16S rDNA and gltA sequence, respectively, of R. canadensis, a rickettsia previously only found in Haemaphysalis leporispalustris ticks in North America. The phylogenetic analysis of "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" and other Rickettsia species allowed the creation of a new cluster with high bootstrap values within the Rickettsia genus involving this rickettsia, R. canadensis, and three uncultured rickettsiae from plant insects.

Prevalence of Tick-Borne Rickettsia and Ehrlichia in Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes ovatus in Tokachi District, Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

“…The present data also suggest that 'C. R. tarasevichiae' might be established in Tokachi district, which were originally detected from the ticks in Russia [16]. Although the pathogenicity of 'C.…”

Update on tick-borne bacterial diseases in Europe

“…sanguineus ticks from Crimean peninsula, Ukraine (Mediannikov et al, 2007). Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae was identified in Ixodes persulcatus ticks with a high prevalence (Shpynov et al, 2003). This tick replaces I. ricinus in Northern Russia and Finland (Jaaskelainen et al, 2006).…”

Human Infection withCandidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae

“…Laboratory tests showed a slight increase in the leukocyte count (in three patients), an elevated level of aspartate aminotransferase (in one patient), proteinuria (in one patient), and an increase in the level of cerebrospinal fluid protein and leukocyte count in Patient 5 (Table 1). Since none of the patients presented with rash, which is considered to be a 4 We identified the agent as an emerging pathogen causing human infection. These findings underscore the concept that rickettsioses are more common than previously realized and may be associated with misdiagnosed causes of fever globally.…”

“…sibirica subspecies sibirica BJ-90 was initially isolated from D. sinicus in China in 1990, 2,3 and it was detected in D. silvarum in Russia. 4 Our case shows that this organism can cause human disease. Unlike patients infected with R. sibirica and R. heilongjiangensis in the same geographic region, 5 …”