Molecular investigation of bacterial and protozoal pathogens in ticks collected from different hosts in Turkey

Abstract

Background The emergence of tick-borne disease is increasing because of the effects of the temperature rise driven by global warming. In Turkey, 19 pathogens transmitted by ticks to humans and animals have been reported. Based on this, this study aimed to investigate tick-borne pathogens including Hepatozoon spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., and Bartonella spp. in tick samples (n = 110) collected from different hosts (dogs, cats, cattle, goats, sheep, and turtles) by molecular methods. Methods To meet this objective, ticks were identified morphologically at the genus level by microscopy; after DNA isolation, each tick sample was identified at the species level using the molecular method. Involved pathogens were then investigated by PCR method. Results Seven different tick species were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, R. bursa, Hyalomma marginatum, H. anatolicum, H. aegyptium, and Haemaphysalis erinacei. Among the analyzed ticks, Hepatozoon spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp. were detected at rates of 6.36%, 16.3%, 1.81%, and 6.36%, respectively while Borrelia spp. and Bartonella spp. were not detected. Hepatozoon spp. was detected in R. sanguineus ticks while Theileria spp., Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp. were detected in R. turanicus and H. marginatum. According to the results of sequence analyses applied for pathogen positive samples, Hepatozoon canis, Theileria ovis, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma ovis were identified. Conclusion Theileria ovis and Anaplasma ovis were detected for the first time to our knowledge in H. marginatum and R. turanicus collected from Turkey, respectively. Also, B. caballi was detected for the first time to our knowledge in ticks in Turkey.

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma ovis Msp4 protein in strains isolated from ticks in Turkey: A multi-epitope synthetic vaccine antigen design against Anaplasma ovis using immunoinformatic tools

“…Moreover, the detection of Anaplasma ovis pathogen in a human from Cyprus revealed that this pathogen may also have a zoonotic potential [10,[12][13][14][15]. Anaplasma ovis species has been detected in ticks in Turkey as well as in China, Portugal, and Iran [2,[16][17][18][19].…”

“…Anaplasma ovis positive tick samples (Rhipicephalus turanicus and Hyalomma marginatum) collected from sheep living in İzmir and Siirt provinces of Turkey in a previous study were used in this study [19].…”

“…In addition, the detection of the Anaplasma ovis in a human from Cyprus also indicates that this pathogen has a zoonotic potential [15]. Anaplasma ovis has been detected in ticks in China, Portugal, and Iran as well as in Turkey [2,[16][17][18][19]. Major surface protein 4 (Msp4) is a member of the surface proteins involved in the interaction of Anaplasma bacteria with the vertebrate host [20].…”

Rearing of Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks on rabbits for the biological transmission of Anaplasma marginale

“…One such model used steers (neutered male cattle) to examine vertical transmission of A. marginale through R. microplus ticks [ 13 ]. Cattle calves have also been employed as an animal model to investigate vertical transmission of A. marginale via R. microplus ticks [ 19 ]. Molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have the capability to detect pathogens in ticks at all stages of development [ 19 ].…”

“…Cattle calves have also been employed as an animal model to investigate vertical transmission of A. marginale via R. microplus ticks [ 19 ]. Molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), have the capability to detect pathogens in ticks at all stages of development [ 19 ]. Molecular detection of pathogens such as Babesia spp.…”