Molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in the Neotropical deer tick Haemaphysalis juxtakochi from Brazilian Pampa

Abstract

Spotted fever (SF) is a tick-borne disease associated with Rickettsia spp.. In the Pampa biome, Southern Brazil, cases of SF seem to be strongly linked with the practice of hunting wild animals. An investigation of rickettsiae in tick species found on wild animals could provide more information regarding the rickettsiosis enzootic cycle. The aim of this study is to describe the results of a molecular survey of Rickettsia spp. in the Neotropical deer tick, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi Cooley, 1946 (Acari: Ixodidae), from the Brazilian Pampa. Ticks were obtained from 14 road-killed gray brocket deer, Mazama gouazoubira (Artiodactyla: Cervidae), found in nine different municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul state, Southern Brazil. Ticks were processed individually to obtain genomic DNA, and then Rickettsia spp. was investigated using a set of PCR reactions that amplified the rickettsial fragments of the gltA, ompA, and htrA genes. Of the 24 tick samples tested, DNA of Rickettsia parkeri sensu stricto (s.s.) was found in 11 H. juxtakochi specimens collected in two different areas of the Brazilian Pampa. This is the first report of R. parkeri s.s. (the main agent associated with SF in the Uruguayan, Argentinian, and Brazilian Pampa) in H. juxtakochi ticks. These findings indicate that R. parkeri s.s. may be much more common and widely distributed in the Pampa biome than previously assumed. Moreover, H. juxtakochi ticks and gray brocket deer could participate in the potential spillover of R. parkeri s.s. from endemic to non-endemic areas in the South American Pampa.

Evidence of pathogenic zoonotic tick-borne Rickettsia and Borrelia spp. in some communal farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…R. parkeri has also been described as a causative agent of human rickettsiosis in other countries like Argentina [49], and Brazil [50] with Amblyommatriste ticks haven been implicated as vectors for this infection [49]. R. parkeri has equally been described as an emerging zoonotic pathogen in Mexico [51].…”

Didelphis spp. opossums and their parasites in the Americas: A One Health perspective

“…This species is known as the neotropical deer tick and has also been reported on other wildlife species, humans, and domestic animals (Costa et al 2017 ; Saracho-Bottero et al 2018 ). In addition, some zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia parkeri and B. burgdorferi sensu lato have been detected in H. juxtakochi , although its role in the transmission of these pathogens to humans is probable negligible (Souza et al 2018 ; Flores et al 2018 ).…”

Evidence of pathogenic zoonotic tick-borne Rickettsia and Borrelia spp.  in some communal farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…Rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of spotted fever rickettsiosis in human, was first discovered to parasitize A. maculatum ticks in the United State in 2004 56 R. parkeri has also been described as a causative agent of human rickettsiosis in other countries like Argentina 58 and Brazil 59 with Amblyomma triste ticks haven been implicated as vectors for this infection 60 . Similarly, Faccini-Martínez et al 61 reported a case of R. parkeri infection from a Spanish traveller returning from Uruguay, who was confirmed bitten previously by Amblyomma triste tick, hence, it has been described to be the second most important cause of tick-borne rickettsiosis in the United States, Argentina and Brazil, after R. rickettsia 60,62 .…”