The Importance of Ticks in Q Fever Transmission: What Has (and Has Not) Been Demonstrated?

Duron, Olivier; Sidi-Boumedine, Karim; Rousset, Élodie; Moutailler, Sara; Jourdain, Elsa

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2015.06.014

Cited by 163 publications

(174 citation statements)

References 110 publications

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“…burnetii emphasizes the need for clear differentiation between them [8]. Various methods to detect C .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some strains, primarily visually identified as C . burnetii , might need to be reclassified as CLE [8]. Consequently, the statement that more than 40 tick species are infected by C .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, the statement that more than 40 tick species are infected by C . burnetii [6] may be incorrect, and should be revaluated when suitable molecular information is available [8]. Using multilocus DNA sequencing, the genus Coxiella has been classified into a minimum of 4 highly divergent genetic clades (A–D), with C .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Coxiella-Like Endosymbionts in Ticks that Infest Horses in South Korea

et al. 2016

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Members of the genus Coxiella can be transmitted from ticks to humans during contact with animals; Coxiella may thus spread from the infected horses or ticks to humans. In this study, the presence of Coxiella burnetii and Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLE) in ticks found on infested horses was determined using PCR and genotyping. A total of 213 ticks were randomly collected from 51 horses (4–5 ticks per horse) raised on Jeju Island, Korea, between 2009 and 2013. All ticks were morphologically identified as adult Haemaphysalis longicornis, a predominant tick species widespread in Korea. Based on the results of nested PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing, CLE were detected in 121 (52.4%, 95% CI: 45.9–58.8) ticks. CLE 16S rRNA sequences from 9 randomly selected ticks were 100% identical. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these 9 sequences were highly similar (97.9–100%) to the sequences of clade B species, like the CLE previously described to be found in Haemaphysalis spp. This study showed that CLE are prevalent in ticks that infest horses reared on Jeju Island, and this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study to describe CLE occurrence in ticks infesting animals reared in Korea. Because of the high prevalence of CLE in ticks found on horses, CLE transmission from ticks to other animals and humans remains a possibility. This warrants a detailed study of other hosts and regions. Considering the zoonotic potential of Coxiella, further strategic surveillance of Coxiella transmission is necessary.

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“…burnetii emphasizes the need for clear differentiation between them [8]. Various methods to detect C .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Coxiella-Like Endosymbionts in Ticks that Infest Horses in South Korea

et al. 2016

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“…Despite recent progress in understanding Coxiella pathogenesis, host mechanisms associated with the control of infection and bacterial factors implicated in replication and establishment of infection remain largely unknown. Although C. burnetii has been detected in tick populations worldwide (19)(20)(21), the role of ticks in the epidemiology of Q fever remains unclear (22). A recent study demonstrated that C. burnetii has emerged from Coxiellalike endosymbiont organisms found in ticks, revealing evidence of how the bacterium evolved from arthropods to infect mammalian cells by the acquisition of virulence factors (23).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Host and Bacterial Factors Control Susceptibility of Drosophila melanogaster to Coxiella burnetii Infection

et al. 2017

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Coxiella burnetii is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonotic disease that threatens both human and animal health. Due to the paucity of experimental animal models, little is known about how host factors interface with bacterial components and affect pathogenesis. Here, we used Drosophila melanogaster, in conjunction with the biosafety level 2 (BSL2) Nine Mile phase II (NMII) clone 4 strain of C. burnetii, as a model to investigate host and bacterial components implicated in infection. We demonstrate that adult Drosophila flies are susceptible to C. burnetii NMII infection and that this bacterial strain, which activates the immune deficiency (IMD) pathway, is able to replicate and cause mortality in the animals. We show that in the absence of Eiger, the only known tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily homolog in Drosophila, Coxiella-infected flies exhibit reduced mortality from infection. We also demonstrate that the Coxiella type 4 secretion system (T4SS) is critical for the formation of the Coxiella-containing vacuole and establishment of infection in Drosophila. Altogether, our data reveal that the Drosophila TNF homolog Eiger and the Coxiella T4SS are implicated in the pathogenesis of C. burnetii in flies. The Drosophila/NMII model mimics relevant aspects of the infection in mammals, such as a critical role of host TNF and the bacterial T4SS in pathogenesis. Our work also demonstrates the usefulness of this BSL2 model to investigate both host and Coxiella components implicated in infection.KEYWORDS Q fever, innate immunity, IMD, TNF, Eiger, NMII, pathogenesis, T4SS, tumor necrosis factor C oxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium and the causative agent of the zoonosis Q fever (1). Acute C. burnetii infection in humans is characterized primarily by influenza-like symptoms and pneumonia. Domestic ruminants act as reservoir hosts of C. burnetii and have been implicated in several outbreaks of Q fever worldwide (1-3). Based on morbidity, low infectious dose, and the environmental stability of the organism, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated C. burnetii a category B biological weapon agent (4). C. burnetii presents two antigenic forms: a pathogenic phase I variant and an attenuated phase II variant that has a truncated O chain in its lipopolysaccharide (5, 6). C. burnetii phase I is associated with Q fever, whereas phase II does not cause disease in immunocompetent hosts (7-9). The Nine Mile phase II (NMII) clone 4/RSA439 is an attenuated strain of C. burnetii derived from the virulent Nine Mile phase I (NMI) strain through repeated passages in embryonated eggs (5). Although attenuated in immunocompetent hosts, the NMII strain has been shown to be virulent to SCID mice (10) and to cause fever in gamma interferon knockout (IFN-␥ Ϫ/Ϫ ) and Toll-like receptor 2 knockout (TLR2 Ϫ/Ϫ ) mice (11). Because C. burnetii NMI and NMII strains present similar replication kinetics in tissue culture models, the NMII strain has been used as a safer o...

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“…Q fever is considered to be an airborne zoonotic disease, but ticks such as Rhipicephalus microplus or R. sanguineus are also suspected to be involved in Q fever epidemiology as potential vectors [9]. We do not know what species of tick was involved in our case, but given its countrywide distribution, we speculate that R. sanguineus may have been responsible.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Tache Noire in a Patient with Acute Q Fever

et al. 2018

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Objective: To describe a rare case of acute Q fever with tache noire. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 51-year-old man experienced acute Q fever showing tache noire, generally considered a pathognomonic sign of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) and MSF-like illness, but not a clinical feature of Q fever. The patient was treated with doxycycline 100 mg every 12 h. Conclusion: In the Mediterranean area, tache noire should be considered pathognomonic of MSF but it should not rule out Q fever. Clinical diagnosis should be supported by accurate laboratory diagnostic tests to guide proper management.

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The Importance of Ticks in Q Fever Transmission: What Has (and Has Not) Been Demonstrated?

Cited by 163 publications

References 110 publications

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Coxiella-Like Endosymbionts in Ticks that Infest Horses in South Korea

Molecular Detection and Genotyping of Coxiella-Like Endosymbionts in Ticks that Infest Horses in South Korea

Host and Bacterial Factors Control Susceptibility of Drosophila melanogaster to Coxiella burnetii Infection

Tache Noire in a Patient with Acute Q Fever

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