The role of sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) as potential vector of protozoa and bacterial pathogens

Abstract

The sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) hematophagous insect may act as a potential vector of vector-borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Trypanosoma spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in sheep ked collected from sheep in Poland. In total, Trypanosoma spp. was detected in 58.91% of M. ovinus, whereas Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 86.82% and 1.55% of the studied insects, respectively. A. phagocytophilum was not detected in the studied material. In turn, co-infection by Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. was detected in 50.39%, while co-infection with Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 1.55% of the studied insects. The conducted study showed for the first time the presence of B. burgdorferi s. l. in M. ovinus, as well as for the first time in Poland the presence of Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. The obtained results suggest that these insects may be a potential vector for these pathogens, but further-more detailed studies are required.

First determination of DNA virus and some additional bacteria from Melophagus ovinus (sheep ked) in Tibet, China

“…Sheep is the permanent host of M. ovinus ( Halos et al, 2004 ; Small, 2005 ; Kumsa et al, 2012 ; Liu et al, 2018 , 2019 ; Zhao et al, 2018 , 2020 ), but M. ovinus is also found in goats ( Bequaert, 1942 ; Seyoum et al, 2015 ), rabbits ( Small, 2005 ), dogs ( Tetley, 1958 ), donkeys ( Flores-Mendoza et al, 2021 ), European bison ( Izdebska, 2001 ), red foxes ( Lassnig et al, 1998 ), Tibetan sheep ( Hao et al, 2020 ), Tibetan antelope ( Liu et al, 2018 ; Zhao et al, 2018 , 2020 ) and humans ( Tetley, 1958 ). M. ovinus has a broad geographical distribution and is reported in Europe [e.g., Czechia ( Chrudimský et al, 2012 ; Nováková et al, 2015 ; Rudolf et al, 2016 ), Hungary ( Hornok et al, 2011 ), Slovakia ( Hubálek et al, 1986 ), Croatia ( Martinković et al, 2012 ), St Kilda ( Gibson et al, 2010 ), France ( Halos et al, 2004 ), Poland ( Werszko et al, 2021 ), Russia ( Litov et al, 2021 )], Africa [e.g., Ethiopia ( Kumsa et al, 2012 , 2014 ; Seyoum et al, 2015 ; Hadgu et al, 2021 ), Algeria ( Boucheikhchoukh et al, 2019 ), Kenya ( Liu et al, 2016 )], Oceania [e.g., Australia ( Liu et al, 2016 ; Litov et al, 2021 ), New Zealand ( Liu et al, 2016 )], North America [e.g., United States ( Halos et al, 2004 ; Kosoy et al, 2004 , 2016 )], South America [e.g., Peru ( Flores-Mendoza et al, 2021 )] and Asia [e.g., Turkey ( Payzin, 1953 ), Mongolia, India, Japan ( Liu et al, 2016 )]. In recent years, M. ovinus has frequently appeared in China, Asia in Tibet ( Chu et al, 2011 ), Gansu ( Duan et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Tang et al, 2018 ; Zhao et al, 2020 ), Xinjiang ( Liu et al, 2016 , 2017 , ...…”

“…( Hornok et al, 2011 ), R. raoultii , R. slovaca ( Liu et al, 2016 ), R. melophagi ( Arkwright et al, 1919 ; Cowdry, 1923 ; Hertig and Wolbach, 1924 ; Kligler and Aschner, 1931 ; Rudolf et al, 2016 ), Bartonella spp. ( Halos et al, 2004 ; Reeves et al, 2006 ; Kumsa et al, 2014 ; Duan et al, 2020 ; Werszko et al, 2021 ), Ba. melophagi ( Halos et al, 2004 ; Kosoy et al, 2004 , 2016 ; Bemis and Kania, 2007 ; Kumsa et al, 2014 ; Rudolf et al, 2016 ; Liu et al, 2018 ; Boucheikhchoukh et al, 2019 ; Flores-Mendoza et al, 2021 ), Ba.…”

“…( Duan et al, 2017 , 2020 ; Liu et al, 2018 ; Boucheikhchoukh et al, 2019 ), Trypanosoma spp. ( Werszko et al, 2021 ), Tr. melophagium ( Hoare, 1923 , 1972 ; Gibson et al, 2010 ; Martinković et al, 2012 ), Tr.…”

“…( Kumsa et al, 2012 ; Duan et al, 2017 ), Ac. lwoffii ( Kumsa et al, 2012 ), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato ( Werszko et al, 2021 ), Bo. garinii , Bo.…”

“…There are very few reports on M. ovinus -related viruses, which are all RNA viruses, such as blue-tongue virus ( Luedke et al, 1965 ), Border disease virus ( Liu et al, 2019 ), dengue virus ( Setién et al, 2017 ), Khandagaity Melophagus iflfla-like virus, Bayan-Khairhan-Ula Melophagus solemo-like virus, Ulaatai Melophagus solemo-like virus, Aksy-Durug Melophagus sigmavirus, Berke-Baary Melophagus reo-like virus ( Litov et al, 2021 ). In addition, M. ovinus from different regional sources were tested as negative for several specific pathogens, including those that were reportedly positive for M. ovinus in other regions ( Dungal, 1946 ; Payzin, 1953 ; Nelder et al, 2008 ; Rudolf et al, 2016 ; Duan et al, 2017 ; Boucheikhchoukh et al, 2019 ; Flores-Mendoza et al, 2021 ; Werszko et al, 2021 ; Zhang et al, 2021 ). It is well-known that microorganisms in ectoparasites are unstable and that the microbiome composition and abundance are affected by the geographical origin and blood-feeding behavior.…”