Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks parasitizing wild lagomorphs from Spain: characterization of a novel Ehrlichia species

Parasites & Vectors

Research

Carlos Rouco¹  Débora Jiménez-Martín²  Sabrina Castro-Scholten²  Ignacio García-Bocanegra³  David Cano-Terriza³  Susana Remesar⁴  Patrocinio Morrondo⁴  Pablo Díaz⁴  Leonor Camacho-Sillero⁵ 

[1] Departamento de Botánicía, Ecología y Fisiología Vegetal, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014, Córdoba, Spain;Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain;Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004, Córdoba, Spain;Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004, Córdoba, Spain;Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain;Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain;Programa Vigilancia Epidemiológica Fauna Silvestre (PVE), Consejería de Sostenibilidad, Medio Ambiente y Economía Azul, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain;

关键词: Anaplasmataceae;    Wild rabbits;    Iberian hares;    Ticks;    Iberian Peninsula;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-022-05600-4

 received in 2022-10-08, accepted in 2022-11-30,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSeveral species belonging to the genus Ehrlichia are considered pathogenic for animals and humans. Although wildlife are known to play an important role in the epidemiology of these bacteria, information on the role of wild lagomorphs in their sylvatic cycle is limited. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Ehrlichia spp. in ticks collected from wild lagomorphs in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems.MethodsA total of 1122 pooled ticks (254 pools) collected from 506 wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and 29 Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) were analysed using a nested PCR assay targeting the partial groEL gene. Ehrlichia spp.-positive samples were further subjected to a second PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA.ResultsThree (1.2%) tick pools comprising Rhipicephalus pusillus collected from nine wild rabbits were positive for Ehrlichia spp. All the Ehrlichia DNA sequences were identical, and use of sequence and phylogenetic analyses allowed us to identify a novel Ehrlichia species.ConclusionsWe provide evidence that a novel Ehrlichia species, named herein as ‘Candidatus Ehrlichia andalusi’, which may be of concern for animal and public health, is circulating in R. pusillus in Spanish Mediterranean ecosystems. Further studies are warranted to assess the epidemiology, pathogenicity and zoonotic potential of this Ehrlichia species.Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1

Fig. 1 (abstract P46).

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