Investigation of tick-borne bacteria (Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia spp.) in ticks collected from Andean tapirs, cattle and vegetation from a protected area in Ecuador.

Aránzazu Portillo,Ana M Palomar,José A Oteo,Cristina Pesquera

doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0662-3

Aránzazu Portillo, Ana M Palomar + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-015-0662-3

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Abstract

BackgroundIxodid ticks play an important role in the transmission and ecology of infectious diseases. Information about the circulation of tick-borne bacteria in ticks is lacking in Ecuador. Our aims were to investigate the tick species that parasitize Andean tapirs and cattle, and those present in the vegetation from the buffer zone of the Antisana Ecological Reserve and Cayambe-Coca National Park (Ecuador), and to investigate the presence of tick-borne bacteria.MethodsTick species were identified based on morphologic and genetic criteria. Detection of tick-borne bacteria belonging to Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Borrelia genera was performed by PCRs.ResultsOur ticks included 91 Amblyomma multipunctum, 4 Amblyomma spp., 60 Rhipicephalus microplus, 5 Ixodes spp. and 1 Ixodes boliviensis. A potential Candidatus Rickettsia species closest to Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia tamurae (designated Rickettsia sp. 12G1) was detected in 3 R. microplus (3/57, 5.3%). In addition, Anaplasma spp., assigned at least to Anaplasma phagocytophilum (or closely related genotypes) and Anaplasma marginale, were found in 2 A. multipunctum (2/87, 2.3%) and 13 R. microplus (13/57, 22.8%).ConclusionsThis is the first description of Rickettsia sp. in ticks from Ecuador, and the analyses of sequences suggest the presence of a potential novel Rickettsia species. Ecuadorian ticks from Andear tapirs, cattle and vegetation belonging to Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus genera were infected with Anaplasmataceae. Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were not found in any ticks.

Highlights

Ixodid ticks play an important role in the transmission and ecology of infectious diseases
The aims of our study were: 1- To investigate which tick species parasitize the Andean tapirs and cattle, and those present in the vegetation from the buffer zone of the Antisana Ecological Reserve and Cayambe-Coca National Park in Ecuador, and 2.- To detect and to identify tick-borne bacteria belonging to Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia spp. genera in the collected tick specimens
For the 4 tick specimens morphologically classified as A. scalpturatum, sequences of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) showed maximum identity (90%; 370/410 bp) with A. multipunctum, whereas 12S rRNA and intergenic transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences were closest to Amblyomma varium (90.6% identity; 309/341 bp and 93.6% identity; 836/893 bp, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

Ixodid ticks play an important role in the transmission and ecology of infectious diseases. Our aims were to investigate the tick species that parasitize Andean tapirs and cattle, and those present in the vegetation from the buffer zone of the Antisana Ecological Reserve and Cayambe-Coca National Park (Ecuador), and to investigate the presence of tick-borne bacteria. Hard ticks (Ixodidae) are arthropods that suck blood from their vertebrate hosts and play an important role in the transmission and ecology of infectious diseases [1]. At least 30 ixodid tick species belonging to Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus genera have been documented in Ecuador [2]. These genera are recognized vectors of pathogenic bacteria.

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