Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus) and related ticks, Iraq.

Samples of long eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus ) were collected from Sohag area, in the spring 2019 to be examined from parasitic infection at the Agricultural Animal Laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt. The study show that the long eared hedgehog that was infected by 2 ticks, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma sp., and one of fleas, Leptopsylla segnis.

Ectoparasites of hedgehogs: From flea mite phoresy to their role as vectors of pathogens.

Tick-borne pathogens are significant for human, veterinary, and wildlife health. Coxiella burnetii is an example that is widely distributed across various hosts and can cross species boundaries. In Pakistan, there is a scarcity of data regarding C. burnetii at the intersection of wildlife and livestock. Ticks were collected from ruminants and wildlife from the districts of Kasur, Pakpattan, and Okara in Pakistan. Five tick species totaling 571 ticks were collected, with the following distribution: 56.4% Hyalomma anatolicum, 22.4% Rhipicephalus microplus, 10.5% Hyalomma marginatum, 7.9% Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and 2.8% Rhipicephalus turanicus. Fifty tick pools were screened for C. burnetii to amplify a segment of the IS1111 using real-time PCR assays. Ticks collected from sheep and goats had a greater rate of positivity for C. burnetii (40% and 38%, respectively) compared to Indian long-eared hedgehogs with a prevalence of 2%. Coxiella burnetii was prominent in Rhipicephalus microplus (92.3%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (88.9%), followed by Rhipicephalus turanicus (66.6%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (33.3%), and Hyalomma marginatum (25.0%). Ticks from Pakpattan district displayed the highest prevalence of C. burnetii (88.9%), whereas the lowest was observed in ticks from Kasur district (77.3%). There was no significant association between tick gender and C. burnetii infection. Female host animals were more likely to harbor ticks containing C. burnetii, with a prevalence rate of 81.8%. The research underscores the urgent need for comprehensive studies on C. burnetii in Pakistan, especially at the interface of wildlife and livestock. The high prevalence rates observed in certain tick species and geographic regions emphasize the importance of targeted public health interventions. Future research should focus on elucidating the transmission dynamics and implementing effective control measures to mitigate the impact of these pathogens on human, veterinary, and wildlife health in the region.

BackgroundRodents play an important role in the life cycle of ixodid and argasid ticks, particularly as hosts of larvae and nymphs. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), the preferred prey item of several carnivores (e.g. the red fox and marbled polecat), is the dominant rodent species in the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China. The aim of this study was to investigate tick species associated with different hosts in the habitat of great gerbils, including wildlife and livestock.MethodsDuring 2018–2023, ticks were removed from 326 great gerbils, two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), three marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna), 35 pastured sheep (Ovis aries), and one long-eared desert hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ticks were identified according to standard morphological keys. Then, they were further analyzed by molecular and phylogenic methods based on two mitochondrial markers, 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes.ResultsA total of 889 ticks were collected, representing five species. These included Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 425: 24 larvae, 79 nymphs and 322 adults), Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 153: 2 nymphs and 151 adults), Haemaphysalis erinacei (n = 298: 4 larvae, 7 nymphs and 287 adults), Ixodes acuminatus (n = 7: 4 nymphs and 3 adults) and Ornithodoros tartakovskyi (6 adults). Based on COI sequences, molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that (i) I. acuminatus from great gerbils and marbled polecats clustered with I. acuminatus reported from Europe; (ii) O. tartakovskyi found in northwestern China belonged to an independent clade; (iii) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei had 100% sequence identities to conspecific ticks sampled previously in China.ConclusionsThe great gerbil is an important host for the developmental stages of I. acuminatus, O. tartakovskyi, Ha. erinacei, Hy. asiaticum and R. turanicus, thus supporting the life cycle of several tick species which, as adults, parasitize predators (red fox and marble polecat) as well as pastured sheep and hedgehogs in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ixodes acuminatus and O. tartakovskyi were found for the first time on great gerbil and marbled polecat, respectively.Graphical

As there appeared to be no data available on parasite infection of Hedgehogs in the region and considering the potential threat of Hedgehogs for animal and public health, the present study was carried out using biological samples and necropsy findings collected from long-eared hedgehog captured in Mashhad city in the northeast of Iran. During the study 23 dead hedgehogs were collected randomly from different regions of Mashhad County. Following autopsy of these animals, observation for enteric parasites was carefully done. At the same time, 38 live hedgehogs were captured at this region and after anesthetizing of them, their ectoparasites were removed. The captured animals were released after recovery. All of studied animals were found to be infected with at least one of the parasites. The endoparasites removed from dead hedgehogs were: Oliganthorhynchus erinacei, Nephridiorhynchus major, Hymenolepis erinacei and Crenosoma striatum. The ectoparasites found on live studied animals according to their abundance were Rhipicephalus turanicus,Haemaphysalis erinacei and Echidnophaga gallinacea. The results of this study will contribute to our understanding of the parasites infecting Hemiechinus auritus in Iran. These results also suggest that pet owners especially those keep hedgehog should be aware about hazards that may pose by these animals.

Herewith, we report the detection of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum DNA in ticks collected from diverse animal species in two sites in northern Algeria (Algiers and Tizi-Ouzou). Between December 2019 and April 2020, 422 ticks were collected from dogs, cows, turtles and boars during a period when sand flies, the main vectors, are not very active where the main vectors, sand flies, are not very active. A total of 237 ticks (56.2%) were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus, followed by 131 Hyalomma marginatum (31%), 20 Ixodes ricinus (4.7%), 16 Dermacentor marginatus (3.8%), 10 Rhipicephalus turanicus (2.4%), 7 Hyalomma aegyptium (1.7%) and 1 Hyalomma detritum (0.2%). The DNA was extracted and the polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the potential presence of Leishmania spp. DNA. The results were positive in four of the collected species: Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Dermacentor marginatus and Hyalomma aegyptium. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) PCR performed to identify the Leishmania species gave profiles of Leishmania major and Leishmania infantum. The presence of Leishmania spp. DNA in ticks from Algeria is reported here for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, Leishmania major DNA is detected for the first time in ticks. These findings do not confirm the role of ticks as an active vector of Leishmania parasites. However, it is suggested to not overlook the current knowledge during the establishment of Leishmaniasis control strategies until further information.

Objective To determine the molecular characterization and disease-associated complications of beta-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq. Methods A total of 159 β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq. β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq. Results Nineteen different β-globin gene mutations arranged in 37 various genotypes were determined. The most frequent were IVS-II-I (G>A) (47.2%), followed by IVS-I-6 (T>C) (23.3%) and IVS-I-110 (G>A) (5%). Among disease-related morbidities documented, bone disease amounted to 53% (facial deformity and osteoporosis), followed by endocrinopathies 17.6% (growth retardation and subclinical hypothyroidism), cholelithiasis 13.8%, pulmonary hypertension 11.3%, and abnormal liver function test 7.5%, whereas venous thrombosis, extramedullary hemopoiesis, and leg ulcer were less frequently observed. Age ≥ 35 and female sex were risk factors for cholelithiasis, while age was an independent risk for hypothyroidism and female sex was associated with increased risk for osteoporosis. Mean serum ferritin of ≥1000 μg/L was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, whereas chelation therapy was protective for a multitude of other complications. Transfusion, on the other hand, increased the risk of osteoporosis, yet it was protective for cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism. Moreover, splenectomy was protective for cholelithiasis, although it was an independent risk for hypothyroidism. Finally, hydroxyurea was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, while it was protective for cholelithiasis. Discussion and Conclusion. β+-thalassemia mutation had contributed to 41.25 of families with a less severe β-thalassemia phenotype in the northeastern part of Iraq, justifying the need to investigate the contribution of genetic modifiers in ameliorating disease severity. In addition, the substantial number of β-TI patients developed disease-related morbidities, which necessitates the need for more appropriate clinical management with earlier intervention.β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq. μg/L was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, whereas chelation therapy was protective for a multitude of other complications. Transfusion, on the other hand, increased the risk of osteoporosis, yet it was protective for cholelithiasis and hypothyroidism. Moreover, splenectomy was protective for cholelithiasis, although it was an independent risk for hypothyroidism. Finally, hydroxyurea was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, while it was protective for cholelithiasis. Discussion and Conclusion. β+-thalassemia mutation had contributed to 41.25 of families with a less severe β-thalassemia phenotype in the northeastern part of Iraq, justifying the need to investigate the contribution of genetic modifiers in ameliorating disease severity. In addition, the substantial number of β-TI patients developed disease-related morbidities, which necessitates the need for more appropriate clinical management with earlier intervention.Discussion and Conclusion. β+-thalassemia mutation had contributed to 41.25 of families with a less severe β-thalassemia phenotype in the northeastern part of Iraq, justifying the need to investigate the contribution of genetic modifiers in ameliorating disease severity. In addition, the substantial number of β-TI patients developed disease-related morbidities, which necessitates the need for more appropriate clinical management with earlier intervention.β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq. β-TI) patients in Sulaymaniyah province, northeastern Iraq.

Identification of Anaplasma marginale in long-eared hedgehogs (Hemiechinus auritus) and their Rhipicephalus turanicus ticks in Iran

Molecular detection of a novel Babesia sp. and pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from hedgehogs in Turkey: Haemaphysalis erinacei, a novel candidate vector for the genus Babesia

Tularemia and Q fever are endemic diseases in Iran; however, little information is available on the prevalence of the causative agents, Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis, in Iranian ticks. This study investigated C. burnetii and F. tularensis among hard ticks in this country. We collected ticks from livestock and other mammals in Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan (northern Iran), Kurdistan (western Iran), and West Azerbaijan (northwestern Iran) provinces. Genomic DNA from collected ticks was extracted and screened for C. burnetii and F. tularensis using Real-time PCR. A total of 4,197 ticks (belonging to 12 different species) were collected, and Ixodes ricinus (46.4%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (25%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (19.1%) were the most collected species. Of 708 pooled tick samples, 11.3% and 7.20% were positive for C. burnetii and F. tularensis, respectively. The genus of Rhipicephalus had the highest (18.3%) C. burnetii infection among the collected tick pools (P<0.001). Furthermore, the most positive pools for F. tularensis belonged to Haemaphysalis spp. (44.4%). Kurdistan had the most significant percentage of C. burnetii-infected ticks (92.5%), and there was a meaningful relationship between the provinces and the infection (P< 0.001). The ticks from Golestan exhibited the highest F. tularensis infection rate (10. 9%), and the infection showed no significant relationship with the provinces (P = 0.19). Ticks collected from grasslands had a higher Coxiella burnetii infection rate than those collected from animals (39.4% vs. 7.9%; p<0.01). However, ticks collected from animal surfaces had a slightly higher rate of Francisella tularensis infection than those collected from grasslands (7.6% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.24). Here, we demonstrated the presence of both pathogens in the north (Guilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan provinces), the west (Kurdistan province), and the northwest (West Azerbaijan province) of Iran. The public health system should pay particular attention to tick bites in veterinary medicine and humans.

The aminoglycosides, a group of structurally related antibiotics, bind to rRNA in the small subunit of the prokaryotic ribosome. Most aminoglycosides are inactive or weakly active against eukaryotic ribosomes. A major difference in the binding site for these antibiotics between prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes is the identity of the nucleotide at position 1408 (Escherichia coli numbering), which is an adenosine in prokaryotic ribosomes and a guanosine in eukaryotic ribosomes. Expression in E.coli of plasmid-encoded 16S rRNA containing an A1408 to G substitution confers resistance to a subclass of the aminoglycoside antibiotics that contain a 6' amino group on ring I. Chemical footprinting experiments indicate that resistance arises from the lower affinity of the drug for the eukaryotic rRNA sequence. The 1408G ribosomes are resistant to the same subclass of aminoglycosides as previously observed both for eukaryotic ribosomes and bacterial ribosomes containing a methylation at the N1 position of A1408. The results indicate that the identity of the nucleotide at position 1408 is a major determinant of specificity of aminoglycoside action, and agree with prior structural studies of aminoglycoside-rRNA complexes.

Drought is a significant phenomenon associated with climate change, impacting various sectors. Effective planning is essential to mitigate its effects and minimize potential damage. Remote sensing data and GIS-based spatial analysis were employed to assess drought conditions. This study focuses on Sulaymaniyah Province, located in northeastern Iraq, covering an area of 21,240 km². Geographically, the province lies between longitudes 44°49'59" E and 45°59'43" E, and latitudes 34°21'07" N and 36°15'48" N. The study utilized Landsat 8 OLI satellite data to derive two key spectral indices: The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI). These indices were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.4.1 to assess drought conditions and their spatial distribution across the region. Maps highlighting NDVI and NDWI values were created to evaluate the drought impacts for the years 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2022.The findings indicate a clear spatial variation in drought severity across the province. NDVI analysis from 2013 to 2022 shows notable vegetation cover fluctuations, with low vegetation increasing from 43.7% to 66.5% in 2021 and dense vegetation peaking at 11.9% in 2017 before declining sharply. NDWI analysis indicates a rise in extremely drought-affected areas from 17.4% to 34.8%, while no-drought zones decreased from 0.6% to 0.1%. These findings reflect increasing water stress and environmental changes in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. Vegetation density declined after 2017, and drought severity worsened. NDI increased from 0.42 in 2013 to 0.53 in 2022, indicating a growing disparity between plant health and water availability suggesting worsening drought conditions in Sulaymaniyah Governorate.

A molecular phylogenetic investigation of tick species in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia

BackgroundTick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae. Although Spotted Fever is prevalent in the Middle East, no reports for the presence of tick-borne pathogens are available or any studies on the epidemiology of this disease in the West Bank. We aimed to identify the circulating hard tick vectors and genetically characterize SFG Rickettsia species in ixodid ticks from the West Bank-Palestinian territories.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 1,123 ixodid ticks belonging to eight species (Haemaphysalis parva, Haemaphysalis adleri, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma aegyptium and Hyalomma impeltatum) were collected from goats, sheep, camels, dogs, a wolf, a horse and a tortoise in different localities throughout the West Bank during the period of January-April, 2014. A total of 867 ticks were screened for the presence of rickettsiae by PCR targeting a partial sequence of the ompA gene followed by sequence analysis. Two additional genes, 17 kDa and 16SrRNA were also targeted for further characterization of the detected Rickettsia species. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 148 out of the 867 (17%) tested ticks. The infection rates in Rh. turanicus, Rh. sanguineus, H. adleri, H. parva, H. dromedarii, and H. impeltatum ticks were 41.7, 11.6, 16.7, 16.2, 11.8 and 20%, respectively. None of the ticks, belonging to the species Rh. bursa and H. aegyptium, were infected. Four SFG rickettsiae were identified: Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia africae, Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae and Candidatus Rickettsia goldwasserii.SignificanceThe results of this study demonstrate the geographic distribution of SFG rickettsiae and clearly indicate the presence of at least four of them in collected ticks. Palestinian clinicians should be aware of emerging tick-borne diseases in the West Bank, particularly infections due to R. massiliae and R. africae.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are an important group of ectoparasites of vertebrates. Most species are known vectors of diseases including Lyme disease, Q fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. A 3-year research was conducted in Antalya, Turkey, to determine tick species composition, seasonal abundance, and spatial distribution. The study was carried out in five districts (Aksu, Dosemealtı, Kepez, Konyaaltı, and Muratpasa) of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality area in Turkey, between May 2010 and May 2013, where 1393 tick specimens were collected from domestic and wild animals (cattle, goats, sheep, hedgehogs, tortoises, dogs, cats, chickens) and from the environment. The collected ticks were preserved in 70% alcohol and then were identified. Five genus and eight hard and soft tick species were identified, including Argas persicus, Rhipicephalus annulatus, R. sanguineus, R. turanicus, Hyalomma aegyptium, H. marginatum, Haemaphysalis parva, and Dermacentor niveus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, and H. aegyptium were the most common tick species in Antalya city. Rhipicephalus turanicus and R. sanguineus were the most abundant tick species infesting dogs in the city. The hosts of H. aegyptium are primarily tortoises in Antalya. The results of this research will contribute to establishing appropriate measures to control tick infestations on animals and humans and their environment in the city of Antalya.