Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) hamper the growth of the livestock sector and impose major constraints for the health and management of domestic animals in the tropic and subtropical regions globally. Currently, there is no scientific report on the presence of zoonotic pathogens transmitted by tick species in Lesotho. This study aimed to identify zoonotic tick-borne pathogens of economic importance from ticks infesting domestic animals in Lesotho using molecular techniques. A total of 322 tick DNA pools were subjected to PCR screening for the presence of zoonotic pathogens and sequenced. The overall prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was 35% (113/322), with a 100% infection rate in Rhipicephalus microplus, followed by R. evertsi evertsi (92%), Hyalomma rufipes and Otobius megnini sharing 50% and the lowest infection rate was observed in R. decoloratus with 40%. The prevalence of Coxiella burnetii, a gram-negative pleomorphic etiological agent of Query fever (Q fever), was 1% (2/322) for all screened samples, with 20% of R. decoloratus and 1% of R. e. evertsi infected. Rickettsia africae was detected from Hyalomma rufipes with a 70% prevalence. This study provides a baseline knowledge of tick-borne pathogens of medical and veterinary importance in Lesotho and raises awareness of the prevalence of such diseases within the tourism sector as they are mostly affected.
Highlights
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) hamper the growth of the livestock sector and impose major constraints for the health and management of domestic animals in the tropic and subtropical regions globally [1,2]
Control measures for most tick species is problematic as they live in close association with vertebrate hosts in areas that are not accessible for acaricides application
Species-specific PCR assay used were positive for pathogens detected from tain by molecular analysis the prevalence of tick-borne microorganisms of zoonotic imvarious tick species collected from domestic animals
Summary
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) hamper the growth of the livestock sector and impose major constraints for the health and management of domestic animals in the tropic and subtropical regions globally [1,2]. Ticks are vectors of many diseases in animals and humans worldwide. Pathogens carried and transmitted by ticks include bacteria, protozoa and viruses of medical and veterinary importance [3]. South Africa (SA) is an agro-exporting nation depending mainly on livestock productivity for subsistence [4,5]. In sub-Saharan Africa, tick-borne zoonotic pathogens are endemic, including Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp., and the information available is still of concern for these pathogens [6]. The occurrence of livestock as hosts for ticks in SA promotes the widespread occurrence of TBDs [7]
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