Molecular Survey of Tick-Borne Pathogens Reveals Diversity and Novel Organisms With Veterinary and Public Health Significance in Wildlife From a National Nature Reserve of China.

Muhammad Uzair Mukhtar,Jinming Wang,Zhijie Liu,Hong Yin,Qingli Niu,Jifei Yang,Xiaojun Wang,Guiquan Guan

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.682963

Abstract

Wildlife is involved in the maintenance and transmission of various tick-borne pathogens. The objective of the present study was to determine the occurrence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals collected from Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve of China. Blood or liver samples from 13 wild animals (5 takin, 3 Himalayan goral, 3 Reeves' muntjac, 1 forest musk deer, and 1 wild boar) were collected and screened for piroplasm, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae by PCR-based on different gene loci. Three Theileria species, a potential novel Theileria parasite (Theileria sp. T4) and two Anaplasma species were identified in those wildlife. Theileria capreoli was found in Himalayan goral, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer; Theileria luwenshuni, Theileria uilenbergi, and a potential novel, Theileria parasite (Theileria sp. T4), were identified in takin. Meanwhile, Anaplasma bovis was identified in Himalayan goral, takin, Reeves' muntjac, forest musk deer, and wild boar; Anaplasma phagocytophilum and related strains was found in takin, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer. All wildlife included in this study was negative for Babesia, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia, and SFG rickettsiae. Moreover, coinfection involving Theileria spp. and Anaplasma spp. was observed in eight wild animals. This study provided the first evidence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals from the nature reserve, where contact between domestic and wild animals rarely occurs.

Highlights

Tick-borne diseases have been becoming increasingly important with the increase in incidences and geographic distribution [1]
In the past three decades, an increasing number of new species, genotypes, or genetic variants of tick-borne pathogens were identified in ticks and domestic and wild animals, some of which have been subsequently recognized as human pathogens, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia conorii, Babesia venatorum, and Babesia divergens [3]
Theileria capreoli was found in one Himalayan goral, two Reeves’ muntjac, and one forest musk deer (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Tick-borne diseases have been becoming increasingly important with the increase in incidences and geographic distribution [1]. Wild animals serving as reservoir hosts for various tickborne infections has been well-established globally They play a critical role in the maintenance of the endemic cycle of tickborne diseases, which increase the risk of disease transmission to humans and domestic animals due to their movements potentially affect the pathogens and vectors distribution [3]. Limited information is available on tickborne pathogens in wild animals when compared with ticks and domestic animals in China and remains to be disclosed, especially in those from nature reserves, where contact between wild and domestic animals rarely occurs Those animals fulfill an important mission in the persistence of tick vectors and pathogens in nature [4]. The occurrence and diversity of tick-borne agents with veterinary and medical significance were investigated in wild animals collected from Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve of China, which is a natural habitat for many endangered and national protected wildlife

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion