Abstract
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been reported as a promising and reliable tool for arthropod identification, including the identification of alcohol-preserved ticks based on extracted leg protein spectra. In this study, the legs of 361 ticks collected in Vietnam, including 251 Rhiphicephalus sanguineus s.l, 99 Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, two Amblyomma varanensis, seven Dermacentor auratus, one Dermacentor compactus and one Amblyomma sp. were submitted for MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Spectral analysis showed intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity and the spectra of 329 (91%) specimens were of excellent quality. The blind test of 310 spectra remaining after updating the database with 19 spectra revealed that all were correctly identified with log score values (LSV) ranging from 1.7 to 2.396 with a mean of 1.982 ± 0.142 and a median of 1.971. The DNA of several microorganisms including Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Ehrlichia rustica, Babesia vogeli, Theileria sinensis, and Theileria orientalis were detected in 25 ticks. Co-infection by A. phagocytophilum and T. sinensis was found in one Rh. (B) microplus.
Highlights
Ticks have been incriminated as the second most important vectors of human and animal infectious pathogens in the world after mosquitoes [1] and are able to transmit a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoans, viruses, and helminths [2]
Amblyomma varanensis, Dermacentor auratus, and Dermacentor compactus may act as vectors of infectious agents (e.g. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) to humans, and to domestic and wild animals in Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam [7,8,9,10]
Ticks were identified as belonging to six species (Fig 1A), including 935 (83.5%) Rh. sanguineus s.l. collected from dogs, 174 (15.5%) Rh. (B) microplus) from cows and goats, seven (0.6%) D. auratus
Summary
Ticks have been incriminated as the second most important vectors of human and animal infectious pathogens in the world after mosquitoes [1] and are able to transmit a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoans, viruses, and helminths [2]. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) are the most common ticks that parasitise dogs in SEA. These ticks are the ectoparasite vectors of bacterial and protozoal pathogens that can be transmitted to animals [4] and humans [5]. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an important vector of livestock pathogens [6]. Amblyomma (formerly Aponomma) varanensis, Dermacentor auratus, and Dermacentor compactus may act as vectors of infectious agents (e.g. Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Borrelia spp., Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) to humans, and to domestic and wild animals in Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam [7,8,9,10]
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