Abstract
Ticks are widespread parasites of vertebrates and major vectors of pathogens to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. In southern Africa, numerous tick species transmit diseases of economic and health importance. This study aimed to describe the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in multiple land-use types and the possible role of ticks in the transmission of pathogen species. Using molecular techniques, we screened 1716 ticks for infection by rickettsial bacteria and protozoans. To characterize pathogen identity, we sequenced multiple loci from positive samples and analyzed sequences within a phylogenetic framework. Across the seven tick species collected as nymphs or adults, we detected Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Hepatozoon, and Theileira species. We found that some tick species and tick-borne pathogens differed according to land use. For example, we found a higher density of Haemaphysalis elliptica and higher prevalence of Rickettsia in H. elliptica collected from savanna grasses used for livestock grazing near human settlements than savanna grasses in conservation areas. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive surveillance to achieve a full understanding of the diversity and ecology of the tick-borne pathogens that can infect humans, domestic animals, and wildlife.
Highlights
Vector-borne diseases are among the most important risks to animal and human health worldwide
Using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay, we identified 39 adult R. muehlensi from a portion of the adult ticks morphologically identified as R. appendicualtus and 554 R. appendiculatus, 41 R. maculatus, and 74 R. muehlensi nymphs from the extracted subset of Rhipicephalus nymphs (n = 669)
We identified four Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini, 1888) and 34 Rhipicephalus decoloratus Koch, 1844 from the extracted subset of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) larvae (n = 38) and 28 R. appendiculatus, 2 R. maculatus, and 9 R. muehlensi from the extracted subset of Rhipicephalus larvae (n = 39) (Figure 2)
Summary
Vector-borne diseases are among the most important risks to animal and human health worldwide. Hard ticks (Acari:Ixodidae Koch, 1844) are efficient vectors of a variety of pathogens, including bacteria (e.g., Rickettsia da Rocha-Lima, 1916, Anaplasma Theiler, 1910), viruses (e.g., Flaviviruses, Nairovirus), and protozoa (e.g., Babesia Starcovici, 1893, Theileria Bettencourt, França & Borges, 1907), which cause major diseases affecting humans, livestock, wildlife, and companion animals [1]. Diseases transmitted by ticks cause major constraints on and financial problems for animal production, in developing countries in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world [2]. Surveillance of ticks and their pathogens is a crucial step towards effective investigation and management of tick-borne diseases [3]
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