Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primaril...Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primarily conducted by European scientists and curators,establishing the foundation for tick taxonomy in the region.Pioneering works by George Henry Falknier Nuttall and Cecil Warburton introduced several new tick species,including Haemaphysalis(H.)calva,H.mjoebergi,H.vidua and H.wellingtoni[1].However,some records from this period are now considered doubtful,for instance Amblyomma(A.)breviscutatum,A.clypeolatum and A.integrum.The 1929 description of Ornithodoros batuensis by Stanley Hirst[2]marked the first documentation of a soft tick species in Malaysia,setting the stage for subsequent research endeavours.The Golden Age of tick studies(early 1950s-late 1980s)in Malaysia saw a surge in tick research activities.展开更多
Dear Editor,In recent decades,vector-transmitted emerging and re-emerging diseases pose public health issues around the world,in which emerging tick-borne viruses(TBVs)have played a major role since they are widely di...Dear Editor,In recent decades,vector-transmitted emerging and re-emerging diseases pose public health issues around the world,in which emerging tick-borne viruses(TBVs)have played a major role since they are widely distributed.TBVs have a wide range of hosts,including humans,livestock and rodents,with some of them able to cause severe diseases in human and domestic animals,such as Jingmen tick virus(JMTV)(Qin et al.,2014),tick-borne encephalitis virus(TBEV)(Xing et al.,2017),and Alongshan virus(ALSV)(Wang et al.,2019).Of the merging TBVs,JMTV is a novel pathogen that was first identified in Rhipicephalus microplus collected from the Jingmen city of Hubei province,China in 2010(Qin et al.,2014).展开更多
Objective:To uncover the characteristics of tick-borne viruses in Guizhou Province.Methods:A total of 414 Rhipicephalus microplus were collected from 5 counties in Guizhou Province,China from August 2022 to October 20...Objective:To uncover the characteristics of tick-borne viruses in Guizhou Province.Methods:A total of 414 Rhipicephalus microplus were collected from 5 counties in Guizhou Province,China from August 2022 to October 2023.A group of 12 ticks from each study sites was sequenced by next generation sequencing.Results:8 contigs of Wuhan mivirus(Chuviridae,Mivirus)with the length of 2094 bp to 11580 bp and 4 contigs of Lihan tick virus(Phenuiviridae,Uukuvirus)with the length of 1401 bp to 7080 bp were obtained,respectively.The prevalence rate of Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus was 51.98%and 11.30%,respectively.The identities of gene sequences of both Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus were 94%-100%compared with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Wuhan mivirus detected in this study was in the same branch with the Wuhan mivirus of Sichuan isolate TIGMIC-27(NCBI Accession:OP628598)and Zhejiang isolate TIGMIC-45(NCBI Accession:OP628613).In addition,the Lihan tick virus was in the same branch with the Sichuan Lihan tick virus isolate TIGMIC-46(NCBI Accession:ON812358).Conclusions:Both Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus were prevalent in Rhipicephalus microplus in Guizhou Province.More studies are needed to understand the pathogenicity and public health threats of these tick-borne viruses.展开更多
Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomi...Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses.Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences.Results Fifty-eight poxvirus species,representing two subfamilies and 20 genera,were identified,with 212 poxviral sequences assembled.A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes.These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents,archaea,and arthropods.Conclusion Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses.These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer,gene recombination,and gene mutations,thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts.This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.展开更多
Haemaphysalis longicornis serves as the primary tick vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV),the etiological agent responsible for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS).Understa...Haemaphysalis longicornis serves as the primary tick vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV),the etiological agent responsible for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS).Understanding alterations in tick salivary gland microbiota during SFTSV transmission to vertebrate hosts is essential for developing novel control strategies.However,microbial shifts in tick salivary glands during pathogen transmission to hosts have not been reported for any tick-borne pathogens.In this study,SFTSV transmission from H.longicornis to vertebrate hosts was confirmed using a tickrabbit transmission model.Salivary gland microbiota profiling via 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified significant changes in bacterial composition associated with viral transmission.The relative abundance of three genera(Serratia,Bifidobacterium,and Akkermansia)increased,whereas five genera(Flavobacterium,Staphylococcus,Enhydrobacter,Massilia,and Stenotrophomonas)decreased.Correlation network analysis revealed a negative association between Akkermansia and Flavobacterium.These findings demonstrated that SFTSV transmission alters the salivary gland microbiota of H.longicornis,providing insights for future functional studies and the development of targeted strategies for SFTS control.展开更多
Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks,commonly found in East Asia,can transmit various pathogenic viruses,includingthe severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV)that has caused febrile diseases among humansin ...Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks,commonly found in East Asia,can transmit various pathogenic viruses,includingthe severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV)that has caused febrile diseases among humansin Hubei Province.However,understanding of the viromes of H.longicornis was limited,and the prevalence ofviruses among H.longicornis ticks in Hubei was not well clarified.This study investigates the viromes of bothengorged(fed)and free(unfed)H.longicornis ticks across three mountainous regions in Hubei Province from 2019to 2020.RNA-sequencing analysis identified viral sequences that were related to 39 reference viruses belonging tounclassified viruses and seven RNA viral families,namely Chuviridae,Nairoviridae,Orthomyxoviridae,Parvoviridae,Phenuiviridae,Rhabdoviridae,and Totiviridae.Viral abundance and diversity in these ticks were analysed,andphylogenetic characteristics of the Henan tick virus(HNTV),Dabieshan tick virus(DBSTV),Okutama tick virus(OKTV),and Jingmen tick virus(JMTV)were elucidated based on their full genomic sequences.Prevalenceanalysis demonstrated that DBSTV was the most common virus found in individual H.longicornis ticks(12.59%),followed by HNTV(0.35%),whereas JMTV and OKTV were not detected.These results improve our understanding of H.longicornis tick viromes in central China and highlight the role of tick feeding status and geographyin shaping the viral community.The findings of new viral strains and their potential impact on public health raisethe need to strengthen surveillance efforts for comprehensively assessing their spillover potentials.展开更多
The medical and economic importance of ticks has long been recognized due to their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. Ticks cause great economic losses to livestock, and adversely affect livestock hos...The medical and economic importance of ticks has long been recognized due to their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. Ticks cause great economic losses to livestock, and adversely affect livestock hosts in several ways. Loss of blood is a direct effect of ticks acting as potential vector for haemo-protozoa and helminth parasites. Blood sucking by large numbers of ticks causes reduction in live weight and anemia among domestic animals, while their bites also reduce the quality of hides. However, major losses caused by ticks are due to their ability to transmit protozoan, rickettsial and viral diseases of live-stock, which are of great economic importance world-wide. There are quite a few methods for controlling ticks, but every method has certain shortcomings. The present review is focused on ticks importance and their control.展开更多
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangt...Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangtong Animal Husbandry,and whether vectors carry any bacterial pathogens that may cause diseases to humans,to provide scientific basis for prospective pathogen discovery and disease prevention and control.Methods Using a metataxonomics approach in concert with full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and operational phylogenetic unit(OPU)analysis,we characterized the species-level microbial community structure of two important vector species,biting midges and ticks,including 33 arthropod samples comprising 3,885 individuals,collected around Poyang Lake.Results A total of 662 OPUs were classified in biting midges,including 195 known species and 373 potentially new species,and 618 OPUs were classified in ticks,including 217 known species and 326 potentially new species.Surprisingly,OPUs with potentially pathogenicity were detected in both arthropod vectors,with 66 known species of biting midges reported to carry potential pathogens,including Asaia lannensis and Rickettsia bellii,compared to 50 in ticks,such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus sciuri.We found that Proteobacteria was the most dominant group in both midges and ticks.Furthermore,the outcomes demonstrated that the microbiota of midges and ticks tend to be governed by a few highly abundant bacteria.Pantoea sp7 was predominant in biting midges,while Coxiella sp1 was enriched in ticks.Meanwhile,Coxiella spp.,which may be essential for the survival of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann,were detected in all tick samples.The identification of dominant species and pathogens of biting midges and ticks in this study serves to broaden our knowledge associated to microbes of arthropod vectors.Conclusion Biting midges and ticks carry large numbers of known and potentially novel bacteria,and carry a wide range of potentially pathogenic bacteria,which may pose a risk of infection to humans and animals.The microbial communities of midges and ticks tend to be dominated by a few highly abundant bacteria.展开更多
Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, ...Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the Noun and Nde Divisions of the West Region. Methodology: A total of 423 cattle from 10 villages in both divisions were included in the study. Blood smears were prepared and subjected to microscopic screening for Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasma was found to be 23.4%, while Babesia exhibited a seroprevalence of 17.3%. Samples from Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and Koupa Ngangnou demonstrated significantly higher prevalence rates, potentially influenced by climate variations affecting tick populations. Additionally, 17.3% of the animals exhibited low hematocrit levels, indicative of anemia. No significant associations were observed between the presence of hemoparasite infection and cattle characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides fundamental data on the extensive distribution and impact of tick-borne hemoparasites in a significant cattle-producing region of Cameroon.展开更多
Haemaphysalis ticks are pathogenic vectors that threaten human and animal health and were identified in Chongming,the third largest island in China.To understand the distribution of these ticks and determine their pot...Haemaphysalis ticks are pathogenic vectors that threaten human and animal health and were identified in Chongming,the third largest island in China.To understand the distribution of these ticks and determine their potential invasion risk,this study aimed to identify the habitat suitability of the dominant tick H.flava based on natural environmental factors.Geographic information system(GIS)images were combined with sample points from tick investigations to map the spatial distribution of H.flava.Data on 19 bioclimatic variables,environmental variables,and satellite-based landscapes of Chongming Island were retrieved to create a landcover map related to natural environmental determinants of H.flava.These data included 38 sites associated with the vectors to construct species distribution models with MaxEnt,a model based on the maximum entropy principle,and to predict habitat suitability for H.flava on Chongming Island in 2050 and 2070 under different climate scenarios.The model performed well in predicting the H.flava distribution,with a training area under the curve of 0.84 and a test area under the curve of 0.73.A habitat suitability map of the whole study area was created for H.flava.The resulting map and natural environment analysis highlighted the importance of the normalized difference vegetation index and precipitation in the driest month for the bioecology of H.flava,with 141.61 km^(2)(11.77%),282.94 km^(2)(23.35%),and 405.30 km^(2)(33.69%)of highly,moderately,and poorly suitable habitats,respectively.The distribution decreased by 135.55 km^(2) and 138.82 km^(2) in 2050 and 2070,respectively,under the shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP)1.2.6 climate change scenario.However,under SSP 5.8.5,the total area will decrease by 128.5 km^(2) in 2050 and increase by 151.64 km^(2) in 2070.From a One Health perspective,this study provides good knowledge that will guide tick control efforts to prevent the spread of Haemaphysalis ticks or transmission risk of Haemaphysalis-borne infections at the human-animal-environment interface on the island.展开更多
Water activity-temperature relationships are reported for Yukon soil-isolated strains of Mortierella alpina and Penicillium expansum that are natural enemies to larvae(infestation stage)of the winter tick Dermacentor ...Water activity-temperature relationships are reported for Yukon soil-isolated strains of Mortierella alpina and Penicillium expansum that are natural enemies to larvae(infestation stage)of the winter tick Dermacentor albipictus.Both fungal strains are psychrotrophs,characterized by low thermal growth ranges,consistent with their occurrence in Yukon soil.In contrast to P.expansum,M.alpina is more temperature sensitive,has a higher requirement,and is more virulent to tick larvae.Researchers and Biological Control Officers should note that for tick population control these M.alpina and P.expansum strains grow and sporulate well under moderate temperature and humid conditions.Our experiments used Met52®Bioinsecticide as a positive control,and this is the first study that demonstrates the effectiveness of this commercial product against winter tick larvae.展开更多
Fungal composition of Yukon soil samples consisted of 29 soil saprobes common to acidified forest,subarctic habitats.All of the fungi identified are psychrotrophs,capable of growth at both 4℃ and 20℃.Of these,a tota...Fungal composition of Yukon soil samples consisted of 29 soil saprobes common to acidified forest,subarctic habitats.All of the fungi identified are psychrotrophs,capable of growth at both 4℃ and 20℃.Of these,a total of 17 fungi were found to be entomopathogenic by winter tick(Dermacentor albipictus)larval bioassays:Aspergillus flavus,Beauveria,namely B.bassiana,Mucor,Paecilomyces yielded>~70%larval mortality and the remainder,mostly Mortierella and Penicillium,averaged~40%larval mortality.Sites where elk(Cervus elaphus canadensis)are observed had an overall greater quantity,and diversity of entomopathogenic soil fungi than sites where elk are not observed.Greater diversity of fungi at elk-inhabited sites is likely a product of warmer soil microclimate(hillsides where elk are seen,lose snow earlier than other areas),animal presence,and increased nutrient enrichment.We conclude that Yukon soils contain fungi that naturally regulate populations of D.albipictus.All fungi are archived at the Wittenberg University Fungus Collection,Springfield,OH,USA.展开更多
Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the scree...Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the screening of ticks, use of "Omics" approaches and the incorporation of analytical methods such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance, to the study of ticks and their associated pathogens or potential pathogens are promising tools for a more accurate differential diagnosis of TBDs. However, this huge amount of data needs to be carefully interpreted before being incorporated to the routine of clinical practice. In the meantime, a clinical approach and high level of suspicion keep being essential for the diagnosis and proper handling of TBDs.展开更多
Ticks are considered the second most common pathogen vectors transmitting a broad range of vital human and veterinary viruses.From 2017 to 2018,640 ticks were collected in eight different provinces in central and west...Ticks are considered the second most common pathogen vectors transmitting a broad range of vital human and veterinary viruses.From 2017 to 2018,640 ticks were collected in eight different provinces in central and western China.Six species were detected,including H.longicornis,De.everestianus,Rh.microplus,Rh.turanicus,Rh.sanguineous,and Hy.asiaticum.Sixty-four viral metagenomic libraries were constructed on the MiSeq Illumina platform,resulting in 13.44 G(5.88×10^(7))of 250-bp-end reads,in which 2,437,941 are viral reads.We found 27 nearly complete genome sequences,including 16 genome sequences encoding entire protein-coding regions(lack of 30 or 50 end non-coding regions)and complete viral genomes,distributed in the arboviral family(Chuviridae,Rhabdoviridae,Nairoviridae,Phenuiviridae,Flaviviridae,Iflaviridae)as well as Parvoviridae and Polyomaviridae that cause disease in mammals and even humans.In addition,13 virus sequences found in Chuviridae,Nairoviridae,Flaviviridae,Iflaviridae,Hepeviridae,Parvoviridae,and Polyomaviridae were identified as belonging to a new virus species in the identified viral genera.Besides,an epidemiological survey shows a high prevalence(9.38%and 15.63%)of two viruses(Ovine Copiparvovirus and Bovine parvovirus 2)in the tick cohort.展开更多
Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ...Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ticks in Chengmai county of Hainan province,China,285 adult hard ticks belonging to two species[Rhipicephalus sanguineus(sensu lato):183,64.21%and Rhipicephalus microplus:102,35.79%]from dogs,cattle,and goats were collected.Microbial families were identified in these ticks by amplifying the 18 S r RNA,16 S r RNA(rrs),citrate synthase(glt A),and heat shock protein(gro EL)genes.Our data revealed the presence of four recognized species and two Candidatus spp.of Anaplasmataceae and Coxiellaceae.In sum,these data reveal an extensive diversity of Anaplasmataceae bacteria,Coxiellaceae bacteria,Babesiidae,and Hepatozoidae in ticks from Hainan Island,highlighting the need to understand the tickborne pathogen infection in local animals and humans.展开更多
Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophil...Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. Results: A total of 432 ticks were collected: 30(6.94%) Haemaphysalis punctata, 72(16.7%) Dermacentor marginatus and 330(76.38%) Ixodes ricinus. For each animal one or two pools of 3 ticks of the same species was constituted. Seventy-seven tick pools were examined by PCR: 58(75.32%) resulted infected and among them 14(18.18%) showed co-infections. In particular, 29(37.66%) pools were positive for Bartonella spp., 23(29.87%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 16(20.78%) for Rickettsia spp., and 5(6.49%) for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. All samples were negative for Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the presence of several zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in the studied area, and underline the risk of exposure to infections for hunters not only during the outdoor activity, but also when they manipulate hunted animals infested by infected ticks.展开更多
Objective:To determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens with a particular focus on Rickettsia spp.in ticks collected from cattle in Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces,South Africa.Methods:A total of 200 ticks were co...Objective:To determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens with a particular focus on Rickettsia spp.in ticks collected from cattle in Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces,South Africa.Methods:A total of 200 ticks were collected from cattle within the Madala livestock,Pretoria,Gauteng Province and in Mankweng Township,Polokwane,Limpopo Province in 2019.The ticks were morphologically identified and processed individually for a total genomic DNA extraction.Specific primers targetting ompA,ompB,and the 17KDa genes were used for a molecular screening and delineation of Rickettsia from the extracted genetic materials using polymerase chain reaction(PCR)technique.PCR amplicons of positive samples were sequenced bidirectionally using the Sanger sequencing method.Sequences generated were processed and analysed using appropriate bioinformatics software.Results:The ticks were morphologically identified as Amblyomma spp.PCR profiling of the genomic DNA samples revealed the presence of the Rickettsia pathogen in 42(21%)of the ticks collected from both Provinces.Out of the genes profiled,14(7%)were positive for 17KDa,42(21%)for ompA and 32(16%)were positive for ompB genes respectively.The nucleotide blast of the sequenced genomes showed high similarity,as high as 100% with other reference Rickettsia(R.)africae in the GenBank.The phylogenetic analysis of the sequences further validated them as R.africae with their characteristic clustering pattern with related reference sequences.Conclusions:There is an abundance of R.africae in Amblyomma ticks collected from cattle in the study areas.This has serious public health implications as individuals who accidentally get infested with the ticks could acquire R.africae.Hence,adequate precautions in terms of sensitization of farmers about the risk and mass mobilization drive to control the vectors in the areas are highly recommended to safeguard public health.展开更多
Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and e...Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and estimation of tick species infected with different pathogens in Iran.Methods:In this review,among different databases,a total of 95 publications were included,and the infection of different tick species to different tick-borne pathogens was determined;furthermore,presence of pathogens(with 95%confidence intervals)in tick vectors was calculated separately for each province,using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2(Biostat,USA).Results:Totally,among all 95 studies,5673 out of 33521 investigated ticks were positive according to different detection methods.Overall estimated presence of pathogens in tick vectors in Iran was 8.6%(95%CI 7.0%-10.6%,P<0.001).Of all 46 species of ticks in 10 genera in Iran,28 species in 9 genera,including Alveonasus,Argas,Boophilus,Dermacentor,Haemaphysalis,Hyalomma,Ixodes,Ornithodoros,and Rhipicephalus were infected with at least 20 pathogens in 10 genera including Aegyptianella,Anaplasma,Babesia,Borrelia,Brucella,Orthonairovirus[CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV)],Coxiella,Ehrlichia,Rickettsia and Theileria in 26 provinces of Iran.The presence of pathogens in ticks collected in western Iran was more than other regions.Hyalomma anatolicum(20.35%),Rhipicephalus sanguineus(15.00%),and Rhipicephalus bursa(14.08%)were the most prevalent infected ticks for different pathogens.In addition,most literatures were related to CCHFV and Theileria/Babesia spp.Conclusions:Public health and veterinary professionals should be aware of diagnosing possible diseases or outbreaks in vertebrates.展开更多
基金supported by the Higher Institution Centre of Excellence(HICoE)program(MO002-2019&TIDREC-2023)funded by the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine,Hamburg,Germany[100-TNCPI/INT 16/6/2(005/2020)].
文摘Tick studies in Malaysia have experienced a dynamic evolution characterized by periods of growth,stagnation,and the potential for revival.Beginning during the colonial era in the early 1900s,tick studies were primarily conducted by European scientists and curators,establishing the foundation for tick taxonomy in the region.Pioneering works by George Henry Falknier Nuttall and Cecil Warburton introduced several new tick species,including Haemaphysalis(H.)calva,H.mjoebergi,H.vidua and H.wellingtoni[1].However,some records from this period are now considered doubtful,for instance Amblyomma(A.)breviscutatum,A.clypeolatum and A.integrum.The 1929 description of Ornithodoros batuensis by Stanley Hirst[2]marked the first documentation of a soft tick species in Malaysia,setting the stage for subsequent research endeavours.The Golden Age of tick studies(early 1950s-late 1980s)in Malaysia saw a surge in tick research activities.
基金supported by Wildlife Borne Infectious Diseases Monitoring Project of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration of China(2020076060)the National Key Research and Development Program of China to Changchun Tu(32130104).
文摘Dear Editor,In recent decades,vector-transmitted emerging and re-emerging diseases pose public health issues around the world,in which emerging tick-borne viruses(TBVs)have played a major role since they are widely distributed.TBVs have a wide range of hosts,including humans,livestock and rodents,with some of them able to cause severe diseases in human and domestic animals,such as Jingmen tick virus(JMTV)(Qin et al.,2014),tick-borne encephalitis virus(TBEV)(Xing et al.,2017),and Alongshan virus(ALSV)(Wang et al.,2019).Of the merging TBVs,JMTV is a novel pathogen that was first identified in Rhipicephalus microplus collected from the Jingmen city of Hubei province,China in 2010(Qin et al.,2014).
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82160633 and 81760605)the GZPH-NSFC-2021-17,the Guizhou Provincial Basic Research Program(Natural Science MS[2025](No.497)+1 种基金the Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity of China(Grant No.SKLPBS2442)the High-level and Innovative Talents of Guizhou Province(QKH-GCC[2022]033-1).
文摘Objective:To uncover the characteristics of tick-borne viruses in Guizhou Province.Methods:A total of 414 Rhipicephalus microplus were collected from 5 counties in Guizhou Province,China from August 2022 to October 2023.A group of 12 ticks from each study sites was sequenced by next generation sequencing.Results:8 contigs of Wuhan mivirus(Chuviridae,Mivirus)with the length of 2094 bp to 11580 bp and 4 contigs of Lihan tick virus(Phenuiviridae,Uukuvirus)with the length of 1401 bp to 7080 bp were obtained,respectively.The prevalence rate of Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus was 51.98%and 11.30%,respectively.The identities of gene sequences of both Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus were 94%-100%compared with sequences in the National Center for Biotechnology Information.The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Wuhan mivirus detected in this study was in the same branch with the Wuhan mivirus of Sichuan isolate TIGMIC-27(NCBI Accession:OP628598)and Zhejiang isolate TIGMIC-45(NCBI Accession:OP628613).In addition,the Lihan tick virus was in the same branch with the Sichuan Lihan tick virus isolate TIGMIC-46(NCBI Accession:ON812358).Conclusions:Both Wuhan mivirus and Lihan tick virus were prevalent in Rhipicephalus microplus in Guizhou Province.More studies are needed to understand the pathogenicity and public health threats of these tick-borne viruses.
基金financially supported by the Shanghai New Three-Year Action Plan for Public Health(Grant No.GWVI-11.1-03)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81872673).
文摘Objective Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans,mammals,vertebrates,and arthropods.However,the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.Methods Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses.Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences.Results Fifty-eight poxvirus species,representing two subfamilies and 20 genera,were identified,with 212 poxviral sequences assembled.A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes.These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents,archaea,and arthropods.Conclusion Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses.These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer,gene recombination,and gene mutations,thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts.This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82102433,32160124,32370522,32090014)Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(822RC711,821QN254)。
文摘Haemaphysalis longicornis serves as the primary tick vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV),the etiological agent responsible for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS).Understanding alterations in tick salivary gland microbiota during SFTSV transmission to vertebrate hosts is essential for developing novel control strategies.However,microbial shifts in tick salivary glands during pathogen transmission to hosts have not been reported for any tick-borne pathogens.In this study,SFTSV transmission from H.longicornis to vertebrate hosts was confirmed using a tickrabbit transmission model.Salivary gland microbiota profiling via 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified significant changes in bacterial composition associated with viral transmission.The relative abundance of three genera(Serratia,Bifidobacterium,and Akkermansia)increased,whereas five genera(Flavobacterium,Staphylococcus,Enhydrobacter,Massilia,and Stenotrophomonas)decreased.Correlation network analysis revealed a negative association between Akkermansia and Flavobacterium.These findings demonstrated that SFTSV transmission alters the salivary gland microbiota of H.longicornis,providing insights for future functional studies and the development of targeted strategies for SFTS control.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number:U21A20180)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFC2300900,2022YFC2305100)+2 种基金the Key Deployment Projects of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KJZD-SW-L11)the Youth Project of the Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences(2023QNTJ-03)the National Basic Science Data Sharing Service Platform(NBSDC-DB-13).
文摘Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks,commonly found in East Asia,can transmit various pathogenic viruses,includingthe severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV)that has caused febrile diseases among humansin Hubei Province.However,understanding of the viromes of H.longicornis was limited,and the prevalence ofviruses among H.longicornis ticks in Hubei was not well clarified.This study investigates the viromes of bothengorged(fed)and free(unfed)H.longicornis ticks across three mountainous regions in Hubei Province from 2019to 2020.RNA-sequencing analysis identified viral sequences that were related to 39 reference viruses belonging tounclassified viruses and seven RNA viral families,namely Chuviridae,Nairoviridae,Orthomyxoviridae,Parvoviridae,Phenuiviridae,Rhabdoviridae,and Totiviridae.Viral abundance and diversity in these ticks were analysed,andphylogenetic characteristics of the Henan tick virus(HNTV),Dabieshan tick virus(DBSTV),Okutama tick virus(OKTV),and Jingmen tick virus(JMTV)were elucidated based on their full genomic sequences.Prevalenceanalysis demonstrated that DBSTV was the most common virus found in individual H.longicornis ticks(12.59%),followed by HNTV(0.35%),whereas JMTV and OKTV were not detected.These results improve our understanding of H.longicornis tick viromes in central China and highlight the role of tick feeding status and geographyin shaping the viral community.The findings of new viral strains and their potential impact on public health raisethe need to strengthen surveillance efforts for comprehensively assessing their spillover potentials.
基金Project (No. 2005C12015) supported by the Department of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province, China
文摘The medical and economic importance of ticks has long been recognized due to their ability to transmit diseases to humans and animals. Ticks cause great economic losses to livestock, and adversely affect livestock hosts in several ways. Loss of blood is a direct effect of ticks acting as potential vector for haemo-protozoa and helminth parasites. Blood sucking by large numbers of ticks causes reduction in live weight and anemia among domestic animals, while their bites also reduce the quality of hides. However, major losses caused by ticks are due to their ability to transmit protozoan, rickettsial and viral diseases of live-stock, which are of great economic importance world-wide. There are quite a few methods for controlling ticks, but every method has certain shortcomings. The present review is focused on ticks importance and their control.
基金supported by grants from National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFC1200501)Research Units of Discovery of Unknown Bacteria and Function(2018RU010)Capacity Enhancement Project supported by National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention(China CDC).
文摘Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangtong Animal Husbandry,and whether vectors carry any bacterial pathogens that may cause diseases to humans,to provide scientific basis for prospective pathogen discovery and disease prevention and control.Methods Using a metataxonomics approach in concert with full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and operational phylogenetic unit(OPU)analysis,we characterized the species-level microbial community structure of two important vector species,biting midges and ticks,including 33 arthropod samples comprising 3,885 individuals,collected around Poyang Lake.Results A total of 662 OPUs were classified in biting midges,including 195 known species and 373 potentially new species,and 618 OPUs were classified in ticks,including 217 known species and 326 potentially new species.Surprisingly,OPUs with potentially pathogenicity were detected in both arthropod vectors,with 66 known species of biting midges reported to carry potential pathogens,including Asaia lannensis and Rickettsia bellii,compared to 50 in ticks,such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus sciuri.We found that Proteobacteria was the most dominant group in both midges and ticks.Furthermore,the outcomes demonstrated that the microbiota of midges and ticks tend to be governed by a few highly abundant bacteria.Pantoea sp7 was predominant in biting midges,while Coxiella sp1 was enriched in ticks.Meanwhile,Coxiella spp.,which may be essential for the survival of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann,were detected in all tick samples.The identification of dominant species and pathogens of biting midges and ticks in this study serves to broaden our knowledge associated to microbes of arthropod vectors.Conclusion Biting midges and ticks carry large numbers of known and potentially novel bacteria,and carry a wide range of potentially pathogenic bacteria,which may pose a risk of infection to humans and animals.The microbial communities of midges and ticks tend to be dominated by a few highly abundant bacteria.
文摘Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the Noun and Nde Divisions of the West Region. Methodology: A total of 423 cattle from 10 villages in both divisions were included in the study. Blood smears were prepared and subjected to microscopic screening for Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasma was found to be 23.4%, while Babesia exhibited a seroprevalence of 17.3%. Samples from Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and Koupa Ngangnou demonstrated significantly higher prevalence rates, potentially influenced by climate variations affecting tick populations. Additionally, 17.3% of the animals exhibited low hematocrit levels, indicative of anemia. No significant associations were observed between the presence of hemoparasite infection and cattle characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides fundamental data on the extensive distribution and impact of tick-borne hemoparasites in a significant cattle-producing region of Cameroon.
基金supported in part by The International Joint Laboratory on Tropical Diseases Control in the Greater Mekong Subregion fund(21410750200)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai,China and The Science and Technology Innovation Project fund of the School of Global Health,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(SGHKJCX2021-05,SGHKJCX2021-04),China.
文摘Haemaphysalis ticks are pathogenic vectors that threaten human and animal health and were identified in Chongming,the third largest island in China.To understand the distribution of these ticks and determine their potential invasion risk,this study aimed to identify the habitat suitability of the dominant tick H.flava based on natural environmental factors.Geographic information system(GIS)images were combined with sample points from tick investigations to map the spatial distribution of H.flava.Data on 19 bioclimatic variables,environmental variables,and satellite-based landscapes of Chongming Island were retrieved to create a landcover map related to natural environmental determinants of H.flava.These data included 38 sites associated with the vectors to construct species distribution models with MaxEnt,a model based on the maximum entropy principle,and to predict habitat suitability for H.flava on Chongming Island in 2050 and 2070 under different climate scenarios.The model performed well in predicting the H.flava distribution,with a training area under the curve of 0.84 and a test area under the curve of 0.73.A habitat suitability map of the whole study area was created for H.flava.The resulting map and natural environment analysis highlighted the importance of the normalized difference vegetation index and precipitation in the driest month for the bioecology of H.flava,with 141.61 km^(2)(11.77%),282.94 km^(2)(23.35%),and 405.30 km^(2)(33.69%)of highly,moderately,and poorly suitable habitats,respectively.The distribution decreased by 135.55 km^(2) and 138.82 km^(2) in 2050 and 2070,respectively,under the shared socioeconomic pathway(SSP)1.2.6 climate change scenario.However,under SSP 5.8.5,the total area will decrease by 128.5 km^(2) in 2050 and increase by 151.64 km^(2) in 2070.From a One Health perspective,this study provides good knowledge that will guide tick control efforts to prevent the spread of Haemaphysalis ticks or transmission risk of Haemaphysalis-borne infections at the human-animal-environment interface on the island.
文摘Water activity-temperature relationships are reported for Yukon soil-isolated strains of Mortierella alpina and Penicillium expansum that are natural enemies to larvae(infestation stage)of the winter tick Dermacentor albipictus.Both fungal strains are psychrotrophs,characterized by low thermal growth ranges,consistent with their occurrence in Yukon soil.In contrast to P.expansum,M.alpina is more temperature sensitive,has a higher requirement,and is more virulent to tick larvae.Researchers and Biological Control Officers should note that for tick population control these M.alpina and P.expansum strains grow and sporulate well under moderate temperature and humid conditions.Our experiments used Met52®Bioinsecticide as a positive control,and this is the first study that demonstrates the effectiveness of this commercial product against winter tick larvae.
文摘Fungal composition of Yukon soil samples consisted of 29 soil saprobes common to acidified forest,subarctic habitats.All of the fungi identified are psychrotrophs,capable of growth at both 4℃ and 20℃.Of these,a total of 17 fungi were found to be entomopathogenic by winter tick(Dermacentor albipictus)larval bioassays:Aspergillus flavus,Beauveria,namely B.bassiana,Mucor,Paecilomyces yielded>~70%larval mortality and the remainder,mostly Mortierella and Penicillium,averaged~40%larval mortality.Sites where elk(Cervus elaphus canadensis)are observed had an overall greater quantity,and diversity of entomopathogenic soil fungi than sites where elk are not observed.Greater diversity of fungi at elk-inhabited sites is likely a product of warmer soil microclimate(hillsides where elk are seen,lose snow earlier than other areas),animal presence,and increased nutrient enrichment.We conclude that Yukon soils contain fungi that naturally regulate populations of D.albipictus.All fungi are archived at the Wittenberg University Fungus Collection,Springfield,OH,USA.
文摘Tick-borne diseases(TBDs) are a major public health concern that has increased in the past three decades. Nevertheless, emerging or reemerging TBDs may be still misdiagnosed. Molecular biology techniques for the screening of ticks, use of "Omics" approaches and the incorporation of analytical methods such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance, to the study of ticks and their associated pathogens or potential pathogens are promising tools for a more accurate differential diagnosis of TBDs. However, this huge amount of data needs to be carefully interpreted before being incorporated to the routine of clinical practice. In the meantime, a clinical approach and high level of suspicion keep being essential for the diagnosis and proper handling of TBDs.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Programs of China(No.2022YFC2603800)Jiangsu Provincial Key Research and Development Projects(No.BE2017693).
文摘Ticks are considered the second most common pathogen vectors transmitting a broad range of vital human and veterinary viruses.From 2017 to 2018,640 ticks were collected in eight different provinces in central and western China.Six species were detected,including H.longicornis,De.everestianus,Rh.microplus,Rh.turanicus,Rh.sanguineous,and Hy.asiaticum.Sixty-four viral metagenomic libraries were constructed on the MiSeq Illumina platform,resulting in 13.44 G(5.88×10^(7))of 250-bp-end reads,in which 2,437,941 are viral reads.We found 27 nearly complete genome sequences,including 16 genome sequences encoding entire protein-coding regions(lack of 30 or 50 end non-coding regions)and complete viral genomes,distributed in the arboviral family(Chuviridae,Rhabdoviridae,Nairoviridae,Phenuiviridae,Flaviviridae,Iflaviridae)as well as Parvoviridae and Polyomaviridae that cause disease in mammals and even humans.In addition,13 virus sequences found in Chuviridae,Nairoviridae,Flaviviridae,Iflaviridae,Hepeviridae,Parvoviridae,and Polyomaviridae were identified as belonging to a new virus species in the identified viral genera.Besides,an epidemiological survey shows a high prevalence(9.38%and 15.63%)of two viruses(Ovine Copiparvovirus and Bovine parvovirus 2)in the tick cohort.
基金The National Science and Technology Major Project of China[No.2018ZX10101002-002]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[grants 81702016]the National Science and Technology Major Project of China[2018ZX10712001-006-002 and 2018ZX10305409-003-005]。
文摘Pathogens like bacteria and protozoa,which affect human and animal health worldwide,can be transmitted by vectors like ticks.To investigate the epidemiology and genetic diversity of bacteria and protozoans carried by ticks in Chengmai county of Hainan province,China,285 adult hard ticks belonging to two species[Rhipicephalus sanguineus(sensu lato):183,64.21%and Rhipicephalus microplus:102,35.79%]from dogs,cattle,and goats were collected.Microbial families were identified in these ticks by amplifying the 18 S r RNA,16 S r RNA(rrs),citrate synthase(glt A),and heat shock protein(gro EL)genes.Our data revealed the presence of four recognized species and two Candidatus spp.of Anaplasmataceae and Coxiellaceae.In sum,these data reveal an extensive diversity of Anaplasmataceae bacteria,Coxiellaceae bacteria,Babesiidae,and Hepatozoidae in ticks from Hainan Island,highlighting the need to understand the tickborne pathogen infection in local animals and humans.
文摘Objective: To determine the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in feeding ticks removed from hunted wild animals. Methods: PCR was executed on DNA extracted from 77 tick pools to detect Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. Results: A total of 432 ticks were collected: 30(6.94%) Haemaphysalis punctata, 72(16.7%) Dermacentor marginatus and 330(76.38%) Ixodes ricinus. For each animal one or two pools of 3 ticks of the same species was constituted. Seventy-seven tick pools were examined by PCR: 58(75.32%) resulted infected and among them 14(18.18%) showed co-infections. In particular, 29(37.66%) pools were positive for Bartonella spp., 23(29.87%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 16(20.78%) for Rickettsia spp., and 5(6.49%) for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. All samples were negative for Coxiella burnetii. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the presence of several zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in the studied area, and underline the risk of exposure to infections for hunters not only during the outdoor activity, but also when they manipulate hunted animals infested by infected ticks.
基金funded by SAMRC with grant number RDG2017/18 and the APC was funded by SMU.
文摘Objective:To determine the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens with a particular focus on Rickettsia spp.in ticks collected from cattle in Gauteng and Limpopo Provinces,South Africa.Methods:A total of 200 ticks were collected from cattle within the Madala livestock,Pretoria,Gauteng Province and in Mankweng Township,Polokwane,Limpopo Province in 2019.The ticks were morphologically identified and processed individually for a total genomic DNA extraction.Specific primers targetting ompA,ompB,and the 17KDa genes were used for a molecular screening and delineation of Rickettsia from the extracted genetic materials using polymerase chain reaction(PCR)technique.PCR amplicons of positive samples were sequenced bidirectionally using the Sanger sequencing method.Sequences generated were processed and analysed using appropriate bioinformatics software.Results:The ticks were morphologically identified as Amblyomma spp.PCR profiling of the genomic DNA samples revealed the presence of the Rickettsia pathogen in 42(21%)of the ticks collected from both Provinces.Out of the genes profiled,14(7%)were positive for 17KDa,42(21%)for ompA and 32(16%)were positive for ompB genes respectively.The nucleotide blast of the sequenced genomes showed high similarity,as high as 100% with other reference Rickettsia(R.)africae in the GenBank.The phylogenetic analysis of the sequences further validated them as R.africae with their characteristic clustering pattern with related reference sequences.Conclusions:There is an abundance of R.africae in Amblyomma ticks collected from cattle in the study areas.This has serious public health implications as individuals who accidentally get infested with the ticks could acquire R.africae.Hence,adequate precautions in terms of sensitization of farmers about the risk and mass mobilization drive to control the vectors in the areas are highly recommended to safeguard public health.
文摘Objective:Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran;however,as far as our knowledge,there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and estimation of tick species infected with different pathogens in Iran.Methods:In this review,among different databases,a total of 95 publications were included,and the infection of different tick species to different tick-borne pathogens was determined;furthermore,presence of pathogens(with 95%confidence intervals)in tick vectors was calculated separately for each province,using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2(Biostat,USA).Results:Totally,among all 95 studies,5673 out of 33521 investigated ticks were positive according to different detection methods.Overall estimated presence of pathogens in tick vectors in Iran was 8.6%(95%CI 7.0%-10.6%,P<0.001).Of all 46 species of ticks in 10 genera in Iran,28 species in 9 genera,including Alveonasus,Argas,Boophilus,Dermacentor,Haemaphysalis,Hyalomma,Ixodes,Ornithodoros,and Rhipicephalus were infected with at least 20 pathogens in 10 genera including Aegyptianella,Anaplasma,Babesia,Borrelia,Brucella,Orthonairovirus[CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV)],Coxiella,Ehrlichia,Rickettsia and Theileria in 26 provinces of Iran.The presence of pathogens in ticks collected in western Iran was more than other regions.Hyalomma anatolicum(20.35%),Rhipicephalus sanguineus(15.00%),and Rhipicephalus bursa(14.08%)were the most prevalent infected ticks for different pathogens.In addition,most literatures were related to CCHFV and Theileria/Babesia spp.Conclusions:Public health and veterinary professionals should be aware of diagnosing possible diseases or outbreaks in vertebrates.
