Ledger Kimberly J, Beati Lorenza, Wisely Samantha M
Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
US National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA.
Pathogens. 2021 Aug 17;10(8):1043. doi: 10.3390/pathogens10081043.
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 , , , , , and species. We found that some tick species and tick-borne pathogens differed according to land use. For example, we found a higher density of and higher prevalence of in 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.
蜱是脊椎动物广泛存在的寄生虫，也是人类、家畜和野生动物病原体的主要传播媒介。在南部非洲，众多蜱种传播具有经济和健康重要性的疾病。本研究旨在描述多种土地利用类型中蜱及蜱传病原体的存在情况，以及蜱在病原体物种传播中的可能作用。我们使用分子技术，对1716只蜱进行了立克次氏体细菌和原生动物感染筛查。为了鉴定病原体身份，我们对阳性样本的多个基因座进行了测序，并在系统发育框架内分析了序列。在所采集的若虫或成虫阶段的7种蜱中，我们检测到了 、 、 、 、 和 物种。我们发现，一些蜱种和蜱传病原体因土地利用方式而异。例如，我们发现，从人类定居点附近用于放牧牲畜的稀树草原草丛中采集的 ，其密度高于保护区稀树草原草丛中的 ，且 的患病率更高。这些发现凸显了全面监测对于全面了解可感染人类、家畜和野生动物的蜱传病原体的多样性和生态学的重要性。
