Ledwaba Maphuti B, Nozipho Khumalo, Tembe Danisile, Onyiche ThankGod E, Chaisi Mamohale E
Foundational Research and Services, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
School of Life Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa.
Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2022 Apr 26;2:100088. doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2022.100088. eCollection 2022.
Ticks are significant ectoparasites of animals and humans. Published data indicate that most vectors that transmit livestock and human pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa, are native to the region and originate from wild animals. Currently, there is a paucity of information on the role of wild animals on the epidemiology of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in South Africa. This systematic review focuses on the distribution of ticks and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different wild animals in South Africa to identify potential reservoir hosts and possible hotspots for emergence of novel tick-borne pathogens. Following several screening processes, 38 peer-reviewed studies published from 1970 to 2021, were deemed eligible. The studies reported on ticks collected from 63 host species of 21 host families, mostly Canidae, Felidae, Bovidae and Muridae. A total of 49 tick species of nine genera, i.e. , , , , , , , and , were reported. Nine tick species, i.e. , , , , , , . () , and were the most commonly reported. Pathogens of the genera , , and were identified in the wild animals. This review provides more insight on the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens of wild animals in South Africa and gives useful information for predicting their future spread. It also demonstrates that wild animals habour a diverse range of tick species. This level of diversity entails a similarly high potential for emergence of novel tick-borne pathogens. The review further indicates that wild animals in South Africa are sentinels of tick-borne protozoans of veterinary importance and some bacterial pathogens as most ticks they habour are known vectors of pathogens of domestic animals and humans. However, studies on potential tick-borne zoonoses are under-represented and should be included in future epidemiological surveys, especially in the light of climate change and other anthropogenic threats which might result in the emergence of novel tick-borne pathogens.
蜱虫是动物和人类重要的体外寄生虫。已发表的数据表明，撒哈拉以南非洲传播家畜和人类病原体的大多数病媒原产于该地区，且源自野生动物。目前，关于野生动物在南非人兽共患蜱传病原体流行病学中的作用，相关信息匮乏。本系统综述聚焦于南非不同野生动物身上蜱虫的分布以及蜱传病原体的流行情况，以确定潜在的储存宿主和新型蜱传病原体出现的可能热点地区。经过多次筛选过程，1970年至2021年发表的38篇经同行评审的研究被认为符合要求。这些研究报告了从21个宿主科的63种宿主身上采集的蜱虫，其中大多数是犬科、猫科、牛科和鼠科。共报告了9个属的49种蜱虫，即 、 、 、 、 、 、 、 和 。9种蜱虫，即 、 、 、 、 、 、 （ ）、 和 是最常被报告的。在野生动物中鉴定出了 、 、 和 属的病原体。本综述为南非野生动物蜱虫和蜱传病原体的生态学提供了更多见解，并为预测它们未来的传播提供了有用信息。它还表明野生动物携带多种蜱虫。这种多样性水平意味着新型蜱传病原体出现的可能性同样很高。该综述进一步表明，南非的野生动物是具有兽医重要性的蜱传原生动物和一些细菌病原体的哨兵，因为它们身上携带的大多数蜱虫是家畜和人类病原体的已知传播媒介。然而，关于潜在蜱传人畜共患病的研究较少，应纳入未来的流行病学调查，特别是考虑到气候变化和其他人为威胁可能导致新型蜱传病原体的出现。
