First Molecular-Based Confirmation of Dermacentor marginatus and Associated Rickettsia raoultii and Anaplasma marginale in the Hindu Kush Mountain Range

doi:10.3390/ani13233686

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Title:	First Molecular-Based Confirmation of Dermacentor marginatus and Associated Rickettsia raoultii and Anaplasma marginale in the Hindu Kush Mountain Range
Authors:	Ahmad, Iftikhar Ullah, Shafi Alouffi, Abdulaziz Almutairi, Mashal M. Numan, Muhammad Tanaka, Tetsuya Chang, Shun-Chung Chen, Chien-Chin Ali, Abid Phillips, Clive J. C. Mancianti, Francesca Nardoni, Simona Ebani, Valentina Virginia
Contributors:	Abdul Wali Khan Univ Mardan, Dept Zool King Abdulaziz City Sci & Technol King Saud Univ, Coll Pharm, Dept Pharmacol & Toxicol Kagoshima Univ, Joint Fac Vet Med, Lab Infect Dis Ditmanson Med Fdn, Chia Yi Christian Hosp, Dept Emergency Med Ditmanson Med Fdn, Chia Yi Christian Hosp, Dept Pathol Chia Nan Univ Pharm & Sci, Dept Cosmet Sci Natl Chung Hsing Univ, Rong Hsing Res Ctr Translat Med, PhD Program Translat Med Natl Cheng Kung Univ, Coll Biosci & Biotechnol, Dept Biotechnol & Bioind Sci
Keywords:	Dermacentor marginatus Anaplasma marginale Rickettsia raoultii phylogeny Pakistan
Date:	2023
Issue Date:	2024-12-25 11:04:03 (UTC+8)
Publisher:	MDPI
Abstract:	Ticks of the genus Dermacentor Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) are poorly known systematically due to their habitation in harsh topographic environments and high mountains. Dermacentor ticks are diversely distributed in the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. There is no available information on the occurrence of Dermacentor marginatus in Pakistan; thus, the current investigation aimed the first morphological and molecular confirmation of this species and associated Anaplasma marginale and Rickettsia raoultii. Ticks were collected from goats (Capra hircus) and morphologically identified. Genomic DNA was extracted from 18/26 (69.23%) tick specimens, including 11 males and 7 females (1 unfed and 6 fed females). Extracted DNA was subjected to PCR for the amplification of genetic markers like 16S rDNA and cox1 for ticks, 16S rDNA for Anaplasma spp., and gltA and ompB for Rickettsia spp. A total of 26 D. marginatus ticks composed of 19 males (73.07%) and 7 females (26.9%) [1 (3.84%) unfed and 6 (23.07%) fed females] were collected from goats. According to amplicons via BLAST analysis, the 16S rDNA sequence showed 97.28-98.85% identity and the cox1 sequence showed 95.82-98.03% identity with D. marginatus. Additionally, the 16S rDNA sequence for Anaplasma sp. was detected in D. marginatus that showed 100% identity with Anaplasma marginale. Rickettsial gltA and ompB sequences for Rickettsia sp. showed 100% identity with Rickettsia raoultii. In phylogenetic analysis, ticks' 16S rDNA and cox1 sequences clustered with the same species. In phylogenetic analysis, A. marginale based on 16 rDNA clustered with A. marginale, while gltA and ompB sequences clustered with R. raoultii. This is the first study on the genetic characterization of D. marginatus and associated A. marginale and R. raoultii in Pakistan. The northern areas of Pakistan, which need to be explored in terms of ticks and associated pathogens due to their zoonotic threats, have been neglected due to the inaccessible climatic conditions.
Relation:	Animals, v.13, n.23, Article 3686
Appears in Collections:	[Offices] 456

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