Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province
Objective To investigate the possible tick-borne pathogens along the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province. Methods Ticks were collected from animal surfaces, residents' livestock barns and by dragging a cloth over vegetation, and brought back alive to our laboratory for morphological and species ide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | zho |
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Editorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical University
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Di-san junyi daxue xuebao |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/202103029.htm |
| _version_ | 1818382236518449152 |
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| author | ZHANG Fang WANG Xiaoheng |
| author_facet | ZHANG Fang WANG Xiaoheng |
| author_sort | ZHANG Fang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective To investigate the possible tick-borne pathogens along the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province. Methods Ticks were collected from animal surfaces, residents' livestock barns and by dragging a cloth over vegetation, and brought back alive to our laboratory for morphological and species identification. Pathogenic DNA was extracted from the tick samples and amplified by nested PCR. Positive specimens of Lyme disease spirochetes were further analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to determine their genotypes; Subspecies determination primers (C6/C8) were adopted to amplify the positive samples of Francisella tularensis for subspecies identification. Results There were 3 species of ticks finally identified and totally 2 123 tick samples collected, including 814 Hyalomma asiaticum, 567 Dermacentor nuttalli and 742 Argas persicus. Different tick species were collected at different sites: Hyalomma asiaticum and Dermacentor nuttalli were picked up from the surface of wild free-range camels and their living environment, while Argas persicus from residents' barn. Among all the tick specimens, 54 samples were tested positive for Lyme disease spirochetes, and RFLP analysis indicated that the pathogen in the samples belonged to 2 genotypes: either Borrelia garinii or Borrelia afzelii. In addition, 32 heads were positive for Francisella tularensis, belonging to Francisella tularensis. subsp. holarctica (type B), and 122 heads were positive for Coxiella burnetii. Argas persicus were found to carry both Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Coinfection also existed in 15 Hyalomma asiaticum gathered from wild free-range camels, 10 of which were infected with Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii, and the other 5 with Lyme disease spirochetes and Coxiella burnetii. Conclusion There are at least 3 different tick species in Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, and the tick-borne pathogens include Lyme disease spirochetes, Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Coinfection exists in the tick specimens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:47:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-116c297e61814f03b7a02066199fb574 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1000-5404 |
| language | zho |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:47:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Editorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Di-san junyi daxue xuebao |
| spelling | doaj.art-116c297e61814f03b7a02066199fb5742022-12-21T23:19:50ZzhoEditorial Office of Journal of Third Military Medical UniversityDi-san junyi daxue xuebao1000-54042021-08-0143161598160210.16016/j.1000-5404.202103029Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu ProvinceZHANG Fang0WANG Xiaoheng 1Key Laboratory of Environmental Ecology and Population Health in Northwest Minority Areas, Medicine Depantment, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730030, China Key Laboratory of Environmental Ecology and Population Health in Northwest Minority Areas, Medicine Depantment, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730030, China Objective To investigate the possible tick-borne pathogens along the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province. Methods Ticks were collected from animal surfaces, residents' livestock barns and by dragging a cloth over vegetation, and brought back alive to our laboratory for morphological and species identification. Pathogenic DNA was extracted from the tick samples and amplified by nested PCR. Positive specimens of Lyme disease spirochetes were further analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to determine their genotypes; Subspecies determination primers (C6/C8) were adopted to amplify the positive samples of Francisella tularensis for subspecies identification. Results There were 3 species of ticks finally identified and totally 2 123 tick samples collected, including 814 Hyalomma asiaticum, 567 Dermacentor nuttalli and 742 Argas persicus. Different tick species were collected at different sites: Hyalomma asiaticum and Dermacentor nuttalli were picked up from the surface of wild free-range camels and their living environment, while Argas persicus from residents' barn. Among all the tick specimens, 54 samples were tested positive for Lyme disease spirochetes, and RFLP analysis indicated that the pathogen in the samples belonged to 2 genotypes: either Borrelia garinii or Borrelia afzelii. In addition, 32 heads were positive for Francisella tularensis, belonging to Francisella tularensis. subsp. holarctica (type B), and 122 heads were positive for Coxiella burnetii. Argas persicus were found to carry both Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Coinfection also existed in 15 Hyalomma asiaticum gathered from wild free-range camels, 10 of which were infected with Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii, and the other 5 with Lyme disease spirochetes and Coxiella burnetii. Conclusion There are at least 3 different tick species in Hexi Corridor, Gansu Province, and the tick-borne pathogens include Lyme disease spirochetes, Francisella tularensis and Coxiella burnetii. Coinfection exists in the tick specimens.http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/202103029.htmlyme disease spirochetesfrancisella tularensiscoxiella burnetiitickmolecular epidemiology |
| spellingShingle | ZHANG Fang WANG Xiaoheng Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province Di-san junyi daxue xuebao lyme disease spirochetes francisella tularensis coxiella burnetii tick molecular epidemiology |
| title | Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province |
| title_full | Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province |
| title_fullStr | Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province |
| title_short | Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens along Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province |
| title_sort | molecular epidemiology of tick borne pathogens along hexi corridor of gansu province |
| topic | lyme disease spirochetes francisella tularensis coxiella burnetii tick molecular epidemiology |
| url | http://aammt.tmmu.edu.cn/Upload/rhtml/202103029.htm |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zhangfang molecularepidemiologyoftickbornepathogensalonghexicorridorofgansuprovince AT wangxiaoheng molecularepidemiologyoftickbornepathogensalonghexicorridorofgansuprovince |