Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia
A growing number of indigenous trypanosomes have been reported to naturally infect a variety of Australian wildlife with some species of <i>Trypanosoma</i> implicated in the population decline of critically endangered marsupials. However, the mode of transmission of Australian trypanosom...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Pathogens |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/8/1037 |
| _version_ | 1797522480906108928 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna-Sheree Krige R. C. Andrew Thompson Anke Seidlitz Sarah Keatley Julia Wayne Peta L. Clode |
| author_facet | Anna-Sheree Krige R. C. Andrew Thompson Anke Seidlitz Sarah Keatley Julia Wayne Peta L. Clode |
| author_sort | Anna-Sheree Krige |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growing number of indigenous trypanosomes have been reported to naturally infect a variety of Australian wildlife with some species of <i>Trypanosoma</i> implicated in the population decline of critically endangered marsupials. However, the mode of transmission of Australian trypanosomes is unknown since their vectors remain unidentified. Here we aimed to fill this current knowledge gap about the occurrence and identity of indigenous trypanosomes in Australian invertebrates by conducting molecular screening for the presence of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in native ticks collected from south-west Australia. A total of 231 ticks (148 collected from vegetation and 83 retrieved directly from 76 marsupial hosts) were screened for <i>Trypanosoma</i> using a High-Resolution Melt (HRM) qPCR assay. An overall <i>Trypanosoma</i> qPCR positivity of 37% (46/125) and 34% (26/76) was detected in questing ticks and host-collected (i.e., feeding) ticks, respectively. Of these, sequencing revealed 28% (35/125) of questing and 28% (21/76) of feeding ticks were infected with one or more of the five species of trypanosome previously reported in this region (<i>T. copemani, T. noyesi, T. vegrandis, T. gilletti, Trypanosoma</i> sp. ANU2). This work has confirmed that Australian ticks are capable of harbouring several species of indigenous trypanosome and likely serve as their vectors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:29:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ca1ca2d5ca042dab953f820ccbb4a10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:29:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ca1ca2d5ca042dab953f820ccbb4a102023-11-22T09:09:53ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-08-01108103710.3390/pathogens10081037Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West AustraliaAnna-Sheree Krige0R. C. Andrew Thompson1Anke Seidlitz2Sarah Keatley3Julia Wayne4Peta L. Clode5UWA School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaSchool of Environmental and Conservation Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaSchool of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), Locked Bag 2, Manjimup, WA 6258, AustraliaUWA School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, AustraliaA growing number of indigenous trypanosomes have been reported to naturally infect a variety of Australian wildlife with some species of <i>Trypanosoma</i> implicated in the population decline of critically endangered marsupials. However, the mode of transmission of Australian trypanosomes is unknown since their vectors remain unidentified. Here we aimed to fill this current knowledge gap about the occurrence and identity of indigenous trypanosomes in Australian invertebrates by conducting molecular screening for the presence of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in native ticks collected from south-west Australia. A total of 231 ticks (148 collected from vegetation and 83 retrieved directly from 76 marsupial hosts) were screened for <i>Trypanosoma</i> using a High-Resolution Melt (HRM) qPCR assay. An overall <i>Trypanosoma</i> qPCR positivity of 37% (46/125) and 34% (26/76) was detected in questing ticks and host-collected (i.e., feeding) ticks, respectively. Of these, sequencing revealed 28% (35/125) of questing and 28% (21/76) of feeding ticks were infected with one or more of the five species of trypanosome previously reported in this region (<i>T. copemani, T. noyesi, T. vegrandis, T. gilletti, Trypanosoma</i> sp. ANU2). This work has confirmed that Australian ticks are capable of harbouring several species of indigenous trypanosome and likely serve as their vectors.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/8/1037trypanosomesPCRprevalenceinfectionticksvectors |
| spellingShingle | Anna-Sheree Krige R. C. Andrew Thompson Anke Seidlitz Sarah Keatley Julia Wayne Peta L. Clode Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia Pathogens trypanosomes PCR prevalence infection ticks vectors |
| title | Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia |
| title_full | Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia |
| title_short | Molecular Detection of <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. in Questing and Feeding Ticks (Ixodidae) Collected from an Endemic Region of South-West Australia |
| title_sort | molecular detection of i trypanosoma i spp in questing and feeding ticks ixodidae collected from an endemic region of south west australia |
| topic | trypanosomes PCR prevalence infection ticks vectors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/8/1037 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annashereekrige moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia AT rcandrewthompson moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia AT ankeseidlitz moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia AT sarahkeatley moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia AT juliawayne moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia AT petalclode moleculardetectionofitrypanosomaisppinquestingandfeedingticksixodidaecollectedfromanendemicregionofsouthwestaustralia |