<i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i>
Argasid ticks have the vectorial potential for transmitting disease-causing pathogens to avian hosts, resulting in economic losses that may not be fully estimated. <i>Borrelia</i> species are the responsible agents of borreliosis in poultry, animals and humans. Our previous studies have...
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/10/628 |
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| author | Hafsa Zahid Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Muhammad Ateeq Tetsuya Tanaka Shun-Chung Chang Chien-Chin Chen Abid Ali |
| author_facet | Hafsa Zahid Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Muhammad Ateeq Tetsuya Tanaka Shun-Chung Chang Chien-Chin Chen Abid Ali |
| author_sort | Hafsa Zahid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Argasid ticks have the vectorial potential for transmitting disease-causing pathogens to avian hosts, resulting in economic losses that may not be fully estimated. <i>Borrelia</i> species are the responsible agents of borreliosis in poultry, animals and humans. Our previous studies have reported a high prevalence of <i>Argas persicus</i> infesting domestic fowls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. However, molecular screening and genetic characterization of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. in <i>A. persicus</i> have been neglected in Pakistan. In this study, we focused on the molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. associated with <i>A. persicus</i> ticks infesting domestic fowls and ducks, and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> infesting bats in selected districts of KP. Overall, 1818 ticks, including females (415; 23%), males (345; 19%), nymphs (475; 26%) and larvae (583; 32%), were collected from 27 locations in nine districts (Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Chitral, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur and Hangu) from domestic fowls, ducks and their shelters, and bats. A subset of 197 ticks was selected for DNA extraction and PCR to amplify fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase (<i>cox</i>) gene for ticks and flagellin B (<i>flaB</i>) for the detection and genetic characterization of associated <i>Borrelia</i> spp. Among these, only <i>Borrelia anserina</i> DNA was detected in 40 ticks (27.2%) of different life stages, where highest prevalence was found in female ticks (18; 45%), followed by nymphs (12; 30%), larvae (7; 17.5%) and males (3; 7.5%). Tick infestation in shelters (1081; 77%) was higher than on hosts (323; 23%). The resultant <i>cox</i> amplicons of <i>A. persicus</i> showed 100% identity with the same species reported from Pakistan, China, Iran, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Egypt and <i>C. vespertilionis</i> show 100% identity with the species reported from Pakistan, China, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam, Spain, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Hungry, and clustered with the aforementioned species in the phylogenetic tree. The obtained <i>Borrelia</i> sequences showed 100% identity with <i>B. anserina</i> and revealed a close resemblance to the relapsing fever group and clustered in a monophyletic clade with <i>B. anserina</i> from India, Iran and Brazil in a phylogenetic tree. These results establish the first molecular characterization of <i>B. anserina</i> in <i>A. persicus</i> infesting domestic fowls and ducks in the region, as well as their shelters. To effectively control zoonotic consequences, country-wide surveillance research should be encouraged to screen soft ticks infesting various birds for associated pathogens. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:09Z |
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| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:50:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5c400735bb74675a404129c3b1a02f52023-11-19T18:26:15ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812023-10-01101062810.3390/vetsci10100628<i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i>Hafsa Zahid0Abdulaziz Alouffi1Mashal M. Almutairi2Muhammad Ateeq3Tetsuya Tanaka4Shun-Chung Chang5Chien-Chin Chen6Abid Ali7Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanKing Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanLaboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, JapanDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 60002, TaiwanDepartment of Pathology, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chiayi 60002, TaiwanDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanArgasid ticks have the vectorial potential for transmitting disease-causing pathogens to avian hosts, resulting in economic losses that may not be fully estimated. <i>Borrelia</i> species are the responsible agents of borreliosis in poultry, animals and humans. Our previous studies have reported a high prevalence of <i>Argas persicus</i> infesting domestic fowls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. However, molecular screening and genetic characterization of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. in <i>A. persicus</i> have been neglected in Pakistan. In this study, we focused on the molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of <i>Borrelia</i> spp. associated with <i>A. persicus</i> ticks infesting domestic fowls and ducks, and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> infesting bats in selected districts of KP. Overall, 1818 ticks, including females (415; 23%), males (345; 19%), nymphs (475; 26%) and larvae (583; 32%), were collected from 27 locations in nine districts (Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Chitral, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Bajaur and Hangu) from domestic fowls, ducks and their shelters, and bats. A subset of 197 ticks was selected for DNA extraction and PCR to amplify fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase (<i>cox</i>) gene for ticks and flagellin B (<i>flaB</i>) for the detection and genetic characterization of associated <i>Borrelia</i> spp. Among these, only <i>Borrelia anserina</i> DNA was detected in 40 ticks (27.2%) of different life stages, where highest prevalence was found in female ticks (18; 45%), followed by nymphs (12; 30%), larvae (7; 17.5%) and males (3; 7.5%). Tick infestation in shelters (1081; 77%) was higher than on hosts (323; 23%). The resultant <i>cox</i> amplicons of <i>A. persicus</i> showed 100% identity with the same species reported from Pakistan, China, Iran, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Egypt and <i>C. vespertilionis</i> show 100% identity with the species reported from Pakistan, China, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam, Spain, Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Hungry, and clustered with the aforementioned species in the phylogenetic tree. The obtained <i>Borrelia</i> sequences showed 100% identity with <i>B. anserina</i> and revealed a close resemblance to the relapsing fever group and clustered in a monophyletic clade with <i>B. anserina</i> from India, Iran and Brazil in a phylogenetic tree. These results establish the first molecular characterization of <i>B. anserina</i> in <i>A. persicus</i> infesting domestic fowls and ducks in the region, as well as their shelters. To effectively control zoonotic consequences, country-wide surveillance research should be encouraged to screen soft ticks infesting various birds for associated pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/10/628<i>Borrelia anserina</i><i>Argas persicus</i>domestic fowlsduckrelapsing feverPakistan |
| spellingShingle | Hafsa Zahid Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Muhammad Ateeq Tetsuya Tanaka Shun-Chung Chang Chien-Chin Chen Abid Ali <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> Veterinary Sciences <i>Borrelia anserina</i> <i>Argas persicus</i> domestic fowls duck relapsing fever Pakistan |
| title | <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> |
| title_full | <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> |
| title_fullStr | <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> |
| title_short | <i>Argas persicus</i> and <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> Ticks Infesting Ducks, Domestic Fowls and Bats in Pakistan: First Report on Molecular Survey and Phylogenetic Position of <i>Borrelia anserina</i> |
| title_sort | i argas persicus i and i carios vespertilionis i ticks infesting ducks domestic fowls and bats in pakistan first report on molecular survey and phylogenetic position of i borrelia anserina i |
| topic | <i>Borrelia anserina</i> <i>Argas persicus</i> domestic fowls duck relapsing fever Pakistan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/10/10/628 |
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