Detection of Tick-Borne Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Ticks from the Zambia–Angola Border

oleh: Yongjin Qiu, Martin Simuunza, Masahiro Kajihara, Joseph Ndebe, Ngonda Saasa, Penjani Kapila, Hayato Furumoto, Alice C. C. Lau, Ryo Nakao, Ayato Takada, Hirofumi Sawa

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-05-01

Deskripsi

Tick-borne diseases (TBDs), including emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, are of public health importance worldwide; however, TBDs tend to be overlooked, especially in countries with fewer resources, such as Zambia and Angola. Here, we investigated <i>Rickettsia</i>, <i>Anaplasmataceae</i>, and Apicomplexan pathogens in 59 and 96 adult ticks collected from dogs and cattle, respectively, in Shangombo, a town at the Zambia–Angola border. We detected <i>Richkettsia africae</i> and <i>Rickettsia aeschilimannii</i> in 15.6% of <i>Amblyomma variegatum</i> and 41.7% of <i>Hyalomma truncatum</i> ticks, respectively. <i>Ehrlichia minasensis</i> was detected in 18.8% of <i>H. truncatum</i>, and <i>Candidatus</i> Midichloria mitochondrii was determined in <i>Hyalomma marginatum</i>. We also detected <i>Babesia caballi</i> and <i>Theileria velifera</i> in <i>A. variegatum</i> ticks with a 4.4% and 6.7% prevalence, respectively. In addition, <i>Hepatozoon canis</i> was detected in 6.5% of <i>Rhipicephalus lunulatus</i> and 4.3% of <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i>. Coinfection of <i>R. aeshilimannii</i> and <i>E. minasensis</i> were observed in 4.2% of <i>H. truncatum</i>. This is the first report of <i>Ca.</i> M. mitochondrii and <i>E. minasensis</i>, and the second report of <i>B. caballi</i>, in the country. <i>Rickettsia africae</i> and <i>R. aeschlimannii</i> are pathogenic to humans, and <i>E. minasensis</i>, <i>B. caballi</i>, <i>T. velifera</i>, and <i>H. canis</i> are pathogenic to animals. Therefore, individuals, clinicians, veterinarians, and pet owners should be aware of the distribution of these pathogens in the area.