Browsing by Author "Perera, A."
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- Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and AnatoliaPublication . Norte, A.C.; Harris, D.J.; Silveira, D.; Nunes, C.S.; Núncio, M.S.; Martínez, E.G.; Giménez, A.; Sousa, R.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Perera, A.Ticks carry a diverse community of microorganisms including non-pathogenic symbionts, commensals, and pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. The assessment of tick-borne microorganisms (TBM) in tortoises and their ticks is essential to understand their eco-epidemiology, and to map and monitor potential pathogens to humans and other animals. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of microorganisms found in ticks collected from the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Ticks feeding on wild T. graeca were collected, and pathogens were screened by polymerase chain reaction using group-specific primers. In total, 131 adult Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from 92 T. graeca in Morocco (n = 48), Tunisia (n = 2), Algeria (n = 70), and Turkey (n = 11). Bacteria and protozoa detected included Hemolivia mauritanica (22.9%), Midichloria mitochondrii (11.4%), relapsing-fever borreliae (8.4%), Ehrlichia spp. (7.6%), Rickettsia spp. (3.4%), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.9%), Francisella spp. (0.9%), and Wolbachia spp. (0.8%). The characterization of Rickettsia included R. sibirica mongolitimonae (Algeria), R. aeschlimannii (Turkey), and R.africae (Morocco). Hemolivia mauritanica and Ehrlichia spp. prevalence varied significantly with the sampling region/country. We did not detect significant associations in microorganism presence within ticks, nor between microorganism presence and tick mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. This is the first report of Francisella persica-like, relapsing fever borreliae, M. mitochondrii, and Wolbachia spp. in H. aegyptium ticks collected from wild hosts from the South and Eastern Mediterranean region, and of R. sibirica mongolitimonae and R. africae in H. aegyptium from Algeria and Morocco, respectively. Given that T. graeca is a common species in commercial and non-commercial pet trade, the evaluation of the role of this species and its ticks as hosts for TBM is particularly relevant for public health.
- Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected fromspur-thighedtortoise(Testudograeca)in North Africa and AnatoliaPublication . Norte, A.C.; Harris, D.J.; Silveira, D.; Nunes, C.S.; Núncio, M.S.; Martínez, E.G.; Giménez, A.; Sousa, R.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Perera, A.Ticks carry a diverse community of microorganisms including non-pathogenic symbionts, commensals, and pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. The assessment of tick-borne microorganisms (TBM) in tortoises and their ticks is essential to understand their eco-epidemiology, and to map and monitor potential pathogenstohumansandotheranimals.Theaimofthisstudywastocharacterizethe diversity of microorganisms found in ticks collected from the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Ticks feeding on wild T. graeca were collected, and pathogens were screened by polymerase chain reaction using groupspecific primers. In total, 131 adult Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from 92 T. graeca in Morocco (n = 48), Tunisia (n = 2), Algeria (n = 70), and Turkey (n = 11). Bacteria and protozoa detected included Hemolivia mauritanica (22.9%), Midichloria mitochondrii (11.4%), relapsing-fever borreliae (8.4%), Ehrlichia spp. (7.6%), Rickettsia spp. (3.4%), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.9%), Francisella spp. (0.9%), and Wolbachia spp. (0.8%). The characterization of Rickettsia included R. sibirica mongolitimonae (Algeria), R. aeschlimannii (Turkey), and R.africae (Morocco). Hemolivia mauritanica and Ehrlichia spp. prevalence varied significantly with the sampling region/country. We did not detect significant associations in microorganism presence within ticks, nor between microorganism presence and tick mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. This is the first report of Francisella persica-like, relapsing fever borreliae, M. mitochondrii, andWolbachia spp. in H.aegyptiumticks collected from wild hosts from the South and Eastern Mediterranean region, and of R. sibirica mongolitimonae and R. africae in H. aegyptium from Algeria and Morocco, respectively. Given that T. graeca is a common species in commercial and non-commercial pet trade, the evaluation of the role of this species anditsticksashostsforTBMisparticularlyrelevantforpublichealth
- Hyalomma ticks infecting tortoises in North Africa and Turkey: distribution, genetic variation and their role as potential vectorsPublication . Perera, A.; Silveira, D.; Graciá, E.; Giménez, A.; Saramago-Nunes, C.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Núncio, M.S.; Harris, D.J.; Norte, A.C.Hyalomma aegyptium is the most common tick species infesting tortoises in the Palearctic. Although larvae and nymphs of these ticks feed on different animal groups, adults of H. aegyptium are highly specific to Testudo. Hyalomma are also carriers of various microorganisms, including pathogens. In this symposium we present the results of two studies on Hyalomma ticks infesting Testudo from North Africa and Turkey. In the first, we analysed the genetic diversity of Hyalomma, and assessed whether the genetic patterns of the ticks matched the ones of the Testudo hosts. We identified two main genetic groups of H. aegyptium with no clear geographical structure. We believe that the existence of alternative hosts or the pet trade may explain some of these results. In the second study, we aimed to detect the presence of microorganisms and potential pathogens in H. aegyptium. The molecular screening detected the following parasites: Hemolivia mauritanica, Ehrlichia sp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, relapsing fever Borrelia, Francisella sp. and the microorganisms Candidatus Midichlora mitochondrii and Wolbachia sp. Despite the low prevalence of human pathogenic agents, these results highlight the potential consequences of the pet trade on disease emergence and the dispersion of pathogens and other microorganisms