Molecular detection of vector-borne agents in ectoparasites and reptiles from Brazil

Author(s)

Mendoza-Roldan, Jairo Alfonso ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Ribeiro, Stephany Rocha ^{[4, 5, 3]} ; Castilho-Onofrio, Valeria ^{[4, 5, 3]} ; Marcili, Arlei ^{[1, 4, 5]} ; Simonato, Bruna Borghi ^[6] ; Latrofa, Maria Stefania ^[2] ; Benelli, Giovanni ^[7] ; Otranto, Domenico ^{[2, 8]} ; Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes ^{[1, 9]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Vet Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Bari, Dept Vet Med, Bari - Italy

^[3] Butantan Inst, Zool Collect Lab, BR-05503900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Santo Amaro, Masters Program Vet Med & Anim Welf, BR-04829300 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Santo Amaro, Doctoral Program One Hlth, BR-04829300 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Anhembi Morumbi Univ Vila Tramontano, Dept Vet Med, BR-05650000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[7] Univ Pisa, Dept Agr Food & Environm, Via Borghetto 80, I-56124 Pisa - Italy

^[8] Bu Ali Sina Univ, Fac Vet Sci, Dept Pathobiol, Felestin Sq, Hamadan, Hamadan - Iran

^[9] Univ Estadual Paulista Julio De Mesquita Filho UN, Dept Vet Pathol, BR-14884900 Jaboticabal - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES; v. 12, n. 1 JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Trombidiformes and Mesostigmata mites, as well as Ixodida ticks, infest ectothermic tetrapods worldwide, potentially acting as vectors of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The relationship among ectoparasites, transmitted pathogenic agents (e.g., Borrelia spp., Coxiella spp., Hepatozoon spp., and Rickettsia spp.) and ectothermic hosts has been scarcely investigated. This research focuses on a large collection of Brazilian herpetofauna screened for the presence of arthropod ectoparasites and vector-borne microbial agents. Reptiles (n = 121) and amphibians (n = 49) from various locations were infested by ectoparasites. Following genomic extraction, microbial agents were detected in 81 % of the Acari (i.e. n = 113 mites and n = 26 ticks). None of the mites, ticks and tissues from amphibians yielded positive results for any of the screened agents. Blood was collected from reptiles and processed through blood cytology and molecular analyses (n = 48). Of those, six snakes (12.5 %) showed intraerythrocytic alterations compatible with Hepatozoon spp. gamonts and Iridovirus inclusions. Hepatozoon spp. similar to Hepatozoon ayorgbor and Hepatozoon musa were molecularly identified from seven hosts, two mite and two tick species. Rickettsia spp. (e.g., Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia bellii-like, Rickettsia sp.) were detected molecularly from four mite species and Amblyomma rotundatum ticks. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the molecular identification of the above-mentioned microbial agents of mites and ticks related to snakes and lizards. Overall, our findings highlighted that the Brazilian herpetofauna and its ectoparasites harbour potentially pathogenic agents, particularly from the northern and south-eastern regions. The detection of several species of spotted fever group Rickettsia pointed out the potential role of ectothermic hosts and related arthropod ectoparasites in the epidemiological cycle of these bacteria in Brazil. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12910-2 - Detection of hemoparasites of the genus Hepatozoon parasitizing mites of the order mesostigmata and snakes received or housed in the Instituto Butantan
• Grantee: Stephany Rocha Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation