Novel spotted fever group rickettsiae in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks from Gansu, Northwest China. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Jifei; Tian, Zhancheng; Liu, Zhijie; Niu, Qingli; Han, Rong; Li, Youquan; Guan, Guiquan; Liu, Junlong; Liu, Guangyuan; Luo, Jianxun; Yin, Hong
• Is Part Of: Parasites & vectors. Volume 9:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: gltA gene -- ompA gene -- Tick -- Rickettsia sp -- SFG rickettsia; Parasitism -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Vector-pathogen relationships -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.96
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1423-7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-3305

Abstract

Abstract Background Rickettsia spp. are obligate intracellular bacteria and well known as transmitted by arthropods. These pathogens have a broad geographic distribution and a high degree of biological and clinical diversity. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization ofRickettsia spp. in ticks collected from Gansu, whereBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato andAnaplasma phagocytophilum were previously reported in ticks and ruminants. Methods A total of 1, 583 questingHaemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks were collected and tested for the presence ofRickettsia spp.gltA gene by PCR. Samples positive forgltA were examined by specific primers targeted for theompA gene of SFG rickettsiae. The infections were further validated by sequencing and positive samples were genetically characterized based on thegltA andompA genes. Results In total, Rickettsia spp. infection was found in 179 (18.5 %)H. qinghaiensis tick pools by using PCR and primers specific for thegltA gene. Of those, 157 (16.3 %) tick pools were positive for SFG rickettsiae by PCR based onompA gene. Amplification and molecular analysis of the nucleotide sequences ofgltA andompA genes indicated three potential novel spotted fever group rickettsiae inH. qinghaiensis ticks. These three potential novel spotted fever group rickettsiae were clustered together in a subgroup, which represents a sister taxon to and separates from other known four SFG rickettsiae subgroups. Conclusions This study revealed a high infection rate of SFG rickettsiae inH. qinghaiensis ticks in northwest China. Three potential novel spotted fever group rickettsiae classified into a novel SFG rickettsiae subgroup were identified and named "Candidatus Rickettsia gannanii" related strains in recognition of the location where it was first detected.