Genetic diversity, population structure and rickettsias in Amblyomma ovale in areas of epidemiological interest for spotted fever in Brazil. Issue 2 (11th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bitencourth, K.; Amorim, M.; de Oliveira, S. V.; Voloch, C. M.; Gazêta, G. S.
• Is Part Of: Medical and veterinary entomology. Volume 33:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 268
• Publication Date: 2019-02-11
• Subjects: Amblyomma ovale clusters -- Brazilian biomes -- epidemiological scenarios -- mitochondrial markers -- phylogeography -- population genetics -- tick‐borne disease; Entomology -- Periodicals; Veterinary entomology -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-283X

Abstract

Abstract: Amblyomma ovale (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Koch, 1844 is widely‐reported in the neotropical region and is the main vector in the epidemic cycle of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, a bioagent of a milder variety of spotted fever (SF). Because species with wide geographical distributions are known to exhibit variations that influence their vectorial capacity, the present study aimed to analyze genetic diversity and rickettsia infection of A. ovale collected during the investigation and surveillance of SF cases in the Cerrado and Atlantic rainforest (ARF) Brazilian biomes. Samples had their DNA extracted, amplified and sequenced for 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II and D‐loop markers for tick analyses, as well as the glt A, htr A, omp A and omp B genes for rickettsia detection. Between 11 and 33 A. ovale haplotypes were identified, all of them exclusive to areas within individual analyzed biome areas. The A. ovale populations appeared to be structured, with Cluster I restricted to Cerrado + ARF isolated in Caatinga and Cluster II to ARF continuous area. Rickettsia bellii, R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest (first report for Goiás state, Cerrado), Rickettsia asemboensis (first record in A. ovale for Brazil) and Rickettsia felis (first detection in this ixodid) were identified. A. ovale clusters were not associated with rickettsia types. Abstract : Intrapopulational analysis identified 19, 33 and 11 Amblyomma ovale haplotypes based on 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase II and D‐loop markers sequence variation, respectively, in the Cerrado and Atlantic rainforest Brazilian biomes. The A. ovale populations area structured in Brazil, with Cluster I restricted to Cerrado + Atlantic rainforest surrounded by Caatinga biome and Cluster II restricted to Atlantic rainforest continuous area. Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia asemboensis and Rickettsia bellii were identified in this ixodid in Brazil. Amblyomma ovale clusters were not associated with rickettsia types.