Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 29, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines
07:18

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

Published on: October 11, 2022

2.5K

Diversity of spotted fever group rickettsiae and their association with host ticks in Japan

May June Thu1,2, Yongjin Qiu3, Keita Matsuno4,5

  • 1Unit of Risk Analysis and Management, Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control, N 20 W 10, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 001-0020, Japan.

Scientific Reports
|February 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Spotted fever group rickettsiae diversity in Japan was investigated. Most rickettsial genotypes showed a strong association with specific tick species, suggesting limited host ranges and maintenance within particular tick populations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Vector-borne diseases
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae are tick-associated bacteria causing diseases like Japanese spotted fever.
  • The diversity and phylogenetic relationships of SFG rickettsiae in Japan, beyond Rickettsia japonica, are not well understood.
  • Understanding SFG rickettsiae diversity is crucial for assessing public health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a nationwide survey of questing ticks in Japan to determine the diversity of SFG rickettsiae.
  • To characterize identified SFG rickettsiae based on genetic analysis.
  • To investigate the association between SFG rickettsiae genotypes, host tick species, and geographical origin.

Main Methods:

  • Nationwide cross-sectional survey of 2,189 questing ticks from 19 species.
  • Real-time PCR targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA) for Rickettsia detection.
  • Conventional PCR and sequencing of gltA and five additional genes for species identification and characterization.

Main Results:

  • 373 out of 2,189 ticks (17.0%) tested positive for Rickettsia spp.
  • Fifteen distinct SFG rickettsiae genotypes were identified.
  • Five Rickettsia species (R. asiatica, R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. tamurae, Candidatus R. tarasevichiae) and unclassified SFG rickettsiae were characterized.
  • A strong association was observed between rickettsial genotypes and host tick species, but not geographical origin.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals a significant diversity of SFG rickettsiae in Japanese ticks.
  • SFG rickettsiae genotypes exhibit host specificity, primarily maintained within specific tick species.
  • These findings highlight the importance of tick surveillance for understanding SFG rickettsiae ecology and transmission dynamics.

More Related Videos

Isolation of microRNAs from Tick Ex Vivo Salivary Gland Cultures and Extracellular Vesicles08:03

Isolation of microRNAs from Tick Ex Vivo Salivary Gland Cultures and Extracellular Vesicles

Published on: April 6, 2022

3.0K
Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia10:37

Cultivation Methods of Spirochetes from Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Complex and Relapsing Fever Borrelia

Published on: November 25, 2022

6.9K

Related Concept Videos

Types of Fever01:25

Types of Fever

Fever can be triggered by several factors, including infections, nervous system disorders, certain cancers, blood diseases like leukemia, embolism, thrombosis, heatstroke, dehydration, surgical trauma, crushing injuries, and allergic reactions.
Here are the different types of fever:
1.2K
Patterns of Fever01:26

Patterns of Fever

Before understanding the types and patterns of fever, it is essential to know its phases.
3.9K
Methods of reducing fever01:22

Methods of reducing fever

The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
1.4K
Diversity of Archaea I01:30

Diversity of Archaea I

Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...
615
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
9.3K
Cell Diversity01:13

Cell Diversity

The concept of a cell started with microscopic observations of dead cork tissue by Robert Hooke in 1665. Hooke coined the term "cell" based on the resemblance of the small subdivisions in the cork to the rooms that monks inhabited, called cells. About ten years later, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek became the first person to observe the living and moving cells under a microscope. In the century that followed, the theory that cells represented the basic unit of life developed.
Multicellular...
5.0K