First records of Secretargas transgariepinus (Argasidae) in Libya and Jordan: corrections of collection records and detection of microorganisms
- Martin Ševčík 1, Eva Špitalská 2, Michaela Maliterná 3, Peter Kabát 2,3, Petr Benda 4,5
- 1Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia. martin.sevcik@hotmail.sk.
- 2Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.
- 3Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovičova 6, SK-842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.
- 4Department of Zoology, National Museum (Natural History), Václavské nám. 68, CZ-115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic.
- 5Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 43 Praha 2, Czech Republic.
- 0Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia. martin.sevcik@hotmail.sk.
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.New records of the secretive tick, Secretargas transgariepinus, were identified in the Middle East. This study also provides the first evidence of Murid gammaherpesvirus 68, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Rickettsia in this bat tick species.
Area Of Science
- Parasitology
- Arthropod-borne Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background
- The bat tick Secretargas transgariepinus is poorly understood due to its elusive nature.
- Existing records of this Afrotropical and southern Palaearctic species are scarce.
Purpose Of The Study
- To report new Middle Eastern occurrences of Secretargas transgariepinus.
- To identify potential viral and bacterial pathogens within collected tick specimens.
Main Methods
- Morphological examination of tick specimens.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for pathogen detection.
Main Results
- New records of S. transgariepinus were established in Libya and Jordan, with larvae collected from Otonycteris hemprichii and an unidentified bat.
- PCR analysis revealed infections with Murid gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, and a Rickettsia species in S. transgariepinus.
Conclusions
- This study expands the known geographic distribution of Secretargas transgariepinus.
- It presents the first evidence of MHV-68, Borrelia, and Rickettsia in this tick species, highlighting potential public health and veterinary implications.
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