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Published on: February 21, 2012
Molecular detection of rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from Ecuador
Sandra Enríquez1, María L Félix2, Sergio Bermúdez3
1Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis - CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Hospital del Día Building, Third Floor, Jerónimo Leiton and Gatto Sobral Streets, Quito, Ecuador. ienriquez@uce.edu.ec.
Abstract:
Rickettsiales are obligate intracellular bacteria that need vertebrates and arthropods to maintain their life cycles. Some species of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia are transmitted by ticks to both animals and humans and can cause mild to severe and even fatal cases. In the Americas, there is substantial data on rickettsial agents, encompassing both clinical cases and the detection of these agents in ticks, but in Ecuador, the information about them remains poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect molecularly rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks in both parasitic and free-living phases collected from domestic animals and pasture in five localities across three coastal provinces of Ecuador. Rickettsia parkeri, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, and Ehrlichia sp. were recorded in A. maculatum for the first time in Ecuador. These records were made in a region where antibodies to the Spotted Fever Rickettsia Group were detected in humans. Additional studies are needed to characterize Ehrlichia sp. at a specific level. Furthermore, recognizing the specific Rickettsiales species circulating in the ticks and the hosts within a region is crucial for assessing potential contact risks.
Insights
Rickettsial agents like Rickettsia parkeri and Ehrlichia sp. were detected in Amblyomma maculatum ticks in Ecuador for the first time. This finding is crucial for understanding potential risks from these tick-borne bacteria.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Arthropod-borne Pathogens
Background:
- Rickettsiales are obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by arthropods, posing risks to animals and humans.
- While data on rickettsial agents is abundant in the Americas, Ecuador lacks comprehensive information.
- Amblyomma maculatum ticks are known vectors for various pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To molecularly detect rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks in Ecuador.
- To identify Rickettsiales species in both parasitic and free-living tick phases.
- To assess the presence of these agents in domestic animals and pasture environments.
Main Methods:
- Collection of Amblyomma maculatum ticks from domestic animals and pastures in five Ecuadorian localities.
- Molecular detection of rickettsial agents using PCR-based methods.
- Analysis of ticks in both parasitic and free-living stages.
Main Results:
- First-time detection of Rickettsia parkeri and Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae in A. maculatum in Ecuador.
- Identification of Ehrlichia sp. in A. maculatum ticks, requiring further specific characterization.
- These findings occurred in a region with prior evidence of human exposure to Spotted Fever Rickettsia Group.
Conclusions:
- This study establishes the presence of Rickettsia parkeri, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, and Ehrlichia sp. in Ecuadorian ticks.
- Further research is necessary to fully characterize the identified Ehrlichia species.
- Understanding circulating Rickettsiales is vital for evaluating potential human and animal health risks in Ecuador.
