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First Description of Mycoplasma agalactiae Anatomical Localization in Naturally Infected Hard Ticks (Rhipicephalus
Sergio Migliore1, Lucia Condorelli1,2, Paola Galluzzo1
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
Abstract:
Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) is considered the primary causative agent of contagious agalactia (CA) in sheep and goats, which causes severe losses to the small ruminant dairy industry. As early as 1816, it was thought that environmental factors played a role in pathogen maintenance in endemic areas. Specifically, recent studies hypothesized a vector role for arthropods in the epidemiology of disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and anatomical localization of Ma in naturally infected Riphicephalus bursa ticks to better evaluate tick-pathogen interactions. Salivary glands and ovaries of confirmed Ma-positive R. bursa were analyzed to look for the Ma antigen using immunohistochemistry (IHC). IHC showed strong positivity to Ma in the cytoplasm of salivary cells as well as in cells from the ovary. Our work demonstrated for the first time the crossing of the tick midgut barrier by Ma and the subsequent infection of organs capable of spreading the infection, and this result represents an absolute novelty in disease-related knowledge. Our preliminary results provide conclusive evidence of the potential vector role represented by hard ticks in the epidemiology of CA. Further field and laboratory investigations are necessary to confirm the tick role in the transmission of clinical CA.
Insights
Mycoplasma agalactiae, the cause of contagious agalactia in sheep and goats, was found in the salivary glands and ovaries of Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. This study demonstrates the potential for ticks to act as vectors for this economically significant disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Contagious agalactia (CA), caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma), results in significant economic losses in small ruminant dairy production.
- Environmental factors and potential arthropod vectors have been hypothesized to play a role in the maintenance and spread of Ma in endemic regions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and anatomical localization of Mycoplasma agalactiae within naturally infected Rhipicephalus bursa ticks.
- To evaluate the potential tick-pathogen interactions relevant to the epidemiology of contagious agalactia.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to detect the Ma antigen.
- Salivary glands and ovaries of confirmed Ma-positive Rhipicephalus bursa ticks were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Mycoplasma agalactiae antigen was detected with strong positivity in the cytoplasm of salivary gland cells and ovarian cells.
- This study provides the first evidence of Mycoplasma agalactiae crossing the tick midgut barrier and infecting organs capable of pathogen dissemination.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide conclusive evidence for the potential role of hard ticks, specifically Rhipicephalus bursa, as vectors in the epidemiology of contagious agalactia.
- Further field and laboratory studies are warranted to confirm the role of ticks in the transmission of clinical contagious agalactia.
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