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Tick-borne pathogens from ruminant ticks in a Mediterranean ecosystem from Eastern Spain
María Teresa Masià-Castillo1,2, Enrique Maiques-Rodriguez3, Ángela Martínez-Alfaro3
1Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, Spain.
Medical and Veterinary Entomology
|December 23, 2024
Summary
This study found Anaplasma and Theileria species in ticks from ruminants in Valencia, Spain. These tick-borne pathogens pose economic risks to livestock, highlighting the need for better disease management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Entomology
- Molecular Parasitology
- Livestock Health
Background:
- Vector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by ticks, pose significant threats to both human and animal health.
- Intracellular pathogens like Anaplasmataceae and piroplasmids (Babesia/Theileria spp.) transmitted by ticks cause considerable economic losses in the livestock sector.
- Understanding pathogen prevalence in tick populations is crucial for effective disease control and mitigation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Anaplasmataceae and piroplasmids in ticks collected from ruminants in Valencia, Spain.
- To identify tick species infesting ruminants and assess host-specific risks.
- To characterize the genetic diversity of detected tick-borne pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Collection and morphological/molecular identification of 1674 ticks from 163 domestic and wild ruminants between 2019-2022.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis on 108 individual ticks to detect Anaplasmataceae and piroplasmids.
- DNA sequencing of positive samples for precise pathogen identification.
Main Results:
- Rhipicephalus spp. were the most prevalent tick species (88.7%), followed by Haemaphysalis sulcata (5.9%), Ixodes ricinus (3.6%), and Dermacentor marginatum (1.2%).
- PCR analysis revealed 16.7% of ticks positive for Anaplasmataceae and 39.8% for Theileria spp.
- Sequencing identified Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma platys, Ehrlichia spp., Theileria ovis, and Theileria capreoli; Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. were not detected.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the presence of economically significant tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma and Theileria in ruminant tick populations in Valencia.
- Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) showed a higher risk of Haemaphysalis infestation.
- Further research and integrated management strategies are essential to control tick populations and prevent the spread of these diseases in livestock.
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