Ornithodoros mimon colonizing a residence in Campinas, state of São Paulo, associated with human parasitism / Ornithodoros mimon colonizando uma residência em Campinas, estado de São Paulo, associado a parasitismo humano

Ornithodoros mimon is an argasid tick species usually associated with bats and marsupials and occasionally parasitizes humans inside their homes. This paper reports a tick infestation in a residence in the municipality of Campinas, located in the interior of the state of São Paulo (SP). This report increases O. mimon occurrence in SP and corroborates its anthropophilic activity. Further studies are needed to clarify its role as a vector of pathogens. We highlighted the presence of O. mimon in an area with a large human population (Campinas) associated with synanthropic animals.(AU)

Ornithodoros mimon é uma espécie de carrapato argasídeo, geralmente associada a morcegos e marsupiais, sendo ocasionalmente relatada parasitando humanos dentro de seus domicílios. Este trabalho relata a infestação por carrapatos em uma residência no município de Campinas, interior do estado de São Paulo (SP). O presente relato amplia a ocorrência de O. mimon no estado de SP, corroborando sua atividade antropofílica, sendo necessários mais estudos para esclarecer o seu possível papel como vetor de patógenos. Destaca-se a presença de O. mimon numa área de grande contingente humano (Campinas), associado a animais sinantrópicos.(AU)

First record of Ornithodoros faccinii (Acari: Argasidae) on toads of genus Rhinella (Anura: Bufonidae) in Brazil / Primeiro registro de Ornithodoros faccinii (Acari: Argasidae) em sapos do gênero Rhinella no Brasil

Abstract Although a group of soft ticks (Argasidae) associated with amphibians was recently discovered in Brazilian rainforests, parasitism by these ticks on cold-blooded animals remains less common than on mammal and bird species. In this study, we identified ticks that were collected from toads that had been caught in December 2016 and January 2017, at Itinguçú waterfall (22°54'05" S; 43°53'30" W) in the municipality of Itaguaí, state of Rio de Janeiro. Tick specimens were identified using a morphological and molecular approach. In total, twelve larvae of Ornithodoros ticks were collected from three individuals of Rhinella ornata and were identified as Ornithodoros faccinii. Our results include a longer 16S rRNA mitochondrial sequence for O. faccinii that supports its phylogenetic relatedness to Ornithodoros saraivai, and we report this tick species parasitizing Rhinella toads for the first time in Brazil.

Resumo Embora um grupo de carrapatos moles (Argasidae) associado a anfíbios tenha sido recentemente descoberto nas florestas brasileiras, o parasitismo por esses carrapatos em animais de sangue frio permanece menos comum do que nas espécies de mamíferos e aves. Neste estudo, identificamos carrapatos que foram coletados de sapos capturados em dezembro de 2016 e janeiro de 2017, na cachoeira de Itinguçú (22°54'05" S; 43°53'30" W) no município de Itaguaí, estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os espécimes de carrapatos foram identificados usando uma abordagem morfológica e molecular. No total, doze larvas de carrapatos Ornithodoros foram coletadas de três indivíduos de Rhinella ornata e foram identificadas como Ornithodoros faccinii. Nossos resultados incluem uma maior seqüência mitocondrial 16S rRNA para O. faccinii que suporta sua relação filogenética com Ornithodoros saraivai e relatamos esta espécie de carrapato parasitando sapos Rhinella pela primeira vez no Brasil.

Gut transcriptome analysis on females of Ornithodoros mimon (Acari: Argasidae) and phylogenetic inference of ticks / Transcriptoma do intestino de fêmeas de Ornithodoros mimon (Acari: Argasidae) e inferência filogenética de carrapatos

Abstract Ornithodoros mimon is an argasid tick that parasitizes bats, birds and opossums and is also harmful to humans. Knowledge of the transcripts present in the tick gut helps in understanding the role of vital molecules in the digestion process and parasite-host relationship, while also providing information about the evolution of arthropod hematophagy. Thus, the present study aimed to know and ascertain the main molecules expressed in the gut of argasid after their blood meal, through analysis on the gut transcriptome of engorged females of O. mimon using 454-based RNA sequencing. The gut transcriptome analysis reveals several transcripts associated with hemoglobin digestion, such as serine, cysteine, aspartic proteases and metalloenzymes. The phylogenetic analysis on the peptidases confirmed that most of them are clustered with other tick genes. We recorded the presence a cathepsin O peptidase-coding transcript in ticks. The topology of the phylogenetic inferences, based on transcripts of inferred families of homologues, was similar to that of previous reports based on mitochondrial genome and nuclear rRNA sequences. We deposited 2,213 sequence of O. mimon to the public databases. Our findings may help towards better understanding of important argasid metabolic processes, such as digestion, nutrition and immunity.

Resumo Ornithodoros mimon é um carrapato argasídeo parasita de morcegos, aves e marsupiais, além de ser bastante agressivo aos humanos. O conhecimento dos transcritos presentes no intestino dos carrapatos auxilia no entendimento do papel de moléculas vitais no processo de digestão e na relação parasito-hospedeiro, além de fornecer também informações sobre a evolução dos artrópodes hematófagos. Desta maneira, o presente estudo teve como objetivo conhecer e identificar as principais moléculas expressas no intestino de uma espécie de carrapato argasídeo após o repasto sanguíneo, através de uma análise transcritômica descritiva do intestino de fêmeas ingurgitadas de O. mimon, utilizando um sequenciamento de RNA de nova geração da plataforma 454. Além de inferir a relação filogenética de carrapatos através de um conjunto de dados transcritômicos. O transcriptoma do intestino revelou diversos transcritos associados com a digestão da hemoglobina, como proteinases das classes serino, cisteína, aspártica e metalo. Registramos a presença de um transcrito de uma cisteína peptidase do tipo catepsina O em carrapatos. A inferência filogenética baseada em conjunto de dados transcritos homólogos tem uma resolução topológica similar a de outros conjuntos de dados moleculares. Foram depositados no banco de dados gênico público 2213 transcritos de O. mimon. Os achados obtidos no presente estudo podem contribuir para compreensão dos importantes processos, como digestão, nutrição e imunidade dos carrapatos da família Argasidae, além de fornecer informações sobre a filogenia da ordem Ixodida.

Ticks parasitizing bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the Caatinga Biome, Brazil / Carrapatos parasitando morcegos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) na Caatinga, Brasil

Abstract In this paper, the authors report ticks parasitizing bats from the Serra das Almas Natural Reserve (RPPN) located in the municipality of Crateús, state of Ceará, in the semiarid Caatinga biome of northeastern Brazil. The study was carried out during nine nights in the dry season (July 2012) and 10 nights in the rainy season (February 2013). Only bats of the Phyllostomidae and Mormoopidae families were parasitized by ticks. The species Artibeus planirostris and Carolia perspicillata were the most parasitized. A total of 409 larvae were collected and classified into three genera: Antricola (n = 1), Nothoaspis (n = 1) and Ornithodoros (n = 407). Four species were morphologically identified as Nothoaspis amazoniensis, Ornithodoros cavernicolous, Ornithodoros fonsecai, Ornithodoros hasei, and Ornithodoros marinkellei. Ornithodoros hasei was the most common tick associated with bats in the current study. The present study expand the distributional ranges of at least three soft ticks into the Caatinga biome, and highlight an unexpected richness of argasid ticks inhabiting this arid ecosystem.

Resumo Neste artigo, os autores relatam carrapatos parasitando morcegos da Serra das Almas Reserva Natural (RPPN), localizada no município de Crateús, Estado do Ceará, no bioma semi-árido da Caatinga no nordeste do Brasil. O estudo foi realizado durante nove noites, na estação seca (julho de 2012) e 10 noites, na estação chuvosa (fevereiro de 2013). Apenas morcegos das famílias Phyllostomidae e Mormoopidae estavam parasitados por carrapatos. As espécies Artibeus planirostris e Carolia perspicillata foram as mais parasitadas. Um total de 409 larvas foram coletadas e classificadas em três gêneros: Antricola (n = 1), Nothoaspis (n = 1) e Ornithodoros (n = 407). Quatro espécies foram identificadas morfologicamente como Nothoaspis amazoniensis, Ornithodoros cavernicolous, Ornithodoros fonsecai, Ornithodoros hasei e Ornithodoros marinkellei. Ornithodoros hasei foi a espécie de carrapato mais comum associada com morcegos no presente estudo. O presente estudo expande a distribuição de, pelo menos, três espécies de argasideos para o bioma Caatinga, e destaca a inesperada riqueza de espécies habitando este árido ecossistema.

Ornithodoros sawaii (Ixodida: Argasidae) Larvae Collected from Hydrobates monorhis on Sogugul and Gaerin Islands, Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea

The 65th Medical Brigade and Public Health Command District-Korea, in collaboration with the Migratory Bird Research Center, National Park Research Institute, conducted migratory bird tick surveillance at Sogugul and Gaerin Islands (small rocky bird nesting sites), Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea (ROK), on 30 July and 1 August 2009. Breeding seabirds captured by hands in their nesting burrows were banded, identified to species, and carefully examined for ticks during the nesting season. A total of 9 Ornithodoros sawaii larvae were removed from 4 adult Hydrobates monorhis (Swinhoe's storm petrel). The identification of the larvae of O. sawaii collected from migratory seabirds were molecularly confirmed using mitochondrial 16S rDNA primer sets.

Detection of Borrelia persica infection in Ornithodoros tholozani using PCR targeting rrs gene and xenodiagnosis

Relapsing fever caused by Borrelia persica, is an acute tick-borne disease which is transmitted by soft ticks of Ornithodoros tholozani to human. Value of PCR and xenodiagnosis for detection of B. persica in O. tholozani ticks was compared. Sixty-four Borrelia- free ticks were fed on infected guinea pigs and used for the experiments. For xenodiagnosis, a group of 32 ticks in subsequent blood meal were fed on sterile guinea pigs and the indication of B. persica in the animal blood was tested 5-14 days later by dark-field microscopy. For PCR, all 64 ticks were subjected to PCR against B. persica rrs gene [16S-rDNA]. Also sensitivity of PCR in terms of minimum detectable number of spirochetes as well as the effects of tick sex and post digestion was tested. PCR revealed B.persica DNA in 98.4% ticks, in which B. persica were found in 25.0% by xenodiagnosis. PCR was enough sensitive to give positive results for DNA of 1 spirochete. PCR success rates were similar for male or female ticks. Course of time did not affect the efficacy of PCR and similar results were observed for ticks of immediately fed, semior completely gravid or completely digested blood ones. Our results indicate that due to very low specificity and time consuming, xenodiagnosis is not a useful method whereas PCR method has advantages for study the Borrelia prevalence in ticks

A case report of relapsing fever.

Relapsing fever is an acute febrile illness caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia. The high fevers of presenting patients spontaneously abate and then recur. Here we report a 50-year-old woman having relapsing fever associated with thrombocytopenia. Giemsa staining of peripheral blood smear revealed spiral organisms morphologically resembling Borrelia. A rare case of relapsing fever which was successfully treated with doxycycline is discussed.

Occurrence of soft and hard ticks on ruminants in Zagros mountainous areas of Iran

The distribution and preferences of ticks of animals in central of Iran were studied four times a year. One thousand seven tick specimens were collected from different localities including Isfahan, Chaharmahalbahtiary, EastAzarbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Kordestan, Kermanshah, Lorestan and Fars. Most of sampled animals in this area were infested. We also encountered with a wild goat [Capra hircus aegagrus] in Kolah Qazi national park in this part that was infested intensively by Boophilus kohlsi. Fifteen ixodid tick species were identified over the study period from cattle, sheep and domestic and wild goats namely B. kohlsi [3.6%] Rhipicephalus sanguineus [4.5%], Rh.bursa [21.9%], Rh.turanicus [2.9%], Dermacentor niveus [12.9%], D.raskemensis [4.1%], D.marginatus [7.3%], Haemaphysalis punctata [3.5%], H. Parva [0.6%], H. Choldokovskyi [2%], Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum [4.8%], H.anatolicum anatolicum [5.2%], H. asiaticum asiaticum [7.3%], H. marginatum marginatum [13%], and H. detritum detritum [5.9%]. The only soft tick found was Ornithodoros canestrinii which occurred in all localities of Isfahan Province but with significant differences in abundance. Clear pattern of seasonality was evident for this species and it was generally present from November to March, while ixodid ticks were present throughout the year. The largest numbers of adult ixodid ticks were generally present from April to August. The results showed that Rh.bursa, D.niveus and H.marginatum marginatum are dominant tick species

Seasonal activity of ticks and their importance in tick- borne infectious diseases in west Azerbaijan, Iran

West Azerbaijan is considered as a main region for domestic animal breeding. Due to importance of herd as a main host and ticks as a vector of relapsing fever and CCHF, a comprehensive study was undertaken in the region. Outdoor, indoor collection as well as ticks stick to the animals' body were collected and identified. The study was conducted during the whole seasons in 2004-2005. During four seasons a total of 2728 ticks of two families [Ixodidae and Argasidae] were collected comprising 7 genera of 5 hard ticks and two genera of soft ticks including Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus and Dermacentor. The soft ticks were Ornithodoros and Argas. These 7 genera included 18 species. The main species were Haemaphysalis inermis, H. punctata, H. sulcata, H. numidiana, H. concinna, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. anatolicum, Hy. detritum, Hy. dromedarii, Hy. asiaticum, Hy. schulzei, H. aegyptium, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sangiuneus, Dermacentor marginatus, Boophilus annulatus, Ornithodoros lahorensis, and Argas persicus. Frequency of ticks during different seasons was different. A pyrethroid insecticide, cypermethrin, which is widely used for tick control was tested against soft ticks. The test method was based on WHO recommendation. At the LD50 level A. persicus needs more concentration than O. lahorensis. Ornithodoros and Argas are the more prevalent soft ticks in the region. Distribution and prevalence of hard ticks was varied in different seasons. Results of this study will provide a clue for vectors of tick-borne diseases in the region for local authorities for implementation of tick control

Distribution of soft ticks and their natural infection with Borrelia in a focus of relapsing fever in Iran

Tick-borne diseases such as relapsing fever and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever [CCHF] are of public health importance in Iran. There are 471 reported cases of relapsing fever in 2003, according to the Ministry of Health of Iran. The number of cases has been increased in recent years. Its distribution is more or less prevalent in different parts of Iran. The aim of this study was to find out the fauna and natural infection of soft ticks with Borrelia in Qazvin Province, during their seasonal activity. The province covers 15821 km[2] between 48-45 to 50-50 east of Greenwich Meridian of longitude and 35-37 to 36-45 north latitude of the equator. For this purpose a field study was carried out in the region. A total of 54 villages from 19 districts were selected randomly and ticks were collected from their habitats according to the standard method. A total of 3197 Argasidae ticks were collected from human dwellings, poultry and animal shelters. They belonged to Argas and Ornithodoros genera which 36.8% were Argas persicus, 4% A. reflexus, 6.4% O. canestrini, 45.5% O. lahorensis and 7.3% O. tholozani. It should be noted that 12 ticks of O. erraticus were collected from 12 rodents borrows. We found that 8.82% of O. tholozani ticks were infected with Borrelia persica and half of the O. erraticus were infected with Borrelia microti. All the people who are involved with veterinary activities should be aware of disease transmission by the ticks. In the endemic area of the disease tick control is recommended

Ornithonyssus [Acari: Macronyssidae] mite dermatitis in poultry field-workers in Almarg, Qalyobiya governorate

Cutaneous manifestations of bird and rat mite infestation in man are not easily recognized by physicians or patients. Clinical signs and symptoms are developed secondary to bites of mites that have infested rats, domestic poultry or birds nesting in or near human habitation and comes into contact with man. This study details 4 cases of pruritic dermatitis developed in four field workers in poultry farms in El-Marg district, Qalyoubia governorate, Egypt. The zoonotic species of Ornithonyssus sp., [Family Macronyssidae] was isolated from all samples collected from patients' habitat and the role played by Ornithonyssus mites in causing dermatitis in man was discussed