Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Hya lomma asiaticun from Northern Xinjiang, China / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the infection of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) in Hyalomma asiaticum (Hy. asiaticum) from Northern Xinjiang, China, and to provide basis for reducing the incidence of Q fever in humans and livestock. Methods Questing ticks were collected via the dragging-flag method and directly sampled from animals in Fuhai County, Alataw Pass, Shihezi City, Hutubi County and Karamay City between April and July in 2016. Genomic DNA was extracted after morphological identification. PCR was used to identify tick species and Coxiella pathogen. BLAST and Mega 6.0 were used in the sequence analysis and the construction of phylogenetic trees. Results A total of 822 ticks were collected from 5 counties (cities) in Northern Xinjiang, among which the dominant ticks were Hy. asiaticum, and 580 were collected. Hy. asiaticum was sequenced, and BLAST results showed that the sequence had a high similarity with that of Yuli County from Xinjiang (accession no. KF527439). The nucleotide of C. burnetii was amplified via the PCR method, and its positive rate was 19.48% (113/580). Blast analysis showed that positive sequences had a high similarity with that of C . burnetii (99.66%, 296/297). Phylogenetic tree showed that the sequences of C. burnetii had genetic diversity. Conclusions C. burnetii extensively exists in Hy. asiaticum from 5 counties (cities) in Northern Xinjiang. These results suggest Q fever survey should be strengthened in different regions of Xinjiang.