Molecular Detection of Tacheng Tick Virus-1 (TcTV-1) and Jingmen Tick Virus in Ticks Collected from Wildlife and Livestock in Turkey: First Indication of TcTV-1 Beyond China.

Background: Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) and Tacheng tick virus-1 (TcTV-1) are emerging tick-borne viruses that have been recently confirmed to be etiological agents of human disease in China. However, the ecology of JMTV and TcTV-1, especially their association with ticks in wildlife and livestock, remains largely unknown in Turkey. Materials and Methods: Eight hundred thirty-two tick specimens in 117 pools were collected in Turkey between 2020 and 2022 from wildlife (Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus hipposideros; n = 10, 1.2%; Testudo graeca; n = 50, 6%) and livestock (Ovis aries and Capra aegagrus hircus; n = 772, 92.7%). The specimens were individually screened for JMTV and TcTV-1 using nRT-PCR assays targeting the partial genes. Results: JMTV was detected in one Ixodes simplex pool and two Rhipicephalus bursa pools collected from central and Aegean provinces, respectively. TcTV-1 was identified in five Hyalomma aegyptium pools collected in Mediterranean provinces. No coinfection was detected in the tick pools. Maximum likelihood analysis of JMTV partial segment 1 sequences reveal that these sequences form a separate cluster together with viruses previously characterized in Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula. The phylogenetic analysis of the TcTV-1 nucleocapsid sequences indicates that they are closely related to viruses in ticks, sheep, cattle, and humans in China, but form a separate group among themselves. Conclusion: This study provides the first molecular evidence of TcTV-1 in Hy. aegyptium in Turkey. In addion, these findings indicate that JMTV and TcTV-1 extend ticks species and geographic distributions. Thus, multiregional surveillance in livestock and wildlife is needed to evaluate potential tick vectors and the human health impact of these viruses in Turkey.

A survey of hard ticks associated with cave dwelling mammals in Turkey.

Members of the subgenus Eschatocephalus Frauenfeld, 1853 are highly specialized cave-dwelling ectoparasites of bats. We conducted a comprehensive field-based survey on bat ticks in Turkey and provided information about the phylogenetic placement of collected species. Sampling was carried out at 26 caves from 18 provinces around Turkey between 2019 and 2021. Eighty-one tick specimens collected from the cave environment or on various cave roosting bats resulted in five species: Ixodes vespertilionis, Ixodes simplex, Ixodes ariadnae, Ixodes kaiseri, and Haemaphysalis erinacei. While I. simplex was the most frequently collected species with a rate of 56.2% mainly from bats (Miniopterus schreibersii), I. vespertilionis was the most prevalent species (65.4%) and found mainly on cave walls. The first record of I. ariadnae was provided for Turkey. Phylogenetic trees were built using mt 16S rDNA and COI markers. Our results demonstrated the presence of two distinct lineages of I. vespertilionis in Turkey; one lineage grouped with European isolates, whereas three sequences clustered separately. The phylogenetic pattern of I. simplex was consistent with previous results; this clade was clustered distantly to other bat tick species. The significance of the surprising records of H. erinacei and I. kaiseri in caves is also discussed.

Multiresidues of environmental contaminants in bats from Turkey.

Bat populations have been steadily declining, most likely because of anthropogenic factors. Identification and classification of these risks have crucial importance in ensuring the survival of this species. Bats often coexist with humans in urban, industrial, and agricultural areas and are potentially exposed to a range of environmental pollutants. Two bat species widely distributed in Turkey were selected, and the residues of pesticides and organic contaminants in their carcasses were analyzed using: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Species and sex specific differences were evaluated along with their potential to be used as bioindicators. During the rigor mortis period, 23 adult Pipistrellus pipistrellus (11 female and 12 male) and 19 adult Myotis myotis (9 female and 10 male) were collected and 322 contaminants (pesticides and organic contaminants) were analyzed in whole carcasses of bats by using a validated method. Multiple pesticides and organic contaminants were detected in all collected 42 bats. The most frequent contamination was detected as 4,4-DDE, followed by ethoprophos, quinalphos, methidation, paraoxon-methyl, phosalone and tetramethrin. The least common compounds were as follows: 2,4-DDD, endrin, HCH-alpha, fenamiphos sulfoxide, parathion ethyl, bitertanol, oxycarboxin, procymidone, fluazifop-butyl, trifluralin, bifenazate, DMF, fenpyroximate, PBDE-47, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(g,h,i) perylene; of these only one was found in each bat. In terms of frequency and concentration, there was no significant difference between species and sex. An average of 26.1 pollutants was found in each bat. Thus, it was concluded that bats can be used as potential bioindicators in determining environmental pollution.

Chromosome banding pattern in fat dormouse and bank vole (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Turkey.

The chromosome banding pattern (C-banding, AgNOR staining) was studied in isolated populations of two species of rodents from Turkey, Glis glis and Myodes glareolus. A single nucleolar organizer region was localized in an autosomal pair in the complement of G. glis. Centromeric C-heterochromatin blocks and seven pairs of NOR-bearing autosomes were observed in the complement of M. glareolus. A metacentric Y chromosome was found in the M. glareolus males examined. The detailed structure of karyotypes and the banding patterns differ from some previously published results.