Molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks parasitizing pet dogs in Shihezi City, northwestern China

• Published in: Experimental & applied acarology Vol. 77; no. 1; pp. 73 - 81
• Main Authors: Hazihan, Wurelihazi, Dong, Zhihui, Guo, Liping, Rizabek, Kadyken, Askar, Dzhunysov, Gulzhan, Kulmanova, Kudaibergen, Mahanov, Kenjebaevich, Akishev Nurlan, Talgat, Tolegen, Kairullayev, Kenesbay, Wang, Yuanzhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.01.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animals; Arachnids; Biomedical and Life Sciences; China - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - microbiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dogs; Entomology; Epidemiology; Female; Fever; Genetic analysis; Genetic markers; Ixodidae - classification; Ixodidae - microbiology; Life Sciences; Male; Pets; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Rickettsia; Rickettsia - isolation & purification; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis - epidemiology; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis - microbiology; Tick Infestations - parasitology; Ticks; China; Spotted fever group rickettsiae; Northwestern China; sensu lato; Pet dogs; Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato
• ISSN: 0168-8162; 1572-9702
• DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-00337-1

A total of 178 adult ticks were collected from 32 pet dogs from five veterinary clinics in Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), northwestern China. All the ticks were identified by comprehensive morphological and genetic analyses, and rickettsiae were detected by seven Rickettsia -specific genetic markers in the ticks. The ticks collected were identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Twenty-one of the 178 samples (11.8%) were positive for rickettsiae. Among these, in 13 (61.9%) samples Candidatus R. barbariae were identified, in five (23.8%) samples R. massiliae , and in three (14.3%) samples R. conorii . This study indicates that more attention should be paid to rickettsial infection in pet dogs and their ticks, because the latter may pose an epidemiological risk for tick-borne transmission of rickettsiae to human beings.