Abstract
An epidemiological study was performed to determine the role of dogs and ticks infesting dogs in the transmission of Q fever in humans and animals from April 2019 to March 2020 in the northeastern hill states of India. In total, 245 pet and stray dogs irrespective of age or sex were sampled, without specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. In total, 478 ticks belonging to three species were detected, namely Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum. The DNA extracted from blood and tick samples was assayed for molecular characterization of Coxiella burnetii targeting the 16S rRNA and superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes. Amplified PCR products were purified, cloned and custom sequenced. PCR assay showed 3.3% (8/245) of the dogs were positive for Coxiella-like bacteria. Coxiella-like bacterial DNA was detected in adult fully engorged females of R. sanguineus (7.7%, 13/168), R. (B.) microplus (3.3%, 4/123) and H. anatolicum (1.9%, 1/54). Coxiella-like bacterial DNA lacked in adult male or nymphal stage. The infection rate did not vary significantly between seasons, nor according to sex or age of the host. Six nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA and SOD genes are discussed.
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The authors duly acknowledge the Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, for providing the necessary support to conduct the experiment under the supervision of the Department of Veterinary Parasitology.
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All animal experiments were carried out strictly as per the guidelines issued by ARRIVE and Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) and were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee with reference No.CAU/CVSc/IAEC/no. 8641, dated Selesih, the 25th January 2019. This study did not involve endangered or protected species.
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Patra, G., Ghosh, S., Polley, S. et al. Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Coxiella-like endosymbionts in dogs and ticks infesting dogs in Northeast India. Exp Appl Acarol 86, 549–566 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-022-00711-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-022-00711-0