Abstract:
Previous research has implicated Ornithodoros ticks, including Ornithodoros turicata, as long-term reservoirs of relapsing fever (RF) spirochetes. Considering the tick\'s long lifespan and their efficiency in maintaining and transferring spirochetes within the population, the infection could persist in a given enzootic focus for decades. However, little is known about the relative importance of horizontal and vertical transmission routes in the persistence and evolution of RF Borrelia. Our observations on the reproductive biology of O. turicata in the absence of vertebrate hosts indicate an additional mechanism by which Borrelia turicatae can be maintained in the environment. This work establishes the foundation for studying O. turicata reproduction and spirochete-vector interactions, which will aid in devising control measures for Ornithodoros ticks and RF spirochetes.
摘要:
Ornithodorosturicata是北美复发性发热螺旋体的媒介,并将疏螺旋体传播到各种脊椎动物宿主。O.turicata的极长寿命及其水平(在生命阶段之间)和垂直(对后代)维持螺旋体的能力促进了菊科在自然界中的永存。然而,对O.turicata的生殖生物学了解甚少。在这份报告中,我们在奥斯汀附近的一个公园里收集了蜱虫,TX.他们被抚养成年,和雄性蜱分别与雌性饲养。我们观察到自体繁殖,这是在不需要血粉的情况下生产鸡蛋的能力,并通过量化子代壁虱队列中的孝子感染率进一步研究了绿藻的垂直传播。这些结果表明,O.turicata在自生繁殖过程中通过卵巢传播turicatae,并进一步表明the是螺旋体的天然储库。重要性先前的研究涉及鸟嘴蜱,包括鸟粪,作为复发性发热(RF)螺旋体的长期储库。考虑到蜱的长寿命和它们在种群内保持和转移螺旋体的效率,这种感染可能会在给定的老年病病灶中持续数十年。然而,关于水平和垂直传输路径在RF疏螺旋体的持久性和演化中的相对重要性知之甚少。在没有脊椎动物宿主的情况下,我们对O.turicata的生殖生物学的观察表明,可以在环境中维持turicatae的另一种机制。这项工作为研究O.turicata繁殖和螺旋体-载体相互作用奠定了基础,这将有助于设计鸟嘴蜱和射频螺旋体的控制措施。