蜱是专性血液喂养的外寄生虫,以其作为各种病原体的载体而臭名昭著,对宠物构成健康风险,牲畜,野生动物,和人类。野生动物还特别是作为蜱传病原体的宿主,并在维持和传播这些病原体在生态系统中发挥关键作用。这项研究通过检查在KhaoKheow开放动物园收集的蜱,调查了野生动物及其栖息地中蜱和病原体的多样性,春武里府,泰国。从2021年3月到2022年3月,通过植被拖动和直接从野生动物取样,收集了1年的滴答样本。通过常规PCR和DNA测序,对总共10,436个蜱或449个蜱池(每个池1-50个蜱)进行了病原体存在的筛选。在检出细菌和原生动物的298份样本(66.37%)中,在所有阶段包括8144个滴答,具体选择来自PCR筛选的114个阳性样品用于详细的核苷酸测序和综合分析。通过应用PCR技术最终鉴定出4种蜱,即,微小根皮phalus,auratus皮肤,拉格朗日海毛,和嗜血杆菌。记录的最高感染率是Anaplasma属。55.23%(248/449),其次是Babesiaspp。和Theileriaspp.分别为29.62%(133/449)和16.26%(73/449),分别。在鉴定的细菌中,三种无性体基因型与身份不明的无性体密切相关。,A.吞噬细胞,还有A.Bovis.在原生动物中,只有一个身份不明的巴贝斯亚物种.被发现,而发现的两种Theileria基因型与身份不明的Theileriaspp密切相关。还有T.equi.重要的是,我们的发现揭示了与无菌体的共感染。,Theileriaspp.,和Babesiaspp.虽然在这项研究中没有专门收集野生动物的血液样本来评估感染,观察到的蜱中各种病原体存在的数据可以作为评估野生动物种群健康状况和监测疾病动态的有价值的指标。这些发现对于制定治疗方案可能是有价值的,预防,并控制该地区的蜱传疾病。然而,需要额外的研究来确定蜱传播这些病原体的能力,并增强当前对病原体之间关系的理解,蜱,和主机。
Ticks are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites notorious for their role as vectors for various pathogens, posing health risks to pets, livestock, wildlife, and humans. Wildlife also notably serves as reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens and plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and dissemination of these pathogenic agents within ecosystems. This study investigated the diversity of ticks and pathogens in wildlife and their habitat by examining ticks collected at Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Chonburi Province, Thailand. Tick samples were collected for 1 year from March 2021 to March 2022 by vegetation dragging and direct sampling from wildlife. A total of 10,436 ticks or 449 tick pools (1-50 ticks per pool) underwent screening for pathogen presence through conventional PCR and DNA sequencing. Out of the 298 samples (66.37%) where bacteria and protozoa were detected, encompassing 8,144 ticks at all stages, 114 positive samples from the PCR screenings were specifically chosen for detailed nucleotide sequencing and comprehensive analysis. Four species of ticks were conclusively identified through the application of PCR, namely, Rhipicephalus microplus, Dermacentor auratus, Haemaphysalis lagrangei, and Haemaphysalis wellingtoni. The highest infection rate recorded was for
Anaplasma spp. at 55.23% (248/449), followed by Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. at 29.62% (133/449) and 16.26% (73/449), respectively. Among bacteria identified, three
Anaplasma genotypes were closely related to an unidentified
Anaplasma spp., A. phagocytophilum, and A. bovis. Among protozoa, only an unidentified Babesia spp. was found, whereas two Theileria genotypes found were closely related to unidentified Theileria spp. and T. equi. Significantly, our findings revealed coinfection with
Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., and Babesia spp. While blood samples from wildlife were not specifically collected to assess infection in this study, the data on the presence of various pathogens in ticks observed can serve as valuable indicators to assess the health status of wildlife populations and to monitor disease dynamics. The findings could be valuable in developing programs for the treatment, prevention, and control of tick-borne illnesses in this area. However, additional research is required to determine the ticks\' ability to transmit these pathogens and enhance the current understanding of the relationship among pathogens, ticks, and hosts.