Detection of Rickettsia massiliae/Bar29 and Rickettsia conorii in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and their Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex ticks

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2018 Mar;9(3):629-631. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.02.002. Epub 2018 Feb 8.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of exposure to Rickettsia massiliae/Bar29 and Rickettsia conorii in wild red foxes, we collected blood samples and ticks from 135 foxes shot in different game reserve areas in Catalonia. To detect SFG rickettsia in Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex ticks collected from the foxes, we used real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen for ompA gene and a tick-borne bacteria flow chip technique based on multiplex PCR. Serum samples were positive for antibodies against spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae in 68 (50.3%). Molecular techniques identified R. massiliae in 107 ticks, R. aeschlimannii in 3 ticks, and R. slovaca in one tick; no R. conorii was identified in any of the ticks analyzed. We conclude that red foxes can carry ticks with SFG rickettsia.

Keywords: R. conorii; R. massiliae/Bar29; Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes); Rh. sanguineus complex ticks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild / microbiology
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Foxes / microbiology*
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Rhipicephalus sanguineus / microbiology*
  • Rickettsia / genetics
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification*
  • Rickettsia conorii / genetics
  • Rickettsia conorii / isolation & purification*
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / epidemiology
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / microbiology
  • Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis / veterinary*

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • OMPA outer membrane proteins