Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China
Abstract Background In the family Trypanosomatidae, the genus Trypanosoma contains protozoan parasites that infect a diverse range of hosts, including humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Wild rodents, as natural reservoir hosts of various pathogens, play an important role in the evolution and em...
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06216-6 |
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| author | Shiyi Wang Suwen Wang Xiaoshuang Han Sándor Hornok Huiqian Wang Nan Wang Gang Liu Meihua Yang Yuanzhi Wang |
| author_facet | Shiyi Wang Suwen Wang Xiaoshuang Han Sándor Hornok Huiqian Wang Nan Wang Gang Liu Meihua Yang Yuanzhi Wang |
| author_sort | Shiyi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In the family Trypanosomatidae, the genus Trypanosoma contains protozoan parasites that infect a diverse range of hosts, including humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Wild rodents, as natural reservoir hosts of various pathogens, play an important role in the evolution and emergence of Trypanosomatidae. To date, no reports are available on the trypanosomatid infection of pikas (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae). Methods In this study, Mongolian pikas and their fleas were sampled at the China–Mongolia border, northwestern China. The samples were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for the presence of Trypanosomatidae on the basis of both the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene. The morphology of trypomastigotes was also observed in peripheral blood smears by microscopy. Results Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed a new genotype of the Trypanosoma lewisi clade that was found both in pika blood and flea samples. This genotype, which probably represents a new species, was provisionally designated as “Trypanosoma sp. pika”. In addition, a novel genotype belonging to the genus Blechomonas of Trypanosomatidae was detected in fleas. On the basis of its molecular and phylogenetic properties, this genotype was named Blechomonas luni-like, because it was shown to be the closest related to B. luni compared with other flea-associated trypanosomatids. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report any trypanosomatid species in Mongolian pikas and their fleas. Further studies are needed to investigate the epidemiology of these protozoan parasites, as well as to evaluate their pathogenicity for humans or domestic animals. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj-art-48ada95c6afa47d8a501e9557a99e90a2025-08-20T03:05:56ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052024-03-011711510.1186/s13071-024-06216-6Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern ChinaShiyi Wang0Suwen Wang1Xiaoshuang Han2Sándor Hornok3Huiqian Wang4Nan Wang5Gang Liu6Meihua Yang7Yuanzhi Wang8Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityDepartment of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary MedicineKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityCollege of Agriculture, Shihezi UniversityKey Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi UniversityAbstract Background In the family Trypanosomatidae, the genus Trypanosoma contains protozoan parasites that infect a diverse range of hosts, including humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Wild rodents, as natural reservoir hosts of various pathogens, play an important role in the evolution and emergence of Trypanosomatidae. To date, no reports are available on the trypanosomatid infection of pikas (Lagomorpha: Ochotonidae). Methods In this study, Mongolian pikas and their fleas were sampled at the China–Mongolia border, northwestern China. The samples were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing for the presence of Trypanosomatidae on the basis of both the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene and the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) gene. The morphology of trypomastigotes was also observed in peripheral blood smears by microscopy. Results Molecular and phylogenetic analyses revealed a new genotype of the Trypanosoma lewisi clade that was found both in pika blood and flea samples. This genotype, which probably represents a new species, was provisionally designated as “Trypanosoma sp. pika”. In addition, a novel genotype belonging to the genus Blechomonas of Trypanosomatidae was detected in fleas. On the basis of its molecular and phylogenetic properties, this genotype was named Blechomonas luni-like, because it was shown to be the closest related to B. luni compared with other flea-associated trypanosomatids. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report any trypanosomatid species in Mongolian pikas and their fleas. Further studies are needed to investigate the epidemiology of these protozoan parasites, as well as to evaluate their pathogenicity for humans or domestic animals. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06216-6TrypanosomaBlechomonasFrontopsyllaCentral Asia |
| spellingShingle | Shiyi Wang Suwen Wang Xiaoshuang Han Sándor Hornok Huiqian Wang Nan Wang Gang Liu Meihua Yang Yuanzhi Wang Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China Parasites & Vectors Trypanosoma Blechomonas Frontopsylla Central Asia |
| title | Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China |
| title_full | Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China |
| title_fullStr | Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China |
| title_short | Novel trypanosomatid species detected in Mongolian pikas (Ochotona pallasi) and their fleas in northwestern China |
| title_sort | novel trypanosomatid species detected in mongolian pikas ochotona pallasi and their fleas in northwestern china |
| topic | Trypanosoma Blechomonas Frontopsylla Central Asia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-024-06216-6 |
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