Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan
Ticks are worldwide distributed hematophagous ectoparasites that can act as vectors of numerous zoonotic pathogens of concern for human and veterinary health. In this study, we investigated the presence and abundance of bacterial and protozoan tick-borne pathogens in livestock-associated ticks from...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000354 |
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| author | Mariachiara Ciarma Sophie Melis Beatrice Bisaglia Gherard Batisti Biffignandi Gull Sanober Sunny Michela Vumbaca Sara Epis Muhammad Arshad Haroon Ahmed Davide Sassera Michele Castelli |
| author_facet | Mariachiara Ciarma Sophie Melis Beatrice Bisaglia Gherard Batisti Biffignandi Gull Sanober Sunny Michela Vumbaca Sara Epis Muhammad Arshad Haroon Ahmed Davide Sassera Michele Castelli |
| author_sort | Mariachiara Ciarma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ticks are worldwide distributed hematophagous ectoparasites that can act as vectors of numerous zoonotic pathogens of concern for human and veterinary health. In this study, we investigated the presence and abundance of bacterial and protozoan tick-borne pathogens in livestock-associated ticks from Northern Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 374 ticks were collected by convenience sampling in 40 villages and were morphologically and molecularly characterized, with all of them being identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. Out of 121 adult female ticks that were tested by PCR, 57 (47.1%) were positive for Ehrlichia canis, 16 (13.2%) for Anaplasma marginale, 13 (10.7%) for Theileria orientalis, 3 (2.5%) for Ehrlichia muris, and none for Rickettsia spp. Phylogenetic analyses indicated a high proximity of the newly characterized pathogens with conspecifics from other countries, thus suggesting possible recent long-distance spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Moreover, the investigated pathogens showed seasonal variations in ticks, being more abundant during summer. The higher temperature and lower humidity of this season may represent favourable conditions for tick and pathogen survival and spread. The present findings provide an updated report of the distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with livestock in Punjab. This highlights the need for further research to monitor the presence and dissemination of these pathogens, and to develop local and general epidemiological control strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a2bf591643442e8ad23a15bf69fbc5b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-114X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a2bf591643442e8ad23a15bf69fbc5b2025-08-20T03:31:06ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2025-01-01710027510.1016/j.crpvbd.2025.100275Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, PakistanMariachiara Ciarma0Sophie Melis1Beatrice Bisaglia2Gherard Batisti Biffignandi3Gull Sanober Sunny4Michela Vumbaca5Sara Epis6Muhammad Arshad7Haroon Ahmed8Davide Sassera9Michele Castelli10Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; European Bioinformatics Institute, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United KingdomDepartment of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, PakistanDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biosciences and Pediatric Clinical Research Center “Romeo Ed Enrica Invernizzi”, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, PakistanDepartment of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Corresponding author.Ticks are worldwide distributed hematophagous ectoparasites that can act as vectors of numerous zoonotic pathogens of concern for human and veterinary health. In this study, we investigated the presence and abundance of bacterial and protozoan tick-borne pathogens in livestock-associated ticks from Northern Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 374 ticks were collected by convenience sampling in 40 villages and were morphologically and molecularly characterized, with all of them being identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. Out of 121 adult female ticks that were tested by PCR, 57 (47.1%) were positive for Ehrlichia canis, 16 (13.2%) for Anaplasma marginale, 13 (10.7%) for Theileria orientalis, 3 (2.5%) for Ehrlichia muris, and none for Rickettsia spp. Phylogenetic analyses indicated a high proximity of the newly characterized pathogens with conspecifics from other countries, thus suggesting possible recent long-distance spread of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Moreover, the investigated pathogens showed seasonal variations in ticks, being more abundant during summer. The higher temperature and lower humidity of this season may represent favourable conditions for tick and pathogen survival and spread. The present findings provide an updated report of the distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with livestock in Punjab. This highlights the need for further research to monitor the presence and dissemination of these pathogens, and to develop local and general epidemiological control strategies.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000354Rhipicephalus microplusAnaplasma marginaleEhrlichia spp.Theileria orientalisPhylogenetic analysisLivestock |
| spellingShingle | Mariachiara Ciarma Sophie Melis Beatrice Bisaglia Gherard Batisti Biffignandi Gull Sanober Sunny Michela Vumbaca Sara Epis Muhammad Arshad Haroon Ahmed Davide Sassera Michele Castelli Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases Rhipicephalus microplus Anaplasma marginale Ehrlichia spp. Theileria orientalis Phylogenetic analysis Livestock |
| title | Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| title_full | Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| title_short | Survey of tick-borne pathogens in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the Northern Punjab Province, Pakistan |
| title_sort | survey of tick borne pathogens in rhipicephalus microplus ticks from livestock in the northern punjab province pakistan |
| topic | Rhipicephalus microplus Anaplasma marginale Ehrlichia spp. Theileria orientalis Phylogenetic analysis Livestock |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X25000354 |
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