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Location
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH)
Session Format
Oral Presentation
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Marina Eremeeva, Faculty Advisor
Abstract
Numerous rickettsial pathogens and ticks of public health significance has been reported from Africa; however, information is limited for Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. The diversity of ticks and associated pathogens circulating in peridomestic environments have not been evaluated despite their medical and veterinary importance. The purpose of this study was to identify ticks collected from a livestock in Uganda and test them for Rickettsia. 186 ticks were identified using standard taxonomic keys and sorted by sex and life-stage. Individual ticks were surface-disinfected, and DNA was extracted using the Qiagen kit. DNA were tested by amplifying a 355-bp fragment of tick mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene (12SMTG). Detection of Rickettsia DNA was done using 17-kDa-protein gene TaqMan. 86 adult ticks included 57 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 8 Rh. appendiculatus, and 21 Rh. evertsi; 100 nymphs were identified as Rhipicephalus species. DNA from all but one nymph tested positive for the 12SMTG marker. 185 tick DNA tested negative using Rickettsia TaqMan. Our data indicate absence of tick-borne Rickettsia circulation in Rhipicephalus ticks in the area studied so livestock animals don’t appear to be a reservoir for these pathogens. Further testing will target Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Bartonella known to infect the same tick species in neighboring countries.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Moncur, Kiana, "Detection of Rickettsiae in Ticks Infesting Livestock in Uganda" (2021). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 25.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2021/2021/25
Detection of Rickettsiae in Ticks Infesting Livestock in Uganda
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH)
Numerous rickettsial pathogens and ticks of public health significance has been reported from Africa; however, information is limited for Sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. The diversity of ticks and associated pathogens circulating in peridomestic environments have not been evaluated despite their medical and veterinary importance. The purpose of this study was to identify ticks collected from a livestock in Uganda and test them for Rickettsia. 186 ticks were identified using standard taxonomic keys and sorted by sex and life-stage. Individual ticks were surface-disinfected, and DNA was extracted using the Qiagen kit. DNA were tested by amplifying a 355-bp fragment of tick mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene (12SMTG). Detection of Rickettsia DNA was done using 17-kDa-protein gene TaqMan. 86 adult ticks included 57 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, 8 Rh. appendiculatus, and 21 Rh. evertsi; 100 nymphs were identified as Rhipicephalus species. DNA from all but one nymph tested positive for the 12SMTG marker. 185 tick DNA tested negative using Rickettsia TaqMan. Our data indicate absence of tick-borne Rickettsia circulation in Rhipicephalus ticks in the area studied so livestock animals don’t appear to be a reservoir for these pathogens. Further testing will target Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and Bartonella known to infect the same tick species in neighboring countries.
