1st International and 10th National Iranian Conference on Bioinformatics
Home Accepted Papers
Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. on ovine ticks collected northwest Iran: First report of Rickettsia sibirica
Paper ID : 1039-ICB10
Authors:
Vahab Jamali1, Jalal Shayegh *1, Mohammad Sadaghian2
1Department of Veterinary Medicine, Shabestar branch, Islamic Azad University, Shabestar, Iran.
2Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Shabestar Branch, Shabestar, Iran
Abstract:
Background: This study aimed to investigate the species of Rickettsia spp. that were detected at ticks isolated from sheep in four provinces of northwestern Iran, in the Middle East.
Methods: Ticks collected in this study were isolated from four provinces in northwestern Iran. Various counties from East-Azerbaijan, West-Azerbaijan, Ardabil, and Kurdistan provinces were studied. A total of 614 ticks were collected from the studied provinces during this study (40 polled samples). A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used to molecularly evaluate the presence of Rickettsiae in the samples. The gene used in this experiment was the gene encoding citrate synthase protein (gltA). Two of the confirmed samples of Rickettsia were sent to the laboratory for gene sequencing. The sequences were trimmed and edited using Sequencher© V5.4.6 software, and the dendrogram was aligned and drawn with MEGA5© software.
Results: Ticks that found during this study are included Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Dermacentor marginatus. The results of sequencing of these two genes showed that they belong to two species of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae (SFG).
Conclusions: Co-morbidity of Rickettsiae in humans and animals, especially domestic livestock, has made this pathogen one of the most critical tick-borne pathogens worldwide. A total of 614 ticks were collected from the studied provinces during this study (40 polled samples). Ticks found during this study in West-Azerbaijan province included Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Dermacentor marginatus. Our research and previous articles show that this is the first time that signs of Rickettsia sibirica have been reported in Iran.
Keywords:
Rickettsia, Iran, Vector Borne Diseases, Sequence Analysis.
Status : Paper Accepted (Poster Presentation)