Journal article
Molecular detection of Trypanosoma spp. in questing and feeding ticks (Ixodidae) collected from an endemic region of south-west Australia
Pathogens, Vol.10(8), Article 1037
2021
Abstract
A growing number of indigenous trypanosomes have been reported to naturally infect a variety of Australian wildlife with some species of Trypanosoma implicated in the population decline of critically endangered marsupials. However, the mode of transmission of Australian trypanosomes is unknown since their vectors remain unidentified. Here we aimed to fill this current knowledge gap about the occurrence and identity of indigenous trypanosomes in Australian invertebrates by conducting molecular screening for the presence of Trypanosoma spp. in native ticks collected from south-west Australia. A total of 231 ticks (148 collected from vegetation and 83 retrieved directly from 76 marsupial hosts) were screened for Trypanosoma using a High-Resolution Melt (HRM) qPCR assay. An overall Trypanosoma qPCR positivity of 37% (46/125) and 34% (26/76) was detected in questing ticks and host-collected (i.e., feeding) ticks, respectively. Of these, sequencing revealed 28% (35/125) of questing and 28% (21/76) of feeding ticks were infected with one or more of the five species of trypanosome previously reported in this region (T. copemani, T. noyesi, T. vegrandis, T. gilletti, Trypanosoma sp. ANU2). This work has confirmed that Australian ticks are capable of harbouring several species of indigenous trypanosome and likely serve as their vectors.
Details
- Title
- Molecular detection of Trypanosoma spp. in questing and feeding ticks (Ixodidae) collected from an endemic region of south-west Australia
- Authors/Creators
- A-S Krige (Author/Creator) - The University of Western AustraliaR.C.A. Thompson (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityA. Seidlitz (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityS. Keatley (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ. Wayne (Author/Creator) - Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsP.L. Clode (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Pathogens, Vol.10(8), Article 1037
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Identifiers
- 991005541936807891
- Copyright
- © 2021 by the authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.261 Parasitology - Trypanosoma & Leishmania
- 1.261.596 Trypanosoma Biology
- Web Of Science research areas
- Microbiology
- ESI research areas
- Microbiology