Co-Occurrence of Francisella, Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia, and Midichloria in Avian-Associated Hyalomma rufipes

Tove Hoffman, Andreas Sjödin, Caroline Öhrman, Linda Karlsson, Ryelan Francis McDonough, Jason W. Sahl, Dawn Birdsell, David M. Wagner, Laura G. Carra, Peter Wilhelmsson, John H.O. Pettersson, Christos Barboutis, Jordi Figuerola, Alejandro Onrubia, Yosef Kiat, Dario Piacentini, Thomas G.T. Jaenson, Per Eric Lindgren, Sara Moutailler, Thord FranssonMats Forsman, Kenneth Nilsson, Åke Lundkvist, Björn Olsen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The migratory behavior of wild birds contributes to the geographical spread of ticks and their microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dispersal and co-occurrence of Francisella and spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) in ticks infesting birds migrating northward in the African-Western Palaearctic region (AWPR). Birds were trapped with mist nests across the Mediterranean basin during the 2014 and 2015 spring migration. In total, 575 ticks were collected from 244 birds. We screened the ticks for the species Francisella tularensis, the genus Francisella, and SFGR by microfluidic real-time PCR. Confirmatory analyses and metagenomic sequencing were performed on tick samples that putatively tested positive for F. tularensis during initial screenings. Hyalomma rufipes was the most common tick species and had a high prevalence of Francisella, including co-occurrence of Francisella and SFGR. Metagenomic analysis of total DNA extracted from two H. rufipes confirmed the presence of Francisella, Rickettsia, and Midichloria. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic inference indicated the highest identity of the metagenome-assembled genomes to a Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLE), Rickettsia aeschlimannii, and Midichloria mitochondrii. The results of this study suggest that (i) FLE- and SFGR-containing ticks are dispersed by northbound migratory birds in the AWPR, (ii) H. rufipes likely is not involved in transmission of F. tularensis in the AWPR, and (iii) a dual endosymbiosis of FLEs and Midichloria may support some of the nutritional requirements of H. rufipes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1393
JournalMicroorganisms
Volume10
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 11 Jul 2022
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.

Keywords

  • African-Western Palaearctic region
  • Francisella
  • Francisella-like endosymbionts
  • Hyalomma rufipes
  • Midichloria
  • PCR
  • Rickettsia aeschlimannii
  • metagenomics
  • migratory birds
  • spotted fever group Rickettsia
  • ticks

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Virology

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