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Genetic characterization of spotted fever group rickettsiae in questing ixodid ticks collected in Israel and environmental risk factors for their infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2017

JESSICA ROSE ,
YAARIT NACHUM-BIALA ,
KOSTA Y. MUMCUOGLU ,
MOH A. ALKHAMIS ,
ADI BEN-NUN ,
ITAMAR LENSKY ,
EYAL KLEMENT ,
ABEDELMAJEED NASEREDDIN ,
ZIAD A. ABDEEN  and
SHIMON HARRUS
JESSICA ROSE
Affiliation:
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
YAARIT NACHUM-BIALA
Affiliation:
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
KOSTA Y. MUMCUOGLU
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
MOH A. ALKHAMIS
Affiliation:
Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, Kuwait Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA
ADI BEN-NUN
Affiliation:
The GIS Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
ITAMAR LENSKY
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Environment, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
EYAL KLEMENT
Affiliation:
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
ABEDELMAJEED NASEREDDIN
Affiliation:
Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestinian territories, Palestine
ZIAD A. ABDEEN
Affiliation:
Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestinian territories, Palestine
SHIMON HARRUS*
Affiliation:
Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
*
*Corresponding author: Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

This study aimed to genetically characterize spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) in questing ixodid ticks from Israel and to identify risk factors associated with SFGR-positive ticks using molecular techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) analysis. 1039 ticks from the genus Rhipicephalus were collected during 2014. 109/1039 (10·49%) carried SFGR-DNA of either Rickettsia massiliae (95), ‘Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae’ (8) or Rickettsia conorii (6). Higher prevalence of SFGR was found in Rhipicephalus turanicus (18·00%) compared with Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (3·22%). Rickettsia massiliae was the most commonly detected species and the most widely disseminated throughout Israel (87·15% of all Rickettsia-positive ticks). GIS analysis revealed that Central and Northern coastal regions are at high risk for SFGR. The presence of ticks was significantly associated with normalized difference vegetation index and temperature variation over the course of the year. The presence of rickettsiae was significantly associated with brown type soils, higher land surface temperature and higher precipitation. The latter parameters may contribute to infection of the tick with SFGR. Health care professionals should be aware of the possible exposure of local communities and travellers to R. massillae. Molecular and geographical information can help professionals to identify areas that are susceptible to SFGR-infected ticks.

Keywords

ticksRhipicephalus sanguineus sensu latoRhipicephalus turanicusRickettsia massiliae‘Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae’Rickettsia conoriispotted feverSFGGIS
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 144 , Issue 8 , July 2017 , pp. 1088 - 1101
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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Footnotes

†

These authors contributed equally.

References

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