<i>Rickettsia lusitaniae</i> in Ornithodoros Porcinus Ticks, Zambia
Simbarashe Chitanga,
Herman M. Chambaro,
Lavel C. Moonga,
Kyoko Hayashida,
Junya Yamagishi,
Walter Muleya,
Katendi Changula,
Benjamin Mubemba,
Manyando Simbotwe,
David Squarre,
Paul Fandamu,
King S. Nalubamba,
Yongjin Qiu,
Sawa Hirofumi,
Edgar Simulundu
Affiliations
Simbarashe Chitanga
Department of Paraclinical Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Windhoek Private Bag 13301, Namibia
Herman M. Chambaro
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Lavel C. Moonga
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Kyoko Hayashida
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Junya Yamagishi
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Walter Muleya
Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Katendi Changula
Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Benjamin Mubemba
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Kitwe P.O. Box 21692, Zambia
Manyando Simbotwe
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
David Squarre
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Paul Fandamu
Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Lusaka P.O. Box 33980, Zambia
King S. Nalubamba
Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Yongjin Qiu
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Sawa Hirofumi
International Institute for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, N 20 W10, Kita-ku, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
Edgar Simulundu
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka P.O. Box 32379, Zambia
Rickettsial pathogens are amongst the emerging and re-emerging vector-borne zoonoses of public health importance. Though traditionally considered to be transmitted by ixodid ticks, the role of argasid ticks as vectors of these pathogens is increasingly being recognized. While bat-feeding (Ornithodoros faini) and chicken-feeding (Argas walkerae) argasid ticks have been shown to harbor Rickettsia pathogens in Zambia, there are currently no reports of Rickettsia infection in southern Africa from warthog-feeding (Phacochoerus africanus) soft ticks, particularly Ornithodoros moubata and Ornithodoros porcinus. Our study sought to expand on the existing knowledge on the role of soft ticks in the epidemiology of Rickettsia species through screening for Rickettsia pathogens in warthog burrow-dwelling soft ticks from two national parks in Zambia. The tick species from which Rickettsia were detected in this study were identified as Ornithodoros porcinus, and an overall minimal Rickettsia infection rate of 19.8% (32/162) was observed. All of the sequenced Rickettsia were identified as Rickettsia lusitaniae based on nucleotide sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis of the citrate synthase (gltA) and 17kDa common antigen (htrA) genes. Utilizing all of the gltA (n = 10) and htrA (n = 12) nucleotide sequences obtained in this study, BLAST analysis showed 100% nucleotide similarity to Rickettsia lusitaniae. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the Zambian gltA and htrA gene sequences could be grouped with those of Rickettsia lusitaniae obtained in various parts of the world. Our data suggest that Rickettsia lusitaniae has a wider geographic and vector range, enhancing to our understanding of Rickettsia lusitaniae epidemiology in sub-Saharan Africa.
