Molecular detection of Rickettsia africae in Amblyomma ticks collected in cattle from Southern and Central Mozambique

Authors

  • Vlademiro Magaia Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Elisa Taviani Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Nidia Cangi Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
  • Luis Neves Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.11625

Keywords:

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia, Amblyomma, R. africae, ATBF

Abstract

Introduction: Rickettsia are Gram-negative and obligate intracellular bacteria, which cause typhus and spotted fever-like diseases in humans. In Africa, Rickettsia africae of the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia (SFGR) is the etiologic agent of the African Tick-Bite Fever. The disease is transmitted by ticks of the genus Amblyomma, which serve as vectors and reservoirs of Rickettsia. In this study, we aimed to detect Rickettsia species in ticks collected from cattle in south and central Mozambique.

Methodology: DNA from 412 adult ticks and 22 pools of larvae were extracted and tested for the presence of Rickettsia genes gltA, ompA and ompB by PCR, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Results: Our results showed that in adult ticks, 79.5% (n = 330), 66% (n = 274) and 67% (n = 275) samples were positive for gltA, ompA and ompB genes, respectively. Among the 22 pools of larvae analysed, 77.2% (n = 17) were positive for the three genes tested. The infection rates ranged from 43% to 100% for Rickettsia by gltA in all locations studied, with maximum values of 100% observed in the districts of Maputo province namely Changalane, Boane and Matutuine district. The phylogenetic analysis of amplified sequences revealed that samples under study grouped with R. africae for the 3 genes.

Conclusion: The study showed that Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia represented by R. africae widely circulate in Amblyomma ticks collected in south and central regions of Mozambique.

Author Biographies

Elisa Taviani, Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique

University of Sassari, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sassari, Italy

Luis Neves, Centro de Biotecnologia-UEM, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique

University of Pretoria, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Onderstepoort, South Africa

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Published

2020-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Magaia V, Taviani E, Cangi N, Neves L (2020) Molecular detection of Rickettsia africae in Amblyomma ticks collected in cattle from Southern and Central Mozambique. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:614–622. doi: 10.3855/jidc.11625

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Section

Original Articles