Phylogenetic relationships of Francisella-like endosymbionts detected  in two species of Amblyomma from snakes in Thailand.
Ticks are important vectors of several bacterial pathogens, including Francisella. In this study, a total of 24 adult ticks (Amblyomma varanense and Amblyomma helvolum) collected from 4 species of snake from 3 provinces of Thailand was screened for the presence of Francisella-like endosymbionts (FLEs) by PCR. FLEs were detected in 46% (11/24) of all ticks examined. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence indicated that the 11 distinct genotypes of FLEs amplified from A. varanense and A. helvolum (from Khon Kaen and Pichit provinces, respectively) are in the same group, along with other FLEs amplified from the other tick genera. Interestingly, these FLEs are closely related to, but distinct (different clade) from, the FLEs isolated from different tick species previously reported. This work represents the first report of Francisella spp. in snake ticks from Thailand.
Chalao
C
Sumrandee
Supanee
S
Hirunkanokpun
Libor
L
Grubhoffer
Visut
V
Baimai
Wachareeporn
W
Trinachartvanit
Arunee
A
Ahantarig
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005603:Francisella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012911:Snakes / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S