title: Detection of Coxiella-like endosymbiont in Haemaphysalis tick in Thailand.
abstract: In this study, we focused on the molecular detection of Coxiella-like bacteria using a PCR technique to identify Coxiella 16S rRNA sequences in Haemaphysalis tick samples (105 adults, 8 nymph pools and 19 larval pools). Seven Haemaphysalis species obtained from 5 locations in Thailand were evaluated in this work. Coxiella endosymbionts could be detected in samples representing all 3 growth stages examined. The results also revealed that only 4 of 7 tick species were positive for Coxiella-like endosymbiont: Haemaphysalis hystricis, Haemaphysalis lagrangei, Haemaphysalis obesa, and Haemaphysalis shimoga. Haemaphysalis shimoga demonstrated the highest percentage of Coxiella-like positive samples (58.33% with n=24), while Haemaphysalis hystricis had the lowest percentage; only 1 female tick was positive for Coxiella-like bacteria (n=6). Interestingly, the results indicated that female Haemaphysalis ticks tended to harbour Coxiella symbionts more frequently than male ticks (59.32% of females and 21.27% of males of all species studied). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences illustrated that Coxiella-like spp. from the same tick species always grouped in same clade, regardless of the location from which they were isolated. Moreover, a phylogenetic tree also showed that Coxiella-like endosymbionts from other genera (for example, the tick genus Rhipicephalus) formed a separate group compared to Coxiella-like symbionts in the genus Haemaphysalis. This suggests that a high amount of DNA sequence variation is present in Coxiella-like bacteria harboured by ticks.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Watchara
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arthan
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chalao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sumrandee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Ramkhamhaeng Road, Bangkok 10240, Thailand.
authors.forename: Supanee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirunkanokpun
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sangvorn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kitthawee
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
authors.forename: Visut
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baimai
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wachareeporn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Trinachartvanit
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research Cluster, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok 10400, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University at Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Electronic address: arunee.aha@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Arunee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahantarig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003381:Coxiella / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Coxiella endosymbiont; Haemaphysalis