title: Molecular characterization of 'Candidatus Rickettsia vini' in Ixodes arboricola from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of rickettsiae in the tree-hole tick Ixodes arboricola in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. During May to September of 2009 and 2013, bird boxes belonging to three different areas were screened for ticks. In total, 454 nestlings and 109 nests of 10 hole-breeding bird species were examined. Ticks were found on Ficedula albicollis, Parus major, Cyanistes caeruleus and Sitta europaea and/or in their nests. In total, 166 ticks (17 nymphs, 10 males and 139 females) were found at 3 areas (arithmetic mean±standard error: 55.3±45.9). All ticks were tested for the presence of Rickettsia species by polymerase chain reaction targeting the rickettsial genes gltA, ompA, ompB and htrA and amplicon sequencing. All individuals except 3 nymphs were infected with 'Candidatus Rickettsia vini'. Multilocus sequence typing showed closest proximity to Rickettsia japonica and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis cluster. The presence of 'Ca. R. vini' is reported for the first time in Slovakia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: novakova.marke@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marketa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novakova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forest Ecology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Zvolen, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kristin
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Laboratory of Ornithology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krist
authors.affiliation: Breclav, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liznarova
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic; CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Literak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D001483:Base Sequence; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000662:veterinary; D009758:Nymph; D046109:Passeriformes; D010802:Phylogeny; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins
keywords: Birds; Central Europe; Ixodes arboricola; Rickettsia; Ticks; ‘Candidatus Rickettsia vini’