title: Detection and phylogenetic characterization of Theileria spp. and Anaplasma marginale in Rhipicephalus bursa in Portugal.
abstract: Ticks are obligatory blood-sucking arthropod (Acari:Ixodida) ectoparasites of domestic and wild animals as well as humans. The incidence of tick-borne diseases is rising worldwide, challenging our approach toward diagnosis, treatment and control options. Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877, a two-host tick widely distributed in the Palearctic Mediterranean region, is considered a multi-host tick that can be commonly found on sheep, goats and cattle, and occasionally on horses, dogs, deer and humans. R. bursa is a species involved in the transmission of several tick-borne pathogens with a known impact on animal health and production. The aim of this study was to estimate R. bursa prevalence in Portugal Mainland and circulating pathogens in order to contribute to a better knowledge of the impact of this tick species. Anaplasma marginale and Theileria spp. were detected and classified using phylogenetic analysis. This is the first report of Theileria annulata and Theileria equi detection in R. bursa ticks feeding on cattle and horses, respectively, in Portugal. This study contributes toward the identification of currently circulating pathogens in this tick species as a prerequisite for developing future effective anti-tick control measures.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: joana.ferrolho@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrolho
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: santunes@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Dr. Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge I.P., Águas de Moura, Portugal. Electronic address: a_s_p_s@vodafone.pt.
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Dr. Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge I.P., Águas de Moura, Portugal. Electronic address: rita_vlz@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Velez
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal. Electronic address: lpadre@ue.pt.
authors.forename: Ludovina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padre
authors.affiliation: Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL), INSERM U1019 - CNRS UMR 8204, Université de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue Professeur Calmette, 59019 Lille Cedex, France. Electronic address: cabezasalejandrocruz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabezas-Cruz
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Dr. Francisco Cambournac, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge I.P., Águas de Moura, Portugal. Electronic address: m.santos.silva@insa.min-saude.pt.
authors.forename: Maria Margarida
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos-Silva
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical - Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address: adomingos@ihmt.unl.pt.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingos
mesh_terms: D042322:Anaplasma marginale / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D004285:Dogs; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D016794:Theileria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D013983:Tick Control; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Anaplasma marginale; Portugal; Rhipicephalus bursa; Theileria annulata; Theileria equi; Tick-borne pathogens