title: Novel Detection of Coxiella spp., Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis Endosymbionts in Deer Keds (Lipoptena fortisetosa).
abstract: We describe for the first time the detection of Coxiella-like bacteria (CLB), Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis endosymbionts in blood-sucking deer keds. Eight deer keds attached to a Korean water deer were identified as Lipoptena fortisetosa (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) by morphological and genetic analyses. Among the endosymbionts assessed, CLB, Theileria luwenshuni, and T. ovis were identified in L. fortisetosa by PCR and nucleotide sequencing. Based on phylogeny, CLB 16S rRNA sequences were classified into clade B, sharing 99.4% identity with CLB from Haemaphysalis longicornis in South Korea. Although the virulence of CLB to vertebrates is still controversial, several studies have reported clinical symptoms in birds due to CLB infections. The 18S rRNA sequences of T. luwenshuni and T. ovis in this study were 98.8-100% identical to those in GenBank, and all of the obtained sequences of T. ovis and T. luwenshuni in this study were 100% identical to each other, respectively. Although further studies are required to positively confirm L. fortisetosa as a biological vector of these pathogens, strong genetic relationships among sequences from this and previous studies suggest potential transmission among mammalian hosts by ticks and keds.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Center of Zoo Land, Daejeon O-World Theme Park, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoo-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Oh-Deog
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Dongin Veterinary Clinic, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Younsung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ock
authors.affiliation: Dongin Veterinary Clinic, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Taeil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dongin Veterinary Clinic, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Donghag
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.|Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dongmi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0876-3179
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003381:Coxiella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D003670:Deer; D004175:Diptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013559:Symbiosis; D016794:Theileria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S