title: Surveillance of ticks and associated pathogens in free-ranging Formosan pangolins (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla).
abstract: Chinese pangolins are critically endangered insectivorous mammals distributed in several South and Southeast Asian countries. In recent years, there has been an increase in spread of tick-borne diseases in both humans and animals worldwide. Currently, limited information is available on ticks and associated pathogens infesting pangolins. The objective of the present study was to survey ticks and associated pathogens in the Formosan pangolin population in Southeastern Taiwan. Free-ranging Formosan pangolins captured during ecological survey were examined for the presence of ticks. DNA extracted from these ticks was used to identify the tick species and also to detect the tick-borne pathogens, by molecular methods. In the present study, we found 25% (13/52) of pangolins captured during 2012-2014 infested with ixodid ticks. A total of 21 ticks were collected and 3 species were identified: Haemaphysalis hystricis (14/21), Haemaphysalis formosensis (2/21) and Amblyomma testudinarium (5/21). We detected four different tick-borne pathogens, where one was identical to Anaplasma sp. strain An.H1446 while others showed close resemblance to Rickettsia conorii subsp. caspia A-167, Ehrlichia sp. TC251-2 and Cytauxzoon spp., respectively. The present study is the first survey of ticks infesting the free-ranging Chinese pangolins and pathogens harboured by these ticks. This information is important to know the diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, and its conservation significance to pangolins and other sympatric wildlife. Important future step should be regular surveillance of ticks and tick-borne diseases at human-domestic animals-wildlife interface, which can provide a useful insight into the dynamics of these pathogens and can help control and prevent outbreak of zoonoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rupak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khatri-Chhetri
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsi-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsien-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Bioresources, College of Agriculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nabin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khatri-Chhetri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. Electronic address: wuhy@mail.npust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Wildlife Conservation, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan; Pingtung Rescue Center for Endangered Wild Animals, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan. Electronic address: kcjpei@mail.npust.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Kurtis Jai-Chyi
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000469:parasitology*; D009758:Nymph; D011159:Population Surveillance; D013624:Taiwan; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Chinese pangolins; Taiwan; Tick-borne pathogens; Ticks