title: First report of Rickettsia raoultii and R. slovaca in Melophagus ovinus, the sheep ked.
abstract: Melophagus ovinus (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), a hematophagous ectoparasite, is mainly found in Europe, Northwestern Africa, and Asia. This wingless fly infests sheep, rabbits, and red foxes, and causes inflammation, wool loss and skin damage. Furthermore, this parasite has been shown to transmit diseases, and plays a role as a vector. Herein, we investigated the presence of various Rickettsia species in M. ovinus.
  
  
  
  In this study, a total of 95 sheep keds were collected in Kuqa County and Alaer City southern region of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China. First, collected sheep keds were identified on the species level using morphological keys and molecular methods based on a fragment of the 18S ribosomal DNA gene (18S rDNA). Thereafter, to assess the presence of rickettsial DNA in sheep keds, the DNA of individual samples was screened by PCR based on six Rickettsia-specific gene fragments originating from six genes: the 17-kilodalton antigen gene (17-kDa), 16S rRNA gene (rrs), surface cell antigen 4 gene (sca4), citrate synthase gene (gltA), and outer membrane protein A and B genes (ompA and ompB). The amplified products were confirmed by sequencing and BLAST analysis ( https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi?PROGRAM=blastn&PAGE_TYPE=BlastSearch&LINK_LOC=blasthome ).
  
  
  
  According to its morphology and results of molecular analysis, the species was identified as Melophagus ovinus, with 100% identity to M. ovinus from St. Kilda, Australia (FN666411). DNA of Rickettsia spp. were found in 12 M. ovinus samples (12.63%, 12/95). Rickettsia raoultii and R. slovaca were confirmed based on phylogenetic analysis, although the genetic markers of these two rickettsial agents amplified in this study showed molecular diversity.
  
  
  
  This is the first report of R. raoultii and R. slovaca DNA in M. ovinus. Rickettsia slovaca was found for the first time around the Taklimakan Desert located in China. This finding extends the geographical range of spotted fever group rickettsiae.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Zhi
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 830000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China.
authors.forename: Ha-Zi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Wureli
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 843300, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Jilin, Changchun, 130062, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, China. ccf-xb@163.com.
authors.forename: Chuang-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004175:Diptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: China; Melophagus ovinus; Rickettsia raoultii; Rickettsia slovaca