title: Molecular investigation into the presence of a Coxiella sp. in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in Australia.
abstract: Q fever is an infectious disease with a global distribution caused by the intracellular bacterium, Coxiella burnetii, which has been detected in a large number of tick species worldwide, including the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Recent reports of a high seroprevalance of C. burnetii in Australian dogs, along with the identification of additional Coxiella species within R. sanguineus ticks, has prompted an investigation into the presence and identification of Coxiella species in R. sanguineus ticks in Australia. Using a combination of C. burnetii species-specific IS1111a transposase gene and Coxiella genus-specific 16S rRNA PCR assays, a Coxiella sp. was identified in 100% (n=199) of R. sanguineus ticks analysed, and C. burnetii was not detected in any R. sanguineus ticks studied. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed the Coxiella sequences were closely related to Coxiella sp. identified previously in R. sanguineus and R. turanicus ticks overseas. This study illustrates the value of using genus specific PCR assays to detect previously unreported bacterial species. Furthermore, the presence of an additional Coxiella sp. in Australia requires further investigation into its potential for contributing to serological cross-reactions during Q fever testing.
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: c.oskam@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Charlotte L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Oskam
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: a.gofton@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gofton
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: t.greay@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Telleasha L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Greay
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: r.yang@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rongchang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West and Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Locked Bag 9001, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia. Electronic address: Stephen.doggett@health.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doggett
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: una.ryan@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Una M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Vector and Water-Borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Perth, Western Australia, 6150, Australia. Electronic address: p.irwin@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003381:Coxiella / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Australia; Coxiella; Dogs; Rhipicephalus sanguineus; Ticks