Dataset Information

Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia infection in great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in northwestern China.

ABSTRACT: The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), widely distributed in Asia, is a natural reservoir for Yersinia pestis, Leishmania donovani and some species of helminths. In this study, 188 great gerbils were sampled in Alataw City and Manas County, northwestern China, and tested for the presence of Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia species by molecular methods. Theileria sp., named as "Candidatus Theileria xinjiangensis", was detected in heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of 6.9% rodents. Six genotypes of "Taenia sp. Rhombomys opimus", which were close to Taenia laticollis (87.3-94.0% identities), were detected in cyst liquid of 5.3% rodents. "Hepatozoon ayorgbor-like" haemogregarines was detected in spleens of 1.6% rodents. To our best knowledge, Candidatus Theileria xinjiangensis, Hepatozoon ayorgbor-like and genotypes of "Taenia sp. Rhombomys opimus" were found for the first time in the great gerbil. These results extend our knowledge on the diversity and pathogenesis of Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia species.

SUBMITTER: Ji N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8099453 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia infection in great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in northwestern China.

Ji Na N Chen Xueling X Liu Gang G Zhao Shanshan S Tan Wenbo W Liu Guangyuan G Zhang Jiangguo J Wang Yuanzhi Y

International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife 20210411

The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), widely distributed in Asia, is a natural reservoir for Yersinia pestis, Leishmania donovani and some species of helminths. In this study, 188 great gerbils were sampled in Alataw City and Manas County, northwestern China, and tested for the presence of Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia species by molecular methods. Theileria sp., named as "Candidatus Theileria xinjiangensis", was detected in heart, liver, ...[more]

PMID: 33996439

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Project description:BackgroundRodents play an important role in the life cycle of ixodid and argasid ticks, particularly as hosts of larvae and nymphs. The great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), the preferred prey item of several carnivores (e.g. the red fox and marbled polecat), is the dominant rodent species in the Gurbantunggut Desert in northwestern China. The aim of this study was to investigate tick species associated with different hosts in the habitat of great gerbils, including wildlife and livestock.MethodsDuring 2018-2023, ticks were removed from 326 great gerbils, two red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), three marbled polecats (Vormela peregusna), 35 pastured sheep (Ovis aries), and one long-eared desert hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ticks were identified according to standard morphological keys. Then, they were further analyzed by molecular and phylogenic methods based on two mitochondrial markers, 16S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes.ResultsA total of 889 ticks were collected, representing five species. These included Hyalomma asiaticum (n = 425: 24 larvae, 79 nymphs and 322 adults), Rhipicephalus turanicus (n = 153: 2 nymphs and 151 adults), Haemaphysalis erinacei (n = 298: 4 larvae, 7 nymphs and 287 adults), Ixodes acuminatus (n = 7: 4 nymphs and 3 adults) and Ornithodoros tartakovskyi (6 adults). Based on COI sequences, molecular and phylogenetic analyses showed that (i) I. acuminatus from great gerbils and marbled polecats clustered with I. acuminatus reported from Europe; (ii) O. tartakovskyi found in northwestern China belonged to an independent clade; (iii) Hy. asiaticum, R. turanicus and Ha. erinacei had 100% sequence identities to conspecific ticks sampled previously in China.ConclusionsThe great gerbil is an important host for the developmental stages of I. acuminatus, O. tartakovskyi, Ha. erinacei, Hy. asiaticum and R. turanicus, thus supporting the life cycle of several tick species which, as adults, parasitize predators (red fox and marble polecat) as well as pastured sheep and hedgehogs in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Ixodes acuminatus and O. tartakovskyi were found for the first time on great gerbil and marbled polecat, respectively.

Project description:BackgroundThe great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), whose ectoparasitic fleas significantly influence the transmission and prevalence of plague, was the dominant rodent species in the Junggar Basin in Northwestern China. However, the distribution pattern of fleas parasitizing the great gerbils and whether that pattern affected the intensity of plague prevalence in different regions remains unclear.MethodsA total of 17,780 fleas were collected from 2258 great gerbils throughout 90 investigations. This study focused on analyzing the rate of flea infestation and the flea indices of species that parasitized the great gerbils. The aggregation patterns of fleas parasitizing the great gerbils were measured using the parameter b of Taylor's power law, and the differences in the aggregation index of plague epidemic areas were compared.ResultsWe observed an aggregated distribution of ectoparasitic fleas in the great gerbils. The aggregation degree of combined fleas was higher (P > 0.05) in the eastern area of the Junggar Basin than in the western area. The primary species of ectoparasitic fleas of the great gerbils were Xenopsylla skrjabini, Xenopsylla minax, Xenopsylla hirtipes, and Nosopsyllus laeviceps laiveceps. X. skrjabini exhibited the highest (P < 0.01) degree of aggregation in the eastern zone (III), with an aggregation index of 1.61. In addition, in the middle zone (II), the aggregation index of X. minax and X. hirtipes reached their peak, with values of 1.53 and 1.56, respectively. Conversely, the degree of aggregation of N. laeviceps was more pronounced in the eastern zone than in the western zone of the Junggar Basin. Notably, the aggregation degree of the combined fleas of the great gerbils during the low-intensity plague epidemic period, with an index of 1.93, was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than during the high-intensity epidemic period, with an index of 1.50.ConclusionsFleas exhibited an aggregated distribution within the great gerbil population. The levels of flea aggregation varied across zones characterized by differing intensities of plague epidemics. In addition, the degree of flea aggregation was significantly correlated with the intensity of plague prevalence.

Dataset Information

Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia infection in great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in northwestern China.

Publications

<i>Theileria</i>, <i>Hepatozoon</i> and <i>Taenia</i> infection in great gerbils (<i>Rhombomys opimus</i>) in northwestern China.

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