Molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens in Otobius megnini from Central Mexico with special emphasis on Bartonella detection
Por:
Gamboa-Prieto, J, Grostieta, E, Miranda-Caballero, CI, Salceda-Sánchez, B, González-Guzmán, S, Cervantes, VP, Aguilar-Tipacamú, G, Ojeda-Chi, M, Rodriguez-Vivas, RI, Zazueta-Islas, HM, Solis-Cortés, M, Pardio-Sedas, VT, Esparza-González, SC, Lammoglia-Villagómez, MA, Ballados-González, GG, Gutiérrez-Cedillo, V, Cruz-Romero, A, Sánchez-Montes, S
Publicada:
1 may 2026
Ahead of Print:
1 may 2026
Resumen:
Soft ticks (Argasidae) remain among the least studied hematophagous ectoparasites. One of these species, Otobius megnini, the spiny ear tick, is a widely distributed, likely Nearctic-origin species whose global spread has been facilitated by the movement of cattle and horses-its primary hosts. Despite its generalist habits and ability to parasitize a wide range of mammals, including livestock and companion animals from the orders Artiodactyla and Carnivora, its role as a potential vector of pathogens remains poorly understood. Previous studies have linked O. megnini to otitis and tissue damage during its larval and nymphal stages, and it is suspected of contributing to the maintenance of Coxiella burnetii and Anaplasma sp., the causative agents of Q fever and anaplasmosis. This study aimed to detect bacterial and protozoan pathogens in O. megnini collected January 2019 and July 2023 from dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), cattle (Bos taurus), and the environment across three central Mexican states (Mexico State, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo). A total of 690 specimens (42 females, 13 males, 624 nymphs, and 11 larvae) from 50 hosts of two different species, as well as from the environment in 12 localities in the states of Mexico, Guanajuato, and Hidalgo, were analyzed using conventional PCR and sequencing to detect Anaplasma, Bartonella, Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Babesia. Bartonella bovis DNA was detected in 10 engorged nymphs recovered from cattle in the State of Mexico; no additional pathogens were found. This represents the first molecular detection of Bartonella in O. megnini worldwide and particularly in Mexico. Further studies are needed to assess its implications for animal and human health.
Filiaciones:
Gamboa-Prieto, J:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Lab Enfermedades Infecciosas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Grostieta, E:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Ctr Med Trop, Div Invest, Mexico City, Mexico
Miranda-Caballero, CI:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Ctr Med Trop, Div Invest, Mexico City, Mexico
Salceda-Sánchez, B:
Secretaria Salud Mexico, Inst Diagnost & Referencia Epidemiol, Lab Entomol, Mexico City, Mexico
González-Guzmán, S:
Hosp Reg Alta Especialidad Zumpango, Dept Invest, Zumpango, Estado De Mexic, Mexico
Cervantes, VP:
Inst Mexicano Seguro Social IMSS, Ctr Med Nacl La Raza, Hosp Especialidades, Lab Cent,Biol Mol, Mexico City, Mexico
Aguilar-Tipacamú, G:
Univ Autonoma Queretaro, Fac Ciencias Nat, CA Ecol & Diversidad Faunist, Queretaro, Mexico
Ojeda-Chi, M:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Ciencias Biol Agr, Tuxpan De Rodriguez Cano, Veracruz, Mexico
Rodriguez-Vivas, RI:
Univ Autonoma Yucatan, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Campus Ciencias Biol & Agr, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Zazueta-Islas, HM:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Med, Ctr Med Trop, Div Invest, Mexico City, Mexico
Solis-Cortés, M:
Univ Concepcion, Fac Ciencias Vet, Dept Ciencia Anim, Chillan, Chile
Pardio-Sedas, VT:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Lab Segur Agroalimentaria, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Esparza-González, SC:
Univ Autonoma Coahuila, Fac Odontol, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Lammoglia-Villagómez, MA:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Ciencias Biol Agr, Tuxpan De Rodriguez Cano, Veracruz, Mexico
Ballados-González, GG:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Lab Enfermedades Infecciosas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Ciencias Biol Agr, Tuxpan De Rodriguez Cano, Veracruz, Mexico
Gutiérrez-Cedillo, V:
Secretaria Salud Mexico, Ctr Nacl Prevenc & Control Enfermedades, Subdirecc Rabia & Otras Zoonosis, Mexico City, Mexico
Cruz-Romero, A:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Lab Enfermedades Infecciosas, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
Sánchez-Montes, S:
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Ciencias Biol Agr, Tuxpan De Rodriguez Cano, Veracruz, Mexico
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