Molecular surveillance for Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. in ticks from Northern Iran.
Authors: Ghasemi Ahmad, Latifian Mina, Esmaeili Saber, Naddaf Saied Reza, Mostafavi Ehsan
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Rickettsia and Bartonella Detection in Iranian Ticks Tick-borne rickettsial infections represent an emerging zoonotic threat in regions where epidemiological data remain sparse; this Iranian surveillance study addresses a significant knowledge gap by screening 3,999 ticks collected from domestic livestock, equines, and rodents across three northern provinces during 2017–2018. Using molecular pooling and real-time PCR followed by phylogenetic sequencing, researchers detected Rickettsia spp. in 25.2% of samples (161 of 638 DNA pools), predominantly from *Rhipicephalus sanguineus* and *Rh. turanicus* species, with eight distinct Rickettsia species identified—notably *R. massiliae* (49.2%) and *R. sibirica* (30.8%)—whilst no Bartonella detection occurred. For equine professionals, these findings are particularly relevant: horses are susceptible to rickettsial infection through tick exposure, and the widespread presence of competent tick vectors and multiple pathogenic species across northern Iran underscores the need to consider rickettsial disease in differential diagnoses when horses present with fever, rash, or vasculitic manifestations following tick exposure. The phylogenetic diversity observed suggests complex ecological maintenance cycles involving multiple host and vector species, warranting heightened clinical vigilance and potentially influencing tick control and prevention strategies in endemic regions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine practitioners in Northern Iran should consider Rickettsia infection in the differential diagnosis of febrile illness or unexplained skin conditions in horses with tick exposure, particularly in Golestan Province
- •Eight different Rickettsia species circulate in ticks from domestic animals including horses in this region, requiring awareness of potential zoonotic transmission risk to handlers and owners
- •Tick control measures remain important for horses in Northern Iran given the significant prevalence of Rickettsia-carrying ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus species
Key Findings
- •Rickettsia spp. detected in 25.2% of 638 pooled tick samples, with R. massiliae (49.2%) and R. sibirica (30.8%) being the most prevalent species
- •Ixodes ricinus (46.4%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (26.3%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (17.1%) were the most common tick species collected from domestic animals including horses
- •No Bartonella species detected in any of the 638 pooled samples examined
- •Golestan Province in Northern Iran showed the highest prevalence of Rickettsia-positive tick pools at 29.7%