Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks of dogs

Arthropods especially ticks are important microbial vectors that work specific roles in medical and veterinary problems. The study was conducted on the ticks that carried Rickettsia spp. from the dog in different parts of the province of Hormozgan in Iran. Ticks were sampled from various locations all over the dogs’ bodies during the spring and summer of ۲۰۲۲. Ticks were collected and placed in sterile glass bottles containing ۹۵% ethanol. For the extraction of DNA, ticks were initially air-dried on clean paper in a well-ventilated area following a brief ethanol ۷۰% rinse. They were then processed using a commercially available DNA extraction kit (DNA Extraction Kit, MBST, and Iran) to extract DNA.  Specific primers targeting the genes of Rickettsia spp. were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was employed to identify Rickettsia spp. The positive PCR product was sent to Pishgam Company for sequence analysis. The Maximum likelihood method in MEGA V.۱۰ was used to analyze the sequencing data and phylogenetic analysis was conducted.  Rickettsiae spp۲ (n = ۴۷; ۴.۲۵%; ۹۵%Cl: ۱.۱۸% to ۱۴.۲۶%) positive for the gltA gene were detected. The identification of Rickettsia spp. in dog ticks is reported for the first time in Iran. These results showed that hard ticks act as vectors of Rickettsia spp. in Iran, which may have important public health implications in their areas of distribution.

کلیدواژه ها:

Rickettsia spp ، Ticks ، PCR ، dog ، Hormozgan ، Iran