Molecular detection of rickettsia sp. in ticks and blood collected from hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in West Azerbaijan

Background: Bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are obligate intracellular pathogens known to cause zoonotic diseases such as spotted fever and typhus in humans. These microbes rely on arthropod vectors primarily ticks, fleas, and lice for transmission, making them a shared concern for both public health and veterinary medicine. In this study, conducted in West Azerbaijan Province, we focused on ticks collected from European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), examining the potential role of Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus tick species as carriers of Rickettsia. Given their widespread presence in peri-domestic environments and close contact with human settlements, hedgehogs may serve as key wildlife hosts in the natural cycle and geographic spread of these pathogens. Methods: A total of ۱۰۶ ticks and ۳۱ blood samples were collected from live trapped European hedgehogs. Blood was drawn via cardiac puncture under appropriate anesthesia to ensure animal welfare. All samples were transported to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Urmia University for laboratory analysis. Results: Molecular screening using real-time PCR (targeting the ۱۶S rRNA gene) and conventional PCR (amplifying the gltA gene) confirmed the presence of Rickettsia DNA in several tick species, including Hyalomma aegyptium, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. turanicus, and R. bursa. Among these, R. turanicus showed the highest infection prevalence. Notably, none of the hedgehog blood samples tested positive for Rickettsia DNA. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the role of European hedgehogs as reservoir hosts for Rickettsia infected ticks, even though they themselves may not be bacteremic. This underscores the importance of including peri-domestic wildlife in surveillance programs and calls for more comprehensive molecular studies to better understand the zoonotic risk posed by tick-borne rickettsial agents in the region.

کلیدواژه ها:

Wildlife ، Rickettsia sp. ، Real Time PCR ، PCR