First screening for tick-borne pathogens in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus)

Ya-Qian Chen; Qing-Xun Zhang; Zhi-Bin Cheng; Yun-Fang Shan; Tian-Chun Pu; Tian Liu; Qing-Yun Guo; Pan Zhang; Xing-Long Song; Cong-Shan Yang; Zhen-Yu Zhong; Jia-De Bai

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102293

First screening for tick-borne pathogens in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus)

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2024 Mar;15(2):102293. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102293. Epub 2023 Dec 11.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China; Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
² Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
³ Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies in Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China.
⁴ College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address: congshanyang@sina.cn.

PMID: 38086248
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102293

Abstract

Ticks are primary vectors for many tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and pose a serious threat to veterinary and public health. Information on the presence of TBPs in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) is limited. In this study, a total of 102 Chinese Milu deer blood samples were examined for Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp., and three TBPs were identified: Anaplasma phagocytophilum (48; 47.1 %), Candidatus Anaplasma boleense (47; 46.1%), and Theileria capreoli (8; 7.8 %). Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA confirmed their identity with corresponding TBPs. To our knowledge, this is the first report on Candidatus A. boleense and T. capreoli detection in Chinese Milu deer. A high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum with veterinary and medical significance was identified in endangered Chinese Milu deer, which could act as potential zoonotic reservoirs. The identification of the TBPs in Chinese Milu deer provides useful information for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases.

Keywords: Anaplasma spp.; China; Chinese Milu deer; Theileria spp.; Tick-borne pathogens.

MeSH terms

Anaplasma / genetics
Animals
China / epidemiology
Deer* / microbiology
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Rickettsia* / genetics
Theileria* / genetics
Tick-Borne Diseases* / epidemiology
Tick-Borne Diseases* / microbiology
Tick-Borne Diseases* / veterinary
Ticks* / microbiology

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S