Premium
Tissue tropism and vertical transmission of C oxiella in R hipicephalus sanguineus and R hipicephalus turanicus ticks
Author(s) -
Lalzar Itai,
Friedmann Yael,
Gottlieb Yuval
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.12455
Subject(s) - biology , tissue tropism , tropism , transmission (telecommunications) , host (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , genetics , virus , electrical engineering , engineering
Summary Arthropod symbionts present tissue tropism that corresponds to the nature of the association and the mode of transmission between host generations. In ticks, however, our knowledge of symbiont tissue tropism and function is limited. Here, we quantified and localized previously described C oxiella‐ like symbionts in several organs of the tick R hipicephalus turanicus . Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed high densities of C oxiella in the female gonads, and both male and female M alpighian tubules. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy, we further showed that in the gonads of both R h. turanicus and R h. sanguineus , C oxiella does not colonize the primary oocytes but is found later in young and mature oocytes in a specific distribution, suggesting controlled vertical transmission. This method revealed the presence C oxiella in the distal part of the M alpighian tubules, suggesting a possible role in nitrogen metabolism. While testing R ickettsia symbionts, no specific tissue tropism was found, but a slightly higher densities in the tick gut. The low density of R ickettsia in the female ovaries suggests competition between R ickettsia and C oxiella for vertical transmission. The described tissue distribution supports an obligatory role for C oxiella in ticks.