Open AccessMorphological, molecular and MALDI-TOF MS identification of ticks and tick-associated pathogens in Vietnam
Author(s) -
Ly Na Huynh,
Adama Zan Diarra,
Quang Luan Pham,
Nhiem Le-Viet,
Jean-Michel Bérenger,
Van Hoang Ho,
Xuan Quang Nguyen,
Philippe Parola
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos neglected tropical diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.99
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1935-2735
pISSN - 1935-2727
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009813
Subject(s) - biology , tick , theileria , rhipicephalus sanguineus , babesia , dermacentor , anaplasma , rhipicephalus , tick borne disease , ixodidae , veterinary medicine , virology , parasite hosting , medicine , world wide web , computer science
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been reported as a promising and reliable tool for arthropod identification, including the identification of alcohol-preserved ticks based on extracted leg protein spectra. In this study, the legs of 361 ticks collected in Vietnam, including 251 Rhiphicephalus sanguineus s.l, 99 Rhipicephalus ( Boophilus ) microplus , two Amblyomma varanensis , seven Dermacentor auratus , one Dermacentor compactus and one Amblyomma sp. were submitted for MALDI-TOF MS analyses. Spectral analysis showed intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity and the spectra of 329 (91%) specimens were of excellent quality. The blind test of 310 spectra remaining after updating the database with 19 spectra revealed that all were correctly identified with log score values (LSV) ranging from 1.7 to 2.396 with a mean of 1.982 ± 0.142 and a median of 1.971. The DNA of several microorganisms including Anaplasma platys , Anaplasma phagocytophilum , Anaplasma marginale , Ehrlichia rustica , Babesia vogeli , Theileria sinensis , and Theileria orientalis were detected in 25 ticks. Co-infection by A . phagocytophilum and T . sinensis was found in one Rh . ( B ) microplus .