Publication details
Diversity of cultivable microorganisms isolated from ixodid ticks.
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Ixodid ticks (namely Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna) represent significant health risk for humans as well as many other vertebrate species as vectors of multiple pathogens. In addition, ticks harbour wealth of microorganisms which have not been associated with human illness so far. Polyphasic taxonomic approach was applied in the study to describe cultivable bacterial microflora of ixodid ticks. A total of 151 bacterial strains (67 strains from I. ricinus, 38 strains from D. reticulatus and 46 strains from H. concinna) were recovered during two-year examination from different developmental stages of field-collected ixodid ticks (larvae, nymphs, adults). Morphological, biochemical and molecular studies were performed. On the basis of partial 16S rDNA sequencing analysed strains belong most frequently to the genera Bacillus, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas. According to preliminary data some strains might belong to new taxa. Moreover, many isolated microorganisms were able to grow at 37 C and displayed significant haemolytic activity on Columbia agar with sheep blood. These indirect criteria suggest possible pathogenic potential of certain isolates. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether strains could pose health threat for humans. In conclusion, ixodid ticks are still black boxes in wealth of microorganisms they can transmit and might serve as a source of potential emerging pathogens in future. |
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