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Molecular Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffaloes, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines
Galay, R.L.; Talactac, M.R.; Ambita-Salem, B.V.; Chu, D.M.M.; Costa, L.M.O.; Salangsang, C.M.A.; Caracas, D.K.B.; Generoso, F.H.; Babelonia, J.A.; Vergano, J.L.; Berana, L.C.; Sandalo, K.A.C.; Divina, B.P.; Alvarez, C.R.; Mago, E.R.; Andoh, M.; Tanaka, T. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia Spp. and Coxiella Burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffalo, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis.2020, 5, 54.
Galay, R.L.; Talactac, M.R.; Ambita-Salem, B.V.; Chu, D.M.M.; Costa, L.M.O.; Salangsang, C.M.A.; Caracas, D.K.B.; Generoso, F.H.; Babelonia, J.A.; Vergano, J.L.; Berana, L.C.; Sandalo, K.A.C.; Divina, B.P.; Alvarez, C.R.; Mago, E.R.; Andoh, M.; Tanaka, T. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia Spp. and Coxiella Burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffalo, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2020, 5, 54.
Galay, R.L.; Talactac, M.R.; Ambita-Salem, B.V.; Chu, D.M.M.; Costa, L.M.O.; Salangsang, C.M.A.; Caracas, D.K.B.; Generoso, F.H.; Babelonia, J.A.; Vergano, J.L.; Berana, L.C.; Sandalo, K.A.C.; Divina, B.P.; Alvarez, C.R.; Mago, E.R.; Andoh, M.; Tanaka, T. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia Spp. and Coxiella Burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffalo, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis.2020, 5, 54.
Galay, R.L.; Talactac, M.R.; Ambita-Salem, B.V.; Chu, D.M.M.; Costa, L.M.O.; Salangsang, C.M.A.; Caracas, D.K.B.; Generoso, F.H.; Babelonia, J.A.; Vergano, J.L.; Berana, L.C.; Sandalo, K.A.C.; Divina, B.P.; Alvarez, C.R.; Mago, E.R.; Andoh, M.; Tanaka, T. Molecular Detection of Rickettsia Spp. and Coxiella Burnetii in Cattle, Water Buffalo, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) Microplus Ticks in Luzon Island of the Philippines. Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2020, 5, 54.
Abstract
Rickettsia and Coxiella burnetii are zoonotic tick-borne pathogens that can cause febrile illnesses with or without other symptoms in humans but may cause subclinical infections in animals. There are only a few reports on the occurrence of these pathogens in cattle and water buffaloes in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. In this study, molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. and C. burnetii in the blood and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks of cattle and water buffaloes from five provinces in Luzon Island of the Philippines was done. A total of 620 blood samples of cattle and water buffaloes and 206 tick samples were collected and subjected to DNA extraction. After successful amplification of control genes, nested PCR was performed to detect gltA of Rickettsia and com1 of C. burnetii. No samples were positive for Rickettsia while 10 (cattle – 7, water buffaloes - 3) or 1.6% of blood and 5 or 1.8% of tick samples were C. burnetii-positive. Sequence analysis of the positive amplicons showed 99-100% similarity to reported C. burnetii isolates. This molecular evidence on the occurrence of C. burnetii in Philippine ruminants and cattle ticks and its zoonotic nature should prompt further investigation and surveillance to facilitate its effective control.
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