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Amblyomma maculatum-associated rickettsiae in vector tissues and vertebrate hosts during tick feeding

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Abstract

Rickettsia parkeri, a causative agent of spotted fever rickettsiosis, is transmitted by Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick), a tick that may also carry a non-pathogenic spotted fever group Rickettsia, “Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae”. Here, we evaluated R. parkeri and “Candidatus R. andeanae” in tissues from A. maculatum prior to, during, and after blood feeding on rabbits. Using colony-reared A. maculatum that were capillary-fed uninfected cells, R. parkeri, “Candidatus R. andeanae”, or both rickettsiae, we detected higher levels of Rickettsia spp. in the respective treatment groups. Rickettsial levels increased during blood feeding for both R. parkeri and “Candidatus R. andeanae”, with a greater increase in R. parkeri in co-infected ticks compared to singly-infected ticks. We detected transovarial transmission of “Candidatus R. andeanae” in egg and larval cohorts and confirmed vertical transmission of R. parkeri in one group of larvae. Rabbits from all Rickettsia-exposed groups seroconverted on immunofluorescent antibody testing using R. parkeri antigen. Visualization of “Candidatus R. andeanae” in tick salivary glands suggested potential transmission via tick feeding. Here, rickettsial levels in artificially infected ticks demonstrate changes during feeding and transovarial transmission that may be relevant for interpreting rickettsial levels detected in wild A. maculatum.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this work was provided from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 1R15A 1099928-01A1, which supported design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. The A.V.S. laboratory was also supported in part by NIH COBRE P20GM103646 during this study. We thank all staff of the LARAC, especially Ms. Jamie Walker for critical care, all animal assistance, and support for this project. We appreciate laboratory assistance from Katie Graham and Jacob Hughes.

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Author notes

  1. Jung Keun Lee

    Present address: Department of Pathology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA

  2. Gail M. Moraru

    Present address: Biology Department, Linn-Benton Community College, Albany, OR, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Jung Keun Lee, Gail M. Moraru, John V. Stokes, Amanda N. Benton, Haley P. Nabors, Catherine L. Smith & Andrea S. Varela-Stokes

  2. Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA

    Robert W. Wills

  3. Institute for Imaging & Analytical Technologies, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA

    Amanda M. Lawrence

  4. Laboratory Animal Resources, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA

    Bridget V. Willeford

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  1. Jung Keun Lee
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Correspondence to Andrea S. Varela-Stokes.

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Lee, J.K., Moraru, G.M., Stokes, J.V. et al. Amblyomma maculatum-associated rickettsiae in vector tissues and vertebrate hosts during tick feeding. Exp Appl Acarol 77, 187–205 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00343-x

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