Skip to main content
Log in

16S rRNA gene-based identification of cultured bacterial flora from host-seeking Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks, vectors of vertebrate pathogens

  • Published:
Folia Microbiologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A total of 151 bacterial isolates were recovered from different developmental stages (larvae, nymphs and adults) of field-collected ticks (67 strains from Ixodes ricinus, 38 from Dermacentor reticulatus, 46 from Haemaphysalis concinna). Microorganisms were identified by means of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Almost 87 % of the strains belonged to G+ bacteria with predominantly occurring genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus. Other G+ strains included Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium, Frigoribacterium, Kocuria, Microbacterium, Micrococcus, Plantibacter, Rhodococcus, Rothia, and Staphylococcus. G strains occurred less frequently, comprising genera Advenella, Pseudomonas, Rahnella, Stenotrophomonas, and Xanthomonas. Several strains of medical importance were found, namely Advenella incenata, Corynebacterium aurimucosum, Microbacterium oxydans, M. schleiferi, Staphylococcus spp., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Data on cultivable microbial diversity in Eurasian tick species D. reticulatus and H. concinna are given, along with the extension of present knowledge concerning bacterial flora of I. ricinus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

D.r.:

Dermacentor reticulatus

H.c.:

Haemaphysalis concinna

I.r.:

Ixodes ricinus

References

  • Beaty B.J., Marquardt W.C.: The Biology of Disease Vectors. University Press of Colorado, Colorado 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson M.J., Gawronski J.D., Eveleigh D.E., Benson D.R.: Intracellular symbionts and other bacteria associated with deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis) from Nantucket and Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 70, 616–620 (2004).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coenye T., Vanlaere E., Samyn E., Falsen E., Larsson P., Vandamme P.: Advenella incenata gen.nov., sp.nov., a novel member of the Alcaligenaceae, isolated from various clinical samples. Internat.J.Syst.Evol.Microbiol. 55, 251–256 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Falagas M.E., Valkimadi P.E., Huang Y.T., Matthaiou D.K., Hsueh P.R.: Therapeutic options for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections beyond co-trimoxazole: a systematic review. J.Antimicrob.Chemother. 62, 889–894 (2008).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hercík K., Hášová V., Janeček J., Branny P.: Molecular evidence of Bartonella DNA in ixodid ticks in Czechia. Folia Microbiol. 52, 503–510 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubálek Z., Rudolf I.: Microbial Zoonoses and Sapronoses. (In Czech) Masaryk University Press, Brno 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubálek Z., Sixl V., Halouzka J.: Francisella tularensis in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from the Czech Republic and Austria. Wien Klin.Wochenschr. 110, 909–910 (1998).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hubálek Z., Halouzka J., Juřicová Z.: Host-seeking activity of ixodid ticks in relation to weather variables. J.Vector.Ecol. 28, 159–165 (2003).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hulínská D., Votýpka J., Kříž B., Holínková N., Nováková J., Hulínský V.: Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of Borrelia spp. isolated from Ixodes ricinus ticks by using electrophoretic chips and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Folia Microbiol. 52, 315–324 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones D., Pell P.A., Sneath P.H.A.: Maintenance of bacteria on glass beads at −60 °C to −76 °C, pp. 45–50 in B.E. Kirsop, A. Doyle (Eds): Maintenance of Microorganisms and Cultured Cells; a Manual of Laboratory Methods, 2nd ed. Academic Press, London 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kati H., Sezen Z., Demirbag Z.: Characterization of a highly pathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis strain isolated from common cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha. Folia Microbiol. 52, 146–152 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lau S.K.P., Woo P.C.Y., Woo G.K.S., Yuen K.Y.: Catheter-related Microbacterium bacteremia identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. J.Clin.Microbiol. 40, 2681–2685 (2002).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin P.A., Schmidtmann E.T.: Isolation of aerobic microbes from Ixodes scapularis (Acari:Ixodidae), the vector of Lyme disease in eastern United States. J.Econ.Entomol. 91, 864–868 (1998).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murrell A., Dobson S.J., Yang X., Lacey E., Barker S.C.: A survey of bacterial diversity in ticks, lice and fleas from Australia. Parasitol.Res. 89, 326–334 (2003).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Niebylski M.L., Peacock M.G., Fischer E.R., Porcella S.F., Schwan T.G.: Characterization of an endosymbiont infecting wood ticks, Dermacentor andersonii, as a member of the genus Francisella. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 63, 3933–3940 (1997).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noda H., Munderloh U.G., Kurtti T.J.: Endosymbionts of ticks and their relationship to Wolbachia spp. and tick-borne pathogens of human and animals. Appl.Environ.Microbiol. 63, 3296–3932 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill S.L., Giordano R., Colbert A.M.E., Karr T.L., Robertson H.M.: 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial endosymbionts associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility in insects. Proc.Nat.Acad.Sci.USA 89, 2699–2702 (1992).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schabereiter-Gurtner C., Lubitz W., Rolleke S.: Application of broad-range 16S rRNA PCR amplification and DGGE fingerprinting for detection of tick-infecting bacteria. J.Microbiol.Meth. 52, 251–260 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scoles G.A.: Phylogenetic analysis of the Francisella-like endosymbionts of Dermacentor ticks. J.Med.Entomol. 41, 277–286 (2004).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stojek M.N., Dutkiewicz J.: Studies on the occurrence of Gram-negative bacteria in ticks: Ixodes ricinus as a potential vector of Pasteurella. Ann.Agric.Environ.Med. 11, 319–322 (2004).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang G., van Dam A.P., Schwartz I., Dankert J.: Molecular typing of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato: taxonomic, epidemiological, and clinical implications. Clin.Microbiol.Rev. 12, 633–653 (1999).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to I. Rudolf.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rudolf, I., Mendel, J., Šikutová, S. et al. 16S rRNA gene-based identification of cultured bacterial flora from host-seeking Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks, vectors of vertebrate pathogens. Folia Microbiol 54, 419–428 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0059-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-009-0059-9

Keywords

Navigation