A novel Rickettsia, Candidatus Rickettsia takensis, and the first record of Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis in Dermacentor from Northwestern Thailand
Issued Date
2023-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20452322
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85162925373
Journal Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
13
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Scientific Reports Vol.13 No.1 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Chaloemthanetphong A., Ahantarig A., Apanaskevich D.A., Hirunkanokpun S., Baimai V., Trinachartvanit W. A novel Rickettsia, Candidatus Rickettsia takensis, and the first record of Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis in Dermacentor from Northwestern Thailand. Scientific Reports Vol.13 No.1 (2023). doi:10.1038/s41598-023-37206-w Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87802
Title
A novel Rickettsia, Candidatus Rickettsia takensis, and the first record of Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis in Dermacentor from Northwestern Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Three hundred and forty-four tick samples were collected from vegetation at Taksin Maharat National Park, Tak province, northwestern Thailand. They were morphologically identified and molecularly confirmed by 16S rRNA and COI genes as Dermacentor laothaiensis (n = 105), D. steini (n = 139), and D. auratus (n = 100). These ticks were examined for the spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGRs) using PCR and DNA sequencing of six genes; 17-kDa, gltA, 16S rRNA, ompA, ompB, and sca4. Of these ticks, 6.10% (21/344) gave positive results for the presence of SFGRs. Phylogenetic analyses of the SFGRs clearly indicated that a novel genotype assigned as Candidatus Rickettsia takensis was detected in D. laothaiensis (19/105) and at lesser frequency in D. steini (1/139). Furthermore, Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis was also found at a low frequency in D. auratus (1/100), the first record in Thailand. Although, the pathogenicities of these SFGRs remain unknown, our findings suggest potential risks of SFGRs being transmitted via ticks near the border between Thailand and Myanmar, a gateway of daily migrations of local people and visitors both legal and illegal.