Molecular Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii in Haemaphysalis Ticks in Korea

Overview

Journal Korean J Parasitol

Specialty Parasitology

Date 2020 Jul 4

PMID 32615747

Citations 5

Authors

Ju Yeong Kim

You Shine Kwak

In-Yong Lee

Tai-Soon Yong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii are intracellular protozoa that can cause neurological disease or death in fetuses and even in immunocompromised human adults. Ticks are recognized as vectors of many microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Recent studies detected T. gondii in various tick species in many countries. In this study, we performed PCR detection of the T. gondii B1 gene from Haemaphysalis ticks collected from vegetation in 4 localities, Wonju, Gunsan, Miryang, and Yangsan, in Korea. We analyzed DNA from 314 ticks (268 Haemaphysalis longicornis and 46 Haemaphysalis flava) and the B1 gene of T. gondii was detected in 13 of these. The detection of T. gondii in ticks differed significantly by region (P=0.021). T. gondii was detected in the following percentages of collected ticks: 3.7% (7 of 189) in Gunsan, 10% (5 of 50) in Wonju, 16.7% (1 of 6) in Yangsan, and 0% (0 of 69) in Miryang. The detection of T. gondii in ticks was not associated with tick species or development stage. This is the first report of T. gondii detection in ticks in Korea. Our results provide important information necessary to understand toxoplasmosis transmission.

Citing Articles

Molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in ticks and their respective host dogs.

Seo M, Kwak D Parasites Hosts Dis. 2025; 63(1):66-74.

PMID: 40045682 PMC: 11895087. DOI: 10.3347/PHD.24091.

DNA Barcoding Using 18S rRNA Gene Fragments for Identification of Tick-Borne Protists in Ticks in the Republic of Korea.

Alkathiri B, Lee S, Ahn K, Youn S, Yoo M, Lee H Pathogens. 2024; 13(11).

PMID: 39599494 PMC: 11597262. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13110941.

Prevalence and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from forest areas of Northern Poland.

Adamska M Exp Appl Acarol. 2024; 93(4):907-917.

PMID: 39384732 PMC: 11534879. DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00965-w.

One Health Approach to Toxoplasmosis: Owner and Dog Seropositivity as Spatial Indicators of Risk Areas for Acquired, Gestational and Congenital Transmission.

Sohn-Hausner N, Correa R, Kmetiuk L, da Silva E, de Moraes G, Rocha G Trop Med Infect Dis. 2024; 9(7).

PMID: 39058185 PMC: 11281673. DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed9070143.

Characterization of AV422 from Haemaphysalis flava ticks in vitro.

Liu L, Tang H, Duan D, Liu J, Wang J, Feng L Exp Appl Acarol. 2021; 84(4):809-823.

PMID: 34297228 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-021-00645-z.

References

Shin H, Lee S, Hong S, Kim S, Choi Y, Park H . Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in rabbits of Korea by serological tests and nested polymerase chain reaction. J Vet Med Sci. 2013; 75(12):1609-13. PMC: 3942966. DOI: 10.1292/jvms.13-0360. View

Jagow M, Hoffmann G . [Experiments on the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in various developing stages of Ornithodoros moubata]. Z Parasitenkd. 1970; 33(3):246-51. DOI: 10.1007/BF00259494. View

Ben-Harari R . Tick transmission of toxoplasmosis. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2019; 17(11):911-917. DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2019.1682550. View

Kim S, Choi R, Kang S, Hyun C . Prevalence of infection in household and feral cats in Korea. J Parasit Dis. 2017; 41(3):823-825. PMC: 5555940. DOI: 10.1007/s12639-017-0896-4. View

Shin D, Cha D, Hua Q, Cha G, Lee Y . Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and characteristics of seropositive patients in general hospitals in Daejeon, Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2009; 47(2):125-30. PMC: 2688793. DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.2.125. View

Alfonso Y, Fraga J, Jimenez N, Fonseca C, Dorta-Contreras A, Cox R . Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients by nested PCR and rapid identification of type I allele at B1 gene by RFLP analysis. Exp Parasitol. 2009; 122(3):203-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.03.009. View

WOKE P, Jacobs L, Jones F, MELTON M . Experimental results on possible arthropod transmission of toxoplasmosis. J Parasitol. 1953; 39(5):523-32. View

Oh J, Lee S, Lee S, Kim Y, Park S, Rhee M . Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Cattle Raised in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. J Food Prot. 2016; 79(5):821-4. DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-15-512. View

Gupta G, Lakritz J, Kim J, Kim D, Marsh A . Seroprevalence of Neospora, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis neurona antibodies in horses from Jeju island, South Korea. Vet Parasitol. 2002; 106(3):193-201. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(02)00064-x. View

10.

Asman M, Solarz K, Cuber P, Gasior T, Szilman P, Szilman E . Detection of protozoans Babesia microti and Toxoplasma gondii and their co-existence in ticks (Acari: Ixodida) collected in Tarnogórski district (Upper Silesia, Poland). Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015; 22(1):80-3. DOI: 10.5604/12321966.1141373. View

11.

Almeria S, Calvete C, Pages A, Gauss C, Dubey J . Factors affecting the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) from Spain. Vet Parasitol. 2004; 123(3-4):265-70. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2004.06.010. View

12.

Tenter A, Heckeroth A, Weiss L . Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans. Int J Parasitol. 2000; 30(12-13):1217-58. PMC: 3109627. DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7519(00)00124-7. View

13.

Wojcik-Fatla A, Sroka J, Zajac V, Sawczyn A, Cisak E, Dutkiewicz J . Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) detected in Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) (Ixodidae). Folia Parasitol (Praha). 2015; 62. DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.055. View

14.

Yang H, Jin K, Park Y, Hong S, Bae J, Lee S . Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in the residents of Cheju island, Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 2000; 38(2):91-3. PMC: 2721118. DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2000.38.2.91. View

15.

Lee J, Lee S, Lee E, Song K . Nested PCR-based detection of Toxoplasma gondii in German shepherd dogs and stray cats in South Korea. Res Vet Sci. 2007; 85(1):125-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.09.006. View

16.

Skotarczak B . The role of ticks in transmission cycle of Toxoplasma gondii. Ann Parasitol. 2016; 62(3):185–191. DOI: 10.17420/ap6203.52. View

17.

Sroka J, Chmielewska-Badora J, Dutkiewicz J . Ixodes ricinus as a potential vector of Toxoplasma gondii. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2003; 10(1):121-3. View

18.

Adamska M, Skotarczak B . Molecular evidence for Toxoplasma gondii in feeding and questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2016; 8(2):259-261. DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.11.009. View

19.

Sroka J, Wojcik-Fatla A, Zwolinski J, Zajac V, Sawczuk M, Dutkiewicz J . Preliminary study on the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in Ixodes ricinus ticks from north-western Poland with the use of PCR. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2008; 15(2):333-8. View

20.

Galay R, Maeda H, Aung K, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Xuan X, Igarashi I . Anti-babesial activity of a potent peptide fragment derived from longicin of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Trop Anim Health Prod. 2011; 44(2):343-8. DOI: 10.1007/s11250-011-0027-7. View