| Title |
Novel Borrelia species detected in echidna ticks, Bothriocroton concolor, in Australia
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
Parasites & Vectors, June 2016
|
| DOI | 10.1186/s13071-016-1627-x |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Siew-May Loh, Alexander W. Gofton, Nathan Lo, Amber Gillett, Una M. Ryan, Peter J. Irwin, Charlotte L. Oskam |
| Abstract |
To date, little has been documented about microorganisms harboured within Australian native ticks or their pathogenic potential. Recently, a Borrelia sp. related to the Relapsing Fever (RF) group was identified in a single tick removed from a wild echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus). The present study investigated the presence of Borrelia in 97 Bothriocroton concolor ticks parasitizing echidnas in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, Australia, using nested PCR with Borrelia-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA (16S) and flaB genes. Borrelia-specific PCR assays confirmed the presence of a novel Borrelia sp. related to the RF and reptile-associated (REP) spirochaetes in 38 (39 %) B. concolor ticks. This novel Borrelia sp. was identified in 41 % of the B. concolor ticks in Queensland and New South Wales, but not in any ticks from Victoria. The resulting flaB sequences (407 bp) were 88 and 86 % similar to the flaB sequences from Borrelia turcica and Borrelia hermsii, respectively. Of the ticks confirmed as Borrelia-positive following the flaB assay, 28 were positive with the 16S assay. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S sequences (1097 bp) suggests that these sequences belong to a novel Borrelia sp., which forms a unique monophyletic clade that is similar to, but distinct from, RF Borrelia spp. and REP-associated Borrelia spp. We conclude that the novel Borrelia sp. identified in this study does not belong to the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex, and that the phylogenetic analysis of the partial 16S gene sequences suggests it forms a unique monophyletic cluster in the genus Borrelia, potentially forming a fourth major group in this genus associated with monotremes in Australia. However, a thorough molecular characterisation will be required to confirm the phylogenetic position of this unique Borrelia sp. The zoonotic potential and pathogenic consequences of this novel Borrelia sp. are unknown at the current time. |
X Demographics
The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 26 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 7 | 27% |
| United States | 3 | 12% |
| Norway | 1 | 4% |
| Unknown | 15 | 58% |
Demographic breakdown
| Type | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the public | 17 | 65% |
| Scientists | 4 | 15% |
| Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 4 | 15% |
| Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 60 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown | 59 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher | 12 | 20% |
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 13% |
| Student > Bachelor | 8 | 13% |
| Other | 5 | 8% |
| Student > Master | 5 | 8% |
| Other | 11 | 18% |
| Unknown | 11 | 18% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 14 | 23% |
| Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 11 | 18% |
| Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 6 | 10% |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 5 | 8% |
| Immunology and Microbiology | 3 | 5% |
| Other | 7 | 12% |
| Unknown | 14 | 23% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 96. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 01 April 2022.
All research outputs
#440,751
of 25,432,721 outputs
Outputs from Parasites & Vectors
#38
of 6,003 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#8,839
of 368,399 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Parasites & Vectors
#1
of 172 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 25,432,721 research outputs across all sources so far. Compared to these this one has done particularly well and is in the 98th percentile: it's in the top 5% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
So far Altmetric has tracked 6,003 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 6.2. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its peers.
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We're also able to compare this research output to 172 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has done particularly well, scoring higher than 99% of its contemporaries.