Parasitology Research (2016) 115, 3679-3682

Ivo Rudolf, Lenka Betásová, Vlastimil Bischof, Kristyna Venclíková, Hana Blazejová, Jan Mendel, Zdenek Hubálek and Michael Kosoy (2016)
Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), Central Europe
Parasitology Research 115 (10), 3679-3682
Abstract: In the study, we screened a total of 399 adult sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus) for the presence of RNA and DNA specific for arboviral, bacterial, and protozoan vector-borne pathogens. All investigated keds were negative for flaviviruses, phleboviruses, bunyaviruses, Borrelia burgdorferi, Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis," and Babesia spp. All ked pools were positive for Bartonella DNA. The sequencing of the amplified fragments of the gltA and 16S-23S rRNA demonstrated a 100 % homology with Bartonella melophagi previously isolated from a sheep ked and from human blood in the USA. The identification of B. melophagi in sheep keds in Central Europe highlights needs extending a list of hematophagous arthropods beyond ticks and mosquitoes for a search of emerging arthropod-borne pathogens.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Zdenek Hubálek

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melophagus ovinus		Czech Republic