Characterization of a Monanema nematode in Ixodes scapularis
Tóm tắt
Metagenomic studies have revealed the presence of a filarial nematode in Ixodes scapularis. The phylogeny of this agent, and its potential for human infection, are unknown. We used existing metagenomic data from I. scapularis to determine the phylogeny of this tick-associated nematode and employed quantitative PCR to determine if the presence of this agent had an effect on the burden of Borrelia burgdorferi. We also developed a Luciferase Immunoprecipitation System assay using the Av33 antigen as a target to investigate the presence of antibodies against this nematode in 128 serum specimens from patients with Lyme disease and babesiosis. To demonstrate assay utility, we used 15 sera from patients with onchocerciasis as controls. We show that this agent is a new species in the genus Monanema and its presence in vector ticks does not impact the burden of B. burgdorferi. We did not detect IgG antibodies to this agent in 127 of 128 sera from patients with Lyme disease or babesiosis. One sample had reactivity above the threshold, but at the low-level equivalent to the least reactive onchocerciasis sera. This low positive signal could be a result of cross-reacting antibodies, antibodies from a previous infection with a filarial nematode, or, less likely, a exposure to the Ixodes scapularis-associated nematode. We found no evidence that this nematode contributes to the spectrum of human tick-borne infections.
Tài liệu tham khảo
Burgdorfer W, Barbour AG, Hayes SF, Benach JL, Grunwaldt E, Davis JP. Lyme disease-a tick-borne spirochetosis? Science. 1982;216:1317–9.
Beaver PC, Burgdorfer W. A microfilaria of exceptional size from the ixodid tick, Ixodes dammini, from Shelter Island, New York. J Parasitol. 1984;70:963–6.
Namrata P, Miller JM, Shilpa M, Reddy PR, Bandoski C, Rossi MJ, et al. Filarial nematode infection in Ixodes scapularis ticks collected from southern Connecticut. Vet Sci. 2014;1:5–15.
Cross ST, Kapuscinski ML, Perino J, Maertens BL, Weger-Lucarelli J, Ebel GD, et al. Co-infection patterns in individual Ixodes scapularis ticks reveal associations between viral, eukaryotic and bacterial microorganisms. Viruses. 2018;10:e10070388.
Tokarz R, Tagliafierro T, Sameroff S, Cucura DM, Rochlin I, Monzon J, et al. Microbiome analysis of Ixodes scapularis ticks from New York and Connecticut. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019;10:894–900.
Burbelo PD, Ching KH, Klimavicz CM, Iadarola MJ. Antibody profiling by Luciferase Immunoprecipitation Systems (LIPS). J Vis Exp. 2009;32:e1549.
Petit G, Bain O, Carrat C, De Marval F. Development of the filaria Monanema martini in the epidermis of ixodid ticks. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp. 1988;63:54–63.
Anderson RC. Filaroid nematodes. Parasitic diseases of wild mammals. 2nd ed. Ames: Iowa State University Press; 2001.
Henning TC, Orr JM, Smith JD, Arias JR, Rasgon JL, Norris DE. Discovery of filarial nematode DNA in Amblyomma americanum in northern Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2016;7:315–8.
Sanchez-Vicente S, Tagliafierro T, Coleman JL, Benach JL, Tokarz R. Polymicrobial nature of tick-borne diseases. mBio. 2019;10:315–8.