Massive Infection of Seabird Ticks with Bacterial Species Related to Coxiella burnetii

摘要: Seabird ticks are known reservoirs of bacterial pathogens medical importance; however, parasitizing tropical seabirds have received less attention than their counterparts from temperate and subpolar regions. Recently, Rickettsia africae was described to infect seabird the western Indian Ocean New Caledonia, constituting only available data on associated with tick species. Here, we combined a pyrosequencing-based approach classical molecular analysis targeting bacteria potential importance in order describe community two ticks, Amblyomma loculosum Carios (Ornithodoros) capensis. We also investigated patterns prevalence host specificity within biogeographical context islands. The species characterized by strong dominance Coxiella Rickettsia. Our support strict Coxiella-host specificity, pattern resembling one found for spp. same Both high stringent suggest that these may be symbionts probable vertical transmission. Detailed studies pathogenicity will now required determine whether horizontal transmission can occur clarify status as human pathogens. More generally, our results show combination next generation sequencing targeted detection/genotyping approaches proves efficient poorly fields where research considered starting scratch.