Bartonella-Like DNA Detected in Ixodes tasmani Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) Infesting Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in Victoria, Australia

Date

2009

Authors

Vilcins, Inger-Marie
Kosoy, Michael
Old, Julie M
Deane, Elizabeth

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert Inc.

Abstract

A total of 42 ticks comprising Ixodes tasmani (n = 41) and Ixodes trichosuri (n = 1) were collected from wild koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) at the Koala Convention Centre, Philip Island, Victoria, Australia and screened for the presence of Bartonella using the target gene gltA. Bartonella-like DNA was detected in 4 of the 19 pooled tick samples (21%). All positive ticks were male. Analysis of partial sequences for the gltA gene indicated the presence of a Bartonella-related species similar to that reported in another Ixodid species. This is the first report of Bartonella-like organisms in a native Australian marsupial.

Description

Keywords

Keywords: bacterial DNA; citrate synthase; article; Australia; bacterial gene; bacterium detection; Bartonella; female; gene sequence; genotype; Ixodes; Ixodes tasmani; Ixodes trichosuri; koala; male; nonhuman; nucleotide sequence; phylogeny; priority journal; Anim Australia; Bartonella; Ectoparasites; GltA; Ixodes tasmani; Koalas

Citation

Source

Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

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Restricted until

2037-12-31