Journal Article

Diversity of Ixodes ricinus tick-associated bacterial communities from different forests

Kastelein, Pieter, Takken, Willem, van Overbeek, Leo, van der Plas, Carin Lombaers, Gassner, Fedor, Nunes-da Rocha, Ulisses

2008

Overview

Nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks (n=180) were collected from three different areas in the Netherlands to investigate the effect of forest composition on tick-associated microbial communities. Sampled habitats differed in thickness of leaf litter and humus layers and vegetation associations and were located near Amsterdam (Beech-Oak), Ede (Birch-Oak) and Veldhoven (Birch-Oak). Analysis of nine 16S rRNA gene clone libraries made from individual ticks showed nearest matches with presumed pathogens Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Rickettsia australis and arthropod endosymbionts Wolbachia pipientis and Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii. Total bacterial species diversity (Shannon index) and Borrelia species infections were determined in I. ricinus by, respectively, PCR-denaturing gradient gel-electrophoresis and PCR-reverse line blot with probes specific for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia lusitaniae and Borrelia ruski. Bacterial diversity differed significantly per area and was lowest in Ede. In contrast, Borrelia species-infected ticks were more abundant in Ede, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis-infected ticks in Ede and Veldhoven, and R. australis-infected ticks in Amsterdam. Borrelia afzelii was the most common Borrelia species found in all three areas. Bacterial tick diversity was influenced by local differences in forest structure, which is proposed to modulate animal populations that are commonly parasitized by I. ricinus.

• Publisher: Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Blackwell Publishing Ltd,Blackwell,Oxford University Press
• Subject: 16s ribosomal-rna / anaplasma-phagocytophilum / Animal populations / Animal, plant and microbial ecology / Animals / Arthropoda / Bacteria / Bacteria - genetics / bacterial communities / Beech / Biodiversity / Biological and medical sciences / Borrelia / Borrelia - genetics / Borrelia - growth & development / Borrelia afzelii / Borrelia burgdorferi / Borrelia garinii / Borrelia lusitaniae / Borrelia species / Borrelia valaisiana / burgdorferi-sensu-lato / Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii / Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis / Communities / Composition effects / Decomposing organic matter / DNA, Bacterial / DNA, Bacterial - genetics / Ecology / ehrlichia spp / Electrophoresis / Endosymbionts / Forestry / Forests / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / gel electrophoresis / General forest ecology / Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology / genes / Genes, Bacterial / Genes, rRNA / genetic diversity / genetics / Geography / growth & development / habitats / Humus / Ixodes / Ixodes - microbiology / Ixodes ricinus / Ixodidae / Leaf litter / line blot hybridization / lyme-disease spirochete / Microbial activity / Microbial ecology / Microbiology / Microorganisms / Netherlands / pathogens / phylogenetic analysis / plant litter / Polymerase Chain Reaction / ribosomal RNA / Rickettsia australis / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics / rRNA 16S / Species diversity / Species Specificity / tick-associated bacteria / Ticks / Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water) / vegetation association / Wolbachia pipientis