Molecular detection of Coxiella (Gammaproteobacteria: Coxiellaceae) in Argas persicus and Alveonasus canestrinii (Acari: Argasidae) from Iran.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nCoxiella burnetii and Non-C. burnetii bacteria called endosymbiotic Coxiella were reported in various tick species. We aimed to detect C. burnetii within soft tick species, Argas persicus and Alveonasus canestrinii.\n\n\nMETHODS\nArgasid ticks were collected from different counties of Lorestan province, west of Iran. Partial fragments of 16S rRNA, IS1111 insertion sequence, com1, htpB, and icd genes related to Coxiella genus were amplified using PCR.\n\n\nRESULTS\nA partial 16S rRNA and com1 gene fragment as well as IS1111 was amplified in four Ar. persicus and twelve Al. canestrinii pools. Moreover, partial htpB and icd gene was only detected in one pool of Ar. persicus.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nDetection of C. burnetii in tick samples was failed due to the occurrence of Coxiella-like endosymbionts and leads to misidentification. Thus, the house-keeping genes should be designated to distinguish C. burnetii within Coxiella-like endosymbionts.