Molecular characterization of novel mosquito-borne Rickettsia spp. from mosquitoes collected at the Demilitarized Zone of the Republic of Korea

PLoS One. 2017 Nov 20;12(11):e0188327. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188327. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Rickettsiae are associated with a diverse range of invertebrate hosts. Of these, mosquitoes could emerge as one of the most important vectors because of their ability to transmit significant numbers of pathogens and parasites throughout the world. Recent studies have implicated Anopheles gambiae as a potential vector of Rickettsia felis. Herein we report that a metagenome sequencing study identified rickettsial sequence reads in culicine mosquitoes from the Republic of Korea. The detected rickettsiae were characterized by a genus-specific quantitative real-time PCR assay and sequencing of rrs, gltA, 17kDa, ompB, and sca4 genes. Three novel rickettsial genotypes were detected (Rickettsia sp. A12.2646, Rickettsia sp. A12.2638 and Rickettsia sp. A12.3271), from Mansonia uniformis, Culex pipiens, and Aedes esoensis, respectively. The results underscore the need to determine the Rickettsia species diversity associated with mosquitoes, their evolution, distribution and pathogenic potential.

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / microbiology*
  • Animals
  • Culex / microbiology*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Genotype
  • Metagenome
  • Mosquito Vectors / microbiology
  • Phylogeny*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Republic of Korea
  • Rickettsia / classification
  • Rickettsia / genetics*
  • Rickettsia / growth & development
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSB-GEIS), Work Unit Numbers: 188M.0931.001-A0074, P0015-17-ME and 17-WR-1.2.1. The grant(s) were awarded to ALR, TAK and RGJ. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.