Microbiome diversity in hard ticks collected from domestic animals in orange walk district, Belize, Central America

Monday, November 14, 2022

8:36 AM – 8:48 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 202

Presenting Author(s)

Donovan K. Leiva

Graduate Student
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana

Co-Author(s)

CP

Caroline Pitts

University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
AC

Alvaro Cruz

Belize Vector and Ecology Center
Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
MC

Marla Cansino

Belize Vector and Ecology Center
Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
MP

Marie Pott

Belize Vector and Ecology Center
Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
JC

Jailene Castillo

Belize Vector and Ecology Center
Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk, Belize
Nicole L. Achee

Research Professor
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
John P. Grieco

Research Associate Professor
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
BF

Benedicte Fustec

University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana

Ticks are among the most important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and non-human animals worldwide. Diversity in tick microbiomes, pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms, vary depending on species and life-stage as well as external environmental factors. The objective of this study was to determine the similarities and differences of microbiota of samples of hard ticks collected among the study sites. Nymphs and adult ticks were hand-collected from domestic animals (dogs) in a random sample of 54 households from three communities within Orange Walk District, Belize, Central America. Ticks were preserved in 70% isopropanol directly in the field prior to identification and molecular testing. Standardized protocols developed for the Remote Emerging Disease Intelligence-Network (REDI-NET) were used to enable gDNA sequencing via the Oxford Nanopore GridION. 555 ticks (40 nymphs and 515 adults) were captured across all sampled properties: 287 from San Lazaro, 134 from San Antonio Rio Hondo and 134 from Indian Church. 95% (527/555) were morphologically identified to Rhipicephalus sanguineus (the brown dog tick), a commonly distributed tick worldwide. Other ticks included Ambloyomma spp. (2.3%; 13/555), Dermacentor spp. (2.3%; 13/555) and Ixodes spp. (0.4%; 2/555). Our study is the first known to report microbiome diversity in hard ticks from Belize with outcomes intended for further assessment of associations with environmental and human sociodemographic parameters by tick species across the sampled communities. Combined, findings are anticipated to have meaningful implications in understanding tick-borne disease (TBD) ecology and transmission in general, and aide in guiding subsequent control measures more specifically.