Biochemistry & Molecular Biology الكيمياء الحيوية والأحياء الجزيئية

Permanent URI for this collection

http://dspace.alquds.edu:4000/handle/20.500.12213/1087

Browse

Browsing Biochemistry & Molecular Biology الكيمياء الحيوية والأحياء الجزيئية by Author "Abbas Khader Hussin Masalma"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Molecular Characterization of Borrelia Species as Causative Agents for Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever from Ixodidae and Argasidae in Palestine
    (Al-Quds University, 2025-01-09) Abbas Khader Hussin Masalma; عباس خضر حسين مسالمة
    Introduction: Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) is primarily caused by several Borrelia species that are transmitted through the bites of ticks. It is mainly characterized by multiple recurrences of nonspecific signs and symptoms, including fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and even some neurologic complications. These Borrelia species are mostly vectored by hard ticks like Rhipicephalus genus and soft ticks like Ornithodoros tholozani which is known as the main vector of B. persica in Palestine. However, Molecular based data on Borrelia species and their hosts in Palestine are very scarce as B. persica is the only Borrelia species that had been studied.Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Borrelia species in ectoparasite hard and soft ticks, collected from different animal hosts throughout Palestine.Methodology: Ticks samples were collected from different animal hosts residing in different districts through Palestine, all ticks were identified at the genus and species levels based on taxonomic keys. DNA extraction was carried out, then screening for the presence of Borrelial DNA was carried out by PCR targeting flagellin (fla B) gene. All positive samples were confirmed by 16sRNA – PCR. PCR products were loaded onto agarose gel for band detection at 250 bp for fla B and 523 bp for 16sRNA, positive samples were sequenced and analyzed for BLAST identification. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS v27.0 software. Results: Among all tick samples: 86% (n= 734) were identified as Ixodidae (hard ticks) and 14% (n= 117) were Argasidae (soft ticks). Overall, 76% of the identified hard ticks belonged to the genus Rhipicephalus (92% R. sanguineous and 5.5% R. Turanicus), 12% of Haemaphysalis ticks (80% H. parva and 20% H. adleri), 11% were Hyalomma ticks (84% H. dromedarri, 6% H. impeltatum, and 5% H. eagyptium). All collected soft ticks (n= 117) were identified as Ornithodoros tholozani. Out of 734 hard ticks, 2% (n= 13) were detected to be positive for Borrelia DNA by PCR. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of B. persica in 77% (n=10) of positive samples, while 15% (n=2) were B. turcicae, and 8% (n=1) was B. Lonestari. On the other hand, 9% of soft ticks (n=17) were found to harbor B.persica.Conclusions: Our results highlight the presence of Borrelia persica among hard ticks despite its’ usual presence among soft ticks, this could indicate an incidental acquisition or ecological overlaps. B. persica genotype was also observed in soft ticks. Notably, in Palestine, R. sanguineus is the major hard ticks which vector Borrelia species among hard ticks, while O. tholozani is the major one among soft ticks.