Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Analysis of Bacteria in Italian Ticks and First Detection ofinfrom the Lazio Region.

Abstract

Tick-borne diseases are an increasing problem for the community. Ticks harbor a complex microbial population acquired while feeding on a variety of animals. Profiling the bacterial population by 16S rDNA amplification and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis enables detection of the broad spectrum of bacteria that settles in the ticks. This study identified known and unknown tick-infecting bacteria in samples from Italy. Seven adult ticks from different hosts and origins were analyzed: twoticks from dogs (Lombardia), twoticks from bovines (Lazio), and threeticks from humans (Marche). The major result was the first report of the zoonotic agentin ticks.is a species complex of highly contagious pathogens. Subsequent todetection in atick removed from a bovine of Lazio in 2012, we studied 95samples collected from 3 bovines, 3 ponies, and 1 sheep grazing in the same area in 2012 and from 6 ponies grazing there in 2017. The results of a specific PCR assay indicated a not sporadic occurrence ofin ticks. This finding provides a basis for assessing the potential of ticks to harbor and disperse.