Molecular detection of pathogens in Rhipicephalus ticks collected from companion animals in Bejaia province, northern Algeria.

Authors

Lyticia Manseur, Alima Gharout-Sait, Arianna Ceruti, Takfarinas Idres, Ahmed Abd El Wahed, Martin Pfeffer, Nina Król

Published in

Acta tropica. Pages 108382. Oct 25, 2026. Epub Oct 25, 2026.

Abstract

Ticks are increasingly recognized as important vectors of pathogens affecting animals and humans worldwide. In northern Algeria, data on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in ixodid ticks collected from companion animals are still scarce. This pilot study is the first molecular investigation of TBPs in ixodid ticks collected from companion animals in Bejaia province, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 100 ticks were collected from 75 dogs, 11 cats, and one tortoise. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the predominant tick species identified (99/100; 99%; 95% CI: 94.0-100.0), whereas a single tick collected from the tortoise was identified as Hyalomma aegyptium (1/100; 1%; 95% CI: 0-6.0). Ticks were tested for Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Piroplasmida, and Hepatozoon spp. Only Rickettsia spp. (11/100; 11%; 95% CI: 6.1-18.8), Hepatozoon spp. (6/100; 6%; 95% CI: 2.5-12.7) and Piroplasmida (2/100; 2%; 95% CI: 0.1-7.4) were detected. Rickettsia spp. (11/88; 12.5%; 95% CI: 7.0-21.2) and Piroplasmida (2/88; 2.3%; 95% CI: 0.1-8.4) were found only in ticks from dogs, while Hepatozoon spp. was found in both ticks from dogs (3/88; 3.4%; 95% CI: 0.8-9.7) and cats (3/11; 27.3%; 95% CI: 9.2-57.1). Further molecular characterization revealed R. massiliae and R. conorii, as well as H. canis, Babesia vogeli, and Cytauxzoon spp. Phylogenetic analysis supported species identification. These findings highlight the presence of TBPs in ticks from companion animals and their potential relevance to One Health, particularly for zoonotic Rickettsia spp.

PMID:
42927829
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Oct 2026.

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