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Nebbak A, Dahmana H, Almeras L, Raoult D, Boulanger N, Jaulhac B, Mediannikov O, Parola P. Co-infection of bacteria and protozoan parasites in Ixodes ricinus nymphs collected in the Alsace region, France. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101241. [PMID: 31279737 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Fifty nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Alsace, France, identified by morphological criteria and using MALDI-TOF MS, were tested by PCR to detect tick-associated bacteria and protozoan parasites. Seventy percent (35/50) of ticks contained at least one microorganism; 26% (9/35) contained two or more species. Several human pathogens were identified including Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. (4%), Borrelia afzelii (2%), Borrelia garinii (2%), Borrelia valaisiana (4%), Borrelia miyamotoi (2%), Rickettsia helvetica (6%) and "Babesia venatorum" (2%). Bartonella spp. (10%) and a Wolbachia spp. (8%) were also detected. The most common co-infections involved Anaplasmataceae with Borrelia spp. (4%), Anaplasmataceae with Bartonella spp. (6%) and Anaplasmataceae with Rickettsia spp. (6%). Co-infection involving three different groups of bacteria was seen between bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia spp. and Bartonella spp. (2%). Results highlight the panel of infectious agents carried by Ixodes ricinus. Co-infection suggests the possibility of transmission of more than one pathogen to human and animals during tick blood feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira Nebbak
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; Centre de Recherche Scientifique et Technique en Analyses Physico-Chimiques (CRAPC). Zone Industrielle, BP 384 Bou-Ismail, Tipaza Algeria.
| | - Handi Dahmana
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France.
| | - Lionel Almeras
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; Unité de Parasitologie et Entomologie, Département des Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Marseille, France.
| | | | - Nathalie Boulanger
- Centre National de Reference Borrelia, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Strasbourg, France; EA7290Virulence bactérienne précoce: groupe borréliose de Lyme, Facultés de pharmacie et de médecine, Université de Strasbourg, France.
| | - Benoit Jaulhac
- Centre National de Reference Borrelia, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Strasbourg, France; EA7290Virulence bactérienne précoce: groupe borréliose de Lyme, Facultés de pharmacie et de médecine, Université de Strasbourg, France.
| | | | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.
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152
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Abstract
Diseases spread by ticks are complex and typically come under the One Health approach because the implications for human, animal and environmental health are so intricately interconnected. In Europe and North America, these diseases, particularly the emblematic case of Lyme disease, are constantly on the rise. They are associated with a very strong emotional element in Western societies, where citizens are preoccupied by this upsurge and call on governments and health services to act. There is no vaccine against Lyme disease. This is the backdrop against which scientists are looking for alternative solutions based on the identification of ecological factors that are liable to better control tick populations and the movements of pathogens within ecosystems. This article describes the main knowledge already acquired about the ecology of Lyme disease and then provides a list of a number of instruments that can be leveraged to limit the risks and improve control.
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153
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A Report of Two Clinical Coinfections with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in Infantile Dysentery. ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2019. [DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect.80116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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154
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Sapi E, Gupta K, Wawrzeniak K, Gaur G, Torres J, Filush K, Melillo A, Zelger B. Borrelia and Chlamydia Can Form Mixed Biofilms in Infected Human Skin Tissues. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2019; 9:46-55. [PMID: 31223496 PMCID: PMC6563687 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2019.00003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Our research group has recently shown that Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease bacterium, is capable of forming biofilms in Borrelia-infected human skin lesions called Borrelia lymphocytoma (BL). Biofilm structures often contain multiple organisms in a symbiotic relationship, with the goal of providing shelter from environmental stressors such as antimicrobial agents. Because multiple co-infections are common in Lyme disease, the main questions of this study were whether BL tissues contained other pathogenic species and/or whether there is any co-existence with Borrelia biofilms. Recent reports suggested Chlamydia-like organisms in ticks and Borrelia-infected human skin tissues; therefore, Chlamydia-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed in Borrelia-positive BL tissues. Analyses of the sequence of the positive PCR bands revealed that Chlamydia spp. DNAs are indeed present in these tissues, and their sequences have the best identity match to Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Fluorescent immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization methods demonstrated the presence of Chlamydia antigen and DNA in 84% of Borrelia biofilms. Confocal microscopy revealed that Chlamydia locates in the center of Borrelia biofilms, and together, they form a well-organized mixed pathogenic structure. In summary, our study is the first to show Borrelia-Chlamydia mixed biofilms in infected human skin tissues, which raises the questions of whether these human pathogens have developed a symbiotic relationship for their mutual survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sapi
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - K Gupta
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - K Wawrzeniak
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - G Gaur
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - J Torres
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - K Filush
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - A Melillo
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of New Haven, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - B Zelger
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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155
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Lejal E, Moutailler S, Šimo L, Vayssier-Taussat M, Pollet T. Tick-borne pathogen detection in midgut and salivary glands of adult Ixodes ricinus. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:152. [PMID: 30940200 PMCID: PMC6444572 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3418-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick midgut and salivary glands represent the primary organs for pathogen acquisition and transmission, respectively. Specifically, the midgut is the first organ to have contact with pathogens during the blood meal uptake, while salivary glands along with their secretions play a crucial role in pathogen transmission to the host. Currently there is little data about pathogen composition and prevalence in Ixodes ricinus midgut and salivary glands. The present study investigated the presence of 32 pathogen species in the midgut and salivary glands of unfed I. ricinus males and females using high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR. Such an approach is important for enriching the knowledge about pathogen distribution in distinct tick organs which should lead to a better understanding I. ricinus-borne disease epidemiology. RESULTS Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii and Borrelia garinii, were detected in both midgut and salivary glands suggesting that the migration of these pathogens between these two organs might not be triggered by the blood meal. In contrast, Borrelia afzelii was detected only in the tick midgut. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica were the most frequently detected in ticks and were found in both males and females in the midgut and salivary glands. In contrast, Rickettsia felis was only detected in salivary glands. Finally, Borrelia miyamotoi and Babesia venatorum were detected only in males in both midguts and salivary glands. Among all collected ticks, between 10-21% of organs were co-infected. The most common bacterial co-infections in male and female midgut and salivary glands were Rickettsia helvetica + Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica + Borrelia lusitaniae, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Analysing tick-borne pathogen (TBP) presence in specific tick organs enabled us to (i) highlight contrasting results with well-established transmission mechanism postulates; (ii) venture new hypotheses concerning pathogen location and migration from midgut to salivary glands; and (iii) suggest other potential associations between pathogens not previously detected at the scale of the whole tick. This work highlights the importance of considering all tick scales (i.e. whole ticks vs organs) to study TBP ecology and represents another step towards improved understanding of TBP transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Lejal
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Ladislav Šimo
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Thomas Pollet
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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156
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Iyer S, Goodman K. Congenital Babesiosis From Maternal Exposure: A Case Report. J Emerg Med 2019; 56:e39-e41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.12.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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157
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Liu HH, Cushinotto L, Giger O, Daum G, McBride P, Negron EA, Vandegrift K, Kapelusznik L. Increasing Babesiosis in Southeastern Pennsylvania, 2008-2017. Open Forum Infect Dis 2019; 6:ofz066. [PMID: 30895205 PMCID: PMC6419987 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne illnesses are increasing but are often underreported. Few cases of babesiosis have been reported from Pennsylvania. Our 4-hospital system in southeastern Pennsylvania saw a rise in cases from 7 or fewer yearly in 2008–2014 to 26 cases in 2015. There appear to be multiple potential causes of this increase in frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans H Liu
- Department of Medicine, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
| | - Lisa Cushinotto
- Department of Pharmacy, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
| | - Olarae Giger
- Department of Microbiology, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
| | - Gary Daum
- Department of Pathology, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
| | - Patricia McBride
- Department of Infection Prevention, Main Line Health System, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Kurt Vandegrift
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
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158
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Obregón D, Cabezas-Cruz A, Armas Y, Silva JB, Fonseca AH, André MR, Alfonso P, Oliveira MCS, Machado RZ, Corona-González B. High co-infection rates of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale in water buffalo in Western Cuba. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:955-967. [PMID: 30693380 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-06194-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Water buffalo is important livestock in several countries in the Latin American and Caribbean regions. This buffalo species can be infected by tick-borne hemoparasites and remains a carrier of these pathogens which represent a risk of infection for more susceptible species like cattle. Therefore, studies on the epidemiology of tick-borne hemoparasites in buffaloes are required. In this study, the prevalence of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale were determined in water buffalo herds of western Cuba. To this aim, a cross-sectional study covering farms with large buffalo populations in the region was performed. Eight buffalo herds were randomly selected, and blood samples were collected from 328 animals, including 63 calves (3-14 months), 75 young animals (3-5 years), and 190 adult animals (> 5 years). Species-specific nested PCR and indirect ELISA assays were used to determine the molecular and serological prevalences of each hemoparasite, respectively. The molecular and serological prevalence was greater than 50% for the three hemoparasites. Differences were found in infection prevalence among buffalo herds, suggesting that local epidemiological factors may influence infection risk. Animals of all age groups were infected, with a higher molecular prevalence of B. bigemina and A. marginale in young buffalo and calves, respectively, while a stepwise increase in seroprevalence of B. bovis and B. bigemina from calves to adult buffaloes was found. The co-infection by the three pathogens was found in 12% of animals, and when analyzed by pair, the co-infections of B. bovis and B. bigemina, B. bigemina and A. marginale, and B. bovis and A. marginale were found in 20%, 24%, and 26%, respectively, underlying the positive interaction between these pathogens infecting buffaloes. These results provide evidence that tick-borne pathogen infections can be widespread among water buffalo populations in tropical livestock ecosystems. Further studies should evaluate whether these pathogens affect the health status and productive performance of water buffalo and infection risk of these pathogens in cattle cohabiting with buffalo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasiel Obregón
- Universidad Agraria de La Habana, Apartado Postal 18-19, Carretera Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, CP 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba. .,Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, Apartado Postal 10, Carretera de Jamaica y Autopista Nacional, San José de Las Lajas, CP 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba.
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Yasmani Armas
- Universidad Agraria de La Habana, Apartado Postal 18-19, Carretera Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, CP 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Jenevaldo B Silva
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, Km 07, s/n - Zona Rural, Seropédica - RJ, CEP 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Adivaldo H Fonseca
- Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Rodovia BR 465, Km 07, s/n - Zona Rural, Seropédica - RJ, CEP 23890-000, Brazil
| | - Marcos R André
- Universidade Estadual Paulista-Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N - Vila Industrial, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, CEP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Pastor Alfonso
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, Apartado Postal 10, Carretera de Jamaica y Autopista Nacional, San José de Las Lajas, CP 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Márcia C S Oliveira
- Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 234, São Carlos, São Paulo, CEP 13560-970, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Z Machado
- Universidade Estadual Paulista-Campus de Jaboticabal, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, S/N - Vila Industrial, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, CEP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Belkis Corona-González
- Centro Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, Apartado Postal 10, Carretera de Jamaica y Autopista Nacional, San José de Las Lajas, CP 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba
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159
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Krause PJ. Human babesiosis. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:165-174. [PMID: 30690090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a worldwide emerging tick-borne disease that is increasing in frequency and geographic range. It imposes a significant health burden, especially on those who are immunocompromised and those who acquire the infection through blood transfusion. Death from babesiosis occurs in up to 20 percent of these groups. Diagnosis is confirmed with identification of typical intraerythrocytic parasites on a thin blood smear or Babesia DNA using PCR. Treatment consists of atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine, and exchange transfusion in severe cases. Personal and communal protective measures can limit the burden of infection but it is important to recognize that none of these measures are likely to prevent the continued expansion of Babesia into non-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Krause
- Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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160
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Cabezas-Cruz A, Allain E, Ahmad AS, Saeed MA, Rashid I, Ashraf K, Yousfi L, Shehzad W, Indjein L, Rodriguez-Valle M, Estrada-Peña A, Obregón D, Jabbar A, Moutailler S. Low genetic diversity of Ehrlichia canis associated with high co-infection rates in Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.). Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:12. [PMID: 30616670 PMCID: PMC6322249 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3194-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is the most widely distributed ixodid tick and is a vector of major canine and human pathogens. High-throughput technologies have revealed that individual ticks carry a high diversity of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa and viruses. Currently, it is accepted that co-infections (multiple pathogen species within an individual) are very common in ticks and influence pathogen acquisition and transmission as well as host infection risk. However, little is known on the impact of the genetic diversity of pathogens on the incidence of co-infections. Herein, we studied the frequency of co-infections in R. sanguineus (s.l.) and their association with the genetic diversity of Ehrlichia canis. METHODS Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) female ticks (n = 235) were collected from healthy farm dogs in three districts of Pakistan. Microfluidic real-time PCR, a powerful nanotechnology for high-throughput molecular detection of pathogens, was used to test the presence of 25 bacterial and seven parasitic species in individual ticks. The genetic diversity of E. canis was evaluated by characterizing the trp36 gene. RESULTS A total of 204 ticks were infected with at least one pathogen and 109 co-infected with two (80%) or three (20%) pathogens. Rickettsia massiliae (human pathogen) and E. canis (zoonotic dog pathogen) were the most common pathogens co-infecting (30.4%) ticks. Furthermore, all identified co-infections included R. massiliae and/or E. canis. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) revealed that single infections did not show clear regional association whereas some co-infections were restricted to certain geographical regions. The sequence analysis of trp36 in representative samples allowed the identification of three E. canis strains with low genetic diversity, and the strain found in Muzaffargarh district appeared to be more adapted to co-infection with R. massiliae. CONCLUSIONS Rhipicephalus sanguineus (s.l.) harbors multiple co-infections with human and dog pathogens of zoonotic potential. Findings of this study suggest that genetic diversity of E. canis may favor co-infections with different pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eleonore Allain
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Abdullah S. Ahmad
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Australia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Muhammad A. Saeed
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Australia
| | - Imran Rashid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Kamran Ashraf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Lena Yousfi
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Wasim Shehzad
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Lea Indjein
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Australia
| | - Manuel Rodriguez-Valle
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | | | - Dasiel Obregón
- Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP Brazil
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria 3030 Australia
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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161
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Meng F, Ding M, Tan Z, Zhao Z, Xu L, Wu J, He B, Tu C. Virome analysis of tick-borne viruses in Heilongjiang Province, China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:412-420. [PMID: 30583876 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are implicated in the transmission of various human and livestock pathogens worldwide. This study aimed to understand the geographical distribution of tick species, along with tick-associated viruses, in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. Molecular methods were used to classify tick species, with next-generation sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-based analyses used to assess the viromes of ticks from four representative sampling locations in the Greater Khingan Mountains. Five species of ixodid ticks were identified, including Ixodes persulcatus, Dermacentor nuttalli, Dermacentor silvarum, Haemaphysalis longicornis, and Haemaphysalis concinna. From the 1102 ticks, 3,568,561 high-quality reads were obtained by next-generation sequencing. Following trimming, 302,540 reads were obtained, of which 6577 (2.16%) reads were annotated to viruses. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the viral sequences shared a close relationship with Orthonairovirus, Phlebovirus, deer tick Mononegavirales-like virus, and Jingmen tick virus sequences, but the significance of these newly-identified tick-borne viruses to human and animal health requires further investigation. The results of this study provide a basis not only for further studies on the relationship between ticks and tick-borne viruses, but also for preventing future tick-borne epidemic outbreaks by means of vector control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Meng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, 530000, China; Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, Guangxi Province, 530001, China.
| | - Meiming Ding
- Da Hinggan Ling Wildlife Conservation Center, Jiagedaqi, Heilongjiang Province, 165000, China.
| | - Zhizhou Tan
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China.
| | - Zihan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China.
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China.
| | - Jianmin Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, 530000, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Guangxi Veterinary Research Institute, Nanning, Guangxi Province, 530001, China.
| | - Biao He
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225000, China.
| | - Changchun Tu
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130000, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, 225000, China.
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162
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Djokic V, Primus S, Akoolo L, Chakraborti M, Parveen N. Age-Related Differential Stimulation of Immune Response by Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi During Acute Phase of Infection Affects Disease Severity. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2891. [PMID: 30619263 PMCID: PMC6300717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most prominent tick-borne disease with 300,000 cases estimated by CDC every year while ~2,000 cases of babesiosis occur per year in the United States. Simultaneous infection with Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi are now the most common tick-transmitted coinfections in the U.S.A., and they are a serious health problem because coinfected patients show more intense and persisting disease symptoms. B. burgdorferi is an extracellular spirochete responsible for systemic Lyme disease while B. microti is a protozoan that infects erythrocytes and causes babesiosis. Immune status and spleen health are important for resolution of babesiosis, which is more severe and even fatal in the elderly and splenectomized patients. Therefore, we investigated the effect of each pathogen on host immune response and consequently on severity of disease manifestations in both young, and 30 weeks old C3H mice. At the acute stage of infection, Th1 polarization in young mice spleen was associated with increased IFN-γ and TNF-α producing T cells and a high Tregs/Th17 ratio. Together, these changes could help in the resolution of both infections in young mice and also prevent fatality by B. microti infection as observed with WA-1 strain of Babesia. In older mature mice, Th2 polarization at acute phase of B. burgdorferi infection could play a more effective role in preventing Lyme disease symptoms. As a result, enhanced B. burgdorferi survival and increased tissue colonization results in severe Lyme arthritis only in young coinfected mice. At 3 weeks post-infection, diminished pathogen-specific antibody production in coinfected young, but not older mice, as compared to mice infected with each pathogen individually may also contribute to increased inflammation observed due to B. burgdorferi infection, thus causing persistent Lyme disease observed in coinfected mice and reported in patients. Thus, higher combined proinflammatory response to B. burgdorferi due to Th1 and Th17 cells likely reduced B. microti parasitemia significantly only in young mice later in infection, while the presence of B. microti reduced humoral immunity later in infection and enhanced tissue colonization by Lyme spirochetes in these mice even at the acute stage, thereby increasing inflammatory arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitomir Djokic
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Shekerah Primus
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Lavoisier Akoolo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Monideep Chakraborti
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
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163
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Tonnetti L, Townsend RL, Deisting BM, Haynes JM, Dodd RY, Stramer SL. The impact of
Babesia microti
blood donation screening. Transfusion 2018; 59:593-600. [DOI: 10.1111/trf.15043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tonnetti
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
| | - Rebecca L. Townsend
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
| | - Barbara M. Deisting
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
| | - James M. Haynes
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
| | - Roger Y. Dodd
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
| | - Susan L. Stramer
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory Rockville Maryland
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164
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Livanova NN, Fomenko NV, Akimov IA, Ivanov MJ, Tikunova NV, Armstrong R, Konyaev SV. Dog survey in Russian veterinary hospitals: tick identification and molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:591. [PMID: 30428925 PMCID: PMC6234536 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3161-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Species of Canidae in Russia can be infested with up to 24 different tick species; however, the frequency of different tick species infesting domestic dogs across Russia is not known. In addition, tick-borne disease risks for domestic dogs in Russia are not well quantified. The goal of this study was to conduct a nationwide survey of ticks collected from infested dogs admitted to veterinary clinics in Russian cities and to identify pathogens found in these ticks. Methods Ticks feeding on dogs admitted to 32 veterinary clinics in 27 major cities across Russia were preserved in ethanol and submitted to a central facility for examination. After identification, each tick was evaluated for infection with known tick-borne pathogens using PCR. Results There were 990 individual ticks collected from 636 dogs. All collected ticks belonged to the Ixodidae (hard ticks) and represented 11 species of four genera, Dermacentor, Ixodes, Rhipicephalus and Haemaphysalis. Four most common tick species were D. reticulatus, followed by I. persulcatus, I. ricinus and R. sanguineus. Ixodes persulcatus ticks were found to be infected with 10 different pathogens, and ticks of this species were more frequently infected than either D. reticulatus or I. ricinus. Ixodes persulcatus females were also more frequently co-infected with two or more pathogens than any other tick. Pathogenic species of five genera were detected in ticks: Anaplasma centrale, A. phagocytophilum and A. marginale; Babesia canis, B. microti, B. venatorum, B. divergens, B. crassa and B. vogeli; Borrelia miyamotoi, B. afzelii and B. garinii; Ehrlichia muris, E. canis and E. ruminantum; and Theileria cervi. Anaplasma marginale, E. canis, B. crassa, B. vogeli and T. cervi were detected in I. persulcatus, and Babesia canis in D. marginatum, for the first time in Russia. Conclusions Multiple ticks from four genera and 11 species of the family Ixodidae were collected from domestic dogs across Russia. These ticks commonly carry pathogens and act as disease vectors. Ixodes persulcatus ticks present the greatest risk for transmission of multiple arthropod-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia N Livanova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Frunze, 11, 630091, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Ivan A Akimov
- AO Vector-Best, P.O. Box 492, 630117, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail J Ivanov
- AO Vector-Best, P.O. Box 492, 630117, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave. 8/2, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nina V Tikunova
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Lavrentiev Ave. 8/2, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Rob Armstrong
- MSD Animal Health, 2 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ, 07940, USA.
| | - Sergey V Konyaev
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Frunze, 11, 630091, Novosibirsk, Russia.,VetUnion Veterinary Laboratory, Nagatinskaya naberezhnaya, bild 33, 117105, Moscow, Russia
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165
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Blackwood B, Binder W. Unusual Complications From Babesia Infection: Splenic Infarction and Splenic Rupture in Two Separate Patients. J Emerg Med 2018; 55:e113-e117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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166
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Huyvaert KP, Russell RE, Patyk KA, Craft ME, Cross PC, Garner MG, Martin MK, Nol P, Walsh DP. Challenges and Opportunities Developing Mathematical Models of Shared Pathogens of Domestic and Wild Animals. Vet Sci 2018; 5:E92. [PMID: 30380736 PMCID: PMC6313884 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci5040092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases that affect both wild and domestic animals can be particularly difficult to prevent, predict, mitigate, and control. Such multi-host diseases can have devastating economic impacts on domestic animal producers and can present significant challenges to wildlife populations, particularly for populations of conservation concern. Few mathematical models exist that capture the complexities of these multi-host pathogens, yet the development of such models would allow us to estimate and compare the potential effectiveness of management actions for mitigating or suppressing disease in wildlife and/or livestock host populations. We conducted a workshop in March 2014 to identify the challenges associated with developing models of pathogen transmission across the wildlife-livestock interface. The development of mathematical models of pathogen transmission at this interface is hampered by the difficulties associated with describing the host-pathogen systems, including: (1) the identity of wildlife hosts, their distributions, and movement patterns; (2) the pathogen transmission pathways between wildlife and domestic animals; (3) the effects of the disease and concomitant mitigation efforts on wild and domestic animal populations; and (4) barriers to communication between sectors. To promote the development of mathematical models of transmission at this interface, we recommend further integration of modern quantitative techniques and improvement of communication among wildlife biologists, mathematical modelers, veterinary medicine professionals, producers, and other stakeholders concerned with the consequences of pathogen transmission at this important, yet poorly understood, interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn P Huyvaert
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Robin E Russell
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA.
| | - Kelly A Patyk
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
| | - Meggan E Craft
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
| | - Paul C Cross
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA.
| | - M Graeme Garner
- European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Roma RM, Italy.
| | - Michael K Martin
- Livestock Poultry Health Division, Clemson University, Columbia, SC 29224, USA.
| | - Pauline Nol
- Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA.
| | - Daniel P Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711, USA.
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167
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Svensson J, Hunfeld KP, Persson KEM. High seroprevalence of Babesia antibodies among Borrelia burgdorferi-infected humans in Sweden. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:186-190. [PMID: 30389326 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
In northern Europe, tick-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) are well known. The actual incidence of Babesia infections, however, has remained elusive. In this study, the prevalence of antibodies against two Babesia spp. was investigated in a cohort of patients that were seropositive for Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). Data were compared to a control group of healthy individuals. Sera were collected from 283 individuals residing in the southernmost region of Sweden, Skåne County. Almost one third of the sera were from patients with a confirmed seropositive reaction against B. burgdorferi s.l. All sera samples were assessed for IgG antibodies against Babesia (Ba.) microti and Ba. divergens by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assays. Seropositive IgG titers for at least one of the Babesia spp. was significantly more common (p < 0.05) in individuals seropositive for Borrelia (16.3%) compared to the healthy control group (2.5%). Our findings suggest that Babesia infections may indeed be quite common among individuals who have been exposed to tick bites. Furthermore, the results indicate that human babesiosis should be considered in patients that show relevant symptoms; particularly for splenectomized and other immunocompromised individuals. Finally, the data challenges current blood transfusion procedures and highlights the current lack of awareness of the parasite in northern Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Svensson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Klaus-Peter Hunfeld
- Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology & Infection Control, Northwest Medical Centre, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Kristina E M Persson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
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168
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Investigating disease severity in an animal model of concurrent babesiosis and Lyme disease. Int J Parasitol 2018; 49:145-151. [PMID: 30367867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of babesiosis, Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases has increased steadily in Europe and North America during the last five decades. Babesia microti is transmitted by species of Ixodes, the same ticks that transmit the Lyme disease-causing spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. B. microti can also be transmitted through transfusion of blood products and is the most common transfusion-transmitted infection in the U.S.A. Ixodes ticks are commonly infected with both B. microti and B. burgdorferi, and are competent vectors for transmitting them together into hosts. Few studies have examined the effects of coinfections on humans and they had somewhat contradictory results. One study linked coinfection with B. microti to a greater number of symptoms of overall disease in patients, while another report indicated that B. burgdorferi infection either did not affect babesiosis symptoms or decreased its severity. Mouse models of infection that manifest pathological effects similar to those observed in human babesiosis and Lyme disease offer a unique opportunity to thoroughly investigate the effects of coinfection on the host. Lyme disease has been studied using the susceptible C3H mouse infection model, which can also be used to examine B. microti infection to understand pathological mechanisms of human diseases, both during a single infection and during coinfections. We observed that high B. microti parasitaemia leads to low haemoglobin levels in infected mice, reflecting the anaemia observed in human babesiosis. Similar to humans, B. microti coinfection appears to enhance the severity of Lyme disease-like symptoms in mice. Coinfected mice have lower peak B. microti parasitaemia compared to mice infected with B. microti alone, which may reflect attenuation of babesiosis symptoms reported in some human coinfections. These findings suggest that B. burgdorferi coinfection attenuates parasite growth while B. microti presence exacerbates Lyme disease-like symptoms in mice.
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169
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Tick-borne pathogens in Finland: comparison of Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus in sympatric and parapatric areas. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:556. [PMID: 30355331 PMCID: PMC6201636 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Almost 3500 tick samples, originally collected via a nationwide citizen science campaign in 2015, were screened to reveal the prevalence and distribution of a wide spectrum of established and putative tick-borne pathogens vectored by Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus in Finland. The unique geographical distribution of these two tick species in Finland allowed us to compare pathogen occurrence between an I. ricinus-dominated area (southern Finland), an I. persulcatus-dominated area (northern Finland), and a sympatric area (central Finland). RESULTS Of the analysed ticks, almost 30% carried at least one pathogen and 2% carried more than one pathogen. A higher overall prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was observed in I. ricinus than in I. persulcatus: 30.0% (604/2014) versus 24.0% (348/1451), respectively. In addition, I. ricinus were more frequently co-infected than I. persulcatus: 2.4% (49/2014) versus 0.8% (12/1451), respectively. Causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, i.e. bacterial genospecies in Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) group, were the most prevalent pathogens (overall 17%). "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae" was found for the first time in I. ricinus ticks and in Finnish ticks in general. Moreover, Babesia divergens, B. venatorum and "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" were reported for the first time from the Finnish mainland. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides valuable information on the prevalence and geographical distribution of various tick-borne pathogens in I. ricinus and I. persulcatus ticks in Finland. Moreover, this comprehensive subset of ticks revealed the presence of rare and potentially dangerous pathogens. The highest prevalence of infected ticks was in the I. ricinus-dominated area in southern Finland, while the prevalence was essentially equal in sympatric and I. persulcatus-dominated areas. However, the highest infection rates for both species were in areas of their dominance, either in south or north Finland.
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170
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Abstract
Human babesiosis continues to spread in multiple regions of the US. It is transmitted by Ixodes species ticks, as are Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Its variable clinical presentations, together with serologic detection limitations, require that a high index of clinical suspicion be present for prompt diagnosis. This article discusses case examples showing the wide range of symptoms and presentations that are possible with babesiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Paparone
- Pamela Paparone is an NP at the Atlantic County Health Department, Northfield, N.J. Philip W. Paparone is a communicable disease physician at the Atlantic County Health Department, Northfield, N.J
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171
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McCollough M. RMSF and Serious Tick-Borne Illnesses (Lyme, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and Tick Paralysis). LIFE-THREATENING RASHES 2018. [PMCID: PMC7122147 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-75623-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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172
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Kazimírová M, Hamšíková Z, Špitalská E, Minichová L, Mahríková L, Caban R, Sprong H, Fonville M, Schnittger L, Kocianová E. Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:495. [PMID: 30176908 PMCID: PMC6122462 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3068-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. RESULTS Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, 1686 Hurlingham, Prov. de Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET, C1033AAJ Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Ringo AE, Adjou Moumouni PF, Lee SH, Liu M, Khamis YH, Gao Y, Guo H, Zheng W, Efstratiou A, Galon EM, Li J, Tiwananthagorn S, Inoue N, Suzuki H, Thekisoe O, Xuan X. Molecular detection and characterization of tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial pathogens isolated from cattle on Pemba Island, Tanzania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1437-1445. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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174
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Lou Y, Liu L, Gao D. Modeling co-infection of Ixodes tick-borne pathogens. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2018; 14:1301-1316. [PMID: 29161862 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2017067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ticks, including the Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis hard tick species, are regarded as the most common arthropod vectors of both human and animal diseases in Europe and the United States capable of transmitting a large number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Since ticks in larval and nymphal stages share the same host community which can harbor multiple pathogens, they may be co-infected with two or more pathogens, with a subsequent high likelihood of co-transmission to humans or animals. This paper is devoted to the modeling of co-infection of tick-borne pathogens, with special focus on the co-infection of Borrelia burgdorferi (agent of Lyme disease) and Babesia microti (agent of human babesiosis). Considering the effect of co-infection, we illustrate that co-infection with B. burgdorferi increases the likelihood of B. microti transmission, by increasing the basic reproduction number of B. microti below the threshold smaller than one to be possibly above the threshold for persistence. The study confirms a mechanism of the ecological fitness paradox, the establishment of B. microti which has weak fitness (basic reproduction number less than one). Furthermore, co-infection could facilitate range expansion of both pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Lou
- Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Liu
- School of Information Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, China
| | - Daozhou Gao
- Mathematics and Science College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
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175
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Cross ST, Kapuscinski ML, Perino J, Maertens BL, Weger-Lucarelli J, Ebel GD, Stenglein MD. Co-Infection Patterns in Individual Ixodes scapularis Ticks Reveal Associations between Viral, Eukaryotic and Bacterial Microorganisms. Viruses 2018; 10:E388. [PMID: 30037148 PMCID: PMC6071216 DOI: 10.3390/v10070388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks harbor a variety of microorganisms, including eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. Some of these can be transmitted to and cause disease in humans and other vertebrates. Others are not pathogenic, but may impact the ability of the tick to harbor and transmit pathogens. A growing number of studies have examined the influence of bacteria on tick vector competence but the influence of the tick virome remains less clear, despite a surge in the discovery of tick-associated viruses. In this study, we performed shotgun RNA sequencing on 112 individual adult I. scapularis collected in Wisconsin, USA. We characterized the abundance, prevalence and co-infection rates of viruses, bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms. We identified pairs of tick-infecting microorganisms whose observed co-infection rates were higher or lower than would be expected, or whose RNA levels were positively correlated in co-infected ticks. Many of these co-occurrence and correlation relationships involved two bunyaviruses, South Bay virus and blacklegged tick phlebovirus-1. These viruses were also the most prevalent microorganisms in the ticks we sampled, and had the highest average RNA levels. Evidence of associations between microbes included a positive correlation between RNA levels of South Bay virus and Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent. These findings contribute to the rationale for experimental studies on the impact of viruses on tick biology and vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun T Cross
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Marylee L Kapuscinski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Jacquelyn Perino
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Bernadette L Maertens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - James Weger-Lucarelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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176
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Benelli G. Managing mosquitoes and ticks in a rapidly changing world - Facts and trends. Saudi J Biol Sci 2018; 26:921-929. [PMID: 31303820 PMCID: PMC6600734 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks are on the rise. The effective and sustainable control of these arthropod vectors is a puzzling challenge for public health worldwide. In the present review, I attempted to provide a concise and updated overview of the current mosquito and tick research scenario. The wide array of control tools recently developed has been considered, with special reference to those approved by the World Health Organization Vector Control Advisory Group (WHO VCAG), as well as novel ones with an extremely promising potential to be exploited in vector control programs. Concerning mosquitoes, a major focus has been given on genetically modified vectors, eave tubes, attractive toxic sugar baits (ATSB) and biocontrol agents. Regarding ticks, the recent development of highly effective repellents and acaricides (including nanoformulated ones) as well as behavior-based control tools, has been highlighted. In the second part of the review, key research questions about biology and control of mosquitoes and ticks have been critically formulated. A timely research agenda outlining hot issues to be addressed in mosquito and tick research is provided. Overall, it is expected that the present review will contribute to boost research and applications on successful mosquito and tick control strategies, along with an improved knowledge of their biology and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.,The BioRobotics Institute, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
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177
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Li S, Goyal B, Cooper JD, Abdelbaki A, Gupta N, Kumar Y. Splenic rupture from babesiosis, an emerging concern? A systematic review of current literature. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1377-1382. [PMID: 29954722 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Babesiosis is a relatively common tick-borne parasitic infection of erythrocytes primarily affecting the northeastern United States. Babesiosis' prevalence and presentation have earned it the monikers "malaria of the northeast" and "Nantucket fever". Clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe infection including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) or death. Since 2008, there have been a number of reports of splenic rupture in patients with the disease. We seek to provide a further understanding of this process, with the report of a case of splenic rupture followed by a systematic review of the current literature. We found that 87% of splenic rupture secondary to babesiosis occurred in male patients who are otherwise healthy, with an average of 56 years. Computed tomography is a reliable mode of diagnosis, and hemoperitoneum is the most common imaging finding. Patients with splenic rupture due to human babesiosis were successfully treated by various management strategies, such as conservative non-operative approach, splenic artery embolization, and splenectomy. The modality of treatment depends on patient's clinical course and hemodynamic stability, although spleen conserving strategy should be considered first whenever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610, United States.
| | - Bobby Goyal
- St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies.
| | - Joseph D Cooper
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, The Bronx, NY, 10467, United States.
| | - Ahmed Abdelbaki
- Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610, United States.
| | - Nishant Gupta
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W 168th St, New York, NY, 10032, United States.
| | - Yogesh Kumar
- Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610, United States.
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178
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Efficient detection of symptomatic and asymptomatic patient samples for Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi infection by multiplex qPCR. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196748. [PMID: 29746483 PMCID: PMC5945202 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne infections have been increasing steadily over the years, with co-infections with Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti/divergens emerging as a serious health problem. B. burgdorferi is a spirochetal bacterium that causes Lyme disease while protozoan pathogens belonging to Babesia species are responsible for babesiosis. Currently used serological tests do not always detect acute Lyme disease or babesiosis, and fail to differentiate cured patients from those who get re-infected. This is a major problem for proper diagnosis particularly in regions endemic for tick-borne diseases. Microscopy based evaluation of babesiosis is confirmatory but is labor intensive and insensitive such that many asymptomatic patients remain undetected and donate blood resulting in transfusion transmitted babesiosis. RESULTS We conducted multiplex qPCR for simultaneous diagnosis of active Lyme disease and babesiosis in 192 blood samples collected from a region endemic for both diseases. We document qPCR results obtained from testing of each sample three times to detect infection with each pathogen separately or together. Results for Lyme disease by qPCR were also compared with serological tests currently used for Lyme disease when available. Considering at least two out of three test results for consistency, 18.2% of patients tested positive for Lyme disease, 18.7% for co-infection with B. burgdorferi and B. microti and 6.3% showed only babesiosis. CONCLUSIONS With an 80% sensitivity for detection of Lyme disease, and ability to detect co-infection with B. microti, multiplex qPCR can be employed for diagnosis of these diseases to start appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
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179
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Tufts DM, Diuk-Wasser MA. Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:286. [PMID: 29728129 PMCID: PMC5935994 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2875-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Babesia microti is an emerging tick-borne pathogen and the causative agent of human babesiosis. Mathematical modeling of the reproductive rate of B. microti indicates that it cannot persist in nature by horizontal tick-host transmission alone. We hypothesized that transplacental transmission in the reservoir population contributes to B. microti persistence and emergence in North American rodent populations. Methods Peromyscus leucopus were collected from Connecticut and Block Island, Rhode Island and analyzed using a highly specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for infection with B. microti. Results In April, 100% (n = 103) of mice were infected with B. microti. Females exhibited significantly higher parasitemia than their offspring (P < 0.0001) and transplacental transmission was observed in 74.2% of embryos (n = 89). Transplacental transmission of B. microti is thus a viable and potentially important infectious pathway in naturally infected rodent species and should be considered in future theoretical and empirical studies. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to report transplacental transmission of B. microti occurring in its natural reservoir host, P. leucopus, in the United States and the only study that provides a quantitative estimate of parasitemia. This vector-independent pathway could contribute to the increased geographic range of B. microti or increase its abundance in endemic areas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2875-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Tufts
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
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180
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Kjelland V, Paulsen KM, Rollum R, Jenkins A, Stuen S, Soleng A, Edgar KS, Lindstedt HH, Vaino K, Gibory M, Andreassen ÅK. Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from recreational islands in southern Norway. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1098-1102. [PMID: 29678403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in questing ticks collected from five recreationally used islands along the Norwegian coastline. Furthermore, since coinfection may affect the disease severity, this study aimed to determine the extent of coinfection in individual ticks or co-localization of tick-borne pathogens. In all, 4158 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were analyzed. For detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), nymphs (3690) were analyzed in pools of ten. To detect Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, 468 nymphs were analyzed individually. A total of five nymph pools was infected with TBEV, giving an overall prevalence of 0.14%. In the individually analyzed ticks, B. burgdorferi s. l. (15.6%), Candidatus N. mikurensis (11%), A. phagocytophilum (1.4%) and B. miyamotoi (0.9%) were detected. Coinfection was found in 3.3% of the ticks, and the only dual infection observed was with B. afzelii and Candidatus N. mikurensis. This association was significantly higher than what would occur by random chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Kjelland
- University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Natural Sciences, Gimlemoen 25, NO-4630 Kristiansand, Norway; Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Research Unit, P. O. Box 416, NO-4604 Kristiansand, Norway.
| | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway; University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
| | - Rikke Rollum
- University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Natural Sciences, Gimlemoen 25, NO-4630 Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Kyrkjeveien 332/334, NO-4325 Sandnes, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin S Edgar
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi H Lindstedt
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirsti Vaino
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Moustafa Gibory
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway; University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
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181
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Eisen RJ, Eisen L. The Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis: An Increasing Public Health Concern. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:295-309. [PMID: 29336985 PMCID: PMC5879012 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is a vector of seven human pathogens, including those causing Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi disease, Powassan virus disease, and ehrlichiosis associated with Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis. In addition to an accelerated rate of discovery of I. scapularis-borne pathogens over the past two decades, the geographic range of the tick, and incidence and range of I. scapularis-borne disease cases, have increased. Despite knowledge of when and where humans are most at risk of exposure to infected ticks, control of I. scapularis-borne diseases remains a challenge. Human vaccines are not available, and we lack solid evidence for other prevention and control methods to reduce human disease. The way forward is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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182
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Kumar S, Fish D, Krause PJ. Community-acquired and transfusion-transmitted babesiosis are increasing: why and what to do? Transfusion 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/trf.14518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter J. Krause
- Yale School of Public Health; New Haven CT
- Yale School of Medicine; New Haven CT
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183
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Sprong H, Azagi T, Hoornstra D, Nijhof AM, Knorr S, Baarsma ME, Hovius JW. Control of Lyme borreliosis and other Ixodes ricinus-borne diseases. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:145. [PMID: 29510749 PMCID: PMC5840726 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2744-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) and other Ixodes ricinus-borne diseases (TBDs) are diseases that emerge from interactions of humans and domestic animals with infected ticks in nature. Nature, environmental and health policies at (inter)national and local levels affect the risk, disease burden and costs of TBDs. Knowledge on ticks, their pathogens and the diseases they cause have been increasing, and resulted in the discovery of a diversity of control options, which often are not highly effective on their own. Control strategies involving concerted actions from human and animal health sectors as well as from nature managers have not been formulated, let alone implemented. Control of TBDs asks for a “health in all policies” approach, both at the (inter)national level, but also at local levels. For example, wildlife protection and creating urban green spaces are important for animal and human well-being, but may increase the risk of TBDs. In contrast, culling or fencing out deer decreases the risk for TBDs under specific conditions, but may have adverse effects on biodiversity or may be societally unacceptable. Therefore, in the end, nature and health workers together must carry out tailor-made control options for the control of TBDs for humans and animals, with minimal effects on the environment. In that regard, multidisciplinary approaches in environmental, but also medical settings are needed. To facilitate this, communication and collaboration between experts from different fields, which may include patient representatives, should be promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hein Sprong
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands. .,Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Tal Azagi
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ard M Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Knorr
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Ewoud Baarsma
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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184
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Mihaljevic JR, Hoye BJ, Johnson PT. Parasite metacommunities: Evaluating the roles of host community composition and environmental gradients in structuring symbiont communities within amphibians. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:354-368. [PMID: 28795407 PMCID: PMC5807239 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ecologists increasingly report the structures of metacommunities for free-living species, yet far less is known about the composition of symbiont communities through space and time. Understanding the drivers of symbiont community patterns has implications ranging from emerging infectious disease to managing host microbiomes. Using symbiont communities from amphibian hosts sampled from wetlands of California, USA, we quantified the effects of spatial structure, habitat filtering and host community components on symbiont occupancy and overall metacommunity structure. We built upon a statistical method to describe metacommunity structure that accounts for imperfect detection in survey data-detection error-corrected elements of metacommunity structure-by adding an analysis to identify covariates of community turnover. We applied our model to a metacommunity of eight parasite taxa observed in 3,571 Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla) surveyed from 174 wetlands over 5 years. Symbiont metacommunity structure varied across years, showing nested structure in 3 years and random structure in 2 years. Species turnover was most consistently influenced by spatial and host community components. Occupancy generally increased in more southeastern wetlands, and snail (intermediate host) community composition had strong effects on most symbiont taxa. We have used sophisticated but accessible statistical methods to reveal that spatial components-which influence colonization-and host community composition-which mediates transmission-both drive symbiont community composition in this system. These methods allow us to associate broad patterns of community turnover to local, species-level effects, ultimately improving our understanding of spatial community dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pieter T.J. Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA
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185
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A historical snapshot of Ixodes scapularis-borne pathogens in New Jersey ticks reflects a changing disease landscape. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:418-426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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186
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Djokic V, Akoolo L, Parveen N. Babesia microti Infection Changes Host Spleen Architecture and Is Cleared by a Th1 Immune Response. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:85. [PMID: 29445365 PMCID: PMC5797759 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia microti is a malaria-like parasite, which infects ∼2000 people annually, such that babesiosis is now a notifiable disease in the United States. Immunocompetent individuals often remain asymptomatic and are tested only after they feel ill. Susceptible C3H/HeJ mice show several human-like disease manifestations and are ideal to study pathogenesis of Babesia species. In this study, we examined parasitemia of B. microti at different time points and assessed its impact on hemoglobin levels in blood, on spleen pathology and overall immune response in C3H/HeJ mice. Peak parasitemia of 42.5% was immediately followed by diminished hemoglobin level. Parasitemia at 21 days of infection was barely detectable by microscopy presented 5.7 × 108 to 5.9 × 109B. microti DNA copies confirming the sensitivity of our qPCR. We hypothesize that qPCR detects DNA released from recently lysed parasites or from extracellular B. microti in blood, which are not easily detected in blood smears and might result in under-diagnosis of babesiosis in patients. Splenectomized patients have been reported to show increased babesiosis severity and result in high morbidity and mortality. These results emphasize the importance of splenic immunity in resolution of B. microti infection. Splenomegaly in infected mice associated with destruction of marginal zone with lysed erythrocytes and released B. microti life forms in our experiments support this premise. At conclusion of the experiment at 21 days post-infection, significant splenic B and T cells depletion and increase in macrophages levels were observed in B. microti infected mice suggesting a role of macrophage in disease resolution. Infected mice also showed significantly higher plasmatic concentration of CD4 Th1 cells secreted cytokines such as IL-2 and IFN-γ while cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 secreted by Th2 cells increase was not always significant. Thus, Th1 cells-mediated immunity appears to be important in clearance of this intracellular pathogen. Significant increase in IL-6 that promotes differentiation of Th17 cells was observed but it resulted in only moderate change in IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, all secreted by Th17 cells. A similar immune response to Trypanosoma infection has been reported to influence the clearance of this protozoan, and co-infecting pathogen(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitomir Djokic
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Lavoisier Akoolo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
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187
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Kilpatrick AM, Salkeld DJ, Titcomb G, Hahn MB. Conservation of biodiversity as a strategy for improving human health and well-being. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0131. [PMID: 28438920 PMCID: PMC5413879 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Earth's ecosystems have been altered by anthropogenic processes, including land use, harvesting populations, species introductions and climate change. These anthropogenic processes greatly alter plant and animal communities, thereby changing transmission of the zoonotic pathogens they carry. Biodiversity conservation may be a potential win-win strategy for maintaining ecosystem health and protecting public health, yet the causal evidence to support this strategy is limited. Evaluating conservation as a viable public health intervention requires answering four questions: (i) Is there a general and causal relationship between biodiversity and pathogen transmission, and if so, which direction is it in? (ii) Does increased pathogen diversity with increased host biodiversity result in an increase in total disease burden? (iii) Do the net benefits of biodiversity conservation to human well-being outweigh the benefits that biodiversity-degrading activities, such as agriculture and resource utilization, provide? (iv) Are biodiversity conservation interventions cost-effective when compared to other options employed in standard public health approaches? Here, we summarize current knowledge on biodiversity-zoonotic disease relationships and outline a research plan to address the gaps in our understanding for each of these four questions. Developing practical and self-sustaining biodiversity conservation interventions will require significant investment in disease ecology research to determine when and where they will be effective.This article is part of the themed issue 'Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications'.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Marm Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz 95064, USA
| | - Daniel J Salkeld
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Georgia Titcomb
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Micah B Hahn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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188
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Cabezas-Cruz A, Vayssier-Taussat M, Greub G. Tick-borne pathogen detection: what's new? Microbes Infect 2018; 20:441-444. [PMID: 29329935 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ticks and the pathogens they transmit constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. Traditionally, tick-borne pathogen detection has been carried out using PCR-based methods that rely in known sequences for specific primers design. This approach matches with the view of a 'single-pathogen' epidemiology. Recent results, however, have stressed the importance of coinfections in pathogen ecology and evolution with impact in pathogen transmission and disease severity. New approaches, including high-throughput technologies, were then used to detect multiple pathogens, but they all need a priori information on the pathogens to search. Thus, those approaches are biased, limited and conceal the complexity of pathogen ecology. Currently, next generation sequencing (NGS) is applied to tick-borne pathogen detection as well as to study the interactions between pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms associated to ticks, the pathobiome. The use of NGS technologies have surfaced two major points: (i) ticks are associated to complex microbial communities and (ii) the relation between pathogens and microbiota is bidirectional. Notably, a new challenge emerges from NGS experiments, data analysis. Discovering associations among a high number of microorganisms is not trivial and therefore most current NGS studies report lists of microorganisms without further insights. An alternative to this is the combination of NGS with analytical tools such as network analysis to unravel the structure of microbial communities associated to ticks in different ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, INRA, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, 94700, France
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne and University Hospital, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland; Infectious Disease Service, University Hospital, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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189
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Stahl P, Poinsignon Y, Pouedras P, Ciubotaru V, Berry L, Emu B, Krause PJ, Ben Mamoun C, Cornillot E. Case report of the patient source of the Babesia microti R1 reference strain and implications for travelers. J Travel Med 2018; 25:4696553. [PMID: 29394381 PMCID: PMC6927858 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/tax073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2002, a previously healthy 69-year-old man travelled to France from the United States and presented to our hospital with a febrile illness that subsequently was determined to be babesiosis. The blood isolated from this patient served as a source for propagation of the Babesia microti R1 strain with subsequent sequencing and annotation of the parasite genome. METHODS Upon admission, we obtained a medical history, performed a physical examination, and examined his blood for the presence of a blood borne pathogen by microscopy, PCR and indirect immunofluorescence antibody testing. Once the diagnosis of babesiosis was made, we reviewed the literature to assess the distribution of B. microti-associated babesiosis cases in immunocompetent patients from outside the USA. RESULTS The patient recalled a tick bite during the previous month on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The diagnosis was confirmed by identification of Babesia-infected red blood cells on blood smears, amplification of B. microti DNA in blood by PCR and the presence of B. microti antibody in the serum. This strain was the first isolate of B. microti to be fully sequenced and its annotated genome serves as a reference for molecular and cell biology studies aimed at understanding B. microti pathophysiology and developing diagnostic tests and therapies. A review of babesiosis cases demonstrates a worldwide distribution of B. microti and identifies potential emerging endemic areas where travelers may be at risk of contracting B. microti infection. CONCLUSION This case provides clinical information about the patient infected with the R1 isolate and a review of travel risk, diagnosis and treatment of babesiosis in endemic and non-endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Stahl
- Institute of Virology, Parasitology Unit, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.,Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Gießen and Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Yves Poinsignon
- Internal Medicine Department, Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique, Vannes, France
| | - Pascal Pouedras
- Microbiology Department, Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique, Vannes, France
| | - Vasilica Ciubotaru
- Internal Medicine Department, Centre Hospitalier Bretagne Atlantique, Vannes, France
| | - Laurence Berry
- Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques, UMR5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Brinda Emu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter J Krause
- Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine, 60 College St., New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Choukri Ben Mamoun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Emmanuel Cornillot
- Institut de Biologie Computationnelle (IBC), Montpellier, France.,Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM - INSERM U1194), Institut régional du Cancer Montpellier (ICM) & Université de Montpellier, France
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190
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Grabowski JM, Hill CA. A Roadmap for Tick-Borne Flavivirus Research in the "Omics" Era. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:519. [PMID: 29312896 PMCID: PMC5744076 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFs) affect human health globally. Human vaccines provide protection against some TBFs, and antivirals are available, yet TBF-specific control strategies are limited. Advances in genomics offer hope to understand the viral complement transmitted by ticks, and to develop disruptive, data-driven technologies for virus detection, treatment, and control. The genome assemblies of Ixodes scapularis, the North American tick vector of the TBF, Powassan virus, and other tick vectors, are providing insights into tick biology and pathogen transmission and serve as nucleation points for expanded genomic research. Systems biology has yielded insights to the response of tick cells to viral infection at the transcript and protein level, and new protein targets for vaccines to limit virus transmission. Reverse vaccinology approaches have moved candidate tick antigenic epitopes into vaccine development pipelines. Traditional drug and in silico screening have identified candidate antivirals, and target-based approaches have been developed to identify novel acaricides. Yet, additional genomic resources are required to expand TBF research. Priorities include genome assemblies for tick vectors, “omic” studies involving high consequence pathogens and vectors, and emphasizing viral metagenomics, tick-virus metabolomics, and structural genomics of TBF and tick proteins. Also required are resources for forward genetics, including the development of tick strains with quantifiable traits, genetic markers and linkage maps. Here we review the current state of genomic research on ticks and tick-borne viruses with an emphasis on TBFs. We outline an ambitious 10-year roadmap for research in the “omics era,” and explore key milestones needed to accomplish the goal of delivering three new vaccines, antivirals and acaricides for TBF control by 2030.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Grabowski
- Biology of Vector-Borne Viruses Section, Laboratory of Virology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, United States
| | - Catherine A Hill
- Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States.,Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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191
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Moon KL, Chown SL, Loh SM, Oskam CL, Fraser CI. Australian penguin ticks screened for novel Borrelia species. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:410-414. [PMID: 29275874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (or Lyme Disease) is an emerging threat to human health in the Northern Hemisphere caused by tick-borne bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex. Seabirds are important reservoir hosts of some members of the Bbsl complex in the Northern Hemisphere, and some evidence suggests this may be true of penguins in the Southern Hemisphere. While the Bbsl complex has not been detected in Australia, a novel Borrelia species ('Candidatus Borrelia tachyglossi') was recently sequenced from native ticks (Ixodes holocyclus and Bothriocroton concolor) parasitising echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), suggesting unidentified borreliae may be circulating amongst native wildlife and their ticks. In the present study, we investigated whether ticks parasitising little penguins (Eudyptula novaehollandiae) harbour native or introduced Borrelia bacteria. We chose this penguin species because it is heavily exploited by ticks during the breeding season, lives in close proximity to other potential reservoir hosts (including native wildlife and migratory seabirds), and is known to be infected with other tick-borne pathogens (Babesia). We screened over 230 penguin ticks (Ixodes spp.) from colonies in south-eastern Australia, and found no evidence of Borrelia DNA. The apparent absence or rarity of the bacterium in south-eastern Australia has important implications for identifying potential tick-borne pathogens in an understudied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Moon
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
| | - Steven L Chown
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Siew-May Loh
- Vector & Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Charlotte L Oskam
- Vector & Waterborne Pathogens Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Ceridwen I Fraser
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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192
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Climate change influences on the potential geographic distribution of the disease vector tick Ixodes ricinus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189092. [PMID: 29206879 PMCID: PMC5716528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus is a species of hard tick that transmits several important diseases in Europe and North Africa, including Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Climate change is affecting the geographic distributions and abundances of arthropod vectors, which in turn influence the geographic distribution and epidemiology of associated vector-borne diseases. To date, few studies have investigated effects of climate change on the spatial distribution of I. ricinus at continental extents. Here, we assessed the potential distribution of I. ricinus under current and future climate conditions to understand how climate change will influence the geographic distribution of this important tick vector in coming decades. Method We used ecological niche modeling to estimate the geographic distribution of I. ricinus with respect to current climate, and then assessed its future potential distribution under different climate change scenarios. This approach integrates occurrence records of I. ricinus with six relevant environmental variables over a continental extent that includes Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Future projections were based on climate data from 17 general circulation models (GCMs) under 2 representative concentration pathway emissions scenarios (RCPs), for the years 2050 and 2070. Result The present and future potential distributions of I. ricinus showed broad overlap across most of western and central Europe, and in more narrow zones in eastern and northern Europe, and North Africa. Potential expansions were observed in northern and eastern Europe. These results indicate that I. ricinus populations could emerge in areas in which they are currently lacking, posing increased risks to human health in those areas. However, the future of I. ricinus ticks in some important regions such the Mediterranean was unclear owing to high uncertainty in model predictions.
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193
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Gondard M, Cabezas-Cruz A, Charles RA, Vayssier-Taussat M, Albina E, Moutailler S. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Caribbean: Current Understanding and Future Directions for More Comprehensive Surveillance. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:490. [PMID: 29238699 PMCID: PMC5713125 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods of significant importance to human and veterinary medicine. They transmit a vast array of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths. Most epidemiological data on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in the West Indies are limited to common livestock pathogens such as Ehrlichia ruminantium, Babesia spp. (i.e., B. bovis and B. bigemina), and Anaplasma marginale, and less information is available on companion animal pathogens. Of note, human tick-borne diseases (TBDs) remain almost completely uncharacterized in the West Indies. Information on TBP presence in wildlife is also missing. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and TBPs affecting human and animal health in the Caribbean, and introduce the challenges associated with understanding TBD epidemiology and implementing successful TBD management in this region. In particular, we stress the need for innovative and versatile surveillance tools using high-throughput pathogen detection (e.g., high-throughput real-time microfluidic PCR). The use of such tools in large epidemiological surveys will likely improve TBD prevention and control programs in the Caribbean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Gondard
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceské Budejovice, Czechia
- Biology Center, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceské Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Roxanne A. Charles
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Emmanuel Albina
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Petit-Bourg, France
- INRA, UMR 1319 ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
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194
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Mysterud A, Jore S, Østerås O, Viljugrein H. Emergence of tick-borne diseases at northern latitudes in Europe: a comparative approach. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16316. [PMID: 29176601 PMCID: PMC5701145 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15742-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The factors that drive the emergence of vector-borne diseases are difficult to identify due to the complexity of the pathogen-vector-host triad. We used a novel comparative approach to analyse four long-term datasets (1995-2015) on the incidence of tick-borne diseases in humans and livestock (Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis) over a geographic area that covered the whole of Norway. This approach allowed us to separate general (shared vector) and specific (pathogen reservoir host) limiting factors of tick-borne diseases, as well as the role of exposure (shared and non-shared pathogens in different hosts). We found broadly similar patterns of emergence across the four tick-borne diseases. Following initial increases during the first decade of the time series, the numbers of cases peaked at slightly different years and then stabilized or declined in the most recent years. Contrasting spatial patterns of disease incidence were consistent with exposure to ticks being an important factor influencing disease incidence in livestock. Uncertainty regarding the reservoir host(s) of the pathogens causing anaplasmosis and babesiosis prevented a firm conclusion regarding the role of the reservoir host-pathogen distribution. Our study shows that the emergence of tick-borne diseases at northern latitudes is linked to the shared tick vector and that variation in host-pathogen distribution and exposure causes considerable variation in emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Solveig Jore
- Department of Food, Water, Zoonotic & Vector-borne Infections, The Norwegian Institute for Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Østerås
- Department of the Norwegian Cattle Health Services, TINE Norwegian Dairies BA, Oslo, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
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195
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Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in cattle from Southwestern Ethiopia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188248. [PMID: 29155863 PMCID: PMC5695778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) cause significant losses among livestock and impact the livelihoods of resource-poor farming communities worldwide. In Ethiopia, detailed studies on the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in cattle using sensitive molecular detection methods are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and species composition of bovine TBPs of veterinary significance in local cattle populations. A comprehensive cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in cattle populations of Illubabor zone in Southwestern Ethiopia from June to August 2013. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 392 cattle. A combination of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a Reverse Line Blot (RLB) hybridization assay was employed for the detection of TBPs in these samples. The PCR/RLB results of the 392 blood samples indicated a high overall prevalence of 96.9% for TBPs, including Theileria mutans (66.1%), Theileria orientalis (51.8%), Anaplasma sp. Omatjenne (25.5%), Anaplasma marginale (14.5%), Babesia bigemina (14.0%) and Theileria velifera (13.0%) and minor occurrences of Ehrlichia ruminantium (0.5%) and Ehrlichia minasensis (0.26%). Moreover, three novel Anaplasma genotypes were detected in bovine blood samples. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that they most likely represent three, but at least two, new species. The prevalence of the three novel Anaplasma species, preliminary designated as Anaplasma sp. Hadesa, Anaplasma sp. Saso and Anaplasma sp. Dedessa, was 12.5%, 14.3% and 5.6%, respectively. Overall, a total of 227 cattle (57.9%) were found to be co-infected with two or more TBPs simultaneously and 86 different species combinations were observed. The findings show a very high burden of infection of cattle with TBPs in Ethiopia. The high frequency of co-infections suggests that clinical manifestations might be complex. Further research is required to determine the pathogenicity, host cell types and vector of the three novel Anaplasma species identified in this study.
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196
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Variable clinical presentations of babesiosis: A case series. Nurse Pract 2017; 42:1-7. [PMID: 29040182 DOI: 10.1097/01.npr.0000525721.83984.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Human babesiosis continues to spread in multiple regions of the United States. It is transmitted by Ixodes species ticks, as are Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. Its variable clinical presentations, together with serologic detection limitations, require that a high index of clinical suspicion be present for prompt diagnosis. This article discusses case presentations showing the wide range of symptoms and presentations that are possible with babesiosis.
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197
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Primus S, Akoolo L, Schlachter S, Parveen N. Screening of patient blood samples for babesiosis using enzymatic assays. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:302-306. [PMID: 29150323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in the United States and Europe. Transmitted by Ixodes ticks, the causative agent Babesia microti is an intraerythrocytic parasite that causes mild to deadly disease. Transmission of B. microti can also occur by transfusion of infected blood and blood products resulting in transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB), which carries a high risk of fatality. To effectively manage this rise in B. microti infections, better screening tools are needed, which require minimal manipulation of the samples before testing. To this end, we tested two enzymatic assays, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), for efficacy in diagnosis of babesiosis. The results show that AST and ALT activity is significantly higher in the plasma of B. microti-infected patients. Moreover, statistical analysis revealed that these assays have high sensitivity and positive predictive values, which highlights their usefulness as diagnostics for babesiosis. These standardized enzymatic assays can be used to perform high-throughput, large-scale screens of blood and blood products before they are certified safe for transfusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shekerah Primus
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07013, USA
| | - Lavoisier Akoolo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07013, USA
| | - Samantha Schlachter
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07013, USA
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07013, USA.
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198
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Oechslin CP, Heutschi D, Lenz N, Tischhauser W, Péter O, Rais O, Beuret CM, Leib SL, Bankoul S, Ackermann-Gäumann R. Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban and suburban areas of Switzerland. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:558. [PMID: 29121976 PMCID: PMC5680829 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2500-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Throughout Europe, Ixodes ricinus transmits numerous pathogens. Its widespread distribution is not limited to rural but also includes urbanized areas. To date, comprehensive data on pathogen carrier rates of I. ricinus ticks in urban areas of Switzerland is lacking. Results Ixodes ricinus ticks sampled at 18 (sub-) urban collection sites throughout Switzerland showed carrier rates of 0% for tick-borne encephalitis virus, 18.0% for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), 2.5% for Borrelia miyamotoi, 13.5% for Rickettsia spp., 1.4% for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 6.2% for "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", and 0.8% for Babesia venatorum (Babesia sp., EU1). Site-specific prevalence at collection sites with n > 45 ticks (n = 9) significantly differed for B. burgdorferi (s.l.), Rickettsia spp., and "Ca. N. mikurensis", but were not related to the habitat type. Three hundred fifty eight out of 1078 I. ricinus ticks (33.2%) tested positive for at least one pathogen. Thereof, about 20% (71/358) were carrying two or three different potentially disease-causing agents. Using next generation sequencing, we could detect true pathogens, tick symbionts and organisms of environmental or human origin in ten selected samples. Conclusions Our data document the presence of pathogens in the (sub-) urban I. ricinus tick population in Switzerland, with carrier rates as high as those in rural regions. Carriage of multiple pathogens was repeatedly observed, demonstrating the risk of acquiring multiple infections as a consequence of a tick bite. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2500-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne P Oechslin
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Heutschi
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Lenz
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Werner Tischhauser
- ZHAW Life Science and Facility Management, Grüental, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Péter
- retired, Infectious Diseases, Central Institute of Valais Hospitals, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Rais
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Emile Argand, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Christian M Beuret
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland
| | - Stephen L Leib
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland.,Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sergei Bankoul
- Medical Services Directorate, Swiss Armed Forces, Ittigen, Switzerland
| | - Rahel Ackermann-Gäumann
- Spiez Laboratory, Federal Office for Civil Protection, Austrasse, Spiez, Switzerland. .,Swiss National Reference Centre for tick-transmitted diseases, Spiez, Switzerland.
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199
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarizes the current status of blood screening to prevent transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). RECENT FINDINGS Babesia microti has recently been determined to be the most common transfusion-transmitted pathogen in the United States. Patients who acquire TTB often experience severe illness with an associated mortality rate of about 20%. Recent studies have demonstrated that laboratory screening using B. microti antibody and/or PCR assays can effectively identify infectious blood donors and that this approach may offer a cost- effective means of intervention. Pathogen inactivation methods may offer an alternative solution. None of these methods has yet been licensed by US Food and Drug Administration, however, and current efforts to prevent TTB rely on excluding blood donors who report having had babesiosis. SUMMARY TTB imposes a significant health burden on the United States population. Further research is needed to better inform decisions on optimal screening strategies and reentry criteria, but given the acute need and the currently available screening tools, initiation of blood donor screening to prevent TTB should be given high priority.
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200
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Pereira A, Parreira R, Cotão AJ, Nunes M, Vieira ML, Azevedo F, Campino L, Maia C. Tick-borne bacteria and protozoa detected in ticks collected from domestic animals and wildlife in central and southern Portugal. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:225-234. [PMID: 28958791 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of many human and animal pathogens. The aim of this study was to screen bacteria and protozoa from ticks infesting domestic animals and wildlife collected in central and southern Portugal. A total of 593 ticks, comprising 465 (78.4%) adults, 122 (20.6%) nymphs, and six (1.0%) larvae, were collected from 283 hosts of 25 different species (4 domestic and 21 wild). Overall, the analysis of DNA extracts prepared from ticks collected from hosts of 11 different species in the districts of Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Lisboa, Setúbal, Beja and Faro, revealed the presence of genomic sequences from Anaplasma sp., A. ovis, Babesia sp., relapsing fever-like Borrelia sp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Ri. helvetica, Ri. massiliae, Ri. raoultii, Ri. slovaca, Candidatus Ri. barbariae, Theileria annulata and T. ovis, in specimens of Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Hy. marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa and Rh. sanguineus sensu lato. The obtained results suggest the circulation of a wide variety of infectious agents, some of zoonotic concern, in hard ticks from Portugal. Further studies should be conducted to better characterize (both genetically and phenotypically) the putative novel microorganisms detected, both in what regards their potential pathogenity towards vertebrates, and to assist the implementation of effective control strategies for the management of ticks and human and animal tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Pereira
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal; Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Parreira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal
| | | | - Mónica Nunes
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal
| | - Maria Luísa Vieira
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Microbiology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal
| | | | - Lenea Campino
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal
| | - Carla Maia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal; Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal; Medical Parasitology Unit, IHMT, UNL, Portugal.
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