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Bilgiç HB, Hacilarlioğlu S, Pekağirbaş M, Karagenç T, Eren H, Bakirci S. In vitro feeding of Hyalomma excavatum and Hyalomma marginatum tick species. Parasitol Res 2023:10.1007/s00436-023-07867-7. [PMID: 37178257 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07867-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The rearing of ticks is an important technique for studies aiming to elucidate the course and pathogenesis of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). TBDs caused by protozoans (Theileria, Babesia) and bacteria (Anaplasma/Ehrlichia) impose a serious constraint upon livestock health and production in tropical and sub-tropical regions where the distributions of host, pathogen, and vector overlap. This study focuses on Hyalomma marginatum, one of the most important Hyalomma species in the Mediterranean region, being a vector of the virus that causes Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in humans, together with H. excavatum, a vector of Theileria annulata, an important protozoan of cattle. The adaptation of ticks to feeding on artificial membranes allows the creation of model systems that can be put to use examining the underlying mechanisms of pathogen transmission by ticks. Silicone membranes, in particular, offer researchers the flexibility to adjust membrane thickness and content during artificial feeding. The aim of the present study was to develop an artificial feeding technique using silicone-based membranes for all developmental stages of H. excavatum and H. marginatum ticks. Attachment rates after feeding on silicone membranes for females H. marginatum and H. excavatum were 8.33% (8/96) and 7.95% (7/88), respectively. The use of cow hair as a stimulant increased the attachment rate of H. marginatum adults in comparison to other stimulants. The engorgement of H. marginatum and H. excavatum females took 20.5 and 23 days with average weights of 307.85 and 260.64 mg, respectively. Although both tick species could complete egg-laying, and this was followed by hatching of larvae; their larvae and nymphs could not be fed artificially. Taken together, the results of the present study clearly indicate that silicone membranes are suitable for feeding of H. excavatum and H. marginatum adult ticks, supporting engorgement, laying of eggs, and hatching of the larvae. They thus represent a versatile tool for studying transmission mechanisms of tick-borne pathogens. Further studies are warranted to examine attachment and feeding behaviours in order to increase the success of artificial feeding of larvae and nymphal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hüseyin Bilgin Bilgiç
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Selin Hacilarlioğlu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Metin Pekağirbaş
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Tülin Karagenç
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Hasan Eren
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye
| | - Serkan Bakirci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Isıklı-Efeler, Aydın, Türkiye.
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2
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Carney PC. Precipitation as a Possible Risk Factor for Development of Lyme Nephritis in Dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2023; 59:20-25. [PMID: 36584315 DOI: 10.5326/jaaha-ms-7311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
To determine whether increased precipitation in the months before diagnosis is predictive of Lyme nephritis in dogs, a symmetrical bidirectional case-crossover study was performed on 87 dogs with presumptive Lyme nephritis. Cases were geographically linked to the nearest precipitation monitoring station, and monthly total precipitation for the 4 mo preceding diagnosis was compared to monthly total precipitation 1 yr before and 1 yr after. Breeds affected included Labrador retrievers (n = 31), mixed-breed dogs (n = 19), and golden retrievers (n = 10), with a possible seasonal bimodal peak in spring and fall. In age-adjusted analysis, each additional inch of precipitation 3 mo before diagnosis was associated with an increase in the odds of developing Lyme nephritis (odds ratio 1.13, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.25). The results suggest that increased precipitation is a possible risk factor for Lyme nephritis in dogs. These findings may provide useful information for the accurate diagnosis of dogs with protein-losing nephropathy and may guide future studies of risk factors for Lyme nephritis. The methodology employed here reinforces the concept that case-crossover designs have utility beyond acute exposures and outcomes and offer an attractive alternative for studies in companion animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Carney
- From the Department of Clinical Sciences, Cornell Small Animal Community Practice, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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3
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Verschoor YL, Vrijlandt A, Spijker R, van Hest RM, ter Hofstede H, van Kempen K, Henningsson AJ, Hovius JW. Persistent Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Infection after Antibiotic Treatment: Systematic Overview and Appraisal of the Current Evidence from Experimental Animal Models. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0007422. [PMID: 36222707 PMCID: PMC9769629 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00074-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group, which are transmitted by Ixodes tick species living in the temperate climate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. The clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis are diverse and treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics. In some patients, long-lasting and debilitating symptoms can persist after the recommended antibiotic treatment. The etiology of such persisting symptoms is under debate, and one hypothesis entails persistent infection by a subset of spirochetes after antibiotic therapy. Here, we review and appraise the experimental evidence from in vivo animal studies on the persistence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato infection after antibiotic treatment, focusing on the antimicrobial agents doxycycline and ceftriaxone. Our review indicates that some in vivo animal studies found sporadic positive cultures after antibiotic treatment. However, this culture positivity often seemed to be related to inadequate antibiotic treatment, and the few positive cultures in some studies could not be reproduced in other studies. Overall, current results from animal studies provide insufficient evidence for the persistence of viable and infectious spirochetes after adequate antibiotic treatment. Borrelial nucleic acids, on the contrary, were frequently detected in these animal studies and may thus persist after antibiotic treatment. We put forward that research into the pathogenesis of persisting complaints after antibiotic treatment for Lyme borreliosis in humans should be a top priority, but future studies should most definitely also focus on explanations other than persistent B. burgdorferi sensu lato infection after antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. L. Verschoor
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC Multidisciplinary Lyme Borreliosis Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A. Vrijlandt
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC Multidisciplinary Lyme Borreliosis Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R. Spijker
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Medical Library, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R. M. van Hest
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Hospital Pharmacy and Clinical Pharmacology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - H. ter Hofstede
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Lyme Borreliosis Outpatient Clinic, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - A. J. Henningsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - J. W. Hovius
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC Multidisciplinary Lyme Borreliosis Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Location University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Flores-Ramirez G, Sallay B, Danchenko M, Lakhneko O, Špitalská E, Skultety L. Comparative proteomics of the vector Dermacentor reticulatus revealed differentially regulated proteins associated with pathogen transmission in response to laboratory infection with Rickettsia slovaca. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:318. [PMID: 31234913 PMCID: PMC6591964 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3564-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne rickettsial diseases are caused by pathogens acquired from hard ticks. In particular, Rickettsia slovaca, a zoonotic infectious bacterium causing tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), is transmitted by the vectors Dermacentor spp. that can be found all over Europe. Although recent studies point out the extreme complexity of bacteria-induced effects in these blood-feeding vectors, the knowledge of individual molecules involved in the preservation and transmission of the pathogen is still limited. System biology tools, including proteomics, may contribute greatly to the understanding of pathogen-tick-host interactions. METHODS Herein, we performed a comparative proteomics study of the tick vector Dermacentor reticulatus that was experimentally infected with the endosymbiotic bacterium R. slovaca. Rickettsia-free ticks, collected in the southern region of Slovakia, were infected with the bacterium by a capillary tube-feeding system, and the dynamics of infection was assessed by quantitative PCR method after 5, 10, 15 and 27 days. RESULTS At the stage of controlled proliferation (at 27 dpi), 33 (from 481 profiled) differentially abundant protein spots were detected on a two-dimensional gel. From the aforementioned protein spots, 21 were successfully identified by tandem mass spectrometry. CONCLUSIONS Although a few discovered proteins were described as having structural or housekeeping functions, the vast majority of the affected proteins were suggested to be essential for tick attachment and feeding on the host, host immune system evasion and defensive response modulation to ensure successful pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Flores-Ramirez
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Balázs Sallay
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Maksym Danchenko
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Olha Lakhneko
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Ludovit Skultety
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. .,Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Videnska 1083, 142 20, Prague, Czech Republic.
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5
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Oliver JD, Lynn GE, Burkhardt NY, Price LD, Nelson CM, Kurtti TJ, Munderloh UG. Infection of Immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) by Membrane Feeding. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:409-15. [PMID: 26721866 PMCID: PMC5853672 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A reduction in the use of animals in infectious disease research is desirable for animal welfare as well as for simplification and standardization of experiments. An artificial silicone-based membrane-feeding system was adapted for complete engorgement of adult and nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), and for infecting nymphs with pathogenic, tick-borne bacteria. Six wild-type and genetically transformed strains of four species of bacteria were inoculated into sterile bovine blood and fed to ticks. Pathogens were consistently detected in replete nymphs by polymerase chain reaction. Adult ticks that ingested bacteria as nymphs were evaluated for transstadial transmission. Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia muris-like agent showed high rates of transstadial transmission to adult ticks, whereas Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia monacensis demonstrated low rates of transstadial transmission/maintenance. Artificial membrane feeding can be used to routinely maintain nymphal and adult I. scapularis, and infect nymphs with tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D. Oliver
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Geoffrey E. Lynn
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Nicole Y. Burkhardt
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Lisa D. Price
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Curtis M. Nelson
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Timothy J. Kurtti
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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| | - Ulrike G. Munderloh
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave., 219 Hodson Hall, St. Paul, MN 55108 (
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6
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Mori H, Tanaka T, Mochizuki M. The widely distributed hard tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, can retain canine parvovirus, but not be infected in laboratory condition. J Vet Med Sci 2014; 77:405-11. [PMID: 25650060 PMCID: PMC4427740 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.14-0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT. Ticks are known to transmit various pathogens, radically threatening humans and
animals. Despite the close contact between ticks and viruses, our understanding on their
interaction and biology is still lacking. The aim of this study was to experimentally
assess the interaction between canine parvovirus (CPV) and a widely distributed hard tick,
Haemaphysalis longicornis, in laboratory condition. After inoculation
of CPV into the hemocoel of the ticks, polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that CPV
persisted in inoculated unfed adult female ticks for 28 days. Canine parvovirus was
recovered from the inoculated ticks using a cell culture, indicating that the virus
retained intact in the ticks after inoculation, but significant positive reaction
indicating virus infection was not detected in the tick organs by immunofluorescence
antibody test using a monoclonal antibody. In the case of ticks inoculated with feline
leukemia virus, the virus had shorter persistence in the ticks compared to CPV. These
findings provide significant important information on the characteristic interaction of
tick with non-tick-borne virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Mori
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 890-0065, Japan
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7
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Vector competence of the tick Ixodes sinensis (Acari: Ixodidae) for Rickettsia monacensis. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:512. [PMID: 25406413 PMCID: PMC4237728 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0512-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cases of Mediterranean Spotted Fever like rickettsioses, caused by Rickettsia monacensis, have become more common in the last 10 years. In China, natural infection of R. monacensis in various tick species has been confirmed but the vector(s) of R. monacensis have not been recorded. METHODS The prevalence of R. monacensis in >1500 Ixodidae ticks from central and southern China was determined using centrifugation-shell vial culture and polymerase chain reaction techniques. The predominant species, Ixodes sinensis, harbored a natural infection of R. monacensis and was assumed to be a vector candidate of R. monacensis. Experimental transmissions were initialized by infecting Rickettsia-free tick colonies with R. monacensis using capillary tube feeding (CTF) or immersion techniques. Transstadial and transovarial transmissions, and transmission from ticks to mice, were conducted under laboratory conditions. RESULTS R. monacensis was isolated and identified from hemolymph of Ixodes sinensis using molecular techniques. Transovarial transmission of R. monacensis from infected ♀I. sinensis to offspring was documented and infected offspring successfully passed Rickettsia to mice. Transstadial transmission rates were 58% in larva to nymph and 56% in nymph to adult stages. Infected nymphs and adults were also able to infect mice. CONCLUSIONS I. sinensis is a competence vector for R. monacensis as demonstrated by natural infection and transmission studies.
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Barth C, Straubinger RK, Krupka I, Müller E, Sauter-Louis C, Hartmann K. Comparison of different diagnostic assays for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi-specific antibodies in dogs. Vet Clin Pathol 2014; 43:496-504. [PMID: 25366257 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibody tests are frequently used in the diagnosis of canine Lyme borreliosis, including immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies, kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (KELA), and Western blotting (WB). Recently, the SNAP4Dx, an in-house test using C6 technology has become available. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare IFA, KELA, and SNAP4Dx assay results, and to determine their sensitivity and specificity when compared with the WB, used as gold standard in this study. METHODS Two hundred canine sera were tested for the presence of specific antibodies against Borrelia spp. using the above-mentioned tests. RESULTS The sensitivity and specificity of IFA-IgG was 76.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 46.87-86.72) and 87.1% (95% CI 80.06-91.90), and 26.3% (95% CI 11.81-48.79) and 81.0% (95% CI 73.64-86.71) for IFA-IgM, respectively. KELA was 100% (95% CI 83.18-100) sensitive and 75.4% (95% CI 67.02-82.09) specific, and the SNAP4Dx was 84.2% (95% CI 62.43-94.48) sensitive and 98.5% (95% CI 94.83-99.60) specific. CONCLUSIONS Both IFAs had very low sensitivity and specificity and cannot be recommended for screening purposes. In contrast, KELA showed excellent sensitivity, but positive results always need to be confirmed by WB to differentiate the source of antibody formation. The SNAP4Dx had a high sensitivity and specificity, and thus can potentially replace the more labor-intensive WB, at least in untreated dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Barth
- Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
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9
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Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum and Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae) imbibe bovine blood in vitro by utilizing an artificial feeding system. Vet Parasitol 2011; 180:332-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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Prevention of Lyme Disease: Promising Research or Sisyphean Task? Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2011; 59:261-75. [DOI: 10.1007/s00005-011-0128-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2010] [Accepted: 03/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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11
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Boldis V, Spitalská E. Dermacentor marginatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks versus L929 and Vero cell lines in Rickettsia slovaca life cycle evaluated by quantitative real time PCR. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2010; 50:353-9. [PMID: 19779862 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-009-9322-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2009] [Accepted: 09/14/2009] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Ticks transmit many different pathogens to animals, humans and their pets. Rickettsia slovaca, as a member of the spotted-fever-group rickettsiae is an agent of the human disease Tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA), also called Dermacentor-borne necrosis erythema and lymphadenopathy (DEBONEL), which occurs from the Mediterranean to central Europe, transmitted by Dermacentor reticulatus and Dermacentor marginatus (Acari: Ixodidae). In this study, quantitative real time PCR was used to characterize the growth of R. slovaca, strain B in static (mammalian L929 and Vero cells without replacement of growth medium) and dynamic (D. marginatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks) cultivation systems. Curves of bacterial growth in static cultivations were modeled with exponential, stationary and death phases, whereas in dynamic systems the stationary phase was absent. The highest point of multiplication of R. slovaca was recorded on the 4th day post infection in both cell lines and the rickettsial DNA copy number in L929 and Vero cells at this point was 21 and 27 times greater than rickettsial DNA copy number of inoculum, respectively. In the dynamic system, the highest point of multiplication was on the 21th and 12th day after feeding of ticks and rickettsial DNA copy numbers were 7,482 and 865 times greater than the inoculum in D. marginatus and I. ricinus, respectively. Life cycle of R. slovaca in mammalian cell lines was shorter; supposedly, bacteria destroyed these cells and ticks, especially D. marginatus, were considered a more appropriate environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtech Boldis
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Spitalská E, Sparagano O, Boldis V. Static and Dynamic Systems in Rickettsia slovaca Life Cycle Evaluated by Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. Transbound Emerg Dis 2010; 57:70-1. [PMID: 20537110 DOI: 10.1111/j.1865-1682.2010.01104.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- E Spitalská
- Institute of Virology, SAS, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Baldridge GD, Kurtti TJ, Burkhardt N, Baldridge AS, Nelson CM, Oliva AS, Munderloh UG. Infection of Ixodes scapularis ticks with Rickettsia monacensis expressing green fluorescent protein: a model system. J Invertebr Pathol 2006; 94:163-74. [PMID: 17125789 PMCID: PMC1868488 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2006.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2006] [Revised: 09/28/2006] [Accepted: 10/03/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are ubiquitous hosts of rickettsiae (Rickettsiaceae: Rickettsia), obligate intracellular bacteria that occur as a continuum from nonpathogenic arthropod endosymbionts to virulent pathogens of both arthropod vectors and vertebrates. Visualization of rickettsiae in hosts has traditionally been limited to techniques utilizing fixed tissues. We report epifluorescence microscopy observations of unfixed tick tissues infected with a spotted fever group endosymbiont, Rickettsia monacensis, transformed to express green fluorescent protein (GFP). Fluorescent rickettsiae were readily visualized in tick tissues. In adult female, but not male, Ixodes scapularis infected by capillary feeding, R. monacensis disseminated from the gut and infected the salivary glands that are crucial to the role of ticks as vectors. The rickettsiae infected the respiratory tracheal system, a potential dissemination pathway and possible infection reservoir during tick molting. R. monacensis disseminated from the gut of capillary fed I. scapularis nymphs and was transstadially transmitted to adults. Larvae, infected by immersion, transstadially transmitted the rickettsiae to nymphs. Infected female I. scapularis did not transovarially transmit R. monacensis to progeny and the rickettsiae were not horizontally transmitted to a rabbit or hamsters. Survival of infected nymphal and adult I. scapularis did not differ from that of uninfected control ticks. R. monacensis did not disseminate from the gut of capillary fed adult female Amblyomma americanum (L.), or adult Dermacentor variabilis (Say) ticks of either sex. Infection of I. scapularis with R. monacensis expressing GFP provides a model system allowing visualization and study of live rickettsiae in unfixed tissues of an arthropod host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald D Baldridge
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, 219 Hodson Hall, 1980 Folwell Av., St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
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Littman MP, Goldstein RE, Labato MA, Lappin MR, Moore GE. ACVIM Small Animal Consensus Statement on Lyme Disease in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. J Vet Intern Med 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2006.tb02880.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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