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Blazhev A, Stanilov I, Miteva LD, Atanasova M, Blazheva S, Stanilova S. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Kaylaka Park in Pleven, Bulgaria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040772. [PMID: 35456822 PMCID: PMC9032153 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine the presence and distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from urbanized and wild areas in Kaylaka Park (Bulgaria). A total of 546 ticks were collected over three years (2017–2019). The presence of Borrelia in 334 of the collected I. ricinus was detected by dark-field microscopy (DFM) and two nested PCRs (nPCR) targeting the borrelial 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and Flagellin B (FlaB) gene. DFM was performed on a total of 215 ticks, of which 86 (40%) were positive. PCR was performed on 153 of the ticks. In total, 42.5% of the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and 49% of FlaB were positive. Considering as positive any single tick in which Borrelia sp. was detected regardless of the used method, the infection rate reached 37% (10/27) in the nymphs and 48.5% (149/307) in the adults (48.7% (77/158) females, 48.3% (72/149) males). The incidence of B. burgdorferi infection in I. ricinus did not differ statistically significantly between female, male, and nymph. This study provides evidence that Lyme disease spirochetes are present in various regions of Kaylaka Park with extremely high prevalence in their vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Blazhev
- Department of Biology, Medical University-Pleven, 1 Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +359-988-986-865
| | - Iskren Stanilov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Lyuba Dineva Miteva
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Milena Atanasova
- Department of Biology, Medical University-Pleven, 1 Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
| | - Svetla Blazheva
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
| | - Spaska Stanilova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
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Kalmár Z, Briciu V, Coroian M, Flonta M, Rădulescu AL, Topan A, Mihalca AD, Lupșe M. Seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in healthy blood donors in Romania: an update. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:596. [PMID: 34863277 PMCID: PMC8645117 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05099-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genogroup is the causative agent responsible for Lyme borreliosis, a common tick-borne infectious disease in some temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In humans, the clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis vary from dermatological infection to severe systemic manifestations. In Romania, data on the seroprevalence of Lyme borreliosis and associated risk factors are scarce and outdated, as the only seroprevalence study with a large dataset was published more than 20 years ago. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in healthy blood donors from six Romanian counties and identify the associated risk factors. METHODS The study was conducted among 1200 healthy blood donors aged between 18 and 65 years during November 2019 and September 2020 from six counties in the northwestern and central parts of Romania. A two-tiered testing strategy was applied. Positive and equivocal immunoenzymatic test results for IgG and IgM antibodies were further confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS Serum samples from 20% of the blood donors had positive or equivocal IgG and IgM ELISA index values. In total, 2.3% of the serum samples for IgG and 1.8% for IgM were positive by Western blot. The seroprevalence for both antibodies varied between 1.5% (Satu-Mare) and 6.5% (Bistrița-Năsăud) in the six counties investigated. The highest seroprevalence was observed in men (4.7%), in blood donors performing their professional activities outdoors (4.2%), and in those aged ≥ 56 years (8%). CONCLUSIONS These findings confirm the presence of specific IgG and IgM antibodies to B. burgdorferi s.l. among healthy blood donors from Romania. Furthermore, potential risk factors, such as gender, age, and behavior, associated with the presence of positive B. burgdorferi s.l. antibodies among healthy blood donors were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Kalmár
- "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Violeta Briciu
- "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. .,Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Mircea Coroian
- "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mirela Flonta
- Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Adriana Topan
- "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihaela Lupșe
- "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Borşan SD, Ionică AM, Galon C, Toma-Naic A, Peştean C, Sándor AD, Moutailler S, Mihalca AD. High Diversity, Prevalence, and Co-infection Rates of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Wildlife Hosts in an Urban Area in Romania. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:645002. [PMID: 33767683 PMCID: PMC7985354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.645002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasingly recognized eco-epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens in urban areas, data regarding the pathogen diversity and co-infection rates in ticks and wildlife hosts in urban and peri-urban Romania are scanty. We aimed to establish the risk of human exposure to co-infected ticks in Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania. DNA was isolated from 151 questing ticks: Ixodes ricinus (n = 95), Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 53), Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2), and Dermacentor marginatus (n = 1); 222 engorged ticks: I. ricinus (n = 164), I. hexagonus (n = 36), H. punctata (n = 16), H. concinna (n = 6), and 70 tissue samples collected from wildlife hosts during 2018 in five urban, and two peri-urban sites. Using a pre-designed Fluidigm real-time PCR dynamic array, all DNA samples were individually screened for the presence of 44 vector-borne pathogens. Subsequently, conventional PCRs were performed for a selection of samples to allow validation and sequencing. In total, 15 pathogens were identified to species and 6 to genus level. In questing ticks, single infections were more common than co-infections. Seven Borrelia spp. were detected in questing I. ricinus, and three in H. punctata ticks. An overall high prevalence 26.35% (95% CI: 19.46–34.22) and diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was seen in urban questing ticks. Other pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were present with variable prevalence. Co-infections occurred in 27.4% (95% CI: 18.72-37.48) of all infected questing ticks. In engorged ticks the overall Bo. burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence was 35.6% (95% CI: 29.29–42.27), with five species present. Pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were also frequently detected. We report for the first time in Romania the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia felis. Overall, from the infected engorged ticks, 69.2% showcased co-infections. In Ixodes spp., dual co-infections, namely Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia helvetica and A. phagocytophilum were the most prevalent. Given the outcome, we underline the need to establish proper tick-surveillance programs in cities and include co-infections in the management plan of tick-borne diseases in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia-Diana Borşan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,"Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Clémence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andra Toma-Naic
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cosmin Peştean
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020373. [PMID: 33673353 PMCID: PMC7917970 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of selected tick-borne-pathogens (TBPs) among Romanian horses. For this, a total of 223 animals originating from north, central, and southeast Romania, including horses from stud farms (n = 118) and working horses (n = 105), were tested using a commercial rapid ELISA-based test. Overall, 10.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7-15.1%) of the tested horses were seropositive for antibodies (Ab) against Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Additionally, 18.8% (95% CI: 13.9-24.6%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.01-2.5%) of horses were seropositive for Ab against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Ehrlichia spp., respectively. Among the tested horses, 3.1% were seroreactive to two or three pathogens. These findings show the natural exposure of Romanian horses to zoonotic tick-borne pathogens and emphasize the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.
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Kalmár Z, Dumitrache MO, D’Amico G, Matei IA, Ionică AM, Gherman CM, Lupșe M, Mihalca AD. Multiple Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Humans in Romania. Pathogens 2020; 9:E390. [PMID: 32438768 PMCID: PMC7281082 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are medically important vectors of infectious diseases that are able to transmit pathogens to humans and animals. Tick-borne diseases represent a major health concern, posing an increasing risk to the public health during the last century and affecting millions of people. The aim of the current study was to provide epidemiological data regarding the presence of certain tick-borne pathogens in ticks feeding on humans in Romania. Overall, 522 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from humans were screened for six pathogens: Borrelia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Babesia spp., Coxiella spp., Bartonella spp., and Francisella tularensis. Ticks attached to humans were collected between 2013-2015 in Cluj County, Romania. Conventional, nested and quantitative PCR were used to detect specific genetic sequences of each pathogen. For identifying the infectious agents, positive samples were sequenced. The infection prevalence was 21.07% from which 8.18% were mixed infections. The detected agents were Borrelia spp., N. mikurensis and Babesia spp. The present data reveal the endemic occurrence of potentially zoonotic pathogens in Romania. Revealing the current distribution of tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from humans may provide new insights in understanding the complex ecology of tick-borne diseases and enlightens current knowledge about the infection prevalence at local, regional and national levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Mirabela Oana Dumitrache
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Gianluca D’Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur, no. 3–5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
- “Regele Mihai I al României” Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3–5 Calea Mănăștur, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Mihaela Lupșe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu”, Iuliu Moldovan 23, 400000 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (M.O.D.); (G.D.); (I.A.M.); (A.M.I.); (C.M.G.); (A.D.M.)
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Kalmár Z, Sándor AD, Matei IA, Ionică A, D'Amico G, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. Borrelia spp. in small mammals in Romania. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:461. [PMID: 31551069 PMCID: PMC6757407 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3713-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small mammals play an important role in the life-cycle of ticks and are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens. The aim of this study was to provide epidemiological data regarding the presence of Borrelia spp. in tissues of small mammals from Romania. METHODS We examined 401 individuals belonging to 11 small mammal species collected in Romania. Collections cover the largest effort to survey these reservoirs in the country. Tissue samples were analyzed by multiplex qPCR targeting the ospA gene of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and a part of the flaB gene of B. miyamotoi. Positive samples were further analysed by conventional PCR and sequenced. RESULTS The overall prevalence of infection with Borrelia spp. in small mammal tissues was 4.9%. The most commonly detected species were B. afzelii, followed by B. garinii/B. bavariensis, B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi (s.s.). To our knowledge, we report for the first time the detection of Borrelia spp. in Crocidura leucodon and C. suaveolens, and B. miyamotoi in the liver of Myodes glareolus. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, our study evaluates for the first time the occurrence of Borrelia spp. in small mammals in Romania, contributing to a better knowledge of the distribution of these bacteria. This survey upgrades previous data on the spatial distribution of the pathogens and reveals the importance of animal surveillance regarding Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever caused by B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Attila Dávid Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,"Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Calea Mănăștur, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Calea Mănăştur, No. 3-5, 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Prevalence of Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ticks from the Ternopil Region in Ukraine. J Vet Res 2018; 62:275-280. [PMID: 30584604 PMCID: PMC6296004 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2018-0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lyme borreliosis/Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is one of the most common vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks. Material and Methods A total of 136 Ixodes ricinus ticks, collected in the Ternopil (Ukraine) region, including 126 adults (70 females and 56 males), and 10 nymphs were examined. The identification of the species and their developmental form was based on morphological characteristics. Results PCR with B5S-Bor and 23S-Bor primers resulted in Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA amplification among six ticks (4.4%). The detailed analysis based on the DNA sequencing showed the presence of DNA of Borrelia afzelii in four samples; the remaining two represented Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, although their genospecies were not determined. The research confirmed the dominance of Borrelia afzelii genospecies in the ticks from Ukraine. Conclusion It seems reasonable to undertake similar research in ticks from other regions of Ukraine. Knowledge in this field can be useful for public health and planning the prevention of tick-borne diseases.
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Sabitova Y, Fomenko N, Tikunov A, Stronin O, Khasnatinov M, Abmed D, Danchinova G, Golovljova I, Tikunova N. Multilocus sequence analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from Western Siberia, Russia and Northern Mongolia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 62:160-169. [PMID: 29660558 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2017] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequently recorded tick-transmitted disease in Eurasia. Tomsk Province, Western Siberia in Russia and Selenge Aimag in Northern Mongolia are leading regions in the LB incidence rate in these countries. Spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex isolated from Ixodes ticks from Tomsk Province (n = 56) and Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Selenge Aimag (n = 5) were genetically characterized using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), analysis of the 5S23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) amplicons, and p83/100 gene sequencing. According to MLST, B. afzelii (n = 26), B. bavariensis (n = 23), B. garinii (n = 11), and B. valaisiana (n = 1) isolates were detected in Tomsk Province, while B. afzelii and B. bavariensis isolates were identified in Selenge Aimag. Of the 32 revealed sequence types (ST), 21 STs were new and 14 of the new STs belonged to B. afzelii. Several STs of B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. valaisiana identified in this study clustered with European STs found in I. ricinus ticks. Analysis of the 5S23S IGS demonstrated that the studied Borrelia strains showed RFLP pattern characteristic for the following 5S23S IGS types: VS461 (B. afselii), NT29 (B. bavariensis), 20047 (B. bavariensis and B. garinii), VS116 (B. valaisiana), and three new groups (B. afzelii and B. bavariensis). Notably, this is the first report of Asian B. bavariensis possessing a 5S23S IGS RFLP pattern identical to 20047, and analysis of the 5S23S IGS did not provide correct determination of Borrelia species occurring in Asia. Genotyping of Borrelia strains using the clpA, pepX, and p83/100 genes demonstrated the same result as genotyping based on MLST; and further investigations are required to confirm that these three genetic loci could be used for determination of bacterial species from the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex because data based on single loci may be misleading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Sabitova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | | | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Oleg Stronin
- Federal State Unitary Company "Microgen Scientific Industrial Company for Immunobiological Medicines", Tomsk, Russian Federation
| | - Maxim Khasnatinov
- Scientific Centre of Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Federal State Public Science Institution, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Davaajav Abmed
- Ministry of Health, National Center for Communicable Diseases, Ulaanbaator, Mongolia
| | - Galina Danchinova
- Scientific Centre of Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Federal State Public Science Institution, Irkutsk, Russian Federation
| | - Irina Golovljova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation; Department of Virology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
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Europe-Wide Meta-Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Prevalence in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.00609-17. [PMID: 28550059 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00609-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks in Europe and North America. Despite having multiple tick vectors, the causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato, is vectored mainly by Ixodes ricinus in Europe. In the present study, we aimed to review and summarize the existing data published from 2010 to 2016 concerning the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes in questing I. ricinus ticks. The primary focus was to evaluate the infection rate of these bacteria in ticks, accounting for tick stage, adult tick gender, region, and detection method, as well as to investigate any changes in prevalence over time. The data obtained were compared to the findings of a previous metastudy. The literature search identified data from 23 countries, with 115,028 ticks, in total, inspected for infection with B. burgdorferi sensu lato We showed that the infection rate was significantly higher in adults than in nymphs and in females than in males. We found significant differences between European regions, with the highest infection rates in Central Europe. The most common genospecies were B. afzelii and B. garinii, despite a negative correlation of their prevalence rates. No statistically significant differences were found among the prevalence rates determined by conventional PCR, nested PCR, and real-time PCR.IMPORTANCEBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato is a pathogenic bacterium whose clinical manifestations are associated with Lyme borreliosis. This vector-borne disease is a major public health concern in Europe and North America and may lead to severe arthritic, cardiovascular, and neurological complications if left untreated. Although pathogen prevalence is considered an important predictor of infection risk, solitary isolated data have only limited value. Here we provide summarized information about the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes among host-seeking Ixodes ricinus ticks, the principal tick vector of borreliae in Europe. We compare the new results with previously published data in order to evaluate any changing trends in tick infection.
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Raileanu C, Moutailler S, Pavel I, Porea D, Mihalca AD, Savuta G, Vayssier-Taussat M. Borrelia Diversity and Co-infection with Other Tick Borne Pathogens in Ticks. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:36. [PMID: 28261565 PMCID: PMC5306127 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying Borrelia burgdorferi as the causative agent of Lyme disease in 1981 was a watershed moment in understanding the major impact that tick-borne zoonoses can have on public health worldwide, particularly in Europe and the USA. The medical importance of tick-borne diseases has long since been acknowledged, yet little is known regarding the occurrence of emerging tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”, and tick-borne encephalitis virus in questing ticks in Romania, a gateway into Europe. The objective of our study was to identify the infection and co-infection rates of different Borrelia genospecies along with other tick-borne pathogens in questing ticks collected from three geographically distinct areas in eastern Romania. We collected 557 questing adult and nymph ticks of three different species (534 Ixodes ricinus, 19 Haemaphysalis punctata, and 4 Dermacentor reticulatus) from three areas in Romania. We analyzed ticks individually for the presence of eight different Borrelia genospecies with high-throughput real-time PCR. Ticks with Borrelia were then tested for possible co-infections with A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”, and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Borrelia spp. was detected in I. ricinus ticks from all sampling areas, with global prevalence rates of 25.8%. All eight Borrelia genospecies were detected in I. ricinus ticks: Borrelia garinii (14.8%), B. afzelii (8.8%), B. valaisiana (5.1%), B. lusitaniae (4.9%), B. miyamotoi (0.9%), B. burgdorferi s.s (0.4%), and B. bissettii (0.2%). Regarding pathogen co-infection 64.5% of infected I. ricinus were positive for more than one pathogen. Associations between different Borrelia genospecies were detected in 9.7% of ticks, and 6.9% of I. ricinus ticks tested positive for co-infection of Borrelia spp. with other tick-borne pathogens. The most common association was between B. garinii and B. afzelii (4.3%), followed by B. garinii and B. lusitaniae (3.0%). The most frequent dual co-infections were between Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp., (1.3%), and between Borrelia spp. and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (1.3%). The diversity of tick-borne pathogens detected in this study and the frequency of co-infections should influence all infection risk evaluations following a tick bite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Raileanu
- INRA, UMR Bipar, INRA, Anses, ENVAMaisons-Alfort, France; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary MedicineIaşi, Romania
| | | | - Ionuţ Pavel
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iaşi, Romania
| | - Daniela Porea
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iaşi, Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gheorghe Savuta
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Iaşi, Romania
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Briciu VT, Flonta M, Ţăţulescu DF, Meyer F, Sebah D, Cârstina D, Mihalca AD, Gherman CM, Hizo-Teufel C, Huber I, Fingerle V, Lupșe M. Clinical and serological one-year follow-up of patients after the bite of Ixodes ricinus ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Infect Dis (Lond) 2016; 49:277-285. [PMID: 27866446 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2016.1258488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of developing Lyme borreliosis (LB) after the bite of a Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infected tick in Romania is unknown. METHODS The present prospective study, performed in 2010-2011 in a hospital in Romania, has followed-up clinical and serological outcome of patients that presented with B. burgdorferi positive Ixodes (I.) ricinus bite. A second group of patients, including age, sex and residence-matched individuals bitten by B. burgdorferi negative ticks, was followed-up as a control group. The subjects' outcome was evaluated one year after the tick bite. RESULTS Forty-three out of 389 ticks detached from patients were positive by hbb Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) for B. burgdorferi s.l. (mainly B. afzelii, but also B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. spielmanii/B. valaisiana and B. lusitaniae). Twenty patients bitten by B. burgdorferi positive ticks and twenty matched control patients returned for the one year follow-up. Two patients from the B. burgdorferi positive group developed clinical manifestations of acute LB (erythema migrans) and 5 patients seroconverted (two from the B. burgdorferi positive group and three from the B. burgdorferi negative group). Borrelia afzelii was identified in ticks collected from persons that developed erythema migrans (EM). Comparing the two groups of patients, no statistical significant differences were found regarding presence of clinical symptoms or seroconversion. CONCLUSIONS No outcome differences were found between the group of patients bitten by B. burgdorferi positive ticks and the group of patients bitten by B. burgdorferi negative ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta T Briciu
- a Department of Infectious Diseases , Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,b Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,c Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,d National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Mirela Flonta
- b Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Doina F Ţăţulescu
- a Department of Infectious Diseases , Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,b Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Fabian Meyer
- e Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Daniela Sebah
- e Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Dumitru Cârstina
- a Department of Infectious Diseases , Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- c Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Călin M Gherman
- c Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Cecilia Hizo-Teufel
- d National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Ingrid Huber
- e Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- d National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority , Oberschleißheim , Germany
| | - Mihaela Lupșe
- a Department of Infectious Diseases , Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,b Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
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Zaharia M, Popescu CP, Florescu SA, Ceausu E, Raoult D, Parola P, Socolovschi C. Rickettsia massiliae infection and SENLAT syndrome in Romania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:759-762. [PMID: 27034192 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this prospective study is to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of rickettsioses in Romania, where only Rickettsia conorii is known by clinicians but new Rickettsia species have been identified recently in ticks. A total of eight patients, including a nine-year-old child, were included between June 2011 and June 2012, in the Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania. Seven cases presented during summer months and one in spring. Six patients presented a generalized rash with fever, myalgia and skin eschar. The last two patients presented a typical SENLAT syndrome, characterized by scalp eschar and neck lymphadenopathy. Using serological tools, we confirmed for the first time two cases of Rickettsia massiliae, the agent of spotted fever disease, and one case of Rickettsia slovaca, and one case of R. slovacaRickettsia raoultii the agents of SENLAT syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Zaharia
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Corneliu Petru Popescu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Simin Aysel Florescu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Emanoil Ceausu
- Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Bucharest, Romania; Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania, Romania
| | - Didier Raoult
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, 13005 Marseille, France.
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Shemshad M, Shemshad K, Sedaghat MM, Shokri M, Barmaki A, Baniardalani M, Rafinejad J. First survey of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle, sheep and goats in Boeen Zahra and Takistan counties, Iran. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2015; 2:489-92. [PMID: 23569956 DOI: 10.1016/s2221-1691(12)60082-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To carry out the distribution survey of hard ticks of livestock in Boeen Zahra and Takistan counties of Qazvin province from April 2010 to September 2010. METHODS Nearly about 2 638 sheep, 461 goats and 318 cattle of 38 herds in different geographical areas were searched for tick infestation. RESULTS The species compositions collected from the livestock of Boeen Zahra and Takistan were Haemaphysalis concinna (0.63%), Haemaphysalis sulcata (12.66%), Hyalomma anatolicum (3.80%), Hyalomma asiaticum (3.16%), Hyalomma detritum (5.70%), Hyalomma dromedarii (28.48%), Hyalomma marginatum (13.29%), Hyalomma schulzei (1.89%), Rhipicephalus bursa (3.16%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (3.16%), and for Takistan's livestock were Hyalomma dromedarii (9.86%), Hyalomma marginatum (13.29%), Hyalomma schulzei (1.89%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (3.16%), respectively. Hard ticks compositions in different topographic areas were different. Hyalomma species had the most prevalence in the areas. CONCLUSIONS The veterinary and public health investigation of the above species should be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoomeh Shemshad
- Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Briciu VT, Meyer F, Sebah D, Tăţulescu DF, Coroiu G, Lupşe M, Carstina D, Mihalca AD, Hizo-Teufel C, Klier C, Huber I, Fingerle V. Real-time PCR-based identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in ticks collected from humans in Romania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:575-81. [PMID: 24986749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aims of our study were to determine (i) which tick species bite humans in Romania and (ii) the prevalence of Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi genospecies in these ticks. All ticks collected from patients who presented to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases Cluj Napoca in spring/summer 2010 were morphologically identified by an entomologist and tested for B. burgdorferi genospecies prevalence by a real-time PCR assay targeting the hbb gene and melting curve analysis. Out of 532 ticks, 518 were Ixodes ricinus, 10 Dermacentor marginatus, and 3 Haemaphysalis spp. ticks, and one unidentified tick due to destruction. Since evaluation of the hbb PCR revealed that it was not possible to differentiate between B. spielmanii/B. valaisiana and B. garinii/B. bavariensis, sequencing of an 800-bp fragment of the ospA gene was performed in these cases. Out of 389 investigated ticks, 43 were positive by hbb PCR for B. burgdorferi sensu lato. The positive samples were 42 Ixodes ricinus (11.1% B. burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence) and the one unidentified tick. Species identification revealed the presence of mainly B. afzelii, but also of B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. valaisiana, and B. lusitaniae. In 4 samples, differentiation between B. spielmanii/B. valaisiana was impossible. Our study shows that the most relevant human pathogenic B. burgdorferi genospecies - predominantly B. afzelii - are present in ticks collected from Romanian patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta T Briciu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania; Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania; National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Meyer
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Daniela Sebah
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Doina F Tăţulescu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Georgiana Coroiu
- Department of Pathology, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihaela Lupşe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Dumitru Carstina
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Iuliu Hatieganu", Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Hizo-Teufel
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Christiane Klier
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Ingrid Huber
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
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Serological and Clinical one year follow-up of Patients with Erythema migrans treated in a Romanian Infectious Disease Hospital. REV ROMANA MED LAB 2014. [DOI: 10.2478/rrlm-2014-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Serological, clinical and epidemiological aspects of Lyme borreliosis in Mures County, Romania. REV ROMANA MED LAB 2014. [DOI: 10.2478/rrlm-2014-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Ionita M, Mitrea IL, Pfister K, Hamel D, Silaghi C. Molecular evidence for bacterial and protozoan pathogens in hard ticks from Romania. Vet Parasitol 2013; 196:71-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Kalmár Z, Mihalca AD, Dumitrache MO, Gherman CM, Magdaş C, Mircean V, Oltean M, Domşa C, Matei IA, Mărcuţan DI, Sándor AD, D'Amico G, Paştiu A, Györke A, Gavrea R, Marosi B, Ionică A, Burkhardt E, Toriay H, Cozma V. Geographical distribution and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies in questing Ixodes ricinus from Romania: a countrywide study. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:403-8. [PMID: 23890805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The paper reports the prevalence and geographical distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and its genospecies in 12,221 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks collected at 183 locations from all the 41 counties of Romania. The unfed ticks were examined for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. by PCR targeting the intergenic spacer 5S-23S. Reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were performed for identification of B. burgdorferi genospecies. The overall prevalence of infection was 1.4%, with an average local prevalence between 0.75% and 18.8%. B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in ticks of 55 of the 183 localities. The overall prevalence B. burgdorferi s.l. in ticks in the infected localities was 3.8%. The total infection prevalence was higher in female ticks than in other developmental stages. Three Borrelia genospecies were detected. The most widely distributed genospecies was B. afzelii, followed by B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.). The study is the first countrywide study and the first report of B. burgdorferi s.s. in Romania. The distribution maps show that higher prevalences were recorded in hilly areas, but Lyme borreliosis spirochetes were also present in forested lowlands, albeit with a lower prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Paduraru OA, Buffet JP, Cote M, Bonnet S, Moutailler S, Paduraru V, Femenia F, Eloit M, Savuta G, Vayssier-Taussat M. Zoonotic transmission of pathogens by Ixodes ricinus ticks, Romania. Emerg Infect Dis 2013; 18:2089-90. [PMID: 23171510 PMCID: PMC3557884 DOI: 10.3201/eid1812.120711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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20
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Socolovschi C, Reynaud P, Kernif T, Raoult D, Parola P. Rickettsiae of spotted fever group, Borrelia valaisiana, and Coxiella burnetii in ticks on passerine birds and mammals from the Camargue in the south of France. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012; 3:355-60. [PMID: 23141104 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that have a limited mobility, but can be transported over large geographical distances by wild and domestic mammals and birds. In this study, we analyze the presence of emerging zoonotic bacteria in ticks collected from passerine birds and mammals present in the Camargue, in the south of France, which is a major rallying point for birds migrating from Eurasia and Africa. The presence of Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Bartonella was examined by real-time PCR on DNA samples extracted from 118 ticks. Rickettsia massiliae was detected in ticks from Passer domesticus, Ri. aeschlimannii in ticks from Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Luscinia megarhynchos, and Borrelia valaisiana in one tick from Turdus merula. In addition, Ri. massiliae, Ri. slovaca, Candidatus Ri. barbariae, and C. burnetii were detected in ticks from dogs, horses, cats, and humans. No Bartonella DNA was detected in these samples. The migratory birds may play a role in the transmission of infectious diseases and contribute to the geographic distribution of Ri. aeschlimannii, Bo. valaisiana, and C. burnetii. The role of birds in spreading Rh. sanguineus ticks infected with Ri. massiliae needs to be clarified by complementary studies. This is the first detection of Candidatus Ri. barbariae in Rh. sanguineus from the south of France.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Socolovschi
- Aix Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche en Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE), UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, WHO Collaborative Center for Rickettsioses and Other Arthropod Borne Bacterial Diseases, 27 bd Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille cedex 5, France
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Mihalca AD, Gherman CM, Magdaş C, Dumitrache MO, Györke A, Sándor AD, Domşa C, Oltean M, Mircean V, Mărcuţan DI, D'Amico G, Păduraru AO, Cozma V. Ixodes ricinus is the dominant questing tick in forest habitats in Romania: the results from a countrywide dragging campaign. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2012; 58:175-182. [PMID: 22547023 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9568-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In 2010 and 2011, questing ticks were collected from 188 forested locations in all the 41 counties of Romania using the dragging method. The total of 13,771 ticks collected belonged to eleven species: Ixodes ricinus (86.9 %), Dermacentor marginatus (9.5 %), Haemaphysalis punctata (2.6 %), H. concinna (0.6 %), H. sulcata (0.3 %), H. parva (0.1 %), Hyalomma marginatum (0.02 %), D. reticulatus (0.02 %), I. crenulatus (0.007 %), I. hexagonus (0.007 %) and I. laguri (0.007 %). Ixodes ricinus was present in 97.7 % (n = 180) of locations, occurring exclusively in 41.7 % of the locations, whereas it was the dominant species in 38.8 % of the other locations, accounting for over 70 % of the total tick community. The following most common questing ticks were D. marginatus, H. punctata and H. concinna. Ixodes ricinus co-occurred with one, two or three sympatric species. The occurrence of D. reticulatus in forested habitats from Romania was found to be accidental.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Mihalca AD, Dumitrache MO, Magdaş C, Gherman CM, Domşa C, Mircean V, Ghira IV, Pocora V, Ionescu DT, Sikó Barabási S, Cozma V, Sándor AD. Synopsis of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Romania with update on host associations and geographical distribution. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2012; 58:183-206. [PMID: 22544174 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-012-9566-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The current paper is a synoptic review of the distribution and host associations of the 25 species of hard tick fauna (family Ixodidae) in Romania. In addition to a full literature survey, original data is presented, based on eight years of occasional or targeted sample collection. The literature data on geographical distribution was transposed digitally to the decimal degree coordinate system. For each species, an updated distribution map is given together with all historical data and new host associations. Overall, our paper records 58 new tick-host associations for Romania: 20 for Ixodes ricinus, 1 for I. apronophorus, 6 for I. arboricola, 2 for I. hexagonus, 9 for I. redikorzevi, 1 for I. trianguliceps, 2 for I. vespertilionis, 2 for Haemaphysalis punctata, 1 for H. sulcata, 2 for H. concinna, 1 for D. marginatus, 4 for Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, 1 for R. bursa and 6 for Hyalomma marginatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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