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Chitimia-Dobler L, Springer A, Lang D, Lindau A, Fachet K, Dobler G, Nijhof AM, Strube C, Mackenstedt U. Molting incidents of Hyalomma spp. carrying human pathogens in Germany under different weather conditions. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:70. [PMID: 38374119 PMCID: PMC10877930 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06175-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hyalomma marginatum and H. rufipes are two-host tick species, which are mainly distributed in southern Europe, Africa to central Asia but may also be found in Central and Northern Europe through introduction by migratory birds. METHODS Ticks were collected while feeding or crawling on animals and humans, or from the environment, in different regions in Germany, between 2019 and 2021 in a citizen science study and from 2022 to 2023 in the wake of this study. RESULTS From 2019 to 2023, a total of 212 Hyalomma adult ticks were detected in Germany. This included 132 H. marginatum and 43 H. rufipes ticks sent to research institutions and 37 photographic records that were only identified to genus level. The number of detected ticks varied over the years, with the highest number of 119 specimens recorded in 2019, followed by 57 in 2020. Most of the specimens were collected from horses, while some were collected from other animals, humans or found crawling on human clothes or other objects inside or outside houses. The screening of 175 specimens for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and of 132 specimens for Babesia/Theileria spp. by PCR gave negative results, while human-pathogenic Rickettsia were detected in 44% (77/175) of the total samples. Subsequent amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of representative samples determined the species of 41 Rickettsia aeschlimannii and one R. slovaca sequences. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of climatic factors indicated a significantly higher probability of Hyalomma occurrence at locations with higher average spring temperature during the years 2019 and 2020 compared to randomly generated pseudo-absence locations. Dry and hot conditions probably facilitated Hyalomma nymphs' survival and molting into adults during these years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany.
- Fraunhofer Institute of Immunology, Infection and Pandemic Research, Penzberg, Germany.
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Daniel Lang
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Lindau
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katrin Fachet
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ard M Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 7, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-Von-Ostertag-Str. 8, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Strasse 34, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
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Valcárcel F, Elhachimi L, Vilá M, Tomassone L, Sánchez M, Selles SMA, Kouidri M, González MG, Martín-Hernández R, Valcárcel Á, Fernández N, Tercero JM, Sanchis J, Bellido-Blasco J, González-Coloma A, Olmeda AS. Emerging Hyalomma lusitanicum: From identification to vectorial role and integrated control. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:425-459. [PMID: 37144688 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In the Mediterranean basin, the tick species Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch stands out among other species of the Hyalomma genus due to its wide distribution, and there is great concern about its potential role as a vector and/or reservoir and its continuous expansion to new areas because of climate warming and human and other animal movements. This review aims to consolidate all the information on H. lusitanicum, including taxonomy and evolution, morphological and molecular identification, life cycle, sampling methods, rearing under laboratory conditions, ecology, hosts, geographical distribution, seasonality, vector role and control methods. The availability of adequate data is extremely relevant to the development of appropriate control strategies in areas where this tick is currently distributed as well as in new areas where it could become established in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - L Elhachimi
- Département de parasitologie et de Santé Publique, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco
| | - M Vilá
- Grupo de Investigación COPAR (GI-2120; USC), Departamento de Patoloxia Animal, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - L Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - M Sánchez
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - S M A Selles
- Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
- Laboratory of Research on Local Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M Kouidri
- Laboratory of Farm Animal Products, University of Tiaret, Tiaret, Algeria
| | - M G González
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - R Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF-Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Marchamalo, 19180, Spain. Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-ESF/EC-FSE), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Á Valcárcel
- Lokimica S.L., c/ Valdemorillo, Madrid, Spain
- Veterinary Pathobiology section, University College Dublín, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - N Fernández
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio (UAX), Madrid, Spain
| | - J M Tercero
- Villamagna S.A., Finca "La Garganta", Villanueva de Córdoba, Spain
| | - J Sanchis
- Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República, Uruguay
| | - J Bellido-Blasco
- Sección de Epidemiología, Centro de Salud Pública de Castelló, CIBER-ESP. Universitat Jaume I (UJI), Castelló, Spain
| | | | - A S Olmeda
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, Madrid, Spain
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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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Yang X, Zhao Y, Chuai X, Cao Q, Meng H, Liu J, Chen Z. The life cycle of Hyalomma scupense (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102019. [PMID: 35963189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The life cycle of Hyalomma scupense on rabbit hosts was investigated under laboratory conditions. Hy. scupense exhibited one- and two-host life cycles of 163.2 and 161.4 days, respectively. The incubation of eggs required an average period of 52 days, which was the longest period among the four developmental stages. The average time for pre-feeding of larvae was 3.5 days. It took 20 days for larvae to become engorged nymphs and 52.3 days to become engorged females. The duration of the pre-feeding, feeding, pre-oviposition, and oviposition stages of female adults was 2.3, 13.5, 27.5, and 27.9 days, respectively. The average weight of engorged females was 390.0 mg (ranging from 129.3 mg to 828.6 mg), which was 28.95 times the weight of unfed females. There was a positive relationship between the weight and the number of eggs laid by engorged females (r = 0.927). The reproductive efficiency index (REI) was 8.63.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, China.
| | - Yuqi Zhao
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Xia Chuai
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Qiao Cao
- Shijiazhuang Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050041, China
| | - Hao Meng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Jiaze Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050017, China
| | - Ze Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, China.
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Bernard C, Holzmuller P, Bah MT, Bastien M, Combes B, Jori F, Grosbois V, Vial L. Systematic Review on Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Enzootic Cycle and Factors Favoring Virus Transmission: Special Focus on France, an Apparently Free-Disease Area in Europe. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:932304. [PMID: 35928117 PMCID: PMC9343853 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.932304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic disease resulting in hemorrhagic syndrome in humans. Its causative agent is naturally transmitted by ticks to non-human vertebrate hosts within an enzootic sylvatic cycle. Ticks are considered biological vectors, as well as reservoirs for CCHF virus (CCHFV), as they are able to maintain the virus for several months or even years and to transmit CCHFV to other ticks. Although animals are not symptomatic, some of them can sufficiently replicate the virus, becoming a source of infection for ticks as well as humans through direct contact with contaminated body fluids. The recent emergence of CCHF in Spain indicates that tick–human interaction rates promoting virus transmission are changing and lead to the emergence of CCHF. In other European countries such as France, the presence of one of its main tick vectors and the detection of antibodies targeting CCHFV in animals, at least in Corsica and in the absence of human cases, suggest that CCHFV could be spreading silently. In this review, we study the CCHFV epidemiological cycle as hypothesized in the French local context and select the most likely parameters that may influence virus transmission among tick vectors and non-human vertebrate hosts. For this, a total of 1,035 articles dating from 1957 to 2021 were selected for data extraction. This study made it possible to identify the tick species that seem to be the best candidate vectors of CCHFV in France, but also to highlight the importance of the abundance and composition of local host communities on vectors' infection prevalence. Regarding the presumed transmission cycle involving Hyalomma marginatum, as it might exist in France, at least in Corsica, it is assumed that tick vectors are still weakly infected and the probability of disease emergence in humans remains low. The likelihood of factors that may modify this equilibrium is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Bernard
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- French Establishment for Fighting Zoonoses (ELIZ), Malzéville, France
- *Correspondence: Célia Bernard
| | - Philippe Holzmuller
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Madiou Thierno Bah
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Matthieu Bastien
- French Establishment for Fighting Zoonoses (ELIZ), Malzéville, France
| | - Benoit Combes
- French Establishment for Fighting Zoonoses (ELIZ), Malzéville, France
| | - Ferran Jori
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Vladimir Grosbois
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurence Vial
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
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Acaricidal Potential and Ecotoxicity of Metallic Nano-Pesticides Used against the Major Life Stages of Hyalomma Ticks. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12070977. [PMID: 35888067 PMCID: PMC9318680 DOI: 10.3390/life12070977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are blood-feeding parasites capable of transmitting diseases to animals (Piroplasmosis) and humans (Congo fever, Lyme disease). The non-judicious use of chemical acaricides has led to the development of acaricide-resistant ticks, making the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases difficult. This study reports the efficacy of magnesium oxide (MgO), iron oxide (Fe2O3), and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) as alternatives to traditional acaricides/pesticides using in vitro tests against major representative stages of Hyalomma ticks. Nanopesticides were chemically synthesized as rods (Fe2O3), stars (ZnO), and spheres (MgO) and were characterized by XRD and SEM analysis. The in vitro bioassays included adult immersion, larval immersion, and larval packet tests. Non-target effects of the nanopesticides were evaluated using snails. The LC90 values of Fe2O3 NPs (4.21, 2.83, 0.89 mg/L) were lowest followed by MgO (4.27, 2.91, 0.93 mg/L) and ZnO (4.49, 3.05, 0.69 mg/L), for the tick adult, larval and egg stages, respectively. Fe2O3 NPs were capable of arresting oviposition and larval hatching in the study ticks in vitro. The snail toxicity experiments revealed minimum to mild off-target effects for all nanopesticides tested. This study is the first to report the comparative efficacy of magnesium, iron, and zinc nanomaterials for toxicity in egg, adult and larval stages of Hyalomma ticks. Further studies of NPs on establishing the efficacy against ticks and safety at host-human-environment interface could lead to promising nanopesticde applications.
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