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Dwużnik-Szarek D, Beliniak A, Malaszewicz W, Krauze-Gryz D, Gryz J, Jasińska KD, Wężyk D, Bajer A. Pathogens detected in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) feeding on red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from city parks in Warsaw. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 93:677-699. [PMID: 39249583 PMCID: PMC11464548 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The European red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a common host for Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban and rural habitats, however, studies on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of squirrels have not been conducted in Poland yet. Thus, the aims of the current study were to assess and compare the prevalence and abundance of ticks on red squirrels trapped at two sites in the Warsaw area (in an urban forest reserve and an urban park) and using molecular tools, to assess the genetic diversity of three pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia and Babesia spp.) in I. ricinus ticks collected from squirrels. For the detection of Rickettsia spp. a 750 bp long fragment of the citrate synthase gltA gene was amplified; for B. burgdorferi s.l. 132f/905r and 220f/824r primers were used to amplify the bacterial flaB gene fragments (774 and 605 bp, respectively) and for Babesia spp., a 550 bpfragment of 18S rRNA gene was amplified. In total, 91 red squirrels were examined for ticks. There were differences in tick prevalence and mean abundance of infestation in squirrels from the urban forest reserve and urban park. Three species of B. burgdorferi s.l., Rickettsia spp., and Babesia microti were detected in ticks removed from the squirrels. Our results broaden knowledge of S. vulgaris as an important host for immature I. ricinus stages and support the hypothesis that red squirrels act as a reservoir of B. burgdorferi. Moreover, we conclude that red squirrels may also play a role in facilitating the circulation of other pathogens causing serious risk of tick-borne diseases in natural and urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland.
| | - Agata Beliniak
- Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Malaszewicz
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Dagny Krauze-Gryz
- Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland
| | - Jakub Gryz
- Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Braci Leśnej 3, Raszyn, 05-090, Poland
| | - Karolina D Jasińska
- Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences WULS-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw, 02-776, Poland
| | - Dagmara Wężyk
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, Warsaw, 02-096, Poland
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Han X, Zhao S, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Zhao G, Zhang C, Tang L, Cui L, Wang Y. Bartonella, Blechomonas and Trypanosoma in fleas from the long-tailed ground squirrel ( Spermophilus undulatus) in northwestern China. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 24:100958. [PMID: 39040597 PMCID: PMC11261052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Fleas are known to be vectors for a variety of pathogens in veterinary medicine. However, no information is available on the presence of Bartonella and Trypanosomatidae in fleas of the long-tailed ground squirrel (LTGR, Spermophilus undulatus). The present study shows detection of these pathogens in LTGR fleas. During 2022-2023, a total of 396 fleas were collected from 91 LTGRs in 4 alpine regions of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (northwestern China) and grouped into 54 flea pools. Flea species were identified according to morphological characteristics and molecular data. In addition, all flea samples were analyzed for Bartonella with amplification and sequencing of a 380-bp part of the gltA gene and Trypanosomatidae with targeting the 18S rRNA (850-bp) and gGAPDH (820-bp) genes. The flea species included Frontopsylla elatoides elatoides (203), Neopsylla mana (49), and Citellophilus tesquorum dzetysuensis (144). Of 54 flea pools, seven (12.96%) tested positive for Bartonella, and three (5.56%) were positive for Trypanosomatidae. Based on BLASTn and phylogenetic analyses, i) Bartonella washoensis in F. elatoides elatoides and C. tesquorum dzetysuensis, and Bartonella rochalimae in F. elatoides elatoides were identified. Interestingly, a new haplotype within the species Ba. washoensis was discovered in C. tesquorum dzetysuensis; and ii) Blechomonas luni was confirmed in C. tesquorum dzetysuensis and Trypanosoma otospermophili in F. elatoides elatoides. Two Bartonella species and two Trypanosomatidae members were discovered for the first time in fleas from LTGRs. This study broadens our understanding of the geographic distribution and potential vectors for Bartonella and Trypanosomatidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuang Han
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziheng Liu
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujiang Zhang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Zhao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Vector-borne Infectious Diseases, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunju Zhang
- Tumushuk City Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Qianhai East Street, Tumushuk City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 843806, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Tang
- Bayingol Vocational and Technical College, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Cui
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanzhi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Public Health Security, the XPCC, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Central Asia High Incidence Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, Shihezi City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 832002, People's Republic of China
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Colombo VC, Antoniazzi LR, Cicuttin GL, De Salvo MN, Beldomenico PM, Monje LD. Cattle Farming and Plantation Forest are Associated with Bartonella Occurrence in Wild Rodents. ECOHEALTH 2023; 20:381-389. [PMID: 38194169 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-023-01671-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Bartonella spp. are intracellular hemotropic bacteria primarily transmitted by arthropod vectors to various mammalian hosts, including humans. In this study, we conducted a survey on wild populations of sigmodontine rodents, Akodon azarae and Oxymycterus rufus, inhabiting the Paraná River delta region. The study involved eight grids organized in a crossed 2 × 2 design, where four of the grids were exposed to cattle while the other four were not, and four grids were located in implanted forest while the remaining four were in natural grasslands. Our objective was to examine whether the occurrence of Bartonella spp. in rodents was associated with silvopastoral activities (cattle raising associated with timber production) conducted in the region. Additionally, we evaluated the associations between Bartonella infection and other environmental and host factors. We present compelling evidence of a significant positive association between Bartonella prevalence and the presence of implanted forests and cattle. Furthermore, we identified the presence of a Bartonella genotype related to the pathogen Bartonella rochalimaea, infecting both A. azarae and Ox. rufus. These findings suggest that anthropogenic land-use changes, particularly the development of silvopastoral practices in the region, may disrupt the dynamics of Bartonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria C Colombo
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Leandro R Antoniazzi
- Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO), Universidad Nacional de Salta - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas Y Técnicas (UNSa-CONICET), Salta, Argentina
| | - Gabriel L Cicuttin
- Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María N De Salvo
- Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo M Beldomenico
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UNL, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Lucas D Monje
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.
- Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, UNL, Santa Fe, Santa Fe, Argentina.
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First Molecular Detection of Bartonella bovis and Bartonella schoenbuchensis in European Bison ( Bison bonasus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010121. [PMID: 36611730 PMCID: PMC9817727 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella bacteria infect the erythrocytes and endothelial cells of mammalians. The spread of the Bartonella infection occurs mainly via bloodsucking arthropod vectors. Studies on Bartonella infection in European bison, the largest wild ruminant in Europe, are lacking. They are needed to clarify their role in the maintenance and transmission of Bartonella spp. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of the Bartonella pathogen in European bison and their ticks in Lithuania. A total of 38 spleen samples from bison and 258 ticks belonging to the Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus species were examined. The bison and tick samples were subjected to ssrA, 16S-23S rRNA ITS, gltA, and rpoB partial gene fragment amplification using various variants of PCR. Bartonella DNA was detected in 7.9% of the tissue samples of European bison. All tick samples were negative for Bartonella spp. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S-23S rRNA ITS, gltA, and rpoB partial gene fragment revealed that European bison were infected by B. bovis (2.6%) and B. schoenbuchensis (5.3%). This is the first report addressing the occurrence of B. bovis and B. schoenbuchensis in European bison in Europe.
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Franchini M, Mazza G, Mori E. First assessment of ectoparasite prevalence in Apennine populations of Eurasian red squirrel: does habitat fragmentation affect parasite presence? ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2021.1967458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Franchini
- Department of Agri-Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio 2/A, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mazza
- CREA Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification (CREA-DC), Via Lanciola 12/a, Firenze 50125, Italy
| | - Emiliano Mori
- National Research Council, Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, Via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) 50019, Italy
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Ni J, Ren Q, Lin H, Aizezi M, Luo J, Luo Y, Ma Z, Chen Z, Liu W, Guo J, Qu Z, Xu X, Wu Z, Tan Y, Wang J, Li Y, Guan G, Luo J, Yin H, Liu G. Molecular Evidence of Bartonella melophagi in Ticks in Border Areas of Xinjiang, China. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:675457. [PMID: 34239911 PMCID: PMC8258404 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.675457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella are gram-negative intracellular bacteria; certain species of Bartonella can cause diseases in mammals and humans. Ticks play a major role in the transmission of Bartonella. Xinjiang is the largest province in China according to land area and has one-third of the tick species in China; the infection rate of Bartonella in ticks in the Xinjiang border areas has not been studied in detail. Therefore, this study investigated tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang border areas, and the purpose of the study was to fill in gaps in information regarding the genetic diversity of tick infections by Bartonella in Xinjiang. We tested 1,549 tick samples from domestic animals (sheep and cattle) for Bartonella using ribC-PCR. Positive samples from the ribC-PCR assay for Bartonella spp. were further subjected to PCR assays targeting the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes followed by phylogenetic analyses. Bartonella DNA was detected in 2.19% (34/1,549) of tick samples, and the ITS, rpoB and gltA genes of ribC gene-positive samples were amplified to identify nine samples of Bartonella melophagi. In this study, molecular analysis was used to assess the presence and genetic diversity of B. melophagi in ticks collected from sheep and cattle from Xinjiang, China. This study provides new information on the presence and identity of B. melophagi in ticks from sheep and cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiaoyun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hanliang Lin
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Malike Aizezi
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Jin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Zhan Ma
- Animal Health Supervision Institute of Xinjiang, Ürümqi, China
| | - Ze Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenge Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhui Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zegong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yangchun Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Youquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guiquan Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonose, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guangyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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Hedgehogs and Squirrels as Hosts of Zoonotic Bartonella Species. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060686. [PMID: 34205901 PMCID: PMC8229113 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Free-living animals frequently play a key role in the circulation of various zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. Bacteria of the genus Bartonella are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods and infect a large range of mammals. Although only several species have been identified as causative agents of human disease, it has been proposed that any Bartonella species found in animals may be capable of infecting humans. Within a wide-ranging survey in various geographical regions of the Czech Republic, cadavers of accidentally killed synurbic mammalian species, namely Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), were sampled and tested for Bartonella presence using multiple PCR reaction approach targeting several DNA loci. We demonstrate that cadavers constitute an available and highly useful source of biological material for pathogen screening. High infection rates of Bartonella spp., ranging from 24% to 76%, were confirmed for all three tested mammalian species, and spleen, ear, lung and liver tissues were demonstrated as the most suitable for Bartonella DNA detection. The wide spectrum of Bartonella spp. that were identified includes three species with previously validated zoonotic potential, B. grahamii, B. melophagi and B. washoensis, accompanied by ‘Candidatus B. rudakovii’ and two putative novel species, Bartonella sp. ERIN and Bartonella sp. SCIER.
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Luu L, Palomar AM, Farrington G, Schilling AK, Premchand-Branker S, McGarry J, Makepeace BL, Meredith A, Bell-Sakyi L. Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10040458. [PMID: 33920445 PMCID: PMC8070177 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are native to most of Eurasia; in much of the United Kingdom, they have been supplanted by the non-native grey squirrel, and are considered an endangered species. Very little is known about the range of tick-borne pathogens to which UK red squirrels are exposed. As part of trap-and-release surveys examining prevalence of Mycobacterium spp. in red squirrel populations on two UK islands, Ixodes ricinus ticks were removed from squirrels and PCR screened for Borrelia spp., intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria and the parasitic wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri. At both sites, the most commonly encountered tick-transmitted bacterium was Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (overall minimum prevalence 12.7%), followed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum (overall minimum prevalence 1.6%). Single ticks infected with Spiroplasma were found at both sites, and single ticks infected with Borrelia miyamotoi or an Ehrlichia sp. at one site. Ticks harbouring Wolbachia (overall minimum prevalence 15.2%) were all positive for I. hookeri. Our study shows that UK red squirrels are potentially exposed to a variety of bacterial pathogens via feeding ticks. The effects on the health and survival of this already vulnerable wildlife species are unknown, and further studies are needed to evaluate the threat posed to red squirrels by Borrelia and other tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Luu
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (L.L.); (G.F.); (J.M.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Ana M. Palomar
- Centre of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, 26006 Logroño, Spain;
| | - Gemma Farrington
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (L.L.); (G.F.); (J.M.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Anna-Katarina Schilling
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK; (A.-K.S.); (A.M.)
| | - Shonnette Premchand-Branker
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, UK;
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK
| | - John McGarry
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (L.L.); (G.F.); (J.M.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Benjamin L. Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (L.L.); (G.F.); (J.M.); (B.L.M.)
| | - Anna Meredith
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK; (A.-K.S.); (A.M.)
- Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RF, UK; (L.L.); (G.F.); (J.M.); (B.L.M.)
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Surrey GU24 0NF, UK
- Correspondence:
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