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Veinović G, Sukara R, Mihaljica D, Penezić A, Ćirović D, Tomanović S. The Occurrence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Small Mammals from Serbia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:285-292. [PMID: 38346321 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0088] [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] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite abundance of small mammals in Serbia, there is no information on their role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This retrospective study aimed to identify different tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in small mammals in Serbia collected during 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 179 small mammals were collected from seven different localities in Serbia. The five localities belong to the capital city of Serbia-Belgrade: recreational areas-Ada Ciganlija, Titov gaj, and Košutnjak as well as mountainous suburban areas used for hiking-Avala and Kosmaj. The locality Veliko Gradište is a tourist place in northeastern Serbia, whereas the locality Milošev Do is a remote area in western Serbia with minor human impact on the environment. Results: The results of the presented retrospective study are the first findings of Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia microti, Hepatozoon canis, and Coxiella burnetii in small mammals in Serbia. The presence of R. helvetica was confirmed in two Apodemus flavicollis, the presence of one of the following pathogens, R. monacensis, B. afzelii, H. canis, Ba. microti, and N. mikurensis was confirmed in one A. flavicollis each, whereas the presence of B. miyamotoi was confirmed in one Apodemus agrarius. Coinfection with B. afzelii and Ba. microti was confirmed in one A. flavicollis. DNA of C. burnetii was detected in 3 of 18 pools. Conclusions: The results confirm that detected pathogens circulate in the sylvatic cycle in Serbia and point to small mammals as potential reservoir hosts for the detected TBPs. Further large-scale studies on contemporary samples are needed to clarify the exact role of particular small mammal species in the epidemiology of TBDs caused by the detected pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorana Veinović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ratko Sukara
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Snežana Tomanović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Lipatova I, Černevičienė D, Griciuvienė L, Ražanskė I, Aleksandravičienė A, Kibiša A, Radzijevskaja J, Olech W, Anusz K, Didkowska A, Paulauskas A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in European bison (Bison bonasus) and their ticks from Lithuania and Poland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102246. [PMID: 37639831 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102246] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The increasing population of European bison (Bison bonasus) can contribute to the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens. The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of A. phagocytophilum infection in European bison tissues as well as ticks removed from European bison in Lithuania and Poland. A further objective of this work was to compare the detected A. phagocytophilum strains. A total of 85 tissue samples (spleen) of European bison and 560 ticks belonging to two species, Ixodes ricinus (n = 408) and Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 152) were tested. DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected based on RT-PCR in 40% of the European bison samples, 8.8% of the I. ricinus and 5.9% of the D. reticulatus ticks. Analysis of the obtained partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of A. phagocytophilum revealed the presence of three variants with two polymorphic sites. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis with partial msp4 gene sequences grouped A. phagocytophilum variants into three clusters. This study revealed that the groEL gene sequences of A. phagocytophilum from European bison and their ticks grouped into ecotype I and only one sequence from Lithuanian European bison belonged to ecotype II. The results of the present study indicated that European bison may play a role as a natural reservoir of A. phagocytophilum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrė Lipatova
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania.
| | - Dalia Černevičienė
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
| | - Loreta Griciuvienė
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
| | - Irma Ražanskė
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
| | | | - Artūras Kibiša
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio 58, Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
| | - Wanda Olech
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Anusz
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Didkowska
- Department of Food Hygiene and Public Health Protection, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
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Lesiczka PM, Myśliwy I, Buńkowska-Gawlik K, Modrý D, Hrazdilová K, Hildebrand J, Perec-Matysiak A. Circulation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum among invasive and native carnivore species living in sympatry in Poland. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:368. [PMID: 37853498 PMCID: PMC10583402 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasma phagocytophilum is characterized by a worldwide distribution and distinguished from other Anaplasmataceae by the broadest range of mammalian hosts and high genetic diversity. The role carnivores play in the life cycle of A. phagocytophilum in Europe is uncertain. Currently, only the red fox is considered a suitable reservoir host. In this study, we focused on native and invasive medium-sized carnivore species that live in sympatry and represent the most abundant species of wild carnivores in Poland. METHODS A total of 275 individual spleen samples from six carnivore species (Vulpes vulpes, Meles meles, Procyon lotor, Nyctereutes procyonoides and Martes spp.) were screened combining nested PCR and sequencing for A. phagocytophilum targeting a partial groEL gene with subsequent phylogenetic analysis inferred by the maximum likelihood method. RESULTS The DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 16 of 275 individuals (5.8%). Eight unique genetic variants of A. phagocytophilum were obtained. All detected haplotypes clustered in the clade representing European ecotype I. Three variants belonged to the subclade with European human cases together with strains from dogs, foxes, cats, and wild boars. CONCLUSIONS While carnivores might have a restricted role in the dissemination of A. phagocytophilum due to their relatively low to moderate infection rates, they hold significance as hosts for ticks. Consequently, they could contribute to the transmission of tick-borne infections to humans indirectly, primarily through tick infection. This underscores the potential risk of urbanization for the A. phagocytophilum life cycle, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive understanding of its ecological dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Maria Lesiczka
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Izabella Myśliwy
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - David Modrý
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Hrazdilová
- Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Biomedical Center, Pilsen, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Joanna Hildebrand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
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Sawczyn-Domańska A, Zwoliński J, Kloc A, Wójcik-Fatla A. Prevalence of Borrelia, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Babesia in ticks collected from vegetation in eastern Poland. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 90:409-428. [PMID: 37389691 PMCID: PMC10406691 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00818-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: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
In Poland, tick-borne diseases constitute the majority of diseases related to exposure to biological agents with a predominance of Lyme borreliosis; therefore, research on ticks as a reservoir of various pathogens remains crucial in the epidemiology of human diseases after tick bites. This study aimed to identify the occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and Babesia spp. in ticks collected from vegetation in eastern Poland. Additionally, the prevalence of co-infections in the adult Ixodes ricinus ticks was determined. Among I. ricinus ticks the predominantly detected pathogen was B. burgdorferi s.l. (23%) with B. burgdorferi sensu stricto as the most frequently identified species, followed by B. garinii. In 2013, the double or triple infections of B. burgdorferi s.s., B. afzelii, and B. garinii species did not exceed 9% in adult ticks, whereas in 2016, the prevalence of mixed infections reached 29%. The prevalence of N. mikurensis and B. miyamotoi in I. ricinus was determined at the same level of 2.8%. Four Babesia species were identified in the examined I. ricinus population: B. microti (1.5%), B. venatorum (1.2%), B. divergens (0.2%), and B. capreoli (0.1%). Co-infections were detected in 10.1% of all infected ticks with the highest prevalence of co-infections with B. burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia species. The changes in the prevalence and the distribution of particular pathogens within tick populations indicate the need for monitoring the current situation related to tick-borne pathogens from the aspect of risk to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sawczyn-Domańska
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Jacek Zwoliński
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Kloc
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Angelina Wójcik-Fatla
- Department of Health Biohazards and Parasitology, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
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Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Simin V, Foucault-Simonin A, Galon C, Wu-Chuang A, Mijatović D, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Clinical Aspects and Detection of Emerging Rickettsial Pathogens: A "One Health" Approach Study in Serbia, 2020. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:797399. [PMID: 35154030 PMCID: PMC8825779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.797399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks carry numerous pathogens that, if transmitted, can cause disease in susceptible humans and animals. The present study describes our approach on how to investigate clinical presentations following tick bites in humans. To this aim, the occurrence of major tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in human blood samples (n = 85) and the ticks collected (n = 93) from the same individuals were tested using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. A field study based on One Health tenets was further designed to identify components of a potential chain of infection resulting in Rickettsia felis infection in one of the patients. Ticks species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Five patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including erythema migrans, local non-specific reactions, and cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction. Although Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. DNAs were detected in tick samples, different Rickettsia species were the most common TBPs identified in the ticks. The presence of TBPs such as Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti in ticks was further confirmed by DNA sequencing. Two of the patients with local skin lesions had IgG reactive against spotted fever group rickettsiae, while IgM specific to B. afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii were detected in the patient with erythema migrans. Although R. felis infection was detected in one human blood sample, none of the components of the potential chain of infection considered in this study tested positive to this pathogen either using direct pathogen detection in domestic dogs or xenodiagnosis in ticks collected from domestic cats. The combination of high-throughput screening of TBPs and One Health approaches might help characterize chains of infection leading to human infection by TBPs, as well as prevalence of emerging rickettsial pathogens in the Balkan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Department of Microbiology With Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Verica Simin
- Department for Microbiological & Other Diagnostics, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Atif FA, Mehnaz S, Qamar MF, Roheen T, Sajid MS, Ehtisham-ul-Haque S, Kashif M, Ben Said M. Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Control of Canine Infectious Cyclic Thrombocytopenia and Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: Emerging Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8120312. [PMID: 34941839 PMCID: PMC8705095 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8120312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This review highlights the diagnostic methods used, the control strategies adopted, and the global epidemiological status of canine cyclic thrombocytopenia and granulocytic anaplasmosis at the animal–human interface. Canine anaplasmosis is an important worldwide disease, mainly caused by Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum with zoonotic implications. A. platys chiefly infects platelets in canids, while A. phagocytophilum is the most common zoonotic pathogen infecting neutrophils of various vertebrate hosts. Diagnosis is based on the identification of clinical signs, the recognition of intracellular inclusions observed by microscopic observation of stained blood smear, and/or methods detecting antibodies or nucleic acids, although DNA sequencing is usually required to confirm the pathogenic strain. Serological cross-reactivity is the main problem in serodiagnosis. Prevalence varies from area to area depending on tick exposure. Tetracyclines are significant drugs for human and animal anaplasmosis. No universal vaccine is yet available that protects against diverse geographic strains. The control of canine anaplasmosis therefore relies on the detection of vectors/reservoirs, control of tick vectors, and prevention of iatrogenic/mechanical transmission. The control strategies for human anaplasmosis include reducing high-risk tick contact activities (such as gardening and hiking), careful blood transfusion, by passing immunosuppression, recognizing, and control of reservoirs/vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Ahmad Atif
- Medicine Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; (S.M.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: or (F.A.A.); or (M.B.S.); Tel.: +92-47-7671270 (F.A.A.); +216-58-964147 (M.B.S.)
| | - Saba Mehnaz
- Medicine Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; (S.M.); (M.K.)
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Fiaz Qamar
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; (M.F.Q.); (S.E.-u.-H.)
| | - Taleeha Roheen
- Department of Chemistry (Biochemistry), University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Sohail Sajid
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Syed Ehtisham-ul-Haque
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; (M.F.Q.); (S.E.-u.-H.)
| | - Muhammad Kashif
- Medicine Section, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Sub-Campus University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54600, Pakistan; (S.M.); (M.K.)
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Microbiology at the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia
- Correspondence: or (F.A.A.); or (M.B.S.); Tel.: +92-47-7671270 (F.A.A.); +216-58-964147 (M.B.S.)
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Novel Protozoans in Austria Revealed through the Use of Dogs as Sentinels for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9071392. [PMID: 34203236 PMCID: PMC8306317 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9071392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously isolated and cultivated the novel Rickettsia raoultii strain Jongejan. This prompted us to ask whether this strain is unique or more widely present in Austria. To assess this issue, we retrospectively screened ticks collected from dogs in 2008. Of these collected ticks, we randomly selected 75 (47 females and 28 males) Dermacentor reticulatus, 44 (21 females, 7 males, and 16 nymphs) Haemaphysalis concinna, and 55 (52 females and 3 males) ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Subsequently, these ticks were individually screened for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using the reverse line blot hybridization assay. In our current study, we detected DNA from the following microbes in D. reticulatus: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia valaisiana, and R. raoultii, all of which were R. raoultii strain Jongejan. In H. concinna, we found DNA of a Babesia sp., Rickettsia helvetica, and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli. Lastly, I. ricinus was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. spielmanii, B. valaisiana, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Theileria (Babesia) microti DNA. The detection of DNA of the Babesia sp. and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli, both found in H. concinna ticks, is novel for Austria.
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Remesar S, Díaz P, Prieto A, García-Dios D, Panadero R, Fernández G, Brianti E, Díez-Baños P, Morrondo P, López CM. Molecular detection and identification of piroplasms (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing ticks from northwest Spain. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 35:51-58. [PMID: 32757238 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and some piroplasm species are pathogens mainly transmitted by Ixodes ricinus. Considering that this tick species is predominant in north-western Spain, individual specimens (652 nymphs, 202 females and 202 males) and 23 larval pools were processed to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in questing I. ricinus from that region. Additionally, Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes frontalis and Ixodes acuminatus were individually analysed. The groESL operon as well as the 16S rRNA and msp2 genes of Anaplasma were analysed. Similarly, piroplasms were identified at the 18S rRNA gene and the ITS1 of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. Babesia venatorum (1.5%), A. phagocytophilum (0.7%), Babesia microti (0.3%) and Theileria sp. OT3 (0.2%) were detected in I. ricinus. A single I. frontalis (8.3%) tested positive to A. phagocytophilum. Although a low percentage of I. ricinus were infected with A. phagocytophilum and piroplasms, a potentially human pathogenic variant of A. phagocytophilum was detected, and both Babesia species found were zoonotic. Since the vector of Theileria sp. OT3 remains unknown, further investigations are needed to unravel the role of I. ricinus in the transmission of this piroplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Remesar
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - P Díaz
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - A Prieto
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - D García-Dios
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - R Panadero
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - G Fernández
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - E Brianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Messina, Italy
| | - P Díez-Baños
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - P Morrondo
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - C M López
- Investigación en Sanidad Animal: Galicia (Grupo INVESAGA), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Pedersen BN, Jenkins A, Paulsen KM, Okbaldet YB, Edgar KS, Lamsal A, Soleng A, Andreassen ÅK. Distribution of Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes ricinus ticks along the coast of Norway: The western seaboard is a low-prevalence region. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:130-137. [PMID: 31705635 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neoehrlichia mikurensis is a tick-borne pathogen widespread among ticks and rodents in Europe and Asia. A previous study on Ixodes ricinus ticks in Norway suggested that N. mikurensis was scarce or absent on the south-west coast of Norway, but abundant elsewhere. The aim of this study was to further investigate the prevalence and distribution of N. mikurensis along the western seaboard of Norway in comparison with more eastern and northern areas. The second aim of the study was to examine seasonal variation of the bacterium in one specific location in the south-eastern part of Norway. Questing I. ricinus were collected from 13 locations along the coast of Norway, from Brønnøysund in Nordland County to Spjaerøy in Østfold County. In total, 11,113 nymphs in 1,113 pools and 718 individual adult ticks were analysed for N. mikurensis by real-time PCR. The mean prevalence of N. mikurensis in adult ticks was 7.9% while the estimated pooled prevalence in nymphs was 3.5%. The prevalence ranged from 0% to 25.5%, with the highest prevalence in the southernmost and the northernmost locations. The pathogen was absent, or present only at low prevalence (<5%), at eight locations, all located in the west, from 58.9°N to 64.9°N. The prevalence of N. mikurensis was significantly different between counties (p < .0001). No significant seasonal variation of N. mikurensis prevalence was observed in the period May to October 2015. Our results confirm earlier findings of a low prevalence of N. mikurensis in the western seaboard of Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikte N Pedersen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.,Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yohannes B Okbaldet
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin S Edgar
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alaka Lamsal
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.,Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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10
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Jenkins A, Raasok C, Pedersen BN, Jensen K, Andreassen Å, Soleng A, Edgar KS, Lindstedt HH, Kjelland V, Stuen S, Hvidsten D, Kristiansen BE. Detection of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Norway up to the northern limit of Ixodes ricinus distribution using a novel real time PCR test targeting the groEL gene. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:199. [PMID: 31462211 PMCID: PMC6714093 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1502-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen. It is widely distributed in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe, but knowledge of its distribution in Norway, where I. ricinus reaches its northern limit, is limited. In this study we have developed a real time PCR test for Ca. N. mikurensis and used it to investigate the distribution of Ca. N. mikurensis in Norway. RESULTS Real time PCR targeting the groEL gene was developed and shown to be highly sensitive. It was used to detect Ca. N. mikurensis in 1651 I. ricinus nymphs and adults collected from twelve locations in Norway, from the eastern Oslo Fjord in the south to near the Arctic Circle in the north. The overall prevalence was 6.5% and varied locally between 0 and 16%. Prevalence in adults and nymphs was similar, suggesting that ticks acquire Ca. N. mikurensis predominantly during their first blood meal. In addition, 123 larvae were investigated; Ca. N. mikurensis was not found in larvae, suggesting that transovarial transmission is rare or absent. Sequence analysis suggests that a single variant dominates in Norway. CONCLUSIONS Ca. N. mikurensis is widespread and common in ticks in Norway and reaches up to their northern limit near the Arctic Circle. Ticks appear to acquire Ca. N. mikurensis during their first blood meal. No evidence for transovarial transmission was found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.
| | - Cecilie Raasok
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.,Present address: Nittedal Municipal Water and Drainage Authority, Nittedal, Norway
| | - Benedikte N Pedersen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Kristine Jensen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.,Present address: Telemark Trust Hospital, Section for Pathology, Skien, Norway
| | - Åshild Andreassen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.,Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Vivian Kjelland
- Department of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.,Sørlandet Trust Hospital Research Unit, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Dag Hvidsten
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bjørn-Erik Kristiansen
- Department of Process, Energy, and Environmental Technology, University of South-Eastern Norway, Porsgrunn, Norway
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11
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Földes F, Madai M, Németh V, Zana B, Papp H, Kemenesi G, Bock-Marquette I, Horváth G, Herczeg R, Jakab F. Serologic survey of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection among wild rodents in Hungary. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:101258. [PMID: 31302067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne pathogen, which causes an increasing number of severe infections in many parts of Africa, Asia and in Europe. The virus is primarily transmitted by ticks, however, the spectrum of natural hosts regarding CCHFV includes a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Although the presence of CCHFV was hypothesized in Hungary, data in support of CCHFV prevalence has thus far, proven insufficient. In the present study, rodents belonging to four species, the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), the striped field mouse (A. agrarius), the wood mouse (A. sylvaticus) and the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), were all systematically trapped in the Mecsek Mountain region (Southwest Hungary), from 2011 through 2013. Rodent sera were collected and screened for CCHFV antibodies with dot-blot pre-screening and immunofluorescence assay. Among the 2085 tested rodents, 20 (0.96%) were positive for IgG antibody against CCHFV. Seroprevalence was the highest (1.25%) in A. flavicollis serum samples. Distinctly, we now provide the first data regarding CCHFV occurrence and seroprevalence among wild rodents in Hungary. This observation represents a need for large-scale surveillance to effectively assess the enzootic background and the potential public health risk of CCHFV in Hungary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Földes
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Mónika Madai
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Viktória Németh
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Brigitta Zana
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Henrietta Papp
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Gábor Kemenesi
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Bock-Marquette
- Genomics and Experimental Cardiology Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Győző Horváth
- Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Róbert Herczeg
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jakab
- Virological Research Group, BSL-4 Laboratory, Szentágothai Research Centre, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.
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12
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Anaplasma phagocytophilum evolves in geographical and biotic niches of vertebrates and ticks. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:328. [PMID: 31253201 PMCID: PMC6599317 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3583-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplasma phagocytophilum is currently regarded as a single species. However, molecular studies indicate that it can be subdivided into ecotypes, each with distinct but overlapping transmission cycle. Here, we evaluate the interactions between and within clusters of haplotypes of the bacterium isolated from vertebrates and ticks, using phylogenetic and network-based methods. Methods The presence of A. phagocytophilum DNA was determined in ticks and vertebrate tissue samples. A fragment of the groEl gene was amplified and sequenced from qPCR-positive lysates. Additional groEl sequences from ticks and vertebrate reservoirs were obtained from GenBank and through literature searches, resulting in a dataset consisting of 1623 A. phagocytophilum field isolates. Phylogenetic analyses were used to infer clusters of haplotypes and to assess phylogenetic clustering of A. phagocytophilum in vertebrates or ticks. Network-based methods were used to resolve host-vector interactions and their relative importance in the segregating communities of haplotypes. Results Phylogenetic analyses resulted in 199 haplotypes within eight network-derived clusters, which were allocated to four ecotypes. The interactions of haplotypes between ticks, vertebrates and geographical origin, were visualized and quantified from networks. A high number of haplotypes were recorded in the tick Ixodes ricinus. Communities of A. phagocytophilum recorded from Korea, Japan, Far Eastern Russia, as well as those associated with rodents had no links with the larger set of isolates associated with I. ricinus, suggesting different evolutionary pressures. Rodents appeared to have a range of haplotypes associated with either Ixodes trianguliceps or Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi. Haplotypes found in rodents in Russia had low similarities with those recorded in rodents in other regions and shaped separate communities. Conclusions The groEl gene fragment of A. phagocytophilum provides information about spatial segregation and associations of haplotypes to particular vector-host interactions. Further research is needed to understand the circulation of this bacterium in the gap between Europe and Asia before the overview of the speciation features of this bacterium is complete. Environmental traits may also play a role in the evolution of A. phagocytophilum in ecotypes through yet unknown relationships. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3583-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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13
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Kohn M, Krücken J, McKay-Demeler J, Pachnicke S, Krieger K, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. Dermacentor reticulatus in Berlin/Brandenburg (Germany): Activity patterns and associated pathogens. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:191-206. [PMID: 30385074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dermacentor reticulatus is one of the most important European tick species. However, its spatial distribution, seasonality and regional vector role are not well known. This study aimed to gather information about abundance patterns of questing ticks and associated pathogens in unfed female adult D. reticulatus in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. Using the flagging method, questing ticks were collected at four sites in 2010-2012 and 2000 D. reticulatus were analysed regarding infection with Rickettsia, Babesia, Borrelia and Anaplasmataceae by conventional or real-time PCR. Dermacentor reticulatus showed a bimodal activity pattern: highest numbers of adult ticks were recorded between March and end of May (mean 50 ticks/h) and from mid-August until end of November (mean 102 ticks/h). During summer, almost complete inactivity was observed (mean 0.4 ticks/h). Sporadic samplings from December to February revealed tick activity also during winter (mean 47 ticks/h), which was characterised by large fluctuations. Using negative binomial regression analysis, significant influences of the variables sampling site, season and temperature on the abundance of questing D. reticulatus were determined. The parameters relative humidity and year were not of significant importance. PCR analyses showed an average prevalence of 64% for Rickettsia sp. Large differences in pathogen frequencies were observed between sampling sites (31.4-78.3%). Regression analysis demonstrated a significant influence of the sampling site but not of season and year. Examinations regarding other pathogen groups indicated prevalences of 0.25% (Borrelia sp.) and 0.05% (Anaplasmataceae) but absence of Babesia sp. Sequencing of positive samples revealed infections with Rickettsia raoultii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia afzelii and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The study shows stable populations of D. reticulatus in Berlin/Brandenburg. People should be aware of ticks throughout the year since Ixodes ricinus is co-endemic and active in spring, summer and autumn while adult D. reticulatus are active throughout the year and even in winter during periods of frost as long as it is warming up during the day. Prevalence of R. raoultii in the present study is among the highest described for D. reticulatus. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected for the first time in D. reticulatus, illustrating the importance of screening studies to evaluate the pathogen structure in D. reticulatus populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareen Kohn
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Krücken
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janina McKay-Demeler
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Klemens Krieger
- Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany
| | - Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Szekeres S, Docters van Leeuwen A, Tóth E, Majoros G, Sprong H, Földvári G. Road-killed mammals provide insight into tick-borne bacterial pathogen communities within urban habitats. Transbound Emerg Dis 2018; 66:277-286. [PMID: 30230270 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Small- and medium-sized mammals play an important role in the life cycle of tick-borne pathogens in urban habitats. Our aim was to apply the general protocol, DAMA (documentation-assessment-monitoring-action), which is an integrated proposal to build a proactive capacity to understand, anticipate, and respond to the outcomes of accelerating environmental change. Here we tested whether road-killed carcasses in urban areas are useful sources of tissue and parasite samples to investigate these species' contribution to the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases. We collected 29 road-killed and 6 carcasses with different causes of mortality (23 northern white-breasted hedgehogs and 12 from seven other mammal species) mainly from Budapest, Hungary. We used quantitative and conventional PCRs to determine pathogens in 90 collected tissues (52 from hedgehogs; 38 from other species) and 417 ticks that were only found on hedgehogs. Tissue samples revealed a wide range of bacteria including human zoonotic pathogens identified as Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotype I, Borrelia afzelii, B. spielmanii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica, and Bartonella species. Among the 23 collected hedgehog carcasses, 17 (74%) were infected with A. phagocytophilum, 6 (26%) with Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., 12 (52%) with R. helvetica, and 15 (65%) with Rickettsia sp. Furthermore, we report the first detection of Rickettsia sp. infection in European moles and lesser weasel and R. helvetica in stone marten. Through sequencing B. afzelii, R. helvetica, R. monacensis and A. phagocytophilum ecotype I were identified in the ticks removed from the carcasses. We showed that road-killed urban mammal species are exposed to multiple tick-borne pathogens but further studies have to clarify whether they, in fact, also have a role in their maintenance and spread. Our study also demonstrates that roadkill can be used in the risk assessment of potential human infection and in the implementation of the DAMA protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Arieke Docters van Leeuwen
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Evelin Tóth
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Majoros
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.,Evolutionary Systems Research Group, Centre for Ecological Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Tihany, Hungary
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15
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Matei IA, D'Amico G, Ionică AM, Kalmár Z, Corduneanu A, Sándor AD, Fiţ N, Bogdan L, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. New records for Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in small mammal species. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:193. [PMID: 29558990 PMCID: PMC5859413 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2791-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne diseases pose a major threat in public health. The epidemiological dynamics of these diseases depends on the tick vector species and their hosts, as well as the geographical distribution and ecology of both. Among many possible hosts for ticks, small mammals have a major role in the development of immature stages of several tick species. Small mammals are also important reservoir hosts for several pathogenic agents and possible reservoirs for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In this context, the aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in small mammal species in Romania. Results A total of 791 small mammals of 31 species were tested by PCR, targeting the rrs gene for detection of A. phagocytophilum DNA. Positive results were obtained in 20 small mammals: five Apodemus flavicollis (6.49%), three Sorex araneus (9.09%), three A. uralensis (4.84%), two A. sylvaticus (3.92%), and one of each Spermophilus cittelus (7.14%), Microtus agrestis (3.85%), Sorex minutus (3.85%), Muscardinus avellanarius (3.13%), Crocidura suaveolens (2.44%), Mus spicilegus (2%) and M. arvalis (1.75%). Conclusions Eleven small mammal species were found to be carriers of A. phagocytophilum, suggesting a possible involvement of these species in its epidemiology. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. phagocytophilum in S. minutus, C. suaveolens, M. spicilegus, M. avellanarius and S. citellus. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2791-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Adriana Matei
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. .,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 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
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nicodim Fiţ
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Liviu Bogdan
- Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Pathology of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Călin M Gherman
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 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
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16
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Obiegala A, Silaghi C. Candidatus Neoehrlichia Mikurensis—Recent Insights and Future Perspectives on Clinical Cases, Vectors, and Reservoirs in Europe. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-018-0085-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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17
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Portillo A, Santibáñez P, Palomar AM, Santibáñez S, Oteo JA. ' Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' in Europe. New Microbes New Infect 2018; 22:30-36. [PMID: 29556406 PMCID: PMC5857181 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2017.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
'Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis' is an uncultured emerging bacterium that is provisionally included in the family Anaplasmataceae. In Europe, it is transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks. Rodents are the reservoirs. It is widely distributed in mammals (both wild and domestic) and birds. It causes an inflammatory disease in humans with underlying diseases, but the microorganism also affects immunocompetent individuals in which asymptomatic infection has been recognized. A high degree of suspicion and the use of molecular tools are needed for the correct diagnosis. Efforts to cultivate it and to investigate its pathogenesis should be a priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Portillo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - P Santibáñez
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - A M Palomar
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - S Santibáñez
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), La Rioja, Spain
| | - J A Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), La Rioja, Spain
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18
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Heylen D, Fonville M, Docters van Leeuwen A, Stroo A, Duisterwinkel M, van Wieren S, Diuk-Wasser M, de Bruin A, Sprong H. Pathogen communities of songbird-derived ticks in Europe's low countries. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:497. [PMID: 29047399 PMCID: PMC5648423 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2423-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds play a major role in the maintenance of enzootic cycles of pathogens transmitted by ticks. Due to their mobility, they affect the spatial distribution and abundance of both ticks and pathogens. In the present study, we aim to identify members of a pathogen community [Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), B. miyamotoi, 'Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis', Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica] in songbird-derived ticks from 11 locations in the Netherlands and Belgium (2012-2014). RESULTS Overall, 375 infested songbird individuals were captured, belonging to 35 species. Thrushes (Turdus iliacus, T. merula and T. philomelos) were trapped most often and had the highest mean infestation intensity for both Ixodes ricinus and I. frontalis. Of the 671 bird-derived ticks, 51% contained DNA of at least one pathogenic agent and 13% showed co-infections with two or more pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) DNA was found in 34% of the ticks of which majority belong to so-called avian Borrelia species (distribution in Borrelia-infected ticks: 47% B. garinii, 34% B. valaisiana, 3% B. turdi), but also the mammal-associated B. afzelii (16%) was detected. The occurrence of B. miyamotoi was low (1%). Prevalence of R. helvetica in ticks was high (22%), while A. phagocytophilum and 'Ca. N. mikurensis' prevalences were 5% and 4%, respectively. The occurrence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) was positively correlated with the occurrence of 'Ca. N. mikurensis', reflecting variation in susceptibility among birds and/or suggesting transmission facilitation due to interactions between pathogens. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the contribution of European songbirds to co-infections in tick individuals and consequently to the exposure of humans to multiple pathogens during a tick bite. Although poorly studied, exposure to and possibly also infection with multiple tick-borne pathogens in humans seems to be the rule rather than the exception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Heylen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arieke Docters van Leeuwen
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Stroo
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sip van Wieren
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Arnout de Bruin
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Zoonoses & Environmental Microbiology, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Silaghi C, Santos AS, Gomes J, Christova I, Matei IA, Walder G, Domingos A, Bell-Sakyi L, Sprong H, von Loewenich FD, Oteo JA, de la Fuente J, Dumler JS. Guidelines for the Direct Detection of Anaplasma spp. in Diagnosis and Epidemiological Studies. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:12-22. [PMID: 28055579 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.1960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) comprises obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacteria that are mainly transmitted by ticks, and currently includes six species: Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma platys, and Anaplasma ovis. These have long been known as etiological agents of veterinary diseases that affect domestic and wild animals worldwide. A zoonotic role has been recognized for A. phagocytophilum, but other species can also be pathogenic for humans. Anaplasma infections are usually challenging to diagnose, clinically presenting with nonspecific symptoms that vary greatly depending on the agent involved, the affected host, and other factors such as immune status and coinfections. The substantial economic impact associated with livestock infection and the growing number of human cases along with the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, determines the need for accurate laboratory tests. Because hosts are usually seronegative in the initial phase of infection and serological cross-reactions with several Anaplasma species are observed after seroconversion, direct tests are the best approach for both case definition and epidemiological studies. Blood samples are routinely used for Anaplasma spp. screening, but in persistently infected animals with intermittent or low-level bacteremia, other tissues might be useful. These guidelines have been developed as a direct outcome of the COST action TD1303 EURNEGVEC ("European Network of Neglected Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases"). They review the direct laboratory tests (microscopy, nucleic acid-based detection and in vitro isolation) currently used for Anaplasma detection in ticks and vertebrates and their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- 1 National Center for Vector Entomology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Sofia Santos
- 2 Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge , Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Jacinto Gomes
- 3 Animal Health and Production Unit, National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research , Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Iva Christova
- 4 Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases , Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ioana Adriana Matei
- 5 Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca , Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gernot Walder
- 6 Department of Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University , Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ana Domingos
- 7 Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lesley Bell-Sakyi
- 8 The Pirbright Institute , Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Hein Sprong
- 9 Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) , Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - José A Oteo
- 11 Infectious Diseases Department, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases , Hospital San Pedro- CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- 12 SaBio. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain .,13 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater, Oklahoma
| | - J Stephen Dumler
- 14 Departments of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland , School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.,15 Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences "America's Medical School," Bethesda, Maryland
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20
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Abstract
A vast number of novel tick-related microorganisms and tick-borne disease agents have been identified in the past 20 years, and more are being described due to several factors, from the curiosity of clinicians faced with unusual clinical syndromes to new tools used by microbiologists and entomologists. Borrelioses, ehrlichioses, anaplasmosis, and tick-borne rickettsial diseases are some of the emerging diseases that have been described throughout the world in recent years. In this article, we focus on the bacterial agents and diseases that have been recognized in the past 3 years and refer to major recent reviews of other recognized infections.
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21
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Approaches for Reverse Line Blot-Based Detection of Microbial Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected in Austria and Impact of the Chosen Method. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.00489-17. [PMID: 28455331 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00489-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a large number of pathogens capable of causing human disease. In this study, the PCR-reverse line blot (RLB) method was used to screen for pathogens in a total of 554 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from all provinces of Austria. These pathogens belong to the genera Borrelia, Rickettsiae, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia (including "Candidatus Neoehrlichia"), Babesia, and Coxiella The pathogens with the highest detected prevalence were spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato complex, in 142 ticks (25.6%). Borrelia afzelii (80/142) was the most frequently detected species, followed by Borrelia burgdorferisensu stricto (38/142) and Borrelia valaisiana (36/142). Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, and Borrelia spielmanii were found in 28 ticks, 5 ticks, and 1 tick, respectively. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 93 ticks (16.8%): R. helvetica (39/93), R. raoultii (38/93), R. monacensis (2/93), and R. slovaca (1/93). Thirteen Rickettsia samples remain uncharacterized. "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis," Babesia spp. (B. venatorum, B. divergens, B. microti), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were found in 4.5%, 2.7%, and 0.7%, respectively. Coxiella burnetii was not detected. Multiple microorganisms were detected in 40 ticks (7.2%), and the cooccurrence of Babesia spp. and "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" showed a significant positive correlation. We also compared different PCR-RLBs for detection of Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato and Rickettsia spp. and showed that different detection approaches provide highly diverse results, indicating that analysis of environmental samples remains challenging.IMPORTANCE This study determined the wide spectrum of tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens that can be encountered in Austria. Surveillance of (putative) pathogenic microorganisms occurring in the environment is of medical importance, especially when those agents can be transmitted by ticks and cause disease. The observation of significant coinfections of certain microorganisms in field-collected ticks is an initial step to an improved understanding of microbial interactions in ticks. In addition, we show that variations in molecular detection methods, such as in primer pairs and target genes, can considerably influence the final results. For instance, detection of certain genospecies of borreliae may be better or worse by one method or the other, a fact of great importance for future screening studies.
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22
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Benevenute JL, Dumler JS, Ogrzewalska M, Roque ALR, Mello VVC, de Sousa KCM, Gonçalves LR, D'Andrea PS, de Sampaio Lemos ER, Machado RZ, André MR. Assessment of a quantitative 5' nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction using groEL gene for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in rodents in Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:646-656. [PMID: 28457822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
New genotypes of Anaplasmataceae agents have been detected in wild carnivores, birds and deer in Brazil. The present work aimed to investigate the presence of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in rodents sampled in Brazil. Additionally, a newly designed quantitative 5' nuclease real-time multiplex PCR for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. detection based on groEL gene amplification was designed, showing high specificity and sensitivity (10 groEL fragment copy/μL). Between 2000 and 2011, different rodent species [n=60] were trapped in 5 Brazilian biomes. Among 458 rodent spleen samples, 0.4% (2/458) and 2.4% (11/458) were positive for Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp., respectively. Of 458 samples, 2.0% (9/458) and 1.1% (5/458) were positive for Anaplasma sp. and Ehrlichia sp., respectively, using conventional 16S rRNA PCR assays. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic analyse based on a small region of 16S rRNA genes positioned the Anaplasma genotypes in rodents near Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma odocoilei isolates. Ehrlichia genotypes were closely related to E. canis. There was a low occurrence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in wild and synanthropic rodents in Brazil, suggesting the circulation of new genotypes of these agents in rodents in the studied areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyan Lucas Benevenute
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - John Stephen Dumler
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Ogrzewalska
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Sérgio D'Andrea
- Laboratório de Biologia e Parasitologia de Mamíferos Silvestres Reservatórios, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
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23
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Földvári G, Široký P, Szekeres S, Majoros G, Sprong H. Dermacentor reticulatus: a vector on the rise. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:314. [PMID: 27251148 PMCID: PMC4888597 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1599-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermacentor reticulatus is a hard tick species with extraordinary biological features. It has a high reproduction rate, a rapid developmental cycle, and is also able to overcome years of unfavourable conditions. Dermacentor reticulatus can survive under water for several months and is cold-hardy even compared to other tick species. It has a wide host range: over 60 different wild and domesticated hosts are known for the three active developmental stages. Its high adaptiveness gives an edge to this tick species as shown by new data on the emergence and establishment of D. reticulatus populations throughout Europe. The tick has been the research focus of a growing number of scientists, physicians and veterinarians. Within the Web of Science database, more than a fifth of the over 700 items published on this species between 1897 and 2015 appeared in the last three years (2013–2015). Here we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the systematics, ecology, geographical distribution and recent spread of the species and to highlight the great spectrum of possible veterinary and public health threats it poses. Canine babesiosis caused by Babesia canis is a severe leading canine vector-borne disease in many endemic areas. Although less frequently than Ixodes ricinus, D. reticulatus adults bite humans and transmit several Rickettsia spp., Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus or Tick-borne encephalitis virus. We have not solely collected and reviewed the latest and fundamental scientific papers available in primary databases but also widened our scope to books, theses, conference papers and specialists colleagues’ experience where needed. Besides the dominant literature available in English, we also tried to access scientific literature in German, Russian and eastern European languages as well. We hope to inspire future research projects that are necessary to understand the basic life-cycle and ecology of this vector in order to understand and prevent disease threats. We conclude that although great strides have been made in our knowledge of the eco-epidemiology of this species, several gaps still need to be filled with basic research, targeting possible reservoir and vector roles and the key factors resulting in the observed geographical spread of D. reticulatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Pavel Široký
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Majoros
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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24
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Rigó K, Majoros G, Szekeres S, Molnár I, Jablonszky M, Majláthová V, Majláth I, Földvári G. Identification of Hepatozoon erhardovae Krampitz, 1964 from bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and fleas in Southern Hungary. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:2409-13. [PMID: 27003406 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-4992-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the prevalence and life cycle of apicomplexan parasites, small mammals were live-trapped with modified Sherman traps in Southern Hungary between 2010 and 2012. Altogether, 528 rodents (Apodemus flavicollis Melchior, 1834, Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771, Myodes glareolus Schreber, 1780, Microtus agrestis Linnaeus, 1761, Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 and Micromys minutus Pallas, 1771) were collected and four shrews (Sorex spp.) were by-catched. Captured animals belonging to non-protected species were euthanized, and spleen samples were preserved for histological and molecular analyses. During the examination of spleen smears, Hepatozoon parasites were observed in eight out of 48 bank voles (M. glareolus). DNA was isolated from altogether 221 spleen samples, and 18S rDNA was amplified using two different PCR protocols. The eight bank vole samples were positive with PCR, but none of the other M. glareolus spleen samples or any of the tissue samples from other species were found to be infected. Sequenced amplicons were very similar to Hepatozoon spp. detected in M. glareolus in Spain and Poland. Ectoparasites were collected from the small mammal carcasses and from the vegetation. Hepatozoon DNA was not found in the 181 ticks removed from the small mammals or in the 162 ticks collected with flagging, but was detected in all three flea species (4/43 Megabothris turbidus Rothschild, 1909, 3/10 Ctenophthalmus assimilis Taschenberg, 1880 and 7/78 Ctenophthalmus agyrtes Heller, 1896). Based on gamont morphology, vertebrate and arthropod host species and DNA sequences, the parasites in our study can be identified as Hepatozoon erhardovae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Rigó
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Str. H-1078, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Majoros
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Str. H-1078, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Str. H-1078, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Imola Molnár
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Geology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor Str., Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mónika Jablonszky
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Lóránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Igor Majláth
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, University of P.J. Šafárik, Šrobárova 2, 041 80, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Str. H-1078, Budapest, Hungary.
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25
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Alpha proteobacteria of genusAnaplasma(Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae): Epidemiology and characteristics ofAnaplasmaspecies related to veterinary and public health importance. Parasitology 2016; 143:659-85. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016000238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARYTheAnaplasmaspecies are important globally distributed tick-transmitted bacteria of veterinary and public health importance. These pathogens, cause anaplasmosis in domestic and wild animal species including humans.Rhipicephalus, Ixodes, DermacentorandAmblyommagenera of ticks are the important vectors ofAnaplasma.Acute anaplasmosis is usually diagnosed upon blood smear examination followed by antibodies and nucleic acid detection. All age groups are susceptible but prevalence increases with age. Serological cross-reactivity is one of the important issues amongAnaplasmaspecies. They co-exist and concurrent infections occur in animals and ticks in same geographic area. These are closely related bacteria and share various common attributes which should be considered while developing vaccines and diagnostic assays. Movement of susceptible animals from non-endemic to endemic regions is the major risk factor of bovine/ovine anaplasmosis and tick-borne fever. Tetracyclines are currently available drugs for clearance of infection and treatment in humans and animals. Worldwide vaccine is not yet available. Identification, elimination of reservoirs, vector control (chemical and biological), endemic stability, habitat modification, rearing of tick resistant breeds, chemotherapy and tick vaccination are major control measures of animal anaplasmosis. Identification of reservoirs and minimizing the high-risk tick exposure activities are important control strategies for human granulocytic anaplasmosis.
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26
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Silaghi C, Beck R, Oteo JA, Pfeffer M, Sprong H. Neoehrlichiosis: an emerging tick-borne zoonosis caused by Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 68:279-97. [PMID: 26081117 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9935-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing a systemic inflammatory syndrome mostly in persons with underlying hematologic or autoimmune diseases. As it is neither well-known nor well-recognized, it might be misdiagnosed as recurrence of the underlying disease or as an unrelated arteriosclerotic vascular event. The pathogen is transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes and is closely associated with rodents in which transplacental transmission occurs. Transovarial transmission in ticks has not yet been shown. Infection rates vary greatly in ticks and rodents, but the causes for its spatiotemporal variations are largely unknown. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the geographical distribution and clinical importance of Ca. N. mikurensis. By elucidating the life history traits of this pathogen and determining more accurately its incidence in the human population, a better assessment of its public health relevance can be made. Most urgent research needs are the in vitro-cultivation of the pathogen, the development of specific serological tests, the determination of the full genomic sequence, the routine implementation of molecular diagnosis in diseased patients with a particular panel of underlying diseases, and promoting the knowledge about neoehrlichiosis among general practitioners, hospital physicians and the risk groups such as forest workers or immune-compromised people to raise awareness about this disease that can easily be treated when correctly diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- National Center for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Relja Beck
- Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - José A Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-Center of Biomedical Research of La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute for Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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27
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Szekeres S, Docters van Leeuwen A, Rigó K, Jablonszky M, Majoros G, Sprong H, Földvári G. Prevalence and diversity of human pathogenic rickettsiae in urban versus rural habitats, Hungary. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 68:223-226. [PMID: 26613759 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9989-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne rickettsioses belong to the important emerging infectious diseases worldwide. We investigated the potential human exposure to rickettsiae by determining their presence in questing ticks collected in an urban park of Budapest and a popular hunting and recreational forest area in southern Hungary. Differences were found in the infectious risk between the two habitats. Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia helvetica were identified with sequencing in questing Ixodes ricinus, the only ticks species collected in the city park. Female I. ricinus had a particularly high prevalence of R. helvetica (45%). Tick community was more diverse in the rural habitat with Dermacentor reticulatus ticks having especially high percentage (58%) of Rickettsia raoultii infection. We conclude that despite the distinct eco-epidemiological traits, the risk (hazard and exposure) of acquiring human pathogenic rickettsial infections in both the urban and the rural study sites exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Szekeres
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | | | - Krisztina Rigó
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Mónika Jablonszky
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Gábor Majoros
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street, Budapest, 1078, Hungary.
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28
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Neglected tick-borne pathogens in the Czech Republic, 2011–2014. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:107-112. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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29
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Heylen D, Fonville M, van Leeuwen AD, Sprong H. Co-infections and transmission dynamics in a tick-borne bacterium community exposed to songbirds. Environ Microbiol 2016; 18:988-96. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Revised: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Heylen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group; Department of Biology; University of Antwerp; Antwerpen Belgium
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM); Bilthoven the Netherlands
| | - Arieke Docters van Leeuwen
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM); Bilthoven the Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM); Bilthoven the Netherlands
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Svitálková ZH, Haruštiaková D, Mahríková L, Mojšová M, Berthová L, Slovák M, Kocianová E, Vayssier-Taussat M, Kazimírová M. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in ticks and rodents from urban and natural habitats of South-Western Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:2. [PMID: 26728197 PMCID: PMC4700745 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1287-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM) is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing severe disease in immunocompromised patients. In Europe, Ixodes ricinus is the primary vector and rodents act as reservoir hosts. New data on the prevalence of CNM in ticks and rodents contribute to the knowledge on the distribution of endemic areas and circulation of the bacterium in natural foci. Methods Questing ticks were collected and rodents were trapped in urban/suburban and natural habitats in South-Western Slovakia from 2011 to 2014. DNA from questing and rodent-attached ticks and rodent tissues were screened for CNM by real-time PCR. Rodent spleen samples positive for CNM were characterised at the groEL gene locus. Spatial and temporal differences in CNM prevalence in ticks and rodents and co-infections of ticks with CNM and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were analysed. Results The presence of CNM was confirmed in questing and rodent-attached I. ricinus ticks and in rodents. Total prevalence in both ticks and rodents was significantly higher in the natural habitat (2.3 % and 10.1 %, respectively) than in the urban/suburban habitat (1.0 % and 3.3 %, respectively). No seasonal pattern in CNM prevalence in ticks was observed, but prevalence in rodents was higher in autumn than in spring. CNM was detected in Apodemus flavicollis, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis and Micromys minutus, with the highest prevalence in M. arvalis (30 %). By screening CNM dissemination in rodent tissues, infection was detected in lungs of all specimens with positive spleens and in blood, kidney, liver and skin of part of those individuals. Infection with CNM was detected in 1.3 % of rodent attached I. ricinus ticks. Sequences of a fragment of the groEL gene from CNM-positive rodents showed a high degree of identity with sequences of the gene amplified from ticks and infected human blood from Europe. Only 0.1 % of CNM-positive questing ticks carried A. phagocytophilum. Ticks infected with CNM prevailed in the natural habitat (67.2 %), whereas ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum prevailed in the urban/suburban habitat (75.0 %). Conclusion The study confirmed the circulation of CNM between I. ricinus ticks and rodents in South-Western Slovakia, and indicates a potential risk of contracting human infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danka Haruštiaková
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michala Mojšová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská Dolina B-1, 84215, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Berthová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84505, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84505, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | | | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Gofton AW, Doggett S, Ratchford A, Oskam CL, Paparini A, Ryan U, Irwin P. Bacterial Profiling Reveals Novel "Ca. Neoehrlichia", Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma Species in Australian Human-Biting Ticks. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145449. [PMID: 26709826 PMCID: PMC4692421 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Australia, a conclusive aetiology of Lyme disease-like illness in human patients remains elusive, despite growing numbers of people presenting with symptoms attributed to tick bites. In the present study, we surveyed the microbial communities harboured by human-biting ticks from across Australia to identify bacteria that may contribute to this syndrome. Universal PCR primers were used to amplify the V1-2 hyper-variable region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes in DNA samples from individual Ixodes holocyclus (n = 279), Amblyomma triguttatum (n = 167), Haemaphysalis bancrofti (n = 7), and H. longicornis (n = 7) ticks. The 16S amplicons were sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform and analysed in USEARCH, QIIME, and BLAST to assign genus and species-level taxonomies. Nested PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm the NGS data and further analyse novel findings. All 460 ticks were negative for Borrelia spp. by both NGS and nested PCR analysis. Two novel "Candidatus Neoehrlichia" spp. were identified in 12.9% of I. holocyclus ticks. A novel Anaplasma sp. was identified in 1.8% of A. triguttatum ticks, and a novel Ehrlichia sp. was identified in both A. triguttatum (1.2%) ticks and a single I. holocyclus (0.6%) tick. Further phylogenetic analysis of novel "Ca. Neoehrlichia", Anaplasma and Ehrlichia based on 1,265 bp 16S rRNA gene sequences suggests that these are new species. Determining whether these newly discovered organisms cause disease in humans and animals, like closely related bacteria do abroad, is of public health importance and requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander W. Gofton
- Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen Doggett
- Department of Medical Entomology, Pathology West and Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew Ratchford
- Emergency Department, Mona Vale Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea Paparini
- Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Una Ryan
- Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter Irwin
- Vector and Water-borne Pathogen Research Group, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Hodžić A, Cézanne R, Duscher GG, Harl J, Glawischnig W, Fuehrer HP. Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. in an Austrian fox is distinct from Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, but closer related to Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:539. [PMID: 26471191 PMCID: PMC4608319 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1163-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 10/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candidatus Neoehrlichia came under the focus of recent research in terms of human and pet relevance. Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis seems to be relatively abundant in animals and humans from Central European countries, whereas Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris was found solely in raccoons from the USA. FINDINGS Spleen samples from a total of 164 red foxes, originating from two western provinces in Austria (Tyrol and Vorarlberg), were collected and examined for the presence of tick-borne bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae by PCR and sequencing. In a fox sample originating from Vorarlberg Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. was found, which is genetically (16S rRNA, groEL) closely related to Candidatus Neoehrlichia lotoris but clearly distinct from Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. CONCLUSIONS The present study revealed, for the first time, the occurrence of Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. in a red fox worldwide. A continuing screening of wild carnivores, especially foxes, and ticks for this potential pathogen is required to evaluate the actual occurrence and distribution of these bacteria. Further research is needed to elucidate the relationships of Neoehrlichia, as well as their reservoir and impact on wildlife, pets and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Hodžić
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Rita Cézanne
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Georg Gerhard Duscher
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Josef Harl
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Walter Glawischnig
- Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
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Mierzejewska EJ, Pawełczyk A, Radkowski M, Welc-Falęciak R, Bajer A. Pathogens vectored by the tick, Dermacentor reticulatus, in endemic regions and zones of expansion in Poland. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:490. [PMID: 26403456 PMCID: PMC4581476 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1099-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dermacentor reticulatus plays an important role in the maintenance of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance in the environment. Currently two isolated populations of D. reticulatus are present in Poland –Western and Eastern. The range of the Eastern population covers endemic areas in eastern Poland but this population is expanding westwards creating an expansion zone in the centre of the country. The expansion zone in western Poland is occupied by the recently discovered Western population, spreading eastwards. Methods Questing adult ticks (n = 2585) were collected in 2012–2014 in endemic regions of north-eastern (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship) and central Poland (Masovian Voivodeship) and in the expansion zones in central and western Poland, in the region between the Vistula River and the western border of the country. Amplification of Babesia, Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNAs was performed using specific starters. RNA of the TBE virus was detected using RT-PCR and representative PCR products were sequenced and compared with sequences deposited in GenBank. Results Of the total 2585 examined ticks, 1197 (46.3 %) were infected with at least one pathogen. Overall prevalence of pathogens was 4.18 % (108/2585) for Babesia spp., 44.10 % (1140/2585) for Rickettsia spp., 0.09 % (1/1107) for Borrelia afzelii and 7.6 % (7/92) for TBEV. Sequence analysis of DNA showed 99.86 % similarity to R. raoulti and 99.81 % to B. canis. One male from north-eastern Poland was infected with B. microti. Prevalence of R. raoulti was highest in the Western population (52.03 %) and lowest in the Eastern population in north-eastern Poland (34.18 %). Babesia canis was not detected in 592 ticks collected in the Western population, while in the Eastern population overall prevalence was 5.42 %. There were significant differences in the prevalence of B. canis between tick samples from northern (0.68 %), central (1.18 %) and southern (14.8 %) areas of the expansion zone in central Poland. Conclusions Our study found significant differences between the range and prevalence of vectored pathogens in D. reticulatus from the endemic areas and newly inhabited expansion zones. The differences were likely associated with the different time of settlement or ‘source’ of ticks populations, the Eastern and the Western one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa J Mierzejewska
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Pawełczyk
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 3c Pawińskiego Street, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Marek Radkowski
- Department of Immunopathology of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, 3c Pawińskiego Street, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Renata Welc-Falęciak
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 1 Miecznikowa Street, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland.
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Szekeres S, Coipan EC, Rigó K, Majoros G, Jahfari S, Sprong H, Földvári G. Eco-epidemiology of Borrelia miyamotoi and Lyme borreliosis spirochetes in a popular hunting and recreational forest area in Hungary. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:309. [PMID: 26048373 PMCID: PMC4458039 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0922-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Borrelia miyamotoi, the newly discovered human pathogenic relapsing fever spirochete, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato are maintained in natural rodent populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the natural cycle of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. in a forest habitat with intensive hunting, forestry work and recreational activity in Southern Hungary. Methods We collected rodents with modified Sherman-traps during 2010–2013 and questing ticks with flagging in 2012. Small mammals were euthanized, tissue samples were collected and all ectoparasites were removed and stored. Samples were screened for pathogens with multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting a part of flagellin gene, then analysed with conventional PCRs and sequencing. Results 177 spleen and 348 skin samples of six rodent species were individually analysed. Prevalence in rodent tissue samples was 0.2 % (skin) and 0.5 % (spleen) for B. miyamotoi and 6.6 % (skin) and 2.2 % (spleen) for B. burgdorferi s.l. Relapsing fever spirochetes were detected in Apodemus flavicollis males, B. burgdorferi s.l. in Apodemus spp. and Myodes glareolus samples. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in one questing Ixodes ricinus nymph and B. burgdorferi s.l in nymphs and adults. In the ticks removed from rodents DNA amplification of both pathogens was successful from I. ricinus larvae (B. miyamotoi 5.6 %, B. burgdorferi s.l. 11.1 %) and one out of five nymphs while from Ixodes acuminatus larvae, and nymph only B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA was amplified. Sequencing revealed B. lusitaniae in a questing I. ricinus nymph and altogether 17 B. afzelii were identified in other samples. Two Dermacentor marginatus engorged larva pools originating from uninfected hosts were also infected with B. afzelii. Conclusions This is the first report of B. miyamotoi occurrence in a natural population of A. flavicollis as well as in Hungary. We provide new data about circulation of B. burgdorferi s.l. in rodent and tick communities including the role of I. acuminatus ticks in the endophilic pathogen cycle. Our results highlight the possible risk of infection with relapsing fever and Lyme borreliosis spirochetes in forest habitats especially in the high-risk groups of hunters, forestry workers and hikers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street H-1078, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Elena Claudia Coipan
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Krisztina Rigó
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street H-1078, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Majoros
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street H-1078, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Setareh Jahfari
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, 2 István Street H-1078, Budapest, Hungary.
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Svitálková Z, Haruštiaková D, Mahríková L, Berthová L, Slovák M, Kocianová E, Kazimírová M. Anaplasma phagocytophilum prevalence in ticks and rodents in an urban and natural habitat in South-Western Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:276. [PMID: 25980768 PMCID: PMC4435654 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0880-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the ethiological agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in Europe. Anaplasmosis is an emerging zoonotic disease with a natural enzootic cycle. The reservoir competence of rodents is unclear. Monitoring of A. phagocytophilum prevalence in I. ricinus and rodents in various habitat types of Slovakia may contribute to the knowledge about the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in Central Europe. Methods Over 4400 questing ixodid ticks, 1000 rodent-attached ticks and tissue samples of 606 rodents were screened for A. phagocytophilum DNA by real-time PCR targeting the msp2 gene. Ticks and rodents were captured along six transects in an urban/suburban and natural habitat in south-western Slovakia during 2011–2014. Estimates of wildlife (roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, wild boar) densities in the study area were taken from hunter’s yearly reports. Spatial and temporal differences in A. phagocytophilum prevalence in questing I. ricinus and relationships with relative abundance of ticks and wildlife were analysed. Results Overall prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus was significantly higher in the urban/suburban habitat (7.2 %; 95 % CI: 6.1–8.3 %) compared to the natural habitat (3.1 %; 95 % CI: 2.5–3.9 %) (χ2 = 37.451; P < 0.001). Significant local differences in prevalence of infected questing ticks were found among transects within each habitat as well as among years and between seasons. The trapped rodents belonged to six species. Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus prevailed in both habitats, Microtus arvalis was present only in the natural habitat. I. ricinus comprised 96.3 % of the rodent-attached ticks, the rest were Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes trianguliceps and Dermacentor reticulatus. Only 0.5 % of rodent skin and 0.6 % of rodent-attached ticks (only I. ricinus) were infected with A. phagocytophilum. Prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus did not correlate significantly with relative abundance of ticks or with abundance of wildlife in the area. Conclusion The study confirms that urban I. ricinus populations are infected with A. phagocytophilum at a higher rate than in a natural habitat of south-western Slovakia and suggests that rodents are not the main reservoirs of the bacterium in the investigated area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Svitálková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Danka Haruštiaková
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Berthová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Vertical transmission of Bartonella schoenbuchensis in Lipoptena cervi. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:176. [PMID: 25889985 PMCID: PMC4374187 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0764-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is a hematophagous ectoparasite of cervids, which is considered to transmit pathogens between animals and occasionally to humans. The principal life stage that is able to parasitize new hosts is a winged ked that just emerged from a pupa. To facilitate efficient transmission of pathogens between hosts, vertical transmission from female deer keds to their offspring is necessary. We investigated vertical transmission of several vector-borne pathogens associated with cervids. Methods Deer keds from several locations in Hungary were collected between 2009 and 2012. All life stages were represented: winged free-ranging adults, wingless adults collected from Capreolus capreolus and Cervus elaphus, developing larvae dissected from gravid females, and fully developed pupae. The presence of zoonotic pathogens was determined using qPCR or conventional PCR assays performed on DNA lysates. From the PCR-positive lysates, a gene fragment was amplified and sequenced for confirmation of pathogen presence, and/or pathogen species identification. Results DNA of Bartonella schoenbuchensis was found in wingless males (2%) and females (2%) obtained from Cervus elaphus, dissected developing larvae (71%), and free-ranging winged males (2%) and females (11%). DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia species was present in L. cervi adults, but not in immature stages. DNA of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was absent in any of the life stages of L. cervi. Conclusions B. schoenbuchensis is transmitted from wingless adult females to developing larvae, making it very likely that L. cervi is a vector for B. schoenbuchensis. Lipoptena cervi is probably not a vector for A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia species, and Candidatus N. mikurensis.
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Wennerås C. Infections with the tick-borne bacterium Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Clin Microbiol Infect 2015; 21:621-30. [PMID: 25770773 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, which has rodents as its natural hosts, is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in Europe and Asia. This intracellular bacterium causes the infectious disease neoehrlichiosis. Immunocompromised patients may contract a severe form of neoehrlichiosis with high fever and vascular/thromboembolic events. As it is not detected with routine culture-based methods, neoehrlichiosis is underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.
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