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Fabri ND, Hofmeester TR, Ecke F, Sprong H, Timmermans J, Heesterbeek H, Cromsigt JP. Ixodes ricinus tick presence is associated with abiotic but not biotic factors. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 6:100206. [PMID: 39224900 PMCID: PMC11367641 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Species composition and densities of wild ungulate communities in Europe have changed over the last decades. As ungulates play an important role in the life-cycle of the tick species Ixodes ricinus, these changes could affect both the life-cycle of I. ricinus and the transmission of tick-borne pathogens like Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Due to morphological and behavioural differences among the ungulate species, these species might have different effects on the densities of questing I. ricinus, either directly through a bloodmeal or indirectly via the impact of ungulates on rodent numbers via the vegetation. In this study, we aimed to investigate these direct and indirect effects of five different ungulate species, fallow deer (Dama dama), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), on the presence and abundance of I. ricinus ticks. In the summer of 2019, on 20 1 × 1 km transects in south-central Sweden that differed in ungulate community composition, we collected data on tick presence and abundance (by dragging a cloth), ungulate community composition (using camera traps), vegetation height (using the drop-disc method), temperature above field layer and rodent abundance (by snap-trapping). Using generalized linear mixed models we did not find any associations between vegetation height and tick presence/abundance or ungulate visitation frequencies, or between ungulate visitation frequencies and the presence/abundance of questing I. ricinus. The power of our analyses was, however, low due to very low tick and rodent numbers. We did find a negative association between adult ticks and air temperature, where we were more likely to find adult ticks if temperature in the field layer was lower. We conclude that more elaborate long-term studies are needed to elucidate the investigated associations. Such future studies should differentiate among the potential impacts of different ungulate species instead of treating all ungulate species as one group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannet D. Fabri
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tim R. Hofmeester
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jordi Timmermans
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans Heesterbeek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Boussaine K, Taha M, Nìng C, Cartereau A, Rakotobe S, Mateos-Hernandez L, Taillebois E, Šimo L, Thany SH. Isolation and electrophysiological recording of Ixodes ricinus synganglion neurons. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2023; 124:107473. [PMID: 37866797 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2023.107473] [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: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
The central nervous system of hard ticks (Ixodidae) consists of a concentrated merged nerve mass known as the synganglion. Although knowledge of tick neurobiology has dramatically improved over the last two decades, this is the first time that isolation and electrophysiological recordings have been carried out on tick neurons from the synganglion. Method: We developed a simple protocol for synganglion neuron isolation and used a whole-cell patch clamp to measure ionic currents induced by acetylcholine, nicotine and muscarine. Relatively large neurons (∼ 25 μm and ∼ 35 μm) were isolated and 1 mM acetylcholine was used to induce strong inward currents of -0.38 ± 0.1 nA and - 1.04 ± 0.1 nA, respectively, with the corresponding cell capacitances being at around 142 pF and 188 pF. In addition, successive application of 1 mM acetylcholine through ∼25 μm and ∼ 35 μm cells for increasing amounts of time resulted in a rapid reduction in current amplitudes. We also found that acetylcholine-evoked currents were associated with a reversible increase in intracellular calcium levels for each neuronal type. In contrast, 1 mM muscarine and nicotine induced a strong and non-reversible increase in intracellular calcium levels. This study serves as a proof of concept for the mechanical isolation of tick synganglion neurons followed by their electrophysiological recording. This approach will aid investigations into the pharmacological properties of tick neurons and provides the tools needed for the identification of drug-targeted sites and effective tick control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Boussaine
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Maria Taha
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France
| | - Cáinà Nìng
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France; ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alison Cartereau
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France
| | - Sabine Rakotobe
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Emiliane Taillebois
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France
| | - Ladislav Šimo
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 22 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Steeve H Thany
- University of Orleans, Laboratory Physiology, Ecology and Environment (P2E) USC-INRAE 1328, 1 rue de Chartres, Orléans Cedex, France.
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Noll M, Wall R, Makepeace BL, Vineer HR. Distribution of ticks in the Western Palearctic: an updated systematic review (2015-2021). Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:141. [PMID: 37095583 PMCID: PMC10127368 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are thought to have changed rapidly over the last two decades, with their ranges expanding into new regions. This expansion has been driven by a range of environmental and socio-economic factors, including climate change. Spatial modelling is being increasingly used to track the current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens and to assess the associated disease risk. However, such analysis is dependent on high-resolution occurrence data for each species. To facilitate such analysis, in this review we have compiled georeferenced tick locations in the Western Palearctic, with a resolution accuracy under 10 km, that were reported between 2015 and 2021 METHODS: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers documenting the distribution of ticks that were published between 2015 and 2021, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The papers were then screened and excluded in accordance with the PRISMA flow chart. Coordinate-referenced tick locations along with information on identification and collection methods were extracted from each eligible publication. Spatial analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.2). RESULTS From the 1491 papers identified during the initial search, 124 met the inclusion criteria, and from these, 2267 coordinate-referenced tick records from 33 tick species were included in the final dataset. Over 30% of articles did not record the tick location adequately to meet inclusion criteria, only providing a location name or general location. Among the tick records, Ixodes ricinus had the highest representation (55%), followed by Dermacentor reticulatus (22.1%) and Ixodes frontalis (4.8%). The majority of ticks were collected from vegetation, with only 19.1% collected from hosts. CONCLUSIONS The data presented provides a collection of recent high-resolution, coordinate-referenced tick locations for use in spatial analyses, which in turn can be used in combination with previously collated datasets to analyse the changes in tick distribution and research in the Western Palearctic. In the future it is recommended that, where data privacy rules allow, high-resolution methods are routinely used by researchers to geolocate tick samples and ensure their work can be used to its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Noll
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Richard Wall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Institute of Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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McCoy KD, Toty C, Dupraz M, Tornos J, Gamble A, Garnier R, Descamps S, Boulinier T. Climate change in the Arctic: Testing the poleward expansion of ticks and tick-borne diseases. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1729-1740. [PMID: 36700347 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is most strongly felt in the polar regions of the world, with significant impacts on the species that live there. The arrival of parasites and pathogens from more temperate areas may become a significant problem for these populations, but current observations of parasite presence often lack a historical reference of prior absence. Observations in the high Arctic of the seabird tick Ixodes uriae suggested that this species expanded poleward in the last two decades in relation to climate change. As this tick can have a direct impact on the breeding success of its seabird hosts and vectors several pathogens, including Lyme disease spirochaetes, understanding its invasion dynamics is essential for predicting its impact on polar seabird populations. Here, we use population genetic data and host serology to test the hypothesis that I. uriae recently expanded into Svalbard. Both black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) and thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia) were sampled for ticks and blood in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen. Ticks were genotyped using microsatellite markers and population genetic analyses were performed using data from 14 reference populations from across the tick's northern distribution. In contrast to predictions, the Spitsbergen population showed high genetic diversity and significant differentiation from reference populations, suggesting long-term isolation. Host serology also demonstrated a high exposure rate to Lyme disease spirochaetes (Bbsl). Targeted PCR and sequencing confirmed the presence of Borrelia garinii in a Spitsbergen tick, demonstrating the presence of Lyme disease bacteria in the high Arctic for the first time. Taken together, results contradict the notion that I. uriae has recently expanded into the high Arctic. Rather, this tick has likely been present for some time, maintaining relatively high population sizes and an endemic transmission cycle of Bbsl. Close future observations of population infestation/infection rates will now be necessary to relate epidemiological changes to ongoing climate modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen D McCoy
- MIVEGEC, Centre IRD, University of Montpellier CNRS IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Céline Toty
- MIVEGEC, Centre IRD, University of Montpellier CNRS IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marlène Dupraz
- MIVEGEC, Centre IRD, University of Montpellier CNRS IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérémy Tornos
- MIVEGEC, Centre IRD, University of Montpellier CNRS IRD, Montpellier, France
- CEFE, UMR 5175, University of Montpellier CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Amandine Gamble
- CEFE, UMR 5175, University of Montpellier CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Romain Garnier
- CEFE, UMR 5175, University of Montpellier CNRS, Montpellier, France
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Preliminary study on the seasonal questing of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in Ain Draham forest (north-western Tunisia) with analyses of their phylogenetic diversity. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 36:100786. [PMID: 36436908 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the activity dynamics of Ixodes ricinus group ticks in a forest located in north-western Tunisia (Aïn Draham, Jendouba District) and assess the variation of abiotic factors (temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and relative humidity) during one year survey from September 2016 to August 2017 using the dragging sampling method. A total of 116 questing ticks was collected from the vegetation consisting of 47 adults (19 females and 28 males, sex ratio M:F = 1.47), 45 nymphs and 24 larvae representing 40.5, 38.8 and 20.7% of the total collected specimens, respectively. Adult I. ricinus were collected during October-May, nymphs during May-August and larvae during July-September. There were statistically significant correlations between adult tick numbers and mean daily relative humidity (Pearson r = 0.77; p = 0.003) and mean daily temperature (r = -0.74; p = 0.006). The comparison of 16S rDNA sequences from 20 adult ticks of approximately 444 bp length showed variability among 11 sequences. There was a low genetic variability (<1%) among the I. ricinus isolates collected from the forest. The amplicons showed >99% identity with I. ricinus and Ixodes inopinatus sequences from different countries and published in GenBank. These results should be complemented by further surveys in other Tunisian regions to better understand the influence of environmental factors on the biology of I. ricinus and the occurrence of sympatric I. inopinatus ticks. Different molecular markers should be used for better understanding of their taxonomic status.
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Meta-analysis: A useful tool to assess infection prevalence and disease ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in nymphal ticks in North-Western Europe with recommendations for a standardised approach to future studies. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2022; 18:e00254. [PMID: 35677189 PMCID: PMC9167692 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2022.e00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne disease of concern in Europe. While neuroborreliosis data are reportable at EU level, it can nevertheless be difficult to make comparisons of disease risk between neighbouring countries. This study used proportion meta-analyses to compare environmental markers of disease risk between woodland sites in two countries in North-Western Europe (Ireland, Scotland). 73 site-visits from 12 publications were analysed, resulting in a significantly higher pooled nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) in Ireland (8.2% (95% CI: 5.9–11.4%)) than Scotland (1.7%(95% CI 1.1–2.5%)). All other analysed parameters of disease risk were also higher in Ireland than Scotland. Subgroup-meta-analyses and meta-regressions were used to assess the influence of environmental variables on NIP. NIP increased significantly with increasing woodland size in Ireland, but not Scotland, which may be accounted for by Ireland's highly fragmented landscape. Assuming the application of strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and control of variables, proportion meta-analysis can provide useful insights in disease ecology, as it allows for the achievement of high study powers incorporating samples collected across multiple sites, which is otherwise often a prohibitively difficult and resource-heavy feat in environmental studies in disease ecology. A standardised approach to data collection is recommended to achieve more robust meta-analyses in future in conjunction with additional research on environmental factors affecting Lyme borreliosis risk in Europe, particularly pertaining to the impact of host species on NIP.
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Zintl A, Zaid T, McKiernan F, Naranjo-Lucena A, Gray J, Brosnan S, Browne J, O'Connor J, Mee JF, Good B, Gillingham EL, Vaux AGC, Medlock J. Update on the presence of Ixodes ricinus at the western limit of its range and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101518. [PMID: 32993938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
It is often suggested that due to climate and environmental policy changes, the risk from tick-borne disease is increasing, particularly at the geographical limits of the vector distribution. Our project aimed to determine whether this was true for the risk of Lyme borreliosis in Ireland which is the western-most limit of Ixodes ricinus, the European vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The availability of a historical data set of tick infection rates compiled in the 1990s represented a unique opportunity as it provided a baseline against which current data could be compared. Following construction of a spatial predictive model for the presence and absence of I. ricinus based on data from 491 GPS locations visited between 2016 and 2019, 1404 questing nymphs from 27 sites were screened for the presence of Borrelia spp. using a TaqMan PCR aimed at the 23S rRNA gene sequence. All positive ticks were further analysed by nested PCR amplification and sequence analysis of the 5 S-23 S intergenic spacer. The model indicated that areas with the highest probability of tick presence were mostly located along the western seaboard and the Shannon and Erne river catchments, coinciding with historical high incidence areas of bovine babesiosis, while the infection rate of questing nymphs with B. burgdorferi s.l. and the prevalence of the various genospecies have remained surprisingly stable over the last 3 decades. Clear communication of the potential disease risk arising from a tick bite is essential in order to allay undue concerns over tick-borne diseases among the general public.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, Ireland
| | | | - John Browne
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and University College Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - John F Mee
- Moorepark Research Centres, Teagasc, Ireland
| | | | - Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Alexander G C Vaux
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Jolyon Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
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Kjær LJ, Soleng A, Edgar KS, Lindstedt HEH, Paulsen KM, Andreassen ÅK, Korslund L, Kjelland V, Slettan A, Stuen S, Kjellander P, Christensson M, Teräväinen M, Baum A, Klitgaard K, Bødker R. Predicting and mapping human risk of exposure to Ixodes ricinus nymphs using climatic and environmental data, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 2016. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 24. [PMID: 30862329 PMCID: PMC6402176 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.9.1800101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundTick-borne diseases have become increasingly common in recent decades and present a health problem in many parts of Europe. Control and prevention of these diseases require a better understanding of vector distribution.AimOur aim was to create a model able to predict the distribution of Ixodes ricinus nymphs in southern Scandinavia and to assess how this relates to risk of human exposure.MethodsWe measured the presence of I. ricinus tick nymphs at 159 stratified random lowland forest and meadow sites in Denmark, Norway and Sweden by dragging 400 m transects from August to September 2016, representing a total distance of 63.6 km. Using climate and remote sensing environmental data and boosted regression tree modelling, we predicted the overall spatial distribution of I. ricinus nymphs in Scandinavia. To assess the potential public health impact, we combined the predicted tick distribution with human density maps to determine the proportion of people at risk.ResultsOur model predicted the spatial distribution of I. ricinus nymphs with a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 60%. Temperature was one of the main drivers in the model followed by vegetation cover. Nymphs were restricted to only 17.5% of the modelled area but, respectively, 73.5%, 67.1% and 78.8% of the human populations lived within 5 km of these areas in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.ConclusionThe model suggests that increasing temperatures in the future may expand tick distribution geographically in northern Europe, but this may only affect a small additional proportion of the human population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Jung Kjær
- Department for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Katrine Mørk Paulsen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo Norway.,Department of Virology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Lars Korslund
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Vivian Kjelland
- Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Research Unit, Kristiansand, Norway.,Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Audun Slettan
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Department of Ecology, Wildlife Ecology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Grimsö, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Christensson
- Department of Ecology, Wildlife Ecology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Grimsö, Sweden
| | - Malin Teräväinen
- Department of Ecology, Wildlife Ecology Unit, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Grimsö, Sweden
| | - Andreas Baum
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kirstine Klitgaard
- Department for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - René Bødker
- Department for Diagnostics and Scientific Advice, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Gillingham EL, Hansford KM, Meadows S, Henney J, Wieckowski F, Hernández-Triana LM, Muscat I, Muscat J, Beckert C, Nikolova NI, Cull B, Medlock JM. Ticks on the Channel Islands and implications for public health. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101405. [PMID: 32046929 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Channel Islands are British Crown dependencies located in the English Channel to the west of the Normandy coast in northern France. Whilst there have been studies investigating tick occurrence and distribution in different habitats on the mainland of the UK and in France, the Channel Islands have been relatively understudied. As such, little is known about whether the sheep tick, Ixodes ricinus, is present, and whether there is a potential risk of Lyme borreliosis on the Channel Islands. To ascertain the presence of I. ricinus on the three largest islands in the archipelago: Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, surveys of ticks questing in the vegetation and ticks feeding on hosts were undertaken during April and May 2016. Across all three islands, the highest numbers of ticks were found in woodland habitats. Ixodes ricinus was the predominant questing tick species found on Jersey, and Ixodes ventalloi the most common questing tick species on Alderney and Guernsey, with little or no evidence of questing I. ricinus on either island. During field studies on small mammals, I. ricinus was the predominant tick species feeding on Jersey bank voles (Myodes glareolus caesarius), with Ixodes hexagonus the most common species infesting hedgehogs on Guernsey. We propose that the greater diversity of small mammals on Jersey may be important in supporting immature stages of I. ricinus, in contrast to Guernsey and Alderney. Morphological identification of tick species was confirmed by PCR sequencing based on amplification of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit one (cox1) gene (COI DNA barcoding). To date, there have been few records of human tick bites in the Channel Islands, suggesting that the current risk from tick-borne disease may be low, but continued reporting of any human tick bites, along with reporting of cases of Lyme borreliosis will be important for continued assessment of the impact of tick-borne diseases in the Channel Islands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK.
| | - Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK
| | - Scott Meadows
- Howard Davis Farm, la Route de la Trinité, Trinity, JE3 5JP, Jersey
| | - Julia Henney
- Environment Guernsey Ltd, The Old Tobacco Factory, Route De La Ramee, St. Peter Port, GY1 2ET, Guernsey
| | - Filip Wieckowski
- Alderney Wildlife Trust, 51 Victoria Street, St Anne, Alderney, GY93TA, Guernsey
| | - Luis M Hernández-Triana
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Ivan Muscat
- Jersey General Hospital, The Parade, St Helier, JE1 3QS, Jersey
| | - Joseph Muscat
- Charles University, Opletalova 38, 110 00, Staré Město, Czechia
| | - Clara Beckert
- Charles University, Opletalova 38, 110 00, Staré Město, Czechia
| | - Nadya I Nikolova
- Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ben Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, UK; NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, UK
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Hvidsten D, Frafjord K, Gray JS, Henningsson AJ, Jenkins A, Kristiansen BE, Lager M, Rognerud B, Slåtsve AM, Stordal F, Stuen S, Wilhelmsson P. The distribution limit of the common tick, Ixodes ricinus, and some associated pathogens in north-western Europe. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101388. [PMID: 32122808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In north-western Europe, the common tick, Ixodes ricinus, is widely established, its distribution appears to be increasing and the spread of tick-borne diseases is of increasing concern. The project 'Flått i Nord' (Ticks in northern Norway) commenced in spring 2009 with the intention of studying the tick's distribution and that of its pathogens in northern Norway. Several methods were used: cloth-dragging, collecting from trapped small mammals, and collecting from pets. Since 2010, the occurrence of ticks in the region of northern Norway was determined directly by cloth-dragging 167 times in 109 separate locations between the latitudes of 64 °N and 70 °N (included seven locations in the northern part of Trøndelag County). The northernmost location of a permanent I. ricinus population was found to be Nordøyvågen (66.2204 °N, 12.59 °E) on the Island of Dønna. In a sample of 518 nymphal and adult ticks, the Borrelia prevalence collected close to this distribution limit varied but was low (1-15 %) compared with the locations in Trøndelag, south of the study area (15-27 %). Five specimens (1 %) were positive for Rickettsia helvetica. The length of the vegetation growing season (GSL) can be used as an approximate index for the presence of established populations of I. ricinus. The present study suggests that the threshold GSL for tick establishment is about 170 days, because the median GSL from 1991 to 2015 was 174-184 days at sites with permanent tick populations, showing a clear increase compared with the period 1961-1990. This apparent manifestation of climate change could explain the northward extension of the range of I. ricinus.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hvidsten
- University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Tromsø, Norway; Nordland Hospital, Division of Diagnostic Services, Department of Microbiology, Bodø, Norway.
| | - K Frafjord
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø University Museum, Tromsø, Norway
| | - J S Gray
- University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - A J Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, AND Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - A Jenkins
- University of South-Eastern Norway, Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, Bø, Norway
| | | | - M Lager
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, AND Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - B Rognerud
- University of Oslo, Department of Geosciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - A M Slåtsve
- Nordland Hospital, Division of Diagnostic Services, Department of Microbiology, Bodø, Norway
| | - F Stordal
- University of Oslo, Department of Geosciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - S Stuen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Section for Small Ruminants Research, Sandnes, Norway
| | - P Wilhelmsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, AND Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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11
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Paulsen KM, das Neves CG, Granquist EG, Madslien K, Stuen S, Pedersen BN, Vikse R, Rocchi M, Laming E, Stiasny K, Andreassen ÅK. Cervids as sentinel-species for tick-borne encephalitis virus in Norway - A serological study. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:342-351. [PMID: 31855321 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). TBEV is one of the most important neurological pathogens transmitted by tick bites in Europe. The objectives of this study were to investigate the seroprevalence of TBE antibodies in cervids in Norway and the possible emergence of new foci, and furthermore to evaluate if cervids can function as sentinel animals for the distribution of TBEV in the country. Serum samples from 286 moose, 148 roe deer, 140 red deer and 83 reindeer from all over Norway were collected and screened for TBE immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies with a modified commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed by TBEV serum neutralisation test (SNT). The overall seroprevalence against the TBEV complex in the cervid specimens from Norway was 4.6%. The highest number of seropositive cervids was found in south-eastern Norway, but seropositive cervids were also detected in southern- and central Norway. Antibodies against TBEV detected by SNT were present in 9.4% of the moose samples, 1.4% in red deer, 0.7% in roe deer, and nil in reindeer. The majority of the positive samples in our study originated from areas where human cases of TBE have been reported in Norway. The study is the first comprehensive screening of cervid species in Norway for antibodies to TBEV, and shows that cervids are useful sentinel animals to indicate TBEV occurrence, as supplement to studies in ticks. Furthermore, the results indicate that TBEV might be spreading northwards in Norway. This information may be of relevance for public health considerations and supports previous findings of TBEV in ticks in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrine M Paulsen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Erik G Granquist
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Benedikte N Pedersen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - Rose Vikse
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mara Rocchi
- Virus Surveillance Unit, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland, UK
| | - Ellie Laming
- Virus Surveillance Unit, Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland, UK
| | - Karin Stiasny
- Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Department of Virology, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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12
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Larsson C, Hvidsten D, Stuen S, Henningsson AJ, Wilhelmsson P. "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected near the Arctic Circle in Norway. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:620. [PMID: 30514355 PMCID: PMC6278014 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" is a gram-negative bacterium belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae that, in Europe, is transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks. "Candidatus N. mikurensis" can cause a severe systemic inflammatory syndrome, neoehrlichiosis, mostly in persons with other underlying diseases. To date, "Ca. N. mikurensis" has been found in ticks in different countries in Asia and Europe, but never as far north as at the Arctic Circle. METHODS A total of 1104 I. ricinus ticks collected from vegetation and from animals in northern Norway (64-68°N) were analysed for the prevalence of "Ca. N. mikurensis". Of them, 495 ticks were collected from vegetation by flagging and 609 ticks were collected from dogs and cats. Total nucleic acid extracted from the ticks were converted to cDNA and analyzed with real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of "Ca. N. mikurensis". Positive samples were further analysed by nested PCR and sequencing. RESULTS "Candidatus N. mikurensis" was detected in 11.2% of all collected I. ricinus ticks in northern Norway. The prevalence differed between ticks collected from vegetation (18.2%; 90/495) compared to ticks collected from dogs and cats (5.6%; 34/609). The ticks from dogs and cats were collected in Brønnøy area and seven additional districts further north. The prevalence of "Ca. N. mikurensis" in these ticks differed between geographical localities, with the highest prevalence in the Brønnøy area. CONCLUSIONS The detection of "Ca. N. mikurensis" in I. ricinus ticks from the Arctic Circle in northern Norway indicates potential risk for tick-bitten humans at this latitude to be infected with "Ca. N. mikurensis".
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarinda Larsson
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dag Hvidsten
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Nordland Hospital, Bodø, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Anna J Henningsson
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. .,Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönkoping, Sweden.
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13
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Kjelland V, Paulsen KM, Rollum R, Jenkins A, Stuen S, Soleng A, Edgar KS, Lindstedt HH, Vaino K, Gibory M, Andreassen ÅK. Tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from recreational islands in southern Norway. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1098-1102. [PMID: 29678403 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in questing ticks collected from five recreationally used islands along the Norwegian coastline. Furthermore, since coinfection may affect the disease severity, this study aimed to determine the extent of coinfection in individual ticks or co-localization of tick-borne pathogens. In all, 4158 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were analyzed. For detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), nymphs (3690) were analyzed in pools of ten. To detect Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, 468 nymphs were analyzed individually. A total of five nymph pools was infected with TBEV, giving an overall prevalence of 0.14%. In the individually analyzed ticks, B. burgdorferi s. l. (15.6%), Candidatus N. mikurensis (11%), A. phagocytophilum (1.4%) and B. miyamotoi (0.9%) were detected. Coinfection was found in 3.3% of the ticks, and the only dual infection observed was with B. afzelii and Candidatus N. mikurensis. This association was significantly higher than what would occur by random chance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Kjelland
- University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Natural Sciences, Gimlemoen 25, NO-4630 Kristiansand, Norway; Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Research Unit, P. O. Box 416, NO-4604 Kristiansand, Norway.
| | - Katrine M Paulsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway; University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
| | - Rikke Rollum
- University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering Science, Department of Natural Sciences, Gimlemoen 25, NO-4630 Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
| | - Snorre Stuen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Section of Small Ruminant Research and Herd Health, Kyrkjeveien 332/334, NO-4325 Sandnes, Norway
| | - Arnulf Soleng
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristin S Edgar
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi H Lindstedt
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Pest Control, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kirsti Vaino
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Moustafa Gibory
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Åshild K Andreassen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division for Infection Control and Environmental Health, Department of Virology, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway; University College of Southeast Norway, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Gullbringveien 38, NO-3800 Boe, Norway
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14
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Alfredsson M, Olafsson E, Eydal M, Unnsteinsdottir ER, Hansford K, Wint W, Alexander N, Medlock JM. Surveillance of Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Iceland. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:466. [PMID: 29017579 PMCID: PMC5634879 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2375-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus is a three-host tick, a principal vector of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and one of the main vectors of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean with subpolar oceanic climate. During the past 3–4 decades, average temperature has increased, supporting more favourable conditions for ticks. Reports of I. ricinus have increased in recent years. If these ticks were able to establish in a changing climate, Iceland may face new threats posed by tick-borne diseases. Methods Active field surveillance by tick flagging was conducted at 111 sites around Iceland from August 2015 to September 2016. Longworth mammal traps were used to trap Apodemus sylvaticus in southwestern and southern Iceland. Surveillance on tick importation by migratory birds was conducted in southeastern Iceland, using bird nets and a Heligoland trap. Vulpes lagopus carcasses from all regions of the country were inspected for ticks. In addition, existing and new passive surveillance data from two institutes have been merged and are presented. Continental probability of presence models were produced. Boosted Regression Trees spatial modelling methods and its predictions were assessed against reported presence. Results By field sampling 26 questing I. ricinus ticks (7 males, 3 females and 16 nymphs) were collected from vegetation from three locations in southern and southeastern Iceland. Four ticks were found on migratory birds at their arrival in May 2016. A total of 52 A. sylvaticus were live-trapped but no ticks were found nor on 315 V. lagopus carcasses. Passive surveillance data collected since 1976, reports further 214 I. ricinus ticks from 202 records, with an increase of submissions in recent years. The continental probability of presence model correctly predicts approximately 75% of the recorded presences, but fails to predict a fairly specific category of recorded presence in areas where the records are probably opportunistic and not likely to lead to establishment. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first finding of questing I. ricinus ticks in Iceland. The species could possibly be established locally in Iceland in low abundance, although no questing larvae have yet been detected to confirm established populations. Submitted tick records have increased recently, which may reflect an increase in exposure, or in interest in ticks. Furthermore, the amount of records on dogs, cats and humans indicate that ticks were acquired locally, presenting a local biting risk. Tick findings on migratory birds highlight a possible route of importation. Obtaining questing larvae is now a priority to confirm that I. ricinus populations are established in Iceland. Further surveys on wild mammals (e.g. Rangifer tarandus), livestock and migratory birds are recommended to better understand their role as potential hosts for I. ricinus. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-017-2375-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Alfredsson
- The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urridaholtsstraeti 6-8, 212, Gardabaer, Iceland.
| | - Erling Olafsson
- The Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Urridaholtsstraeti 6-8, 212, Gardabaer, Iceland
| | - Matthias Eydal
- Institute for Experimental Pathology at Keldur, University of Iceland, Keldnavegur 3, 112, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Kayleigh Hansford
- Emergency Response Department, Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - William Wint
- Department of Zoology, Environmental Research Group Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Neil Alexander
- Department of Zoology, Environmental Research Group Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Emergency Response Department, Medical Entomology Group, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, PHE Porton Down, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
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15
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El-Seedi HR, Azeem M, Khalil NS, Sakr HH, Khalifa SAM, Awang K, Saeed A, Farag MA, AlAjmi MF, Pålsson K, Borg-Karlson AK. Essential oils of aromatic Egyptian plants repel nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae). EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2017; 73:139-157. [PMID: 28864886 PMCID: PMC5602041 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-017-0165-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Due to the role of Ixodes ricinus (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae) in the transmission of many serious pathogens, personal protection against bites of this tick is essential. In the present study the essential oils from 11 aromatic Egyptian plants were isolated and their repellent activity against I. ricinus nymphs was evaluated Three oils (i.e. Conyza dioscoridis L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Calendula officinalis L.) elicited high repellent activity in vitro of 94, 84.2 and 82%, respectively. The most active essential oil (C. dioscoridis) was applied in the field at a concentration of 6.5 µg/cm2 and elicited a significant repellent activity against I. ricinus nymphs by 61.1%. The most repellent plants C. dioscoridis, C. officinalis and A. herba-alba yielded essential oils by 0.17, 0.11 and 0.14%, respectively. These oils were further investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. α-Cadinol (10.7%) and hexadecanoic acid (10.5%) were the major components of C. dioscoridis whereas in C. officinalis, α-cadinol (21.2%) and carvone (18.2%) were major components. Artemisia herba-alba contained piperitone (26.5%), ethyl cinnamate (9.5%), camphor (7.7%) and hexadecanoic acid (6.9%). Essential oils of these three plants have a potential to be used for personal protection against tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hesham R El-Seedi
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Biomedical Centre, Uppsala University, Box 574, 751 23, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Ecological Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, El-Menoufia University, Shebin El Kom, Egypt.
| | - Muhammad Azeem
- Ecological Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan
| | - Nasr S Khalil
- Ecological Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
- Agricultural Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanem H Sakr
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, El-Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, 32512, Egypt
| | - Shaden A M Khalifa
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 106 91, Sweden
| | - Khalijah Awang
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Aamer Saeed
- Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan
| | - Mohamed A Farag
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr el Aini St., P.B. 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed F AlAjmi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Katinka Pålsson
- Ecological Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson
- Ecological Chemistry Group, Department of Chemistry, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden.
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16
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Europe-Wide Meta-Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Prevalence in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.00609-17. [PMID: 28550059 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00609-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks in Europe and North America. Despite having multiple tick vectors, the causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato, is vectored mainly by Ixodes ricinus in Europe. In the present study, we aimed to review and summarize the existing data published from 2010 to 2016 concerning the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes in questing I. ricinus ticks. The primary focus was to evaluate the infection rate of these bacteria in ticks, accounting for tick stage, adult tick gender, region, and detection method, as well as to investigate any changes in prevalence over time. The data obtained were compared to the findings of a previous metastudy. The literature search identified data from 23 countries, with 115,028 ticks, in total, inspected for infection with B. burgdorferi sensu lato We showed that the infection rate was significantly higher in adults than in nymphs and in females than in males. We found significant differences between European regions, with the highest infection rates in Central Europe. The most common genospecies were B. afzelii and B. garinii, despite a negative correlation of their prevalence rates. No statistically significant differences were found among the prevalence rates determined by conventional PCR, nested PCR, and real-time PCR.IMPORTANCEBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato is a pathogenic bacterium whose clinical manifestations are associated with Lyme borreliosis. This vector-borne disease is a major public health concern in Europe and North America and may lead to severe arthritic, cardiovascular, and neurological complications if left untreated. Although pathogen prevalence is considered an important predictor of infection risk, solitary isolated data have only limited value. Here we provide summarized information about the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes among host-seeking Ixodes ricinus ticks, the principal tick vector of borreliae in Europe. We compare the new results with previously published data in order to evaluate any changing trends in tick infection.
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17
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Hvidsten D, Mortensen L, Straume B, Arsenovic MG, Pedersen AB, Lyngås G, Gray JS, Grude N. Blood donor Borrelia burgdorferi
sensu lato seroprevalence and history of tick bites at a northern limit of the vector distribution. APMIS 2017; 125:717-724. [PMID: 28612350 DOI: 10.1111/apm.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dag Hvidsten
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control; University Hospital of North Norway; Tromsø Norway
| | - Liisa Mortensen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; Nordland Hospital; Bodø Norway
| | - Bjørn Straume
- The Department of Community Medicine; UiT - The Arctic University of Norway; Tromsø Norway
| | | | | | - Gro Lyngås
- Department of Transfusion Medicine; Vestfold Hospital Trust; Tønsberg Norway
| | - Jeremy S. Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science; UCD Science Centre - West; University College Dublin; Dublin Ireland
| | - Nils Grude
- Department of Microbiology; Vestfold Hospital Trust; Tønsberg Norway
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18
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Medlock JM, Hansford K, Vaux AG, Simonsen W, Jensen JK, Joensen C, Versteirt V, Hansen LJ. Surveillance for Ixodes ricinus ticks ( Acari , Ixodidae ) on the Faroe Islands. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:190-195. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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19
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Stricker RB, Johnson L. Lyme disease: the promise of Big Data, companion diagnostics and precision medicine. Infect Drug Resist 2016; 9:215-9. [PMID: 27672336 PMCID: PMC5024771 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s114770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi has become a major worldwide epidemic. Recent studies based on Big Data registries show that >300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the USA, and up to two-thirds of individuals infected with B. burgdorferi will fail conventional 30-year-old antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. In addition, animal and human evidence suggests that sexual transmission of the Lyme spirochete may occur. Improved companion diagnostic tests for Lyme disease need to be implemented, and novel treatment approaches are urgently needed to combat the epidemic. In particular, therapies based on the principles of precision medicine could be modeled on successful "designer drug" treatment for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C virus infection featuring targeted protease inhibitors. The use of Big Data registries, companion diagnostics and precision medicine will revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease.
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