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Dyczko D, Krysmann A, Kolanek A, Borczyk B, Kiewra D. Bacterial pathogens in Ixodes ricinus collected from lizards Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara in urban areas of Wrocław, SW Poland- preliminary study. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 93:409-420. [PMID: 38869727 PMCID: PMC11269471 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00927-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the level of infection of Ixodes ricinus ticks with pathogens (Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp.) collected from Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara lizards in the urban areas of Wrocław (SW Poland). The study was carried out in July-August 2020. Lizards were caught by a noose attached to a pole or by bare hands, identified by species, and examined for the presence of ticks. Each lizard was then released at the site of capture. Ticks were removed with tweezers, identified by species using keys, and molecular tests were performed for the presence of pathogens. From 28 lizards (17 specimens of Z. vivipara and 11 specimens of L. agilis) a total of 445 ticks, including 321 larvae and 124 nymphs, identified as I. ricinus were collected. A larger number of ticks were obtained from L. agilis compared to Z. vivipara. Molecular tests for the presence of pathogens were performed on 445 specimens of I. ricinus. The nested PCR method for the fla gene allowed the detection of Borrelia spp. in 9.4% of ticks, and it was higher in ticks from L. agilis (12.0%) than from Z. vivipara (1.0%). The RFLP method showed the presence of three species, including two belonging to the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex (B. lusitaniae and B. afzelii), and B. miyamotoi. The overall level of infection of Rickettsia spp. was 19.3%, including 27.2% in ticks collected from Z. vivipara and 17.0% from L. agilis. Sequencing of randomly selected samples confirmed the presence of R. helvetica. DNA of Anaplasma spp. was detected only in one pool of larvae collected from L. agilis, and sample sequencing confirmed the presence of (A) phagocytophilum. The research results indicate the important role of lizards as hosts of ticks and their role in maintaining pathogens in the environment including urban agglomeration as evidenced by the first recorded presence of (B) miyamotoi and (A) phagocytophilum in I. ricinus ticks collected from L. agilis. However, confirmation of the role of sand lizards in maintaining (B) miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum requires more studies and sampling of lizard tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmara Dyczko
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Acaroentomology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, Wrocław, 51-148, Poland.
| | - Alicja Krysmann
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU, Ås, Norway
| | - Aleksandra Kolanek
- Department of Geoinformatics and Cartography, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, pl. Uniwersytecki 1, Wrocław, 50-137, Poland
| | - Bartosz Borczyk
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Conservation of Vertebrates, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Sienkiewicza 21, Wrocław, 50-335, Poland
| | - Dorota Kiewra
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Acaroentomology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77, Wrocław, 51-148, Poland
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Pustijanac E, Buršić M, Millotti G, Paliaga P, Iveša N, Cvek M. Tick-Borne Bacterial Diseases in Europe: Threats to public health. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:1261-1295. [PMID: 38676855 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04836-5] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne diseases, caused by bacterial pathogens, pose a growing threat to public health in Europe. This paper provides an overview of the historical context of the discovery of the most impactful pathogens transmitted by ticks, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Francisella spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Understanding the historical context of their discovery provides insight into the evolution of our understanding of these pathogens. METHODS AND RESULTS Systematic investigation of the prevalence and transmission dynamics of these bacterial pathogens is provided, highlighting the intricate relationships among ticks, host organisms, and the environment. Epidemiology is explored, providing an in-depth analysis of clinical features associated with infections. Diagnostic methodologies undergo critical examination, with a spotlight on technological advancements that enhance detection capabilities. Additionally, the paper discusses available treatment options, addressing existing therapeutic strategies and considering future aspects. CONCLUSIONS By integrating various pieces of information on these bacterial species, the paper aims to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers and healthcare professionals addressing the impact of bacterial tick-borne diseases in Europe. This review underscores the importance of understanding the complex details influencing bacterial prevalence and transmission dynamics to better combat these emerging public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emina Pustijanac
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia.
| | - Moira Buršić
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Gioconda Millotti
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Paolo Paliaga
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Neven Iveša
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100, Pula, Croatia
| | - Maja Cvek
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
- Teaching Institute of Public Health of the Region of Istria, Nazorova 23, 52100, Pula, Croatia
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Estrada-Peña A, Sprong H, Wijburg SR. A crucial nexus: Phylogenetic versus ecological support of the life-cycle of Ixodes ricinus (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) and Borrelia spp. amplification. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 6:100198. [PMID: 39081593 PMCID: PMC11286992 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100198] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
The tick Ixodes ricinus parasitizes a wide range of vertebrates. These hosts vary in the relative contribution to the feeding of the different tick life stages, and their interplay is pivotal in the transmission dynamics of tick-borne pathogens. We aimed to know if there is a phylogenetic signal in the feeding and propagation hosts of I. ricinus, independently of other traits, as well as in the amplification of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) in feeding larvae. We used a compilation of 1127 published field surveys in Europe, providing data for 96,586 hosts, resulting in 265,124 larvae, 72,080 nymphs and 37,726 adults. The load of immature ticks on hosts showed a significant phylogenetic signal towards the genera Psammodromus, Podarcis, and Lacerta (nymphs only). We hypothesize that such signal is the background hallmark of the primitive hosts associations of I. ricinus, probably in the glaciation refugia. A secondary phylogenetic signal for tick immatures appeared for some genera of Rodentia and Eulipotyphla. Results suggest the notion that the tick gained these hosts after spread from glaciation refugia. Analyses support a phylogenetic signal in the tick adults, firmly linked to Cetartiodactyla, but not to Carnivora or Aves. This study provides the first demonstration of host preferences in the generalist tick I. ricinus. We further demonstrate that combinations of vertebrates contribute in different proportions supporting the tick life-cycle in biogeographical regions of the Western Palaearctic as each region has unique combinations of dominant hosts. Analysis of the amplification of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) demonstrated that each genospecies is better amplified by competent reservoirs with which a strong phylogenetic signal exists. These vertebrates are the same along the spatial range: environmental traits do not change the reservoirs along the large territory studied. The transmission of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) is amplified by a few species of vertebrates, that share biogeographical regions with the tick vector in variable proportions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, University of Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón, IA2, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain
- Ministry of Human Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sara R. Wijburg
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Koutantou M, Drancourt M, Angelakis E. Prevalence of Lyme Disease and Relapsing Fever Borrelia spp. in Vectors, Animals, and Humans within a One Health Approach in Mediterranean Countries. Pathogens 2024; 13:512. [PMID: 38921809 PMCID: PMC11206712 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13060512] [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: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Borrelia has been divided into Borreliella spp., which can cause Lyme Disease (LD), and Borrelia spp., which can cause Relapsing Fever (RF). The distribution of genus Borrelia has broadened due to factors such as climate change, alterations in land use, and enhanced human and animal mobility. Consequently, there is an increasing necessity for a One Health strategy to identify the key components in the Borrelia transmission cycle by monitoring the human-animal-environment interactions. The aim of this study is to summarize all accessible data to increase our understanding and provide a comprehensive overview of Borrelia distribution in the Mediterranean region. Databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google were searched to determine the presence of Borreliella and Borrelia spp. in vectors, animals, and humans in countries around the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 3026 were identified and screened and after exclusion of papers that did not fulfill the including criteria, 429 were used. After examination of the available literature, it was revealed that various species associated with LD and RF are prevalent in vectors, animals, and humans in Mediterranean countries and should be monitored in order to effectively manage and prevent potential infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrto Koutantou
- Diagnostic Department and Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | | | - Emmanouil Angelakis
- Diagnostic Department and Public Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Ortega N, Arcenillas-Hernández I, Villa MI, González MD, Caro MR. Molecular identification of Borrelia and SFG Rickettsia spp. in hard ticks parasitizing domestic and wild animals in southeastern Spain. Vet Res Commun 2024; 48:1785-1790. [PMID: 38231370 PMCID: PMC11147859 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10292-x] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Lyme disease and the spotted fever group rickettsiosis, involve bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia and Rickettsia, respectively. These infections are the most important tick-borne zoonotic diseases involving ticks as vectors. Descriptive and epidemiological studies are essential to determine the animal hosts involved in the maintenance of these diseases. In the present study, 94 tick pool samples from 15 different host species located in the Region of Murcia (southeastern, Spain) were analysed. Ticks were morphologically identified as: Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Ixodes Ricinus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Our results showed that 5.3% of the tick pool samples carried Borrelia spp. DNA, and 20.2% carried SFG Rickettsia DNA. In every hard tick pool Spot Fever Group (SFG) Rickettsia spp. DNA were detected, except for H. lusitanicum. Likewise, D. marginatum was the only species in which Borrelia spp. DNA was not detected. Barbary sheep and wild boar were the host species in which tick pools showed DNA presence of both pathogens. This study increases the knowledge about the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA and SFG Rickettsia spp. DNA in different hard tick species from this geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ortega
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain.
| | - I Arcenillas-Hernández
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - M I Villa
- Dirección General de Salud Pública y Adicciones. Servicio de Seguridad Alimentaria y Zoonosis, Consejería de Salud de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M D González
- Dirección General de Salud Pública y Adicciones. Servicio de Seguridad Alimentaria y Zoonosis, Consejería de Salud de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Caro
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional, "Campus Mare Nostrum" Universidad de Murcia, Espinardo, Murcia, 30100, Spain
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Springer A, Schütte K, Brandes F, Reuschel M, Fehr M, Dobler G, Margos G, Fingerle V, Sprong H, Strube C. Potential drivers of vector-borne pathogens in urban environments: European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) in the spotlight. One Health 2024; 18:100764. [PMID: 38855195 PMCID: PMC11157281 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are considered as (re-)emerging, but information on the transmission cycles and wildlife reservoirs is often incomplete, particularly with regard to urban areas. The present study investigated blood samples from European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) presented at wildlife rehabilitation centres in the region of Hanover. Past exposure to B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was assessed by serological detection of antibodies, while current infections with Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp. and Spiroplasma ixodetis were investigated by (q)PCR. Of 539 hedgehogs tested for anti-Borrelia antibodies, 84.8% (457/539) were seropositive, with a higher seropositivity rate in adult than subadult animals, while anti-TBEV antibodies were detected in one animal only (0.2%; 1/526). By qPCR, 31.2% (168/539) of hedgehog blood samples were positive for Borrelia spp., 49.7% (261/525) for A. phagocytophilum, 13.0% (68/525) for Bartonella spp., 8.2% for S. ixodetis (43/525), 8.0% (42/525) for Rickettsia spp. and 1.3% (7/525) for Babesia spp., while N. mikurensis was not detected. While further differentiation of Borrelia spp. infections was not successful, 63.2% of the A. phagocytophilum infections were assigned to the zoonotic ecotype I and among Rickettsia spp. infections, 50.0% to R. helvetica by ecotype- or species-specific qPCR, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of a Rickettsia sp. closely related to Rickettsia felis in addition to a Bartonella sp. previously described from hedgehogs, as well as Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum. These findings show that hedgehogs from rehabilitation centres are valuable sources to identify One Health pathogens in urban areas. The hedgehogs are not only exposed to pathogens from fleas and ticks in urban areas, but they also act as potent amplifiers for these vectors and their pathogens, relevant for citizens and their pets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Karolin Schütte
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
- Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center Sachsenhagen, Hohe Warte 1, 31553 Sachsenhagen, Germany
| | - Florian Brandes
- Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center Sachsenhagen, Hohe Warte 1, 31553 Sachsenhagen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Reuschel
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Michael Fehr
- Department of Small Mammal, Reptile and Avian Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hanover, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- National Reference Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Food and Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstraße 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Food and Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstraße 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute of Public Health and Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720, BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany
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Nowak TA, Burke RL, Diuk-Wasser MA, Lin YP. Lizards and the enzootic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Mol Microbiol 2024; 121:1262-1272. [PMID: 38830767 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15271] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging pathogens often stem from zoonotic origins, cycling between humans and animals, and are frequently vectored and maintained by hematophagous arthropod vectors. The efficiency by which these disease agents are successfully transmitted between vertebrate hosts is influenced by many factors, including the host on which a vector feeds. The Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato has adapted to survive in complex host environments, vectored by Ixodes ticks, and maintained in multiple vertebrate hosts. The versatility of Lyme borreliae in disparate host milieus is a compelling platform to investigate mechanisms dictating pathogen transmission through complex networks of vertebrates and ticks. Squamata, one of the most diverse clade of extant reptiles, is comprised primarily of lizards, many of which are readily fed upon by Ixodes ticks. Yet, lizards are one of the least studied taxa at risk of contributing to the transmission and life cycle maintenance of Lyme borreliae. In this review, we summarize the current evidence, spanning from field surveillance to laboratory infection studies, supporting their contributions to Lyme borreliae circulation. We also summarize the current understanding of divergent lizard immune responses that may explain the underlying molecular mechanisms to confer Lyme spirochete survival in vertebrate hosts. This review offers a critical perspective on potential enzootic cycles existing between lizard-tick-Borrelia interactions and highlights the importance of an eco-immunology lens for zoonotic pathogen transmission studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan A Nowak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Russell L Burke
- Department of Biology, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA
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Kulisz J, Hoeks S, Kunc-Kozioł R, Woźniak A, Zając Z, Schipper AM, Cabezas-Cruz A, Huijbregts MAJ. Spatiotemporal trends and covariates of Lyme borreliosis incidence in Poland, 2010-2019. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10768. [PMID: 38730239 PMCID: PMC11087522 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61349-z] [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: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly diagnosed tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. Since an efficient vaccine is not yet available, prevention of transmission is essential. This, in turn, requires a thorough comprehension of the spatiotemporal dynamics of LB transmission as well as underlying drivers. This study aims to identify spatiotemporal trends and unravel environmental and socio-economic covariates of LB incidence in Poland, using consistent monitoring data from 2010 through 2019 obtained for 320 (aggregated) districts. Using yearly LB incidence values, we identified an overall increase in LB incidence from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, we observed a large variation of LB incidences between the Polish districts, with the highest risks of LB in the eastern districts. We applied spatiotemporal Bayesian models in an all-subsets modeling framework to evaluate potential associations between LB incidence and various potentially relevant environmental and socio-economic variables, including climatic conditions as well as characteristics of the vegetation and the density of tick host species. The best-supported spatiotemporal model identified positive relationships between LB incidence and forest cover, the share of parks and green areas, minimum monthly temperature, mean monthly precipitation, and gross primary productivity. A negative relationship was found with human population density. The findings of our study indicate that LB incidence in Poland might increase as a result of ongoing climate change, notably increases in minimum monthly temperature. Our results may aid in the development of targeted prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Kulisz
- Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska St. 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Selwyn Hoeks
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, Nijmegen, GL, The Netherlands
| | - Renata Kunc-Kozioł
- Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska St. 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Woźniak
- Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska St. 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska St. 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aafke M Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, Nijmegen, GL, The Netherlands
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Mark A J Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500, Nijmegen, GL, The Netherlands
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Lee JT, Li Z, Nunez LD, Katzel D, Perrin Jr. BS, Raghuraman V, Rajyaguru U, Llamera KE, Andrew L, Anderson AS, Hovius JW, Liberator PA, Simon R, Hao L. Development of a sequence-based in silico OspA typing method for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001252. [PMID: 38787376 PMCID: PMC11165634 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001252] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD), caused by spirochete bacteria of the genus Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, remains the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. Borrelia outer surface protein A (OspA) is an integral surface protein expressed during the tick cycle, and a validated vaccine target. There are at least 20 recognized Borrelia genospecies, that vary in OspA serotype. This study presents a new in silico sequence-based method for OspA typing using next-generation sequence data. Using a compiled database of over 400 Borrelia genomes encompassing the 4 most common disease-causing genospecies, we characterized OspA diversity in a manner that can accommodate existing and new OspA types and then defined boundaries for classification and assignment of OspA types based on the sequence similarity. To accommodate potential novel OspA types, we have developed a new nomenclature: OspA in silico type (IST). Beyond the ISTs that corresponded to existing OspA serotypes 1-8, we identified nine additional ISTs that cover new OspA variants in B. bavariensis (IST9-10), B. garinii (IST11-12), and other Borrelia genospecies (IST13-17). The IST typing scheme and associated OspA variants are available as part of the PubMLST Borrelia spp. database. Compared to traditional OspA serotyping methods, this new computational pipeline provides a more comprehensive and broadly applicable approach for characterization of OspA type and Borrelia genospecies to support vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan T. Lee
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Zhenghui Li
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Lorna D. Nunez
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Daniel Katzel
- Pfizer Digital, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | | | - Varun Raghuraman
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Urvi Rajyaguru
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Katrina E. Llamera
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Lubomira Andrew
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | | | - Joppe W. Hovius
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), location Academic Medical Center (AMC), Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paul A. Liberator
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Raphael Simon
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
| | - Li Hao
- Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer, Inc., Pearl River, NY, 10965, USA
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10
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Alkathiry HA, Alghamdi SQ, Sinha A, Margos G, Stekolnikov AA, Alagaili AN, Darby AC, Makepeace BL, Khoo JJ. Microbiome and mitogenomics of the chigger mite Pentidionis agamae: potential role as an Orientia vector and associations with divergent clades of Wolbachia and Borrelia. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:380. [PMID: 38632506 PMCID: PMC11025265 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10301-6] [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: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trombiculid mites are globally distributed, highly diverse arachnids that largely lack molecular resources such as whole mitogenomes for the elucidation of taxonomic relationships. Trombiculid larvae (chiggers) parasitise vertebrates and can transmit bacteria (Orientia spp.) responsible for scrub typhus, a zoonotic febrile illness. Orientia tsutsugamushi causes most cases of scrub typhus and is endemic to the Asia-Pacific Region, where it is transmitted by Leptotrombidium spp. chiggers. However, in Dubai, Candidatus Orientia chuto was isolated from a case of scrub typhus and is also known to circulate among rodents in Saudi Arabia and Kenya, although its vectors remain poorly defined. In addition to Orientia, chiggers are often infected with other potential pathogens or arthropod-specific endosymbionts, but their significance for trombiculid biology and public health is unclear. RESULTS Ten chigger species were collected from rodents in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Chiggers were pooled according to species and screened for Orientia DNA by PCR. Two species (Microtrombicula muhaylensis and Pentidionis agamae) produced positive results for the htrA gene, although Ca. Orientia chuto DNA was confirmed by Sanger sequencing only in P. agamae. Metagenomic sequencing of three pools of P. agamae provided evidence for two other bacterial associates: a spirochaete and a Wolbachia symbiont. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and multi-locus sequence typing genes placed the spirochaete in a clade of micromammal-associated Borrelia spp. that are widely-distributed globally with no known vector. For the Wolbachia symbiont, a genome assembly was obtained that allowed phylogenetic localisation in a novel, divergent clade. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) barcodes for Saudi Arabian chiggers enabled comparisons with global chigger diversity, revealing several cases of discordance with classical taxonomy. Complete mitogenome assemblies were obtained for the three P. agamae pools and almost 50 SNPs were identified, despite a common geographic origin. CONCLUSIONS P. agamae was identified as a potential vector of Ca. Orientia chuto on the Arabian Peninsula. The detection of an unusual Borrelia sp. and a divergent Wolbachia symbiont in P. agamae indicated links with chigger microbiomes in other parts of the world, while COI barcoding and mitogenomic analyses greatly extended our understanding of inter- and intraspecific relationships in trombiculid mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadil A Alkathiry
- Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Samia Q Alghamdi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Baha University, P.O.Box1988, Al-Baha, 65799, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amit Sinha
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts, 01938, USA
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, Oberschleissheim, 85764, Germany
| | - Alexandr A Stekolnikov
- Laboratory of Parasitic Arthropods, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya embankment 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia
| | | | - Alistair C Darby
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK
| | - Jing Jing Khoo
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L3 5RF, UK.
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11
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Van Gestel M, Heylen D, Verheyen K, Fonville M, Sprong H, Matthysen E. Recreational hazard: Vegetation and host habitat use correlate with changes in tick-borne disease hazard at infrastructure within forest stands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170749. [PMID: 38340833 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Studies on density and pathogen prevalence of Ixodes ricinus indicate that vegetation and local host community drive much of their variation between green spaces. Contrarily, micro-geographic variation is understudied, although its understanding could reduce disease risk. We studied the density of infectious nymphal Ixodes sp. ("DIN", proxy for disease hazard), density of questing nymphs ("DON") and nymphal infection prevalence ("NIP") near recreational forest infrastructure. Drag sampling within forest stands and at adjacent benches and trails was combined with vegetation surveys, camera trapping hosts and pathogen screening of ticks. We analysed Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and its genospecies, with complementary analyses on Rickettsia sp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Borrelia miyamotoi. DIN was highest in forest interior and at trails enclosed by forest. Lower disease hazard was observed at benches and trails at forest edges. This infrastructure effect can be attributed to variation in vegetation characteristics and the habitat use of tick hosts, specifically roe deer, rodents and songbirds. DON is the main driver of DIN at micro-geographic scale and negatively affected by infrastructure and forest edges. A positive association with vegetation cover in understorey and canopy was observed, as were positive trends for local rodent and songbird abundance. NIP of different pathogens was affected by different drivers. Lower B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in the interior of forest stands, driven by its most prevalent genospecies B. afzelii, points towards higher density of uninfected hosts there. B. afzelii was positively associated with understorey containing tall species and with high canopy cover, whereas local bird community composition predicts B. garinii prevalence. A positive effect of songbird abundance and a negative effect of pigeons were observed. Our findings support amplification and inhibition mechanisms within forest stands and highlight that the effect of established drivers of DIN may differ based on the considered spatial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mats Van Gestel
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium.
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Manoj Fonville
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Matthysen
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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12
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Machtinger ET, Poh KC, Pesapane R, Tufts DM. An integrative framework for tick management: the need to connect wildlife science, One Health, and interdisciplinary perspectives. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101131. [PMID: 37866434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. Their emergence is influenced by various factors such as environmental changes, host characteristics, and human behavior. The One Health approach is necessary to thoroughly investigate tick-borne diseases and understand the complex interactions between environmental, animal, and human health. Anthropogenic changes have impacted predators, leading to cascading effects on wildlife prey species and the emergence of vector-borne diseases. The increase in global trade and travel has led to the introduction of several invasive vector species, increasing the risk of zoonotic pathogen spillover. Tick and tick-borne disease research requires an interdisciplinary approach to address challenges in a One Health paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika T Machtinger
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, 4 Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA,.
| | - Karen C Poh
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, ADBF 4015, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Risa Pesapane
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, 1920 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Danielle M Tufts
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, 2119 Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Pretoria, South Africa
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13
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Lindsø LK, Viljugrein H, Mysterud A. Vector competence of Ixodes ricinus instars for the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in different small mammalian hosts. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:23. [PMID: 38238796 PMCID: PMC10797980 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06110-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many pathogens and parasites can infect multiple host species, and the competence of different hosts as pathogen reservoirs is key to understanding their epidemiology. Small mammals are important hosts for the instar stages of Ixodes ricinus ticks, the principal vector of Lyme disease in Europe. Small mammals also act as reservoirs of Borrelia afzelii, the most common genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) spirochetes causing Lyme disease in Europe. However, we lack quantitative estimates on whether different small mammal species are equally suitable hosts for feeding I. ricinus and whether they show differences in pathogen transmission from host to tick. METHODS Here, we analysed the feeding success and prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infections in 12,987 instar I. ricinus found on captured small mammals with known infection status in Norway (2018-2022). RESULTS We found that larvae were more likely to acquire a blood meal from common shrews (Sorex araneus, 46%) compared to bank voles (Myodes glareolus, 36%) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus, 31%). Nymphs tended to be more likely to acquire a blood meal from wood mice (66%) compared to bank voles (54%). Common shrews harboured few nymphs (n=19). Furthermore, we found that larvae feeding on infected bank voles (11%) were more likely to be infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. than larvae on infected common shrews (7%) or wood mice (4%). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides quantitative evidence of differences in suitability for the instar stages of I. ricinus across taxa of small mammals and highlights how even known small mammal host species can differ in their ability to feed ticks and infect larval ticks with the pathogen causing Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars K Lindsø
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1066, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1066, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 64, NO-1431, Ås, Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1066, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P.O. Box 5685, NO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
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14
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Ružić-Sabljić E, Maraspin V, Bogovič P, Rojko T, Ogrinc K, Jaklič M, Strle F. Microbiologic Findings in a Cohort of Patients with Erythema Migrans. Microorganisms 2024; 12:185. [PMID: 38258012 PMCID: PMC10819209 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010185] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Erythema migrans (EM) is the initial and the most frequent clinical manifestation of Lyme borreliosis (LB). Herein, we report on the capacity of culture and serology for the demonstration of Borrelia infection in a cohort of 292 patients diagnosed with typical EM at a single medical center. The median duration of EM at diagnosis was 12 days, and the largest diameter was 16 cm; 252 (86.3%) patients presented with solitary EM, whereas 40 (13.7%) had multiple EM. A total of 95/292 (32.5%) patients had positive IgM, and 169 (57.9%) had positive IgG serum antibodies; the Borrelia isolation rate was 182/292 (62.3%). The most frequent species by far was B. afzelii (142/148, 95.9%) while B. garinii (2.7%) and B. burgdorferi s.s. (1.4%) were rare. IgM seropositivity was associated with a younger age, multiple EM and the absence of underlying chronic illness; IgG seropositivity was associated with the duration of EM at diagnosis, the diameter of the EM, having had a previous episode of LB and the absence of symptoms at the site of the EM. Furthermore, the Borrelia isolation rate was statistically significantly lower in patients with positive Borrelia IgM antibodies. Although microbiologic analyses are not needed for the diagnosis of typical EM, they enable insights into the etiology and dynamics of the immune response in the course of early LB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Ružić-Sabljić
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vera Maraspin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.M.); (P.B.); (T.R.); (K.O.); (F.S.)
| | - Petra Bogovič
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.M.); (P.B.); (T.R.); (K.O.); (F.S.)
| | - Tereza Rojko
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.M.); (P.B.); (T.R.); (K.O.); (F.S.)
| | - Katarina Ogrinc
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.M.); (P.B.); (T.R.); (K.O.); (F.S.)
| | - Martina Jaklič
- Centre for Clinical Research, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Franc Strle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1525 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.M.); (P.B.); (T.R.); (K.O.); (F.S.)
- Centre for Clinical Research, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
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15
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Osikowicz LM, Rizzo MR, Hojgaard A, Maes SE, Eisen RJ. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in host-seeking Ixodes species ticks in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102270. [PMID: 37813001 PMCID: PMC10877637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102270] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States and is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis in the eastern US and I. pacificus in the west. The causative agents, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) and B. mayonii belong to the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) species complex. An additional eight species of Bbsl have been identified in Ixodes species ticks in the US, but their geographic distribution, vector associations, human encounter rates and pathogenicity in humans are poorly defined. To better understand the geographic distribution and vector associations of Bbsl spirochetes in frequent and infrequent human-biting Ixodes species ticks in the US, we previously screened 29,517 host-seeking I. scapularis or I. pacificus ticks and 692 ticks belonging to eight other Ixodes species for Borrelia spirochetes using a previously described tick testing algorithm that utilizes a combination of real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing for Borrelia species identification. The assay was designed to detect known human pathogens spread by Ixodes species ticks, but it was not optimized to detect Bbsl co-infections. To determine if such co-infections were overlooked particularly in ticks infected with Bbss, we retested and analyzed a subsample of 845 Borrelia infected ticks using a next generation sequencing multiplex PCR amplicon sequencing (MPAS) assay that can identify Borrelia species and Bbsl co-infections. The assay also includes targets that can molecularly confirm identifications of Ixodes species ticks to better inform pathogen-vector associations. We show that Bbss is the most prevalent species in I. scapularis and I. pacificus; other Bbsl species were rarely detected in I. scapularis and the only Bbsl co-infections identified in I. scapularis were with Bbss and B. mayonii. We detected B. andersonii in I. dentatus in the Mid-Atlantic and Upper Midwest regions, B. kurtenbachii in I. scapularis in the Upper Midwest, B. bissettiae in I. pacificus and I. spinipalpis in the Northwest, and B. carolinensis in I. affinis in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, and B. lanei in I. spinipalpis in the Northwest. Twelve of 62 (19.4%) Borrelia-infected I. affinis from the Mid-Atlantic region were co-infected with Bbss and B. carolinensis. Our data support the notion that Bbsl species are maintained in largely independent enzootic cycles, with occasional spill-over resulting in multiple Bbsl species detected in Ixodes species ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M Osikowicz
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Maria R Rizzo
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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16
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Moraga-Fernández A, Muñoz-Hernández C, Sánchez-Sánchez M, Fernández de Mera IG, de la Fuente J. Exploring the diversity of tick-borne pathogens: The case of bacteria (Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Coxiella and Borrelia) protozoa (Babesia and Theileria) and viruses (Orthonairovirus, tick-borne encephalitis virus and louping ill virus) in the European continent. Vet Microbiol 2023; 286:109892. [PMID: 37866329 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109892] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are the main vectors for the transmission of bacterial, protist and viral pathogens in Europe affecting wildlife and domestic animals. However, some of them are zoonotic and can cause serious, sometimes fatal, problems in human health. A systematic review in PubMed/MEDLINE database was conducted to determine the spatial distribution and host and tick species ranges of a selection of tick-borne bacteria (Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Coxiella spp., and Rickettsia spp.), protists (Babesia spp. and Theileria spp.), and viruses (Orthonairovirus, and flaviviruses tick-borne encephalitis virus and louping ill virus) on the European continent in a five-year period (November 2017 - November 2022). Only studies using PCR methods were selected, retrieving a total of 429 articles. Overall, up to 85 species of the selected tick-borne pathogens were reported from 36 European countries, and Anaplasma spp. was described in 37% (159/429) of the articles, followed by Babesia spp. (34%, 148/429), Borrelia spp. (34%, 147/429), Rickettsia spp. (33%, 142/429), Theileria spp. (11%, 47/429), tick-borne flaviviruses (9%, 37/429), Orthonairovirus (7%, 28/429) and Coxiella spp. (5%, 20/429). Host and tick ranges included 97 and 50 species, respectively. The highest tick-borne pathogen diversity was detected in domestic animals, and 12 species were shared between humans, wildlife, and domestic hosts, highlighting the following zoonotic species: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens, Babesia microti, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia garinii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia monacensis and tick-borne encephalitis virus. These results contribute to the implementation of effective interventions for the surveillance and control of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Moraga-Fernández
- Health and Biotechnology Research Group (SaBio). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Clara Muñoz-Hernández
- Health and Biotechnology Research Group (SaBio). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain; Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Marta Sánchez-Sánchez
- Health and Biotechnology Research Group (SaBio). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Isabel G Fernández de Mera
- Health and Biotechnology Research Group (SaBio). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José de la Fuente
- Health and Biotechnology Research Group (SaBio). Institute for Game and Wildlife Research, IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain; Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
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17
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Grassi L, Drigo M, Zelená H, Pasotto D, Cassini R, Mondin A, Franzo G, Tucciarone CM, Ossola M, Vidorin E, Menandro ML. Wild ungulates as sentinels of flaviviruses and tick-borne zoonotic pathogen circulation: an Italian perspective. BMC Vet Res 2023; 19:155. [PMID: 37710273 PMCID: PMC10500747 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03717-x] [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: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne zoonotic diseases are a concerning issue in Europe. Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) have been reported in several countries with a large impact on public health; other emerging pathogens, such as Rickettsiales, and mosquito-borne flaviviruses have been increasingly reported. All these pathogens are linked to wild ungulates playing roles as tick feeders, spreaders, and sentinels for pathogen circulation. This study evaluated the prevalence of TBEV, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Coxiella spp. by biomolecular screening of blood samples and ticks collected from wild ungulates. Ungulates were also screened by ELISA and virus neutralization tests for flaviviral antibody detection. RESULTS A total of 274 blood samples were collected from several wild ungulate species, as well as 406 Ixodes ricinus, which were feeding on them. Blood samples tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and Rickettsia spp. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and showed an overall flaviviral seroprevalence of 30.6% (22.1-39.2%): 26.1% (17.9-34.3%) for TBEV, 3.6% (0.1-7.1%) for Usutu virus and 0.9% (0-2.7%) for West Nile virus. Ticks were pooled when possible and yielded 331 tick samples that tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (8.8%; 5.8-11.8%), Rickettsia spp. (26.6%; 21.8-31.2%) and Neoehrlichia mikurensis (1.2%; 0-2.4%). TBEV and Coxiella spp. were not detected in either blood or tick samples. CONCLUSIONS This research highlighted a high prevalence of several tick-borne zoonotic pathogens and high seroprevalence for flaviviruses in both hilly and alpine areas. For the first time, an alpine chamois tested positive for anti-TBEV antibodies. Ungulate species are of particular interest due to their sentinel role in flavivirus circulation and their indirect role in tick-borne diseases and maintenance as Ixodes feeders and spreaders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Grassi
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Michele Drigo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Hana Zelená
- Department of Virology, Institute of Public Health, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Pasotto
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Rudi Cassini
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Alessandra Mondin
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Claudia Maria Tucciarone
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Martina Ossola
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Elena Vidorin
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Menandro
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Viale dell’Università, 16, Legnaro, PD 35020 Italy
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Osikowicz LM, Hojgaard A, Maes S, Eisen RJ, Stenglein MD. A bioinformatics pipeline for a tick pathogen surveillance multiplex amplicon sequencing assay. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102207. [PMID: 37247570 PMCID: PMC10878300 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance program collects information to better understand the regional distribution, prevalence, and exposure risk of host-seeking medically important ticks in the United States. A recently developed next generation sequencing (NGS) targeted multiplex PCR amplicon sequencing (MPAS) assay has enhanced the detection capabilities for Ixodes-associated human pathogens found in Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus ticks compared to the routinely used real-time PCR assay. To operationalize the MPAS assay for the large number of tick surveillance submissions processed each year, a reproducible high throughput bioinformatics pipeline is needed. We describe the development and validation of the MPAS pipeline, a bioinformatics pipeline that identifies and summarizes amplicon sequences produced by the MPAS assay. This pipeline is portable and reproducible across different computing environments, and flexible by allowing modifications to input parameters, assay primer and reference sequences. The automation of the summary report, BLAST report, and phylogenetic analysis reduces the amount of time needed for downstream analysis. To validate this pipeline, we compared the analysis of a MPAS assay dataset consisting of 175 I. scapularis nymphs with the MPAS pipeline and previously published results analyzed with a CLC Genomic Workbench workflow. The MPAS pipeline identified the same number of positive ticks for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia species as the original analysis, but the MPAS pipeline provided enhanced sequencing resolution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato co-infected samples. The reproducibility, flexibility, analysis automation, and improved sequence resolution of the MPAS pipeline make it well suited for a high throughput tick pathogen surveillance program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn M Osikowicz
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Sarah Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Center for Vector-Borne Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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19
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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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20
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Hepner S, Kuleshov K, Tooming-Kunderud A, Alig N, Gofton A, Casjens S, Rollins RE, Dangel A, Mourkas E, Sheppard SK, Wieser A, Hübner J, Sing A, Fingerle V, Margos G. A high fidelity approach to assembling the complex Borrelia genome. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:401. [PMID: 37460975 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09500-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex can cause Lyme borreliosis. Different B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies vary in their host and vector associations and human pathogenicity but the genetic basis for these adaptations is unresolved and requires completed and reliable genomes for comparative analyses. The de novo assembly of a complete Borrelia genome is challenging due to the high levels of complexity, represented by a high number of circular and linear plasmids that are dynamic, showing mosaic structure and sequence homology. Previous work demonstrated that even advanced approaches, such as a combination of short-read and long-read data, might lead to incomplete plasmid reconstruction. Here, using recently developed high-fidelity (HiFi) PacBio sequencing, we explored strategies to obtain gap-free, complete and high quality Borrelia genome assemblies. Optimizing genome assembly, quality control and refinement steps, we critically appraised existing techniques to create a workflow that lead to improved genome reconstruction. RESULTS Despite the latest available technologies, stand-alone sequencing and assembly methods are insufficient for the generation of complete and high quality Borrelia genome assemblies. We developed a workflow pipeline for the de novo genome assembly for Borrelia using several types of sequence data and incorporating multiple assemblers to recover the complete genome including both circular and linear plasmid sequences. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that, with HiFi data and an ensemble reconstruction pipeline with refinement steps, chromosomal and plasmid sequences can be fully resolved, even for complex genomes such as Borrelia. The presented pipeline may be of interest for the assembly of further complex microbial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hepner
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | | | - Ave Tooming-Kunderud
- Department of Biosciences, Norwegian Sequencing Centre at Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nikolas Alig
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | | | - Sherwood Casjens
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Robert E Rollins
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alexandra Dangel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | | | | | - Andreas Wieser
- Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Imunology, Infectious Disease and Pandemic Research IIP, Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Hübner
- Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Sing
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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21
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Marcinkiewicz AL, Brangulis K, Dupuis AP, Hart TM, Zamba‐Campero M, Nowak TA, Stout JL, Akopjana I, Kazaks A, Bogans J, Ciota AT, Kraiczy P, Kolokotronis SO, Lin YP. Structural evolution of an immune evasion determinant shapes pathogen host tropism. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2301549120. [PMID: 37364114 PMCID: PMC10319004 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2301549120] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern infectious disease outbreaks often involve changes in host tropism, the preferential adaptation of pathogens to specific hosts. The Lyme disease-causing bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is an ideal model to investigate the molecular mechanisms of host tropism, because different variants of these tick-transmitted bacteria are distinctly maintained in rodents or bird reservoir hosts. To survive in hosts and escape complement-mediated immune clearance, Bb produces the outer surface protein CspZ that binds the complement inhibitor factor H (FH) to facilitate bacterial dissemination in vertebrates. Despite high sequence conservation, CspZ variants differ in human FH-binding ability. Together with the FH polymorphisms between vertebrate hosts, these findings suggest that minor sequence variation in this bacterial outer surface protein may confer dramatic differences in host-specific, FH-binding-mediated infectivity. We tested this hypothesis by determining the crystal structure of the CspZ-human FH complex, and identifying minor variation localized in the FH-binding interface yielding bird and rodent FH-specific binding activity that impacts infectivity. Swapping the divergent region in the FH-binding interface between rodent- and bird-associated CspZ variants alters the ability to promote rodent- and bird-specific early-onset dissemination. We further linked these loops and respective host-specific, complement-dependent phenotypes with distinct CspZ phylogenetic lineages, elucidating evolutionary mechanisms driving host tropism emergence. Our multidisciplinary work provides a novel molecular basis for how a single, short protein motif could greatly modulate pathogen host tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
| | - Kalvis Brangulis
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, RigaLV-1067, Latvia
- Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry, Riga Stradins University, RigaLV-1007, Latvia
| | - Alan P. Dupuis
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
| | - Thomas M. Hart
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York Albany, Albany, NY12222
| | - Maxime Zamba‐Campero
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
| | - Tristan A. Nowak
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York Albany, Albany, NY12222
| | - Jessica L. Stout
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
| | - Inara Akopjana
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, RigaLV-1067, Latvia
| | - Andris Kazaks
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, RigaLV-1067, Latvia
| | - Janis Bogans
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, RigaLV-1067, Latvia
| | - Alexander T. Ciota
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York Albany, Albany, NY12222
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt60596, Germany
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Brooklyn, NY 11203-2098
- Institute for Genomics in Health, Brooklyn, NY11203-2098
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY11203-2098
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY11203-2098
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- New York State Department of Health, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, Albany, NY12208
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York Albany, Albany, NY12222
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22
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Benkacimi L, Diarra AZ, Bompar JM, Bérenger JM, Parola P. Microorganisms associated with hedgehog arthropods. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:211. [PMID: 37349802 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05764-7] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hedgehogs are small synanthropic mammals that live in rural areas as well as in urban and suburban areas. They can be reservoirs of several microorganisms, including certain pathogenic agents that cause human and animal public health issues. Hedgehogs are often parasitized by blood-sucking arthropods, mainly hard ticks and fleas, which in turn can also carry various vector-born microorganisms of zoonotic importance. Many biotic factors, such as urbanization and agricultural mechanization, have resulted in the destruction of the hedgehog's natural habitats, leading these animals to take refuge near human dwellings, seeking food and shelter in parks and gardens and exposing humans to zoonotic agents that can be transmitted either directly by them or indirectly by their ectoparasites. In this review, we focus on the microorganisms detected in arthropods sampled from hedgehogs worldwide. Several microorganisms have been reported in ticks collected from these animals, including various Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Rickettsia spp. species as well as Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira spp. As for fleas, C. burnetii, Rickettsia spp., Wolbachia spp., Mycobacterium spp. and various Bartonella species have been reported. The detection of these microorganisms in arthropods does not necessarily mean that they can be transmitted to humans and animals. While the vector capacity and competence of fleas and ticks for some of these microorganisms has been proven, in other cases the microorganisms may have simply been ingested with blood taken from an infected host. Further investigations are needed to clarify this issue. As hedgehogs are protected animals, handling them is highly regulated, making it difficult to conduct epidemiological studies on them. Their ectoparasites represent a very interesting source of information on microorganisms circulating in populations of these animals, especially vector-born ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Benkacimi
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditeranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée infection, Marseille, France
| | - Adama Zan Diarra
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditeranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée infection, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Michel Bompar
- Société Française d'Études et de Protection des Mammifères (SFEPM), Bourges, France
| | - Jean-Michel Bérenger
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditeranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée infection, Marseille, France
| | - Philippe Parola
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, Vecteurs-Infections Tropicales et Méditeranéennes (VITROME), Marseille, France.
- IHU-Méditerranée infection, Marseille, France.
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23
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Susnjar J, Cerar Kisek T, Strasek Smrdel K, Ruzic-Sabljic E, Adam K, Ivovic V. Detection, identification and genotyping of Borrelia spp. in ticks of Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola regions in Slovenia. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70. [PMID: 37042198 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The density and spread of tick vector species have increased throughout Europe in the last 30 years, leading to an increase of Lyme borreliosis cases, including in Slovenia. The aim of this study was to isolate Borrelia strains and determine the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi in adults of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) collected in 2019 in the two regions of the country (Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola) by cultivation and PCR. We isolated B. burgdorferi s.l. by culture method in 28/559 (5%) ticks from both regions. Culture-negative samples (531/559, i.e., 95%) were additionally tested by real-time PCR. In 155/531 (29.2%) PCR-positive samples, a fragment of flaB or glpQ was amplified and further sequenced to identify species of the Borrelia. Using both methods, cultivation and PCR, Borrelia spp. prevalence was 32.7% in the Coastal-Karst region and 33.0% in the Littoral-Inner Carniola region. Genotyping of the Borrelia spp. isolates revealed that 17/28 (60%) were B. garinii subtype Mlg2. Of all tick samples tested for B. miyamotoi 8/398 (2%) were PCR positive. Based on previous studies in these regions, we had expected more ticks to be infected with B. afzelii, but genotyping revealed that B. garinii was the most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Susnjar
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Tjasa Cerar Kisek
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Strasek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Ruzic-Sabljic
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Adam
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Ivovic
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
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24
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Myszkowska-Torz A, Frydrychowicz M, Tomaszewski M, Figlerowicz M, Mania A, Mazur-Melewska K. Neuroborreliosis and Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: Focus on Children. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13040900. [PMID: 37109429 PMCID: PMC10145507 DOI: 10.3390/life13040900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroborreliosis is a form of Lyme Borreliosis (LB) that affects various structures of the central and peripheral nervous system. Although most cases of LB can be cured with a course of antibiotics, some children can present prolonged symptoms, which may constitute post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). The aim of our analysis was the long-term observation of children with NB and the determination of their risk of PTLDS. The clinical observation was supplemented by a laboratory study based on the assessment of the dynamics of anti-VlsE (variable major protein-like sequence, expressed) IgG antibodies in children with NB after antibiotic therapy. The prospective survey based on 40 children presented 1–2 forms of NB. The control group consisted of 36 patients with analogical symptoms for whom LB was excluded. Our long-term observation showed a low risk of developing long-term complications in children who received antibiotic therapy in accordance with the recommendations. The concentration of anti-VlsE IgG demonstrates a statistical significance for differences between the control and the study groups for each measurement period. Higher values of anti-VlsE IgG were observed in the study group, and the concentration decreased from the first measurement period to the next. The article emphasizes the importance of the long-term follow-up of children with neuroborreliosis.
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25
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Rollins RE, Sato K, Nakao M, Tawfeeq MT, Herrera-Mesías F, Pereira RJ, Kovalev S, Margos G, Fingerle V, Kawabata H, Becker NS. Out of Asia? Expansion of Eurasian Lyme borreliosis causing genospecies display unique evolutionary trajectories. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:786-799. [PMID: 36461660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16805] [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: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens exist in obligate transmission cycles between vector and reservoir host species. Host and vector shifts can lead to geographic expansion of infectious agents and the emergence of new diseases in susceptible individuals. Three bacterial genospecies (Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis, and Borrelia garinii) predominantly utilize two distinct tick species as vectors in Asia (Ixodes persulcatus) and Europe (Ixodes ricinus). Through these vectors, the bacteria can infect various vertebrate groups (e.g., rodents, birds) including humans where they cause Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Yet, how and in which order the three Borrelia genospecies colonized each continent remains unclear including the evolutionary consequences of this geographic expansion. Here, by reconstructing the evolutionary history of 142 Eurasian isolates, we found evidence that the ancestors of each of the three genospecies probably have an Asian origin. Even so, each genospecies studied displayed a unique substructuring and evolutionary response to the colonization of Europe. The pattern of allele sharing between continents is consistent with the dispersal rate of the respective vertebrate hosts, supporting the concept that adaptation of Borrelia genospecies to the host is important for pathogen dispersal. Our results highlight that Eurasian Lyme borreliosis agents are all capable of geographic expansion with host association influencing their dispersal; further displaying the importance of host and vector association to the geographic expansion of vector-borne pathogens and potentially conditioning their capacity as emergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Rollins
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Nakao
- Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Mohammed T Tawfeeq
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,VIB - KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium.,CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Institute for Beer Research (LIBR), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fernanda Herrera-Mesías
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Musée National d'histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ricardo J Pereira
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.,Department of Zoology, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sergey Kovalev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noémie S Becker
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany
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26
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Estrada-Peña A, Fernández-Ruiz N. An Agenda for Research of Uncovered Epidemiological Patterns of Tick-Borne Pathogens Affecting Human Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2206. [PMID: 36767573 PMCID: PMC9915995 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The panorama of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) is complex due to the many interactions among vertebrates, vectors, and habitats, occurring at different scales. At a broad spatial range, climate and host availability regulate most tick processes, including questing activity, development, and survival. At a local scale, interactions are obscured by a high indeterminacy, making it arduous to record in field surveys. A solid modelling framework could translate the local/regional empirical findings into larger scales, shedding light on the processes governing the circulation of TBP. In this opinion paper, we advocate for a re-formulation of some paradigms in the research of these outstanding cycles of transmission. We propose revisiting concepts that faced criticisms or lacked solid support, together with the development of a conceptual scheme exploring the circulation of TBP under a range of conditions. We encourage (i) an adequate interpretation of the niche concept of both ticks and vertebrate/reservoir hosts interpreting the (a)biotic components that shape the tick's niche, (ii) an assessment of the role played by the communities of wild vertebrates on the circulation of pathogens, and (iii) the development of new approaches, based on state-of-the-art epidemiological concepts, to integrate findings and modelling efforts on TBP over large regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Ruiz
- Department of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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27
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Sabitova Y, Rar V, Tikunov A, Yakimenko V, Korallo-Vinarskaya N, Livanova N, Tikunova N. Detection and genetic characterization of a putative novel Borrelia genospecies in Ixodes apronophorus / Ixodes persulcatus / Ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas in Western Siberia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102075. [PMID: 36335681 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102075] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Four genospecies from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex were detected in Ixodes persulcatus and Ixodes pavlovskyi ticks from Siberia and genetically characterized. The presence of Borrelia spp. in Ixodes apronophorus and Ixodes trianguliceps ticks found in Asia has never been studied. In this study, genetic diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. was investigated in three I. persulcatus / I. trianguliceps / I. apronophorus sympatric habitats in Western Siberia. Three groups of samples were examined: (i) ticks that were taken from rodents and molted in a laboratory; (ii) non-molted ticks collected from rodents; (iii) specimens from small mammals. Expectedly, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia bavariensis were detected in I. persulcatus and in small mammals from the studied locations. Borrelia bavariensis was first found in molted I. apronophorus and I. trianguliceps. Identical genovariants of B. bavariensis were found in I. apronophorus, I. trianguliceps, and I. persulcatus. In addition, a new Borrelia genovariant was discovered in non-molted and molted I. apronophorus and non-molted I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps, as well as in small mammals. This new genovariant was genetically characterized using MLST and single locus sequence analysis, which indicated that the new Borrelia genovariant significantly differs from all known Borrelia species. We propose the name "Candidatus Borrelia sibirica" for this putative new species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya Sabitova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, prosp. Lavrent'eva 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, prosp. Lavrent'eva 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, prosp. Lavrent'eva 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | | | | | - Natalia Livanova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, prosp. Lavrent'eva 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, prosp. Lavrent'eva 8, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
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Outer surface protein E (OspE) mediates Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto strain-specific complement evasion in the eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102081. [PMID: 36403322 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102081] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In North America, Lyme disease is primarily caused by the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bb), which is transmitted between multiple vertebrate hosts and ixodid ticks, and is a model commonly used to study host-pathogen interactions. While Bb is consistently observed in its mammalian and avian reservoirs, the bacterium is rarely isolated from North American reptiles. Two closely related lizard species, the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and the western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), are examples of reptiles parasitized by Ixodes ticks. Vertebrates are known to generate complement as an innate defense mechanism, which can be activated before Bb disseminate to distal tissues. Complement from western fence lizards has proven lethal against one Bb strain, implying the role of complement in making those lizards unable to serve as hosts to Bb. However, Bb DNA is occasionally identified in distal tissues of field-collected eastern fence lizards, suggesting some Bb strains may overcome complement-mediated clearance in these lizards. These findings raise questions regarding the role of complement and its impact on Bb interactions with North American lizards. In this study, we found Bb seropositivity in a small population of wild-caught eastern fence lizards and observed Bb strain-specific survivability in lizard sera. We also found that a Bb outer surface protein, OspE, from Bb strains viable in sera, promotes lizard serum survivability and binds to a complement inhibitor, factor H, from eastern fence lizards. Our data thus identify bacterial and host determinants of eastern fence lizard complement evasion, providing insights into the role of complement influencing Bb interactions with North American lizards.
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Is Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto in South America? First Molecular Evidence of Its Presence in Colombia. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7120428. [PMID: 36548683 PMCID: PMC9788524 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7120428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Borrelia encompasses spirochetal species that are part of three well-defined groups. Two of these groups contain pathogens that affect humans: the group causing Lyme disease (LDG) and the relapsing fever group (RFG). Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., which is distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and relapsing fevers are caused by Borrelia spp., which are found in temperate and tropical countries and are an emerging but neglected pathogens. In some departments of Colombia, there are records of the presence of Borrelia sp. in humans and bats. However, little is known about the impact and circulation of Borrelia spp. in the country, especially in wildlife, which can act as a reservoir and/or amplifying host. In this context, the objective of our research was to detect and identify the Borrelia species present in wild mammals in the departments of Caldas and Risaralda in Colombia. For morphological detection, blood smears and organ imprints were performed, and molecular identification was carried out through a nested PCR directed on the flagellin B (flaB) gene. A total of 105 mammals belonging to three orders (Chiroptera, Didelphimorphia and Rodentia) were analyzed, of which 15.24% (n = 16) were positive for Borrelia. Molecularly, the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. in lung tissues of Thomasomys aureus and blood of Mus musculus (Rodentia) was detected, with 99.64 and 100% identity, respectively. Borrelia sp. genospecies from a clade branch of a bat-associated LDG sister group were identified in seven individuals of bat species, such as Artibeus lituratus, Carollia brevicauda, Sturnira erythromos, and Glossophaga soricina. Furthermore, two Borrelia genospecies from the RFG in seven individuals of bats (A. lituratus, Artibeus jamaicensis, Platyrrhinus helleri, Mesophylla macconnelli, Rhynchonycteris naso) and rodents (Coendou rufescens, Microryzomys altissimus) were documented. Additionally, the presence of a spirochete was detected by microscopy in the liver of a Sturnira erythromos bat specimen. These results contain the first molecular evidence of the presence of B. burgdorferi s.s. in South America, which merits the need for comprehensive studies involving arthropods and vertebrates (including humans) in other departments of Colombia, as well as neighboring countries, to understand the current status of the circulation of Borrelia spp. in South America.
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Che TL, Jiang BG, Xu Q, Zhang YQ, Lv CL, Chen JJ, Tian YJ, Yang Y, Hay SI, Liu W, Fang LQ. Mapping the risk distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in China from 1986 to 2020: a geospatial modelling analysis. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1215-1226. [PMID: 35411829 PMCID: PMC9067995 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2065930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, recognized as one of the most important tick-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extent. Currently, there are few geographic studies about the distribution of Lyme borreliosis risk across China. Here we established a nationwide database that involved Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi) detected in humans, vectors, and animals in China. The eco-environmental factors that shaped the spatial pattern of B. burgdorferi were identified by using a two-stage boosted regression tree model and the model-predicted risks were mapped. During 1986−2020, a total of 2,584 human confirmed cases were reported in 25 provinces. Borrelia burgdorferi was detected from 35 tick species with the highest positive rates in Ixodes granulatus, Hyalomma asiaticum, Ixodes persulcatus, and Haemaphysalis concinna ranging 20.1%−24.0%. Thirteen factors including woodland, NDVI, rainfed cropland, and livestock density were determined as important drivers for the probability of B. burgdorferi occurrence based on the stage 1 model. The stage 2 model identified ten factors including temperature seasonality, NDVI, and grasslands that were the main determinants used to distinguish areas at high or low-medium risk of B. burgdorferi, interpreted as potential occurrence areas within the area projected by the stage 1 model. The projected high-risk areas were not only concentrated in high latitude areas, but also were distributed in middle and low latitude areas. These high-resolution evidence-based risk maps of B. burgdorferi was first created in China and can help as a guide to future surveillance and control and help inform disease burden and infection risk estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian-Le Che
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Qi Zhang
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Research Center on Fictitious Economy and Data Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Long Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying-Jie Tian
- Research Center on Fictitious Economy and Data Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,School of Economics and Management, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Simon I Hay
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Qun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Combs M, Marcinkiewicz AL, Dupuis AP, Davis AD, Lederman P, Nowak TA, Stout JL, Strle K, Fingerle V, Margos G, Ciota AT, Diuk-Wasser MA, Kolokotronis SO, Lin YP. Phylogenomic Diversity Elucidates Mechanistic Insights into Lyme Borreliae-Host Association. mSystems 2022; 7:e0048822. [PMID: 35938719 PMCID: PMC9426539 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00488-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Host association-the selective adaptation of pathogens to specific host species-evolves through constant interactions between host and pathogens, leaving a lot yet to be discovered on immunological mechanisms and genomic determinants. The causative agents of Lyme disease (LD) are spirochete bacteria composed of multiple species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, including B. burgdorferi (Bb), the main LD pathogen in North America-a useful model for the study of mechanisms underlying host-pathogen association. Host adaptation requires pathogens' ability to evade host immune responses, such as complement, the first-line innate immune defense mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that different host-adapted phenotypes among Bb strains are linked to polymorphic loci that confer complement evasion traits in a host-specific manner. We first examined the survivability of 20 Bb strains in sera in vitro and/or bloodstream and tissues in vivo from rodent and avian LD models. Three groups of complement-dependent host-association phenotypes emerged. We analyzed complement-evasion genes, identified a priori among all strains and sequenced and compared genomes for individual strains representing each phenotype. The evolutionary history of ospC loci is correlated with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes, while comparative genomics suggests that several gene families and loci are potentially involved in host association. This multidisciplinary work provides novel insights into the functional evolution of host-adapted phenotypes, building a foundation for further investigation of the immunological and genomic determinants of host association. IMPORTANCE Host association is the phenotype that is commonly found in many pathogens that preferential survive in particular hosts. The Lyme disease (LD)-causing agent, B. burgdorferi (Bb), is an ideal model to study host association, as Bb is mainly maintained in nature through rodent and avian hosts. A widespread yet untested concept posits that host association in Bb strains is linked to Bb functional genetic variation conferring evasion to complement, an innate defense mechanism in vertebrate sera. Here, we tested this concept by grouping 20 Bb strains into three complement-dependent host-association phenotypes based on their survivability in sera and/or bloodstream and distal tissues in rodent and avian LD models. Phylogenomic analysis of these strains further correlated several gene families and loci, including ospC, with host-specific complement-evasion phenotypes. Such multifaceted studies thus pave the road to further identify the determinants of host association, providing mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Combs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Institute for Genomics in Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Alan P. Dupuis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - April D. Davis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Patricia Lederman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Tristan A. Nowak
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Jessica L. Stout
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Klemen Strle
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Alexander T. Ciota
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Institute for Genomics in Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York, USA
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Chen WH, Strych U, Bottazzi ME, Lin YP. Past, present, and future of Lyme disease vaccines: antigen engineering approaches and mechanistic insights. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:1405-1417. [PMID: 35836340 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2102484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Despite the geographical expansion of human Lyme disease cases, no effective preventive strategies are currently available. Developing an efficacious and safe vaccine is therefore urgently needed. Efforts have previously been taken to identify vaccine targets in the causative pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato) and arthropod vector (Ixodes spp.). However, progress was impeded due to a lack of consumer confidence caused by the myth of undesired off-target responses, low immune responses, a limited breadth of immune reactivity, as well as by the complexities of the vaccine process development.Area covered: In this review, we summarize the antigen engineering approaches that have been applied to overcome those challenges and the underlying mechanisms that can be exploited to improve both safety and efficacy of future Lyme disease vaccines.Expert opinion: Over the past two decades, several new genetically redesigned Lyme disease vaccine candidates have shown success in both preclinical and clinical settings and built a solid foundation for further development. These studies have greatly informed the protective mechanisms of reducing Lyme disease burdens and ending the endemic of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hsiang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ulrich Strych
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria Elena Bottazzi
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, NYSDOH, Albany, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, SUNY Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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Utilizing Two Borrelia bavariensis Isolates Naturally Lacking the PFam54 Gene Array To Elucidate the Roles of PFam54-Encoded Proteins. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0155521. [PMID: 34986011 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01555-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere, caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex, which are transmitted by ixodid ticks. B. burgdorferi sensu lato species produce a family of proteins on the linear plasmid 54 (PFam54), some of which confer the functions of cell adhesion and inactivation of complement, the first line of host defense. However, the impact of PFam54 in promoting B. burgdorferi sensu lato pathogenesis remains unclear because of the hurdles to simultaneously knock out all PFam54 proteins in a spirochete. Here, we describe two Borrelia bavariensis strains, PBN and PNi, isolated from patients naturally lacking PFam54 but maintaining the rest of the genome with greater than 95% identity to the reference B. bavariensis strain, PBi. We found that PBN and PNi less efficiently survive in human serum than PBi. Such defects were restored by introducing two B. bavariensis PFam54 recombinant proteins, BGA66 and BGA71, confirming the role of these proteins in providing complement evasion of B. bavariensis. Further, we found that all three strains remain detectable in various murine tissues 21 days post-subcutaneous infection, supporting the nonessential role of B. bavariensis PFam54 in promoting spirochete persistence. This study identified and utilized isolates deficient in PFam54 to associate the defects with the absence of these proteins, building the foundation to further study the role of each PFam54 protein in contributing to B. burgdorferi sensu lato pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE To establish infections, Lyme borreliae utilize various means to overcome the host's immune system. Proteins encoded by the PFam54 gene array play a role in spirochete survival in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, this gene array has been described in all currently available Lyme borreliae genomes. By investigating the first two Borrelia bavariensis isolates naturally lacking the entire PFam54 gene array, we showed that both patient isolates display an increased susceptibility to human serum, which can be rescued in the presence of two PFam54 recombinant proteins. However, both isolates remain infectious to mice after intradermal inoculation, suggesting the nonessential role of PFam54 during the long-term, but may differ slightly in the colonization of specific tissues. Furthermore, these isolates show high genomic similarity to type strain PBi (>95%) and could be used in future studies investigating the role of each PFam54 protein in Lyme borreliosis pathogenesis.
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The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:781-803. [PMID: 35122516 PMCID: PMC8816687 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07445-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Beside mosquitoes, ticks are well-known vectors of different human pathogens. In the Northern Hemisphere, Lyme borreliosis (Eurasia, LB) or Lyme disease (North America, LD) is the most commonly occurring vector-borne infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia which are transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes. The reported incidence of LB in Europe is about 22.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants annually with a broad range depending on the geographical area analyzed. However, the epidemiological data are largely incomplete, because LB is not notifiable in all European countries. Furthermore, not only differ reporting procedures between countries, there is also variation in case definitions and diagnostic procedures. Lyme borreliosis is caused by several species of the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex which are maintained in complex networks including ixodid ticks and different reservoir hosts. Vector and host influence each other and are affected by multiple factors including climate that have a major impact on their habitats and ecology. To classify factors that influence the risk of transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. to their different vertebrate hosts as well as to humans, we briefly summarize the current knowledge about the pathogens including their astonishing ability to overcome various host immune responses, regarding the main vector in Europe Ixodes ricinus, and the disease caused by borreliae. The research shows, that a higher standardization of case definition, diagnostic procedures, and standardized, long-term surveillance systems across Europe is necessary to improve clinical and epidemiological data.
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Weck BC, Serpa MCA, Labruna MB, Muñoz-Leal S. A Novel Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Associated with Cricetid Rodents in Brazil. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020204. [PMID: 35208659 PMCID: PMC8878456 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) spirochetes thrive in sylvatic transmission cycles infecting vertebrates and their ticks. Rodents and ticks of the genus Ixodes are important hosts of these spirochetes globally. Although evidence suggests that Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto does not exist in South America, genospecies of the group (Bbsl) can be found in this region but have been poorly characterized from a genetic viewpoint, and data on their ecoepidemiology are still incipient. Aiming to detect the natural foci of Borrelia in Brazil, we targeted small mammals inhabiting seven forests fragments during a period of three years (2015–2018). Organs (lung) from two Oligoryzomys rodents over a total of 382 sampled mammals were positive, and we performed a molecular characterization of 10 borrelial genes to achieve a robust analysis. Phylogenetic trees inferred from 16S rRNA, flaB, ospC, and seven MLST loci (clpA, nifS, pepX, pyrG, recG, rlpB, and uvrA) support the characterization of a novel genospecies of Bbsl that we herein name “Candidatus Borrelia paulista” Rp42. Remarkably, “Ca. B. paulista” is phylogenetically related to Borrelia carolinensis, a genospecies that infects Ixodes ticks and cricetid rodents in North America. A previous study performed in the same area identified Ixodes schulzei feeding on Oligoryzomys rodents. Although this tick species could be considered a probable host for this novel Borrelia sp., further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara C. Weck
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (B.C.W.); (M.C.A.S.); (M.B.L.)
| | - Maria Carolina A. Serpa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (B.C.W.); (M.C.A.S.); (M.B.L.)
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (B.C.W.); (M.C.A.S.); (M.B.L.)
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Casilla 537, Chillán 3780000, Chile
- Correspondence:
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Lee H, Lee SH, Shin S, Kwak D. Molecular Identification of Borrelia spp. from Ticks in Pastures Nearby Livestock Farms in Korea. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12111011. [PMID: 34821810 PMCID: PMC8619022 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111011] [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: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Lyme borreliosis is caused by a spirochete from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group. Borrelia afzelii and B. garinii are known to be pathogenic to humans. The main vector for Lyme borreliosis is the Ixodes tick. In this study, Borrelia infection was confirmed in Ixodes,Haemaphysalis, and Amblyomma ticks. To our knowledge Borrelia infection was first confirmed in Amblyomma testudinarium in Korea. Based on phylogenetic analysis, all sequences were aligned with B. afzelii isolates and showed a close relationship with high identity. Considering that B. afzelii causes infectious zoonotic diseases, continuous monitoring and attention are still required (although a low prevalence was recorded in this study). Abstract Ticks are vectors that spread pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. As the number of ticks increases due to climate change, the importance of the study of tick-borne pathogens has also increased. This study was conducted to investigate the distribution of the major tick species causing Lyme borreliosis and regional differences in the prevalence of Borrelia spp. by tick species. Borrelia infection was confirmed not only in Ixodes ticks, which are the major vectors of Borrelia spp., but also in Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma ticks. PCR targeting the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region (rrf-rrl) was performed to confirm Borrelia positivity. A total of 6102 ticks (736 pools) were tested, and the proportion was Haemaphysalis longicornis nymphs and adults at 69.2%, Haemaphysalis flava nymphs and adults at 13.9%, Haemaphysalis spp. larva at 14.3%, Ixodes nipponensis at 0.8%, and Amblyomma testudinarium at 1.9%. Ixodes nipponensis showed the highest minimum infection rate (MIR: 34.00; 17 pools/50 ticks) for Borrelia spp., followed by A. testudinarium (MIR: 0.88), and H. longicornis (MIR: 0.05). In particular, to our knowledge Borrelia infection was first confirmed in A. testudinarium in Korea. As a result of phylogenetic analysis, all sequences were grouped with Borreliaafzelii isolates and showed a close relationship with high identity. Considering that B. afzelii causes infectious zoonotic diseases, continuous monitoring and attention are needed, although it has a low prevalence in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haeseung Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Daegu 41566, Korea;
| | - Seung-Hun Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Cheongju 28644, Korea;
| | - SungShik Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Korea;
| | - Dongmi Kwak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Daegu 41566, Korea;
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, 680 Gukchaebosang-ro, Daegu 41944, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Reptile Host Associations of Ixodes scapularis in Florida and Implications for Borrelia spp. Ecology. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10080999. [PMID: 34451463 PMCID: PMC8400089 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10080999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Host associations of the tick vector for Lyme Borreliosis, Ixodes scapularis, differ across its geographic range. In Florida, the primary competent mammalian host of Lyme disease is not present but instead has other small mammals and herpetofauna that I. scapularis can utilize. We investigated host–tick association for lizards, the abundance of ticks on lizards and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl). To determine which lizard species I. scapularis associates with, we examined 11 native lizard species from historical herpetological specimens. We found that (294/5828) of the specimens had attached ticks. The most infested species were Plestiodon skinks (241/1228) and Ophisaurus glass lizards (25/572). These species were then targeted at six field sites across Florida and sampled from June to September 2020, using drift fence arrays, cover boards and fishing. We captured 125 lizards and collected 233 immature I. scapularis. DNA was extracted from ticks and lizard tissue samples, followed by PCR testing for Borrelia spp. Of the captured lizards, 69/125 were infested with immature I. scapularis. We did not detect Borrelia spp. from tick or lizard tissue samples. Overall, we found that lizards are commonly infested with I. scapularis. However, we did not detect Borrelia burgdorferi sl. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that lizards are poor reservoir species.
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