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Edvinsson M, Norlander C, Nilsson K, Mårtensson A, Skoog E, Olsen B. Bartonella spp. seroprevalence in tick-exposed Swedish patients with persistent symptoms. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:530. [PMID: 34641972 PMCID: PMC8507314 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05043-3] [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: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bartonella spp. are emerging pathogens transmitted by arthropod vectors, possibly including ticks. We have investigated signs of bartonellosis in Swedish patients with presumed tick-bite exposure and symptom duration of at least 6 months. Methods Serological testing for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana was performed in 224 patients. Symptoms, tick exposure, evidence of co-infection and previous treatments were evaluated. Seropositive patients were compared to a matched group (twofold larger and negative serology) from the same study cohort. Results Seroprevalence was 7% for B. henselae and 1% for B. quintana, with one patient testing positive to both agents. Tick bites were reported by 63% of the patients in the seropositive group and 88% in the seronegative group and presumed tick exposure was more common in the seronegative group. Animal contact was equally common in both groups, along with reported symptoms. The most common symptoms were fatigue, muscular symptoms, arthralgia and cognitive symptoms. Exposure to co-infections was evenly distributed in the seropositive and seronegative groups. Conclusions Antibodies to Bartonella were more common in this cohort of patients than in cohorts of healthy Swedish blood donors in previous studies but lower than those in blood donors from southern Europe. Positive Bartonella serology was not linked to any specific symptom, nor to (suspected) tick-bite exposure. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Edvinsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Camilla Norlander
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Mårtensson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, International Maternal and Child Health (IMCH), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabet Skoog
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Infectious Diseases, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Sacristán C, das Neves CG, Suhel F, Sacristán I, Tengs T, Hamnes IS, Madslien K. Bartonella spp. detection in ticks, Culicoides biting midges and wild cervids from Norway. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:941-951. [PMID: 32757355 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Bartonella spp. are fastidious, gram-negative, aerobic, facultative intracellular bacteria that infect humans, and domestic and wild animals. In Norway, Bartonella spp. have been detected in cervids, mainly within the distribution area of the arthropod vector deer ked (Lipoptena cervi). We used PCR to survey the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in blood samples from 141 cervids living outside the deer ked distribution area (moose [Alces alces, n = 65], red deer [Cervus elaphus, n = 41] and reindeer [Rangifer tarandus, n = 35]), in 44 pool samples of sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus, 27 pools collected from 74 red deer and 17 from 45 moose) and in biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae, 120 pools of 6,710 specimens). Bartonella DNA was amplified in moose (75.4%, 49/65) and in red deer (4.9%, 2/41) blood samples. All reindeer were negative. There were significant differences in Bartonella prevalence among the cervid species. Additionally, Bartonella was amplified in two of 17 tick pools collected from moose and in 3 of 120 biting midge pool samples. The Bartonella sequences amplified in moose, red deer and ticks were highly similar to B. bovis, previously identified in cervids. The sequence obtained from biting midges was only 81.7% similar to the closest Bartonella spp. We demonstrate that Bartonella is present in moose across Norway and present the first data on northern Norway specimens. The high prevalence of Bartonella infection suggests that moose could be the reservoir for this bacterium. This is the first report of bacteria from the Bartonella genus in ticks from Fennoscandia and in Culicoides biting midges worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Irene Sacristán
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Torstein Tengs
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
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Cronhjort S, Wilhelmsson P, Karlsson L, Thelaus J, Sjödin A, Forsberg P, Lindgren PE. The Tick-Borne Diseases STING study: Real-time PCR analysis of three emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks that have bitten humans in different regions of Sweden and the Aland islands, Finland. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2019; 9:1683935. [PMID: 31741721 PMCID: PMC6844441 DOI: 10.1080/20008686.2019.1683935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
A milder climate has during the last decade contributed to an increased density and spreading of ixodid ticks, thus enhancing their role as emerging vectors for pathogenic microorganisms in northern Europe. It remains unclear if they contribute to the occurrence of infections caused by the bacteria Bartonella spp., Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in Sweden and on the Åland islands, Finland. In this study, we want to improve understanding of the tick-borne transmission of these pathogens. Volunteers were recruited at primary healthcare centers. Ticks and blood samples were acquired from participants recruited in 2008 and 2009. Health questionnaires were completed, and medical records were acquired where applicable. Feeding time was estimated and screening of pathogens in the ticks was performed through real-time PCR. Ticks (n = 1849) were of mixed developmental stages: 76 larvae, 1295 nymphs, 426 adults and 52 undetermined. All analyzed ticks were considered negative for these pathogens since the CT-values were all below the detection limit for Bartonella spp. (1663 ticks), Francisella spp. (1849 ticks) and Toxoplasma gondii (1813 ticks). We assume that infections with these pathogens are caused by other transmission pathways within these regions of Sweden and the Åland islands, Finland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Cronhjort
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, and the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Linda Karlsson
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johanna Thelaus
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Divison of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Jönköping, Region Jönköping County, and the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Regional prevalences of Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia bissettiae, and Bartonella henselae in Ixodes affinis, Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis in the USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 10:360-364. [PMID: 30503356 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence of Borrelia and Bartonella species in Ixodes spp. ticks collected from 16 USA states. Genus PCR amplification and sequence analysis of Bartonella and Borrelia 16SsRNA-23SsRNA intergenic regions were performed on DNA extracted from 929 questing adult ticks (671 Ixodes scapularis, 155 Ixodes affinis, and 103 Ixodes pacificus). Overall, 129/929 (13.9%) Ixodes ticks were PCR positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, 48/929 for B. bissettiae whereas 23/929 (2.5%) were PCR positive for a Bartonella henselae. Borrelia bissettiae or B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. henselae co-infections were found in I. affinis from North Carolina at a rate of 4.5%; in a single I. scapularis from Minnesota, but not in I. pacificus. For both bacterial genera, PCR positive rates were highly variable depending on geographic location and tick species, with Ixodes affinis (n = 155) collected from North Carolina, being the tick species with the highest prevalence's for both Borrelia spp. (63.2%) and B. henselae (10.3%). Based on the results of this and other published studies, improved understanding of the enzootic cycle, transmission dynamics, and vector competence of Ixodes species (especially I. affinis) for transmission of Borrelia spp. and B. henselae should be a public health research priority.
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Víchová B, Bona M, Miterpáková M, Kraljik J, Čabanová V, Nemčíková G, Hurníková Z, Oravec M. Fleas and Ticks of Red Foxes as Vectors of Canine Bacterial and Parasitic Pathogens, in Slovakia, Central Europe. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018; 18:611-619. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bronislava Víchová
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bona
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Department of Anatomy, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martina Miterpáková
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
- Department of Medical Zoology, Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Viktória Čabanová
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
| | | | - Zuzana Hurníková
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
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Sormunen JJ, Penttinen R, Klemola T, Hänninen J, Vuorinen I, Laaksonen M, Sääksjärvi IE, Ruohomäki K, Vesterinen EJ. Tick-borne bacterial pathogens in southwestern Finland. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:168. [PMID: 27004834 PMCID: PMC4802833 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus are the main vectors of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes and several other zoonotic bacteria in northern Europe and Russia. However, few studies screening bacterial pathogens in Finnish ticks have been conducted. Therefore, reports on the occurrence and prevalence of several bacterial pathogens detected from ticks elsewhere in Europe and Russia are altogether missing from Finland. The main aim of the current study was to produce novel data on the occurrence and prevalence of several tick-borne bacterial pathogens in ticks collected from southwestern Finland. Methods Ticks were collected in 2013–2014 by blanket dragging from 25 localities around southwestern Finland, and additionally from a dog in Lempäälä. Collected ticks were molecularly identified and screened for Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia, Bartonella and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis using quantitative PCR. Furthermore, detected Rickettsia spp. were sequenced using conventional PCR to determine species. Results A total of 3169 ticks in 1174 DNA samples were screened for the listed pathogens. The most common bacteria detected was B. burgdorferi (s.l.) (18.5 % nymphal and 23.5 % adult ticks), followed by Rickettsia spp. (1.1 %; 5.1 %) and B. miyamotoi (0.51 %; 1.02 %). B. miyamotoi and Rickettsia spp. were also detected in larval samples (minimum infection rates 0.31 % and 0.21 %, respectively). Detected Rickettsia spp. were identified by sequencing as R. helvetica and R. monacensis. All screened samples were negative for Bartonella spp. and Ca. N. mikurensis. Conclusions In the current study we report for the first time the presence of Rickettsia in Finnish ticks. Furthermore, Rickettsia spp. and B. miyamotoi were found from larval tick samples, emphasizing the importance they may have as vectors of these pathogens. Comparisons of tick density estimates and B. burgdorferi (s.l.) prevalence made between the current study and a previous study conducted in 2000 in ten out of the 25 study localities suggest that an increase in tick abundance and B. burgdorferi (s.l.) prevalence has occurred in at least some of the study localities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jani J Sormunen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland.,Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Ritva Penttinen
- Zoological Museum, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Tero Klemola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Jari Hänninen
- Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Ilppo Vuorinen
- Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Maija Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Ilari E Sääksjärvi
- Zoological Museum, Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Kai Ruohomäki
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Eero J Vesterinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014, Turku, Finland. .,Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Zając V, Wójcik-Fatla A, Dutkiewicz J, Szymańska J. Bartonella henselae in eastern Poland: the relationship between tick infection rates and the serological response of individuals occupationally exposed to tick bites. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2015; 40:75-82. [PMID: 26047187 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
To explore the potential role of Ixodes ricinus as the presumed vector of Bartonella henselae in eastern Poland, ticks collected in various geographic locations were examined for the presence of B. henselae, and the results were matched against the prevalence of anti-B. henselae antibodies in individuals occupationally exposed to tick bites. The presence of Bartonella DNA was investigated by PCR in a total of 1,603 unfed Ixodes ricinus ticks. The presence of IgG antibodies against B. henselae was investigated in serum samples from 332 people occupationally exposed to tick bites (94 farmers and 238 forestry workers). The total prevalence of B. henselae in ticks was 1.7%; the infection rates in males (3.1%) and females (2.7%) were nearly ten times greater than in nymphs (0.3%). The prevalence of seropositive results in the risk group (30.4%), farmers (27.7%) and forestry workers (31.5%), was significantly greater compared to the control group (8.9%). The results showed a weak positive correlation between the degree of infection of ticks and humans living in the same geographic region. The lack of a direct relationship indicates that exposure to tick bites is only one of the factors contributing to the significant preponderance of a seropositive response to B. henselae in the forestry workers and farmers over the control group. Other factors must be considered, such as contact with cats, which are popular domestic animals in Polish villages, and exposure to cat fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violetta Zając
- Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
| | | | - Jacek Dutkiewicz
- Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Szymańska
- Department of Paedodontics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Bartonella species and their ectoparasites: selective host adaptation or strain selection between the vector and the mammalian host? Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 34:299-314. [PMID: 21616536 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2011.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2011] [Revised: 04/16/2011] [Accepted: 04/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A wide range of blood-sucking arthropods have either been confirmed or are suspected as important vectors in Bartonella transmission to mammals, including humans. Overall, it appears that the diversity of Bartonella species DNA identified in ectoparasites is much broader than the species detected in their mammalian hosts, suggesting a mechanism of adaptation of Bartonella species to their host-vector ecosystem. However, these mechanisms leading to the fitness between the vectors and their hosts still need to be investigated.
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Molin Y, Lindeborg M, Nyström F, Madder M, Hjelm E, Olsen B, Jaenson TGT, Ehrenborg C. Migratory birds, ticks, and Bartonella. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2011; 1:IEE-1-5997. [PMID: 22957116 PMCID: PMC3426335 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v1i0.5997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella spp. infections are considered to be vector-borne zoonoses; ticks are suspected vectors of bartonellae. Migratory birds can disperse ticks infected with zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia and tick-borne encephalitis virus and possibly also Bartonella. Thus, in the present study 386 tick specimens collected in spring 2009 from migratory birds on the Mediterranean islands Capri and Antikythera were screened for Bartonella spp. RNA. One or more ticks were found on 2.7% of the birds. Most ticks were Hyalomma rufipes nymphs and larvae with mean infestation rates of 1.7 nymphs and 0.6 larvae per infested bird. Bartonella spp. RNA was not detected in any of the tick specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Molin
- Clinical Bacteriology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Billeter SA, Levy MG, Chomel BB, Breitschwerdt EB. Vector transmission of Bartonella species with emphasis on the potential for tick transmission. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2008; 22:1-15. [PMID: 18380649 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00713.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 210] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Bartonella species are gram-negative bacteria that infect erythrocytes, endothelial cells and macrophages, often leading to persistent blood-borne infections. Because of the ability of various Bartonella species to reside within erythrocytes of a diverse number of animal hosts, there is substantial opportunity for the potential uptake of these blood-borne bacteria by a variety of arthropod vectors that feed on animals and people. Five Bartonella species are transmitted by lice, fleas or sandflies. However, Bartonella DNA has been detected or Bartonella spp. have been cultured from numerous other arthropods. This review discusses Bartonella transmission by sandflies, lice and fleas, the potential for transmission by other vectors, and data supporting transmission by ticks. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture methods have been used to detect Bartonella in ticks, either questing or host-attached, throughout the world. Case studies and serological or molecular surveys involving humans, cats and canines provide indirect evidence supporting transmission of Bartonella species by ticks. Of potential clinical relevance, many studies have proposed co-transmission of Bartonella with other known tick-borne pathogens. Currently, critically important experimental transmission studies have not been performed for Bartonella transmission by many potential arthropod vectors, including ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Billeter
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Transitional Research, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, USA
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Sréter-Lancz Z, Tornyai K, Széll Z, Sréter T, Márialigeti K. Bartonella infections in fleas (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) and lack of bartonellae in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Hungary. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2006. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2006.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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