1
|
Pelletier J, Bouchard C, Aenishaenslin C, Dibernardo A, Dimitri Masson G, Fernandez-Prada C, Gagnon S, Victoria Ibarra Meneses A, Lindsay R, Ogden N, Rocheleau JP, Leighton P. The effect of fluralaner treatment of small mammals on the endemic cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi in a natural environment. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:tjae091. [PMID: 39119633 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Among approaches aimed at reducing Lyme disease risk in the environment, those targeting reservoirs of Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson are promising because they have the potential to reduce both the density of questing Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidea) ticks and the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in the tick population. In this 4-yr field study, we treated a population of wild small mammals with 2 densities of fluralaner baits and investigated the effect of the treatment on 3 parameters of the endemic cycle of B. burgdorferi: (i) the prevalence of infected Peromyscus mice (PIM), (ii) the density of questing nymphs (DON), and (iii) the prevalence of infected questing nymphs (NIP). We demonstrated that fluralaner baiting is effective at reducing tick infestation of Peromyscus mice, the main reservoir of B. burgdorferi in central and northeastern North America, in the laboratory and the field. Results from this study showed a significant decrease in B. burgdorferi infection in mice (odds ratio: 0.37 [CI95: 0.17 to 0.83]). A reduction in the DON between 45.4% [CI95: 22.4 to 61.6] and 62.7% [CI95: 45.9 to 74.2] occurred in treated area when compared with control areas. No significant effect was reported on the NIP. These results confirm the hypothesis that fluralaner baits have an effect on B. burgdorferi endemic cycle, with the potential to reduce the density of B. burgdorferi-infected ticks in the environment. Further studies performed in various habitats and public health intervention contexts are needed to refine and operationalize this approach for reducing Lyme disease risk in the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Pelletier
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Science Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Cecile Aenishaenslin
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- One Health division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Dimitri Masson
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Simon Gagnon
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ana Victoria Ibarra Meneses
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherché sur les maladies infectieuses en production animale, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Robbin Lindsay
- One Health division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nicholas Ogden
- Public Health Risk Science Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rocheleau
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Département de santé animale, Cégep de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick Leighton
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Guillot C, Aenishaenslin C, Acheson ES, Koffi J, Bouchard C, Leighton PA. Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis for the selection of sentinel regions in tick-borne disease surveillance. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:294. [PMID: 38267914 PMCID: PMC10809750 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17684-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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The implementation of cost-effective surveillance systems is essential for tracking the emerging risk of tick-borne diseases. In Canada, where Lyme disease is a growing public health concern, a national sentinel surveillance network was designed to follow the epidemiological portrait of this tick-borne disease across the country. The surveillance network consists of sentinel regions, with active drag sampling carried out annually in all regions to assess the density of Ixodes spp. ticks and prevalence of various tick-borne pathogens in the tick population. The aim of the present study was to prioritize sentinel regions by integrating different spatial criteria relevant to the surveillance goals. METHODS We used spatially-explicit multi-criteria decision analyses (MCDA) to map priority areas for surveillance across Canada, and to evaluate different scenarios using sensitivity analyses. Results were shared with stakeholders to support their decision making for the selection of priority areas to survey during active surveillance activities. RESULTS Weights attributed to criteria by decision-makers were overall consistent. Sensitivity analyses showed that the population criterion had the most impact on rankings. Thirty-seven sentinel regions were identified across Canada using this systematic and transparent approach. CONCLUSION This novel application of spatial MCDA to surveillance network design favors inclusivity of nationwide partners. We propose that such an approach can support the standardized planning of spatial design of sentinel surveillance not only for vector-borne disease BDs, but more broadly for infectious disease surveillance where spatial design is an important component.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Guillot
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.
- Centre de recherche en santé publique (CRESP) de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - C Aenishaenslin
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique (CRESP) de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - E S Acheson
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Divisions, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - J Koffi
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Policy Integration and Zoonoses Division, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - C Bouchard
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Divisions, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - P A Leighton
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique (GREZOSP), Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique (CRESP) de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jaenson TGT, Gray JS, Lindgren PE, Wilhelmsson P. Coinfection of Babesia and Borrelia in the Tick Ixodes ricinus-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe? Pathogens 2024; 13:81. [PMID: 38251388 PMCID: PMC10818971 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection with Babesia species and Borrelia species previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern of Babesia and Borrelia species in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden of I. ricinus infected both with zoonotic Babesia and Borrelia species. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive for Babesia spp. Of these Babesia-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously Borrelia-positive. Among 1046 immatures of I. ricinus removed from birds, 2.5% were Babesia-positive, of which 38% were coinfected with Borrelia species. This study shows that in I. ricinus infesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonotic Babesia protozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenic Borrelia spp. Diagnostic tests for Babesia spp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jeremy S. Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 N2E5 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Baz-Flores S, Herraiz C, Peralbo-Moreno A, Barral M, Arnal MC, Balseiro A, Cano-Terriza D, Castro-Scholten S, Cevidanes A, Conde-Lizarralde A, Cuadrado-Matías R, Escribano F, de Luco DF, Fidalgo LE, Hermoso-de Mendoza J, Fandos P, Gómez-Guillamón F, Granados JE, Jiménez-Martín D, López-Olvera JR, Martín I, Martínez R, Mentaberre G, García-Bocanegra I, Ruiz-Fons F. Mapping the risk of exposure to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the Iberian Peninsula using Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a model. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102281. [PMID: 37995393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen that can cause a lethal haemorrhagic disease in humans. Although the virus appears to be endemically established in the Iberian Peninsula, CCHF is an emerging disease in Spain. Clinical signs of CCHFV infection are mainly manifested in humans, but the virus replicates in several animal species. Understanding the determinants of CCHFV exposure risk from animal models is essential to predicting high-risk exposure hotspots for public health action. With this objective in mind, we designed a cross-sectional study of Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Spain and Portugal. The study analysed 5,291 sera collected between 2006 and 2022 from 90 wild boar populations with a specific double-antigen ELISA to estimate CCHFV serum prevalence and identify the main determinants of exposure probability. To do so, we statistically modelled exposure risk with host- and environment-related predictors and spatially projected it at a 10 × 10 km square resolution at the scale of the Iberian Peninsula to map foci of infection risk. Fifty-seven (63.3 %) of the 90 populations had at least one seropositive animal, with seroprevalence ranging from 0.0 to 88.2 %. Anti-CCHFV antibodies were found in 1,026 of 5,291 wild boar (19.4 %; 95 % confidence interval: 18.3-20.5 %), with highest exposure rates in southwestern Iberia. The most relevant predictors of virus exposure risk were wild boar abundance, local rainfall regime, shrub cover, winter air temperature and soil temperature variation. The spatial projection of the best-fit model identified high-risk foci as occurring in most of western and southwestern Iberia and identified recently confirmed risk foci in eastern Spain. The results of the study demonstrate that serological surveys of CCHFV vector hosts are a powerful, robust and highly informative tool for public health authorities to take action to prevent human cases of CCHF in enzootic and emergency settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Baz-Flores
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Cesar Herraiz
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Marta Barral
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Mari Cruz Arnal
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Balseiro
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-Universidad de León), Finca Marzanas, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - David Cano-Terriza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Sabrina Castro-Scholten
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio, Spain
| | - Alazne Conde-Lizarralde
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Raúl Cuadrado-Matías
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fernando Escribano
- Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre "El Valle", Ctra. Subida del Valle 62, 30150, La Alberca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Daniel Fernández de Luco
- Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luis Eusebio Fidalgo
- Departamento de Anatomía, Producción Animal y Ciencias Clínicas Veterinarias (APAyCCV) Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Javier Hermoso-de Mendoza
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | | | - Félix Gómez-Guillamón
- Consejería de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - José E Granados
- Parque Nacional y Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, Carretera Antigua de Sierra Nevada km 7, 18071 Pinos Genil, Granada, Spain
| | - Débora Jiménez-Martín
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jorge R López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health (WE&H) research group and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Inés Martín
- Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche (Alicante), Spain
| | - Remigio Martínez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology and Health Group (WE&H), Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agrària (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ciudad Real, Spain; CIBERINFEC, ISCIII - CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III,.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hassenstein MJ, Pischon T, Karch A, Peters A, Kerrinnes T, Teismann H, Schneider A, Thierry S, Moreno Velásquez I, Janke J, Kemmling Y, Castell S. Seropositivity of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in Germany-an analysis across four German National Cohort (NAKO) study sites. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21087. [PMID: 38036551 PMCID: PMC10689756 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47766-6] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is caused by the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. from ticks to humans. Climate affects tick abundance, and climate change is projected to promote shifts in abundance in Europe, potentially increasing human exposure. We analyzed serum samples collected between the years 2014-2019 from German National Cohort (NAKO) participants at four study sites (Augsburg, Berlin, Hanover, Münster) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and line blot immunoassay as confirmatory test for positive and equivocal ELISA samples. We reported crude and weighted seropositivity proportions for local estimates. We used mixed model analysis to investigate associated factors, such as age, sex, migration background, or animal contacts. We determined the serostatus of 14,207 participants. The weighted seropositivity proportions were 3.4% (IgG) and 0.4% (IgM) in Augsburg, 4.1% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in northern Berlin, 3.0% (IgG) and 0.9% (IgM) in Hanover, and 2.7% (IgG) and 0.6% (IgM) in Münster. We found higher odds for IgG seropositivity with advancing age (p < 0.001), among males compared to females (p < 0.001) and reduced odds among participants with migration background compared to those without (p = 0.001). We did not find evidence for an association between serostatus and depression, children within the household, or animal contact, respectively. We found low seropositivity proportions and indications of differences across the study locations, although between-group comparisons did not yield significant results. Comparisons to earlier research are subject to important limitations; however, our results indicate no major increases in seropositivity over time. Nevertheless, monitoring of seropositivity remains critical in light of potential climate-related Borrelia exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max J Hassenstein
- Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- PhD Programme "Epidemiology", Braunschweig-Hannover, Germany
| | - Tobias Pischon
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biobank Technology Platform, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Facility Biobank, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Karch
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Epidemiology, Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Kerrinnes
- Department of RNA-Biology of Bacterial Infections, Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Henning Teismann
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Alexandra Schneider
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sigrid Thierry
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- NAKO Studienzentrum, Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Ilais Moreno Velásquez
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Janke
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Berlin, Germany
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biobank Technology Platform, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yvonne Kemmling
- Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Castell
- Department for Epidemiology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany.
- TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a Joint Venture of the Hannover Medical School and Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Goren A, Mysterud A, Jore S, Viljugrein H, Bakka H, Vindenes Y. Demographic patterns in Lyme borreliosis seasonality over 25 years. Zoonoses Public Health 2023; 70:647-655. [PMID: 37458418 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13073] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne disease in Europe and North America, is attracting growing concern due to its expanding geographic range. The growth in incidence and geographic spread is largely attributed to climate and land-use changes that support the tick vector and thereby increase disease risk. Despite a wide range of symptoms displayed by Lyme borreliosis patients, the demographic patterns in clinical manifestations and seasonal case timing have not been thoroughly investigated and may result from differences in exposure, immunity and pathogenesis. We analysed 25 years of surveillance data from Norway, supplemented by population demography data, using a Bayesian modelling framework. The analyses aimed to detect differences in case seasonality and clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis across age and sex differentiated patient groups. The results showed a bimodal pattern of incidence over age, where children (0-9 years) had the highest incidence, young adults (20-29 years) had low incidence and older adults had a second incidence peak in the ages 70-79 years. Youth (0-19 years) presented with a higher proportion of neuroborreliosis cases and a lower proportion of arthritic manifestations compared to adults (20+ years). Adult males had a higher overall incidence than adult females and a higher proportion of arthritis cases. The seasonal timing of Lyme borreliosis consistently occurred around 4.4 weeks earlier in youth compared to adults, regardless of clinical manifestation. All demographic groups exhibited a shift towards an earlier seasonal timing over the 25-year study period, which appeared unrelated to changes in population demographics. However, the disproportionate incidence of Lyme borreliosis in seniors requires increased public awareness and knowledge about this high-risk group as the population continues to age concurrently with disease emergence. Our findings highlight the importance of considering patient demographics when analysing the emergence and seasonal patterns of vector-borne diseases using long-term surveillance data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asena Goren
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Solveig Jore
- Zoonotic, Food & Waterborne Infections, The Norwegian Public Health Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ås, Norway
| | | | - Yngvild Vindenes
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Bézay N, Hochreiter R, Kadlecek V, Wressnigg N, Larcher-Senn J, Klingler A, Dubischar K, Eder-Lingelbach S, Leroux-Roels I, Leroux-Roels G, Bender W. Safety and immunogenicity of a novel multivalent OspA-based vaccine candidate against Lyme borreliosis: a randomised, phase 1 study in healthy adults. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:1186-1196. [PMID: 37419129 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis, potentially associated with serious long-term complications, is caused by the species complex Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. We investigated a novel Lyme borreliosis vaccine candidate (VLA15) targeting the six most common outer surface protein A (OspA) serotypes 1-6 to prevent infection with pathogenic Borrelia spp prevalent in Europe and North America. METHODS This was a partially randomised, observer-masked, phase 1 study in healthy adults older than 18 years to younger than 40 years (n=179) done in trial sites in Belgium and the USA. Following a non-randomised run-in phase, a sealed envelope randomisation method was applied with a 1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio; three dose concentrations of VLA15 (12 μg, 48 μg, and 90 μg) were administered by intramuscular injection on days 1, 29, and 57. The primary outcome was safety (frequency of adverse events up to day 85) assessed in participants who received at least one vaccination. Immunogenicity was a secondary outcome. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03010228, and is complete. FINDINGS Between Jan 23, 2017 and Jan 16, 2019, of 254 participants screened for eligibility, 179 were randomly assigned into six groups: alum-adjuvanted 12 μg (n=29), 48 μg (n=31), or 90 μg (n=31) and non-adjuvanted 12 μg (n=29 participants), 48 μg (n=29), or 90 μg (n=30). VLA15 was safe and well tolerated and the majority of adverse events were mild or moderate. Overall, adverse events were more frequent in the 48 μg and 90 μg groups (range 28-30 participants [94-97%]) when compared with the 12 μg group (25 [86%] participants, 95% CI 69·4-94·5) for adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted groups. Common local reactions were tenderness (151 [84%] participants; 356 events, 95% CI 78·3-89·4) and injection site pain (120 [67%]; 224 events, 59·9-73·5); most frequent systemic reactions were headache (80 [45%]; 112 events, 37·6-52·0), excessive fatigue (45 [25%]; 56 events, 19·4-32·0), and myalgia (45 [25%]; 57 events, 19·4-32·0). A similar safety and tolerability profile was observed between adjuvanted and non-adjuvanted formulations. The majority of solicited adverse events were mild or moderate. VLA15 was immunogenic for all OspA serotypes with higher immune responses induced in the adjuvanted higher dose groups (geometric mean titre range 90 μg with alum 61·3 U/mL-321·7 U/mL vs 23·8 U/mL-111·5 U/mL at 90 μg without alum). INTERPRETATION This novel multivalent vaccine candidate against Lyme borreliosis was safe and immunogenic and paves the way to further clinical development. FUNDING Valneva Austria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Bézay
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Vera Kadlecek
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nina Wressnigg
- Valneva Austria, Campus Vienna Biocenter 3, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anton Klingler
- Assign Data Management and Biostatistics, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Isabel Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Leroux-Roels
- Center for Vaccinology (CEVAC), Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lionello FCP, Rotundo S, Bruno G, Marino G, Morrone HL, Fusco P, Costa C, Russo A, Trecarichi EM, Beltrame A, Torti C. Touching Base with Some Mediterranean Diseases of Interest from Paradigmatic Cases at the "Magna Graecia" University Unit of Infectious Diseases: A Didascalic Review. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2832. [PMID: 37685370 PMCID: PMC10486464 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13172832] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Among infectious diseases, zoonoses are increasing in importance worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean region. We report herein some clinical cases from a third-level hospital in Calabria region (Southern Italy) and provide a narrative review of the most relevant features of these diseases from epidemiological and clinical perspectives. Further, the pathogenic mechanisms involved in zoonotic diseases are reviewed, focusing on the mechanisms used by pathogens to elude the immune system of the host. These topics are of particular concern for individuals with primary or acquired immunodeficiency (e.g., people living with HIV, transplant recipients, patients taking immunosuppressive drugs). From the present review, it appears that diagnostic innovations and the availability of more accurate methods, together with better monitoring of the incidence and prevalence of these infections, are urgently needed to improve interventions for better preparedness and response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ferdinando Carmelo Pio Lionello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
| | - Salvatore Rotundo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
| | - Gabriele Bruno
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
| | - Gabriella Marino
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
| | - Helen Linda Morrone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
| | - Paolo Fusco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “Mater Domini” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Chiara Costa
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “Mater Domini” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “Mater Domini” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Enrico Maria Trecarichi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “Mater Domini” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Anna Beltrame
- College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Gainesville, FL 33620, USA;
| | - Carlo Torti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (F.C.P.L.); (S.R.); (G.B.); (G.M.); (H.L.M.); (A.R.); (E.M.T.); (C.T.)
- Unit of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, “Mater Domini” Teaching Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Xi D, Thoma A, Rajput-Ray M, Madigan A, Avramovic G, Garg K, Gilbert L, Lambert JS. A Longitudinal Study of a Large Clinical Cohort of Patients with Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Co-Infections Treated with Combination Antibiotics. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2152. [PMID: 37763996 PMCID: PMC10536678 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092152] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of tick-borne infections (TBIs) necessitates further attention. This study retrospectively investigated the types of TBIs, symptoms, and if combination antibiotics were helpful within a patient cohort at an infectious disease clinic in Ireland. In this chart audit of 301 individuals (184 female, 117 male) tested for TBIs, 140 (46.51%) had positive antibody responses for TBIs from an ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) that was based on a modified two-tiered testing protocol. A total of 93 (66.43%) patients had positive antibody responses to one TBI: 83 (59.29%) for Borrelia, 7 (5.00%) for Rickettsia, and 1 (0.71%) each for either Babesia, Bartonella, or Ehrlichia. The remaining 47 (33.57%) patients were infected with multiple TBIs. These patients were treated with combination antibiotics and monitored at two subsequent follow-ups. Only 2 of 101 patients (1.98%) had discontinued treatment by the second follow-up. In the first follow-up with 118 patients, 70 (59.32%) reported pain and 48 (40.68%) had neurological symptoms. In the next follow-up of 101 patients, 41 (40.59%) had pain while 30 (29.70%) had neurological symptoms. There were statistically significant reductions in the incidence of pain (41.43%) and neurological (37.50%) symptoms between follow-ups. Thus, our study demonstrates that combination antibiotics effectively relieve TBI symptoms with good patient tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Xi
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (D.X.); (A.T.); (A.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Abbie Thoma
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (D.X.); (A.T.); (A.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Minha Rajput-Ray
- Curaidh Clinic: Innovative Solutions for Pain, Chronic Disease and Work Health, Perthshire PH2 8EH, UK;
| | - Anne Madigan
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (D.X.); (A.T.); (A.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Gordana Avramovic
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (D.X.); (A.T.); (A.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Kunal Garg
- Te?ted Oy, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland; (K.G.); (L.G.)
| | | | - John S. Lambert
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (D.X.); (A.T.); (A.M.); (G.A.)
- Infectious Diseases Department, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, D07 R2WY Dublin, Ireland
- Infectious Diseases Department, The Rotunda Hospital, D01 P5W9 Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ollivier V, Choquet R, Gamble A, Bastien M, Combes B, Gilot‐Fromont E, Pellerin M, Gaillard J, Lemaître J, Verheyden H, Boulinier T. Temporal dynamics of antibody level against Lyme disease bacteria in roe deer: Tale of a sentinel? Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10414. [PMID: 37600488 PMCID: PMC10433119 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in the risk of exposure to infectious disease agents can be tracked through variations in antibody prevalence in vertebrate host populations. However, information on the temporal dynamics of the immune status of individuals is critical. If antibody levels persist a long time after exposure to an infectious agent, they could enable the efficient detection of the past circulation of the agent; if they persist only a short time, they could provide snap shots of recent exposure of sampled hosts. Here, we explored the temporal dynamics of seropositivity against Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) in individuals of a widespread medium-sized mammal species, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), in France. Using a modified commercially available immunoassay we tested 1554 blood samples obtained in two wild deer populations monitored from 2010 to 2020. Using multi-event capture-mark-recapture models, we estimated yearly population-, age-, and sex-specific rates of seroconversion and seroreversion after accounting for imperfect detection. The yearly seroconversion rates indicated a higher level of exposure in early (2010-2013) than in late years (2014-2019) to infected tick bites in both populations, without any detectable influence of sex or age. The relatively high rates of seroreversion indicated a short-term persistence of antibody levels against Bbsl in roe deer. This was confirmed by the analysis of samples collected on a set of captive individuals that were resampled several times a few weeks apart. Our findings show the potential usefulness of deer as a sentinel for tracking the risk of exposure to Lyme disease Bbsl, although further investigation on the details of the antibody response to Bbsl in this incompetent host would be useful. Our study also highlights the value of combining long-term capture-mark-recapture sampling and short-time analyses of serological data for wildlife populations exposed to infectious agents of relevance to wildlife epidemiology and human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Ollivier
- CEFE Center of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, UMR 5175CNRS, University of Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Université Paul ValéryMontpellierFrance
- ELIZ Entente for the Control of ZoonosesMalzévilleFrance
- University of Toulouse, INRAE, CEFSCastanet TolosanFrance
| | - Rémi Choquet
- CEFE Center of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, UMR 5175CNRS, University of Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Université Paul ValéryMontpellierFrance
| | - Amandine Gamble
- School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- Department of Public and Ecosystem HealthCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Benoit Combes
- ELIZ Entente for the Control of ZoonosesMalzévilleFrance
| | - Emmanuelle Gilot‐Fromont
- LBBE Biometry and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory UMR5558CNRS – University of LyonVilleurbanneFrance
| | - Maryline Pellerin
- Ungulate Unit, Direction of Research and Scientific SupportOFB, French Biodiversity OfficeGapFrance
| | - Jean‐Michel Gaillard
- LBBE Biometry and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory UMR5558CNRS – University of LyonVilleurbanneFrance
| | - Jean‐François Lemaître
- LBBE Biometry and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory UMR5558CNRS – University of LyonVilleurbanneFrance
| | | | - Thierry Boulinier
- CEFE Center of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, UMR 5175CNRS, University of Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Université Paul ValéryMontpellierFrance
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Trevisan G, Ruscio M, Cinco M, Nan K, Forgione P, Di Meo N, Tranchini P, Nacca M, Trincone S, Rimoldi SG, Giacomet V, Ricci M, Melandri D, Artioli S, Monteforte P, Stinco G, Bonin S. The history of Lyme disease in Italy and its spread in the Italian territory. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1128142. [PMID: 37397497 PMCID: PMC10312113 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1128142] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common vector-borne zoonotic inflammatory disease in the Northern Hemisphere. In Italy, the first case was diagnosed in 1985 in a woman in Liguria, while the second, in 1986 in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, documenting the infection in northern Italy. Both diagnoses were confirmed by serological assessment by an indirect immunofluorescence (IFI) technique. Borrelia cultivation from both Ixodes ricinus ticks and human lesions in Trieste (Friuli-Venezia Giulia) identified Borrelia afzelii as the prevalent genospecies; nevertheless, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto), and Borrelia valaisiana (VS116 Group) were also detected, although less frequently. LB was also documented in other Italian regions: in Tuscany (1991), Trentino-Alto Adige (1995-1996), Emilia-Romagna (1998), Abruzzo (1998), and more recently, Lombardy. Nevertheless, data on LB in other Italian regions, especially in southern Italy and islands, are poor. The aim of this study is to document the spread of LB in Italy through the collection of data from LB patients in eight Italian hospitals located in different Italian regions. Diagnostic criteria for LB diagnosis are as follows: i) the presence of erythema migrans (EM) or ii) a clinical picture suggestive of LB, confirmed by serological tests and/or PCR positivity for Borrelia detection. In addition, data also included the place of residence (town and region) and the place where patients became infected. During the observation period, 1,260 cases were gathered from the participating centers. Although different in extent from northern Italy to central/southern Italy, this study shows that LB is widespread throughout Italy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giusto Trevisan
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ruscio
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Giuliano Isontina, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia Lyme Disease Regional Center, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marina Cinco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Katiuscia Nan
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Giuliano Isontina, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia Lyme Disease Regional Center, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Di Meo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Giuliano Isontina, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia Lyme Disease Regional Center, Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Tranchini
- Dermatology Unit, Lyme Disease Regional Center, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Nacca
- Department Dermatology and Venereology, Azienda Ospedaliera di Rilevanza Nazionale Sant’Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy
| | - Silvana Trincone
- Dermatology and Venereology Operating Unit—Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Sara Giordana Rimoldi
- Microbiology, Virology, and Bioemergency Unit, Azienda Socio Territoriale Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milano, Italy
| | - Vania Giacomet
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Ricci
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Melandri
- Dermatology and Venereology Operating Unit—Bufalini Hospital, Cesena, Italy
| | - Stefania Artioli
- Infectious Disease Unit, Internal Medicine Department S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Stinco
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Serena Bonin
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Olsen J, Angulo FJ, Pilz A, Halsby K, Kelly P, Brestrich G, Stark JH, Jodar L. Estimated number of symptomatic Lyme borreliosis cases in Germany in 2021 after adjusting for under-ascertainment. Public Health 2023; 219:1-9. [PMID: 37075486 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.03.002] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although nine of 16 federal states in Germany conduct public health surveillance for Lyme borreliosis (LB), the extent of under-ascertainment is unknown. OBJECTIVE As a model for European countries that conduct LB surveillance, we sought to estimate the population-based incidence of symptomatic LB after adjusting for under-ascertainment. METHODS Estimating seroprevalence-derived under-ascertainment relies on data from seroprevalence studies, public health surveillance, and published literature. The number of symptomatic LB cases in states that conduct LB surveillance was estimated from studies reporting the seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the proportion of LB cases that are asymptomatic, and the duration of antibody detection. The number of estimated incident symptomatic LB cases was compared with the number of surveillance-reported LB cases to derive under-ascertainment multipliers. The multipliers were applied to the number of 2021 surveillance-reported LB cases to estimate the population-based incidence of symptomatic LB in Germany. RESULTS Adjusting for seroprevalence-based under-ascertainment multipliers, the estimated number of symptomatic LB cases in states that conducted surveillance was 129,870 (408 per 100,000 population) in 2021. As there were 11,051 surveillance-reported cases in 2021 in these states, these data indicate there were 12 symptomatic LB cases for every surveillance-reported LB case. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that symptomatic LB is underdetected in Germany and that this seroprevalence-based approach can be applied elsewhere in Europe where requisite data are available. Nationwide expansion of LB surveillance would further elucidate the true LB disease burden in Germany and could support targeted disease prevention efforts to address the high LB disease burden.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Olsen
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA.
| | - F J Angulo
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - A Pilz
- Vaccines, Pfizer Corporation Austria, Floridsdorfer Hauptstrasse 1, 1210 Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - K Halsby
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - P Kelly
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - G Brestrich
- Vaccines, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Linkstrasse 10, 10785 Berlin, Germany
| | - J H Stark
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - L Jodar
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Rd, Collegeville, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bio-efficacy of permethrin/tetramethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin treatments in habitats of hard ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) populations with confirmed Borrelia spp. infection. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1127-1138. [PMID: 36884104 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07812-8] [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: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the bio-efficacy of two different acaricides against mobile stages of hard ticks Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata in their natural habitats. The study was conducted during 2020 and 2021 at localities populated by I. ricinus as the predominant species, at which the presence of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia lusitaniae was confirmed. During the first investigation year, a combination of two pyrethroids, permethrin, and tetramethrin, with an insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide (trade name: Perme Plus®) was tested. At the first evaluation, 24 h after the treatment with Perme Plus®, the efficacy expressed as a reduction rate of the population density was within the interval of satisfying performance (70-90%) at all localities, while the highest efficacy (97.8%) was recorded on the 14th post-treatment day. In the second investigation year, the formulation based on lambda-cyhalothrin (trade name: Icon® 10CS) was used. On the first post-treatment evaluation day, satisfying effects were also demonstrated. The highest recorded efficacy rate of lambda-cyhalothrin (94.7%) was recorded on the 14th post-treatment day. Both tested acaricides manifested satisfying initial acaricidal effects against mobile stages of ticks and provided long-term effects. Comparison of the regression trend lines of population reduction revealed that satisfying effects of treatment with Perme Plus® lasted until the 17th post-treatment day, while in the case of Icon® 10CS, the residual effects were significantly prolonged (30 days).
Collapse
|
15
|
Köhler CF, Holding ML, Sprong H, Jansen PA, Esser HJ. Biodiversity in the Lyme-light: ecological restoration and tick-borne diseases in Europe. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:373-385. [PMID: 36890021 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.02.005] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases are two major global challenges. An urgent question is how ecosystems and wildlife communities can be restored whilst minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases carried by wildlife. Here, we evaluate how current ambitions to restore Europe's natural ecosystems may affect the hazard of diseases vectored by the tick Ixodes ricinus at different scales. We find that effects of restoration efforts on tick abundance are relatively straightforward but that the interacting effects of vertebrate diversity and abundance on pathogen transmission are insufficiently known. Long-term integrated surveillance of wildlife communities, ticks, and their pathogens is needed to understand their interactions and to prevent nature restoration from increasing tick-borne disease (TBD) hazard.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Florentine Köhler
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Maya Louise Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick A Jansen
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Hansford KM, Gandy SL, Gillingham EL, McGinley L, Cull B, Johnston C, Catton M, Medlock JM. Mapping and monitoring tick (Acari, Ixodida) distribution, seasonality, and host associations in the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2020. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 37:152-163. [PMID: 36309852 PMCID: PMC10092223 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne disease risk is intrinsically linked to the distribution of tick vector species. To assess risk and anticipate disease emergence, an understanding of tick distribution, host associations, and seasonality is needed. This can be achieved, to some extent, using passive surveillance supported by engagement with the public, animal health, and public health experts. The Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) collects data and maps tick distribution across the United Kingdom (UK). Between 2017 and 2020, 3720 tick records were received and 39 tick species were detected. Most records were acquired in the UK, with a subset associated with recent overseas travel. The dominant UK acquired species was Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Linnaeus), the main vector of Lyme borreliosis. Records peaked during May and June, highlighting a key risk period for tick bites. Other key UK species were detected, including Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Fabricius) and Haemaphysalis punctata (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Canestrini & Fanzago) as well as several rarer species that may present novel tick-borne disease risk to humans and other animals. Updated tick distribution maps highlight areas in the UK where tick exposure has occurred. There is evidence of increasing human tick exposure over time, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, but seasonal patterns remain unchanged.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara L. Gandy
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Emma L. Gillingham
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Liz McGinley
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Colin Johnston
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Matthew Catton
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| | - Jolyon M. Medlock
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses EcologyUK Health Security AgencyPorton DownUK
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Goren A, Viljugrein H, Rivrud IM, Jore S, Bakka H, Vindenes Y, Mysterud A. The emergence and shift in seasonality of Lyme borreliosis in Northern Europe. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222420. [PMID: 36809802 PMCID: PMC9943644 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change has had a major impact on seasonal weather patterns, resulting in marked phenological changes in a wide range of taxa. However, empirical studies of how changes in seasonality impact the emergence and seasonal dynamics of vector-borne diseases have been limited. Lyme borreliosis, a bacterial infection spread by hard-bodied ticks, is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and has been rapidly increasing in both incidence and geographical distribution in many regions of Europe and North America. By analysis of long-term surveillance data (1995-2019) from across Norway (latitude 57°58'-71°08' N), we demonstrate a marked change in the within-year timing of Lyme borreliosis cases accompanying an increase in the annual number of cases. The seasonal peak in cases is now six weeks earlier than 25 years ago, exceeding seasonal shifts in plant phenology and previous model predictions. The seasonal shift occurred predominantly in the first 10 years of the study period. The concurrent upsurgence in case number and shift in case timing indicate a major change in the Lyme borreliosis disease system over recent decades. This study highlights the potential for climate change to shape the seasonal dynamics of vector-borne disease systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Asena Goren
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway.,Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 64, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Inger Maren Rivrud
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Sognsveien 68, NO-0855 Oslo, Norway
| | - Solveig Jore
- Zoonotic, Food and Waterborne Infections, The Norwegian Public Health Institute, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
| | - Haakon Bakka
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 64, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
| | - Yngvild Vindenes
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1066 Blindern, Oslo NO-0316, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685 Sluppen, NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Myszkowska-Torz A, Tomaszewski M, Kotowski M, Witczak C, Figlerowicz M, Mazur-Melewska K. Cutaneous Manifestations of Lyme Borreliosis in Children-A Case Series and Review. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010072. [PMID: 36676022 PMCID: PMC9864164 DOI: 10.3390/life13010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of skin lesions is the earliest symptom of Lyme disease, and the diagnosis of these lesions and appropriate treatment may prevent complications of the disease, which are mainly neurological. The cutaneous presentation in borreliosis is heterogeneous. There are typical lesions that constitute the basis for the diagnosis of Lyme disease, and atypical ones, which cause significant diagnostic difficulties especially when the patient does not remember the tick bite. This study aims to describe the heterogeneous skin symptoms of Lyme borreliosis, as well as offer a practical approach for the recognition of the disease. Based on pediatric cases from clinical practice, rare cutaneous presentations of Lyme disease at various stages of illness and therapy are presented. Diagnostic recommendations for recognizing individual forms are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Myszkowska-Torz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Mateusz Tomaszewski
- Department of Orthodontics and Temporomanidbular Disorders, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Michał Kotowski
- Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Cezary Witczak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Magdalena Figlerowicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mazur-Melewska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Pelletier J, Rocheleau JP, Aenishaenslin C, Dimitri Masson G, Lindsay LR, Ogden NH, Bouchard C, Leighton PA. Fluralaner Baits Reduce the Infestation of Peromyscus spp. Mice (Rodentia: Cricetidae) by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Larvae and Nymphs in a Natural Environment. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:2080-2089. [PMID: 35980603 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The development of interventions that reduce Lyme disease incidence remains a challenge. Reservoir-targeted approaches aiming to reduce tick densities or tick infection prevalence with Borrelia burgdorferi have emerged as promising ways to reduce the density of infected ticks. Acaricides of the isoxazoline family offer high potential for reducing infestation of ticks on small mammals as they have high efficacy at killing feeding ticks for a long period. Fluralaner baits were recently demonstrated as effective, in the laboratory, at killing Ixodes scapularis larvae infesting Peromyscus mice, the main reservoir for B. burgdorferi in northeastern North America. Here, effectiveness of this approach for reducing the infestation of small mammals by immature stages of I. scapularis was tested in a natural environment. Two densities of fluralaner baits (2.1 baits/1,000 m2 and 4.4 baits/1,000 m2) were used during three years in forest plots. The number of I. scapularis larvae and nymphs per mouse from treated and control plots were compared. Fluralaner baiting reduced the number of larvae per mouse by 68% (CI95: 51-79%) at 2.1 baits/1,000 m2 and by 86% (CI95: 77-92%) at 4.4 baits/1,000 m2. The number of nymphs per mouse was reduced by 72% (CI95: 22-90%) at 4.4 baits/1,000 m2 but was not significantly reduced at 2.1 baits/1,000 m2. Reduction of Peromyscus mouse infestation by immature stages of I. scapularis supports the hypothesis that an approach targeting reservoirs of B. burgdorferi with isoxazolines has the potential to reduce tick-borne disease risk by decreasing the density of infected ticks in the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Pelletier
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philippe Rocheleau
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Département de santé animale, CÉGEP de Saint-Hyacinthe, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Cécile Aenishaenslin
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Gabrielle Dimitri Masson
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- One Health Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nicholas H Ogden
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick A Leighton
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en épidémiologie des zoonoses et santé publique, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique de l'Université de Montréal et du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Skufca J, De Smedt N, Pilz A, Vyse A, Begier E, Blum M, Riera-Montes M, Gessner B, Skovdal M, Stark JH. Incidence of Lyme neuroborreliosis in Denmark: Exploring observed trends using public surveillance data, 2015-2019. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102039. [PMID: 36166915 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102039] [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: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) can be a serious manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. We describe the incidence, time trends and geographic distribution of LNB in Denmark. We obtained LNB cases reported by laboratories and physicians (2015-2019) from the online platform maintained by the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) (2021b). The LNB incidence (per 100,000 persons) was calculated by dividing LNB cases by the population data (denominator) obtained from Statistics Denmark (2021). Between 2015 and 2019, laboratories reported annually 162 to 200 LNB cases, while physicians reported 48 to 68 cases. The annual LNB incidence notified by laboratories ranged from 2.8 (95% CI: 2.4‒3.3) to 3.4 (95% CI: 3.0‒4.0) per 100,000 persons for the 5 study years. The average annual LNB incidence per 100,000 persons for 5 Danish regions ranged from 2.3 to 3.3; for 11 provinces, from 1.9 to 7.6; and for 98 municipalities, from 0 to 22.1. Incidence peaks occurred in persons 5‒14 and 65‒74 years of age. Higher incidences were observed among males versus females in all age groups. LNB cases were reported throughout the year, with peaks in July to September. Notified LNB incidence in Denmark was moderate with no evidence of decline. Cases occurred across all regions but were focally concentrated among residents of some municipalities. Expanding the current surveillance system to include other manifestations of LB would be valuable to better understand geographic endemicity to inform targeted preventive measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jozica Skufca
- Epidemiology & Pharmacovigilance, P95, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nick De Smedt
- Epidemiology & Pharmacovigilance, P95, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Pilz
- Pfizer Global Medical Affairs, Vaccines, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andrew Vyse
- Vaccines Medical Affairs, Pfizer Ltd, Walton Oaks, Tadworth, KT20 7NS, UK
| | - Elizabeth Begier
- Vaccine Clinical Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Pearl River, New York, USA
| | - Maxim Blum
- Epidemiology & Pharmacovigilance, P95, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Bradford Gessner
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Mette Skovdal
- Pfizer Denmark, Pfizer Inc, Lautrupvang 8 2750 Ballerup, Denmark
| | - James H Stark
- Vaccines Medical Development & Scientific/Clinical Affairs, Pfizer Inc, 500 Arcola Road, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Nielebeck C, Kim SH, Dedmon L, Pangilinan M, Quan J, Ota W, Monzón JD. A novel laboratory method to simulate climatic stress with successful application to experiments with medically relevant ticks. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275314. [PMID: 36174082 PMCID: PMC9522300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are the most important vectors of zoonotic disease-causing pathogens in North America and Europe. Many tick species are expanding their geographic range. Although correlational evidence suggests that climate change is driving the range expansion of ticks, experimental evidence is necessary to develop a mechanistic understanding of ticks’ response to a range of climatic conditions. Previous experiments used simulated microclimates, but these protocols require hazardous salts or expensive laboratory equipment to manipulate humidity. We developed a novel, safe, stable, convenient, and economical method to isolate individual ticks and manipulate their microclimates. The protocol involves placing individual ticks in plastic tubes, and placing six tubes along with a commercial two-way humidity control pack in an airtight container. We successfully used this method to investigate how humidity affects survival and host-seeking (questing) behavior of three tick species: the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). We placed 72 adult females of each species individually into plastic tubes and separated them into three experimental relative humidity (RH) treatments representing distinct climates: 32% RH, 58% RH, and 84% RH. We assessed the survival and questing behavior of each tick for 30 days. In all three species, survivorship significantly declined in drier conditions. Questing height was negatively associated with RH in Amblyomma, positively associated with RH in Dermacentor, and not associated with RH in Ixodes. The frequency of questing behavior increased significantly with drier conditions for Dermacentor but not for Amblyomma or Ixodes. This report demonstrates an effective method for assessing the viability and host-seeking behavior of tick vectors of zoonotic diseases under different climatic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Nielebeck
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Sang Hyo Kim
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Lauren Dedmon
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Mark Pangilinan
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Jahred Quan
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - William Ota
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
| | - Javier D. Monzón
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne illness in North America and Europe. The etiologic agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, is transmitted to humans by certain species of Ixodes ticks, which are found widely in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Clinical features are diverse but death is rare. The risk of human infection is determined by the distribution and abundance of vector ticks, ecologic factors influencing tick infection rates, and human behaviors that promote tick bite. Rates of infection are highest among children aged 5 to 15 years and adults aged more than 50 years. In the northeastern United States where disease is most common, exposure occurs primarily in areas immediately around the home. Knowledge of disease epidemiology is important for patient management and proper diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Mead
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3156 Rampart Road, Ft Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Meta-analysis: A useful tool to assess infection prevalence and disease ecology of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in nymphal ticks in North-Western Europe with recommendations for a standardised approach to future studies. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2022; 18:e00254. [PMID: 35677189 PMCID: PMC9167692 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2022.e00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne disease of concern in Europe. While neuroborreliosis data are reportable at EU level, it can nevertheless be difficult to make comparisons of disease risk between neighbouring countries. This study used proportion meta-analyses to compare environmental markers of disease risk between woodland sites in two countries in North-Western Europe (Ireland, Scotland). 73 site-visits from 12 publications were analysed, resulting in a significantly higher pooled nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) in Ireland (8.2% (95% CI: 5.9–11.4%)) than Scotland (1.7%(95% CI 1.1–2.5%)). All other analysed parameters of disease risk were also higher in Ireland than Scotland. Subgroup-meta-analyses and meta-regressions were used to assess the influence of environmental variables on NIP. NIP increased significantly with increasing woodland size in Ireland, but not Scotland, which may be accounted for by Ireland's highly fragmented landscape. Assuming the application of strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and control of variables, proportion meta-analysis can provide useful insights in disease ecology, as it allows for the achievement of high study powers incorporating samples collected across multiple sites, which is otherwise often a prohibitively difficult and resource-heavy feat in environmental studies in disease ecology. A standardised approach to data collection is recommended to achieve more robust meta-analyses in future in conjunction with additional research on environmental factors affecting Lyme borreliosis risk in Europe, particularly pertaining to the impact of host species on NIP.
Collapse
|
24
|
Houžvičková A, Dorko E, Rimárová K, Diabelková J, Drabiščák E. Seroprevalence of Borrelia IgG antibodies among individuals from Eastern Slovakia. Cent Eur J Public Health 2022; 30:S16-S21. [PMID: 35841220 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6808] [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: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease of increasing incidence and public concern. Our cross-sectional study was aimed at evaluating seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in a group of respondents from Eastern Slovakia. METHODS In total, 515 blood samples collected in 2013-2016 were analysed with NovaLisaTM, NovaTec - Borrelia IgG/IgM kit (Immunodiagnostica, Dietzenbach, Germany). Positive and equivocal IgG-antibody results were further examined with immunoblotting (LYMECHECK® OPTIMA IgG and IgM kits, BIOSYNEX, France). Data detected by serological methods were matched with those obtained from a questionnaire. Differences between groups by residence/seropositivity were tested by χ2 test. The effect of socio-demographic and risk factors on seropositivity of IgG antibodies was assessed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were detected in 67 cases (13.01%) and IgM antibodies in 40 cases (7.8%). Previous tick bite had been noted in 67.2% of these seropositive individuals. Higher seropositivity was observed in men and persons aged over 61 years. Rural residents had higher seropositivity (39%) than those living in urban (29%) areas. Very few of these seropositive persons reported prior symptoms. CONCLUSION The study reveals that IgG-seropositivity for Borrelia burgdorferi in Eastern Slovakia is predominant in men and occurs mainly in rural areas. The findings also suggest that exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi (with subsequent antibody response in serum) does occur, mostly without giving rise to clinical Lyme borreliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Houžvičková
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Erik Dorko
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Kvetoslava Rimárová
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Diabelková
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Erik Drabiščák
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Assembly and Comparison of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis Genomes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061134. [PMID: 35744652 PMCID: PMC9227406 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widely prevalent in I. ricinus across Europe and has been associated with human disease. However, diagnostic modalities are limited, and much is still unknown about its biology. Here, we present the first complete Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes directly derived from wildlife reservoir host tissues, using both long- and short-read sequencing technologies. This pragmatic approach provides an alternative to obtaining sufficient material from clinical cases, a difficult task for emerging infectious diseases, and to expensive and challenging bacterial isolation and culture methods. Both genomes exhibit a larger chromosome than the currently available Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes and expand the ability to find new targets for the development of supportive laboratory diagnostics in the future. Moreover, this method could be utilized for other tick-borne pathogens that are difficult to culture.
Collapse
|
26
|
He Z, Jiang B, Huang L, Shao Z, Zhang Y, Li Y, Pu E, Duan X, Jiang H, Wang J, Yao M, Wang F, Bie S, von Fricken ME, Sun Y, Dong Y, Jiang J, Du C. High Diversity and Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Wildlife Hosts, Domestic Animals, and Ticks in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:876079. [PMID: 35602075 PMCID: PMC9114702 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.876079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (BBSL), the causative agent of Lyme disease, is commonly found in wild and domestic mammals and ticks worldwide. In China, human cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infections have been identified across a wide geographic range including Yunnan Province, but few studies have examined BBSL in reservoirs and vectors in southwestern China. Here we conducted a thorough and broad-range investigation of BBSL in small mammals, domestic mammals, and ticks collected from 159 sample sites across 42 counties in Yunnan Province. DNA was extracted from spleen tissue of small mammals, blood from domestic mammals, and homogenized ticks. Nested PCR targeting the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer gene of BBSL was used for screening, with amplicons sequenced directly and analyzed using a BLAST algorithm. A total of 8,478 samples were collected, which were composed of 5,044 mammals belonging to 68 species, 1,927 livestock belonging to five species, and 1, 507 ticks belonging to 14 species. BBSL was detected in 147 mammals (2.9%) from 30 different species, 20 of which represent the first reported detection in that species. A total of 52 (2.7%) livestock samples were positive for BBSL, with dogs having the highest detection rate (6.3%, 43/687), and 103 ticks (6.8%) tested positive with high prevalence in Ixodes granulatus (44.2%, 23/52), Haemaphysalis nepalensi (33.3%, 3/9) and Haemaphysalis kolonini (19.0%, 31/163). Sequence analysis revealed six genospecies of BBSL including B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. japonica, B. garinii, B. sinica, and B. valaisiana. Significant differences in prevalence rates of BBSL were observed by species, landscape types, altitude, and season. Our findings indicate a wide distribution of multiple endemic BBSL genospecies based on a large-scale survey within Yunnan, which underline the need to expand surveillance efforts for human in southwestern China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihai He
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China.,Longgang Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Baogui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zongti Shao
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuqiong Li
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Ennian Pu
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Xingde Duan
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Hang Jiang
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Mingguo Yao
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Shuangshuang Bie
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Michael E von Fricken
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Dong
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| | - Jiafu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Chunhong Du
- Yunnan Institute of Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Sentinel Surveillance Contributes to Tracking Lyme Disease Spatiotemporal Risk Trends in Southern Quebec, Canada. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050531. [PMID: 35631052 PMCID: PMC9145942 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is a tick-borne disease which has been emerging in temperate areas in North America, Europe, and Asia. In Quebec, Canada, the number of human LD cases is increasing rapidly and thus surveillance of LD risk is a public health priority. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of active sentinel surveillance to track spatiotemporal trends in LD risk. Using drag flannel data from 2015–2019, we calculated density of nymphal ticks (DON), an index of enzootic hazard, across the study region (southern Quebec). A Poisson regression model was used to explore the association between the enzootic hazard and LD risk (annual number of human cases) at the municipal level. Predictions from models were able to track both spatial and interannual variation in risk. Furthermore, a risk map produced by using model predictions closely matched the official risk map published by provincial public health authorities, which requires the use of complex criteria-based risk assessment. Our study shows that active sentinel surveillance in Quebec provides a sustainable system to follow spatiotemporal trends in LD risk. Such a network can support public health authorities in informing the public about LD risk within their region or municipality and this method could be extended to support Lyme disease risk assessment at the national level in Canada.
Collapse
|
28
|
Blazhev A, Stanilov I, Miteva LD, Atanasova M, Blazheva S, Stanilova S. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Kaylaka Park in Pleven, Bulgaria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040772. [PMID: 35456822 PMCID: PMC9032153 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine the presence and distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from urbanized and wild areas in Kaylaka Park (Bulgaria). A total of 546 ticks were collected over three years (2017–2019). The presence of Borrelia in 334 of the collected I. ricinus was detected by dark-field microscopy (DFM) and two nested PCRs (nPCR) targeting the borrelial 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and Flagellin B (FlaB) gene. DFM was performed on a total of 215 ticks, of which 86 (40%) were positive. PCR was performed on 153 of the ticks. In total, 42.5% of the 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer and 49% of FlaB were positive. Considering as positive any single tick in which Borrelia sp. was detected regardless of the used method, the infection rate reached 37% (10/27) in the nymphs and 48.5% (149/307) in the adults (48.7% (77/158) females, 48.3% (72/149) males). The incidence of B. burgdorferi infection in I. ricinus did not differ statistically significantly between female, male, and nymph. This study provides evidence that Lyme disease spirochetes are present in various regions of Kaylaka Park with extremely high prevalence in their vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Blazhev
- Department of Biology, Medical University-Pleven, 1 Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +359-988-986-865
| | - Iskren Stanilov
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Lyuba Dineva Miteva
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Milena Atanasova
- Department of Biology, Medical University-Pleven, 1 Kliment Ohridski Str., 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
| | - Svetla Blazheva
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria;
| | - Spaska Stanilova
- Department of Molecular Biology, Immunology and Medical Genetics, Medical Faculty, Trakia University, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; (I.S.); (L.D.M.); (S.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mantle D, Turton N, Hargreaves IP. Lyme Disease: A Role for Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation? Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040667. [PMID: 35453352 PMCID: PMC9027459 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease results from a bacterial infection following a bite from an infected tick. Patients are initially treated with antibiotics; however, in cases where antibiotic treatment is delayed, or when patients do not respond to antibiotic treatment, fatigue may develop alongside problems affecting the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and joints. It is thought that most of the damage to these tissues results from the excessive inflammatory response of the host, involving a self-reinforcing cycle of mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation. In this article, we review the potential role of supplementary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in mediating the pathogenic mechanism underlying Lyme disease, on the basis of its role in mitochondrial function, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Turton
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK;
| | - Iain P. Hargreaves
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Hansford KM, Wheeler BW, Tschirren B, Medlock JM. Questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and Borrelia spp. in urban green space across Europe: A review. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:153-166. [PMID: 35122422 PMCID: PMC9487987 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12913] [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: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For more than three decades, it has been recognized that Ixodes ricinus ticks occur in urban green space in Europe and that they harbour multiple pathogens linked to both human and animal diseases. Urban green space use for health and well‐being, climate mitigation or biodiversity goals is promoted, often without consideration for the potential impact on tick encounters or tick‐borne disease outcomes. This review synthesizes the results of over 100 publications on questing I. ricinus and Borrelia spp. infections in ticks in urban green space in 24 European countries. It presents data on several risk indicators for Lyme borreliosis and highlights key research gaps and recommendations for future studies. Across Europe, mean density of I. ricinus in urban green space was 6.9 (range; 0.1–28.8) per 100 m2 and mean Borrelia prevalence was 17.3% (range; 3.1%–38.1%). Similar density estimates were obtained for nymphs, which had a Borrelia prevalence of 14.2% (range; 0.5%–86.7%). Few studies provided data on both questing nymph density and Borrelia prevalence, but those that did found an average of 1.7 (range; 0–5.6) Borrelia‐infected nymphs per 100 m2 of urban green space. Although a wide range of genospecies were reported, Borrelia afzelii was the most common in most parts of Europe, except for England where B. garinii was more common. The emerging pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi was also found in several countries, but with a much lower prevalence (1.5%). Our review highlights that I. ricinus and tick‐borne Borrelia pathogens are found in a wide range of urban green space habitats and across several seasons. The impact of human exposure to I. ricinus and subsequent Lyme borreliosis incidence in urban green space has not been quantified. There is also a need to standardize sampling protocols to generate better baseline data for the density of ticks and Borrelia prevalence in urban areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK.,European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | - Benedict W Wheeler
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | | | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging & Zoonotic Infections, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Estimation of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations of Kaylaka Park in the Town of Pleven, Bulgaria. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12090808. [PMID: 34564248 PMCID: PMC8467679 DOI: 10.3390/insects12090808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: Ticks are vectors of a large number of pathogenic microorganisms, which cause serious diseases in both humans and animals. Kaylaka Park is located in northern Bulgaria close to the city of Pleven. Part of the park is urbanized and visited daily by many citizens. The aim of our study was to determine the presence and distribution of hard ticks in the park area by surveying and comparing four urbanized with four wild areas. (2) Methods: Ticks were collected by flagging from 2016 to 2020 during the spring-summer season (March-July). Air temperature, relative humidity, collection time and flagging area were measured during the campaign. (3) Results: A total of 622 ticks were collected: 285 females (46%), 272 (44%) males and 64 (10%) nymphs. All were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Wild areas showed statistically significant higher values of ticks collected per minute (p = 0.009) and nymph densities (p = 0.003) compared to urbanized sampling sites. Other densities indices did not have a significant difference between urban and wild areas. Highest numbers of Ixodes ticks were collected at a temperature of 20 °C and at 60% relative humidity. The active questing began in March, peaked in end of April and declined in June. (4) Conclusions: In the present study, we found that ecological factors in the Kaylaka Park area are favourable for the development and distribution of tick populations. The results give us reason to consider that there is a high risk to visitors from tick bites in the Kaylaka Park area.
Collapse
|
32
|
Olsthoorn F, Sprong H, Fonville M, Rocchi M, Medlock J, Gilbert L, Ghazoul J. Occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Wester Ross, Northwest Scotland. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:430. [PMID: 34446082 PMCID: PMC8393815 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04946-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lyme borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases emerge from increased interactions between humans, other animals, and infected ticks. The risk of acquiring a tick-borne infection varies across space and time, so knowledge of the occurrence and prevalence of pathogens in ticks can facilitate disease diagnosis in a specific area and the implementation of mitigation measures and awareness campaigns. Here we identify the occurrence and prevalence of several pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Wester Ross, Northwest Scotland, a region of high tourism and tick exposure, yet data-poor in terms of tick-borne pathogens. Methods Questing I. ricinus nymphs (n = 2828) were collected from 26 sites in 2018 and 2019 and tested for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using PCR-based methods. Prevalence was compared with other regions of Scotland, England, Wales, and the Netherlands. Results Anaplasma phagocytophilum (4.7% prevalence), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) (2.2%), Babesia from clade X (0.2%), Rickettsia helvetica (0.04%), and Spiroplasma ixodetis (0.4%) were detected, but no Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, or Babesia microti. Typing of A. phagocytophilum using a fragment of the GroEL gene identified the presence of both ecotype I and ecotype II. Genospecies identification of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. revealed B. afzelii (53% of infected nymphs), B. garinii (9%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (7%), and B. valaisiana (31%). We found similar prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Wester Ross as in the Netherlands, but higher than in other parts of Great Britain. We found lower B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence than in England or the Netherlands, and similar to some other Scottish studies. We found higher prevalence of B. valaisiana and lower prevalence of B. garinii than in other Scottish studies. We found S. ixodetis at much lower prevalence than in the Netherlands, and R. helvetica at much lower prevalence than in England and the Netherlands. Conclusions As far as we know, this is the first description of S. ixodetis in Great Britain. The results are relevant for disease surveillance and management for public and veterinary health. The findings can also aid in designing targeted public health campaigns and in raising awareness among outdoor recreationists and professionals. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04946-5.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Olsthoorn
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Mara Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Jolyon Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department Science and Technology, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Lucy Gilbert
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jaboury Ghazoul
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Environmental determinants of the occurrence and activity of Ixodes ricinus ticks and the prevalence of tick-borne diseases in eastern Poland. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15472. [PMID: 34326447 PMCID: PMC8322139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95079-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus is the most widely distributed tick species in Europe. Mainly deciduous and mixed forests, pastures, and urban parks are habitats preferred by this species. I. ricinus ticks are also one of the most important reservoirs and vectors of human and animal infectious diseases on the continent. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes causing Lyme borreliosis (LB) in humans and tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), which is a causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), are pathogens with the highest medical importance transmitted by this species. Investigations of the environmental determinants of the occurrence and activity of I. ricinus are crucial for elucidation of the environmental background of tick-borne diseases. In eastern Poland, I. ricinus is a common species with peak activity recorded in May in the entire region. During this period, 49 females, 32 males, and 55 I. ricinus nymphs were collected from an area of 900 m2. The results of the present study show that the occurrence and seasonal activity of this tick species are mainly influenced by microhabitat conditions, and saturation deficit has a significant effect on the activity of the species. Eastern Poland is characterized by a high incidence of LB and TBE. We have shown a correlation between the forest cover and the number of reported cases of tick-borne diseases.
Collapse
|
34
|
Fu W, Bonnet C, Figoni J, Septfons A, Métras R. Exploratory Space-Time Analyses of Reported Lyme Borreliosis Cases in France, 2016-2019. Pathogens 2021; 10:444. [PMID: 33917723 PMCID: PMC8068173 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, the incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Europe seems to have increased, underpinning a growing public health concern. LB surveillance systems across the continent are heterogeneous, and the spatial and temporal patterns of LB reports have been little documented. In this study, we explored the spatio-temporal patterns of LB cases reported in France from 2016 to 2019, to describe high-risk clusters and generate hypotheses on their occurrence. The space-time K-function and the Kulldorf's scan statistic were implemented separately for each year to evaluate space-time interaction between reported cases and searching clusters. The results show that the main spatial clusters, of radius size up to 97 km, were reported in central and northeastern France each year. In 2017-2019, spatial clusters were also identified in more southern areas (near the Alps and the Mediterranean coast). Spatio-temporal clustering occurred between May and August, over one-month to three-month windows in 2016-2017 and in 2018-2019. A strong spatio-temporal interaction was identified in 2018 within 16 km and seven days, suggesting a potential local and intense pathogen transmission process. Ongoing improved surveillance and accounting for animal hosts, vectors, meteorological factors and human behaviors are keys to further elucidate LB spatio-temporal patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen Fu
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, F75012 Paris, France; (C.B.); (R.M.)
| | - Camille Bonnet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, F75012 Paris, France; (C.B.); (R.M.)
| | - Julie Figoni
- Santé publique France, F94410 Saint-Maurice, France; (J.F.); (A.S.)
| | | | - Raphaëlle Métras
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, F75012 Paris, France; (C.B.); (R.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Shkilna M, Andreychyn M, Korda M, Pokryshko O, Humenna R, Huk M, Liu S, Rogovskyy AS. Serological Surveillance of Hospitalized Patients for Lyme Borreliosis in Ukraine. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:301-303. [PMID: 33688747 PMCID: PMC7997712 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Although in Ukraine the incidence of Lyme borreliosis (LB) has been surging up over the past decades, seroepidemiologic data are not available to date. The objective of this report was to perform preliminary serological survey of hospitalized population for LB. Methods: Sera were collected from 203 patients of a hospital located in Western Ukraine. Most patients showed clinical signs that were compatible with LB such as arthritis (n = 29), neurological signs (n = 35), and erythema migrans (EM)-like lesions (n = 60) or unrelated to LB (n = 79). The specimens were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot for anti-Borrelia antibodies. Results: LB was confirmed in 8.6%, 34.5%, and 50% of the patients, who exhibited neurological signs, arthritis, or EM-like lesions, respectively. Anti-Borrelia antibodies were also detected in 6.3% of the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusions: This study provides the first preliminary data on the seroprevalence of LB in Ukraine. Future studies are warranted to investigate more subsets of the Ukrainian population for this emerging tick-borne disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariia Shkilna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Dermatology and Venereology, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Mykhailo Andreychyn
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Dermatology and Venereology, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Mykhailo Korda
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Olena Pokryshko
- Department of Microbiology, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Roksolana Humenna
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Dermatology and Venereology, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Mariana Huk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Dermatology and Venereology, Virology and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, Ukraine
| | - Shuling Liu
- Statistical Collaboration Center, Department of Statistics, College of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Artem S Rogovskyy
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kovryha N, Tsyhankova A, Zelenuchina O, Mashchak O, Terekhov R, Rogovskyy AS. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodid Ticks from Southeastern Ukraine. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:242-246. [PMID: 33475465 PMCID: PMC7997714 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Tick-borne diseases have emerged as an increasing medical problem in the world. Being the most prevalent ixodid ticks in Europe, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus are responsible for transmission of numerous zoonotic pathogens (e.g., human granulocytic anaplasmosis and Lyme borreliosis). Despite their public health significance, studies on the prevalence of tick-borne agents are scare for Eastern Europe. The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi s. l.) in ixodid ticks from Southeastern Ukraine. Methods: Over a 5-year period (2014-2018), 358 questing and 389 engorged ixodid ticks were collected from Southeastern Ukraine (Zaporizhzhya region). The ticks were identified as Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, I. ricinus, and Rhipicephalus rossicus. Nucleic acid samples extracted from tick pools were subjected to RT-PCR analyses for A. phagocytophilum, E. chaffeensis, and B. burgdorferi s. l. Results: The examined ixodid ticks tested negative for the aforementioned pathogens with the exception of I. ricinus ticks. For questing I. ricinus ticks, minimum infection rates of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s. l. were, respectively, 4.2-7.7% and 8.6-12.7%. Conclusions: These findings will be valuable for medical and veterinary practitioners when risks associated with tick-borne diseases are assessed for southeastern regions of Ukraine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Kovryha
- The Zaporizhzhya Oblast Laboratory Center, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
| | - Ala Tsyhankova
- The Zaporizhzhya Oblast Laboratory Center, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
| | - Olena Zelenuchina
- The Zaporizhzhya Oblast Laboratory Center, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
| | - Olexandr Mashchak
- The Zaporizhzhya Oblast Laboratory Center, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
| | - Roman Terekhov
- The Zaporizhzhya Oblast Laboratory Center, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine
| | - Artem S Rogovskyy
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Beltrame A, Rodari P, Mauroner L, Zanella F, Moro L, Bertoli G, Da Re F, Russo F, Napoletano G, Silva R. Emergence of Lyme borreliosis in the province of Verona, Northern Italy: Five-years of sentinel surveillance. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101628. [PMID: 33373892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory data and antibiotic treatment of Lyme borreliosis in the province of Verona, Northern Italy, during the period 2015-2019. One hundred and 29 cases of Lyme borreliosis were diagnosed in a single hospital representing 27 % of all cases reported in the Veneto region in the same period. The mean annual incidence of Lyme borreliosis was 0.992/100,000 inhabitants. A peak incidence of 2/100,000 inhabitants was observed in 2018. Early localized Lyme borreliosis was the most common presentation (74 %), followed by early disseminated Lyme borreliosis (21 %). One possible early Lyme neuroborreliosis and two cranial neuropathies were diagnosed. IgM and/or IgG borrelia antibodies were positive in 90 % of the cases. This significant increase of Lyme borreliosis incidence in the province of Verona highlights the need to increase knowledge on its epidemiology and clinical manifestation among both the general population and clinicians to allow early diagnosis and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Beltrame
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| | - Paola Rodari
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| | - Luisa Mauroner
- Laboratory Department, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| | - Francesca Zanella
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Prevenzione e Sanità Pubblica, Veneto Region, Italy.
| | - Lucia Moro
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| | - Giulia Bertoli
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| | - Filippo Da Re
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Veneto Region, Italy.
| | - Francesca Russo
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Veneto Region, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Napoletano
- Direzione Prevenzione, Sicurezza Alimentare Veterinaria, Prevenzione e Sanità Pubblica, Veneto Region, Italy.
| | - Ronaldo Silva
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, I.R.C.C.S. Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Via Sempreboni 5, 37024, Negrar di Valpolicella, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Savasta S, Fiorito I, Foiadelli T, Pichiecchio A, Cambieri P, Mariani B, Marone P, Marseglia G. Abdominal pain as first manifestation of lyme neuroborreliosis in children, case report and review of literature. Ital J Pediatr 2020; 46:172. [PMID: 33228741 PMCID: PMC7684897 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-020-00936-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lyme neuroborreliosis can cause a variety of neurological manifestations. European children usually present facial nerve palsy, other cranial nerve palsies and aseptic meningitis. Case presentation We hereby report a case of Lyme neuroborreliosis in a 9-year-old boy with abdominal pain as first symptom and subsequent onset of attention deficit and ataxia. Diagnosis was made by detection of specific antibody in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid with neuro-radiological images suggestive for this infectious disease. A 12-months follow-up was performed during which no relevant neurological sequelae were revealed. Conclusion This case report shows that abdominal radiculitis, although extremely rare, could be the first manifestation of early Lyme neuroborreliosis in pediatric patients. Pediatricians must consider Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain of unknown origin in children, especially in countries where the infection is endemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivan Fiorito
- Department of Pediatrics, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Thomas Foiadelli
- Department of Pediatrics, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Pichiecchio
- Neuroradiology Department, Foundation Casimiro Mondino, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Bianca Mariani
- Virology Department, Foundation Policlinic San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Piero Marone
- Virology Department, Foundation Policlinic San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Marseglia
- Department of Pediatrics, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Cook MJ, Puri BK. Estimates for Lyme borreliosis infections based on models using sentinel canine and human seroprevalence data. Infect Dis Model 2020; 5:871-888. [PMID: 33210054 PMCID: PMC7644786 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2020.10.004] [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: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Two models were developed to estimate Lyme borreliosis (LB) cases. One was based on the seroprevalence of Borrelia infections in human samples. This model used corrections for false negative and false positive results from published test sensitivity and specificity measures. A second model based on Borrelia infections in sentinel dogs was used to quantify the prevalence of Lyme disease Borrelia infections in humans; the reference baseline for this model was human and canine infections in Germany. A comparison of the two models is shown and differences discussed. The relationships between incidence, prevalence and total infection burden for LB were derived from published data and these were used in both models to calculate annual incidence, prevalence and total LB infections. The modelling was conservative and based on medical insurance records coded for erythema migrans. Linear model growth rates were used in place of the commonly adopted exponential growth. The mean of the two models was used to create estimates for various countries and continents. Examples from the analyses for LB estimated for 2018 include: incidence - USA 473,000/year, Germany 471,000/year, France 434,000/year and UK 132,000/year; prevalence - USA 2.4 million, Germany 2.4 million, France 2.2 million and UK 667,000; total infections - USA 10.1 million, Germany 10.0 million, France 9.3 million and UK 2.8 million. Estimates for the world for 2018 are: incidence 12.3 million/year; prevalence 62.1 million; and total infection burden 262.0 million. These figures are far higher than officially published data and reflect not only the underestimation of diagnosed cases, which is acknowledged by health agencies, but also undiagnosed and misdiagnosed cases.
Collapse
|
40
|
Rogovskyy AS, Biatov AP, Davis MA, Liu S, Nebogatkin IV. Upsurge of Lyme borreliosis in Ukraine: a 20-year survey. J Travel Med 2020; 27:5861562. [PMID: 32577753 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Artem S Rogovskyy
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
| | - Anton P Biatov
- Society of Conservation and Geographic Information Systems of Ukraine, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine
| | - Margaret Alison Davis
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Shuling Liu
- Statistical Collaboration Center, Department of Statistics, College of Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Igor V Nebogatkin
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv 01601, Ukraine
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Sormunen JJ, Kulha N, Klemola T, Mäkelä S, Vesilahti EM, Vesterinen EJ. Enhanced threat of tick-borne infections within cities? Assessing public health risks due to ticks in urban green spaces in Helsinki, Finland. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 67:823-839. [PMID: 32969182 PMCID: PMC7702030 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Most tick‐related studies in Europe have been conducted in nonurban areas, but ticks and tick‐borne pathogens also occur in urban green spaces. From a public health perspective, risks regarding tick‐borne infections should be studied in these urban areas, where contacts between infected ticks and humans may be more frequent than elsewhere, due to high human activity. We examined the risk of encountering an infected tick in urban green spaces in Helsinki, Finland. We collected ticks at nine sites throughout Helsinki, recorded the prevalence of several pathogens and identified areas with a high potential for contacts between infected ticks and humans. Moreover, we explored the relationship between the density of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato‐infected ticks and locally diagnosed cases of borreliosis and compared the potential for human‐tick encounters in Helsinki to those in nonurban areas in south‐western Finland. During 34.8 km of cloth dragging, 2,417 Ixodes ricinus were caught (402 adults, 1,399 nymphs and 616 larvae). From analysed nymphs, we found 11 distinct tick‐borne pathogens, with 31.5% of nymphs carrying at least one pathogen. Tick activity was highest in August and September, leading to the density of nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.l., and concurrently infection risk, to also be highest during this time. Nymph densities varied between the sampling sites, with obvious implications to spatial variation in infection risk. While ticks and tick‐borne pathogens were found in both Helsinki and nonurban areas in south‐western Finland, the estimates of human activity were generally higher in urban green spaces, leading to a higher potential for human‐tick contacts therein. The presence of ticks and tick‐borne pathogens and high local human activity in urban green spaces suggest that they form potential foci regarding the acquisition of tick‐borne infections. Risk areas within cities should be identified and knowledge regarding urban ticks increased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Niko Kulha
- Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Marine Research Centre, Finnish Environment Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tero Klemola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Satu Mäkelä
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Eero Juhani Vesterinen
- Zoological Museum, Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
O'Kelly B, Lambert JS. Vector-borne diseases in pregnancy. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2020; 7:2049936120941725. [PMID: 32944240 PMCID: PMC7469740 DOI: 10.1177/2049936120941725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vector-borne infections cause a significant proportion of world-wide morbidity and mortality and many are increasing in incidence. This is due to a combination of factors, primarily environmental change, encroachment of human habitats from urban to peri-urban areas and rural to previously uninhabited areas, persistence of poverty, malnutrition and resource limitation in geographical areas where these diseases are endemic. Pregnant women represent the single largest ‘at risk’ group, due to immune-modulation and a unique physiological state. Many of these diseases have not benefitted from the same level of drug development as other infectious and medical domains, a factor attributing to the ‘neglected tropical disease’ title many vector-borne diseases hold. Pregnancy compounds this issue as data for safety and efficacy for many drugs is practically non-existent, precluding exposure in pregnancy to many first-line therapeutic agents for ‘fear of the unknown’ or overstated adverse pregnancy-foetal outcomes. In this review, major vector-borne diseases, their impact on pregnancy outcomes, current treatment, vaccination and short-comings of current medical practice for pregnant women will be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brendan O'Kelly
- Infectious Diseases Specialist Registrar, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John S Lambert
- Consultant in Infectious Diseases, Medicine and Sexual Health (GUM), Mater, Rotunda and UCD, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Clinic 6, Eccles St, Inns Quay, Dublin, D07 R2WY University College Dublin Rotunda Maternity Hospital
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Zintl A, Zaid T, McKiernan F, Naranjo-Lucena A, Gray J, Brosnan S, Browne J, O'Connor J, Mee JF, Good B, Gillingham EL, Vaux AGC, Medlock J. Update on the presence of Ixodes ricinus at the western limit of its range and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101518. [PMID: 32993938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
It is often suggested that due to climate and environmental policy changes, the risk from tick-borne disease is increasing, particularly at the geographical limits of the vector distribution. Our project aimed to determine whether this was true for the risk of Lyme borreliosis in Ireland which is the western-most limit of Ixodes ricinus, the European vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The availability of a historical data set of tick infection rates compiled in the 1990s represented a unique opportunity as it provided a baseline against which current data could be compared. Following construction of a spatial predictive model for the presence and absence of I. ricinus based on data from 491 GPS locations visited between 2016 and 2019, 1404 questing nymphs from 27 sites were screened for the presence of Borrelia spp. using a TaqMan PCR aimed at the 23S rRNA gene sequence. All positive ticks were further analysed by nested PCR amplification and sequence analysis of the 5 S-23 S intergenic spacer. The model indicated that areas with the highest probability of tick presence were mostly located along the western seaboard and the Shannon and Erne river catchments, coinciding with historical high incidence areas of bovine babesiosis, while the infection rate of questing nymphs with B. burgdorferi s.l. and the prevalence of the various genospecies have remained surprisingly stable over the last 3 decades. Clear communication of the potential disease risk arising from a tick bite is essential in order to allay undue concerns over tick-borne diseases among the general public.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, Ireland
| | | | - John Browne
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and University College Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - John F Mee
- Moorepark Research Centres, Teagasc, Ireland
| | | | - Emma L Gillingham
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Alexander G C Vaux
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Jolyon Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| |
Collapse
|