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Matei IA, Kalmár Z, Balea A, Mihaiu M, Sándor AD, Cocian A, Crăciun S, Bouari C, Briciu VT, Fiț N. The Role of Wild Boars in the Circulation of Tick-Borne Pathogens: The First Evidence of Rickettsia monacensis Presence. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1743. [PMID: 37402208 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111743] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Most wild mammals can serve as hosts both for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and for the ticks themselves. Among these, wild boars, due to their large body size, habitat and life span, show high exposure to ticks and TBPs. These species are now one of the widest-ranging mammals in the world, as well as the most widespread suid. Despite the fact that certain local populations have been decimated by African swine fever (ASF), wild boars are still considered overabundant in most parts of the world, including Europe. Altogether, their long-life expectancy, large home ranges including migration, feeding and social behaviors, wide distribution, overabundance and increased chances of interactions with livestock or humans make them suitable sentinel species for general health threats, such as antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms, pollution and ASF geographical distribution, as well as for the distribution and abundance of hard ticks and also for certain TBPs, such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of rickettsial agents in wild boars from two counties in Romania. Among 203 blood samples of wild boars (Sus scrofa ssp. attila) collected during 3 (2019-2022) hunting seasons (September-February), 15 were found positive for tick-borne pathogen DNA. Six wild boars were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA presence and nine for Rickettsia spp. The identified rickettsial species were R. monacensis (six) and R. helvetica (three). No animal was positive either for Borrelia spp., Ehrlichia spp. or Babesia spp. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. monacensis in European wild boars, thus adding the third species from the SFG Rickettsia, in the epidemiology of which this wild species may have a role as a reservoir host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Adriana Matei
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change, New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anamaria Balea
- Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate Cluj, 400609 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marian Mihaiu
- Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Directorate Cluj, 400609 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Animal Breeding and Food Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change, New Blood-Sucking Parasites and Vector-Borne Pathogens Research Group, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Adrian Cocian
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Smaranda Crăciun
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cosmina Bouari
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Violeta Tincuța Briciu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nicodim Fiț
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia spp. Diversity in Ticks and the First Report of Rickettsia hoogstraalii in Romania. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9070343. [PMID: 35878360 PMCID: PMC9317755 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9070343] [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: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ticks are important parasites that feed on the blood of various host species, representing the most important arthropods transmitting diseases in Europe. Continuous changes in both tick distribution and abundance are related to multiple factors, including climate change. These changes have strong implications for both animal and human health; therefore, continuous surveillance of tickborne diseases is required for an appropriate evaluation of the potential risks faced by animals and humans in a given area. The spotted fever group Rickettsia comprises a large number of zoonotic agents with an increasing importance recognized in the last 30 years. The aim of this study was to evaluate these bacteria in ticks in Romania. Five Rickettsia species were identified in different tick species, with new pathogen–tick associations reported. Rickettsia hoogstraalii, one member of this group, was detected for the first time in Romania and in Rhipicephalus rossicus ticks. This species was first described in 2006 in Croatia, and its pathogenicity is not well known. In addition, the detection of R. raoultii and R. monacensis in unfed larvae of Haemaphysalis punctata reinforce the hypothesis of transmission of Rickettsia from female ticks to larvae; therefore the bite of larvae could pose a health risk. Abstract Tickborne bacterial pathogens have been described worldwide as risk factors for both animal and human health. Spotted fevers caused by Rickettsiae may cause non-specific symptoms, which make clinical diagnosis difficult. The aim of the current study was to evaluate and review the diversity of SFG Rickettsiae in ticks collected in 41 counties in Romania. A total of 2028 questing and engorged ticks collected in Romania belonging to five species were tested by PCR amplification of Rickettsia spp. gltA and 17-D gene fragments: Ixodes ricinus (n = 1128), Dermacentor marginatus (n = 507), D. reticulatus (n = 165), Rhipicephalus rossicus (n = 128) and Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 100). Five Rickettsia species were identified following DNA sequence analysis: R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. slovaca, R. raoultii, and R. hoogstraalii. The most common species detected was R. monacensis. Moreover, R. hoogstraalii was detected for the first time in Romania and in R. rossicus ticks. The detection of R. raoultii and R. monacensis in questing larvae of Hae. punctata suggests the possible transovarial transmission of these Rickettsia species in ticks. The detection of R. hoogstraalii for the first time in Romania increases the reported SFG Rickettsia diversity in the country.
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Borşan SD, Ionică AM, Galon C, Toma-Naic A, Peştean C, Sándor AD, Moutailler S, Mihalca AD. High Diversity, Prevalence, and Co-infection Rates of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Wildlife Hosts in an Urban Area in Romania. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:645002. [PMID: 33767683 PMCID: PMC7985354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.645002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasingly recognized eco-epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens in urban areas, data regarding the pathogen diversity and co-infection rates in ticks and wildlife hosts in urban and peri-urban Romania are scanty. We aimed to establish the risk of human exposure to co-infected ticks in Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania. DNA was isolated from 151 questing ticks: Ixodes ricinus (n = 95), Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 53), Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2), and Dermacentor marginatus (n = 1); 222 engorged ticks: I. ricinus (n = 164), I. hexagonus (n = 36), H. punctata (n = 16), H. concinna (n = 6), and 70 tissue samples collected from wildlife hosts during 2018 in five urban, and two peri-urban sites. Using a pre-designed Fluidigm real-time PCR dynamic array, all DNA samples were individually screened for the presence of 44 vector-borne pathogens. Subsequently, conventional PCRs were performed for a selection of samples to allow validation and sequencing. In total, 15 pathogens were identified to species and 6 to genus level. In questing ticks, single infections were more common than co-infections. Seven Borrelia spp. were detected in questing I. ricinus, and three in H. punctata ticks. An overall high prevalence 26.35% (95% CI: 19.46–34.22) and diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was seen in urban questing ticks. Other pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were present with variable prevalence. Co-infections occurred in 27.4% (95% CI: 18.72-37.48) of all infected questing ticks. In engorged ticks the overall Bo. burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence was 35.6% (95% CI: 29.29–42.27), with five species present. Pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were also frequently detected. We report for the first time in Romania the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia felis. Overall, from the infected engorged ticks, 69.2% showcased co-infections. In Ixodes spp., dual co-infections, namely Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia helvetica and A. phagocytophilum were the most prevalent. Given the outcome, we underline the need to establish proper tick-surveillance programs in cities and include co-infections in the management plan of tick-borne diseases in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia-Diana Borşan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,"Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Clémence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andra Toma-Naic
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cosmin Peştean
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Matei IA, Corduneanu A, Sándor AD, Ionică AM, Panait L, Kalmár Z, Ivan T, Papuc I, Bouari C, Fit N, Mihalca AD. Rickettsia spp. in bats of Romania: high prevalence of Rickettsia monacensis in two insectivorous bat species. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:107. [PMID: 33568213 PMCID: PMC7873661 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04592-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spotted fever group rickettsiae represent one of the most diverse groups of vector-borne bacteria, with several human pathogenic species showing an emerging trend worldwide. Most species are vectored by ticks (Ixodidae), with many zoonotic reservoir species among most terrestrial vertebrate groups. While the reservoir competence of many different vertebrate species is well known (e.g. birds, rodents and dogs), studies on insectivorous bats have been rarely performed despite their high species diversity, ubiquitous urban presence and importance in harboring zoonotic disease agents. Romania has a high diversity and ubiquity of bats. Moreover, seven out of eight SFG rickettsiae species with zoonotic potential were previously reported in Romania. Based on this, the aim of this study was to detect Rickettsia species in tissue samples in bats. Methods Here we report a large-scale study (322 bats belonging to 20 species) on the presence of Rickettsia spp. in Romanian bat species. Tissue samples from insectivorous bats were tested for the presence of Rickettsia DNA using PCR detection amplifying a 381 bp fragment of the gltA gene. Positive results were sequenced to confirm the results. The obtained results were statistically analyzed by chi-squared independence test. Results Positive results were obtained in 14.6% of bat samples. Sequence analysis confirmed the presence of R. monacensis in two bat species (Nyctalus noctula and Pipistrellus pipistrellus) in two locations. Conclusion This study provides the first evidence of a possible involvement of these bat species in the epidemiology of Rickettsia spp., highlighting the importance of bats in natural cycles of these vector-borne pathogens.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana A Matei
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Regele Mihai I al României" Life Science Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Luciana Panait
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Talida Ivan
- Department of Semiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ionel Papuc
- Department of Semiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cosmina Bouari
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nicodim Fit
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Borşan SD, Toma-Naic A, Péter Á, Sándor AD, Peștean C, Mihalca AD. Impact of abiotic factors, habitat type and urban wildlife on the ecology of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in urban and peri-urban habitats. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:476. [PMID: 32948235 PMCID: PMC7501622 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04352-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks are increasingly acknowledged as significant vectors for a wide array of pathogens in urban environments with reports of abundant tick populations in recreational areas. The study aims to contribute to a better knowledge of the abiotic and biotic factors which impact the ecology of hard ticks in urban and peri-urban habitats in Romania. METHODS Questing ticks were collected by flagging in seven recreational locations, from four types of habitats in Cluj-Napoca, Romania: parks; gardens; a cemetery; and peri-urban forests. Hedgehogs, birds and micromammals were also sampled and searched for ticks, using standard methods (i.e. torch-based searches, ornithological mist nets, snap-traps, etc.), while vegetation was evaluated on surveyed areas. Data on questing ticks were converted to abundance indices. Mood's median tests were used to assess the relationship between the abiotic and biotic factors and the abundance of questing ticks. RESULTS Two species of questing ticks were found: Ixodes ricinus (96.8%) and Haemaphysalis punctata (3.2%). Ixodes ricinus was also the predominant engorged tick collected from urban wildlife. For I. ricinus the highest mean total abundance index/location (total no. of ticks/100 m2) was recorded in the urban gardens (3.79, 95% CI: ± 1.59) and parks (2.68, 95% CI: ± 0.75), whereas the lowest mean total abundance index was noted in the peri-urban forests (0.06, 95% CI: ± 0.03) and the urban cemetery (0.04, 95% CI: ± 0.02). The adults and nymphs of I. ricinus displayed a bimodal activity pattern, while the larvae showed a unimodal questing behaviour with an autumnal peak. Positive correlations were found between the mean total abundance index and the rise in the daily mean temperature and relative humidity, and between the global abundance of questing ticks and the presence of hedgehogs in the respective locations (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Ticks were collected in all the recreational sites surveyed in Cluj-Napoca. Ixodes ricinus was the dominant questing and engorged tick species. Several abiotic and biotic factors shape the ecology of ticks in Cluj-Napoca city, with climate and the local presence of suitable hosts being the most important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia-Diana Borşan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andra Toma-Naic
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cosmin Peștean
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andrei-Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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