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Martin AM, Buttke D, Raphael J, Taylor K, Maes S, Parise CM, Ginsberg HS, Cross PC. Deer management generally reduces densities of nymphal Ixodes scapularis, but not prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102202. [PMID: 37244157 PMCID: PMC11265508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Human Lyme disease-primarily caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in North America-is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Research on risk mitigation strategies during the last three decades has emphasized methods to reduce densities of the primary vector in eastern North America, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Controlling white-tailed deer populations has been considered a potential method for reducing tick densities, as white-tailed deer are important hosts for blacklegged tick reproduction. However, the feasibility and efficacy of white-tailed deer management to impact acarological risk of encountering infected ticks (namely, density of host-seeking infected nymphs; DIN) is unclear. We investigated the effect of white-tailed deer density and management on the density of host-seeking nymphs and B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence using surveillance data from eight national parks and park regions in the eastern United States from 2014-2022. We found that deer density was significantly positively correlated with the density of nymphs (nymph density increased by 49% with a 1 standard deviation increase in deer density) but was not strongly correlated with the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.s. infection in nymphal ticks. Further, while white-tailed deer reduction efforts were followed by a decrease in the density of I. scapularis nymphs in parks, deer removal had variable effects on B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence, with some parks experiencing slight declines and others slight increases in prevalence. Our findings suggest that managing white-tailed deer densities alone may not be effective in reducing DIN in all situations but may be a useful tool when implemented in integrated management regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alynn M Martin
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA; US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2327 University Way, Suite #2, Bozeman, MT, 59715 USA.
| | | | - Jordan Raphael
- US National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY, 11772 USA
| | - Kelsey Taylor
- US National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY, 11772 USA
| | - Sarah Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Christina M Parise
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Howard S Ginsberg
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Woodward Hall-PSE, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881 USA
| | - Paul C Cross
- US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2327 University Way, Suite #2, Bozeman, MT, 59715 USA
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Quarsten H, Henningsson A, Krogfelt K, Strube C, Wennerås C, Mavin S. Tick-borne diseases under the radar in the North Sea Region. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102185. [PMID: 37116420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102185] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia species on public health is largely unknown. Data on the prevalence of these pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from seven countries within the North Sea Region in Europe as well as the types and availability of diagnostic tests and the main clinical features of their corresponding diseases is reported and discussed. Raised awareness is needed to discover cases of these under-recognized types of tick-borne disease, which should provide valuable insights into these diseases and their clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Quarsten
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand 4615, Norway.
| | - Anna Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Jönköping, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping 55185, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Karen Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, University of Roskilde, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover 30559, Germany
| | - Christine Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg 413 46, Sweden
| | - Sally Mavin
- Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections Reference Laboratory, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness IV2 3BW, United Kingdom
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Molecular identification of Trypanosoma theileri complex in Eurasian moose Alces alces (L.). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY: PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2022; 19:317-322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Gandy S, Kilbride E, Biek R, Millins C, Gilbert L. No net effect of host density on tick-borne disease hazard due to opposing roles of vector amplification and pathogen dilution. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9253. [PMID: 36091342 PMCID: PMC9448966 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand vector‐borne disease dynamics, knowledge of the ecological interactions between animal hosts, vectors, and pathogens is needed. The effects of hosts on disease hazard depends on their role in driving vector abundance and their ability to transmit pathogens. Theoretically, a host that cannot transmit a pathogen could dilute pathogen prevalence but increase disease hazard if it increases vector population size. In the case of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and vectored by Ixodid ticks, deer may have dual opposing effects on vectors and pathogen: deer drive tick population densities but do not transmit B. burgdorferi s.l. and could thus decrease or increase disease hazard. We aimed to test for the role of deer in shaping Lyme disease hazard by using a wide range of deer densities while taking transmission host abundance into account. We predicted that deer increase nymphal tick abundance while reducing pathogen prevalence. The resulting impact of deer on disease hazard will depend on the relative strengths of these opposing effects. We conducted a cross‐sectional survey across 24 woodlands in Scotland between 2017 and 2019, estimating host (deer, rodents) abundance, questing Ixodes ricinus nymph density, and B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence at each site. As predicted, deer density was positively associated with nymph density and negatively with nymphal infection prevalence. Overall, these two opposite effects canceled each other out: Lyme disease hazard did not vary with increasing deer density. This demonstrates that, across a wide range of deer and rodent densities, the role of deer in amplifying tick densities cancels their effect of reducing pathogen prevalence. We demonstrate how noncompetent host density has little effect on disease hazard even though they reduce pathogen prevalence, because of their role in increasing vector populations. These results have implications for informing disease mitigation strategies, especially through host management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gandy
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Elizabeth Kilbride
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Roman Biek
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Caroline Millins
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK.,Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Lucy Gilbert
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
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Fabri ND, Sprong H, Heesterbeek H, Ecke F, Cromsigt JPGM, Hofmeester TR. The circulation of
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
ecotypes is associated with community composition of vertebrate hosts. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nannet Doreen Fabri
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Bilthoven The Netherlands
| | - Hans Heesterbeek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
| | - Joris Petrus Gerardus Marinus Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology Nelson Mandela University Port Elizabeth South Africa
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences Utrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Tim Ragnvald Hofmeester
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Umeå Sweden
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Ebani VV, Guardone L, Rocchigiani G, Bascherini A, Cagnoli G, Bertelloni F, Bongi P, Russo C, Riccioli F, Mancianti F. Molecular survey on the presence of arthropod-borne bacteria and protozoans in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and ticks from Central Italy. Acta Trop 2022; 233:106586. [PMID: 35787417 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Environmental changes, due to climatic emergency and to anthropogenic activities severely impact on the epidemiology of vector borne diseases, mostly when transmitted by ticks. The data about the distribution of microorganisms responsible for them in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population living in Italy are scanty and completely lacking in Tuscany, so a molecular survey was carried out to estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in roe deer, and ticks removed from them, living in areas of Central Italy with high risk of arthropod exposure. Spleen samples from 72 roe deer were tested by PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis and piroplasms. Moreover, 345 ticks were removed from 65 roe deer, morphologically or molecularly identified and grouped into 162 pools that were submitted to PCR for detecting the same pathogens. Forty-six (63.88%) roe deer were positive for at least one investigated pathogen: 43 (59.72%) for A. phagocytophilum, 2 (2.78%) for Babesia capreoli, 1 (1.39%) for B. burgdorferi, and 1 (1.39%) for Babesia sp.. No animals were PCR positive for F. tularensis. All ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus. Seventy-six (46.91%) tick pools showed DNA of one or more pathogens: 66 (40.74%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 22 (13.58%) for B. burgodorferi s.l., 6 (3.70%) for B. venatorum and 3 (1.85%) for B. capreoli. No pools were positive for F. tularensis. Two or three pathogens were detected in 23 (14.19%) pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy; Centre for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, Pisa 56124, Italy.
| | - Lisa Guardone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Guido Rocchigiani
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Alice Bascherini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Giulia Cagnoli
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bertelloni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Paolo Bongi
- Ambito Territoriale Caccia Massa (ATCMS), largo Bonfigli 3/5, Aulla (Massa) 54011, Italy
| | - Claudia Russo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Francesco Riccioli
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences - University of Pisa - Viale delle Piagge 2, Pisa 56124, Italy
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Wijburg SR, Fonville M, de Bruin A, van Rijn PA, Montizaan MGE, van den Broek J, Sprong H, Rijks JM. Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:76. [PMID: 35248157 PMCID: PMC8898454 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors 'age category', 'sex', 'nutritional condition' and 'health status', as well as 'roe deer density'. METHODS From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara R. Wijburg
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arnout de Bruin
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Piet A. van Rijn
- Department of Virology, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, Department of Biochemistry, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Margriet G. E. Montizaan
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan van den Broek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jolianne M. Rijks
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Incidence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Selected European Countries. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030803. [PMID: 35160255 PMCID: PMC8836726 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus ticks are one of the most important vectors and reservoirs of infectious diseases in Europe, and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most dangerous human diseases transmitted by these vectors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the TBE incidence in some European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, we analyzed the data published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Eurostat on the number of reported TBE and COVID-19 cases in 2020 and TBE cases in 2015–2019 (reference period). Significant differences in the TBE incidence were found between the analyzed countries. The highest TBE incidence was found in Lithuania (25.45/100,000 inhabitants). A high TBE incidence was also observed in Central European countries. In 12 of the 23 analyzed countries, there was significant increase in TBE incidence during the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 compared to 2015–2019. There was no correlation between the incidence of COVID-19 and TBE and between the availability of medical personnel and TBE incidence in the studied countries. In conclusion, Central Europe and the Baltic countries are areas with a high risk of TBE infection. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictions, the incidence of TBE is increasing in more than half of the analyzed countries.
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Razanske I, Rosef O, Radzijevskaja J, Krikstolaitis R, Paulauskas A. Impact of tick-borne Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in calves of moose (Alces alces) in southern Norway. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2021; 68. [PMID: 34782490 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2021.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Gram-negative, obligate intracellular tick-transmitted pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum can cause acute febrile diseases in humans and domestic animals. The expansion of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) in northern Europe due to climate change is of serious concern for animal and human health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of A. phagocytophilum infection in moose Alces alces (Linnaeus) calves by evaluating the carcass weights of infected and non-infected animals and examining animal tissues samples for co-infections with either species of Babesia Starcovici, 1893 or bacteria of the genus Bartonella. The carcasses of 68 free-ranging moose calves were weighed by hunters during the hunting seasons from 2014 to 2017 in two regions in southern Norway and spleen samples were collected. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in moose sampled from locations infected with ticks with a prevalence of 82% (n = 46). The carcass weights of A. phagocytophilum-infected calves (n = 46) and non-infected (n = 22) calves were compared. Although the average weight of infected calves (45.6 kg) was lower than that of non-infected calves (46.5 kg), the difference was not statistically significant. Three different variants of the bacterium 16S rRNA gene were identified. The average weight of animals infected with variant I was 49.9 kg, whereas that of animals infected with variant III was 42.0 kg, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.077). Co-infections of A. phagocytophilum with Bartonella spp. or with Babesia spp. were found in 20 and two calves, respectively. A triple infection was found in two calves. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia-positive samples revealed the presence of Babesia cf. odocoilei (Emerson et Wright, 1970). Strains of Bartonella closely related to Bartonella bovis (Bermond, Boulouis, Heller, Laere, Monteil, Chomel, Sander, Dehio et Piemont, 2002) were identified based on phylogenetic analysis of the gltA and rpoB genes. The loss of body mass in moose calves in the tick-infected site was probably influenced by multiple factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olav Rosef
- Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania.,Rosef Field Research Station, Mjavatn, Norway
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Environmental determinants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in cattle using a kernel density function. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101814. [PMID: 34416566 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101814] [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: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The study of vector-borne zoonotic diseases often relies on partial data, because of the constraints associated with observing various elements of the transmission cycle: the pathogen, the vector, the host - wild or domestic. Each angle comes with its own practical challenges, leading to data reflecting poorly either on spatial or temporal dynamics, or both. In this study, we investigated the effect of landscape on the presence of bovine ehrlichiosis infection in Walloon cattle. This disease is transmitted to cattle through the bite of a tick infected by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The first case of bovine ehrlichiosis in the southern region of Belgium (Wallonia) was detected in 2005 and the high seroprevalence found in herds suggests that the disease is endemic. The presence of antibodies of A. phagocytophilum in one cow selected in each of 1445 herds in 2010 and 2011 was detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Samples were geolocated at the farm. However, the precise location of infection remains uncertain. To account for the data sparsity, we elaborated a spatial index for the intensity of the presence of seropositive animals, based on a non-parametric kernel density estimation. We examined this index with the landscape surrounding the pastures, using multiple regressions. Landscape factors were selected using a conceptual framework based on the ecological resources needed for the transmission cycle of A. phagocytophilum. Results suggest that our spatial index adequately reflected infection presence in cattle in Wallonia, which was highest in central regions, corresponding to more forested and fragmented landscapes. We noticed that the presence of large hosts, wild or domestic, as well as the composition and configuration of the landscape of the pasture, influenced the capacity of the pasture to support the presence of bovine ehrlichiosis in Walloon herds. This is consistent with the ecology of A. phagocytophilum and current knowledge about risk factors of tick-borne diseases in cattle at the regional scale. The nature of the kernel density index, based on uncertainties over the location of cases positive to A. phagocytophilum, reflected the infectiousness profile at the landscape and not at the pasture level. Results also highlighted that the effects of some environmental variables remain, even when considering the different agro-geographic regions of Wallonia, which present contrasted landscapes and different levels of intensity of A. phagocytophilum infection. The kernel density index is a useful tool to help veterinary practitioner to quickly target areas where A. phagocytophilum infection is likely.
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Răileanu C, Silaghi C, Fingerle V, Margos G, Thiel C, Pfister K, Overzier E. Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Questing and Engorged Ticks from Different Habitat Types in Southern Germany. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061266. [PMID: 34200876 PMCID: PMC8230558 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) causes the most common tick-borne infection in Europe, with Germany being amongst the countries with the highest incidences in humans. This study aimed at (1) comparing infection rates of B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from different habitat types in Southern Germany, (2) analysing genospecies distribution by habitat type, and (3) testing tissue and ticks from hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. Questing ticks from urban, pasture, and natural habitats together with feeding ticks from cattle (pasture) and ticks and tissue samples from wild boars and roe deer (natural site) were tested by PCR and RFLP for species differentiation. B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 29.8% questing adults and 15% nymphs. Prevalence was lower at the urban sites with occurrence of roe deer than where these were absent. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA was found in 4.8% ticks from roe deer, 6.3% from wild boar, and 7.8% from cattle. Six genospecies were identified in unfed ticks: Borrelia afzelii (48.6%), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (16%), Borrelia garinii (13.2%), Borrelia valaisiana (7.5%), Borrelia spielmanii (6.2%), and Borrelia bavariensis (0.9%). This study shows high infection levels and a great diversity of Borrelia in questing ticks. The presence of roe deer seems to reduce B. burgdorferi s.l. infection rates in tick populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Răileanu
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (V.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (V.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Claudia Thiel
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Kurt Pfister
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Evelyn Overzier
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
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Seasonal patterns and spatial variation of Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) infections in Ixodes ricinus in the Netherlands. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:121. [PMID: 33627166 PMCID: PMC7905678 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04607-7] [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: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of Lyme borreliosis varies over time and space through as yet incompletely understood mechanisms. In Europe, Lyme borreliosis is caused by infection with a Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) genospecies, which is primarily transmitted by a bite of Ixodes ricinus nymphs. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal variation in nymphal infection prevalence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) (NIP), density of questing nymphs (DON) and the resulting density of infected nymphs (DIN). METHODS We investigated the infection rates in I. ricinus nymphs that were collected monthly between 2009 and 2016 in 12 locations in the Netherlands. Using generalized linear mixed models, we explored how the NIP, DON and DIN varied during the seasons, between years and between locations. We also determined the genospecies of the Borrelia infections and investigated whether the genospecies composition differed between locations. RESULTS The overall NIP was 14.7%. A seasonal pattern in infection prevalence was observed, with higher estimated prevalences in the summer than in the spring and autumn. This, combined with higher nymphal densities in summer, resulted in a pronounced summer peak in the estimated DIN. Over the 7.5-year study period, a significant decrease in infection prevalence was found, as well as a significant increase in nymphal density. These two effects appear to cancel each other out; the density of infected nymphs, which is the product of NIP × DON, showed no significant trend over years. Mean infection prevalence (NIP, averaged over all years and all months) varied considerably between locations, ranging from 5 to 26%. Borrelia genospecies composition differed between locations: in some locations almost all infections consisted of B. afzelii, whereas other locations had more diverse genospecies compositions. CONCLUSION In the Netherlands, the summer peak in DIN is a result of peaks in both NIP and DON. No significant trend in DIN was observed over the years of the study, and variations in DIN between locations were mostly a result of the variation in DON. There were considerable differences in acarological risk between areas in terms of infection prevalence and densities of ticks as well as in Borrelia genospecies composition.
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Gray J, Kahl O, Zintl A. What do we still need to know about Ixodes ricinus? Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101682. [PMID: 33571753 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In spite of many decades of intensive research on Ixodes ricinus, the castor bean tick of Europe, several important aspects of its basic biology remain elusive, such as the factors determining seasonal development, tick abundance and host specificity, and the importance of water management. Additionally, there are more recent questions about the geographical diversity of tick genotypes and phenotypes, the role of migratory birds in the ecoepidemiology of I. ricinus, the importance of protective immune responses against I. ricinus, particularly in the context of vaccination, and the role of the microbiome in pathogen transmission. Without more detailed knowledge of these issues, it is difficult to assess the likely effects of changes in climate and biodiversity on tick distribution and activity, to predict potential risks arising from new and established tick populations and I. ricinus-borne pathogens, and to improve prevention and control measures. This review aims to discuss the most important outstanding questions against the backdrop of the current state of knowledge of this important tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | | | - Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Veterinary Sciences, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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Okeyo M, Hepner S, Rollins RE, Hartberger C, Straubinger RK, Marosevic D, Bannister SA, Bormane A, Donaghy M, Sing A, Fingerle V, Margos G. Longitudinal study of prevalence and spatio-temporal distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in ticks from three defined habitats in Latvia, 1999-2010. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:5033-5047. [PMID: 32452153 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) species complex are known to cause human Lyme borreliosis. Because of longevity of some reservoir hosts and the Ixodes tick vectors' life cycle, long-term studies are required to better understand species and population dynamics of these bacteria in their natural habitats. Ticks were collected between 1999 and 2010 in three ecologically different habitats in Latvia. We used multilocus sequence typing utilizing eight chromosomally located housekeeping genes to obtain information about species and population fluctuations and/or stability of B. burgdorferi s.l. in these habitats. The average prevalence over all years was 18.9%. From initial high-infection prevalences of 25.5%, 33.1% and 31.8%, from 2002 onwards the infection rates steadily decreased to 7.3%. Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii were the most commonly found genospecies but striking local differences were obvious. In one habitat, a significant shift from rodent-associated to bird-associated Borrelia species was noted whilst in the other habitats, Borrelia species composition was relatively stable over time. Sequence types (STs) showed a random spatial and temporal distribution. These results demonstrated that there are temporal regional changes and extrapolations from one habitat to the next are not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercy Okeyo
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Robert E Rollins
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Christina Hartberger
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Reinhard K Straubinger
- Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, Veterinärstraße 13, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Durdica Marosevic
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | | | - Antra Bormane
- Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Immunization Unit, Duntes iela 22-4, Riga, LV-1005, Latvia
| | - Michael Donaghy
- Department of Clinical Neurology, Green Templeton College, The University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andreas Sing
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Gabriele Margos
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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Malmsten J, Dalin AM, Moutailler S, Devillers E, Gondard M, Felton A. Vector-Borne Zoonotic Pathogens in Eurasian Moose (Alces alces alces). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:207-211. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Malmsten
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anne-Marie Dalin
- Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Elodie Devillers
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Mathilde Gondard
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Annika Felton
- Southern Swedish Forest Research Center, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
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Razanske I, Rosef O, Radzijevskaja J, Bratchikov M, Griciuviene L, Paulauskas A. Prevalence and co-infection with tick-borne Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in red deer ( Cervus elaphus) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus) in Southern Norway. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 8:127-134. [PMID: 30766793 PMCID: PMC6360459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. are causative agents of tick-borne infections that are increasingly considered as a threat to animal and public health. To assess the role of cervids in the maintenance of zoonotic pathogens in Norway, we investigated the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in free-ranging roe deer and red deer. Initial screening of spleen samples of 104 animals by multiplex real-time PCR targeting the major surface protein (msp2) gene and 18S rRNA revealed the presence of A. phagocytophilum infection in 81.1% red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 88.1% roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and Babesia spp. parasites in 64.9% red deer and 83.6% roe deer, respectively. Co-infections were found in 62.2% red deer and 79.9% roe deer. Nested PCR and sequence analysis of partial msp4 and 18S rRNA genes were performed for molecular characterization of A. phagocytophilum strains and Babesia species. A total of eleven A. phagocytophilum msp4 gene sequence variants were identified: five different variants were 100% identical to corresponding A. phagocytophilum sequences deposited in the GenBank database, while other six sequence variants had unique nucleotide polymorphisms. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene demonstrated the presence of multiple Babesia species, including Babesia capreoli, Babesia divergens, Babesia venatorum and Babesia odocoilei/Babesia cf. odocoilei. This study is the first report demonstrating the prevalence and molecular characterization of A. phagocytophilum strains and Babesia species in roe deer and red deer in Norway. The high infection and co-infection rates with A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in red deer and roe deer suggest that these cervids may play an important role in the transmission of single and multiple pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Razanske
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Olav Rosef
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania.,Rosef Field Research Station, Frolandsveien 2667, 4828, Mjåvatn, Norway
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Maksim Bratchikov
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania.,Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M.K. Čiurlionio 21, LT-03101, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Loreta Griciuviene
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Department of Biology, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT -444404, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Kiewra D, Szymanowski M, Zalewska G, Dobracka B, Dobracki W, Klakočar J, Czułowska A, Plewa-Tutaj K. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in forest workers from inspectorates with different forest types in Lower Silesia, SW Poland: preliminary study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2018; 28:502-510. [PMID: 29963907 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2018.1489954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To estimate the Lyme borreliosis (LB) risk for forest workers, totally 646 blood samples were tested for IgG and IgM anti-Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (anti-B.b.) antibody occurrence using ELISA tests confirmed with western blot. To clarify the varied LB risk, additionally, the data from the Forest Data Bank determining the detailed forest habitat type in particular forest inspectorates were used. The occurrence of the anti-B.b. antibody was confirmed in 22% (8.7% IgM, 17.8% IgG) of forest workers. Analysis of the influence of the habitat type (forest types) indicated the significant positive impact of the occurrence of the deciduous and mixed-deciduous forests on the seroprevalence of anti-B.b. IgG level among forestry workers. However, the share of forest type cannot be the only factor taken into account when assessing risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Kiewra
- a Department of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Protection , Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Mariusz Szymanowski
- b Department of Geoinformatics and Cartography , Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Grażyna Zalewska
- c Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Wroclaw , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Beata Dobracka
- d Infectious Diseases Outpatient Clinic MED-FIX Medical Center in Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Witold Dobracki
- e Faculty of Health Sciences , Medical University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Jacek Klakočar
- f Provincial Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Wroclaw , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Aleksandra Czułowska
- a Department of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Protection , Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
| | - Kinga Plewa-Tutaj
- a Department of Microbial Ecology and Environmental Protection , Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Wrocław , Wrocław , Poland
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18
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Kazimírová M, Hamšíková Z, Špitalská E, Minichová L, Mahríková L, Caban R, Sprong H, Fonville M, Schnittger L, Kocianová E. Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:495. [PMID: 30176908 PMCID: PMC6122462 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3068-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. RESULTS Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, 9 Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia, CICVyA, INTA-Castelar, 1686 Hurlingham, Prov. de Buenos Aires Argentina
- CONICET, C1033AAJ Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Jaenson TGT, Petersson EH, Jaenson DGE, Kindberg J, Pettersson JHO, Hjertqvist M, Medlock JM, Bengtsson H. The importance of wildlife in the ecology and epidemiology of the TBE virus in Sweden: incidence of human TBE correlates with abundance of deer and hares. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:477. [PMID: 30153856 PMCID: PMC6114827 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3057-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one tick-transmitted disease where the human incidence has increased in some European regions during the last two decades. We aim to find the most important factors causing the increasing incidence of human TBE in Sweden. Based on a review of published data we presume that certain temperature-related variables and the population densities of transmission hosts, i.e. small mammals, and of primary tick maintenance hosts, i.e. cervids and lagomorphs, of the TBE virus vector Ixodes ricinus, are among the potentially most important factors affecting the TBE incidence. Therefore, we compare hunting data of the major tick maintenance hosts and two of their important predators, and four climatic variables with the annual numbers of human cases of neuroinvasive TBE. Data for six Swedish regions where human TBE incidence is high or has recently increased are examined by a time-series analysis. Results from the six regions are combined using a meta-analytical method. Results With a one-year time lag, the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), mountain hare (Lepus timidus) and European hare (Lepus europaeus) showed positive covariance; the Eurasian elk (moose, Alces alces) and fallow deer (Dama dama) negative covariance; whereas the wild boar (Sus scrofa), lynx (Lynx lynx), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the four climate parameters showed no significant covariance with TBE incidence. All game species combined showed positive covariance. Conclusions The epidemiology of TBE varies with time and geography and depends on numerous factors, i.a. climate, virus genotypes, and densities of vectors, tick maintenance hosts and transmission hosts. This study suggests that the increased availability of deer to I. ricinus over large areas of potential tick habitats in southern Sweden increased the density and range of I. ricinus and created new TBEV foci, which resulted in increased incidence of human TBE. New foci may be established by TBE virus-infected birds, or by birds or migrating mammals infested with TBEV-infected ticks. Generally, persistence of TBE virus foci appears to require presence of transmission-competent small mammals, especially mice (Apodemus spp.) or bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3057-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G T Jaenson
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Erik H Petersson
- Department of Aquatic Resources, Division of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Stångholmsvägen 2, SE-178 93, Drottningholm, Sweden
| | - David G E Jaenson
- Department of Automatic Control, Lund University, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - John H-O Pettersson
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Modelling, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Lovisenberggata 8, N-0456, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM), Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.,Public Health Agency of Sweden, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82, Solna, Sweden
| | - Marika Hjertqvist
- Public Health Agency of Sweden, Nobels väg 18, SE-171 82, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology Group, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging Infections & Zoonoses, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK
| | - Hans Bengtsson
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), Gothenburg, Sweden
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20
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Mysterud A, Stigum VM, Seland IV, Herland A, Easterday WR, Jore S, Østerås O, Viljugrein H. Tick abundance, pathogen prevalence, and disease incidence in two contrasting regions at the northern distribution range of Europe. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:309. [PMID: 29788994 PMCID: PMC5964723 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2890-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Emergence of tick-borne diseases is impacting humans and livestock across the Northern Hemisphere. There are, however, large regional variations in number of cases of tick-borne diseases. Some areas have surprisingly few cases of disease compared to other regions. The aim here is to provide a first step towards a better understanding of such contrasting regional patterns of disease emergences at the northern distribution range of Ixodes ricinus in Europe. Methods We compare disease incidence, vector abundance and pathogen prevalence in eastern and western Norway differing in the number of tick-borne disease cases. First, we analysed the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in humans, tick-borne fever (anaplasmosis) in sheep and anaplasmosis and babesiosis in cattle to verify if incidence differed. Secondly, we analysed extensive field data on questing tick density, pathogen prevalence, as well as the broad spatial pattern of human and livestock distribution as it may relate to tick exposure. Results The incidences of all diseases were lower in eastern, compared to western, Norway, but this was most marked for the livestock diseases. While the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in ticks was similar in the two regions, the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was markedly lower in eastern, compared to western, Norway. We found overall a lower abundance of questing nymphs in the east. In the east, there were cases of babesiosis in cattle where anaplasmosis was absent, suggesting absence of the pathogen rather than differences in exposure to ticks as part of the explanation for the much lower incidence of anaplasmosis in eastern Norway. Conclusions Many factors contribute to different disease incidence across ecosystems. We found that regional variation in tick-borne disease incidence may be partly linked to vector abundance and pathogen prevalence, but differently for human and livestock diseases. Further studies are needed to determine if there is also regional variation in specific genospecies and strain frequencies differing in pathogenicity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2890-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Vetle Malmer Stigum
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Vikingsdal Seland
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders Herland
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - W Ryan Easterday
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway
| | - Solveig Jore
- Department of Food, Water, Zoonotic & Vector-borne Infections, The Norwegian Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403, Oslo, Norway
| | - Olav Østerås
- Department of the Norwegian Cattle Health Services, TINE Norwegian Dairies BA, NO-1431, Ås, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, NO-0106, Oslo, Norway
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21
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Chvostáč M, Špitalská E, Václav R, Vaculová T, Minichová L, Derdáková M. Seasonal Patterns in the Prevalence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in an Urban Temperate Forest in South Western Slovakia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15050994. [PMID: 29762516 PMCID: PMC5982033 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15050994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 05/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In Europe, Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector of tick-borne zoonotic bacteria. It transmits spirochaetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. Although spatial differences in the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens have been intensively studied, seasonal (within-year) fluctuations in the prevalence of these pathogens within sites are often overlooked. We analyzed the occurrence and seasonal dynamics of Ixodes ricinus in an urban forest in Bratislava, Slovakia. Furthemore, we examined temporal trends in the community structure of B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in questing and bird-feeding ticks. The total prevalence for B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing I. ricinus was 6.8%, involving six genospecies with the dominance of bird-associated B. garinii and B. valaisiana.A. phagocytophilum, R. helvetica and R. monacensis occurred in 5.9%, 5.0% and 0.2% of questing ticks, respectively. In total, 12.5% and 4.4% of bird-feeding I. ricinus ticks carried B. burgdorferi s.l. and R. helvetica. The total prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in our study site was two times lower than the mean prevalence for Europe. In contrast, A. phagocytophilum prevalence was significantly higher compared to those in other habitats of Slovakia. Our results imply that tick propagation and the transmission, suppression and seasonal dynamics of tick-borne pathogens at the study site were primarily shaped by abundance and temporal population fluctuations in ruminant and bird hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Chvostáč
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Tatiana Vaculová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Markéta Derdáková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia.
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22
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Rosà R, Andreo V, Tagliapietra V, Baráková I, Arnoldi D, Hauffe HC, Manica M, Rosso F, Blaňarová L, Bona M, Derdáková M, Hamšíková Z, Kazimírová M, Kraljik J, Kocianová E, Mahríková L, Minichová L, Mošanský L, Slovák M, Stanko M, Špitalská E, Ducheyne E, Neteler M, Hubálek Z, Rudolf I, Venclikova K, Silaghi C, Overzier E, Farkas R, Földvári G, Hornok S, Takács N, Rizzoli A. Effect of Climate and Land Use on the Spatio-Temporal Variability of Tick-Borne Bacteria in Europe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040732. [PMID: 29649132 PMCID: PMC5923774 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. has been rising in Europe in recent decades. Early pre-assessment of acarological hazard still represents a complex challenge. The aim of this study was to model Ixodes ricinus questing nymph density and its infection rate with B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in five European countries (Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) in various land cover types differing in use and anthropisation (agricultural, urban and natural) with climatic and environmental factors (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), Land Surface Temperature (LST) and precipitation). We show that the relative abundance of questing nymphs was significantly associated with climatic conditions, such as higher values of NDVI recorded in the sampling period, while no differences were observed among land use categories. However, the density of infected nymphs (DIN) also depended on the pathogen considered and land use. These results contribute to a better understanding of the variation in acarological hazard for Ixodes ricinus transmitted pathogens in Central Europe and provide the basis for more focused ecological studies aimed at assessing the effect of land use in different sites on tick–host pathogens interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Rosà
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Veronica Andreo
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
- Department of Earth Observation Science, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Valentina Tagliapietra
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Ivana Baráková
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Daniele Arnoldi
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Heidi Christine Hauffe
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Mattia Manica
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Fausta Rosso
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Lucia Blaňarová
- Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Martin Bona
- Department of Anatomy, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Marketa Derdáková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Maria Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Minichová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Ladislav Mošanský
- Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michal Stanko
- Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Els Ducheyne
- Avia-GIS, Risschotlei 33, 2980 Zoersel, Belgium.
| | | | - Zdenek Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ivo Rudolf
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Kristyna Venclikova
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, v.v.i., Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS, 16206 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80802 Munich, Germany.
- Institute of Parasitology, National Centre for Vector Entomology, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, 17493 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Evelyn Overzier
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 80802 Munich, Germany.
| | - Robert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Nóra Takács
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Annapaola Rizzoli
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
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23
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Chastagner A, Pion A, Verheyden H, Lourtet B, Cargnelutti B, Picot D, Poux V, Bard É, Plantard O, McCoy KD, Leblond A, Vourc'h G, Bailly X. Host specificity, pathogen exposure, and superinfections impact the distribution of Anaplasma phagocytophilum genotypes in ticks, roe deer, and livestock in a fragmented agricultural landscape. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2017; 55:31-44. [PMID: 28807858 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a bacterial pathogen mainly transmitted by Ixodes ricinus ticks in Europe. It infects wild mammals, livestock, and, occasionally, humans. Roe deer are considered to be the major reservoir, but the genotypes they carry differ from those that are found in livestock and humans. Here, we investigated whether roe deer were the main source of the A. phagocytophilum genotypes circulating in questing I. ricinus nymphs in a fragmented agricultural landscape in France. First, we assessed pathogen prevalence in 1837 I. ricinus nymphs (sampled along georeferenced transects) and 79 roe deer. Prevalence was dramatically different between ticks and roe deer: 1.9% versus 76%, respectively. Second, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we characterized the diversity of the A. phagocytophilum genotypes found in 22 infected ticks and 60 infected roe deer; the aim was to determine the frequency of co-infections. Only 22.7% of infected ticks carried genotypes associated with roe deer. This finding fits with others suggesting that cattle density is the major factor explaining infected tick density. To explore epidemiological scenarios capable of explaining these patterns, we constructed compartmental models that focused on how A. phagocytophilum exposure and infection dynamics affected pathogen prevalence in roe deer. At the exposure levels predicted by the results of this study and the literature, the high prevalence in roe deer was only seen in the model in which superinfections could occur during all infection phases and when the probability of infection post exposure was above 0.43. We then interpreted these results from the perspective of livestock and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Chastagner
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France; Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Angélique Pion
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France
| | - Hélène Verheyden
- CEFS, UR0035, Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Université de Toulouse, INRA, 24 chemin de Borde-Rouge, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Bruno Lourtet
- CEFS, UR0035, Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Université de Toulouse, INRA, 24 chemin de Borde-Rouge, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Bruno Cargnelutti
- CEFS, UR0035, Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Université de Toulouse, INRA, 24 chemin de Borde-Rouge, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Denis Picot
- CEFS, UR0035, Comportement et Ecologie de la Faune Sauvage, Université de Toulouse, INRA, 24 chemin de Borde-Rouge, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Valérie Poux
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France
| | - Émilie Bard
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France
| | - Olivier Plantard
- BIOEPAR, UMR 1300, Biologie, Epidemiologie et Analyse de Risque, INRA, UNAM Université, Oniris, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique, Atlanpôle, la Chantrerie, F-44307, Nantes, France
| | - Karen D McCoy
- MIVEGEC (UMR 5290), Maladie Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique Evolution et Contrôle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (UR224), 911 Avenue d'Agropolis, BP 64501, F-34394 Cedex 5, Montpellier, France
| | - Agnes Leblond
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France
| | - Gwenaël Vourc'h
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France
| | - Xavier Bailly
- EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidémiologie des maladies Animales et zoonotiques, INRA, VetAgroSup, Route de Theix, F-63122 Saint Genes Champanelle, France.
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24
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Sormunen JJ, Penttinen R, Klemola T, Vesterinen EJ, Hänninen J. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in southwestern Finland. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 70:491-500. [PMID: 27812829 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-016-0093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of an emerging tick-borne disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis. While the bacterium has been reported from questing ticks in neighboring Sweden, Norway and Russia, the few surveys regarding questing ticks in Finland have thus far been negative. In the current study, the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus populations was evaluated in several study localities around southwestern Finland during 2013-2014. Some of these populations were previously screened and found negative for A. phagocytophilum in 2000. A total of 3158 I. ricinus collected by blanket dragging were screened for Anaplasma spp. using qPCR. Anaplasma were detected in 9.2% of adult ticks (n = 87) and 3.1% of nymphs (n = 979). All larval samples were negative for infection. All Anaplasma-positive samples were identified as A. phagocytophilum by sequencing. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of the pathogen from questing ticks in Finland. Furthermore, the pathogen was detected from several localities found negative during the previous screening 13 years earlier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jani J Sormunen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
- Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
| | - Ritva Penttinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Tero Klemola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Eero J Vesterinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Hänninen
- Archipelago Research Institute, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
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25
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Ebani VV, Rocchigiani G, Bertelloni F, Nardoni S, Leoni A, Nicoloso S, Mancianti F. Molecular survey on the presence of zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus). Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2016; 47:77-80. [PMID: 27477510 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
To estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in red deer (Cervus elaphus) living in Italian areas with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 60 red deer were tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and piroplasms. Thirty-four (56.67%) animals resulted positive for one or more pathogens. In particular, 24 (40%) red deer were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 16 (26.67%) for Babesia divergens, 6 (10%) for C. burnetii, 2 (3.33%) for B. burgdorferi s.l. No positive reaction was observed for F. tularensis. Thirteen (21.67%) animals resulted co-infected by two or three pathogens. Red deer is confirmed as competent reservoir of A. phagocytophilum and B. divergens, but not of B. burgdorferi. This is the first report of C. burnetii-positive red deer in central Italy. Hunters may be at risk of infection both through infected ticks and during the infected cervids carcasses dressing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guido Rocchigiani
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Bertelloni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Nardoni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Leoni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandro Nicoloso
- D.R.E. Am. Italia Soc. Coop. Agr. For., Via Garibaldi 3, 52015 Pratovecchio, Arezzo, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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26
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Norek A, Janda L, Žákovská A. DNA-based identification and OspC serotyping in cultures of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. isolated from ticks collected in the Moravia (Czech Republic). JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2016; 41:172-178. [PMID: 27232140 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Two different genetic loci, flaB and ospC, were employed to assign genospecies and OspC phylogenetic type to 18 strains isolated from ticks collected in Pisárky, a suburban park in the city of Brno, Czech Republic. The RFLP analysis revealed three different genospecies (B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana). Three samples from the collection contained more than one genospecies. In the other 15 strains, nucleotide sequences of flaB and ospC were determined. The following phylogenetic analysis assigned 12 isolates to genospecies B. garinii and three to B. afzelii. These isolates were further subdivided into seven distinct ospC groups. The most related OspC types were G2, G4, and G5 (B. garinii) and A3 and A8 (B. afzelii).
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Norek
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lubomír Janda
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Žákovská
- Department of Animal Physiology and Immunology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
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27
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Vourc'h G, Abrial D, Bord S, Jacquot M, Masséglia S, Poux V, Pisanu B, Bailly X, Chapuis JL. Mapping human risk of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agent of Lyme borreliosis, in a periurban forest in France. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:644-652. [PMID: 26897396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is a major zoonosis in Europe, with estimates of over 26,000 cases per year in France alone. The etiological agents are spirochete bacteria that belong to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.) complex and are transmitted by hard ticks among a large range of vertebrate hosts. In Europe, the tick Ixodes ricinus is the main vector. In the absence of a vaccine and given the current difficulties to diagnose and treat chronic Lyme syndromes, there is urgent need for prevention. In this context, accurate information on the spatial patterns of risk of exposure to ticks is of prime importance for public health. The objective of our study was to provide a snapshot map of the risk of human infection with B. burgdorferi s. l. pathogens in a periurban forest at a high resolution, and to analyze the factors that contribute to variation in this risk. Field monitoring took place over three weeks in May 2011 in the suburban Sénart forest (3,200ha; southeast of Paris), which receives over 3 million people annually. We sampled ticks over the entire forest area (from 220 forest stands with a total area of 35,200m(2)) and quantified the density of questing nymphs (DON), the prevalence of infection among nymphs (NIP), and the density of infected nymphs (DIN), which is the most important predictor of the human risk of Lyme borreliosis. For each of these response variables, we explored the relative roles of weather (saturation deficit), hosts (abundance indices of ungulates and Tamias sibiricus, an introduced rodent species), vegetation and forest cover, superficial soil composition, and the distance to forest roads. In total, 19,546 questing nymphs were collected and the presence of B. burgdorferi s. l. was tested in 3,903 nymphs by qPCR. The mean DON was 5.6 nymphs per 10m(2) (standard deviation=10.4) with an average NIP of 10.1% (standard deviation=0.11). The highest DIN was 8.9 infected nymphs per 10m(2), with a mean of 0.59 (standard deviation=0.6). Our mapping and modeling revealed a strong heterogeneity of risk within the forest. The highest risk was found in the eastern part of the forest and localized patches in the northwestern part. Lyme borreliosis risk was positively associated with stands of deciduous trees (mainly oaks) and roe deer abundance. Contrary to expectations, DIN actually increased with distance from the point of introduction of T. sibiricus (i.e., DIN was higher in areas with potentially lower abundances of T. sibiricus). Thus, despite the fact that T. sibiricus is an important reservoir host for B. burgdorferi s. l., our study found that other explanatory factors played a more important role in determining the density of infected ticks. Precise mapping of the risk of exposure to Lyme borreliosis in a highly visited forest represents an important tool for targeting prevention and control measures, as well as making the general public and local health officials aware of the risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Vourc'h
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France.
| | - D Abrial
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - S Bord
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - M Jacquot
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - S Masséglia
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - V Poux
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - B Pisanu
- MNHN, Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 61 rue Buffon, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - X Bailly
- INRA, UR0346 Unité d'Epidémiologie Animale, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France
| | - J-L Chapuis
- MNHN, Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 61 rue Buffon, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
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28
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Svitálková Z, Haruštiaková D, Mahríková L, Berthová L, Slovák M, Kocianová E, Kazimírová M. Anaplasma phagocytophilum prevalence in ticks and rodents in an urban and natural habitat in South-Western Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:276. [PMID: 25980768 PMCID: PMC4435654 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0880-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the ethiological agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in Europe. Anaplasmosis is an emerging zoonotic disease with a natural enzootic cycle. The reservoir competence of rodents is unclear. Monitoring of A. phagocytophilum prevalence in I. ricinus and rodents in various habitat types of Slovakia may contribute to the knowledge about the epidemiology of anaplasmosis in Central Europe. Methods Over 4400 questing ixodid ticks, 1000 rodent-attached ticks and tissue samples of 606 rodents were screened for A. phagocytophilum DNA by real-time PCR targeting the msp2 gene. Ticks and rodents were captured along six transects in an urban/suburban and natural habitat in south-western Slovakia during 2011–2014. Estimates of wildlife (roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, wild boar) densities in the study area were taken from hunter’s yearly reports. Spatial and temporal differences in A. phagocytophilum prevalence in questing I. ricinus and relationships with relative abundance of ticks and wildlife were analysed. Results Overall prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus was significantly higher in the urban/suburban habitat (7.2 %; 95 % CI: 6.1–8.3 %) compared to the natural habitat (3.1 %; 95 % CI: 2.5–3.9 %) (χ2 = 37.451; P < 0.001). Significant local differences in prevalence of infected questing ticks were found among transects within each habitat as well as among years and between seasons. The trapped rodents belonged to six species. Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus prevailed in both habitats, Microtus arvalis was present only in the natural habitat. I. ricinus comprised 96.3 % of the rodent-attached ticks, the rest were Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes trianguliceps and Dermacentor reticulatus. Only 0.5 % of rodent skin and 0.6 % of rodent-attached ticks (only I. ricinus) were infected with A. phagocytophilum. Prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus did not correlate significantly with relative abundance of ticks or with abundance of wildlife in the area. Conclusion The study confirms that urban I. ricinus populations are infected with A. phagocytophilum at a higher rate than in a natural habitat of south-western Slovakia and suggests that rodents are not the main reservoirs of the bacterium in the investigated area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Svitálková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Danka Haruštiaková
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 3, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Lenka Berthová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Stańczak J, Cieniuch S, Lass A, Biernat B, Racewicz M. Detection and quantification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in Ixodes ricinus ticks from urban and rural environment, northern Poland, by real-time polymerase chain reaction. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2015; 66:63-81. [PMID: 25721255 PMCID: PMC4412423 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9887-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. are emerging tick-borne pathogens which can threaten human health. A duplex real-time PCR and qPCRs with primers and probes targeting 97 and 116 bp fragments of 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes, respectively, were used for qualitative and quantitative detection of both pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks. Altogether 1875 ticks (1084 adults and 791 nymphs) were collected from rural and urban habitats in northern Poland. Of them, at least 0.9% were found to be infected with A. phagocytophilum while 2.5% with Babesia spp. A comparison of the infection rates by the tick stage, the type of area, the collection site, habitats of different tick density and by the month of collection was done. The prevalence of pathogens was significantly lower in nymphs than in adult ticks (p = 0.02) and in rural areas than in urban areas (p = 0.007). Four different 16S rRNA gene variants of A. phagocytophilum were determine, however none of them showed 100% identity with compared sequences isolated from human patients. The dominant Babesia species was B. venatorum. Results of qPCRs with circular and linearized forms of plasmids used as the standards showed significant difference in the pathogen loads (p = 0.001). The copy numbers of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. estimated from the linear plasmids were 28.7 and 5.1 times lower, respectively, when compared with their circular forms, and were accepted as more reliable. The average number of copies of 16S rRNA gene of A. phagocytophilum in the positive I. ricinus samples were 3.39 × 10(5) ± 6.09 × 10(5). The mean copy number of 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp. was ~2.55 × 10(5) ± 1.04 × 10(6). We confirmed the presence of A. phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. in I. ricinus in both rural and urban environments. The determined low infection rates suggests, however, that the risk for local population and tourists to acquire infection is also low. Moreover, we confirmed recent findings that serious overestimation by circular plasmid DNA makes it less suitable as a standard and that the linear standards should be recommended for qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Stańczak
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 9B Powstania Styczniowego Street, 81-519, Gdynia, Poland,
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Matei IA, Kalmár Z, Magdaş C, Magdaş V, Toriay H, Dumitrache MO, Ionică AM, D'Amico G, Sándor AD, Mărcuţan DI, Domşa C, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Romania. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:408-13. [PMID: 25838178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2014] [Revised: 01/21/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Granulocytic anaplasmosis is a common vector-borne disease of humans and animals with natural transmission cycle that involves tick vectors, among which Ixodes ricinus is the most important. The present paper reports the prevalence and geographical distribution of A. phagocytophilum in 10,438 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks collected at 113 locations from 40 counties of Romania. The unfed ticks were examined for the presence of A. phagocytophilum by PCR targeting a portion of ankA gene. The overall prevalence of infection was 3.42%, with local prevalences ranging between 0.29% and 22.45%, with an average prevalence of 5.39% in the infected localities. The infection with A. phagocytophilum was detected in 72 out of 113 localities and in 34 out of 40 counties. The highest prevalence was recorded in females followed by males and nymphs. The results and the distribution model have shown a large distribution of A. phagocytophilum, covering Romania's entire territory. This study is the first large scale survey of the presence of A. phagocytophilum in questing I. ricinus ticks from Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Adriana Matei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania.
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Cristian Magdaş
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Virginia Magdaş
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Hortenzia Toriay
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Mirabela Oana Dumitrache
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Gianluca D'Amico
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Daniel Ioan Mărcuţan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Cristian Domşa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Călin Mircea Gherman
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Cluj Napoca, Cluj, Romania
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Vertical transmission of Bartonella schoenbuchensis in Lipoptena cervi. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:176. [PMID: 25889985 PMCID: PMC4374187 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0764-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is a hematophagous ectoparasite of cervids, which is considered to transmit pathogens between animals and occasionally to humans. The principal life stage that is able to parasitize new hosts is a winged ked that just emerged from a pupa. To facilitate efficient transmission of pathogens between hosts, vertical transmission from female deer keds to their offspring is necessary. We investigated vertical transmission of several vector-borne pathogens associated with cervids. Methods Deer keds from several locations in Hungary were collected between 2009 and 2012. All life stages were represented: winged free-ranging adults, wingless adults collected from Capreolus capreolus and Cervus elaphus, developing larvae dissected from gravid females, and fully developed pupae. The presence of zoonotic pathogens was determined using qPCR or conventional PCR assays performed on DNA lysates. From the PCR-positive lysates, a gene fragment was amplified and sequenced for confirmation of pathogen presence, and/or pathogen species identification. Results DNA of Bartonella schoenbuchensis was found in wingless males (2%) and females (2%) obtained from Cervus elaphus, dissected developing larvae (71%), and free-ranging winged males (2%) and females (11%). DNA of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia species was present in L. cervi adults, but not in immature stages. DNA of Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis was absent in any of the life stages of L. cervi. Conclusions B. schoenbuchensis is transmitted from wingless adult females to developing larvae, making it very likely that L. cervi is a vector for B. schoenbuchensis. Lipoptena cervi is probably not a vector for A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia species, and Candidatus N. mikurensis.
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Karbowiak G, Vichová B, Slivinska K, Werszko J, Didyk J, Peťko B, Stanko M, Akimov I. The infection of questing Dermacentor reticulatus ticks with Babesia canis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. Vet Parasitol 2014; 204:372-5. [PMID: 24953751 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/10/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Tick occurrence was studied in the Chernobyl exclusion zone (CEZ) during the August-October 2009-2012. Dermacentor reticulatus ticks were collected using the flagging method and then screened for infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia canis by a PCR method incorporating specific primers and sequence analysis. The prevalence of infection with B. canis canis and A. phagocytophilum was found to be 3.41% and 25.36%, respectively. The results present the first evidence of B. canis canis and A. phagocytophilum in questing D. reticulatus ticks from the Chernobyl exclusion zone. They also reveal the presence of tick-borne disease foci in areas with no human activity, and confirm that they can be maintained in areas after a nuclear disaster with radioactive contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Karbowiak
- W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Bronislavá Vichová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Kateryna Slivinska
- I.I.Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of NASU, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01601 Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Joanna Werszko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Julia Didyk
- I.I.Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of NASU, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01601 Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Branislav Peťko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Igor Akimov
- I.I.Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of NASU, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01601 Kiev, Ukraine
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Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:31. [PMID: 23885337 PMCID: PMC3717505 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants in Ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern Europe. In recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with Ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. A. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. However, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal conditions, and considerable underreporting of clinical incidents is suspected in both human and veterinary medicine. Several variants of A. phagocytophilum have been genetically characterized. Identification and stratification into phylogenetic subfamilies has been based on cell culturing, experimental infections, PCR, and sequencing techniques. However, few genome sequences have been completed so far, thus observations on biological, ecological, and pathological differences between genotypes of the bacterium, have yet to be elucidated by molecular and experimental infection studies. The natural transmission cycles of various A. phagocytophilum variants, the involvement of their respective hosts and vectors involved, in particular the zoonotic potential, have to be unraveled. A. phagocytophilum is able to persist between seasons of tick activity in several mammalian species and movement of hosts and infected ticks on migrating animals or birds may spread the bacterium. In the present review, we focus on the ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum, especially the role of wildlife in contribution to the spread and sustainability of the infection in domestic livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snorre Stuen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science Sandnes, Norway.
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Mysterud A, Easterday WR, Qviller L, Viljugrein H, Ytrehus B. Spatial and seasonal variation in the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in Norway. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:187. [PMID: 23786850 PMCID: PMC3691722 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the variation in prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme Borreliosis Spirochaetes, LBS) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (causing tick-borne fever in ruminants and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis) in ticks is vital from both a human and an animal disease perspective to target the most effective mitigation measures. From the host competence hypothesis, we predicted that prevalence of LBS would decrease with red deer density, while prevalence of A. phagocytophilum would increase. METHODS Based on a sample of 112 adult and 686 nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks collected with flagging during questing from 31 transects (4-500 m long) corresponding to individual seasonal home ranges of 41 red deer along the west coast of Norway, we tested whether there were spatial and seasonal variations in prevalence with a special emphasis on the population density of the most common large host in this area, the red deer (Cervus elaphus). We used a multiplex real-time PCR assay for detection of A. phagocytophilum and LBS. RESULTS Prevalence of LBS was higher in adult female ticks (21.6%) compared to adult male ticks (11.5%) and nymphs (10.9%), while prevalence was similar among stages for prevalence of A. phagocytophilum (8.8%). Only partly consistent with predictions, we found a lower prevalence of LBS in areas of high red deer density, while there was no relationship between red deer density and prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in ticks. Prevalence of both bacteria was much higher in ticks questing in May compared to August. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides support to the notion that spatial variation in host composition forms a role for prevalence of LBS in ticks also in a northern European ecosystem, while no such association was found for A. phagocytophilum. Further studies are needed to fully understand the similar seasonal pattern of prevalence of the two pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box1066, Oslo, NO-0316, Norway
| | - William Ryan Easterday
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box1066, Oslo, NO-0316, Norway
| | - Lars Qviller
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box1066, Oslo, NO-0316, Norway
| | - Hildegunn Viljugrein
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box1066, Oslo, NO-0316, Norway
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, Oslo, NO-0106, Norway
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750 Sentrum, Oslo, NO-0106, Norway
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Víchová B, Majláthová V, Nováková M, Stanko M, Hviščová I, Pangrácová L, Chrudimský T, Čurlík J, Petko B. Anaplasma infections in ticks and reservoir host from Slovakia. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2013; 22:265-72. [PMID: 23770268 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 05/27/2013] [Accepted: 06/02/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a worldwide distributed bacterium with a significant medical and veterinary importance. It grows within the phagosome of infected neutrophils and is responsible for human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), tick-borne fever (TBF) of small ruminants and cattle, canine and equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, but infects also a great variety of wildlife species. Wild ungulates and rodents are considered reservoirs of infection in natural foci. The objective of this study was to determine the spectrum of animal species involved in the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in Slovakia and to analyze the variability of obtained nucleotide sequences, in order to determine whether genotypes from Slovakia cluster according to host-species or geographical location. Several animal species and vector ticks were screened for the presence of members of the family Anaplasmataceae using PCR based methods. Additional data on the molecular evidence of Anaplasma ovis and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis are presented. These pathogens were detected in tested sheep flocks and rodents with the mean infection rates of 8.16% and 10.75%, respectively. A. phagocytophilum was genotyped by 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequencing. Bacterial DNA was confirmed in questing ixodid ticks, in domesticated canine, wild rodents and several species of wild ungulates. In European isolates, 16S rRNA gene does not seem to be an appropriate locus for the analyses of heterogeneity as it is too conservative. Similarly, 16S rRNA isolates from our study did not reveal any polymorphisms. All isolates were identical in overlapped region and showed identity with sequences from ticks, horses or ruminants previously isolated elsewhere in the world. On the other hand, the groESL heat shock operon is widely used for determination of diversity and the analyses have already revealed considerable degree of heterogeneity. Tested ungulates were infected with A. phagocytophilum to a considerable extent. High proportions of red and roe deer tested positive and the rates of infection reached over 60.0%. GroEL sequences from canine, wild ungulates and ticks from Slovakia clustered within a clade together with isolates from horses, humans, wild ungulates and ticks from Slovakia or elsewhere in the world. Sequences from rodents clustered apart from those obtained from wild ungulates, ticks and humans. These results suggest that European rodents do not harbour A. phagocytophilum strains with strong zoonotic potential such as those from United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
| | - Viktória Majláthová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mária Nováková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia; Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Lofflerova 10, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Hviščová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Pangrácová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Chrudimský
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Čurlík
- Institute for Breeding and Diseases of Animals and Fishes, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 04181 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Petko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
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Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Brønnøysund in northern Norway. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:218-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Milner JM, van Beest FM. Ecological correlates of a tick-borne disease, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in moose in southern Norway. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-012-0685-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Schwarz A, Hönig V, Vavrušková Z, Grubhoffer L, Balczun C, Albring A, Schaub GA. Abundance of Ixodes ricinus and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in the nature reserve Siebengebirge, Germany, in comparison to three former studies from 1978 onwards. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:268. [PMID: 23171708 PMCID: PMC3523962 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the last decades, population densities of Ixodes ricinus and prevalences of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. have increased in different regions in Europe. In the present study, we determined tick abundance and the prevalence of different Borrelia genospecies in ticks from three sites in the Siebengebirge, Germany, which were already examined in the years 1987, 1989, 2001 and 2003. Data from all investigations were compared. METHODS In 2007 and 2008, host-seeking I. ricinus were collected by monthly blanket dragging at three distinct vegetation sites in the Siebengebirge, a nature reserve and a well visited local recreation area near Bonn, Germany. In both years, 702 ticks were tested for B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA by nested PCR, and 249 tick samples positive for Borrelia were further genotyped by reverse line blotting. RESULTS A total of 1046 and 1591 I. ricinus were collected in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In comparison to previous studies at these sites, the densities at all sites increased from 1987/89 and/or from 2003 until 2008. Tick densities and Borrelia prevalences in 2007 and 2008, respectively, were not correlated for all sites and both years. Overall, Borrelia prevalence of all ticks decreased significantly from 2007 (19.5%) to 2008 (16.5%), thus reaching the same level as in 2001 two times higher than in 1987/89 (7.6%). Since 2001, single infections with a Borrelia genospecies predominated in all collections, but the number of multiple infections increased, and in 2007, for the first time, triple Borrelia infections occurred. Prevalences of Borrelia genospecies differed considerably between the three sites, but B. garinii or B. afzelii were always the most dominant genospecies. B. lusitaniae was detected for the first time in the Siebengebirge, also in co-infections with B. garinii or B. valaisiana. CONCLUSIONS Over the last two centuries tick densities have changed in the Siebengebirge at sites that remained unchanged by human activity since they belong to a nature reserve. Abiotic and biotic conditions most likely favored the host-seeking activity of I. ricinus and the increase of multiple Borrelia infections in ticks. These changes have led to a potential higher risk of humans and animals to be infected with Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schwarz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic.
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Silaghi C, Woll D, Hamel D, Pfister K, Mahling M, Pfeffer M. Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing ticks, ticks parasitizing rodents and the parasitized rodents--analyzing the host-pathogen-vector interface in a metropolitan area. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:191. [PMID: 22950642 PMCID: PMC3480827 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aims of this study were to evaluate the host-tick-pathogen interface of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in restored areas in both questing and host-attached Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus and their small mammalian hosts. Methods Questing ticks were collected from 5 sites within the city of Leipzig, Germany, in 2009. Small mammals were trapped at 3 of the 5 sites during 2010 and 2011. DNA extracts of questing and host-attached I. ricinus and D. reticulatus and of several tissue types of small mammals (the majority bank voles and yellow-necked mice), were investigated by PCR followed by sequencing for the occurrence of DNA of Babesia spp. and by real-time PCR for A. phagocytophilum. A selected number of samples positive for A. phagocytophilum were further investigated for variants of the partial 16S rRNA gene. Co-infection with Rickettsia spp. in the questing ticks was additionally investigated. Results 4.1% of questing I. ricinus ticks, but no D. reticulatus, were positive for Babesia sp. and 8.7% of I. ricinus for A. phagocytophilum. Sequencing revealed B. microti, B. capreoli and Babesia spp. EU1 in Leipzig and sequence analysis of the partial 16S RNA gene of A. phagocytophilum revealed variants either rarely reported in human cases or associated with cervid hosts. The statistical analysis revealed significantly less ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum in a city park in Leipzig as compared to the other sampling sites. A. phagocytophilum-DNA was detected in 2 bank voles, DNA of B. microti in 1 striped field-mouse and of Babesia sp. EU1 in the skin tissue of a mole. Co-infections were detected. Conclusion Our results show the involvement of small mammals in the natural endemic cycles of tick-borne pathogens. A more thorough understanding of the interactions of ticks, pathogens and hosts is the essential basis for effective preventive control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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Jaenson TGT, Hjertqvist M, Bergström T, Lundkvist A. Why is tick-borne encephalitis increasing? A review of the key factors causing the increasing incidence of human TBE in Sweden. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:184. [PMID: 22937961 PMCID: PMC3439267 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The highest annual incidence of human tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Sweden ever recorded by the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control (SMI) occurred last year, 2011. The number of TBE cases recorded during 2012 up to 6th August 2012 indicates that the incidence for 2012 could exceed that of 2011. In this review of the ecology and epidemiology of TBE in Sweden our main aim is to analyse the possible reasons behind the gradually increasing incidence of human TBE during the last 20 years. The main TBE virus (TBEV) vector to humans in Sweden is the nymphal stage of the common tick Ixodes ricinus. The main mode of transmission and maintenance of TBEV in the tick population is considered to be when infective nymphs co-feed with uninfected but infectible larvae on rodents. In most locations the roe deer, Capreolus capreolus is the main host for the reproducing adult I. ricinus ticks. The high number of roe deer for more than three decades has resulted in a very large tick population. Deer numbers have, however, gradually declined from the early 1990s to the present. This decline in roe deer numbers most likely made the populations of small rodents, which are reservoir-competent for TBEV, gradually more important as hosts for the immature ticks. Consequently, the abundance of TBEV-infected ticks has increased. Two harsh winters in 2009-2011 caused a more abrupt decline in roe deer numbers. This likely forced a substantial proportion of the "host-seeking" ticks to feed on bank voles (Myodes glareolus), which at that time suddenly had become very numerous, rather than on roe deer. Thus, the bank vole population peak in 2010 most likely caused many tick larvae to feed on reservoir-competent rodents. This presumably resulted in increased transmission of TBEV among ticks and therefore increased the density of infected ticks the following year. The unusually warm, humid weather and the prolonged vegetation period in 2011 permitted nymphs and adult ticks to quest for hosts nearly all days of that year. These weather conditions stimulated many people to spend time outdoors in areas where they were at risk of being attacked by infective nymphs. This resulted in at least 284 human cases of overt TBE. The tick season of 2012 also started early with an exceptionally warm March. The abundance of TBEV-infective "hungry" ticks was presumably still relatively high. Precipitation during June and July was rich and will lead to a "good mushroom season". These factors together are likely to result in a TBE incidence of 2012 similar to or higher than that of 2011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G T Jaenson
- Medical Entomology Unit, Department of Systematic Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, Uppsala SE-752 36, Sweden.
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Øines Ø, Radzijevskaja J, Paulauskas A, Rosef O. Prevalence and diversity of Babesia spp. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Norway. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:156. [PMID: 22862883 PMCID: PMC3439691 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ixodes ricinus ticks transmit Babesia species to vertebrate hosts. Using molecular tools we were able to detect the presence of this piroplasmid in its vector. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and identity of Babesia species in questing ticks collected in various areas of Norway. METHODS DNA from questing l. ricinus ticks were examined with a realtime PCR for the presence of Babesia. Positive samples of tick DNA were identified to species using PCR, and sequence analysis. RESULTS From a total of 1908 questing l. ricinus ticks, 17 (0.9%) indicated the presence of Babesia spp. after realtime-PCR screening. Ixodes ricinus harbouring Babesia spp. was detected in 9 out of 22 localities. Further molecular analyses of DNA from these positive ticks indicate the presence of Babesia venatorum, B. divergens, B. capreoli and a currently undescribed Babesia in Norwegian ticks. The most prevalent was B. venatorum found in 71% of the positive ticks. CONCLUSIONS A total of 17 out of 1908 (0.9%) ticks were positive for Babesia. Our data confirm that there are several Babesia species in ticks in Norway. Babesia venatorum was the most prevalent. This species has a zoonotic potential and may cause human babesiosis following a tick bite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øivind Øines
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, PO Box 750, Sentrum, 0106, Oslo, Norway.
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Wallménius K, Pettersson JHO, Jaenson TGT, Nilsson K. Prevalence of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Coxiella burnetii in adult Ixodes ricinus ticks from 29 study areas in central and southern Sweden. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012; 3:100-6. [PMID: 22487426 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2011] [Revised: 11/16/2011] [Accepted: 11/17/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
A total of 887 adult Ixodes ricinus ticks (469 females and 418 males) from 29 different localities in Sweden were screened for Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Coxiella DNA using PCR and then subjected to gene sequencing. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 9.5-9.6% of the ticks. Most of the positive ticks were infected with Rickettsia helvetica. One tick harbored another spotted fever rickettsia, closely related to or identical with R. sibirica not previously found in I. ricinus nor in Sweden. Six of the ticks (0.7%) were infected with an Anaplasma sp., presumably A. phagocytophilum. Coxiella burnetii DNA was not detected in any of the ticks. The detection of R. helvetica and A. phagocytophilum in several of the localities sampled suggests that these potentially human-pathogenic agents are common in Sweden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Wallménius
- Unit of Clinical Bacteriology, Dept. of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Rar V, Golovljova I. Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia” bacteria: Pathogenicity, biodiversity, and molecular genetic characteristics, a review. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 11:1842-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Longitudinal field study on bovine Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections during a grazing season in Belgium. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:1525-30. [PMID: 21947341 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2657-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/13/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasmosis and babesiosis are major tick-borne diseases with a high economic impact but are also a public health concern. Blood samples collected in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2010 from 65 cows in seven different farms in Belgium were monitored with an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test to assess seroprevalence against these pathogens. Seroprevalences to Babesia spp. were measured as 10.7%, 20%, and 12.3% in spring, summer, and autumn, respectively, whereas seroprevalences to Anaplasma phagocytophilum were 30.8%, 77%, and 56.9%, respectively. A total of 805 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected at the same time from both cattle (feeding ticks) and grazed pastures (questing ticks). The infection level of ticks, assessed by PCR assay, for Babesia spp. DNA was 14.6% and 7.9% in feeding and questing ticks, respectively, whereas 21.7% and 3% of feeding and questing ticks were found be positive for A. phagocytophilum cDNA. Fifty-five PCR-positive samples were identified by sequencing as Babesia sp. EU1, of which five from feeding ticks were positive for both A. phagocytophilum and Babesia sp. EU1. The high density of wild cervids in the study area could explain these observations, as deer are considered to be the main hosts for adults of I. ricinus. However, the absence of Babesia divergens both in feeding and questing ticks is surprising, as the study area is known to be endemic for cattle babesiosis. Increasing cervid populations and comorbidity could play an import role in the epidemiology of these tick-borne diseases.
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Katargina O, Geller J, Alekseev A, Dubinina H, Efremova G, Mishaeva N, Vasilenko V, Kuznetsova T, Järvekülg L, Vene S, Lundkvist A, Golovljova I. Identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in tick populations in Estonia, the European part of Russia and Belarus. Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 18:40-6. [PMID: 21199155 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03457.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is associated with diseases of goats, sheep, cattle, dogs and horses. In the beginning of the 1990s it was identified as a human pathogen, causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) in the USA, Europe and the far east of Russia. A. phagocytophilum is maintained in nature in an enzootic cycle including ticks as the main vector and a wide range of mammalian species as reservoirs. Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus ticks were collected in Estonia, Belarus and the European part of Russia and screened for the presence of A. phagocytophilum by real-time PCR. Positive samples were found only among I. ricinus, in 13.4% in the European part of Russia, 4.2% in Belarus, 1.7% in mainland Estonia and 2.6% on Saaremaa Island. Positive samples were sequenced for partial 16S rRNA, groESL and ankA genes and phylogenetic analyses were performed. The results showed that A. phagocytophilum circulating in Eastern Europe belongs to different groESL lineages and 16S rRNA gene variants and also consists of variable numbers of repetitive elements within the ankA gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Katargina
- National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
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Burri C, Dupasquier C, Bastic V, Gern L. Pathogens of Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases,Anaplasma phagocytophilum,Rickettsiaspp., andBabesiaspp., inIxodesTicks Collected from Rodents at Four Sites in Switzerland (Canton of Bern). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011; 11:939-44. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Burri
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Christèle Dupasquier
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Viktoria Bastic
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Lise Gern
- Laboratory of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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Sen E, Uchishima Y, Okamoto Y, Fukui T, Kadosaka T, Ohashi N, Masuzawa T. Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Istanbul metropolitan area and rural Trakya (Thrace) region of north-western Turkey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011; 2:94-8. [PMID: 21771542 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2010] [Revised: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 03/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated the presence of the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and the agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, in north-western Turkey. A total of 241 questing Ixodes ricinus adult ticks were sampled by flagging from recreational parks of the Asiatic and European sides of the heavily populated Istanbul metropolitan area and rural forests of Kirklareli located in the Thrace region in 2008. Both tick-borne pathogens were detected and identified by PCR and DNA sequencing analysis. A. phagocytophilum infection rates were 2.7% in Istanbul and 17.5% in the Kirklareli area. B. burgdorferi sensu lato infection rates were 38.7% in Istanbul and 11.4% in the Kirklareli area. Only 3 of 241 ticks were coinfected with A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi sensu lato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ece Sen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Division of Microbiology, Trakya University, Balkan Campus, Edirne, Turkey
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Franke J, Hildebrandt A, Meier F, Straube E, Dorn W. Prevalence of Lyme disease agents and several emerging pathogens in questing ticks from the German Baltic coast. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2011; 48:441-444. [PMID: 21485387 DOI: 10.1603/me10182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
In summer 2008, a total of 512 Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks was collected from vegetation in four areas at the Baltic coast of Germany and tested for the presence of Lyme disease spirochetes. Among them, 293 ticks from three areas were screened for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), rickettsiae of the spotted fever group (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), and Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), respectively. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) were detected in 3.1% of the tick samples. The prevalence ofA. phagocytophilum was 1.0%, rickettsiae were present in 8.5%, and pathogenic Babesia spp. in 8.9% of analyzed ticks. Coinfections occurred in five ticks. With this study we report first data on the coexistence of established and emerging pathogens in questing ticks from recreational areas of northeastern Germany, indicating the need of further studies for a reliable risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Franke
- Institute of Nutrition, Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Dornburger Str. 29, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
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Kjelland V, Ytrehus B, Stuen S, Skarpaas T, Slettan A. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from moose (Alces alces) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in southern Norway. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2011; 2:99-103. [PMID: 21771543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2010.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Revised: 12/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As part of a larger survey, ears from 18 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and 52 moose (Alces alces) shot in the 2 southernmost counties in Norway were collected and examined for Ixodes ricinus ticks. Seventy-two adult ticks, 595 nymphs, and 267 larvae from the roe deer, and 182 adult ticks, 433 nymphs, and 70 larvae from the moose were investigated for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). The results showed the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in 2.9% of the nymphs collected from roe deer and in 4.4% of the nymphs and 6.0% of the adults collected from moose. The spirochetes were not detected in adult ticks from roe deer, or in larvae feeding on roe deer or moose. In comparison, the mean infection prevalences in questing I. ricinus collected from the same geographical area were 0.5% infection in larvae, 24.5% in nymphs, and 26.9% in adults. The most prevalent B. burgdorferi genospecies identified in ticks collected from roe deer was B. afzelii (76.5%), followed by B. garinii (17.6%), and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (5.9%). Only B. afzelii (76.7%) and B. garinii (23.3%) were detected in ticks collected from moose. The present study indicates a lower prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection in I. ricinus ticks feeding on roe deer and moose compared to questing ticks. This is the first study to report B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in ticks removed from cervids in Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Kjelland
- Department of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway.
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Coexistence of pathogens in host-seeking and feeding ticks within a single natural habitat in Central Germany. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 76:6829-36. [PMID: 20729315 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01630-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of established and emerging tick-borne pathogens in Central and Northern Europe is steadily increasing. In 2007, we collected Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on birds (n = 211) and rodents (n = 273), as well as host-seeking stages (n = 196), in a habitat in central Germany. In order to find out more about their natural transmission cycles, the ticks were tested for the presence of Lyme disease borreliae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, Francisella tularensis, and babesiae. Altogether, 20.1% of the 680 ticks examined carried at least one pathogen. Bird-feeding ticks were more frequently infected with Borrelia spp. (15.2%) and A. phagocytophilum (3.2%) than rodent-feeding ticks (2.6%; 1.1%) or questing ticks (5.1%; 0%). Babesia spp. showed higher prevalence rates in ticks parasitizing birds (13.2%) and host-seeking ticks (10.7%), whereas ticks from small mammals were less frequently infected (6.6%). SFG rickettsiae and F. tularensis were also found in ticks collected off birds (2.1%; 1.2%), rodents (1.8%; 1.5%), and vegetation (4.1%; 1.6%). Various combinations of coinfections occurred in 10.9% of all positive ticks, indicating interaction of transmission cycles. Our results suggest that birds not only are important reservoirs for several pathogens but also act as vehicles for infected ticks and might therefore play a key role in the dispersal of tick-borne diseases.
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