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Zubriková D, Blaňarová L, Hrkľová G, Syrota Y, Macko J, Blahútová D, Blažeková V, Stanko M, Švirlochová K, Víchová B. The Impact of Altitude on Tick-Borne Pathogens at Two Mountain Ranges in Central Slovakia. Pathogens 2024; 13:586. [PMID: 39057813 PMCID: PMC11279755 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13070586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are ectoparasites of a wide range of animals and are important vectors of numerous pathogens affecting humans, livestock, and pets. This study investigates possible correlations between selected factors, altitude, soil pH, and a factor called 'amount' (number of ticks examined in pooled samples) on the occurrence of I. ricinus ticks positive for selected tick-borne microorganisms. Questing I. ricinus ticks were collected in 2016 and 2017 across various altitudes, at two mountain ranges in central Slovakia. Tick pools were screened for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), Babesia/Theileria spp., Rickettsia spp., and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) using molecular methods. Regression analysis was employed to evaluate relationships between selected factors and the occurrence of vector-borne microorganisms. This study revealed a statistically significant influence of altitude on the occurrence of A. phagocytophilum; increasing altitude of the sampling site was associated with increased probability of pathogen occurrence. For Babesia/Theileria spp., neither altitude nor soil pH significantly affected pathogen occurrence. The occurrence of Bbsl was notably impacted by both altitude and soil pH; higher altitudes were associated with a decreased probability of pathogen presence, whereas higher soil pH increased the likelihood of pathogen occurrence. The presence of Rickettsia in a pooled sample was not affected by altitude and soil pH, but the 'amount' factor was a significant predictor, increasing the probability of pathogen detection. Neither altitude nor soil pH had a significant impact on TBEV occurrence. The regression models showed moderate goodness-of-fit levels to the data, underscoring their utility in examining the role of altitude and soil pH on pathogen occurrence. However, they explained only a small portion of the overall variance in pathogen occurrence, indicating the presence of other significant factors not covered in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Zubriková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
| | - Lucia Blaňarová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
| | - Gabriela Hrkľová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská Cesta 1A, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | - Yaroslav Syrota
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street, 15, 01054 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Jozef Macko
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská Cesta 1A, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | - Dana Blahútová
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Catholic University in Ružomberok, Hrabovská Cesta 1A, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Blažeková
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Klaudia Švirlochová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
| | - Bronislava Víchová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia (Y.S.)
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Kazimírová M, Mangová B, Chvostáč M, Didyk YM, de Alba P, Mira A, Purgatová S, Selyemová D, Rusňáková Tarageľová V, Schnittger L. The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Slovakia. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PARASITOLOGY & VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES 2024; 6:100195. [PMID: 39027084 PMCID: PMC11252786 DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBD) represent an important challenge for human and veterinary medicine. In Slovakia, studies on the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens (TBP) regarding reservoir hosts have focused on small mammals and to a lesser extent on birds or lizards, while knowledge of the role of the remaining vertebrate groups is limited. Generally, wild ungulates, hedgehogs, small- and medium-sized carnivores, or squirrels are important feeding hosts for ticks and serve as reservoirs for TBP. Importantly, because they carry infected ticks and/or are serologically positive, they can be used as sentinels to monitor the presence of ticks and TBP in the environment. With their increasing occurrence in urban and suburban habitats, wild ungulates, hedgehogs or foxes are becoming an important component in the developmental cycle of Ixodes ricinus and of TBP such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum or Babesia spp. On the other hand, it has been postulated that cervids may act as dilution hosts for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and tick-borne encephalitis virus. In southwestern Slovakia, a high prevalence of infection with Theileria spp. (100%) was observed in some cervid populations, while A. phagocytophilum (prevalence of c.50%) was detected in cervids and wild boars. The following pathogens were detected in ticks feeding on free-ranging ungulates, birds, and hedgehogs: A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, B. burgdorferi (s.l.), and Babesia spp. The growing understanding of the role of wildlife as pathogen reservoirs and carriers of pathogen-infected ticks offers valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBP, providing a foundation for reducing the risk of TBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Barbara Mangová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Chvostáč
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Yuliya M. Didyk
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Paloma de Alba
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anabela Mira
- Instituto de Virología e Innovaciones Tecnológicas (INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Slávka Purgatová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Diana Selyemová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (INTA-CONICET), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Igolkina Y, Nikitin A, Verzhutskaya Y, Gordeyko N, Tikunov A, Epikhina T, Tikunova N, Rar V. Multilocus genetic analysis indicates taxonomic status of "Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii" as a separate basal group. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102104. [PMID: 36502557 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
To date, the phylogeny of Rickettsia spp. from basal groups is based on the small number of identified species. Thus, the finding of "Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii" in 2016 is of great interest. In this study, "Ca. R. mendelii" was first identified in the Asian region in a new carrier, Ixodes pavlovskyi. "Candidatus R. mendelii", along with "Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae", were found in Ixodes ticks collected on Russky Island (the Far East), where I. pavlovskyi coexists with I. persulcatus. To establish the taxonomic position of "Ca. R. mendelii", a detailed genetic study was carried out. "Candidatus R. mendelii" was genotyped by five genetic fragments (16S rRNA, gltA, and ompB genes, groESL operon, and 23S-5S IGS region); among them, the ompB gene, groESL operon and 23S-5S IGS region were sequenced for the first time. In addition, "Ca. R. tarasevichiae" was genetically characterized by eight genetic loci (16S rRNA, gltA, ompA, ompB, sca4, htrA genes, groESL operon, and 23S-5S IGS region), of which the sca4 gene was first determined. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that regardless of analyzed genetic loci, "Ca. R. mendelii" formed a separate well-supported cluster on each phylogenetic tree. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated sequences of gltA, ompB, and groEL gene fragments (total length of 3191 bp) demonstrated that "Ca. R. mendelii", like Rickettsia bellii, is a basal group of Rickettsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Igolkina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Aleksey Nikitin
- Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East, Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Yulia Verzhutskaya
- Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and Far East, Irkutsk, Russia
| | | | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tamara Epikhina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Vera Rar
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Bartonella, Rickettsia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon Species in Fleas (Siphonaptera) Infesting Small Mammals of Slovakia (Central Europe). Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080886. [PMID: 36015007 PMCID: PMC9413308 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fleas (Siphonaptera) as obligate, blood-feeding ectoparasites are, together with ticks, hosted by small mammals and can transmit causative agents of serious infections. This study aimed to determine and characterize the presence and genetic diversity of Bartonella, Rickettsia, and apicomplexan parasites (Babesia, Hepatozoon) in fleas feeding on small mammals from three different habitat types (suburban, natural, and rural) in Slovakia. The most common pathogen in the examined fleas was Bartonella spp. (33.98%; 95% CI: 30.38-37.58), followed by Rickettsia spp. (19.1%; 95% CI: 16.25-22.24) and apicomplexan parasites (4.36%; 95% CI: 2.81-5.91). Bartonella strains belonging to B. taylorii, B. grahamii, B. elizabethae, Bartonella sp. wbs11, and B. rochalimae clades were identified in Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, C. congener, C. assimilis, C. sciurorum, C. solutus, C. bisoctodentatus, Palaeopsylla similis, Megabothris turbidus, and Nosopsyllus fasciatus within all habitats. The presence of Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, and rickettsiae, belonging to the R. akari and R. felis clusters, and endosymbionts with a 96-100% identity with the Rickettsia endosymbiont of Nosopsyllus laeviceps laeviceps were also revealed in C. agyrtes, C. solutus, C. assimilis, C. congener, M. turbidus, and N. fasciatus. Babesia and Hepatozoon DNA was detected in the fleas from all habitat types. Hepatozoon sp. was detected in C. agyrtes, C. assimilis, and M. turbidus, while Babesia microti was identified from C. agyrtes, C. congener, and P. similis. The present study demonstrated the presence of zoonotic pathogens in fleas, parasitizing the wild-living small mammals of southwestern and central Slovakia and widens our knowledge of the ecology and genomic diversity of Bartonella, Rickettsia, Babesia, and Hepatozoon.
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Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks Collected from Recreational Areas in Northeastern Poland with Analysis of Environmental Factors. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040468. [PMID: 35456142 PMCID: PMC9024821 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040468] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks, such as Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, act as vectors for multiple pathogens posing a threat to both human and animal health. As the process of urbanization is progressing, those arachnids are being more commonly encountered in urban surroundings. In total, 1112 I. ricinus (n = 842) and D. reticulatus (n = 270) ticks were collected from several sites, including recreational urban parks, located in Augustów and Białystok, Poland. Afterwards, the specimens were examined for the presence of Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Coxiella burnetii using the PCR method. Overall obtained infection rate reached 22.4% (249/1112). In total, 26.7% (225/842) of I. ricinus was infected, namely with Borrelia spp. (25.2%; 212/842), Babesia spp. (2.0%; 17/842), and A. phagocytophilum (1.2%; 10/842). Among D. reticulatus ticks, 8.9% (24/270) were infected, specifically with Babesia spp. (7.0%; 19/270), A. phagocytophilum (1.1%; 3/270), and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.7%; 2/270). No specimen tested positively for Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., or Coxiella burnetii. Co-infections were detected in 14 specimens. Results obtained in this study confirm that I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks found within the study sites of northeastern Poland are infected with at least three pathogens. Evaluation of the prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from urban environments provides valuable information, especially in light of the growing number of tick-borne infections in humans and domesticated animals.
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Hansford KM, Wheeler BW, Tschirren B, Medlock JM. Questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and Borrelia spp. in urban green space across Europe: A review. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:153-166. [PMID: 35122422 PMCID: PMC9487987 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
For more than three decades, it has been recognized that Ixodes ricinus ticks occur in urban green space in Europe and that they harbour multiple pathogens linked to both human and animal diseases. Urban green space use for health and well‐being, climate mitigation or biodiversity goals is promoted, often without consideration for the potential impact on tick encounters or tick‐borne disease outcomes. This review synthesizes the results of over 100 publications on questing I. ricinus and Borrelia spp. infections in ticks in urban green space in 24 European countries. It presents data on several risk indicators for Lyme borreliosis and highlights key research gaps and recommendations for future studies. Across Europe, mean density of I. ricinus in urban green space was 6.9 (range; 0.1–28.8) per 100 m2 and mean Borrelia prevalence was 17.3% (range; 3.1%–38.1%). Similar density estimates were obtained for nymphs, which had a Borrelia prevalence of 14.2% (range; 0.5%–86.7%). Few studies provided data on both questing nymph density and Borrelia prevalence, but those that did found an average of 1.7 (range; 0–5.6) Borrelia‐infected nymphs per 100 m2 of urban green space. Although a wide range of genospecies were reported, Borrelia afzelii was the most common in most parts of Europe, except for England where B. garinii was more common. The emerging pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi was also found in several countries, but with a much lower prevalence (1.5%). Our review highlights that I. ricinus and tick‐borne Borrelia pathogens are found in a wide range of urban green space habitats and across several seasons. The impact of human exposure to I. ricinus and subsequent Lyme borreliosis incidence in urban green space has not been quantified. There is also a need to standardize sampling protocols to generate better baseline data for the density of ticks and Borrelia prevalence in urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh M Hansford
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK.,European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | - Benedict W Wheeler
- European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | | | - Jolyon M Medlock
- Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change & Health, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK.,Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging & Zoonotic Infections, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
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Duan DY, Liu YK, Liu L, Liu GH, Cheng TY. Microbiome analysis of the midguts of different developmental stages of Argas persicus in China. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 13:101868. [PMID: 34800866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Argas persicus is an ectoparasite of poultry. The bacterial community structure and the pathogenic bacteria associated with different developmental stages of A. persicus have implications for control. Argas persicus were collected from chickens in the city of Jiuquan in Gansu, China. Bacterial DNA was extracted from the midgut contents of blood engorged larvae, nymphs and adult females. The V3-V4 hypervariable regions of 16S rRNA genes were sequenced using the IonS5™XL platform. Identification of Rickettsia spp. and detection of Coxiella burnetii were performed using PCR on target genes. The bacterial diversity within larvae was the highest and the bacterial diversity within nymphs was greater than that of adults. At different classification levels, seven bacterial phyla were common phyla, 27 genera were common genera, and 18 species were common species in the three samples. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria showed a marked predominance in all samples. Rickettsia, Stenotrophomonas, Spiroplasma, and Coxiella were the dominant bacteria at the genus level. The Rickettsia species in A. persicus was identified as Rickettsia hoogstraalii and the Coxiella species was identified as a Coxiella-like endosymbiont. Additionally, some bacterial species such as Pseudomonas geniculata, Sphingomonas koreensis, and Acinetobacter haemolyticus were reported here for the first time in A. persicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Yong Duan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Yu-Ke Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Lei Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China.
| | - Tian-Yin Cheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan Province 410128, China.
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Selmi R, Belkahia H, Dhibi M, Abdelaali H, Lahmar S, Ben Said M, Messadi L. Zoonotic vector-borne bacteria in wild rodents and associated ectoparasites from Tunisia. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2021; 95:105039. [PMID: 34438095 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Wild rodents are considered as potential carriers of several zoonotic vector-borne bacteria but their epidemiology is poorly understood in Tunisia. A total of 305 biological samples (100 spleens, 100 livers, 100 kidneys, and 5 pooled ectoparasites (Xenopsylla cheopis, Laelaps echidninus, Ornithonyssus sp., Hoplopleura sp. and eggs of the rat fleas)) were collected from 100 wild rodents from three Tunisian governorates. Molecular screening was performed to reveal infections with main vector-borne bacteria. Captured rodents belonged to three rodent genera and species including Rattus rattus (n = 51, 51%), Meriones shawi (n = 24, 24%) and Mus musculus (n = 25, 25%). Examined rodents were found to be heavily infested by the rat flea X. cheopis (n = 32, 47%) and the rat mite L. echidninus (n = 22, 32.3%). However, the rat mite Ornithonyssus sp. (n = 13, 19.1%) and the rat lice Hoplopleura sp. (n = 1, 1.5%) were rarely identified. Based on 16S rRNA and msp4 genes, infection with Anaplasmataceae bacteria was detected in six specimens of R. rattus and one M. shawi. Pathogenic A. phagocytophilum (n = 1), A. phagocytophilum-like 1 (Anaplasma sp. Japan) (n = 1), and A. ovis (n = 5) were identified. On the basis of ompB, ompA and gltA genes, infection with Rickettsia spp. was identified in three specimens of R. rattus and one of M. shawi. Five Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group, corresponding to R. monacensis, R. helvetica, R. massiliae, R. africae, and R. aeschlimannii, were detected in mixed infections. Bartonella henselae DNA was also found in two R. rattus, based on rpoB partial sequences. All revealed Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Bartonella bacteria were detected in spleen samples. Ehrlichia, Coxiella and Borrelia spp. were not identified in any of the tested samples. In Tunisia, this is the first report indicating infections with Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Bartonella spp. in wild rodents, particularly present alongside domestic livestock and human. This represents a serious risk of potential bacterial transmission. Thus, controlling rodent population in animal herds, residential areas and sensitizing local people to this risk seem absolutely necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachid Selmi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie; Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Hanène Belkahia
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie
| | - Mokhtar Dhibi
- Service de Parasitologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie
| | - Hedi Abdelaali
- Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Samia Lahmar
- Service de Parasitologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie; Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet, Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie.
| | - Lilia Messadi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Univ. Manouba, Sidi Thabet, Tunisie.
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Ticks and their epidemiological role in Slovakia: from the past till present. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021; 77:1575-1610. [PMID: 34548672 PMCID: PMC8446484 DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00845-3] [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: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In Slovakia, 22 tick species have been found to occur to date. Among them, Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus and marginally Haemaphysalis concinna, H. inermis and H. punctata have been identified as the species of public health relevance. Ticks in Slovakia were found to harbour and transmit zoonotic and/or potentially zoonotic agents such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, the relapsing fever sprirochaete Borrelia miyamotoi, bacteria belonging to the orders Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis), Legionellales (Coxiella burnetii), and Thiotrichales (Francisella tularensis), and Babesia spp. parasites (order Piroplasmida). Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of the largest variety of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria and piroplasms. TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l., rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, C. burnetii and F. tularensis have been found to cause serious diseases in humans, whereas B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, N. mikurensis, Babesia microti, and B. venatorum pose lower or potential risk to humans. Distribution of TBEV has a focal character. During the last few decades, new tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) foci and their spread to new areas have been registered and TBE incidence rates have increased. Moreover, Slovakia reports the highest rates of alimentary TBE infections among the European countries. Lyme borreliosis (LB) spirochaetes are spread throughout the distribution range of I. ricinus. Incidence rates of LB have shown a slightly increasing trend since 2010. Only a few sporadic cases of human rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis have been confirmed thus far in Slovakia. The latest large outbreaks of Q fever and tularaemia were recorded in 1993 and 1967, respectively. Since then, a few human cases of Q fever have been reported almost each year. Changes in the epidemiological characteristics and clinical forms of tularaemia have been observed during the last few decades. Global changes and development of modern molecular tools led to the discovery and identification of emerging or new tick-borne microorganisms and symbionts with unknown zoonotic potential. In this review, we provide a historical overview of research on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Slovakia with the most important milestones and recent findings, and outline future directions in the investigation of ticks as ectoparasites and vectors of zoonotic agents and in the study of tick-borne diseases.
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Zhang Y, Wen X, Xiao P, Fan X, Li M, Chahan B. Molecular identification of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Rickettsia in adult ticks from North of Xinjiang, China. Vet Med Sci 2021; 7:2219-2224. [PMID: 34448371 PMCID: PMC8604137 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks in Xinjiang distribute widely and account for one third of China. Ticks can carry and transmit bacteria, virus, and parasite. However, the research of tick‐borne pathogens in Xinjiang is rather little. Objective To understand the situation of hard tick carry Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and Rickettsia spp. of Zhaosu and Altay in Xinjiang. Methods In this study, 119 tick samples were obtained from horses in Xinjiang, China, Ticks were identified morphologically to determine species and PCR was used to investigate the situation of pathogens by hard ticks. Results One hundred and seven belong to Dermacentor marginatus, five belong to D. niveus, and seven belong to D. silvarum. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi were detected in one tick and 18 ticks, respectively. However, the carrying rate of Rickettsia spp. was 51.26% (61/119). Among these, the mixed carriage rate of T. equi and Rickettsia spp. was 0.8% (1/119). The mixed carriage rate of B. caballi and Rickettsia spp. was 10.1% (12/119). Conclusion Our results revealed that hard tick can carry not only haeimoparasite but also many important zoonotic pathogens in Xinjiang, and this situation was worth heeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.,MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiuxiu Wen
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China
| | - Peipei Xiao
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China
| | - Xinli Fan
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China
| | - Bayin Chahan
- Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China
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Špitalská E, Boldišová E, Palkovičová K, Sekeyová Z, Škultéty Ľ. Case studies of rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and Q fever in Slovak population from 2011 to 2020. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Ouarti B, Hamzaoui BE, Stanko M, Laroche M, Mediannikov O, Parola P, Sekeyová Z. Detection of Rickettsia raoultii in Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis ticks in Slovakia. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00789-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTicks are vector arthropods responsible for the transmission of several pathogenic agents that affect both human and animal health worldwide. In this study our objective was to analyse, using molecular tools, the bacterial community of Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis ticks collected in south-eastern Slovakia. Using real-time PCR, we identified the presence of Rickettsia spp. DNA at levels of 14/59 (23.72 %) and 29/173 (16.76 %) in D. reticulatus and H. inermis, respectively. In addition, using standard PCR and sequencing, we identified the presence of Rickettsia raoultii DNA in 13 ticks belonging to the two investigated species. Rickettsia raoultii blast results revealed an average identification percentage of 99.62 %. Following the results of this molecular study there is a possibility that D. reticulatus and H. inermis play a potential role in the transmission of R. raoultii. To prove the possibility of validity of this hypothesis, we suggest performing experimental models in future studies. Our results can serve as preliminary data for future transmission models.
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Körner S, Makert GR, Ulbert S, Pfeffer M, Mertens-Scholz K. The Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in Hard Ticks in Europe and Their Role in Q Fever Transmission Revisited-A Systematic Review. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:655715. [PMID: 33981744 PMCID: PMC8109271 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.655715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The zoonosis Q fever is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Besides the main transmission route via inhalation of contaminated aerosols, ticks are discussed as vectors since the first isolation of the pathogen from a Dermacentor andersonii tick. The rare detection of C. burnetii in ticks and the difficult differentiation of C. burnetii from Coxiella-like endosymbionts (CLEs) are questioning the relevance of ticks in the epidemiology of Q fever. In this review, literature databases were systematically searched for recent prevalence studies concerning C. burnetii in ticks in Europe and experimental studies evaluating the vector competence of tick species. A total of 72 prevalence studies were included and evaluated regarding DNA detection methods and collection methods, country, and tested tick species. Specimens of more than 25 different tick species were collected in 23 European countries. Overall, an average prevalence of 4.8% was determined. However, in half of the studies, no Coxiella-DNA was detected. In Southern European countries, a significantly higher prevalence was observed, possibly related to the abundance of different tick species here, namely Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. In comparison, a similar proportion of studies used ticks sampled by flagging and dragging or tick collection from animals, under 30% of the total tick samples derived from the latter. There was no significant difference in the various target genes used for the molecular test. In most of the studies, no distinction was made between C. burnetii and CLEs. The application of specific detection methods and the confirmation of positive results are crucial to determine the role of ticks in Q fever transmission. Only two studies were available, which assessed the vector competence of ticks for C. burnetii in the last 20 years, demonstrating the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Körner
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
| | - Gustavo R Makert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulbert
- Department of Immunology, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses (IBIZ), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Jena, Germany
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Aleksandravičienė A, Paulauskas A, Stanko M, Fričová J, Radzijevskaja J. New Records of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in Lice Collected from Small Rodents. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:342-350. [PMID: 33728990 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2722] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lice are blood-sucking insects that are of medical and veterinary significance as parasites and vectors for various infectious agents. More than half of described blood-sucking lice species are found on rodents. Rodents are important hosts of several Bartonella and Rickettsia species, and some of these bacteria are characterized as human pathogens in Europe. Rodent ectoparasites, such as fleas and ticks, are important vectors of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp., but knowledge about the presence of these bacteria in lice is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Bartonella and Rickettsia bacteria in lice collected from rodents in Slovakia. The ectoparasites were collected from small rodents captured from 2010 to 2015 at four different sites in eastern Slovakia. The presence of Bartonella and Rickettsia species in lice samples was screened by real-time PCR, targeting ssrA and gltA genes, respectively. The molecular characterization of the Bartonella strains was based on sequence analysis of partial rpoB and intergenic spacer (ITS) genes, and of the Rickettsia species on sequence analysis of the gltA gene. A total of 1074 lice of seven species were collected from six rodent species. Bartonella DNA was detected in Hoplopleura affinis (collected from Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus), Polyplax serrata (from A. agrarius), and Hoplopleura sp. (from A. flavicollis). Sequence analysis revealed that the Bartonella strains belonged to the Bartonella coopersplainsensis, Bartonella tribocorum, and Bartonella taylorii genogroups. Rickettsia DNA was detected in H. affinis and P. serrata collected from A. agrarius. Sequence analysis revealed two Rickettsia species: Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia sp. The results of the study confirm the presence of Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. in lice collected from rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michal Stanko
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jana Fričová
- Department of Vector-Borne Diseases, Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic
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González-Barrio D, Jado I, Viñuela J, García JT, Olea PP, Arce F, Ruiz-Fons F. Investigating the Role of Micromammals in the Ecology of Coxiella burnetii in Spain. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:654. [PMID: 33801164 PMCID: PMC8000606 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis, is a zoonotic infectious bacterium with a complex ecology that results from its ability to replicate in multiple (in)vertebrate host species. Spain notifies the highest number of Q fever cases to the ECDC annually and wildlife plays a relevant role in C. burnetii ecology in the country. However, the whole picture of C. burnetii hosts is incomplete, so this study seeks to better understand the role of micromammals in C. burnetii ecology in the country. Spleen samples from 816 micromammals of 10 species and 130 vaginal swabs from Microtus arvalis were analysed by qPCR to detect C. burnetii infection and shedding, respectively. The 9.7% of the spleen samples were qPCR positive. The highest infection prevalence (10.8%) was found in Microtus arvalis, in which C. burnetii DNA was also detected in 1 of the 130 vaginal swabs (0.8%) analysed. Positive samples were also found in Apodemus sylvaticus (8.7%), Crocidura russula (7.7%) and Rattus rattus (6.4%). Positive samples were genotyped by coupling PCR with reverse line blotting and a genotype II+ strain was identified for the first time in one of the positive samples from M. arvalis, whereas only partial results could be obtained for the rest of the samples. Acute Q fever was diagnosed in one of the researchers that participated in the study, and it was presumably linked to M. arvalis handling. The results of the study are consistent with previous findings suggesting that micromammals can be infected by C. burnetii. Our findings additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis cases in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- David González-Barrio
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
- Viral Hepatitis Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Isabel Jado
- Special Pathogens Reference and Research Laboratory, Spanish National Centre for Microbiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km 2, Majadahonda, 28220 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Viñuela
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
| | - Jesús T. García
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
| | - Pedro P. Olea
- Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Arce
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia;
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo 12, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; (J.V.); (J.T.G.)
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Vikentjeva M, Geller J, Remm J, Golovljova I. Rickettsia spp. in rodent-attached ticks in Estonia and first evidence of spotted fever group Rickettsia species Candidatus Rickettsia uralica in Europe. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:65. [PMID: 33472659 PMCID: PMC7818765 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04564-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsia spp. are human pathogens that cause a number of diseases and are transmitted by arthropods, such as ixodid ticks. Estonia is one of few regions where the distribution area of two medically important tick species, Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus, overlaps. The nidicolous rodent-associated Ixodes trianguliceps has also recently been shown to be present in Estonia. Although no data are available on human disease(s) caused by tick-borne Rickettsia spp. in Estonia, the presence of three Rickettsia species in non-nidicolous ticks has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to detect, identify and partially characterize Rickettsia species in nidicolous and non-nidicolous ticks attached to rodents in Estonia. RESULTS Larvae and nymphs of I. ricinus (n = 1004), I. persulcatus (n = 75) and I. trianguliceps (n = 117), all removed from rodents and shrews caught in different parts of Estonia, were studied for the presence of Rickettsia spp. by nested PCR. Ticks were collected from 314 small animals of five species [Myodes glareolus (bank voles), Apodemus flavicollis (yellow necked mice), A. agrarius (striped field mice), Microtus subterranius (pine voles) and Sorex araneus (common shrews)]. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 8.7% (103/1186) of the studied ticks. In addition to identifying R. helvetica, which had been previously found in questing ticks, we report here the first time that the recently described I. trianguliceps-associated Candidatus Rickettsia uralica has been identified west of the Ural Mountains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vikentjeva
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia. .,Department of Gene Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Julia Geller
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Remm
- Department of Zoology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Irina Golovljova
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.,Tallinn Children's Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia
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Pathogenic microorganisms in ticks removed from Slovakian residents over the years 2008-2018. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101626. [PMID: 33385938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A total of 750 ticks feeding on humans were collected during the years 2008-2018. The majority of ticks (94.8 %) came from Slovakia, with 3.5 % from the Czech Republic, 0.9 % from Austria, and 0.3 % from Hungary. Travellers from Ukraine, Croatia, France, and Cuba also brought one tick from each of these countries. The majority of the analysed ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus (94.3 %). Dermacentor reticulatus (0.93 %), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.1 %), Haemaphysalis sp. (0.1 %), Ixodes arboricola (0.1 %), and Rhipicephalus sp. (0.1 %) were also encountered. The most frequently found stage of I. ricinus was the nymph (69.9 %) followed by adult females (20.4 %) and larvae (8.3 %). Ticks were predominantly found on children younger than 10 years (46.3 %) and adults between 30-39 years (21.4 %). In children younger than 10 years, the ticks were usually found on the head, while in other age categories, the ticks were predominantly attached to legs. Ticks were further individually analysed for the presence of Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. The overall prevalences of tick-borne bacteria assessed in I. ricinus ticks acquired in Slovakia were: rickettsiae 25.0 % (95 % CI: 21.7-28.2), B. burgdorferi s.l. 20.5 % (95 % CI: 17.4-23.5), A. phagocytophilum 13.5 % (95 % CI: 10.9-16.0), Babesia spp. 5.2 % (95 % CI: 3.5-6.9), C. burnetii 3.0 % (95 % CI: 1.5-4.6), and N. mikurensis 4.4 % (95 % CI: 2.0-6.8). Pathogenic species Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia valaisiana, Babesia microti, and Babesia divergens were identified in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus ticks.
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Špitalská E, Kraljik J, Miklisová D, Boldišová E, Sparagano OAE, Stanko M. Circulation of Rickettsia species and rickettsial endosymbionts among small mammals and their ectoparasites in Eastern Slovakia. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2047-2057. [PMID: 32382991 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are known as causative agents of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, such as spotted fevers, epidemic typhus and endemic typhus. Different species of ticks, mites and fleas could act as reservoirs and arthropod vectors of different pathogenic Rickettsia species. The aim of this work was to establish active surveillance of Rickettsia spp. in mites, ticks and fleas collected from small mammals (rodents and shrews) in Eastern Slovakia. A total of 964 animal ear biopsies, 871 mites, 667 ticks and 743 fleas were collected from small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia. All specimens were identified using specialized taxonomic keys, and were conserved in ethanol until DNA extraction was performed. After DNA extraction, identification of Rickettsia species was performed by PCR-based methods. The total prevalence of rickettsiae from ear biopsies was 4.6% (95% CI, 3.2-5.9), in tested mites 9.3% (95% CI, 7.4-11.2), 17.2% (95% CI, 14.3-20.1) in I. ricinus ticks and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.2-4.8) in fleas. Sequence analysis of the partial gltA gene and Rickettsia helvetica-, Rickettsia slovaca-, Rickettsia raoultii- species specific real-time PCR tests revealed the presence of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts. These pathogenic and symbiotic species were confirmed in the following ectoparasite species-Laelaps jettmari, Haemogamasus nidi, Laelaps agilis and Eulaelaps stabularis mites, Ixodes ricinus ticks, Ctenophthalmus solutus, C. assimilis and Megabothris turbidus fleas infesting host-Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus small mammals. These results confirm the circulation of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts in mites, ticks and fleas collected on small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Dana Miklisová
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Boldišová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Olivier A E Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
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Heglasová I, Víchová B, Stanko M. Detection of Rickettsia spp. in Fleas Collected from Small Mammals in Slovakia, Central Europe. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:652-656. [PMID: 32366189 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This survey is aimed at investigation of species composition of fleas removed from small terrestrial mammals captured in rural, suburban, and urban types of habitat and molecular screening of the presence and diversity of Rickettsia species in collected ectoparasites. In total, 279 fleas (Siphonaptera) belonging to 9 species of 2 families, Ceratophyllidae and Hystrichopsyllidae, were collected from 115 (46%) out of 250 trapped small mammals of eight species (Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, Crocidura leucodon, and Sorex minutus). Rickettsia spp. were found in 2.5% (7/279) of tested fleas, namely in Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ctenophthalmus solutus, Ctenophthalmus uncinatus, Megabothris turbidus, and Amalareus penicilliger. Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia helvetica, and unidentified Rickettsia species were detected in fleas infesting small mammals in Eastern Slovakia. The results of the study suggest that some species of rickettsiae have a different range of arthropod vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Heglasová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia.,Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Pedersen BN, Jenkins A, Kjelland V. Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from migratory birds in southern Norway. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230579. [PMID: 32271774 PMCID: PMC7145107 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Birds are important hosts for the first life stages of the Ixodes ricinus tick and they can transport their parasites over long distances. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Rickettsia helvetica in ticks collected from migratory birds in Norway. A total of 815 Ixodes ricinus ticks from 216 birds trapped at Lista Bird Observatory in southern Norway during spring and autumn migration in 2008 were analysed by real-time PCR. B. burgdorferi s. l. was the most prevalent pathogen, detected in 6.1% of the ticks. The prevalence of N. mikurensis, A. phagocytophilum and R. helvetica was 1.2%, 0.9% and 0.4% respectively. In addition, one sample (0.1%) was positive for B. miyamotoi. In total, 8.2% of the ticks were infected with at least one pathogen. Co-infection with B. burgdorferi s. l. and N. mikurensis or A. phagocytophilum was found in 6.0% of the infected ticks. Our results show that all the known major tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Norway are subject to transport by migratory birds, potentially allowing spread to new areas. Our study showed a surprisingly high number of samples with PCR inhibition (57%). These samples had been extracted using standard methodology (phenol-chloroform extraction). This illustrates the need for inhibition controls to determine true prevalence rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikte N. Pedersen
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Gullbringvegen, Norway
- * E-mail: (BNP); (AJ)
| | - Andrew Jenkins
- Department of Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Gullbringvegen, Norway
- * E-mail: (BNP); (AJ)
| | - Vivian Kjelland
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway
- Sørlandet Hospital Health Enterprise, Research Unit, Kristiansand, Norway
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Azagi T, Hoornstra D, Kremer K, Hovius JWR, Sprong H. Evaluation of Disease Causality of Rare Ixodes ricinus-Borne Infections in Europe. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9020150. [PMID: 32102367 PMCID: PMC7168666 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9020150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Europe, Ixodes ricinus ticks transmit pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). In addition, there is evidence for transmission to humans from I. ricinus of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens, Babesia microti, Babesia venatorum, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia monacensis. However, whether infection with these potential tick-borne pathogens results in human disease has not been fully demonstrated for all of these tick-borne microorganisms. To evaluate the available evidence for a causative relation between infection and disease, the current study analyses European case reports published from 2008 to 2018, supplemented with information derived from epidemiological and experimental studies. The evidence for human disease causality in Europe found in this review appeared to be strongest for A. phagocytophilum and B. divergens. Nonetheless, some knowledge gaps still exist. Importantly, comprehensive evidence for pathogenicity is lacking for the remaining tick-borne microorganisms. Such evidence could be gathered best through prospective studies, for example, studies enrolling patients with a fever after a tick bite, the development of specific new serological tools, isolation of these microorganisms from ticks and patients and propagation in vitro, and through experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Azagi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands; (K.K.); (H.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands; (D.H.); (J.W.R.H.)
| | - Kristin Kremer
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands; (K.K.); (H.S.)
| | - Joppe W. R. Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands; (D.H.); (J.W.R.H.)
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands; (K.K.); (H.S.)
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22
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Montes de Oca DP, Neyen Lammel M, Cavia R. Small-mammal assemblages in piggeries in a developing country: relationships with management practices and habitat complexity. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/wr19199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextPig production is increasing in developing countries and is increasing the coexistence of different production systems regarding management practices. Small mammals can cause major economic and sanitary problems on pig farms. The interactions among small mammals, production practices and habitat complexity have been sparsely studied.
AimsThe aim was to compare small-mammal assemblages on extensive and intensive pig-production systems, and to analyse the relationship with environmental characteristics and management practices.
MethodsSeasonal live-trapping of small mammals within 18 farms (under intensive or extensive management) was performed in central Argentina, simultaneously with a survey of environmental and management practices. Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the relation between infestation levels and environmental characteristics.
Key results In total, 472 small mammals were captured, including the exotic murids Rattus norvegicus, R. rattus and Mus musculus, three native sigmodontines, namely, Akodon azarae, Oligoryzomys flavescens and Oxymycterus rufus, and two native marsupials, namely, Didelphis albiventris and Lutreolina crassicaudata. The location of waste deposits, the density of cats, the frequency of rodent control and the way pig food was stored influenced wild small-mammal abundance; exotic rodent species were lower when the density of cats increased. Rattus norvegicus was more abundant where rodent control was not frequent or null, contrary to M. musculus. Both species were more abundant in food and pig sheds, whereas native species were associated with vegetated areas outside of sheds. Also, A. azarae was associated with the density of pigs. Didelphis albiventris was more abundant on extensive farms, whereas L. crassicaudata was captured on intensive farms.
Conclusions Small-mammal abundance did not respond to the type of production system per se, but exotic species abundance was influenced by management decisions. The most important human behaviours related to exotic rodent infestation were the possession of cats, the frequency of rodent control and the way waste and pig feed were managed.
Implications Our findings highlighted the need for integrated studies on factors influencing the dynamics of rodent populations in commercial piggery systems, for the development of effective pest management. Management recommendations need to assess environmental complexity and human behaviour as important moderators of the population dynamics of small mammal species in and around piggeries.
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Gunes T, Ataş M. The Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from the Northernmost Province (Sinop) of Turkey. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 20:171-176. [PMID: 31841657 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus is a potential vector for some of the tick-borne microorganisms that can cause significant diseases in animals and humans. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Bartonella, and Francisella species in host-seeking ticks collected from the forest areas in the Sinop region located in the northernmost part of Turkey. Between May and July 2017, a total of 135 tick pools formed from 2571 of the 2734 ticks collected out of the vegetation. Samples of each pool were homogenized and analyzed by PCR. Infection prevalence was statistically analyzed in view of the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). DNA of the infectious agents was determined only in the adult and nymph pools of I. ricinus. MLE values of Anaplasma spp. and Bartonella spp. in 58 pools formed from 517 of I. ricinus adults were 1.20% (95% CI: 0.50-2.49) and 0.80% (95% CI: 0.26-1.91), respectively. In 42 pools generated from 1222 of I. ricinus nymph, MLE values of infection prevalence for Anaplasma spp. and Bartonella spp. were calculated to be 0.17% (95% CI: 0.03-0.54) and 0.34% (95% CI: 0.11-0.82) in respective order. MLE values for Rickettsia spp. were 7.55% (95% CI: 5.21-10.69) and 0.52% (95% CI: 0.22-1.083) for the adult and nymph I. ricinus, respectively. The DNA of Francisella tularensis was not detected in any tick pool. The outcomes of this research are the first molecular evidence of Bartonella spp. and Bartonella henselae in questing I. ricinus in Turkey. The results also suggested that I. ricinus plays considerable roles in enzootic transmission cycles of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, B. henselae, and Rickettsia monacensis in the northernmost region of Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turabi Gunes
- Vocational School of Health (S.H.M.Y.O), Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Ataş
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cumhuriyet Universitesi, Sivas, Turkey
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Selmi R, Ben Said M, Ben Yahia H, Abdelaali H, Messadi L. Molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of spotted fever group Rickettsia in camels (Camelus dromedarius) and their infesting ticks from Tunisia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 67:733-744. [PMID: 31626722 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia species are adapted to a wide range of specific animal hosts. Camels (Camelus dromedarius) have been identified as a carrier of various zoonotic pathogens and became a focus of growing public health interest. This study reported the occurrence of rickettsial infection in camels and infesting ticks from five Tunisian governorates. Based on ompB PCR, eight out of 293 camels (2.7%) were found to be infected with Rickettsia spp. Furthermore, 13 tick specimens of Hyalomma impeltatum (10.4%) and 9 of H. dromedarii (8.0%) harboured DNA of Rickettsia bacteria with an overall prevalence rate of 9.2% (22/237). Molecular prevalence of Rickettsia infection varied significantly according to tick infestation for camels and among tick genders. Five rickettsial species, showing a potential public health interest, were revealed by sequencing. Based on ompB partial sequences, five species were identified corresponding to R. aeschlimannii, R. monacensis, R. helvetica and R. massiliae in camels and to R. africae, R. aeschlimannii, R. monacensis and R. helvetica in ticks. Based on ompA typing, three species were revealed corresponding to R. africae and R. monacensis in camels and to R. africae, R. aeschlimannii and R. monacensis in ticks. This is the first report consolidating the hypothesis that camels may serve as potential hosts for Rickettsia spp. and Hyalomma spp. ticks as possible vectors in arid and Saharan areas of Tunisia. The present data highlight the importance of preventive measures and survey that must be implemented in camel herds in order to limit the spread of these vector-borne bacteria to animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachid Selmi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Université de la Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.,Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisia.,Institut National Agronomique de Tunis, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Ben Said
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Université de la Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Houcine Ben Yahia
- Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hedi Abdelaali
- Ministère de la Défense Nationale, Direction Générale de la Santé Militaire, Service Vétérinaire, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Lilia Messadi
- Service de Microbiologie et Immunologie, Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Université de la Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia
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Cumbie AN, Walters EL, Gaff HD, Hynes WL. First report of Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii in Ixodes brunneus from the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101309. [PMID: 31591070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii is a novel rickettsial species recently identified in Ixodes ricinus. In this study, Ixodes brunneus collected from wild birds (n = 77 ticks) or vegetation (n = 4 ticks) in southeastern Virginia were surveyed for rickettsial agents. Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii was confirmed in I. brunneus through sequencing of the gltA and 16S rRNA genes. This is the first report of this rickettsial species in Ixodes ticks in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Cumbie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Eric L Walters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Holly D Gaff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Wayne L Hynes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.
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26
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Weather influences M. arvalis reproduction but not population dynamics in a 17-year time series. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13942. [PMID: 31558762 PMCID: PMC6763496 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50438-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent outbreaks have plagued European agriculture for centuries, but continue to elude comprehensive explanation. Modelling and empirical work in some cyclic rodent systems suggests that changes in reproductive parameters are partly responsible for observed population dynamics. Using a 17-year time series of Microtus arvalis population abundance and demographic data, we explored the relationship between meteorological conditions (temperature and rainfall), female reproductive activity, and population growth rates in a non-cyclic population of this grassland vole species. We found strong but complex relationships between female reproduction and climate variables, with spring female reproduction depressed after cold winters. Population growth rates were, however, uncorrelated with either weather conditions (current and up to three months prior) or with female reproduction (number of foetuses per female and/or proportion of females reproductively active in the population). These results, coupled with age-structure data, suggest that mortality, via predation, disease, or a combination of the two, are responsible for the large multi-annual but non-cyclic population dynamics observed in this population of the common vole.
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Zhang YK, Yu ZJ, Wang D, Bronislava V, Branislav P, Liu JZ. The bacterial microbiome of field-collected Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus from Slovakia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:325. [PMID: 31248443 PMCID: PMC6598266 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3582-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The important roles of microbial flora in tick biology and ecology have received much attention. Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus are known vectors of various pathogens across Europe, including Slovakia. However, their bacterial microbiomes are poorly explored. Methods In this study, bacterial microbiomes of field-collected D. marginatus and D. reticulatus from Slovakia were characterized using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results Different analyses demonstrated that the D. marginatus and D. reticulatus microbiomes differ in their diversity and taxonomic structures. Furthermore, species- and sex-specific bacteria were detected in the two species. A possible bacterial pathogen “Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia sp.” was detected from D. marginatus males. Among the observed bacteria, Rickettsia showed high abundance in the two species. Several maternally inherited bacteria such as Coxiella, Arsenophonus, Spiroplasma, Francisella and Rickettsiella, were abundant, and their relative abundance varied depending on tick species and sex, suggesting their biological roles in the two species. Conclusions The bacterial microbiomes of field-collected D. marginatus and D. reticulatus were shaped by tick phylogeny and sex. Maternally inherited bacteria were abundant in the two species. These findings are valuable for understanding tick-bacteria interactions, biology and vector competence of ticks. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3582-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Kai Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Yu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China
| | - Duo Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China
| | - Víchová Bronislava
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Peťko Branislav
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 04001, Kosice, Slovak Republic.,University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice, 04185, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jing-Ze Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, Hebei, China.
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28
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Moonga LC, Hayashida K, Nakao R, Lisulo M, Kaneko C, Nakamura I, Eshita Y, Mweene AS, Namangala B, Sugimoto C, Yamagishi J. Molecular detection of Rickettsia felis in dogs, rodents and cat fleas in Zambia. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:168. [PMID: 30975188 PMCID: PMC6460736 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Flea-borne spotted fever is a zoonosis caused by Rickettsia felis, a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium. The disease has a worldwide distribution including western and eastern sub-Saharan Africa where it is associated with febrile illness in humans. However, epidemiology and the public health risks it poses remain neglected especially in developing countries including Zambia. While Ctenocephalides felis (cat fleas) has been suggested to be the main vector, other arthropods including mosquitoes have been implicated in transmission and maintenance of the pathogen; however, their role in the epidemiological cycle remains to be elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study was to detect and characterize R. felis from animal hosts and blood-sucking arthropod vectors in Zambia. Methods Dog blood and rodent tissue samples as well as cat fleas and mosquitoes were collected from various areas in Zambia. DNA was extracted and screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting genus Rickettsia and amplicons subjected to sequence analysis. Positive samples were further subjected to R. felis-specific real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Results Rickettsia felis was detected in 4.7% (7/150) of dog blood samples and in 11.3% (12/106) of rodent tissue samples tested by PCR; this species was also detected in 3.7% (2/53) of cat fleas infesting dogs, co-infected with Rickettsia asembonensis. Furthermore, 37.7% (20/53) of cat flea samples tested positive for R. asembonensis, a member of spotted fever group rickettsiae of unknown pathogenicity. All the mosquitoes tested (n = 190 pools) were negative for Rickettsia spp. Conclusions These observations suggest that R. felis is circulating among domestic dogs and cat fleas as well as rodents in Zambia, posing a potential public health risk to humans. This is because R. felis, a known human pathogen is present in hosts and vectors sharing habitat with humans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3435-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavel Chinyama Moonga
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Kyoko Hayashida
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0818, Japan
| | - Malimba Lisulo
- The University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, 1 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Chiho Kaneko
- Project for Zoonoses Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, 1-1, Gakuen-kibanadai-nishi, Miyazaki, 889-2192, Japan
| | - Ichiro Nakamura
- Unit of International Cooperation, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Yuki Eshita
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan
| | - Aaron S Mweene
- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P. O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.,African Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Human and Animals, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Boniface Namangala
- Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia.,African Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases of Human and Animals, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chihiro Sugimoto
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan.,Global Station for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Division of Collaboration and Education, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Kita 20, Nishi 10, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0020, Japan. .,Global Station for Zoonosis Control, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
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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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30
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Molecular evidence and diversity of the spotted-fever group Rickettsia spp. in small mammals from natural, suburban and urban areas of Eastern Slovakia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1400-1406. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Radzijevskaja J, Kaminskienė E, Lipatova I, Mardosaitė-Busaitienė D, Balčiauskas L, Stanko M, Paulauskas A. Prevalence and diversity of Rickettsia species in ectoparasites collected from small rodents in Lithuania. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:375. [PMID: 29954410 PMCID: PMC6025725 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2947-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsiae are emerging pathogens causing public health problems in many countries around the world. Rickettsia spp. are found in association with a wide range of arthropods which feed on different species of animals. However, the distribution and natural cycle of Rickettsia species and their association with different arthropod vectors are not fully established. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks, mites and fleas parasitizing different species of small mammals in Lithuania and to molecularly characterize the Rickettsia spp. obtained from different ectoparasites. RESULTS A total of 1261 ectoparasites (596 Ixodes ricinus ticks, 550 mites of five species and 115 fleas of eight species) collected from 238 rodents in Lithuania during 2013-2014 were investigated for the presence of Rickettsia pathogens. Infection rates were calculated as the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The infection rate varied among ectoparasites and was found highest in fleas 43.5%, followed by I. ricinus ticks (MLE = 26.5%; 95% CI: 22.2-31.3%) and then mites (MLE = 9.3%; 95% CI: 7.0-12.2%). Sequence analysis of partial gltA and 17kDa genes revealed the presence of Rickettsia helvetica, R. felis, R. monacensis, Rickettsia sp. and rickettsial endosymbionts. Four Rickettsia spp. were identified in fleas, while three Rickettsia spp. were identified in Laelapidae mites and only one (R. helvetica) in I. ricinus ticks. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in 11 species of ectoparasites of small rodents in Lithuania. The present data extend the knowledge on the distribution of Rickettsia spp. and their association with different arthropod vectors. Prior to our study, R. felis had never been identified in Lithuania. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of R. felis in L. agilis and H. microti mites and in Ct. agyrtes and H. talpae fleas, as well as the first detection of R. monacensis in Ct. agyrtes fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Radzijevskaja
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Evelina Kaminskienė
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Indrė Lipatova
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | | | - Linas Balčiauskas
- Laboratory of Mammalian Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos st. 2, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology and Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04000 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Vileikos 8, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania
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Špitalská E, Sparagano O, Stanko M, Schwarzová K, Špitalský Z, Škultéty Ľ, Havlíková SF. Diversity of Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, and Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii as pathogens in the tick populations of Slovakia, Central Europe. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1207-1211. [PMID: 29748120 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms was evaluated by PCR in 605 individuals and by randomly sequencing 66 samples. Four species of rickettsiae (R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. helvetica and R. monacensis) were identified and reported with an overall prevalence range between 0.4 and 50.3% (±8.0) depending on tick species, sex and locality. Partial sequencing of the gltA gene of 5 chosen samples in H. inermis showed 99% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia hungarica. The total prevalence of C. burnetii in ticks was 2.2 ± 1.7%; bacteria were confirmed in I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks. The sequences from 2 D. reticulatus males and 1 I. ricinus female ticks were compared to GenBank submissions and a 99.8% match was obtained with the pathogenic C. burnetii. Coxiella-like endosymbionts were registered in all three species of ticks from all studied sites with an average prevalence of 32.7 ± 3.7%. A phylogenetic analysis of this Coxiella sp. showed that it does not group with the pathogenic C. burnetii. The prevalence of Francisella-like microorganisms in questing ticks was 47.9 ± 3.9%, however H. inermis (n = 108) were not infested. Obtained sequences were 98% identical with previously identified Francisella-like endosymbionts in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms were identified for the first time in Slovakia, they might be considered as a non-pathogenic endosymbiont of I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. inermis, and future investigations could aim to assess their role in these ticks. However, this work provided further data and broadened our knowledge on bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts present in ticks in Slovakia to help understanding co-infestations, combined treatments and public health issues linked to tick bites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Olivier Sparagano
- Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Vice-Chancellor Office, Coventry University, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Schwarzová
- Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Comenius University and University Hospital, Sasinkova 4, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zdenko Špitalský
- Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 41 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľudovít Škultéty
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Sabína Fumačová Havlíková
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovakia
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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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Mardosaitė-Busaitienė D, Radzijevskaja J, Balčiauskas L, Paulauskas A. First detection of Rickettsia helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania. New Microbes New Infect 2018; 22:19-23. [PMID: 29556404 PMCID: PMC5857161 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 489 small mammals belonging to seven species captured in Lithuania during 2013–2014 were investigated for Rickettsia pathogens. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was 27.6%, with a higher prevalence detected in Micromys minutus (45.9%), followed by Apodemus flavicollis (29.4%), Sorex araneus (25%) and Myodes glareolus (23.7%). Sequence analysis of the gltA gene and the 17 kDa protein coding gene revealed the presence Rickettsia helvetica. This study demonstrates not only the first reported presence of R. helvetica in small mammals in Lithuania but also the first report of R. helvetica in M. minutus more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Radzijevskaja
- Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Biology, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - L Balčiauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Laboratory of Mammalian Ecology, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - A Paulauskas
- Vytautas Magnus University, Department of Biology, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Špitalská E, Minichová L, Kocianová E, Škultéty Ľ, Mahríková L, Hamšíková Z, Slovák M, Kazimírová M. Diversity and prevalence of Bartonella species in small mammals from Slovakia, Central Europe. Parasitol Res 2017; 116:3087-3095. [PMID: 28975409 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5620-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Wild-living rodents are important hosts for zoonotic pathogens. Bartonella infections are widespread in rodents; however, in Slovakia, knowledge on the prevalence of these bacteria in small mammals is limited. We investigated the prevalence and diversity of Bartonella species in the spleens of 640 rodents of six species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus subterraneus, and Micromys minutus) and in the European mole (Talpa europaea) from three different habitat types in south-western and central Slovakia. Overall, the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in rodents was 64.8%; a rate of 73.8% was found in natural habitat (deciduous forest), 56.0% in suburban forest park and 64.9% in rural habitat. Bartonella spp. were detected in 63.0% of A. flavicollis, 69% of My. glareolus and 61.1% of M. arvalis and in T. europaea. However, Bartonella were not found in the other examined rodents. Molecular analyses of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region revealed the presence of four different Bartonella spp. clusters. We identified B. taylorii, B. rochalimae, B. elizabethae, B. grahamii and Bartonella sp. wbs11 in A. flavicollis and My. glareolus. Bartonella genotypes ascribed to B. taylorii and B. rochalimae were found in M. arvalis. B. taylorii was identified in T. europaea. Questing Ixodes ricinus ticks that were collected at the study sites were not infected with Bartonella. This study improves our understanding of the ecoepidemiology of Bartonella spp. in Europe and underlines the necessity for further research on Bartonella-host-vector associations and their consequences on animal and human health in Slovakia.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Elena Kocianová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ľudovít Škultéty
- 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
| | - Zuzana Hamšíková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mirko Slovák
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Gajda E, Hildebrand J, Sprong H, Buńkowska-Gawlik K, Perec-Matysiak A, Coipan EC. Spotted fever rickettsiae in wild-living rodents from south-western Poland. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:413. [PMID: 28874204 PMCID: PMC5585920 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2356-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rickettsiae are obligate intracellular alpha-proteobacteria. They are transmitted via arthropod vectors, which transmit the bacteria between animals and occasionally to humans. So far, much research has been conducted to indicate reservoir hosts for these microorganisms, but our knowledge is still non-exhaustive. Therefore, this survey was undertaken to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. in wild-living small rodents from south-western Poland. RESULTS In total, 337 samples (193 from spleen and 144 from blood) obtained from 193 wild-living rodents: Apodemus agrarius, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus were tested by qPCR for Rickettsia spp. based on a fragment of gltA gene. The prevalence of infection was 17.6% (34/193). Subsequently, the positive samples were analysed by conventional PCR targeting the gltA gene fragment. The genus Rickettsia was confirmed by sequence analysis in four samples from the blood. In two blood samples from A. agrarius, the identified pathogen was Rickettsia helvetica. The Rickettsia obtained from A. flavicollis was assigned to Rickettsia felis-like organisms group. One isolate from A. agrarius could be determined only to the genus level. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the presence of Rickettsia DNA in tissues of wild-living rodents, suggesting some potential role of these animals in temporarily maintaining and spreading the bacteria in enzootic cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Gajda
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Joanna Hildebrand
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Katarzyna Buńkowska-Gawlik
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Perec-Matysiak
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Przybyszewskiego 63/77 Str, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Elena Claudia Coipan
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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