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Omeragić J, Kapo N, Goletić Š, Softić A, Terzić I, Šabić E, Škapur V, Klarić Soldo D, Goletić T. Investigation of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodes Ticks from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2190. [PMID: 39123716 PMCID: PMC11311058 DOI: 10.3390/ani14152190] [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: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Limited information is available regarding the presence of tick-borne pathogens and their distribution within Ixodes species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study aimed to identify Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in Ixodes ticks collected from domestic and wild animals and vegetation in different regions across Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 7438 adult ticks, including 4526 Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes canisuga, and Ixodes hexagonus, were collected. Real-time PCR screening of 450 pooled I. ricinus samples revealed a 22.1% infection rate with at least one pathogen. Rickettsia spp. (6.3%) were found in ticks from dogs, cats, and goats, Babesia spp. (3.1%) in ticks from dogs and cattle, A. phagocytophilum (8.8%) in ticks from dogs, goats, and cattle, and B. burgdorferi s.l. (3.4%) in ticks from dogs and cats. Mixed infections with B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum, as well as B. burgdorferi s.l. and Rickettsia spp., were found in two pools of I. ricinus from dogs and cats, respectively. Additionally, co-infection with Rickettsia spp. and A. phagocytophilum was confirmed in three tick pools from dogs and goats. Each tick from these pooled samples was individually retested to confirm the presence of pathogens. In the examined pooled samples of I. canisuga (1) and I. hexagonus (6), none of the tested pathogens were detected. Our findings represent the first detection of Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., A. phagocytophilum, and B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus collected from domestic animals and vegetation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Considering the established infection rates, the detection of tick-borne pathogens in adult ticks collected from domestic animals and vegetation enriches the current knowledge of the presence of tick-borne pathogens at the local, regional, national, and broader levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Omeragić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Naida Kapo
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Šejla Goletić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Adis Softić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Ilma Terzić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Emina Šabić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Vedad Škapur
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Darinka Klarić Soldo
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
| | - Teufik Goletić
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (J.O.); (Š.G.); (A.S.); (I.T.); (E.Š.); (D.K.S.); (T.G.)
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Peňazziová KL, Chitimia-Dobler L, Csank T, Peťko B, Ondrejková A, Halán M, Schusterová P, Pivka S, Korytár Ľ. First detection and a new avian host of the tick Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, in Slovakia. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:268. [PMID: 38992328 PMCID: PMC11239605 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
This study describes the first detection of Ixodes ventalloi in Slovakia. Two engorged females of I. ventalloi were collected from Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) captured in eastern Slovakia. The identification of females was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA gene features. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a classification of the females into distinct genogroups. Moreover, comparative morphological analysis highlighted variations between the two females, particularly in the curvature of the auriculae, the shape of coxa I, and the internal spur. These findings suggest the potential for varied phenotypes of I. ventalloi correlated with their genogroups. Nonetheless, I. ventalloi population establishment within Slovakia necessitates further investigation through flagging or drag sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarína Loziaková Peňazziová
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute of Immunology, Infection and Pandemic Research, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Tomáš Csank
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Peťko
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Anna Ondrejková
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Miloš Halán
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Petra Schusterová
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Soňa Pivka
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ľuboš Korytár
- Department of Epizootiology, Parasitology and Protection of One Health, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81, Košice, Slovakia.
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Krumpálová Z, Mangová B, Purgatová S, Didyk YM, Kazimírová M. Molecular characterisation of three Ixodes ( Pholeoixodes) species (Ixodida, Ixodidae) and the first record of Ixodes ( Pholeoixodes) kaiseri from Slovakia. Zookeys 2023; 1158:147-162. [PMID: 37215694 PMCID: PMC10193145 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1158.101936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A study of ticks on wildlife was carried out in the area of Levice, Bratislava, Stupava, and Vrbovce (south-western Slovakia) during 2021 and 2022. Overall, 512 ticks were collected from 51 individuals of six wild mammalian species. Eight tick species were identified, namely Dermacentorreticulatus, D.marginatus, Haemaphysalisinermis, H.concinna, Ixodesricinus, I.hexagonus, and two Ixodes spp. Ixodeshexagonus were collected from northern white-breasted hedgehogs (Erinaceusroumanicus), females belonging to Ixodes spp. were collected from red fox (Vulpesvulpes) and nymphs from European badger (Melesmeles). Ixodeshexagonus and the Ixodes spp. were identified morphologically and molecularly based on sequences of fragments of two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S rRNA. Molecular analysis of Ixodes spp. confirmed the identity of Ixodeskaiseri Arthur, 1957 and I.canisuga (Johnston, 1849). Sequence analyses show that the I.kaiseri isolate from Slovakia is identical to I.kaiseri isolates from Romania, Poland, Germany, Turkey, and Croatia. We demonstrate for the first time the presence of I.kaiseri in Slovakia using both morphological and molecular methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Krumpálová
- Constantine the Philosopher University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, Nitra, SlovakiaConstantine the Philosopher UniversityNitraSlovakia
| | - Barbara Mangová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of SciencesBratislavaSlovakia
| | - Slávka Purgatová
- Constantine the Philosopher University, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Informatics, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, Nitra, SlovakiaConstantine the Philosopher UniversityNitraSlovakia
| | - Yuliya M. Didyk
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of SciencesBratislavaSlovakia
- I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Vul. B. Khmelnytskogo 15, Kyiv, UkraineI.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of UkraineKyivUkraine
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava, SlovakiaInstitute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of SciencesBratislavaSlovakia
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Uiterwijk M, Vojta L, Šprem N, Beck A, Jurković D, Kik M, Duscher GG, Hodžić A, Reljić S, Sprong H, Beck R. Diversity of Hepatozoon species in wild mammals and ticks in Europe. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:27. [PMID: 36694253 PMCID: PMC9872412 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05626-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatozoon spp. are tick-borne parasites causing subclinical to clinical disease in wild and domestic animals. Aim of this study was to determine Hepatozoon prevalence and species distribution among wild mammals and ticks in Europe. METHODS Samples of wild mammals and ticks, originating from Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Belgium and the Netherlands, were tested with PCR to amplify a ~ 670-bp fragment of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. RESULTS Of the 2801 mammal samples that were used for this study, 370 (13.2%) tested positive. Hepatozoon canis was detected in samples of 178 animals (3 Artiodactyla, 173 Carnivora, 1 Eulipotyphia, 1 Lagomorpha), H. martis in 125 (3 Artiodactyla, 122 Carnivora), H. sciuri in 13 (all Rodentia), Hepatozoon sp. in 47 (among which Hepatozoon sp. Vole isolate, all Rodentia) and H. ayorgbor in 4 (all Rodentia). Regarding origin, 2.9% (6/208) tested positive from Austria, 2.8% (1/36) from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 14.6% (173/1186) from Croatia and 13.9% (190/1371) from Belgium/the Netherlands. Of the 754 ticks collected, 0.0% (0/35) Hyalomma sp., 16.0% (4/25) Dermacentor spp., 0.0% (0/23) Haemaphysalis spp., 5.3% (24/50) Ixodes and 1.4% (3/221) Rhipicephalus spp. tested positive for Hepatozoon (4.2%; 32/754), most often H. canis (n = 22). CONCLUSIONS Hepatozoon canis is most present in mammals (especially in Carnivora such as gray wolves and golden jackals) and ticks, followed by H. martis, which was found merely in stone martens and pine martens. None of the rodent-associated Hepatozoon spp. were detected in the ticks, suggesting the possible implication of other arthropod species or non-vectorial routes in the transmission cycle of the hemoprotozoans in rodents. Our findings of H. canis in ticks other than R. sanguineus add to the observation that other ticks are also involved in the life cycle of Hepatozoon. Now that presence of Hepatozoon has been demonstrated in red foxes, gray wolves, mustelids and rodents from the Netherlands and/or Belgium, veterinary clinicians should be aware of the possibility of spill-over to domestic animals, such as dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Uiterwijk
- Centre for Monitoring of Vectors (CMV), Netherlands Institute for Vectors, Invasive plants and Plant health (NIVIP), Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lea Vojta
- Division of Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikica Šprem
- Department of Fisheries, Apiculture, Wildlife Management and Special Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Beck
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Daria Jurković
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marja Kik
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Georg G. Duscher
- Austrian Agency for Health & Food Safety (AGES), Vienna, Austria
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental System Science (CMESS), Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology (DoME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Slaven Reljić
- Department of Forensic and State Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre of Infectious Disease Control of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Cib-RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Relja Beck
- Laboratory for Parasitology, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
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Lesiczka PM, Rudenko N, Golovchenko M, Juránková J, Daněk O, Modrý D, Hrazdilová K. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) play an important role in the propagation of tick-borne pathogens. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102076. [PMID: 36345066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most widespread free-living carnivore in the world. Over the years, foxes have been recognized as hosts for a number of tick-borne pathogens. However, their role as reservoirs for zoonotic tick-borne diseases is poorly understood. The aim of our study was to investigate tick-borne pathogens in the red fox population in the Czech Republic. Out of 117 red foxes, 110 (94.02%) individuals tested positive for the presence of at least one pathogen by the combined PCR and sequencing approach. Hepatozoon canis was the most frequently detected pathogen (n = 95; 81.2%), followed by Babesia vulpes (n = 75; 64.1%). Babesia canis was not detected in our study. Four (3.42%) red foxes were positive for Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp., 3 (2.56%) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and one red fox (0.85%) tested positive for the presence of Ehrlichia sp. DNA. Overall, DNA of spirochetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex was detected in 8.6% of the foxes and B. miyamotoi in 5.12% of the samples. As a carnivore found in all ecosystems of Central Europe, foxes obviously contribute to transmission of tick-borne pathogens such as A. phagocytophilum, B. burgdorferi s.l., and B. myiamotoi. In addition, foxes apparently harbour a community of pathogens, associated with this host in local ecological context, dominated by H. canis and B. vulpes (possibly also Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp.). These species have the potential to spread to the domestic dog population and should be included in the differential diagnosis of febrile diseases with hematologic abnormalities in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Maria Lesiczka
- Department of Veterinary Sciences/CINeZ, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague, Czech Republic; CEITEC VETUNI, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natalia Rudenko
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Maryna Golovchenko
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juránková
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Daněk
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Modrý
- Department of Veterinary Sciences/CINeZ, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Prague, Czech Republic; Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Hrazdilová
- Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Biomedical Center, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, Plzeň, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University, Zemědělská 1665/1, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Wodecka B, Michalik J, Grochowalska R. Red Foxes ( Vulpes vulpes) Are Exposed to High Diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Species Infecting Fox-Derived Ixodes Ticks in West-Central Poland. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11060696. [PMID: 35745549 PMCID: PMC9229790 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11060696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and its associated ticks in maintaining Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) was studied. A total of 1583 ticks were removed from ears of 120 infested animals and were identified as species using a nested PCR targeting the ITS2 and coxI fragments of Ixodes DNA. Ixodes kaiseri prevailed (76%), followed by I. canisuga, I. ricinus, and I. hexagonus. In total, 32.4% of 943 ticks revealed Borrelia DNA and 10 species of B. burgdorferi s.l. complex were identified. Borrelia garinii and B. afzelii comprised 70% of all infections. The other eight species included B. americana, B. bissettiae, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. californiensis, B. carolinensis, B. lanei, B. spielmanii, and B. valaisiana. Analysis of tissues from 243 foxes showed that 23.5% were infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. Borrelia garinii was detected in 91% of the infected animals, including 31% of mixed infections with B. afzelii, the second most prevalent species, followed by B. spielmanii. The predominance of B. garinii in PCR-positive animals and infected larval ticks (38.1%), suggests that this spirochete and B. afzelii are preferentially associated with foxes. Although red foxes are exposed to a high diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. species found in engorged Ixodes ticks, their reservoir competence for most of them appears to be low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beata Wodecka
- Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Jerzy Michalik
- Department of Animal Morphology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, 61-712 Poznań, Poland;
| | - Renata Grochowalska
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland;
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Karbowiak G. Changes in the occurrence range of hosts cause the expansion of the ornate dog tick Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794) in Poland. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00945-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries brought changes in the range of many pathogens and their vectors. An example is the Dermacentor reticulatus tick. So far, relatively not numerous, their range of occurrence was divided into two areas—western European and eastern. An increase in the number and spread of this tick has been observed since the 1990s. Possible causes may be changes in the average summer and winter temperature in Europe and changes in the structure and use of agricultural land and forest areas. Changes in the distribution and abundance of mammals which are the main hosts of adult ticks, such as elk Alces alces, red deer Cervus elaphus, raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and the red fox Vulpes vulpes, may be important factors as well. Increase in the size of the hosts populations correlates with the subsequent increase in numbers and the emergence of new tick populations. The food base of adult ornate dog ticks is a large herbivorous mammal population. Predatory mammals can support the expansion of the ticks. The expansion of the raccoon dog in the west correlates with the emergence of new D. reticulatus populations west to the previous border of the eastern range of their occurrence. The intrusion of foxes into inhabited areas may be a synanthropic factor that supports the rise of new tick populations in urban agglomerations.
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Stanko M, Derdáková M, Špitalská E, Kazimírová M. 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] [Grants] [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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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Stanko
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Markéta Derdáková
- 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, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Prevalence of Babesia canis DNA in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in forest and urban ecosystems in west-central Poland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101786. [PMID: 34280697 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Babesia canis, a widely distributed European tick-borne protozoan haemoparasite, causes canine babesiosis, the most important tick-borne disease afflicting dogs worldwide. The meadow tick, Dermacentor reticulatus, is considered to be the primary vector of this parasite in central Europe. Females of the more broadly distributed and medically important castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, also commonly feed upon dogs, but their role in the enzootic transmission cycle of B. canis is unclear. Here, we screened 1,598 host-seeking I. ricinus ticks collected from two different ecosystems, forest stands vs. urban recreational forests, for the presence of B. canis DNA. Ticks were sampled during their two seasonal peaks of activity, spring (May/June) and late summer (September). Babesia species were identified by amplification and sequencing of a hypervariable 18S rRNA gene fragment. Babesia canis was the only piroplasm detected in 13% of 200 larvae and 8.2% of 324 nymphs in the forest ecosystems. In urban recreational areas, B. canis DNA was found in 1.5% of 460 nymphs, 3.5% of 289 females and 3.2% of 280 males. Additionally, three samples, including one female, one male, and one nymph, were co-infected with B. venatorum and one nymph with B. divergens or B. capreoli. Our findings implicate that B. canis can be transmitted transovarially and maintained transstadially within populations of I. ricinus, but the vector competence of I. ricinus for transmitting B. canis remains to be investigated.
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Ciebiera O, Łopińska A, Gabryś G. Ticks on game animals in the fragmented agricultural landscape of western Poland. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1781-1788. [PMID: 33788023 PMCID: PMC8084817 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07132-9] [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: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are well known external parasites of game animals that cause serious veterinary and medical problems. The occurrence and geographical distribution of different species of ticks in Western Poland have changed over the last decades. The purpose of the present study was to determine the species spectrum and prevalence of ticks parasitizing three species of game animals, the Eurasian wild boar Sus scrofa L., red deer Cervus elaphus L., and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (L.) in two hunting districts in Lubuskie Province. In addition, the distribution of ticks on the host’s body and the intensity of infestation were determined. Ticks were collected from dead animals during the hunting seasons in 2013 and 2014, over the periods from May to June and from August to December. In total, 286 specimens were examined: 138 Eurasian wild boars, 8 red deers, and 140 roe deers. Altogether, 1891 ticks were collected. Three species of ticks were determined: Ixodes ricinus (L.), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), and Haemaphysalis concinna (C.L. Koch, 1844). H. concinna was recorded for the first time in Lubuskie Province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Ciebiera
- Department of Nature Conservation, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland.
| | - Andżelina Łopińska
- Department of Human Nutrition and Diet Therapy, University of Zielona Góra, Pałac Kalsk - Kalsk 67, 66-100, Sulechów, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Gabryś
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Prof. Z. Szafrana 1, 65-516, Zielona Góra, Poland
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Haut M, Girl P, Oswald B, Romig T, Obiegala A, Dobler G, Pfeffer M. The Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) as Sentinel for Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Endemic and Non-Endemic Areas. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111817. [PMID: 33218052 PMCID: PMC7698811 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most important viral zoonosis caused by a neurotropic arbovirus (TBEV). In Germany, TBE is classified as a notifiable disease with an average of 350 autochthonous human cases annually. The incidence-based risk assessment in Germany came under criticism because every year, a number of autochthonous human TBE cases have been detected outside of the official risk areas. Therefore, it is necessary to find additional parameters to strengthen TBEV surveillance. The aim of this study was to examine red foxes as sentinels for TBE. Thus far, there are no published data about the sensitivity and specificity for serological methods testing fox samples. Hence, we aimed to define a system for the screening of TBEV-specific antibodies in red foxes. A total of 1233 fox sera were collected and examined by ELISA and IIFA and confirmed by micro-NT. The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against TBEV in red foxes from Germany confirmed by micro-NT was 21.1%. The seroprevalence differed significantly between risk (30.5%) and non-risk areas (13.1%), with good correlations to local TBE incidence in humans. In conclusion, serological monitoring of red foxes represents a promising surrogate marker system and may even determine unexpected TBEV foci in regions currently regarded as non-risk areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Haut
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.H.); (A.O.)
| | - Philipp Girl
- German National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (P.G.); (B.O.); (G.D.)
| | - Beate Oswald
- German National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (P.G.); (B.O.); (G.D.)
| | - Thomas Romig
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.H.); (A.O.)
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- German National Consultant Laboratory for TBEV, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (P.G.); (B.O.); (G.D.)
- Parasitology Unit, Institute of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany;
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; (M.H.); (A.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-341-9738152
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