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Kaminskienė E, Paulauskas A, Balčiauskas L, Radzijevskaja J. Bartonella spp. detection in laelapid (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) mites collected from small rodents in Lithuania. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2022; 47:195-201. [PMID: 36314674 DOI: 10.52707/1081-1710-47.2.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The genus Bartonella contains facultative Gram-negative intracellular bacteria from the family Bartonellaceae that can cause diseases in humans and animals. Various Bartonella species have been detected in rodents' ectoparasites, such as fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. However, the role of laelapid mites (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) as carriers of Bartonella spp. needs to be confirmed. We aimed to investigate the presence of Bartonella spp. in laelapid mites collected from small rodents in Lithuania using real-time PCR targeting the transfer-messenger RNA/tmRNA (ssrA) gene and to characterize Bartonella strains using nested PCR and sequence analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS). A total of 271 laelapid mites of five species (Laelaps agilis, Haemogamasus nidi, Eulaelaps stabularis, Myonyssus gigas, and Hyperlaelaps microti) were collected from five rodent species (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Clethrionomys glareolus, Micromys minutus, and Microtus oeconomus) during 2015-2016. Bartonella DNA was detected in three mite species L. agilis, M. gigas, and Hg. nidi with an overall prevalence of 11.4%. Sequence analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA ITS region revealed the presence of Bartonella taylorii in L. agilis, Hg. nidi, and M. gigas, and Bartonella grahamii in L. agilis. Our results suggest that laelapid mites are involved in the maintenance of rodent-associated Bartonella spp. in nature. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the presence of Bartonella spp. DNA in laelapid mites from small rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Kaminskienė
- Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaičio str. 58, LT- 44248, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | | | - Linas Balčiauskas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Vytautas Magnus University, Donelaičio str. 58, LT- 44248, Kaunas, Lithuania,
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Evaluating Transmission Paths for Three Different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Using Artificial Feeding. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050901. [PMID: 33922378 PMCID: PMC8146832 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria.
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Williams HM, Dittmar K. Expanding our view of Bartonella and its hosts: Bartonella in nest ectoparasites and their migratory avian hosts. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:13. [PMID: 31924262 PMCID: PMC6954622 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-3896-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bartonella is a genus of Gram-negative facultative intracellular Alphaproteobacteria of public health importance. Although they are known to mainly infect mammalian hosts with some blood-feeding arthropods having been confirmed as vectors, there is some evidence of Bartonella association with non-mammalian hosts including birds. METHODS Here we used high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and Sanger sequencing of the citrate synthase (gltA) genes to test for the presence of Bartonellaceae in the blood of three migratory cavity nesting bird species, purple martins (Progne subis), tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and their most prevalent and abundant nest ectoparasites, Dermanyssus prognephilus (mite), Ceratophyllus idius (flea) and Protocalliphora sialia (bird blow fly larva). We constructed maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees to verify the placement of the resulting sequences in the Bartonellaceae. RESULTS We found evidence of Bartonella in all three bird species and all three arthropod species tested. We report multiple instances of identical Bartonella sequences in both birds and parasites, leading to the likely hypothesis that these ectoparasites are potential vectors of Bartonella. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that 'avian Bartonella' may form its own sub-clade within the genus Bartonella. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, we provide the first confirmation of overlapping Bartonella strains among bird hosts and various species of nest-associated ectoparasites from the same system, suggesting a possible Bartonella host-vector relationship between these arthropods and a non-mammalian host. Our study adds to the growing appreciation of the Bartonellaceae as a phylogenetically diverse group with a wide range of hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Williams
- Department of Environment and Sustainability, State University of New York at Buffalo, North Campus, 602 Clemens Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA.
| | - Katharina Dittmar
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, North Campus, 109 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
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Ogrzewalska M, Machado C, Rozental T, Forneas D, Cunha LE, de Lemos ERS. Microorganisms in the ticks Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844 collected from snakes in Brazil. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 33:154-161. [PMID: 30484879 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge about ticks (Acari) and screening of ticks parasitizing various hosts are necessary to understand the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens. The objective of this study was to investigate tick infestations on snakes (Reptilia: Squamata: Serpentes) arriving at the serpentarium at the Institute Vital Brazil, Rio de Janeiro. Some of the identified ticks were individually tested for the presence of bacteria of the genera Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), Borrelia (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Coxiella (Legionellales: Coxiellaceae), Bartonella (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae), Ehrlichia (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), Anaplasma (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Apicomplexa protozoa of the genera Babesia (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) and Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae). A total of 115 hard ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) were collected from 17 host individuals obtained from four Brazilian states. Two species of tick were identified: Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 (four larvae, 16 nymphs, 40 adults), and Amblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844 (12 nymphs, 43 adults). Rickettsia bellii was found in A. rotundatum and A. dissimile ticks and Rickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi, Anaplasma-like and Hepatozoon sp. in A. dissimile ticks. Among the tested ticks, no DNA of Borrelia, Bartonella, Coxiella or Babesia was found. The present findings extend the geographic range of Rickettsia sp. strain Colombianensi in Brazil and provide novel tick-host associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ogrzewalska
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - C Machado
- Instituto Vital Brasil, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - T Rozental
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - D Forneas
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - L E Cunha
- Instituto Vital Brasil, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - E R S de Lemos
- Laboratório de Hantaviroses e Rickettsioses, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Brook CE, Bai Y, Yu EO, Ranaivoson HC, Shin H, Dobson AP, Metcalf CJE, Kosoy MY, Dittmar K. Elucidating transmission dynamics and host-parasite-vector relationships for rodent-borne Bartonella spp. in Madagascar. Epidemics 2017; 20:56-66. [PMID: 28351673 PMCID: PMC5608689 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2017.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
At least five distinct species of Bartonella infect R. rattus rodents and their ectoparasites in Madagascar. Infection dynamics for zoonotic B. elizabethae are consistent with an SIS or SIR model in rodent hosts. Infection dynamics for non-zoonotic B. phoceensis & rattimassiliensis are consistent with an SI model in rodent hosts. Transmission of B. elizabethae and B. phoceensis & rattimassiliensis, respectiviely, are affected by S. fonquerniei & X. cheopsis fleas and Polyplax spp. lice. S. fonquerniei/X. cheopsis fleas may vector B. elizabethae and Polyplax spp. lice vector B. phoceensis/rattimassiliensis.
Bartonella spp. are erythrocytic bacteria transmitted via arthropod vectors, which infect a broad range of vertebrate hosts, including humans. We investigated transmission dynamics and host-parasite-vector relationships for potentially zoonotic Bartonella spp. in invasive Rattus rattus hosts and associated arthropod ectoparasites in Madagascar. We identified five distinct species of Bartonella (B. elizabethae 1, B. elizabethae 2, B. phoceensis 1, B. rattimassiliensis 1, and B. tribocorum 1) infecting R. rattus rodents and their ectoparasites. We fit standard epidemiological models to species-specific age-prevalence data for the four Bartonella spp. with sufficient data, thus quantifying age-structured force of infection. Known zoonotic agents, B. elizabethae 1 and 2, were best described by models exhibiting high forces of infection in early age class individuals and allowing for recovery from infection, while B. phoceensis 1 and B. rattimassiliensis 1 were best fit by models of lifelong infection without recovery and substantially lower forces of infection. Nested sequences of B. elizabethae 1 and 2 were recovered from rodent hosts and their Synopsyllus fonquerniei and Xenopsylla cheopsis fleas, with a particularly high prevalence in the outdoor-dwelling, highland-endemic S. fonquerniei. These findings expand on force of infection analyses to elucidate the ecological niche of the zoonotic Bartonella elizabethae complex in Madagascar, hinting at a potential vector role for S. fonquerniei. Our analyses underscore the uniqueness of such ecologies for Bartonella species, which pose a variable range of potential zoonotic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara E Brook
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.
| | - Ying Bai
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Emily O Yu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.
| | - Hafaliana C Ranaivoson
- Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar; Department of Animal Biology, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
| | - Haewon Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
| | - Andrew P Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.
| | - C Jessica E Metcalf
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States.
| | - Michael Y Kosoy
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Katharina Dittmar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.
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Silaghi C, Pfeffer M, Kiefer D, Kiefer M, Obiegala A. Bartonella, Rodents, Fleas and Ticks: a Molecular Field Study on Host-Vector-Pathogen Associations in Saxony, Eastern Germany. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 72:965-974. [PMID: 27220973 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0787-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bartonellae cause zoonotic diseases and are transmitted by arthropods. Rodents are reservoirs for most Bartonella spp. As the knowledge about Bartonella in rodents and their parasitizing ectoparasites is scarce in Germany, this study's objectives were to investigate Bartonella spp. in small mammals and in their ectoparasites. A total of 79 small mammals (seven species) were captured and their ectoparasites collected at seven sites around Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, in 2010 and 2011. Altogether, 79 spleen samples, 135 fleas (five species) and 365 ticks (three species) were investigated for Bartonella spp. by PCR targeting the ITS 16S-23S rRNA region. In total, 52 (65.8 %) small mammals, 73 (54.1 %) fleas and 51 (16.3 %) ticks were positive for Bartonella spp. Most small mammals were positive for uncultured Bartonella sp. (n = 29) followed by Bartonella grahamii (n = 12), Bartonella taylorii (n = 8) and Bartonella sp. N40 (n = 3). Likewise, most fleas were positive for uncultured Bartonella sp. (n = 45) followed by B. grahamii (n = 14), B. taylorii (n = 8), B. sp. N40 (n = 5) and Bartonella elizabethae (n = 2). Most ticks were positive for B. sp. (n = 19) followed by B. grahamii (n = 10), Bartonella chomelii (n = 3), B. taylorii (n = 2) and B. sp. N40 (n = 1). This study's results suggest that rodents and fleas may be reservoirs and vectors, respectively. Zoonotic B. grahamii and B. elizabethae were found in rodents and their fleas. Therefore, humans may contract Bartonella infection by contact to wild rodents. Ticks seem of minor importance in transmitting Bartonella spp. found in fleas and rodents. However, ticks might be vectors of B. chomelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- National Center of Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Kiefer
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Marco and Louise Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology (MDDE), Ben-Gurion University Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | | | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Parra E, Segura F, Tijero J, Pons I, Nogueras MM. Development of a real-time PCR for Bartonella spp. detection, a current emerging microorganism. Mol Cell Probes 2016; 32:55-59. [PMID: 27746242 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A real-time PCR assay using SYBR Green was optimized to detect those Bartonella that are most frequently described as pathogens. The assay was genus-specific. Sequencing allowed to distinguish species. Assay sensitivity was determined using 10-fold serial dilutions of genomic DNA. Dynamic range was 100 ng-100 fg and sensitivity was 50 copies/reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Parra
- Infectious Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Institut de Investigació I Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Parc Taulí 1, Sabadell 08208, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Segura
- Infectious Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Institut de Investigació I Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Parc Taulí 1, Sabadell 08208, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jessica Tijero
- Infectious Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Institut de Investigació I Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Parc Taulí 1, Sabadell 08208, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Imma Pons
- Infectious Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Institut de Investigació I Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Parc Taulí 1, Sabadell 08208, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria-Mercedes Nogueras
- Infectious Diseases Department, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Institut de Investigació I Innovació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Parc Taulí 1, Sabadell 08208, Barcelona, Spain.
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Regier Y, O Rourke F, Kempf VAJ. Bartonella spp. - a chance to establish One Health concepts in veterinary and human medicine. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:261. [PMID: 27161111 PMCID: PMC4862191 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1546-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases remain a remarkable health threat for humans and animals. In the past, the epidemiology, etiology and pathology of infectious agents affecting humans and animals have mostly been investigated in separate studies. However, it is evident, that combined approaches are needed to understand geographical distribution, transmission and infection biology of “zoonotic agents”. The genus Bartonella represents a congenial example of the synergistic benefits that can arise from such combined approaches: Bartonella spp. infect a broad variety of animals, are linked with a constantly increasing number of human diseases and are transmitted via arthropod vectors. As a result, the genus Bartonella is predestined to play a pivotal role in establishing a One Health concept combining veterinary and human medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Regier
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fiona O Rourke
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Volkhard A J Kempf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Kho KL, Koh FX, Jaafar T, Nizam QNH, Tay ST. Prevalence and molecular heterogeneity of Bartonella bovis in cattle and Haemaphysalis bispinosa ticks in Peninsular Malaysia. BMC Vet Res 2015; 11:153. [PMID: 26179499 PMCID: PMC4502507 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-015-0470-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bartonellosis is an emerging zoonotic infection responsible for a variety of clinical syndromes in humans and animals. Members of the genus Bartonella exhibit high degrees of genetic diversity and ecologic plasticity. The infection is usually transmitted to animals and humans through blood-feeding arthropod vectors such as fleas, lice, ticks and sandflies. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Bartonella species in 184 beef cattle, 40 dairy cattle, 40 sheep and 40 goats in eight animal farms across Peninsular Malaysia. Bartonella-specific PCR assays and sequence analysis of partial fragments of the citrate synthase gene were used for detection and identification of B. bovis. Isolation of B. bovis was attempted from PCR-positive blood samples. Molecular heterogeneity of the isolates was investigated based on sequence analysis of gltA, ITS, rpoB genes, ERIC-PCR, as well as using an established multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method. The carriage rate of B. bovis in ticks was also determined in this study. Results B. bovis was detected using Bartonella gltA-PCR assays from ten (4.5 %) of 224 cattle blood samples, of which three (1.3 %) were from beef cattle and seven (3.1 %) were from dairy cattle. None of the blood samples from the sheep and goats understudied were positive for B. bovis. Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus were the predominant tick species identified in this study. B. bovis was detected from eight of 200 H. bispinosa ticks and none from the R. microplus ticks. Isolation of B. bovis was successful from all PCR-positive cattle blood samples, except one. Strain differentiation of B. bovis isolates was attempted based on sequence analysis of gltA, ITS, rpoB, and ERIC-PCR assay. B. bovis isolates were differentiated into six genotypes using the approach. The genetic heterogeneity of the isolates was confirmed using MLST method. Of the six MLST sequence types identified, five were designated new sequence types (ST23-27), while one (ST18) had been reported previously from Thailand isolates. All except one isolates were segregated into lineage II. A new lineage (IIa) is proposed for a single isolate obtained from a dairy cow. Conclusions The current study reported the first detection of B. bovis infection in the cattle and H. bispinosa ticks in Peninsular Malaysia. At least six genotypes of B. bovis were found circulating in the cattle understudied. New MLST sequence types were identified in Malaysian B. bovis isolates. Further study is necessary to explore the zoonotic potential of B. bovis and the vector compatibility of H. bispinosa ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Ling Kho
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Fui-Xian Koh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Tariq Jaafar
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62630, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
| | - Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam
- Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Malaysia, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62630, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
| | - Sun-Tee Tay
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Zając V, Wójcik-Fatla A, Dutkiewicz J, Szymańska J. Bartonella henselae in eastern Poland: the relationship between tick infection rates and the serological response of individuals occupationally exposed to tick bites. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2015; 40:75-82. [PMID: 26047187 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
To explore the potential role of Ixodes ricinus as the presumed vector of Bartonella henselae in eastern Poland, ticks collected in various geographic locations were examined for the presence of B. henselae, and the results were matched against the prevalence of anti-B. henselae antibodies in individuals occupationally exposed to tick bites. The presence of Bartonella DNA was investigated by PCR in a total of 1,603 unfed Ixodes ricinus ticks. The presence of IgG antibodies against B. henselae was investigated in serum samples from 332 people occupationally exposed to tick bites (94 farmers and 238 forestry workers). The total prevalence of B. henselae in ticks was 1.7%; the infection rates in males (3.1%) and females (2.7%) were nearly ten times greater than in nymphs (0.3%). The prevalence of seropositive results in the risk group (30.4%), farmers (27.7%) and forestry workers (31.5%), was significantly greater compared to the control group (8.9%). The results showed a weak positive correlation between the degree of infection of ticks and humans living in the same geographic region. The lack of a direct relationship indicates that exposure to tick bites is only one of the factors contributing to the significant preponderance of a seropositive response to B. henselae in the forestry workers and farmers over the control group. Other factors must be considered, such as contact with cats, which are popular domestic animals in Polish villages, and exposure to cat fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violetta Zając
- Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
| | | | - Jacek Dutkiewicz
- Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Szymańska
- Department of Paedodontics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Tappe J, Jordan D, Janecek E, Fingerle V, Strube C. Revisited: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infections in hard ticks (Ixodes ricinus) in the city of Hanover (Germany). Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:441. [PMID: 25233844 PMCID: PMC4262061 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The present study investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genospecies in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Hanover, Northern Germany, in 2010. At the same time the study served as fifth-year-follow-up study for data comparison with 2005. Methods A total of 2100 questing ticks were collected and analysed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) with subsequent species differentiation via Reverse Line Blot and Sanger sequencing. Simultaneously, results obtained in 2010 were compared to infection rates from 2005 to evaluate the development of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection rates in Hanoverian ticks. Results Overall, 22.7% (476/2,100) of collected ticks were tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. infections. Adult ticks showed an infection rate of 33.3% (124/372), subdivided into 29.6% (58/196) positive males and 37.5% (66/176) positive females. Nymph and larvae infection rates were found to be 20.3% (344/1,697) and 25.8% (8/31), respectively. Species identification was successful for 59.2% (282/476) of positive ticks with B. afzelii as the most frequently detected genospecies, followed by B. garinii (including B. bavariensis) and B. spielmanii. B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. bissettii, B. valaisiana and B. lusitaniae were also identified. Significant differences concerning seasonal fluctuations as well as local differences were observed. Comparing infection rates of Hanoverian ticks between years, a significant increase (P = 0.002) could be observed for larvae with 1.7% positives (2/60) in 2005 and 25.8% positives (8/31) in 2010. In the latter year, coinfections with Borrelia and Rickettsiales were detected in a total of 7.8% (163/2,100) of collected ticks. Of these, 7.3% (153/2,100) were coinfected with Rickettsia spp., 0.3% (7/2,100) with A. phagocytophilum and 0.1% (3/2,100) were coinfected with all three pathogens. Between years 2005 and 2010, no statistically significant differences in coinfection rates were found. Conclusions Comparing B. burgdorferi s.l. infections in Hanoverian I. ricinus ticks in 2010 with data from 2005, a statistically significant increase of infected larvae was noted, whereas the other stages revealed no statistically significant differences. Whether the increased larvae infection rate is an isolated event or results from factual circumstances, e.g. increasing effectiveness of transovarial transmission due to unknown factors, has to be evaluated in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
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Schmidt S, Essbauer SS, Mayer-Scholl A, Poppert S, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Klempa B, Henning K, Schares G, Groschup MH, Spitzenberger F, Richter D, Heckel G, Ulrich RG. Multiple infections of rodents with zoonotic pathogens in Austria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014; 14:467-75. [PMID: 24915446 PMCID: PMC4098071 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Rodents are important reservoirs for a large number of zoonotic pathogens. We examined the occurrence of 11 viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents in rodent populations in Austria, including three different hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox virus, Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Toxoplasma gondii. In 2008, 110 rodents of four species (40 Clethrionomys glareolus, 29 Apodemus flavicollis, 26 Apodemus sylvaticus, and 15 Microtus arvalis) were trapped at two rural sites in Lower Austria. Chest cavity fluid and samples of lung, spleen, kidney, liver, brain, and ear pinna skin were collected. We screened selected tissue samples for hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox viruses, Leptospira, Borrelia, Rickettsia, Bartonella spp., C. burnetii, and T. gondii by RT-PCR/PCR and detected nucleic acids of Tula hantavirus, Leptospira spp., Borrelia afzelii, Rickettsia spp., and different Bartonella species. Serological investigations were performed for hantaviruses, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, orthopox viruses, and Rickettsia spp. Here, Dobrava-Belgrade hantavirus-, Tula hantavirus-, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-, orthopox virus-, and rickettsia-specific antibodies were demonstrated. Puumala hantavirus, C. burnetii, and T. gondii were neither detected by RT-PCR/PCR nor by serological methods. In addition, multiple infections with up to three pathogens were shown in nine animals of three rodent species from different trapping sites. In conclusion, these results show that rodents in Austria may host multiple zoonotic pathogens. Our observation raises important questions regarding the interactions of different pathogens in the host, the countermeasures of the host's immune system, the impact of the host-pathogen interaction on the fitness of the host, and the spread of infectious agents among wild rodents and from those to other animals or humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Schmidt
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sandra S. Essbauer
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Department of Virology & Rickettsiology, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Sven Poppert
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Hamburg, Germany and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Boris Klempa
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovakia, and Institute of Virology, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Henning
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Jena, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Epidemiology, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Dania Richter
- Environmental Systems Analysis, Institute of Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Gerald Heckel
- Computational and Molecular Population Genetics (CMPG), Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Genopode, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rainer G. Ulrich
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
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Vayssier-Taussat M, Moutailler S, Michelet L, Devillers E, Bonnet S, Cheval J, Hébert C, Eloit M. Next generation sequencing uncovers unexpected bacterial pathogens in ticks in western Europe. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81439. [PMID: 24312301 PMCID: PMC3842327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Ticks are highly susceptible to global environmental and socio-economical changes. Several tick-borne pathogens have been reported in new geographical regions while new species, strains or genetic variants of tick-borne microorganisms are continually being detected. However, tick-borne pathogens are still poorly understood, and it is estimated that half of all human tick-borne disease has an unknown origin. Therefore in order to prevent these diseases, more effort is required to identify unknown or unexpected tick-borne pathogens. Ixodes ricinus is the vector for a broad range of bacterial pathogens and the most prevalent tick in Europe. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capability of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to extend the inventory of pathogenic bacteria carried by this species of tick in France. Methods RNA and DNA were extracted from 1450 I. ricinus questing nymphs collected by flagging in Alsace, France. RNA was pooled and used for NGS. Following de novo assembly, bacterial contigs were assigned to the closest known taxonomy. DNA was used for real time PCR to confirm taxonomic species assignment of NGS-derived contigs for the doubtful cases, and for determination of prevalence. Results We have generated a global in-depth picture of tick-borne bacteria. We identified RNA from the main pathogenic bacterial species known to be transmitted by I. ricinus. In addition we also identified unanticipated bacterial species for which we have estimated the prevalence within those ticks inhabiting the studied areas. Conclusions The data obtained from this study has proven that NGS has an enormous potential to detect the unexpected and provides the means to monitor pathogen occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc Eloit
- PathoQuest SAS, Paris, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d′Alfort, UMR 1161 Virologie ENVA, INRA, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratory of Pathogen Discovery, Paris, France
- * E-mail:
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Cat scratch disease caused by Bartonella grahamii in an immunocompromised patient. J Clin Microbiol 2013; 51:2781-4. [PMID: 23740723 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00910-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bartonella grahamii colonizes rodents worldwide and has been detected in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Here, the first human B. grahamii infection confirmed by multilocus sequence typing is reported. The route of transmission and clinical picture of the patient are similar to those seen in patients with cat scratch disease, which is typically diagnosed as a Bartonella henselae infection.
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