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Porcelli S, Heckmann A, Deshuillers PL, Wu-Chuang A, Galon C, Mateos-Hernandez L, Rakotobe S, Canini L, Rego ROM, Simo L, Lagrée AC, Cabezas-Cruz A, Moutailler S. Co-infection dynamics of B. afzelii and TBEV in C3H mice: insights and implications for future research. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0024924. [PMID: 38990046 PMCID: PMC11320977 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00249-24] [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: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of disease, particularly in the context of One Health, where tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are increasingly prevalent worldwide. TBDs often involve co-infections, where multiple pathogens co-exist in a single host. Patients with chronic Lyme disease often have co-infections with other bacteria or parasites. This study aimed to create a co-infection model with Borrelia afzelii and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in C3H mice and to evaluate symptoms, mortality, and pathogen level compared to single infections. Successful co-infection of C3H mice with B. afzelii and TBEV was achieved. Outcomes varied, depending on the timing of infection. When TBEV infection followed B. afzelii infection by 9 days, TBEV symptoms worsened and virus levels increased. Conversely, mice infected 21 days apart with TBEV showed milder symptoms and lower mortality. Simultaneous infection resulted in mild symptoms and no deaths. However, our model did not effectively infect ticks with TBEV, possibly due to suboptimal dosing, highlighting the challenges of replicating natural conditions. Understanding the consequences of co-infection is crucial, given the increasing prevalence of TBD. Co-infected individuals may experience exacerbated symptoms, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding through refined animal models. This study advances knowledge of TBD and highlights the importance of exploring co-infection dynamics in host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Porcelli
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Aurélie Heckmann
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Pierre Lucien Deshuillers
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cleménce Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sabine Rakotobe
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Laetitia Canini
- EPIMIM, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Anses, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Ryan O. M. Rego
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Ladislav Simo
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Anne-Claire Lagrée
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Banović P, Jakimovski D, Bogdan I, Simin V, Mijatović D, Bosilkovski M, Mateska S, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Foucault-Simonin A, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Tick-borne diseases at the crossroads of the Middle East and central Europe. Infect Dis Now 2024; 54:104959. [PMID: 39079570 DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2024.104959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The Balkan Peninsula, acting as a crossroad between central Europe and the Middle East, presents diverse ecosystems supporting various tick species capable of transmitting TBDs. This study focuses on Serbia and North Macedonia, both endemic for TBDs, aiming to investigate human-biting ticks' prevalence, TBD prevalence, and major TBPs in blood samples. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective observational study was conducted in 2022 at two medical centers, involving 45 patients from Novi Sad, Serbia, and 17 patients from Skopje, North Macedonia. All participants had either a tick still attached or had had one removed within the preceding 48 h. The study consisted in clinical evaluations of patients and testing of patient samples and ticks for tick-borne pathogens using a High-Throughput pathogen detection system based on microfluidic real-time PCR. In addition, the study assessed the genetic diversity of the identified pathogens. RESULTS Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent tick species, with varying infestation rates across various body parts. Tick species and feeding times differed between Novi Sad and Skopje. TBPs were prevalent, with Rickettsia spp. dominant in Skopje and a mix including Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia monacensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia afzelii in Novi Sad. Subclinical bacteremia occurred in 8.06% of cases, mostly involving Anaplasma spp. Clinical manifestations, primarily local hypersensitivity reactions, were observed in six patients. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed R. aeschlimannii and R. monacensis identity, highlighting genetic differences in gltA gene sequences. CONCLUSIONS This study sheds light on the prevalence and diversity of TBPs in tick-infested individuals from Serbia and North Macedonia, contributing valuable insights into the epidemiology of TBDs in the Balkan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Clinic for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia; Department of Microbiology with Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia; Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dejan Jakimovski
- Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia; University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia; Clinical medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bogdan
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Verica Simin
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department for Research & Monitoring of Rabies & Other Zoonoses, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mile Bosilkovski
- Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia; University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia
| | - Sofija Mateska
- University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia; Clinical medicine Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Adrian A Díaz-Sánchez
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Angelique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jaonna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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Mertens-Scholz K, Hoffmann B, Gethmann JM, Brangsch H, Pletz MW, Klaus C. Prevalence of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Germany-has the situation changed after a decade? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1429667. [PMID: 39091677 PMCID: PMC11291221 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1429667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tick-borne pathogens, such as Borreliella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp., are frequently detected in Germany. They circulate between animals and tick vectors and can cause mild to severe diseases in humans. Knowledge about distribution and prevalence of these pathogens over time is important for risk assessment of human and animal health. Methods Ixodes ricinus nymphs were collected at different locations in 2009/2010 and 2019 in Germany and analyzed for tick-borne pathogens by real-time PCR and sequencing. Results Borreliella spp. were detected with a prevalence of 11.96% in 2009/2010 and 13.10% in 2019 with B. afzelii and B. garinii as dominant species. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in seven ticks and in coinfection with B. afzelii or B. garinii. Rickettsia spp. showed a prevalence of 8.82% in 2009/2010 and 1.68% in 2019 with the exclusive detection of R. helvetica. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was 1.00% in 2009/2010 and 7.01% in 2019. A. phagocytophilum was detected in seven tick samples. None of the nymphs were positive for C. burnetii. Discussion Here, observed changes in prevalence were not significant after a decade but require longitudinal observations including parameters like host species and density, climatic factors to improve our understanding of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jörn M. Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Hanka Brangsch
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Mathias W. Pletz
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Klaus
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
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Joly-Kukla C, Bernard C, Bru D, Galon C, Giupponi C, Huber K, Jourdan-Pineau H, Malandrin L, Rakotoarivony I, Riggi C, Vial L, Moutailler S, Pollet T. Spatial patterns of Hyalomma marginatum-borne pathogens in the Occitanie region (France), a focus on the intriguing dynamics of Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0125624. [PMID: 39012114 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01256-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyalomma marginatum is an invasive tick species recently established in mainland southern France. This tick is known to host a diverse range of human and animal pathogens. While information about the dynamics of these pathogens is crucial to assess disease risk and develop effective monitoring strategies, few data on the spatial dynamics of these pathogens are currently available. We collected ticks in 27 sites in the Occitanie region to characterize spatial patterns of H. marginatum-borne pathogens. Several pathogens have been detected: Theileria equi (9.2%), Theileria orientalis (0.2%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.6%), Anaplasma marginale (0.8%), and Rickettsia aeschlimannii (87.3%). Interestingly, we found a spatial clustered distribution for the pathogen R. aeschlimannii between two geographically isolated areas with infection rates and bacterial loads significantly lower in Hérault/Gard departments (infection rate 78.6% in average) compared to Aude/Pyrénées-Orientales departments (infection rate 92.3% in average). At a smaller scale, R. aeschlimannii infection rates varied from one site to another, ranging from 29% to 100%. Overall, such high infection rates (87.3% on average) and the effective maternal transmission of R. aeschlimannii might suggest a role as a tick symbiont in H. marginatum. Further studies are thus needed to understand both the status and the role of R. aeschlimannii in H. marginatum ticks.IMPORTANCETicks are obligatory hematophagous arthropods that transmit pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Pathogen infections cause serious health issues in humans and considerable economic loss in domestic animals. Information about the presence of pathogens in ticks and their dynamics is crucial to assess disease risk for public and animal health. Analyzing tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected in 27 sites in the Occitanie region, our results highlight clear spatial patterns in the Hyalomma marginatum-borne pathogen distribution and strengthen the postulate that it is essential to develop effective monitoring strategies and consider the spatial scale to better characterize the circulation of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Joly-Kukla
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Célia Bernard
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
- French Establishment for Fighting Zoonoses (ELIZ), Malzéville, France
| | - David Bru
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Clémence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Carla Giupponi
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Karine Huber
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Hélène Jourdan-Pineau
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Ignace Rakotoarivony
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Camille Riggi
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Laurence Vial
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Pollet
- ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France
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Le Dortz LL, Rouxel C, Polack B, Boulouis HJ, Lagrée AC, Deshuillers PL, Haddad N. Tick-borne diseases in Europe: Current prevention, control tools and the promise of aptamers. Vet Parasitol 2024; 328:110190. [PMID: 38714064 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
In Europe, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) cause significant morbidity and mortality, affecting both human and animal health. Ticks can transmit a wide variety of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) and feed on many vertebrate hosts. The incidence and public health burden of TBDs are tending to intensify in Europe due to various factors, mainly anthropogenic and often combined. Early detection of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), preventive measures and treatment are of great importance to control TBDs and their expansion. However, there are various limitations in terms of the sensitivity and/or specificity of detection and prevention methods, and even in terms of feasibility. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA that could address these issues as they are able to bind with high affinity and specificity to a wide range of targets (e.g., proteins, small compounds, and cells) due to their unique three-dimensional structure. To date, aptamers have been selected against TBPs such as tick-borne encephalitis virus, Francisella tularensis, and Rickettsia typhi. These studies have demonstrated the benefits of aptamer-based assays for pathogen detection and medical diagnosis. In this review, we address the applications of aptamers to TBDs and discuss their potential for improving prevention measures (use of chemical acaricides, vaccination), diagnosis and therapeutic strategies to control TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Lucie Le Dortz
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Clotilde Rouxel
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Bruno Polack
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Henri-Jean Boulouis
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Anne-Claire Lagrée
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Pierre Lucien Deshuillers
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France
| | - Nadia Haddad
- ANSES, INRAE, EnvA (Ecole nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort), UMR BIPAR, Laboratory of Animal Health, Maisons-Alfort F-94700, France.
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Rousseau R, Mori M, Kabamba B, Vanwambeke SO. Tick abundance and infection with three zoonotic bacteria are heterogeneous in a Belgian peri-urban forest. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 93:49-69. [PMID: 38869724 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00919-2] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus is a vector of several pathogens of public health interest. While forests are the primary habitat for I. ricinus, its abundance and infection prevalence are expected to vary within forest stands. This study assesses the spatio-temporal variations in tick abundance and infection prevalence with three pathogens in and around a peri-urban forest where human exposure is high. Ticks were sampled multiple times in 2016 and 2018 in multiple locations with a diversity of undergrowth, using the consecutive drags method. Three zoonotic pathogens were screened for, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis. The influence of season, type of site and micro-environmental factors on tick abundance were assessed with negative binomial generalized linear mixed-effects models. We collected 1642 nymphs and 181 adult ticks. Ticks were most abundant in the spring, in warmer temperatures, and where undergrowth was higher. Sites with vegetation unaffected by human presence had higher abundance of ticks. Forest undergrowth type and height were significant predictors of the level of tick abundance in a forest. The consecutive drags method is expected to provide more precise estimates of tick abundance, presumably through more varied contacts with foliage. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. prevalence was estimated from pooled ticks at 5.33%, C. burnetii was detected in six pools and F. tularensis was not detected. Borrelia afzelii was the dominant B. burgdorferi genospecies. Tick abundance and B. burgdorferi s.l. infection prevalence were lower than other estimates in Belgian forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Rousseau
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Earth and Climate pole (ELIC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marcella Mori
- Bacterial zoonoses unit, Veterinary bacteriology, Sciensano, Ukkel/Uccle, Belgium
| | - Benoît Kabamba
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Research (IREC), Pôle de Microbiologie Médicale, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sophie O Vanwambeke
- Earth and Life Institute (ELI), Earth and Climate pole (ELIC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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Unlu AM, Andersen NS, Larsen SL, Skarphedinsson S, Chrysidis S, Knudtzen FC, Lage-Hansen PR. Differentiating Lyme arthritis: a case-based review. Rheumatol Int 2024:10.1007/s00296-024-05618-0. [PMID: 38795123 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05618-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
The incidence or prevalence of Lyme arthritis (LA) in Denmark is unknown and assumed very low. No published cases of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed LA from Denmark exist. Clinically, LA does not differ from other rheumatic oligoarthritic disorders posing a differential diagnostic challenge. To review the incidence and prevalence of LA to our knowledge and to present a case series of PCR-confirmed LA cases from Denmark. We conducted a systematic literature review via MEDLINE and EMBASE to explore incidence and prevalence rates of LA. Additionally, we present six cases of patients diagnosed with LA in Denmark. Our literature review identified 23 studies reporting prevalence or incidence, yet only ten studies provided estimates ranging from 1.1 to 280/100.000 in the general population. Our case series identified six patients with LA from a localized region in Southern Denmark; all confirmed by Borrelia-specific real-time PCR from synovial fluid. The diagnostic delay was up to 38 months. All patients except one had a history of previous tick bites; none had erythema migrans lesions. All presented with recurrent arthritis in the knee joint, and two had arthritis in the wrist. The literature review showed an incidence of LA ranging from 1.1 to 15.8 per 100.000 in Europe. Our case series suggests a potentially higher prevalence of LA in Denmark than previously believed. Lack of tick exposure history, antibody assessments and test of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in synovial fluid might lead to misdiagnosed cases potentially explaining the assumed low incidence of LA in Denmark.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Mine Unlu
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark.
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital South West Jutland, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark.
| | - Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vectorborne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
- Clinical Microbiology research unit, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sanne Løkkegaard Larsen
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vectorborne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
- Clinical Microbiology research unit, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Sigurdur Skarphedinsson
- Clinical Microbiology research unit, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases Q, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
| | - Stavros Chrysidis
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark
| | - Fredrikke Christie Knudtzen
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vectorborne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases Q, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DK-5000, Denmark
| | - Philip Rask Lage-Hansen
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, DK-6700, Denmark
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8
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Banović P, Foucault-Simonin A, Papić L, Savić S, Potkonjak A, Jurišić A, Radenković M, Mijatović D, Simin V, Bogdan I, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Woźniak A, Hartmann D, Perner J, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernandez L, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. One health approach to study human health risks associated with Dermanyssus gallinae mites. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30539. [PMID: 38742058 PMCID: PMC11089355 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30539] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant health risks associated with Dermanyssus gallinae infestations in humans, they are often overlooked. This study investigated a household case of D. gallinae infestation and explored the resulting clinical manifestations and risk of infection in family members. Microfluidic PCR was employed for high-throughput screening of pathogens in collected mites and blood samples from both chickens and family members. Morphological and molecular examinations confirmed the identity of the mites as D. gallinae sensu stricto (s.s.), with evidence indicating recent blood feeding. Results indicated that the mites exclusively harbored various pathogens, including Bartonella spp., Ehrlichia spp., Apicomplexa, and Theileria spp. Blood samples from family members and poultry tested negative for these pathogens, suggesting a potential reservoir role for D. gallinae. The study further identified haplotypes of D. gallinae, classifying them into D. gallinae s.s., cosmopolitan haplogroup A. Serological analysis revealed elevated IgE seroreactivity against mite proteins in the family member with bite lesions. Antibodies against Bartonella spp. were detected in this individual, indicating exposure to the pathogen. In summary, this study sheds light on the clinical manifestations, pathogen detection, and genetic characterization of D. gallinae infestations, underscoring the necessity of adopting comprehensive approaches to manage such infestations effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Clinic for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
- Department of Microbiology with Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Luka Papić
- Veterinary clinic “Darvin”, Bate Brkića 32, Novi Sad, 21000, Serbia
| | - Sara Savić
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Potkonjak
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar Jurišić
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department for Environmental and Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Marko Radenković
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department for Research & Monitoring of Rabies & Other Zoonoses, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Verica Simin
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bogdan
- Diagnostics and Laboratory Research Task Force, Balkan Association for Vector-Borne Diseases, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Woźniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - David Hartmann
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Perner
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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9
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Piloto‐Sardiñas E, Abuin‐Denis L, Maitre A, Foucault‐Simonin A, Corona‐González B, Díaz‐Corona C, Roblejo‐Arias L, Mateos‐Hernández L, Marrero‐Perera R, Obregon D, Svobodová K, Wu‐Chuang A, Cabezas‐Cruz A. Dynamic nesting of Anaplasma marginale in the microbial communities of Rhipicephalus microplus. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11228. [PMID: 38571811 PMCID: PMC10985379 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Interactions within the tick microbiome involving symbionts, commensals, and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) play a pivotal role in disease ecology. This study explored temporal changes in the microbiome of Rhipicephalus microplus, an important cattle tick vector, focusing on its interaction with Anaplasma marginale. To overcome limitations inherent in sampling methods relying on questing ticks, which may not consistently reflect pathogen presence due to variations in exposure to infected hosts in nature, our study focused on ticks fed on chronically infected cattle. This approach ensures continuous pathogen exposure, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the nesting patterns of A. marginale in the R. microplus microbiome. Using next-generation sequencing, microbiome dynamics were characterized over 2 years, revealing significant shifts in diversity, composition, and abundance. Anaplasma marginale exhibited varying associations, with its increased abundance correlating with reduced microbial diversity. Co-occurrence networks demonstrated Anaplasma's evolving role, transitioning from diverse connections to keystone taxa status. An integrative approach involving in silico node removal unveils the impact of Anaplasma on network stability, highlighting its role in conferring robustness to the microbial community. This study provides insights into the intricate interplay between the tick microbiome and A. marginale, shedding light on potential avenues for controlling bovine anaplasmosis through microbiome manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elianne Piloto‐Sardiñas
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant HealthCarretera de Tapaste y Autopista NacionalSan José de las LajasCuba
| | - Lianet Abuin‐Denis
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
- Animal Biotechnology DepartmentCenter for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyHavanaCuba
| | - Apolline Maitre
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
- INRAE, UR 0045 Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L'Elevage (SELMET‐LRDE)CorteFrance
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de CorseCorteFrance
| | - Angélique Foucault‐Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Belkis Corona‐González
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant HealthCarretera de Tapaste y Autopista NacionalSan José de las LajasCuba
| | - Cristian Díaz‐Corona
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant HealthCarretera de Tapaste y Autopista NacionalSan José de las LajasCuba
| | - Lisset Roblejo‐Arias
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant HealthCarretera de Tapaste y Autopista NacionalSan José de las LajasCuba
| | - Lourdes Mateos‐Hernández
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Roxana Marrero‐Perera
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant HealthCarretera de Tapaste y Autopista NacionalSan José de las LajasCuba
| | - Dasiel Obregon
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - Karolína Svobodová
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaCeske BudejoviceCzech Republic
| | - Alejandra Wu‐Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Alejandro Cabezas‐Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé AnimaleMaisons‐AlfortFrance
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10
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Babin A, Schurr F, Delannoy S, Fach P, Huyen Ton Nu Nguyet M, Bougeard S, de Miranda JR, Rundlöf M, Wintermantel D, Albrecht M, Attridge E, Bottero I, Cini E, Costa C, De la Rúa P, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knapp J, Knauer AC, Mänd M, Martínez-López V, Medrzycki P, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Potts SG, Raimets R, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Serrano J, Stout JC, Tamburini G, Brown MJF, Laurent M, Rivière MP, Chauzat MP, Dubois E. Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3524. [PMID: 38347035 PMCID: PMC10861508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53357-w] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Babin
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
| | - Frank Schurr
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Stéphanie Bougeard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology and Welfare, France
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleanor Attridge
- Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations, Tullamore, Ireland
| | - Irene Bottero
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Piazzale E. Ferni 1, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Dzul
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Hodge
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Bioscience Building, L69 7ZB, Liverpool, UK
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Helena Pereira-Peixoto
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Risto Raimets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - José Serrano
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jane C Stout
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Bari, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA-Entomology and Zoology), Bari, Italy
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Marion Laurent
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Rivière
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
- Paris-Est University, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
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11
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CHIKUFENJI B, CHATANGA E, GALON EM, MOHANTA UK, MDZUKULU G, MA Y, NKHATA M, UMEMIYA-SHIRAFUJI R, XUAN X. First report of dog ticks and tick-borne pathogens they are carrying in Malawi. J Vet Med Sci 2024; 86:150-159. [PMID: 38171881 PMCID: PMC10898992 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.23-0397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Ticks are vectors for transmitting tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in animals and humans. Therefore, tick identification is necessary to understand the distribution of tick species and the pathogens they carry. Unfortunately, data on dog ticks and the TBPs they harbor in Malawi are incomplete. This study aimed to identify dog ticks and the TBPs they transmit in Malawi. One hundred thirty-two ticks were collected from 87 apparently healthy but infested domestic dogs in four districts of Malawi, which were pooled into 128 tick samples. The ticks were morphologically identified under a stereomicroscope using identification keys, and species identification was authenticated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) through the amplification and sequencing of 12S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO1) genes. The tick species identified were Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (58.3%), Haemaphysalis elliptica (32.6%), and Hyalomma truncatum (9.1%). Screening for TBPs using species-specific PCR assays revealed that 48.4% of the ticks were infected with at least one TBP. The TBP detection rates were 13.3% for Anaplasma platys, 10.2% for Babesia rossi, 8.6% for B. vogeli, 6.3% for Ehrlichia canis, 3.9% for A. phagocytophilum, 3.1% for B. gibsoni, 2.3% for B. canis and 0.8% for Hepatozoon canis. Co-infections of up to three pathogens were observed in 48.4% of the positive samples. This is the first study to identify dog ticks and the TBPs they harbor in Malawi. These findings provide the basis for understanding dog tick distribution and pathogens they carry in Malawi. This study necessitates the examination of ticks from more study locations to have a better picture of tick challenge, and the development of ticks and tick-borne disease control methods in Malawi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boniface CHIKUFENJI
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development,
Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development, Lilongwe, Malawi
- Vets of Purpose Organization, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Elisha CHATANGA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Eloiza May GALON
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,
Cavite State University, Cavite, Philippines
| | - Uday Kumar MOHANTA
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Sher-e-Bangla
Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Gift MDZUKULU
- Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development,
Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Yihong MA
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Rika UMEMIYA-SHIRAFUJI
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Xuenan XUAN
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro
University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
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12
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Jaenson TGT, Gray JS, Lindgren PE, Wilhelmsson P. Coinfection of Babesia and Borrelia in the Tick Ixodes ricinus-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe? Pathogens 2024; 13:81. [PMID: 38251388 PMCID: PMC10818971 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010081] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection with Babesia species and Borrelia species previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern of Babesia and Borrelia species in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden of I. ricinus infected both with zoonotic Babesia and Borrelia species. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive for Babesia spp. Of these Babesia-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously Borrelia-positive. Among 1046 immatures of I. ricinus removed from birds, 2.5% were Babesia-positive, of which 38% were coinfected with Borrelia species. This study shows that in I. ricinus infesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonotic Babesia protozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenic Borrelia spp. Diagnostic tests for Babesia spp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jeremy S. Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 N2E5 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
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13
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Gynthersen R, Ørbæk M, Høgdall E, Glintborg B, Ostrowski SR, Harritshøj L, Hetland ML, Lebech AM, Mens H. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is uncommon in rheumatological patients receiving tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and in blood donors: a retrospective cohort study. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003660. [PMID: 38176737 PMCID: PMC10773428 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003660] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neoehrlichia mikurensis is a tick-borne bacterium that primarily causes disease in immunocompromised patients. The bacterium has been detected in ticks throughout Europe, with a 0%-25% prevalence. N. mikurensis infection presents unspecific symptoms, which can easily be mistaken for inflammatory disease activity. We aimed to determine the prevalence of N. mikurensis in rheumatological patients receiving tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and a cohort of healthy individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective cohort study included 400 rheumatological patients treated with TNFi and 400 healthy blood donors. Plasma samples were retrieved from the Danish Rheumatological Biobank and the Danish Blood Donor Study between 2015 and 2022. Age, sex, diagnosis and duration of TNFi treatment were recovered from the Danish Rheumatological Database, DANBIO. Data on age and sex were available for the blood donors. One plasma sample per individual was tested for N. mikurensis DNA-specific real-time PCR targeting the groEL gene. RESULTS In the rheumatological patients, the median age was 61 years (IQR 55-68 years), 62% were women, and 44% had a diagnosis of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. In total, 54% of the patients were treated with infliximab. The median time from TNFi initiation to blood sampling was 20 months (IQR, 5-60 months). N. mikurensis DNA was not detected in any samples from patients or blood donors. CONCLUSION N. mikurensis infection does not appear to represent a prevalent risk in Danish rheumatological patients receiving TNFi or in blood donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Gynthersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathilde Ørbæk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Estrid Høgdall
- Bio- and Genome Bank Denmark (RBGB), Molecular Unit, Department of Pathology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Glintborg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DANBIO, The Danish Rheumatologic Biobank and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Sisse Rye Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Harritshøj
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Merete Lund Hetland
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DANBIO, The Danish Rheumatologic Biobank and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helene Mens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Díaz-Corona C, Roblejo-Arias L, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Foucault-Simonin A, Galon C, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernández L, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Wozniak A, Castro-Montes de Oca MK, Lobo-Rivero E, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Corona-González B, Cabezas-Cruz A. Microfluidic PCR and network analysis reveals complex tick-borne pathogen interactions in the tropics. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:5. [PMID: 38178247 PMCID: PMC10765916 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06098-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ixodid ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., are important vectors of various disease-causing agents in dogs and humans in Cuba. However, our understading of interactions among tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in infected dogs or the vector R. sanguineus s.l. remains limited. This study integrates microfluidic-based high-throughput real-time PCR data, Yule's Q statistic, and network analysis to elucidate pathogen-pathogen interactions in dogs and ticks in tropical western Cuba. METHODS A cross-sectional study involving 46 client-owned dogs was conducted. Blood samples were collected from these dogs, and ticks infesting the same dogs were morphologically and molecularly identified. Nucleic acids were extracted from both canine blood and tick samples. Microfluidic-based high-throughput real-time PCR was employed to detect 25 bacterial species, 10 parasite species, 6 bacterial genera, and 4 parasite taxa, as well as to confirm the identity of the collected ticks. Validation was performed through end-point PCR assays and DNA sequencing analysis. Yule's Q statistic and network analysis were used to analyse the associations between different TBP species based on binary presence-absence data. RESULTS The study revealed a high prevalence of TBPs in both dogs and R. sanguineus s.l., the only tick species found on the dogs. Hepatozoon canis and Ehrlichia canis were among the most common pathogens detected. Co-infections were observed, notably between E. canis and H. canis. Significant correlations were found between the presence of Anaplasma platys and H. canis in both dogs and ticks. A complex co-occurrence network among haemoparasite species was identified, highlighting potential facilitative and inhibitory roles. Notably, H. canis was found as a highly interconnected node, exhibiting significant positive associations with various taxa, including A. platys, and E. canis, suggesting facilitative interactions among these pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis showed genetic diversity in the detected TBPs. CONCLUSIONS Overall, this research enhances our understanding of TBPs in Cuba, providing insights into their prevalence, associations, and genetic diversity, with implications for disease surveillance and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Díaz-Corona
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lisset Roblejo-Arias
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Adrian A Díaz-Sánchez
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Wozniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St, 20-080, Lublin, Poland
| | - María Karla Castro-Montes de Oca
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Evelyn Lobo-Rivero
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Belkis Corona-González
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, 32700, San José de Las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba.
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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15
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Melis S, Batisti Biffignandi G, Olivieri E, Galon C, Vicari N, Prati P, Moutailler S, Sassera D, Castelli M. High-throughput screening of pathogens in Ixodes ricinus removed from hosts in Lombardy, northern Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102285. [PMID: 38035456 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of many pathogens in Europe, where the most impactful species is Ixodes ricinus. Recently, the geographical distribution of this tick species has been expanding, resulting in an increased risk of human exposure to tick bites. With the present study, we aimed to screen 350 I. ricinus specimens collected from humans and wild animals (mainly ungulates), to have a broader understanding of the tick-borne pathogens circulating in the Lombardy region, in northern Italy. To do so, we took advantage of a high-throughput real-time microfluidic PCR approach to screen ticks in a cost-effective and time-saving manner. Molecular analysis of the dataset revealed the presence of four genera of bacteria and two genera of protozoa: in ungulates, 77 % of collected ticks carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum, while the most common pathogen species in ticks removed from humans were those belonging to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group (7.6 %). We also detected other pathogenic microorganisms, such as Rickettisa monacensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Babesia venatorum, and Hepatozoon martis. Besides, we also reported the presence of the pathogenic agent Borrelia miyamotoi in the area (1.4 % overall). The most common dual co-infection detected in the same tick individual involved A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. Our study provided evidence of the circulation of different tick-borne pathogens in a densely populated region in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Melis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | - Clémence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Nadia Vicari
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | - Paola Prati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia Italy
| | - Michele Castelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
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16
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D'Addiego J, Wand N, Afrough B, Fletcher T, Kurosaki Y, Leblebicioglu H, Hewson R. Recovery of complete genome sequences of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) directly from clinical samples: A comparative study between targeted enrichment and metagenomic approaches. J Virol Methods 2024; 323:114833. [PMID: 37879367 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is the most prevalent human tick-borne viral disease, endemic to the Balkans, Africa, Middle East and Asia. There are currently no licensed vaccines or effective antivirals against CCHF. CCHF virus (CCHFV) has a negative sense segmented tripartite RNA genome consisting of the small (S), medium (M) and large (L) segments. Depending on the segment utilised for genetic affiliation, there are up to 7 circulating lineages of CCHFV. The current lack of geographical representation of CCHFV sequences in various repositories highlights a requirement for increased CCHFV sequencing capabilities in endemic regions. We have optimised and established a multiplex PCR tiling methodology for the targeted enrichment of complete genomes of Europe 1 CCHFV lineage directly from clinical samples and compared its performance to a non-targeted enrichment approach on both short-read and long-read sequencing platforms. We have found a statistically significant increase in mapped viral sequencing reads produced with our targeted enrichment approach. This has allowed us to recover near complete S segment sequences and above 90% of the M and L segment sequences for samples with Ct values as high as 31.3. This study demonstrates the superiority of a targeted enrichment approach for recovery of CCHFV genomic sequences from samples with low virus titre. CCHFV is an important vector-borne human pathogen with wide geographical distribution. The validated methodology reported here adds value to front-line public health laboratories employing genomic sequencing for CCHFV Europe 1 lineage surveillance, particularly in the Balkan and Middle Eastern territories currently monitoring the spread of the pathogen. Tracking the genomic evolution of the virus across regions improves risk assessment and directly informs the development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jake D'Addiego
- UK Health Security Agency, Science Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Nadina Wand
- UK Health Security Agency, Science Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Babak Afrough
- UK Health Security Agency, Science Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Fletcher
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Yohei Kurosaki
- National Research Centre for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Japan
| | | | - Roger Hewson
- UK Health Security Agency, Science Group, Porton Down, Salisbury, United Kingdom; Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom; National Research Centre for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Japan
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17
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Moutailler S, Galon C. Real-Time Microfluidic PCRs: A High-Throughput Method to Detect 48 or 96 Tick-borne Pathogens in 48 or 96 Samples. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2742:1-17. [PMID: 38165611 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3561-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are often detected through classical molecular tools (PCR, nested PCR, real-time PCR), but these are limited in terms of the number of targeted pathogens due to the volume of DNA available for analysis. To solve this problem, in 2014 we developed a new high-throughput method based on real-time microfluidic PCRs that can detect 48 or 96 pathogens in 48 or 96 samples in a single run, such as ten species from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group. We then used this technique for large-scale epidemiological studies of TBPs in tick and animal samples on an international scale through numerous collaborative projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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18
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Stegmüller S, Qi W, Torgerson PR, Fraefel C, Kubacki J. Hazard potential of Swiss Ixodes ricinus ticks: Virome composition and presence of selected bacterial and protozoan pathogens. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290942. [PMID: 37956168 PMCID: PMC10642849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks play an important role in transmitting many different emerging zoonotic pathogens that pose a significant threat to human and animal health. In Switzerland and abroad, the number of tick-borne diseases, in particular tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), has been increasing over the last few years. Thus, it remains essential to investigate the pathogen spectrum of ticks to rapidly detect emerging pathogens and initiate the necessary measures. To assess the risk of tick-borne diseases in different regions of Switzerland, we collected a total of 10'286 ticks from rural and urban areas in ten cantons in 2021 and 2022. Ticks were pooled according to species, developmental stage, gender, and collection site, and analyzed using next generation sequencing (NGS) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The metagenomic analysis revealed for the first time the presence of Alongshan virus (ALSV) in Swiss ticks. Interestingly, the pool-prevalence of ALSV was higher than that of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Furthermore, several TBEV foci have been identified and pool prevalence of selected non-viral pathogens determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Stegmüller
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Weihong Qi
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul R. Torgerson
- Section of Epidemiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cornel Fraefel
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jakub Kubacki
- Institute of Virology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, Mittelhäusern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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19
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Jensen BB, Andersen NS, Wölfel S, Chen M, Paarup HM, Olesen CR, Fournier PE, Jensen PM, Skarphedinsson S. Rickettsiosis in Denmark: A nation-wide survey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102236. [PMID: 37708802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsia helvetica has been reported at varying prevalences in Danish and other European Ixodes ricinus populations. Though apparently widespread and with reported cases of human infection, the significance of the bacteria as a threat to public health remains unclear. We present a nation-wide survey of rickettsia in ticks, roe deer and humans in Denmark. Ticks were collected by flagging and screened for presence of rickettsial DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Sera from roe deer, hunters, neuroborreliosis patients and blood donors were analyzed for presence of anti-R. helvetica and Rickettsia felis antibodies by immunofluorescence microscopy. The Rickettsia minimum infection rate in ticks was 4.9 % (367/973 pools positive, 7510 ticks in total), with 3.9 % in nymphs and 9.3 % in adults. Rickettsia helvetica accounted for 4.17 % and Rickettsia monacensis for 0.03 %, 0.6 % comprised non-differentiable rickettsial DNA. The prevalence of antibodies against R. helvetica was 2.8 % (9/319) in roe deer, while no hunters (n = 536) or blood donors (n = 181) were positive. The prevalence of anti-R. helvetica antibodies among Lyme neuroborreliosis patients was 6 % (3/47), where it co-occurred with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Based on our study autochthonous rickettsiosis is of limited concern to the public health in Denmark, but our finding of R. monacensis for the first time in Denmark illustrates the dynamic nature of tick-borne pathogens, emphasizing that continuous surveillance is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Bødker Jensen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Nanna Skaarup Andersen
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Silke Wölfel
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany; amedes MVZ for Laboratory Medicine and Microbiology, Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital of Southern Jutland, Soenderborg, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Helene M Paarup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Pierre Edouard Fournier
- Aix-Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France; IHU-Mediterranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | | | - Sigurdur Skarphedinsson
- Clinical Centre for Emerging and Vector-borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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20
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Omazic A, Han S, Albihn A, Ullman K, Choklikitumnuey P, Perissinotto D, Grandi G. Ixodid tick species found in northern Sweden - Data from a frontier area. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102244. [PMID: 37611507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and climatic changes in northern Europe have shaped a geographical area in which new tick species may become established and introduce new tick-borne pathogens. In recent decades, ticks have expanded their latitudinal and altitudinal range limits in northern Sweden. In this study, ticks were collected in 2018 and 2019 in northern Sweden from different hosts, mainly from dogs, cats and humans. The ticks in 2018 (n = 2141, collected from 65 municipalities in 11 provinces) were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n = 2108, 98.5%), Ixodes persulcatus (n = 18, 0.8%), Ixodes trianguliceps (n = 14, 0.7%) and Hyalomma marginatum (n = 1, 0.05%). The ticks collected in 2019 (n = 519, across a smaller area than in 2018, i.e. Sweden's four northernmost provinces) were identified as I. ricinus (n = 242, 46.6%) and I. persulcatus (n = 277, 53.4%). Among those collected in 2019, the majority of I. ricinus (n = 111, 45.9%) were submitted from the province of Västerbotten, while most I. persulcatus (n = 259, 93.5%) were collected in the province of Norrbotten. This study provides updated figures on the geographical distribution of two Ixodes species in northern Sweden. The results confirmed I. ricinus to be the dominant species and that I. persulcatus has enlarged its distributional area compared with previous reports. Updated knowledge of tick distribution is fundamental for the creation of risk maps and will allow relevant advice to be provided to the general public, suggesting measures to prevent tick bites and consequently tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Omazic
- Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden.
| | - Seungeun Han
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | - Ann Albihn
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Ullman
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | - Phimphanit Choklikitumnuey
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Debora Perissinotto
- Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
| | - Giulio Grandi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala SE-751 89, Sweden
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21
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Delannoy S, Hoffer C, Tran ML, Madec JY, Brisabois A, Fach P, Haenni M. High throughput qPCR analyses suggest that Enterobacterales of French sheep and cow cheese rarely carry genes conferring resistances to critically important antibiotics for human medicine. Int J Food Microbiol 2023; 403:110303. [PMID: 37384974 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria present in raw milk can carry acquired or intrinsic antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). However, only a few studies have evaluated raw milk cheese as a potential reservoir of ARGs. This study thus aimed at providing new data regarding resistance markers present in raw milk cheese. Sheep (n = 360) and cow (n = 360) cheese samples produced in France were incubated in buffered peptone water supplemented with acriflavin or novobiocin; as corroborated by 16S metabarcoding, samples were enriched in Gram-negative bacteria since Escherichia coli and Hafnia alvei respectively accounted for 40 % and 20 % of the samples' microbiota. Screening of the samples for the presence of 30 ARGs and 16 MGEs by high throughput qPCR array showed that nine ARGs conferring resistances to 1st-generation beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, trimethoprim/sulfonamides and tetracyclines occurred in >75 % of both sheep and cow samples. This is neither surprising nor alarming since these resistance genes are widely spread across the One Health human, animal and environmental sectors. Conversely, genes conferring resistances to last-generations cephalosporins were rarely identified, while those conferring resistances to carbapenems or amikacin, which are restricted to human use, were never detected. Multiple MGEs were detected, the most frequent ones being IncF plasmids, confirming the potential transmission of ARGs. Our results are in line with the few studies of the resistome of milk or milk cheese showing that genes conferring resistances to 1st-generation beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and tetracyclines families are widespread, while those conferring resistances to critically important antibiotics are rare or absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Delannoy
- COLiPATH Unit & Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France.
| | - Corine Hoffer
- COLiPATH Unit & Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Maï-Lan Tran
- COLiPATH Unit & Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-Yves Madec
- ANSES - Université de Lyon, Unité Antibiorésistance et Virulence Bactériennes, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Anne Brisabois
- Strategy and Programs Department, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- COLiPATH Unit & Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marisa Haenni
- ANSES - Université de Lyon, Unité Antibiorésistance et Virulence Bactériennes, 69007 Lyon, France
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22
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Zając Z, Kulisz J, Woźniak A, Bartosik K, Foucault-Simonin A, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland. Pathogens 2023; 12:1186. [PMID: 37764994 PMCID: PMC10534405 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091186] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In mountainous regions, diverse ecosystems provide a habitat for numerous species of organisms. In this study, we focused on ixodid ticks and their presence in the Western Carpathians, Poland. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of environmental factors on tick occurrence and activity, the prevalence of vectored pathogens, and tick hosts, and their role as reservoir organisms for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). To this end, we collected ticks from the vegetation and from animals (Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Capreolus capreolus, Microtus spp., Myodes glareolus, Ovis aries). In addition, we collected blood samples from rodents. The collected material underwent molecular analysis, utilizing the high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR technique, to detect the presence of TBPs. Our findings confirmed the occurrence of only two species of ixodid ticks in the study area: the dominant Ixodes ricinus, and Dermacentor reticulatus with very limited abundance. Temperature significantly influenced tick activity, and the number of I. ricinus nymphs varied with altitude. We also observed a circadian pattern of questing activity in I. ricinus ticks. The main hosts for juvenile tick stages were M. glareolus and A. agrarius, while adult stages were frequently found on C. capreolus. I. ricinus ticks collected from the vegetation were often infected with Rickettsia helvetica (up to 35.71%), Borrelia afzelii (up to 28.57%), and Ehrlichia spp. (up to 9.52%). In contrast, juvenile stages frequently carried Bartonella spp. (up to 10.00%), Mycoplasma spp. (up to 16.67%) and R. helvetica (up to 16.67%). Moreover, we detected genetic material of Mycoplasma spp. (up to 100.00%), Ehrlichia spp. (up to 35.71%), Bartonella spp. (up to 25.00%), and Borrelia spp. (up to 6.25%) in rodent blood samples. The obtained results indicate A. agrarius and M. glareolus as reservoir animals for TBPs in the studied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.W.); (K.B.)
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.W.); (K.B.)
| | - Aneta Woźniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.W.); (K.B.)
| | - Katarzyna Bartosik
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (A.W.); (K.B.)
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.-S.); (S.M.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.-S.); (S.M.)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France; (A.F.-S.); (S.M.)
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23
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Corduneanu A, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Wozniak A, Foucault-Simonin A, Moutailler S, Wu-Chuang A, Peter Á, Sándor AD, Cabezas-Cruz A. Detection of bacterial and protozoan pathogens in individual bats and their ectoparasites using high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0153123. [PMID: 37606379 PMCID: PMC10581248 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01531-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the most studied mammals in terms of their role in the spread of various pathogens with possible zoonotic effects are bats. These are animals with a very complex lifestyle, diet, and behavior. They are able to fly long distances, thus maintaining and spreading the pathogens they may be carrying. These pathogens also include vector-borne parasites and bacteria that can be spread by ectoparasites such as ticks and bat flies. In the present study, high-throughput screening was performed and we detected three bacterial pathogens: Bartonella spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis and Mycoplasma spp., and a protozoan parasite: Theileria spp. in paired samples from bats (blood and ectoparasites). In the samples from the bat-arthropod pairs, we were able to detect Bartonella spp. and Mycoplasma spp. which also showed a high phylogenetic diversity, demonstrating the importance of these mammals and the arthropods associated with them in maintaining the spread of pathogens. Previous studies have also reported the presence of these pathogens, with one exception, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, for which phylogenetic analysis revealed less genetic divergence. High-throughput screening can detect more bacteria and parasites at once, reduce screening costs, and improve knowledge of bats as reservoirs of vector-borne pathogens. IMPORTANCE The increasing number of zoonotic pathogens is evident through extensive studies and expanded animal research. Bats, known for their role as reservoirs for various viruses, continue to be significant. However, new findings highlight the emergence of Bartonella spp., such as the human-infecting B. mayotimonensis from bats. Other pathogens like N. mikurensis, Mycoplasma spp., and Theileria spp. found in bat blood and ectoparasites raise concerns, as their impact remains uncertain. These discoveries underscore the urgency for heightened vigilance and proactive measures to understand and monitor zoonotic pathogens. By deepening our knowledge and collaboration, we can mitigate these risks, safeguarding human and animal well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Animal Breeding and Animal Production, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Aneta Wozniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Áron Peter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
- ELKH-ÁTE Climate Change: New Blood-sucking Parasites and Vector-borne Pathogens Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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24
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Maitre A, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernández L, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Foucault-Simonin A, Cicculli V, Moutailler S, Paoli JC, Falchi A, Obregón D, Cabezas-Cruz A. Rickettsial pathogens drive microbiota assembly in Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa ticks. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4660-4676. [PMID: 37366236 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Most tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are secondarily acquired by ticks during feeding on infected hosts, which imposes 'priority effect' constraints, as arrival order influences the establishment of new species in a microbial community. Here we tested whether once acquired, TBPs contribute to bacterial microbiota functioning by increasing community stability. For this, we used Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus bursa ticks collected from cattle in different locations of Corsica and combined 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and co-occurrence network analysis, with high-throughput pathogen detection, and in silico removal of nodes to test for impact of rickettsial pathogens on network properties. Despite its low centrality, Rickettsia showed preferential connections in the networks, notably with a keystone taxon in H. marginatum, suggesting facilitation of Rickettsia colonisation by the keystone taxon. In addition, conserved patterns of community assembly in both tick species were affected by Rickettsia removal, suggesting that privileged connections of Rickettsia in the networks make this taxon a driver of community assembly. However, Rickettsia removal had minor impact on the conserved 'core bacterial microbiota' of H. marginatum and R. bursa. Interestingly, networks of the two tick species with Rickettsia have similar node centrality distribution, a property that is lost after Rickettsia removal, suggesting that this taxon drives specific hierarchical interactions between bacterial microbes in the microbiota. The study indicates that tick-borne Rickettsia play a significant role in the tick bacterial microbiota, despite their low centrality. These bacteria are influential and contribute to the conservation of the 'core bacterial microbiota' while also promoting community stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apolline Maitre
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
- INRAE, UR 0045 Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L'Elevage (SELMET-LRDE), Corte, France
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, Corte, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, San José de las Lajas, Cuba
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Vincent Cicculli
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, Corte, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Paoli
- INRAE, UR 0045 Laboratoire de Recherches Sur Le Développement de L'Elevage (SELMET-LRDE), Corte, France
| | - Alessandra Falchi
- EA 7310, Laboratoire de Virologie, Université de Corse, Corte, France
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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25
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Piloto-Sardiñas E, Foucault-Simonin A, Wu-Chuang A, Mateos-Hernández L, Marrero-Perera R, Abuin-Denis L, Roblejo-Arias L, Díaz-Corona C, Zając Z, Kulisz J, Woźniak A, Moutailler S, Corona-González B, Cabezas-Cruz A. Dynamics of Infections in Cattle and Rhipicephalus microplus: A Preliminary Study. Pathogens 2023; 12:998. [PMID: 37623958 PMCID: PMC10458817 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) pose a significant threat to livestock, including bovine species. This study aimed to investigate TBPs in cattle and ticks across four sampling points, utilizing real-time microfluidic PCR. The results revealed that Rhipicephalus microplus ticks were found infesting all animals. Among the detected TBPs in cattle, Anaplasma marginale was the most frequently identified, often as a single infection, although mixed infections involving Rickettsia felis, uncharacterized Rickettsia sp., and Anaplasma sp. were also observed. In ticks, A. marginale was predominant, along with R. felis, Rickettsia sp., and Ehrlichia sp. It is noteworthy that although A. marginale consistently infected all cattle during various sampling times, this pathogen was not detected in all ticks. This suggests a complex dynamic of pathogen acquisition by ticks. A phylogenetic analysis focused on the identification of Anaplasma species using amplified 16S rDNA gene fragments revealed the presence of A. marginale and Anaplasma platys strains in bovines. These findings underscore the presence of multiple TBPs in both cattle and ticks, with A. marginale being the most prevalent. Understanding the dynamics and phylogenetics of TBPs is crucial for developing effective control strategies to mitigate tick-borne diseases in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba; (R.M.-P.); (L.R.-A.); (C.D.-C.)
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
| | - Roxana Marrero-Perera
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba; (R.M.-P.); (L.R.-A.); (C.D.-C.)
| | - Lianet Abuin-Denis
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
| | - Lisset Roblejo-Arias
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba; (R.M.-P.); (L.R.-A.); (C.D.-C.)
| | - Cristian Díaz-Corona
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba; (R.M.-P.); (L.R.-A.); (C.D.-C.)
| | - Zbigniew Zając
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (Z.Z.); (J.K.); (A.W.)
| | - Joanna Kulisz
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (Z.Z.); (J.K.); (A.W.)
| | - Aneta Woźniak
- Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11 St., 20-080 Lublin, Poland; (Z.Z.); (J.K.); (A.W.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
| | - Belkis Corona-González
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas 32700, Mayabeque, Cuba; (R.M.-P.); (L.R.-A.); (C.D.-C.)
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort 94700, France; (E.P.-S.); (A.F.-S.); (A.W.-C.); (L.M.-H.); (L.A.-D.)
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26
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Teng Z, Shi Y, Zhao N, Zhang X, Jin X, He J, Xu B, Qin T. Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Bacterial and Protozoan Pathogens in Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks from Free-Ranging Domestic Sheep in Hebei Province, China. Pathogens 2023; 12:763. [PMID: 37375453 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens significantly threaten human and animal health worldwide. Haemaphysalis longicornis is one of the dominant tick species in East Asia, including China. In the present study, 646 Ha. longicornis ticks were collected from free-ranging domestic sheep in the southern region of Hebei Province, China. Tick-borne pathogens of zoonotic and veterinary importance (i.e., Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Borrelia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon spp.) were detected in the ticks using PCR assays and sequence analysis. The prevalence rates of these pathogens were 5.1% (33/646), 15.9% (103/646), 1.2% (8/646), 17.0% (110/646), 0.15% (1/646), and 0.15% (1/646), respectively. For Rickettsia spp., R. japonica (n = 13), R. raoultii (n = 6), and Candidatus R. jingxinensis (n = 14) were detected for the first time in the province, while several Anaplasma spp. were also detected in the ticks, including A. bovis (n = 52), A. ovis (n = 31), A. phagocytophilum (n = 10), and A. capra (n = 10). A putative novel Ehrlichia spp. was also found with a prevalence of 1.2% in the area. The present study provides important data for effectively controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases in the Hebei Province region of China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqiu Teng
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Shijiazhuang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Na Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiaojing Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Jia He
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Baohong Xu
- Shijiazhuang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shijiazhuang 050021, China
| | - Tian Qin
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
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Quarsten H, Henningsson A, Krogfelt K, Strube C, Wennerås C, Mavin S. Tick-borne diseases under the radar in the North Sea Region. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102185. [PMID: 37116420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia species on public health is largely unknown. Data on the prevalence of these pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from seven countries within the North Sea Region in Europe as well as the types and availability of diagnostic tests and the main clinical features of their corresponding diseases is reported and discussed. Raised awareness is needed to discover cases of these under-recognized types of tick-borne disease, which should provide valuable insights into these diseases and their clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Quarsten
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand 4615, Norway.
| | - Anna Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Jönköping, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping 55185, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Karen Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, University of Roskilde, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover 30559, Germany
| | - Christine Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg 413 46, Sweden
| | - Sally Mavin
- Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections Reference Laboratory, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness IV2 3BW, United Kingdom
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28
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Villar D, Beltran DG, Schwartz K, Magstadt D, Brewer M. Diagnosis of Anaplasma marginale in cattle at the Iowa State University veterinary diagnostic laboratory 2003-2021. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 39:100845. [PMID: 36878630 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma marginale is a blood-borne rickettsia-like organism that infects cattle erythrocytes and causes anaplasmosis. This study reviews diagnostic data of all A. marginale diagnostics performed from 2003 to August 2021 in the Iowa State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Typically, the referring veterinarian's initial tentative diagnosis was based on presenting clinical signs or necropsy findings. Confirmatory testing at the ISU-VDL consisted of light microscopy evaluation of stained blood smears or molecular diagnostic procedures. A total of 94 cases were submitted with tissue samples from deceased animals, of which 79 were from Iowa and 15 were from other states. The most typical gross lesions were widespread yellow adipose tissue and splenomegaly. Typical histopathological lesions included marked bile stasis and hemosiderin-laden macrophages in the liver and spleen, respectively. Starting in 2013, when PCR was implemented to confirm cases of anaplasmosis, 315/1125 (28%) were positive to A. marginale, and 810 were negative, using a cut-off of 35.0 Ct. The average (±SD) of the positive PCR Ct was 19.5 (±6.0), and the first and third quartiles were 14.9 and 23.4. Most cases occurred between August and November, peaking in September, whether from necropsies or positive blood samples by PCR. The most common tick observed in Iowa, Dermacentor variabilis, is likely the main vector for transmission. Further surveys should be conducted to estimate seroprevalence by geographical location, the density of cattle populations, distribution of known vectors according to season, and strains of A. marginale.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Villar
- CIBAV Group, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Calle 70; No. 52-21, Medellin 050010, Colombia.
| | - David Gomez Beltran
- CIBAV Group, Faculty of Agrarian Sciences, University of Antioquia, Calle 70; No. 52-21, Medellin 050010, Colombia
| | - Kent Schwartz
- Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 1850 Christensen Drive, Ames, Iowa 50011-1134, USA
| | - Drew Magstadt
- Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 1850 Christensen Drive, Ames, Iowa 50011-1134, USA
| | - Matthew Brewer
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ames, Iowa 50011-1134, USA
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29
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Gynthersen RMM, Hansen MF, Ocias LF, Kjaer A, Petersen RF, Ostrowski SR, Harritshøj L, Jacobsen S, Overgaard U, Krogfelt KA, Lebech AM, Mens H. Neoehrlichia mikurensis in Danish immunocompromised patients: a retrospective cohort study. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2023; 22:20. [PMID: 36941613 PMCID: PMC10026440 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-023-00571-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick-borne bacterium, Neoehrlichia mikurensis (N. mikurensis) can cause severe febrile illness and thromboembolic complications in immunocompromised individuals. We investigated the presence of N. mikurensis DNA in retrospectively collected plasma from a well-characterized cohort of Danish immunocompromised patients. METHODS Plasma samples from 239 patients with immune dysfunction related to hematological or rheumatological disease or due to immunosuppressive therapy, were retrieved from a transdisciplinary biobank (PERSIMUNE) at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Serving as immunocompetent controls, plasma samples from 192 blood donors were included. All samples were collected between 2015 and 2019. Real-time PCR targeting the groEL gene was used to detect N. mikurensis DNA. Sequencing was used for confirmation. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA as a proxy of tick exposure. Prevalence was compared using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA was detected in 3/239 (1.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3 - 3.6%) patients, all of whom primarily had a hematological disease. Follow-up samples of these patients were negative. N. mikurensis DNA was not detected in any of the blood donor samples. IgG antibodies against B. burgdorferi s.l. were detected with similar prevalence in immunocompromised patients and blood donors, i.e., 18/239 (7.5%, 95% CI: 4.8-11.5%) and 11/192 (5.7%, 95%: CI 3.2-10.0%). CONCLUSION In this study, patients with N. mikurensis were not identified by clinical indication and N. mikurensis may therefore be underdiagnosed in Danish patients. Further investigations are needed to explore the clinical significance and implications of this infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Maja Møhring Gynthersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Mette Frimodt Hansen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Lukas Frans Ocias
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Karlstad Hospital, Region Värmland, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Andreas Kjaer
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine & Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet & Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Randi Føns Petersen
- Department of Bacteria, Fungi and Parasites, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sisse Rye Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lene Harritshøj
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Jacobsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Research Center for Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases - COPEACT, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Overgaard
- Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Helene Mens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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M’ghirbi Y, Mousson L, Moutailler S, Lecollinet S, Amaral R, Beck C, Aounallah H, Amara M, Chabchoub A, Rhim A, Failloux AB, Bouattour A. West Nile, Sindbis and Usutu Viruses: Evidence of Circulation in Mosquitoes and Horses in Tunisia. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030360. [PMID: 36986282 PMCID: PMC10056592 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mosquito-borne diseases have a significant impact on humans and animals and this impact is exacerbated by environmental changes. However, in Tunisia, surveillance of the West Nile virus (WNV) is based solely on the surveillance of human neuroinvasive infections and no study has reported mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs), nor has there been any thorough serological investigation of anti-MBV antibodies in horses. This study therefore sought to investigate the presence of MBVs in Tunisia. Among tested mosquito pools, infections by WNV, Usutu virus (USUV), and Sindbis virus (SINV) were identified in Cx. perexiguus. The serosurvey showed that 146 of 369 surveyed horses were positive for flavivirus antibodies using the cELISA test. The microsphere immunoassay (MIA) showed that 74 of 104 flavivirus cELISA-positive horses were positive for WNV, 8 were positive for USUV, 7 were positive for undetermined flaviviruses, and 2 were positive for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). Virus neutralization tests and MIA results correlated well. This study is the first to report the detection of WNV, USUV and SINV in Cx. perexiguus in Tunisia. Besides, it has shown that there is a significant circulation of WNV and USUV among horses, which is likely to cause future sporadic outbreaks. An integrated arbovirus surveillance system that includes entomological surveillance as an early alert system is of major epidemiological importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youmna M’ghirbi
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Correspondence: or
| | - Laurence Mousson
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Virology, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, INRAE, ANSES, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris-Est, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sylvie Lecollinet
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Rayane Amaral
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cécile Beck
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Hajer Aounallah
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Meriem Amara
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ahmed Chabchoub
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, La Manouba 2010, Tunisia
| | - Adel Rhim
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Anna-Bella Failloux
- Institut Pasteur, Department of Virology, Arboviruses and Insect Vectors, 25-28 Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris, France
| | - Ali Bouattour
- Laboratoire Des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
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Cleveland DW, Anderson CC, Brissette CA. Borrelia miyamotoi: A Comprehensive Review. Pathogens 2023; 12:267. [PMID: 36839539 PMCID: PMC9967256 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere and is the causative agent of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). Borrelia miyamotoi is vectored by the same hard-bodied ticks as Lyme disease Borrelia, yet phylogenetically groups with relapsing fever Borrelia, and thus, has been uniquely labeled a hard tick-borne relapsing fever Borrelia. Burgeoning research has uncovered new aspects of B. miyamotoi in human patients, nature, and the lab. Of particular interest are novel findings on disease pathology, prevalence, diagnostic methods, ecological maintenance, transmission, and genetic characteristics. Herein, we review recent literature on B. miyamotoi, discuss how findings adapt to current Borrelia doctrines, and briefly consider what remains unknown about B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Catherine A. Brissette
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
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Banović P, Piloto-Sardiñas E, Mijatović D, Foucault-Simonin A, Simin V, Bogdan I, Obregón D, Mateos-Hernández L, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Differential detection of tick-borne pathogens in human platelets and whole blood using microfluidic PCR. Acta Trop 2023; 238:106756. [PMID: 36435213 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) with adhesive phenotype can use platelets for dissemination and colonization of distant tissues and organs, and it has been shown that they can be found concentrated in the platelet fraction of blood. This study shows the differential presence of TBPs in samples of human platelet fraction (n = 68), whole blood samples (n = 68) and ticks collected (n = 76) from the same individuals, using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. Tick species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Eight patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including non-specific lesions, itching sensation at the lesion site, and eschar. Most common TBPs detected in platelet fraction were Borrelia spielmanii and Rickettsia sp., followed by Borrelia afzelii and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Multiple infections with three TBPs were detected in platelet fraction. In whole blood, most common TBPs detected were Anaplasma spp. and A. phagocytophilum, followed by Rickettsia spp. and B. afzelii. In ticks, the most common TBP detected was Rickettsia spp., followed by Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma spp. Overall, nine different pathogens with variable prevalence were identified using species-specific primers, and the most common was Rickettsia helvetica. In three patients, there were no coincidences between the TBPs detected in whole blood and tick samples. Only in one patient was detected A. phagocytophilum in both, whole blood and tick samples. These results suggest the unequal detection of TBPs in whole blood, platelet fraction and ticks collected, from the same individual. The results justify the use of both whole blood and platelet fraction for molecular diagnosis of TBPs in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia; Department of Microbiology With Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas
- Direction of Animal Health, National Center for Animal and Plant Health, Carretera de Tapaste y Autopista Nacional, Apartado Postal 10, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque 32700, Cuba
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Verica Simin
- Department for Microbiological & Other Diagnostics, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Ivana Bogdan
- Department for Microbiological & Other Diagnostics, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Science, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Lourdes Mateos-Hernández
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, F-94700, France.
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Grandi G, Chiappa G, Ullman K, Lindgren PE, Olivieri E, Sassera D, Östlund E, Omazic A, Perissinotto D, Söderlund R. Characterization of the bacterial microbiome of Swedish ticks through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of whole ticks and of individual tick organs. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:39. [PMID: 36717919 PMCID: PMC9885626 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05638-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The composition of the microbial flora associated with ixodid ticks has been studied in several species, revealing the importance of geographical origin, developmental stage(s) and feeding status of the tick, as well as substantial differences between tissues and organs. Studying the microbiome in the correct context and scale is therefore necessary for understanding the interactions between tick-borne pathogens and other microorganisms as well as other aspects of tick biology. METHODS In the present study the microbial flora of whole Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus and I. trianguliceps ticks were analyzed with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Additionally, tick organs (midguts, Malpighian tubules, ovaries, salivary glands) from flat and engorged I. ricinus female ticks were examined with the same methodology. RESULTS The most abundant bacteria belonged to the group of Proteobacteria (Cand. Midichloria mitochondrii and Cand. Lariskella). 16S amplicon sequencing of dissected tick organs provided more information on the diversity of I. ricinus-associated microbial flora, especially when organs were collected from engorged ticks. Bacterial genera significantly associated with tick feeding status as well as genera associated with the presence of tick-borne pathogens were identified. CONCLUSIONS These results contribute to the knowledge of microbial flora associated with ixodid ticks in their northernmost distribution limit in Europe and opens new perspectives for other investigations on the function of these bacteria, including those using other approaches like in vitro cultivation and in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Grandi
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Ulls Väg 26, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Giulia Chiappa
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Ullman
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- grid.5640.70000 0001 2162 9922Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 85 Linköping, Sweden ,grid.413253.2Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, 551 85 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- grid.419583.20000 0004 1757 1598Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Strada Campeggi, 59/61, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Davide Sassera
- grid.8982.b0000 0004 1762 5736Department of Biology and Biotechnology “L. Spallanzani”, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Emma Östlund
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Omazic
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Chemistry, Environment, and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Debora Perissinotto
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Söderlund
- grid.419788.b0000 0001 2166 9211Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), 751 89 Uppsala, Sweden
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Presence of Anaplasma spp. and Their Associated Antibodies in the Swedish Goat Population. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030333. [PMID: 36766222 PMCID: PMC9913567 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030333] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease that has a severe impact on livestock production and welfare. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the presence of Anaplasma spp. and associated antibodies in a subset of the Swedish goat population. In 2020, six goat herds located in different parts of Sweden were visited and whole blood and serum samples were collected. The whole blood samples (n = 40) were analysed for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, A. ovis and A. capra using quantitative and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The serum samples (n = 59) were analysed for the presence of antibodies to Anaplasma spp. using a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the same analysis was carried out on additional serum samples previously collected in 2018, 2019 and 2020 (n = 166). One goat (2.5%) tested positive for the presence of A. phagocytophilum genetic material, while the seropositivity rate ranged from 20 to 71%, depending on the surveyed year and area. These results indicate widespread exposure to Anaplasma spp. in the Swedish goat population. To inform future risk assessments and control efforts, further research is warranted to determine the prevalence of anaplasmosis and its impact on goat farming in Sweden.
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Ghafar A, Davies N, Tadepalli M, Breidahl A, Death C, Haros P, Li Y, Dann P, Cabezas-Cruz A, Moutailler S, Foucault-Simonin A, Gauci CG, Stenos J, Hufschmid J, Jabbar A. Unravelling the Diversity of Microorganisms in Ticks from Australian Wildlife. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020153. [PMID: 36839425 PMCID: PMC9967841 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020153] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne pathogens pose a significant threat to the health and welfare of humans and animals. Our knowledge about pathogens carried by ticks of Australian wildlife is limited. This study aimed to characterise ticks and tick-borne microorganisms from a range of wildlife species across six sites in Victoria, Australia. Following morphological and molecular characterisation (targeting 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase I), tick DNA extracts (n = 140) were subjected to microfluidic real-time PCR-based screening for the detection of microorganisms and Rickettsia-specific real-time qPCRs. Five species of ixodid ticks were identified, including Aponomma auruginans, Ixodes (I.) antechini, I. kohlsi, I. tasmani and I. trichosuri. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA sequences of I. tasmani revealed two subclades, indicating a potential cryptic species. The microfluidic real-time PCR detected seven different microorganisms as a single (in 13/45 ticks) or multiple infections (27/45). The most common microorganisms detected were Apicomplexa (84.4%, 38/45) followed by Rickettsia sp. (55.6%, 25/45), Theileria sp. (22.2% 10/45), Bartonella sp. (17.8%, 8/45), Coxiella-like sp. (6.7%, 3/45), Hepatozoon sp. (2.2%, 1/45), and Ehrlichia sp. (2.2%, 1/45). Phylogenetic analyses of four Rickettsia loci showed that the Rickettsia isolates detected herein potentially belonged to a novel species of Rickettsia. This study demonstrated that ticks of Australian wildlife carry a diverse array of microorganisms. Given the direct and indirect human-wildlife-livestock interactions, there is a need to adopt a One Health approach for continuous surveillance of tick-associated pathogens/microorganisms to minimise the associated threats to animal and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Ghafar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Nick Davies
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Mythili Tadepalli
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Amanda Breidahl
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Clare Death
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Philip Haros
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Yuting Li
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Peter Dann
- Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Park, P.O. Box 97, Cowes, VIC 3922, Australia
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Charles G. Gauci
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - John Stenos
- Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
| | - Jasmin Hufschmid
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia
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Emerging tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsioses in the Balkans. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 107:105400. [PMID: 36586459 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The impact of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) on human health has increased in the last decades, since the incidence of emerging and re-emerging infectious and zoonotic tick-borne diseases has increased worldwide. Tick-borne rickettsiae of the Spotted Fever group (SFGR) are considered as emerging pathogens that can infect humans and cause a variety of non-specific clinical symptoms. Here, we report nine cases of atypical tick-borne diseases (9/460; 1.95%) that occurred over a period of four months (from 15 April 2021 to 16 August 2021) in Serbia, from which five cases were classified as confirmed SFGR infection, two cases as probable SFGR infection and two cases as suspected SFGR infection. Within cases of confirmed SFGR infection, R. helvetica was detected as the causative agent in two cases. The most common clinical finding was non-expanding persistent circular redness, followed by eschar and enlargement of regional lymph nodes, and pain at lesion site. Rickettsia outer membrane protein B (ompB) and citrate synthase (gltA) gene fragments were amplified from clinical samples and ticks attached to patients and IgG reacting with Rickettsia conorii antigen were detected in sera samples of patients, which are highly suggestive of exposure to SFGR. Surveillance and monitoring of rickettsial diseases in Serbia should continue and extended to new areas due to the increasing trend of clinical infections caused by SFGR in the country.
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Jaudou S, Deneke C, Tran ML, Schuh E, Goehler A, Vorimore F, Malorny B, Fach P, Grützke J, Delannoy S. A step forward for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli identification and characterization in raw milk using long-read metagenomics. Microb Genom 2022; 8:mgen000911. [PMID: 36748417 PMCID: PMC9836091 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000911] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a cause of severe human illness and are frequently associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in children. It remains difficult to identify virulence factors for STEC that absolutely predict the potential to cause human disease. In addition to the Shiga-toxin (stx genes), many additional factors have been reported, such as intimin (eae gene), which is clearly an aggravating factor for developing HUS. Current STEC detection methods classically rely on real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect the presence of the key virulence markers (stx and eae). Although qPCR gives an insight into the presence of these virulence markers, it is not appropriate for confirming their presence in the same strain. Therefore, isolation steps are necessary to confirm STEC viability and characterize STEC genomes. While STEC isolation is laborious and time-consuming, metagenomics has the potential to accelerate the STEC characterization process in an isolation-free manner. Recently, short-read sequencing metagenomics have been applied for this purpose, but assembly quality and contiguity suffer from the high proportion of mobile genetic elements occurring in STEC strains. To circumvent this problem, we used long-read sequencing metagenomics for identifying eae-positive STEC strains using raw cow's milk as a causative matrix for STEC food-borne outbreaks. By comparing enrichment conditions, optimizing library preparation for MinION sequencing and generating an easy-to-use STEC characterization pipeline, the direct identification of an eae-positive STEC strain was successful after enrichment of artificially contaminated raw cow's milk samples at a contamination level as low as 5 c.f.u. ml-1. Our newly developed method combines optimized enrichment conditions of STEC in raw milk in combination with a complete STEC analysis pipeline from long-read sequencing metagenomics data. This study shows the potential of the innovative methodology for characterizing STEC strains from complex matrices. Further developments will nonetheless be necessary for this method to be applied in STEC surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Jaudou
- COLiPATH Unit, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France,National Study Center for Sequencing, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Sandra Jaudou,
| | - Carlus Deneke
- National Study Center for Sequencing, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mai-Lan Tran
- COLiPATH Unit, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France,Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Elisabeth Schuh
- National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli including VTEC, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - André Goehler
- National Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli including VTEC, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Burkhard Malorny
- National Study Center for Sequencing, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Fach
- COLiPATH Unit, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France,Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Josephine Grützke
- National Study Center for Sequencing, Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- COLiPATH Unit, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France,Genomics Platform IdentyPath, Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, Maisons-Alfort, France,*Correspondence: Sabine Delannoy,
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Hodosi R, Kazimirova M, Soltys K. What do we know about the microbiome of I. ricinus? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:990889. [PMID: 36467722 PMCID: PMC9709289 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.990889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
I. ricinus is an obligate hematophagous parasitic arthropod that is responsible for the transmission of a wide range of zoonotic pathogens including spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, Rickettsia spp., C. burnetii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Francisella tularensis, which are part the tick´s microbiome. Most of the studies focus on "pathogens" and only very few elucidate the role of "non-pathogenic" symbiotic microorganisms in I. ricinus. While most of the members of the microbiome are leading an intracellular lifestyle, they are able to complement tick´s nutrition and stress response having a great impact on tick´s survival and transmission of pathogens. The composition of the tick´s microbiome is not consistent and can be tied to the environment, tick species, developmental stage, or specific organ or tissue. Ovarian tissue harbors a stable microbiome consisting mainly but not exclusively of endosymbiotic bacteria, while the microbiome of the digestive system is rather unstable, and together with salivary glands, is mostly comprised of pathogens. The most prevalent endosymbionts found in ticks are Rickettsia spp., Ricketsiella spp., Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, Spiroplasma spp. and Candidatus Midichloria spp. Since microorganisms can modify ticks' behavior, such as mobility, feeding or saliva production, which results in increased survival rates, we aimed to elucidate the potential, tight relationship, and interaction between bacteria of the I. ricinus microbiome. Here we show that endosymbionts including Coxiella-like spp., can provide I. ricinus with different types of vitamin B (B2, B6, B7, B9) essential for eukaryotic organisms. Furthermore, we hypothesize that survival of Wolbachia spp., or the bacterial pathogen A. phagocytophilum can be supported by the tick itself since coinfection with symbiotic Spiroplasma ixodetis provides I. ricinus with complete metabolic pathway of folate biosynthesis necessary for DNA synthesis and cell division. Manipulation of tick´s endosymbiotic microbiome could present a perspective way of I. ricinus control and regulation of spread of emerging bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Hodosi
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Maria Kazimirova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Soltys
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Defaye B, Moutailler S, Grech‐Angelini S, Galon C, Ferrandi S, Pasqualini V, Quilichini Y. Detecting zoonotic and non‐zoonotic pathogens in livestock and their ticks in Corsican wetlands. Vet Med Sci 2022; 8:2662-2677. [PMID: 36207820 PMCID: PMC9677362 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Corsica is a large French island in the Mediterranean Sea with high human and animal migration rates, especially near wetlands where these migrations are particularly frequent. Among the livestock populations, cattle and sheep are widely present all across the entire Mediterranean region. Trade can be responsible for the circulation of numerous pathogens and their vectors, thereby representing a health and economic threat for the livestock industry. Objectives The objective of our study was to investigate the presence of pathogens in cattle and sheep farms in the wetlands of Corsica using a high‐throughput screening technique. Methods In our study, blood samples and ticks were collected from cattle and sheep in 20 municipalities near Corsican wetlands to screen for the presence of various types of pathogens. The samples were processed using a high‐throughput screening technique based on real‐time microfluidic PCR: 45 pathogens were screened in 47 samples simultaneously. Results A total of 372 cattle and 74 sheep were sampled, and 444 ticks were collected from cattle. Out of the eight tick species detected, the main one was Rhipicephalus bursa (38.7% of the ticks collected). From cattle blood samples, one species and two genera were found: Anaplasma marginale, Trypanosoma sp. and Babesia sp. in respectively 61.5%, 58.3% and 12.2% of the cattle blood samples. From sheep blood samples, 74.3% were positive for Anaplasma sp, 2.7% for Anaplasma ovis and 1.4% for Anaplasma capra. This is the first report of A. ovis DNA in blood samples from sheep in Corsica. Out of 444 the tick samples, 114 were positive: 77.2% for Rickettsia aeschlimannii, 20.2% for Rickettsia sp., 3.5% for Babesia sp. and 1.8% for Anaplasma sp. Among them, 2.7% were co‐infected with R. aeschlimannii and Babesia sp. Conclusions Our results confirm the extent of possible circulation of different pathogens near Corsican wetlands, not only in ticks collected from livestock but also directly in cattle and sheep, with two (Trypanosoma sp. and Babesia sp.) being detected for the first time in cattle, one for the first time in sheep (A. ovis) and one for the first time in Corsica (A. capra)
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Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Defaye
- UMR CNRS SPE 6134 – Université de Corse Pascal Paoli Corte France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale Maisons‐Alfort France
| | | | - Clémence Galon
- ANSES INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale Maisons‐Alfort France
| | | | | | - Yann Quilichini
- UMR CNRS SPE 6134 – Université de Corse Pascal Paoli Corte France
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Gandy S, Kilbride E, Biek R, Millins C, Gilbert L. No net effect of host density on tick-borne disease hazard due to opposing roles of vector amplification and pathogen dilution. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9253. [PMID: 36091342 PMCID: PMC9448966 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To better understand vector‐borne disease dynamics, knowledge of the ecological interactions between animal hosts, vectors, and pathogens is needed. The effects of hosts on disease hazard depends on their role in driving vector abundance and their ability to transmit pathogens. Theoretically, a host that cannot transmit a pathogen could dilute pathogen prevalence but increase disease hazard if it increases vector population size. In the case of Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and vectored by Ixodid ticks, deer may have dual opposing effects on vectors and pathogen: deer drive tick population densities but do not transmit B. burgdorferi s.l. and could thus decrease or increase disease hazard. We aimed to test for the role of deer in shaping Lyme disease hazard by using a wide range of deer densities while taking transmission host abundance into account. We predicted that deer increase nymphal tick abundance while reducing pathogen prevalence. The resulting impact of deer on disease hazard will depend on the relative strengths of these opposing effects. We conducted a cross‐sectional survey across 24 woodlands in Scotland between 2017 and 2019, estimating host (deer, rodents) abundance, questing Ixodes ricinus nymph density, and B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence at each site. As predicted, deer density was positively associated with nymph density and negatively with nymphal infection prevalence. Overall, these two opposite effects canceled each other out: Lyme disease hazard did not vary with increasing deer density. This demonstrates that, across a wide range of deer and rodent densities, the role of deer in amplifying tick densities cancels their effect of reducing pathogen prevalence. We demonstrate how noncompetent host density has little effect on disease hazard even though they reduce pathogen prevalence, because of their role in increasing vector populations. These results have implications for informing disease mitigation strategies, especially through host management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Gandy
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Elizabeth Kilbride
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Roman Biek
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Caroline Millins
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK.,Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Lucy Gilbert
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
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Colella V, Huggins L, Hodžić A, Galon C, Traub R, Alić A, Iatta R, Halos L, Otranto D, Vayssier‐Taussat M, Moutailler S. High-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR for the simultaneous detection of selected vector-borne pathogens in dogs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e2943-e2951. [PMID: 35766324 PMCID: PMC9796230 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A scarcity of information on the occurrence of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), alongside a lack of human and animal health authorities' awareness of pre-existing data, augment the risk of VBP infection for local people and limit our ability to establish control programs. This holds especially true in low-middle income countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). This dearth of information on zoonotic VBPs is bolstered by the inability of previously used diagnostic tests, including conventional molecular diagnostic methods, to detect the full spectrum of relevant pathogens. Considering this, we set out to apply a microfluidic qPCR assay capable of detecting 43 bacterial and protozoan pathogens from blood to accrue critical baseline data for VBPs occurrence in BiH. A total of 408 dogs were tested of which half were infected with at least one VBP of zoonotic or veterinary importance. Leishmania infantum was found in 18% of dogs, reaching a prevalence as high as 38% in urbanized areas of Sarajevo. These data highlight substantially higher levels of L. infantum prevalence when compared to that previously reported using conventional methods using the same samples. Additionally, this high-throughput microfluidic qPCR assay was able to detect pathogens rarely or never reported in canines in BiH, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum (3%), Anaplasma platys (0.2%), haemotropic Mycoplasma (1%) and Hepatozoon canis (26%). Our report of the endemicity of important zoonotic pathogens and those of clinical significance to dogs emphasizes the need for urgent implementation of surveillance and control for VBPs in BiH, targeting both animal and human infections within the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vito Colella
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of BariBariApuliaItaly,Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural SciencesUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lucas Huggins
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural SciencesUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Adnan Hodžić
- University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Clemence Galon
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'AlfortMaisons‐AlfortFrance
| | - Rebecca Traub
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural SciencesUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Amer Alić
- University of SarajevoSarajevoBosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Roberta Iatta
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of BariBariApuliaItaly
| | - Lénaïg Halos
- Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of BariBariApuliaItaly,Bu‐Ali Sina UniversityHamedanIran
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Co-Occurrence of Francisella, Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia, and Midichloria in Avian-Associated Hyalomma rufipes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071393. [PMID: 35889112 PMCID: PMC9323704 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The migratory behavior of wild birds contributes to the geographical spread of ticks and their microorganisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dispersal and co-occurrence of Francisella and spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) in ticks infesting birds migrating northward in the African-Western Palaearctic region (AWPR). Birds were trapped with mist nests across the Mediterranean basin during the 2014 and 2015 spring migration. In total, 575 ticks were collected from 244 birds. We screened the ticks for the species Francisella tularensis, the genus Francisella, and SFGR by microfluidic real-time PCR. Confirmatory analyses and metagenomic sequencing were performed on tick samples that putatively tested positive for F. tularensis during initial screenings. Hyalomma rufipes was the most common tick species and had a high prevalence of Francisella, including co-occurrence of Francisella and SFGR. Metagenomic analysis of total DNA extracted from two H. rufipes confirmed the presence of Francisella, Rickettsia, and Midichloria. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic inference indicated the highest identity of the metagenome-assembled genomes to a Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLE), Rickettsia aeschlimannii, and Midichloria mitochondrii. The results of this study suggest that (i) FLE- and SFGR-containing ticks are dispersed by northbound migratory birds in the AWPR, (ii) H. rufipes likely is not involved in transmission of F. tularensis in the AWPR, and (iii) a dual endosymbiosis of FLEs and Midichloria may support some of the nutritional requirements of H. rufipes.
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Bourdin A, Bord S, Durand J, Galon C, Moutailler S, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Jactel H. Forest Diversity Reduces the Prevalence of Pathogens Transmitted by the Tick Ixodes ricinus. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.891908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases represent the majority of vector-borne human diseases in Europe, with Ixodes ricinus, mostly present in forests, as the main vector. Studies show that vertebrate hosts diversification would decrease the prevalence of these pathogens. However, it is not well known whether habitat diversity can have similar impact on ticks and their infection rates. We measured the presence and abundance of different stages of I. ricinus, and the prevalence of associated pathogens in a large-scale forest experiment in which we manipulated tree diversity and moisture level. We showed that larval abundance was influenced by tree species identity, with larvae being more present in pine plots than in oak plots, while nymph abundance increased with canopy tree density. The proportion of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.-infected nymphs decreased with increasing tree diversity. Our findings suggest that tree overstorey composition, structure and diversity, can affect tick abundance and pathogen prevalence. They support the idea that forest habitats may have “diluting” or “amplifying” effects on tick-borne diseases with direct relevance for human health.
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Flattery A, McKiernan F, Browne J, Gray J, Zaid T, O'Connor J, Zintl A. The prevalence and distribution of Anaplasma phagocytophilum genotypes in Ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from farm- and woodland sites in Ireland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101928. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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McKiernan F, Flattery A, Browne J, Gray J, Zaid T, O’Connor J, Zintl A. The Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus Nymphs Collected from Farm- and Woodland Sites in Ireland. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030312. [PMID: 35335636 PMCID: PMC8951431 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The parasite, Babesia divergens causes redwater fever in cattle and a rare, albeit life-threatening disease in humans. In Ireland, B. divergens has always been considered an important pathogen as the high incidence of redwater fever precluded areas of the country from cattle farming. Moreover a relatively large proportion of human cases were reported here. Red deer (Cervus elaphus), which often harbour babesias that are genetically very similar (if not identical) to B. divergens, are quite widespread. In this study 1369 nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from various habitats were screened for the presence of B. divergens using TaqMan followed by conventional nested PCR. Fragments of the 18S rRNA gene locus (560 bp) were compared against published Irish B. divergens isolates from cattle, humans and red deer. Overall just 1% of I. ricinus nymphs were infected with B. divergens, with similar infection rates in ticks collected from farm- and woodland. Most (90%) 18S rRNA gene fragments derived from woodland ticks were 100% identical to published sequences from cattle and humans. One differed by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as did two isolates from ticks collected in bogland. Two isolates derived from nymphs collected in farmland differed by 2 and 4 SNPs respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona McKiernan
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (F.M.); (A.F.); (T.Z.)
| | - Amie Flattery
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (F.M.); (A.F.); (T.Z.)
| | - John Browne
- UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Jeremy Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Taher Zaid
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (F.M.); (A.F.); (T.Z.)
| | - Jack O’Connor
- MSD Ireland, South County Business Park, D18 X5R3 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Annetta Zintl
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland; (F.M.); (A.F.); (T.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +353-1-7166121
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Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Simin V, Foucault-Simonin A, Galon C, Wu-Chuang A, Mijatović D, Obregón D, Moutailler S, Cabezas-Cruz A. Clinical Aspects and Detection of Emerging Rickettsial Pathogens: A "One Health" Approach Study in Serbia, 2020. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:797399. [PMID: 35154030 PMCID: PMC8825779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.797399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks carry numerous pathogens that, if transmitted, can cause disease in susceptible humans and animals. The present study describes our approach on how to investigate clinical presentations following tick bites in humans. To this aim, the occurrence of major tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in human blood samples (n = 85) and the ticks collected (n = 93) from the same individuals were tested using an unbiased high-throughput pathogen detection microfluidic system. The clinical symptoms were characterized in enrolled patients. In patients with suspected TBP infection, serological assays were conducted to test for the presence of antibodies against specific TBPs. A field study based on One Health tenets was further designed to identify components of a potential chain of infection resulting in Rickettsia felis infection in one of the patients. Ticks species infesting humans were identified as Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.), Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis punctata. Five patients developed local skin lesions at the site of the tick bite including erythema migrans, local non-specific reactions, and cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction. Although Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. DNAs were detected in tick samples, different Rickettsia species were the most common TBPs identified in the ticks. The presence of TBPs such as Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia afzelii, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti in ticks was further confirmed by DNA sequencing. Two of the patients with local skin lesions had IgG reactive against spotted fever group rickettsiae, while IgM specific to B. afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia spielmanii were detected in the patient with erythema migrans. Although R. felis infection was detected in one human blood sample, none of the components of the potential chain of infection considered in this study tested positive to this pathogen either using direct pathogen detection in domestic dogs or xenodiagnosis in ticks collected from domestic cats. The combination of high-throughput screening of TBPs and One Health approaches might help characterize chains of infection leading to human infection by TBPs, as well as prevalence of emerging rickettsial pathogens in the Balkan region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavle Banović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.,Department of Microbiology With Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Verica Simin
- Department for Microbiological & Other Diagnostics, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Angélique Foucault-Simonin
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandra Wu-Chuang
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Dragana Mijatović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
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Delannoy S, Tran ML, Fach P. Insights into the assessment of highly pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in raw milk and raw milk cheeses by High Throughput Real-time PCR. Int J Food Microbiol 2022; 366:109564. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2022.109564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Geebelen L, Lernout T, Tersago K, Terryn S, Hovius JW, Docters van Leeuwen A, Van Gucht S, Speybroeck N, Sprong H. No molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of patients with erythema migrans in Belgium. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:27. [PMID: 35057826 PMCID: PMC8772185 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05139-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
A number of tick-borne pathogens circulate in the Belgian tick population in addition to the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. However, so far, only a few patients with tick-borne diseases other than Lyme borreliosis have been reported in Belgium. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of other human tick-borne infections in Belgium and their possible clinical manifestation.
Methods
Patients with fever (> 37.5 °C) after a tick bite or those with erythema migrans (EM) were included in the study. EDTA-blood samples were screened for the presence of DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group rickettsiae (genus Rickettsia), Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Spiroplasma ixodetis and tick-borne encephalitis virus, using multiplex PCR methods. A questionnaire on, among others, demographics and clinical symptoms, was also filled in.
Results
Over a period of 3 years, 119 patients with EM and 14 patients with fever after a recent tick bite were enrolled in the study. Three samples initially tested positive for N. mikurensis by quantitative PCR (qPCR), but the results could not be confirmed by other PCR methods, and repetition of the DNA extraction procedure and qPCR test was not successful. The qPCR test results for the other tick-borne pathogens were negative.
Conclusions
In general, only a few patients with fever after a tick bite could be identified. Although no tick-borne pathogens were detected, their occurrence cannot be excluded based on the limited number of patients and the limitations inherent to current methodologies. This study underscores the possibility of false-positive PCR results and the necessity for the development of multiple independent tools for the sensitive and specific detection of emerging tick-borne pathogens.
Graphical Abstract
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Molecular Detection of Zoonotic and Non-Zoonotic Pathogens from Wild Boars and Their Ticks in the Corsican Wetlands. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10121643. [PMID: 34959598 PMCID: PMC8707423 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Corsica is the main French island in the Mediterranean Sea and has high levels of human and animal population movement. Among the local animal species, the wild boar is highly prevalent in the Corsican landscape and in the island’s traditions. Wild boars are the most commonly hunted animals on this island, and can be responsible for the transmission and circulation of pathogens and their vectors. In this study, wild boar samples and ticks were collected in 17 municipalities near wetlands on the Corsican coast. A total of 158 hunted wild boars were sampled (523 samples). Of these samples, 113 were ticks: 96.4% were Dermacentor marginatus, and the remainder were Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma scupense and Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Of the wild boar samples, only three blood samples were found to be positive for Babesia spp. Of the tick samples, 90 were found to be positive for tick-borne pathogens (rickettsial species). These results confirm the importance of the wild boar as a host for ticks carrying diseases such as rickettsiosis near wetlands and recreational sites. Our findings also show that the wild boar is a potential carrier of babesiosis in Corsica, a pathogen detected for the first time in wild boars on the island.
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Boyer PH, Baldinger L, Degeilh B, Wirth X, Kamdem CM, Hansmann Y, Zilliox L, Boulanger N, Jaulhac B. The emerging tick-borne pathogen Neoehrlichia mikurensis: first French case series and vector epidemiology. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:1731-1738. [PMID: 34432610 PMCID: PMC8425734 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1973347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an intracellular bacterium transmitted in Europe and Asia by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Interest in this bacterium has increased since it was demonstrated to be responsible for febrile syndromes in patients. To date, most clinical cases have been reported in northern Europe, but case series have also been described in central Europe and China. Notably, thrombotic events occurred during the course of the disease. We investigated the presence of N. mikurensis in 10,885 I. ricinus nymphs in two regions of France (Alsace and Brittany) collected between 2013 and 2020 and in 934 patients suspected of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in Alsace, an endemic area for Lyme borreliosis, using a specific PCR assay. N. mikurensis was detected in 5.42% of the ticks from Alsace, whereas only one (0.03%) tick was found to be positive in Brittany. Spatiotemporal disparities were also noticed within the Alsace region over the four collection sites investigated, and a significant increase in the prevalence of nymphs carrying N. mikurensis was also observed in the last three years of collection. Four out of 934 screened patients were found to be positive for N. mikurensis. Two had malignancies, and the other two were apparently immunocompetent. Superficial thrombosis was noticed in one patient, and long-lasting bacteremia was noted in another patient. These four patients are the first clinical cases of neoehrlichiosis described in France. We suggest including N. mikurensis in the differential diagnosis of post-tick bite febrile syndromes to treat patients and prevent the occurrence of thrombotic complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre H. Boyer
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lisa Baldinger
- French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte Degeilh
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes Cedex 9, France
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie Médicale Faculté de Médecine, Université de Rennes1., Rennes cedex, France
| | - Xavier Wirth
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Chasy Mewa Kamdem
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yves Hansmann
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Department of Infectious Disease, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
- Groupe d'Étude de la Borréliose de Lyme (GEBLY), Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurence Zilliox
- French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nathalie Boulanger
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Groupe d'Étude de la Borréliose de Lyme (GEBLY), Strasbourg, France
| | - Benoît Jaulhac
- Institut de Bactériologie, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Groupe d'Étude de la Borréliose de Lyme (GEBLY), Strasbourg, France
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