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Kauer L, Dobler G, Schmuck HM, Chitimia‐Dobler L, Pfeffer M, Kühn R. Interrelation of the spatial and genetic structure of tick-borne encephalitis virus, its reservoir host ( Myodes glareolus), and its vector ( Ixodes ricinus) in a natural focus area. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70163. [PMID: 39165543 PMCID: PMC11333545 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus is considered the medically most important arthropod-borne virus in Europe. Although TBE is endemic throughout central Europe, ticks and rodents determine its maintenance in small, difficult-to-assess, natural foci. We investigated the interrelation between the population genetics of the main TBE virus (TBEV) vector tick (Ixodes ricinus), the most important reservoir host (Myodes glareolus, syn. Clethrionomys glareolus), and TBEV. Rodents and ticks were sampled on 15 sites within an exploratory study area, which has been screened regularly for TBEV occurrence in ticks for more than 10 years. On all 15 sites, ticks and bank voles were sampled, screened for TBEV presence via serology and RT-PCR, and genetically examined. Moreover, TBEV isolates derived from these analyses were sequenced. In long-term TBEV foci bank vole populations show extraordinary genetic constitutions, leading to a particular population structure, whereas ticks revealed a panmictic genetic structure overall sampling sites. Landscape genetics and habitat connectivity modeling (analysis of isolation by resistance) showed no landscape-related barriers explaining the genetic structure of the bank vole populations. The results suggest that bank voles do not simply serve as TBEV reservoirs, but their genetic composition appears to have a significant influence on establishing and maintaining long-term natural TBEV foci, whereas the genetic structure of TBEV's main vector I. ricinus does not play an important role in the sustainability of long-term TBEV foci. A thorough investigation of how and to which extent TBEV and M. glareolus genetics are associated is needed to further unravel the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Kauer
- Molecular Zoology, Department of Zoology, TUM School of Life SciencesTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
| | | | - Hannah M. Schmuck
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public HealthUniversity of LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | | | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public HealthUniversity of LeipzigLeipzigGermany
| | - Ralph Kühn
- Molecular Zoology, Department of Zoology, TUM School of Life SciencesTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation EcologyNew Mexico State UniversityLas CrucesNew MexicoUSA
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Król N, Chitimia-Dobler L, Dobler G, Kiewra D, Czułowska A, Obiegala A, Zajkowska J, Juretzek T, Pfeffer M. Identification of New Microfoci and Genetic Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Eastern Germany and Western Poland. Viruses 2024; 16:637. [PMID: 38675977 PMCID: PMC11055073 DOI: 10.3390/v16040637] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important tick-borne viral disease in Eurasia, although effective vaccines are available. Caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV, syn. Orthoflavivirus encephalitidis), in Europe, it is transmitted by ticks like Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. TBEV circulates in natural foci, making it endemic to specific regions, such as southern Germany and northeastern Poland. Our study aimed to identify new TBEV natural foci and genetically characterize strains in ticks in previously nonendemic areas in Eastern Germany and Western Poland. (2) Methods: Ticks were collected from vegetation in areas reported by TBE patients. After identification, ticks were tested for TBEV in pools of a maximum of 10 specimens using real-time RT-PCR. From the positive TBEV samples, E genes were sequenced. (3) Results: Among 8400 ticks from 19 sites, I. ricinus (n = 4784; 56.9%) was predominant, followed by D. reticulatus (n = 3506; 41.7%), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 108; 1.3%), and I. frontalis (n = 2; <0.1%). TBEV was detected in 19 pools originating in six sites. The phylogenetic analyses revealed that TBEV strains from Germany and Poland clustered with other German strains, as well as those from Finland and Estonia. (4) Conclusions: Although there are still only a few cases are reported from these areas, people spending much time outdoors should consider TBE vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany (M.P.)
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Clinical Center for Emerging and Vector-Borne Infections, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute of Immunology, Infection and Pandemic Research, 80799 Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Dorota Kiewra
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Acaroentomology, University of Wrocław, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Czułowska
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Acaroentomology, University of Wrocław, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany (M.P.)
| | - Joanna Zajkowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University in Białystok, 15-089 Białystok, Poland;
| | - Thomas Juretzek
- Center for Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus gGmbH, 03048 Cottbus, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany (M.P.)
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Simkute E, Pautienius A, Grigas J, Sidorenko M, Radzijevskaja J, Paulauskas A, Stankevicius A. The Prevalence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Wild Rodents Captured in Tick-Borne Encephalitis Foci in Highly Endemic Lithuania. Viruses 2024; 16:444. [PMID: 38543809 PMCID: PMC10974453 DOI: 10.3390/v16030444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Wild rodents are considered to be one of the most important TBEV-amplifying reservoir hosts; therefore, they may be suitable for foci detection studies. To investigate the effectiveness of viral RNA detection in wild rodents for suspected TBEV foci confirmation, we trapped small rodents (n = 139) in various locations in Lithuania where TBEV was previously detected in questing ticks. Murine neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells were inoculated with each rodent sample to maximize the chances of detecting viral RNA in rodent samples. TBEV RNA was detected in 74.8% (CI 95% 66.7-81.1) of the brain and/or internal organ mix suspensions, and the prevalence rate increased significantly following sample cultivation in Neuro-2a cells. Moreover, a strong correlation (r = 0.88; p < 0.05) was found between the average monthly air temperature of rodent trapping and the TBEV RNA prevalence rate in cell culture isolates of rodent suspensions, which were PCR-negative before cultivation in cell culture. This study shows that wild rodents are suitable sentinel animals to confirm TBEV foci. In addition, the study results demonstrate that sample cultivation in cell culture is a highly efficient method for increasing TBEV viral load to detectable quantities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Simkute
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.P.); (J.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Arnoldas Pautienius
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.P.); (J.G.); (A.S.)
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Juozas Grigas
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.P.); (J.G.); (A.S.)
- Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Marina Sidorenko
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (J.R.); (A.P.)
| | - Jana Radzijevskaja
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (J.R.); (A.P.)
| | - Algimantas Paulauskas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio Str. 58, LT-44248 Kaunas, Lithuania; (M.S.); (J.R.); (A.P.)
| | - Arunas Stankevicius
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania; (A.P.); (J.G.); (A.S.)
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Saegerman C, Humblet MF, Leandri M, Gonzalez G, Heyman P, Sprong H, L’Hostis M, Moutailler S, Bonnet SI, Haddad N, Boulanger N, Leib SL, Hoch T, Thiry E, Bournez L, Kerlik J, Velay A, Jore S, Jourdain E, Gilot-Fromont E, Brugger K, Geller J, Studahl M, Knap N, Avšič-Županc T, Růžek D, Zomer TP, Bødker R, Berger TFH, Martin-Latil S, De Regge N, Raffetin A, Lacour SA, Klein M, Lernout T, Quillery E, Hubálek Z, Ruiz-Fons F, Estrada-Peña A, Fravalo P, Kooh P, Etore F, Gossner CM, Purse B. First Expert Elicitation of Knowledge on Possible Drivers of Observed Increasing Human Cases of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Europe. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030791. [PMID: 36992499 PMCID: PMC10054665 DOI: 10.3390/v15030791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease endemic in Eurasia. The virus is mainly transmitted to humans via ticks and occasionally via the consumption of unpasteurized milk products. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported an increase in TBE incidence over the past years in Europe as well as the emergence of the disease in new areas. To better understand this phenomenon, we investigated the drivers of TBE emergence and increase in incidence in humans through an expert knowledge elicitation. We listed 59 possible drivers grouped in eight domains and elicited forty European experts to: (i) allocate a score per driver, (ii) weight this score within each domain, and (iii) weight the different domains and attribute an uncertainty level per domain. An overall weighted score per driver was calculated, and drivers with comparable scores were grouped into three terminal nodes using a regression tree analysis. The drivers with the highest scores were: (i) changes in human behavior/activities; (ii) changes in eating habits or consumer demand; (iii) changes in the landscape; (iv) influence of humidity on the survival and transmission of the pathogen; (v) difficulty to control reservoir(s) and/or vector(s); (vi) influence of temperature on virus survival and transmission; (vii) number of wildlife compartments/groups acting as reservoirs or amplifying hosts; (viii) increase of autochthonous wild mammals; and (ix) number of tick species vectors and their distribution. Our results support researchers in prioritizing studies targeting the most relevant drivers of emergence and increasing TBE incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Saegerman
- Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
- Correspondence:
| | - Marie-France Humblet
- Department for Occupational Protection and Hygiene, Unit Biosafety, Biosecurity and Environmental Licences, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Marc Leandri
- UMI SOURCE, Université Paris-Saclay—UVSQ, 78000 Versailles, France
| | - Gaëlle Gonzalez
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Monique L’Hostis
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire Agroalimentaire et de l’Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique, Oniris, 44307 Nantes, France
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sarah I. Bonnet
- UMR 2000 Institut Pasteur-CNRS-Université Paris-Cité, Ecology and Emergence of Arthropod-borne Pathogens, 75015 Paris, France
- Animal Health Department, INRAE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Nadia Haddad
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nathalie Boulanger
- UR7290: VBP: Borrelia Group, France and French Reference Centre on Lyme Borreliosis, CHRU, Unversity of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Stephen L. Leib
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, 3001 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Etienne Thiry
- Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Laure Bournez
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Jana Kerlik
- Department of Epidemiology, Regional Authority of Public Health in Banská Bystrica, 497556 Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Aurélie Velay
- Unité Mixte de Recherché Immunorhumathologie Moléculaire (UMR IRM_S) 1109, Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Solveig Jore
- Zoonotic, Water and Foodborne Infections, The Norwegian Institute for Public Health (NIPH), 0213 Oslo, Norway
| | - Elsa Jourdain
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, Route de Theix, 63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | | | - Katharina Brugger
- Competence Center Climate and Health, Austrian National Institute of Public Health, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Geller
- Department of Virology and Immunology, National Institute for Health Development, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Marie Studahl
- Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Gothenburg, 41685 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Nataša Knap
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tatjana Avšič-Županc
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Daniel Růžek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Veterinary Research Institute, 62100 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tizza P. Zomer
- Lyme Center Apeldoorn, Gelre Hospital, 7300 DS Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - René Bødker
- Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Thomas F. H. Berger
- Agroscope, Risk Evaluation and Risk Mitigation, Schwarzenburgstrasse, 3003 Bern-Liebefeld, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Martin-Latil
- Laboratory for Food Safety, ANSES, University of Paris-EST, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Nick De Regge
- Operational Direction Infectious Diseases in Animals, Unit of Exotic and Vector-borne Diseases, Sciensano, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alice Raffetin
- Reference Centre for Tick-Borne Diseases, Paris and Northern Region, Department of Infectious Diseases, General Hospital of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, 94100 Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, France
| | - Sandrine A. Lacour
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR VIROLOGIE, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Matthias Klein
- Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum der Universität München, LMU München, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 München, Germany
| | - Tinne Lernout
- Scientific Directorate of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elsa Quillery
- ANSES, Risk Assessment Department, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Zdeněk Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Francisco Ruiz-Fons
- Health & Biotechnology (SaBio) Group, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC), CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Deptartment of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Philippe Fravalo
- Pôle Agroalimentaire, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Cnam), 75003 Paris, France
| | - Pauline Kooh
- ANSES, Risk Assessment Department, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Florence Etore
- ANSES, Risk Assessment Department, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Céline M. Gossner
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), 17183 Solna, Sweden
| | - Bethan Purse
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
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Brandenburg PJ, Obiegala A, Schmuck HM, Dobler G, Chitimia-Dobler L, Pfeffer M. Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) Virus Antibodies in Wild Rodents from Two Natural TBE Foci in Bavaria, Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020185. [PMID: 36839457 PMCID: PMC9962257 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020185] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is Eurasia's most important tick-borne viral disease. Rodents play an important role as natural hosts. Longitudinal studies on the dynamics of the seroprevalence rates in wild rodents in natural foci over the year are rare, and the dynamics of the transmission cycle still need to be understood. To better understand the infection dynamics, rodents were captured in a capture-mark-release-recapture-study in two natural foci in Bavaria, Germany, monthly from March 2019 to October 2022. Overall, 651 blood and thoracic lavage samples from 478 different wild rodents (Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis) were analyzed for antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) and confirmed using a serum neutralization test (SNT). Furthermore, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) analysis was performed to investigate ecological and individual factors for the probability of infection in rodents. Clethrionomys glareolus (19.4%) had a higher seroprevalence than A. flavicollis (10.5%). Within Cl. glareolus, more males (40.4%) than females (15.6%) were affected, and more adults (25.4%) than juveniles (9.8%). The probability of infection of rodents rather depends on factors such as species, sex, and age than on the study site of a natural focus, year, and season. The high incidence rates of rodents, particularly male adult bank voles, highlight their critical role in the transmission cycle of TBEV in a natural focus and demonstrate that serologically positive rodents can be reliably detected in a natural focus regardless of season or year. In addition, these data contribute to a better understanding of the TBEV cycle and thus could improve preventive strategies for human infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Johannes Brandenburg
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-341-97-38150
| | - Anna Obiegala
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hannah Maureen Schmuck
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerhard Dobler
- National Consulting Laboratory for TBE, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- National Consulting Laboratory for TBE, Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstrasse 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Pfeffer
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Wiesinger A, Wenderlein J, Ulrich S, Hiereth S, Chitimia-Dobler L, Straubinger RK. Revealing the Tick Microbiome: Insights into Midgut and Salivary Gland Microbiota of Female Ixodes ricinus Ticks. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021100. [PMID: 36674613 PMCID: PMC9864629 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021100] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ectoparasite Ixodes ricinus is an important vector for many tick-borne diseases (TBD) in the northern hemisphere, such as Lyme borreliosis, rickettsiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, or tick-borne encephalitis virus. As climate change will lead to rising temperatures in the next years, we expect an increase in tick activity, tick population, and thus in the spread of TBD. Consequently, it has never been more critical to understand relationships within the microbial communities in ticks that might contribute to the tick's fitness and the occurrence of TBD. Therefore, we analyzed the microbiota in different tick tissues such as midgut, salivary glands, and residual tick material, as well as the microbiota in complete Ixodes ricinus ticks using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. By using a newly developed DNA extraction protocol for tick tissue samples and a self-designed mock community, we were able to detect endosymbionts and pathogens that have been described in the literature previously. Further, this study displayed the usefulness of including a mock community during bioinformatic analysis to identify essential bacteria within the tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wiesinger
- Chair of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Jasmin Wenderlein
- Chair of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ulrich
- Chair of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hiereth
- Chair of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology (InstMikroBioBw), Neuherbergstraße 11, 80937 Munich, Germany
| | - Reinhard K. Straubinger
- Chair of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonosis, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU Munich, 80539 Munich, Germany
- Correspondence:
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