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Henriques-Santos BM, Baker D, Zhou N, Snavely T, Sacchettini JC, Pietrantonio PV. Target-based discovery of antagonists of the tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) kinin receptor identifies small molecules that inhibit midgut contractions. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38899490 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A GPCR (G protein-coupled receptor) target-based approach was applied to identify antagonists of the arthropod-specific tick kinin receptor. These small molecules were expected to reproduce the detrimental phenotypic effects that had been observed in Rhipicephalus microplus females when the kinin receptor was silenced by RNA interference. Rhipicephalus microplus, the southern cattle tick, cattle fever tick, or Asian blue tick, is the vector of pathogenic microorganisms causing the deadly bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. The widespread resistance to acaricides in tick populations worldwide emphasizes that exploring novel targets for effective tick control is imperative. RESULTS Fifty-three structural analogs of previously identified tick kinin antagonists were screened in a 'dual-addition' calcium fluorescence assay using a CHO-K1 cell line expressing the tick kinin receptor. Seven molecules were validated as non-cytotoxic antagonists, four of which were partial (SACC-0428764, SACC-0428780, SACC-0428800, and SACC-0428803), and three were full antagonists (SACC-0428799, SACC-0428801, and SACC-0428815). Four of these antagonists (SACC-0428764, SACC-0428780, SACC-0428799, and SACC-0428815) also inhibited the tick midgut contractions induced by the myotropic kinin agonist analog 1728, verifying their antagonistic bioactivity. The small molecules were tested on recombinant human neurokinin (NK) receptors, the one most similar to the invertebrate kinin receptors. Most molecules were inhibitors of the NK1 receptor, except SACC-0412066, a previously identified tick kinin receptor antagonist, which inhibited the NK1 receptor only at the highest concentration tested (25 μm). None of the molecules inhibited the NK3 human receptor. CONCLUSION Molecules identified through this approach could be useful probes for studying the tick kinin signaling system and midgut physiology. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dwight Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Nian Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Thomas Snavely
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - James C Sacchettini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Ben I, Zubach O, Zinchuk A. Development of a Model for Preliminary Diagnosis of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2023; 23:507-513. [PMID: 37603305 PMCID: PMC10561743 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0032] [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: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a vector-borne natural focal disease that is not officially registered in Ukraine. The first 13 cases of HGA in adults in Ukraine were identified in 2007. The purpose of our study was to develop a predictive model of HGA based on clinical and laboratory characteristics to develop a three-level standard case definition of HGA. Materials and Methods: Researchers examined 498 patients with suspected tick-borne infections and carried out a retrospective clinical and epidemiological analysis of 60 cases recruited from Lviv regional infectious disease hospitals. Logistic regression was used to create a model of the probability of the diagnosis of HGA depending on the presence of certain clinical and laboratory factors that, when examined, together may help to confirm a case of HGA. For logistic regression, eight clinical and laboratory factors were selected: history of tick bite, hyperthermia, signs of pharyngitis, changes in chest X-ray picture (enhancement of the pulmonary pattern and enlargement of the lung root boundaries), increased bilirubin (˃21 μmol/L), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT ˃36 U/L), erythema migrans, and detected Lyme disease. Results: In the presence of all eight factors, the probability of HGA is 95.7%. When the five main signs are absent-signs of pharyngitis, changes in chest X-ray picture, increased bilirubin and ALT, and a history of tick bite-the probability of HGA in the patient dramatically decreases to 6.8%, meaning that HGA might be excluded. Conclusions: Based on the analysis of epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory signs, criteria for establishing a suspected, probable, and confirmed diagnosis of HGA have been developed to improve diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Ben
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Olena Zubach
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Alexander Zinchuk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
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Arz C, Król N, Imholt C, Jeske K, Rentería-Solís Z, Ulrich RG, Jacob J, Pfeffer M, Obiegala A. Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks and Small Mammals from Grassland and Forest Habitats in Central Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:933. [PMID: 37513780 PMCID: PMC10386184 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070933] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group (SFG) are zoonotic tick-borne pathogens. Small mammals are important hosts for the immature life stages of two of the most common tick species in Europe, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. These hosts and vectors can be found in diverse habitats with different vegetation types like grasslands and forests. To investigate the influence of environmental and individual factors on Rickettsia prevalence, this study aimed to analyse the prevalence of SFG rickettsiae in ticks and small mammals in different small-scale habitats in central Germany for the first time. Small mammals of ten species and ticks of two species were collected from grasslands and forests in the Hainich-Dün region, central Germany. After species identification, DNA samples from 1098 ticks and ear snips of 1167 small mammals were screened for Rickettsia DNA by qPCR targeting the gltA gene. Positive samples were retested by conventional PCR targeting the ompB gene and sequencing. Rickettsia DNA was detected in eight out of ten small mammal species. Small mammal hosts from forests (14.0%) were significantly more often infected than those from grasslands (4.4%) (p < 0.001). The highest prevalence was found in the mostly forest-inhabiting genus Apodemus (14.8%) and the lowest in Microtus (6.6%), which inhabits grasslands. The prevalence was higher in D. reticulatus (46.3%) than in the I. ricinus complex (8.6%). Adult ticks were more often infected than nymphs (p = 0.0199). All sequenced rickettsiae in I. ricinus complex ticks were R. helvetica, and the ones in D. reticulatus were R. raoultii. Unlike adults, questing nymphs have had only one blood meal, which explains the higher prevalence in I. ricinus adults. Interestingly, habitat type did influence infection probability in small mammals, but did not in ticks. A possible explanation may be the high prevalence in Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus which were more abundant in the forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Arz
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nina Król
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Imholt
- Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany
| | - Kathrin Jeske
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Zaida Rentería-Solís
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 35, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jens Jacob
- Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, 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
| | - Anna Obiegala
- 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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Malgwi SA, Ogunsakin RE, Oladepo AD, Adeleke MA, Okpeku M. A Forty-Year Analysis of the Literature on Babesia Infection (1982-2022): A Systematic Bibliometric Approach. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6156. [PMID: 37372744 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20126156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Babesia infection is a tick-borne protozoan disease associated with significant veterinary, economic, and medical importance. This infection affects many hosts, ranging from wild to domestic animals and including man. All vertebrates serve as potential carriers due to the huge diversity of the species. Babesiosis has been associated with severe economic loss in livestock production, especially in cattle farming, and is also a major public health concern in man, which could be fatal. The infection is usually opportunistic, ranging from asymptomatic to symptomatic, usually in immunocompromised subjects or under conditions of stressful management. This study was designed to uncover trends in relation to publication growth and further explore research output regarding babesiosis from data indexed in the WoS. The WoS is the only platform used to map publications on Babesia infection. The search term "babesiosis" or "Babesia infection" was used to extract articles published across the study period from 1982 to 2022. The inclusion criteria were restricted to only articles for the analysis. The results from the search query showed that a total of 3763 articles were published during the study period with an average of 91.70 ± 43.87 articles annually and an average total citation (n = 1874.8). An annual growth rate of 2.5% was recorded during the study period. The year 2021 had the highest number of published articles (n = 193, 5.1%) and citations (n = 7039). The analysis of the most relevant keywords and titles showed that infection (n = 606, 16.1%), babesiosis (n = 444, 11.7%), and Babesia (n = 1302, 16%) were the most relevant keyword plus (ID), author keyword (DE), and title, respectively. The common conceptual framework analysis through K-means clustering showed two clusters comprising 4 and 41 elements, respectively. The United States of America is the top-performing country in terms of article production (n = 707, 20.8%) and the leading funder for babesiosis research, with two of its agencies ranked at the top. These are the Department of Health and Human Services (n = 254, 6.7%) and the National Institute of Health (n= 238,6.3%). Igarashi I. is the top-performing author (n = 231, 6.1%), while Veterinary Parasitology is ranked the top journal (n = 393, 10.4%) in terms of babesiosis publications. Overall, an increase in publications was observed in the study period, with significant output from developed nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Anjikwi Malgwi
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Ropo Ebenezer Ogunsakin
- Biostatistics Unit, Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing & Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Abolade David Oladepo
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Matthew Adekunle Adeleke
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Moses Okpeku
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
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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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Adjadj NR, Cargnel M, Ribbens S, Quinet C, Malandrin L, Mignon B, Mori M. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in cattle serum and questing ticks from Belgium. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102146. [PMID: 37044019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102146] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasmosis, borreliosis, rickettsiosis and babesiosis are tick-borne diseases of medical, veterinary and economic importance. In Belgium, little is known on the prevalence of these diseases in animals and previous screenings relate only to targeted geographic regions, clinical cases or a limited number of tested samples. We therefore performed the first nationwide seroprevalence study of Anaplasma spp., A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in Belgian cattle. We also screened questing ticks for the aforementioned pathogens. METHODS ELISAs and IFATs were performed on a representative sample set of cattle sera stratified proportionally to the number of cattle herds per province. Questing ticks were collected in areas where the highest prevalence for the forenamed pathogens in cattle serum were observed. Ticks were analyzed by quantitative PCR for A. phagocytophilum (n = 783), B. burgdorferi sensu lato (n = 783) and Rickettsia spp. (n = 715) and by PCR for Babesia spp. (n = 358). RESULTS The ELISA screening for antibodies to Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia spp. in cattle sera showed an overall seroprevalence of 15.6% (53/339) and 12.9% (52/402), respectively. The IFAT screening for antibodies against A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. resulted in an overall seroprevalence of 34.2% (116/339), 31.2% (99/317) and 3.4% (14/412), respectively. At the provincial level, the provinces of Liege and Walloon Brabant harboured the highest seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. (44.4% and 42.7% respectively) and A. phagocytophilum (55.6% and 71.4%). East Flanders and Luxembourg exhibited the highest seroprevalence of Borrelia spp. (32.4%) and Rickettsia spp. (54.8%) respectively. The province of Antwerp showed the highest seroprevalence of Babesia spp. (11%). The screening of field-collected ticks resulted in a prevalence of 13.8% for B. burgdorferi s.l., with B. afzelii and B. garinii being the most common genospecies (65.7% and 17.1%, respectively). Rickettsia spp. was detected in 7.1% of the tested ticks and the only identified species was R. helvetica. A low prevalence was found for A. phagocytophilum (0.5%) and no Babesia positive tick was detected. CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence data in cattle indicate hot spots for tick-borne pathogens in specific provinces and highlights the importance of veterinary surveillance in anticipating the emergence of diseases among humans. The detection of all pathogens, with the exception of Babesia spp. in questing ticks, underlines the need of raising awareness among public and professionals on other tick-borne diseases along with lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadjah Radia Adjadj
- Sciensano, Bacterial zoonoses unit, Veterinary bacteriology, Brussels, Belgium; Sciensano, Unit of exotic viruses and vector-borne diseases, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Mickaël Cargnel
- Sciensano, Department of epidemiology and public health, service of veterinary epidemiology, Brussels, Belgium.
| | | | - Christian Quinet
- Association Regionale de Sante et d'Identification Animales (ARSIA), Ciney, Belgium.
| | | | - Bernard Mignon
- University of Liège, department of infectious and parasitic diseases, Liège, FARAH (Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health) Belgium.
| | - Marcella Mori
- Sciensano, Bacterial zoonoses unit, Veterinary bacteriology, Brussels, Belgium.
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Köhler CF, Holding ML, Sprong H, Jansen PA, Esser HJ. Biodiversity in the Lyme-light: ecological restoration and tick-borne diseases in Europe. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:373-385. [PMID: 36890021 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.02.005] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases are two major global challenges. An urgent question is how ecosystems and wildlife communities can be restored whilst minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases carried by wildlife. Here, we evaluate how current ambitions to restore Europe's natural ecosystems may affect the hazard of diseases vectored by the tick Ixodes ricinus at different scales. We find that effects of restoration efforts on tick abundance are relatively straightforward but that the interacting effects of vertebrate diversity and abundance on pathogen transmission are insufficiently known. Long-term integrated surveillance of wildlife communities, ticks, and their pathogens is needed to understand their interactions and to prevent nature restoration from increasing tick-borne disease (TBD) hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Florentine Köhler
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Maya Louise Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick A Jansen
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Linking human tick bite risk with tick abundance in the environment: A novel approach to quantify tick bite risk using orienteers in Scotland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102109. [PMID: 36535202 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The rate that people are bitten by ticks is critical in determining the risk of tick-borne infections but is rarely quantified accurately. Often tick abundance in the environment is used as a proxy for tick bite risk, but the relationship with risk is poorly understood. We used a novel citizen science approach to measure tick bite rate in orienteers, to assess the relationship between tick abundance and tick bite risk and to identify risk factors for tick bites. Eleven orienteering events were attended in Scotland between August 2018 and September 2019. The number of tick bites in orienteers, and the time and distance of activity were collected using an online questionnaire. Tick abundance in the same areas used for the orienteering events was estimated by surveying ticks on ground vegetation using blanket drags. Among orienteers, mean incidence was 409 tick bites per 1,000 person-hours. Tick abundance and tick bite rate were strongly correlated, indicating that data from questing tick surveys is a useful proxy for the risk of human tick bites. Tick bite rate was better explained by the activity duration than distance covered and was higher in orienteers that ran earlier in the day, exposed to higher temperatures and in woodland habitats. This study highlights the value of the citizen science approach used, which crucially included submission of activity reports both with and without ticks, to generate robust data on tick bite rate. Accurately measuring tick bite rate and understanding environmental factors that influence it are essential in mitigating the risk of tick-borne diseases.
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [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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10
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Militzer N, Pinecki Socias S, Nijhof AM. Changes in the Ixodes ricinus microbiome associated with artificial tick feeding. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1050063. [PMID: 36704557 PMCID: PMC9871825 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1050063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial tick feeding systems (ATFS) can be used to study tick biology and tick-pathogen interactions. Due to the long feeding duration of hard ticks, antibiotics are commonly added to the in vitro blood meal to prevent the blood from decaying. This may affect the ticks' microbiome, including mutualistic bacteria that play an important role in tick biology. This effect was examined by the consecutive feeding of Ixodes ricinus larvae, nymphs, and adults in vitro with and without the supplementation of gentamicin and in parallel on calves. DNA extracted from unfed females was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The abundance of Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, Rickettsia helvetica and Spiroplasma spp. was measured by qPCR in unfed larvae, nymphs, and adults. Larvae and nymphs fed on calves performed significantly better compared to both in vitro groups. Adults fed on blood supplemented with gentamicin and B vitamins had a higher detachment proportion and weight compared to the group fed with B vitamins but without gentamicin. The detachment proportion and weights of females did not differ significantly between ticks fed on calves and in vitro with gentamicin, but the fecundity was significantly higher in ticks fed on calves. 16S rRNA sequencing showed a higher microbiome species richness in ticks fed on calves compared to ticks fed in vitro. A shift in microbiome composition, with Ca. Midichloria mitochondrii as dominant species in females fed as juveniles on calves and R. helvetica as the most abundant species in females previously fed in vitro was observed. Females fed in vitro without gentamicin showed significant lower loads of Ca. M. mitochondrii compared to females fed in vitro with gentamicin and ticks fed on calves. Spiroplasma spp. were exclusively detected in female ticks fed on cattle by qPCR, but 16S rRNA sequencing results also showed a low abundance in in vitro females exposed to gentamicin. In conclusion, the employed feeding method and gentamicin supplementation affected the ticks' microbiome composition and fecundity. Since these changes may have an impact on tick biology and vector competence, they should be taken into account in studies employing ATFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Militzer
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sophia Pinecki Socias
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ard M. Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany,*Correspondence: Ard M. Nijhof, ✉
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11
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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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12
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Ouass S, Boulanger N, Lelouvier B, Insonere JLM, Lacroux C, Krief S, Asalu E, Rahola N, Duron O. Diversity and phylogeny of the tick-borne bacterial genus Candidatus Allocryptoplasma (Anaplasmataceae). Parasite 2023; 30:13. [PMID: 37162293 PMCID: PMC10171070 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023014] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The family Anaplasmataceae includes tick-borne bacteria of major public and veterinary health interest, as best illustrated by members of the genera Anaplasma and Ehrlichia. Recent epidemiological surveys have also reported on the presence of a novel putative genus in the Anaplasmataceae, Candidatus Allocryptoplasma, previously described as Candidatus Cryptoplasma in the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. However, the genetic diversity of Ca. Allocryptoplasma and its phylogenetic relationship with other Anaplasmataceae remain unclear. In this study, we developed a multi-locus sequence typing approach, examining the DNA sequence variation at five genes of Ca. Allocryptoplasma found in ticks. Combining this multi-locus sequence typing and genetic data available on public databases, we found that substantial genetic diversity of Ca. Allocryptoplasma is present in Ixodes, Amblyomma and Haemaphysalis spp. ticks on most continents. Further analyses confirmed that the Ca. Allocryptoplasma of ticks, the Ca. Allocryptoplasma of lizards and some Anaplasma-like bacteria of wild mice cluster into a monophyletic genus, divergent from all other genera of the family Anaplasmataceae. Candidatus Allocryptoplasma appears as a sister genus of Anaplasma and, with the genera Ehrlichia and Neoehrlichia, they form a monophyletic subgroup of Anaplasmataceae associated with tick-borne diseases. The detection of genetically distinct Ca. Allocryptoplasma in ticks of significant medical or veterinary interest supports the hypothesis that it is an emergent genus of tick-borne pathogens of general concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofian Ouass
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier (UM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche de la Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Nathalie Boulanger
- University of Strasbourg, French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | | | - Camille Lacroux
- UMR 7206 CNRS/MNHN/P7, Eco-anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75116, Paris, France - La Phocéenne de Cosmétique, ZA Les Roquassiers, 174 Rue de la Forge, 13300 Salon-de-Provence, France - Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Kibale National Park, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Sabrina Krief
- UMR 7206 CNRS/MNHN/P7, Eco-anthropologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Musée de l'Homme, 17 place du Trocadéro, 75116, Paris, France - Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Kibale National Park, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Edward Asalu
- Sebitoli Chimpanzee Project, Great Ape Conservation Project, Kibale National Park, Fort Portal, Uganda - Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kibale National Park, Uganda
| | - Nil Rahola
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier (UM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche de la Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Olivier Duron
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier (UM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut pour la Recherche de la Développement (IRD), 34394 Montpellier, France
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13
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Technical Evaluation of qPCR Multiplex Assays for the Detection of Ixodes ricinus-Borne Pathogens. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112222. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The extent to which infections with Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens (TBPs), other than Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), cause disease in humans remains unclear. One of the reasons is that adequate diagnostic modalities are lacking in routine or research settings. Methods: We evaluated the analytical specificity, sensitivity and robustness of qPCR assays for the detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Spiroplasma ixodetis, several Babesia species and Spotted Fever Rickettsia species as well as Bartonella species in human samples. Results: The qPCRs were found to perform well, given the difficulties of dealing with microorganisms for which confirmed patient materials are scarce or non-existent, a hurdle that was partially overcome by using synthetic controls. Spiking blood samples with the tested microorganisms showed that the detection of the TBPs was not inhibited by the presence of blood. The acceptable sensitivity when multiplexing the different pathogens, the good inter-assay variability and the absence of cross-reactivity make them potentially suitable as human diagnostics. Conclusions: The qPCRs evaluated in this study are technically suitable for the laboratory diagnostic assessment of clinical samples for infection with tick-borne pathogens. However, clinical validation and independent confirmation are still needed, pending the availability of sufficient human samples for testing in different laboratories.
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14
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Labbé Sandelin L, Olofsson J, Tolf C, Rohlén L, Brudin L, Tjernberg I, Lindgren PE, Olsen B, Waldenström J. Detection of Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA in blood donors in southeastern Sweden. Infect Dis (Lond) 2022; 54:748-759. [PMID: 35724266 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2022.2087732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tick-borne bacterium Neoehrlichia mikurensis can cause persistent asymptomatic bloodstream infections, but transfusion-mediated transmission has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of N. mikurensis in blood donors, and recipients of blood components from N. mikurensis-positive donors were traced. METHODS In 2019 and 2021, 1007 blood donors were recruited. Participants completed a questionnaire and additional blood samples were collected during blood donation. Detection of N. mikurensis was performed by PCR followed by sequencing. Positive donors were interviewed and retested. Look-back was performed on positive donations and on all subsequent donations. RESULTS N. mikurensis was detected in 7/1006 (0.7%) donors. A total of 380/1005 (38%) donors reported at least one noticed tick bite during the current season. The questionnaire could not detect any differences between negative and positive N. mikurensis-donors. Two of the positive donors were still positive on days 318 and 131 after the index donation, respectively. One donor with persistent N. mikurensis in blood experienced slight fatigue. All other had no symptoms attributable to neoehrlichiosis. Look-back included ten donations and 20 blood components. Eight components were discarded, and 12 recipients of N. mikurensis-positive donations were identified. PCR was negative in seven recipients. Five recipients had died, but their medical records gave no evidence for neoehrlichiosis. CONCLUSIONS Although N. mikurensis was found in 0.7% of blood donors, transfusion-mediated infection was not detected, despite several recipients being at high risk for severe neoehrlichiosis. The results warrant further studies as well as raised clinical awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Labbé Sandelin
- Department of Communicable Diseases and Disease Control, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden.,Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jenny Olofsson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Conny Tolf
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Louise Rohlén
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Lars Brudin
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Ivar Tjernberg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden.,Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Laboratory Medicine, Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Björn Olsen
- Department of Medical Sciences, Zoonosis Science Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonas Waldenström
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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15
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Assembly and Comparison of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis Genomes. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061134. [PMID: 35744652 PMCID: PMC9227406 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widely prevalent in I. ricinus across Europe and has been associated with human disease. However, diagnostic modalities are limited, and much is still unknown about its biology. Here, we present the first complete Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes directly derived from wildlife reservoir host tissues, using both long- and short-read sequencing technologies. This pragmatic approach provides an alternative to obtaining sufficient material from clinical cases, a difficult task for emerging infectious diseases, and to expensive and challenging bacterial isolation and culture methods. Both genomes exhibit a larger chromosome than the currently available Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis genomes and expand the ability to find new targets for the development of supportive laboratory diagnostics in the future. Moreover, this method could be utilized for other tick-borne pathogens that are difficult to culture.
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16
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Kabir MA, Almulhim A, Luo X, Al Hasan M. Informative Causality Extraction from Medical Literature via Dependency-Tree–Based Patterns. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS RESEARCH 2022; 6:295-316. [PMID: 35637864 PMCID: PMC9131716 DOI: 10.1007/s41666-022-00116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Ahsanul Kabir
- Department of Computer Science, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - AlJohara Almulhim
- Department of Computer Science, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Xiao Luo
- Department of Computer Information and Graphics Technology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Mohammad Al Hasan
- Department of Computer Science, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN USA
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17
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Azagi T, Harms M, Swart A, Fonville M, Hoornstra D, Mughini-Gras L, Hovius JW, Sprong H, van den Wijngaard C. Self-reported symptoms and health complaints associated with exposure to Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:93. [PMID: 35303944 PMCID: PMC8931963 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05228-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of infections with tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) other than Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) on public health in Europe remains unclear. Our goal is to evaluate whether the presence of these TBPs in ticks can be associated with self-reported health complaints. METHODS We enrolled individuals who were bitten by I. ricinus between 2012 and 2015 and collected their relevant demographic and clinical information using a self-administered online questionnaire. A total of 4163 I. ricinus ticks sent by the participants were subject to molecular analyses for detection of specific TBPs. Associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks and self-reported complaints and symptoms were evaluated by means of a stepwise approach using a generalized linear model (GLM). RESULTS Of 17 self-reported complaints and symptoms significant in the univariate analyses, 3 had a highly significant association (P < 0.01) with at least one TBP in the multivariate analysis. Self-reported Lyme borreliosis was significantly associated (P < 0.001) with B. burgdorferi (s.l.) infection. Facial paralysis was associated (P < 0.01) with infection with B. miyamotoi, N. mikurensis and R. helvetica. Finally, a significant association (P < 0.001) was found between nocturnal sweating and A. phagocytophilum. CONCLUSIONS We found associations between the presence of TBPs in ticks feeding on humans and self-reported symptoms. Due to the subjective nature of such reports and the fact that infection was determined in the ticks and not in the patient samples, further prospective studies utilizing diagnostic modalities should be performed before any clinical outcome can be causally linked to infection with TBPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tal Azagi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
| | - Margriet Harms
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Arno Swart
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lapo Mughini-Gras
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers Location, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
| | - Cees van den Wijngaard
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands
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18
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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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19
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Muz MN, Erat S, Mumcuoglu KY. Protozoan and Microbial Pathogens of House Cats in the Province of Tekirdag in Western Turkey. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091114. [PMID: 34578146 PMCID: PMC8466416 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic felines’ re-emerging infectious and neglected zoonotic diseases are a significant focus of global “One Health” efforts. This study aimed to rapidly diagnose 14 pathogens, including zoonoses by using PCR primers in 167 client-owned symptomatic cats, routinely accepted to the Veterinary Clinics of Tekirdag. The prevalence of pathogens investigated were as follows: Babesia canis canis (24%), Babesia microti (2.4%), Hepatozoon felis (10.8%), Cytauxzoon felis (6.6%), Bartonella henselae (40.1%), Anaplasma platys (30.5%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (7.2%), Rickettsia felis (26.3%), Borrelia burgdorferi (21%), and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. (11.4%). There was a significant difference between the prevalence of the pathogens (χ2 = 152.26, df = 9, p < 0.001). There was also a statistical difference between the gender of the cats in terms of the prevalence of all pathogens considered together (χ2 = 4.80, df = 1, p = 0.028), where the female cats showed a higher prevalence. This was not the case for the different age groups (χ2 = 2.92, df = 1, p = 0.088). The lowest infection was observed for B. microti (p < 0.001), while the highest infection was observed for B. henselae (p < 0.01). Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium spp., Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis PCR test results were negative in all samples. In conclusion, house cats of Tekirdag are apparently highly susceptible to some neglected zoonoses important for “One Health”, and their prevalence in the region is most probably underestimated. Hence, applying PCR tests to assist fast clinic diagnosis in routine, may be an efficient option to protect the public as well as the cats from severe diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Necati Muz
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namik Kemal, Tekirdag 59000, Turkey
- Correspondence:
| | - Serkan Erat
- Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale 71450, Turkey;
| | - Kosta Y. Mumcuoglu
- Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hadassah Medical School, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel;
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20
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Olsthoorn F, Sprong H, Fonville M, Rocchi M, Medlock J, Gilbert L, Ghazoul J. Occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Wester Ross, Northwest Scotland. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:430. [PMID: 34446082 PMCID: PMC8393815 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04946-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lyme borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases emerge from increased interactions between humans, other animals, and infected ticks. The risk of acquiring a tick-borne infection varies across space and time, so knowledge of the occurrence and prevalence of pathogens in ticks can facilitate disease diagnosis in a specific area and the implementation of mitigation measures and awareness campaigns. Here we identify the occurrence and prevalence of several pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Wester Ross, Northwest Scotland, a region of high tourism and tick exposure, yet data-poor in terms of tick-borne pathogens. Methods Questing I. ricinus nymphs (n = 2828) were collected from 26 sites in 2018 and 2019 and tested for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using PCR-based methods. Prevalence was compared with other regions of Scotland, England, Wales, and the Netherlands. Results Anaplasma phagocytophilum (4.7% prevalence), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) (2.2%), Babesia from clade X (0.2%), Rickettsia helvetica (0.04%), and Spiroplasma ixodetis (0.4%) were detected, but no Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, or Babesia microti. Typing of A. phagocytophilum using a fragment of the GroEL gene identified the presence of both ecotype I and ecotype II. Genospecies identification of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. revealed B. afzelii (53% of infected nymphs), B. garinii (9%), B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (7%), and B. valaisiana (31%). We found similar prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in Wester Ross as in the Netherlands, but higher than in other parts of Great Britain. We found lower B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence than in England or the Netherlands, and similar to some other Scottish studies. We found higher prevalence of B. valaisiana and lower prevalence of B. garinii than in other Scottish studies. We found S. ixodetis at much lower prevalence than in the Netherlands, and R. helvetica at much lower prevalence than in England and the Netherlands. Conclusions As far as we know, this is the first description of S. ixodetis in Great Britain. The results are relevant for disease surveillance and management for public and veterinary health. The findings can also aid in designing targeted public health campaigns and in raising awareness among outdoor recreationists and professionals. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04946-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Olsthoorn
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 MA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Mara Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, UK
| | - Jolyon Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology Group, Emergency Response Department Science and Technology, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Lucy Gilbert
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Jaboury Ghazoul
- Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
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21
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Estrada-Peña A, Cevidanes A, Sprong H, Millán J. Pitfalls in Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogens Research, Some Recommendations and a Call for Data Sharing. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060712. [PMID: 34200175 PMCID: PMC8229135 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An understanding of the relationships of ticks and tick-borne pathogens can only be achieved by integrating data from multiple studies. The publication of raw material is a necessary step for wide-area meta-analyses and study design, data collection and reporting require harmonization. This is an opinion paper, not a consensus position, and is open to debate. This work reflects our view about how data should be communicated in mainstream journals. We indicate rules that should be observed in recording weather data, to avoid serendipitous correlations between the density of ticks and climate variables and recommend the inclusion of raw data in reports. We stress the need for standardized methods to collect ticks that cannot be obtained by standard flagging. The reporting of infection rates of pathogens in ticks should avoid conclusions based on pure molecular findings in feeding ticks. Studies demonstrating the vectorial capacity of ticks should not be supported only by molecular surveys of feeding ticks. Vacuous conclusions about vectorial or reservoir status based solely on the finding of genomic material of a pathogen should be discouraged. We stress that phylogenetic studies based on random selection of sequences from GenBank are unsuitable. We firmly support the development of a dedicated server of curated sequences of ticks and pathogens as a standard for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Group in Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Aitor Cevidanes
- Department of Animal Health, NEIKER-Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Bizkaia P812, 48160 Derio, Spain;
| | - Hein Sprong
- Center for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Mailbox 63, Room V353, Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands;
| | - Javier Millán
- Research Group in Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), 50013 Zaragoza, Spain;
- Fundación ARAID, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago 8370146, Chile
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22
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Hoornstra D, Harms MG, Gauw SA, Wagemakers A, Azagi T, Kremer K, Sprong H, van den Wijngaard CC, Hovius JW. Ticking on Pandora's box: a prospective case-control study into 'other' tick-borne diseases. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:501. [PMID: 34051756 PMCID: PMC8164744 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06190-9] [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: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick-borne pathogens other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato - the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis - are common in Ixodes ricinus ticks. How often these pathogens cause human disease is unknown. In addition, diagnostic tools to identify such diseases are lacking or reserved to research laboratories. To elucidate their prevalence and disease burden, the study 'Ticking on Pandora's Box' has been initiated, a collaborative effort between Amsterdam University Medical Center and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment. METHODS The study investigates how often the tick-borne pathogens Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia species, Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group Rickettsia species and/or tick-borne encephalitis virus cause an acute febrile illness after tick-bite. We aim to determine the impact and severity of these tick-borne diseases in the Netherlands by measuring their prevalence and describing their clinical picture and course of disease. The study is designed as a prospective case-control study. We aim to include 150 cases - individuals clinically suspected of a tick-borne disease - and 3 matched healthy control groups of 200 persons each. The controls consist respectively of a group of individuals with either a tick-bite without complaints, the general population and of healthy blood donors. During a one-year follow-up we will acquire blood, urine and skin biopsy samples and ticks at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks. Additionally, participants answer modified versions of validated questionnaires to assess self-reported symptoms, among which the SF-36, on a 3 monthly basis. DISCUSSION This article describes the background and design of the study protocol of 'Ticking on Pandora's Box'. With our study we hope to provide insight into the prevalence, clinical presentation and disease burden of the tick-borne diseases anaplasmosis, babesiosis, B. miyamotoi disease, neoehrlichiosis, rickettsiosis and tick-borne encephalitis and to assist in test development as well as provide recommendations for national guidelines. TRIAL REGISTRATION NL9258 (retrospectively registered at Netherlands Trial Register, trialregister.nl in in February 2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hoornstra
- Amsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660 (1100 DD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - M G Harms
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - S A Gauw
- Amsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660 (1100 DD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Wagemakers
- Amsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660 (1100 DD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - T Azagi
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - K Kremer
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - H Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - C C van den Wijngaard
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center of Infectious Disease Control, P.O. Box 1 (3720 BA), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - J W Hovius
- Amsterdam UMC, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Institute of Infection and Immunology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660 (1100 DD), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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23
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Johnson N, Golding M, Phipps LP. Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Red Deer ( Cervus elaphus), United Kingdom. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060640. [PMID: 34070977 PMCID: PMC8224737 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060640] [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: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Deer represent a major vertebrate host for all feeding stages of the hard tick Ixodes ricinus in the United Kingdom (UK), and could play a role in the persistence of tick-borne pathogens. However, there have been few studies reporting the presence of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in deer in the UK, and those that detected Babesia were unable to confirm the species. To address this, we have investigated blood samples from red deer (Cervus elaphus) for the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Total DNA was extracted from haemolysed blood that was removed from clotted blood sampled from culled, captive red deer. Babesia spp. were detected with a pan-piroplasm PCR that amplifies a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Species were identified based on identity with published sequences. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected with a probe-based PCR targeting the msp2 gene. In addition, residual serum samples from a subset of animals were tested for the presence of anti-flavivirus antibodies. Of 105 red deer samples tested from three locations in the United Kingdom, 5 were positive for piroplasm and 5 were positive for A. phagocytophilum. Co-infection with both pathogens was detected in two samples from one location. No evidence for antibodies against West Nile virus were detected. However, 12% of sera tested were positive for tick-borne encephalitis virus antibodies.
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24
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Banović P, Díaz-Sánchez AA, Mijatović D, Vujin D, Horváth Z, Vranješ N, Budakov-Obradović Z, Bujandrić N, Grujić J, Ghafar A, Jabbar A, Simin V, Obregón D, Cabezas-Cruz A. Shared Odds of Borrelia and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia. Pathogens 2021; 10:399. [PMID: 33800537 PMCID: PMC8065393 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10040399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Serbia and other European countries. Rabies is a fatal zoonosis distributed worldwide and is caused by the rabies virus. Professionals at risk of rabies-including veterinarians, hunters, communal service workers, and forestry workers-overlap with some professions at a higher risk of exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infections. We hypothesized that individuals identified by the public health system as at risk of rabies virus infection, and consequently vaccinated against rabies virus, also share a higher likelihood of Borrelia exposure. To test our hypothesis, a case-control study was carried out during 2019 in Serbia to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies in two case groups (individuals at risk and vaccinated against rabies virus) and a control group (individuals without risk of rabies). Individuals vaccinated against rabies following either "pre-exposure protocol" (PrEP, n = 58) or "post-exposure protocol" (PEP, n = 42) were considered as rabies risk groups and healthy blood donors (n = 30) as the control group. The results showed higher Borrelia seroprevalence in PrEP (17.2%; 10/58) and PEP (19.0%; 8/42) groups compared with the control group (6.67%; 2/30). Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that risk of rabies (in either the PrEP (OR = 2.91) or PEP (OR = 3.29) groups) is associated with increased odds of being seropositive to Borrelia. However, the difference in Borrelia seroprevalence between groups was not statistically significant (Chi-square (χ²) test p > 0.05). The shared odds of LB and rabies exposure found in this study suggest that, in countries where both diseases occur, the common citizen can be at risk of both diseases when in a risky habitat. These findings are important to guide physicians in targeting high-risk groups, and diagnose LB, and to guide decision-makers in targeting control and prevention measures for both infections in risk areas.
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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, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
- Department of Microbiology with Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Dragana Mijatović
- Ambulance for Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, Department of Prevention of Rabies and Other Infectious Diseases, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Dragana Vujin
- National Reference Laboratory for Rabies, Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Zsolt Horváth
- Agricultural School, Maršala Tita 167, 24300 Bačka Topola, Serbia; (Z.H.); (V.S.)
| | - Nenad Vranješ
- Department for Research & Monitoring of Rabies & Other Zoonoses, Pasteur Institute Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Zorana Budakov-Obradović
- Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (Z.B.-O.); (N.B.); (J.G.)
- Blood Transfusion Institute Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nevenka Bujandrić
- Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (Z.B.-O.); (N.B.); (J.G.)
- Blood Transfusion Institute Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Grujić
- Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (Z.B.-O.); (N.B.); (J.G.)
- Blood Transfusion Institute Vojvodina, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Abdul Ghafar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; (A.G.); (A.J.)
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia; (A.G.); (A.J.)
| | - Verica Simin
- Agricultural School, Maršala Tita 167, 24300 Bačka Topola, Serbia; (Z.H.); (V.S.)
| | - Dasiel Obregón
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada;
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo 13400-970, Brazil
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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25
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Schmidt FL, Sürth V, Berg TK, Lin YP, Hovius JW, Kraiczy P. Interaction between Borrelia miyamotoi variable major proteins Vlp15/16 and Vlp18 with plasminogen and complement. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4964. [PMID: 33654183 PMCID: PMC7925540 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by Ixodid ticks causes B. miyamotoi disease (BMD). To evade the human host´s immune response, relapsing fever borreliae, including B. miyamotoi, produce distinct variable major proteins. Here, we investigated Vsp1, Vlp15/16, and Vlp18 all of which are currently being evaluated as antigens for the serodiagnosis of BMD. Comparative analyses identified Vlp15/16 but not Vsp1 and Vlp18 as a plasminogen-interacting protein of B. miyamotoi. Furthermore, Vlp15/16 bound plasminogen in a dose-dependent fashion with high affinity. Binding of plasminogen to Vlp15/16 was significantly inhibited by the lysine analog tranexamic acid suggesting that the protein–protein interaction is mediated by lysine residues. By contrast, ionic strength did not have an effect on binding of plasminogen to Vlp15/16. Of relevance, plasminogen bound to the borrelial protein cleaved the chromogenic substrate S-2251 upon conversion by urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPa), demonstrating it retained its physiological activity. Interestingly, further analyses revealed a complement inhibitory activity of Vlp15/16 and Vlp18 on the alternative pathway by a Factor H-independent mechanism. More importantly, both borrelial proteins protect serum sensitive Borrelia garinii cells from complement-mediated lysis suggesting multiple roles of these two variable major proteins in immune evasion of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederik L Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Valerie Sürth
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tim K Berg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Science, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.
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26
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Knoll S, Springer A, Hauck D, Schunack B, Pachnicke S, Strube C. Regional, seasonal, biennial and landscape-associated distribution of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. infections in Ixodes ticks in northern Germany and implications for risk assessment at larger spatial scales. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101657. [PMID: 33524939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Tick-associated Rickettsiales are important pathogens with relevance for public and animal health; therefore, knowledge regarding their distribution is essential for risk assessment and disease prevention. To investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in northern Germany, Ixodes ticks were flagged monthly from April to October in 2018 and 2019 at three collection sites each in the regions of Bremen, Emsland, Hanover, Kassel and Uelzen. A total of 3150 ticks (1052 females, 1048 males and 1050 nymphs) were individually examined for rickettsial infections using probe-based quantitative real-time PCR. Overall prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was 6.4 % (202/3150; 6.7 % [71/1052] in females, 7.5 % [79/1048] in males and 5.0 % [52/1050] in nymphs). For Rickettsia spp., the overall prevalence was 29.6 % (931/3150; 33.4 % [351/1052] in females, 28.3 % [297/1048] in males and 27.0 % [283/1050] in nymphs). Rickettsia species identification by real-time pyrosequencing on a subset of 409 positive samples was successful in 407 cases (99.5 %). Rickettsia helvetica was the predominant species with a detection rate of 99.8 % (406/407). Additionally, Rickettsia monacensis was detected in one tick (0.2 %). Generalized linear mixed models showed significant regional as well as monthly differences regarding the prevalence of both pathogens. In addition, the prevalence of both pathogens was significantly higher in 2018 (A. phagocytophilum: 8.0 % [126/1575], Rickettsia spp.: 35.4 % [558/1575]) than in 2019 (A. phagocytophilum: 4.8 % [76/1575], Rickettsia spp.: 23.9 % [373/1575]). In contrast, no effect of landscape type on pathogen prevalence was found. As Rickettsia spp.-detection was based on the single-copy gene gltA, it was possible to calculate the individual pathogen load per tick, which was significantly higher in female ticks than in nymphs (mean values: 8.19 × 104 vs. 9.58 × 103). Regional, seasonal and biennial prevalence differences of tick-transmitted Rickettsiales show the necessity to investigate ticks from multiple locations, over several months and in more than one year to reliably assess the infection risk on a larger geographical scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Knoll
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Daniela Hauck
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Bettina Schunack
- Bayer Animal Health GmbH (Part of Elanco Animal Health), 51373, Leverkusen, Germany
| | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.
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Takumi K, Hofmeester TR, Sprong H. Red and fallow deer determine the density of Ixodes ricinus nymphs containing Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:59. [PMID: 33468215 PMCID: PMC7814456 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04567-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The density of Ixodes ricinus nymphs infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum is one of the parameters that determines the risk for humans and domesticated animals to contract anaplasmosis. For this, I. ricinus larvae need to take a bloodmeal from free-ranging ungulates, which are competent hosts for A. phagocytophilum. Methods Here, we compared the contribution of four free-ranging ungulate species, red deer (Cervus elaphus), fallow deer (Dama dama), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), to A. phagocytophilum infections in nymphs. We used a combination of camera and live trapping to quantify the relative availability of vertebrate hosts to questing ticks in 19 Dutch forest sites. Additionally, we collected questing I. ricinus nymphs and tested these for the presence of A. phagocytophilum. Furthermore, we explored two potential mechanisms that could explain differences between species: (i) differences in larval burden, which we based on data from published studies, and (ii) differences in associations with other, non-competent hosts. Results Principal component analysis indicated that the density of A. phagocytophilum-infected nymphs (DIN) was higher in forest sites with high availability of red and fallow deer, and to a lesser degree roe deer. Initial results suggest that these differences are not a result of differences in larval burden, but rather differences in associations with other species or other ecological factors. Conclusions These results indicate that the risk for contracting anaplasmosis in The Netherlands is likely highest in the few areas where red and fallow deer are present. Future studies are needed to explore the mechanisms behind this association. Graphical abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhisa Takumi
- Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Tim R Hofmeester
- Department of Wildlife Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd 7, 907 36, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Springer A, Glass A, Probst J, Strube C. Tick-borne zoonoses and commonly used diagnostic methods in human and veterinary medicine. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:4075-4090. [PMID: 33459849 PMCID: PMC8599405 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07033-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Around the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Antje Glass
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Julia Probst
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.
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Borrelia miyamotoi-An Emerging Human Tick-Borne Pathogen in Europe. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010154. [PMID: 33445492 PMCID: PMC7827671 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is classified as a relapsing fever spirochete. Although B. miyamotoi is genetically and ecologically distinct from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, both microorganisms are transmitted by the same Ixodes tick species. B. miyamotoi was detected in I. persulcatus ticks in 1994 in Japan. A phylogenetic analysis based on selected sequences of B. miyamotoi genome revealed genetic differences between isolates from Asia, North America, and Europe, which are clearly separated into three genotypes. Symptomatic human cases of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) were first reported in 2011 in Russia and then in North America, Europe, and Asia. The most common clinical manifestation of BMD is fever with flu-like symptoms. Several differences in rare symptoms (thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, or symptoms related to the central nervous system) have been noted among cases caused by Asian, European, and American types of B. miyamotoi. BMD should be considered in the diagnosis of patients after tick bites, particularly with meningoencephalitis, without anti-Borrelia antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. This review describes the biology, ecology, and potential of B. miyamotoi as a tick-borne pathogen of public health concern, with particular emphasis on Europe.
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Springer A, Glass A, Topp AK, Strube C. Zoonotic Tick-Borne Pathogens in Temperate and Cold Regions of Europe-A Review on the Prevalence in Domestic Animals. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:604910. [PMID: 33363242 PMCID: PMC7758354 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.604910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a variety of pathogens affecting both human and animal health. In temperate and cold regions of Europe (Western, Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe), the most relevant zoonotic tick-borne pathogens are tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. More rarely, Rickettsia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and zoonotic Babesia spp. are identified as a cause of human disease. Domestic animals may also be clinically affected by these pathogens, and, furthermore, can be regarded as sentinel hosts for their occurrence in a certain area, or even play a role as reservoirs or amplifying hosts. For example, viraemic ruminants may transmit TBEV to humans via raw milk products. This review summarizes the role of domestic animals, including ruminants, horses, dogs, and cats, in the ecology of TBEV, Borrelia spp., A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., N. mikurensis, and zoonotic Babesia species. It gives an overview on the (sero-)prevalence of these infectious agents in domestic animals in temperate/cold regions of Europe, based on 148 individual prevalence studies. Meta-analyses of seroprevalence in asymptomatic animals estimated an overall seroprevalence of 2.7% for TBEV, 12.9% for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), 16.2% for A. phagocytophilum and 7.4% for Babesia divergens, with a high level of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses with regard to animal species, diagnostic test, geographical region and decade of sampling were mostly non-significant, with the exception of significantly lower B. burgdorferi s.l. seroprevalences in dogs than in horses and cattle. More surveillance studies employing highly sensitive and specific test methods and including hitherto non-investigated regions are needed to determine if and how global changes in terms of climate, land use, agricultural practices and human behavior impact the frequency of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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31
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Springer A, Höltershinken M, Lienhart F, Ermel S, Rehage J, Hülskötter K, Lehmbecker A, Wohlsein P, Barutzki D, Gietl C, Baumgärtner W, Hoedemaker M, Strube C. Emergence and Epidemiology of Bovine Babesiosis Due to Babesia divergens on a Northern German Beef Production Farm. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:649. [PMID: 33102562 PMCID: PMC7522169 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesia divergens, transmitted by the tick Ixodes ricinus, is the most common cause of bovine babesiosis in northern Europe and plays a role as a zoonotic pathogen. However, several studies have indicated a decline of B. divergens prevalence in Europe during the last decades. Here, we investigate the epidemiology of bovine babesiosis on a beef production farm in northern Germany, which had not been affected by babesiosis until an initial outbreak in 2018. In June 2018, 21 adult cattle died, showing classical symptoms of babesiosis. Babesia divergens merozoites were detected in blood smears of clinically affected animals and the species was confirmed by PCR and sequencing of a part of the 18S rRNA gene. In 2018, screening of the farm's entire stock by PCR revealed that Babesia-positive animals were present in only one of five herds grazing on different pastures. In the following year, further babesiosis cases occurred in multiple herds. In March 2020, 95 cattle were tested for anti-B. divergens antibodies and 36 of them (37.89%) had positive titres. To investigate the local Babesia prevalence in ticks, 1,430 questing I. ricinus ticks (555 larvae, 648 nymphs, 227 adults) were collected on the farm's pastures and subjected to PCR for Babesia detection. Babesia divergens DNA could not be detected, but Babesia microti showed an overall prevalence of 0.49% (7/1,430; 0.88% [2/227] of adult ticks, 0.77% [5/648] of nymphs, 0.00% [0/555] of larvae). Babesia venatorum was detected in 0.42% (6/1,430) of ticks (0.44% [1/227] of adult ticks, 0.77% [5/648] of nymphs, 0.00% [0/555] of larvae) and B. capreoli in 0.07% (1/1,430) of ticks (0.00% [0/227] of adult ticks, 0.15% [1/648] of nymphs, 0.00% [0/555] of larvae). Despite the fact that no B. divergens-positive ticks were found, the collected data suggest a geographical spread of the pathogen on the farm. Bovine babesiosis remains a disease of veterinary importance in Europe and may cause considerable economic losses when (re-)emerging in non-endemic areas, especially as awareness for the disease among veterinarians and farmers declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martin Höltershinken
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Fabienne Lienhart
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sandra Ermel
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jürgen Rehage
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kirsten Hülskötter
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Annika Lehmbecker
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Peter Wohlsein
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | | | | | - Wolfgang Baumgärtner
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Martina Hoedemaker
- Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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Tripartite Interactions among Ixodiphagus hookeri, Ixodes ricinus and Deer: Differential Interference with Transmission Cycles of Tick-Borne Pathogens. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050339. [PMID: 32365910 PMCID: PMC7281138 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
For the development of sustainable control of tick-borne diseases, insight is needed in biological factors that affect tick populations. Here, the ecological interactions among Ixodiphagus hookeri, Ixodes ricinus, and two vertebrate species groups were investigated in relation to their effects on tick-borne disease risk. In 1129 questing ticks, I. hookeri DNA was detected more often in I. ricinus nymphs (4.4%) than in larvae (0.5%) and not in adults. Therefore, we determined the infestation rate of I. hookeri in nymphs from 19 forest sites, where vertebrate, tick, and tick-borne pathogen communities had been previously quantified. We found higher than expected co-occurrence rates of I. hookeri with deer-associated Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and lower than expected rates with rodent-associated Borrelia afzelii and Neoehrlichia mikurensis. The prevalence of I. hookeri in nymphs varied between 0% and 16% and was positively correlated with the encounter probability of ungulates and the densities of all life stages of I. ricinus. Lastly, we investigated the emergence of I. hookeri from artificially fed, field-collected nymphs. Adult wasps emerged from seven of the 172 fed nymphs. From these observations, we inferred that I. hookeri is parasitizing I. ricinus larvae that are feeding on deer, rather than on rodents or in the vegetation. Since I. hookeri populations depend on deer abundance, the main propagation host of I. ricinus, these wasps have no apparent effect on tick populations. The presence of I. hookeri may directly interfere with the transmission cycle of A. phagocytophilum, but not with that of B. afzelii or N. mikurensis.
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