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Veiga J, Baltà O, Figuerola J. Does bird life-history influence the prevalence of ticks? A citizen science study in North East Spain. One Health 2024; 18:100718. [PMID: 38644969 PMCID: PMC11026695 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
After mosquitoes, ticks are among the most important vector of pathogens of concern for animal and public health, but unless mosquitoes ticks remain attached to their hosts for long time periods providing an opportunity to analyse their role in the dispersal and dynamics of different zoonotic pathogens. Given their interest in public health it is important to understand which factors affect their incidence in different hosts and to stablish effective surveillance programs to determine the risk of transmission and spill-over of zoonotic pathogens. Taking benefit of a large network of volunteer ornithologists, we analysed the life-history traits associated to the presence of ticks using information of 620,609 individuals of 231 avian species. Bird phylogeny, locality and year explained a large amount of variance in tick prevalence. Non-colonial species non breeding in grasslands and non-spending the non-breeding season as gregarious groups or isolated individuals (e.g. thrushes, quails and finches) had the higher prevalence of ticks and appear as good candidates for zoonosis surveillance programs based on the analyses of ticks collected from wild birds. Ringers underestimated tick prevalence but can be considered as an important source of information of ticks for public and animal health surveillance programs if properly trained for the detection and collection of the different tick development phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus Veiga
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Oriol Baltà
- Institut Català d'Ornitologia, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana – CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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2
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Margos G, Hofmann M, Casjens S, Dupraz M, Heinzinger S, Hartberger C, Hepner S, Schmeusser M, Sing A, Fingerle V, McCoy KD. Genome diversity of Borrelia garinii in marine transmission cycles does not match host associations but reflects the strains evolutionary history. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 115:105502. [PMID: 37716446 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a species complex of spirochetal bacteria that occupy different ecological niches which is reflected in their reservoir host- and vector-associations. Borrelia genomes possess numerous linear and circular plasmids. Proteins encoded by plasmid genes play a major role in host- and vector-interaction and are important for Borrelia niche adaptation. However, the plasmid composition and therewith the gene repertoire may vary even in strains of a single species. Borrelia garinii, one of the six human pathogenic species, is common in Europe (vector Ixodes ricinus), Asia (vector Ixodes persulcatus) and in marine birds (vector Ixodes uriae). For the latter, only a single culture isolate (Far04) and its genome were previously available. The genome was rather small containing only one circular and six linear plasmids with a notable absence of cp32 plasmids. To further investigate B. garinii from marine transmission cycles and to explore i) whether the small number of plasmids found in isolate Far04 is a common feature in B. garinii from marine birds and presents an adaptation to this particular niche and ii) whether there may be a correlation between genome type and host species, we initiated in vitro cultures from live I. uriae collected in 2017 and 2018 from marine avian hosts and their nests. Hosts included common guillemots, Atlantic Puffin, razorbill, and kittiwake. We obtained 17 novel isolates of which 10 were sequenced using Illumina technology, one also with Pacific Bioscience technology. The 10 genomes segregated into five different genome types defined by plasmid types (based on PFam32 loci). We show that the genomes of seabird associated B. garinii contain fewer plasmids (6-9) than B. garinii from terrestrial avian species (generally ≥10), potentially suggesting niche adaptation. However, genome type did not match an association with the diverse avian seabird hosts investigated but matched the clonal complex they originated from, perhaps reflecting the isolates evolutionary history. Questions that should be addressed in future studies are (i) how is plasmid diversity related to host- and/or vector adaptation; (ii) do the different seabird species differ in reservoir host competence, and (iii) can the genome types found in seabirds use terrestrial birds as reservoir hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Markus Hofmann
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Sherwood Casjens
- Pathology Department, School of Medicine, University of Utah, 15 North Medical Drive East Ste. #1100, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Marlene Dupraz
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier - CNRS - IRD, Centre IRD, Domaine La Valette - 900, rue Jean François BRETON, 34090 Montpellier, France
| | - Susanne Heinzinger
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Christine Hartberger
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Mercy Schmeusser
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Andreas Sing
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - Karen D McCoy
- MIVEGEC, University of Montpellier - CNRS - IRD, Centre IRD, Domaine La Valette - 900, rue Jean François BRETON, 34090 Montpellier, France.
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3
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Gamble A, Olarte-Castillo XA, Whittaker GR. Backyard zoonoses: The roles of companion animals and peri-domestic wildlife. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadj0037. [PMID: 37851821 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The spillover of human infectious diseases from animal reservoirs is now well appreciated. However, societal and climate-related changes are affecting the dynamics of such interfaces. In addition to the disruption of traditional wildlife habitats, in part because of climate change and human demographics and behavior, there is an increasing zoonotic disease risk from companion animals. This includes such factors as the awareness of animals kept as domestic pets and increasing populations of free-ranging animals in peri-domestic environments. This review presents background and commentary focusing on companion and peri-domestic animals as disease risk for humans, taking into account the human-animal interface and population dynamics between the animals themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amandine Gamble
- School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ximena A Olarte-Castillo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gary R Whittaker
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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4
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Wang SS, Liu JY, Wang BY, Wang WJ, Cui XM, Jiang JF, Sun Y, Guo WB, Pan YS, Zhou YH, Lin ZT, Jiang BG, Zhao L, Cao WC. Geographical distribution of Ixodes persulcatus and associated pathogens: Analysis of integrated data from a China field survey and global published data. One Health 2023; 16:100508. [PMID: 36875889 PMCID: PMC9975318 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing incidence and range expansion of tick-borne diseases have caused global threats to human and animal health under the background of climate and socioeconomic changes. As an efficient vector in transmission of tick-borne diseases, a growing burden caused by Ixodes persulcatus and associated pathogens could not be underestimated. This study summarized the distribution, hosts, and pathogens of I. persulcatus, and predicted the suitable habitats of this tick species worldwide. An integrated database involving a field survey, reference book, literature review, and related website was constructed. Location records of I. persulcatus and associated pathogens were incorporated into distribution maps using ArcGIS software. Positive rates for I. persulcatus-associated agents were estimated by meta-analysis. The global distribution of the tick species was predicted using Maxent model. I. persulcatus was distributed in 14 countries across the Eurasian continent, involving Russia, China, Japan, and several Baltic Sea states, which ranged between 21°N to 66°N. The tick species fed on 46 species of hosts, and 51 tick-borne agents could be harbored by I. persulcatus. The predictive model showed that I. persulcatus could be predominantly distributed in northern Europe, western Russia, and northern China. Our study fully clarified the potential public health risks posed by I. persulcatus and I. persulcatus-borne pathogens. Surveillance and control measures of tick-borne diseases should be enhanced to promote the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jin-Yue Liu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Bao-Yu Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wen-Jing Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Bin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Sheng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yu-Hao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe-Tao Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
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5
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Sormunen JJ, Mäkelä S, Klemola T, Alale TY, Vesterinen EJ. Voles, shrews and red squirrels as sources of tick blood meals and tick-borne pathogens on an island in southwestern Finland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102134. [PMID: 36746092 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102134] [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: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular identification of the previous blood meal source of a questing tick (Acari: Ixodidae) from blood meal fragments was proposed a few decades ago. Following this, several blood meal assays have been developed and published, but none of them have been taken into widespread use. Recently, novel retrotransposon-based qPCR assays designed for detecting blood meal fragments of North American host species were published. We wanted to assess their function with host species present in Finland. Questing ticks were collected by cloth dragging in August-September 2021 from an island in southwestern Finland. DNA was extracted from Ixodes ricinus nymphs (n=438) and qPCR assays applied to identify larval blood meal sources (voles, shrews and red squirrels) and screen for several tick-borne human pathogens and other microbes with pathogenic potential [Borrelia spp. (including specific assays for Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Neoehrlichia mikurensis]. The probability of a nymph having fed as larva on either a vole, shrew or red squirrel was 0.34 (0.30 - 0.38; 95% confidence interval). Bacteria of the genus Borrelia were the most common pathogens detected, with host-specific probabilities of carrying Borrelia of 0.30 (0.18 - 0.44) for nymphs that had fed on voles, 0.23 (0.14 - 0.35) for nymphs that had fed on shrews, and 0.42 (0.28 - 0.58) for nymphs that had fed on red squirrels. Other microbes were rarely acquired from these hosts, apart from N. mikurensis from voles. This study highlights that shrews and red squirrels may equal voles as blood meal sources for I. ricinus larvae. Overall, variation in proportions of blood meals provided by these animals may be high across even proximate study areas. All studied host species appeared to be important sources for particularly Borrelia afzelii, and voles also for N. mikurensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jani J Sormunen
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - Satu Mäkelä
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Tero Klemola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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Rollins RE, Sato K, Nakao M, Tawfeeq MT, Herrera-Mesías F, Pereira RJ, Kovalev S, Margos G, Fingerle V, Kawabata H, Becker NS. Out of Asia? Expansion of Eurasian Lyme borreliosis causing genospecies display unique evolutionary trajectories. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:786-799. [PMID: 36461660 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens exist in obligate transmission cycles between vector and reservoir host species. Host and vector shifts can lead to geographic expansion of infectious agents and the emergence of new diseases in susceptible individuals. Three bacterial genospecies (Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis, and Borrelia garinii) predominantly utilize two distinct tick species as vectors in Asia (Ixodes persulcatus) and Europe (Ixodes ricinus). Through these vectors, the bacteria can infect various vertebrate groups (e.g., rodents, birds) including humans where they cause Lyme borreliosis, the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern hemisphere. Yet, how and in which order the three Borrelia genospecies colonized each continent remains unclear including the evolutionary consequences of this geographic expansion. Here, by reconstructing the evolutionary history of 142 Eurasian isolates, we found evidence that the ancestors of each of the three genospecies probably have an Asian origin. Even so, each genospecies studied displayed a unique substructuring and evolutionary response to the colonization of Europe. The pattern of allele sharing between continents is consistent with the dispersal rate of the respective vertebrate hosts, supporting the concept that adaptation of Borrelia genospecies to the host is important for pathogen dispersal. Our results highlight that Eurasian Lyme borreliosis agents are all capable of geographic expansion with host association influencing their dispersal; further displaying the importance of host and vector association to the geographic expansion of vector-borne pathogens and potentially conditioning their capacity as emergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Rollins
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Nakao
- Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Japan
| | - Mohammed T Tawfeeq
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,VIB - KU Leuven Center for Microbiology, Leuven, Belgium.,CMPG Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, Department M2S, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Leuven Institute for Beer Research (LIBR), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fernanda Herrera-Mesías
- Institute of Avian Research "Vogelwarte Helgoland", Wilhelmshaven, Germany.,Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.,Musée National d'histoire Naturelle de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ricardo J Pereira
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany.,Department of Zoology, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sergey Kovalev
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Biology, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology I, National Institute for Infectious Disease, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noémie S Becker
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Munich, Germany
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7
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Rataud A, Galon C, Bournez L, Henry PY, Marsot M, Moutailler S. Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Tick Larvae Feeding on Breeding Birds in France. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080946. [PMID: 36015066 PMCID: PMC9414652 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds play a role in maintaining tick-borne diseases by contributing to the multiplication of ticks and pathogens on a local scale during the breeding season. In the present study, we describe the diversity of tick and pathogen species of medical and veterinary importance in Europe hosted by 1040 captured birds (56 species) during their breeding season in France. Of the 3114 ticks collected, Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species (89.5%), followed by I. frontalis (0.8%), I. arboricola (0.7%), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.5%), H. punctata (0.5%), Hyalomma spp. (0.2%), and Rhipicephalus spp. (0.06%). Because they may be representative of the bird infection status for some pathogen species, 1106 engorged tick larvae were screened for pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was the most prevalent pathogen genus in bird-feeding larvae (11.7%), followed by Rickettsia spp. (7.4%), Anaplasma spp. (5.7%), Babesia spp. (2.3%), Ehrlichia spp. (1.4%), and B. miyamotoi (1%). Turdidae birds (Turdus merula and T. philomelos), Troglodytes troglodytes, and Anthus trivialis had a significantly higher prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l.-infected larvae than other pathogen genera. This suggests that these bird species could act as reservoir hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. during their breeding season, and thus play an important role in acarological risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rataud
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Université Paris Est, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Clemence Galon
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Laure Bournez
- ANSES, Nancy Laboratory for Rabies and Wildlife, 54220 Malzéville, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Henry
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV UMR 7179), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 91800 Brunoy, France
- Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d’Oiseaux (CRBPO), Centre d’Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR 7204), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Maud Marsot
- Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Université Paris Est, ANSES, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (S.M.)
| | - Sara Moutailler
- ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Correspondence: (M.M.); (S.M.)
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Gregory N, Fernandez MP, Diuk-Wasser M. Risk of tick-borne pathogen spillover into urban yards in New York City. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:288. [PMID: 35948911 PMCID: PMC9365221 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05416-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of tick-borne disease has increased dramatically in recent decades, with urban areas increasingly recognized as high-risk environments for exposure to infected ticks. Green spaces may play a key role in facilitating the invasion of ticks, hosts and pathogens into residential areas, particularly where they connect residential yards with larger natural areas (e.g. parks). However, the factors mediating tick distribution across heterogeneous urban landscapes remain poorly characterized. METHODS Using generalized linear models in a multimodel inference framework, we determined the residential yard- and local landscape-level features associated with the presence of three tick species of current and growing public health importance in residential yards across Staten Island, a borough of New York City, in the state of New York, USA. RESULTS The amount and configuration of canopy cover immediately surrounding residential yards was found to strongly predict the presence of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum, but not that of Haemaphysalis longicornis. Within yards, we found a protective effect of fencing against I. scapularis and A. americanum, but not against H. longicornis. For all species, the presence of log and brush piles strongly increased the odds of finding ticks in yards. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight a considerable risk of tick exposure in residential yards in Staten Island and identify both yard- and landscape-level features associated with their distribution. In particular, the significance of log and brush piles for all three species supports recommendations for yard management as a means of reducing contact with ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichar Gregory
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
| | - Maria P. Fernandez
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA USA
| | - Maria Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY USA
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Duffau P, Korbi S, Guillotin V, Talagrand-Reboul E, Ménard A, Peuchant O. An unexpected case of Borrelia garinii liver infection. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2022; 21:15. [PMID: 35346214 PMCID: PMC8958789 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-022-00506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent arthropod-borne infection in the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe, Borrelia afzelii is predominantly involved in cutaneous manifestations, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia bavariensis in neurological manifestations, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in articular ones. Liver impairement is not classical in Lyme borreliosis. Diagnosis is currently mainly based on serological testing, and is challenging in immunocompromised patients. Case presentation We report the first case of B. garinii infection revealed by liver involvement in an immunocompromised man. A 73-year-old man with marginal zone lymphoma, treated with bendamustine and rituximab, developed intermittent fever and inflammatory syndrome. Microbial investigations were all negative and FDG-PET showed complete remission of the lymphoma. Three months later, liver biopsy was performed and histology revealed spirochetes-like bacteria. Microbial diagnosis was performed by 16S rDNA sequencing, flagellin (flaB) gene sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing and identified B. garinii. The patient recovered successfully after a three weeks course of antibiotics. Diagnosis was challenging because Borrelia hepatic involvement is unusual and no erythema migrans nor tick bite were notified. Conclusion This case highlights that unexplained fever and inflammatory syndrome in immunocompromised patients warrants specific investigations to identify bacteria such as spirochetes.
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The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:781-803. [PMID: 35122516 PMCID: PMC8816687 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07445-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Beside mosquitoes, ticks are well-known vectors of different human pathogens. In the Northern Hemisphere, Lyme borreliosis (Eurasia, LB) or Lyme disease (North America, LD) is the most commonly occurring vector-borne infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia which are transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes. The reported incidence of LB in Europe is about 22.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants annually with a broad range depending on the geographical area analyzed. However, the epidemiological data are largely incomplete, because LB is not notifiable in all European countries. Furthermore, not only differ reporting procedures between countries, there is also variation in case definitions and diagnostic procedures. Lyme borreliosis is caused by several species of the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex which are maintained in complex networks including ixodid ticks and different reservoir hosts. Vector and host influence each other and are affected by multiple factors including climate that have a major impact on their habitats and ecology. To classify factors that influence the risk of transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. to their different vertebrate hosts as well as to humans, we briefly summarize the current knowledge about the pathogens including their astonishing ability to overcome various host immune responses, regarding the main vector in Europe Ixodes ricinus, and the disease caused by borreliae. The research shows, that a higher standardization of case definition, diagnostic procedures, and standardized, long-term surveillance systems across Europe is necessary to improve clinical and epidemiological data.
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11
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Norte AC, Araújo PM, Augusto L, Guímaro H, Santos S, Lopes RJ, Núncio MS, Ramos JA, Lopes de Carvalho I. Effects of stress exposure in captivity on physiology and infection in avian hosts: no evidence of increased Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infectivity to vector ticks. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:202-215. [PMID: 33758979 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01738-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental stressors, an increasingly recurring event in natural communities due to anthropogenic-induced environmental change, profoundly impacts disease emergence and spread. One mechanism through which this occurs is through stress-induced immunosuppression increasing disease susceptibility, prevalence, intensity and reactivation in hosts. We experimentally evaluated how exposure to stressors affected both the physiology of avian hosts and the prevalence of the zoonotic bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), in two model species-the blackbird Turdus merula and the robin Erithacus rubecula captured in the wild, using xenodiagnoses and analysis of skin biopsies and blood. Although exposure to stressors in captivity induced physiological stress in birds (increased the number of circulating heterophils), there was no evidence of increased infectivity to xenodiagnostic ticks. However, Borrelia detection in the blood for both experimental groups of blackbirds was higher by the end of the captivity period. The infectivity and efficiency of transmission were higher for blackbirds than robins. When comparing different methodologies to determine infection status, xenodiagnosis was a more sensitive method than skin biopsies and blood samples, which could be attributed to mild levels of infection in these avian hosts and/or dynamics and timing of Borrelia infection relapses and redistribution in tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Norte
- Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - P M Araújo
- Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - L Augusto
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - H Guímaro
- Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Santos
- Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - R J Lopes
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M S Núncio
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J A Ramos
- Department of Life Sciences, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Calçada Martim de Freitas, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - I Lopes de Carvalho
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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12
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The Role of Ticks in the Emergence of Borrelia burgdorferi as a Zoonotic Pathogen and Its Vector Control: A Global Systemic Review. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122412. [PMID: 34946014 PMCID: PMC8709295 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122412] [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: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are widely distributed across the globe, serving as hosts for numerous pathogens that make them major contributors to zoonotic parasitosis. Borrelia burgdorferi is a bacterial species that causes an emerging zoonotic tick-borne disease known as Lyme borreliosis. The role of ticks in the transmission of this pathogen was explored in this study. According to this systematic review, undertaken according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 19 tick species are known to carry Borrelia burgdorferi, with more than half of the recorded cases in the last two decades related to Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis ticks. Forty-six studies from four continents, Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa, reported this pathogen in ticks collected from vegetation, animals, and humans. This study highlights an increasing distribution of tick-associated Borrelia burgdorferi, likely driven by accelerated tick population increases in response to climate change coupled with tick dispersal via migratory birds. This updated catalogue helps in compiling all tick species responsible for the transmission of B. burgdorferi across the globe. Gaps in research exist on Borrelia burgdorferi in continents such as Asia and Africa, and in considering environmentally friendly vector control strategies in Europe and North America.
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13
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Lesiczka PM, Hrazdilová K, Majerová K, Fonville M, Sprong H, Hönig V, Hofmannová L, Papežík P, Růžek D, Zurek L, Votýpka J, Modrý D. The Role of Peridomestic Animals in the Eco-Epidemiology of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 82:602-612. [PMID: 33547531 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01704-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an important tick-borne zoonotic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). In Europe, the Ixodes ticks are the main vector responsible for A. phagocytophilum transmission. A wide range of wild animals is involved in the circulation of this pathogen in the environment. Changes in populations of vertebrates living in different ecosystems impact the ecology of ticks and the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. In this study, we investigated four species, Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus), Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), and the common blackbird (Turdus merula), to describe their role in the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in urban and periurban ecosystems. Ten different tissues were collected from cadavers of the four species, and blood and ear/skin samples from live blackbirds and hedgehogs. Using qPCR, we detected a high rate of A. phagocytophilum: Western European hedgehogs (96.4%), northern white-breasted hedgehogs (92.9%), Eurasian red squirrels (60%), and common blackbirds (33.8%). In the groEL gene, we found nine genotypes belonging to three ecotypes; seven of the genotypes are associated with HGA symptoms. Our findings underline the role of peridomestic animals in the ecology of A. phagocytophilum and indicate that cadavers are an important source of material for monitoring zoonotic pathogens. Concerning the high prevalence rate, all investigated species play an important role in the circulation of A. phagocytophilum in municipal areas; however, hedgehogs present the greatest anaplasmosis risk for humans. Common blackbirds and squirrels carry different A. phagocytophilum variants some of which are responsible for HGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Maria Lesiczka
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
- CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kristýna Hrazdilová
- CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Biomedical Center, Charles University, alej Svobody 1655, /76, Plzeň, Czech Republic
| | - Karolina Majerová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská, 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Hein Sprong
- Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Václav Hönig
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská, 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Hudcova, 70, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lada Hofmannová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Papežík
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Růžek
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská, 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Hudcova, 70, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Zurek
- CEITEC VFU, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Microbiology, Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcka, 129, Prague, Czech Republic, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University, Zemědělská, 1665, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Votýpka
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, Prague, Czech Republic
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská, 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Modrý
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého třída 1946/1, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská, 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences/CINeZ, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcka, 129, Prague, Czech Republic.
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14
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Sürth V, Lopes de Carvalho I, Núncio MS, Norte AC, Kraiczy P. Bactericidal activity of avian complement: a contribution to understand avian-host tropism of Lyme borreliae. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:451. [PMID: 34488849 PMCID: PMC8420066 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04959-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement has been considered as an important factor impacting the host-pathogen association of spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, and may play a role in the spirochete's ecology. Birds are known to be important hosts for ticks and in the maintenance of borreliae. Recent field surveys and laboratory transmission studies indicated that certain avian species act as reservoir hosts for different Borrelia species. Nevertheless, our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms determining host tropism of Borrelia is still in its fledgling stage. Concerning the role of complement in avian-host tropism, only a few bird species and Borrelia species have been analysed so far. Here, we performed in vitro serum bactericidal assays with serum samples collected from four bird species including the European robin Erithacus rubecula, the great tit Parus major, the Eurasian blackbird Turdus merula, and the racing pigeon Columba livia, as well as four Borrelia species (B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto). From July to September 2019, juvenile wild birds were caught using mist nets in Portugal. Racing pigeons were sampled in a loft in October 2019. Independent of the bird species analysed, all Borrelia species displayed an intermediate serum-resistant or serum-resistant phenotype except for B. afzelii challenged with serum from blackbirds. This genospecies was efficiently killed by avian complement, suggesting that blackbirds served as dead-end hosts for B. afzelii. In summary, these findings suggest that complement contributes in the avian-spirochete-tick infection cycle and in Borrelia-host tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Sürth
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Dr. Francisco Cambournac, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.,Institute of Environmental Health (ISAMB), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Dr. Francisco Cambournac, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.,Institute of Environmental Health (ISAMB), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Norte
- Centre for Vectors and Infectious Diseases Dr. Francisco Cambournac, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal. .,Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
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15
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Presence of Human Pathogens of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Complex Shifts the Sequence Read Abundances of Tick Microbiomes in Two German Locations. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9091814. [PMID: 34576710 PMCID: PMC8469654 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The distribution of human Lyme borreliosis (LB) is assumed random in Germany, indicating that the human pathogenic species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bb) are similarly distributed as part of the tick microbiome. The aim of this study was to differentiate if the presence of Bb occurs with a defined tick microbiome composition. Furthermore, the effect of location on tick microbiome composition was addressed for two German locations. Therefore, nucleic acid extracts from 82 Borrelia-positive and 118 Borrelia-negative Ixodes ricinus ticks sampled from human hosts in both districts were selected. Nucleic acid extracts were used for human pathogenic Bb species diagnostics based on qPCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing followed by network analyses. As a result, the presence of Bb shifted the sequence read abundances of Candidatus Midichloria, Rickettsia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Candidatus Neoehrlichia and their topological roles in the tick microbiome. Moreover, the location was less important in the tick microbiome composition but shifted significantly sequence read abundances of Pseudomonas and Wolbachia as well as the topological role of microbial members. Since the presence of human pathogenic Bb species with other tick-associated pathogens varies regionally, we suggest that a bacterial 16S rRNA gene-based microbiome survey should be implemented in the routine diagnostics for both tick and host if human pathogenic species of Bb were detected. This diagnostic extension will help to optimize therapeutic approaches against Bb infection and co-occurring pathogens.
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16
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Tsao JI, Hamer SA, Han S, Sidge JL, Hickling GJ. The Contribution of Wildlife Hosts to the Rise of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in North America. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1565-1587. [PMID: 33885784 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife vertebrate hosts are integral to enzootic cycles of tick-borne pathogens, and in some cases have played key roles in the recent rise of ticks and tick-borne diseases in North America. In this forum article, we highlight roles that wildlife hosts play in the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic, companion animal, livestock, and wildlife tick-borne pathogens. We begin by illustrating how wildlife contribute directly and indirectly to the increase and geographic expansion of ticks and their associated pathogens. Wildlife provide blood meals for tick growth and reproduction; serve as pathogen reservoirs; and can disperse ticks and pathogens-either through natural movement (e.g., avian migration) or through human-facilitated movement (e.g., wildlife translocations and trade). We then discuss opportunities to manage tick-borne disease through actions directed at wildlife hosts. To conclude, we highlight key gaps in our understanding of the ecology of tick-host interactions, emphasizing that wildlife host communities are themselves a very dynamic component of tick-pathogen-host systems and therefore complicate management of tick-borne diseases, and should be taken into account when considering host-targeted approaches. Effective management of wildlife to reduce tick-borne disease risk further requires consideration of the 'human dimensions' of wildlife management. This includes understanding the public's diverse views and values about wildlife and wildlife impacts-including the perceived role of wildlife in fostering tick-borne diseases. Public health agencies should capitalize on the expertise of wildlife agencies when developing strategies to reduce tick-borne disease risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean I Tsao
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, and Schubot Center for Avian Health, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Seungeun Han
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jennifer L Sidge
- Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Graham J Hickling
- Center for Wildlife Health, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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17
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Norte AC, Harris DJ, Silveira D, Nunes CS, Núncio MS, Martínez EG, Giménez A, de Sousa R, Lopes de Carvalho I, Perera A. Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:1951-1962. [PMID: 34125999 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Ticks carry a diverse community of microorganisms including non-pathogenic symbionts, commensals, and pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. The assessment of tick-borne microorganisms (TBM) in tortoises and their ticks is essential to understand their eco-epidemiology, and to map and monitor potential pathogens to humans and other animals. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of microorganisms found in ticks collected from the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Ticks feeding on wild T. graeca were collected, and pathogens were screened by polymerase chain reaction using group-specific primers. In total, 131 adult Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from 92 T. graeca in Morocco (n = 48), Tunisia (n = 2), Algeria (n = 70), and Turkey (n = 11). Bacteria and protozoa detected included Hemolivia mauritanica (22.9%), Midichloria mitochondrii (11.4%), relapsing-fever borreliae (8.4%), Ehrlichia spp. (7.6%), Rickettsia spp. (3.4%), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.9%), Francisella spp. (0.9%), and Wolbachia spp. (0.8%). The characterization of Rickettsia included R. sibirica mongolitimonae (Algeria), R. aeschlimannii (Turkey), and R.africae (Morocco). Hemolivia mauritanica and Ehrlichia spp. prevalence varied significantly with the sampling region/country. We did not detect significant associations in microorganism presence within ticks, nor between microorganism presence and tick mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. This is the first report of Francisella persica-like, relapsing fever borreliae, M. mitochondrii, and Wolbachia spp. in H. aegyptium ticks collected from wild hosts from the South and Eastern Mediterranean region, and of R. sibirica mongolitimonae and R. africae in H. aegyptium from Algeria and Morocco, respectively. Given that T. graeca is a common species in commercial and non-commercial pet trade, the evaluation of the role of this species and its ticks as hosts for TBM is particularly relevant for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Norte
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - David James Harris
- CIBIO/InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Diogo Silveira
- CIBIO/InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Carolina Saramago Nunes
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Eva Graciá Martínez
- Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain.,Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
| | - Andrés Giménez
- Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain.,Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
| | - Rita de Sousa
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, Portugal
| | - Ana Perera
- CIBIO/InBIO - Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
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18
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Răileanu C, Silaghi C, Fingerle V, Margos G, Thiel C, Pfister K, Overzier E. Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Questing and Engorged Ticks from Different Habitat Types in Southern Germany. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061266. [PMID: 34200876 PMCID: PMC8230558 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) causes the most common tick-borne infection in Europe, with Germany being amongst the countries with the highest incidences in humans. This study aimed at (1) comparing infection rates of B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from different habitat types in Southern Germany, (2) analysing genospecies distribution by habitat type, and (3) testing tissue and ticks from hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. Questing ticks from urban, pasture, and natural habitats together with feeding ticks from cattle (pasture) and ticks and tissue samples from wild boars and roe deer (natural site) were tested by PCR and RFLP for species differentiation. B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 29.8% questing adults and 15% nymphs. Prevalence was lower at the urban sites with occurrence of roe deer than where these were absent. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA was found in 4.8% ticks from roe deer, 6.3% from wild boar, and 7.8% from cattle. Six genospecies were identified in unfed ticks: Borrelia afzelii (48.6%), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (16%), Borrelia garinii (13.2%), Borrelia valaisiana (7.5%), Borrelia spielmanii (6.2%), and Borrelia bavariensis (0.9%). This study shows high infection levels and a great diversity of Borrelia in questing ticks. The presence of roe deer seems to reduce B. burgdorferi s.l. infection rates in tick populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Răileanu
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
| | - Cornelia Silaghi
- Institute of Infectology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany;
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (V.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; (V.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Claudia Thiel
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Kurt Pfister
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
| | - Evelyn Overzier
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80805 Munich, Germany; (C.T.); (K.P.); (E.O.)
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19
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Nakao R, Kasama K, Boldbaatar B, Ogura Y, Kawabata H, Toyoda A, Hayashi T, Takano A, Maeda K. The evolution of hard tick-borne relapsing fever borreliae is correlated with vector species rather than geographical distance. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:105. [PMID: 34058972 PMCID: PMC8166147 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01838-1] [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: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Relapsing fever (RF) borreliae are arthropod-borne spirochetes and some of them cause human diseases, which are characterized by relapsing or recurring episodes of fever. Recently, it has been classified into two groups: soft tick-borne RF (STRF) borreliae and hard tick-borne RF (HTRF) borreliae. STRF borreliae include classical RF agents and HTRF borreliae, the latter of which include B. miyamotoi, a human pathogen recently identified in Eurasia and North America. Results In this study, we determined the genome sequences of 16 HTRF borreliae strains: 15 B. miyamotoi strains (9 from Hokkaido Island, Japan, 3 from Honshu Island, Japan, and 3 from Mongolia) and a Borrelia sp. tHM16w. Chromosomal gene synteny was highly conserved among the HTRF strains sequenced in this study, even though they were isolated from different geographic regions and different tick species. Phylogenetic analysis based on core gene sequences revealed that HTRF and STRF borreliae are clearly distinguishable, with each forming a monophyletic group in the RF borreliae lineage. Moreover, the evolutionary relationships of RF borreliae are consistent with the biological and ecological features of each RF borreliae sublineage and can explain the unique characteristics of Borrelia anserina. In addition, the pairwise genetic distances between HTRF borreliae strains were well correlated with those of vector species rather than with the geographical distances between strain isolation sites. This result suggests that the genetic diversification of HTRF borreliae is attributed to the speciation of vector ticks and that this relationship might be required for efficient transmission of HTRF borreliae within vector ticks. Conclusions The results of the present study, together with those from previous investigations, support the hypothesis that the common ancestor of borreliae was transmitted by hard-bodied ticks and that only STRF borreliae switched to using soft-bodied ticks as a vector, which was followed by the emergence of Borrelia recurrentis, lice-borne RF borreliae. Our study clarifies the phylogenetic relationships between RF borreliae, and the data obtained will contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary history of RF borreliae. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-021-01838-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranna Nakao
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kasama
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Bazartseren Boldbaatar
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Zaisan, 17024, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Yoshitoshi Ogura
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Disease, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Department of Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima City, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hayashi
- Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan
| | - Ai Takano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan. .,Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.
| | - Ken Maeda
- Joint Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi, 753-8515, Japan.,Department of Veterinary Science, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
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20
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Norte AC, Boyer PH, Castillo-Ramirez S, Chvostáč M, Brahami MO, Rollins RE, Woudenberg T, Didyk YM, Derdakova M, Núncio MS, de Carvalho IL, Margos G, Fingerle V. The Population Structure of Borrelia lusitaniae Is Reflected by a Population Division of Its Ixodes Vector. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050933. [PMID: 33925391 PMCID: PMC8145215 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Populations of vector-borne pathogens are shaped by the distribution and movement of vector and reservoir hosts. To study what impact host and vector association have on tick-borne pathogens, we investigated the population structure of Borrelia lusitaniae using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Novel sequences were acquired from questing ticks collected in multiple North African and European locations and were supplemented by publicly available sequences at the Borrelia Pubmlst database (accessed on 11 February 2020). Population structure of B. lusitaniae was inferred using clustering and network analyses. Maximum likelihood phylogenies for two molecular tick markers (the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus and a nuclear locus, Tick-receptor of outer surface protein A, trospA) were used to confirm the morphological species identification of collected ticks. Our results confirmed that B. lusitaniae does indeed form two distinguishable populations: one containing mostly European samples and the other mostly Portuguese and North African samples. Of interest, Portuguese samples clustered largely based on being from north (European) or south (North African) of the river Targus. As two different Ixodes species (i.e., I. ricinus and I. inopinatus) may vector Borrelia in these regions, reference samples were included for I. inopinatus but did not form monophyletic clades in either tree, suggesting some misidentification. Even so, the trospA phylogeny showed a monophyletic clade containing tick samples from Northern Africa and Portugal south of the river Tagus suggesting a population division in Ixodes on this locus. The pattern mirrored the clustering of B. lusitaniae samples, suggesting a potential co-evolution between tick and Borrelia populations that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Norte
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
| | - Pierre H. Boyer
- CHRU Strasbourg, UR7290 Lyme Borreliosis Group, ITI InnoVec, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Institut de Bactériologie, University of Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
- Programa de Genómica Evolutiva, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 565-A, Cuernavaca, CP 62210, Mexico;
| | - Michal Chvostáč
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
| | - Mohand O. Brahami
- Laboratory of Ecology and Biology of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Faculty Biological and Agronomic Sciences, University Mouloud Mammeri, 15000 Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria;
| | - Robert E. Rollins
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, LMU Munich, Faculty of Biology, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Tom Woudenberg
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
| | - Yuliya M. Didyk
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
- Department of Acarology, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Marketa Derdakova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
- Environmental Health Institute, Medicine Faculty, University of Lisbon, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
- Environmental Health Institute, Medicine Faculty, University of Lisbon, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +49-9131-6808-5883
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
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21
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Bakkes DK, Ropiquet A, Chitimia-Dobler L, Matloa DE, Apanaskevich DA, Horak IG, Mans BJ, Matthee CA. Adaptive radiation and speciation in Rhipicephalus ticks: A medley of novel hosts, nested predator-prey food webs, off-host periods and dispersal along temperature variation gradients. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 162:107178. [PMID: 33892098 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus are a species-diverse genus of ticks, mainly distributed in the Afrotropics with some species in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. Current taxonomic consensus comprise nine informal species groups/lineages based on immature morphology. This work integrates biogeographic, ecological and molecular lines of evidence to better understand Rhipicephalus evolution. Phylogenetic analysis based on four genes (12S, 16S, 28S-D2 and COI) recovered five distinct clades with nine descendant clades that are generally congruent with current taxonomy, with some exceptions. Historical biogeography is inferred from molecular divergence times, ancestral distribution areas, host-use and climate niches of four phylogenetically significant bioclimatic variables (isothermality, annual, seasonal and diurnal temperature range). Novel hosts enabled host-linked dispersal events into new environments, and ticks exploited new hosts through nested predator-prey connections in food webs. Diversification was further induced by climate niche partitioning along gradients in temperature range during off-host periods. Ancestral climate niche estimates corroborated dispersal events by indicating hypothetical ancestors moved into environments with different annual and seasonal temperature ranges along latitudinal gradients. Host size for immature and adult life stages was important for dispersal and subsequent diversification rates. Clades that utilise large, mobile hosts (ungulates and carnivores) early in development have wider geographic ranges but slower diversification rates, and those utilising small, less mobile hosts (rodents, lagomorphs and afroinsectivores) early in development have smaller ranges but higher diversification rates. These findings suggest diversification is driven by a complex set of factors linked to both host-associations (host size, ranges and mobility) and climate niche partitioning along annual and seasonal temperature range gradients that vary with latitude. Moreover, competitive interactions can reinforce these processes and drive speciation. Off-host periods facilitate adaptive radiation by enabling host switches along nested predator-prey connections in food webs, but at the cost of environmental exposure that partitions niches among dispersing progenitors, disrupting geneflow and driving diversification. As such, the evolution and ecological niches of Rhipicephalus are characterised by trade-offs between on- and off-host periods, and these trade-offs interact with nested predator-prey connections in food webs, host-use at different life stages, as well as gradients in annual and seasonal temperature ranges to drive adaptive radiation and speciation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deon K Bakkes
- Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum - Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
| | - Anne Ropiquet
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa; Middlesex University, Department of Natural Sciences- Faculty of Science and Technology, London NW4 4BT, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dikeledi E Matloa
- Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum - Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
| | - Dmitry A Apanaskevich
- United States National Tick Collection, the James H. Oliver, Jr. Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460-8042, USA; Biology Department, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA; Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia
| | - Ivan G Horak
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ben J Mans
- Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum - Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council - Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
| | - Conrad A Matthee
- Evolutionary Genomics Group, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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22
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Athanasiou LV, Spanou VM, Katsogiannou EG, Katsoulos PD. Hematological Features in Sheep with IgG and IgM Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020164. [PMID: 33557024 PMCID: PMC7913760 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020164] [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: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure of sheep to Borreliaburgdorferi sensulato (s.I.) complex, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB), has been reported in tick-abundant areas worldwide, while no data have been reported in Greece. The aim of the study was to identify the hematological alterations in sheep with seropositivity against Borrelia burgdorferi (s.I.). Blood samples were obtained from 318 tick infested sheep for blood analysis and serological determination of IgG and IgM antibodies against B. burgdorferi by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay after exclusion of endo-ectoparasites and other tick-borne infections. A total number of 162 sheep met the inclusion criteria, allocated in four groups based on the presence or absence of IgG and/or IgM; sheep found negative for IgM and IgG (Group A), positive for IgM (Group B), positive for both IgM and IgG (Group C) and positive for IgG (Group D). Anemia, thrombocytopenia and normal or decreased leukocyte count, mainly due to lymphopenia were the main hematological features observed in seropositive sheep. The presence of these features raises the suspicion of Borrelia infection in tick infested sheep. The seropositivity of 23.58% in sheep raises concerns of Borrelia circulation, especially in rural areas and potential risk of transmission to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Labrini V. Athanasiou
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; (V.M.S.); (E.G.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2441066009; Fax: +30-2441066053
| | - Victoria M. Spanou
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; (V.M.S.); (E.G.K.)
| | - Eleni G. Katsogiannou
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; (V.M.S.); (E.G.K.)
| | - Panagiotis D. Katsoulos
- Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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23
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Passerine birds as hosts for Ixodes ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in southeastern Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101650. [PMID: 33486431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101650] [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: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The ecology of vector-borne diseases in a region can be attributed to vector-host interactions. In the United States, tick-borne pathogens are the cause of the highest number of reported vector-borne diseases. In the mid-Atlantic region of the eastern United States, tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, have increased in incidence, with tick-host-pathogen interactions considered a contributing factor to this increase. Ticks become infected with pathogens after taking a blood meal from a systemically infected host or through a localized infection while co-feeding on a host with other infected ticks. The host not only plays a role in pathogen acquisition by the tick, but can also facilitate dispersal of the tick locally within a region or over greater distances into new geographical ranges outside of their historical distributional range. In this study conducted in southeastern Virginia (USA), we examined the interaction between both resident and migratory bird species and Ixodes ticks, the primary vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) the main causative agent of Lyme disease on the East coast of the United States. Over a two-year period (2012-2014), 1879 passerine birds were surveyed, with 255 Ixodes ticks tested for the presence of Borrelia spp. Eighty passerine birds (4.3 %) representing 17 bird species were parasitized by at least one Ixodes tick, but only three bird species were parasitized by Ixodes ticks that tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.s. Twenty Ixodes ticks (7.8 %) tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.s. with nearly all collected from resident bird species including the Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum). Given that millions of birds pass through southeastern Virginia during migration, even with the low number of Ixodes ticks parasitizing passerine birds and the low prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.s. found within Ixodes ticks collected, the sheer volume of passerine birds suggests they may play a role in the maintenance and dispersal of B. burgdorferi s.s. in southeastern Virginia.
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24
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Toma L, Mancuso E, d'Alessio SG, Menegon M, Spina F, Pascucci I, Monaco F, Goffredo M, Di Luca M. Tick species from Africa by migratory birds: a 3-year study in Italy. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 83:147-164. [PMID: 33206312 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00573-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The role of resident or migratory birds in dispersal of tick species and tick-borne pathogens is still poorly known in Italy. We report here the results of a 3-year project based on sampling ticks from migratory birds, as well as from the vegetation at three stop-over sites for migrants, namely the islands of Ventotene (Latium), Asinara (Sardinia) and Ustica (Sicily). During the spring seasons from 2017-2019, in total 2681 ticks were collected, 2344 of which were sampled from migratory birds and 337 from the vegetation. Ticks were identified by morphology or by molecular tools when necessary. In total, 16 tick species were identified among which the following were exclusively found on birds: Hyalomma rufipes (43.3%), Hy. truncatum (0.1%), Ixodes frontalis (11.8%), Ix. inopinatus (0.2%), Ix. ricinus (3%), Haemaphysalis punctata (0.08%), Hae. erinacei (0.1%), Amblyomma variegatum (0.08%) and Argas vulgaris 0.1%), whereas five species were exclusively collected from the vegetation: Rhipicephalus bursa (10.5%), Rh. turanicus (5.9%), Rh. sanguineus sensu lato (2%), Rh. pusillus (2.4%), Hae. sulcata (0.08%). Hy. marginatum (10.3%) and Ix. ventalloi (9.3%) were found both on birds and on the vegetation on the island Ustica. It is worth noting that the search for ticks on the vegetation did not detect allochthonous tick species. Although we found several interesting local species and allochthonous ticks like Hy. rufipes, Am. variegatum and Ar. vulgaris on birds, further investigations are needed to better define the possible role of migratory birds in the introduction of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Italy, above all after the evidence of imported ticks positive to Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus in several European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Toma
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - E Mancuso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - S G d'Alessio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Menegon
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Spina
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, Bird Migration Research Area, Via Ca' Fornacetta 9, Ozzano dell' Emilia, Bologna, Italy
| | - I Pascucci
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche "T. Rosati" Sezione Di Pesaro, Via Canonici 140, 61122, Villa Fastiggi, Pesaro, Italy
| | - F Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Goffredo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise 'G. Caporale', Campo Boario, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - M Di Luca
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Plantard O, Hoch T, Daveu R, Rispe C, Stachurski F, Boué F, Poux V, Cebe N, Verheyden H, René-Martellet M, Chalvet-Monfray K, Cafiso A, Olivieri E, Moutailler S, Pollet T, Agoulon A. Where to find questing Ixodes frontalis ticks? Under bamboo bushes! Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101625. [PMID: 33383440 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases have a complex epidemiology that depends on different ecological communities, associating several species of vertebrate hosts, vectors and pathogens. While most studies in Europe are focused on Ixodes ricinus, other Ixodes species may also be involved in the transmission or maintenance of pathogens. This is the case of Ixodes frontalis, a poorly known species associated with different bird species such as blackbirds, thrushes and robins, with a wide distribution covering most European countries. In a previous study, high densities of questing I. frontalis larvae were found during autumn-winter at a site close to Nantes (western France) where a long-term survey focused on I. ricinus was conducted. These I. frontalis were mostly observed under bamboo bushes. In the present study, we investigated the presence of I. frontalis under bamboo bushes at various locations. With that aim in mind, a systematic search for questing I. frontalis was undertaken by the flagging method in public urban parks and private gardens presenting bamboo bushes (32 sites). This survey was carried out during autumn-winter to maximize the probability of finding the most abundant stage, i.e. larvae. We searched for I. frontalis first in the area of Nantes (10 sites), then in other regions of France (21 sites) and at one site in northern Italy. A single visit to each site revealed the presence of I. frontalis at 29 out of 32 sites: larvae were always present, nymphs were frequent (59 % of the positive sites), while adults were found at only 14 % of the sites. Questing stages of this understudied species are thus easy to find, by dragging or flagging under bamboo bushes in autumn or winter. We make the assumption that bamboo offers a favourable place for birds to roost overnight outside their breeding period (i.e. spring), sheltered from both predators and wind. This would explain higher densities of I. frontalis under bamboo, relative to other biotopes. As I. frontalis is known to harbour zoonotic pathogens, the consequences of this discovery on the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Romain Daveu
- INRAE, Oniris, BIOEPAR, 44300, Nantes, France; Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Valérie Poux
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France; Université de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Nicolas Cebe
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Hélène Verheyden
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Magalie René-Martellet
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France; Université de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Karine Chalvet-Monfray
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 63122, Saint-Genès Champanelle, France; Université de Lyon, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR EPIA, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Alessandra Cafiso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Thomas Pollet
- ASTRE, Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, 34398, Montpellier, France; UMR BIPAR, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
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26
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Abstract
With one exception (epidemic relapsing fever), borreliae are obligately maintained in nature by ticks. Although some Borrelia spp. may be vertically transmitted to subsequent generations of ticks, most require amplification by a vertebrate host because inheritance is not stable. Enzootic cycles of borreliae have been found globally; those receiving the most attention from researchers are those whose vectors have some degree of anthropophily and, thus, cause zoonoses such as Lyme disease or relapsing fever. To some extent, our views on the synecology of the borreliae has been dominated by an applied focus, viz., analyses that seek to understand the elements of human risk for borreliosis. But, the elements of borrelial perpetuation do not necessarily bear upon risk, nor do our concepts of risk provide the best structure for analyzing perpetuation. We identify the major global themes for the perpetuation of borreliae, and summarize local variations on those themes, focusing on key literature to outline the factors that serve as the basis for the distribution and abundance of borreliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam R. Telford
- Dept of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Heidi K. Goethert
- Dept of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
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Abstract
The genus Borrelia consists of evolutionarily and genetically diverse bacterial species that cause a variety of diseases in humans and domestic animals. These vector-borne spirochetes can be classified into two major evolutionary groups, the Lyme borreliosis clade and the relapsing fever clade, both of which have complex transmission cycles during which they interact with multiple host species and arthropod vectors. Molecular, ecological, and evolutionary studies have each provided significant contributions towards our understanding of the natural history, biology and evolutionary genetics of Borrelia species; however, integration of these studies is required to identify the evolutionary causes and consequences of the genetic variation within and among Borrelia species. For example, molecular and genetic studies have identified the adaptations that maximize fitness components throughout the Borrelia lifecycle and enhance transmission efficacy but provide limited insights into the evolutionary pressures that have produced them. Ecological studies can identify interactions between Borrelia species and the vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors they encounter and the resulting impact on the geographic distribution and abundance of spirochetes but not the genetic or molecular basis underlying these interactions. In this review we discuss recent findings on the evolutionary genetics from both of the evolutionarily distinct clades of Borrelia species. We focus on connecting molecular interactions to the ecological processes that have driven the evolution and diversification of Borrelia species in order to understand the current distribution of genetic and molecular variation within and between Borrelia species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J. Oppler
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kayleigh R. O’Keeffe
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Karen D. McCoy
- Centre for Research on the Ecology and Evolution of Diseases (CREES), MiVEGEC, University of Montpellier – CNRS - IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Dustin Brisson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 433 South University Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Hedgehogs, Squirrels, and Blackbirds as Sentinel Hosts for Active Surveillance of Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi Complex in Urban and Rural Environments. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121908. [PMID: 33266311 PMCID: PMC7760222 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, is one of the most common vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe. Knowledge about the enzootic circulation of Borrelia pathogens between ticks and their vertebrate hosts is epidemiologically important and enables assessment of the health risk for the human population. In our project, we focused on the following vertebrate species: European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus), Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), and Common blackbird (Turdus merula). The cadavers of accidentally killed animals used in this study constitute an available source of biological material, and we have confirmed its potential for wide monitoring of B. burgdorferi s.l. presence and genospecies diversity in the urban environment. High infection rates (90% for E. erinaceus, 73% for E. roumanicus, 91% for S. vulgaris, and 68% for T. merula) were observed in all four target host species; mixed infections by several genospecies were detected on the level of individuals, as well as in particular tissue samples. These findings show the usefulness of multiple tissue sampling as tool for revealing the occurrence of several genospecies within one animal and the risk of missing particular B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies when looking in one organ alone.
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O'Keeffe KR, Oppler ZJ, Brisson D. Evolutionary ecology of Lyme Borrelia. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2020; 85:104570. [PMID: 32998077 PMCID: PMC8349510 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The bacterial genus, Borrelia, is comprised of vector-borne spirochete species that infect and are transmitted from multiple host species. Some Borrelia species cause highly-prevalent diseases in humans and domestic animals. Evolutionary, ecological, and molecular research on many Borrelia species have resulted in tremendous progress toward understanding the biology and natural history of these species. Yet, many outstanding questions, such as how Borrelia populations will be impacted by climate and land-use change, will require an interdisciplinary approach. The evolutionary ecology research framework incorporates theory and data from evolutionary, ecological, and molecular studies while overcoming common assumptions within each field that can hinder integration across these disciplines. Evolutionary ecology offers a framework to evaluate the ecological consequences of evolved traits and to predict how present-day ecological processes may result in further evolutionary change. Studies of microbes with complex transmission cycles, like Borrelia, which interact with multiple vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors, are poised to leverage the power of the evolutionary ecology framework to identify the molecular interactions involved in ecological processes that result in evolutionary change. Using existing data, we outline how evolutionary ecology theory can delineate how interactions with other species and the physical environment create selective forces or impact migration of Borrelia populations and result in micro-evolutionary changes. We further discuss the ecological and molecular consequences of those micro-evolutionary changes. While many of the currently outstanding questions will necessitate new experimental designs and additional empirical data, many others can be addressed immediately by integrating existing molecular and ecological data within an evolutionary ecology framework.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zachary J Oppler
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dustin Brisson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Lau ACC, Qiu Y, Moustafa MAM, Nakao R, Shimozuru M, Onuma M, Mohd-Azlan J, Tsubota T. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato and Relapsing Fever Borrelia in Feeding Ixodes Ticks and Rodents in Sarawak, Malaysia: New Geographical Records of Borrelia yangtzensis and Borrelia miyamotoi. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9100846. [PMID: 33076567 PMCID: PMC7650685 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9100846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex are etiological agents of Lyme disease (LD), and Borrelia miyamotoi is one of the relapsing fever Borrelia (RFB). Despite the serological evidence of LD in Malaysia, there has been no report from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Thus, this study aimed to detect and characterize Borrelia in rodents and Ixodes ticks from primary forests and an oil palm (OP) plantation in Sarawak. Borrelia yangtzensis (a member of the Bbsl complex) was detected in 43.8% (14/32) of Ixodes granulatus; most of the positive ticks were from the OP plantation (13/14). Out of 56 rodents, B. yangtzensis was detected in four Rattus spp. from the OP plantation and B. miyamotoi was detected in one rodent, Sundamys muelleri, from the primary forest. Further, the positive samples of B. yangtzensis were randomly selected for multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). The MLSA results of successfully amplified tick samples revealed a clustering with the sequences isolated from Japan and China. This study is the first evidence of B. miyamotoi, a known human pathogen in Malaysia, and B. yangtzensis, which is circulating in ticks and rodents in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and presenting a new geographical record of the Borrelia spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice C. C. Lau
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; (A.C.C.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Yongjin Qiu
- Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia, Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Japan
- Correspondence: (Y.Q.); (T.T.); Tel.: +81-11-706-9517 (Y.Q.); +81-11-706-5101 (T.T.)
| | - Mohamed Abdallah Mohamed Moustafa
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; (M.A.M.M.); (R.N.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Ryo Nakao
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; (M.A.M.M.); (R.N.)
| | - Michito Shimozuru
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; (A.C.C.L.); (M.S.)
| | - Manabu Onuma
- Ecological Risk Assessment and Control Section, Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-806, Japan;
| | - Jayasilan Mohd-Azlan
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, University Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak 94300, Malaysia;
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan; (A.C.C.L.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (Y.Q.); (T.T.); Tel.: +81-11-706-9517 (Y.Q.); +81-11-706-5101 (T.T.)
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Park E, Jorge F, Poulin R. Shared geographic histories and dispersal contribute to congruent phylogenies between amphipods and their microsporidian parasites at regional and global scales. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:3330-3345. [PMID: 32706932 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In parasites that strongly rely on a host for dispersal, geographic barriers that act on the host will simultaneously influence parasite distribution as well. If their association persists over macroevolutionary time it may result in congruent phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns due to shared geographic histories. Here, we investigated the level of congruent evolutionary history at a regional and global scale in a highly specialised parasite taxon infecting hosts with limited dispersal abilities: the microsporidians Dictyocoela spp. and their amphipod hosts. Dictyocoela can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally and is the most common microsporidian genus occurring in amphipods in Eurasia. However, little is known about its distribution elsewhere. We started by conducting molecular screening to detect microsporidian parasites in endemic amphipod species in New Zealand; based on phylogenetic analyses, we identified nine species-level microsporidian taxa including six belonging to Dictyocoela. With a distance-based cophylogenetic analysis at the regional scale, we identified overall congruent phylogenies between Paracalliope, the most common New Zealand freshwater amphipod taxon, and their Dictyocoela parasites. Also, hosts and parasites showed similar phylogeographic patterns suggesting shared biogeographic histories. Similarly, at a global scale, phylogenies of amphipod hosts and their Dictyocoela parasites showed broadly congruent phylogenies. The observed patterns may have resulted from covicariance and/or codispersal, suggesting that the intimate association between amphipods and Dictyocoela may have persisted over macroevolutionary time. We highlight that shared biogeographic histories could play a role in the codiversification of hosts and parasites at a macroevolutionary scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Park
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Fátima Jorge
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Pakanen VM, Sormunen JJ, Sippola E, Blomqvist D, Kallio ER. Questing abundance of adult taiga ticks Ixodes persulcatus and their Borrelia prevalence at the north-western part of their distribution. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:384. [PMID: 32727555 PMCID: PMC7391513 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04259-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Because ixodid ticks are vectors of zoonotic pathogens, including Borrelia, information of their abundance, seasonal variation in questing behaviour and pathogen prevalence is important for human health. As ticks are invading new areas northwards, information from these new areas are needed. Taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus) populations have been recently found at Bothnian Bay, Finland. We assessed seasonal variation in questing abundance of ticks and their pathogen prevalence in coastal deciduous forests near the city of Oulu (latitudes 64–65°) in 2019. Methods We sampled ticks from May until September by cloth dragging 100 meters once a month at eight study sites. We calculated a density index (individuals/100 m2) to assess seasonal variation. Samples were screened for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) (including B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi (sensu stricto) and B. valaisana), Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Francisella tularensis and Bartonella spp., Babesia spp. and for the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Results All except one nymph were identified as I. persulcatus. The number of questing adults showed a strong peak in May (median: 6.5 adults/100 m2), which is among the highest values reported in northern Europe, and potentially indicates a large population size. After May, the number of questing adults declined steadily with few adults still sampled in August. Nymphs were present from May until September. We found a striking prevalence of Borrelia spp. in adults (62%) and nymphs (40%), with B. garinii (51%) and B. afzelii (63%) being the most common species. In addition, we found that 26% of infected adults were coinfected with at least two Borrelia genospecies, mainly B. garinii and B. afzelii, which are associated with different host species. Conclusions The coastal forest environments at Bothnian Bay seem to provide favourable environments for I. persulcatus and the spread of Borrelia. High tick abundance, a low diversity of the host community and similar host use among larvae and nymphs likely explain the high Borrelia prevalence and coinfection rate. Research on the infestation of the hosts that quantifies the temporal dynamics of immature life stages would reveal important aspects of pathogen circulation in these tick populations.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Veli-Matti Pakanen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 463, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden. .,Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
| | - Jani J Sormunen
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Ella Sippola
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Donald Blomqvist
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 463, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden
| | - Eva R Kallio
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40041, Jyväskylä, Finland
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Lin YP, Diuk-Wasser MA, Stevenson B, Kraiczy P. Complement Evasion Contributes to Lyme Borreliae-Host Associations. Trends Parasitol 2020; 36:634-645. [PMID: 32456964 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere and is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. Lyme borreliae infect diverse vertebrate reservoirs without triggering apparent manifestations in these animals; however, Lyme borreliae strains differ in their reservoir hosts. The mechanisms that drive those differences are unknown. To survive in vertebrate hosts, Lyme borreliae require the ability to escape from host defense mechanisms, in particular complement. To facilitate the evasion of complement, Lyme borreliae produce diverse proteins at different stages of infection, allowing them to persistently survive without being recognized by hosts and potentially resulting in host-specific infection. This review discusses the current knowledge regarding the ecology and evolutionary mechanisms of Lyme borreliae-host associations driven by complement evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, NY, USA.
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian Stevenson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA; Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Peter Kraiczy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of Frankfurt, Goethe University Frankfurt, D-60596 Frankfurt, Germany.
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Mtierová Z, Derdáková M, Chvostáč M, Didyk YM, Mangová B, Rusňáková Tarageľová V, Selyemová D, Šujanová A, Václav R. Local Population Structure and Seasonal Variability of Borrelia garinii Genotypes in Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3607. [PMID: 32455590 PMCID: PMC7277216 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD) is the most common tick-borne human disease in Europe, and Borrelia garinii, which is associated with avian reservoirs, is one of the most genetically diverse and widespread human pathogenic genospecies from the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex. The clinical manifestations of LD are known to vary between regions and depend on the genetic strain even within Borrelia genospecies. It is thus of importance to explore the genetic diversity of such pathogenic borreliae for the wide range of host and ecological contexts. In this study, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was employed to investigate the local population structure of B. garinii in Ixodes ricinus ticks. The study took place in a natural wetland in Slovakia, temporally encompassing spring and autumn bird migration periods as well as the breeding period of resident birds. In total, we examined 369 and 255 ticks collected from 78 birds and local vegetation, respectively. B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 43.4% (160/369) of ticks recovered from birds and in 26.3% (67/255) of questing ticks, respectively. Considering the ticks from bird hosts, the highest prevalence was found for single infections with B. garinii (22.5%). Infection intensity of B. garinii in bird-feeding ticks was significantly higher than that in questing ticks. We identified ten B. garinii sequence types (STs) occurring exclusively in bird-feeding ticks, two STs occurring exclusively in questing ticks, and one ST (ST 244) occurring in both ticks from birds and questing ticks. Four B. garinii STs were detected for the first time herein. With the exception of ST 93, we detected different STs in spring and summer for bird-feeding ticks. Our results are consistent with previous studies of the low geographic structuring of B. garinii genotypes. However, our study reveals some consistency in local ST occurrence and a geographic signal for one of the clonal complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Mtierová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Markéta Derdáková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Michal Chvostáč
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Yuliya M. Didyk
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
- Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, NAS of Ukraine, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Barbara Mangová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Diana Selyemová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Alžbeta Šujanová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
| | - Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.M.); (M.D.); (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (B.M.); (V.R.T.); (D.S.); (A.Š.)
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Xu Z, Yan Y, Cao J, Zhou Y, Zhang H, Xu Q, Zhou J. A family of serine protease inhibitors (serpins) and its expression profiles in the ovaries of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 84:104346. [PMID: 32360539 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Serpins are evolutionarily conserved serine protease inhibitors found in many organisms. In arthropods, serpins are involved in feeding, development, oviposition, anti-coagulation and innate immune responses. We characterized of 11 serpins in the tick Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides. These serpins have orthologous genes in other ticks, as indicated by phylogenetic analysis. Analysis of the reactive center loop and hinge regions of the protein sequences indicated that RHS7 encodes proteins that may lack proteinase inhibitor activity. All R. haemaphysaloides serpins had high amino acid sequence identities to Rhipicephalus microplus serpins. Tissue and temporal transcriptional profiling of eight R. haemaphysaloides serpins located in the ovaries demonstrated that they are transcribed during feeding and oviposition. These suggested their participation in the regulation of tick physiology. Immune serum from rabbits repeatedly infested with larvae, nymphs and adults of R. haemaphysaloides can recognize multiple recombinant serpins, respectively. After gene silencing, the blood feeding to repletion time was significantly longer and the 24 h attachment rate was significantly lower in the RHS3 and RHS7 knock down groups. The RHS9 and RHS11 silenced ticks had significant reduction in repletion time and egg-laying rate. Egg hatchability was significantly decreased in RHS4, RHS5 and RHS9 silenced ticks. All groups had significant reductions in engorged body weight. This study increases information on the serpins of R. haemaphysaloides and suggests that some RHSs are potential targets for development of tick vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengmao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijie Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yongzhi Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Houshuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qianming Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China.
| | - Jinlin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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