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Hoornstra D, Kuleshov KV, Fingerle V, Hepner S, Wagemakers A, Strube C, Castillo-Ramírez S, Bockenstedt LK, Telford SR, Sprong H, Platonov AE, Margos G, Hovius JW. Combining short- and long-read sequencing unveils geographically structured diversity in Borrelia miyamotoi. iScience 2024; 27:110616. [PMID: 39262806 PMCID: PMC11388275 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging Ixodes tick-borne human pathogen in the Northern hemisphere. The aim of the current study was to compare whole genome sequences of B. miyamotoi isolates from different continents. Using a combination of Illumina and PacBio platforms and a novel genome assembly and plasmid typing pipeline, we reveal that the 21 sequenced B. miyamotoi isolates and publically available B. miyamotoi genomes from North America, Asia, and Europe form genetically distinct populations and cluster according to their geographical origin, where distinct Ixodes species are endemic. We identified 20 linear and 17 circular plasmid types and the presence of specific plasmids for isolates originating from different continents. Linear plasmids lp12, lp23, lp41, and lp72 were core plasmids found in all isolates, with lp41 consistently containing the vmp expression site. Our data provide insights into the genetic basis of vector competence, virulence, and pathogenesis of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Volker Fingerle
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hepner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Alex Wagemakers
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Sam R Telford
- Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Gabriele Margos
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Mertens-Scholz K, Hoffmann B, Gethmann JM, Brangsch H, Pletz MW, Klaus C. Prevalence of tick-borne bacterial pathogens in Germany-has the situation changed after a decade? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1429667. [PMID: 39091677 PMCID: PMC11291221 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1429667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tick-borne pathogens, such as Borreliella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp., are frequently detected in Germany. They circulate between animals and tick vectors and can cause mild to severe diseases in humans. Knowledge about distribution and prevalence of these pathogens over time is important for risk assessment of human and animal health. Methods Ixodes ricinus nymphs were collected at different locations in 2009/2010 and 2019 in Germany and analyzed for tick-borne pathogens by real-time PCR and sequencing. Results Borreliella spp. were detected with a prevalence of 11.96% in 2009/2010 and 13.10% in 2019 with B. afzelii and B. garinii as dominant species. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in seven ticks and in coinfection with B. afzelii or B. garinii. Rickettsia spp. showed a prevalence of 8.82% in 2009/2010 and 1.68% in 2019 with the exclusive detection of R. helvetica. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was 1.00% in 2009/2010 and 7.01% in 2019. A. phagocytophilum was detected in seven tick samples. None of the nymphs were positive for C. burnetii. Discussion Here, observed changes in prevalence were not significant after a decade but require longitudinal observations including parameters like host species and density, climatic factors to improve our understanding of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Mertens-Scholz
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Bernd Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jörn M. Gethmann
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Hanka Brangsch
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Mathias W. Pletz
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Klaus
- Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), Jena, Germany
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Coder BL, Price KJ, Tewari D, Witmier BJ, Chapman HA, Chroscinski MS, Long J, Livengood JL, Boyer CN. Statewide surveillance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) for the presence of the human pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), a relapsing fever spirochete in Pennsylvania, USA, 2019-2020. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:1086-1090. [PMID: 38686844 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi disease is an emerging tick-borne human illness in the United States caused by Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) bacterium. With Pennsylvania reporting thousands of tick-borne disease cases annually, determining the minimum infection rate (MIR) of B. miyamotoi in Ixodes scapularis (Say, Acari: Ixodidae) adults within Pennsylvania is of utmost importance. Active surveillance was performed from October 2019 to April 2020 to collect a minimum of 50 I. scapularis ticks from every county within Pennsylvania and then screened for B. miyamotoi via qPCR. Ticks were collected from all 67 counties with the majority of those being adult I. scapularis. Additional ticks collected were Dermacentor albipictus (Packard, Acari: Ixodidae), Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, Acari: Ixodidae), and immature I. scapularis. Adult I. scapularis were pooled and tested for B. miyamotoi. MIR for positive B. miyamotoi pools and density of infected adult I. scapularis varied by county, with positive pools from 38 Pennsylvania counties. This is the first statewide evaluation of B. miyamotoi in Pennsylvania in questing adult I. scapularis. These prevalence and distribution data will aid health care practitioners within the state of Pennsylvania and the northeast United States to understand potential risk and bring awareness to the lesser known human Borrelia illness, Borrelia miyamotoi disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke L Coder
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Deepanker Tewari
- Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA, USA
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Holly A Chapman
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Michael S Chroscinski
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Jason Long
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | - Julia L Livengood
- Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg, PA, USA
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
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Du CH, Yang JH, Yao MG, Jiang BG, Zhang Y, He ZH, Xiang R, Shao ZT, Luo CF, Pu EN, Huang L, Li YQ, Wang F, Bie SS, Luo Z, Du CB, Zhao J, Li M, Sun Y, Jiang JF. Systematic investigation of the Borrelia miyamotoi spirochetes in ticks, wildlife and domestic animal hosts in Yunnan province, Southwest China. One Health 2024; 18:100735. [PMID: 38711479 PMCID: PMC11070625 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Borrelia miyamotoi is a spirochete species transmitted via hard ticks. Following its discovery in Japan, this pathogen has been detected around the world, and is increasingly confirmed as a human pathogen causing febrile disease, namely relapsing fever. Its presence has been confirmed in the Northeast China. However, there is little information regarding the presence of B. miyamotoi and other hard-tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes in southern China including Yunnan province, where tick and animal species are abundant and many people both inhabit and visit for recreation. Methods For the present study, we collected samples of ticks, wildlife, and domestic animal hosts from different counties in Yunnan province. Nucleic acids from samples were extracted, and the presence of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the 16S rRNA specific target gene fragment. The positive samples were then amplified for partial genome of the flaB and glpQ genes. Statistical differences in its distribution were analyzed by SPSS 20 software. Sequence of partial 16S rRNA, flaB and glpQ genome were analyzed and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Results A total of 8260 samples including 2304 ticks, 4120 small mammals and 1836 blood of domestic animal hosts were collected for screening for infection of B. miyamotoi and other relapsing fever spirochetes. Cattle and sheep act as the main hosts and Rhipicephalus microplus, Haemaphysalis nepalensis, H. kolonini and Ixodes ovatus were identified as the important vector host with high prevalence or wide distribution. Only one Mus caroli (mouse) and one Sorex alpinus (shrew) were confirmed positive for relapsing fever spirochetes. Evidence of vertical transmission in ticks was also confirmed. Two known strains of B. miyamotoi and one novel relapsing fever spirochetes, B. theileri-like agent, were confirmed and described with their host adaptation, mutation, and potential risk of spreading and spillover for human beings. Conclusions Our results provide new evidence of relapsing fever spirochetes in vector and animal hosts in Yunnan province based on large sample sizes, and offer guidance on further investigation, surveillance and monitoring of this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hong Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Ji-Hu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, PR China
| | - Ming-Guo Yao
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Bao-Gui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Zhi-Hai He
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Rong Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - Zong-Ti Shao
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Chun-Feng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - En-Nian Pu
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Lin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - Yu-Qiong Li
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Fan Wang
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Shuang-Shuang Bie
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Zhi Luo
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Chao-Bo Du
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Miao Li
- Yunnan Institute for Endemic Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Dali 671000, PR China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100071, PR China
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Veinović G, Sukara R, Mihaljica D, Penezić A, Ćirović D, Tomanović S. The Occurrence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Small Mammals from Serbia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024; 24:285-292. [PMID: 38346321 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite abundance of small mammals in Serbia, there is no information on their role in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases (TBDs). This retrospective study aimed to identify different tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in small mammals in Serbia collected during 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 179 small mammals were collected from seven different localities in Serbia. The five localities belong to the capital city of Serbia-Belgrade: recreational areas-Ada Ciganlija, Titov gaj, and Košutnjak as well as mountainous suburban areas used for hiking-Avala and Kosmaj. The locality Veliko Gradište is a tourist place in northeastern Serbia, whereas the locality Milošev Do is a remote area in western Serbia with minor human impact on the environment. Results: The results of the presented retrospective study are the first findings of Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia microti, Hepatozoon canis, and Coxiella burnetii in small mammals in Serbia. The presence of R. helvetica was confirmed in two Apodemus flavicollis, the presence of one of the following pathogens, R. monacensis, B. afzelii, H. canis, Ba. microti, and N. mikurensis was confirmed in one A. flavicollis each, whereas the presence of B. miyamotoi was confirmed in one Apodemus agrarius. Coinfection with B. afzelii and Ba. microti was confirmed in one A. flavicollis. DNA of C. burnetii was detected in 3 of 18 pools. Conclusions: The results confirm that detected pathogens circulate in the sylvatic cycle in Serbia and point to small mammals as potential reservoir hosts for the detected TBPs. Further large-scale studies on contemporary samples are needed to clarify the exact role of particular small mammal species in the epidemiology of TBDs caused by the detected pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gorana Veinović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ratko Sukara
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Mihaljica
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Snežana Tomanović
- Group for Medical Entomology, Centre of Excellence for Food and Vector-Borne Zoonoses, Institute for Medical Research, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Nepveu-Traversy ME, Fausther-Bovendo H, Babuadze G(G. Human Tick-Borne Diseases and Advances in Anti-Tick Vaccine Approaches: A Comprehensive Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:141. [PMID: 38400125 PMCID: PMC10891567 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020141] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review explores the field of anti-tick vaccines, addressing their significance in combating tick-borne diseases of public health concern. The main objectives are to provide a brief epidemiology of diseases affecting humans and a thorough understanding of tick biology, traditional tick control methods, the development and mechanisms of anti-tick vaccines, their efficacy in field applications, associated challenges, and future prospects. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a significant and escalating threat to global health and the livestock industries due to the widespread distribution of ticks and the multitude of pathogens they transmit. Traditional tick control methods, such as acaricides and repellents, have limitations, including environmental concerns and the emergence of tick resistance. Anti-tick vaccines offer a promising alternative by targeting specific tick proteins crucial for feeding and pathogen transmission. Developing vaccines with antigens based on these essential proteins is likely to disrupt these processes. Indeed, anti-tick vaccines have shown efficacy in laboratory and field trials successfully implemented in livestock, reducing the prevalence of TBDs. However, some challenges still remain, including vaccine efficacy on different hosts, polymorphisms in ticks of the same species, and the economic considerations of adopting large-scale vaccine strategies. Emerging technologies and approaches hold promise for improving anti-tick vaccine development and expanding their impact on public health and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hugues Fausther-Bovendo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
| | - George (Giorgi) Babuadze
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 75550, USA;
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Schwartz T, Hoornstra D, Øie E, Hovius J, Quarsten H. Case report: First case of Borrelia miyamotoi meningitis in an immunocompromised patient in Norway. IDCases 2023; 33:e01867. [PMID: 37577049 PMCID: PMC10412827 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2023.e01867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tick-borne disease caused by B. miyamotoi (BMD) usually manifest as a febrile illness in humans. Complications include relapsing fever and in rare occasions involvement of the central nervous system. Only a few cases of meningoencephalitis have been described, mostly in immunosuppressed patients. Case presentation A 70-year-old female receiving immunosuppressive rituximab therapy presented with frontal headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and chills. Clinical laboratory blood analyses were normal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was translucent and analysis showed increased leucocyte count (187 106/L) and elevated level of protein (1056 mg/L). Empiric antibiotic treatment was initiated. The patient showed an early symptomatic relief and 24 h after admission she was discharged from the hospital and antibiotic treatment was discontinued. Two weeks after hospitalisation the B. miyamotoi specific PCR turned out positive in both CSF and serum. At the time, the patient was recovered with mild residual headache. She was treated with high dose doxycycline and her subtle symptoms disappeared. Conclusions To our knowledge, we present the first patient with BMD-associated meningitis in Norway, one of eight cases reported worldwide. The patient had mild symptoms and received an early diagnosis. A more severe progression or relapse of disease may have been prevented by antibiotic treatment. BMD should be considered as causes of aseptic meningitis, especially in immunosuppressed patients living in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Schwartz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo New University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Erik Øie
- Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joppe Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanne Quarsten
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway
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Foley N, O’Connor C, Falco RC, Vinci V, Oliver J, Haight J, Sporn LA, Harrington L, Mader E, Wroblewski D, Backenson PB, Prusinski MA. Spatiotemporal distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfection with other tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) from New York State, USA. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:808-821. [PMID: 37156099 PMCID: PMC10653143 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say, Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from 432 locations across New York State (NYS) during the summer and autumn of 2015-2020 to determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) and coinfections with other tick-borne pathogens. A total of 48,386 I. scapularis were individually analyzed using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to simultaneously detect the presence of Bo. miyamotoi, Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), and Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). Overall prevalence of Bo. miyamotoi in host-seeking nymphs and adults varied geographically and temporally at the regional level. The rate of polymicrobial infection in Bo. miyamotoi-infected ticks varied by developmental stage, with certain co-infections occurring more frequently than expected by chance. Entomological risk of exposure to Bo. miyamotoi-infected nymphal and adult ticks (entomological risk index [ERI]) across NYS regions in relation to human cases of Bo. miyamotoi disease identified during the study period demonstrated spatial and temporal variation. The relationship between select environmental factors and Bo. miyamotoi ERI was explored using generalized linear mixed effects models, resulting in different factors significantly impacting ERI for nymphs and adult ticks. These results can inform estimates of Bo. miyamotoi disease risk and further our understanding of Bo. miyamotoi ecological dynamics in regions where this pathogen is known to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Foley
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Collin O’Connor
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Western New York Regional Office, 584 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA
- Department of Geography, University at Buffalo, Suite 105, Buffalo, NY, 14261, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Fordham University, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Louis Calder Center, 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Vanessa Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Fordham University, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Louis Calder Center, 53 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - JoAnne Oliver
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Central New York Regional Office, 217 South Salina Street, 3rd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Jamie Haight
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Chautauqua County DPF Offices, 454 North Work Street, Room B-05, Falconer, NY 14733, USA
| | - Lee Ann Sporn
- Paul Smith’s College, State Routes 30 and 86, Paul Smiths, NY 12970, USA
| | - Laura Harrington
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Emily Mader
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3138/2130 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Danielle Wroblewski
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Bacteriology Laboratory, David Axelrod Institute, 120 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - P Bryon Backenson
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Communicable Disease Investigations and Vector Surveillance Unit, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
| | - Melissa A Prusinski
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Vector Ecology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center Biggs Laboratory C-456, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237, USA
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Papp M, Tóth AG, Valcz G, Makrai L, Nagy SÁ, Farkas R, Solymosi N. Antimicrobial resistance gene lack in tick-borne pathogenic bacteria. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8167. [PMID: 37210378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35356-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne infections, including those of bacterial origin, are significant public health issues. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, is driven by specific genetic determinants, primarily by the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of bacteria. In our work, we investigated the occurrence of ARGs in the genomes of tick-borne bacterial species that can cause human infections. For this purpose, we processed short/long reads of 1550 bacterial isolates of the genera Anaplasma (n = 20), Bartonella (n = 131), Borrelia (n = 311), Coxiella (n = 73), Ehrlichia (n = 13), Francisella (n = 959) and Rickettsia (n = 43) generated by second/third generation sequencing that have been freely accessible at the NCBI SRA repository. From Francisella tularensis, 98.9% of the samples contained the FTU-1 beta-lactamase gene. However, it is part of the F. tularensis representative genome as well. Furthermore, 16.3% of them contained additional ARGs. Only 2.2% of isolates from other genera (Bartonella: 2, Coxiella: 8, Ehrlichia: 1, Rickettsia: 2) contained any ARG. We found that the odds of ARG occurrence in Coxiella samples were significantly higher in isolates related to farm animals than from other sources. Our results describe a surprising lack of ARGs in these bacteria and suggest that Coxiella species in farm animal settings could play a role in the spread of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Papp
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Adrienn Gréta Tóth
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Gábor Valcz
- Translational Extracellular Vesicle Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network-Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1089, Hungary
- Department of Image Analysis, 3DHISTECH Ltd., Budapest, 1141, Hungary
| | - László Makrai
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1143, Hungary
| | - Sára Ágnes Nagy
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary
| | - Norbert Solymosi
- Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, 1078, Hungary.
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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10
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Liberska JA, Michalik JF, Dabert M. Exposure of dogs and cats to Borrelia miyamotoi infected Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban areas of the city of Poznań, west-central Poland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102188. [PMID: 37172512 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102188] [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: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging human pathogen that causes a relapsing fever-like disease named B. miyamotoi disease. The bacterium belongs to the relapsing fever borreliae, and similar to spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group, it is transmitted only by hard ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. To date, B. miyamotoi has not been demonstrated to cause illness in dogs or cats, and is poorly documented in veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to determine the B. miyamotoi presence in (i) host-seeking ticks and (ii) engorged Ixodes sp. ticks collected from dogs and cats during their inspection in veterinary clinics of the city of Poznań, west-central Poland. Host-seeking ticks were sampled in dog walking areas localized in urban forested recreational sites of the city. In this study, 1,059 host-seeking and 837 engorged I. ricinus ticks collected from 680 tick-infested animals (567 dogs and 113 cats) were screened. Additionally, 31 I. hexagonus ticks (one larva, 13 nymphs, and 17 females) were collected from three cats; one larva and one nymph were collected from two dogs; and one dog was infested with a single Dermacentor reticulatus female. Borrelia DNA was identified by the amplification and sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and flaB gene fragments. DNA of B. miyamotoi was detected in 22 (2.1%) of the host-seeking ticks (in all developmental tick stages and in all study areas). In addition, the engorged I. ricinus ticks exhibited a similar B. miyamotoi presence (1.8%). Fifteen I. ricinus ticks collected from animals tested positive for the presence of B. miyamotoi DNA, and the DNA of B. miyamotoi was observed in three (9.1%; one female and two nymphs) I. hexagonus ticks. The single D. reticulatus female collected from a dog tested PCR-negative for the bacterium. The results of this study demonstrated the establishment and broad presence of the bacterium in tick populations from different urban ecosystems of the city of Poznań. The lack of difference in the mean infection presence of animal-derived and host-seeking I. ricinus ticks suggests that the systematic surveillance of pets may be useful for the evaluation of human exposure to B. miyamotoi infected ticks in urban areas. Additional studies are required to further elucidate the role of domestic and wild carnivores in the epidemiology of B. miyamotoi, which remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Anna Liberska
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Poland.
| | | | - Mirosława Dabert
- Molecular Biology Techniques Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań, Poland
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11
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Çelebi B, Yeni DK, Yılmaz Y, Matur F, Babür C, Öktem MA, Sözen M, Karataş A, Raoult D, Mediannikov O, Fournier PE. Borrelia miyamotoi in wild rodents from four different regions of Turkey. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102143. [PMID: 36857879 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne zoonotic agent that causes hard tick-borne relapsing fever, an emerging disease in humans. Some small mammalian and bird species are reported to be reservoirs of B. miyamotoi. This study aims to examine Borrelia species present in rodents captured from rural areas of Turkey. Blood samples of rodents were initially screened with Borrelia 16S rRNA qPCR. The Borrelia flaB gene was subsequently amplified by conventional PCR, after which all positive samples were sequenced. Borrelia miyamotoi was observed in nine out of 536 blood samples (1.7%) collected from wild rodents. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all positive samples belonged to the European genotype clade of B. miyamotoi. PCR positivity was 5.3%, 3.7%, and 1.8% in Apodemus uralensis, Apodemus flavicollis, and Myodes glareolus, respectively. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato that causes Lyme borreliosis in humans could not be detected in the rodents. In this study, presence of B. miyamotoi DNA is reported for the first time in rodents in Turkey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bekir Çelebi
- Microbiology Reference Laboratory Department, General Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Derya Karataş Yeni
- Veterinary Control Central Research Institute, Bacterial Disease Laboratory, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yusuf Yılmaz
- Microbiology Reference Laboratory Department, General Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ferhat Matur
- Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Cahit Babür
- Microbiology Reference Laboratory Department, General Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Ali Öktem
- Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Sözen
- Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Karataş
- Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Nigde, Turkey
| | - Didier Raoult
- Institut Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- Institut Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre Edouard Fournier
- Institut Méditerranée-Infection, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Microbes Evolution Phylogeny and Infections (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
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12
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Quarsten H, Henningsson A, Krogfelt K, Strube C, Wennerås C, Mavin S. Tick-borne diseases under the radar in the North Sea Region. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102185. [PMID: 37116420 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia species on public health is largely unknown. Data on the prevalence of these pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from seven countries within the North Sea Region in Europe as well as the types and availability of diagnostic tests and the main clinical features of their corresponding diseases is reported and discussed. Raised awareness is needed to discover cases of these under-recognized types of tick-borne disease, which should provide valuable insights into these diseases and their clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Quarsten
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand 4615, Norway.
| | - Anna Henningsson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology in Jönköping, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping 55185, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping 58183, Sweden
| | - Karen Krogfelt
- Department of Science and Environment, University of Roskilde, Roskilde 4000, Denmark
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover 30559, Germany
| | - Christine Wennerås
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg 413 46, Sweden
| | - Sally Mavin
- Scottish Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Infections Reference Laboratory, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness IV2 3BW, United Kingdom
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13
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Susnjar J, Cerar Kisek T, Strasek Smrdel K, Ruzic-Sabljic E, Adam K, Ivovic V. Detection, identification and genotyping of Borrelia spp. in ticks of Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola regions in Slovenia. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2023; 70. [PMID: 37042198 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2023.007] [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: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The density and spread of tick vector species have increased throughout Europe in the last 30 years, leading to an increase of Lyme borreliosis cases, including in Slovenia. The aim of this study was to isolate Borrelia strains and determine the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and B. miyamotoi in adults of Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) collected in 2019 in the two regions of the country (Coastal-Karst and Littoral-Inner Carniola) by cultivation and PCR. We isolated B. burgdorferi s.l. by culture method in 28/559 (5%) ticks from both regions. Culture-negative samples (531/559, i.e., 95%) were additionally tested by real-time PCR. In 155/531 (29.2%) PCR-positive samples, a fragment of flaB or glpQ was amplified and further sequenced to identify species of the Borrelia. Using both methods, cultivation and PCR, Borrelia spp. prevalence was 32.7% in the Coastal-Karst region and 33.0% in the Littoral-Inner Carniola region. Genotyping of the Borrelia spp. isolates revealed that 17/28 (60%) were B. garinii subtype Mlg2. Of all tick samples tested for B. miyamotoi 8/398 (2%) were PCR positive. Based on previous studies in these regions, we had expected more ticks to be infected with B. afzelii, but genotyping revealed that B. garinii was the most abundant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Susnjar
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Tjasa Cerar Kisek
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Strasek Smrdel
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Ruzic-Sabljic
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Adam
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
| | - Vladimir Ivovic
- Department of Biodiversity, Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska,Koper, Slovenia
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14
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Köhler CF, Holding ML, Sprong H, Jansen PA, Esser HJ. Biodiversity in the Lyme-light: ecological restoration and tick-borne diseases in Europe. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:373-385. [PMID: 36890021 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases are two major global challenges. An urgent question is how ecosystems and wildlife communities can be restored whilst minimizing the risk of zoonotic diseases carried by wildlife. Here, we evaluate how current ambitions to restore Europe's natural ecosystems may affect the hazard of diseases vectored by the tick Ixodes ricinus at different scales. We find that effects of restoration efforts on tick abundance are relatively straightforward but that the interacting effects of vertebrate diversity and abundance on pathogen transmission are insufficiently known. Long-term integrated surveillance of wildlife communities, ticks, and their pathogens is needed to understand their interactions and to prevent nature restoration from increasing tick-borne disease (TBD) hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Florentine Köhler
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Maya Louise Holding
- Virology and Pathogenesis Group, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick A Jansen
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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The Surveillance of Borrelia Species in Camelus dromedarius and Associated Ticks: The First Detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in Egypt. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10020141. [PMID: 36851446 PMCID: PMC9961693 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are emerging and re-emerging infections that have a worldwide impact on human and animal health. Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a severe zoonotic disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Ixodes ticks. Borrelia miyamotoi is a spirochete that causes relapsing fever (RF) and is genetically related to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. However, there have been no reports of B. miyamotoi in Egypt, and the data on LB in camels is scarce. Thus, the present study was conducted to screen and genetically identify Borrelia spp. and B. miyamotoi in Egyptian camels and associated ticks using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). METHODS A total of 133 blood samples and 1596 adult hard ticks were collected from Camelus dromedaries at Cairo and Giza slaughterhouses in Egypt. Tick species were identified by examining their morphology and sequencing the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Borrelia spp. was detected using nested PCR on the IGS (16S-23S) gene, and positive samples were genotyped using 16S rRNA and glpQ spp. genes specific for Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi, respectively. The positive PCR products were sequenced and analyzed by phylogenetic tree. RESULTS Analysis of the cox1 gene sequence revealed that the adult ticks belonged to three genera; Hyalomma (H), Amblyomma (Am), and Rhipicephalus (R), as well as 12 species, including H. dromedarii, H. marginatum, H. excavatum, H. anatolicum, R. annulatus, R. pulchellus, Am. testudinarium, Am. hebraeum, Am. lipidium, Am. variegatum, Am. cohaerens and Am. gemma. Borrelia spp. was found in 8.3% (11/133) of the camel blood samples and 1.3% (21/1596) of the ticks, respectively. Sequencing of the IGS (16S-23S) gene found that B. afzelii, detected from H. dromedarii and H. marginatum, and B. crocidurae, which belongs to the RF group, was detected from one blood sample. B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi were discovered in the blood samples and tick species. Phylogenetic analysis of the glpQ gene showed that the B. miyamotoi in this study was of the Asian and European types. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the camels can be infected by Lyme borrelia and other Borrelia bacteria species. This study also provides the first insight into the presence of Borrelia miyamotoi and B. afzelii DNA in camels and associated ticks in Egypt.
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16
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Armstrong BA, Brandt KS, Goodrich I, Gilmore RD. Evaluation of Immunocompetent Mouse Models for Borrelia miyamotoi Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0430122. [PMID: 36715531 PMCID: PMC10100797 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04301-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that is harbored by Ixodes spp. ticks and is virtually uncharacterized, compared to other relapsing fever Borrelia vectored by Ornithodoros spp. ticks. There is not an immunocompetent mouse model for studying B. miyamotoi infection in vivo or for transmission in the vector-host cycle. Our goal was to evaluate B. miyamotoi infections in multiple mouse breeds/strains as a prelude to the ascertainment of the best experimental infection model. Two B. miyamotoi strains, namely, LB-2001 and CT13-2396, as well as three mouse models, namely, CD-1, C3H/HeJ, and BALB/c, were evaluated. We were unable to observe B. miyamotoi LB-2001 spirochetes in the blood via darkfield microscopy or to detect DNA via real-time PCR post needle inoculation in the CD-1 and C3H/HeJ mice. However, LB-2001 DNA was detected via real-time PCR in the blood of the BALB/c mice after needle inoculation, although spirochetes were not observed via microscopy. CD-1, C3H/HeJ, and BALB/c mice generated an antibody response to B. miyamotoi LB-2001 following needle inoculation, but established infections were not detected, and the I. scapularis larvae failed to acquire spirochetes from the exposed CD-1 mice. In contrast, B. miyamotoi CT13-2396 was visualized in the blood of the CD-1 and C3H/HeJ mice via darkfield microscopy and detected by real-time PCR post needle inoculation. Both mouse strains seroconverted. However, no established infection was detected in the mouse organs, and the I. scapularis larvae failed to acquire Borrelia after feeding on CT13-2396 exposed CD-1 or C3H/HeJ mice. These findings underscore the challenges in establishing an experimental B. miyamotoi infection model in immunocompetent laboratory mice. IMPORTANCE Borrelia miyamotoi is a causative agent of hard tick relapsing fever, was first identified in the early 1990s, and was characterized as a human pathogen in 2011. Unlike other relapsing fever Borrelia species, B. miyamotoi spread by means of Ixodes ticks. The relatively recent recognition of this human pathogen means that B. miyamotoi is virtually uncharacterized, compared to other Borrelia species. Currently there is no standard mouse-tick model with which to study the interactions of the pathogen within its vector and hosts. We evaluated two B. miyamotoi isolates and three immunocompetent mouse models to identify an appropriate model with which to study tick-host-pathogen interactions. With the increased prevalence of human exposure to Ixodes ticks, having an appropriate model with which to study B. miyamotoi will be critical for the future development of diagnostics and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brittany A. Armstrong
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kevin S. Brandt
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Irina Goodrich
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert D. Gilmore
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Hoornstra D, Azagi T, van Eck JA, Wagemakers A, Koetsveld J, Spijker R, Platonov AE, Sprong H, Hovius JW. Prevalence and clinical manifestation of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes ticks and humans in the northern hemisphere: a systematic review and meta-analysis. THE LANCET. MICROBE 2022; 3:e772-e786. [PMID: 36113496 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(22)00157-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various studies have evaluated the infection of Ixodes ticks and humans with the relapsing fever spirochaete Borrelia miyamotoi. However, to our knowledge, the prevalence of infection and disease has not been assessed systematically. We aimed to examine the prevalence of B miyamotoi in Ixodes ticks and humans, and the disease it can cause, in the northern hemisphere. METHODS For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched PubMed and Web of Science up to March 1, 2021. Studies assessing Ixodes tick infection published since Jan 1, 2011 were eligible, whereas no time limitation was placed on reports of human infection and disease. We extracted B miyamotoi test positivity ratios and used a random-effects model to calculate estimated proportions of infected ticks, infected humans, and human disease with 95% CI. This study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021268996. FINDINGS We identified 730 studies through database searches and 316 additional studies that referenced two seminal articles on B miyamotoi. Of these 1046 studies, 157 were included in the review, reporting on 165 637 questing ticks, 45 608 unique individuals, and 504 well described cases of B miyamotoi disease in humans. In ticks, the highest prevalence of B miyamotoi was observed in Ixodes persulcatus (2·8%, 95% CI 2·4-3·1) and the lowest in Ixodes pacificus (0·7%, 0·6-0·8). The overall seroprevalence in humans was 4·4% (2·8-6·3), with significantly (p<0·0001) higher seroprevalences in the high-risk group (4·6%, 2·6-7·1), participants with confirmed or suspected Lyme borreliosis (4·8%, 1·8-8·8), and individuals suspected of having a different tick-borne disease (11·9%, 5·6-19·9) than in healthy controls (1·3%, 0·4-2·8). Participants suspected of having a different tick-borne disease tested positive for B miyamotoi by PCR significantly more often than did the high-risk group (p=0·025), with individuals in Asia more likely to test positive than those in the USA (odds ratio 14·63 [95% CI 2·80-76·41]). INTERPRETATION B miyamotoi disease should be considered an emerging infectious disease, especially in North America and Asia. Prospective studies and increased awareness are required to obtain further insights into the burden of disease. FUNDING ZonMW and the European Regional Development Fund (Interreg).
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieuwertje Hoornstra
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tal Azagi
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline A van Eck
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Alex Wagemakers
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joris Koetsveld
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - René Spijker
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Socarras KM, Haslund-Gourley BS, Cramer NA, Comunale MA, Marconi RT, Ehrlich GD. Large-Scale Sequencing of Borreliaceae for the Construction of Pan-Genomic-Based Diagnostics. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1604. [PMID: 36140772 PMCID: PMC9498496 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091604] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The acceleration of climate change has been associated with an alarming increase in the prevalence and geographic range of tick-borne diseases (TBD), many of which have severe and long-lasting effects-particularly when treatment is delayed principally due to inadequate diagnostics and lack of physician suspicion. Moreover, there is a paucity of treatment options for many TBDs that are complicated by diagnostic limitations for correctly identifying the offending pathogens. This review will focus on the biology, disease pathology, and detection methodologies used for the Borreliaceae family which includes the Lyme disease agent Borreliella burgdorferi. Previous work revealed that Borreliaceae genomes differ from most bacteria in that they are composed of large numbers of replicons, both linear and circular, with the main chromosome being the linear with telomeric-like termini. While these findings are novel, additional gene-specific analyses of each class of these multiple replicons are needed to better understand their respective roles in metabolism and pathogenesis of these enigmatic spirochetes. Historically, such studies were challenging due to a dearth of both analytic tools and a sufficient number of high-fidelity genomes among the various taxa within this family as a whole to provide for discriminative and functional genomic studies. Recent advances in long-read whole-genome sequencing, comparative genomics, and machine-learning have provided the tools to better understand the fundamental biology and phylogeny of these genomically-complex pathogens while also providing the data for the development of improved diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla M. Socarras
- Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Benjamin S. Haslund-Gourley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Cramer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Mary Ann Comunale
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
| | - Richard T. Marconi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Garth D. Ehrlich
- Center for Advanced Microbial Processing, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 1112 East Clay Street, Room 101 Health Sciences Research Building, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Center for Surgical Infections and Biofilms, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
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Rodino KG, Pritt BS. When to Think About Other Borreliae:: Hard Tick Relapsing Fever (Borrelia miyamotoi), Borrelia mayonii, and Beyond. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2022; 36:689-701. [PMID: 36116843 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In North America, several hard tick-transmitted Borrelia species other than Borrelia burgdorferi cause human disease, including Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia mayonii, and possibly Borrelia bissettii. Due to overlapping clinical syndromes, nonspecific tickborne disease (TBD) testing strategies, and shared treatment approaches, infections with these lesser known Borrelia are likely under-reported. In this article, we describe the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of these less common Borrelia pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle G Rodino
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bobbi S Pritt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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20
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Garcia-Vozmediano A, Tomassone L, Fonville M, Bertolotti L, Heylen D, Fabri ND, Medlock JM, Nijhof AM, Hansford KM, Sprong H, Krawczyk AI. The Genetic Diversity of Rickettsiella Symbionts in Ixodes ricinus Throughout Europe. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:613-626. [PMID: 34580739 PMCID: PMC9436858 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01869-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Rickettsiella species are bacterial symbionts that are present in a great variety of arthropod species, including ixodid ticks. However, little is known about their genetic diversity and distribution in Ixodes ricinus, as well as their relationship with other tick-associated bacteria. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and the genetic diversity of Rickettsiella spp. in I. ricinus throughout Europe and evaluated any preferential and antagonistic associations with Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii and the pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Borrelia miyamotoi. Rickettsiella spp. were detected in most I. ricinus populations investigated, encompassing a wide array of climate types and environments. The infection prevalence significantly differed between geographic locations and was significantly higher in adults than in immature life stages. Phylogenetic investigations and protein characterization disclosed four Rickettsiella clades (I-IV). Close phylogenetic relations were observed between Rickettsiella strains of I. ricinus and other arthropod species. Isolation patterns were detected for Clades II and IV, which were restricted to specific geographic areas. Lastly, although coinfections occurred, we did not detect significant associations between Rickettsiella spp. and the other tick-associated bacteria investigated. Our results suggest that Rickettsiella spp. are a genetically and biologically diverse facultative symbiont of I. ricinus and that their distribution among tick populations could be influenced by environmental components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aitor Garcia-Vozmediano
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO Italy
| | - Laura Tomassone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO Italy
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Luigi Bertolotti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, L.go Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO Italy
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Eco-Epidemiology Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nannet D. Fabri
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 7, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jolyon M. Medlock
- Infections Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | - Ard M. Nijhof
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kayleigh M. Hansford
- Infections Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology, Public Health England, Porton Down, UK
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra I. Krawczyk
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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21
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Kubiak K, Szymańska H, Dmitryjuk M, Dzika E. Abundance of Ixodes ricinus Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and the Diversity of Borrelia Species in Northeastern Poland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127378. [PMID: 35742628 PMCID: PMC9223791 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring the abundance of ticks and the prevalence of pathogens in ticks is an important activity in assessing the risk of tick-borne diseases and helps to develop preventive measures. This study aimed to estimate the density of Ixodes ricinus, the prevalence of Borrelia species, and their diversity in northeastern Poland. The overall mean I. ricinus density was 9.7 ticks/100 m2. There were no differences between years, subregions, or habitats of study. The Borrelia infection rate was higher in females (22.6%) and males (14.3%) than in nymphs 5.5% (MIR). The most infected ticks came from the eastern subregion (10.1%) where the incidence of borreliosis among the inhabitants was over 20% higher than in the other subregions. In the infected ticks, B. afzelii (38.3%) and B. garinii (34.5%) were predominant. B. bavariensis was confirmed in I. ricinus in Poland for the first time. The most polymorphic was B. garinii. B. miyamotoi (belonged to the European type) was identified as a mono-infection in 0.9% of ticks and in 1.5% as a co-infection with B. afzelii and with B. garinii. Besides the risk of borreliosis and co-infections with different Borrelia species, physicians should also be aware of B. miyamotoi infections among patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kubiak
- Department of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Zolnierska 14c, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland; (H.S.); (E.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Hanna Szymańska
- Department of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Zolnierska 14c, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland; (H.S.); (E.D.)
| | - Małgorzata Dmitryjuk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Ewa Dzika
- Department of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Zolnierska 14c, 10-561 Olsztyn, Poland; (H.S.); (E.D.)
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22
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Booth CE, Powell-Pierce AD, Skare JT, Garcia BL. Borrelia miyamotoi FbpA and FbpB Are Immunomodulatory Outer Surface Lipoproteins With Distinct Structures and Functions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:886733. [PMID: 35693799 PMCID: PMC9186069 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.886733] [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: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogens that traffic in the blood of their hosts must employ mechanisms to evade the host innate immune system, including the complement cascade. The Lyme disease spirochete, Borreliella burgdorferi, has evolved numerous outer membrane lipoproteins that interact directly with host proteins. Compared to Lyme disease-associated spirochetes, relatively little is known about how an emerging tick-borne spirochetal pathogen, Borrelia miyamotoi, utilizes surface lipoproteins to interact with a human host. B. burgdorferi expresses the multifunctional lipoprotein, BBK32, that inhibits the classical pathway of complement through interaction with the initiating protease C1r, and also interacts with fibronectin using a separate intrinsically disordered domain. B. miyamotoi encodes two separate bbk32 orthologs denoted fbpA and fbpB; however, the activities of these proteins are unknown. Here, we show that B. miyamotoi FbpA binds human fibronectin in a manner similar to B. burgdorferi BBK32, whereas FbpB does not. FbpA and FbpB both bind human complement C1r and protect a serum-sensitive B. burgdorferi strain from complement-mediated killing, but surprisingly, differ in their ability to recognize activated C1r versus zymogen states of C1r. To better understand the observed differences in C1r recognition and inhibition properties, high-resolution X-ray crystallography structures were solved of the C1r-binding regions of B. miyamotoi FbpA and FbpB at 1.9Å and 2.1Å, respectively. Collectively, these data suggest that FbpA and FbpB have partially overlapping functions but are functionally and structurally distinct. The data presented herein enhances our overall understanding of how bloodborne pathogens interact with fibronectin and modulate the complement system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Booth
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
| | - Alexandra D Powell-Pierce
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Jon T Skare
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Brandon L Garcia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States
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23
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Faccini-Martínez ÁA, Silva-Ramos CR, Santodomingo AM, Ramírez-Hernández A, Costa FB, Labruna MB, Muñoz-Leal S. Historical overview and update on relapsing fever group Borrelia in Latin America. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:196. [PMID: 35676728 PMCID: PMC9175325 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Relapsing fever group Borrelia (RFGB) are motile spirochetes transmitted to mammalian or avian hosts through the bite of hematophagous arthropods, such as soft ticks (Argasidae), hard ticks (Ixodidae) and the human clothing lice. RFGB can infect pets such as dogs and cats, as well as birds, cattle and humans. Borrelia recurrentis, B. anserina and B. theileri are considered to have worldwide distribution, affecting humans, domestic birds and ruminants, respectively. Borrelia spp. associated with soft ticks are transmitted mainly by Ornithodoros ticks and thrive in endemic foci in tropical and subtropical latitudes. Nowadays, human cases of soft tick-borne relapsing fever remain neglected diseases in several countries, and the impact these spirochetes have on the health of wild and domestic animals is largely understudied. Human infection with RFGB is difficult to diagnose, given the lack of distinguishing clinical features (undifferentiated febrile illness). Clinically, soft tick or louse-borne relapsing fever is often confused with other etiologies, such as malaria, typhoid or dengue. In Latin America, during the first half of the twentieth century historical documents elaborated by enlightened physicians were seminal, and resulted in the identification of RFGB and their associated vectors in countries such as Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Argentina. Almost 80 years later, research on relapsing fever spirochetes is emerging once again in Latin America, with molecular characterizations and isolations of novel RFGB members in Panama, Bolivia, Brazil and Chile. In this review we summarize historical aspects of RFGB in Latin America and provide an update on the current scenario regarding these pathogens in the region. To accomplish this, we conducted an exhaustive search of all the published literature for the region, including old medical theses deposited in libraries of medical academies. RFGB were once common pathogens in Latin America, and although unnoticed for many years, they are currently the focus of interest among the scientific community. A One Health perspective should be adopted to tackle the diseases caused by RFGB, since these spirochetes have never disappeared and the maladies they cause may be confused with etiologies with similar symptoms that prevail in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro A Faccini-Martínez
- Research Institute, Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud - FUCS, Bogotá, Colombia.,Servicios y Asesorías en Infectología - SAI, Bogotá, Colombia.,Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Carlos Ramiro Silva-Ramos
- Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Adriana M Santodomingo
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Francisco B Costa
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia.,Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Latin American Group for the Study of Ornithodoros-borne Borrelioses (Grupo Latinoamericano Para el Estudio de Borreliosis Transmitidas Por Ornithodoros [GLEBTO]), Bogotá, Colombia. .,Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Concepción, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile.
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24
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Sajiki Y, Konnai S, Okagawa T, Maekawa N, Isezaki M, Yamada S, Ito T, Sato K, Kawabata H, Logullo C, Jr IDSV, Murata S, Ohashi K. Suppressive effects of Ixodes persulcatus sialostatin L2 against Borrelia miyamotoi-stimulated immunity. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101963. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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25
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Jakab Á, Kahlig P, Kuenzli E, Neumayr A. Tick borne relapsing fever - a systematic review and analysis of the literature. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010212. [PMID: 35171908 PMCID: PMC8887751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is a zoonosis caused by various Borrelia species transmitted to humans by both soft-bodied and (more recently recognized) hard-bodied ticks. In recent years, molecular diagnostic techniques have allowed to extend our knowledge on the global epidemiological picture of this neglected disease. Nevertheless, due to the patchy occurrence of the disease and the lack of large clinical studies, the knowledge on several clinical aspects of the disease remains limited. In order to shed light on some of these aspects, we have systematically reviewed the literature on TBRF and summarized the existing data on epidemiology and clinical aspects of the disease. Publications were identified by using a predefined search strategy on electronic databases and a subsequent review of the reference lists of the obtained publications. All publications reporting patients with a confirmed diagnosis of TBRF published in English, French, Italian, German, and Hungarian were included. Maps showing the epidemiogeographic mosaic of the different TBRF Borrelia species were compiled and data on clinical aspects of TBRF were analysed. The epidemiogeographic mosaic of TBRF is complex and still continues to evolve. Ticks harbouring TBRF Borrelia have been reported worldwide, with the exception of Antarctica and Australia. Although only molecular diagnostic methods allow for species identification, microscopy remains the diagnostic gold standard in most clinical settings. The most suggestive symptom in TBRF is the eponymous relapsing fever (present in 100% of the cases). Thrombocytopenia is the most suggestive laboratory finding in TBRF. Neurological complications are frequent in TBRF. Treatment is with beta-lactams, tetracyclines or macrolids. The risk of Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) appears to be lower in TBRF (19.3%) compared to louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) (55.8%). The overall case fatality rate of TBRF (6.5%) and LBRF (4-10.2%) appears to not differ. Unlike LBRF, where perinatal fatalities are primarily attributable to abortion, TBRF-related perinatal fatalities appear to primarily affect newborns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ákos Jakab
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Kahlig
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Esther Kuenzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Neumayr
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia
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26
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Bubanová D, Majláth I, Vargová B, Pipová N, Szekeres S, Majláthová V. Prevalence of relapsing fever spirochete
Borrelia miyamotoi
in
Ixodes ricinus
ticks from eastern Slovakia. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:242-247. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Majláth
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Košice Slovak Republic
| | - Blažena Vargová
- Applied Research Center University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Kosice Kosice Slovak Republic
| | - Natália Pipová
- Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Košice Slovak Republic
| | - Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Hungary
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27
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Cañadas P, García-Gonzalez M, Cañones-Zafra R, Teus MA. Corneal Confocal Microscopy Findings in Neuro Lyme Disease: A Case Report. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:343. [PMID: 35204434 PMCID: PMC8870814 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12020343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuro Lyme disease is caused by several bacteriae of the Borreliaceae family, such as Borrelia Miyamotoi. In late stages of illness, patients with Lyme disease may develop chronic neurologic symptoms such as cognitive disturbances or small fiber peripheral neuropathy. Confocal microscopy is a non-invasive method designed to evaluate the human cornea in vivo. Thus, all the corneal layers, including the cells and the sub-basal nerve plexus, can be easily visualized and analyzed. This is the first report of the morphology of small-fiber peripheral neuropathy analyzed by confocal microscopy in a patient diagnosed of neuro Lyme disease. The decrease in the number of unmyelinated sub-basal nerve fibers with abundant presence of dendritic cells (DC) in comparison with healthy corneas strongly supports the diagnosis of small fiber peripheral neuropathy in a case of neuroborreliosis disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Cañadas
- Department of Optometry and Vision, School of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, 28037 Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat García-Gonzalez
- Clínica Novovisión, P.° de la Castellana, 54, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-G.); (R.C.-Z.); (M.A.T.)
- Clínica Rementería, Calle Almagro, 36, 28010 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Cañones-Zafra
- Clínica Novovisión, P.° de la Castellana, 54, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-G.); (R.C.-Z.); (M.A.T.)
| | - Miguel A. Teus
- Clínica Novovisión, P.° de la Castellana, 54, 28046 Madrid, Spain; (M.G.-G.); (R.C.-Z.); (M.A.T.)
- Hospital Universitario “Príncipe de Asturias”, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcala de Henares, Spain
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28
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Geebelen L, Lernout T, Tersago K, Terryn S, Hovius JW, Docters van Leeuwen A, Van Gucht S, Speybroeck N, Sprong H. No molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in the blood of patients with erythema migrans in Belgium. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:27. [PMID: 35057826 PMCID: PMC8772185 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05139-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
A number of tick-borne pathogens circulate in the Belgian tick population in addition to the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis. However, so far, only a few patients with tick-borne diseases other than Lyme borreliosis have been reported in Belgium. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of other human tick-borne infections in Belgium and their possible clinical manifestation.
Methods
Patients with fever (> 37.5 °C) after a tick bite or those with erythema migrans (EM) were included in the study. EDTA-blood samples were screened for the presence of DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, spotted fever group rickettsiae (genus Rickettsia), Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Spiroplasma ixodetis and tick-borne encephalitis virus, using multiplex PCR methods. A questionnaire on, among others, demographics and clinical symptoms, was also filled in.
Results
Over a period of 3 years, 119 patients with EM and 14 patients with fever after a recent tick bite were enrolled in the study. Three samples initially tested positive for N. mikurensis by quantitative PCR (qPCR), but the results could not be confirmed by other PCR methods, and repetition of the DNA extraction procedure and qPCR test was not successful. The qPCR test results for the other tick-borne pathogens were negative.
Conclusions
In general, only a few patients with fever after a tick bite could be identified. Although no tick-borne pathogens were detected, their occurrence cannot be excluded based on the limited number of patients and the limitations inherent to current methodologies. This study underscores the possibility of false-positive PCR results and the necessity for the development of multiple independent tools for the sensitive and specific detection of emerging tick-borne pathogens.
Graphical Abstract
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29
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Springer A, Jordan D, Glass A, Kahl O, Fingerle V, Girl P, Chitimia-Dobler L, Strube C. Borrelia Infections in Ageing Ticks: Relationship with Morphometric Age Ratio in Field-Collected Ixodes ricinus Nymphs. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10010166. [PMID: 35056615 PMCID: PMC8778018 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In Europe, Ixodes ricinus plays a major role as a vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) spirochaetes, the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, among other pathogens. In unfed ticks, Borrelia spirochaetes experience prolonged nutrient restriction. However, only few studies exist with regard to Borrelia infections in unfed ticks of different physiological ages. Changing body dimensions of unfed ticks, due to the consumption of energy reserves, allow physiological age estimation. The present study investigated the relationship of morphometric age with Borrelia prevalence and spirochaete load in 1882 questing I. ricinus nymphs, collected at two different locations in northern Germany in 2020. In addition, Borrelia species composition was investigated by employing a reverse line blot (RLB) probe panel suitable for the detection of ten different B. burgdorferi s.l. species, as well as the relapsing-fever spirochaete B. miyamotoi. Overall, Borrelia prevalence was 25.8% (485/1882). Whilst there was no statistically significant difference in Borrelia prevalence between the different morphometric age groups, Borrelia infection intensity as determined by probe-based quantitative real-time PCR significantly declined with increasing morphometric age. Borrelia species differentiation by RLB was successful in 29.5% of positive ticks, and revealed B. afzelii as the dominating species (65.0% of the differentiated infections). Additionally, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. spielmanii, and B. miyamotoi were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
| | - Daniela Jordan
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
| | - Antje Glass
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
| | - Olaf Kahl
- Tick-Radar GmbH, 10555 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany;
| | - Philipp Girl
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, 80937 Munich, Germany; (P.G.); (L.C.-D.)
| | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30559 Hanover, Germany; (A.S.); (D.J.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-9538-711
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Detection of Borrelia and Babesia species in Haemaphysalis punctata ticks sampled in Southern England. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101902. [PMID: 35042078 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The distribution and population size of the red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) are increasing in Northern Europe, and in the United Kingdom reports of human biting by this species have increased in recent years. To assess the risk of tick-borne disease (TBD) transmission to humans and livestock by H. punctata, ticks sampled from sites in Southern England were screened using PCR for either Borrelia species or piroplasms over a three year period, 2018-2020. A total of 302 H. punctata were collected from eight locations. From these, two Babesia species associated with TBD infections in livestock, Babesia major and Babesia motasi, and the human pathogen Borrelia miyamotoi were detected, predominantly from a single location in Sussex. Consequently, the range expansion of this tick across Southern England may impact public and livestock health.
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Tick bite risk resulting from spatially heterogeneous hazard, exposure and coping capacity. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2021.100967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Lager M, Wilhelmsson P, Matussek A, Lindgren PE, Henningsson AJ. Molecular Detection of Borrelia Bacteria in Cerebrospinal Fluid-Optimisation of Pre-Analytical Sample Handling for Increased Analytical Sensitivity. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11112088. [PMID: 34829435 PMCID: PMC8623531 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11112088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The main tools for clinical diagnostics of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) are based on serology, i.e., detection of antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In some cases, PCR may be used as a supplement, e.g., on CSF from patients with early LNB. Standardisation of the molecular methods and systematic evaluation of the pre-analytical handling is lacking. To increase the analytical sensitivity for detection of Borrelia bacteria in CSF by PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene, parameters were systematically evaluated on CSF samples spiked with a known amount of cultured Borrelia bacteria. The results showed that the parameters such as centrifugation time and speed, the use of complementary DNA as a template (in combination with primers and a probe aiming at target gene 16S rRNA), and the absence of inhibitors (e.g., erythrocytes) had the highest impact on the analytical sensitivity. Based on these results, a protocol for optimised handling of CSF samples before molecular analysis was proposed. However, no clinical evaluation of the proposed protocol has been done so far, and further investigations of the diagnostic sensitivity need to be performed on well-characterised clinical samples from patients with LNB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Lager
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine (Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (P.W.); (A.M.); (P.-E.L.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-(0)10-2425238
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine (Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (P.W.); (A.M.); (P.-E.L.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Matussek
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine (Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (P.W.); (A.M.); (P.-E.L.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine (Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (P.W.); (A.M.); (P.-E.L.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna J. Henningsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine (Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden), Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden; (P.W.); (A.M.); (P.-E.L.); (A.J.H.)
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
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Trevisan G, Cinco M, Trevisini S, di Meo N, Ruscio M, Forgione P, Bonin S. Borreliae Part 2: Borrelia Relapsing Fever Group and Unclassified Borrelia. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1117. [PMID: 34827110 PMCID: PMC8615063 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Borreliae of the relapsing fever group (RFG) are heterogenous and can be divided mainly into three groups according to vectors, namely the soft-tick-borne relapsing fever (STBRF) Borreliae, the hard-tick-borne relapsing fever (HTBRF) Borreliae, the louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) Borreliae, and the avian relapsing fever ones. With respect to the geographical distribution, the STBRF Borreliae are further subdivided into Old World and New World strains. Except for the Avian relapsing fever group Borreliae, which cause avian spirochetosis, all the others share infectivity in humans. They are indeed the etiological agent of both endemic and epidemic forms of relapsing fever, causing high spirochaetemia and fever. Vectors are primarily soft ticks of Ornithodoros spp. in the STBRF group; hard ticks, notably Ixodes sp., Amblyomma sp., Dermacentor sp., and Rhipicephalus sp., in the HTBRF group; and the louse pediculus humanus humanus in the TBRF one. A recent hypothesis was supported for a common ancestor of RFG Borreliae, transmitted at the beginning by hard-body ticks. Accordingly, STBRF Borreliae switched to use soft-bodied ticks as a vector, which was followed by the use of lice by Borrelia recurrentis. There are also new candidate species of Borreliae, at present unclassified, which are also described in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giusto Trevisan
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
| | - Marina Cinco
- DSV—Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Sara Trevisini
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Nicola di Meo
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Maurizio Ruscio
- ASUGI—Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano Isontina, 34129 Trieste, Italy; (S.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Patrizia Forgione
- UOSD Dermatologia, Centro Rif. Regionale Malattia di Hansen e Lyme, P.O. dei Pellegrini, ASL Napoli 1 Centro, 80145 Naples, Italy;
| | - Serena Bonin
- DSM—Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.T.); (N.d.M.)
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Henningsson AJ, Aase A, Bavelaar H, Flottorp S, Forsberg P, Kirkehei I, Lövmar M, Nilsson K, Nyman D, Ornstein K, Sjöwall J, Skogman BH, Tjernberg I, Aaberge I. Laboratory Methods for Detection of Infectious Agents and Serological Response in Humans With Tick-Borne Infections: A Systematic Review of Evaluations Based on Clinical Patient Samples. Front Public Health 2021; 9:580102. [PMID: 34616701 PMCID: PMC8488432 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.580102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: For the most important and well-known infections spread by Ixodes ticks, Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), there are recommendations for diagnosis and management available from several health authorities and professional medical networks. However, other tick-borne microorganisms with potential to cause human disease are less known and clear recommendations on diagnosis and management are scarce. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of published studies and reviews focusing on evaluation of laboratory methods for clinical diagnosis of human tick-borne diseases (TBDs), other than acute LB and TBE. The specific aim was to evaluate the scientific support for laboratory diagnosis of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, rickettsiosis, neoehrlichiosis, babesiosis, hard tick relapsing fever, tularemia and bartonellosis, as well as tick-borne co-infections and persistent LB in spite of recommended standard antibiotic treatment. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in 11 databases for research published from 2007 through 2017, and categorized potentially relevant references according to the predefined infections and study design. An expert group assessed the relevance and eligibility and reviewed the articles according to the QUADAS (diagnostic studies) or AMSTAR (systematic reviews) protocols, respectively. Clinical evaluations of one or several diagnostic tests and systematic reviews were included. Case reports, non-human studies and articles published in other languages than English were excluded. Results: A total of 48 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for evaluation. The majority of these studies were based on small sample sizes. There were no eligible studies for evaluation of tick-borne co-infections or for persistent LB after antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for larger evaluations of laboratory tests using clinical samples from well-defined cases taken at different time-points during the course of the diseases. Since the diseases occur at a relatively low frequency, single-center cross-sectional studies are practically not feasible, but multi-center case control studies could be a way forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Henningsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Audun Aase
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Herjan Bavelaar
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Infectious Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Matilda Lövmar
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dag Nyman
- The Åland Group for Borrelia Research, Mariehamn, Finland
| | | | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Östergötland, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Barbro H. Skogman
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Clinical Research, Dalarna-Uppsala University, Falun, Sweden
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ivar Tjernberg
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Ingeborg Aaberge
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Schwan TG, Raffel SJ. Transovarial Transmission of Borrelia hermsii by Its Tick Vector and Reservoir Host Ornithodoros hermsi. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1978. [PMID: 34576873 PMCID: PMC8471253 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9091978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Transovarial passage of relapsing fever spirochetes (Borrelia species) by infected female argasid ticks to their progeny is a widespread phenomenon. Yet this form of vertical inheritance has been considered rare for the North American tick Ornithodoros hermsi infected with Borrelia hermsii. A laboratory colony of O. hermsi was established from a single infected female and two infected males that produced a population of ticks with a high prevalence of transovarial transmission based on infection assays of single and pooled ticks feeding on mice and immunofluorescence microscopy of eggs and larvae. Thirty-eight of forty-five (84.4%) larval cohorts (groups of larvae originating from the same egg clutch) transmitted B. hermsii to mice over four and a half years, and one hundred and three single and one hundred and fifty-three pooled nymphal and adult ticks transmitted spirochetes during two hundred and fourteen of two hundred and fifty-six (83.6%) feedings on mice over seven and a half years. The perpetuation of B. hermsii for many years by infected ticks only (without acquisition of spirochetes from vertebrate hosts) demonstrates the reservoir competence of O. hermsi. B. hermsii produced the variable tick protein in eggs and unfed larvae infected by transovarial transmission, leading to speculation of the possible steps in the evolution of borreliae from a tick-borne symbiont to a tick-transmitted parasite of vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom G. Schwan
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 903 South 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA;
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Simultaneous Detection and Differentiation of Clinically Relevant Relapsing Fever Borrelia with Semimultiplex Real-Time PCR. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 59:e0298120. [PMID: 33910966 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02981-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vector-borne diseases, including Borrelia species, present a significant diagnostic, clinical, and public health challenge due to their overlapping symptoms and the breadth of causative agents and arthropod vectors. The relapsing fever (RF) borreliae encompass both established and emerging pathogens and are transmitted to humans by soft ticks, hard ticks, or lice. We developed a real-time semimultiplex PCR assay that detects multiple RF borreliae causing human illness and classifies them into one of three groups. The groups are based on genetic similarity and include agents of soft-tick relapsing fever (Borrelia hermsii and others), the emerging hard-tick-transmitted pathogen B. miyamotoi, and the agent of louse-borne relapsing fever (B. recurrentis). The real-time PCR assay uses a single primer pair designed to amplify all known pathogenic RF borreliae and multiple TaqMan probes to allow the detection of and differentiation among the three groups. The assay detects all RF borreliae tested, with an analytical limit of detection below 15 genome equivalents per reaction. Thirty isolates of RF borreliae encompassing six species were accurately identified. Thirty-nine of 41 residual specimens (EDTA whole blood, serum, or plasma) from patients with RF were detected and correctly classified. None of 42 clinical samples from patients with other infections and 46 culture specimens from non-RF bacteria were detected. The development of a single-assay real-time PCR approach will help to improve the diagnosis of RF by simplifying the selection of tests to aid in the clinical management of acutely ill RF patients.
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Hedgehogs as a Potential Source of Zoonotic Pathogens-A Review and an Update of Knowledge. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061754. [PMID: 34208276 PMCID: PMC8230866 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Up to date studies indicate that wild hedgehogs may act as carriers and/or hosts for bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens with zoonotic potential, posing a significant threat to humans. The same applies to domestic hedgehogs, which are increasingly kept as pets. Considering the potential risk of infection to humans through close contact with hedgehogs or the contaminated environment they inhabit, current data on the prevalence of various zoonotic pathogens in these animals is desirable. Abstract Hedgehogs are small insectivorous mammals common across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The increased encroachment of humans into hedgehog habitats has disrupted the human-animal-environment interface. With growing interest in the zoonotic diseases of wildlife species, more studies have been devoted to this subject in the last few years. These papers provide information about known and new emerging diseases. Here we review the current knowledge regarding bacterial, viral, protozoic, and mycotic pathogens with zoonotic potential and assess the importance of hedgehogs as their carriers. Both wild and pet hedgehogs were included in the review. Data from several countries and various hedgehog species were included. The study shows the importance of hedgehogs as carriers of zoonotic diseases and reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens in varied habitats.
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Jaenson TGT, Wilhelmsson P. First Record of a Suspected Human-Pathogenic Borrelia Species in Populations of the Bat Tick Carios vespertilionis in Sweden. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1100. [PMID: 34065313 PMCID: PMC8160990 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9051100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The bat tick Cariosvespertilionis has been reported from Sweden to occasionally feed on humans resulting in disease symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate C. vespertilionis as a potential vector and reservoir of Borrelia species. In 2015 and 2018 in south-central Sweden, C. vespertilionis ticks were collected from a wooden bat box harboring Soprano pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus pygmaeus. In addition, one C. vespertilionis tick found inside a house in southern Sweden in 2019 was collected. Ticks were screened for Borrelia spp. using a genus-specific quantitative PCR assay. The Borrelia species of the positive specimens were determined by conventional PCR followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. A total of 24% (22 of 92) of the analyzed C. vespertilionis ticks were Borrelia-positive. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the bacteria belong to the relapsing fever group of borreliae; some of them appear to be identical with Borrelia sp. CPB1, a spirochete only found twice before-in the United Kingdom and in France. Our results also indicate a temporal and spatial distribution of this Borrelia species. Since C. vespertilionis occasionally bites humans, and since it exhibits a high prevalence of Borrelia bacteria, it is possible that it presents a risk of human disease. Further studies are needed to characterize Borrelia sp. CPB1 to determine if it is human-pathogenic and to determine if C. vespertilionis is a vector and/or reservoir of this agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, 553 05 Jönköping, Sweden
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Ørbæk M, Gynthersen RMM, Mens H, Stenør C, Wiese L, Brandt C, Ostrowski SR, Nielsen SD, Lebech AM. Stimulated Immune Response by TruCulture ® Whole Blood Assay in Patients With European Lyme Neuroborreliosis: A Prospective Cohort Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:666037. [PMID: 34041044 PMCID: PMC8141554 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.666037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (B. burgdorferi) can cause a variety of clinical manifestations including Lyme neuroborreliosis. Following the tick-borne transmission, B. burgdorferi initially evade immune responses, later symptomatic infection is associated with occurrence of specific antibody responses. We hypothesized that B. burgdorferi induce immune hyporesponsiveness or immune suppression and aimed to investigate patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis ability to respond to immune stimulation. Methods An observational cohort study investigating the stimulated immune response by standardized whole blood assay (TruCulture®) in adult patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis included at time of diagnosis from 01.09.2018-31.07.2020. Reference intervals were based on a 5-95% range of cytokine concentrations from healthy individuals (n = 32). Patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis and references were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Heatmaps of cytokine responses were generated using the webtool Clustvis. Results In total, 22 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (19 definite, 3 probable) were included. In the unstimulated samples, the concentrations of cytokines in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis were comparable with references, except interferon (IFN)-α, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-1β and IL-8, which were all significantly below the references. Patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis had similar concentrations of most cytokines in all stimulations compared with references. IFN-α, IFN-γ, IL-12 and IL-17A were lower than references in multiple stimulations. Conclusion In this exploratory cohort study, we found lower or similar concentrations of circulating cytokines in blood from patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis at time of diagnosis compared with references. The stimulated cytokine release in blood from patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis was in general slightly lower than in the references. Specific patterns of low IL-12 and IFN-γ indicated low Th1-response and low concentrations of IL-17A did not support a strong Th17 response. Our results suggest that patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis elicit a slightly suppressed or impaired immune response for the investigated stimulations, however, whether the response normalizes remains unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Ørbæk
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Helene Mens
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Stenør
- Department of Neurology, Herlev Hospital, Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lothar Wiese
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sjællands University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Brandt
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Sjællands University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Sisse Rye Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne Dam Nielsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Lebech
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Fingerle V, Sing A. [Diseases transmitted by ticks]. MMW Fortschr Med 2021; 163:62-73. [PMID: 33950451 DOI: 10.1007/s15006-021-9802-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Volker Fingerle
- Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Veterinärstraße 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Andreas Sing
- Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit, Veterinärstraße 2, 85764, Oberschleißheim, Germany
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Gao Y, Lv XL, Han SZ, Wang W, Liu Q, Song M. First detection of Borrelia miyamotoi infections in ticks and humans from the northeast of Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Trop 2021; 217:105857. [PMID: 33582142 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that can cause chills, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and even meningitis, damaging human health. B. miyamotoi has a wide distribution since its discovery in Ixodes persulcatus in 1994. The human B. miyamotoi disease was first described in Russia in 2011. However, the epidemiological information in China is limited. Here, we report the molecular detection of B. miyamotoi in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, China. A total of 774 adult ticks and 771 blood samples of patients were collected, from April 2017 to August 2019 in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, and tested for B. miyamotoi using real time-PCR. Gene sequences of 16S rRNA, fla, and glpQ were obtained to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of B. miyamotoi from humans and ticks. The results showed the total prevalence of B. miyamotoi in ticks was 1.3% of 774 ticks, with rates of 2.6% in I. persulcatus, 0.78% in Dermacentor nuttalli, 1.3% in D. silvarum, and 0.4% in Haemaphysalis longicornis. Thirteen (1.7%) patients were confirmed as positive for B. miyamotoi. Patients were mainly 50-60-years old and had a history of tick contact. They presented flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, poor spirit, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, hypodynamic, chest distress, and myalgia. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the B. miyamotoi in the present study belonged to the Siberian type, distinct from European and American types and the I. ovatus isolate from Japan. This is the first report of B. miyamotoi detection in both ticks and humans in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, China, indicating B. miyamotoi is present in the area. These findings suggest that people have a risk of infection with B. miyamotoi in this region, where it should be included the differential diagnosis of tick-borne diseases.
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Borşan SD, Ionică AM, Galon C, Toma-Naic A, Peştean C, Sándor AD, Moutailler S, Mihalca AD. High Diversity, Prevalence, and Co-infection Rates of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Wildlife Hosts in an Urban Area in Romania. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:645002. [PMID: 33767683 PMCID: PMC7985354 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.645002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the increasingly recognized eco-epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens in urban areas, data regarding the pathogen diversity and co-infection rates in ticks and wildlife hosts in urban and peri-urban Romania are scanty. We aimed to establish the risk of human exposure to co-infected ticks in Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania. DNA was isolated from 151 questing ticks: Ixodes ricinus (n = 95), Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 53), Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2), and Dermacentor marginatus (n = 1); 222 engorged ticks: I. ricinus (n = 164), I. hexagonus (n = 36), H. punctata (n = 16), H. concinna (n = 6), and 70 tissue samples collected from wildlife hosts during 2018 in five urban, and two peri-urban sites. Using a pre-designed Fluidigm real-time PCR dynamic array, all DNA samples were individually screened for the presence of 44 vector-borne pathogens. Subsequently, conventional PCRs were performed for a selection of samples to allow validation and sequencing. In total, 15 pathogens were identified to species and 6 to genus level. In questing ticks, single infections were more common than co-infections. Seven Borrelia spp. were detected in questing I. ricinus, and three in H. punctata ticks. An overall high prevalence 26.35% (95% CI: 19.46–34.22) and diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was seen in urban questing ticks. Other pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were present with variable prevalence. Co-infections occurred in 27.4% (95% CI: 18.72-37.48) of all infected questing ticks. In engorged ticks the overall Bo. burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence was 35.6% (95% CI: 29.29–42.27), with five species present. Pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were also frequently detected. We report for the first time in Romania the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia felis. Overall, from the infected engorged ticks, 69.2% showcased co-infections. In Ixodes spp., dual co-infections, namely Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia helvetica and A. phagocytophilum were the most prevalent. Given the outcome, we underline the need to establish proper tick-surveillance programs in cities and include co-infections in the management plan of tick-borne diseases in Romania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia-Diana Borşan
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Angela Monica Ionică
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,"Regele Mihai I al României" Life Sciences Institute, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Clémence Galon
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andra Toma-Naic
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cosmin Peştean
- Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Attila D Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sara Moutailler
- UMR BIPAR, Animal Health Laboratory, ANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, Paris-Est Sup, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Andrei Daniel Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Springer A, Glass A, Probst J, Strube C. Tick-borne zoonoses and commonly used diagnostic methods in human and veterinary medicine. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:4075-4090. [PMID: 33459849 PMCID: PMC8599405 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07033-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Around the world, human health and animal health are closely linked in terms of the One Health concept by ticks acting as vectors for zoonotic pathogens. Animals do not only maintain tick cycles but can either be clinically affected by the same tick-borne pathogens as humans and/or play a role as reservoirs or sentinel pathogen hosts. However, the relevance of different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) may vary in human vs. veterinary medicine, which is consequently reflected by the availability of human vs. veterinary diagnostic tests. Yet, as TBDs gain importance in both fields and rare zoonotic pathogens, such as Babesia spp., are increasingly identified as causes of human disease, a One Health approach regarding development of new diagnostic tools may lead to synergistic benefits. This review gives an overview on zoonotic protozoan, bacterial and viral tick-borne pathogens worldwide, discusses commonly used diagnostic techniques for TBDs, and compares commercial availability of diagnostic tests for humans vs. domestic animals, using Germany as an example, with the aim of highlighting existing gaps and opportunities for collaboration in a One Health framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Springer
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Antje Glass
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Julia Probst
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany
| | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.
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Borrelia miyamotoi-An Emerging Human Tick-Borne Pathogen in Europe. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9010154. [PMID: 33445492 PMCID: PMC7827671 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is classified as a relapsing fever spirochete. Although B. miyamotoi is genetically and ecologically distinct from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, both microorganisms are transmitted by the same Ixodes tick species. B. miyamotoi was detected in I. persulcatus ticks in 1994 in Japan. A phylogenetic analysis based on selected sequences of B. miyamotoi genome revealed genetic differences between isolates from Asia, North America, and Europe, which are clearly separated into three genotypes. Symptomatic human cases of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) were first reported in 2011 in Russia and then in North America, Europe, and Asia. The most common clinical manifestation of BMD is fever with flu-like symptoms. Several differences in rare symptoms (thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, or symptoms related to the central nervous system) have been noted among cases caused by Asian, European, and American types of B. miyamotoi. BMD should be considered in the diagnosis of patients after tick bites, particularly with meningoencephalitis, without anti-Borrelia antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. This review describes the biology, ecology, and potential of B. miyamotoi as a tick-borne pathogen of public health concern, with particular emphasis on Europe.
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Abstract
Relapsing fever (RF) is caused by several species of Borrelia; all, except two species, are transmitted to humans by soft (argasid) ticks. The species B. recurrentis is transmitted from one human to another by the body louse, while B. miyamotoi is vectored by hard-bodied ixodid tick species. RF Borrelia have several pathogenic features that facilitate invasion and dissemination in the infected host. In this article we discuss the dynamics of vector acquisition and subsequent transmission of RF Borrelia to their vertebrate hosts. We also review taxonomic challenges for RF Borrelia as new species have been isolated throughout the globe. Moreover, aspects of pathogenesis including symptomology, neurotropism, erythrocyte and platelet adhesion are discussed. We expound on RF Borrelia evasion strategies for innate and adaptive immunity, focusing on the most fundamental pathogenetic attributes, multiphasic antigenic variation. Lastly, we review new and emerging species of RF Borrelia and discuss future directions for this global disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Job Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston TX, USA
| | - Joppe W Hovius
- Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Amsterdam Medical centers, location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sven Bergström
- Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå Center for Microbial Research, Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Springer A, Glass A, Topp AK, Strube C. Zoonotic Tick-Borne Pathogens in Temperate and Cold Regions of Europe-A Review on the Prevalence in Domestic Animals. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:604910. [PMID: 33363242 PMCID: PMC7758354 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.604910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks transmit a variety of pathogens affecting both human and animal health. In temperate and cold regions of Europe (Western, Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe), the most relevant zoonotic tick-borne pathogens are tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. More rarely, Rickettsia spp., Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and zoonotic Babesia spp. are identified as a cause of human disease. Domestic animals may also be clinically affected by these pathogens, and, furthermore, can be regarded as sentinel hosts for their occurrence in a certain area, or even play a role as reservoirs or amplifying hosts. For example, viraemic ruminants may transmit TBEV to humans via raw milk products. This review summarizes the role of domestic animals, including ruminants, horses, dogs, and cats, in the ecology of TBEV, Borrelia spp., A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., N. mikurensis, and zoonotic Babesia species. It gives an overview on the (sero-)prevalence of these infectious agents in domestic animals in temperate/cold regions of Europe, based on 148 individual prevalence studies. Meta-analyses of seroprevalence in asymptomatic animals estimated an overall seroprevalence of 2.7% for TBEV, 12.9% for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), 16.2% for A. phagocytophilum and 7.4% for Babesia divergens, with a high level of heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses with regard to animal species, diagnostic test, geographical region and decade of sampling were mostly non-significant, with the exception of significantly lower B. burgdorferi s.l. seroprevalences in dogs than in horses and cattle. More surveillance studies employing highly sensitive and specific test methods and including hitherto non-investigated regions are needed to determine if and how global changes in terms of climate, land use, agricultural practices and human behavior impact the frequency of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christina Strube
- Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany
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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: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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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Zakham F, Jääskeläinen AJ, Castrén J, Sormunen JJ, Uusitalo R, Smura T, Von Troil G, Kuivanen S, Sironen T, Vapalahti O. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoi strains from ticks collected in the capital region of Finland. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 12:101608. [PMID: 33249364 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging pathogen that shares high similarity with relapsing fever Borrelia, but has an atypical clinical presentation. Within the framework of tick-borne disease surveillance in Finland, human serum samples suspected for tick-borne encephalitis (n=974) and questing ticks (n=739) were collected from the capital region in Finland to determine the prevalence of B. miyamotoi. All tested human samples were negative and 5 (0.68 %) Ixodes ricinus ticks were positive for B. miyamotoi. Partial sequencing of the flagellin (flaB) gene of 3 positive samples and 27 B. miyamotoi-positive tick samples obtained from previous studies across Finland were amplified, sequenced, and included in the phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic tree revealed that most B. miyamotoi strains isolated from ticks in Finland share high similarity with other European strains, including strains related to human infection. Possible disease transmission may occur during exposure to tick bites. A single strain collected from an I. persulcatus tick in Pajujärvi grouped with an outlier of B. miyamotoi strains isolated from Russia and Far East Asian countries. Further studies should investigate the pathogen's role in human infection in Finland. Another important finding is the occurrence of I. persulcatus ticks (8%) collected by crowdsourcing from the coastal southern part of Finland. This suggests a regular introduction and a possible wide expansion of this tick species in the country. This could be associated with transmission of new pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fathiah Zakham
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Anne J Jääskeläinen
- HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
| | | | | | - Ruut Uusitalo
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Geosciences and Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu Smura
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gabriel Von Troil
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Archipelago Doctors Ltd, Helsinki Area, Finland
| | - Suvi Kuivanen
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja Sironen
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olli Vapalahti
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; HUS Diagnostic Center, HUSLAB, Clinical Microbiology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Finland
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Gillingham EL, Cull B, Pietzsch ME, Phipps LP, Medlock JM, Hansford K. The Unexpected Holiday Souvenir: The Public Health Risk to UK Travellers from Ticks Acquired Overseas. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E7957. [PMID: 33138220 PMCID: PMC7663673 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Overseas travel to regions where ticks are found can increase travellers' exposure to ticks and pathogens that may be unfamiliar to medical professionals in their home countries. Previous studies have detailed non-native tick species removed from recently returned travellers, occasionally leading to travel-associated human cases of exotic tick-borne disease. There are 20 species of tick endemic to the UK, yet UK travellers can be exposed to many other non-native species whilst overseas. Here, we report ticks received by Public Health England's Tick Surveillance Scheme from humans with recent travel history between January 2006 and December 2018. Altogether, 16 tick species were received from people who had recently travelled overseas. Confirmed imports (acquired outside of the UK) were received from people who recently travelled to 22 countries. Possible imports (acquired abroad or within the UK) were received from people who had recently travelled to eight European countries. Species-specific literature reviews highlighted nine of the sixteen tick species are known to vector at least one tick-borne pathogen to humans in the country of acquisition, suggesting travellers exposed to ticks may be at risk of being bitten by a species that is a known vector, with implications for novel tick-borne disease transmission to travellers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Gillingham
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Benjamin Cull
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Maaike E. Pietzsch
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - L. Paul Phipps
- Wildlife Zoonoses and Vector-Borne Research Group, Department of Virology, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK;
| | - Jolyon M. Medlock
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
| | - Kayleigh Hansford
- Medical Entomology and Zoonoses Ecology, Emergency Response Department, Public Health England, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JG, UK; (B.C.); (M.E.P.); (J.M.M.); (K.H.)
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Kniazeva V, Pogotskaya Y, Higgs S, Krasko A. The Prevalence of Different Human Pathogenic Microorganisms Transmitted by Ixodes Tick Vectors in Belarus. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 21:6-10. [PMID: 33107810 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens transmitted by ticks cause several important diseases in humans, including Lyme disease, the incidence of which has been increasing in Belarus. Between April and October 2017, a total of 504 questing Ixodid ticks (77% Ixodes ricinus and 23% Dermacentor reticulatus) were collected from six regions and city of Minsk, in Belarus. All ticks were analyzed by RT-PCR amplification for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Anaplasma phagocytophillum, Ehrlihia muris, and Borrelia miyamotoi. B. burgdorferi s.l. and Rickettsia spp. were the most commonly detected tick-borne pathogens, with prevalence rates of 31.08% and 33.7%, respectively. A. phagocytophillum was found in 104 (20.63%), and 107 (21.2%) ticks were positive for E. muris. TBEV was detected in 83 (16.47%). Circulation of Borrelia miyamotoi spirochete in I. ricinus ticks in Brest, Gomel, and Minsk region was detected for the first time. Our data provide a basis for further studies to determine the distribution and abundance of different tick species in Belarus and therefore a capacity to predict where cases of important tick-borne diseases may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volha Kniazeva
- Laboratory Biosafety with Pathogens Collection, Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Yuliya Pogotskaya
- Laboratory Biosafety with Pathogens Collection, Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Stephen Higgs
- Biosecurity Research Institute (BRI), Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Anatoli Krasko
- Laboratory Biosafety with Pathogens Collection, Republican Research and Practical Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Minsk, Belarus
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