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Culture Isolate of Rickettsia felis from a Tick. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074321. [PMID: 35410003 PMCID: PMC8998211 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Although the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, has been identified as the primary vector of Rickettsia felis, additional flea, tick, mite, and louse species have also been associated with this bacterium by molecular means; however, the role of these arthropods in the transmission of R. felis has not been clarified. Here, we succeeded in culture isolation of R. felis from a host-seeking castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, the most common tick in Slovakia. The bacterial isolation was performed on XTC-2 cells at 28 °C using the shell-vial technique. An evaluation of the growth properties was performed for both the XTC-2 and Vero cell lines. We observed R. felis in the infected host cells microscopically by Gimenez staining and immunofluorescence assay. The R. felis isolate was purified by gradient ultracentrifugation and visualized by electron microscopy. Fragments of the genes gltA, ompA, ompB, htrA, rpoB, sca4, rffE, and rrs were amplified and compared with the corresponding sequences of the type strain URRWXCal2 and other R. felis culture -isolated strains. We did not detect any nucleotide polymorphisms; however, plasmid pRFδ, characteristic of the standard strain, was absent in our isolate. Herein, we describe the first successful isolation and characterization of a tick-derived R. felis strain “Danube”, obtained from an I. ricinus nymph.
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Ticks and their epidemiological role in Slovakia: from the past till present. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021; 77:1575-1610. [PMID: 34548672 PMCID: PMC8446484 DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00845-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In Slovakia, 22 tick species have been found to occur to date. Among them, Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus and marginally Haemaphysalis concinna, H. inermis and H. punctata have been identified as the species of public health relevance. Ticks in Slovakia were found to harbour and transmit zoonotic and/or potentially zoonotic agents such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, the relapsing fever sprirochaete Borrelia miyamotoi, bacteria belonging to the orders Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis), Legionellales (Coxiella burnetii), and Thiotrichales (Francisella tularensis), and Babesia spp. parasites (order Piroplasmida). Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of the largest variety of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria and piroplasms. TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l., rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, C. burnetii and F. tularensis have been found to cause serious diseases in humans, whereas B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, N. mikurensis, Babesia microti, and B. venatorum pose lower or potential risk to humans. Distribution of TBEV has a focal character. During the last few decades, new tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) foci and their spread to new areas have been registered and TBE incidence rates have increased. Moreover, Slovakia reports the highest rates of alimentary TBE infections among the European countries. Lyme borreliosis (LB) spirochaetes are spread throughout the distribution range of I. ricinus. Incidence rates of LB have shown a slightly increasing trend since 2010. Only a few sporadic cases of human rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis have been confirmed thus far in Slovakia. The latest large outbreaks of Q fever and tularaemia were recorded in 1993 and 1967, respectively. Since then, a few human cases of Q fever have been reported almost each year. Changes in the epidemiological characteristics and clinical forms of tularaemia have been observed during the last few decades. Global changes and development of modern molecular tools led to the discovery and identification of emerging or new tick-borne microorganisms and symbionts with unknown zoonotic potential. In this review, we provide a historical overview of research on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Slovakia with the most important milestones and recent findings, and outline future directions in the investigation of ticks as ectoparasites and vectors of zoonotic agents and in the study of tick-borne diseases.
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Zubriková D, Heglasová I, Antolová D, Blaňarová L, Víchová B. A case report of Rickettsia-like infection in a human patient from Slovakia. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00813-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Špitalská E, Boldišová E, Palkovičová K, Sekeyová Z, Škultéty Ľ. Case studies of rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and Q fever in Slovak population from 2011 to 2020. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Diop A, Barker SC, Eberhard M, Barker D, Nguyen TT, Di Pinto F, Raoult D, Mediannikov O. Rickettsia fournieri sp. nov., a novel spotted fever group rickettsia from Argas lagenoplastis ticks in Australia. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:3781-3784. [PMID: 30307387 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Strain AUS118T was isolated from an Argas lagenoplastis tick collected from the nest of a Petrochelidon ariel (fairy martin) in Australia in 2013. Microscopic observation of infected cell cultures indicated this strain had a morphology and intracellular location typical of Rickettsiaspecies. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain based firstly on multi-locus sequence analysis and subsequently on whole genome analysis demonstrated that AUS118T was most closely related to, but divergent from Rickettsia japonica and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis. We therefore propose the creation of a novel species, Rickettsia fournieri sp. nov, with the type strain AUS118T (DSM 28985 and CSUR R501).
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Affiliation(s)
- Awa Diop
- 1UMR VITROME, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Service de Santé des Armées, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Stephen C Barker
- 2Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mey Eberhard
- 2Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dayana Barker
- 3School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Qld 4343, Australia
| | - Thi Tien Nguyen
- 1UMR VITROME, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Service de Santé des Armées, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Fabrizio Di Pinto
- 4UMR MEPHI, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard JeanMoulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Didier Raoult
- 4UMR MEPHI, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard JeanMoulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Oleg Mediannikov
- 4UMR MEPHI, Aix-Marseille University, IRD, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard JeanMoulin, 13005 Marseille, France
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Molecular evidence and diversity of the spotted-fever group Rickettsia spp. in small mammals from natural, suburban and urban areas of Eastern Slovakia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1400-1406. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Špitalská E, Stanko M, Mošanský L, Kraljik J, Miklisová D, Mahríková L, Bona M, Kazimírová M. Seasonal analysis of Rickettsia species in ticks in an agricultural site of Slovakia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2016; 68:315-24. [PMID: 26119003 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-015-9941-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Many rickettsiae of the spotted fever group are emerging pathogens causing serious diseases associated with vertebrate hosts. Ixodidae ticks are known as their vectors. Investigation of the relative abundance of questing Ixodes ricinus and their infection with Rickettsia spp. in an agricultural site comprising a game reserve in Slovakia was the aim of this study. In total, 2198 I. ricinus (492 larvae, 1503 nymphs and 203 adults) were collected by flagging the vegetation along 100 m(2) transects in Rozhanovce (eastern Slovakia): 334, 595 and 1269 in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. Considering questing nymphs and adults, the highest relative density of 81 individuals/100 m(2) was observed in May 2013, the lowest of 0.3 individuals/100 m(2) in March 2012. A total of 1056 ticks (853 nymphs, 100 females and 103 males; 2011: n = 329, 2012: n = 509 and 2013: n = 218) were individually screened by PCR-based methods for the presence of Rickettsia spp. The overall prevalences were 7.3% for nymphs, 15% for females, 7.8% for males; 7.0% in 2011, 8.4% in 2012, and 8.7% in 2013. The maximum prevalences were observed in July in nymphs and in May in adults. Sequencing showed infection with R. helvetica in 73 ticks (72.6% nymphs, 16.4% females, 11% males) and with R. monacensis in 11 ticks (8 nymphs, 3 females). The results showed the circulation of pathogenic Rickettsia species in the agricultural site and a potential risk for humans to encounter infected ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ladislav Mošanský
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Mlynská dolina B-1, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Dana Miklisová
- Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bona
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, 040 01, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mária Kazimírová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Bohácsová M, Filipčík P, Opattová A, Valáriková J, Quevedo Diaz M, Škultéty L, Novák M, Sekeyová Z. Survival of rat cerebrocortical neurons after rickettsial infection. Microbes Infect 2015; 17:845-9. [PMID: 26432946 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 09/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuroinvasive microorganisms are suspected to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of neurological diseases. However, direct evidence for the pathogenic function is still missing. The main aim of this study was to investigate biochemical and morphological changes that may occur as a result of an in vitro infection of rat cerebrocortical neurons by selected members of the genus Rickettsia. Our results showed that survival of the neurons is significantly reduced after the infection. Intracellular level of ATP is gradually decreased and inversely correlates with the load of rickettsiae. Immunofluorescence revealed that rickettsiae can enter the neurons and are localized in perinuclear space and also in neuronal processes. Data obtained in this study correspond to the idea of possible involvement of rickettsiae in the etiopathogenesis of various neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Bohácsová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Filipčík
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Alena Opattová
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Valáriková
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Ludovit Škultéty
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michal Novák
- Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Sekeyová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Mediannikov O, Aubadie-Ladrix M, Raoult D. Candidatus 'Rickettsia senegalensis' in cat fleas in Senegal. New Microbes New Infect 2014; 3:24-8. [PMID: 25755888 PMCID: PMC4337942 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmni.2014.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological studies of Rickettsia felis and related bacteria are very important, because the natural cycle of this important infection has not yet been established. The recent emergence of R. felis-associated febrile diseases in West and East Africa demands insightful epidemiological studies of the vectors and reservoirs of this bacterium in Africa. Twenty-nine cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis, were tested for the presence of rickettsiae, including R. felis, bartonellae, and borreliae, with specific quantitative real-time PCR assays. Supporting our previous studies, R. felis was not detected in the fleas collected. In addition, neither Bartonella nor Borrelia was found. In five (17%) examined fleas, we found another species of rickettsia. We isolated three rickettsial strains, and genetic analysis demonstrated that these strains represent a probable new species, provisionally called Candidatus Rickettsia senegalensis here.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Mediannikov
- Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Marseille, France ; Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Dakar, Senegal
| | - M Aubadie-Ladrix
- Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Dakar, Senegal
| | - D Raoult
- Aix-Marseille Université, Unité de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes (URMITE) UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, Inserm 1095, Marseille, France
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Mediannikov O, Fenollar F. Looking in ticks for human bacterial pathogens. Microb Pathog 2014; 77:142-8. [PMID: 25229617 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2014.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are considered to be second worldwide to mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases and the most important vectors of disease-causing pathogens in domestic and wild animals. A number of emerging tick-borne pathogens are already discovered; however, the proportion of undiagnosed infectious diseases, especially in tropical regions, may suggest that there are still more pathogens associated with ticks. Moreover, the identification of bacteria associated with ticks may provide new tool for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Described here molecular methods of screening of ticks, extensive use of modern culturomics approach, newly developed artificial media and different cell line cultures may significantly improve our knowledge about the ticks as the agents of human and animal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Mediannikov
- URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278 - IRD 198 - INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Campus Universitaire IRD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal.
| | - F Fenollar
- URMITE, UMR CNRS 7278 - IRD 198 - INSERM, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France; Campus Universitaire IRD de Hann, Dakar, Senegal
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Špitalská E, Boldiš V, Derdáková M, Selyemová D, Rusňáková Tarageľová V. Rickettsial infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks in urban and natural habitats of Slovakia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 5:161-5. [PMID: 24342052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 07/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A total of 1810 Ixodes ricinus ticks was collected from the vegetation from 2 different habitat types: urban and natural. Urban habitats were represented by cemeteries and public parks in the following towns: Bratislava, Malacky, and Martin at 150 m and 400 m above sea level. Natural habitats were selected in the mountain forest of the Martinské hole Mts. in Central Slovakia at 3 different altitudinal levels, i.e. 600 m, 800 m and 1000 ma.s.l. All ticks were tested for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsiae. The DNA of Rickettsia spp. was identified in 9% of all tested ticks. Rickettsia-infected ticks were present in both, urban and sylvatic sites at all studied altitudes. Four different species of Rickettsia were present in positive I. ricinus ticks. Rickettsia helvetica was identified in 77 out of 87 Rickettsia-positive I. ricinus ticks, followed by 8 samples that belonged to Rickettsia monacensis and 2 of the positive ticks were infected with different unidentified Rickettsia spp. Due to the association of R. helvetica and R. monacensis with human infections, it is essential to understand which species of Rickettsia circulate in the natural foci of Slovakia. Circulation of pathogenic rickettsiae in urban as well as natural habitats at different altitudinal levels in Slovakia emphasizes that infection risk is very common throughout this Central European country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Vojtech Boldiš
- HPL (Ltd) Medical Laboratories, Department of Parasitology, Istrijská 20, 841 07 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Markéta Derdáková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Diana Selyemová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravska cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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