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Defaye B, Moutailler S, Pasqualini V, Quilichini Y. A Systematic Review of the Distribution of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Wild Animals and Their Ticks in the Mediterranean Rim between 2000 and 2021. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1858. [PMID: 36144460 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) can be divided into three groups: bacteria, parasites, and viruses. They are transmitted by a wide range of tick species and cause a variety of human, animal, and zoonotic diseases. A total of 148 publications were found on tick-borne pathogens in wild animals, reporting on 85 species of pathogens from 35 tick species and 17 wild animal hosts between 2000 and February 2021. The main TBPs reported were of bacterial origin, including Anaplasma spp. and Rickettsia spp. A total of 72.2% of the TBPs came from infected ticks collected from wild animals. The main tick genus positive for TBPs was Ixodes. This genus was mainly reported in Western Europe, which was the focus of most of the publications (66.9%). It was followed by the Hyalomma genus, which was mainly reported in other areas of the Mediterranean Rim. These TBPs and TBP-positive tick genera were reported to have come from a total of 17 wild animal hosts. The main hosts reported were game mammals such as red deer and wild boars, but small vertebrates such as birds and rodents were also found to be infected. Of the 148 publications, 12.8% investigated publications on Mediterranean islands, and 36.8% of all the TBPs were reported in seven tick genera and 11 wild animal hosts there. The main TBP-positive wild animals and tick genera reported on these islands were birds and Hyalomma spp. Despite the small percentage of publications focusing on ticks, they reveal the importance of islands when monitoring TBPs in wild animals. This is especially true for wild birds, which may disseminate their ticks and TBPs along their migration path.
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Cafiso A, Olivieri E, Floriano AM, Chiappa G, Serra V, Sassera D, Bazzocchi C. Investigation of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus in a Peri-Urban Park in Lombardy (Italy) Reveals the Presence of Emerging Pathogens. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060732. [PMID: 34200825 PMCID: PMC8230559 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of a great range of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Lately, the spread of known tick-borne pathogens has been expanding, and novel ones have been identified as (re)emerging health threats. Updating the current knowledge on tick-borne pathogens in areas where humans and animals can be easily exposed to ticks represents a starting point for epidemiological studies and public awareness. A PCR screening for tick-borne pathogens was carried out in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in a peri-urban recreational park in Ticino Valley, Italy. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu complex, Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp. was evaluated in a total of 415 I. ricinus specimens. Rickettsia spp. (R monacensis and R. helvetica) were detected in 22.96% of the samples, while B. burgdorferi s.l. complex (B. afzelii and B. lusitaniae) were present in 10.94%. Neoehrlichia mikurensis (1.99%) and Babesia venatorum (0.73%) were reported in the area of study for the first time. This study confirmed the presence of endemic tick-borne pathogens and highlighted the presence of emerging pathogens that should be monitored especially in relation to fragile patients, the difficult diagnosis of tick-borne associated diseases and possible interactions with other tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cafiso
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (V.S.); (C.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250334533
| | - Emanuela Olivieri
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.O.); (A.M.F.); (D.S.)
| | - Anna Maria Floriano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.O.); (A.M.F.); (D.S.)
| | - Giulia Chiappa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (V.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Valentina Serra
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (V.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Davide Sassera
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (E.O.); (A.M.F.); (D.S.)
| | - Chiara Bazzocchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (G.C.); (V.S.); (C.B.)
- Coordinated Research Center “EpiSoMI”, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Norte AC, Boyer PH, Castillo-Ramirez S, Chvostáč M, Brahami MO, Rollins RE, Woudenberg T, Didyk YM, Derdakova M, Núncio MS, de Carvalho IL, Margos G, Fingerle V. The Population Structure of Borrelia lusitaniae Is Reflected by a Population Division of Its Ixodes Vector. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9050933. [PMID: 33925391 PMCID: PMC8145215 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Populations of vector-borne pathogens are shaped by the distribution and movement of vector and reservoir hosts. To study what impact host and vector association have on tick-borne pathogens, we investigated the population structure of Borrelia lusitaniae using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Novel sequences were acquired from questing ticks collected in multiple North African and European locations and were supplemented by publicly available sequences at the Borrelia Pubmlst database (accessed on 11 February 2020). Population structure of B. lusitaniae was inferred using clustering and network analyses. Maximum likelihood phylogenies for two molecular tick markers (the mitochondrial 16S rRNA locus and a nuclear locus, Tick-receptor of outer surface protein A, trospA) were used to confirm the morphological species identification of collected ticks. Our results confirmed that B. lusitaniae does indeed form two distinguishable populations: one containing mostly European samples and the other mostly Portuguese and North African samples. Of interest, Portuguese samples clustered largely based on being from north (European) or south (North African) of the river Targus. As two different Ixodes species (i.e., I. ricinus and I. inopinatus) may vector Borrelia in these regions, reference samples were included for I. inopinatus but did not form monophyletic clades in either tree, suggesting some misidentification. Even so, the trospA phylogeny showed a monophyletic clade containing tick samples from Northern Africa and Portugal south of the river Tagus suggesting a population division in Ixodes on this locus. The pattern mirrored the clustering of B. lusitaniae samples, suggesting a potential co-evolution between tick and Borrelia populations that deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Norte
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
| | - Pierre H. Boyer
- CHRU Strasbourg, UR7290 Lyme Borreliosis Group, ITI InnoVec, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Institut de Bactériologie, University of Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000 Strasbourg, France;
| | - Santiago Castillo-Ramirez
- Programa de Genómica Evolutiva, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 565-A, Cuernavaca, CP 62210, Mexico;
| | - Michal Chvostáč
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
| | - Mohand O. Brahami
- Laboratory of Ecology and Biology of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Faculty Biological and Agronomic Sciences, University Mouloud Mammeri, 15000 Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria;
| | - Robert E. Rollins
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, LMU Munich, Faculty of Biology, Grosshaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany;
| | - Tom Woudenberg
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
| | - Yuliya M. Didyk
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
- Department of Acarology, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnytskogo 15, 01030 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Marketa Derdakova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia; (M.C.); (Y.M.D.); (M.D.)
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
- Environmental Health Institute, Medicine Faculty, University of Lisbon, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Centre for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Águas de Moura, 2965-575 Setúbal, Portugal; (M.S.N.); (I.L.d.C.)
- Environmental Health Institute, Medicine Faculty, University of Lisbon, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Margos
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +49-9131-6808-5883
| | - Volker Fingerle
- National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany; (T.W.); (V.F.)
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Abstract
With one exception (epidemic relapsing fever), borreliae are obligately maintained in nature by ticks. Although some Borrelia spp. may be vertically transmitted to subsequent generations of ticks, most require amplification by a vertebrate host because inheritance is not stable. Enzootic cycles of borreliae have been found globally; those receiving the most attention from researchers are those whose vectors have some degree of anthropophily and, thus, cause zoonoses such as Lyme disease or relapsing fever. To some extent, our views on the synecology of the borreliae has been dominated by an applied focus, viz., analyses that seek to understand the elements of human risk for borreliosis. But, the elements of borrelial perpetuation do not necessarily bear upon risk, nor do our concepts of risk provide the best structure for analyzing perpetuation. We identify the major global themes for the perpetuation of borreliae, and summarize local variations on those themes, focusing on key literature to outline the factors that serve as the basis for the distribution and abundance of borreliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam R. Telford
- Dept of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Heidi K. Goethert
- Dept of Infectious Disease and Global Health, Tufts University, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
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Chisu V, Foxi C, Masu G, D' Amaddio B, Masala G. Detection of potentially pathogenic bacteria from Ixodes ricinus carried by pets in Tuscany, Italy. Vet Rec Open 2020; 7:e000395. [PMID: 33024565 PMCID: PMC7500295 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2020-000395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ticks are vectors of disease-causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy. Methods The collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR. Results PCR and sequencing analysis revealed that 3 per cent of the ticks were PCR-positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA, 5 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Bartonella henselae DNA, and 46 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA. None of the examined ticks was PCR-positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA. Conclusion The results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chisu
- Animal Health Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna G Pegreffi, Sassari, Italy
| | - Cipriano Foxi
- Animal Health Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna G Pegreffi, Sassari, Italy
| | - Gabriella Masu
- Animal Health Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna G Pegreffi, Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Masala
- Animal Health Department, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna G Pegreffi, Sassari, Italy
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Norte AC, Margos G, Becker NS, Albino Ramos J, Núncio MS, Fingerle V, Araújo PM, Adamík P, Alivizatos H, Barba E, Barrientos R, Cauchard L, Csörgő T, Diakou A, Dingemanse NJ, Doligez B, Dubiec A, Eeva T, Flaisz B, Grim T, Hau M, Heylen D, Hornok S, Kazantzidis S, Kováts D, Krause F, Literak I, Mänd R, Mentesana L, Morinay J, Mutanen M, Neto JM, Nováková M, Sanz JJ, Pascoal da Silva L, Sprong H, Tirri IS, Török J, Trilar T, Tyller Z, Visser ME, Lopes de Carvalho I. Host dispersal shapes the population structure of a tick-borne bacterial pathogen. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:485-501. [PMID: 31846173 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Birds are hosts for several zoonotic pathogens. Because of their high mobility, especially of longdistance migrants, birds can disperse these pathogens, affecting their distribution and phylogeography. We focused on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which includes the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, as an example for tick-borne pathogens, to address the role of birds as propagation hosts of zoonotic agents at a large geographical scale. We collected ticks from passerine birds in 11 European countries. B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in Ixodes spp. was 37% and increased with latitude. The fieldfare Turdus pilaris and the blackbird T. merula carried ticks with the highest Borrelia prevalence (92 and 58%, respectively), whereas robin Erithacus rubecula ticks were the least infected (3.8%). Borrelia garinii was the most prevalent genospecies (61%), followed by B. valaisiana (24%), B. afzelii (9%), B. turdi (5%) and B. lusitaniae (0.5%). A novel Borrelia genospecies "Candidatus Borrelia aligera" was also detected. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of B. garinii isolates together with the global collection of B. garinii genotypes obtained from the Borrelia MLST public database revealed that: (a) there was little overlap among genotypes from different continents, (b) there was no geographical structuring within Europe, and (c) there was no evident association pattern detectable among B. garinii genotypes from ticks feeding on birds, questing ticks or human isolates. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that the population structure and evolutionary biology of tick-borne pathogens are shaped by their host associations and the movement patterns of these hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cláudia Norte
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia (NRZ), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Noémie S Becker
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jaime Albino Ramos
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Volker Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia (NRZ), Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL), Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Pedro Miguel Araújo
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Peter Adamík
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Emilio Barba
- Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael Barrientos
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laure Cauchard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Tibor Csörgő
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary.,Department of Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Blandine Doligez
- CNRS - Department of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology (LBBE) - University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Anna Dubiec
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Tapio Eeva
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Barbara Flaisz
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tomas Grim
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Hau
- Evolutionary Physiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Dieter Heylen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.,Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Savas Kazantzidis
- Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization "DEMETER", Thesaloniki, Greece
| | - David Kováts
- Ócsa Bird Ringing Station, Ócsa, Hungary.,Hungarian Biodiversity Research Society, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Ivan Literak
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Raivo Mänd
- Department of Zoology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lucia Mentesana
- Evolutionary Physiology Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Morinay
- CNRS - Department of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology (LBBE) - University Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Villeurbanne, France.,Department of Ecology and Evolution, Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marko Mutanen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Júlio Manuel Neto
- Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden
| | - Markéta Nováková
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Juan José Sanz
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luís Pascoal da Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, CFE - Centre for Functional Ecology - Science for People & the Planet, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hein Sprong
- National Institute of Public Health and Environment (RIVM), Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Ina-Sabrina Tirri
- Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tomi Trilar
- Slovenian Museum of Natural History, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Zdeněk Tyller
- Department of Zoology, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic.,Museum of the Moravian Wallachia Region, Vsetín, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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Martello E, Mannelli A, Grego E, Ceballos LA, Ragagli C, Stella MC, Tomassone L. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in small rodents and attached ticks in the Northern Apennines, Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:862-7. [PMID: 31014939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Ticks and ear biopsies were collected from wild small rodents in 2011 and 2012 in the northern Apennines (Italy), up to 1650 m above sea level. Apodemus spp. (n = 83) and Myodes glareolus (n = 22) were infested by Ixodes ricinus (192 larvae and two nymphs), Dermacentor marginatus (179 larvae and 29 nymphs), and Ixodes trianguliceps (three larvae and two nymphs). We detected several Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genospecies (B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii, B. lusitaniae, B. valaisiana) in I. ricinus and skin biopsies. The most common genospecies found in I. ricinus was B. valaisiana, while it was B. lusitaniae in tissues. Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae (Rickettsia monacensis, R. slovaca and R. raoultii) infected I. ricinus, D. marginatus and rodent tissues. Rickettsia slovaca was the Rickettsia species most frequently found in our samples. Coinfections by B. burgdorferi s.l. and SFG rickettsiae indicate an overlap of transmission cycles and potential risk for humans to be infected by multiple pathogens, resulting in more severe symptoms. The findings of B. lusitaniae and R. slovaca in bank voles, and of B. valaisiana in small rodents, open new questions about host-pathogen interactions. In addition, our results highlight the importance of small rodents as data sources for studying tick-borne pathogens.
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8
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Tufts DM, Hart TM, Chen GF, Kolokotronis SO, Diuk-Wasser MA, Lin YP. Outer surface protein polymorphisms linked to host-spirochete association in Lyme borreliae. Mol Microbiol 2019; 111:868-882. [PMID: 30666741 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is caused by multiple species of the spirochete bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The spirochetes are transmitted by ticks to vertebrate hosts, including small- and medium-sized mammals, birds, reptiles, and humans. Strain-to-strain variation in host-specific infectivity has been documented, but the molecular basis that drives this differentiation is still unclear. Spirochetes possess the ability to evade host immune responses and colonize host tissues to establish infection in vertebrate hosts. In turn, hosts have developed distinct levels of immune responses when invaded by different species/strains of Lyme borreliae. Similarly, the ability of Lyme borreliae to colonize host tissues varies among different spirochete species/strains. One potential mechanism that drives this strain-to-strain variation of immune evasion and colonization is the polymorphic outer surface proteins produced by Lyme borreliae. In this review, we summarize research on strain-to-strain variation in host competence and discuss the evidence that supports the role of spirochete-produced protein polymorphisms in driving this variation in host specialization. Such information will provide greater insights into the adaptive mechanisms driving host and Lyme borreliae association, which will lead to the development of interventions to block pathogen spread and eventually reduce Lyme borreliosis health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Tufts
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas M Hart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Grace F Chen
- Department of Biology, Misericordia University, Dallas, PA, USA
| | - Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yi-Pin Lin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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9
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Mendoza-Roldan JA, Colella V, Lia RP, Nguyen VL, Barros-Battesti DM, Iatta R, Dantas-Torres F, Otranto D. Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in ectoparasites and reptiles in southern Italy. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:35. [PMID: 30646928 PMCID: PMC6332633 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3286-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) is a complex containing pathogenic bacteria of which some species, such as Borrelia lusitaniae, use birds, small mammals and reptiles as reservoirs. In Italy, the bacteria have been detected in reptilian and avian reservoirs in the northern and central regions. RESULTS Here, 211 reptiles from three orders [Squamata (Sauria with seven species in five families and Ophidia with 11 species in three families), Crocodylia (one family and two species), and Testudines (two families and two species)] were examined for ectoparasites and molecular detection of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) in three different sites of southern Italy, an area for which no information was previously available on the occurrence of borreliosis in animals and humans. Borrelia lusitaniae was molecularly detected in larvae and nymphs (11.6%) of Ixodes ricinus infesting lizards (i.e. Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus and Lacerta bilineata) and in 12.3% blood samples of P. siculus. Finally, B. lusitaniae and Borrelia garinii were detected in 5.1% (32/630) of questing I. ricinus. CONCLUSIONS These results show the circulation of B. lusitaniae in southern Italy and suggest that P. siculus could play a role as a reservoir, representing a potential medical threat to humans living in or visiting these localities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270 Brazil
- Butantan Institute, São Paulo, 05503-900 Brazil
| | - Vito Colella
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Riccardo Paolo Lia
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Viet Linh Nguyen
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270 Brazil
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, 14884-900 Brazil
| | - Roberta Iatta
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
| | - Filipe Dantas-Torres
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-420 Brazil
| | - Domenico Otranto
- Deparment of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano (BA), Italy
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Cerutti F, Modesto P, Rizzo F, Cravero A, Jurman I, Costa S, Giammarino M, Mandola ML, Goria M, Radovic S, Cattonaro F, Acutis PL, Peletto S. The microbiota of hematophagous ectoparasites collected from migratory birds. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202270. [PMID: 30148833 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropod vectors are responsible for the transmission of human pathogens worldwide. Several arthropod species are bird ectoparasites, however, no study to date has characterized their microbiota as a whole. We sampled hematophagous ectoparasites that feed on migratory birds and performed 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding to characterize their microbial community. A total of 194 ectoparasites were collected from 115 avian hosts and classified into three groups: a) Hippoboscidae diptera; b) ticks; c) other arthropods. Metabarcoding showed that endosymbionts were the most abundant genera of the microbial community, including Wolbachia for Hippoboscidae diptera, Candidatus Midichloria for ticks, Wolbachia and Arsenophonus for the other arthropod group. Genera including pathogenic species were: Rickettsia, Borrelia, Coxiella, Francisella, Bartonella, Anaplasma. Co-infection with Borrelia-Rickettsia and Anaplasma-Rickettsia was also observed. A global overview of the microbiota of ectoparasites sampled from migratory birds was obtained with the use of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. A novel finding is the first identification of Rickettsia in the common swift louse fly, Crataerina pallida. Given their possible interaction with pathogenic viruses and bacteria, the presence of endosymbionts in arthropods merits attention. Finally, molecular characterization of genera, including both pathogenic and symbiont species, plays a pivotal role in the design of targeted molecular diagnostics.
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Szekeres S, Majláthová V, Majláth I, Földvári G. 8. Neglected hosts: the role of lacertid lizards and medium-sized mammals in the ecoepidemiology of Lyme borreliosis. Ecology and Control of Vector-borne Diseases 2016. [DOI: 10.3920/978-90-8686-838-4_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Szekeres
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 2 István str. 1078 Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Igor Majláth
- University of P.J. Šafárik, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Šrobárova 2, 041 54 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 2 István str. 1078 Budapest, Hungary
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Ragagli C, Mannelli A, Ambrogi C, Bisanzio D, Ceballos LA, Grego E, Martello E, Selmi M, Tomassone L. Presence of host-seeking Ixodes ricinus and their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the Northern Apennines, Italy. Exp Appl Acarol 2016; 69:167-78. [PMID: 26964552 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-016-0030-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Host-seeking ticks were collected in the Northern Apennines, Italy, by dragging at 35 sites, at altitudes ranging from 680 and 1670 m above sea level (asl), from April to November, in 2010 and 2011. Ixodes ricinus (4431 larvae, 597 nymphs and 12 adults) and Haemaphysalis punctata (11,209 larvae, 313 nymphs, and 25 adults) were the most abundant species, followed by Haemaphysalis sulcata (20 larvae, five nymphs, and 13 adults), Dermacentor marginatus (42 larvae and two adults) and Ixodes hexagonus (one nymph). Greatest numbers of ticks were collected at locations characterised by southern exposure and limestone substratum, at altitudes <1400 m asl; I. ricinus was most abundant in Turkey oak (Quercus cerris) wood, whereas H. punctata was mostly collected in hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) wood and on exposed rocks. Ixodes ricinus was also found up to 1670 m asl, in high stand beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood. The overall prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) in 294 host-seeking I. ricinus nymphs was 8.5 %. Borrelia garinii was the most frequently identified genospecies (64.0 % of positive nymphs), followed by B. valaisiana, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. afzelii, and B. lusitaniae. Based upon the comparison with the results of previous studies at the same location, these research findings suggest the recent invasion of the study area by the tick vector and the agents of Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Ragagli
- Ufficio Territoriale per la Biodiversità, Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Lucca, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mannelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini, 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Ambrogi
- Ufficio Territoriale per la Biodiversità, Corpo Forestale dello Stato, Lucca, Italy
| | | | - Leonardo A Ceballos
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Val d'Aosta, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Grego
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini, 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
| | - Elisa Martello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini, 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
| | - Marco Selmi
- Osservatorio Permanente per Patologie a trasmissione Vettoriale, ASL2, Lucca, Italy
| | - Laura Tomassone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Largo P. Braccini, 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Turin, Italy
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Tarageľová VR, Mahríková L, Selyemová D, Václav R, Derdáková M. Natural foci of Borrelia lusitaniae in a mountain region of Central Europe. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:350-6. [PMID: 26711673 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe. It is caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex and transmitted to humans by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia valaisiana are the most common genospecies in Central Europe. In contrast, Borrelia lusitaniae predominates in Mediterranean countries such as Portugal, Morocco, and Tunisia. In Slovakia, its prevalence is low and restricted to only a few sites. The aim of our research was to study the expansion of ticks into higher altitudes in the ecosystem of the Malá Fatra mountains (north Slovakia) and their infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. pathogens. Questing ticks were collected by flagging in seven years (2004, 2006-2011) at three different altitudes: low (630-660 m above sea level (ASL)), intermediate (720-750 m ASL), and high (1040-1070 m ASL). Tick abundance was highest at the lowest altitude and lowest at the highest altitude. The average infection prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in nymphs and adults was 16.8% and 36.2%, respectively. The number of infected ticks decreased from 38.5% at the lowest altitude to 4.4% at the highest altitude. B. lusitaniae was the most frequently found genospecies (>60% of the ticks found positive for B. burgdorferi s.l.) in all sites in all the studied years with the exception of 2008 when B. afzelii predominated (62%). Our study confirms the spread of Ixodes ricinus ticks to higher altitudes in Slovakia. The discovery that our mountain study sites were a natural foci of B. lusitaniae was unexpected because this genospecies is usually associated with lizards and xerothermic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lenka Mahríková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Diana Selyemová
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Markéta Derdáková
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Venczel R, Knoke L, Pavlovic M, Dzaferovic E, Vaculova T, Silaghi C, Overzier E, Konrad R, Kolenčík S, Derdakova M, Sing A, Schaub GA, Margos G, Fingerle V. A novel duplex real-time PCR permits simultaneous detection and differentiation of Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Infection 2015; 44:47-55. [PMID: 26168860 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-015-0820-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE For simultaneous detection of Borrelia miyamotoi (relapsing fever spirochete) and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, we have developed a duplex real-time PCR targeting the flagellin gene (flaB; p41), a locus frequently used in routine diagnostic PCR for B. burgdorferi s.l. detection. METHODS Primers and probes were designed using multiple alignments of flaB sequences of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. species. The sensitivity and specificity of primers and probes were determined using serial dilutions (ranging from 10(4) to 10(-1)) of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA and of several species of relapsing fever spirochetes. Conventional PCR on recG and glpQ and sequencing of p41 PCR products were used to confirm the species assignment. RESULTS The detection limit of both singleplex and duplex PCR was 10 genome equivalents except for B. spielmanii and two B. garinii genotypes which showed a detection limit of 10(2) genome equivalents. There was no cross reactivity of the B. miyamotoi primers/probes with B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA, while the B. burgdorferi s.l. primer/probe generated a signal with B. hermsii DNA. Out of 2341 Ixodes ricinus ticks from Germany and Slovakia that were screened simultaneously for the presence of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l., 52 were positive for B. miyamotoi and 276 for B. burgdorferi s.l., denoting an average prevalence of 2.2% for B. miyamotoi and 11.8% for B. burgdorferi s.l., and B. miyamotoi DNA was also detectable by PCR using artificial clinical samples. CONCLUSION The duplex real-time PCR developed here represents a method that permits simultaneous detection and differentiation of B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi in environmental and potentially clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Venczel
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany. .,Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - L Knoke
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
| | - M Pavlovic
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - E Dzaferovic
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - T Vaculova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - C Silaghi
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802, Munich, Germany. .,Swiss National Reference Center for Vector Entomology, Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 266A, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - E Overzier
- Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802, Munich, Germany. .,Lehrstuhl für Bakteriologie und Mykologie, Veterinärwissenschaftliches Department, Tierärztliche Fakultät der LMU, Veterinärstr. 13, 80539, Munich, Germany.
| | - R Konrad
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - S Kolenčík
- University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého 1/3, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - M Derdakova
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84506, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - A Sing
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - G A Schaub
- Zoology/Parasitology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44780, Bochum, Germany.
| | - G Margos
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany. .,Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
| | - V Fingerle
- German National Reference Centre for Borrelia, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany. .,Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinärstr. 2, 85764, Oberschleissheim, Germany.
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Martello E, Mannelli A, Ragagli C, Ambrogi C, Selmi M, Ceballos LA, Tomassone L. Range expansion of Ixodes ricinus to higher altitude, and co-infestation of small rodents with Dermacentor marginatus in the Northern Apennines, Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:970-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Estrada-Peña A, Nava S, Petney T. Description of all the stages of Ixodes inopinatus n. sp. (Acari: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2014; 5:734-43. [PMID: 25108790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
All of the parasitic stages of Ixodes inopinatus n. sp. are described from specimens collected by flagging and on lizards and foxes. The new species replaces I. ricinus in dry areas of the Mediterranean region in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. It has also been collected in areas of western Germany in sympatry with I. ricinus, far of its known distribution range and on an unusual host. The females of the new species can be separated from I. ricinus by the relative dimensions and punctations of the scutum, the length of the idiosomal setae, the size of the auriculae, and the aspect of the porose areas. Nymphs of I. inopinatus can be easily separated from I. ricinus by a combination of scutal dimensions, the relative size of scutal and alloscutal setae, and the relative size of the spurs on coxa I. The larvae of the new species have a broader than long scutum and unusually long Md1 to Md3 idiosomal setae. The new species is allopatric with I. ricinus in Spain and Portugal. It is hypothesized that it has been historically overlooked and reported as I. ricinus at least in northern Africa, southern Spain and parts of south-western Portugal. The existence of a new species in the I. ricinus complex makes necessary the critical assessment of its complete distribution, its abiotic preferences and seasonal activity, as well as its hosts and implications for the transmission of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Spain.
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Martello E, Selmi M, Ragagli C, Ambrogi C, Stella MC, Mannelli A, Tomassone L. Rickettsia slovaca in immature Dermacentor marginatus and tissues from Apodemus spp. in the northern Apennines, Italy. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:518-21. [PMID: 24120274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2013] [Revised: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Immature Dermacentor marginatus ticks and tissues from small rodents were tested for infection with Rickettsia slovaca in the northern Apennines, Lucca Province, where tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) was previously reported in people. Prevalence of infestation with D. marginatus was 30.5% (n=131, 95% CI: 22.8-39.2%) in Apodemus spp. and 26.5% (n=34, 95% CI: 12.9-44.4%) in Myodes glareolus, which were captured during 1980 trap nights in 2009 and 2010. Rickettsia slovaca was identified by polymerase chain reaction, targeting the gltA and OmpA genes, in ear biopsies from 8 out of 37 tested Apodemus (22%, 95% CI: 9.8-38.2%), but not from 9 M. glareolus. The prevalence of R. slovaca in D. marginatus feeding on Apodemus spp. was 53% in larvae (n=51, 95% CI: 38.5-67.1%) and 47.5% in nymphs (n=59, 95% CI: 34.3-60.9%). No larvae (0.0%, 95% CI: 0-36.9%), but one nymph removed from M. glareolus was positive (10%, 95% CI: 0.3-44.5%). Prevalence of R. slovaca in host-seeking D. marginatus larvae, collected in the same area, was 42% (n=38; 95% CI: 26.3-59.2%). Prevalence of R. slovaca was greater in larvae feeding on PCR-positive Apodemus than in those feeding on negative mice (78.6% vs. 37.1%). Furthermore, levels of infestation with D. marginatus larvae were greater for R. slovaca-positive mice. The infection of Apodemus spp. was probably the result of repeated bites by transovarially infected larvae. On the other hand, the finding of R. slovaca in mice tissues would be compatible with transmission from these hosts to feeding D. marginatus. Based on such a hypothesis, the most heavily infested Apodemus might play a role as amplifiers of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Martello
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Torino, Italy
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Schwarz A, Hönig V, Vavrušková Z, Grubhoffer L, Balczun C, Albring A, Schaub GA. Abundance of Ixodes ricinus and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in the nature reserve Siebengebirge, Germany, in comparison to three former studies from 1978 onwards. Parasit Vectors 2012; 5:268. [PMID: 23171708 PMCID: PMC3523962 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the last decades, population densities of Ixodes ricinus and prevalences of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. have increased in different regions in Europe. In the present study, we determined tick abundance and the prevalence of different Borrelia genospecies in ticks from three sites in the Siebengebirge, Germany, which were already examined in the years 1987, 1989, 2001 and 2003. Data from all investigations were compared. METHODS In 2007 and 2008, host-seeking I. ricinus were collected by monthly blanket dragging at three distinct vegetation sites in the Siebengebirge, a nature reserve and a well visited local recreation area near Bonn, Germany. In both years, 702 ticks were tested for B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA by nested PCR, and 249 tick samples positive for Borrelia were further genotyped by reverse line blotting. RESULTS A total of 1046 and 1591 I. ricinus were collected in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In comparison to previous studies at these sites, the densities at all sites increased from 1987/89 and/or from 2003 until 2008. Tick densities and Borrelia prevalences in 2007 and 2008, respectively, were not correlated for all sites and both years. Overall, Borrelia prevalence of all ticks decreased significantly from 2007 (19.5%) to 2008 (16.5%), thus reaching the same level as in 2001 two times higher than in 1987/89 (7.6%). Since 2001, single infections with a Borrelia genospecies predominated in all collections, but the number of multiple infections increased, and in 2007, for the first time, triple Borrelia infections occurred. Prevalences of Borrelia genospecies differed considerably between the three sites, but B. garinii or B. afzelii were always the most dominant genospecies. B. lusitaniae was detected for the first time in the Siebengebirge, also in co-infections with B. garinii or B. valaisiana. CONCLUSIONS Over the last two centuries tick densities have changed in the Siebengebirge at sites that remained unchanged by human activity since they belong to a nature reserve. Abiotic and biotic conditions most likely favored the host-seeking activity of I. ricinus and the increase of multiple Borrelia infections in ticks. These changes have led to a potential higher risk of humans and animals to be infected with Lyme borreliosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schwarz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, České Budĕjovice, Czech Republic.
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Richter D, Schröder B, Hartmann NK, Matuschka FR. Spatial stratification of various Lyme disease spirochetes in a Central European site. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2012; 83:738-44. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Revised: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dania Richter
- Abt. Parasitologie; Institut für Pathologie; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin; Germany
| | | | - Niklas K. Hartmann
- Bodenlandschaftsmodellierung; Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e.V.; Müncheberg; Germany
| | - Franz-Rainer Matuschka
- Abt. Parasitologie; Institut für Pathologie; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Berlin; Germany
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Franke J, Hildebrandt A, Dorn W. Exploring gaps in our knowledge on Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes--updates on complex heterogeneity, ecology, and pathogenicity. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 4:11-25. [PMID: 23246041 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2012] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Lyme borreliosis complex is a heterogeneous group of tick-borne spirochaetes of the genus Borrelia (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) that are distributed all over the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. Due to the usage of new methods for phylogenetic analysis, this group has expanded rapidly during the past 5 years. Along with this development, the number of Borrelia spp. regarded as pathogenic to humans also increased. Distribution areas as well as host and vector ranges of Lyme borreliosis agents turned out to be much wider than previously thought. Furthermore, there is evidence that ticks, reservoir hosts, and patients can be coinfected with multiple Borrelia spp. or other tick-borne pathogens, which indicates a need to establish new and well-defined diagnostic and therapeutic standards for Lyme borreliosis. This review gives a broad overview on the occurrence of Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes worldwide with particular emphasis on their vectors and vertebrate hosts as well as their pathogenic potential and resultant problems in diagnosis and treatment. Against the background that many issues regarding distribution, species identity, ecology, pathogenicity, and coinfections are still unsolved, the purpose of this article is to reveal directions for future research on the Lyme borreliosis complex.
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Norte AC, Ramos JA, Gern L, Núncio MS, Lopes de Carvalho I. Birds as reservoirs forBorrelia burgdorferis.l. in Western Europe: circulation ofB. turdiand other genospecies in bird-tick cycles in Portugal. Environ Microbiol 2012; 15:386-97. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02834.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Mannelli A, Bertolotti L, Gern L, Gray J. Ecology ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu latoin Europe: transmission dynamics in multi-host systems, influence of molecular processes and effects of climate change. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2012; 36:837-61. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2011.00312.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2010] [Revised: 09/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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De Sousa R, Lopes de Carvalho I, Santos AS, Bernardes C, Milhano N, Jesus J, Menezes D, Núncio MS. Role of the lizard Teira dugesii as a potential host for Ixodes ricinus tick-borne pathogens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:3767-9. [PMID: 22407681 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.07945-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PCR screening of ticks and tissue samples collected from 151 Teira dugesii lizards seems to indicate a potential role of this lizard species in the maintenance and transmission cycle of some Ixodes ricinus tick-borne agents, such as Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia helvetica, and Borrelia lusitaniae, that are circulating on Madeira Island.
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Ficová M, Betáková T, Pančík P, Václav R, Prokop P, Halásová Z, Kúdelová M. Molecular detection of murine herpesvirus 68 in ticks feeding on free-living reptiles. Microb Ecol 2011; 62:862-867. [PMID: 21732020 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-011-9907-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2011] [Accepted: 06/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The MHV-68 (designed as Murid herpesvirus 4 (MuHV 4) strain 68) isolated from two rodents, Myodes glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis, is considered as a natural pathogen of free-living murid rodents. Recently, the detection of MHV antibodies in the blood of animals living in the same biotope as MHV-infected mice has suggested that ticks may have a role in the transmission of this pathogen. Ixodes ricinus is one the most abundant tick species in Europe known to transmit multiple pathogens causing human and animal diseases. In this study, nymphs and larvae feeding on 116 individuals of a temperate lizard species-the green lizard Lacerta viridis captured in the Slovak Karst National Park, were examined for MHV-68. The specific sequence of virion glycoprotein 150 was amplified in DNA individually isolated from I. ricinus ticks using single-copy sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction. MHV-68 was detected in ten of 649 nymphs and in five of 150 larvae, respectively. We found that 9.6% of green lizards fed at least one MHV-68-infected immature tick. Occurrence of MHV-68 within all ticks tested was 1.8%. This study is first to show that immature I. ricinus ticks feeding on free-living lizards in a Central European region could be infected with gammaherpesvirus (MHV-68), naturally infecting free-living murid rodents. Our results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that ticks may play a mediating role in circulation of MHV-68 in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ficová
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Science, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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Ekner A, Dudek K, Sajkowska Z, Majláthová V, Majláth I, Tryjanowski P. Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sand lizard Lacerta agilis and co-infection of these bacteria in hosted Ixodes ricinus ticks. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:182. [PMID: 21933412 PMCID: PMC3203261 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. are important tick-borne bacteria maintained in nature by transmission between ticks and vertebrate hosts. However, the potential role of lizards as hosts has not been sufficiently studied. RESULTS The current study showed that 23 of 171 examined sand lizards Lacerta agilis were PCR positive for Anaplasmataceae. The nucleotide sequences of the several selected PCR products showed 100% homology with Anaplasma spp. found in Ixodes ricinus collected in Tunisia and Morocco (AY672415 - AY672420). 1.2% of lizard collar scale samples were PCR positive for B. lusitaniae. In addition, 12 of 290 examined I. ricinus were PCR positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. and 82 were PCR positive for Anaplasmatacea. The number of ticks per lizard and the number of ticks PCR positive for both microorganisms per lizard were strongly correlated. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between numbers of ticks infected with Anaplasmataceae and with B. burgdorferi s.l. living on the same lizard. However, there was no significant correlation between detection of both bacteria in the same tick. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Anaplasmataceae DNA and additionally the second report of B. burgdorferi s.l DNA detection in the sand lizard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ekner
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
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Margos G, Vollmer SA, Ogden NH, Fish D. Population genetics, taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Infect Genet Evol 2011; 11:1545-63. [PMID: 21843658 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Revised: 07/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In order to understand the population structure and dynamics of bacterial microorganisms, typing systems that accurately reflect the phylogenetic and evolutionary relationship of the agents are required. Over the past 15 years multilocus sequence typing schemes have replaced single locus approaches, giving novel insights into phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships of many bacterial species and facilitating taxonomy. Since 2004, several schemes using multiple loci have been developed to better understand the taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes and in this paper we have reviewed and summarized the progress that has been made for this important group of vector-borne zoonotic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Margos
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Václav R, Ficová M, Prokop P, Betáková T. Associations between coinfection prevalence of Borrelia lusitaniae, Anaplasma sp., and Rickettsia sp. in hard ticks feeding on reptile hosts. Microb Ecol 2011; 61:245-253. [PMID: 20711724 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-010-9736-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2010] [Accepted: 08/03/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of studies reveal that ticks and their hosts are infected with multiple pathogens, suggesting that coinfection might be frequent for both vectors and wild reservoir hosts. Whereas the examination of associations between coinfecting pathogen agents in natural host-vector-pathogen systems is a prerequisite for a better understanding of disease maintenance and transmission, the associations between pathogens within vectors or hosts are seldom explicitly examined. We examined the prevalence of pathogen agents and the patterns of associations between them under natural conditions, using a previously unexamined host-vector-pathogen system--green lizards Lacerta viridis, hard ticks Ixodes ricinus, and Borrelia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia pathogens. We found that immature ticks infesting a temperate lizard species in Central Europe were infected with multiple pathogens. Considering I. ricinus nymphs and larvae, the prevalence of Anaplasma, Borrelia, and Rickettsia was 13.1% and 8.7%, 12.8% and 1.3%, and 4.5% and 2.7%, respectively. The patterns of pathogen prevalence and observed coinfection rates suggest that the risk of tick infection with one pathogen is not independent of other pathogens. Our results indicate that Anaplasma can play a role in suppressing the transmission of Borrelia to tick vectors. Overall, however, positive effects of Borrelia on Anaplasma seem to prevail as judged by higher-than-expected Borrelia-Anaplasma coinfection rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Bisanzio D, Bertolotti L, Tomassone L, Amore G, Ragagli C, Mannelli A, Giacobini M, Provero P. Modeling the spread of vector-borne diseases on bipartite networks. PLoS One 2010; 5:e13796. [PMID: 21103064 PMCID: PMC2980486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2010] [Accepted: 10/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vector-borne diseases for which transmission occurs exclusively between vectors and hosts can be modeled as spreading on a bipartite network. Methodology/Principal Findings In such models the spreading of the disease strongly depends on the degree distribution of the two classes of nodes. It is sufficient for one of the classes to have a scale-free degree distribution with a slow enough decay for the network to have asymptotically vanishing epidemic threshold. Data on the distribution of Ixodes ricinus ticks on mice and lizards from two independent studies are well described by a scale-free distribution compatible with an asymptotically vanishing epidemic threshold. The commonly used negative binomial, instead, cannot describe the right tail of the empirical distribution. Conclusions/Significance The extreme aggregation of vectors on hosts, described by the power-law decay of the degree distribution, makes the epidemic threshold decrease with the size of the network and vanish asymptotically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donal Bisanzio
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Luigi Bertolotti
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Laura Tomassone
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giusi Amore
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Charlotte Ragagli
- Ministry of Forestry and Agricultural Politics, State Forestry Department, Territorial Unit for Biodiversity, Lucca, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mannelli
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Mario Giacobini
- Department of Animal Production, Epidemiology and Ecology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- * E-mail: (MG); (PP)
| | - Paolo Provero
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- Department of Genetics Biology and Biochemistry, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- * E-mail: (MG); (PP)
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Dieterich R, Hammerschmidt C, Richter D, Skerka C, Wallich R, Matuschka FR, Zipfel PF, Kraiczy P. Inadequate binding of immune regulator factor H is associated with sensitivity of Borrelia lusitaniae to human complement. Infect Immun 2010; 78:4467-76. [PMID: 20823202 DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00138-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex differ in resistance to complement-mediated killing by human serum. Here, we characterize complement sensitivity of a panel of B. lusitaniae isolates derived from ticks collected in Germany and Portugal as well as one patient-derived isolate, PoHL. All isolates are highly susceptible to complement-mediated lysis in human serum and activate complement predominantly by the alternative pathway, leading to an increased deposition of complement components C3, C6, and the terminal complement complex. Interestingly, serum-sensitive B. lusitaniae isolates were able to bind immune regulator factor H (CFH), and some strains also bound CFH-related protein 1 (CFHR1) and CFHR2. Moreover, CFH bound to the surface of B. lusitaniae was inefficient in mediating C3b conversion. Furthermore, the identification and characterization of a potential CFH-binding protein, OspE, revealed that this molecule possesses a significantly reduced binding capacity for CFH compared to that of CFH-binding OspE paralogs expressed by various serum-resistant Borrelia species. This finding suggests that a reduced binding capability of CFH is associated with an increased serum sensitivity of B. lusitaniae to human complement.
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de Carvalho IL, Zeidner N, Ullmann A, Hojgaard A, Amaro F, Zé-Zé L, Alves MJ, de Sousa R, Piesman J, Núncio MS. Molecular Characterization of a New Isolate ofBorrelia lusitaniaeDerived fromApodemus sylvaticusin Portugal. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 10:531-4. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2008.0210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Lopes de Carvalho
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nordin Zeidner
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Amy Ullmann
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Fátima Amaro
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Líbia Zé-Zé
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria João Alves
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita de Sousa
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Joseph Piesman
- Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Maria Sofia Núncio
- Center for Vector and Infectious Diseases Research, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
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Ragagli C, Bertolotti L, Giacobini M, Mannelli A, Bisanzio D, Amore G, Tomassone L. Transmission dynamics of Borrelia lusitaniae and Borrelia afzelii among Ixodes ricinus, lizards, and mice in Tuscany, central Italy. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2010; 11:21-8. [PMID: 20482342 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2008.0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
To estimate the basic reproduction number (R(0)) of Borrelia lusitaniae and Borrelia afzelii, we formulated a mathematical model considering the interactions among the tick vector, vertebrate hosts, and pathogens in a 500-ha enclosed natural reserve on Le Cerbaie hills, Tuscany, central Italy. In the study area, Ixodes ricinus were abundant and were found infected by B. lusitaniae and B. afzelii. Lizards (Podarcis spp.) and mice (Apodemus spp.), respectively, are the reservoir hosts of these two Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genospecies and compete for immature ticks. B. lusitaniae R(0) estimation is in agreement with field observations, indicating the maintenance and diffusion of this genospecies in the study area, where lizards are abundant and highly infested by I. ricinus immature stages. In fact, B. lusitaniae shows a focal distribution in areas where the tick vector and the vertebrate reservoir coexist. Mouse population dynamics and their relatively low suitability as hosts for nymphs seem to determine, on the other hand, a less efficient transmission of B. afzelii, whose R(0) differs between scenarios in the study area. Considering host population dynamics, the proposed model suggests that, given a certain combination of the two host population sizes, both spirochete genospecies can coexist in our study area. Additional incompetent hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. have a negative effect on B. afzelii maintenance, whose R(0) results > 1 only with high mouse population densities and/or low lizards abundance, but they do not seem to influence B. lusitaniae transmission cycle on Le Cerbaie. Secondly, our model confirms the importance of nymphs' infestation, of host population density and diversity, and spirochetes host association for the maintenance of the transmission cycle of B. burgdorferi s.l.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Ragagli
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Epidemiology, and Ecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
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Földvári G, Rigó K, Majláthová V, Majláth I, Farkas R, Pet'ko B. Detection ofBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato in Lizards and Their Ticks from Hungary. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2009; 9:331-6. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2009.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Földvári
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Rigó
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Igor Majláth
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, P. J. Šafárik University, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Róbert Farkas
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Branislav Pet'ko
- Parasitological Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovakia
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Tsao JI. Reviewing molecular adaptations of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes in the context of reproductive fitness in natural transmission cycles. Vet Res 2009; 40:36. [PMID: 19368764 PMCID: PMC2701186 DOI: 10.1051/vetres/2009019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2008] [Accepted: 04/15/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is caused by a group of pathogenic spirochetes – most often Borrelia burgdorferi, B. afzelii, and B. garinii – that are vectored by hard ticks in the Ixodes ricinus-persulcatus complex, which feed on a variety of mammals, birds, and lizards. Although LB is one of the best-studied vector-borne zoonoses, the annual incidence in North America and Europe leads other vector-borne diseases and continues to increase. What factors make the LB system so successful, and how can researchers hope to reduce disease risk – either through vaccinating humans or reducing the risk of contacting infected ticks in nature? Discoveries of molecular interactions involved in the transmission of LB spirochetes have accelerated recently, revealing complex interactions among the spirochete-tick-vertebrate triad. These interactions involve multiple, and often redundant, pathways that reflect the evolution of general and specific mechanisms by which the spirochetes survive and reproduce. Previous reviews have focused on the molecular interactions or population biology of the system. Here molecular interactions among the LB spirochete, its vector, and vertebrate hosts are reviewed in the context of natural maintenance cycles, which represent the ecological and evolutionary contexts that shape these interactions. This holistic system approach may help researchers develop additional testable hypotheses about transmission processes, interpret laboratory results, and guide development of future LB control measures and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean I Tsao
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48864, USA.
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Michalik J, Wodecka B, Skoracki M, Sikora B, Stańczak J. Prevalence of avian-associated Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genospecies in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (T. philomelos). Int J Med Microbiol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2008.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Majláthová V, Majláth I, Hromada M, Tryjanowski P, Bona M, Antczak M, Víchová B, Dzimko Š, Mihalca A, Peťko B. The role of the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) in the transmission cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Int J Med Microbiol 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2008.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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Grego E, Bertolotti L, Peletto S, Amore G, Tomassone L, Mannelli A. Borrelia lusitaniae OspA gene heterogeneity in Mediterranean basin area. J Mol Evol 2007; 65:512-8. [PMID: 17896068 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-007-9029-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2007] [Revised: 07/18/2007] [Accepted: 07/31/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Borrelia lusitaniae DNA extracted from ticks and lizards was used to amplify the outer surface protein A (OspA) gene in order to increase knowledge about sequence variability in the Mediterranean basin area, to better understand how Borrelia lusitaniae has evolved and how its distribution has expanded. Phylogenetic trees including Italian and reference sequences showed a clear separation of B. lusitaniae OspA strains in two different major clades. North African isolates form a clade with Portuguese POTIB strains, whereas Italian samples are grouped with German strains and a human Portuguese strain. This subdivision was supported by very high posterior probability values in the trees, by both analysis of molecular variance and selective pressure. These results, based on phylogenetic information contained in the OspA gene sequences, show the presence of two different B. lusitaniae strains circulating in the Mediterranean basin area, suggesting two different evolution paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grego
- Dipartimento di Produzioni Animali, Epidemiologia, Ecologia, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, 10095, Grugliasco, TO, Italy
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Abstract
Blood sample collection in lizards is an important technique. This column describes techniques for sample collection from the ventral coccygeal vein and the ventral abdominal vein.
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