Borrelia lusitaniae and Green Lizards (Lacerta viridis), Karst Region, Slovakia

TOC summary line: The green lizard is implicated in the transmission cycle of B. lusitaniae

Humans Infected with Relapsing Fever Spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi, Russia

Disease may occur throughout the world because of the widespread prevalence of this pathogen in ixodid ticks

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

Background: Free-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods. Results: Ticks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis", Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade. Conclusions: The findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.Fil: Kazimírová, Mária. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Hamšíková, Zuzana. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Spitalská, Eva. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Minichová, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; EslovaquiaFil: Mahríková, Lenka. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Zoology; EslovaquiaFil: Caban, Radoslav. Široká ; EslovaquiaFil: Sprong, Hein. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Fonville, Manoj. National Institute for Public Health and Environment.Laboratory for Zoonoses and Environmental Microbiology; Países BajosFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kocianová, Elena. Slovak Academy of Sciences. Institute of Virology. Biomedical Research Center,; Eslovaqui

Tick-borne diseases and co-infection: Current considerations

Over recent years, a multitude of pathogens have been reported to be tick-borne. Given this, it is unsurprising that these might co-exist within the same tick, however our understanding of the interactions of these agents both within the tick and vertebrate host remains poorly defined. Despite the rich diversity of ticks, relatively few regularly feed on humans, 12 belonging to argasid and 20 ixodid species, and literature on co-infection is only available for a few of these species. The interplay of various pathogen combinations upon the vertebrate host and tick vector represents a current knowledge gap. The impact of co-infection in humans further extends into diagnostic challenges arising when multiple pathogens are encountered and we have little current data upon which to make therapeutic recommendations for those with multiple infections. Despite these short-comings, there is now increasing recognition of co-infections and current research efforts are providing valuable insights into dynamics of pathogen interactions whether they facilitate or antagonise each other. Much of this existing data is focussed upon simultaneous infection, however the consequences of sequential infection also need to be addressed. To this end, it is timely to review current understanding and highlight those areas still to address

Genetic diversity of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and reservoir competence of wild life animals for tick-borne pathogens in northern Italy

Tick borne diseases are zoonoses causing infection in humans and domestic animals. The most spread zoonoses in Europe are the one caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and Rickettsia spp. Impact of global, climatic and social changes occurring in recent years has increased incidence of ticks and number of infected people and animals. Movement of ticks into higher altitudes also causes the emergence of new foci. Our study was carried out in the Valle dei Laghi (northeastern Italian Alps). We have studied the prevalence and genetic variability of A.phagocytophilum and its ecological associations with hosts and vectors in the area. A total of 821 questing I. ricinus ticks were collected by dragging and 284 engorged ixodid ticks were collected from humans and from hunted or live-trapped wild-life animals. Further they were analyzed for the prevalence of A.phagocytophilum. All positive samples were used for amplification of groEL and msp4 genes for futher phylogenetic analysis. In addition 448 larve ticks from wild ungulates, birds and rodents were analyzed for reservoir competence for A.phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., B. burgdorferi s.l. and Rickettsia spp. Overall A. phagocytophilum prevalence in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks was 1.8%, in ticks from various host was: 4.3% in ticks from humans, 9.1% in ticks from dogs, 14.3% in ticks from wild ungulates, 7.7% in ticks from sheep, 10.7% in ticks from birds and 6.1% in ticks from rodents. Prevalence in rodent blood samples (A. flavicolis, M. avellanarius, M. glareolus) was only 0.3%. Phylogenetic analyses of msp4 and groEL showed two distinct enzootic cycles of A. phagocytophilum associated with different reservoirs as well as vectors. Strains that infect humans belong to the clade formed out of strains from engorged ticks collected from dogs, wild ungulates, sheep and birds. Strains obtained from rodents are most likely transmited by other tick vector and may not represent an immediate threat to humans in northern Italy. Our results shows different ecology of A.phagocytophilum as it is in United States. Moreover, from total of 339 engorged larvae I.ricinus ticks from rodents 9.1% were positive for B. burgdorferi sensu lato, 5.3% positive for Rickettsia spp. and 1.8% positive for Babesia spp. From 99 engorged larvae I.ricinus ticks from wild ungulates 6% were positive for A.phagocytophilum, 6% positive for Rickettsia spp. and 1% positive for Babesia spp. From 10 engorged larvae I.ricinus ticks from birds 80% were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. High degree of genetic variability was observed. Our study revealed that in mountainous habitats of Norther Italy foci of tick-borne diseases are emerging. Small mammals and wild ungulates are the most important hosts for ticks as well as reservoirs for pathogens, however they participate differently in their ecology and circulation of tick borne agents in natural foci. The study was supported by the European Union grant FP7-261504 EDENex

The ecology of tick-borne diseases: prevalence rate and reservoir competence in northern Italy

Tick borne diseases are zoonosis causing infection in humans and domestic animals. The most spread zoonosis in Europe are the one caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. Impact of global, climatic and social changes occurring in recent years has increased incidence of ticks and number of infected people and animals. This cause movement of ticks into higher altitudes and thus the emergence of new outbreaks. Our study from alpine region of northern Italy reveals an prevalence of four pathogens in I.ricinus ticks from different reservoir host such as wild ungulates, rodents, sheep, birds, dogs and humans. The highest prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was 14,2% and 10,2% for Rickettsia spp. in wild ungulates, 7,1% for Babesia spp. and 37,5% for Borrelia spp. in birds. In addition we also reveals data on reservoir competence of host such as wild ungulates, birds and rodents. Where the most common species were A.phagocytophilum in wild ungulates, R.helvetica in wild ungulates and rodents, B.garnii, B.afzeli, B.luisitania in birds and rodents. Our data contribute to better understanding the role of different reservoir host which is crucial for tracing the ecology of these tick-borne pathogen

Anaplasma phagocytohilum in Northern Italy = Anaplasma phagoctophilum v severnom Taliansku

Anaplasma phagocytophilum je pôvodcom granulocytárnej anaplazmózy ľudí a zvierat. V Európe je prenášaná kliešťami z rodu Ixodes a to ajmä druhom Ixodes ricinus. Rezervoárovými hostiteľmi sú viaceré druhy stavovcov, ktoré sú špecificky viazané na určité genotypy tejto vnútrobunkovej baktérie. Vzhľadom na väčšiu genetickú heterogenitu A. phagocytophilum v Európe je jej ekologická asociácia s rezervoárovými hostiteľmi nie úplne objasnená. Na lepšie pochopenie potenciálneho risku prenosu A. phagocytophilum na ľudí a domáce zvieratá je potrebné objasniť cirkuláciu rôznych genotypov tejto baktérie a jej asociáciu s rôznymi rezervoárovými hostiteľmi. Našim cieľom bolo určiť vnútrodruhovú variabilitu kmeňov A. phagocytophilum cirkulujúcich v severnom Taliansku (provincia Trentino) u kliešťov cicajúcich na širokom spektre hostiteľov ako napríklad na psoch, ovciach, vtákoch, hlodavcoch, vysokej lesnej zvery a tiež kliešťoch cicajúcich na ľuďoch. Celkom 821 kliešťov I. ricinus z vegetácie, 284 kliešťov cicajúcich Bunkový metabolizmus, fyziológia, molekulárna biológia a genetika 13 na rôznych hostiteľoch (psy, ovce, vtáky, hlodavce, vysoká lesná zver, ľudia) a 1295 vzoriek krvi z hlodavcov bolo pomocou PCR a Real-time PCR analyzovaných na prítomnosť baktérie A. phagocytophilum. Vnútrodruhová variabilita a fylogenetické stromy boli zostrojené pomocou analýzy sekvencii (msp4, groEL) z pozitívnych kliešťov z vegetácie, z pozitívnych kliešťov z hostiteľov a krvných vzoriek z hlodavcov. Následne fylogenetické stromy poukázali na dve hlavne skupiny genotypov A. phagocytophilum cirkulujúcich v severnom Taliansku. Prvá skupina pozostávala z kmeňov nájdených u vysokej lesnej zvery, oviec, psov, ľudí a kmeňov nájdených u kliešťov z vegetácie a druhá skupina genotypov pozostávala len z kmeňov nájdených v krvných vzorkách u hlodavcov. Tieto genotypy z hlodavcov boli identické s genotypmi nájdenými u kliešťov I. trianguliceps na Slovensku a UK [1]. Naša štúdia sa prikláňa k hypotéze o existencii dvoch separovaných enzootických cykloch A. phagocytophilum cirkulujúcich v Európe a taktiež objasňuje pôvod kmeňov ohrozujúcich ľudí ako aj domáce zvierat