The importance of lizards and small mammals as reservoirs for Borrelia lusitaniae in Portugal

Borrelia lusitaniae is a pathogen frequent in the Mediterranean area. Apart from lizards, evidence for birds and small mammals as competent reservoirs for this genospecies has been occasional. We collected questing ticks, skin biopsies and Ixodes sp. ticks feeding on lizards, birds and small mammals in a B. burgdorferi s.l. enzootic area to assess their importance in the maintenance of B. lusitaniae. B. lusitaniae was the most prevalent genospecies in questing ticks and was commonly found in larvae feeding on Psammodromus algirus. One biopsy infected with B. lusitaniae was collected from the tail of one Podarcis hispanica, which suggests systemic infection. I. ricinus larvae feeding on Apodemus sylvaticus were infected with B. lusitaniae but with a lower prevalence. Our results reinforce the importance of lizards as reservoirs for B. lusitaniae, suggesting that P. algirus, in particular, acts as main reservoir for B. lusitaniae in Portugal

Ongoing monkeypox virus outbreak, Portugal, 29 April to 23 May 2022

Up to 27 May 2022, Portugal has detected 96 confirmed cases of monkeypox. We describe 27 confirmed cases (median age: 33 years (range: 22–51); all males), with an earliest symptom onset date of 29 April. Almost all cases (n = 25) live in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley health region. Most cases were neither part of identified transmission chains, nor linked to travel or had contact with symptomatic persons or with animals, suggesting the possible previously undetected spread of monkeypox.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Harmonizing methods for wildlife abundance estimation and pathogen detection in Europe-a questionnaire survey on three selected host-pathogen combinations

__Background:__ The need for wildlife health surveillance as part of disease control in wildlife, domestic animals and humans on the global level is widely recognized. However, the objectives, methods and intensity of existing wildlife health surveillance programs vary greatly among European countries, resulting in a patchwork of data that are difficult to merge and compare. This survey aimed at evaluating the need and potential for data harmonization in wildlife health in Europe. The specific objective was to collect information on methods currently used to estimate host abundance and pathogen prevalence. Questionnaires were designed t

Investigating the role of mosquitoes as vectors of Francisella Tularensis in Portugal

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o apoio da FCT e da ICAAM

The medical and veterinary role of Ornithodoros erraticus complex ticks (Acari: Ixodida) on the Iberian Peninsula

Argasid ticks of the Ornithodoros erraticus complex are associated with traditional pig-farming practices on the Iberian Peninsula and are also found elsewhere in North Africa, West Africa, and western Asia. The ticks associated with pig farming on the Iberian Peninsula are the only biological vectors of African swine fever virus (ASFV) known to occur in Europe, and their ecology makes them an extremely effective reservoir of both ASFV and the Borrelia species which cause tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in humans. The recent reappearance of ASFV in the European Union, coupled with evidence that Portuguese tick populations continue to harbor Borrelia despite a lack of confirmed human infections, suggest that these populations merit closer attention. In Portugal, a series of surveys over the last twenty-five years indicates that the number of farm sites with tick infestations has declined and suggest that populations are sensitive to changes in farm management, particularly the use of modern pig housing. Various technologies have been suggested for the control of farm-associated Ornithodoros ticks and related species but, in our opinion, farm management changes are still the most effective strategy for population control. Furthermore, we suggest that this species could probably be eradicated from Iberian pig farms.This project was funded by JNICT, INVOTAN Permanent Commission scholarship (ref PO/86/00), and by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (PTDC/SAU‐ESA‐6540‐2006). Anthony Wilson is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (grant BS/E/I/00001409)

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in wild birds in Greece

Wild birds are common hosts of ticks and can transport them for long distances, contributing to the spreading of tick-borne pathogens. The information about ticks on birds and tick-borne pathogens in Greece is limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and species of ticks infesting wild resident birds (mostly small passerines) in Greece, and to assess Borrelia and Rickettsia infection in the collected ticks. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was performed by nested PCR targeting the flaB gene. Rickettsia spp. were detected by PCR targeting the gltA and ompA genes. Seven (2 %) out of 403 birds examined in northern Greece in 2013 were infested with 15 ticks, identified as Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes acuminatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma aegyptium and Hyalomma sp. All ticks were negative for Borrelia spp. while four of them were positive for rickettsiae (Rickettsia aeschlimannii in H. aegyptium and Rickettsia sp. in I. frontalis, H. aegyptium and H. marginatum). Ixodes acuminatus is reported for the first time in Greece and Sylvia borin is reported as a new host record for I. acuminatus.Markéta Nováková and Ivan Literák were supported by the project CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology) (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068) from the European Regional Development Fund.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Role of the lizard Teira dugesii as a potential host for Ixodes ricinus tick-borne pathogens

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, Rick ettsia helvetica, and Borrelia lusitaniae, that are circulating on Madeira Island.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of stress exposure in captivity on physiology and infection in avian hosts: no evidence of increased Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. infectivity to vector ticks

Exposure to environmental stressors, an increasingly recurring event in natural communities due to anthropogenic-induced environmental change, profoundly impacts disease emergence and spread. One mechanism through which this occurs is through stress-induced immunosuppression increasing disease susceptibility, prevalence, intensity and reactivation in hosts. We experimentally evaluated how exposure to stressors affected both the physiology of avian hosts and the prevalence of the zoonotic bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), in two model species-the blackbird Turdus merula and the robin Erithacus rubecula captured in the wild, using xenodiagnoses and analysis of skin biopsies and blood. Although exposure to stressors in captivity induced physiological stress in birds (increased the number of circulating heterophils), there was no evidence of increased infectivity to xenodiagnostic ticks. However, Borrelia detection in the blood for both experimental groups of blackbirds was higher by the end of the captivity period. The infectivity and efficiency of transmission were higher for blackbirds than robins. When comparing different methodologies to determine infection status, xenodiagnosis was a more sensitive method than skin biopsies and blood samples, which could be attributed to mild levels of infection in these avian hosts and/or dynamics and timing of Borrelia infection relapses and redistribution in tissues.This study received financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia by the strategic programme of MARE (MARE - UID/MAR/04292/2020) and the fellowship (SFRH/BPD/108197/2015) and transitory norm contract DL57/2016/CP1370/CT89 to ACN, and the Portuguese National Institute of Health. PMA was funded by an investi gator contract from the project “PTDC/BIA-EVL/31569/2017 - NORTE -01-0145- FEDER-30288,” co-funded by NORTE2020 through Portugal 2020 and FEDER Funds, and by National Funds through FCT; RJL was funded by national funds (Transitory Norm contract DL57/2016/CP1440/ CT0006).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The hard-tick fauna of mainland Portugal (Acari: Ixodidae): an update on geographical distribution and known associations with hosts and pathogens

This work is an updated revision of the available information on Portuguese ixodid tick species. It includes data on tick biology, ecology, taxonomy and host/pathogen-associations. The current list of Portuguese ixodid ticks comprises twenty species: Dermacentor marginatus (Sulzer, 1776), Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius, 1794), Haemaphysalis hispanica Gil Collado, 1938, Haemaphysalis inermis Birula, 1895, Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878, Hyalomma lusitanicum Koch, 1844, Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844, Ixodes acuminatus Neumann, 1901, Ixodes bivari Dias, 1990, Ixodes canisuga Johnston, 1849, Ixodes frontalis (Panzer, 1798), Ixodes hexagonus Leach, 1815, Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758), Ixodes simplex Neumann, 1906, Ixodes ventalloi Gil Collado, 1936, Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, 1844, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Say, 1821), Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878, Rhipicephalus pusillus Gil Collado, 1938, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806).publishe

REVIVE, a surveillance program on vectors and vector-borne pathogens in Portugal - four year experience on ticks

REVIVE is a national wide surveillance program on vector and vector-borne agents implement and coordinate by the National Institute of Health (CEVDI/INSA) in collaboration with other institutions of the Health Ministry. The programme started in 2008 with the surveillance of mosquitoes and later in 2011 was extended to ticks. The main goals of this project are to collect and identify vectors, updating our knowledge in the distribution, hostassociations, seasonality and abundance of the Portuguese species. Additionally this project contributes for monitoring the introduction of exotic vector species. This work regards the 4-year REVIVE studies on ticks and Borrelia/Rickettsia surveillance, among other tick-borne agents, discussing the established circuits, obtained results and practical interventions. Over 29.000 ticks were collected on hosts or by flagging vegetation from 168 (60.4%) municipalities of mainland Portugal. Collection in humans reached the 583 specimens. In total, 13 autochthonous tick species were identified, including Dermacentor marginatus; D. reticulatus; Haemaphysalis punctata; Hyalomma lusitanicum; H. marginatum; Ixodes canisuga; I. hexagonus; I. ricinus; I. ventalloi; Rhipicephalus annulatus; R. bursa; R. pusillus; R. sanguineus. Of note is the identification of an exotic species, Amblyomma sp., attached to a Portuguese emigrant arriving from USA. The top three species collected during this surveillance program were R. sanguineus (69%), followed by R. pusillus (16.4%) and H. marginatum (9.7%). However regarding antropofilic behaviour, from the 11 species found in humans the most prevalent were I. ricinus (35%), followed by R. sanguineus (34%), and H. marginatum (14%). The abundance, distribution, host association and other relevant patterns are compared with previous existing records. Regarding the tick-borne agents, all ticks collected from humans and about 10% of the questing/host-attached ticks were tested for Borrelia and Rickettsia spp., among other agents. Ten bacteria were identified so far in single or multiple infection, including Borrelia afzelii, B. garinii, B. lusitaniae, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, R. conorii, R. helvetica, R. massiliae, R. monacensis, R. raoulti, and R. slovaca. The importance of including other tick-borne agents in routine screening is also discussed. The presented data reinforces the importance of the REVIVE. The program has contributed to call attention to tick-borne diseases not only among healthcare providers but also in the populations. The workflow established, has also enabled timely screeningof ticks removed from humans, animals or in a given environment, allowing the implementation of informed prevention/control strategies and directly contributing to improve Public Health in Portugal.Coxiella and Anaplasma testing was performed on behalf of the FCT project PTDC/SAUSAP/115266/200