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

Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sand lizard Lacerta agilis and co-infection of these bacteria in hosted Ixodes ricinus ticks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anaplasmataceae </it>and <it>Borrelia burgdorferi </it>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.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The current study showed that 23 of 171 examined sand lizards <it>Lacerta agilis </it>were PCR positive for <it>Anaplasmataceae</it>. The nucleotide sequences of the several selected PCR products showed 100% homology with <it>Anaplasma </it>spp. found in <it>Ixodes ricinus </it>collected in Tunisia and Morocco (AY672415 - AY672420). 1.2% of lizard collar scale samples were PCR positive for <it>B. lusitaniae</it>. In addition, 12 of 290 examined <it>I. ricinus </it>were PCR positive for <it>B. burgdorferi </it>s.l. and 82 were PCR positive for <it>Anaplasmatacea</it>. 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 <it>Anaplasmataceae </it>and with <it>B. burgdorferi </it>s.l. living on the same lizard. However, there was no significant correlation between detection of both bacteria in the same tick.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of <it>Anaplasmataceae </it>DNA and additionally the second report of <it>B. burgdorferi </it>s.l DNA detection in the sand lizard.</p

Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in lizards and their ticks from Hungary

To investigate the involvement of lizard species in the natural cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in Hungary, a total of 186 reptiles belonging to three species—126 green lizards (Lacerta viridis), 40 Balkan wall lizards (Podarcis taurica), and 20 sand lizards (Lacerta agilis)—were captured in 2007 and 2008. All ticks removed from the lizards were Ixodes ricinus, either larvae (324=472; 68.6%) or nymphs (148=472; 31.4%). More than half (66=126; 52.4%) of L. viridis individuals were infested, and the prevalence of tick infestation on both the other two species was 35% each. All 472 I. ricinus ticks and tissue samples collected from 134 collar scales and 62 toe clips of lizards were further analyzed for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. with polymerase chain reaction. The amplification of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA was successful in 8% (n¼92) of L. viridis, 9% (n¼32) of P. taurica, and 10% (n¼10) of L. agilis tissue samples. Restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping identified the species Borrelia lusitaniae in all tested lizard samples. Prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in ticks collected from L. viridis, P. taurica, and L. agilis was 8%, 2%, and 0%, respectively. Most of the infected ticks carried B. lusitaniae (74% of genotyped positives); however, Borrelia afzelii (5%) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (21%) were detected in ticks removed from green lizards and Balkan wall lizards, respectively. We conclude that lizards, particularly L. viridis, can be important hosts for I. ricinus larvae and nymphs; thus, they can be regarded as reservoirs of these important pathogen vectors. The role of green lizards has been confirmed, and the implication of Balkan wall lizards is suggested in the natural cycle of B. lusitaniae at our study site

Morphological and molecular characterization of Karyolysus - a neglected but common parasite infecting some European lizards.

BACKGROUND Blood parasites of the genus Karyolysus Labbé, 1894 (Apicomplexa: Adeleida: Karyolysidae) represent the protozoan haemogregarines found in various genera of lizards, including Lacerta, Podarcis, Darevskia (Lacertidae) and Mabouia (Scincidae). The vectors of parasites are gamasid mites from the genus Ophionyssus. METHODS A total of 557 individuals of lacertid lizards were captured in four different localities in Europe (Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) and blood was collected. Samples were examined using both microscopic and molecular methods, and phylogenetic relationships of all isolates of Karyolysus sp. were assessed for the first time. Karyolysus sp. 18S rRNA isolates were evaluated using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses. RESULTS A total of 520 blood smears were examined microscopically and unicellular protozoan parasites were found in 116 samples (22.3% prevalence). The presence of two Karyolysus species, K. latus and K. lacazei was identified. In total, of 210 samples tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of parasites was observed in 64 individuals (prevalence 30.5%). Results of phylogenetic analyses revealed the existence of four haplotypes, all part of the same lineage, with other parasites identified as belonging to the genus Hepatozoon. CONCLUSIONS Classification of these parasites using current taxonomy is complex - they were identified in both mites and ticks that typically are considered to host Karyolysus and Hepatozoon respectively. Furthermore although distortions to the intermediate host erythrocyte nuclei were observed, the defining characteristic of Karyolysus, the haplotypes were nearly identical to those reported from lizards in the Iberian Peninsula, where such distortions were not reported and which were thus identified as Hepatozoon. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, neither vertebrate host, nor geographical patterns of the studied blood parasites could be established

Behavioral Repertoire on a Vertical Rod—An Ethogram in <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> Ticks

Ticks are important vectors of pathogens that endanger humans and animals. Study of their behavior under laboratory conditions is important for both predicting their behavior in natural conditions and understanding their involvement in transmission cycles of pathogens, which may lead to effective prevention of tick-borne disease transmission or establishment of effective preventive measures. The aim of our study was to describe the behavior of D. reticulatus ticks using laboratory assay. We focused on the description of individual behavioral units during their vertical movement. The assay consisted of glass beakers filled with sand and an embedded glass rod. We observed 10 different behavioral units, 4 of which have not yet been described: body posturing called “jogger”, leg grooming, and body or leg jerking. The most frequent tick behavior observed was an upwards positioning of the two front legs while the body remained motionless (88.9%). Other common observations were both horizontal (63%) and vertical (58.0%) body posturing with all legs lowered, followed by questing behavior (51.9%). Ticks spent the most time questing (75.2%), crawling (54.7%), and grooming legs on the right side (23%). We did not observe any differences between males and females

Candidatus Cryptoplasma Associated with Green Lizards and Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia, 2004–2011

During 2004–2011, we collected green lizards and Ixodes ricinus ticks in Slovak Karst National Park in Slovakia; 90% (36/40) of lizards and 37% of ticks removed from lizards were infected with family Anaplasmataceae bacteria. Only Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. REP (reptile) was identified in these samples. Green lizards transmit this bacterium