Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks: Comparison of Prevalences and Partial 16S rRNA Gene Variants in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Overzier, Evelyn; Thiel, Claudia; Herb, Ingrid; Mahling, Monia; Silaghi, Cornelia

doi:10.1128/aem.03300-12

Cited by 31 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…prevalence is lower than in natural or renatured habitats in central Germany (Franke et al 2010, Hildebrandt et al 2010, Hildebrandt et al 2011, Silaghi et al 2012 or in a previously investigated forest area in Bavaria (Silaghi et al 2012). Comparing the tick abundance of the investigated study sites and habitats (Overzier et al 2013a, Schorn et al 2011a, there was no obvious correlation between tick density and Babesia spp. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…The sites included four urban areas located in the cities of Munich (M2, M3) and Regensburg (R1) and close to Lake Starnberg south of Munich (B) as previously described (Schorn et al 2011a, b), one pasture area between Lake Starnberg and Lake Ammersee ('Kerschlach', K), and one natural forest area about 44 km south of the city of Augsburg ('Angelberger Forst', T). Detailed descriptions of geographic data and a map showing the location of study sites have been published elsewhere (Overzier et al 2013a). Because the present study pursues a different focus than the studies previously investigating city parks of the urban area (Schorn et al 2011a, b), the study site description of the urban sites is extended.…”

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Socolovschi et al 2009). Results of the tick density per site and month and relationship of stages have been published elsewhere (Overzier et al 2013a). …”

Section: Collection Of Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity of Babesia and Rickettsia Species in Questing Ixodes ricinus: A Longitudinal Study in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Overzier

Thiel

Herb

et al. 2013

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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In a previous study, our group investigated the Babesia spp. prevalence in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from nine city parks in South Germany in the years 2009 and 2010. We showed predominant prevalence of B. venatorum (in previous literature also known as Babesia sp. EU1), especially in those parks in a more natural condition and with occurrence of large wild animals, such as roe deer. To obtain longitudinal data and to broaden the knowledge about this pathogen, further investigations were carried out in 2011 and 2012 in four of those city parks. Two additional habitat types were chosen for comparison of prevalence data and species analysis focusing on occurrence of potential reservoir hosts. A total of 10,303 questing I. ricinus were collected in four city parks, a pasture, and a natural area in Bavaria, and a representative number of samples were investigated for prevalence of DNA of Babesia spp. (n = 4381) and Rickettsia spp. (n = 2186) by PCR. In the natural and pasture area, a significantly higher Babesia spp. prevalence compared to the urban area was detected. The natural area revealed sequences of B. microti, B. venatorum, and B. capreoli. In the pasture and urban habitat, predominantly B. venatorum was found, whereas B. capreoli was less frequent and only one B. microti-infected tick was found. All B. microti sequences were 100% identical to the zoonotic Jena/Germany strain. For Rickettsia spp., the significantly highest prevalence was also detected in the natural and pasture areas, whereas lower prevalence was found in the urban area. Sequence analysis revealed R. helvetica (98%) and R. monacensis (2%). Prevalence rates and occurrence of Babesia spp. and Rickettsia spp. differed in urban, pasture and natural sites, most likely depending on the habitat structure (natural or cultivated) and therefore on the appearance and availability of reservoir hosts like roe deer or small mammals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity of Babesia and Rickettsia Species in Questing Ixodes ricinus: A Longitudinal Study in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Overzier

Thiel

Herb

et al. 2013

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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“…Adult ticks have had an additional blood meal in comparison to nymphs, and thus twice the chance of acquiring the infection. Variations in prevalence in questing ticks have also been observed with regard to the year of collection and in-between study areas and different geographic locations (Levin et al, 1999; Wicki et al, 2000; Hildebrandt et al, 2002; Cao et al, 2003; Holman et al, 2004; Ohashi et al, 2005; Grzeszczuk and Stanczak, 2006; Wielinga et al, 2006; Silaghi et al, 2008, 2012b; Schorn et al, 2011; Overzier et al, 2013b). …”

Section: Vectors and Competent Vectors Of A Phagocytophilummentioning

confidence: 92%

Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies

Stuen¹,

Granquist²,

Silaghi³

2013

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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464

438

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The bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum has for decades been known to cause the disease tick-borne fever (TBF) in domestic ruminants in Ixodes ricinus-infested areas in northern Europe. In recent years, the bacterium has been found associated with Ixodes-tick species more or less worldwide on the northern hemisphere. A. phagocytophilum has a broad host range and may cause severe disease in several mammalian species, including humans. However, the clinical symptoms vary from subclinical to fatal conditions, and considerable underreporting of clinical incidents is suspected in both human and veterinary medicine. Several variants of A. phagocytophilum have been genetically characterized. Identification and stratification into phylogenetic subfamilies has been based on cell culturing, experimental infections, PCR, and sequencing techniques. However, few genome sequences have been completed so far, thus observations on biological, ecological, and pathological differences between genotypes of the bacterium, have yet to be elucidated by molecular and experimental infection studies. The natural transmission cycles of various A. phagocytophilum variants, the involvement of their respective hosts and vectors involved, in particular the zoonotic potential, have to be unraveled. A. phagocytophilum is able to persist between seasons of tick activity in several mammalian species and movement of hosts and infected ticks on migrating animals or birds may spread the bacterium. In the present review, we focus on the ecology and epidemiology of A. phagocytophilum, especially the role of wildlife in contribution to the spread and sustainability of the infection in domestic livestock and humans.

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“…Females of this species (unlike males) need to quest for a host, and (as adults) are the most likely to harbour transstadially transmitted pathogens (Overzier et al, 2013), such as A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi s.l.. In addition, females are the most relevant to be evaluated for transovarially transmitted agents, as exemplified by R. helvetica.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of a freeway on the dispersal of ticks and Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens: forested resting areas may become Lyme disease hotspots

Hornok

Mulvihill

Szőke

et al. 2017

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica

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Man-made barriers are well known for their effects on ecosystems. Habitat fragmentation, for instance, is a recognised consequence of modern-day infrastructure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of tick species, as well as the risks of acquiring tick-borne infections in habitats adjacent to a freeway. Therefore, ixodid ticks were collected from the vegetation at two-week intervals (in the main tick season, from March to June) in eight habitats of different types (forest, grove, grassland) along both sides of a freeway. Ixodes ricinus females were molecularly screened for three species of tick-borne bacteria. In the study period, 887 ixodid ticks were collected. These included 704 I. ricinus (79.4%), 51 Dermacentor reticulatus (5.7%), 78 D. marginatus (8.8%), 35 Haemaphysalis inermis (3.9%) and 19 H. concinna (2.1%). There was no significant difference in the abundance of tick species between similar habitats separated by the freeway, except for the absence of Dermacentor spp. on one side. In I. ricinus females, the overall prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum was low, and (in part due to this low rate) did not show significant difference between the two sides of the freeway. Rickettsia helvetica had significantly different overall prevalence between two distant habitats along the same side of the freeway (12.3% vs. 31.4%), but not between habitats on the opposite sides. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. showed significantly different overall prevalence between habitats both on the same and on the opposite sides of the freeway (8.6-35.9%), and the difference was higher if relevant habitats were also separated by the freeway. Importantly, the prevalence rate of the Lyme disease agent was highest in a forested resting area of the freeway, and was significantly inversely proportional to the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum (taking into account all evaluated habitats), apparently related to deer population density. Prevalence rates of

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Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks: Comparison of Prevalences and Partial 16S rRNA Gene Variants in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Diversity of Babesia and Rickettsia Species in Questing Ixodes ricinus: A Longitudinal Study in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Diversity of Babesia and Rickettsia Species in Questing Ixodes ricinus: A Longitudinal Study in Urban, Pasture, and Natural Habitats

Anaplasma phagocytophilum—a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies

Impact of a freeway on the dispersal of ticks and Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens: forested resting areas may become Lyme disease hotspots

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