Coexistence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. genospecies within Ixodes ricinus ticks from central and eastern Poland

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and coinfection rates of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genotypes in Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks sampled from diverse localities in central and eastern regions of Poland. In years 2009-2011, questing nymphs and adults of I. ricinus were collected using a flagging method at 18 localities representing distinct ecosystem types: urban green areas, suburban forests and rural woodlands. Molecular detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies was based on amplification of a fla gene using nested PCR technique, subsequent PCR-RFLP analysis and bidirectional sequencing. It was revealed that 45 samples (2.1%) harboured two different B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, whereas triple infections with various spirochetes was found in 11 (0.5%) individuals. Generally, the highest average coinfection rates were evidenced in arachnids gathered at rural woodlands, intermediate at suburban forests, while the lowest were recorded at urban green areas. Overall, single spirochete infections were noted in 16.3% (n = 352/2,153) ticks. Importantly, it is the first report evidencing the occurrence of Borrelia miyamotoi (0.3%, n = 7/2153) in I. ricinus populations within central Poland. Circumstantial variability of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies in the common tick individuals sampled at various habitat types in central and eastern Poland was displayed. The coexistence of two or three different spirochete genospecies in single adult ticks, as well as the presence of B. miyamotoi were demonstrated. Therefore, further studies uncovering the co-circulation of the tested bacteria and other human pathogens in I. ricinus ticks are required.

Molecular identification of Borrelia spirochetes in questing Ixodes ricinus from northwestern Spain

“…Borrelia miyamotoi , related to the relapsing fever spirochete group, was only identified in four single ticks and in one I. ricinus male pool; this is the first report of this Borrelia species in free-living ticks from Spain. Despite the low percentages of B. miyamotoi detected in both the present study and in questing ticks from other European countries [ 48 – 51 ], it must be considered that this Borrelia species has been recently identified as a human pathogen, and it can be transmitted by all tick life stages [ 52 ]. Therefore, its presence should be taken into consideration in clinical patients.…”

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from four sites in the UK

“…The percentage of ticks infected with B. miyamotoi (0.73%) was slightly greater than the infection prevalence found by Hansford et al (2015) (0.3%) but generally lower than that found in other European countries. Studies have reported the average percentage of I. ricinus ticks infected with B. miyamotoi to be 1.8% in Germany , 3% in France (Cosson et al, 2014), 3.1% in the Netherlands (Fonville et al, 2014), 1.26% in Norway (Kjelland et al, 2015), 0.9% in Estonia (Geller et al, 2012) and 0.3-2% in Poland (Sytykiewicz et al, 2015, Kiewra et al, 2014. Previous studies have documented a 10 fold lower proportion of ticks infected with B. miyamotoi compared to B. burgdorferi s.l (Hansford et al, 2015, Barbour et al, 2009.…”

Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli co-infection patterns in insect vectors vary across habitat types in a fragmented forest landscape

“…For instance, in drought years, Babesia and canine distemper virus co-infections are frequent, and host mortality is increased; this is likely due to interactions between immunosuppression caused by canine distemper virus, and increased Babesia co-infections from increased numbers of questing ticks after droughtinduced ungulate die-offs (Munson et al 2008). Habitat type and land use may also influence population-level patterns of parasite co-infection, as has been observed in spirochete co-infection in ticks (Sytykiewicz et al 2015). Studying patterns of vector-co infection at habitat and landscape scales [as reviewed in (Diuk-Wasser et al 2015)] is a critical component of predicting and preventing zoonotic disease transmission risk.…”