Ecotyping of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from Wild Ungulates and Ticks Shows Circulation of Zoonotic Strains in Northeastern Italy

Grassi, L.; Franzo, Giovanni; Martini, Marco; Mondin, Alessandra; Cassini, Rudi; Drigo, Michele; Pasotto, Daniela; Vidorin, Elena; Menandro, Maria Luisa

doi:10.3390/ani11020310

Cited by 19 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…To fully confirm this, however, it would be necessary to study the genetic variants of the pathogen. The obtained results are in agreement with previously published data in Europe [15,16,19,39,[41][42][43][44] based on which rather convincing molecular evidence was presented last year on ticks isolated from urban dogs [34].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Wild Ungulates in North-Eastern Poland

et al. 2021

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This study was carried out in north-eastern Poland during two hunting seasons between 2018 and 2020. Ticks (Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus) were removed from wild cervids and boars and examined for the presence of Borrelia spirochetes and Rickettsiales members: Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The present study contributes to the knowledge of even-toed ungulates, which are an important reservoir of the above-mentioned pathogens and a potential source of infections for humans through ticks as vectors. Almost 40% of the collected ticks (191 out of 484) were infected with the following pathogens: 3.3% with Borrelia spp., 19.2% with A. phagocytophilum and 26.9% with Rickettsia spp. Only the ticks collected from cervids carried Borrelia. Typing of the species DNA confirmed the presence of B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. lusitaniae and B. miyamotoi. An analysis of Rickettsia spp. sequences using the GenBank data revealed the presence of R. helvetica, R. raoultii and R. monacensis. Monoinfections (79.1%) dominated over co-infections (20.9%). Among co-infections, the most frequent was A. phagocytophilum/Rickettsia spp. (70%), however co-infections, including B. afzelii/A. phagocytophilum, B. afzelii/Rickettsia spp., B. miyamotoi/A. phagocytophilum and B. afzelii/B. garinii/B. lusitaniae, were also noted. Significant differences were observed in the affinity of some pathogens to their vectors. Thus, Borrelia spp. and A. phagocytophilum were more frequently detected in I. ricinus (5.3% and 23.1%) than in D. reticulatus (1.2% and 15.3%). Infection frequency with Rickettsia spp. was similar (approximately 25–29%) in both tick species. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. in ticks removed from cervids was 19.8% and 27.1%, and in ticks from wild boars it was 13.3% and 24.4%, respectively.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Wild Ungulates in North-Eastern Poland

et al. 2021

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“…Unfortunately, due to the type of recruitment of roe deer (rescued animals) only blood was obtained, and no information about the possible presence of the parasite in other tissues may be obtained. Additionally, prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in other Italian regions showed higher prevalence rates in different wild ungulates [ 52 , 53 , 54 ], but the use of different molecular approaches could have influenced the outcoming results. Roe deer is considered to play an important role in spreading A. phagocytophilum [ 15 , 35 ], as it is also considered one of the major actors in the maintenance of I. ricinus populations [ 55 , 56 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Survey of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Roe Deer from a Wildlife Rescue Center in Italy

Cafiso

Bazzocchi

Cavagna

et al. 2021

Animals

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Babesia ssp. and Anaplasma spp. are tick-borne microorganisms representing a possible health risk for domestic and wild animals, as well as humans. Roe deer serve as a suitable reservoir host for some species ascribed to Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum taxa, also due to its important role in the maintenance of large populations of Ixodes ricinus, the main tick vector of these pathogens in Europe. Roe deer populations have been recently expanding throughout Europe, namely in Italy. However, the collection of samples from free-ranging wild animals for diagnostic investigations often includes several practical issues. This problem can be overcome using samples provided by wildlife rescue centers making them available for investigations following routine analyses. The presence of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma spp. in blood samples of 43 roe deer rescued by a wildlife rescue center in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) was molecularly investigated. PCR screening revealed the presence of at least one pathogen in 86.05% of the animals, while co-infection occurred in 18.92% of the tested individuals. Zoonotic Babesia venatorum was found in 6.98% of the samples, while Babesia capreoli and Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected in 74.42% and in 20.93%, respectively. No hematological signs compatible with clinical anaplasmosis or piroplasmosis, as well as absence of intracellular circulating microorganisms in blood smears, were observed, suggesting asymptomatic infection in the tested animals. These results confirm the usefulness of wild rescued animals as convenient source of biological samples for tick-borne pathogens investigation and the role of roe deer as a key factor in the endemic cycle of Babesia species and A. phagocytophilum.

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“…In fact, very recently, tick vectors, tick‐borne diseases and endoparasites have been studied in R. r. rupicapra but also the poorly investigated R. r. balcanica ; this research provided new insights into chamois parasitological status and tick infestation of the Balkan chamois (Yankov et al 2021). By combining parasitological and infectious disease studies, other authors also reported an unexpectedly high prevalence of tick‐borne A. phagocytophilum , including zoonotic strains, in Alpine chamois of the eastern Italian Alps (Grassi et al 2021). These two examples illustrate that chamois throughout Europe may harbor and suffer from known parasitological and viral diseases as well as those caused by emerging pathogens, such as tick‐borne pathogens; thus, increased and standardized screening is recommended wherever possible.…”

Section: Physiology and Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Past, present and future of chamois science

et al. 2022

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The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species, the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on taxonomy and systematics, genetics, life history, ecology and behavior, physiology and disease, management and conservation. Research on Rupicapra has a longstanding history and has contributed substantially to the biological and ecological knowledge of mountain ungulates. Although the number of publications on this genus has markedly increased over the past two decades, major differences persist with respect to knowledge of species and subspecies, with research mostly focusing on the Alpine chamois R. r. rupicapra and, to a lesser extent, the Pyrenean chamois R. p. pyrenaica. In addition, a scarcity of replicate studies of populations of different subspecies and/or geographic areas limits the advancement of chamois science. Since environmental heterogeneity impacts behavioral, physiological and life history traits, understanding the underlying processes would be of great value from both an evolutionary and conservation/management standpoint, especially in the light of ongoing climatic change. Substantial contributions to this challenge may derive from a quantitative assessment of reproductive success, investigation of fine-scale foraging patterns, and a mechanistic understanding of disease outbreak and resilience. For improving conservation status, resolving taxonomic disputes, identifying subspecies hybridization, assessing the impact of hunting and establishing reliable methods of abundance estimation are of primary concern. Despite being one of the most well-known mountain ungulates, substantial field efforts to collect paleontological, behavioral, ecological, morphological, physiological and genetic data on different populations and subspecies are still needed to ensure a successful future for chamois research and conservation.

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Ecotyping of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from Wild Ungulates and Ticks Shows Circulation of Zoonotic Strains in Northeastern Italy

Cited by 19 publications

References 65 publications

Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Wild Ungulates in North-Eastern Poland

Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Wild Ungulates in North-Eastern Poland

Molecular Survey of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Roe Deer from a Wildlife Rescue Center in Italy

Past, present and future of chamois science

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