Emergence of Hyalomma marginatum and Hyalomma rufipes adults revealed by citizen science tick monitoring in Hungary

Földvári, Gábor; Szabó, Éva; Tóth, Gábor Endre; Lanszki, Zsófia; Zana, Brigitta; Varga, Zsaklin; Kemenesi, Gábor

doi:10.22541/au.164572450.01923223/v1

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…found on cattle on two occasions in Hungary (9), and one adult on the same host species 10 years later by citizen science method (16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…At the same time, in the absence of detailed morphological description, the species in the Carpathian Basin remained uncertain, because some hints were more relevant to H. rufipes [e.g., the name Hyalomma aegyptium : ( 15 )], while others to H. marginatum [as implied in the predominance of the species referred to from Hungary in the Mediterranean Basin: ( 14 )]. More recently, H. rufipes adults were found on cattle on two occasions in Hungary ( 9 ), and one adult on the same host species 10 years later by citizen science method ( 16 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe

Keve

Csörgő

Benke³

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Reports on adult Hyalomma ticks in certain regions of the Carpathian Basin date back to the 19th century. These ticks were thought to emerge from nymphs dropping from birds, then molting to adults. Although the role of migratory birds in carrying ticks of this genus is known from all parts of Europe, in most countries no contemporaneous multiregional surveillance of bird-associated ticks was reported which could allow the recognition of hotspots in this context. From 38 passeriform bird species 956 ixodid ticks were collected at seven locations in Hungary. Tick species were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n = 598), Ixodes frontalis (n = 18), Ixodes lividus (n = 6), Haemaphysalis concinna (n = 321), and D. reticulatus (n = 1). All 12 Hyalomma sp. ticks (11 engorged nymphs and 1 unengorged larva) were identified as H. rufipes based on three mitochondrial markers. This species was only found in the Transdanubian region and along its southeastern border. The Common Blackbird and the European Robin were the two main hosts of I. ricinus and I. frontalis, whereas H. concinna was almost exclusively collected form long-distance migrants. The predominant hosts of H. rufipes were reed-associated bird species, the Sedge Warbler and the Bearded Reedling, both in their nesting period. This study provides ornithological explanation for the regional, century-long presence of adult Hyalomma ticks under continental climate in the Transdanubian Region of the Carpathian Basin. More importantly, the autochthonous occurrence of a H. rufipes population was revealed for the first time in Europe, based on the following observations: (1) the bird species infested with H. rufipes are not known to migrate during their nesting period; (2) one larva was not yet engorged; (3) the larva and the nymphs must have belonged to different local generations; and (4) all H. rufipes found in the relevant location were identical in their haplotypes based on three maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, probably reflecting founder effect. This study also demonstrated regional and temporal differences in tick species carried by birds.

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“…found on cattle on two occasions in Hungary (9), and one adult on the same host species 10 years later by citizen science method (16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe

Keve

Csörgő

Benke³

et al. 2023

Front. Vet. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this study we applied the DAMA protocol to assess the risk of potential emerging vector-borne phytoplasma disease. This protocol was successfully applied to vector-borne zoonotic pathogens (e.g., [101]) and other animal diseases, and it was suggested recently for phytoplasma-associated diseases [2,102] but this is the first time the protocol was applied to a case study at regional level. Notably, we used data already on-hand (such as archives and databases, Document in DAMA) and recent findings of silent phytoplasma infections in Bavaria, South Germany.…”

Section: Applying the Dama Protocol To Reduce The Costs Of Potential ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogenetic Triage and Risk Assessment: How to Predict Emerging Phytoplasma Diseases

Janik¹,

Panassiti²,

Kerschbamer³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Phytoplasma diseases pose a substantial threat to diverse crops of agricultural importance. Management measures are usually implemented only after the disease has already occurred. Early detection of such phytopathogens, prior to disease outbreak, has rarely been attempted but would be highly beneficial for phytosanitary risk assessment, disease prevention and mitigation. In this study we present the implementation of a recently proposed proactive disease management protocol (DAMA: Document, Assess, Monitor, Act) for a group of vector-borne phytopathogens. We used insect samples collected during a recent biomonitoring program in southern Germany to screen for the presence of phytoplasmas. Insects were collected with Malaise traps in different agricultural settings. DNA was extracted from these mass trap samples and subjected to PCR-based phytoplasma detection and COI sequence metabarcoding. In about 1% of the analyzed samples, phytoplasma DNA was detected. Phytoplasma group identification was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and the detected phytoplasmas could be assigned to the 16SrI subgroups B and L. Insect species in the sample were identified by DNA metabarcoding. By using established databases, checklists, and archives, we documented historical associations and records of phytoplasmas and its hosts in the study region. For the assessment in the DAMA protocol, phylogenetic triage was performed in order to determine the risk for tri-trophic interactions (plant-insect-phytoplasma) and associated disease outbreaks in the study region. A phylogenetic heat map constitutes the basis for risk assessment and was used here to identify a minimum number of seven leafhopper species suggested to be monitored by stakeholders in this region. A proactive stance in monitoring changing patterns of association between hosts and pathogens can be a cornerstone in capabilities to prevent future phytoplasma disease outbreaks. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the DAMA protocol has been applied in the field of phytopathology and vector-borne plant diseases.

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“…At the same time, in the absence of detailed morphological description, the species in the Carpathian Basin remained uncertain, because some hints were more relevant to H. rufipes (e.g., the name Hyalomma aegyptium : [14]), while others to H. marginatum (as implied in the predominance of the species referred to from Hungary in the Mediterranean Basin: [13]). More recently, H. rufipes adults were found on cattle on two occasions in Hungary [8], and one adult on the same host species 10 years later by citizen science method [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducingHyalomma rufipespopulation under continental climate in Europe

Keve

Csörgő

Benke³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Reports on adult Hyalomma ticks in certain regions of the Carpathian Basin date back to the 19th century. These ticks were thought to emerge from nymphs dropping from birds, then molting to adults. Although the role of migratory birds in carrying ticks of this genus is known from all parts of Europe, in most countries no contemporaneous multiregional surveillance of bird-associated ticks was reported which could allow the recognition of hotspots in this context. Methods: Ixodid ticks were collected from birds at seven ringing stations in Hungary, including both the spring and autumn migration period in 2022. Ixodes and Haemaphysalis species were identified morphologically, whereas Hyalomma species molecularly. Results: From 38 passeriform bird species 957 ixodid ticks were collected. The majority of developmental stages were nymphs (n=588), but 353 larvae and 16 females were also present. On most birds (n=381) only a single tick was found and the maximum number of ticks removed from the same bird was 30. Tick species were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n=598), Ixodes frontalis (n=18), Ixodes lividus (n=6), Haemaphysalis concinna (n=322), and D. reticulatus (n=1). All twelve Hyalomma sp. ticks (11 engorged nymphs and an unengorged larva) were identified as Hyalomma rufipes based on three mitochondrial markers. This species was only found in the Transdanubian region and along its southeastern border. The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) and the European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) were the two main hosts of I. ricinus and I. frontalis, whereas H. concinna was almost exclusively collected form long-distance migrants. The predominant hosts of H. rufipes were reed-associated bird species, the Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) and the Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus), both harboring these ticks at the end of June (i.e., the nesting period) in southwestern Hungary. Conclusions: This study provides ornithological explanation for the regional, century-long presence of adult Hyalomma ticks under continental climate in the Transdanubian Region of the Carpathian Basin. More importantly, the autochthonous occurrence of a H. rufipes population was revealed for the first time in Europe, based on the following observations: (1) the bird species infested with H. rufipes are not known to migrate during their nesting period; (2) one larva was not yet engorged; (3) the larva and the nymphs must have belonged to different local generations; and (4) all H. rufipes found in the relevant location were identical in their haplotypes based on three maternally inherited mitochondrial markers, probably reflecting founder effect. This study also demonstrated that the species of ticks carried by birds were significantly different between collection sites even within a geographically short distance (200 km). Therefore, within a country multiregional monitoring is inevitable to assess the overall epidemiological significance of migratory birds in importing exotic ticks, and also in maintaining newly established tick species.

show abstract

Emergence of Hyalomma marginatum and Hyalomma rufipes adults revealed by citizen science tick monitoring in Hungary

Cited by 4 publications

References 28 publications

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducing Hyalomma rufipes population under continental climate in Europe

Phylogenetic Triage and Risk Assessment: How to Predict Emerging Phytoplasma Diseases

Ornithological and molecular evidence of a reproducingHyalomma rufipespopulation under continental climate in Europe

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