Emerging tick-borne spotted fever group rickettsioses in the Balkans

One health approach to study human health risks associated with Dermanyssus gallinae mites

“…Capillary and venous blood samples were collected from skin lesions of Patient 1 and all family members, respectively, to identify bacteria and parasites associated with TBDs. Capillary blood samples were obtained by using a lancet, as described previously [ [34] , [35] , [36] ] [ [34] , [35] , [36] ] [ [34] , [35] , [36] ]. Considering the potential for any of the family members to be in the incubation period and possibly develop conditions requiring further medical attention, serum samples were also collected.…”

Ixodid ticks and zoonotic tick-borne pathogens of the Western Balkans

“…Using IFAT, Samardžić et al [ 170 ] detected seroreactive human blood sera (9/134) against antigens of Rickettsia conorii , while Gajinov et al [ 171 ] described tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) caused by R. slovaca in two female patients after tick bites. In a recent study, Banović et al [ 172 ] described five confirmed, two suspected and two probable SFG rickettsiae infection cases, and reported that molecular analysis showed intra-species variability in R. helvetica strains infecting humans in Serbia. Radulović et al [ 173 ] reported the first detection of R. helvetica (7.7%) and R. monacensis (15.4%) in I. ricinus ticks.…”

“… I. ricinus Ticks 2.8 19.35 PCR-Seq PCR [ 165 ] [ 166 ] A. phagocytophilum I. ricinus , D. reticulatus , Hae. concinna , dog, golden jackal 0.9–15.5 IFAT, PCR-Seq, mf qPCR [ 158 , 161 , 163 , 165 , 166 , 174 , 176 , 178 , 179 ] N. mikurensis I. ricinus 4.2 PCR-Seq [ 12 , 165 , 166 ] E. canis Dog Case report, 16% IFAT, PCR-Seq [ 152 , 180 ] R. monacensis I. ricinus 14.8–22.5 PCR-Seq, mf qPCR [ 165 , 166 , 172 – 175 ] R. helvetica I. ricinus 7.4–54.0 PCR-Seq, mf qPCR [ 172 – 175 ] R. raoultii D. reticulatus 5.6 PCR-Seq, mf qPCR [ 165 , 172 ] …”

“… Human Two cases Mf qPCR [ 157 , 166 , 172 , 175 ] R. helvetica Ixodes ricinus , human 7.4–54.0, two cases (humans) PCR-Seq, mf qPCR [ 163 , 166 , 172 – 174 ] R. slovaca Haemaphysalis sp. from human One case mf qPCR [ 171 , 172 ] R. conorii Human 1.9–25.0 IFAT [ 170 ] R. aeshlimanii Ixodes ricinus from humans 3.0 mf qPCR [ 163 ] R. acari Human 4.0–10.4 IFAT [ 170 ] R. felis Ixodes ricinus from humans 4.3 mf qPCR, RT-PCR [ 163 , 166 ] Borrelia spp. Ticks from humans 19.35 RT-PCR [ 166 ] B. burgdorferi s.l Human 8.1–54.2 IFAT, ELISA, WB [ ...…”

Understanding Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Foci, a Tale of Two Mountains

“…The Vosgian forest encompasses a territory with complex microclimate characteristics that support various ecosystems, some of which are foci of different tick-borne pathogens (TBPs), including members of spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, Borrelia miyamotoi , and Anaplasma phagocytophilum [ 8 , 9 ]. Similarly, the Fruška Gora mountain is a national park regarded as a suitable ecosystem for the vector Ixodes ricinus and transmitted TBPs such as Borrelia burdgorderi sensu lato complex, B. miyamotoi , and SFGR [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In addition to climatic conditions favorable for ticks, the presence of small rodents, such as yellow-necked mice ( Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ) [ 15 ], may contribute to the circulation of TBPs, including TBEV, in the Fruška Gora mountain; however, although TBEV was previously detected in I. ricinus ticks from different sites of the Fruška Gora mountain [ 16 ], no locations in the mountain have been reported and/or regarded as TBEV foci [ 17 ].…”