First Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Bacteria in Ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hodžić, Adnan; Fuehrer, Hans‐Peter; Duscher, Georg Gerhard

doi:10.1111/tbed.12473

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Nevertheless, the prevalence (0.1%) for CNM in this study was lower compared to other studies from central Europe (2.2–45%) [ 10 , 17 , 45 ]. However, results from south-eastern Europe show a similar low prevalence (0–1.3%) leading to the assumption that CNM in ticks is occurring more often in central Europe, where also clinical cases of neoehrlichiosis were reported than in south-eastern Europe where clinical cases are thus far absent [ 46 , 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The diversity of tick-borne bacteria and parasites in ticks collected from the Strandja Nature Park in south-eastern Bulgaria

et al. 2018

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BackgroundTicks are important carriers of many different zoonotic pathogens. To date, there are many studies about ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBP), but only a few were carried out in Bulgaria. The present study intends to detect the prevalence of tick-borne bacteria and parasites occurring at the Black Sea in Bulgaria to evaluate the zoonotic potential of the tick-borne pathogens transmitted by ticks in this area.MethodsIn total, cDNA from 1541 ticks (Dermacentor spp., Haemaphysalis spp., Hyalomma spp., Ixodes spp. and Rhipicephalus spp.) collected in Bulgaria by flagging method or from hosts was tested in pools of ten individuals each for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), Rickettsia spp. and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” via conventional and quantitative real-time PCR. Subsequently, samples from positive pools were tested individually and a randomized selection of positive PCR samples was purified, sequenced, and analyzed.ResultsAltogether, 23.2% of ticks were infected with at least one of the tested pathogens. The highest infection levels were noted in nymphs (32.3%) and females (27.5%). Very high prevalence was detected for Rickettsia spp. (48.3%), followed by A. phagocytophilum (6.2%), Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) (1.7%), Babesia spp. (0.4%) and “Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis” (0.1%). Co-infections were found in 2.5% of the tested ticks (mainly Ixodes spp.). Sequencing revealed the presence of Rickettsia monacensis, R. helvetica, and R. aeschlimannii, Babesia microti and B. caballi, and Theileria buffeli and Borrelia afzelli.ConclusionThis study shows very high prevalence of zoonotic Rickettsia spp. in ticks from Bulgaria and moderate to low prevalence for all other pathogens tested. One should take into account that tick bites from this area could lead to Rickettsia infection in humans and mammals.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The diversity of tick-borne bacteria and parasites in ticks collected from the Strandja Nature Park in south-eastern Bulgaria

et al. 2018

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“…( 2014 ) 1 h Bosnia Hodžić et al. ( 2017a ) 2 h Croatia Radzijevskaja et al. ( 2015 ) 19 h Croatia Krčmar ( 2019 ) 7 m France René-Martellet et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vectors of disease at the northern distribution limit of the genus Dermacentor in Eurasia: D. reticulatus and D. silvarum

et al. 2020

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The two ixodid tick species Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabricius) and Dermacentor silvarum Olenev occur at the northern distribution limit of the genus Dermacentor in Eurasia, within the belt of 34−60 • N latitude. Whilst the distribution area of D. reticulatus extends from the Atlantic coast of Portugal to Western Siberia, that of D. silvarum extends from Western Siberia to the Pacific coast. In Western Siberia, the distribution areas of the two Dermacentor species overlap. Although the two tick species are important vectors of disease, detailed information concerning the entire distribution area, climate adaptation, and proven vector competence is still missing. A dataset was compiled, resulting in 2188 georeferenced D. reticulatus and 522 D. silvarum locations. Up-to-date maps depicting the geographical distribution and climate adaptation of the two Dermacentor species are presented. To investigate the climate adaptation of the two tick species, the georeferenced locations were superimposed on a high-resolution map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. The frequency distribution of D. reticulatus under different climates shows two major peaks related to the following climates: warm temperate with precipitation all year round (57%) and boreal with precipitation all year round (40%). The frequency distribution of D. silvarum shows also two major peaks related to boreal climates with precipitation all year round (30%) and boreal winter dry climates (60%). Dermacentor silvarum seems to be rather flexible concerning summer temperatures, which can range from cool to hot. In climates with cool summers D. reticulatus does not occur, it prefers warm and to a lesser extent hot summers. Lists are given in this paper for cases of proven vector competence for various agents of both Dermacentor species. For the first time, the entire distribution areas of D. reticulatus and D. silvarum were mapped using georeferenced data. Their climate adaptations were quantified by Köppen profiles.

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“…1 ). After the morphological identification, all specimens were processed individually for DNA extraction following the procedure previously described (Hodžić et al 2016 ). The quality of tick DNA was assessed by PCR amplification of the tick mitochondrial 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene (Halos et al 2004 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dermacentor reticulatus, a putative vector of Babesia cf. microti (syn. Theileria annae) piroplasm

2017

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Babesia cf. microti (syn. Theileria annae, Babesia microti-like, Babesia vulpes) is a recently recognized tick-borne piroplasm that infects domestic and wild carnivores. Although Ixodes hexagonus is considered as the leading candidate responsible for the transmission, its capacity to act as a competent vector has not yet been confirmed. This study reports the occurrence of B.cf. microti in unfed Dermacentor reticulatus for the first time, suggesting that this tick species may be implicated in the life cycle of this canine parasite. Out of 128 questing D. reticulatus ticks collected in eastern Austria, nine (7%) and four (3%) of them were found to be PCR positive for B. canis and B. cf. microti, respectively. Although the data presented here are not sufficient to explicitly state that D. reticulatus is a competent vector of B. cf. microti, our results can at least give a hint for future studies, which need to include experimental transmission in order to confirm its vector competence and possible involvement in the transmission of this babesial species.

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First Molecular Evidence of Zoonotic Bacteria in Ticks in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Cited by 18 publications

References 16 publications

The diversity of tick-borne bacteria and parasites in ticks collected from the Strandja Nature Park in south-eastern Bulgaria

The diversity of tick-borne bacteria and parasites in ticks collected from the Strandja Nature Park in south-eastern Bulgaria

Vectors of disease at the northern distribution limit of the genus Dermacentor in Eurasia: D. reticulatus and D. silvarum

Dermacentor reticulatus, a putative vector of Babesia cf. microti (syn. Theileria annae) piroplasm

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