Francisella tularensis and other bacteria in hares and ticks in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany)

Tomaso, Herbert; Otto, Peter; Peters, Martin C.; Süß, Jochen; Karger, Axel; Schamoni, Heinz; Zuchantke, Eric; Hotzel, Helmut

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.11.007

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Among others, rodents, hares, and rabbits constitute a reservoir for the bacteria. The relevance of ticks and mosquitoes as vectors and reservoir remains to be elucidated . Currently, four subspecies of F. tularensis have been identified: novicida, tularensis, mediaasiatica, and holarctica .…”

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confidence: 99%

Two cases of tick‐borne transmitted tularemia on Southern Zealand, Denmark

Haulrig

Mathiasen

Nielsen

et al. 2019

APMIS

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Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic bacterium which causes the infection tularemia. It colonizes invertebrates and vertebrates, counting wildlife animals and rodents. Humans can become infected through several pathways including contaminated food, water, and handling animals and due to bites from vectors. Ticks are known to cause tularemia in humans, though their role as a disease transferring vector is not well understood. We describe two case reports of tularemia transferred by ticks on Southern Zealand, Denmark. Case 1: A 49‐year‐old woman presented with lymphadenopathy and an unhealed sifting wound after a tick bite. Serology tests for F. tularensis were initially negative but turned positive five weeks after symptom onset, when abscess drainage was performed. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin treatment improved the patient’s clinical condition, and she completely recovered. Case 2: A 74‐year‐old man presented with malaise, fever, and an abdominal ulcer allegedly caused after a vector bite. CRP and leukocytes were increased, while serology tests for F. tularensis were negative. Doxycycline treatment improved the patient’s clinical condition, and he completely recovered. Three weeks after symptom onset, renewed serology tests for F. tularensis were positive.

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Two cases of tick‐borne transmitted tularemia on Southern Zealand, Denmark

Haulrig

Mathiasen

Nielsen

et al. 2019

APMIS

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“…Other assumed tick-borne pathogens that are yet to be detected within the TBD STING study include the bacteria Bartonella spp., Francisella tularensis and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. These pathogens have been detected within Ixodes ricinus in neighboring countries (Table 1) such as Germany (F. tularensis) [6], Denmark (Bartonella spp.) [7] and Poland (T. gondii) [8,9].…”

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confidence: 99%

The Tick-Borne Diseases STING study: Real-time PCR analysis of three emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks that have bitten humans in different regions of Sweden and the Aland islands, Finland

Cronhjort

Wilhelmsson²,

Karlsson

et al. 2019

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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A milder climate has during the last decade contributed to an increased density and spreading of ixodid ticks, thus enhancing their role as emerging vectors for pathogenic microorganisms in northern Europe. It remains unclear if they contribute to the occurrence of infections caused by the bacteria Bartonella spp., Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica and the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in Sweden and on the Åland islands, Finland. In this study, we want to improve understanding of the tick-borne transmission of these pathogens. Volunteers were recruited at primary healthcare centers. Ticks and blood samples were acquired from participants recruited in 2008 and 2009. Health questionnaires were completed, and medical records were acquired where applicable. Feeding time was estimated and screening of pathogens in the ticks was performed through real-time PCR. Ticks (n = 1849) were of mixed developmental stages: 76 larvae, 1295 nymphs, 426 adults and 52 undetermined. All analyzed ticks were considered negative for these pathogens since the CT-values were all below the detection limit for Bartonella spp. (1663 ticks), Francisella spp. (1849 ticks) and Toxoplasma gondii (1813 ticks). We assume that infections with these pathogens are caused by other transmission pathways within these regions of Sweden and the Åland islands, Finland.

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“…A conventional duplex PCR was used for the identification of subspecies holarctica (Fabbi, Prati, & Genchi, ). An isolation attempt using spleen tissue was performed on cysteine heart agar at 37°C and 5% CO 2 (Tomaso et al., ). The 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using the statistical software package R (http://www.r-project.org).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An isolation attempt using spleen tissue was performed on cysteine heart agar at 37°C and 5% CO 2 (Tomaso et al, 2018). The 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using the statistical software package R (http://www.r-project.org).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detection of Francisella tularensis in three vole species in Central Europe

Jeske

Tomaso

Imholt

et al. 2019

Transbound Emerg Dis

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Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic, gram‐negative bacterium that causes tularemia in humans. Depending on its subspecies and the route of transmission, mild to lethal courses have been reported. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica is the only subspecies found in Europe and affects a plenitude of vertebrates including lagomorphs and rodents. Population outbreaks of certain rodent species are likely to be involved in the transmission of this pathogen. This molecular survey aims to evaluate the presence of F. tularensis in small mammals from three Central European countries. Using a real‐time polymerase chain reaction, F. tularensis DNA was detected in common voles (Microtus arvalis) from Switzerland and in field voles (Microtus agrestis) and a bank vole (Myodes glareolus) from Germany, but not in any other small mammal species. All common voles from the Czech Republic were negative for F. tularensis DNA. The prevalence in the three vole species varied between 1.3% and 3.0%. In conclusion, Francisella tularensis DNA was detected in three vole species in two of three countries investigated. The observed low prevalence raises questions on the role of voles for the transmission of Francisella tularensis in Central Europe.

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Francisella tularensis and other bacteria in hares and ticks in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany)

Cited by 20 publications

References 48 publications

Two cases of tick‐borne transmitted tularemia on Southern Zealand, Denmark

Two cases of tick‐borne transmitted tularemia on Southern Zealand, Denmark

The Tick-Borne Diseases STING study: Real-time PCR analysis of three emerging tick-borne pathogens in ticks that have bitten humans in different regions of Sweden and the Aland islands, Finland

Detection of Francisella tularensis in three vole species in Central Europe

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