Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in 16 mammal species and questing ticks from northern Europe

Mysterud, Atle; Stigum, Vetle Malmer; Jaarsma, Ryanne I.; Sprong, Hein

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-41686-0

Cited by 36 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Spirochaetes were isolated from 90/227 ticks removed from red squirrels in Switzerland; of these, 43 were B. afzelii , 33 were B. burgdorferi s.s., four were B. garinii and ten were a mixture of B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi s.s. [ 6 ]. Previous studies have reported presence of DNA from B. burgdorferi s.s., B. afzelii and B. garinii in red squirrels in Norway, France and Czech Republic, and from B. afzelii in The Netherlands [ 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 ]. B. valaisiana has not been reported to infect red squirrels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Scotland and continental Europe, red squirrels have been reported as hosts for Ixodes spp. ticks and the tick-associated pathogens Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia miyamotoi , Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Bartonella washoensis [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], although the effect of these microorganisms on squirrel health is unclear. Nothing is known about the range of tick-borne pathogens, and other microorganisms with pathogenic potential such as Spiroplasma [ 15 , 16 ], to which UK red squirrels are exposed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom

et al. 2021

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Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are native to most of Eurasia; in much of the United Kingdom, they have been supplanted by the non-native grey squirrel, and are considered an endangered species. Very little is known about the range of tick-borne pathogens to which UK red squirrels are exposed. As part of trap-and-release surveys examining prevalence of Mycobacterium spp. in red squirrel populations on two UK islands, Ixodes ricinus ticks were removed from squirrels and PCR screened for Borrelia spp., intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria and the parasitic wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri. At both sites, the most commonly encountered tick-transmitted bacterium was Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (overall minimum prevalence 12.7%), followed by Anaplasma phagocytophilum (overall minimum prevalence 1.6%). Single ticks infected with Spiroplasma were found at both sites, and single ticks infected with Borrelia miyamotoi or an Ehrlichia sp. at one site. Ticks harbouring Wolbachia (overall minimum prevalence 15.2%) were all positive for I. hookeri. Our study shows that UK red squirrels are potentially exposed to a variety of bacterial pathogens via feeding ticks. The effects on the health and survival of this already vulnerable wildlife species are unknown, and further studies are needed to evaluate the threat posed to red squirrels by Borrelia and other tick-borne pathogens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom

et al. 2021

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“…A justification for this assumption derives from previous studies, which have shown that, in the Netherlands, more than 99% of the positive rodents infected with B. burgdorferi (s.l.) carried B. afzelii [53,54]. The prevalence of B. afzelii as well as N. mikurensis was higher in bank voles than in wood mice (χ 2 = 3.296, df = 1, P = 0.0694 and χ 2 = 4.234, df = 1, P = 0.0396, respectively).…”

Section: Pathogen Detectionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Effect of rodent density on tick and tick-borne pathogen populations: consequences for infectious disease risk

et al. 2020

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Background: Rodents are considered to contribute strongly to the risk of tick-borne diseases by feeding Ixodes ricinus larvae and by acting as amplifying hosts for pathogens. Here, we tested to what extent these two processes depend on rodent density, and for which pathogen species rodents synergistically contribute to the local disease risk, i.e. the density of infected nymphs (DIN). Methods: In a natural woodland, we manipulated rodent densities in plots of 2500 m 2 by either supplementing a critical food source (acorns) or by removing rodents during two years. Untreated plots were used as controls. Collected nymphs and rodent ear biopsies were tested for the presence of seven tick-borne microorganisms. Linear models were used to capture associations between rodents, nymphs, and pathogens. Results: Investigation of data from all plots, irrespective of the treatment, revealed a strong positive association between rodent density and nymphal density, nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) with Borrelia afzelii and Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and hence DIN's of these pathogens in the following year. The NIP, but not the DIN, of the bird-associated Borrelia garinii, decreased with increasing rodent density. The NIPs of Borrelia miyamotoi and Rickettsia helvetica were independent of rodent density, and increasing rodent density moderately increased the DINs. In addition, NIPs of Babesia microti and Spiroplasma ixodetis decreased with increasing rodent density, which had a non-linear association with DINs of these microorganisms. Conclusions: A positive density dependence for all rodent-and tick-associated tick-borne pathogens was found, despite the observation that some of them decreased in prevalence. The effects on the DINs were variable among microorganisms, more than likely due to contrasts in their biology (including transmission modes, host specificity and transmission efficiency). The strongest associations were found in rodent-associated pathogens that most heavily rely on horizontal transmission. Our results draw attention to the importance of considering transmission mode of a pathogen while developing preventative measures to successfully reduce the burden of disease.

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“…A justification for this assumption derives from previous studies, which have shown that, in the Netherlands, more than 99% of the positive rodents infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. carried B. afzelii (Coipan et al, 2018;Mysterud et al, 2019). The prevalence of B. afzelii as well as N. mikurensis was higher in bank voles 4 than in wood mice (χ 2 = 3.296, df = 1, p = 0.0694 and χ 2 = 4.234, df = 1, p = 0.0396, respectively).…”

Section: Pathogen Detectionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in rodent biopsies has been assumed to be B. afzelii(Coipan et al, 2018;Jahfari et al, 2017;Mysterud et al, 2019) All tested models for prediction of density of nymphs (DON), nymphal infection prevalence (NIP), and density of infected nymphs (DIN). Best models with highest R2, lowest AIC, and lowest significant LogLik are written in bold.…”

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confidence: 99%

Questing microbioticks : Interactions of microbes, ticks, vertebrates, and the environment

Krawczyk

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The influence of external (a)biotic factors on the maintenance of symbionts in tick populations depends much on symbionts' mode of transmission. (this thesis) <. Ticks choose their symbionts rather than symbionts choose their ticks. (this thesis) =. An infection that is a burden for an individual can be beneficial for a population. @. The !AS rRNA amplicon sequencing technique is a powerful tool for forming hypotheses. H. We are selective about who or what should be a member of the (bio)diversity we want to preserve. A. Nowadays, it is difficult to distinguish what we really think from what we have read online.

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Genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in 16 mammal species and questing ticks from northern Europe

Cited by 36 publications

References 60 publications

Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom

Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom

Effect of rodent density on tick and tick-borne pathogen populations: consequences for infectious disease risk

Questing microbioticks : Interactions of microbes, ticks, vertebrates, and the environment

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