Identification of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Feeding on Humans in Turkey

Abstract

BackgroundThe importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including Turkey. The tick-borne disease outbreaks reported in recent years and the abundance of tick species and the existence of suitable habitats increase the importance of studies related to the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Turkey. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of and to determine the infection rates of some tick-borne pathogens, including Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in the ticks removed from humans in different parts of Ankara.Methodology/Principal FindingsA total of 169 ticks belonging to the genus Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus were collected by removing from humans in different parts of Ankara. Ticks were molecularly screened for Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae by PCR and sequencing analysis. We detected 4 Babesia spp.; B. crassa, B. major, B. occultans and B. rossi, one Borrelia spp.; B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and 3 spotted fever group rickettsiae; R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca and R. hoogstraalii in the tick specimens analyzed. This is the report showing the presence of B. rossi in a region that is out of Africa and in the host species Ha. parva. In addition, B. crassa, for which limited information is available on its distribution and vector species, and B. occultans, for which no conclusive information is available on its presence in Turkey, were identified in Ha. parva and H. marginatum, respectively. Two human pathogenic rickettsia species (R. aeschlimannii and R. slovaca) were detected with a high prevalence in ticks. Additionally, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in unusual tick species (H. marginatum, H. excavatum, Hyalomma spp. (nymph) and Ha. parva).Conclusions/SignificanceThis study investigates both the distribution of several tick-borne pathogens affecting humans and animals, and the presence of new tick-borne pathogens in Turkey. More epidemiological studies are warranted for B. rossi, which is very pathogenic for dogs, because the presented results suggest that B. rossi might have a wide distribution in Turkey. Furthermore, we recommend that tick-borne pathogens, especially R. aeschlimannii, R. slovaca, and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, should be taken into consideration in patients who had a tick bite in Turkey.

İç Anadolu Bölgesindeki Sokak Köpeklerinde Kene-Kaynaklı Kan Protozoonları Varlığının Araştırılması ve Yüksek Orandaki Hepatozoon Enfeksiyonunun Moleküler Karakterizasyonu

“…However, B. rossi was observed in Ha. parva collected from a human and wild boars in Ankara [21,22] . In this study, Babesia spp.…”

“…[15] in dogs. In addition, the presence of B. rossi has been reported in Haemaphysalis parva ticks collected from a human and wild boars [21,22] .…”

Overview of Zoonotic Diseases in Turkey: The One Health Concept and Future Threats

“…In Turkey, several cases of MSF associated with R. conorii have been reported in humans (58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63). Recently, R. hoogstraali and two human pathogenic species (R. aeschlimannii and R. slovaca) were detected in ixodid ticks in Turkey (64,65). In addition, in the Thrace region of Turkey, R. conorii was also isolated from the skin lesions in three of 10 patients with MSF and was identified molecularly in the biopsy materials from 9 of 10 patients (66); Rickettsia spp.…”

İnsanlarda Kene Enfestasyonları Üzerine Uzun Süreli Araştırmalar

“…In other words an increasing tick phobia has occurred in the society. So the tick bites of human became much more important [3,4] .…”

“…Knowledge of the tick diversity attacking humans facilitates are required to understand of epidemiological association between these hosts and tick-borne pathogens [4,5] . For this reason, to determine species of collected ticks from human is essential for epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens…”