Molecular Detection of Hemoprotozoa and<i>Rickettsia</i>Species in Arthropods Collected from Wild Animals in the Burgos Province, Spain

Lledó, Lourdes; Giménez-Pardo, Consuelo; Domínguez-Peñafiel, Gerardo; Sousa, Rita de; Gegúndez, Maria Isabep; Casado, N.; Criado, Angel

doi:10.1089/vbz.2009.0114

Cited by 47 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…While ticks may not pose significant health risk directly related to hematophagy, their importance resides in their capacity of transmitting pathogens. Tick communities harbored by foxes were extensively studied in western [19–24] and central Europe [17, 18, 25–27]. However, studies are scant in the eastern part of the continent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesocarnivores and macroparasites: altitude and land use predict the ticks occurring on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

et al. 2017

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BackgroundThe red fox Vulpes vulpes is the most common mesocarnivore in Europe and with a wide geographical distribution and a high density in most terrestrial habitats of the continent. It is fast urbanising species, which can harbor high numbers of different tick species, depending on the region. Here we present the results of a large-scale study, trying to disentangle the intricate relationship between environmental factors and the species composition of ectoparasites in red foxes. The samples were collected in Transylvania (Romania), a region with a diverse geography and high biodiversity. The dead foxes (collected primarily through the National Surveillance Rabies Program) were examined carefully for the presence of ticks.ResultsTicks (n = 4578) were found on 158 foxes (out of 293 examined; 53.9%). Four species were identified: Dermacentor marginatus, Ixodes canisuga, I. hexagonus and I. ricinus. The most common tick species was I. hexagonus (mean prevalence 37.5%, mean intensity 32.2), followed by I. ricinus (15.0%; 4.86), I. canisuga (4.8%; 7.71) and D. marginatus (3.7%; 3.45). Co-occurrence of two or more tick species on the same host was relatively common (12.6%), the most common co-occurrence being I. hexagonus - I. ricinus. For D. marginatus and I. canisuga the highest prevalence was recorded in lowlands, for I. hexagonus in hilly areas, while for I. ricinus in mountains.ConclusionsAltitude influenced the intensity of parasitism, with highest intensity observed for all Ixodes species in hilly areas. Dermacentor marginatus occurred only in lowlands, I. canisuga in lowlands and hilly areas while the other two species occurred in all of the regions studied. Foxes from lower altitudes had the most tick species associated, with most incidences of co-parasitism also recorded here. Land use affected tick-species composition, with the presence of D. marginatus strongly associated with the extension of arable areas and lack of forests. The presence of I. hexagonus was determined only by the extent of arable lands. As foxes are frontrunners of wildlife urbanization process, with a continuous increase of their numbers in urban areas, the knowledge of their ticks’ ecology (and the pathogens vectored by these) is of utmost importance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesocarnivores and macroparasites: altitude and land use predict the ticks occurring on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

et al. 2017

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“…C. felis is recognized as both a reservoir host and a main vector for R. felis (Reif and Macaluso ). R. felis has been found in cat fleas on all continents with different prevalences (Shaw et al Hawley et al Gilles et al Giudice et al In Spain, despite R. felis having also been detected in fleas, studies only processed fleas from dogs, facilities, and wild animals and usually involved few cats (Blanco et al Márquez et al Lledó et al Nogueras et al R. felis antibodies have been detected in serum of some cats, suggesting exposure may be relatively common (Case et al Bayliss et al However, in Spain, as far as we know, there are no data regarding cats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of Rickettsia and Bartonella species in Spanish cats and their fleas

Lamelas

Marcén

Pinal

et al. 2015

Journal of Vector Ecology

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The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Bartonella henselae, Rickettsia felis, and Rickettsia typhi in fleas and companion cats (serum and claws) and to assess their presence as a function of host, host habitat, and level of parasitism. Eighty-nine serum and claw samples and 90 flea pools were collected. Cat sera were assayed by IFA for Bartonella henselae and Rickettssia species IgG antibodies. Conventional PCRs were performed on DNA extracted from nails and fleas collected from cats. A large portion (55.8%) of the feline population sampled was exposed to at least one of the three tested vector-borne pathogens. Seroreactivity to B. henselae was found in 50% of the feline studied population, and to R. felis in 16.3%. R. typhi antibodies were not found in any cat. No Bartonella sp. DNA was amplified from the claws. Flea samples from 41 cats (46%) showed molecular evidence for at least one pathogen; our study demonstrated a prevalence rate of 43.3 % of Rickettsia sp and 4.4% of Bartonella sp. in the studied flea population. None of the risk factors studied (cat's features, host habitat, and level of parasitation) was associated with either the serology or the PCR results for Bartonella sp. and Rickettsia sp.. Flea-associated infectious agents are common in cats and fleas and support the recommendation that stringent flea control should be maintained on cats. Journal of Vector Ecology 40 (2): 233-239. 2015.

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“…Recent epidemiological studies undertaken in Spain have detected emerging species of spotted fever group Rickettsiae (SFGR) such as R. slovaca, R. massiliae, R. raoultii, R. felis, and R. monacensis in arthropods (Márquez et al 2006, Márquez 2008, Lledó et al 2010. Seroprevalence studies in humans and animals have detected antibodies to R. slovaca and R. felis as well as reemerging R. typhi and R. conorii; indeed, some clinical cases by emerging species (like R. sibirica mongolitimonae) have also been reported by serological or molecular methods (Bernabeu-Wittel et al 2006, Lledó et al 2006, Amusategui et al 2008, Antón et al 2008, Nogueras et al 2013, Ramos et al 2013.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and Serological Study of Rickettsial Infection in Humans, and in Wild and Farm Animals, in the Province of Burgos, Spain

Lledó

Domínguez-Peñafiel²,

Giménez-Pardo³

et al. 2014

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Limited information is available on the presence of rickettsial infection in humans and animal reservoirs in Spain. Exposure to spotted fever group rickettsia in healthy humans and in farm and wild animals in the Province of Burgos, Spain, was examined by serological methods. Rickettsial DNA was also sought by PCR in animal samples. Of 102 human serum samples examined by indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA), 5.88% were positive for antibodies against Rickettsia conorii (titers 1/128-1/512). Significant differences were detected in human seroprevalence with respect to age. In further IFAs, 102 out of 375 (27.2%) serum samples from the wild animals reacted with R. conorii antigens (titers 1/64-1/1024); 32 out of 281 (11.38%) samples from farm animals were also positive for R. conorii (titers 1/64-1/2048). The prevalence detected among total wild animals was significantly higher than among total farm animals. No rickettsial DNA was found by PCR in any farm or wild animal sample.

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Molecular Detection of Hemoprotozoa andRickettsiaSpecies in Arthropods Collected from Wild Animals in the Burgos Province, Spain

Cited by 47 publications

References 23 publications

Mesocarnivores and macroparasites: altitude and land use predict the ticks occurring on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Mesocarnivores and macroparasites: altitude and land use predict the ticks occurring on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Prevalence of Rickettsia and Bartonella species in Spanish cats and their fleas

Molecular and Serological Study of Rickettsial Infection in Humans, and in Wild and Farm Animals, in the Province of Burgos, Spain

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