Occurrence of different Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies including B. afzelii, B. bavariensis, and B. spielmanii in hedgehogs (Erinaceus spp.) in Europe

Skuballa, Jasmin; Petney, Trevor N.; Pfäffle, M. P.; Oehme, Rainer; Hartelt, Kathrin; Fingerle, Volker; Kimmig, Peter; Taraschewski, Horst

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.09.008

Cited by 60 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Similarly, the European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europeus ) has been identified as reservoir host for B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, including B. afzelii [75], here detected in I. ricinus from northern Italy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens

Otranto

Dantas‐Torres

Giannelli

et al. 2014

Parasites & Vectors

140

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BackgroundTicks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available.MethodsSamples (n = 561) were collected from humans in four main geographical areas of Italy (i.e., northwestern, northeastern, southern Italy, and Sicily), which represent a variety of environments. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested with selected protocols for the presence of pathogens of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Theileria, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia and Anaplasma.ResultsTicks belonged to 16 species of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus, with Ixodes ricinus (59.5%) being the species most frequently retrieved, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21.4%). Nymphs were the life stage most frequently retrieved (41%), followed by adult females (34.6%). The overall positivity to any pathogen detected was 18%. Detected microorganisms were Rickettsia spp. (17.0%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.5%), Borrelia valaisiana (0.3%), C. N. mikurensis (0.5%) and Babesia venatorum (0.6%).ConclusionsResults indicate that people living in the Italian peninsula are at risk of being bitten by different tick species, which may transmit a plethora of TBD causing pathogens and that co-infections may also occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens

Otranto

Dantas‐Torres

Giannelli

et al. 2014

Parasites & Vectors

140

113

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“…Borrelia garinii is associated with neurological manifestations and birds maintain most of the B. garinii strains [9, 11, 12]. Borrelia bavariensis is frequently found in rodents [13, 14] and hedgehogs [15] and is also associated with neuroborreliosis in humans [7]. Borrelia spielmanii infection in humans is rare, and only found in patients with erythema migrans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melting pot of tick-borne zoonoses: the European hedgehog contributes to the maintenance of various tick-borne diseases in natural cycles urban and suburban areas

et al. 2017

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BackgroundEuropean hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are urban dwellers and host both Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus. These ticks transmit several zoonotic pathogens like Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, Borrelia miyamotoi and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”. It is unclear to what extent hedgehogs in (sub) urban areas contribute to the presence of infected ticks in these areas, which subsequently pose a risk for acquiring a tick-borne disease. Therefore, it is important to investigate to what extent hedgehogs contribute to the enzootic cycle of these tick-borne pathogens, and to shed more light at the mechanisms of the transmission cycles involving hedgehogs and both ixodid tick species.MethodsEngorged ticks from hedgehogs were collected from (sub) urban areas via rehabilitating centres in Belgium. Ticks were screened individually for presence of Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica and “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis” using PCR-based methods. Infection rates of the different pathogens in ticks were calculated and compared to infection rates in questing ticks.ResultsBoth Ixodes hexagonus (n = 1132) and Ixodes ricinus (n = 73) of all life stages were found on the 54 investigated hedgehogs. Only a few hedgehogs carried most of the ticks, with 6 of the 54 hedgehogs carrying more than half of all ticks (624/1205). Borrelia miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, R. helvetica and B. burgdorferi genospecies (Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis and Borrelia spielmanii) were detected in both I. hexagonus and I. ricinus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, R. helvetica, B. afzelii, B. bavariensis and B. spielmanii were found significantly more in engorged ticks in comparison to questing I. ricinus.ConclusionsEuropean hedgehogs seem to contribute to the spread and transmission of tick-borne pathogens in urban areas. The relatively high prevalence of B. bavariensis, B. spielmanii, B. afzelii, A. phagocytophilum and R. helvetica in engorged ticks suggests that hedgehogs contribute to their enzootic cycles in (sub) urban areas. The extent to which hedgehogs can independently maintain these agents in natural cycles, and the role of other hosts (rodents and birds) remain to be investigated.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2065-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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“…Both the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Western Europe and the Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus) in Eastern Europe are reservoirs for different genospecies of B. burgdorferi s.l. including one of the causative agents of neuroborreliosis, B. bavariensis 325,326 . Also Blackbirds, an important host species for another neuroborreliosis causing genospecies, B. garinii, is present in high densities in urban areas, especially in gardens 327 .…”

Section: Tick-borne Disease Dynamics In the Anthropocenementioning

confidence: 99%

The wild life of tick-borne pathogens

Hofmeester

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Occurrence of different Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies including B. afzelii, B. bavariensis, and B. spielmanii in hedgehogs (Erinaceus spp.) in Europe

Cited by 60 publications

References 39 publications

Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens

Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens

Melting pot of tick-borne zoonoses: the European hedgehog contributes to the maintenance of various tick-borne diseases in natural cycles urban and suburban areas

The wild life of tick-borne pathogens

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