Species, developmental stage and infection with microbial pathogens of engorged ticks removed from dogs and questing ticks

Abstract

Research into tick-borne diseases implies vector sampling and the detection and identification of microbial pathogens. Ticks were collected simultaneously from dogs that had been exposed to tick bites and by flagging the ground in the area in which the dogs had been exposed. In total, 200 ticks were sampled, of which 104 came from dogs and 96 were collected by flagging. These ticks were subsequently examined for DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia canis. A mixed sample of adult ticks and nymphs of Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and Haemaphysalis concinna (Ixodida: Ixodidae) was obtained by flagging. Female I. ricinus and adult Dermacentor reticulatus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks dominated the engorged ticks removed from dogs. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 17.0% of the examined ticks, A. phagocytophilum in 3.5%, B. canis in 1.5%, and B. burgdorferi s.l. in 16.0%. Ticks with multiple infections were found only among the flagging sample. The ticks removed from the dogs included 22 infected ticks, whereas the flagging sample included 44 infected ticks. The results showed that the method for collecting ticks influences the species composition of the sample and enables the detection of a different pattern of pathogens. Sampling strategies should be taken into consideration when interpreting studies on tick-borne pathogens.

Approaches for Reverse Line Blot-Based Detection of Microbial Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected in Austria and Impact of the Chosen Method

“…Our results are also in accordance with other Austrian studies in the province of Styria (6) and eastern Austria (12). In a previous study (7) on ticks collected from all regions of Austria in 2005, the overall prevalence was only 14.5%; however, nearly a third of those ticks were larvae.…”

Effect of owner-controlled acaricidal treatment on tick infestation and immune response to tick-borne pathogens in naturally infested dogs from Eastern Austria

“…The highest frequency of immune responses in the dogs were found for A. phagocytophilum which is transmitted within the first 24 hours of infestation and B. burgdorferi s. l. which has the highest prevalence in ticks [25]. This outlines the major requirements for spot on preparations: the substances should repel ticks to avoid infestation in large numbers and it should kill the ticks as early as possible, best even before the tick starts feeding.…”

Molecular diagnosis of African tick bite fever using eschar swabs in a traveller returning from Tanzania

“…For the detection of Rickettsia spp. samples were subjected to a real time PCR targeting the gltA gene [7]. Rickettsia DNA could be detected in one of the two swabs.…”