The Role of Wild Boar (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) in The Eco-epidemiology of <i>R. slovaca</i> in Northeastern Spain

Ortuño, Anna; Quesada, Mariela; López-Claessens, S.; Castellà, Joaquim; Sanfeliú, Isabel; Antón, Ester; Segura-Porta, F

doi:10.1089/vbz.2006.0576

Cited by 53 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…It is interesting to note that the seroprevalence of R. slovaca in the bullfighting cattle was higher than in sheep and goats. In fact, seroprevalence in bullfighting cattle was similar to that obtained by our group in a previous study in wild boars (52.1%) (Ortuñ o et al 2007). It could be suggested that habitat may be an important factor to take into account, as sheep and goats live on grazing land that is not a proper habitat for D. marginatus.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…An earlier report showed the prevalence of R. slovaca infection in D. marginatus ticks captured from wild boars to be 30.5% (Ortuñ o et al 2007). Although serology is considered the easiest method for the detection of SFG rickettsiae, the interpretation of serological data is difficult because of the cross-reactivities among SFG when using IFA assays (Brouqui et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…However, studies about the eventual role of D. marginatus hosts in the epidemiology of R. slovaca infection are scarce. Wild boars are exposed to R. slovaca infection and may play a role as carriers of rickettsiae-infected ticks (Ortuñ o et al 2007), indicating that R. slovaca is well established in the wild cycle of D. marginatus. But, to our knowledge, there are no reports about the role of domestic ruminants as hosts of the DOI: 10.1089DOI: 10.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of the Presence of Rickettsia slovaca Infection in Domestic Ruminants in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain

Ortuño

Pons²,

Quesada³

et al. 2012

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Rickettsia slovaca is the etiological agent of the human disease tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) transmitted by Dermacentor spp. ticks. In our area, Dermacentor marginatus is the most important tick vector; adult ticks feed on mammals, especially ungulates such as wild boars and domestic ruminants. The epidemiology of tick-transmitted diseases describes a wild cycle and a domestic cycle and both are connected by ticks. To identify the role of domestic ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of R. slovaca infection, blood samples from sheep (n = 95), goats (n = 91), and bullfighting cattle (n = 100) were collected during a herd health program, and livestock grazing was selected to ensure tick contact. Samples were analyzed by serology using an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and molecular techniques (real-time PCR). Seroprevalence was 15.7% in sheep, 20.8% in goats, and 65.0% in bullfighting cattle. On the basis of molecular methods, R. slovaca infection was demonstrated in a goat blood sample with an antibody titer of 1:160. This is the first time that R. slovaca has been identified in a goat blood sample. These results suggest that domestic ruminants are exposed to R. slovaca infection and, because the domestic cycle is close to the human environment, this could increase the risk of transmitting the pathogen to human beings.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of the Presence of Rickettsia slovaca Infection in Domestic Ruminants in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain

Ortuño

Pons²,

Quesada³

et al. 2012

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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“…Local investigations showed that wild boars, which seem to be important in the epidemiology of R. slovaca (13), are found in this area. In the northern part of this area, woodland habitat and human habits increase the risk for human contact with vectors.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Rickettsia slovacainDermacentor marginatusand Tick-borne Lymphadenopathy, Tuscany, Italy

Selmi¹,

Bertolotti

Tomassone

et al. 2008

Emerg. Infect. Dis.

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Of 263 patients in Tuscany, Italy, from whom ticks were removed during July 2005-May 2007, fi ve showed signs of tick-borne lymphadenopathy. Of the ticks, 17 were Dermacentor marginatus; 6 (35.3%) of these were identifi ed by sequence analysis as containing Rickettsia slovaca. Tickborne lymphadenopathy occurs in this area. R ickettsia slovaca was fi rst isolated in Czechoslovakia from the tick vector Dermacentor marginatus in 1968 (1) and was subsequently detected in several European countries. It was recognized as the causative agent of tick-borne lymphadenopathy (2-4) and Dermacentor spp.-borne necrosis-erythema-lymphadenopathy (5). Typical clinical signs of infection include skin lesions at the tick bite site and regional, often painful, lymphadenopathy (2,3). Acute disease can be followed by residual alopecia at the bite site (2). This disease is considered a mild rickettsiosis, but severe symptoms have been described, especially in untreated patients (2).D. marginatus is the only member of the species Dermacentor reported in Italy; it is widely distributed in prairies and steppes up to 2,500 m above sea level, including the northern Apennines (6). Adults are active within a temperature range of 4°C to 16°C (7,8). Temperature infl uences the seasonality of tick-borne lymphadenopathy, which has a higher incidence during cold months (4,9). We describe results from a tick-borne zoonoses surveillance system that was implemented in 2002 at the Lucca local health unit (ASL 2) in Tuscany, Italy. The StudyPatients admitted to emergency units in Tuscany, Italy, for tick removal were followed up for 40 days. Epidemiologic and clinical data were collected for each patient by using a standardized questionnaire. History of allergic reactions or hypersensitivity to tick bites was considered and evaluated to avoid mistakes in case defi nition.Ticks were classifi ed by using standard identifi cation keys (8) and stored in 70% ethanol until DNA extraction. D. marginatus females were measured, and the degree of engorgement (tick engorgement index [TEI]) was visually estimated. Ticks were ranked by 3 TEI levels: 1 = completely unengorged, 2 = intermediate (idiosoma length ≈2× twice the scutum width), and 3 = engorged (idiosoma length >2× the scutum width). Association between TEI levels and occurrence of clinical symptoms was evaluated by using the Fisher exact test. All statistical analyses were conducted by using R statistical software (10). Arcview 3.3 (Environmental Systems Research Institute Inc., Redlands, CA, USA) was used to map the geographic distribution of cases in the study area (Figure 1).For pathogen detection by PCR, ticks were individually homogenized with a pestle in microcentrifuge tubes and DNA was extracted with the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). Negative controls (distilled water) were used to check for contamination of samples during this phase. Success of DNA extraction was verifi ed by using PCR for tick mitochondrial 16S rDNA (11). Two PCR assays, targeting citrate synthase A (g...

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“…These authors suggested that these vertebrate hosts could play an important role as amplifier hosts of R. rickettsii for ticks in nature. With regard to other Rickettsia species, molecular and serological studies have suggested some potential animal reservoirs; however, further studies need to be performed to confirm these hypothesized reservoirs, such as cattle for R. africae (41), wild boars and domestic ruminants for Rickettsia slovaca (42,43), and sika deer for Rickettsia helvetica (44).…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach

et al. 2013

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SUMMARY Tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus Rickettsia . These zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. However, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. Several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that were considered nonpathogenic for decades are now associated with human infections, and novel Rickettsia species of undetermined pathogenicity continue to be detected in or isolated from ticks around the world. This remarkable expansion of information has been driven largely by the use of molecular techniques that have facilitated the identification of novel and previously recognized rickettsiae in ticks. New approaches, such as swabbing of eschars to obtain material to be tested by PCR, have emerged in recent years and have played a role in describing emerging tick-borne rickettsioses. Here, we present the current knowledge on tick-borne rickettsiae and rickettsioses using a geographic approach toward the epidemiology of these diseases.

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The Role of Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in The Eco-epidemiology of R. slovaca in Northeastern Spain

Cited by 53 publications

References 23 publications

Evaluation of the Presence of Rickettsia slovaca Infection in Domestic Ruminants in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain

Evaluation of the Presence of Rickettsia slovaca Infection in Domestic Ruminants in Catalonia, Northeastern Spain

Rickettsia slovacainDermacentor marginatusand Tick-borne Lymphadenopathy, Tuscany, Italy

Update on Tick-Borne Rickettsioses around the World: a Geographic Approach

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