Update on the presence of Ixodes ricinus at the western limit of its range and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Zintl, Annetta; Zaid, Taher; McKiernan, Fiona; Naranjo‐Lucena, Amalia; Gray, Jeremy; Brosnan, Sorcha; Browne, John A.; O’Connor, Jack; Mee, John F.; Good, Barbara; Gillingham, Emma L.; Vaux, Alexander G.C.; Medlock, Jolyon M.

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101518

Cited by 14 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…The latter are grouped into climatic variables (e.g., temperature), soil variables (e.g., land cover, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), topographic variables (e.g., altitude), human-related variables (e.g., human population), and host-related variables (e.g., roe deer density). Risk map depicting Country (region) Method Explanatory variables Reference Climatic variables Soil variables Topographic variables Human related variables Host related variables Density of infected ticks Italy (Province of Trento) Tree-based classification model with bootstrap aggregation - x x - x Rizzoli et al ( 2002 ) Density of infected ticks Italy (Friuli Venezia Giulia region) Multiple regression model x x x - x Altobelli et al ( 2008 ) Probability of the presence of infected ticks Ireland Random forests model x x x - - Zintl et al ( 2020 ) Density of infected ticks United Kingdom (Scotland) Mechanistic, agent-based model x x - - x Li et al ( 2016 ) Human incidence Belgium Negative binomial regression model - x ...…”

Section: Risk Assessments For Human Exposure To B Burgdorferi Slmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe

Steinbrink

Brugger

Margos³

et al. 2022

Parasitol Res

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Beside mosquitoes, ticks are well-known vectors of different human pathogens. In the Northern Hemisphere, Lyme borreliosis (Eurasia, LB) or Lyme disease (North America, LD) is the most commonly occurring vector-borne infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Borrelia which are transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes. The reported incidence of LB in Europe is about 22.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants annually with a broad range depending on the geographical area analyzed. However, the epidemiological data are largely incomplete, because LB is not notifiable in all European countries. Furthermore, not only differ reporting procedures between countries, there is also variation in case definitions and diagnostic procedures. Lyme borreliosis is caused by several species of the Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex which are maintained in complex networks including ixodid ticks and different reservoir hosts. Vector and host influence each other and are affected by multiple factors including climate that have a major impact on their habitats and ecology. To classify factors that influence the risk of transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. to their different vertebrate hosts as well as to humans, we briefly summarize the current knowledge about the pathogens including their astonishing ability to overcome various host immune responses, regarding the main vector in Europe Ixodes ricinus, and the disease caused by borreliae. The research shows, that a higher standardization of case definition, diagnostic procedures, and standardized, long-term surveillance systems across Europe is necessary to improve clinical and epidemiological data.

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Section: Risk Assessments For Human Exposure To B Burgdorferi Slmentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe

Steinbrink

Brugger

Margos³

et al. 2022

Parasitol Res

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“…Clinical cases are sporadically presented in Austria [ 32 ]. Spirochetes of the B. burgdorferi sensu lato complex are seen in ticks in similarly large varying numbers in Europe (i.e., between 8.6% and 25.6%) [ 4 , 33 , 34 ]. However, Dermacentor spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Protozoans in Austria Revealed through the Use of Dogs as Sentinels for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens

et al. 2021

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We previously isolated and cultivated the novel Rickettsia raoultii strain Jongejan. This prompted us to ask whether this strain is unique or more widely present in Austria. To assess this issue, we retrospectively screened ticks collected from dogs in 2008. Of these collected ticks, we randomly selected 75 (47 females and 28 males) Dermacentor reticulatus, 44 (21 females, 7 males, and 16 nymphs) Haemaphysalis concinna, and 55 (52 females and 3 males) ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. Subsequently, these ticks were individually screened for the presence of tick-borne pathogens using the reverse line blot hybridization assay. In our current study, we detected DNA from the following microbes in D. reticulatus: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia valaisiana, and R. raoultii, all of which were R. raoultii strain Jongejan. In H. concinna, we found DNA of a Babesia sp., Rickettsia helvetica, and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli. Lastly, I. ricinus was positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia garinii/Borrelia bavariensis, B. lusitaniae, B. spielmanii, B. valaisiana, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Theileria (Babesia) microti DNA. The detection of DNA of the Babesia sp. and an organism closely related to Theileria capreoli, both found in H. concinna ticks, is novel for Austria.

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“…Ticks analysed in this study were collected by blanket dragging and morphologically identified as described in [ 5 ]. Sampling sites included farmland, woodland, bog and limestone pavement habitats typical of the Burren region in the West of Ireland ( Table 1 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Positive controls consisted of DNA extracted from B. divergens in vitro cultures, while nuclease-free water was used as negative control in all assays. Tick species identity was confirmed using a TaqMan PCR targeted at the internal spacer region 2 (ITS2) of I. ricinus as described by [5]. Of the 1369 nymphs that were screened by TaqMan PCR, 27 samples resulted in a Ct value ≤ 40 in one or both of the replicates.…”

Section: Screening Of Tick Isolates Using Taqman Pcrmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Ireland, B. divergens has always had a particular significance. The mild, humid climate is conducive to the tick vector and I. ricinus is widespread, especially along the western seaboard and the Shannon River system [ 5 ]. Up until the early 1990′s significant parts of the country were precluded from cattle farming because of the widespread occurrence of redwater fever.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus Nymphs Collected from Farm- and Woodland Sites in Ireland

et al. 2022

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The parasite, Babesia divergens causes redwater fever in cattle and a rare, albeit life-threatening disease in humans. In Ireland, B. divergens has always been considered an important pathogen as the high incidence of redwater fever precluded areas of the country from cattle farming. Moreover a relatively large proportion of human cases were reported here. Red deer (Cervus elaphus), which often harbour babesias that are genetically very similar (if not identical) to B. divergens, are quite widespread. In this study 1369 nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from various habitats were screened for the presence of B. divergens using TaqMan followed by conventional nested PCR. Fragments of the 18S rRNA gene locus (560 bp) were compared against published Irish B. divergens isolates from cattle, humans and red deer. Overall just 1% of I. ricinus nymphs were infected with B. divergens, with similar infection rates in ticks collected from farm- and woodland. Most (90%) 18S rRNA gene fragments derived from woodland ticks were 100% identical to published sequences from cattle and humans. One differed by a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as did two isolates from ticks collected in bogland. Two isolates derived from nymphs collected in farmland differed by 2 and 4 SNPs respectively.

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Update on the presence of Ixodes ricinus at the western limit of its range and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato

Cited by 14 publications

References 32 publications

The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe

The evolving story of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato transmission in Europe

Novel Protozoans in Austria Revealed through the Use of Dogs as Sentinels for Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens

The Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus Nymphs Collected from Farm- and Woodland Sites in Ireland

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