Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Romania

From 2016 to 2018, ticks were collected from 272 dogs admitted to veterinary clinics in the city of Olsztyn (north-eastern Poland). Among 522 collected ticks, 423 were identified as Ixodes ricinus (413 females and 10 males) and 99 as Dermacentor reticulatus (62 females and 37 males). Non-engorged (86 individuals) and engorged (436 individuals) ticks were screened for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA. Borrelia and A. phagocytophilum species detection was determined based on the sequence of the fla B and 16S RNA genes, respectively. DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. was identified in 31.6% (165/522, 95% CI: 27.6–35.8%) of ticks (I. ricinus 151/423, 35.7%, 95% CI: 31.1–40.4%; D. reticulates 14/99, 14.1%, 95% CI: 7.9–22.6%). A. phagocytophilum was identified in 0.96% (5/522, 95% CI: 0.3–2.2%) of specimens. All positive samples were engorged I. ricinus females (5/402, 1.2%, 95% CI: 0.4–2.9%). In 85.4% (141/165, 95% CI: 79.1–90.4%) of Borrelia infected ticks, the DNA of one genospecies was revealed. The DNA of at least two different genospecies was detected in 14.5% of specimens (24/165, 95% CI: 9.5–20.8). The coexistence of B. burgdorferii s.l. and A. phagocytophilum was not detected.

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Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98) and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Serbia

Acta veterinaria ◽

10.2478/acve-2019-0026 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 69 (3) ◽

pp. 312-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ratko Sukara ◽

Salem Juwaid ◽

Duško Ćirović ◽

Aleksandra Penezić ◽

Darko Mihaljica ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Health Concern ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Sylvatic Cycle ◽

Borrelia Lusitaniae

Abstract Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and environmental pollution lead to a reduction in the spatial boundary between wild animals, domestic animals and humans. These activities increase the risk for the emergence of pathogens from the sylvatic cycle in the population of domestic animals and humans. Foxes are recognized as potential reservoirs for a number of bacterial pathogens of medical and public health concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and spatial distribution of bacterial tick-borne pathogens from the Anaplasmataceae family, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., in the red fox population from Serbia and to discuss the obtained results from the epidemiological point of view. Legally hunted red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from 14 localities in Serbia were included in the study and spleen samples from 129 animals were tested with conventional PCR assays for the presence of bacterial tick-borne pathogens. DNA of Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia lusitaniae, and Borrelia garinii was detected in 6 (4.7%), 1 (0.8%), 2 (1.6%) and 1 (0.8%) animals, respectively. Co-infection by Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98) and B. garinii was detected in one animal. All samples were negative for other tested bacterial tick-borne pathogens. The results of the present study indicate the potential role of foxes in natural cycles of Candidatus Neoehrlichia sp. (FU98) and causative agents of Lyme borreliosis in the investigated areas. Further research is required to elucidate the role of foxes in the epidemiology of these and other tick-borne zoonotic pathogens in the Republic of Serbia.

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Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9020373 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 373

Author(s):

Andreea Monica Bogdan ◽

Mariana Ionita ◽

Ioan Liviu Mitrea

Keyword(s):

Confidence Interval ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Serological Evidence ◽

North Central ◽

Natural Exposure

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of selected tick-borne-pathogens (TBPs) among Romanian horses. For this, a total of 223 animals originating from north, central, and southeast Romania, including horses from stud farms (n = 118) and working horses (n = 105), were tested using a commercial rapid ELISA-based test. Overall, 10.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7–15.1%) of the tested horses were seropositive for antibodies (Ab) against Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Additionally, 18.8% (95% CI: 13.9–24.6%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.01–2.5%) of horses were seropositive for Ab against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Ehrlichia spp., respectively. Among the tested horses, 3.1% were seroreactive to two or three pathogens. These findings show the natural exposure of Romanian horses to zoonotic tick-borne pathogens and emphasize the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.

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Tick species and tick-borne infections identified in population from a rural area of Spain

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268805004061 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 133 (5) ◽

pp. 943-949 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

FRANCISCO JESÚS MERINO ◽

TERESA NEBREDA ◽

JOSE LUIS SERRANO ◽

PEDRO FERNÁNDEZ-SOTO ◽

ANTONIO ENCINAS ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Tick Species ◽

Medical Advice ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Dermacentor Marginatus ◽

Rickettsia Slovaca ◽

Rickettsia Massiliae ◽

Rhipicephalus Bursa

To determine the tick species that bite humans in the province of Soria (Spain) and ascertain the tick-borne pathogens that threaten people's health in that province, 185 tick specimens were collected from 179 patients who sought medical advice at health-care centres. The ticks were identified, and their DNA examined by PCR for pathogens. Most ticks were collected in autumn and spring (59 and 57 respectively). Nine species of ticks were identified, the most frequent being Dermacentor marginatus (55·7%), Ixodes ricinus (12·4%) and Rhipicephalus bursa (11·9%). Ninety-seven females, 66 males, 21 nymphs and one larva were identified. Twenty-six ticks carried DNA from Rickettsia spp. (11 Rickettsia slovaca, 6 Rickettsia spp. RpA4/DnS14, 1 Rickettsia massiliae/Bar29, and 8 unidentified); two ticks carried DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and seven ticks harboured DNA from Anaplasma phagocytophilum.

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