Bird ticks in Hungary reflect western, southern, eastern flyway connections and two genetic lineages of Ixodes frontalis and Haemaphysalis concinna

AbstractMore or less cursory examination of migrating birds in Cyprus revealed 115 of 2580 southward (fall) migrants and 177 of 22015 northward (spring) migrants to be infested by 167 and 797 ticks, respectively. Most ticks on fall migrants were Hyalomma marginatum marginatum Koch; others were Ixodes frontalis (Panz.), I. ricinus (L.), Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, and H. punctata C. & F., all representative of the Eurasian fauna. Most ticks on spring migrants were H. m. rufipes Koch; others were Amblyomma lepidum Dön., A. nuttalli Dön., and A. variegatum (F.), representative of sub-Saharan Africa, and Argas streptopelia Kaiser, Hoogst. & Horner, Ixodes eldaricus Dzhaparidze, and I. redikorzevi Olen. which probably attached to the hosts in the eastern Mediterranean area. In Africa and Eurasia, 16 arboviruses have been recorded from eight of these tick species, and also the agents of boutonneuse fever, Siberian tick typhus, Q fever, and tularaemia. The epidemiological potential of migrating birds is enhanced by the multiplicity of pathogens that may infect them and the biological diversity of ticks that may infest them. The remarkably wide distribution of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in Africa and Eurasia is likely to be due to intercontinental carriage of the virus and ticks by migrating birds.

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TBE in China

Tick-borne encephalitis - The Book ◽

10.33442/26613980_12b6-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Western China ◽

Ixodes Persulcatus ◽

West China ◽

North West ◽

Haemaphysalis Concinna ◽

Viral Subtype ◽

Japanese Military ◽

Natural Foci ◽

Far Eastern ◽

The Brain

The first TBE patients in China were reported in 1943, and the TBEV was isolated from the brain tissues of 2 patients in 1944 by Japanese military scientists,1 and from patients and ticks (Ixodes persulcatus and Haemaphysalis concinna) in 1952 by Chinese researchers.2 The Far Eastern viral subtype (TBEV-FE) is the endemic subtype that has been isolated from all 3 known natural foci (northeastern China, western China, and southwestern China).14 Recently a new “Himalayan subtype” of the TBEV (TBEV-HIM) was isolated from wild rodent Marmoata himalayana in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau15. The main vector of the TBEV in China is I. persulcatus.3 One recent report suggests that the TBEV-SIB is prevalent in the Uygur region (North West China)13 but epidemiological modelling indicates that the TBEV may occur even widely all over China (Figure 3).4 Likely, the disease is often missed by clinicians due to a lack of the availability of specific diagnostic assays16.

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Chapter 11: General epidemiology of TBE

Tick-borne encephalitis - The Book ◽

10.33442/26613980_11-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Eastern Siberia ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis ◽

Natural Foci ◽

Genetic Sequences ◽

Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus ◽

Almost All ◽

Far Eastern ◽

Reservoir Hosts

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) exists in natural foci, which are areas where TBEV is circulating among its vectors (ticks of different species and genera) and reservoir hosts (usually rodents and small mammals). Based on phylogenetic studies, four TBEV subtypes (Far-Eastern, Siberian, European, Baikalian) and two putative subtypes (Himalayan and “178-79” group) are known. Within each subtype, some genetic lineages are described. The European subtype (TBEV-EU) (formerly known also as the “Western subtype”) of TBEV is prevalent in Europe, but it was also isolated in Western and Eastern Siberia in Russia and South Korea. The Far-Eastern subtype (TBEV-FE) was preferably found in the territory of the far-eastern part of Eurasia, but some strains were isolated in other regions of Eurasia. The Siberian (TBEV-SIB) subtype is the most common and has been found in almost all TBEV habitat areas. The Baikalian subtype is prevalent around Lake Baikal and was isolated several times from ticks and rodents. In addition to the four TBEV subtypes, one single isolate of TBEV (178-79) and two genetic sequences (Himalayan) supposed to be new TBEV subtypes were described in Eastern Siberia and China. The data on TBEV seroprevalence in humans and animals can serve as an indication for the presence or absence of TBEV in studied area.

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Comparative Study of Highly Pathogenic Avian Infl uenza Strains Isolated in Ukraine in 2005 and 2008

Agricultural science and practice ◽

10.15407/agrisp1.01.068 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 68-71

Author(s):

A. Gerilovych ◽

B. Stegniy ◽

A. Stegniy ◽

M. Stegniy ◽

K. Smietanka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Europe ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Molecular Characteristics ◽

Eastern European ◽

Highly Pathogenic ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Phylogenetic Studies ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Pathogenic H5n1

Objective. To research the molecular characteristics of two HPAI strains – A/Ch/Syvash/02/05/H5N1 and A/Ch/Krasnogvardeysk/58/08/H5N1, which were identifi ed as representatives of the highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses. Methods. RNA extraction, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. The phylogenetic studies revealed that the above mentioned strains belong to two various genetic lineages originated from the Eastern European strains isolated in 2005, but differ from the viruses introduced to the Central and Western Europe in 2005/2006, and also the lineages consisting of H5N1 viruses isolated in the Europe and Middle East in late 2007. Conclusions. Relying on experimental studies, it can be concluded that the strains of A/Ch/Syvash/02/05/H5N1 and A/Ch/Krasnogvardeysk/58/08/H5N1 are highly pathogenic.

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Identification of Phytoplasmas Representing Multiple New Genetic Lineages from Phloem-Feeding Leafhoppers Highlights the Diversity of Phytoplasmas and Their Potential Vectors

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10030352 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 352

Author(s):

Wei Wei ◽

Valeria Trivellone ◽

Christopher H. Dietrich ◽

Yan Zhao ◽

Kristi D. Bottner-Parker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Host Range ◽

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Rflp Analysis ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Genetic Subgroup ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Phloem Feeding ◽

Fresh Insight

Phytoplasmas are obligate transkingdom bacterial parasites that infect a variety of plant species and replicate in phloem-feeding insects in the order Hemiptera, mainly leafhoppers (Cicadellidae). The insect capacity in acquisition, transmission, survival, and host range directly determines the epidemiology of phytoplasmas. However, due to the difficulty of insect sampling and the lack of follow-up transmission trials, the confirmed phytoplasma insect hosts are still limited compared with the identified plant hosts. Recently, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based quick screening of 227 leafhoppers collected in natural habitats unveiled the presence of previously unknown phytoplasmas in six samples. In the present study, 76 leafhoppers, including the six prescreened positive samples, were further examined to identify and characterize the phytoplasma strains by semi-nested PCR. A total of ten phytoplasma strains were identified in leafhoppers from four countries including South Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and China. Based on virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, these ten phytoplasma strains were classified into four distinct ribosomal (16Sr) groups (16SrI, 16SrIII, 16SrXIV, and 16SrXV), representing five new subgroups (16SrI-AO, 16SrXIV-D, 16SrXIV-E, 16SrXIV-F, and 16SrXV-C). The results strongly suggest that the newly identified phytoplasma strains not only represent new genetic subgroup lineages, but also extend previously undiscovered geographical distributions. In addition, ten phytoplasma-harboring leafhoppers belonged to seven known leafhopper species, none of which were previously reported insect vectors of phytoplasmas. The findings from this study provide fresh insight into genetic diversity, geographical distribution, and insect host range of phytoplasmas. Further transmission trials and screening of new potential host plants and weed reservoirs in areas adjacent to collection sites of phytoplasma harboring leafhoppers will contribute to a better understanding of phytoplasma transmission and epidemiology.

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Atlas of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in Germany

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-021-00619-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Franz Rubel ◽

Katharina Brugger ◽

Lidia Chitimia-Dobler ◽

Hans Dautel ◽

Elisabeth Meyer-Kayser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Migratory Birds ◽

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Federal States ◽

Ixodes Frontalis ◽

Argas Reflexus ◽

The One ◽

Argasid Tick ◽

First Time

AbstractAn updated and increased compilation of georeferenced tick locations in Germany is presented here. This data collection extends the dataset published some years ago by another 1448 new tick locations, 900 locations of which were digitized from literature and 548 locations are published here for the first time. This means that a total of 3492 georeferenced tick locations is now available for Germany. The tick fauna of Germany includes two species of Argasidae in the genera Argas and Carios and 19 species of Ixodidae in the genera Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes, altogether 21 tick species. In addition, three species of Ixodidae in the genera Hyalomma (each spring imported by migratory birds) and Rhipicephalus (occasionally imported by dogs returning from abroad with their owners) are included in the tick atlas. Of these, the georeferenced locations of 23 tick species are depicted in maps. The occurrence of the one remaining tick species, the recently described Ixodes inopinatus, is given at the level of the federal states. The most common and widespread tick species is Ixodes ricinus, with records in all 16 federal states. With the exception of Hamburg, Dermacentor reticulatus was also found in all federal states. The occurrence of the ixodid ticks Ixodes canisuga, Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes hexagonus and I. inopinatus were documented in at least 11 federal states each. The two mentioned argasid tick species were also documented in numerous federal states, the pigeon tick Argas reflexus in 11 and the bat tick Carios vespertilionis in seven federal states. The atlas of ticks in Germany and the underlying digital dataset in the supplement can be used to improve global tick maps or to study the effects of climate change and habitat alteration on the distribution of tick species.

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

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9071392 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1392

Author(s):

Michiel Wijnveld ◽

Anna-Margarita Schötta ◽

Theresa Stelzer ◽

Georg Duscher ◽

Michael Leschnik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Blot Hybridization ◽

Dermacentor Reticulatus ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Rickettsia Helvetica ◽

Haemaphysalis Concinna ◽

Borrelia Lusitaniae ◽

Rickettsia Monacensis ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Stricto

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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An approach using ddRADseq and machine learning for understanding speciation in Antarctic Antarctophilinidae gastropods

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-87244-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Juan Moles ◽

Shahan Derkarabetian ◽

Stefano Schiaparelli ◽

Michael Schrödl ◽

Jesús S. Troncoso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Weddell Sea ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Sea Levels ◽

Suitable Material ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Gastropod Mollusks ◽

Double Digestion

AbstractSampling impediments and paucity of suitable material for molecular analyses have precluded the study of speciation and radiation of deep-sea species in Antarctica. We analyzed barcodes together with genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms obtained from double digestion restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) for species in the family Antarctophilinidae. We also reevaluated the fossil record associated with this taxon to provide further insights into the origin of the group. Novel approaches to identify distinctive genetic lineages, including unsupervised machine learning variational autoencoder plots, were used to establish species hypothesis frameworks. In this sense, three undescribed species and a complex of cryptic species were identified, suggesting allopatric speciation connected to geographic or bathymetric isolation. We further observed that the shallow waters around the Scotia Arc and on the continental shelf in the Weddell Sea present high endemism and diversity. In contrast, likely due to the glacial pressure during the Cenozoic, a deep-sea group with fewer species emerged expanding over great areas in the South-Atlantic Antarctic Ridge. Our study agrees on how diachronic paleoclimatic and current environmental factors shaped Antarctic communities both at the shallow and deep-sea levels, promoting Antarctica as the center of origin for numerous taxa such as gastropod mollusks.

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Prevalence and Characteristics of Multidrug-Resistant Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) CC398 Isolated from Quails (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) Slaughtered for Human Consumption

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11072038 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2038

Author(s):

Vanessa Silva ◽

Madalena Vieira-Pinto ◽

Cândido Saraiva ◽

Vera Manageiro ◽

Lígia Reis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Clonal Complex ◽

Sccmec Type ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Coturnix Japonica ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Coturnix Coturnix Japonica ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Coturnix Coturnix ◽

Type V

Livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that has been reported in several animals, and it is often associated with clonal complex (CC) 398. We aimed to isolate MRSA from quails and to characterize their antimicrobial resistance and genetic lineages. One hundred swab samples were recovered from quails at the slaughterhouse. The swabs were inoculated onto CHROMagar™ MRSA agar plates for MRSA isolation. The presence of antimicrobial-resistant genes and virulence factors was investigated by PCR. All strains were typed by MLST, SCCmec-, spa- and agr-typing. From the 100 samples, 29 MRSA were isolated. All strains were resistant to penicillin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and clindamycin and carried the blaZ, mecA, ermB and ermC genes. All strains, except one, showed resistance to tetracycline and harbored the tetM, tetK and tetL genes in different combinations. Twenty strains belonged to ST398 and SCCmec type V, and nine strains belonged to the new ST6831. Twenty-eight out of twenty-nine strains were ascribed to t011 and one to t108. As far as we know, this is the first report of MRSA from quails slaughtered for human consumption. Most strains belonged to ST398-t011, which is the most common LA-MRSA clone found in livestock in Europe.

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Biogeography of Italy revisited: genetic lineages confirm major phylogeographic patterns and a pre-Pleistocene origin of its biota

Frontiers in Zoology ◽

10.1186/s12983-021-00418-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Thomas Schmitt ◽

Uwe Fritz ◽

Massimo Delfino ◽

Werner Ulrich ◽

Jan Christian Habel

Keyword(s):

Meta Analysis ◽

Balkan Peninsula ◽

Po Plain ◽

Genetic Lineages ◽

Biogeographic Patterns ◽

Italian Peninsula ◽

Biogeographic Pattern ◽

History Of ◽

Multiple Species ◽

Micro Plates

AbstractWarm-adapted species survived the cold stages of the past glacial-interglacial cycles in southern European peninsulas and recolonized major parts of Central and Northern Europe in the wake of postglacial warming. However, many of the genetic lineages which differentiated within these refugia predate even the Pleistocene. One of these refugia is the Italian Peninsula with its surrounding islands. In this meta-analysis, we compiled phylogeographic patterns of multiple species across this region. We transformed existing geographic information on 78 animal and plant species (with a total of 471 genetic lineages) within 17 predefined areas into presence/absence matrices. We elaborated three matrices: (i) only old lineages exclusively distinguished by deep splits, (ii) only young lineages distinguished by shallow (i.e. recent) splits, and (iii) presence/absence of the respective species. To infer biogeographic relationships between the predefined areas, we performed bootstrapped neighbour joining cluster analyses on these three matrices. In addition, we reviewed the geological history of Italy to identify causes of the observed biogeographic patterns. We found Sardinia and Corsica to be biogeographically closely linked with each other, and that they diverge strongly from all other regions. Sicily also diverges strongly from all other regions, while the intra-island differentiation was comparatively low. On the Italian mainland, Calabria exhibited the most pronounced biogeographic differentiation, often with several lineages present, resulting from old vicariance events within the region. Furthermore, southern Apulia and the Po Plain with adjoining areas of northern peninsular Italy displayed considerable distinctiveness. Admixture prevailed in the areas between these three regions. The ancient isolation of Sicily, as well as Sardinia plus Corsica, resulted in endemic lineages with only moderate recent exchange with adjacent mainland regions. Pronounced diversification occurs within the Italian Peninsula. The complex tectonic activities, such as shifting (micro)plates, submergence of major parts of peninsular Italy with the genesis of numerous Pliocene islands, in combination with the climatic cycles during the Pleistocene have most likely generated the current biogeographic pattern of species. Immigrations from the Balkan Peninsula into northern Italy partly accounted for the distinctiveness of this region.

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