Errata in East Coast tick study: retort to Tufts & Diuk-Wasser

The authors overlook the first report of Haemaphysalis punctata in the Western Hemisphere documented by a pioneer acarologist in 1910. The authors assume that climate change alters movement of ticks, but provide no data. The authors’ assumptions are only opinions, and must be corrected and challenged.

Biodiversity Indices and Medically Importance of Ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran

Background: Ticks are considered as the main vectors for the transmission of various pathogens such as relapsing fever and CCHF to humans. This study was investigated the biodiversity indices and medically importance of ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran during 2015–2019. Methods: Specimens were captured from infested ruminants including cows, sheep, and goats. Additionally, tick col­lections also were performed on non-domesticated creatures such as turtles, rodents, and hedgehogs. Specimens were identified using valid identification keys. Species diversity, species richness and evenness indices have been calculated to estimate species biodiversity of ticks. Results: A total of 1478 adult ticks were collected. The specimens were from two families: Ixodidae (90.05%) and Ar­gasidae (9.95%), 6 genera and 17 species including: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (55.9%), Rhipicephalus bursa (13.4%), Hyalomma marginatum (9.5%), Hyalomma anatolicum (9.5%), Hyalomma asiaticum (0.2%), Hyalomma aegyptium (0.5%), Hyalomma scupense (1.3%), Hyalomma sp (1.2%), Haemaphysalis sulcata (0.7%), Haemaphysalis erinacea (0.1%), Haemaphysalis inermis (0.1%), Haemaphysalis punctata (0.2%), Haemaphysalis concinna (0.1% Boophilus annulatus (1.2), and Dermacentor marginatus (6.1%) among hard ticks as well as Argas persicus (91.8%) and Argas reflexus (8.2%) amongst soft ticks. Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rh. Bursa, Hy. marginatum and Hy. anatolicum were known as the most frequent species of hard ticks. Tick’s species richness, Shannon diversity index and Simpson index in this area were S= 17, H’= 1.69, D= 0.294 respectively. Conclusion: Based on tick distribution veterinary authority, public health organizations and other officials should act for implementation of disease prevention.

First hemispheric report of invasive tick species Haemaphysalis punctata, first state report of Haemaphysalis longicornis, and range expansion of native tick species in Rhode Island, USA

Background Invasive arthropod vectors and the range expansions of native vectors can lead to public and veterinary health concerns, as these vectors may introduce novel pathogens or spread endemic pathogens to new locations. Recent tick invasions and range expansion in the USA has been attributed to climate and land use change, an increase in global travel, and importations of exotic animals. Methods A 10-year surveillance study was conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, from 2010 to 2020 including sampling ticks from small mammal and avian hosts. Results We report the discovery and establishment of the red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) for the first time in the western hemisphere and in the US. This invasive species was first collected in 2010 on Block Island, was collected continuously throughout the study, and was collected from an avian host. We document the first report of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in the state of Rhode Island, first observed at our sites in 2018. Finally, we present data on the range expansion and establishment of two native tick species, the lone star tick and the rabbit tick, on Block Island. Conclusion This study emphasized the importance of long-term surveillance to detect changes in tick host communities, including invasive and expanding native vectors of potential significance to humans and wildlife. Graphical abstract

TBE in Bulgaria

First cases of probable tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) were reported in 1961 by Andonov et al. in eastern regions of Bulgaria.1 Possible TBE cases with the typical two-wave fever, originating from consumption of raw goat milk, were described back in 1953 by Vaptzarov et al. in southern Bulgaria.2 Investigations in the 1960s were able to isolate 3 tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from Haemaphysalis punctata and 1 from Dermacentor marginatus ticks from goats and sheep in the district of Plovdiv.3 The antigenic properties of these 4 virus strains were identical to the highly virulent strain “Hypr” of the European subtype of TBEV (TBEV-EU).

High Diversity, Prevalence, and Co-infection Rates of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks and Wildlife Hosts in an Urban Area in Romania

Despite the increasingly recognized eco-epidemiological importance of ticks as vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens in urban areas, data regarding the pathogen diversity and co-infection rates in ticks and wildlife hosts in urban and peri-urban Romania are scanty. We aimed to establish the risk of human exposure to co-infected ticks in Cluj-Napoca, a major city in Romania. DNA was isolated from 151 questing ticks: Ixodes ricinus (n = 95), Haemaphysalis punctata (n = 53), Dermacentor reticulatus (n = 2), and Dermacentor marginatus (n = 1); 222 engorged ticks: I. ricinus (n = 164), I. hexagonus (n = 36), H. punctata (n = 16), H. concinna (n = 6), and 70 tissue samples collected from wildlife hosts during 2018 in five urban, and two peri-urban sites. Using a pre-designed Fluidigm real-time PCR dynamic array, all DNA samples were individually screened for the presence of 44 vector-borne pathogens. Subsequently, conventional PCRs were performed for a selection of samples to allow validation and sequencing. In total, 15 pathogens were identified to species and 6 to genus level. In questing ticks, single infections were more common than co-infections. Seven Borrelia spp. were detected in questing I. ricinus, and three in H. punctata ticks. An overall high prevalence 26.35% (95% CI: 19.46–34.22) and diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was seen in urban questing ticks. Other pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were present with variable prevalence. Co-infections occurred in 27.4% (95% CI: 18.72-37.48) of all infected questing ticks. In engorged ticks the overall Bo. burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence was 35.6% (95% CI: 29.29–42.27), with five species present. Pathogens of the order Rickettsiales were also frequently detected. We report for the first time in Romania the presence of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia felis. Overall, from the infected engorged ticks, 69.2% showcased co-infections. In Ixodes spp., dual co-infections, namely Borrelia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia helvetica and A. phagocytophilum were the most prevalent. Given the outcome, we underline the need to establish proper tick-surveillance programs in cities and include co-infections in the management plan of tick-borne diseases in Romania.

Epidemiology and molecular genetic characteristics of Lyme borreliosis pathogens circulating in tick’s population in the Almaty oblast of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Background. Information on the geographical distribution of different species of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. burgdorferi s.l.) complex is of great epidemiological importance, since different genospecies are associated with certain clinical manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. Although Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan is considered to be endemic for tick-borne borreliosis, there is still no accurate data on the level of borrelia infection in ticks in the region, including information on the genotypes of circulating borrelia.The aim of this work was to study ticks collected from humans in the Almaty region of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2018.Materials and methods. Ticks were tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA, genotyping of the identified borrelia was done by sequencing of the fragment of 16S rRNA gene. The analysis of epidemiological data on the incidence of Lyme borreliosis in the Almaty region in 2013–2018 was performed.Results. Rhipicephalus turanicus (116/253), Haemaphysalis punctata (74/253), Dermacentor marginatus (28/253), and Ixodes persulcatus (23/253) were the predominant species of ticks taken from humans. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection in I. persulcatus ticks was 39.13% (9/23) It should be noted that the DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. was also detected in single individuals of D. marginatus, H. punctata, and R. turanicus, although these species are not considered as competent B. burgdorferi s.l. vectors.Conclusion. As a result of sequencing of the positive homogenates of ticks, two genotypes of B. burgdorferi s.l. were identified: B. afzelii and B. garinii and/or B. bavariensis. Thus, at least two genospecies, B. afzelii and B. garinii and/or B. bavariensis, circulate in the territory of the Almaty region.

Effects of climate change on babesiosis vectors.

This chapter discusses the impact of climate change on the abundance and distribution of babesiosis vectors and, by implication, transmission of Babesia spp. It discusses evidence for climate change impact on the vectors Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Haemaphysalis punctata and Hyalomma spp. as well as the absence of evidence of the same climate change effects on the vectors Rhipicephalus spp. and I. scapularis.

Vectors, molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of TBEV in Kazakhstan and central Asia

Background In the South of Kazakhstan, Almaty Oblastʼ (region) is endemic for tick-borne encephalitis, with 0.16–0.32 cases/100,000 population between 2016–2018. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and circulating subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Almaty Oblastʼ and Kyzylorda Oblastʼ. Methods In 2015 we investigated 2341 ticks from 7 sampling sites for the presence of TBEV. Ticks were pooled in 501 pools and isolated RNA was tested for the presence of TBEV by RT-qPCR. For the positive samples, the E gene was amplified, sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Results A total of 48 pools were TBEV-positive by the RT-qPCR. TBEV-positive ticks were only detected in three districts of Almaty Oblastʼ and not in Kyzylorda Oblastʼ. The positive TBEV pools were found within Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. These tick species prevailed only in Almaty Oblastʼ whereas in Kyzylorda Oblastʼ Hyalomma asiaticum and D. marginatus are endemic. The minimum infection rates (MIR) in the sampling sites were 4.4% in Talgar, 2.8% in Tekeli and 1.1% in Yenbekshikazakh, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences indicates that TBEV strains found in Almaty Oblastʼ clusters in the Siberian subtype within two different clades. Conclusions We provided new data about the TBEV MIR in ticks in Almaty Oblastʼ and showed that TBEV clusters in the Siberian Subtype in two different clusters at the nucleotide level. These results indicate that there are different influences on the circulating TBEV strains in south-eastern Kazakhstan. These influences might be caused by different routes of the virus spread in ticks which might bring different genetic TBEV lineages to Kazakhstan. The new data about the virus distribution and vectors provided here will contribute to an improvement of monitoring of tick-borne infections and timely anti-epidemic measures in Kazakhstan.

Host-ectoparasite Associations: The Role of Host Traits, Season and Habitat on Parasitism Interactions of the Rodents of Northeastern Iran

Background Rodents play a significant role as reservoirs of zoonotic diseases. Nevertheless, their ectoparasite assemblage and host-ectoparasite associations are poorly known. This study intended to give new insights on the relationships between ectoparasites and rodents in northeastern Iran. Methods Rodents were captured using live traps during the year of 2016–2020 and their ectoparasites were collected. Parasitological indices such as infestation rate, prevalence and mean intensity of infestation were analyzed. Results A total of 284 rodents, belonging to 17 species, were trapped which infested by 178 ectoparasites from five orders Siphonaptera, Phthiraptera, Ixodida, Mesostigmata and Trombidiformes. Overall infestation rate was 50.3%. Flea Nosopsyllus fasciatus and louse Polyplax asiatica were dominated among all fleas and lice, respectively. Haemaphysalis punctata and Haemolaelaps sp. were recorded as the most abundant tick and mite, respectively. Nosopsyllus fasciatus exhibited low and Polyplax asiatica moderate host specificity. Around 64.2% of ectoparasites shared more than one host and others were singletons. Seasonal fluctuations were found in the occurrence of ectoparasite; fleas and lice were more abundant in spring and winter, respectively. Ticks demonstrated high abundance in spring and summer and mites were more common in autumn. Overall prevalence of ectoparasite on male rodents was greater than females (56.4% vs. 44.4%), while similar mean intensity were detected for both sexes. Conclusions This study extend the knowledge on the distribution, seasonality and host choice of four main groups of ectoparasites in associations with rodents. Further studies are needed to can provide deep insight into how relationships and interactions between ectoparasite and rodents are formed, and how they can be applied in epidemiology.