Anaplasma phagocytophilum and other tick-borne bacteria in wild animals in western Slovakia

Štefanidesová, Katarína; Špitalská, Eva; Krkoš, Ivan; Smetanová, Elena; Kocianová, Elena

doi:10.2478/s11756-011-0131-1

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The presence of this bacterium in game has frequently been reported from different regions of Europe [ 19 , 95 ], with varying prevalences depending on the host species, examined tissue, site, but also on the sensitivity of the detection method used. The infection rates of 100% in red deer, 95.4% in fallow deer, and 92.9% in roe deer estimated from our study are higher than values previously reported from Slovakia: red deer 17.5–53.1% [ 24 , 57 , 102 ]; fallow deer 66.7% [ 24 ], and roe deer 50–77% [ 24 , 57 , 102 , 103 ]. The infection rates determined in this study are in the upper range of those confirmed by PCR in cervids from other countries of mainland Europe, where the values in red deer ranged between 1.5–86% [ 89 , 104 – 114 ], in fallow deer between 1.5–72.5% [ 42 , 105 , 106 , 108 , 110 , 112 , 115 , 116 ] and in roe deer between 9.6–98.9% [ 38 , 42 , 89 , 105 – 113 , 117 – 120 ].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

et al. 2018

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BackgroundFree-living ungulates are hosts of ixodid ticks and reservoirs of tick-borne microorganisms in central Europe and many regions around the world. Tissue samples and engorged ticks were obtained from roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon, and wild boar hunted in deciduous forests of south-western Slovakia. DNA isolated from these samples was screened for the presence of tick-borne microorganisms by PCR-based methods.ResultsTicks were found to infest all examined ungulate species. The principal infesting tick was Ixodes ricinus, identified on 90.4% of wildlife, and included all developmental stages. Larvae and nymphs of Haemaphysalis concinna were feeding on 9.6% of wildlife. Two specimens of Dermacentor reticulatus were also identified. Ungulates were positive for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was found to infect 96.1% of cervids, 88.9% of mouflon, and 28.2% of wild boar, whereas Theileria spp. was detected only in cervids (94.6%). Importantly, a high rate of cervids (89%) showed mixed infections with both these microorganisms. In addition to A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp., Rickettsia helvetica, R. monacensis, unidentified Rickettsia sp., Coxiella burnetii, “Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis”, Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) and Babesia venatorum were identified in engorged I. ricinus. Furthermore, A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. were detected in engorged H. concinna. Analysis of 16S rRNA and groEL gene sequences revealed the presence of five and two A. phagocytophilum variants, respectively, among which sequences identified in wild boar showed identity to the sequence of the causative agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria 18S rRNA gene sequences amplified from cervids and engorged I. ricinus ticks segregated jointly with sequences of T. capreoli isolates into a moderately supported monophyletic clade.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that free-living ungulates are reservoirs for A. phagocytophilum and Theileria spp. and engorged ixodid ticks attached to ungulates are good sentinels for the presence of agents of public and veterinary concern. Further analyses of the A. phagocytophilum genetic variants and Theileria species and their associations with vector ticks and free-living ungulates are required.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-3068-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 72%

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

et al. 2018

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“…Unlike in the USA, A. phagocytophilum genotypes that are associated with European rodents are probably transmitted solely by I. trianguliceps, therefore these strains may be not of risk for humans, considering the narrow host selection behaviour and feeding preference of this tick species (Blaňarová et al 2014). The main reservoir hosts for A. phagocytophilum in Slovakia are wild living ungulates (Smetanová et al 2006;Stefanidesova et al 2008;Štefanidesová et al 2011;Víchová et al 2014;Kazimírová et al 2018) (Table 2). Kazimírová et al (2018) reported very high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum in cervids from SW Slovakia where locally 100% of red deer, 95.4% of fallow deer and 92.9% of roe deer were infected.…”

Section: Anaplasma Phagocytophilummentioning

confidence: 99%

Ticks and their epidemiological role in Slovakia: from the past till present

et al. 2021

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In Slovakia, 22 tick species have been found to occur to date. Among them, Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. marginatus and marginally Haemaphysalis concinna, H. inermis and H. punctata have been identified as the species of public health relevance. Ticks in Slovakia were found to harbour and transmit zoonotic and/or potentially zoonotic agents such as tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV), spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, the relapsing fever sprirochaete Borrelia miyamotoi, bacteria belonging to the orders Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis), Legionellales (Coxiella burnetii), and Thiotrichales (Francisella tularensis), and Babesia spp. parasites (order Piroplasmida). Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of the largest variety of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria and piroplasms. TBEV, B. burgdorferi s.l., rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, C. burnetii and F. tularensis have been found to cause serious diseases in humans, whereas B. miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, N. mikurensis, Babesia microti, and B. venatorum pose lower or potential risk to humans. Distribution of TBEV has a focal character. During the last few decades, new tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) foci and their spread to new areas have been registered and TBE incidence rates have increased. Moreover, Slovakia reports the highest rates of alimentary TBE infections among the European countries. Lyme borreliosis (LB) spirochaetes are spread throughout the distribution range of I. ricinus. Incidence rates of LB have shown a slightly increasing trend since 2010. Only a few sporadic cases of human rickettsiosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis have been confirmed thus far in Slovakia. The latest large outbreaks of Q fever and tularaemia were recorded in 1993 and 1967, respectively. Since then, a few human cases of Q fever have been reported almost each year. Changes in the epidemiological characteristics and clinical forms of tularaemia have been observed during the last few decades. Global changes and development of modern molecular tools led to the discovery and identification of emerging or new tick-borne microorganisms and symbionts with unknown zoonotic potential. In this review, we provide a historical overview of research on ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Slovakia with the most important milestones and recent findings, and outline future directions in the investigation of ticks as ectoparasites and vectors of zoonotic agents and in the study of tick-borne diseases.Keywords Tick-borne pathogens . Tick-borne encephalitis virus . Borrelia . Anaplasma . Rickettsia . Coxiella burnetii . Francisella tularensis . Babesia

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“… ✓ Trávniček et al (2003) ; Bhide et al (2004) Capreolus capreolus , Cervus elaphus , Ovis musimon Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ Stefanidesova et al (2008) Capreolus capreolus , Cervus elaphus , Sus scrofa Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ Smetanová et al (2006) ; Štefanidesová et al (2016) Capreolus capreolus Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ (deer ked Lipoptena cervi ) Víchová er al. (2011) Capreolus capreolus , Cervus elaphus , Dama dama , Sus scrofa Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ Víchová et al (2014) Capreolus capreolus Rickettsia helvetica ✓ Stefanidesova et al (2008) Sus scrofa Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ Štefanidesová et al (2011) Sus scrofa Anaplasma phagocytophilum ✓ Reiterová et al (2016) Sus scrofa Rickettsia helvetica ✓ Nováková et al (2022) Ovis aries musimon , D. dama TBEV, Borrelia ,...…”

Section: Tick Borne Pathogens Vectors Reservoir Hosts and Knowledge Gapsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Slovakia

Kazimírová,

Mangová,

Chvostáč

et al. 2024

Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases

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Anaplasma phagocytophilum and other tick-borne bacteria in wild animals in western Slovakia

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

Diverse tick-borne microorganisms identified in free-living ungulates in Slovakia

Ticks and their epidemiological role in Slovakia: from the past till present

The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases in Slovakia

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