Detection of tick-borne pathogens in ticks from dogs and cats in different European countries

Geurden, Thomas; Becskei, Csilla; Six, Robert H.; Maeder, Steven; Latrofa, Maria Stefanía; Otranto, Domenico; Farkas, Róbert

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.06.013

Cited by 50 publications

(52 citation statements)

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“…[45]. Previous studies report A. phagocytophilum in ticks of domestic dogs and wild carnivores from Italy, with a prevalence ranging from 0% to 16.6% [22,[46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. A. platys and E. canis were reported in tick pools from both northern and southern provinces (p>0.05), in contrast with previous reports of higher seroprevalence levels in dogs from southern Italy [54,55] and Sardinia [56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Several country-wide studies have been made in Europe to assess ticks and TBPs presence and distribution in companion animals [15][16][17][18][19][20]. In Italy, several efforts have been made to evaluate the prevalence of circulating tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from dogs [21,22], although limited to certain areas. In order to better understand the distribution of TBPs in Italy, we propose the first large-scale molecular survey on TBPs harbored in ticks collected from privately-owned dogs [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Zanet

Battisti

Pepe

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasingly recognized as a cause of disease in dogs worldwide. The epidemiology of ticks and tick-transmitted protozoa and bacteria has changed due to the spread of ticks to urban and peri-urban areas and the movement of infected animals, posing new risks for animals and humans. This countrywide study reports information on distribution and prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy. We analyzed 2681 Ixodidae ticks, collected from 1454 pet dogs from Italy. Specific PCR protocols were used to detect i) Piroplasms of the genera Babesia and Theileria , ii) Gram-negative cocci of the family Anaplasmataceae and iii) Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Sequencing of positive amplicons allowed for species identification. Results Babesia / Theileria spp. DNA was detected in 435 homogeneous tick-pools (Minimum Infection Rate (MIR) = 27.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 25.4-29.8%) with higher prevalence in Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguneus group. The zoonotic B. venatorum was the most prevalent species (MIR = 7.5%; 95% CI = 6.3-9.0%). Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species were detected in 165 tick-pools (MIR = 10.5%; 95% CI = 9.3-11.8%) and specifically, A. phagocytophilum was identified with MIR = 5.1% (95% CI = 4.1-6.3%). Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and B. afzelii were detected with MIR = 0.4% (95% CI = 0.2-0.8%) and MIR = 0.3% (95% CI 0.1-0.7%) respectively. Conclusions Zoonotic pathogens B. venatorum and A. phagocytophilum were the most frequently detected in ticks collected from privately-owned dogs which might be used as markers of pathogens presence and distribution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Zanet

Battisti

Pepe

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…phagocytophilum in ticks of domestic dogs and wild carnivores from Italy, with a prevalence ranging from 0% to 16.6% [22,[43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. A. platys and E. canis were reported homogeneously in tick pools from both northern and southern provinces, in contrast with previous reports of higher seroprevalence levels in dogs from southern Italy [51,52] and Sardinia [53].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Several country-wide studies have been made in Europe to assess ticks and TBPs presence and distribution in companion animals [15][16][17][18][19][20]. In Italy, several efforts have been made to evaluate the prevalence of circulating tick-borne pathogens in ticks collected from dogs [21,22], although limited to certain areas. In order to better understand the distribution of TBPs in Italy, we propose the first large-scale nationwide survey on ticks collected from privately-owned dogs [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Zanet

Battisti

Pepe

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasingly recognized as a cause of disease in dogs worldwide. The epidemiology of ticks and tick-transmitted protozoa and bacteria has changed due to the spread of ticks to urban and peri-urban areas and the movement of infected animals, posing new risks for animals and humans. This countrywide study reports information on distribution and prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy. We analyzed 2681 Ixodidae ticks, collected from 1454 pet dogs from Italy. Specific PCR protocols were used to detect i) Piroplasms of the genera Babesia and Theileria , ii) Gram-negative cocci of the family Anaplasmataceae and iii) Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Sequencing of positive amplicons allowed for species identification.Results Babesia / Theileria spp. DNA was detected in 435 tick-pools (Minimum Infection Rate (MIR) = 27.57%; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 25.42-29.82%) with higher prevalence in Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguneus group. The zoonotic B. venatorum was the most prevalent species (MIR = 7.54%; 95% CI = 6.34-8.95%). Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species were detected in 165 tick-pools (MIR = 10.46%; 95% CI = 9.26-11.79%) and specifically, A. phagocytophilum was identified with MIR = 5.07% (95% CI = 4.09-6.27%). Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and B. afzelii were detected with MIR = 0.38% (95% CI = 0.17-0.83%) and MIR = 0.25% (95% CI 0.1-0.65%) respectively.Conclusions Zoonotic pathogens were the most frequently detected in ticks collected from privately-owned dogs which might be used as markers of pathogens presence and distribution.

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“…The present study of the behaviour of D. reticulatus males on the host are in line with researchers' interest in identification of routes of tick pathogen transmission to potential hosts. Research on the parasitic phase in male ixodid ticks has become more relevant since tick-borne pathogens were detected in specimens removed from a host [13,23,24,25,26]. For instance, Földvári et al [13] identified Rickettsia slovaca and Rickettsia raoultii in D. reticulatus and D. marginatus males removed from the skin of patients with tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) symptoms.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host feeding behaviour of Dermacentor reticulatus males in relation to the transmission of pathogens

Bartosik

Buczek

et al. 2019

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction. The three-host Dermacentor reticulatus tick transmits many pathogens, which are introduced into the host with saliva during feeding. Material and methods. The aim of present study was to analyse the behaviour of males of this species on the host in homogeneous sex groups comprising 15 (group I) and 30 (group II) male specimens and in a mixed group composed of 15 males and 15 females (group III). Results. Although the dynamics of attachment of the males to host skin slightly differed between these three groups, there was no statistically significant difference in the duration of the attachment process. The duration of host attachment of the males in groups I, II, and III at 18 ± 2 °C and 50 ± 2% RH was 2.43 ± 2.46, 7.75 ± 11.85, and 9.07 ± 10.97 days, respectively. After 7-9-day feeding, the male engorgement weight (MEW) was similar, regardless of the size of the group and the presence or absence of females on the host. Tick males ingest a small amount of host blood. The value of MEW in the three groups did not differ statistically from the weight of unengorged specimens. Conclusions. The host feeding behaviour of D. reticulatus males and their effective feeding suggest that they may play a role in transmission of pathogens and non-pathogenic microorganisms with tick saliva during blood meal ingestion. Clinical and laboratory diagnostics of human and animal tick-borne diseases as well as epidemiological studies should consider the possibility of pathogen transmission by males of metastriata ticks, which feed on the host for several days.

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Detection of tick-borne pathogens in ticks from dogs and cats in different European countries

Cited by 50 publications

References 52 publications

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Tick-borne pathogens in Ixodidae ticks collected from privately-owned dogs in Italy: a country-wide molecular survey

Host feeding behaviour of Dermacentor reticulatus males in relation to the transmission of pathogens

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