Durch Zecken übertragene humanpathogene und bisher als apathogen geltende Mikroorganismen in Europa

Abstract

The importance of tick-borne diseases has significantly increased objectively and subjectively during the last few years. This fact was demonstrated by the description of tick-borne viruses, in particular with respect to tickborne encephalitis published in part I. Here in part II, tick-borne bacteria and parasites will be discussed as well the significance of these agents, their vectors, clinical course, diagnostics, prophylaxis, and therapy. Naturally, Lyme borreliosis, one of the most important tick-borne bacterial illnesses of humans, is the center of our interest. In addition to basic understanding, critical practice-relevant advice regarding all agents is presented. Similarly all tick-borne bacterial diseases such as relapsing fever, tularemia, ehrlichiosis, and rickettsiosis including Q fever will be discussed. Tick-borne zoonotic babesiae are parasites whose veterinary importance has been known for the last 100 years but whose relevance for human medicine only became evident in 1957. The fact that multiple and mixed infections caused by ticks are possible has been known for years. Taking into account such a high prevalence of the infectious agents in ticks, such multiple infections were to be expected. During the last few years it has become evident that double and multiple infections of humans caused by tick bites occur far more frequently than has been known so far. As a result, in cases of unclear anamnesis,new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches should be taken. In general one can say that considerable additional scientific research is necessary to effectively reduce the incidence of tick-borne diseases.

Gefahren der Übertragung von Krankheitserregern durch Schildzecken in Deutschland

“…Nachdem es lange Jahre als Typvirus für eine eigene Gattung (Uukuvirus) in der Familie Bunyaviridae aufgelistet war, wird es nun in die Gattung Phlebovirus der gleichen Virusfamilie eingruppiert und bildet dort das Typvirus für die Zecken-übertragenen Phleboviren. Auch in Deutschland konnte es zufällig im Rahmen von FSME-Durchseuchungsstudien in Zecken nachgewiesen werden [11]. Es errang in den letzten Monaten wieder eine gewisse Aufmerksamkeit, da 2 neu entdeckte humanpathogene Bunyaviren in China (HuaiyangshanVirus) und in den USA (Heartland-Virus) genetisch mit UUKV nahe verwandt sind.…”

Coxiella burnetii—Erreger des Q-(query) Fiebers

“…Coxiella burnetii ist weltweit verbreitet und wird als zoonotischer Erreger auf den Menschen übertragen [5]. Hauptinfektionsquelle stellen nach derzeitigem Kenntnisstand infizierte Schafe, Ziegen und Rinder dar.…”

Arboviruses – Viruses Transmissible by Arthropods

“…It is assumed that approximately 2% of the population in German endemic areas is infected with TBEV, with a higher prevalence in forestry workers, for example [13,18,19]. Transmission of arboviruses via body fluids such as blood is possible but is only really of any significance in the case of haemorrhagic fevers (e.g.…”