Abstract:In Europe, Ixodes ricinus tick is the vector of Lyme disease spirochetes and their relatives (Borreliella genus) and Borrelia miyamotoi. However, a newly described tick I. inopinatus with similar biological features and separated from I. ricinus may act as a vector for different Borrelia species. To date, eleven Borreliella species were detected in the natural populations of I. ricinus. Recently, two North American species have been detected in ticks parasitizing bats and red foxes in Europe, i.e., B. lanei an… Show more
With almost 700 000 estimated cases each year in the United States and Europe, Lyme borreliosis (LB), also called Lyme disease, is the most common tick-borne illness in the world. Transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes and caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, LB occurs with various symptoms, such as erythema migrans, which is characteristic, whereas others involve blurred clinical features such as fatigue, headaches, arthralgia, and myalgia. The diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis, based on a standard two-tiered serology, is the subject of many debates and controversies, since it relies on an indirect approach which suffers from a low sensitivity depending on the stage of the disease. Above all, early detection of the disease raises some issues. Inappropriate diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis leads to therapeutic wandering, inducing potential chronic infection with a strong antibody response that fails to clear the infection. Early and proper detection of Lyme disease is essential to propose an adequate treatment to patients and avoid the persistence of the pathogen. This review presents the available tests, with an emphasis on the improvements of the current diagnosis, the innovative methods and ideas which, ultimately, will allow more precise detection of LB.
With almost 700 000 estimated cases each year in the United States and Europe, Lyme borreliosis (LB), also called Lyme disease, is the most common tick-borne illness in the world. Transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes and caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, LB occurs with various symptoms, such as erythema migrans, which is characteristic, whereas others involve blurred clinical features such as fatigue, headaches, arthralgia, and myalgia. The diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis, based on a standard two-tiered serology, is the subject of many debates and controversies, since it relies on an indirect approach which suffers from a low sensitivity depending on the stage of the disease. Above all, early detection of the disease raises some issues. Inappropriate diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis leads to therapeutic wandering, inducing potential chronic infection with a strong antibody response that fails to clear the infection. Early and proper detection of Lyme disease is essential to propose an adequate treatment to patients and avoid the persistence of the pathogen. This review presents the available tests, with an emphasis on the improvements of the current diagnosis, the innovative methods and ideas which, ultimately, will allow more precise detection of LB.
“…Coinfections with B. garinii and B. valaisiana were found to prevail also in Slovakia, evidenced in [ 20 , 21 , 42 ] as well as in the present study. Recently, in neighbouring countries to Slovakia, the presence of “atypical” spirochete species, or their combinations, were detected in questing ticks in Poland [ 4 ] or in vertebrate hosts in the Czech Republic [ 6 ]. For the first time, the coinfection with B. bissettiae and B. carolinensis was shown in cadavers of red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris ) and European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus ).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Additional species such as B. carolinensis , B. californiensis , B. americana and B. lanei have sporadically been detected in European questing and host feeding Ixodes spp. and in wild animal tissues [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In Europe, pathogenicity to humans has been confirmed for eight species ( B. burgdorferi s.s., B. garinii , B. afzelii , B. bavariensis , B. spielmanii , B. bissettiae , B. lusitaniae and B. valaisiana ) [ 7 ].…”
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most prevalent tick-borne human infection in Europe, with increasing incidence during the latest decades. Abundant populations of Ixodes ricinus, the main vector of the causative agent, spirochetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex, have been observed in urban and suburban areas of Europe, in general, and Slovakia, particularly. Understanding the spread of infectious diseases is crucial for implementing effective control measures. Global changes affect contact rates of humans and animals with Borrelia-infected ticks and increase the risk of contracting LB. The aim of this study was to investigate spatial and temporal variation in prevalence of Bbsl and diversity of its species in questing I. ricinus from three sites representing urban/suburban, natural and agricultural habitat types in Slovakia. Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults were collected by dragging the vegetation in green areas of Bratislava town (urban/suburban habitat), in the Small Carpathians Mountains (natural habitat) (south-western Slovakia) and in an agricultural habitat at Rozhanovce in eastern Slovakia. Borrelia presence in ticks was detected by PCR and Bbsl species were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. species in coinfected ticks were identified by reverse line blot. Significant spatial and temporal variability in prevalence of infected ticks was revealed in the explored habitats. The lowest total prevalence was detected in the urban/suburban habitat, whereas higher prevalence was found in the natural and agricultural habitat. Six Bbsl species were detected by RFLP in each habitat type —B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. lusitaniae and B. spielmanii. Coinfections accounted for 3% of the total infections, whereby B. kurtenbachii was identified by RLB and sequencing in mixed infection with B. burgdorferi s.s, B. garinii and B. valaisiana. This finding represents the first record of B. kurtenbachii in questing I. ricinus in Slovakia and Europe. Variations in the proportion of Bbsl species were found between nymphs and adults, between years and between habitat types. Spatial variations in prevalence patterns and proportion of Bbsl species were also confirmed between locations within a relatively short distance in the urban habitat. Habitat-related and spatial variations in Borrelia prevalence and distribution of Bbsl species are probably associated with the local environmental conditions and vertebrate host spectrum. Due to the presence of Borrelia species pathogenic to humans, all explored sites can be ranked as areas with high epidemiological risk.
“…Details on the number and stages of the ticks collected in individual sites are presented in Table 1. The ticks have previously been tested for the presence of Borreliaceae bacteria, as well as molecular identi cation of ticks species has been carried out (Wodecka and Kolomiiets 2023).…”
Section: Ticks Collection and Identi Cationmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Among all twenty ticks positive for T. gondii, 30% (one nymph from Świerznica; accession number: OR547663, and ve nymphs from Bartoszewo; accession numbers: OR547650, OR547653, OR547656, OR547658 and OR547662) were positive for bacteria of the Borreliella genus (formerly Borrelia) that have previously been detected byWodecka and Kolomiiets (2023). The nymph from Świerznica was coinfected with Borreliella myiamotoi, two nymphs from Bartoszewo -B. carolinensis and the remaining three -with B. garinii, B. afzelii, B. spielmanii.…”
Toxoplasma gondii occurs in a wide range of intermediate hosts whose blood may be a source of infection for ticks. There are few studies on the involvement of ticks in T. gondii life cycle and this one includes the largest number and all stages of Ixodes ricinus collected from the widest area, covering seven recreational localities within a forest biotope in Northern Poland. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii DNA in collected 2144 questing ticks to establish if they may be involved in T. gondii transmission. The aim was also genotyping of detected T. gondii as knowledge about its genotypes occurring in European ticks is insufficient. The next goal was detection of ticks coinfection with T. gondii and Borreliaceae, as all ticks examined in this study have previously been tested for the presence of Borreliaceae DNA. Nested PCR and sequencing of the obtained B1 gene fragment were conducted. T. gondii DNA was detected in 0.9% of all ticks (1.1% of nymphs, 0.7% of larvae). The presence of T. gondii in unfed larvae and nymphs may indicate the possibility of its transovarial and transstadial transmission. Prevalence of T. gondii DNA in ticks collected from individual sites was focal (0-4.3%) and seems to be dependent on local conditions. Among all examined ticks, 0.3% were coinfected with T. gondii and Borreliella spp. vs. 0.6% of specimens with T. gondii single infection. The obtained B1 sequences showed the greatest similarity (99.71–100%) to the sequence representing type III.
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