Human seroprevalence against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in two comparable regions of the eastern Alps is not correlated to vector infection rates

Sonnleitner, Sissy Therese; Margos, Gabriele; Wex, Franziska; Simeoni, J.; Zelger, R.; Schmutzhard, Erich; Lass‐Flörl, Cornelia; Walder, Gernot

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.12.006

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These patterns were also observed when the analyses were restricted to the valleys where TLR2 c4 did occur (elevation: χ 2 = 13.348, p < 0.001; Borrelia infection risk: χ 2 = 5.038, p = 0.025). Sonnleitner et al, 2015). This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that Borrelia is currently undergoing a range expansion (Jaenson, Jaenson, Eisen, Petersson, & Lindgren, 2012;Medlock et al, 2013) and that host populations at higher latitudes and elevations that were previously Borrelia-free are newly becoming exposed.…”

Section: Spatial Variation In Host Immunogenetic Compositionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…This spatial variation in Borrelia infection risk translated into spatial variation in Borrelia infection prevalence in natural rodent hosts, which was highest at low and middle elevation sites where Borrelia infection risk is high and significantly decreased with increasing elevation. Although infection prevalence was low at high‐elevation sites, a few infected bank voles were found up to 1,680 masl, which is 500–600 m higher than the highest previously reported Borrelia infection in natural hosts in the Alps (Italy, 1,200 masl; Pintore et al., ; Austria, 1,090 masl; Sonnleitner et al., ). This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that Borrelia is currently undergoing a range expansion (Jaenson, Jaenson, Eisen, Petersson, & Lindgren, 2012; Medlock et al., ) and that host populations at higher latitudes and elevations that were previously Borrelia ‐free are newly becoming exposed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Small‐scale spatial variation in infection risk shapes the evolution of a Borrelia resistance gene in wild rodents

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spatial variation in pathogen-mediated selection is predicted to influence the evolutionary trajectory of host populations and lead to spatial variation in their immunogenetic composition. However, to date few studies have been able to directly link small-scale spatial variation in infection risk to host immune gene evolution in natural, nonhuman populations. Here, we use a natural rodent-Borrelia system to test for associations between landscape-level spatial variation in Borrelia infection risk along replicated elevational gradients in the Swiss Alps and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) evolution, a candidate gene for Borrelia resistance, across bank vole (Myodes glareolus) populations. We found that Borrelia infection risk (i.e., the product of Borrelia prevalence in questing ticks and the average tick load of voles at a sampling site) was spatially variable and significantly negatively associated with elevation. Across sampling sites, Borrelia prevalence in bank voles was significantly positively associated with Borrelia infection risk along the elevational clines. We observed a significant association between naturally occurring TLR2 polymorphisms in hosts and their Borrelia infection status. The TLR2 variant associated with a reduced likelihood of Borrelia infection was most common in rodent populations at lower elevations that face a high Borrelia infection risk, and its frequency changed in accordance with the change in Borrelia infection risk along the elevational clines. These results suggest that small-scale spatial variation in parasite-mediated selection affects the immunogenetic composition of natural host populations, providing a striking example that the microbial environment shapes the evolution of the host's immune system in the wild.

show abstract

Section: Spatial Variation In Host Immunogenetic Compositionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Small‐scale spatial variation in infection risk shapes the evolution of a Borrelia resistance gene in wild rodents

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The occurrence of ticks in North Tyrol ( Ixodes ricinus being the main representative in Central Europe) has been previously documented at elevations up to more than 1500 m above sea level (Sonnleitner et al 2015), but benefitting from environmental changes, the distribution of the ticks now reaches a higher elevation. In the Kaunertal’s neighbouring valley Ötztal, I. ricinus has been located at altitudes of 2000 m, and altitudes of 1700 m are evidenced in the entire state (personal communication, Gernot Walder).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Screening of wild ruminants from the Kaunertal and other alpine regions of Tyrol (Austria) for vector-borne pathogens

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Knowledge about vector-borne pathogens important for human and veterinary medicine in wild ruminants in Tyrol (Austria) is scarce. Blood samples from Alpine ibex ( Capra ibex ; n = 44), Alpine chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ; n = 21), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ; n = 18) and red deer ( Cervus elaphus ; n = 6) were collected over a period of 4 years (2015–2018) in four regions in North Tyrol, with a primary focus on the Kaunertal. Blood spots on filter paper were tested for the presence of DNA of vector-borne pathogens ( Anaplasmataceae , Piroplasmida, Rickettsia and filarioid helminths). Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia capreoli were detected in two of 89 (2.3%) blood samples. Rickettsia spp., Theileria spp. and filarioid helminths were not documented. One Alpine chamois was positive for A. phagocytophilum and B. capreoli . Moreover, an ibex from the Kaunertal region was positive for A. phagocytophilum . While the ibex was a kid less than 1 year old, the chamois was an adult individual. Further research is recommended to evaluate effects of climate change on infection rates of North Tyrolean wild ruminants by these pathogens and the distribution of their vectors.

show abstract

“…Borrelia seroprevalence among blood donors in Europe does not exceed 10% 46–48 . In our study, the IgM and IgG seroplevalence in ELISA tests were rather similar (13.1% and 5.0%), and 23% (IgM) and 80% (IgG) of positive/doubtful results were confirmed in WB, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seroprevalence of six pathogens transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus ticks in asymptomatic individuals with HIV infection and in blood donors

Bednarska

Kowalska

Uszyńska-Kałuża³

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The objective of our study was to estimate the seroprevalence of six pathogens transmitted by ticks in HIV-infected persons and blood donors in Poland (B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp. Bartonella henselae) to assess the frequency of exposure to such microorganisms in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals in endemic regions for I. ricinus ticks. Serum samples were collected from 227 HIV-infected patients and 199 blood donors. All samples were analyzed for antibodies against six tick-borne pathogens and seroprevalence rates were statistically compared between two tested group as well as age, sex and lymphocyte T CD4+ level in HIV infected patients. The seroprevalence of tick-borne infections in HIV-infected patients is higher than that of the healthy population in Poland, although no association between serological status of patients and lymphocyte CD4+ T cell level has been observed. The frequency of tick-borne coinfections and doubtful results of serological tests were significantly higher in HIV-positive individuals. In Poland, the possibility of tick-borne diseases transmission with blood is rather negligible.

show abstract

Human seroprevalence against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in two comparable regions of the eastern Alps is not correlated to vector infection rates

Cited by 15 publications

References 33 publications

Small‐scale spatial variation in infection risk shapes the evolution of a Borrelia resistance gene in wild rodents

Small‐scale spatial variation in infection risk shapes the evolution of a Borrelia resistance gene in wild rodents

Screening of wild ruminants from the Kaunertal and other alpine regions of Tyrol (Austria) for vector-borne pathogens

Seroprevalence of six pathogens transmitted by the Ixodes ricinus ticks in asymptomatic individuals with HIV infection and in blood donors

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About