<i>Babesia</i>
            Species Occurring in Austrian
            <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>
            Ticks

Blaschitz, Marion; Narodoslavsky-Gföller, Melanie; Kanzler, Michaela; Stanek, Gerold; Walochnik, Julia

doi:10.1128/aem.00035-08

Cited by 69 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…A slightly lower prevalence of 5.0% has been detected in host-seeking ticks from another area in central Germany (20), but the spread of babesiae in Europe shows a high degree of variability. In Norway, only 0.9% of questing ticks were infected with these agents (43), whereas in Austria, a prevalence of 51.7% has been detected (3).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Coexistence of Pathogens in Host-Seeking and Feeding Ticks within a Single Natural Habitat in Central Germany

Franke

Fritzsch

Tomaso³

et al. 2010

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The importance of established and emerging tick-borne pathogens in Central and Northern Europe is steadily increasing. In 2007, we collected Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on birds (n ‫؍‬ 211) and rodents (n ‫؍‬ 273), as well as host-seeking stages (n ‫؍‬ 196), in a habitat in central Germany. In order to find out more about their natural transmission cycles, the ticks were tested for the presence of Lyme disease borreliae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae, Francisella tularensis, and babesiae. Altogether, 20.1% of the 680 ticks examined carried at least one pathogen. Bird-feeding ticks were more frequently infected with Borrelia spp. (15.2%) and A. phagocytophilum (3.2%) than rodent-feeding ticks (2.6%; 1.1%) or questing ticks (5.1%; 0%). Babesia spp. showed higher prevalence rates in ticks parasitizing birds (13.2%) and host-seeking ticks (10.7%), whereas ticks from small mammals were less frequently infected (6.6%). SFG rickettsiae and F. tularensis were also found in ticks collected off birds (2.1%; 1.2%), rodents (1.8%; 1.5%), and vegetation (4.1%; 1.6%). Various combinations of coinfections occurred in 10.9% of all positive ticks, indicating interaction of transmission cycles. Our results suggest that birds not only are important reservoirs for several pathogens but also act as vehicles for infected ticks and might therefore play a key role in the dispersal of tick-borne diseases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Coexistence of Pathogens in Host-Seeking and Feeding Ticks within a Single Natural Habitat in Central Germany

Franke

Fritzsch

Tomaso³

et al. 2010

Appl Environ Microbiol

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“…In addition, three species of the parasitic protozoan Babesia are known to infect humans, namely, B. divergens, B. microti, and the newly described Babesia sp. EU1 (5). Also, in Western Europe, Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has a relatively low prevalence; however, this pathogen deserves special attention because of the severe disease it causes in humans.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and Seasonality of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks from Luxembourg

Reye

Hübschen

Sausy

et al. 2010

Appl Environ Microbiol

145

105

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In Europe, ixodid ticks are important arthropod vectors of human and animal pathogens, but comprehensive studies of the prevalence of all relevant pathogens in Central Europe are scarce. As a result of ecological changes, the incidences of tick-borne infections are expected to increase. In this study, 1,394 nymphal and adult Ixodes ricinus ticks sampled monthly during the active season from 33 ecologically distinct collection sites throughout Luxembourg were screened for all human tick-borne pathogens relevant in Central Europe. Species were identified by sequence analysis of detection PCR amplicons. Mean infection rates of ticks were 11.3% for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 5.1% for Rickettsia sp., 2.7% for Babesia sp., and 1.9% for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. No tick was found to be infected with Coxiella sp., Francisella tularensis subsp., or Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). A total of 3.2% of ticks were infected with more than one pathogen species, including mixed Borrelia infections (1.5%). Seasonal variations of tick infection rates were observed for Borrelia, Babesia, and Anaplasma, possibly reflecting a behavioral adaptation strategy of questing ticks. A positive correlation between the grade of urbanization and Borrelia infection rate of ticks was observed, suggesting an established urban zoonotic cycle. We also found Hepatozoon canis (0.1%) and Bartonella henselae (0.3%), which so far have not been found in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in Central Europe.In Western Europe, the hard tick Ixodes ricinus is the main arthropod vector of various human and animal pathogens, causing several tens of thousands of severe infections in humans every year (25, 37). The most common tick-borne infection is Lyme borreliosis. This multisystemic disorder is caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, which is comprised of at least 12 species worldwide (45). Among the 6 European species, only Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto are known as human pathogens, whereas the significance of Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia spielmanii, and Borrelia lusitaniae for human health is not clear (24). In a metaanalysis of 154 European studies, a mean of 13.7% of ticks were found to be infected with Borrelia spp., predominantly with B. afzelii and B. garinii. However, the prevalence of Borrelia species varies from 2 to 49% between different regions (43).Other tick-borne bacteria which cause disease in humans are Rickettsia sp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis subsp., all of which show only relatively low prevalence rates of 0.1 to 4.8% for European ticks (16,23,26,42,48,52). In addition, three species of the parasitic protozoan Babesia are known to infect humans, namely, B. divergens, B. microti, and the newly described Babesia sp. EU1 (5). Also, in Western Europe, Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has a relatively low prevalence; however, this pathogen deserves special attention b...

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“…The primers and thermal profiles used in this study have been described previously [7,10,[47][48][49][50]. Reactions were performed in 1× PCR buffer, 1 U Taq polymerase, 1 μM of each primer and 2-5 μl of the extracted DNA sample.…”

Section: Molecular Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Primers Nbab_1F (5'-AGC CAT GCA TGT CTA AGT ATA AGC TTT T-3') [10] and TB Rev (5'-AAT AAT TCA CCG GAT CAC TCG-3') [50] were used for the genetic characterization of positive isolates by the amplification of a 1,700 bp near-full-length sequence of the 18S rRNA gene. As a second genetic marker, the 315 bp of the ITS2 region were amplified using the primers ITS2-F (5'-GGC TCA CAC AAC GAT GAA GG-3') and ITS2-R (5'-CTC GCC GTT ACT AAG GGA ATC-3') [7,47]. Additionally, a 615 bp sequence of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S region was amplified using the primers ITS1-F (5'-CGA GTG ATC CGG TGA ATT ATT C-3') and ITS1-R (5'-CCT TCA TCG TTG TGT GAG CC-3') [7,47].…”

Section: Molecular Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a second genetic marker, the 315 bp of the ITS2 region were amplified using the primers ITS2-F (5'-GGC TCA CAC AAC GAT GAA GG-3') and ITS2-R (5'-CTC GCC GTT ACT AAG GGA ATC-3') [7,47]. Additionally, a 615 bp sequence of the 18S-ITS1-5.8S region was amplified using the primers ITS1-F (5'-CGA GTG ATC CGG TGA ATT ATT C-3') and ITS1-R (5'-CCT TCA TCG TTG TGT GAG CC-3') [7,47]. PCR products were subjected to electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel, stained with Midori Green stain (Nippon Genetics, GmbH) and sequenced by a private company (Genomed S.A., Poland).…”

Section: Molecular Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Babesia behnkei sp. nov., a novel Babesia species infecting isolated populations of Wagner¿s gerbil, Dipodillus dasyurus, from the Sinai Mountains, Egypt

Bajer

Alsarraf

Bednarska

et al. 2014

Parasites & Vectors

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Background: Although a number of new species of Babesia/Theileria have been described recently, there are still relatively few reports of species from Africa. In this study based on the evaluation of morphology and phylogenetic relationships, we describe a novel species from Wagner's gerbil, Babesia behnkei n. sp.Methods: Rodents (n = 1021) were sampled in four montane valleys (wadies) in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 in the Sinai Mountains, Egypt. The overall prevalence of Babesia spp. was highest in the Wagner's gerbil (Dipodillus dasyurus; 38.7%) in comparison to the prevalence in the spiny mice species, Acomys dimidiatus and A. russatus. Morphological investigations were conducted for the comparison of trophozoites of the novel species of Babesia with the B. microti King's 67 reference strain. Thirty-two isolates derived from D. dasyurus over a 9 year period (2004-2012) from two wadies (29 isolates from Wadi Gebel and 3 from Wadi El-Arbaein) were investigated by microscopic, molecular and phylogenetic analysis. A near-full-length sequence of the 18S rRNA gene and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region were amplified, sequenced and used for the construction of phylogenetic trees.Results: A novel species of Babesia was identified in two isolated populations of D. dasyurus. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA and ITS2 sequences revealed that B. behnkei n. sp. is most closely related to B. lengau from cheetahs from South Africa and to Nearctic species found only in North America (the pathogenic B. duncani and B. conradae) and that it is more distant to the cosmopolitan rodent parasite B. microti. Trophozoites of B. behnkei were smaller and less polymorphic than trophozoites of B. microti.Conclusion: Babesia behnkei n. sp. is a novel species of the 'Duncani group' maintained in isolated populations of Dipodillus dasyurus occurring in the Sinai Mountains of Egypt.

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Babesia Species Occurring in Austrian Ixodes ricinus Ticks

Cited by 69 publications

References 32 publications

Coexistence of Pathogens in Host-Seeking and Feeding Ticks within a Single Natural Habitat in Central Germany

Coexistence of Pathogens in Host-Seeking and Feeding Ticks within a Single Natural Habitat in Central Germany

Prevalence and Seasonality of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks from Luxembourg

Babesia behnkei sp. nov., a novel Babesia species infecting isolated populations of Wagner¿s gerbil, Dipodillus dasyurus, from the Sinai Mountains, Egypt

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