<i>Ixodes ricinus</i> density, <i>Borrelia</i> prevalence and the density of infected nymphs along an urban–rural gradient in southern England

Hansford, Kayleigh M.; McGinley, Liz; Wheeler, Benedict W.; Tschirren, Barbara; Medlock, Jolyon M.

doi:10.1111/zph.13024

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(106 reference statements)

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“…The presented study revealed a zonal distribution of different spirochete species from the Borreliaceae family in Northern Poland not only by the presence or absence of particular species but also by differences in infection rates that correlate with different risks of human and animal infection. Similar differences in the distribution and infection rates are observed in other European studies [45][46][47]51,[58][59][60] but also in the case of different Borreliaceae species characteristics for Asia [61,62] and North America [63][64][65]. The cause of such zonality may be host specific, especially in the case of Borreliella species [66], and due to the differential availability in the studied area but not the climatic conditions which are similar for the entire area of research.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…In this study, markers were applied to allow for the detection of all the representatives of the Borreliaceae family in a nested PCR procedure with subsequent species identification by restriction analysis or by discrimination of the PCR product length. This procedure allows for avoiding results with undefined Borreliella species that occur in the case of using less variable molecular markers for standard PCR or speciesspecific probes for real-time PCR procedure [53,56,60,61,68]. The approach used in this study ensures identifying all PCR products so it allows for the assessment of the real representation of particular spirochete species in examined tick populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic Diversity of Borreliaceae Species Detected in Natural Populations of Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Northern Poland

Wodecka

Kolomiiets

2023

Life

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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 and B. californiensis pointing to the necessity for searching for them in natural tick populations. In this study, using the coxI molecular marker only I. ricinus was identified in field-collected ticks with the exception of individual specimens of Haemaphysalis concinna. Using the flaB gene and mag-trnI intergenic spacer as molecular markers 14 Borreliaceae species have been detected with various frequencies in different parts of northern Poland. Among infected ticks, the most frequent were Borreliella (Bl.) afzelii (29.4%) and Bl. garinii (20.0%), followed by Bl. spielmanii, Bl. valaisiana, Bl. lanei, Bl. californiensis, B. miyamotoi, Bl. burgdorferi, Bl. carolinensis, Bl. americana, B. turcica, Bl. lusitaniae, Bl. bissettiae and Bl. finlandensis. Three of the above-mentioned species, i.e., Bl. lanei, Bl. californiensis and B. turcica were detected in this study for the first time in the natural ixodid tick population in Europe. The existence of the newly detected spirochetes increases their total diversity in Europe and points to the necessity of careful identification and establishment of the actual distribution of all Borreliaceae species transmitted by I. ricinus.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic Diversity of Borreliaceae Species Detected in Natural Populations of Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Northern Poland

Wodecka

Kolomiiets

2023

Life

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“…Notably though, the same survey found no ticks at seven other locations (whereas ticks were collected at all our sites). A survey of publicly accessible rural woodland near Bath found a DON of 12.67/100 m 2 ( Hansford et al, 2023 ), and relatively unusually, also reported DOT: 13.0/100 m 2 (compared to 8, 22, and 30 per 300 m 2 at our sites ( Table 4 )). Dobson, Taylor & Randolph, 2011 sampled recreational sites in the New Forest and Exmoor National Parks.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…The fieldwork component of our study purposefully focused on county authority managed countryside sites with high numbers of recreational visitors. However, the SDNP also includes within its boundaries some small market towns ( i.e ., Lewes, Midhurst and Petersfield), and studies in both the UK and across Europe have reported presence of I. ricinus in urban habitats ( i.e ., parks and gardens) ( Rizzoli et al, 2014 ; Hansford et al, 2022 , 2023 ; Richter et al, 2023 ). Notably, our SDNP wide mapping did include tick records from gardens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tick hazard in the South Downs National Park (UK): species, distribution, key locations for future interventions, site density, habitats

Middleton,

Cooper,

Rott

2024

PeerJ

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Background South Downs National Park (SDNP) is UK’s most visited National Park, and a focus of tick-borne Lyme disease. The first presumed UK autochthonous cases of tick-borne encephalitis and babesiosis were recorded in 2019–20. SDNP aims to conserve wildlife and encourage recreation, so interventions are needed that reduce hazard without negatively affecting ecosystem health. To be successful these require knowledge of site hazards. Methods British Deer Society members submitted ticks removed from deer. Key potential intervention sites were selected and six 50 m2 transects drag-sampled per site (mostly twice yearly for 2 years). Ticks were identified in-lab (sex, life stage, species), hazard measured as tick presence, density of ticks (all life stages, DOT), and density of nymphs (DON). Sites and habitat types were analysed for association with hazard. Distribution was mapped by combining our results with records from five other sources. Results A total of 87 Ixodes ricinus (all but one adults, 82% F) were removed from 14 deer (10 Dama dama; three Capreolus capreolus; one not recorded; tick burden, 1–35) at 12 locations (commonly woodland). Five key potential intervention sites were identified and drag-sampled 2015–16, collecting 623 ticks (238 on-transects): 53.8% nymphs, 42.5% larvae, 3.7% adults (13 M, 10 F). Ticks were present on-transects at all sites: I. ricinus at three (The Mens (TM); Queen Elizabeth Country Park (QECP); Cowdray Estate (CE)), Haemaphysalis punctata at two (Seven Sisters Country Park (SSCP); Ditchling Beacon Nature Reserve (DBNR)). TM had the highest DOT at 30/300 m2 (DON = 30/300 m2), followed by QECP 22/300 m2 (12/300 m2), CE 8/300 m2 (6/300 m2), and SSCP 1/300 m2 (1/300 m2). For I. ricinus, nymphs predominated in spring, larvae in the second half of summer and early autumn. The overall ranking of site hazard held for DON and DOT from both seasonal sampling periods. DBNR was sampled 2016 only (one adult H. punctata collected). Woodland had significantly greater hazard than downland, but ticks were present at all downland sites. I. ricinus has been identified in 33/37 of SDNPs 10 km2 grid squares, Ixodes hexagonus 10/37, H. punctata 7/37, Dermacentor reticulatus 1/37. Conclusions Mapping shows tick hazard broadly distributed across SDNP. I. ricinus was most common, but H. punctata’s seeming range expansion is concerning. Recommendations: management of small heavily visited high hazard plots (QECP); post-visit precaution signage (all sites); repellent impregnated clothing for deerstalkers; flock trials to control H. punctata (SSCP, DBNR). Further research at TM may contribute to knowledge on ecological dynamics underlying infection density and predator re-introduction/protection as public health interventions. Ecological research on H. punctata would aid control. SDNP Authority is ideally placed to link and champion policies to reduce hazard, whilst avoiding or reducing conflict between public health and ecosystem health.

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“…no. OL848426) [22]. Regarding the three phlebovirus-positive tick pools, all were carrying sequences belonging to the Ixovirus genus in the Phenuiviridae family, differing from the Ixovirus norvegiae (Norway phlebovirus 1) isolate NOR/A2/Bronnoya/2014 (acc.…”

Section: Pathogen Detectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogens Detected in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks in a Mountainous Area in Greece

Tsioka,

Saratsis,

Pappa

et al. 2024

Pathogens

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Ixodes ricinus ticks are vectors of a plethora of pathogens. The purpose of this study was to screen 398 I. ricinus ticks for a variety of pathogens. Following the pooling, homogenization, and extraction of total nucleic acids, a real-time PCR was applied for the detection of a panel of tick-borne pathogens, while additional conventional PCRs combined with Sanger sequencing were applied for the detection of viruses and typing of Rickettsia and Borrelia species. At least one pathogen was detected in 60 of the 80 (75%) tick pools. Rickettsia spp. predominated, as it was detected in 63.75% of the pools (51/80; MIR 12.81%), followed by Borrelia spp. (35 pools (45%); MIR 8.79%), while Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 2 pools (2.5%, MIR 0.5%). The ticks of six Rickettsia-positive pools were tested individually (from stored half-ticks); all sequences were identical to those of R. monacensis. Similarly, the ticks of six Borrelia-positive pools were tested individually, and it was shown that four belonged to the genospecies Borrelia garinii and two to Borrelia valaisiana. Phleboviruses were detected in 3 pools (3.75%; MIR 0.75%), with sequences clustering in the Ixovirus genus, while nairoviruses were detected in 7 pools (8.75%; MIR 1.76%), with one sequence clustering in the Orthonairovirus genus, and six clustering in the Norwavirus genus. Although a small number of ticks from only one area in Greece were tested, a variety of pathogens together with recently identified viruses were detected, prompting further studies in ticks and surveillance studies in humans.

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Ixodes ricinus density, Borrelia prevalence and the density of infected nymphs along an urban–rural gradient in southern England

Abstract: Ixodes ricinus density, Borrelia prevalence and the density of infected nymphs along an urban-rural gradient in southern England AUTHORS

Cited by 4 publications

References 82 publications

Genetic Diversity of Borreliaceae Species Detected in Natural Populations of Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Northern Poland

Genetic Diversity of Borreliaceae Species Detected in Natural Populations of Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Northern Poland

Tick hazard in the South Downs National Park (UK): species, distribution, key locations for future interventions, site density, habitats

Pathogens Detected in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks in a Mountainous Area in Greece

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