Ixodes ricinus infesting snakes: Insights on a new tick-host association in a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato endemic area

Otranto, Domenico; Colella, Vito

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.02.021

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Indeed, wild snakes are sentinels for zoonotic agents as they are reservoirs of a plethora of pathogens, playing a role in the life cycle of helminths (i.e., cestodes, nematodes and trematodes), pentastomids and vectorborne pathogens [16]. Ticks such as Ixodes ricinus have been collected from wild four-lined snakes (Elaphe quatuorlineata) from southern Italy, that tested positive for Mediterranean spotted-fever (Rickettsia helvetica), but not for Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato [33][34][35]). Other zoonotic parasites have been identified in free-ranging snakes, such as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, Mesocestoides and Raillietiella [25,36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites and microorganisms associated with the snakes collected for the “festa Dei serpari” in Cocullo, Italy

Mendoza-Roldan,

Perles,

Filippi

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

While in much of the Western world snakes are feared, in the small, rural, mountainous town of Cocullo, in the middle of central Italy, snakes are annually collected and celebrated in a sacro-profane ritual. Every 1st of May, Serpari (snake catchers) capture and showcase dozens of non-venomous snakes to celebrate the ritual of San Domenico. In order to detect potential zoonotic pathogens within this unique epidemiological context, parasites and microorganisms of snakes harvested for the “festa dei serpari” ritual was investigated. Snakes (n = 112) were examined and ectoparasites collected, as well as blood and feces sampled. Ectoparasites were identified morpho-molecularly, and coprological examination conducted through direct smear and flotation. Molecular screenings were performed to identify parasites and microorganisms in collected samples (i.e., Mesostigmata mites, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, Babesia/Theileria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Leishmania spp. and helminths). Overall, 28.5% (32/112) of snakes were molecularly positive for at least one parasite and/or microorganism. Endosymbiont Wolbachia bacteria were identified from Macronyssidae mites and zoonotic vector-borne bacteria (e.g., Rickettsia, Leishmania), as well as orally transmitted pathogens (i.e., Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas), were detected from blood and feces. Thus, given the central role of the snakes in the tradition of Cocullo, surveys of their parasitic fauna and associated zoonotic pathogens may aid to generate conservation policies to benefit the human-snake interactions, whilst preserving the cultural patrimony of this event.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasites and microorganisms associated with the snakes collected for the “festa Dei serpari” in Cocullo, Italy

Mendoza-Roldan,

Perles,

Filippi

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…At least 242 species of Acari have been recorded as permanent parasites of reptiles [1], with hematophagic ticks (Ixodida) particularly common. Reptiles are even important reservoirs for tick-borne human pathogens, such as the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi, the cause of Lyme borreliosis [2,3], and hematophagic ticks are frequently found parasitizing lizards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Associated with Lacerta spp. (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from the Caucasus and Adjacent Territory

Orlova,

Doronin,

Doronina

et al. 2023

Diversity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Based on a literature review, as well as on our own data, 14 ixodid tick species belonging to 5 genera were registered for the lizard hosts of the genus Lacerta (L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata) in the Caucasus and the adjacent territories: Haemaphysalis sulcata, Haem. punctata, Haem. parva, Haem. caucasica, Haem. concinna, Haem. inermis, Ixodes ricinus, I. redikorzevi, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. rossicum, and Rh. turanicum. Tick species Haem. caucasica were recorded from Armenia for the first time. Our findings of Haem. punctata represent the first record of this species for Chechnya, Ingushetia (Russia), Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Most of the parasite species are associated with L. agilis (13) and L. strigata (12); L. media is a host of 6 tick species. Data on the infestation of Lacerta spp. by four tick species from our material (I. ricinus, Haem. punctata, Haem. caucasica, and Hyal. marginatum) are presented in the article. In addition, our article contains information on the range of infections associated with the above tick species. Castor bean tick I. ricinus (236 specimens), the most represented species in our collection, parasitizes all available terrestrial vertebrates including humans and can be vector of many various pathogens, so our study provides significant epidemiological information.

show abstract

Ticks on reptiles and amphibians in Central Amazonia, with notes on rickettsial infections

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ixodes ricinus infesting snakes: Insights on a new tick-host association in a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato endemic area

Cited by 4 publications

References 27 publications

Parasites and microorganisms associated with the snakes collected for the “festa Dei serpari” in Cocullo, Italy

Parasites and microorganisms associated with the snakes collected for the “festa Dei serpari” in Cocullo, Italy

A Review of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Associated with Lacerta spp. (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from the Caucasus and Adjacent Territory

Ticks on reptiles and amphibians in Central Amazonia, with notes on rickettsial infections

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About