Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): vectors for Lyme disease spirochetes in Romania

Abstract

In this study 1,868 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks (nymphs and adults), collected in six sites from three counties--Giurgiu, Sibiu, and Tulcea--in Romania, were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse line blot (RLB) for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato presence. The bacteria were found in 18% of the investigated ticks. The prevalence of infection did not differ significantly between nymphs (19.1%) and adults (15.4%). Three B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies were detected: B. afzelii (61.1%), B. garinii (31.2%), and B. valaisiana (7.7%). No mixed infections were detected. The highest infection prevalence in nymphs was detected at Cristian (Sibiu County)--22.0%, whereas in adults it was at Comana (Giurgiu County)--19.8%. This preliminary study provides evidence that Lyme disease spirochetes are present in various regions of Romania, and at a relatively high prevalence in their vectors, thus posing a risk of infection to human subjects in the areas infested by ticks.

First survey of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle, sheep and goats in Boeen Zahra and Takistan counties, Iran

“…Results of the study showed that the situation of the studied areas was favorable for the successive establishment of diverse ticks population so, continuous parasitological researches and control programs are necessary for decreasing the spread of tick infestation. As tick dispersal may occur all the time because of tick hosts movement and climate change [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] . Because of two and three host ticks' activity and their role in transmitting several diseases both in humans and animals, the problem of the domestic ruminants' infestation must be very serious.…”

Serological, clinical and epidemiological aspects of Lyme borreliosis in Mures County, Romania

“…The increased incidence of BL in our area, compared to other regions of the country, is favored on one hand by the increased number of ixodes due to the favorable habitat (abundance of forests) and on the other hand, by the fact that in other regions, the disease could be underdiagnosed or unidentified due to the lack of monitoring and insufficient information provided to the population. [5,12]. But the incidence is relatively low compared to other European and neighboring countries, most likely due to the underdiagnosis of the disease.…”

“…Because of the favorable environmental and climate conditions more and more vector agents from the Ixodes genus emerged in the past two years, leading to an increase of the number of LB cases which, in turn, determined these cases to be monitored. [5,11]. .…”

“…This seasonal distribution of the disease is closely related with the critical onset of the maximum activity of the ixodes in our country because of its temperate climate. [5]. In the USA cases are reported all year round, probably due to the late forms of illness, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA) and Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) which are independent of tick activity [15].…”

“…In Romania, the vector of this illness is Ixodes ricinus, and, due to a steady increase in their number, the disease is surveyed, and it is reportable from 2007 [5].…”