Pathogens detected in the tick Haemaphysalis concinna in Western Poland: known and unknown threats

Abstract

In recent years, a new focus of the relict tick Haemaphysalis concinna was discovered in Western Poland, near Wolsztyn, Greater Poland voivodeship. This species may play an important role in the circulation of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. In the present study we tested 880 juvenile ticks collected from rodents, including 427 H. concinna, 443 Ixodes ricinus and 10 Dermacentor reticulatus for three of the most common pathogens vectored by ticks in Poland: Rickettsia and Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Additionally, molecular techniques were applied for accurate identification of tick host species (the voles Microtus and Alexandromys). Our study found differences in the range and prevalence of vectored pathogens between the three tick species. DNA of all three pathogens was found in I. ricinus. In juvenile H. concinna, DNA of Babesia microti, Borrelia afzelii and Rickettsia sp. was identified. Moreover, DNA of a new unnamed Babesia species related to B. crassa, was found in two H. concinna nymphs. This genotype of Babesia was previously identified in H. concinna in the Far East and then in Central Europe. DNA of Rickettsia raoulti and B. afzelii was detected in D. reticulatus nymphs. Among rodent hosts, Alexandromys oeconomus seems to be host of the highest significance for juvenile tick stages and was the only host species with B. afzelii detected in blood samples. Using phylogenetic methods, we confirmed a clear division between rodents from the genera Microtus and Alexandromys. Moreover, we found that A. oeconomus trapped in Western Poland clustered with a Central European A. oeconomus allopatric phylogroup.

Diversity of tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) in military training areas in Southeastern Brazil

“…In Asia, Europe, and North America, ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis have had a serious impact on human and animal health (Pritt, 2020;Dwużnik-Szarek et al, 2021). In Central America, R. rickettsii has been detected in human patients with spotted fever and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris ticks collected from wild hares (Sylvilagus brasiliensis), suggesting the possible involvement of this genus of ticks in the ecoepidemiology of the disease (Hun et al, 2008).…”

The specificity of Babesia-tick vector interactions: recent advances and pitfalls in molecular and field studies

“…in China [ 9 ]. We recently detected one of these strain/species in two juvenile H. concinna ticks collected from rodents in western Poland [ 148 ]. Two Babesia sequences displayed the highest similarity (97.4 and 100%) to an undescribed Babesia species from H. concinna in Russia (KJ486560).…”

Potential Role of Avian Populations in the Epidemiology of Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp.

“…Birds usually bear larval and nymphal stages of Ixodes ricinus at a latitude 58 • N, and H. marginatum in areas below 42 • N [3], furthermore Haemaphysalis concinna is the second more prevalent ixodid species isolated from birds in Central Europe [79] and has been recently recognized to contain Babesia sp. (related to B. crassa) and B. microti DNA [80].…”