Pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany

Abstract

BackgroundTick-borne diseases are a major health risk for humans and dogs. In addition to collection and analysis of questing ticks, analysis of host-associated ticks for the presence of pathogens is a valuable method to gain insight into transmission patterns of tick-borne diseases.MethodsTicks were collected from dogs living in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. The three tick species Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus and Dermacentor reticulatus were examined for the presence of Babesia spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae. Conventional PCR followed by sequencing was used for pathogen detection and characterization.ResultsBabesia spp. were found in 2.5% and 3% of I. ricinus and I. hexagonus, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of Babesia microti, Babesia capreoli and Babesia venatorum. D. reticulatus were free of Babesia canis. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 61% of I. ricinus, 44% of I. hexagonus and 39% of D. reticulatus. Specifically detected were Rickettsia raoulti in D. reticulatus and I. hexagonus, Rickettsia helvetica in I. ricinus and I. hexagonus and Rickettsia monacensis in I. hexagonus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis have been reported previously in I. ricinus (6.5% and 4.3%, respectively) and I. hexagonus (3.9% and 5.9%). Borrelia spp. were found in 11.6% of I. ricinus and 11.2% of I. hexagonus. Subsequent genospecies analysis revealed Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia miyamotoi. Simultanous presence of more than one pathogen was found in 20% of I. ricinus and in 59% of I. hexagonus whereas the total frequency of any pathogen was 65% in I. ricinus, 59% in I. hexagonus and 64% in D. reticulatus. Ticks in which A. phagocytophilum was detected had a significantly increased risk of also containing Rickettsia. Ticks harbouring a pathogen had significantly higher scutal indices than ticks without presence of any pathogen.ConclusionsFrequencies of potential human or canine pathogens in ticks were considerable and DNA of all four groups of pathogens was detected. Differences in scutal indices might suggest that pathogens are frequently taken up by ticks when feeding on dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-014-0535-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany

“…The results of this study are not only important in relation to dogs living in Berlin, but also for human health. In particular I. ricinus and I. hexagonus harbour a broad spectrum of pathogens and I. ricinus frequently attaches to humans as well [76]. The high pathogen frequency in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg combined with the finding of emerging infectious disease agents, such as Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis and B. miyamotoi, demonstrate the importance of continuous monitoring of tick populations for infectious pathogens.…”

The role of companion animals in the environmental circulation of tick-borne bacterial pathogens

“…The collection and analysis of questing ticks, and investigation of host-associated ticks for the occurrence of pathogens is a valuable method for providing insight into the transmission patterns of tick-borne diseases [73,74]. For tick samples, nested-PCR or PCR-RFLP targeting the flagellin gene (flaB), the intergenic spacer region (IGS) located between 5S and 23S rRNA, and the glpQ gene, as well as conventional PCR targeting the 16S rRNA, are often used for Borrelia DNA detection [75,76].…”

Efficacy of a novel chewable tablet containing sarolaner, moxidectin and pyrantel (Simparica Trio™) against four common tick species infesting dogs in Europe

“…), A. phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. as I. ricinus [15,18], while the transmission of these pathogens to dogs by I. hexagonus has not yet been documented.…”