Prevalence of Three ZoonoticBabesiaSpecies inIxodes ricinus(Linné, 1758) Nymphs in a Suburban Forest in Switzerland

Abstract

The tick Ixodes ricinus (Linné, 1758) is known as the vector of various Babesia spp. pathogenic for humans. In Switzerland, three of them, Babesia divergens, Babesia venatorum (also known as Babesia EU1), and Babesia microti, have been reported in I. ricinus ticks from various areas. The aim here was to determine how frequently these species infect I. ricinus nymphs in a suburban forest and to determine their prevalence over 3 years along a pathway delimited in four different sections. Babesia spp. was detected and identified in 44/2568 (1.7%) I. ricinus nymphs using Reverse Line Blot. B. venatorum was infecting 1.1% (27/2568) of nymphs, B. divergens 0.2% (4/2568), and B. microti 0.7% (13/1908). Tick infection rates by these three Babesia species between years were not different except for B. microti, which was significantly less frequent in ticks in 2008 than in 2006 and 2007 according to a test using trusted intervals of percentages. B. microti was displaying the greater difference of prevalence among sampling sections, ranging from 1.6% in section 1 to 0% in section 4. The presence of these three Babesia species that are of medical relevance in a suburban forest where I. ricinus tick density is high requires attention from physicians, particularly for patients presenting unspecific symptoms and for patients who are immunocompromised, and who have history of contact with tick biotopes.

Serum Antibodies to Borrelia Burgdorferi, Anaplasma Phagocytophilum, and Babesia Microti in Recaptured White-Footed Mice

“…Co-infections of unrelated human pathogens have been documented for Ixodes species (Tokarz et. al., 2010; Burri et al, 2011; Gigandet et al, 2011) and P. leucopus (Anderson et al, 1986; Johnson et al, 2011). Therefore, frequent feedings by infected ticks on white-footed mice would tend to elevate antibody titers and antibody prevalences during summer.…”

“…A review of medical records for elderly persons revealed relatively high babesiosis rates for Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, and Massachusetts and possible presence of this disease in other eastern states (Menis et al, 2012). Moreover, B. microti coexists with Babesia divergens or Babesia venatorum (also known as Babesia EU1 ) in Europe (Gigandet et al, 2011; Lempereur et al, 2011). Therefore, in the Holarctic where Ixodes species exist and different strains or genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and A. phagocytophilum likewise occur, B. microti should be considered in ecologic and epidemiologic studies as well as in the differential diagnosis of unknown febrile human illnesses.…”

Babesia spp. and other pathogens in ticks recovered from domestic dogs in Denmark

“…One such emerging pathogen is Babesia , a parasite first detected in cattle but now a well-known cause of malaria-like illness in humans [ 1 - 3 ]. Newly recognized endemic foci for human babesiosis include Europe [ 4 ] where Ixodes ricinus, a vector of multiple species of Babesia, is common. Apparently the most common tick in Europe [ 5 ], I. ricinus has a world-wide occurrence and low host specificity, parasitising on a variety of larger mammals, including humans [ 6 ].…”

Babesia: An Emerging Infectious Threat in Transfusion Medicine

“…Additionally, B. divergens –like organisms have been reported in Kentucky, Missouri, and Washington State [4]. In Europe, almost all reported cases have been due to B. divergens , and a few have been caused by the EU1 species, now called B. venatorum [5], [6]. Sporadic cases of babesiosis have also been reported in Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America [7].…”