Real-time PCR-based identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in ticks collected from humans in Romania

Briciu, Violeta; Meyer, Fabian; Sebah, Daniela; Țățulescu, D.; Coroiu, Georgiana; Lupşe, Mihaela; Cârstina, Dumitru; Mihalca, Andrei Daniel; Hizo-Teufel, Cecilia; Klier, Christiane; Huber, Ingrid; Fingerle, Volker

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2014.04.007

Cited by 19 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…These results differ from the results obtained by other researchers. In a study conducted in 2010 in Romania, the percentage of infected ticks amounted to 11.1%; however, it must be pointed out that the study was performed during spring and summer and focused on ticks removed from people within a single region [38]518 were Ixodes ricinus, 10 Dermacentor marginatus, and 3 Haemaphysalis spp. ticks, and one unidentified tick due to destruction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> in ticks removed from skin of people and circumstances of being bitten – research from the area of Poland, 2012–2014

Gałęziowska¹,

Rzymowska²,

Najda³

et al. 2018

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction. During feeding, the tick sucks blood from the host along with the pathogens that are in the blood, simultaneously exchanging its own pathogens with the host. Humans can also be a host. It is important to understand the most typical circumstances in which people might become infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. This knowledge will help to prepare health education programmes aimed at the prevention of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the percentage of ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, depending on the circumstances of getting bitten. Materials and method. The research material consisted of ticks acquired from people who had been bitten, and questionnaires completed by these people. 510 ticks were acquired from 257 females and 253 males. Following delivery of a tick for testing, the stage of its development was determined and a molecular assay of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA performed. Results. A positive result of the nested-PCR test was obtained in 78 ticks, which represents 15.30% of all ticks. The infected ticks were collected from male (41 ticks -52.56%) and female subjects (37 ticks -47.44%). The biggest number of infected ticks were collected in autumn (54 ticks -69.23%) and from people who had been into forests (44 ticks -56.41%). Among the people from whom the infected ticks were acquired, the dominating group included persons over 16 years of age (53 persons -67.95%) and children aged 0-5 years (16 persons -20.51%). One in four infected ticks were acquired from the southwestern (20 ticks -25.64%) and eastern regions of Poland (21 ticks -26.92%). Conclusion. Infestation of ticks infected with Lyme disease spirochete in this study proved to be variable and depend on the season, the area of tick attack and the region in Poland. The results of the study clearly show that ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi inhabit all regions of Poland. The results are consistent with National Institute of Hygiene data which indicates that Lyme disease cases are recorded in all regions of Poland.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> in ticks removed from skin of people and circumstances of being bitten – research from the area of Poland, 2012–2014

Gałęziowska¹,

Rzymowska²,

Najda³

et al. 2018

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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“…They are often able to transmit pathogens, especially considering nymph bites often go unnoticed due to their tiny size, and that transmission rates increase with lengthening meal duration [ 4 ]. Questing adults can also bite humans, and are the cause of between 10 to 40% of all human tick bites in Europe [ 5 – 8 ]. During the larval and nymphal stages they have ingested two blood meals, both potential pathogen-acquiring occasions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception

Moutailler

Moro

Vaumourin³

et al. 2016

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

229

186

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IntroductionTicks are the most common arthropod vectors of both human and animal diseases in Europe, and the Ixodes ricinus tick species is able to transmit a large number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Ticks may also be co-infected with several pathogens, with a subsequent high likelihood of co-transmission to humans or animals. However few data exist regarding co-infection prevalences, and these studies only focus on certain well-known pathogens. In addition to pathogens, ticks also carry symbionts that may play important roles in tick biology, and could interfere with pathogen maintenance and transmission. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of 38 pathogens and four symbionts and their co-infection levels as well as possible interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts.Methodology/principal findingsA total of 267 Ixodes ricinus female specimens were collected in the French Ardennes and analyzed by high-throughput real-time PCR for the presence of 37 pathogens (bacteria and parasites), by rRT-PCR to detect the presence of Tick-Borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and by nested PCR to detect four symbionts. Possible multipartite interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts were statistically evaluated. Among the infected ticks, 45% were co-infected, and carried up to five different pathogens. When adding symbiont prevalences, all ticks were infected by at least one microorganism, and up to eight microorganisms were identified in the same tick. When considering possible interactions between pathogens, the results suggested a strong association between Borrelia garinii and B. afzelii, whereas there were no significant interactions between symbionts and pathogens.Conclusion/significanceOur study reveals high pathogen co-infection rates in ticks, raising questions about possible co-transmission of these agents to humans or animals, and their consequences to human and animal health. We also demonstrated high prevalence rates of symbionts co-existing with pathogens, opening new avenues of enquiry regarding their effects on pathogen transmission and vector competence.

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“…The following Ct values were regarded as cut-off point: In the p41-PCR and ospA-PCR, a Ct value < 40 was regarded as positive, while in the hbb-PCR, a Ct value < 55 was regarded as positive. Samples reactive in ospAand/or p41-PCR but negative in hbb-PCR and/or ospA-RFLP were subjected to sequencing of the ospA-fragment for substantiating specificity of the results (Briciu et al 2014). For this, DNA was sent to QIAGEN for sequencing.…”

Section: Laboratory Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes spp. ticks to dogs treated with the Seresto® collar (imidacloprid 10% + flumethrin 4.5%)

et al. 2019

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The capability of imidacloprid 10% + flumethrin 4.5% (Seresto®) collars to prevent transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Ap) by naturally infected ticks was evaluated in two studies with 44 dogs. In each study, one group served as non-treated control, whereas the other groups were treated with the Seresto® collar. All dogs were exposed to naturally Bbsland Ap-infected hard ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis). In study 1, tick infestation was performed on study day (SD) 63 (2 months post-treatment [p.t.]); in study 2, it was performed on SD 32 (one month p.t.) respectively SD 219 (seven months p.t.). In situ tick counts were performed 2 days after infestation. Tick counts and removals followed 6 (study 1) or 5 days (study 2) later. Blood sampling was performed for the detection of specific Bbsl and Ap antibodies and, in study 1, for the documentation of Ap DNA by PCR. Skin biopsies were examined for Bbsl by PCR and culture (only study 1). The efficacy against Ixodes spp. was 100% at all time points. In study 1, two of six non-treated dogs became infected with Bbsl, and four of six tested positive for Ap; none of the treated dogs tested positive for Bbsl or Ap. In study 2, ten of ten non-treated dogs became infected with Bbsl and Ap; none of the treated dogs tested positive for Bbsl or Ap; 100% acaricidal efficacy was shown in both studies. Transmission of Bbsl and Ap was successfully blocked for up to 7 months.

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Real-time PCR-based identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in ticks collected from humans in Romania

Cited by 19 publications

References 36 publications

Prevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> in ticks removed from skin of people and circumstances of being bitten – research from the area of Poland, 2012–2014

Prevalence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> in ticks removed from skin of people and circumstances of being bitten – research from the area of Poland, 2012–2014

Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception

Prevention of transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum by Ixodes spp. ticks to dogs treated with the Seresto® collar (imidacloprid 10% + flumethrin 4.5%)

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