Spotted fever group rickettsiae transmitted by <i>Dermacentor</i> ticks and determinants of their spread in Europe

Abstract

Rickettsiae from the spotted fever group, i.e. the etiological agents of tick-borne lymphadenopathy/Dermacentor-borne necrotic erythema and lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA /DEBONEL) syndrome, are associated with ticks, including Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor reticulatus. The expansion of these ticks into new areas increases the risk of infection of their hosts with tick-borne pathogens. The study summarises the importance of 2 species from the genus Dermacentor, i.e. D. marginatus and D. reticulatus, in the spread of spotted fever group rickettsiae in various regions of Europe. The study also focuses on the determinants of the presence of vectors and transmission of rickettsiae, as well as the effects of human infections with these pathogens. The climate changes observed nowadays affect vectors and increase the incidence and spread of tick-borne diseases worldwide. Due to the existing risk of exposure to an increasing number of people, knowledge about the course of these serious diseases and their etiological factors should be disseminated among healthcare professionals as well as in society. There is a great challenge for epidemiological services to provide access to medical and veterinary facilities in order to diagnose and treat rickettsioses. Therefore, the development of a strategy for tick control and the popularisation of knowledge concerning prophylaxis of tick-borne diseases is indispensable.

Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Wild Ungulates in North-Eastern Poland

“…Serious diseases, including Lyme borreliosis (LB), anaplasmosis and tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by various bacterial species from the genera Borrelia , Anaplasma and Rickettsia . Recently, new pathogens are appearing, such as the spirochete B. miyamotoi that causes a relapsing fever “ Borrelia miyamotoi disease” [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Different Borrelia species (or genotypes) cause varying LB clinical symptoms.…”

“…Among several Rickettsia classifications, the most common system uses four groups: spotted fever group (SFG), typhus group, the Rickettsia bellii group and the Rickettsia canadensis group [ 22 ]. In central Europe, the following five Rickettsia species have been detected in ticks: R. slovaca , R. raoultii , R. helvetica , R. monacensis and Candidatus Rickettsia mendelii [ 9 ]. R. slovaca and R. raoultii cause tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) and DEBONEL lymphadenopathy ( Dermacentor -borne necrosis erythema).…”

Sociodemographic profile and distribution of Spotted Fever cases per brazilian region between the years 2008 and 2017

“…Rodrigues (2018) brings attention to the fact that low schooling levels contribute to the incidence of infectious diseases, even when the schooling registered was Incomplete Elementary/Middle School, the lack of information about SF can be the main faulty point when talking about prevention. Fact that was also highlighted by Buczek et al (2020) that emphasizes that knowledge sharing about the transmission pathways, symptoms and prevention of SF need to be more popularized, not only amongst healthcare professionals, but also amongst the population, because it is of utmost importance to the correct treatment and disease epidemiological overview.…”

Moonlighting in Rickettsiales: Expanding Virulence Landscape

“…Mediterranean spotted fever, caused by R. conorii (and transmitted by R. sanguineus) is endemic to the Mediterranean basin and considered the most prevalent rickettsial disease in Europe [13]. There is also a growing concern in Europe about the increasing incidence of milder rickettsioses, such as tick (Dermacentor)-borne lymphadenopathy/Dermacentorborne necrotic erythema and lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA/DEBONEL) syndrome [14], and the epidemiological importance of SFRs in Africa is increasingly recognized [15]. Importantly, rickettsial diseases transmitted by fleas like murine typhus and flea-borne spotted fever (caused by R. typhi and R. felis, respectively) occur worldwide, and emergence patterns for both are evident in many regions of the globe [16,17].…”