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ticks and bacterial tick-borne pathogens in piemonte region, northwest italy.a molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens was carried out in engorged and in questing ticks collected in verbano cusio ossola county, piemonte region, italy. engorged ticks were removed from wild and domestic animal hosts. the most abundant and common tick species in the area was ixodes ricinus (192 adults, 907 nymphs). few individuals of ixodes hexagonus (15) and rhipicephalus sanguineus (7) were found among the ticks removed from domestic animals (46 examined ticks). the presence of ricke ...201729189951
a randomized, controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of lotilaner (credelio™) in controlling ticks in client-owned dogs in europe.oral administration of lotilaner flavoured chewable tablets (credelio™, elanco) to dogs has been shown to provide a rapid onset of killing activity of infesting ticks, with sustained efficacy for at least 35 days. a study was undertaken in europe to confirm lotilaner's safety and anti-tick efficacy in client-owned dogs.201729089058
prevalence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens: babesia and borrelia species in ticks infesting cats of great britain.in a study of tick and tick-borne pathogen prevalence, between may and october 2016, 278 veterinary practices in great britain examined 1855 cats. six-hundred and one cats were found to have attached ticks. the most frequently recorded tick species was ixodes ricinus (57.1%), followed by ixodes hexagonus (41.4%) and ixodes trianguliceps (1.5%). male cats, 4-6 years of age living in rural areas were most likely to be carrying a tick; hair length and tick treatment history had no significant assoc ...201728917304
efficacy of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner against four common tick species infesting cats in europe.a single application of a new spot-on formulation of selamectin plus sarolaner (stronghold(®)plus, zoetis) was evaluated for efficacy against the most common tick species infesting cats in europe. in each of the seven laboratory studies, 16 adult and purpose-bred cats were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups based on pre-treatment tick counts. weekly infestations with 50 unfed adult ixodes ricinus (2 studies), ixodes hexagonus (1 study), dermacentor reticulatus (2 studies), or rhip ...201728395754
melting pot of tick-borne zoonoses: the european hedgehog contributes to the maintenance of various tick-borne diseases in natural cycles urban and suburban areas.european hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) are urban dwellers and host both ixodes ricinus and ixodes hexagonus. these ticks transmit several zoonotic pathogens like borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), anaplasma phagocytophilum, rickettsia helvetica, borrelia miyamotoi and "candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis". it is unclear to what extent hedgehogs in (sub) urban areas contribute to the presence of infected ticks in these areas, which subsequently pose a risk for acquiring a tick-borne disease. the ...201728270232
dermacentor reticulatus, a putative vector of babesia cf. microti (syn. theileria annae) piroplasm.babesia cf. microti (syn. theileria annae, babesia microti-like, babesia vulpes) is a recently recognized tick-borne piroplasm that infects domestic and wild carnivores. although ixodes hexagonus is considered as the leading candidate responsible for the transmission, its capacity to act as a competent vector has not yet been confirmed. this study reports the occurrence of b.cf. microti in unfed dermacentor reticulatus for the first time, suggesting that this tick species may be implicated in th ...201728116531
a review of piroplasmid infections in wild carnivores worldwide: importance for domestic animal health and wildlife conservation.piroplasmids are tick-borne protozoan parasites that infect blood cells (erythrocytes, lymphocytes or other leukocytes) or endothelial cells of numerous wild and domestic vertebrates worldwide. they cause severe disease in livestock, dogs, cats, wild mammals and, occasionally, in humans. piroplasmid infections are prevalent in wild carnivores worldwide although there is limited information about their clinical and epidemiological importance. there are currently nine recognized species of babesia ...201627724937
efficacy and safety of a permethrin-fipronil spot-on solution (effitix®) in dogs naturally infested by ticks in europe.effitix is a new broad spectrum product based on the combination of fipronil 6.1% and permethrin 54.5% in a solution for spot-on application. it has been shown to be safe and efficacious in dogs in controlling tick, flea, sandfly, and mosquito infestations in laboratory conditions. the aim of this controlled, randomised study was to assess its safety and efficacy against natural tick infestations in field conditions. one hundred eighty-two privately owned dogs were included in france and germany ...201627703984
did garin and bujadoux actually report a case of lyme radiculoneuritis?a 1922 report by garin and bujadoux is widely regarded as describing the first case of neurologic lyme borreliosis. although the patient reported had a tick bite followed by the development of a rash and radiculoneuritis, there were a number of highly atypical features, raising the question of whether the patient, in fact, had neurologic lyme borreliosis. the paper may not deserve the historic recognition that it has received.201627419161
ticks infesting domestic dogs in the uk: a large-scale surveillance programme.recent changes in the distribution of tick vectors and the incidence of tick-borne disease, driven variously by factors such as climate change, habitat modification, increasing host abundance and the increased movement of people and animals, highlight the importance of ongoing, active surveillance. this paper documents the results of a large-scale survey of tick abundance on dogs presented to veterinary practices in the uk, using a participatory approach that allows relatively cost- and time-eff ...201627388169
detection of selected pathogens in ticks collected from cats and dogs in the wrocław agglomeration, south-west poland.tick-borne infections are no longer confined to rural areas, they are documented with increasing frequency in urban settlements across the world. they are known to cause diseases in humans as well as in their companion animals.201627329450
a review of canine babesiosis: the european perspective.canine babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease caused by various species of the protozoan genus babesia. although it occurs worldwide, data relating to european infections have now been collected for many years. these data have boosted the publication record and increased our working knowledge of these protozoan parasites. both the large and small forms of babesia species (b. canis, b. vogeli, b. gibsoni, and b. microti-like isolates also referred to as "b. vulpes" and "theileria annae") ...201627289223
efficacy of a novel oral formulation of sarolaner (simparica™) against four common tick species infesting dogs in europe.the efficacy of single oral treatment of sarolaner (simparica™, zoetis), a novel isoxazoline compound, was evaluated against four tick species known to commonly infest dogs in europe. eight laboratory studies were conducted using adult purpose-bred beagle dogs. in each study, 16 animals were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups based on pre-treatment host-suitability tick counts. dogs were infested with 50 unfed adult dermacentor reticulatus (two studies), ixodes hexagonus (three st ...201627068640
tick-borne infections in human and animal population worldwide.the abundance and activity of ectoparasites and its hosts are affected by various abiotic factors, such as climate and other organisms (predators, pathogens and competitors) presenting thus multiples forms of association (obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent and superficial to subcutaneous) developed during long co-evolving processes. ticks are ectoparasites widespread globally and its eco epidemiology are closely related to the environmental conditions. they are obligatory hematop ...201527047089
presence of host-seeking ixodes ricinus and their infection with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the northern apennines, italy.host-seeking ticks were collected in the northern apennines, italy, by dragging at 35 sites, at altitudes ranging from 680 and 1670 m above sea level (asl), from april to november, in 2010 and 2011. ixodes ricinus (4431 larvae, 597 nymphs and 12 adults) and haemaphysalis punctata (11,209 larvae, 313 nymphs, and 25 adults) were the most abundant species, followed by haemaphysalis sulcata (20 larvae, five nymphs, and 13 adults), dermacentor marginatus (42 larvae and two adults) and ixodes hexagonu ...201626964552
detection of babesia annae dna in lung exudate samples from red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in great britain.this study aimed to determine the prevalence of babesia species dna in lung exudate samples collected from red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from across great britain. babesia are small piroplasmid parasites which are mainly transmitted through the bite of infected ticks of the family ixodidae. babesia can cause potentially fatal disease in a wide-range of mammalian species including humans, dogs and cattle, making them of significant economic importance to both the medical and veterinary fields.201626867572
detection of bartonella tamiae, coxiella burnetii and rickettsiae in arthropods and tissues from wild and domestic animals in northeastern algeria.in recent years, the scope and importance of emergent vector-borne diseases has increased dramatically. in algeria, only limited information is currently available concerning the presence and prevalence of these zoonotic diseases. for this reason, we conducted a survey of hematophagous ectoparasites of domestic mammals and/or spleens of wild animals in el tarf and souk ahras, algeria.201626791781
ectoparasites infestation of free-ranging hedgehog (etelerix algirus) in north western libya.the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ectoparasites in hedgehogs (etelerix algirus) in north western region of libya. seventy hedgehogs were sampled, and 39 (55.7%) were infested with external parasites. a total of 44 ticks, 491 fleas were collected from the infested hedgehogs and four species of ectoparasites were identified, one mite (sarcoptes scabiei), one tick (rhipicephalus appendiculatus) and two fleas (xenopsylla cheopis and ctenocephalides canis). for ectoparasites, 10/3 ...201426623333
anaplasmataceae in wild ungulates and carnivores in northern spain.wild vertebrates are essential hosts for tick-borne diseases but data on the prevalence and diversity of anaplasma spp. in wildlife are scarce. in this study, we used real-time pcr to investigate the distribution of anaplasma species in spleen samples collected from 625 wild animals (137 cervids, 227 wild boar, and 261 carnivores) in two regions in northern spain. a first generic real-time pcr assay was used to screen for the presence of anaplasma spp. followed by a second species-specific multi ...201626596894
the role of domestic dogs and cats in the zoonotic cycles of ticks and pathogens. preliminary studies in the wrocław agglomeration (sw poland).the collection of 729 tick specimens (ixodes ricinus, 88.6%; ixodes hexagonus, 9.2%; dermacentor reticulatus, 2.2%) removed from 373 dogs and 78 cats, along with 201 ticks from vegetation (i. ricinus, 75.6%; d. reticulatus, 24.4%), allows one to say that pets play an important role in maintaining tick life cycles in different urban area. it shows the lack of statistical differences between tick intensity in high-impact anthropogenic areas (hiaa), low-impact anthropogenic areas (liaa) and mixed a ...201526464069
update on epidemiology of canine babesiosis in southern france.canine babesiosis is an emerging or re-emerging disease caused by babesia and theileria protozoans, also called piroplasms, transmitted by ixodid ticks. in europe, four etiological agents have been identified to date, namely babesia canis, b. vogeli, b. gibsoni and theileria annae. france has a high prevalence of canine babesiosis and two tick species, dermacentor reticulatus and rhipicephalus sanguineus, are supposed to transmit b. canis and b. vogeli respectively. in southern france, where dog ...201526303260
detection of lyme disease and q fever agents in wild rodents in central italy.the maintenance of tick-borne disease agents in the environment strictly depends on the relationship between tick vectors and their hosts, which act as reservoirs for these pathogens. a pilot study aimed to investigate wild rodents as reservoirs for zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), coxiella burnetii, francisella tularensis, and anaplasma phagocytophilum) was carried out in an area of gran sasso e monti della laga national park (abruzzi region, central italy) ...201526134933
[distribution of tick species spread in kütahya vicinity].this study was performed to determine the tick species infested to the cattle and small ruminants in kütahya province and their seasonal activity and prevalence.201526081885
the recent evolution of a maternally-inherited endosymbiont of ticks led to the emergence of the q fever pathogen, coxiella burnetii.q fever is a highly infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. its causative agent, the intracellular bacterium coxiella burnetii, infects a variety of vertebrate species, including humans. its evolutionary origin remains almost entirely unknown and uncertainty persists regarding the identity and lifestyle of its ancestors. a few tick species were recently found to harbor maternally-inherited coxiella-like organisms engaged in symbiotic interactions, but their relationships to the q fever ...201525978383
reclassification of theileria annae as babesia vulpes sp. nov.theileria annae is a tick-transmitted small piroplasmid that infects dogs and foxes in north america and europe. due to disagreement on its placement in the theileria or babesia genera, several synonyms have been used for this parasite, including babesia spanish dog isolate, babesia microti-like, babesia (theileria) annae, and babesia cf. microti. infections by this parasite cause anemia, thrombocytopenia, and azotemia in dogs but are mostly subclinical in red foxes (vulpes vulpes). furthermore, ...201525890372
theileria annae (syn. babesia microti-like) infection in dogs in nw spain detected using direct and indirect diagnostic techniques: clinical report of 75 cases.in north-western spain, piroplamosis caused by theileria annae is now recognized as a serious problem because veterinarians, despite being aware of the clinical signs of piroplasmosis, lack the necessary information on its epidemiology or specific diagnostic tools for its management. this, along with the fact that t. annae infection is also refractory to current piroplamosis treatments, prompted this study designed to assess the clinical presentation and diagnosis of this largely unknown parasit ...201525890106
a molecular survey of vector-borne pathogens in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from bosnia and herzegovina.red foxes (vulpes vulpes) have recently been recognized as potential reservoirs of several vector-borne pathogens and a source of infection for domestic dogs and humans, mostly due to their close vicinity to urban areas and frequent exposure to different arthropod vectors. the aim of this study was to investigate the presence and distribution of babesia spp., hepatozoon canis, anaplasma spp., bartonella spp., 'candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis', ehrlichia canis, rickettsia spp. and blood filaro ...201525889961
presence of zoonotic agents in engorged ticks and hedgehog faeces from erinaceus europaeus in (sub) urban areas.european hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) are hosts for ixodes hexagonus and i. ricinus ticks, which are vectors for zoonotic microorganisms. in addition, hedgehogs may carry several enteric zoonoses as well. it is unclear to what extent a presence of pathogens in hedgehogs poses a risk to public health, as information on the presence of zoonotic agents in hedgehogs in urban areas is relatively scarce.201525885888
efficacy of orally administered fluralaner (bravecto™) or topically applied imidacloprid/moxidectin (advocate®) against generalized demodicosis in dogs.this laboratory study compared the efficacy of bravecto™ (fluralaner), formulated as a chewable tablet, with the efficacy of advocate® (imidacloprid/moxidectin), formulated for topical administration, against naturally acquired generalized demodicosis in dogs.201525881320
wildlife reservoirs for vector-borne canine, feline and zoonotic infections in austria.austria's mammalian wildlife comprises a large variety of species, acting and interacting in different ways as reservoir and intermediate and definitive hosts for different pathogens that can be transmitted to pets and/or humans. foxes and other wild canids are responsible for maintaining zoonotic agents, e.g. echinococcus multilocularis, as well as pet-relevant pathogens, e.g. hepatozoon canis. together with the canids, and less commonly felids, rodents play a major role as intermediate and par ...201425830102
ectoparasite loads in sympatric urban populations of the northern white-breasted and the european hedgehog.we investigated abundance and prevalence of ticks and fleas infesting urban populations of two species of hedgehogs: the northern white-breasted hedgehog (erinaceus roumanicus) and the european hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus). the hedgehogs were captured in the city of poznań (western poland) over the period of 4 years. both species of hedgehogs were infested with the castor bean tick (ixodes ricinus), the hedgehog tick (ixodes hexagonus), and the hedgehog flea (archeopsylla erinacei). the northe ...201525820646
dominance of dermacentor reticulatus over ixodes ricinus (ixodidae) on livestock, companion animals and wild ruminants in eastern and central poland.the most common tick species parasitizing animals in poland are ixodes ricinus and dermacentor reticulatus. these tick species differ in their distribution, habitats, seasonal activity and host specificity. ixodes ricinus is the most prevalent and widely distributed, whereas the range of d. reticulatus is limited to eastern and central parts of the country with several new foci in the middle-west and the west. however, as in many central european countries, the range of d. reticulatus is expandi ...201525717007
ticks on dogs and cats: a pet owner-based survey in a rural town in northeastern switzerland.changes in the endemic foci of tick populations and invasions of tick species to new areas have become evident in europe, leading to changes in the epidemiology of tick-transmitted diseases. however, data about tick infestations of pet animals are limited. following the recent identification of a new focus of canine babesiosis in northeastern switzerland, we investigated the occurrence of tick vectors in this region by using a pet owner-based sampling strategy. all dog owners in a rural town wer ...201525684694
ectoparasitic infestations of the european hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus) in urmia city, iran: first report.hedgehogs are small, nocturnal mammals that become popular in the world and have significant role in transmission of zoonotic agents. some of the agents are transmitted by ticks and fleas such as rickettsial agents. for these reason, a survey on ectoparasites in european hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus) carried out between april 2006 and december 2007 from different parts of urmia city, west azerbaijan, iran. after being euthanized external surface of body of animals was precisely considered for e ...025653796
first report on babesia cf. microti infection of red foxes (vulpes vulpes) from hungary.to date, only one report of a small babesia infection based on microscopic observation which caused babesiosis in two dogs in hungary has been published. babesiosis due to babesia canis - which is endemic in the local dogs - has only been detected in captive grey wolves. no information is available on babesial/theilerial infections in red foxes in hungary. the aim of the study was to screen red foxes in hungary for babesial parasites by pcr and to compare their partial 18s rrna gene sequences to ...201525623386
rickettsia buchneri sp. nov., a rickettsial endosymbiont of the blacklegged tick ixodes scapularis.we obtained a rickettsial isolate from the ovaries of the blacklegged tick, ixodes scapularis. the isolate (iso7(t)) was grown in the ixodes ricinus embryonic cell line ire11. we characterized the isolate by transmission electron microscopy and gene sequencing. phylogenetic analysis of 11 housekeeping genes demonstrated that the isolate fulfils the criteria to be classified as a representative of a novel rickettsial species closely related to 'rickettsia monacensis'. these rickettsiae form a cla ...201525563918
different parasite faunas in sympatric populations of sister hedgehog species in a secondary contact zone.providing descriptive data on parasite diversity and load in sister species is a first step in addressing the role of host-parasite coevolution in the speciation process. in this study we compare the parasite faunas of the closely related hedgehog species erinaceus europaeus and e. roumanicus from the czech republic where both occur in limited sympatry. we examined 109 hedgehogs from 21 localities within this secondary contact zone. three species of ectoparasites and nine species of endoparasite ...201425469872
pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in berlin/brandenburg, germany.tick-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.201425441762
fox on the run--molecular surveillance of fox blood and tissue for the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens in austria.the red fox (vulpes vulpes) is a widespread species, harbouring many pathogens relevant for humans and pets. indeed, anaplasma spp., ehrlichia canis and rickettsia spp. among the bacteria and hepatozoon canis as well as babesia sp. among the parasites have been the focus of several studies.201425413694
the first german map of georeferenced ixodid tick locations.georeferenced locations of ixodid ticks are required to depict the observed distribution of species. further, they are used as input data for species distribution models also known as niche models. the latter were applied to describe current and future (projected) tick distributions. beside model assumptions and selected climate parameters, the number of georeferenced tick locations available as a digital dataset is of fundamental importance for the reliability of such models. for germany, howev ...201425301245
circulation of four anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes in europe.anaplasma phagocytophilum is the etiological agent of granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans and animals. wild animals and ticks play key roles in the enzootic cycles of the pathogen. potential ecotypes of a. phagocytophilum have been characterized genetically, but their host range, zoonotic potential and transmission dynamics has only incompletely been resolved.201425127547
high-throughput screening of tick-borne pathogens in europe.due to increased travel, climatic, and environmental changes, the incidence of tick-borne disease in both humans and animals is increasing throughout europe. therefore, extended surveillance tools are desirable. to accurately screen tick-borne pathogens (tbps), a large scale epidemiological study was conducted on 7050 ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from france, denmark, and the netherlands using a powerful new high-throughput approach. this advanced methodology permitted the simultaneous detect ...201425120960
role of migratory birds in spreading crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever, turkey.we investigated migratory birds' role in spreading crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cchfv) through attached ticks. we detected cchfv rna in ticks on migratory birds in turkey. two isolates showed similarity with cchfv genotype 4, suggesting a role for ticks in cchfv epidemics in turkey and spread of cchfv by birds.025062428
ticks infesting humans in italy and associated pathogens.ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (tbds). the incidence of human tbds in italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available.201425023709
first molecular evidence of hepatozoon canis infection in red foxes and golden jackals from hungary.recently, hepatozoon canis infection has been detected among shepherd, hunting and stray dogs in the southern part of hungary, which is considered to be free of rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato and close to the border with croatia. the aim of this study was to acquire information on the possibility that red foxes and/or golden jackals could play a role in the appearance and spread of h. canis in hungary.201424985073
infestation of urban populations of the northern white-breasted hedgehog, erinaceus roumanicus, by ixodes spp. ticks in poland.infestation by the nest-dwelling ixodes hexagonus leach and the exophilic ixodes ricinus (linnaeus) (ixodida: ixodidae) on the northern white-breasted hedgehog, erinaceus roumanicus (erinaceomorpha: erinaceidae), was investigated during a 4-year study in residential areas of the city of poznań, west-central poland. of 341 hedgehogs, 303 (88.9%) hosted 10 061 ixodes spp. ticks encompassing all parasitic life stages (larvae, nymphs, females). ixodes hexagonus accounted for 73% and i. ricinus for 2 ...201424861150
hepatozoon canis in german red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and their ticks: molecular characterization and the phylogenetic relationship to other hepatozoon spp.in this study, the prevalence of hepatozoon spp. in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and their ticks from germany, as well as molecular characterizations and phylogenetic relationship to other hepatozoon spp. were investigated. dna extracts of 261 spleen samples and 1,953 ticks were examined for the presence of hepatozoon spp. by a conventional polymerase chain reaction (pcr) targeting the 18s rrna gene. the ticks included four tick species: ixodes ricinus, ixodes canisuga, ixodes hexagonus and dermace ...201424802869
tick infestation and prophylaxis of dogs in northeastern germany: a prospective study.ticks transmit various important pathogens to humans and animals, and dogs are frequently exposed to tick infestation. the objective of this study was to examine tick infestation and the characteristics of tick prophylaxis of dogs in the berlin/brandenburg area. a total of 441 dogs (392 owners) was examined from march 2010 to april 2011. the dog owners participated in the study for a period of 1-13 months (10.33±2.85; median 11.00). the prevalences of a total of 1728 ticks collected from 251 (57 ...201424629616
questionnaire-based survey on the distribution and incidence of canine babesiosis in countries of western europe.the incidence of canine babesiosis may vary considerably from one country to another depending on the distribution of the causative parasite species and their specific vectors. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical occurrence of canine babesiosis diagnosed in european veterinary clinics and propose an updated map of the disease distribution in western europe. questionnaires were sent to companion animal veterinary clinics in spain, france, benelux, germany and austria. the an ...201424626325
a randomized, blinded, controlled and multi-centered field study comparing the efficacy and safety of bravecto (fluralaner) against frontline (fipronil) in flea- and tick-infested dogs.fluralaner, a new molecular entity of the isoxazoline class, has potent insecticidal and acaricidal activity and can be safely administered orally to dogs.201424593931
tick infestation risk for dogs in a peri-urban park.increases in the abundance and distribution of ticks and tick borne disease (tbd) within europe have been reported extensively over the last 10-20 years. changes in climate, habitat management, economic patterns and changes in the abundance of hosts, particularly deer, may all have influenced this change to varying extents. increasing abundances of tick populations in urban and peri-urban environments, such as parks, are of particular concern. in these sites, suitable habitat, wildlife hosts, ti ...201324341594
molecular epidemiology of the emerging zoonosis agent anaplasma phagocytophilum (foggie, 1949) in dogs and ixodid ticks in brazil.anaplasma phagocytophilum is an emerging pathogen of humans, dogs and other animals, and it is transmitted by ixodid ticks. the objective of the current study was a) detect a. phagocytophilum in dogs and ixodid ticks using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qpcr); and b) determine important variables associated to host, environment and potential tick vectors that are related to the presence of a. phagocytophilum in dogs domiciled in rio de janeiro, brazil.201324330631
amblyomma cajennense (fabricius, 1787) (acari: ixodidae), the cayenne tick: phylogeography and evidence for allopatric speciation.amblyomma cajennense f. is one of the best known and studied ticks in the new world because of its very wide distribution, its economical importance as pest of domestic ungulates, and its association with a variety of animal and human pathogens. recent observations, however, have challenged the taxonomic status of this tick and indicated that intraspecific cryptic speciation might be occurring. in the present study, we investigate the evolutionary and demographic history of this tick and examine ...201324320199
prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ixodid ticks collected from the republic of korea during 2011-2012.in this study, we demonstrated that tbev-infected ticks have been distributed in the rok, combined with our previous results. these results suggest that tbev may exist in the rok, and h. longicornis, h. flava, and i. nipponensis may be potential vectors of tbev. in addition, these results emphasize the need for further epidemiological research of tbev.201224159517
update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach.tick-borne rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of the genus rickettsia. these zoonoses are among the oldest known vector-borne diseases. however, in the past 25 years, the scope and importance of the recognized tick-associated rickettsial pathogens have increased dramatically, making this complex of diseases an ideal paradigm for the understanding of emerging and reemerging infections. several species of tick-borne rickettsiae that wer ...024092850
prevalence of babesia and anaplasma in ticks infesting dogs in great britain.ticks are important vectors of disease in companion animals and transmit an extensive range of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens to dogs and cats. they may also be vectors of zoonotic pathogens which affect the health of in-contact owners. in recent years, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis have all shown signs of increased prevalence and distribution in various parts of europe. here, the prevalence of anaplasma spp. and babesia spp. pathogens in ixodes ticks, collected from dogs in the uk in 2 ...201324055106
detection and genetic characterization of tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) derived from ticks removed from red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and isolated from spleen samples of red deer (cervus elaphus) in croatia.tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) is a growing public health concern in central and northern european countries. even though tbe is a notifiable disease in croatia, there is a significant lack of information in regard to vector tick identification, distribution as well as tbe virus prevalence in ticks or animals. the aim of our study was to identify and to investigate the viral prevalence of tbe virus in ticks removed from red fox (vulpes vulpes) carcasses hunted in endemic areas in northern croatia ...201424035586
mediterranean spotted fever in southeastern romania.although cases of mediterranean spotted fever (msf) have been reported for decades in southeastern romania, there are few published data. we retrospectively studied 339 patients, diagnosed with msf at the national institute of infectious diseases "prof. dr. matei bals" between 2000 and 2011, in order to raise awareness about msf in certain regions of romania. according to the raoult diagnostic criteria 171 (50.4%) had a score >25 points. mean age was 52.5 years. one hundred and fifty-five (90.6% ...201324024190
de novo ixodes ricinus salivary gland transcriptome analysis using two next-generation sequencing methodologies.tick salivary gland (sg) proteins possess powerful pharmacologic properties that facilitate tick feeding and pathogen transmission. for the first time, sg transcriptomes of ixodes ricinus, an important disease vector for humans and animals, were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. sgs were collected from different tick life stages fed on various animal species, including cofeeding of nymphs and adults on the same host. four cdna samples were sequenced, discriminating tick sg transcriptome ...201323964076
theileria annae in a young swedish dog.a severe regenerative anemia was detected in a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in sweden. a small protozoan parasite was observed in erythrocytes on a blood smear. it was initially suspected to be babesia gibsoni based on its size and because b. gibsoni was previously recorded in sweden. surprisingly, specific polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the protozoan as theileria annae. t. annae is endemic in northwest spain, is very uncommonly reported elsewhere and has never been recorded in s ...201323842507
spatial disaggregation of tick occurrence and ecology at a local scale as a preliminary step for spatial surveillance of tick-borne diseases: general framework and health implications in belgium.the incidence of tick-borne diseases is increasing in europe. sub national information on tick distribution, ecology and vector status is often lacking. however, precise location of infection risk can lead to better targeted prevention measures, surveillance and control.201323800283
ticks and associated pathogens collected from dogs and cats in belgium.although ixodes spp. are the most common ticks in north-western europe, recent reports indicated an expanding geographical distribution of dermacentor reticulatus in western europe. recently, the establishment of a d. reticulatus population in belgium was described. d. reticulatus is an important vector of canine and equine babesiosis and can transmit several rickettsia species, coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev), whilst ixodes spp. are vectors of pathogens causing babesi ...201323777784
complete mitochondrial genome sequence data provides genetic evidence that the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus (acari: ixodidae) represents a species complex.ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites of great medical and veterinary significance that can transmit bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses, and cause a variety of human and animal diseases worldwide. in the present study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of rhipicephalus sanguineus from china (rsc) and compared with that of r. sanguineus from usa (rsu). nucleotide sequence difference in the full mt genome was 11.23% between rsc and rsu. for the 13 protein-coding genes, compari ...201323630448
a novel high-resolution melt pcr assay discriminates anaplasma phagocytophilum and "candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis"."candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis" (anaplasmataceae) is an emerging pathogen transmitted by ixodes ticks. conventional pcr and the newly developed high-resolution melt pcr were used to detect and discriminate "candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis" and anaplasma phagocytophilum. both bacterial species were frequently found in ixodes ricinus and ixodes hexagonus but virtually absent from dermacentor reticulatus. in rodents, "candidatus n. mikurensis" was significantly more prevalent than a. phagoc ...201323576542
seasonal and spatial distribution of ixodid tick species feeding on naturally infested dogs from eastern austria and the influence of acaricides/repellents on these parameters.effective control of tick infestation and pathogen transmission requires profound knowledge of tick biology in view of their vector function. the particular time of the year when the different tick species start to quest and the favoured sites on the canine host are of major interest. the efficacy of acaricides/repellents to control ticks in the field requires observation.201323510263
ticks of poland. review of contemporary issues and latest research.the paper presents current knowledge of ticks occurring in poland, their medical importance, and a review of recent studies implemented in the polish research centres on ticks and their significance in the epidemiology of transmissible diseases. in the polish fauna there are 19 species of ticks (ixodida) recognized as existing permanently in our country: argas reflexus, argas polonicus, carios vespertilionis, ixodes trianguliceps, ixodes arboricola, ixodes crenulatus, ixodes hexagonus, ixodes li ...201223444797
hard ticks (acari, ixodidae) of croatia.the present paper is based on original and literature data. in croatia the first studies on the occurrence of ixodid species were made about 80 years ago. the number of tick species recorded in croatia considerably increased during the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s of the past century. a total of 21 species of hard tick belonging to 5 genera have been recorded in croatia. ixodes is the best represented genus, with seven species recorded. haemaphysalis is represented by six species, followed by rhipice ...201223372407
northern white-breasted hedgehogs erinaceus roumanicus as hosts for ticks infected with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and anaplasma phagocytophilum in romania.borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and anaplasma phagocytophilum are two tick-borne pathogens of medical and/or veterinary importance which are distributed worldwide. erinaceus roumanicus, the northern white-breasted hedgehog, is a common synanthropic species that is known to carry not only the hedgehog tick, ixodes hexagonus, but also i. ricinus, the most common european tick species. i. ricinus is the main vector of both mentioned pathogens. within this framework and because only limited informat ...201223339970
humans parasitized by the hard tick ixodes ricinus are seropositive to midichloria mitochondrii: is midichloria a novel pathogen, or just a marker of tick bite?midichloria mitochondrii is an intracellular bacterium found in the hard tick ixodes ricinus. in this arthropod, m. mitochondrii is observed in the oocytes and in other cells of the ovary, where the symbiont is present in the cell cytoplasm and inside the mitochondria. no studies have so far investigated whether m. mitochondrii is present in the salivary glands of the tick and whether it is transmitted to vertebrates during the tick blood meal. to address the above issues, we developed a recombi ...201223265610
forest refugia in western and central africa as 'museums' of mesozoic biodiversity.the refugial speciation model, or 'species pump', is widely accepted in the context of tropical biogeography and has been advocated as an explanation for present species distributions in tropical western and central africa. in order to test this hypothesis, a phylogeny of the cryptic arachnid order ricinulei, based on four nuclear and mitochondrial dna markers, was inferred. this ancient clade of litter-dwelling arthropods, endemic to the primary forests of western and central africa and the neo ...023193047
tick-box for 3'-end formation of mitochondrial transcripts in ixodida, basal chelicerates and drosophila.according to the trna punctuation model, the mitochondrial genome (mtdna) of mammals and arthropods is transcribed as large polycistronic precursors that are maturated by endonucleolytic cleavage at trna borders and rna polyadenylation. starting from the newly sequenced mtdna of ixodes ricinus and using a combination of mitogenomics and transcriptional analyses, we found that in all currently-sequenced tick lineages (prostriata, metastriata and argasidae) the 3'-end of the polyadenylated nad1 an ...201223077630
abiotic and biotic factors associated with tick population dynamics on a mammalian host: ixodes hexagonus infesting otters, lutra lutra.the eurasian otter, lutra lutra, hosts several parasites with zoonotic potential. as this semiaquatic mammal has large ranges across terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats, it has the capacity for wide dispersion of pathogens. despite this, parasites of otters have received relatively little attention. here, we examine their ectoparasite load and assess whether this is influenced by abiotic or biotic variables. climatic phenomena such as the north atlantic oscillation (nao) affect weather c ...201223071736
a survey on endoparasites and ectoparasites of stray cats from mashhad (iran) and association with risk factors.as there appeared to be no data available on parasite infection of stray cats in the region and considering the potential threat of stray cats for animal and public health, the present study was carried out using biological samples and necropsy finding collected from cats captured in mashhad city in the northeast of iran. from a total 52 stray cats examined, 18 (34.6%) were male and 34 (65.4%) were female. ten species of endoparasites including helminthes and protozoa and two species of ectopara ...201123024505
association of environmental traits with the geographic ranges of ticks (acari: ixodidae) of medical and veterinary importance in the western palearctic. a digital data set.we compiled information on the distribution of ticks in the western palearctic (11°w, 45°e; 29°n, 71°n), published during 1970-2010. the literature search was filtered by the tick's species name and an unambiguous reference to the point of capture. records from some curated collections were included. we focused on tick species of importance to human and animal health, in particular: ixodes ricinus, dermacentor marginatus, d. reticulatus, haemaphysalis punctata, h. sulcata, hyalomma marginatum, h ...201222843316
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs.the studies reported here were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of imidacloprid/flumethrin incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against infestations of dogs by fleas, ticks, mites and lice. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, the ticks rhipicephalus sanguineus, ixodes ricinus, ixodes scapularis, dermacentor reticulatus and dermacentor variabilis, the mite sarcoptes scabiei and the biting louse trichodectes canis.201222647530
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas and ticks on cats.the objectives of the studies listed here were to ascertain the therapeutic and sustained efficacy of 10% imidacloprid (w/w) and 4.5% flumethrin (w/w) incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against laboratory-infestations of fleas and ticks on cats. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, and the ticks ixodes ricinus, amblyomma americanum and rhipicephalus turanicus. the number of studies was so large that only a general overview can be presented in this abstr ...201222541037
prevalence of neoehrlichia mikurensis in ticks and rodents from north-west europe.neoehrlichia mikurensis s an emerging and vector-borne zoonosis: the first human disease cases were reported in 2010. limited information is available about the prevalence and distribution of neoehrlichia mikurensis in europe, its natural life cycle and reservoir hosts. an ehrlichia-like schotti variant has been described in questing ixodes ricinus ticks, which could be identical to neoehrlichia mikurensis.201222515314
evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (seresto®) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in multicentre clinical field studies in europe.the objective of these two gcp multicentre european clinical field studies was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a new imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®, bayer animalhealth, investigational veterinary product(ivp)) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in comparison to a dimpylat collar ("ungezieferband fuer hunde/fuer katzen", beaphar, control product (cp)).201222463745
phylogeography and demographic history of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) (acari: ixodidae), the tropical bont tick.the genetic diversity of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) from four caribbean islands and five african countries was compared by analyzing the sequences of three gene fragments, two mitochondrial (12srdna and d-loop-dl), and one nuclear (intergenic transcribed spacer 2 [its2]). genetic variability of the its2 dna fragment consisted of only uninformative single nucleotide mutations, and therefore this gene was excluded from further analyses. mitochondrial gene divergences among african population ...201222448720
presence of bartonella species in wild carnivores of northern spain.the genus bartonella was detected by pcr in 5.7% (12/212) of wild carnivores from northern spain. based on hybridization and sequence analyses, bartonella henselae was identified in a wildcat (felis silvestris), bartonella rochalimae in a red fox (vulpes vulpes) and in a wolf (canis lupus), and bartonella sp. in badgers (meles meles).201122138983
prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods on wild animals and cattle in the las merindades area (burgos, spain).this paper reports the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods in sampled groups of wild (n = 128; 16 species) and domestic (n = 69; 3 species) animals in the las merindades area of the province of burgos, spain. the study revealed that wild animals were more infested and with a wider variety of ectoparasites than domestic animals. the parasitic prevalence was 67% for wild animals and 48% for livestock. in this way, 39% of animals were infected by ticks. ixodes ricinus and ixodes hexagonus were t ...201121894267
[tick (ixodoidea) and flea (siphonaptera) species on three red foxes (vulpes vulpes) in erzurum province].in this study, three red foxes (vulpes vulpes) which died after traffic accidents were examined in terms of ectoparasites, in the province of erzurum in january of 2009. 13 ticks and 74 fleas were collected from the foxes and taken to the laboratory in separate glasses containing 70% alcohol. ticks were taken directly from 70% alcohol and have been identified under the stereo microscope. fleas were cleared in 10% koh solution during 4-13 days and washed in distilled water 3-4 times and were iden ...201121776598
ixodid ticks of road-killed wildlife species in southern italy: new tick-host associations and locality records.the present study aimed to identify ticks collected from road-killed wildlife species retrieved in several localities of southern italy and to assess the presence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma phagocytophilum and rickettsia spp. dna in ticks. collections were carried out from january 2000 to december 2009 on wild animals found dead within the territories of 11 municipalities from three regions (i.e., apulia, basilicata, and calabria). in total, 189 carcasses of wild animals belon ...201121728058
evidence of new pathogenic theileria species in dogs.babesiosis, caused by tick-borne haematozoan organisms of the genus babesia, is a parasitic disease of domestic and wild mammals. canine babesidae have historically been classified as "large babesia" (babesia canis) and "small babesia" (babesia gibsoni) based on the size of their intraerythrocytic forms. recent publications, however, suggest that the diversity of piroplasm species infecting dogs might be greater than previously appreciated. sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the ssrrna gene ...201021526030
babesiosis due to the canine babesia microti-like small piroplasm in dogs - first report from portugal and possible vertical transmission.abstract:201121489238
the immunopathology of canine vector-borne diseases.abstract: the canine vector-borne infectious diseases (cvbds) are an emerging problem in veterinary medicine and the zoonotic potential of many of these agents is a significant consideration for human health. the successful diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these infections is dependent upon firm understanding of the underlying immunopathology of the diseases in which there are unique tripartite interactions between the microorganism, the vector and the host immune system. although signific ...201121489234
the hard-tick fauna of mainland portugal (acari: ixodidae): an update on geographical distribution and known associations with hosts and pathogens.this work is an updated revision of the available information on portuguese ixodid tick species. it includes data on tick biology, ecology, taxonomy and host/pathogen-associations. the current list of portuguese ixodid ticks comprises twenty species: dermacentor marginatus (sulzer, 1776), dermacentor reticulatus (fabricius, 1794), haemaphysalis hispanica gil collado, 1938, haemaphysalis inermis birula, 1895, haemaphysalis punctata canestrini & fanzago, 1878, hyalomma lusitanicum koch, 1844, hyal ...201121452063
the fecal odor of sick hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) mediates olfactory attraction of the tick ixodes hexagonus.parasite loads of animals vary among individuals, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully identified. here, we investigated whether health status of hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) is correlated with tick burden, and whether chemical cues linked to the health status of the host mediate attraction of the tick ixodes hexagonus. an ecological survey conducted over 10 years, involving 226 wild hedgehogs, revealed a strong association between health status and tick burden of hedgehogs, with ...201121445567
prevalence, distribution and risk associated with tick infestation of dogs in great britain.current concerns over the potential impacts of climate change and the increased movement between countries of people and companion animals on the distribution of ectoparasites, highlight the need for accurate understanding of existing prevalence patterns. without these future changes will not be detected. here, the distribution and prevalence of tick infestations of domestic dogs in great britain were examined. a total of 173 veterinary practices were recruited to monitor tick attachment to dogs ...201121418263
evidence for a role of the host-specific flea (paraceras melis) in the transmission of trypanosoma (megatrypanum) pestanai to the european badger.we investigated the epidemiology of trypanosoma pestanai infection in european badgers (meles meles) from wytham woods (oxfordshire, uk) to determine prevalence rates and to identify the arthropod vector responsible for transmission. a total of 245 badger blood samples was collected during september and november 2009 and examined by pcr using primers derived from the 18s rrna of t. pestanai. the parasite was detected in blood from 31% of individuals tested. t. pestanai was isolated from primary ...201121340028
differentiation of medically important euro-asian tick species ixodes ricinus, ixodes persulcatus, ixodes hexagonus, and dermacentor reticulatus by polymerase chain reaction.abstract understanding epidemiology of the tick-borne pathogens requires the accurate identification of the vector ticks. morphological analysis of ticks is difficult and often leads to misidentification. molecular techniques offer an alternative approach of tick identification. to date, no practical and reliable molecular assays for discrimination of euro-asian ticks are available. our aim was to develop such an assay for discrimination between four euro-asian tick species of high medical impor ...201021028959
the complete mitochondrial genome of the citrus red mite panonychus citri (acari: tetranychidae): high genome rearrangement and extremely truncated trnas.the family tetranychidae (chelicerata: acari) includes ~1200 species, many of which are of agronomic importance. to date, mitochondrial genomes of only two tetranychidae species have been sequenced, and it has been found that these two mitochondrial genomes are characterized by many unusual features in genome organization and structure such as gene order and nucleotide frequency. the scarcity of available sequence data has greatly impeded evolutionary studies in acari (mites and ticks). informat ...201020969792
ixodid ticks in bosnia and herzegovina.ticks of the ixodidae family represent an enormous threat to human and animal health. from january to december 2004, a total of 10,050 ixodid ticks were collected from 26 areas in bosnia and herzegovina and determined to the species level. ticks were collected from dogs, sheep, cows, goats, rodents, humans and plants. ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, followed by dermacentor marginatus marginatus, rhipicephalus bursa, hyalomma marginatum marginatum, rhipicephalus sanguineus, haemaph ...201020967487
tick surveillance in great britain.the ability for public/veterinary health agencies to assess the risks posed by tick-borne pathogens is reliant on an understanding of the main tick vector species. crucially, the status, distribution, and changing trends in tick distribution and abundance are implicit requirements of any risk assessment; however, this is contingent on the quality of tick distribution data. since 2005 the health protection agency has promoted an enhanced tick surveillance program. through engagement with a variet ...201120849277
molecular detection of theileria annae and hepatozoon canis in foxes (vulpes vulpes) in croatia.an epizootiological field study on tick-borne protozoan infections in foxes (vulpes vulpes) was carried out in different parts of croatia. spleen samples of 191 carcasses of red foxes killed in sanitary hunting, were examined for the presence of hematozoa by polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and subsequent sequencing. the investigation revealed four species of hematozoa in 57 foxes (30%), namely theileria annae, theileria sp. 3182/05 and hepatozoon canis. t. annae was found in 10 foxes (5%), theil ...201020646832
potential role of ticks as vectors of bluetongue virus.when the first outbreak of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (btv8) was recorded in north-west europe in august 2006 and renewed outbreaks occurred in the summer of 2007 and again in 2008, the question was raised how the virus survived the winter. since most adult culicoides vector midges are assumed not to survive the northern european winter, and transovarial transmission in culicoides is not recorded, we examined the potential vector role of ixodid and argasid ticks for bluetongue virus. four speci ...201020358393
biogeography of tick-borne bhanja virus (bunyaviridae) in europe.bhanja virus (bhav) is pathogenic for young domestic ruminants and also for humans, causing fever and affections of the central nervous system. this generally neglected arbovirus of the family bunyaviridae is transmitted by metastriate ticks of the genera haemaphysalis, dermacentor, hyalomma, rhipicephalus, boophilus, and amblyomma. geographic distribution of bhav covers southern and central asia, africa, and southern (partially also central) europe. comparative biogeographic study of eight know ...201020182535
canine and feline vector-borne diseases in italy: current situation and perspectives.in italy, dogs and cats are at risk of becoming infected by different vector-borne pathogens, including protozoa, bacteria, and helminths. ticks, fleas, phlebotomine sand flies, and mosquitoes are recognized vectors of pathogens affecting cats and dogs, some of which (e.g., anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, dipylidium caninum, leishmania infantum, dirofilaria immitis, and dirofilaria repens) are of zoonotic concern. recent studies have highlighted the potential of fleas as vectors ...201020145730
functional genomics tool: gene silencing in ixodes scapularis eggs and nymphs by electroporated dsrna.ticks are blood-sucking arthropods responsible for transmitting a wide variety of disease-causing agents, and constitute important public health threats globally. ixodes scapularis is the primary vector of the lyme disease agent in the eastern and central u.s. rnai is a mechanism by which gene-specific double-stranded rna (dsrna) triggers degradation of homologous mrna transcripts. here, we describe an optimized protocol for effectively suppressing gene expression in the egg and nymphal stages o ...201020074328
improved trna prediction in the american house dust mite reveals widespread occurrence of extremely short minimal trnas in acariform mites.atypical trnas are functional minimal trnas, lacking either the d- or t-arm. they are significantly shorter than typical cloverleaf trnas. widespread occurrence of atypical trnas was first demonstrated for secernentean nematodes and later in various arachnids. evidence started to accumulate that trnas of certain acariform mites are even shorter than the minimal trnas of nematodes, raising the possibility that trnas lacking both d- and t-arms might exist in these organisms. the presence of clover ...200920003349
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