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seroprevalence of some vector-borne infections of dogs in hungary.the first comprehensive study on the prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens (anaplasma phagocytophilum, borrelia burgdorferi, ehrlichia canis, and dirofilaria immitis) was carried in hungary because, except for babesiosis and dirofilariosis caused by dirofilaria repens, there were no data on their regional distribution and prevalence. in 2011 and 2012, 1305 blood samples were collected from randomly selected, apparently healthy pet dogs in 167 localities of 19 counties of hungary. all sera ...201424689833
phytotherapeutic activity of euphorbia cyparissias extracts on ixodidae (acari) female ticks.given its numerous biologically active components, euphorbiaceae has been found to be a large plant family and polyvalent with quite interesting therapeutic activity that can be studied.201425392580
crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus clades v and vi (europe 1 and 2) in ticks in kosovo, 2012.despite being a small country, kosovo represents one of the few foci of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) in europe. the distribution of kosovar tick vectors and the evolution of cchf virus in ticks are both as yet unknown. a better description of the extent and the genetic diversity of cchfv in ticks from endemic settings is essential, in order to be controlled. we investigated the 2012 distribution of kosovar ticks alongside the prevalence and the phylogeography of tick-derived cchfv. hya ...201425255381
isolation and characterization of babesia pecorum sp. nov. from farmed red deer (cervus elaphus).the diversity of babesia species infecting cervids in parts of central and southern spain was analyzed by collecting blood from farmed red deer (cervus elaphus). babesia sp. was isolated in vitro from two red deer herds in cádiz and ciudad real. the number of babesia sp. carriers differed between the two herds: 36/77 in cádiz and 1/35 in ciudad real. hyalomma lusitanicum was the most prevalent tick species identified on the cádiz farm vegetation and on sampled animals, and is therefore a candida ...201425155988
prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) in field-collected ticks (ixodes ricinus) in southern switzerland.tick-borne encephalitis is the most common tick-borne viral infection in europe with 3,000 human cases reported each year. in western europe, the castor bean tick, ixodes ricinus, is the principal vector of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev). tbev appears to be spreading geographically and was recently detected for the first time in canton valais in the southern part of switzerland. the purpose of the present study was to survey the i. ricinus tick populations of canton valais for tbev.201425245773
a seventeen-year epidemiological surveillance study of borrelia burgdorferi infections in two provinces of northern spain.this paper reports a 17-year seroepidemiological surveillance study of borrelia burgdorferi infection, performed with the aim of improving our knowledge of the epidemiology of this pathogen. serum samples (1,179) from patients (623, stratified with respect to age, sex, season, area of residence and occupation) bitten by ticks in two regions of northern spain were ifa-tested for b. burgdorferi antibodies. positive results were confirmed by western blotting. antibodies specific for b. burgdorferi ...201424487455
control of tick infestations and pathogen prevalence in cattle and sheep farms vaccinated with the recombinant subolesin-major surface protein 1a chimeric antigen.despite the use of chemical acaricides, tick infestations continue to affect animal health and production worldwide. tick vaccines have been proposed as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative for tick control. vaccination with the candidate tick protective antigen, subolesin (sub), has been shown experimentally to be effective in controlling vector infestations and pathogen infection. furthermore, escherichia coli membranes containing the chimeric antigen composed of sub fused ...201424398155
seasonal dynamics of rhipicephalus rossicus attacking domestic dogs from the steppic region of southeastern romania.danube delta biosphere reserve is one of the most interesting regions in europe from an epidemiological point of view due to its great biodiversity, local climatic conditions and various types of habitats. moreover, there is no data regarding the ectoparasite communities of dogs from this area. in this frame, the aims of our study were to establish the tick communities parasitizing dogs and to provide new data regarding seasonal dynamics of a neglected tick species, rhipicephalus rossicus.201424612483
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
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
whole genome phylogenetic investigation of a west nile virus strain isolated from a tick sampled from livestock in north eastern kenya.west nile virus (wnv) has a wide geographical distribution and has been associated to cause neurological disease in humans and horses. mosquitoes are the traditional vectors for wnv; however, the virus has also been isolated from tick species in north africa and europe which could be a means of introduction and spread of the virus over long distances through migratory birds. although wnv has been isolated in mosquitoes in kenya, paucity of genetic and pathogenicity data exists. we previously rep ...201425430727
survey on cattle ticks in nur, north of iran.to survey the prevalence of cattle ticks in nur county and prepare a list of tick fauna in this district.201425182439
the role of viral persistence in flavivirus biology.in nature, vector-borne flaviviruses are persistently cycled between either the tick or mosquito vector and small mammals such as rodents, skunks, and swine. these viruses account for considerable human morbidity and mortality worldwide. increasing and substantial evidence of viral persistence in humans, which includes the isolation of rna by rt-pcr and infectious virus by culture, continues to be reported. viral persistence can also be established in vitro in various human, animal, arachnid, an ...201424737600
a review of the epidemiological and clinical aspects of west nile virus.the resurgence of west nile virus (wnv) in north america and europe in recent years has raised the concerns of local authorities and highlighted that mosquito-borne disease is not restricted to tropical regions of the world. wnv is maintained in enzootic cycles involving, primarily, culex spp. mosquitoes and avian hosts, with epizootic spread to mammals, including horses and humans. human infection results in symptomatic illness in approximately one-fifth of cases and neuroinvasive disease in le ...201424748813
gene cloning, expression and immunogenicity of the protective antigen subolesin in dermacentor silvarum.subolesin (4d8), the ortholog of insect akirins, is a highly conserved protective antigen and thus has the potential for development of a broad-spectrum vaccine against ticks and mosquitoes. to date, no protective antigens have been characterized nor tested as candidate vaccines against dermacentor silvarum bites and transmission of associated pathogens. in this study, we cloned the open reading frame (orf) of d. silvarum 4d8 cdna (ds4d8), which consisted of 498 bp encoding 165 amino acid residu ...201424623890
assessment of four dna fragments (coi, 16s rdna, its2, 12s rdna) for species identification of the ixodida (acari: ixodida).the 5' region of cytochrome oxidase i (coi) is the standard marker for dna barcoding. however, coi has proved to be of limited use in identifying some species, and for some taxa, the coding sequence is not efficiently amplified by pcr. these deficiencies lead to uncertainty as to whether coi is the most suitable barcoding fragment for species identification of ticks.201424589289
putative novel lineage of west nile virus in uranotaenia unguiculata mosquito, hungary.west nile virus (wnv) is an increasing public health concern in europe with numerous human cases. a total of 23,029 female mosquitoes were tested for a variety of mosquito-borne flaviviruses and orthobunyaviruses supposedly endemic in southern transdanubia, hungary, in the frames of a large-scale surveillance between 2011 and 2013. wnv nucleic acid was detected in a single pool containing uranotaenia unguiculata mosquitoes. sequence- and phylogenetic analyses for two different regions (ns5 and e ...201425674630
bat ticks revisited: ixodes ariadnae sp. nov. and allopatric genotypes of i. vespertilionis in caves of hungary.in europe two ixodid bat tick species, ixodes vespertilionis and i. simplex were hitherto known to occur.201424766822
pcr-based detection of babesia spp. infection in collected ticks from cattle in west and north-west of iran.babesiosis is a haemoparasitic disease of domestic and wild animals caused by species of the genus babesia. babesia bigemina, b. bovis and b. divergens are known to be pathogenic in cattle. the disease is transmitted during blood feeding by infected ticks and is the most economically important tick-borne disease in tropical and subtropical areas. ixodid ticks are vectors in the transmission of babesiosis. the classic presentation is a febrile syndrome with apparent anemia and hemoglobinuria. thi ...201324409438
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
distribution of tick-borne diseases in china.as an important contributor to vector-borne diseases in china, in recent years, tick-borne diseases have attracted much attention because of their increasing incidence and consequent significant harm to livestock and human health. the most commonly observed human tick-borne diseases in china include lyme borreliosis (known as lyme disease in china), tick-borne encephalitis (known as forest encephalitis in china), crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (known as xinjiang hemorrhagic fever in china), q-f ...201323617899
amblyomma cajennense is an intrastadial biological vector of theileria equi.the apicomplexan hemoprotozoan parasite theileria equi is one of the etiologic agents causing equine piroplasmosis, a disease of equines that is endemic throughout large parts of the world. before 2009 the united states had been considered to be free of this parasite. occasional cases had occurred but there was no evidence for endemic vector-borne transmission in the u.s. until a 2009 outbreak in texas in which dermacentor variabilis and amblyomma cajennense were implicated as vectors. although ...201324499587
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
matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for rapid identification of tick vectors.a method for rapid species identification of ticks may help clinicians predict the disease outcomes of patients with tick bites and may inform the decision as to whether to administer postexposure prophylactic antibiotic treatment. we aimed to establish a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof ms) spectrum database based on the analysis of the legs of six tick vectors: amblyomma variegatum, rhipicephalus sanguineus, hyalomma marginatum rufipes, ix ...201323224087
co-infection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and rickettsia species in ticks and in an erythema migrans patient.lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in europe. ixodes ricinus also carries other pathogenic bacteria, but corresponding human diseases are rarely reported. here, we compared the exposure to rickettsia helvetica and rickettsia monacensis with that to lyme borreliosis spirochetes. we assumed that their exposure corresponds to their infection rate in questing i. ricinus.201324326096
prevalence of francisella tularensis and francisella-like endosymbionts in the tick population of hungary and the genetic variability of francisella-like agents.several new taxa belonging to the genus francisella have been described recently. the present study describes the prevalence of francisella tularensis and francisella-like endosymbionts (fle) in ticks collected from hungary from 2007 to 2009 and characterizes the genetic variability of fles. a total of 5402 ixodid ticks (ixodes ricinus, i. acuminatus, dermacentor marginatus, d. reticulatus, haemaphysalis inermis, h. concinna, h. punctata) were collected from vegetation and animal hosts and teste ...201323421891
detection of rickettsia in rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and ctenocephalides felis fleas from southeastern tunisia by reverse line blot assay.ticks (n = 663) and fleas (n = 470) collected from domestic animals from southeastern tunisia were screened for rickettsia infection using reverse line blot assay. evidence of spotted fever group rickettsia was obtained. we detected rickettsia felis in fleas, rickettsia massiliae bar 29 and the rickettsia conorii israeli spotted fever strain in ticks, and rickettsia conorii subsp. conorii and rickettsia spp. in both arthropods. the sensitivity of the adopted technique allowed the identification ...201324226919
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
differential virulence and pathogenesis of west nile viruses.west nile virus (wnv) is a neurotropic flavivirus that cycles between mosquitoes and birds but that can also infect humans, horses, and other vertebrate animals. in most humans, wnv infection remains subclinical. however, 20%-40% of those infected may develop wnv disease, with symptoms ranging from fever to meningoencephalitis. a large variety of wnv strains have been described worldwide. based on their genetic differences, they have been classified into eight lineages; the pathogenic strains be ...201324284878
west nile virus. 201324179475
ability to cause erythema migrans differs between borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates.lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. the variety of characteristic and non-specific clinical manifestations is partially explained by its genetic diversity. we investigated the ability of b. burgdorferi sl isolates to cause erythema migrans.201323339549
sex-biased differences in the effects of host individual, host population and environmental traits driving tick parasitism in red deer.the interactions between host individual, host population, and environmental factors modulate parasite abundance in a given host population. since adult exophilic ticks are highly aggregated in red deer (cervus elaphus) and this ungulate exhibits significant sexual size dimorphism, life history traits and segregation, we hypothesized that tick parasitism on males and hinds would be differentially influenced by each of these factors. to test the hypothesis, ticks from 306 red deer-182 males and 1 ...201323819112
assessment of exposure to piroplasms in sheep grazing in communal mountain pastures by using a multiplex dna bead-based suspension array.piroplasms are tick-borne hemoprotozoans with a major impact on extensive management systems. detection of sub-clinical low-level carriers, which can act as source of infection for vector ticks, is key to protect livestock trade and facilitate preventive control programs. the purpose of this study was to develop a method for the detection of ovine piroplasms and to use it in a field study aimed at investigating piroplasms infection in semi-extensive production systems in the basque country (nort ...201324499621
analysis of pathogen co-occurrence in host-seeking adult hard ticks from serbia.past studies in serbia have reported concurrent infections of ixodes ricinus ticks with borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies, anaplasma phagocytophilum and francisella tularensis. as a step forward, this investigation included a broader range of microorganisms and five most common and abundant tick species in serbia. five tick species were identified (dermacentor marginatus, d. reticulatus, haemaphysalis punctata, h. concinna and i. ricinus) and analyzed for the presence of seven pathogen ...201322773070
molecular evidence for bacterial and protozoan pathogens in hard ticks from romania.the aim of the present study was to provide a preliminary insight into the diversity of tick-borne pathogens circulating at the domestic host-tick interface in romania. for this, feeding and questing ticks were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (pcr) for the presence of anaplasma phagocytophilum, anaplasma platys, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu, and by pcr and subsequent sequencing for rickettsia spp., babesia spp. and theileria spp. a total of 382 ticks, encompas ...201323428204
presence of an emerging subclone of francisella tularensis holarctica in ixodes ricinus ticks from south-western germany.the zoonotic disease tularaemia is caused by the bacterial pathogen francisella tularensis. although the causative agent is known for 100 years, knowledge of its enzootic cycles is still rudimentary. apart from tabanids and mosquitoes, hard ticks have been described as important vectors and potential reservoirs for f. tularensis. available data on the incidence of human tularaemia indicate an increase in cases in the federal state of baden-wuerttemberg. to determine whether ticks are involved in ...201323141103
high prevalence of hepatozoon-infection among shepherd dogs in a region considered to be free of rhipicephalus sanguineus.blood samples and ticks were collected from 100 shepherd dogs, 12 hunting dogs and 14 stray dogs in southern hungary, in order to screen them for the presence of hepatozoon spp. by pcr. out of 126 blood samples, 33 were positive (26%). significantly more shepherd dogs (31%) were infected, than hunting (8%) and stray dogs (7%). three genotypes of hepatozoon canis were identified by sequencing, differing from each other in up to six nucleotides in the amplified portion of their 18s rrna gene. in d ...201323499483
molecular detection of theileria spp. and babesia spp. in sheep and ixodid ticks from the northeast of iran.theilerioses and babesioses are important diseases in iranian sheep. the present study was undertaken to identify and classify/specify theileria spp. and babesia spp. in sheep and vector ticks. investigation was carried out from 2009 to 2011 in the khorasan razavi province, iran. in total, 302 sheep originating from 60 different flocks were clinically examined and their blood collected. in addition, from the same flocks, ixodid ticks were sampled. stained blood smears were microscopically examin ...201322924924
transmission of rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia raoultii by male dermacentor marginatus and dermacentor reticulatus ticks to humans.we analyzed rickettsial dna of ticks from tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola) patients. dermacentor marginatus (9/17) and dermacentor reticulatus (8/17) transmitted rickettsiae to a similar extent. rickettsia raoultii was detected in more ticks than rickettsia slovaca. we observed the development of tibola symptoms after the bite of males of both tick species.201323602788
molecular detection of theileria spp. in sheep and vector ticks in the north khorasan province, iran.a survey was carried in north khorasan province, iran in 2010-2011, designed to identify theileria spp. infections of both sheep and ticks. the tick species were also examined. ninety sheep from different flocks were clinically examined, and blood samples and ixodid ticks were collected. light microscopy of blood smears revealed theileria spp. infection in 37 (41.1 %), while 74 (82.2 %) of blood samples were positive using semi-nested pcr. theileria ovis, theileria lestoquardi, and mixed infecti ...201322791188
species diversity and abundance of ticks in three habitats in southern italy.a 2-year study was conducted from march 2010 to march 2012 in a forested area in southern italy to evaluate the species diversity and abundance of free-living ticks in 3 different habitats: (i) a meadow habitat within an enclosure inhabited by roe deer (capreolus capreolus); (ii) a man-made trail located in a high-altitude, forested area; and (iii) a grassland near a house inhabited by 3 people. in total, 10,795 ticks were collected. ixodes ricinus was the most abundant species (69.0%), followed ...201323403153
rickettsia slovaca in immature dermacentor marginatus and tissues from apodemus spp. in the northern apennines, italy.immature dermacentor marginatus ticks and tissues from small rodents were tested for infection with rickettsia slovaca in the northern apennines, lucca province, where tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola) was previously reported in people. prevalence of infestation with d. marginatus was 30.5% (n=131, 95% ci: 22.8-39.2%) in apodemus spp. and 26.5% (n=34, 95% ci: 12.9-44.4%) in myodes glareolus, which were captured during 1980 trap nights in 2009 and 2010. rickettsia slovaca was identified by poly ...201324120274
identification of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks collected in southeastern hungary.tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) is an arthropod-borne viral pathogen causing infections in europe and is responsible for most arbovirus central nervous system infections in hungary. assessing the tbev prevalence in ticks through detection of genomic rna is a broadly accepted approach to estimate the transmission risk from a tick bite. for this purpose, 2731 ticks were collected from the neighboring area of the town of dévaványa, located in southeastern hungary, which is considered a low-ris ...201323856473
seasonal dynamics of tick species in an urban park of rome.regular collections were obtained in the natural reserve of the insugherata of rome during 2011 in order to obtain the tick species composition and the respective seasonal dynamics of the area. a total of 325 ticks was collected in selected sites by means of drag sampling. among the identified species, rhipicephalus turanicus was the most abundant (72.3%), followed by ixodes ricinus (19.7%), dermacentor marginatus (6.5%), haemaphysalis punctata (1.2%), and rhipicephalus bursa (0.3%). r. turanicu ...201324140501
preferences of different tick species for human hosts in turkey.the ticks removed from the patients who applied to the hospitals in istanbul and neighboring cities, turkey, with the complaint of tick bite were examined in this study, on account of their species, biological stages, attachment sites on the body, and the age of the affected patients. a total of 16,969 ticks were identified. encountered species were as follows: 33.6 % ixodes spp. immature, 25.3 % hyalomma spp. immature, 24.3 % i. ricinus, 9.5 % rhipicephalus sanguineus gr., 3.2 % r. bursa, 2.2 % ...201323620419
efficiency of flagging and dragging for tick collection.it is acknowledged that data from field studies on tick ecology might be biased by collection methods, but actually comparative studies are still limited. herein we assessed whether the efficiency of flagging and dragging varies according to tick developmental stage, species, season and habitat. ticks were collected in three sites bordered by an oak forest. the abundance of ticks collected by each collection method varied according to tick species, developmental stage, season, and habitat. flagg ...201323417703
ixodes ricinus is the dominant questing tick in forest habitats in romania: the results from a countrywide dragging campaign.in 2010 and 2011, questing ticks were collected from 188 forested locations in all the 41 counties of romania using the dragging method. the total of 13,771 ticks collected belonged to eleven species: ixodes ricinus (86.9 %), dermacentor marginatus (9.5 %), haemaphysalis punctata (2.6 %), h. concinna (0.6 %), h. sulcata (0.3 %), h. parva (0.1 %), hyalomma marginatum (0.02 %), d. reticulatus (0.02 %), i. crenulatus (0.007 %), i. hexagonus (0.007 %) and i. laguri (0.007 %). ixodes ricinus was pres ...201222547023
spotted fever group rickettsiae identified in dermacentor marginatus and ixodes ricinus ticks in algeria.our study was carried out using ixodes ricinus ticks collected from cattle from tizi-ouzou and dermacentor marginatus ticks collected from the vegetation of the blida region, a tourist site, both regions situated in northern algeria. the results of real-time quantitative pcr (qpcr) specific for a partial sequence of the citrate synthase gene (glta) indicate that rickettsia spp. were present in 11/23 (48%) and 4/9 (44%) of the examined ticks from tizi-ouzou and blida, respectively. the sequences ...201223168054
detection of leishmania infantum, babesia canis, and rickettsiae in ticks removed from dogs living in italy.the aims of this study were to determine natural infections by anaplasma phagocytophilum/anaplasma platys, bartonella henselae, ehrlichia canis, leishmania infantum, rickettsia spp., babesia spp., and hepatozoon spp. by molecular methods in ticks (n=91) removed from dogs with clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities compatible with tick-borne diseases (n=22) living in italy and to assess the distribution and species of ticks encountered. ticks from dogs living in southern italy were all ident ...201223182545
comparison of real-time quantitative pcr and culture for the diagnosis of emerging rickettsioses.isolation of rickettsia species from skin biopsies may be replaced by pcr. we evaluated culture sensitivity compared to pcr based on sampling delay and previous antibiotic treatment.201222413026
evaluation of the presence of rickettsia slovaca infection in domestic ruminants in catalonia, northeastern spain.rickettsia slovaca is the etiological agent of the human disease tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola) transmitted by dermacentor spp. ticks. in our area, dermacentor marginatus is the most important tick vector; adult ticks feed on mammals, especially ungulates such as wild boars and domestic ruminants. the epidemiology of tick-transmitted diseases describes a wild cycle and a domestic cycle and both are connected by ticks. to identify the role of domestic ruminants in the transmission and mainte ...201223186170
etiological [corrected] agents of rickettsiosis and anaplasmosis in ticks collected in emilia-romagna region (italy) during 2008 and 2009.ticks are the main vectors of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, as well as of a variety of other rickettsiales, including bacteria of the genus anaplasma, that might cause diseases in humans and animals. here we present the result of a survey for ticks and for tick-associated rickettsiales in the emilia romagna region (northern italy). the study was focused on ticks collected from wild-hunted animals. out of 392 ticks collected from these animals, 282 (72%) were identified as ixodes ricinu ...201222402940
rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia raoultii in dermacentor marginatus and dermacentor reticulatus ticks from slovak republic.rickettsiae, obligate intracellular gram-negative bacteria, responsible for mild to severe diseases in humans are associated with arthropod vectors. dermacentor marginatus and dermacentor reticulatus are known vectors of rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia raoultii distributed across europe. a total of 794 d. marginatus, d. reticulatus and ixodes ricinus adult ticks were collected from the vegetation, removed from horses, sheep, goats and dogs in slovakia. the dna of rickettsia sp. was found in 22 ...201222392435
development of three quantitative real-time pcr assays for the detection of rickettsia raoultii, rickettsia slovaca, and rickettsia aeschlimannii and their validation with ticks from the country of georgia and the republic of azerbaijan.a previous surveillance study of human pathogens within ticks collected in the country of georgia showed a relatively high infection rate for rickettsia raoultii, r. slovaca, and r. aeschlimannii. these 3 spotted fever group rickettsiae are human pathogens: r. raoultii and r. slovaca cause tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola), and r. aeschlimannii causes an infection characterized by fever and maculopapular rash. three quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qpcr) assays, rraoul, rslov, ...201223182543
tick-borne rickettsioses in europe.rickettsioses are caused by obligate intracellular bacteria within the genus rickettsia, mainly transmitted by arthropods. until recently, mediterranean spotted fever (msf) caused by rickettsia conorii was considered the only tick-borne rickettsiosis in europe. however, 'new' tbr have been described in europe during last years. for instance, other subspecies such as r. conorii caspia and r. conorii israelensis have been involved in msf. dermacentor-borne necrosis erythema and lymphadenopathy/tic ...201223177355
rickettsia slovaca from dermacentor marginatus ticks in sardinia, italy.nineteen ticks belonging to the species dermacentor marginatus, rhipicephalus bursa, and haemaphysalis sulcata were collected from wild animals (wild boar, deer, and mouflon) in south-western sardinia, italy. five d. marginatus ticks from wild boar were pcr-positive when analyzed using glta-specific and ompa-specific primers, leading to the identification and first isolation in cell culture of rickettsia slovaca, the causative agent of tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola), on the island of sardin ...201223140897
molecular method for the characterization of coxiella burnetii from clinical and environmental samples: variability of genotypes in spain.coxiella burnetii is a highly clonal microorganism which is difficult to culture, requiring bsl3 conditions for its propagation. this leads to a scarce availability of isolates worldwide. on the other hand, published methods of characterization have delineated up to 8 different genomic groups and 36 genotypes. however, all these methodologies, with the exception of one that exhibited limited discriminatory power (3 genotypes), rely on performing between 10 and 20 pcr amplifications or sequencing ...201222656068
rickettsia species in ticks removed from humans in istanbul, turkey.a total of 167 ticks collected from humans in istanbul (turkey) in 2006 were screened for rickettsia species, and nested pcrs targeting glta and ompa rickettsial fragment genes were carried out. rickettsia monacensis (51), r. aeschlimannii (8), r. conorii subsp. conorii (3), r. helvetica (2), r. raoultii (1), r. africae (1), r. felis (1), and other rickettsia spp. (2), were detected. to our knowledge, these rickettsia species (except r. conorii) had never been reported in ticks removed from huma ...201222925016
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
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
Species distribution and detection of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) in field-collected ticks in Ankara Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey.Ticks may act as vectors for a number of infectious diseases including Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). The causative agent is Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV), a member of Bunyaviridae, causing extensive ecchymosis, visceral bleeding and hepatic dysfunction with a high fatality rate in the affected individuals. CCHF was initially recognized in Turkey in 2002 and the current number of reported cases exceeds 4,400. This study was conducted to confirm the presence of tick speci ...201221910017
first report on the occurrence of rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia raoultii in dermacentor silvarum in china.abstract: background: rickettsioses are among both the longest known and most recently recognized infectious diseases. although new spotted fever group rickettsiae have been isolated in many parts of the world including china, little is known about the epidemiology of rickettsia pathogens in ticks from xinjiang autonomous region of china. methods: in an attempt to assess the potential risk of rickettsial infection after exposure to ticks in xinjiang uygur autonomous region of china, a total of ...201222257726
tick parasites of rodents in romania: host preferences, community structure and geographical distribution.ticks are among the most important vectors of zoonotic diseases in temperate regions of europe, with widespread distribution and high densities, posing an important medical risk. most ticks feed on a variety of progressively larger hosts, with a large number of small mammal species typically harbouring primarily the immature stages. however, there are certain ixodidae that characteristically attack micromammals also during their adult stage. rodents are widespread hosts of ticks, important vecto ...201223171665
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
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
prevalence of ixodid tick infestation of sheep in the arasbaran region of iran.this survey was carried out in sheep herds of arasbaran region in northwest of iran. the aims of this survey were assessment of occurrence hard ticks on sheep in this region and speciation and identification of detached ticks from sheep. in addition determination of tick distribution on sheep body surface was studied. in this study 330 sheep were examined and ticks from infested animals were collected. in parasitological laboratory speciation of ticks were done by stereomicroscope and using of t ...201224082534
co2 flagging - an improved method for the collection of questing ticks.most epidemiological studies on tick-borne pathogens involve collection of ticks from the environment. an efficient collection method is essential for large sample pools. our main aim was to evaluate the efficacy of a new method, where traditional flagging was enhanced by the use of co2 dispersed into the white flannel. the co2 was spread through a rubber hose network inserted into the flag blanket. the research was conducted in spring, in march-april 2011 in two locations from cluj county, roma ...201222720872
Hard ticks (Ixodidae) in Romania: surveillance, host associations, and possible risks for tick-borne diseases.Ticks and tick-borne diseases represent a great concern worldwide. Despite this, in Romania the studies regarding this subject has just started, and the interest of medical personnel, researchers, and citizens is increasing. Because the geographical range of many tick-borne diseases started to extend as consequences of different biological and environmental factors, it is important to study the diversity of ticks species, especially correlated with host associations. A total number of 840 ticks ...201122033737
distribution and seasonal activity of tick species on cattle in the west aegean region of turkey.the aim of the present study was to determine the identity, seasonal activity and distribution of tick species of cattle in the west aegean region of turkey between june 2006 and may 2008. nine villages within three provinces, viz. manisa, izmir and aydin, were included in the study and a total of 75 animal barns were visited monthly for a period of 24 months and 443 cattle were examined for the presence of ticks. it was determined that 23% of cattle were infested with ticks. a total of 19,679 a ...201122113777
First transcriptome of the testis-vas deferens-male accessory gland and proteome of the spermatophore from Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae).Ticks are important vectors of numerous human diseases and animal diseases. Feeding stimulates spermatogenesis, mating and insemination of male factors that trigger female reproduction. The physiology of male reproduction and its regulation of female development are essentially a black box. Several transcriptomes have catalogued expression of tick genes in the salivary glands, synganglion and midgut but no comprehensive investigation has addressed male reproduction and mating. Consequently, a ne ...201121949745
Phylogeography of Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica from the country of Georgia.Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, displays subspecies-specific differences in virulence, geographic distribution, and genetic diversity. F. tularensis subsp. holarctica is widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe, F. tularensis subsp. holarctica isolates have largely been assigned to two phylogenetic groups that have specific geographic distributions. Most isolates from Western Europe are assigned to the B.Br.FTNF002-00 group, whereas most isolates ...201121682874
ticks infesting the endangered italian hare (lepus corsicanus) and their habitat in an ecological park in southern italy.the italian hare (lepus corsicanus) is an endangered species whose natural populations have decreased in recent years. this study's objective was to identify ticks infesting hares and their habitats in a wildlife reserve in southern italy. in june 2009, ticks were collected by dragging in three transects set in a meadow habitat within an enclosure inhabited by hares and in three similar transects outside this enclosure. fifty-five ticks were collected by dragging, being 54 inside and 1 outside t ...201120711803
growth of coxiella burnetii in the ixodes scapularis-derived ide8 tick cell line.q fever, a zoonotic disease, is caused by a gram-negative intracellular bacterium, coxiella burnetii. although normally transmitted during exposure to infectious aerosols, c. burnetii is also found in arthropod vectors. in the environment, ticks are thought to play a crucial role in bacterial maintenance and transmission by infecting various mammalian species. however, the nature of the pathogen-tick relationship is not well defined. to determine c. burnetii's interactions with a cultured tick c ...201121254834
fibrinogen-related proteins in ixodid ticks.fibrinogen-related proteins with lectin activity are believed to be part of the tick innate immune system. several fibrinogen-related proteins have been described and characterised mainly on the basis of their cdna sequences while direct biochemical evidence is missing. one of them, the haemolymph lectin dorin m from the tick ornithodoros moubata was isolated and characterised in more depth.201121729260
hemelipoglycoprotein from the ornate sheep tick, dermacentor marginatus: structural and functional characterization.tick carrier proteins are able to bind, transport, and store host-blood heme, and thus they function also as antioxidants. nevertheless, the role of carrier proteins in ticks is not fully understood. some of them are found also in tick males which do not feed on hosts to such an extent such as females (there are differences in male feeding in different tick species) and thus they are not dealing with such an excess of heme; some of the carrier proteins were found in salivary glands where the pro ...201121214898
rna interference in ticks.ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites of wild and domestic animals and humans, and are considered to be second worldwide to mosquitoes as vectors of human diseases(1) and the most important vectors affecting cattle industry worldwide(2). ticks are classified in the subclass acari, order parasitiformes, suborder ixodida and are distributed worldwide from arctic to tropical regions(3). despite efforts to control tick infestations, these ectoparasites remain a serious problem for human and ...201121304465
species diversity of ixodid ticks feeding on humans in amasya, turkey: seasonal abundance and presence of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus.ticks (acari:ixodidae) are important pests transmitting tick-borne diseases such as crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) to humans. between 2002 and 2009, numerous cchf cases were reported in turkey, including amasya province. in the current study, species diversity, seasonal abundance of ticks, and presence of cchf virus (cchfv) in ticks infesting humans in several districts of amasya province were determined. in the survey, a total of 2,528 ixodid ticks were collected from humans with tick b ...201121337953
tick-borne encephalitis virus in dogs - is this an issue?abstract: the last review on tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) in dogs was published almost ten years ago. since then, this zoonotic tick-borne arbovirus has been geographically spreading and emerging in many regions in eurasia and continues to do so. dogs become readily infected with tbe virus but they are accidental hosts not capable to further spread the virus. they seroconvert upon infection but they seem to be much more resistant to the clinical disease than humans. apart from their use as sent ...201121489255
genetic characterization of west nile virus lineage 2, greece, 2010.we conducted a complete genome analysis of a west nile virus detected in culex pipiens mosquitoes during a severe outbreak of human west nile disease in greece 2010. the virus showed closest genetic relationship to the lineage 2 strain that emerged in hungary in 2004; increased virulence may be associated with amino acid substitution h249p.201121529413
rickettsia aeschlimannii in hyalomma marginatum ticks, germany. 201121291625
differences in questing tick species distribution between atlantic and continental climate regions in spain.climate and vegetation in spain vary from north to south, affecting tick distribution and consequently the presence of tick-borne diseases. the aim of this study was to investigate throughout a 2-yr study the distribution of the different exophilic questing tick species present in 18 areas: eight located in central and 10 in northern spain. the same methodology was used in both areas, sampling vegetation on a monthly basis by blanket dragging for 20- to 30-min intervals. a total of 12 species be ...201121337943
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
functional characterization of two defensin isoforms of the hard tick ixodes ricinus.abstract:201121504572
spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks, germany.to explore increased risk for human rickettsia spp. infection in germany, we investigated recreational areas and renatured brown coal surface-mining sites (also used for recreation) for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks. r. raoultii (56.7%), r. slovaca (13.3%), and r. helvetica (>13.4%) were detected in the respective tick species.201121529404
tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola) acquired in southwestern germany.tick-borne lymphadenopathy (tibola) was first described in 1997 in a patient in france. the causative agent, rickettsia slovaca, is transmitted by dermacentor ticks.201121663601
detection of coxiella burnetii in complex matrices by using multiplex qpcr during a major q fever outbreak in the netherlands.q fever, caused by coxiella burnetii, is a zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. a large rural area in the southeast of the netherlands was heavily affected by q fever between 2007 and 2009. this initiated the development of a robust and internally controlled multiplex qpcr assay for detection of c. burnetii dna in veterinary and environmental matrices on suspected q fever affected farms. the qpcr detects three c. burnetii targets (icd, com1 & is1111), and one bacillus thuringiensis internal c ...201121784920
crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever: a molecular survey on hard ticks (ixodidae) in yazd province, iran.to determine the rate of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cchfv) infection in hard ticks (ixodidae) in yazd province of iran.201121771418
toward an understanding of the perpetuation of the agent of tularemia.the epidemiology of tularemia has influenced, perhaps incorrectly skewed, our views on the ecology of the agent of tularemia. in particular, the central role of lagomorphs needs to be reexamined. diverse observations, some incidental, and some that are more generally reproducible, have not been synthesized so that the critical elements of the perpetuation of francisella tularensis can be identified. developing a quantitative model of the basic reproduction number of f. tularensis may require sep ...201121687803
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
detection of new francisella-like tick endosymbionts in hyalomma spp. and rhipicephalus spp. (acari: ixodidae) from bulgaria.we report on the identification of two new francisella-like endosymbionts (fles) found in three different tick species from bulgaria. the fles were characterized by 16s rrna and tul4 gene sequencing and seem to lack the molecular marker rd1. these two new taxa seem to be facultative secondary endosymbionts of ticks.201121705542
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
molecular investigation of hard ticks (acari: ixodidae) and fleas (siphonaptera: pulicidae) as potential vectors of rickettsial and mycoplasmal agents.the aim of the present study was twofold. first, in general, to reveal new aspects of the potential vector role of ixodid ticks and fleas by screening large numbers of specimens with recently developed molecular biological methods. second, to evaluate the occurrence of vector-borne infectious agents in a geographical context. altogether 3442 unfed hard ticks (ixodes ricinus, dermacentor marginatus, d. reticulatus, haemaphysalis inermis, h. concinna, h. punctata) and 939 fleas of cats and dogs (c ...201019660880
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
[abundance of ixodid ticks (ixodidae) in pastures situated near villages of east kazakhstan province].abudance of adult ixodid ticks on pastures situated near villages of east kazakhstan province has been festinated using the method or exhaustive capture. the number of adult ticks collected by flagging in the pastures with different ecological conditions varied in spring and autumm periods from 513 to 1036 per hectare. dermacentor marginatus was found to be absolutely dominating species; d. reticulatus showed small abundance; ixodes pavlovskyi, i. persulcatus and haemaphysalis concinna occurred ...201020536009
ixodid ticks (acari: ixodidae) infesting humans in tokat province of turkey: species diversity and seasonal activity.ixodid ticks (acari: ixodidae) are the major vectors of pathogens threatening animal and human health. tokat province, turkey, is a suitable habitat for extended tick activity with its moderate climate and vegetation. in the present study, we surveyed humans visiting health centers to determine the species diversity, geographical distribution, and seasonal activity of ixodid ticks infesting them. out of 5,999 adult ticks collected from humans from april to september, 2008, 800 ticks were identif ...201020618665
prevalence of coxiella burnetii and rickettsia spp. in ticks and rodents in southern germany.coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of q fever, and rickettsia spp. are bacterial pathogens that can be transmitted by ticks of the genus dermacentor (i.e., dermacentor marginatus and d. reticulatus). in germany, the occurrence of these ticks is currently limited to few areas. however, due to increasing temperatures, these vectors will likely extend their distribution in the future, and c. burnetii and rickettsia spp. might spread with them. to assess the prospective risk of human infections ...201021771522
first detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks in serbia.ticks can transmit multiple pathogenic bacteria responsible for diseases in animals and humans such as borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and spotted fever group rickettsia sp. the current study aimed to investigate the presence of rickettsiae in ticks collected from seven localities in serbia. one hundred thirty-one (131) questing ticks belonging to 5 tick species (dermacentor marginatus, dermacentor reticulatus, haemaphysalis punctata, haemaphysalis concinna, and ixode ...201021142961
prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks from southern korea.the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev) in southern korea was determined by collecting ticks using tick drags. a total of 4,077 of 6,788 ticks collected were pooled (649 pools) according to collection site, species, and developmental stage and assayed for tbev. the tbev protein e and ns5 gene fragments were detected using rt-nested pcr in six pools of nymphs collected from jeju island (2,491 ticks). the minimum field detection rates for tbev were 0.17% and 0.14% for haemaphysalis ...201020706026
pathogens and symbionts in ticks: a survey on tick species distribution and presence of tick-transmitted micro-organisms in sardinia, italy.a total of 1485 adult ticks were collected from mammalian hosts in south-eastern sardinia, italy, during the years 2007-2008. ticks were identified and tested by pcr analysis for presence of rickettsia species of the spotted fever group, ehrlichia canis, anaplasma phagocytophilum, coxiella burnetii, bartonella species and leishmania species. among all tick species examined (rhipicephalus sanguineus, rhipicephalus turanicus, rhipicephalus bursa, rhipicephalus pusillus, hyalomma marginatum margina ...201020884769
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
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