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spatiotemporal dynamics of emerging pathogens in questing ixodes ricinus.ixodes ricinus transmits borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the etiological agent of lyme disease. previous studies have also detected rickettsia helvetica, anaplasma phagocytophilum, neoehrlichia mikurensis, and several babesia species in questing ticks in the netherlands. in this study, we assessed the acarological risk of exposure to several tick-borne pathogens (tbps), in the netherlands. questing ticks were collected monthly between 2006 and 2010 at 21 sites and between 2000 and 2009 at one o ...201323908971
spotted fever group rickettsiae in dermacentor reticulatus and haemaphysalis punctata ticks in the uk.spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae have recently been identified for the first time in uk ticks. this included the findings of rickettsia helvetica in ixodes ricinus and rickettsia raoultii in dermacentor reticulatus. this paper further investigates the occurrence of sfg rickettsiae in additional geographically distinct populations of d. reticulatus, and for the first time, investigates the occurrence of sfg rickettsiae in uk populations of haemaphysalis punctata ticks.201323870197
bell's palsy and sudden deafness associated with rickettsia spp. infection in sweden. a retrospective and prospective serological survey including pcr findings.sixty patients with facial palsy and 67 with sudden deafness were retrospectively or prospectively examined for serological evidence of rickettsial infection; in six cases where cerebrospinal fluid was available, patients were also examined for presence of rickettsial dna.201423790098
molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in humans with tick bites and erythema migrans, in the netherlands.tick-borne diseases are the most prevalent vector-borne diseases in europe. knowledge on the incidence and clinical presentation of other tick-borne diseases than lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis is minimal, despite the high human exposure to these pathogens through tick bites. using molecular detection techniques, the frequency of tick-borne infections after exposure through tick bites was estimated.201627706159
rickettsia helvetica and r. monacensis infections in immature ixodes ricinus ticks derived from sylvatic passerine birds in west-central poland.the aim of this study was to assess the importance of forest passerine birds in spreading ixodid ticks infected with rickettsiae of spotted fever group (sfg) in sylvatic habitats in western poland. in total, 834 immature ixodes ricinus ticks were found on 64 birds of 11 species which were captured during the tick-questing season between may and september of 2006. ground-foraging passerines hosted most of the ticks compared with arboreal species, and therefore, only the former group was included ...201627164834
detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and spotted fever group rickettsiae in hard ticks (acari, ixodidae) parasitizing bats in poland.a total of 491 ixodes vespertilionis and 8 ixodes ricinus collected from bats and cave walls in southern poland between 2010 and 2012 were examined by the polymerase chain reaction for tick-transmitted pathogens. pcr analysis for borrelia burgdorferi s.l., rickettsia spp., and anaplasma phagocytophilum yielded negative results for all i. vespertilionis. dna of rickettsia helvetica was detected in three specimens of i. ricinus attached to rhinolophus hipposideros or myotis myotis, while borrelia ...201626833325
arsenophonus nasoniae and rickettsiae infection of ixodes ricinus due to parasitic wasp ixodiphagus hookeri.arsenophonus nasoniae, a male-killing endosymbiont of chalcid wasps, was recently detected in several hard tick species. following the hypothesis that its presence in ticks may not be linked to the direct occurrence of bacteria in tick's organs, we identified a. nasoniae in wasps emerging from parasitised nymphs. we confirmed that 28.1% of ixodiphagus hookeri wasps parasitizing ixodes ricinus ticks were infected by a. nasoniae. moreover, in examined i. ricinus nymphs, a. nasoniae was detected on ...201626901622
genomic comparison of rickettsia helvetica and other rickettsia species.we report the complete and annotated genome sequence of rickettsia helvetica strain c9p9, which was first isolated in 1979 from ixodes ricinus ticks in switzerland and is considered a human pathogen.022535934
serological differentiation of antibodies against rickettsia helvetica, r. raoultii, r. slovaca, r. monacensis and r. felis in dogs from germany by a micro-immunofluorescent antibody test.spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae can cause febrile diseases with or without rash in humans worldwide. in germany only limited data are available about their medical significance. serological screening tests for antibodies against rickettsiae usually only distinguish between sfg and typhus group (tg) rickettsiae due to the strong cross reactivities within the groups. seroprevalence rates in dogs, as possible sentinels for tick-borne diseases, could serve as an indicator for the distribution ...201525889200
birds as potential reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens: first evidence of bacteraemia with rickettsia helvetica.birds have long been known as carriers of ticks, but data from the literature are lacking on their role as a reservoir in the epidemiology of certain tick-borne disease-causing agents. therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of three emerging, zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in blood samples and ticks of birds and to assess the impact of feeding location preference and migration distance of bird species on their tick infestation.201424679245
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
first identification of rickettsia helvetica in questing ticks from a french northern brittany forest.tick-borne rickettsiae are considered to be emerging, but data about their presence in western europe are scarce. ixodes ricinus ticks, the most abundant and widespread tick species in western europe, were collected and tested for the presence of several tick-borne pathogens in western france, a region never previously explored in this context. there was a high tick abundance with a mean of 4 females, 4.5 males, and 23.3 nymphs collected per hour per collector. out of 622 tested ticks, specific ...201728248955
urban breeding corvids as disseminators of ticks and emerging tick-borne pathogens.crows (corvidae) are common city dwellers worldwide and are increasingly important subjects of epidemiology studies. although their importance as hosts and transmitters of a number of zoonotic parasites and pathogens is well known, there are no studies on their importance as tick hosts. after mosquitoes, ticks are the most important vectors of zoonotic pathogens, especially for those causing emerging zoonotic diseases. pathogenic bacteria, especially borrelia spp., rickettsia spp., and anaplasma ...201727922802
detection of 'candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis' and other anaplasmataceae and rickettsiaceae in canidae in switzerland and mediterranean countries.'candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis' is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic agent that primarily affects immunocompromised human patients. dogs and foxes are frequently exposed to ticks, and both species are in close proximity to humans. this is the first study to systematically investigate the occurrence of 'candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis' in canidae in europa. we analyzed 1'739 blood samples from dogs in switzerland, italy, spain and portugal and 162 blood samples from free-ranging red foxes ( ...201627707682
co-infections and transmission dynamics in a tick-borne bacterium community exposed to songbirds.we investigated the transmission dynamics of a community of tick-borne pathogenic bacteria in a common european songbird (parus major). tick-naïve birds were infested with three successive batches (spaced 5 days apart) of field-collected ixodes ricinus nymphs, carrying the following tick-borne bacteria: rickettsia helvetica (16.9%), borrelia garinii (1.9%), borrelia miyamotoi (1.6%), anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.2%) and candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis (0.4%). fed ticks were screened for the p ...201626627444
serologic and molecular prevalence of rickettsia helvetica and anaplasma phagocytophilum in wild cervids and domestic mammals in the central parts of sweden.both rickettsia helvetica and anaplasma phagocytophilum are common in ixodes ricinus ticks in sweden. knowledge is limited regarding different animal species' competence to act as reservoirs for these organism. for this reason, blood samples were collected from wild cervids (roe deer, moose) and domestic mammals (horse, cat, dog) in central sweden, and sera were tested using immunofluorescence assay to detect antibodies against spotted fever rickettsiae using rickettsia helvetica as antigen. ser ...201526378972
prevalence of rickettsiales (anaplasma phagocytophilum and rickettsia spp.) in hard ticks (ixodes ricinus) in the city of hamburg, germany.to narrow the gap of missing knowledge on rickettsia spp. and anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in ticks in northwestern germany and, at the same time, to provide first prevalence data on these pathogens in the city of hamburg, a total of 1,400 questing ixodes ricinus ticks were collected at ten different public green areas from april until october 2011. ticks were examined using probe-based quantitative real-time pcr. a percentage of 3.6% (51/1,400) ticks were tested positive for a. phagocyt ...201424728556
are apodemus spp. mice and myodes glareolus reservoirs for borrelia miyamotoi, candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis, rickettsia helvetica, r. monacensis and anaplasma phagocytophilum?in europe, in addition to borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis (tbe) virus, other zoonotic pathogens, like b. miyamotoi, a species related to the relapsing fever spirochaetes, candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis (n. mikurensis), rickettsia helvetica, rickettsia monacensis, and anaplasma phagocytophilum have been reported in the ixodid tick ixodes ricinus. no study was conducted to identify reservoir hosts for these pathogens. here, we investigated the role played by wild ro ...201424582511
rickettsiae in questing ixodes ricinus ticks in the czech republic.tick-borne rickettsiae are an important topic in the field of emerging infectious diseases. in the study, we screened a total of 1473 field-collected ixodes ricinus ticks (1294 nymphs, 99 males, and 80 females) for the presence of human pathogenic rickettsiae (rickettsia helvetica, r. monacensis, 'candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis', and anaplasma phagocytophilum) in natural and urban ecosystems using molecular techniques. the minimum infection rate (mir) for rickettsia spp. was found to be 2.9% ...201424252265
anaplasma phagocytophilum and rickettsia spp. infections in hard ticks (ixodes ricinus) in the city of hanover (germany): revisited.the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of rickettsiales (a. phagocytophilum and rickettsia spp.) in 2100 i. ricinus ticks collected at 10 different sampling sites every month during the tick season 2010 in the city of hanover, northern germany. at the same time, the results served as a fifth-year-follow-up study to monitor whether changes or stagnation of tick infection rates - possibly due to climate change--were obvious or not. to detect infections with a. phagocytophilum and/or r ...201323838023
molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens in ixodes ricinus from moldova collected in 1960.this study is the first report about the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens, as well as their (co-)infection rates, in the museum-archived i. ricinus female ticks collected in moldova in 1960. a total of 16.7% (21/126) ticks was mono-infected. borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was revealed as the most abundant species (4.8%) followed by b. garinii (1.6%), b. afzelii (0.8%), b. valaisiana (0.8%), and b. lusitaniae (0.8%). dna of rickettsia helvetica (2.4%), r. monacensis (2.4%), anaplasma phagoc ...201323528990
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
multiple tick-associated bacteria in ixodes ricinus from slovakia.eighty ixodes ricinus ticks collected in the rovinka forest in slovakia were tested by real-time and routine single-step pcr for the presence of different pathogenic and endosymbiotic bacteria. no evidence of coxiella burnetii, diplorickettsia massiliensis, or bartonella spp. was found. however, we identified, as the pathogenic bacteria, anaplasma phagocytophilum in 8%, rickettsia helvetica in 11%, borrelia afzelii in 9%, bo. garinii in 8%, bo. burgdorferi sensu stricto in 5%, bo. valaisiana in ...201223182274
vector-borne pathogens in ticks and edta-blood samples collected from client-owned dogs, kiev, ukraine.due to the availability of adequate habitats in urban environments, e.g. city parks and recreational green areas, ticks from such settings may also carry pathogens of veterinary and public health concern. thus, tick-borne infections may readily be identified in companion animals residing in urbanised areas. to investigate the presence of vector-borne pathogens in kiev, ukraine, 52 engorged adult ticks, 33 dermacentor reticulatus and 19 ixodes ricinus, were collected from 15 dogs in the spring of ...201323069260
tick-borne zoonotic pathogens in ticks feeding on the common nightingale including a novel strain of rickettsia sp.we examined 77 ixodes ricinus ticks found on 33 out of 120 common nightingales (luscinia megarhynchos) sampled in the czech republic in 2008 for the presence of borrelia spirochetes, anaplasma phagocytophilum, rickettsia spp., and babesia spp. we detected borrelia garinii (in 4% of ticks), a. phagocytophilum (1%), rickettsia helvetica (3%), a novel strain of rickettsia sp. (sister taxon of r. bellii; 1%), and babesia sp. eu1 (1%). thus, we conclude that nightingales are unlikely to be important ...201222906497
survey on tick-borne pathogens in thoroughbred horses in the hidaka district, hokkaido, japan.a total of 87 thoroughbred horses and 10 ixodid ticks from a ranch in hidaka district, hokkaido were tested for tick-borne diseases. using the indirect fluorescent antibody (ifa) method, 3.4, 92.0 and 97.7% of the horses showed antibody titers of ≥ 80 against anaplasma phagocytophilum, rickettsia helvetica, and borrelia garinii, respectively. this is the first report of infection with the 3 pathogens in horses in japan. using pcr, dnas from the peripheral blood of all horses were found negative ...201322878540
study on ticks and tick-borne zoonoses in public parks in italy.a survey on tick density and on tick-borne zoonoses was carried out in four public parks in the outskirts of imola (northern italy) from june to october 2006. all stages of ixodes ricinus and only larvae of riphicephalus sanguineus were recovered by dragging, performed on 100-m transects. almost all ticks (99%) were harvested in one park. i. ricinus density (nymphs/100 m(2) ) ranged from 0 in park l to 6.3 in park f. nymphs and adults of i. ricinus were subjected to pcr for anaplasma phagocytoph ...201222551055
prevalence of rickettsia spp., anaplasma phagocytophilum, and coxiella burnetii in adult ixodes ricinus ticks from 29 study areas in central and southern sweden.a total of 887 adult ixodes ricinus ticks (469 females and 418 males) from 29 different localities in sweden were screened for rickettsia, anaplasma, and coxiella dna using pcr and then subjected to gene sequencing. rickettsial dna was detected in 9.5-9.6% of the ticks. most of the positive ticks were infected with rickettsia helvetica. one tick harbored another spotted fever rickettsia, closely related to or identical with r. sibirica not previously found in i. ricinus nor in sweden. six of the ...201222487426
seasonal activity and tick-borne pathogen infection rates of ixodes ricinus ticks in hungary.ixodes ricinus is the most important tick species in europe as it is most widely distributed and transmits the majority of tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. as limited data are available for hungary, the aim of the present study was to investigate the seasonal timing of questing by i. ricinus and the infection rate of this tick species with all major tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. monthly collections of i. ricinus were carried out over 3 consecutive years by dragging a blanket in 6 biotopes represe ...201222445929
survey for zoonotic pathogens in norway rat populations from europe.the norway rat rattus norvegicus is an important reservoir of various zoonotic pathogens, such as cowpox virus and leptospira, but also for agents of no or unknown zoonotic potential. we describe a survey of 426 norway rats originating from five european countries and different habitats for leptospira spp., rickettsiae, orthopoxvirus (opv), avian metapneumovirus subtypes a and b (ampv) and rat polyomavirus (rat pyv).201727299665
sympatric occurrence of ixodes ricinus, dermacentor reticulatus and haemaphysalis concinna ticks and rickettsia and babesia species in slovakia.vojka nad dunajom in the south-west of the slovak republic is a locality with sympatric occurrence of 3 species of ticks. this study investigated the spatial distribution of dermacentor reticulatus, ixodes ricinus, and haemaphysalis concinna ticks in this area and determined the prevalence of babesia and rickettsia species in questing adults of these tick species considered as potential risk for humans and animals. ticks were collected by blanket dragging over the vegetation from september 2011 ...201424973275
vector-borne agents detected in fleas of the northern white-breasted hedgehog.this is the first large-scale molecular investigation of fleas from a geographically widespread and highly urbanized species, the northern white-breasted hedgehog. in this study, 759 fleas (the majority were archaeopsylla erinacei) collected from 134 hedgehogs were molecularly analyzed individually or in pools for the presence of three groups of vector-borne pathogens. all flea samples were positive for rickettsiae: in two samples (1.5%) rickettsia helvetica and in 10% of the others a novel rick ...201424359423
serological and molecular evidence for spotted fever group rickettsia and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato co-infections in the netherlands.only a few reported cases indicate that rickettsia helvetica and rickettsia monacensis can cause disease in humans. exposure to these two spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae occurs through bites of ixodes ricinus, also the primary vector of lyme borreliosis in europe. to date, it is unclear how often exposure to these two microorganisms results in infection or disease. we show that of all the borrelia burgdorferi s.l.-positive ticks, 25% were co-infected with rickettsiae. predominantly r. helv ...201626739030
lyme borreliosis spirochetes and spotted fever group rickettsiae in ixodid ticks from pianosa island, tuscany archipelago, italy.a study on tick fauna and tick-borne pathogens was undertaken in pianosa, an island in the tuscany archipelago that constitutes an important stopping and nesting point for migratory birds. ticks were removed from feral cats and a few terrestrial birds, and host-seeking ticks were collected by dragging. a total of 89 ticks were found on animals: 57 ixodes ventalloi gil collado, 1936 and 32 ixodes acuminatus neumann, 1901. host-seeking ticks were 354 hyalomma spp. larvae and 18 hyalomma spp. adult ...201323289398
molecular evidence of rickettsia spp. in ixodid ticks and rodents in suburban, natural and rural habitats in slovakia.natural foci of tick-borne spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae of public health concern have been found in slovakia, but the role of rodents in their circulation is unclear. ticks (ixodes ricinus, ixodes trianguliceps, dermacentor marginatus, dermacentor reticulatus, haemaphysalis concinna and haemaphysalis inermis) and tissues of rodents (apodemus flavicollis, apodemus sylvaticus, myodes glareolus, microtus arvalis, microtus subterraneus and micromys minutus) were examined for the presence of ...201728340608
the natural infection of birds and ticks feeding on birds with rickettsia spp. and coxiella burnetii in slovakia.ixodid ticks (acari: ixodidae) are known as primary vectors of many pathogens causing diseases in humans and animals. ixodes ricinus is a common ectoparasite in europe and birds are often hosts of subadult stages of the tick. from 2012 to 2013, 347 birds belonging to 43 species were caught and examined for ticks in three sites of slovakia. ticks and blood samples from birds were analysed individually for the presence of rickettsia spp. and coxiella burnetii by pcr-based methods. only i. ricinus ...201626477038
rickettsia species in fleas collected from small mammals in slovakia.epidemiological and epizootiological studies of rickettsia felis and other rickettsia spp. are very important, because their natural cycle has not yet been established completely. in total, 315 fleas (siphonaptera) of 11 species of ceratophyllidae, hystrichopsyllidae and leptopsyllidae families were tested for the presence of rickettsia species and coxiella burnetii with conventional and specific quantitative real-time pcr assays. fleas were collected from five rodent hosts (myodes glareolus, ap ...201526346455
detection of rickettsia hoogstraalii, rickettsia helvetica, rickettsia massiliae, rickettsia slovaca and rickettsia aeschlimannii in ticks from sardinia, italy.tick-borne diseases represent a large proportion of infectious diseases that have become a world health concern. the presence of rickettsia spp. was evaluated by standard pcr and sequencing in 123 ticks collected from several mammals and vegetation in sardinia, italy. this study provides the first evidence of the presence of rickettsia hoogstralii in haemaphysalis punctata and haemaphysalis sulcata ticks from mouflon and rickettsia helvetica in ixodes festai ticks from hedgehog. in addition, ric ...201728110915
rickettsioses in europe.bacteria of the genera rickettsia and orientia (family rickettsiaceae, order rickettsiales) cause rickettsioses worldwide, and are transmitted by lice, fleas, ticks and mites. in europe, only rickettsia spp. cause rickettsioses. with improvement of hygiene, the risk of louse-borne rickettsiosis (epidemic typhus) is low in europe. nevertheless, recrudescent form of rickettsia prowazekii infection persists. there could be an epidemic typhus outbreak if a body lice epidemic occurs under unfavorable ...201626384814
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
genetic variability of rickettsia spp. in ixodes persulcatus ticks from continental and island areas of the russian far east.rickettsia spp. are intracellular gram-negative bacteria transmitted by arthropods. two potentially pathogenic rickettsiae, candidatus rickettsia tarasevichiae and rickettsia helvetica, have been found in unfed adult ixodes persulcatus ticks. the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and genetic variability of rickettsia spp. in i. persulcatus ticks collected from different locations in the russian far east. in total, 604 adult i. persulcatus ticks collected from four sites in the khaba ...201627424272
the role of particular tick developmental stages in the circulation of tick-borne pathogens affecting humans in central europe. 3. rickettsiae.ixodes ricinus, dermacentor reticulatus and d. marginatus ticks are the most important vector for rickettsia spp. in central europe. ticks sustain rickettsial transmission cycles transovarially and transstadially, it makes enable the rickettsial circulation in the tick population in the absence of vertebrate competent reservoir. rickettsia helvetica is transmitted by i. ricinus tick; the highest rates of infection are noted in adult females, lower in males and in nymphs. all tick developmental s ...201727614472
first report of rickettsia raoultii and rickettsia helvetica in dermacentor reticulatus ticks from the czech republic.tick-borne rickettsioses nowadays present a significant health threat among emerging tick-borne infections. in the study, we screened a total of 997 questing adult dermacentor reticulatus ticks (576 females and 421 males) collected in southern moravia (czech republic) from april to september of 2010 and 2011 for the presence of human pathogenic rickettsiae. here we provide the first evidence on the occurrence of human pathogenic rickettsia raoultii in the local d. reticulatus population indicati ...201627473853
detection of rickettsia helvetica in ixodes ricinus infesting wild and domestic animals and in a botfly larva (cephenemyia stimulator) infesting roe deer in germany.ixodes ricinus is a well-known vector of different human pathogens including rickettsia helvetica. the role of wild mammals in the distribution and probable maintenance of rickettsia in nature is still to be determined. we therefore investigated various parasites from different wild mammals as well as companion animals for the presence of rickettsia. a total of 606 i. ricinus, 38 cephenemyia stimulator (botfly larvae), one dermacentor reticulatus, 24 haematopinus suis (hog lice) and 30 lipoptena ...201627430966
prevalence and diversity of human pathogenic rickettsiae in urban versus rural habitats, hungary.tick-borne rickettsioses belong to the important emerging infectious diseases worldwide. we investigated the potential human exposure to rickettsiae by determining their presence in questing ticks collected in an urban park of budapest and a popular hunting and recreational forest area in southern hungary. differences were found in the infectious risk between the two habitats. rickettsia monacensis and rickettsia helvetica were identified with sequencing in questing ixodes ricinus, the only tick ...201626613759
prevalence of infection with rickettsia helvetica in ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on non-rickettsiemic rodent hosts in sylvatic habitats of west-central poland.ixodes ricinus is the most prevalent and widely distributed tick species in european countries and plays a principal role in transmission of a wide range of microbial pathogens. it is also a main vector and reservoir of rickettsia spp. of the spotted fever group with the infection level ranging in poland from 1.3% to 11.4%. nevertheless, little research has been conducted so far to identify reservoir hosts for these pathogens. a survey was undertaken to investigate the presence of rickettsia spp ...201626515058
new records of spotted fever group rickettsiae in baltic region.tick-borne rickettsiae are considered to be emerging, but there is still a lack of data on the occurrence and prevalence of the spotted fever group rickettsiae across europe, especially in the baltic countries. the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of rickettsia spp. in dermacentor reticulatus and ixodes ricinus ticks, as well as to determine their prevalence in various regions of lithuania and latvia. the prevalence of rickettsia spp. in geographically distinct population ...201626383013
genetic variability of rickettsia spp. in ixodes persulcatus/ixodes trianguliceps sympatric areas from western siberia, russia: identification of a new candidatus rickettsia species.rickettsia spp. are the causative agents of a number of diseases in humans. these bacteria are transmitted by arthropods, including ixodid ticks. dna of several rickettsia spp. was identified in ixodes persulcatus ticks, however, the association of ixodes trianguliceps ticks with rickettsia spp. is unknown. in our study, blood samples of small mammals (n=108), unfed adult i. persulcatus ticks (n=136), and i. persulcatus (n=12) and i. trianguliceps (n=34) ticks feeding on voles were collected in ...201526190452
spotted fever group rickettsiae detected in immature stages of ticks parasitizing on iberian endemic lizard lacerta schreiberi bedriaga, 1878.spotted fever rickettsioses are tick-borne diseases of growing public health concern. the prevalence of rickettsia-infected ticks and their ability to parasitize humans significantly influence the risk of human infection. altogether 466 ixodes ricinus ticks (428 nymphs and 38 larvae) collected from 73 lacerta schreiberi lizards were examined by pcr targeting the citrate synthetase gene glta for the presence of rickettsia spp. rickettsial dna was detected in 47% of nymphs and 31.6% of larvae. the ...201526141751
seasonal analysis of rickettsia species in ticks in an agricultural site of slovakia.many rickettsiae of the spotted fever group are emerging pathogens causing serious diseases associated with vertebrate hosts. ixodidae ticks are known as their vectors. investigation of the relative abundance of questing ixodes ricinus and their infection with rickettsia spp. in an agricultural site comprising a game reserve in slovakia was the aim of this study. in total, 2198 i. ricinus (492 larvae, 1503 nymphs and 203 adults) were collected by flagging the vegetation along 100 m(2) transects ...201626119003
detection and identification of rickettsia species in ixodes tick populations from estonia.a total of 1640 ticks collected in different geographical parts of estonia were screened for the presence of rickettsia species dna by real-time pcr. dna of rickettsia was detected in 83 out of 1640 questing ticks with an overall prevalence of 5.1%. the majority of the ticks infected by rickettsiae were ixodes ricinus (74 of 83), while 9 of the 83 positive ticks were ixodes persulcatus. for rickettsial species identification, a part of the citrate synthase glta gene was sequenced. the majority o ...201526096853
first detections of rickettsia helvetica and r. monacensis in ectoparasitic mites (laelapidae and trombiculidae) infesting rodents in south-western slovakia.information on circulation of rickettsiae between small mammals and their ectoparasitic mites is scarce. in this study, we investigated infestation rates of rodents with mites in some areas of sw slovakia and the role of mites as possible vectors of pathogenic rickettsiae. a total of 615 rodents of five species were caught during 2010-2012. all individuals were examined for ectoparasites which resulted in 2821 mites belonging to three species of laelapidae and six species of trombiculidae. the m ...201525843569
rickettsial infection in ixodes ricinus ticks in urban and natural habitats of slovakia.a total of 1810 ixodes ricinus ticks was collected from the vegetation from 2 different habitat types: urban and natural. urban habitats were represented by cemeteries and public parks in the following towns: bratislava, malacky, and martin at 150 m and 400 m above sea level. natural habitats were selected in the mountain forest of the martinské hole mts. in central slovakia at 3 different altitudinal levels, i.e. 600 m, 800 m and 1000 ma.s.l. all ticks were tested for the presence of spotted fe ...201424342052
detection of rickettsia helvetica in ticks collected from european hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus, linnaeus, 1758).the role of wild mammals in the dissemination and maintenance of rickettsia in nature is still under investigation. european hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) are often heavily infested by tick and flea species that are known to harbor and transmit different rickettsia spp. we investigated ixodid ticks sampled from european hedgehogs for the presence of rickettsia. a total of 471 ixodes ricinus and 755 i. hexagonus were collected from 26 german and 7 british european hedgehogs. these were tested b ...201323337491
use of dna sequences for rickettsia identification in ixodes ricinus ticks: the first detection of rickettsia monacensis in poland.the cosmopolitan tick ixodes ricinus inhabiting europe, including poland, is a vector for many pathogens, such as various rickettsia species, which spread to new territories. they are present mainly in the mediterranean countries, but have also been found in central europe at increasing frequency. in the present study, the glta gene, encoding citrate synthase, and an internal transcribed spacer (its) were employed to detect the dna and identify the species of tick-borne pathogens of the ricketts ...201323178758
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 rickettsia helvetica in ixodes ricinus ticks collected from pyrenean chamois in france.seventy-one ixodes ricinus ticks collected from pyrenean chamois (rupicapra pyrenaica) in the french pyrenees were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of rickettsia and bartonella. four ticks (6%) were positive for r. helvetica. the chamois carries infected ticks, and this enables the dissemination throughout the environment with this bacterium, a potential human pathogen.201223141107
isolation of rickettsia helvetica from ticks in slovakia.to date, only three rickettsial species have been found in ticks in slovakia by serological and/or molecular-biological techniques, namely rickettsia slovaca, candidatus rickettsia irs, and rickettsia raoultii. recently, we succeeded in isolation of the forth species, rickettsia helvetica from ixodes ricinus, the most frequent tick in slovakia. the isolation, positive for 10% of tested ticks, was performed on xtc cells by the shell-vial technique, gimenez staining and light microscopy. the infec ...201223043605
impact of a freeway on the dispersal of ticks and ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens: forested resting areas may become lyme disease hotspots.man-made barriers are well known for their effects on ecosystems. habitat fragmentation, for instance, is a recognised consequence of modern-day infrastructure. the aim of the present study was to investigate the diversity and abundance of tick species, as well as the risks of acquiring tick-borne infections in habitats adjacent to a freeway. therefore, ixodid ticks were collected from the vegetation at two-week intervals (in the main tick season, from march to june) in eight habitats of differe ...201728605964
detection and genetic characterization of a wide range of infectious agents in ixodes pavlovskyi ticks in western siberia, russia.the ixodes pavlovskyi tick species, a member of the i. persulcatus/i. ricinus group, was discovered in the middle of the 20(th) century in the russian far east. limited data have been reported on the detection of infectious agents in this tick species. the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic variability of a wide range of infectious agents in i. pavlovskyi ticks collected in their traditional and recently invaded habitats, the altai mountains and novosibirsk province, ...201728545549
candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detected in the blood of norwegian patients with erythema migrans.the most common tick-borne human disease in norway is lyme borreliosis. ticks in norway also harbour less known disease-causing agents such as candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis, borrelia miyamotoi and rickettsia helvetica. however, human infections caused by these pathogens have never been described in norway. the main aims of the study were to evaluate the contribution of several tick-borne bacterial agents, other than borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, to zoonotic diseases in norway and to dete ...201728539197
[tick-borne infections in denmark].the castor bean tick, ixodes ricinus, is common in woodlands in most of denmark. besides borrelia burgdorferi, it can harbour a number of pathogenic microorganisms such as tick-borne encephalitis virus, anaplasma phagocytophilum, rickettsia helvetica, francisella tularensis, candidatus neoehrlichia mikurensis, bartonella spp., borrelia miyamotoi and babesia spp. these tick-borne infections should be a differential diagnostic consideration during the tick season in denmark. we review the distribu ...201728504633
pcr denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis as a useful method to identify of intestinal bacteria flora in haemaphysalis flava ticks.ticks are blood-sucking ectoparasites of great medical and veterinary significance that can transmit bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses, causing a variety of human and animal diseases worldwide. in the present study, the intestinal bacterial flora associated with haemaphysalis flava ticks in different developmental stages were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (pcr) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (dgge). eleven distinct dgge bands were found using pcr-dgge method. sequence ...201728426403
two mice models for transferability of zoonotic bacteria via tick vector.spotted fever and typhus-related diseases caused by rickettsiae, lyme borreliosis induced by spirochetes from borrelia burgdorferii sensu lato complex, and q fever evoked by coxiella burnetii, are important zoonoses occurring worldwide. in order to study the pathogenesis of these infections, the efficacy of vaccines from the perspective of protection against the pathogens, pathogen - pathogen interactions during co-infections or pathogen-vector-host interrelationship, a suitable animal model sho ...201728854805
detection of rickettsia helvetica and candidatus r. tarasevichiae dna in ixodes persulcatus ticks collected in northeastern european russia (komi republic).the number of tick-borne infections in the northern european regions of russia has increased considerably in the last years. in the present study, 676 unfed adult ixodes persulcatus ticks were collected in the komi republic from 2011 to 2013 to study tick-borne rickettsioses. rickettsia spp. dna was detected by pcr in 51 (7.6%) ticks. the nucleotide sequence analysis of glta fragments (765bp) from 51 ticks indicated that 60.8% and 39.2% of the ticks were infected with rickettsia helvetica and ca ...201728433730
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