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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
acaricidal activity of ethanolic extract from aerial parts of tagetes patula l. (asteraceae) against larvae and engorged adult females of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806).the tick rhipicephalus sanguineus is the species with the largest worldwide distribution and is proven to be involved in the transmission of pathogens such as babesia canis, ehrlichia canis, coxiella burnetii, rickettsia ricketsii, rickettsia conorii, among others. studies have demonstrated acquisition of resistance to some of the active principles used in commercial formulations of acaricides. tagetes patula (asteraceae) is a plant with highlighted economic and commercial importance due to the ...201223244493
serological evaluation of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in humans with high-risk professions living in enzootic regions of isfahan province of iran and genetic analysis of circulating strains.crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever (cchf) is a zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected livestock, but causes a serious threat to humans with a mortality rate up to 50%. although the cchf virus (cchfv) is often transmitted by ticks, livestock-to-human and human-to-human transmission also occurs. in the current study, we focused on cchf in the province of isfahan, located in the center of iran and deemed to be the second most infected province. human and livestock sera and resident ti ...201222217167
feeding effects of rhipicephalus sanguineus (latreille, 1806) (acari: ixodidae), on protein consumption and blood loss of their hosts.host blood loss by rhipicephalus sanguineus feedings (weight/tick) ranged from 0.0179 to 0.2469 mg (0.21686 +/- 0.26785) and from 0.00103 to 0.00159 gm (0.001274 +/- 0.000204) respectively for each female and male if fed once. results obtained herein indicated that if each sheep and or goat in production in egypt is infested with only one pair of r. sanguines, the blood loss would reach 1084.3 kg and 867.4 kg, respectively for the population of sheep and goats. accordingly, there was a great los ...201223469645
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
abiotic and biotic factors associated with tick population dynamics on a mammalian host: ixodes hexagonus infesting otters, lutra lutra.the eurasian otter, lutra lutra, hosts several parasites with zoonotic potential. as this semiaquatic mammal has large ranges across terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats, it has the capacity for wide dispersion of pathogens. despite this, parasites of otters have received relatively little attention. here, we examine their ectoparasite load and assess whether this is influenced by abiotic or biotic variables. climatic phenomena such as the north atlantic oscillation (nao) affect weather c ...201223071736
haemoparasites of free-roaming dogs associated with several remote aboriginal communities in australia.tick-borne haemoparasites babesia vogeli and anaplasma platys are common among the free-roaming canine populations associated with aboriginal communities in australia, whilst the prevalence of haemoplasmas, which are also suspected to be tick-borne, remained unexplored. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of haemoplasma infection in these populations, and to identify any correlation with other haemoparasites. blood was collected from 39 dogs associated with four aboriginal comm ...201222584120
a fatal urban case of rocky mountain spotted fever presenting an eschar in san jose, costa rica.this study reports the first urban human case of rocky mountain spotted fever caused by rickettsia rickettsii, in costa rica. an 8-year-old female who died at the national children's hospital 4 days after her admission, and an important and significant observation was the presence of an "eschar" (tache noire), which is typical in some rickettsial infections but not frequent in rocky mountain spotted fever cases.201222855769
anopheles salivary gland proteomes from major malaria vectors.antibody responses against anopheles salivary proteins can indicate individual exposure to bites of malaria vectors. the extent to which these salivary proteins are species-specific is not entirely resolved. thus, a better knowledge of the diversity among salivary protein repertoires from various malaria vector species is necessary to select relevant genus-, subgenus- and/or species-specific salivary antigens. such antigens could be used for quantitative (mosquito density) and qualitative (mosqu ...201223148599
tick-box for 3'-end formation of mitochondrial transcripts in ixodida, basal chelicerates and drosophila.according to the trna punctuation model, the mitochondrial genome (mtdna) of mammals and arthropods is transcribed as large polycistronic precursors that are maturated by endonucleolytic cleavage at trna borders and rna polyadenylation. starting from the newly sequenced mtdna of ixodes ricinus and using a combination of mitogenomics and transcriptional analyses, we found that in all currently-sequenced tick lineages (prostriata, metastriata and argasidae) the 3'-end of the polyadenylated nad1 an ...201223077630
the sialotranscriptome of antricola delacruzi female ticks is compatible with non-hematophagous behavior and an alternative source of food.the hosts for antricola delacruzi ticks are insectivorous, cave-dwelling bats on which only larvae are found. the mouthparts of nymphal and adult a. delacruzi are compatible with scavenging feeding because the hypostome is small and toothless. how a single blood meal of a larva provides energy for several molts as well as for oviposition by females is not known. adults of a. delacruzi possibly feed upon an unknown food source in bat guano, a substrate on which nymphal and adult stages are always ...201222306723
fatal rocky mountain spotted fever in the united states, 1999-2007.death from rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) is preventable with prompt, appropriate treatment. data from two independent sources were analyzed to estimate the burden of fatal rmsf and identify risk factors for fatal rmsf in the united states during 1999-2007. despite increased reporting of rmsf cases to the centers for disease control and prevention, no significant changes in the estimated number of annual fatal rmsf cases were found. american indians were at higher risk of fatal rmsf relativ ...201222492159
unusual bacterial infections and the pleura.rickettsiosis, q fever, tularemia, and anthrax are all bacterial diseases that can affect the pleura. rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) and mediterranean spotted fever (msf) are caused by rickettsia rickettsii and rickettsia conorii, respectively. pleural fluid from a patient with msf had a neutrophil-predominant exudate. coxiellaburnetii is the causative agent of q fever. of the two cases described in the literature, one was an exudate with a marked eosinophilia while the other case was a tra ...201222977649
identification of endosymbionts in ticks by broad-range polymerase chain reaction and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.many organisms, such as insects, filarial nematodes, and ticks, contain heritable bacterial endosymbionts that are often closely related to transmissible tickborne pathogens. these intracellular bacteria are sometimes unique to the host species, presumably due to isolation and genetic drift. we used a polymerase chain reaction/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry assay designed to detect a wide range of vectorborne microorganisms to characterize endosymbiont genetic signatures from amblyomm ...201222897044
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
candidatus bartonella merieuxii, a potential new zoonotic bartonella species in canids from iraq.bartonellae are emerging vector-borne pathogens infecting erythrocytes and endothelial cells of various domestic and wild mammals. blood samples were collected from domestic and wild canids in iraq under the united states army zoonotic disease surveillance program. serology was performed using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test for b. henselae, b. clarridgeiae, b. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii and b. bovis. overall seroprevalence was 47.4% in dogs (n = 97), 40.4% in jackals (n = 57) and 12 ...201223029597
efficacy of slow-release collar formulations of imidacloprid/flumethrin and deltamethrin and of spot-on formulations of fipronil/(s)-- methoprene, dinotefuran/pyriproxyfen/permethrin and (s) -methoprene/amitraz/fipronil against rhipicephalus sanguineus and ctenocephalides felis felis on dogs.two studies evaluating the efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®, bayer animal health, ivp), a deltamethrin collar (scalibor®, msd, cp1), a fipronil/(s)-methoprene spot-on (frontline combo®, merial, cp2), a dinotefuran/pyriproxyfen/permethrin spot-on (vectra 3d®, ceva, cp3) and an amitraz/fipronil/(s)-methoprene spot-on (certifect®, merial, cp4/cp5) against repeated infestations with rhipicephalus sanguineus and ctenocephalides felis felis on dogs were conducted over periods of ...201222520338
considerations for assessing maximum critical temperatures in small ectothermic animals: insights from leaf-cutting ants.the thermal limits of individual animals were originally proposed as a link between animal physiology and thermal ecology. although this link is valid in theory, the evaluation of physiological tolerances involves some problems that are the focus of this study. one rationale was that heating rates shall influence upper critical limits, so that ecological thermal limits need to consider experimental heating rates. in addition, if thermal limits are not surpassed in experiments, subsequent tests o ...201222384147
an occurrence of clinical eperythrozoonosis in a german shepherd dog and its therapeutic management.eperythrozoon spp.-a rickettsial (mycoplasma) pathogen of the mammalian erythrocytic cell membrane, has been recognised to cause non specific, sporadic, febrile and haemolytic clinical disease in a variety of livestock, especially food animals. however, clinical eperythrozoonosis in companion animals seems not documented so far. an adult male german shepherd dog, aged 10.5 years and weighing 45 kg with clinical history of persistent mild fever in morning hours, depression and anorexia for the pa ...201224082524
morphometric variations in gametocytes of hepatozoon canis from naturally infected dogs.this study presents the morphometric characteristic of canine haemoprotozoan, hepatozoon canis, using software dp2-bsw (olympus). the gametocytes of h. canis found inside the neutrophils were characteristic in shape and size and varied from 9.50 to 11.80 μm × 5.10-6.00 μm. parasitaemia ranged from 1.00 to 39.00 %. few gametocytes without nuclei and of abnormal shapes were also observed. the results were compared with the measurements done by using ocular micrometer.201224431557
a survey on ectoparasite infestations in companion dogs of ahvaz district, south-west of iran.the objective was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasite infestations in referred companion dogs to veterinary hospital of shahid chamran university of ahvaz, from 2009 to 2010.201223293781
field trials to attract questing stages of brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus using tick pheromone-acaricide complex.evaluations were made to assess the efficacy of assembly pheromone, attractant sex pheromone and the kairomone carbon dioxide in attracting the questing larval nymphal and adult stages of the brown ear dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. ticks attracted to one location were killed using the acaricide deltamethrin. initially, simulated field trials were conducted to observe the percentage of attraction of ticks from different distances. tick lure comprising of carbon dioxide as kairomone and 2,6- ...201224431546
seroprevalence of ehrlichia canis, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in dogs in north america.this study evaluated the exposure of dogs to three different ehrlichia spp. in the south and central regions of the united states where vector-borne disease prevalence has been previously difficult to ascertain, particularly beyond the metropolitan areas.201222316160
transcriptional profiling of the murine cutaneous response during initial and subsequent infestations with ixodes scapularis nymphs.ixodes scapularis ticks are hematophagous arthropods capable of transmitting many infectious agents to humans. the process of blood feeding is an extended and continuous interplay between tick and host responses. while this process has been studied extensively in vitro, no global understanding of the host response to ticks has emerged.201222309607
new species of ehrlichia isolated from rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus shows an ortholog of the e. canis major immunogenic glycoprotein gp36 with a new sequence of tandem repeats.ehrlichia species are the etiological agents of emerging and life-threatening tick-borne human zoonoses that inflict serious and fatal infections in companion animals and livestock. the aim of this paper was to phylogeneticaly characterise a new species of ehrlichia isolated from rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus from minas gerais, brazil.201223231731
phylogeography and demographic history of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) (acari: ixodidae), the tropical bont tick.the genetic diversity of amblyomma variegatum (fabricius) from four caribbean islands and five african countries was compared by analyzing the sequences of three gene fragments, two mitochondrial (12srdna and d-loop-dl), and one nuclear (intergenic transcribed spacer 2 [its2]). genetic variability of the its2 dna fragment consisted of only uninformative single nucleotide mutations, and therefore this gene was excluded from further analyses. mitochondrial gene divergences among african population ...201222448720
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs.the studies reported here were conducted to ascertain the efficacy of imidacloprid/flumethrin incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against infestations of dogs by fleas, ticks, mites and lice. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, the ticks rhipicephalus sanguineus, ixodes ricinus, ixodes scapularis, dermacentor reticulatus and dermacentor variabilis, the mite sarcoptes scabiei and the biting louse trichodectes canis.201222647530
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
the synergistic action of imidacloprid and flumethrin and their release kinetics from collars applied for ectoparasite control in dogs and cats.the control of tick and flea burdens in dogs and cats has become essential to the control of important and emerging vector borne diseases, some of which are zoonoses. flea worry and flea bite hypersensitivity are additionally a significant disease entity in dogs and cats. owner compliance in maintaining the pressure of control measures has been shown to be poor. for these reasons efforts are continuously being made to develop ectoparasiticides and application methods that are safe, effective and ...201222498105
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas and ticks on cats.the objectives of the studies listed here were to ascertain the therapeutic and sustained efficacy of 10% imidacloprid (w/w) and 4.5% flumethrin (w/w) incorporated in a slow-release matrix collar, against laboratory-infestations of fleas and ticks on cats. efficacy was evaluated against the flea ctenocephalides felis felis, and the ticks ixodes ricinus, amblyomma americanum and rhipicephalus turanicus. the number of studies was so large that only a general overview can be presented in this abstr ...201222541037
evaluation of the long-term efficacy and safety of an imidacloprid 10%/flumethrin 4.5% polymer matrix collar (seresto®) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in multicentre clinical field studies in europe.the objective of these two gcp multicentre european clinical field studies was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a new imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®, bayer animalhealth, investigational veterinary product(ivp)) in dogs and cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks in comparison to a dimpylat collar ("ungezieferband fuer hunde/fuer katzen", beaphar, control product (cp)).201222463745
tick infestation patterns in free ranging african buffalo (syncercus caffer): effects of host innate immunity and niche segregation among tick species.ticks are of vast importance to livestock health, and contribute to conflicts between wildlife conservation and agricultural interests; but factors driving tick infestation patterns on wild hosts are not well understood. we studied tick infestation patterns on free-ranging african buffalo (syncercus caffer), asking (i) is there evidence for niche segregation among tick species?; and (ii) how do host characteristics affect variation in tick abundance among hosts? we identified ticks and estimated ...201224533310
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
bioinformatics and expression analyses of the ixodes scapularis tick cystatin family.the cystatins are inhibitors of papain- and legumain-like cysteine proteinases, classified in merops subfamilies i25a-i25c. this study shows that 84 % (42/50) of tick cystatins are putatively extracellular in subfamily i25b and the rest are putatively intracellular in subfamily i25a. on the neighbor joining phylogeny guide tree, subfamily i25a members cluster together, while subfamily i25b cystatins segregate among prostriata or metastriata ticks. two ixodes scapularis cystatins, aay66864 and is ...201223053911
borrelia, rickettsia, and ehrlichia species in bat ticks, france, 2010.argas vespertilionis, an argasid tick associated with bats and bat habitats in europe, africa, and asia has been reported to bite humans; however, studies investigating the presence of vector-borne pathogens in these ticks are lacking. using molecular tools, we tested 5 a. vespertilionis ticks collected in 2010 from the floor of a bat-infested attic in southwestern france that had been converted into bedrooms. rickettsia sp. avbat, a new genotype of spotted fever group rickettsiae, was detected ...201223171714
first molecular detection of theileria ovis in rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in iran.to determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern iran.201222182639
a preliminary parasitological survey of hepatozoon spp. infection in dogs in mashhad, iran.we attempted to determine the prevalence of hepatozoon spp. infection in mashhad, northeast of iran, via blood smear parasitology.201223323098
a novel tick antigen shows high vaccine efficacy against the dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus.ticks are acaridae ectoparasites that, while taking a blood meal, can transmit viruses, bacteria, protozoa and filarial nematodes, which cause a variety of human and animal illnesses. the use of chemical pesticides constitutes the primary measure for control of these ectoparasites. however, the intensive use of these chemicals has drawbacks such as the contamination of food, environmental pollution and development of resistance by ectoparasites. vaccination is considered a promising alternative ...201222245603
on a cercopithifilaria sp. transmitted by rhipicephalus sanguineus: a neglected, but widespread filarioid of dogs.abstract:201222212459
evolution, expansion and expression of the kunitz/bpti gene family associated with long-term blood feeding in ixodes scapularis.abstract: background: recent studies of the tick saliva transcriptome have revealed the profound role of salivary proteins in blood feeding. kunitz/bpti proteins are abundant in the salivary glands of ticks and perform multiple functions in blood feeding, such as inhibiting blood coagulation, regulating host blood supply and disrupting host angiogenesis. however, kunitz/bpti proteins in soft and hard ticks have different functions and molecular mechanisms. how these differences emerged and whet ...201222244187
prevalence of dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in apparently healthy and cvbd-suspect dogs in portugal--a national serological study.canine vector-borne diseases (cvbds) are caused by a wide range of pathogens transmitted to dogs by arthropods including ticks and insects. many cvbd-agents are of zoonotic concern, with dogs potentially serving as reservoirs and sentinels for human infections. the present study aimed at assessing the seroprevalence of infection with or exposure to dirofilaria immitis, ehrlichia canis, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, anaplasma spp. and leishmania infantum in dogs in portugal.201222452990
first case of anaplasma platys infection in a dog from croatia.it is known that anaplasma (a.) platys, the causative agent of infectious canine cyclic thrombocytopenia, is endemic in countries of the mediterranean basin. however, few reports are available from the balkans. this case report describes a dog, which was imported from croatia to germany in may 2010. one month later the dog was presented to a local veterinarian in germany due to intermittent/recurrent diarrhoea. diagnostic tests were performed to identify infections caused by anaplasma spp., ehrl ...201222401583
serological investigation of vector-borne disease in dogs from rural areas of china.to evaluate the anaplasma phagocytophilum (a. phagocytophilum), ehrlichia canis (e. canis), dirofilaria immitis (d. immitis) (canine heartworm), borrelia burgdorferi (b. burgdorferi) infections in countryside dogs from yunnan, hainan and anhui provinces.201223569877
detection of wolbachia in the tick ixodes ricinus is due to the presence of the hymenoptera endoparasitoid ixodiphagus hookeri.the identification of micro-organisms carried by ticks is an important issue for human and animal health. in addition to their role as pathogen vectors, ticks are also the hosts for symbiotic bacteria whose impact on tick biology is poorly known. among these, the bacterium wolbachia pipientis has already been reported associated with ixodes ricinus and other tick species. however, the origins of wolbachia in ticks and their consequences on tick biology (known to be very diverse in invertebrates, ...201222292021
survey of borreliae in ticks, canines, and white-tailed deer from arkansas, u.s.a.in the eastern and upper midwestern regions of north america, ixodes scapularis (l.) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans and the primary vector of b. burgdorferi, whereas in the southeastern region amblyomma americanum (say) is the most abundant tick species encountered by humans but cannot transmit b. burgdorferi. surveys of borreliae in ticks have been conducted in the southeastern united states and often these surveys identify b. lonestari as the primary borrelia species, ...201222781030
why are there so few rickettsia conorii conorii-infected rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in the wild?rickettsia conorii conorii is the etiological agent of mediterranean spotted fever, which is transmitted by the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. the relationship between the rickettsia and its tick vector are still poorly understood one century after the first description of this disease.201222724035
composition and seasonal variation of rhipicephalus turanicus and rhipicephalus sanguineus bacterial communities.a 16s rrna gene approach, including 454 pyrosequencing and quantitative pcr (qpcr), was used to describe the bacterial community in rhipicephalus turanicus and to evaluate the dynamics of key bacterial tenants of adult ticks during the active questing season. the bacterial community structure of rh. turanicus was characterized by high dominance of coxiella and rickettsia and extremely low taxonomic diversity. parallel diagnostic pcr further revealed a novel coxiella species which was present and ...201222467507
rickettsiae in arthropods collected from the north african hedgehog (atelerix algirus) and the desert hedgehog (paraechinus aethiopicus) in algeria.hedgehogs have become a popular pet despite their potential role in zoonotic disease transmission. we conducted an entomological study in a mountainous region of northeast algeria in which we collected 387 fleas (archeopsylla erinacei) and 342 ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis erinacei) from paraechinus aethiopicus and atelerix algirus hedgehogs. of the hedgehogs sampled, 77.7% and 91% were infested with fleas and ticks, respectively. significantly more ticks and fleas were colle ...201222222114
confirmation of the efficacy of a novel fipronil spot-on for the treatment and control of fleas, ticks and chewing lice on dogs.a novel spot-on formulation containing fipronil (eliminall(®)/exproline vet™) spot-on solution for dogs, pfizer animal health, registered and manufactured by krka, d.d, novo mesto) was evaluated in three laboratory studies to confirm efficacy against fleas, ticks and chewing lice on dogs for at least one month. control of two laboratory strains of cat flea (ctenocephalides felis), two tick species (rhipicephalus sanguineus and dermacentor reticulatus) and the chewing louse (trichodectes canis) w ...201223290278
para-clinico-pathological observations of insidious incidence of canine hepatozoonosis from a mongrel dog: a case report.a rare case of canine hepatozoonosis in a mongrel dog with para-clinico-pathological observations has been reported. the study included detailed haemato-biochemical changes at two stages, i.e. before treatment and after treatment with adopted therapy. before therapy, blood picture revealed normocytic hypochromic anaemia and neutrophilic leucocytosis with variable counts of platelets. thirty-seven percent of neutrophils were found infected with gametocytes of hepatozoon canis. following treatment ...201223543040
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
ectoparasites of sheep in three agro-ecological zones in central oromia, ethiopia.a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for ectoparasites infestation in sheep in three agro-ecological zones in central oromia, ethiopia, from october 2009 to april 2010. the study revealed that 637 (48.1%) of the 1325 sheep examined were infested with one or more ectoparasites. the ectoparasites identified were bovicola ovis (27.2%), melophagus ovinus (16.4%), ctenocephalides sp. (2.3%), linognathus africanus (1.2%), linognathus ovillus (0.3%), sarcop ...201223327319
zoonotic pathogens associated with hyalomma aegyptium in endangered tortoises: evidence for host-switching behaviour in ticks?hyalomma aegyptium is a hard-tick with a typical three-host life cycle. the main hosts are palearctic tortoises of genus testudo. however, other hosts can be used by immature ticks for feeding in natural conditions. given this complex ecology and multiple host use, the circulation of pathogens by h. aegyptium between various hosts can be important from epidemiological point of view. the aim of this study was to evaluate the role of h. aegyptium as natural carrier of four important zoonotic patho ...201223273169
sizes and developmental viability of sequentially oviposited eggs of dog ticks: rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis leachi leachi.sizes and developmental viability of sequentially oviposited eggs of up to 12th day oviposition by dog ticks rhipicephalus sanguineus and haemaphysalis leachi leachi were studied. the mean length and breadth of eggs oviposited on days 1 and 2 were greater (0.45 +/- 0.111 and 0.44 +/- 0.042) than those of subsequent ovipositions. the eclosion periods of eggs laid from 7th to 12th day of oviposition were progressively shorter (17, 16, 14 and 19, 17, 0 days) than those of eggs laid on days 1 and 2 ...201223678637
first survey of hard ticks (acari: ixodidae) on cattle, sheep and goats in boeen zahra and takistan counties, iran.to carry out the distribution survey of hard ticks of livestock in boeen zahra and takistan counties of qazvin province from april 2010 to september 2010.201223569956
next generation sequencing uncovers unexpected bacterial pathogens in ticks in western europe.ticks are highly susceptible to global environmental and socio-economical changes. several tick-borne pathogens have been reported in new geographical regions while new species, strains or genetic variants of tick-borne microorganisms are continually being detected. however, tick-borne pathogens are still poorly understood, and it is estimated that half of all human tick-borne disease has an unknown origin. therefore in order to prevent these diseases, more effort is required to identify unknown ...201324312301
ticks and tick-borne pathogens at the cutaneous interface: host defenses, tick countermeasures, and a suitable environment for pathogen establishment.ticks are unique among hematophagous arthropods by continuous attachment to host skin and blood feeding for days; complexity and diversity of biologically active molecules differentially expressed in saliva of tick species; their ability to modulate the host defenses of pain and itch, hemostasis, inflammation, innate and adaptive immunity, and wound healing; and, the diverse array of infectious agents they transmit. all of these interactions occur at the cutaneous interface in a complex sequence ...201324312085
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
seropositivity rates for agents of canine vector-borne diseases in spain: a multicentre study.controlling canine vector-borne diseases (cvbd) is a major concern, since some of these diseases are serious zoonoses. this study was designed to determine seropositivity rates in spain for agents causing the following five cvbd: leishmaniosis (leishmania infantum: li), heartworm (dirofilaria immitis: di), ehrlichiosis (ehrlichia canis: ec), anaplasmosis (anaplasma phagocytophilum/anaplasma platys: an) and lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi: bb).201323607428
co-infection with anaplasma platys, bartonella henselae and candidatus mycoplasma haematoparvum in a veterinarian.during a two year period, a 27-year-old female veterinarian experienced migraine headaches, seizures, including status epilepticus, and other neurological and neurocognitive abnormalities. prior to and during her illness, she had been actively involved in hospital-based work treating domestic animals, primarily cats and dogs, in grenada and ireland and anatomical research requiring the dissection of wild animals (including lions, giraffe, rabbits, mongoose, and other animals), mostly in south af ...201323587235
a nod to disease vectors: mitigation of pathogen sensing by arthropod saliva.arthropod saliva possesses anti-hemostatic, anesthetic, and anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate feeding and, inadvertently, dissemination of pathogens. vector-borne diseases caused by these pathogens affect millions of people each year. many studies address the impact of arthropod salivary proteins on various immunological components. however, whether and how arthropod saliva counters nod-like (nlr) sensing remains elusive. nlrs are innate immune pattern recognition molecules involved i ...201324155744
the ovarian transcriptome of the cattle tick, rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, feeding upon a bovine host infected with babesia bovis.cattle babesiosis is a tick-borne disease of cattle with the most severe form of the disease caused by the apicomplexan, babesia bovis. babesiosis is transmitted to cattle through the bite of infected cattle ticks of the genus rhipicephalus. the most prevalent species is rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus, which is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. the transmission of b. bovis is transovarian and a previous study of the r. microplus ovarian proteome ide ...201324330595
tick salivary compounds: their role in modulation of host defences and pathogen transmission.ticks require blood meal to complete development and reproduction. multifunctional tick salivary glands play a pivotal role in tick feeding and transmission of pathogens. tick salivary molecules injected into the host modulate host defence responses to the benefit of the feeding ticks. to colonize tick organs, tick-borne microorganisms must overcome several barriers, i.e., tick gut membrane, tick immunity, and moulting. tick-borne pathogens co-evolved with their vectors and hosts and developed m ...201323971008
the effects of ingested mammalian blood factors on vector arthropod immunity and physiology.the blood feeding behavior of disease-transmitting arthropods creates a unique intersection between vertebrate and invertebrate physiology. here, we review host blood-derived factors that persist through blood digestion to affect the lifespan, reproduction, and immune responses of some of the most common arthropod vectors of human disease.201323370408
redescription of hepatozoon felis (apicomplexa: hepatozoidae) based on phylogenetic analysis, tissue and blood form morphology, and possible transplacental transmission.a hepatozoon parasite was initially reported from a cat in india in 1908 and named leucocytozoon felis domestici. although domestic feline hepatozoonosis has since been recorded from europe, africa, asia and america, its description, classification and pathogenesis have remained vague and the distinction between different species of hepatozoon infecting domestic and wild carnivores has been unclear. the aim of this study was to carry out a survey on domestic feline hepatozoonosis and characteriz ...201323587213
toxicity of millettia ferruginea darasana (family: fabaceae) against the larvae and adult ticks of amblyomma variegatum fabricius a three-host tick in cattle.the in vitro toxicity of millettia ferruginea darasana (family: fabaceae) was tested against the larvae adult male and female of a three-host tick, amblyomma variegatum fabricius (family: ixodidae or hard tick), known as 'tropical bont tick' parasitic mainly to cattle found in ethiopia and other equatorial africa. the 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 % concentrations of the seed oil extracted with petroleum ether were found to kill all (100 % mortality) larvae after 12, 9, 6, 3 and 1.5 h respectively. the ...201326064022
coxiella burnetii in humans, domestic ruminants, and ticks in rural western kenya.we conducted serological surveys for coxiella burnetii in archived sera from patients that visited a rural clinic in western kenya from 2007 to 2008 and in cattle, sheep, and goats from the same area in 2009. we also conducted serological and polymerase chain reaction-based surveillance for the pathogen in 2009-2010, in human patients with acute lower respiratory illness, in ruminants following parturition, and in ticks collected from ruminants and domestic dogs. antibodies against c. burnetii w ...201323382156
theileria annae in a young swedish dog.a severe regenerative anemia was detected in a 12-week-old mixed breed puppy in sweden. a small protozoan parasite was observed in erythrocytes on a blood smear. it was initially suspected to be babesia gibsoni based on its size and because b. gibsoni was previously recorded in sweden. surprisingly, specific polymerase chain reaction analysis identified the protozoan as theileria annae. t. annae is endemic in northwest spain, is very uncommonly reported elsewhere and has never been recorded in s ...201323842507
rickettsia rickettsii isolation from naturally infected amblyomma parvum ticks by centrifugation in a 24-well culture plate technique.rocky mountain spotted fever is an acute illness caused by rickettsia rickettsii (r. rickettsii) and is transmitted by the bite of ticks of the genera dermacentor, amblyomma and rhipicephalus. the illness results in a high mortality rate and may be easily confused with other febrile syndromes. in yucatan state, mexico, childhood cases with a high mortality have been reported. in this work we report the isolation of a mexican r. rickettsii strain from a tick egg mass using an alternative method f ...201326623321
functional characterisation of a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunit from the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus.ticks and tick-borne diseases have a major impact on human and animal health worldwide. current control strategies rely heavily on the use of chemical acaricides, most of which target the cns and with increasing resistance, new drugs are urgently needed. nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nachrs) are targets of highly successful insecticides. we isolated a full-length nachr α subunit from a normalised cdna library from the synganglion (brain) of the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. phyl ...201324291321
crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in iran.the presence of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever virus (cchfv) in iran was first identified in studies of livestock sera and ticks in the 1970s, but the first human infection was not diagnosed until 1999. since that time, the number of cases of cchf in iran has markedly increased. through january 2012, articles in the published literature have reported a total of 870 confirmed cases, with 126 deaths, for a case fatality rate (cfr) of 17.6%. the disease has been seen in 26 of the country's 31 prov ...201323872313
comparative evaluation of infected and noninfected amblyomma triste ticks with rickettsia parkeri, the agent of an emerging rickettsiosis in the new world.the distribution of rickettsia parkeri in south america has been associated with amblyomma triste ticks. the present study evaluated under laboratory conditions two colonies of a. triste: one started from engorged females that were naturally infected by r. parkeri (designated as infected group); the other started from noninfected females (designated as control group). both colonies were reared in parallel for five consecutive generations. tick-naïve domestic rabbits were used for feeding of each ...201323936795
ixodid ticks of traditionally managed cattle in central nigeria: where rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus does not dare (yet?).ticks and tick-borne diseases (tbds) undermine cattle fitness and productivity in the whole of sub-saharan africa, including nigeria. the aim of this study was to document the composition of tick species, assessing the burden of infestation, in traditionally managed cattle in an area of central nigeria where acaricides have not been used historically.201323758913
simple method to differentiate among rickettsia species.in this work we present a new option to identify 11 rickettsial species that cause human rickettsioses, with some advantages over the previous methods described. using rickettsial isolates from 11 rickettsia species as a sample, we used the polymerase chain reaction to amplify a 990- to 1,000-bp dna fragment from the ompb gene, common for the 11 rickettsia species analyzed in this study, which were digested with alui restriction enzyme to obtain different digestion patterns. this restriction pat ...201323595041
effects of aedes aegypti salivary components on dendritic cell and lymphocyte biology.saliva is a key element of interaction between hematophagous mosquitoes and their vertebrate hosts. in addition to allowing a successful blood meal by neutralizing or delaying hemostatic responses, the salivary cocktail is also able to modulate the effector mechanisms of host immune responses facilitating, in turn, the transmission of several types of microorganisms. understanding how the mosquito uses its salivary components to circumvent host immunity might help to clarify the mechanisms of tr ...201324238038
frequency and clinical epidemiology of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis in dogs infested with ticks from sinaloa, mexico.ehrlichia canis is a rickettsial intracellular obligate bacterial pathogen and agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis. the prevalence of this disease in veterinary medicine can vary depending on the diagnostic method used and the geographic location. one hundred and fifty-two canine blood samples from six veterinary clinics and two shelters from sinaloa state (mexico) were analyzed in this study. all animals were suspected of having canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (cme). the diagnostic methods use ...201326464910
novel immunomodulators from hard ticks selectively reprogramme human dendritic cell responses.hard ticks subvert the immune responses of their vertebrate hosts in order to feed for much longer periods than other blood-feeding ectoparasites; this may be one reason why they transmit perhaps the greatest diversity of pathogens of any arthropod vector. tick-induced immunomodulation is mediated by salivary components, some of which neutralise elements of innate immunity or inhibit the development of adaptive immunity. as dendritic cells (dc) trigger and help to regulate adaptive immunity, the ...201323825947
hitch-hiker taken for a ride: an unusual cause of myocarditis, septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome.rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) is a serious tick-borne illness caused by rickettsia rickettsii that is endemic in southeastern usa. although rmsf has been described as causing the classic clinical triad of fever, headache and a characteristic rash, serious and potentially life-threatening manifestations can occur. cardiopulmonary involvement, although infrequent, may occur with severe cases of rmsf. rickettsial myocarditis is an uncommon occurrence. we present a case of a previously healthy ...201323314875
multispacer typing of rickettsia isolates from humans and ticks in tunisia revealing new genotypes.rickettsioses are important remerging vector born infections. in tunisia, many species have been described in humans and vectors. genotyping is important for tracking pathogen movement between hosts and vectors. in this study, we characterized rickettsia species detected in patients and vectors using multispacer typing (mst), proposed by founier et al. and based on three intergenic spacers (dksa-xerc, rmpe- trna(fmet), mppa-pruc) sequencing.201324380581
infection of domestic dogs in peru by zoonotic bartonella species: a cross-sectional prevalence study of 219 asymptomatic dogs.bartonella species are emerging infectious organisms transmitted by arthropods capable of causing long-lasting infection in mammalian hosts. among over 30 species described from four continents to date, 15 are known to infect humans, with eight of these capable of infecting dogs as well. b. bacilliformis is the only species described infecting humans in peru; however, several other bartonella species were detected in small mammals, bats, ticks, and fleas in that country. the objective of this st ...201324040427
evasin-4, a tick-derived chemokine-binding protein with broad selectivity can be modified for use in preclinical disease models.rhipicephalus sanguineus, the common brown dog tick, produces several chemokine-binding proteins which are secreted into the host in its saliva to modulate the host response during feeding. two of these demonstrate very restricted selectivity profiles. here, we describe the characterization of the third, which we named evasin-4. evasin-4 was difficult to produce recombinantly using its native signal peptide in hek cells, but expressed very well using the urokinase-type plasminogen activator sign ...201323910450
efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks and tick-borne pathogens in dogs.tick-borne diseases comprise a group of maladies that are of substantial medical and veterinary significance. a range of tick-borne pathogens, including diverse species of bacteria and protozoa, can infect both dogs and humans. hence, the control of tick infestations is pivotal to decrease or prevent tick-borne pathogen transmission. therefore, different commercial products with insecticidal, repellent or both properties have been developed for use on dogs. recently, a collar containing a combin ...201323972013
efficacy of a combination of 10% imidacloprid and 4.5% flumethrin (seresto®) in slow release collars to control ticks and fleas in highly infested dog communities.dog communities living in kennels are at high risk of being infected by ticks and fleas. in spite of the indubitable efficacy of several topical ectoparasiticides registered for the control of ectoparasites in dogs, the short period of action and the price of these products limit their use in dog communities. this paper reports on the efficacy of imidacloprid/flumethrin slow release collars to cure dogs highly infested with ectoparasites and to prevent infestations for 8 months in a refuge with ...201323866926
the activity of ccl18 is principally mediated through interaction with glycosaminoglycans.the cc chemokine ligand 18 (ccl18) was first identified as a chemoattractant for naïve t cells. it has been reported to recruit t and b lymphocytes, and we show here, natural killer (nk) cells, but with low efficacy. investigation of its ability to elicit g-protein-coupled signaling showed that it does not involve extracellular signal-regulated kinase (erk) phosphorylation, and it is not able to induce receptor internalization, as assessed on ccr3. ccl18 has recently been reported to possess act ...201323874339
preliminary assessment of microbiome changes following blood-feeding and survivorship in the amblyomma americanum nymph-to-adult transition using semiconductor sequencing.the physiology of ticks supports a diverse community of non-pathogenic and pathogenic organisms. this study aims to initially characterize the microbial community present within colony-reared amblyomma americanum using pcr of the variable region 5 of the 16s rrna gene followed by semiconductor sequencing and classification of sequence data using the ribosomal database project and mg-rast analysis tools. comparison of amplicon library datasets revealed changes in the microbiomes in newly engorged ...201323826210
seroprevalence and risk factors for rickettsia felis exposure in dogs from southeast queensland and the northern territory, australia.the recent detection of rickettsia felis dna in dogs in australia suggests that dogs are potential mammalian reservoir hosts for this emerging rickettsia. to date, there is no published report addressing the seroprevalence of r. felis in dogs in australia.201323731951
prevalence and diversity of bartonella species in commensal rodents and ectoparasites from nigeria, west africa.bartonellae are fastidious bacteria causing persistent bacteremia in humans and a wide variety of animals. in recent years there is an increasing interest in mammalian bartonelloses in general and in rodent bartonelloses in particular. to date, no studies investigating the presence of bartonella spp. in rodents and ectoparasites from nigeria were carried out.201323738028
vector-borne helminths of dogs and humans in europe.presently, 45% of the total human population of europe, as well as their domestic and companion animals, are exposed to the risk of vector-borne helminths (vbh) causing diseases. a plethora of intrinsic biological and extrinsic factors affect the relationship among helminths, vectors and animal hosts, in a constantly changing environment. although canine dirofilarioses by dirofilaria immitis and dirofilaria repens are key examples of the success of vbh spreading into non-endemic areas, another e ...201323324440
diversity of bacterial endosymbionts associated with macrosteles leafhoppers vectoring phytopathogenic phytoplasmas.here, we investigate the endosymbiotic microbiota of the macrosteles leafhoppers m. striifrons and m. sexnotatus, known as vectors of phytopathogenic phytoplasmas. pcr, cloning, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses of bacterial 16s rrna genes identified two obligate endosymbionts, "candidatus sulcia muelleri" and "candidatus nasuia deltocephalinicola," and five facultative endosymbionts, wolbachia, rickettsia, burkholderia, diplorickettsia, and a novel bacterium belonging to the rickettsiaceae, ...201323770905
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
retrospective study of clinical and hematological aspects associated with dogs naturally infected by hepatozoon canis in ludhiana, punjab, india.to evaluate clinical and hematological aspects of dogs naturally infected with hepatozoon canis (h. canis) presented at the small animal clinics of guru angad dev veterinary and animal sciences university, ludhiana.201323730562
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
international union of basic and clinical pharmacology. [corrected]. lxxxix. update on the extended family of chemokine receptors and introducing a new nomenclature for atypical chemokine receptors.sixteen years ago, the nomenclature committee of the international union of pharmacology approved a system for naming human seven-transmembrane (7tm) g protein-coupled chemokine receptors, the large family of leukocyte chemoattractant receptors that regulates immune system development and function, in large part by mediating leukocyte trafficking. this was announced in pharmacological reviews in a major overview of the first decade of research in this field [murphy pm, baggiolini m, charo if, hé ...201324218476
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
proteome of rhipicephalus sanguineus tick saliva induced by the secretagogues pilocarpine and dopamine.one dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to separate proteins from the saliva of rhipicephalus sanguineus female ticks fed on rabbits. gel slices were subjected to tryptic digestion and analyzed by reversed-phase hplc followed by ms/ms analysis. the data were compared to a database of salivary proteins of the same tick and to the predicted proteins of the host. saliva was obtained by either pilocarpine or dopamine stimulation of partially fed ticks. electrophoretic separations of both yielde ...201324029695
ticks and associated pathogens collected from dogs and cats in belgium.although ixodes spp. are the most common ticks in north-western europe, recent reports indicated an expanding geographical distribution of dermacentor reticulatus in western europe. recently, the establishment of a d. reticulatus population in belgium was described. d. reticulatus is an important vector of canine and equine babesiosis and can transmit several rickettsia species, coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev), whilst ixodes spp. are vectors of pathogens causing babesi ...201323777784
effect of owner-controlled acaricidal treatment on tick infestation and immune response to tick-borne pathogens in naturally infested dogs from eastern austria.tick-borne infections resulting from regular tick infestation in dogs are a common veterinary health problem all over the world. the application of repellent and acaricidal agents to prevent transmission of pathogens is a major protection strategy and has been proven to be highly effective in several trials under laboratory and natural conditions in dogs. despite such promising results, many dog owners still report tick infestation in their dogs although acaricidal agents are used. information a ...201323497548
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
endogenous tick viruses and modulation of tick-borne pathogen growth.ticks transmit a wide range of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens, many of which can establish persistent infections of lifelong duration in the vector tick and in some cases are transmitted transovarially to the next generation. in addition many ixodid and argasid tick cell lines and, by inference the parent ticks from which they were derived, harbor endogenous viruses (etv) of which almost nothing is known. in general, low level persistent infections with viral pathogens (arboviruses) ar ...201323875176
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