黑龙江密山口岸三种蜱媒传染病在媒介蜱中复合感染的调查

目的调查黑龙江密山口岸三种蜱媒传染病在媒介蜱中复合感染的情况。方法采集蜱类标本44份,建立伯氏疏螺旋体(Borrelia burgdorferi)、斑点热群立克次体(spotted fever group rickettsia)、嗜吞噬细胞无形体(anaplasma phagocytophilum)三种新发蜱传疾病病原体特异性通用引物,利用PCR方法对所有标本进行特异性片段扩增,对阳性标本测序并进行序列分析。结果在所检测的44份标本中,共检测出伯氏疏螺旋体阳性标本4份,斑点热群立克次体阳性标本6份,嗜吞噬细胞无形体阳性标本2份,感染率分别为13.63%、9.10%和4.55%。在全沟硬蜱检测到两份分别是莱姆病螺旋体与斑点热群立克次体及嗜吞噬细胞无形体和斑点热群立克次体的复合感染,复合感染率为4.55%。结论黑龙江密山地区至少存在两种莱姆病螺旋体(Borrelia garinii,Borrelia afzelii),三种斑点热群立克次体(Rickettsia raoultii,Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae,Rickettsia heilongjiangensis),和嗜吞噬细胞无形体(anaplasma phagocytophilum);全沟硬蜱存在复合感染。     

逊克县火山熔岩地区蜱携带新发蜱传病原体及复合感染调查

目的调查黑龙江省逊克县火山熔岩地区蜱携带新发蜱传病原体及复合感染情况。方法 2015年4-6月采集活蜱样本257只,利用PCR方法分别扩增6种新发蜱传病原体的特异性核酸片段,通过基因测序进一步鉴定。结果共检出斑点热群立克次体、巴尔通体和嗜吞噬细胞无形体核酸阳性样本分别为86、5和11例,感染率分别为33.46%、1.94%和4.28%。伯氏疏螺旋体、巴贝西虫和埃立克体的DNA核酸检测结果均为阴性。森林革蜱、嗜群血蜱和全沟硬蜱体内共检出复合感染8例,感染率为3.11%,证实该地区森林革蜱中存在斑点热群立克次体及巴尔通体,嗜群血蜱和全沟硬蜱存在斑点热群立克次体及嗜吞噬细胞无形体复合感染的情况。结论应加强黑龙江省逊克县火山熔岩地区蜱的防控。     

牡丹江镜泊湖区蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体与嗜吞噬细胞无形体感染的研究

目的了解牡丹江镜泊湖区伯氏疏螺旋体和嗜吞噬细胞无形体的感染情况。方法运用聚合酶链方法(PCR)对牡丹江镜泊湖区采集的蜱标本,进行伯氏疏螺旋体5S~23S基因间隔区基因片段与嗜吞噬细胞无形体柠檬酸盐合成酶基因(glt A)片段的检测。结果 2013年5月,在牡丹江镜泊湖北湖区附近共采集嗜群血蜱和全沟硬蜱643只,其中嗜群血蜱573只,占89.11%;全沟硬蜱70只,占10.89%。嗜群血蜱和全沟硬蜱伯氏疏螺旋体感染率分别为0.17%和15.71%,嗜吞噬细胞无形体感染率分别为0和2.86%;全沟硬蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体和嗜吞噬细胞无形体的复合感染率为1.43%。结论牡丹江镜泊湖区采集的蜱中检测到伯氏疏螺旋体和嗜吞噬细胞无形体的感染,并在全沟硬蜱中检测到复合感染情况,但复合感染的感染率较低。     

新疆和硕地区主要蜱类及蜱媒病原体调查

目的 调查新疆和硕地区主要蜱的种类、种群分布及蜱媒病原体的自然感染情况.方法 采用布旗法和动物体表检查法采集蜱标本,采用PCR方法进行病原检测.结果 从和硕地区清水河农场、乌什塔拉乡、乃仁克尔乡、曲惠乡、塔哈其乡和新塔热乡共采集蜱367只,分属3属4种;其中亚洲璃眼蜱占47.41％(174/367),短小扇头蜱占37.60％(138/367),为当地优势蜱种;经PCR扩增出3种蜱媒病原体的特异性DNA片段,比对显示与莱姆病伯氏疏螺旋体、嗜吞噬细胞无形体以及斑点热群立克次体有高度同源性;莱姆病螺旋体检出18个阳性,阳性率为4.90％;嗜吞噬细胞无形体检出4个阳性,阳性率为1.09％;斑点热群立克次体检出11个阳性,阳性率为3.00％.结论 和硕地区蜱中存在莱姆病、人粒细胞无形体病以及斑点热的病原体感染.     

一组长角血蜱中检出莱姆病螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染

目的 了解浙江省山区野生动物和蜱中莱姆病、斑点热、埃立克体病(无形体病)的感染情况.方法 采用巢式PCR对采集的鼠、蜱标本进行莱姆病伯氏疏螺旋体、斑点热群立克次体、埃立克体(无形体)特异性核酸片段检测分析.结果 从121份鼠标本和105组蜱标本中检出阳性结果 14份.鼠标本中检出伯氏疏螺旋体5S～23S rDNA间隔区片段1份和埃立克体(无形体)16SrDNA 5'端片段2份.蜱标本中检出阳性11份,包括伯氏疏螺旋体5S～23S rDNA间隔区片段3份和斑点热群立克次体外膜蛋白OmpA基因5'端片段8份.其中1组长角血蜱成虫标本为伯氏疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染,5S～23S rRNA基因间隔区和ompA基因片段均阳性,分别与伯氏疏螺旋体法雷氏基因型和马赛立克次体株等关系较近.结论 在同一组长角血蜱成虫中同时检出莱姆病疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染.     

吉林省珲春地区蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体与斑点热群立克次体复合感染研究

目的了解吉林省珲春地区伯氏疏螺旋体与斑点热群立克次体的复合感染情况.方法运用PCR方法对吉林省珲春地区采集的蜱标本,进行伯氏疏螺旋体5S～23S rRNA间隔区基因与斑点热群立克次体外膜蛋白A（ompA）基因的检测.测序并用PHYLIP软件进行序列分析.结果全沟硬蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体感染率为36.0%,在全沟硬蜱中检测到了斑点热群立克次体的感染,其感染率为2 0%.二者的复合感染率为2.0%;森林革蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体感染率30.9%,斑点热群立克次体感染率29.1%,二者的复合感染率16.8%.伯氏疏螺旋体的序列分析显示吉林地区的伯氏疏螺旋体都属于B.garinii基因型,同源性较高.对斑点热阳性片段序列分析表明新测序列与斯洛伐克新发现的IRS3株和IRS4株核苷酸序列同源性为97%.结论吉林省珲春地区全沟硬蜱及森林革蜱中检测到伯氏疏螺旋体与斑点热群立克次体的感染,并检测到2种病原体的复合感染情况.     

2010年中蒙边境甘其毛都口岸地区蜱携带病原体调查研究

目的为了解中蒙边境蜱传疾病病原体携带情况,对2010年中蒙联合监测小组在内蒙古乌拉特中旗甘其毛都口岸地区采集的162只亚东璃眼蜱进行病原体检测。方法采用RT-PCR法检测蜱标本中的森林脑炎病毒、克里米亚-刚果出血热病毒、布尼亚病毒,PCR方法检测蜱标本中的伯氏疏螺旋体、西伯利亚立克次体、贝氏柯克斯体,嗜吞噬细胞无形体。结果森林脑炎病毒、克里米亚-刚果出血热病毒、布尼亚病毒、嗜吞噬细胞无形体检测结果均为阴性,PCR方法检出5例伯氏疏螺旋体、3例西伯利亚立克次体、16例贝氏柯克斯体,检出率分别为3.7%、2.2%和11.9%,并发现2例伯氏疏螺旋体和贝氏柯克斯体复合感染的情况。结论中蒙边境地区蜱携带伯氏疏螺旋体、贝氏柯克斯体和西伯利亚立克次体等病原体,应有针对性地加强当地蜱类和蜱传疾病的监测和防控。     

黑龙江省抚远口岸2019—2021年蜱类及其携带病原体调查

目的 分析抚远口岸蜱类监测数据,掌握口岸蜱类种属构成、季节消长及携带病原体情况,为抚远口岸蜱类防制及蜱传疾病的有效防控提供依据。方法 2019—2021年4-9月,采用人工小时布旗法采集蜱,种类鉴定后检测7种病原体核酸。结果 共采获蜱类351只,计1科3属4种,分别是日本血蜱、嗜群血蜱、全沟硬蜱、森林革蜱。检出3种病原体,其中斑点热群立克次体阳性率最高,为16.81%;日本血蜱的斑点热群立克次体感染率最高（66.67%）,嗜群血蜱的伯氏疏螺旋体（11.22%）和巴尔通体感染率最高（4.08%）。结论 黑龙江省抚远口岸蜱类携带立克次体、伯氏疏螺旋体等多种病原体,应加强对该地区蜱类和蜱传疾病的监测。     

黑龙江省旅游区蜱伯氏疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染的动态调查

目的 了解黑龙江省旅游区蜱伯氏疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染的动态变化.方法 运用PCR方法检测2010年捕获蜱中两种病原感染状况并测序进行序列分析.结果 在威虎山和镜泊湖景区采集点捕获蜱标本共849只.两地优势蜱种分别为全沟硬蜱和嗜群血蜱,其中伯氏疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体感染率分别为26.15％、10.05％和0.00％、13.33％,提示全沟硬蜱复合感染.两地优势蜱种活动高峰分别出现在7月和6月上旬,蜱携带病原率因时间差异而不同.序列分析显示旅游区伯氏疏螺旋体有3种基因型,除B.garinii型、B.afzelii型外,首次在东北地区发现B.valaisiana-like group型.对斑点热群立克次体序列分析表明,所得两序列分别与Rickettsia sp.HL-93和Rickettsia sp.H820,其同源性为100％.结论 两旅游区蜱中存在伯氏疏螺旋体和斑点热群立克次体复合感染,且携带的基因类型存在多样性;动态调查显示蜱种、蜱密度的分布以及蜱携带病原状况因生境、时间和人群的不同而有差异.     

黑龙江口岸蜱携带斑点热群立克次体及嗜吞噬细胞无形体复合感染调查

目的为了研究黑龙江地区密山、绥芬河、嘉荫、东宁、虎林、同江、逊克、萝北、牡丹江、黑河、饶河11口岸蜱类分布、携带及复合感染新发蜱传病原体的情况。方法 2014年4月到2015年10月,利用布旗法采集蜱类样本,通过建立斑点热群立克次体(spotted fever group Rickettsia,SFGR)及嗜吞噬细胞无形体(Anaplasma phagocytophilum,A.P.)特异性引物,利用PCR方法对所有样本进行特异性片段扩增,通过基因测序对五种新发蜱传疾病作进一步鉴定并分型。结果共采集1306只蜱标本,经分类鉴定分属于革蜱属的森林革蜱、硬蜱属的全沟硬蜱和血蜱属的嗜群血蜱和日本血蜱。共检测出528例(40.43%)斑点热群立克次体阳性样本和31例(2.37%)嗜吞噬细胞无形体阳性样本。并证实存在三种斑点热群立克次体,分别为劳氏立克次体Rickettsia raoultii、新塔拉塞维奇立克次体Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae、黑龙江立克次体Rickettsia heilongjiangensis。共检测到复合感染12例,复合感染率为0.92%(12/1306)。结论黑龙江口岸媒介蜱类存在斑点热群立克次体及嗜吞噬细胞无形体的复合感染现象,提示黑龙江地区蜱媒疾病的危险程度很高,急需加强黑龙江口岸地区蜱媒传染病及其复合感染的监测与防控技术研究,进而建立科学合理的新发蜱媒疾病预警监测和防控技术体系。     

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 reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens.     

Monitoring of ticks and tick-borne pathogens through a nationwide research station network in Finland

In 2015 a long-term, nationwide tick and tick-borne pathogen (TBP) monitoring project was started by the Finnish Tick Project and the Finnish Research Station network (RESTAT), with the goal of producing temporally and geographically extensive data regarding exophilic ticks in Finland. In the current study, we present results from the first four years of this collaboration.Ticks were collected by cloth dragging from 11 research stations across Finland in May–September 2015–2018 (2012–2018 in Seili). Collected ticks were screened for twelve different pathogens by qPCR: Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia miyamotoi, Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp. and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV).Altogether 15 067 Ixodes ricinus and 46 Ixodes persulcatus were collected during 68 km of dragging. Field collections revealed different seasonal activity patterns for the two species. The activity of I. persulcatus adults (only one nymph detected) was unimodal, with activity only in May–July, whereas Ixodes ricinus was active from May to September, with activity peaks in September (nymphs) or July–August (adults). Overall, tick densities were higher during the latter years of the study. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were the most common pathogens detected, with 48.9 ± 8.4% (95% Cl) of adults and 25.3 ± 4.4% of nymphs carrying the bacteria. No samples positive for F. tularensis, Bartonella or TBEV were detected.This collaboration project involving the extensive Finnish Research Station network has ensured enduring and spatially extensive, long-term tick data collection to the foreseeable future.     

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum,Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato,Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in cattle serum and questing ticks from Belgium

BackgroundAnaplasmosis, borreliosis, rickettsiosis and babesiosis are tick-borne diseases of medical, veterinary and economic importance. In Belgium, little is known on the prevalence of these diseases in animals and previous screenings relate only to targeted geographic regions, clinical cases or a limited number of tested samples. We therefore performed the first nationwide seroprevalence study of Anaplasma spp., A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. in Belgian cattle. We also screened questing ticks for the aforementioned pathogens.MethodsELISAs and IFATs were performed on a representative sample set of cattle sera stratified proportionally to the number of cattle herds per province. Questing ticks were collected in areas where the highest prevalence for the forenamed pathogens in cattle serum were observed. Ticks were analyzed by quantitative PCR for A. phagocytophilum (n = 783), B. burgdorferi sensu lato (n = 783) and Rickettsia spp. (n = 715) and by PCR for Babesia spp. (n = 358).ResultsThe ELISA screening for antibodies to Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia spp. in cattle sera showed an overall seroprevalence of 15.6% (53/339) and 12.9% (52/402), respectively. The IFAT screening for antibodies against A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. resulted in an overall seroprevalence of 34.2% (116/339), 31.2% (99/317) and 3.4% (14/412), respectively. At the provincial level, the provinces of Liege and Walloon Brabant harboured the highest seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. (44.4% and 42.7% respectively) and A. phagocytophilum (55.6% and 71.4%). East Flanders and Luxembourg exhibited the highest seroprevalence of Borrelia spp. (32.4%) and Rickettsia spp. (54.8%) respectively. The province of Antwerp showed the highest seroprevalence of Babesia spp. (11%). The screening of field-collected ticks resulted in a prevalence of 13.8% for B. burgdorferi s.l., with B. afzelii and B. garinii being the most common genospecies (65.7% and 17.1%, respectively). Rickettsia spp. was detected in 7.1% of the tested ticks and the only identified species was R. helvetica. A low prevalence was found for A. phagocytophilum (0.5%) and no Babesia positive tick was detected.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence data in cattle indicate hot spots for tick-borne pathogens in specific provinces and highlights the importance of veterinary surveillance in anticipating the emergence of diseases among humans. The detection of all pathogens, with the exception of Babesia spp. in questing ticks, underlines the need of raising awareness among public and professionals on other tick-borne diseases along with lyme borreliosis.     

Emerging tick-borne pathogens in the Nordic countries: A clinical and laboratory follow-up study of high-risk tick-bitten individuals

Despite the presence of several microorganisms, other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) and TBE virus, in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Nordic countries, data is lacking on their pathogenic potential in humans. In this study, we wanted to investigate the aetiology and clinical manifestations of tick-transmitted infections in individuals seeking medical care following a tick-bite.The sampling frame was participants of a large-scale, prospective, multi-centre, follow-up study of tick-bitten volunteers recruited in Sweden, Finland and Norway in the years 2007–2015. Participants who sought medical care during the three-month follow-up period and from whom blood samples were collected during this healthcare visit (n = 92) were tested, using PCR, for exposure to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. Moreover, 86 of these individuals had two serum samples, collected three months apart, tested serologically for six tick-borne microorganisms. The selected organisms – Bbsl, SFG rickettsiae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, TBE virus, Babesia microti and Bartonella henselae – have all been detected in field-collected ticks from the Nordic countries. Medical records were reviewed and questionnaires were completed to determine clinical manifestations.We found Lyme borreliosis to be the most common tick-transmitted infection as seen in 46 (54%) of the 86 participants with available medical records. Among the 86 participants with paired sera, serological or molecular evidence of recent exposure to other microorganisms than Bbsl could be demonstrated in eight (9%). Five participants (6%) exhibited serological evidence of recent concomitant exposure to more than one tick-borne microorganism. Clinical presentations were mild with one exception (TBE).In conclusion, our data suggest a low risk of infection with tick-borne microorganisms, other than Bbsl, in immunocompetent tick-bitten persons from the examined regions, a low occurrence of co-infection and mostly mild or no overt clinical signs of infection in immunocompetent persons exposed to the studied agents.     

The potential role of migratory birds in transmission cycles of Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum,and Rickettsia spp.

Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp. are potentially emerging tick-borne pathogens, whereas many issues about their ecology, e.g. reservoir host specificity, are still unclear. In spring 2007, we collected 191 feeding Ixodes ricinus ticks from 99 birds of 11 different species on a German bird conservation island in the Baltic Sea. Babesia spp. were detected in 4.7% (9/191), A. phagocytophilum was present in 2.6% (5/191), and Rickettsia spp. were identified in 7.3% (14/191) of the investigated ticks. Further characterization of Babesia spp. infections resulted in B. divergens and B. microti. Among the Rickettsia spp. infections, we identified at least 2 different species: R. monacensis and R. helvetica. Furthermore, 2 ticks harboured mixed infections. Our study provides first interesting insights into the role of migratory birds in the distribution of several emerging tick-borne pathogens.     

Infections with Tickborne Pathogens after Tick Bite,Austria, 2015–2018

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the risk for tickborne infections after a tick bite. A total of 489 persons bitten by 1,295 ticks were assessed for occurrence of infections with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp., Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, and relapsing fever borreliae. B. burgdorferi s.l. infection was found in 25 (5.1%) participants, of whom 15 had erythema migrans. Eleven (2.3%) participants were positive by PCR for Candidatus N. mikurensis. One asymptomatic participant infected with B. miyamotoi was identified. Full engorgement of the tick (odds ratio 9.52) and confirmation of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the tick by PCR (odds ratio 4.39) increased the risk for infection. Rickettsia helvetica was highly abundant in ticks but not pathogenic to humans. Knowledge about the outcome of tick bites is crucial because infections with emerging pathogens might be underestimated because of limited laboratory facilities.     

Effects of cattle grazing on Ixodes ricinus-borne disease risk in forest areas of the Netherlands

Cattle grazing has been suggested to reduce the risk for Lyme borreliosis by decreasing the density of questing Ixodes ricinus infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. We tested the hypotheses that cattle grazing used in woodland management decreases the density of questing I. ricinus, and that it decreases the nympal infection prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. We further expected the nympal infection prevalence of tick-borne pathogens that utilize cattle as amplifying hosts, namely Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia sensu stricto, to increase. To test these hypotheses, we compared the densities of questing I. ricinus between twenty pairs of plots in grazed and ungrazed forest areas. The density of I. ricinus adults, but not nymphs, was lower in areas grazed by cattle than in ungrazed areas. Nymphs were tested for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia s.s. DNA from twelve paired areas. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia s.s. from qPCR-positive tick lysates were identified further to the ecotype and species level, respectively, by DNA sequencing. The infection prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was lower, and infection prevalence of Babesia s.s., identified as Babesia venatorum, was higher in grazed areas. In contrast, infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi s.l. or B. miyamotoi did not differ between grazed and ungrazed areas. As a consequence, conventional cattle grazing in forested areas had no effect on the densities of questing nymphs infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi. Similarly, we found no effect of cattle grazing on the density of infected nymphs with B. venatorum. The marked difference in the densities of questing nymphs infected with A. phagocytophilum could potentially be explained by the presence of a higher density of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in ungrazed areas, as the majority of typed A. phagocytophilum from ungrazed areas were the non-zoonotic ecotype II, which is associated with roe deer.     

Molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens (Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum,Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato,Coxiella burnetii and piroplasms) in questing and feeding hard ticks from North-Western Spain

The occurrence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of human and veterinary interest was studied in questing and feeding ticks collected from wild animals in a region in North-Western Spain. A total of 529 ticks (489 questing, 40 feeding) of seven different species (386 Ixodes ricinus, 53 Haemaphysalis concinna, 27 Haemaphysalis punctata, 25 Dermacentor marginatus, 21 Haemaphysalis inermis, 15 Dermacentor reticulatus, and two Rhipicephalus bursa) were analyzed. Molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA gene in I. ricinus ticks, revealed the presence of two phylogenetic groups in the region. Most of the sequenced ticks (96%) were assigned to I. ricinus haplogroup and 4% of the ticks were phylogenetically related to I. inopinatus haplogroup. Feeding ticks were removed from 17 animals from seven wild species (seven roe deer -Capreolus capreolus-, three wolves -Canis lupus-, two Iberian red deer -Cervus elaphus hispanicus-, two European wild boar -Sus scrofa-, one Cantabrian brown bear -Ursus arctos-, one Eurasian badger -Meles meles-, and one red fox -Vulpes vulpes-). Presence of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, piroplasms, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and Coxiella burnetii were tested in ticks by specific PCR. A total of 92 (17.4%) of the 529 ticks analyzed were positive for at least one of the TBPs tested. Sequencing revealed the presence of the genospecies “Candidatus Rickettsia rioja”, Rickettsia raoultii, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in both questing and feeding ticks. Rickettsia slovaca, Borrelia lusitaniae, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Babesia bigemina were only detected in questing ticks, while Babesia sp. badger type A, Theileria OT3 and Hepatozoon canis occurred only in engorged ticks. None of the ticks were positive for C. burnetii. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of A. phagocytophilum revealed the presence of three variants (I, X and W) circulating in the region. New host-tick-pathogen interactions have been revealed, finding for the first time the human pathogen R. raoultii in D. reticulatus removed from a Cantabrian brown bear. Co-occurrence between different TBPs were detected in 4.3% of the ticks. The association B. burgdorferi s.l./Rickettsia spp. was detected in questing ticks; and Rickettsia spp./piroplasms and A. phagocytophilum/Theileria OT3 in feeding ticks. The presence of pathogenic agents constitutes a threat to human and animal health, and should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment after a tick bite. This study increases the knowledge on TBPs diversity of medical and veterinary interest circulating between ticks and their hosts in North-Western Spain.     

Tick-borne Agents in Rodents, China, 2004�C2006

A total of 705 rodents from 6 provinces and autonomous regions of mainland People’s Republic of China were tested by PCRs for tick-borne agents (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, spotted fever group rickettsiae, and Francisella tularensis). Infection rates were 5.5%, 6.7%, 9.1% and 5.0%, respectively. Eighteen (2.6%) rodents of 10 species were positive for 2 or 3 agents. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed the presence and genotypes of detected agents. These findings demonstrate that these tick-borne agents cocirculate and that a variety of rodent species may be involved in their enzootic maintenance.     

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 representing different areas of Hungary. Altogether, 1800 nymphs (300 per collection point) were screened as pooled samples (each of 5 specimens) by PCR-based methods for tick-borne pathogens. I. ricinus larvae, nymphs, and adults had bimodal activity patterns with a major peak in the spring. As newly moulted ticks of all stages are thought to emerge in the autumn of each year, it appears that most newly emerged ticks delayed their questing until the following spring. The minimum prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 2.5%. Borr. afzelii, Borr. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borr. garinii, Borr. lusitaniae, and Borr. valaisiana were identified by hybridization. The minimum infection rate with spotted fever group rickettsiae was 1.9%. Rickettsia helvetica was identified in all biotopes. The minimum prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia divergens and Bab. microti was low (0.3–0.5%). Bartonella spp.-, Francisella tularensis-, and TBE virus-specific amplification products were not detected. Relative to the results of comparable studies carried out in the Carpathian Basin, the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was low in Hungary. This might be attributed to the climatic difference between the lowland areas of Hungary and submountain areas of the surrounding countries involved in the studies.