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Web search volume as a near-real-time complementary surveillance tool of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Italy Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Alexander Domnich, Allegra Ferrari, Matilde Ogliastro, Andrea Orsi, Giancarlo Icardi
The Internet is an important gateway for accessing health-related information, and data generated through web queries have been increasingly used as a complementary source for monitoring and forecasting of infectious diseases and they may partially address the issue of underreporting. In this study, we assessed whether tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)-related Internet search volume may be useful as a
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Adapting vector surveillance using Bayesian experimental design: An application to an ongoing tick monitoring program in the southeastern United States Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 B.K.M. Case, Kyndall C. Dye-Braumuller, Chris Evans, Huixuan Li, Lauren Rustin, Melissa S. Nolan
Maps of the distribution of medically-important ticks throughout the US remain lacking in spatial and temporal resolution in many areas, leading to holes in our understanding of where and when people are at risk of tick encounters, an important baseline for informing public health response. In this work, we demonstrate the use of Bayesian Experimental Design (BED) in planning spatiotemporal surveillance
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New records of soft ticks (Acari: Argasidae) from caves in Brazil, with a morphological study of Ornithodoros fonsecai and an analysis of the taxonomic status of Antricola inexpectata Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-10 Glauber M.B. de Oliveira, Sebastián Muñoz-Leal, Santiago Nava, Maurício C. Horta, Leopoldo Bernardi, José Manuel Venzal, Marcelo B. Labruna
In this study, we report soft ticks from bat-inhabiting caves in different areas of Brazil. From 2010 to 2019, we collected 807 tick specimens from nine caves located in four Brazilian states among two biomes. Ticks were morphologically identified as (282 specimens) (260 specimens), and (265 specimens). Whereas was collected on bat guano in hot caves, and were collected in cracks and crevices on the
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Density and behavior of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum with notes on Rickettsia bellii infection: Assessing human exposure risk Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Matias P.J. Szabó, Caroline Lopes Queiroz, Adriane Suzin, Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues, Raíssa Brauner Kamla Vieira, Maria Marlene Martins, Lais Miguel Rezende, Ana Carolina P. Sousa, Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos, Fernanda Marinho Muraro, Lais Keocheguerian Fernandes, Lorena C.M. Santos, Rodrigo da Costa Maia, Amanda Ferreira Rezende
In several urban and peri‑urban areas of Brazil, populations of and ticks are maintained by capybaras (). In some of these areas, this host and these tick species are associated with Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal human disease caused by the bacterium . In this work, we evaluated the risk of human exposure to these tick species using four collection techniques to discern host-seeking behavior
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The structure and behavioral patterns of the human population affected by ixodid tick bites in Irkutsk Region, Eastern Siberia, Russia Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Nadezhda A. Podkamennaya, Galina A. Danchinova, Natalia A. Liapunova, Innokentii S. Solovarov, Ekaterina K. Lagunova, Nadezhda V. Khamnueva, Vladimir Yu. Shubin, Marina V. Savelkaeva, Irina V. Petrova, Maxim A. Khasnatinov
The bites of hard ticks are the major route of transmission of tick-borne infections to humans, causing thousands of cases of diseases worldwide. However, the characteristics of the human population that is exposed to tick bites are still understudied. This work is aimed at characterizing both the structure of the population directly contacting ticks and the human behavioral features associated with
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Potential novel Colpodella spp. (phylum Apicomplexa) and high prevalence of Colpodella spp. in goat-attached Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in Shandong province, China Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-03-02 Yong Qi, Junhu Wang, Nianhong Lu, Xin Qi, Chaoyue Yang, Bing Liu, Yongfeng Lu, Yuan Gu, Weilong Tan, Changqiang Zhu, Lele Ai, Jixian Rao, Yingqing Mao, Haiming Yi, Yuexi Li, Ming Yue
Tick-borne Apicomplexan parasites pose a significant threat to both public health and animal husbandry. Identifying potential pathogenic parasites and gathering their epidemiological data are essential for prospectively preventing and controlling infections. In the present study, genomic DNA of ticks collected from two goat flocks (Goatflock1 and Goatflock2) and one dog group (Doggroup) were extracted
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Incidence of Lyme Borreliosis in Germany: A retrospective observational healthcare claims study Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-02-27 Gordon Brestrich, Christine Hagemann, Joanna Diesing, Nils Kossack, James H. Stark, Andreas Pilz, Frederick J. Angulo, Holly Yu, Jochen Suess
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick–borne disease in Germany. Although the incidence of LB in Germany has been assessed in several studies, those studies either used data from statutory surveillance, which frequently underreport cases, or data from health claims databases, which may overestimate cases due to non–specific LB case definitions. Here, using a more specific case definition, we
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New insights into the systematics of the afrotropical Amblyomma marmoreum complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and the genome of a novel Rickettsia africae strain using morphological and metagenomic approaches Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Andrea P. Cotes-Perdomo, Alberto Sánchez-Vialas, Richard Thomas, Andrew Jenkins, Juan E. Uribe
The complex includes afrotropical species, such as , a three-host tick that parasitizes reptiles, birds, and mammals, and is a recognized vector of . However, the lack of morphological, genetic and ecological data on has caused considerable confusion in its identification. In this study, we used microscopy and metagenomic approaches to analyze ticks collected from a puff adder snake () in southwest
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History of the geographic distribution of the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, in the United States Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Lars Eisen, Megan E.M. Saunders, Vicki L. Kramer, Rebecca J. Eisen
(the western blacklegged tick) occurs in the far western United States (US), where it commonly bites humans. This tick was not considered a species of medical concern until it was implicated in the 1980s as a vector of Lyme disease spirochetes. Later, it was discovered to also be the primary vector to humans in the far western US of agents causing anaplasmosis and hard tick relapsing fever. The core
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Borrelia miyamotoi BipA-like protein, BipM, is a candidate serodiagnostic antigen distinguishing between Lyme disease and relapsing fever Borrelia infections Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Kevin S. Brandt, Brittany A. Armstrong, Irina Goodrich, Robert D. Gilmore
A gene with partial homology to of relapsing fever spirochetes and was identified by a GenBank basic alignment search analysis. We hypothesized that this gene product may be an immunogenic antigen as described for other relapsing fever (RFB) and could serve as a serological marker for infections. The gene was a truncated version about half the size of the and with a coding sequence of 894 base pairs
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Density of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis nymphs by region, state, and county in the contiguous United States generated through national tick surveillance Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-02-06 Erik Foster, Karen M. Holcomb, Rebecca J. Eisen
The majority of vector-borne disease cases reported annually in the United States are caused by pathogens spread by the blacklegged tick, . The number and geographic distribution of cases have increased as the geographic range and abundance of the tick have expanded in recent decades. A large proportion of Lyme disease and other -borne diseases are associated with nymphal tick bites; likelihood of
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Repeated imidocarb treatment failure suggesting emerging resistance of Babesia canis in a new endemic area in north-eastern Germany Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-31 Christiane Weingart, Jürgen Krücken, Barbara Kohn
Canine babesiosis has been increasingly diagnosed in various regions of Germany such as north-eastern Germany in recent years. A dog with several relapses of Babesia canis infection after treatment with imidocarb is described. A 9-year-old male Magyar Viszla with B. canis infection was referred after two treatments with imidocarb (dosage 2.1 mg/kg SC) because of lethargy, fever and pancytopenia (additional
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A brief tale of two pioneering moments: Europe's first discovery of Tick-Borne Encephalitis (TBE) virus beyond the Soviet Union and the largest alimentary TBE outbreak in history Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-29 Daniel Ruzek, Kristyna Kaucka
The emergence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Europe marked several significant milestones. The discovery of TBE in Czechoslovakia in 1948, with Gallia and Krejčí simultaneously isolating the TBE virus (TBEV) from human samples for the first time in Europe outside the Soviet Union, was pivotal. Subsequent TBEV isolation from ticks suggested the viral transmission via this vector. In 1951, the outbreak
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Ultrastructural characterization and quantification of hemocytes in engorged female Amblyomma sculptum ticks Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Andressa Aparecida de Lima Reis, Barbara Rauta de Avelar, Marisa Beatriz da Silva Rocha, Debora Azevedo Borges, Diefrey Ribeiro Campos, Jessica Fiorotti, Patrícia Silva Golo, Fabio Barbour Scott
Amblyomma sculptum (formerly Amblyomma cajennense) ticks have been implicated in the transmission of pathogens that cause diseases in animals and humans. Their wide geographic distribution and high impact on animal health and zoonotic disease transmission highlight the importance of studying and implementing effective control measures to mitigate the risks associated with this tick species. The aim
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Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitizing bushbabies (Mammalia: Galagidae) in a biodiversity hotspot of northern South Africa Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-25 Ali Halajian, Frank P. Cuozzo, Heloise Heyne, Michelle L. Sauther, Birthe Linden, Jabu Linden, Adrian SW. Tordiffe, Kgethedi Michael Rampedi, Sándor Hornok
South Africa has six species of primates, three of which are bushbabies (family Galagidae). Very little information is available on their parasites due to the lack of longitudinal studies, although and were previously reported from the brown greater galago () in South Africa. During 2014–2019, 83 (70 live-trapped and 13 deceased animals) were checked for the presence of hard ticks, all from Limpopo
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Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analyses of Haemaphysalis tibetensis Hoogstraal, 1965 (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-22 Wenqiang Tang, Xin Li, Bijin Ye, Bin Shi, Haoji Zhang, Zhisheng Dang, Yuexiang Sun, Lamu Danqu, Chenyang Xia, Danzeng Quzhen, Xialing Zhao, Wenting Chui, Fuqiang Huang
Ticks are specialized ectoparasites that feed on blood, causing physical harm to the host and facilitating pathogen transmission. The genus contains vectors for numerous infectious agents. These agents cause various diseases in humans and animals. Mitochondrial genome sequences serve as reliable molecular markers, forming a crucial basis for evolutionary analyses, studying species origins, and exploring
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Characterisation of field tropical Theileriosis and associated risk factors in two bioclimatic areas of Algeria Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-19 Tahar Kernif, Bachir Medrouh, Zoubir Harrat, Fairouz Saidi, Hocine Ziam
Tropical theileriosis (TT) is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria annulata and commonly infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions, including Algeria. It is a significant obstacle to cattle breeding programs established to improve production in Algeria. The present investigation aimed to estimate the current molecular prevalence, risk factors, and genetic characterisation of T. annulata
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Male C57BL/6J mice have higher presence and abundance of Borrelia burgdorferi in their ventral skin compared to female mice Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-12 Cody W. Koloski, Georgia Hurry, Alexandra Foley-Eby, Hesham Adam, Savannah Goldstein, Pini Zvionow, Susan E. Detmer, Maarten J. Voordouw
Borrelia burgdorferi is a tick-borne spirochete that causes Lyme disease in humans. The host immune system controls the abundance of the spirochete in the host tissues. Recent work with immunocompetent Mus musculus mice strain C3H/HeJ found that males had a higher tissue infection prevalence and spirochete load compared to females. The purpose of this study was to determine whether host sex and acquired
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In vitro acaricidal activity of essential oils and their binary mixtures against ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-13 Luís Adriano Anholeto, Sophia Blanchard, Haozhe Vincent Wang, Ana Carolina de Souza Chagas, Neil Kirk Hillier, Nicoletta Faraone
Ixodes scapularis ticks are vectors of infectious agents that cause illness in humans, including Lyme disease. Recent years have seen a surge in tick-borne diseases (TBD) resulting in a high demand for tick management products. Plants offer a valuable source of active compounds for the development of novel, eco-friendly tick control products, reducing potential risks to human and animal health. Essential
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Downregulation of transcription 1 hinders the replication of Dabie bandavirus by promoting the expression of TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 signaling pathway Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Hao An, Xiaoli Yu, Yumei Liu, Lei Fang, Ming Shu, Qingfeng Zhai, Junhao Chen
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a bunyavirus that causes SFTS, with a case fatality rate of up to 30 %. The innate immune system plays a crucial role in the defense against SFTSV; however, the impact of viral propagation of STFSV on the innate immune system remains unclear. Although proteomics analysis revealed that the expression of the downregulator of transcription 1
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Tick-borne diseases in the North Sea region–A comprehensive overview and recommendations for diagnostics and treatment Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Randi Eikeland, Anna J. Henningsson, Anne-Mette Lebech, Yvonne Kerlefsen, Sally Mavin, Amber Vrijlandt, Joppe W. Hovius, Tinne Lernout, Chin Lim, Gerhard Dobler, Volker Fingerle, Rosa M. Gynthersen, Per-Eric Lindgren, Harald Reiso
As part of the NorthTick project, co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund and the North Sea Region Programme, specialists in the field of tick-borne diseases from seven North Sea countries co-operated with patient organisations and governmental health care institutions to provide this comprehensive overview of diagnostics and treatment recommendations in the region
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A longitudinal transcriptomic analysis of Rhipicephalus microplus midgut upon feeding Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-30 Stephen Lu, Jéssica Waldman, Luís Fernando Parizi, Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior, Lucas Tirloni
Rhipicephalus microplus, a highly host-specific tick that primarily feeds on cattle, posing a significant threat to livestock production. The investigation of tick physiology is crucial for identifying potential targets in tick control. Of particular interest adult female ticks undergo a significant expansion of the midgut during feeding, leading to an over 100-fold increase in body weight. Beyond
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Nanopore-based metagenomics reveal a new Rickettsia in Europe Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-27 Suppaluck Polsomboon Nelson, Koray Ergunay, Brian P. Bourke, Drew D. Reinbold-Wasson, Laura Caicedo-Quiroga, Giorgi Kirkitadze, Tamar Chunashvili, Cynthia L. Tucker, Yvonne-Marie Linton
Accurate identification of tick-borne bacteria, including those associated with rickettsioses, pose significant challenges due to the polymicrobial and polyvectoral nature of the infections. We aimed to carry out a comparative evaluation of a non-targeted metagenomic approach by nanopore sequencing (NS) and commonly used PCR assays amplifying Rickettsia genes in field-collected ticks. The study included
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Tick-borne encephalitis as a trigger for anti-N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Thomas Agerbo Gaist, Anna Christine Nilsson, Mette Scheller Nissen, Matias Adonis Jul Ryding, Stig Lønberg Nielsen, Morten Blaabjerg
Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE) is endemic to an increasing number of countries and is a common cause of meningoencephalitis in Europe and Asia making any potential complications of the disease increasingly relevant to clinicians. We present, what is to our knowledge, the second reported case of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis following Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE) in a 47-year-old
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Cytoarchitecture of ex vivo midgut cultures of unfed Ixodes scapularis infected with a tick-borne flavivirus Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Missiani Ochwoto, Danielle K. Offerdahl, Jacqueline M. Leung, Cindi L. Schwartz, Dan Long, Rebecca Rosenke, Philip E. Stewart, Greg A. Saturday, Marshall E. Bloom
A bite from an infected tick is the primary means of transmission for tick-borne flaviviruses (TBFV). Ticks ingest the virus while feeding on infected blood. The traditional view is that the virus first replicates in and transits the tick midgut prior to dissemination to other organs, including salivary glands. Thus, understanding TBFV infection in the tick midgut is a key first step in identifying
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Molecular detection of Borrelia sp. in Ornithodoros cavernicolous (Acari: Argasidae) in midwestern Brazil Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-18 Mayara Garcia Polli, Maria Marlene Martins, Vinicius da Silva Rodrigues, Lais Miguel Rezende, Adriane Suzin, Rodrigo da Costa Maia, Ana Carolina Prado Souza, Sebastián Muñoz-Leal, Matias Pablo Juan Szabó, Jonny Yokosawa
Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites that can transmit to vertebrate hosts several pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths. Among these agents, some Borrelia species some Borrelia species cause disease in humans and other vertebrate hosts; therefore, they have medical and veterinary health importance. To gather additional information on Borrelia species in Brazil, the current
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Paretic complications of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme neuroborreliosis in the Czech Republic: Characteristics and clinical outcome Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-14 Dita Smíšková, Dušan Pícha, Martin Slížek, Olga Džupová
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), the most common tick-borne diseases of the central nervous system in Central Europe, are frequently associated with pareses. The aim of this study was to characterise paretic complications in patients with TBE and LNB, including their severity, persistence and impact on the patients' quality of life. Our retrospective observational study
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New tick records with notes on rickettsial infection from the wildlife of the state of Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-12 Igor da Cunha Lima Acosta, Isaias Roveri Garcia, Hermes Ribeiro Luz, Maria Carolina de Azevedo Serpa, Thiago Fernandes Martins, Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels, Marcelo B. Labruna
This work aimed to report ticks infesting the wildlife among 15 municipalities of the state of Espírito Santo between 2016 and 2021, within the Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern Brazil. A total of 576 tick specimens (187 males, 56 females, 149 nymphs, and 184 larvae) was collected from 41 species of wild vertebrates (two reptiles, nine mammals, and 30 birds). Ticks were identified by morphological
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Tick salivary protein Cystatin: structure, anti-inflammation and molecular mechanism Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Xin Gao, Yuan Tian, Zi-ling Liu, Dan Li, Jia-jun Liu, Guang-xu Yu, De-yong Duan, Tao Peng, Tian-yin Cheng, Lei Liu
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Investigation of tick-borne bacterial microorganisms in Haemaphysalis ticks from Hebei, Shandong, and Qinghai provinces, China Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-08 Bing Zhang, Xiao Wang, Rewuzi Aguli·Nurland, Miao Lu, Yaqun Guan, Mengyun Liu, Fan Gao, Kun Li
Tick-borne microorganisms in many tick species and many areas of China are still not thoroughly investigated. In this study, 224 ticks including two species (Haemaphysalis longicornis and Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis) were collected from four cities in Hebei, Shandong, and Qinghai provinces, China. Ticks were screened for the presence of tick-borne bacterial microorganisms including Rickettsia, Anaplasmataceae
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Human spotted fever group Rickettsia seroprevalence and associated epidemiologic factors among diverse, marginalized populations in South Carolina Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-09 Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Stella C.W. Self, Madeleine Meyer, Omar Cantillo-Barraza, Myriam E. Torres, Melissa S. Nolan
Illness caused by spotted fever group Rickettsia (SFGR) is increasing nationally, with affluent, white residents most likely to be diagnosed. The common under-representativeness of marginalized populations in research studies and these vulnerable populations’ health inequities make veritable epidemiologic risk factor profiling challenging, which inhibits equitable public health intervention. The current
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First screening for tick-borne pathogens in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-12-11 Ya-Qian Chen, Qing-Xun Zhang, Zhi-Bin Cheng, Yun-Fang Shan, Tian-Chun Pu, Tian Liu, Qing-Yun Guo, Pan Zhang, Xing-Long Song, Cong-Shan Yang, Zhen-Yu Zhong, Jia-De Bai
Ticks are primary vectors for many tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) and pose a serious threat to veterinary and public health. Information on the presence of TBPs in Chinese Milu deer (Elaphurus davidianus) is limited. In this study, a total of 102 Chinese Milu deer blood samples were examined for Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp., and three TBPs were identified:
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Evaluation of the association between climate warming and the spread and proliferation of Ixodes scapularis in northern states in the Eastern United States Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-27 Rebecca J. Eisen, Lars Eisen
Ixodes scapularis (the blacklegged tick) is widely distributed in forested areas across the eastern United States. The public health impact of I. scapularis is greatest in the north, where nymphal stage ticks commonly bite humans and serve as primary vectors for multiple human pathogens. There were dramatic increases in the tick's distribution and abundance over the last half-century in the northern
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High-throughput screening of pathogens in Ixodes ricinus removed from hosts in Lombardy, northern Italy Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-29 Sophie Melis, Gherard Batisti Biffignandi, Emanuela Olivieri, Clémence Galon, Nadia Vicari, Paola Prati, Sara Moutailler, Davide Sassera, Michele Castelli
Ticks are important vectors of many pathogens in Europe, where the most impactful species is Ixodes ricinus. Recently, the geographical distribution of this tick species has been expanding, resulting in an increased risk of human exposure to tick bites. With the present study, we aimed to screen 350 I. ricinus specimens collected from humans and wild animals (mainly ungulates), to have a broader understanding
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Structural studies of chromosomally encoded outer surface lipoprotein BB0158 from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-27 Kalvis Brangulis, Inara Akopjana, Janis Bogans, Andris Kazaks, Kaspars Tars
Lyme disease, or also known as Lyme borreliosis, is caused by the spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, which can enter the human body following the bite of an infected tick. Many membrane lipid-bound proteins, also known as lipoproteins, are located on the surface of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and play a crucial role in the spirochete to interact with its environment
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First molecular detection of a novel Babesia species from Haemaphysalis hystricis in Taiwan Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-27 Pai-Shan Chiang, Yi-Wen Lai, Han-Hsuan Chung, Yung-Ting Chia, Chien-Cheng Wang, Hwa-Jen Teng, Shiu-Ling Chen
Newly recorded ticks and emerging tick-borne pathogens have recently been reported in subtropical and tropical East Asia. In this study, a total of 1,615 ticks (259 Haemaphysalis hystricis, 1334 Rhipicephalus microplus, 19 H. flava, and 3 R. haemaphysaloides) were collected by flagging from vegetation in Taiwan during 2019–2021. All 1,615 captured tick samples tested negative for SFTSV and Borrelia
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Molecular detection of Babesia vesperuginis in bats from Lithuania Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-28 Povilas Sakalauskas, Evelina Kaminskienė, Dovilė Bukauskaitė, Vytautas Eigirdas, Justina Snegiriovaitė, Dalytė Mardosaitė-Busaitienė, Algimantas Paulauskas
Babesia vesperuginis is an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite that circulates among bats and ticks in many countries worldwide. However, the distribution of B. vesperuginis in the Baltic region has not been studied. A total of 86 dead bats from eight different species were collected and screened for Babesia spp. using real-time PCR. Overall, 52.3% (45/86) of the bats were found positive for Babesia
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Babesia negevi infection in dogs and response to treatment Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-21 Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Doni Zivotofsky, Tsachi Even Tzur, Gad Baneth
Canine babesiosis is an important protozoan tick-borne disease associated with anemia and thrombocytopenia and caused by several different Babesia spp. Babesia negevi was first reported to infect dogs in the Middle East in 2020. This study describes the presentation, clinical signs, parasitemia levels quantified by molecular techniques, laboratory findings and treatment of dogs infected with B. negevi
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Molecular and serological detection of Anaplasma spp. in small ruminants in an area of Cerrado Biome in northeastern Brazil Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-21 Ellainy Maria Conceição Silva, Ingrid Carolinne Lopes Marques, Victória Valente Califre de Mello, Renan Bressianini do Amaral, Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves, Maria do Socorro Costa Oliveira Braga, Larissa Sarmento dos Santos Ribeiro, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Marcos Rogério André, Alcina Vieira de Carvalho Neta
Anaplasmosis, caused by bacteria of the genus Anaplasma, is an important tick-borne disease that causes economic losses to livestock farms in many countries. Even though Anaplasma spp. have been detected in goats and sheep worldwide, few studies investigate the occurrence and genetic identity of these agents in small ruminants from Brazil. Thus, this work aimed to detect and determine the genetic identity
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Mapping the risk of exposure to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the Iberian Peninsula using Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) as a model Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-22 Sara Baz-Flores, Cesar Herraiz, Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno, Marta Barral, Mari Cruz Arnal, Ana Balseiro, David Cano-Terriza, Sabrina Castro-Scholten, Aitor Cevidanes, Alazne Conde-Lizarralde, Raúl Cuadrado-Matías, Fernando Escribano, Daniel Fernández de Luco, Luis Eusebio Fidalgo, Javier Hermoso-de Mendoza, Paulino Fandos, Félix Gómez-Guillamón, José E. Granados, Débora Jiménez-Martín, Jorge R. López-Olvera
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen that can cause a lethal haemorrhagic disease in humans. Although the virus appears to be endemically established in the Iberian Peninsula, CCHF is an emerging disease in Spain. Clinical signs of CCHFV infection are mainly manifested in humans, but the virus replicates in several animal species. Understanding the
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First record of Ixodes (Scaphixodes) caledonicus in the Carpathian Basin and first time molecular-phylogenetic analysis of this tick species with updated host records and geographical range Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Sándor Hornok, Jenő Kontschán, Nóra Takács, Péter L. Pap, Attila D. Sándor
Four Ixodes species represent the subgenus Scaphixodes Schulze, 1941 in Europe, but none of them were reported to be compared in a molecular-phylogenetic context. This study compensates for this lack of data. A tick larva, morphologically identified as Ixodes (Scaphixodes) caledonicus Nuttall, 1910, was collected from an Alpine swift (Tachymarptis melba) during its nesting period in Transylvania, Romania
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Seroprevalence and transmission of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in a coastal endemic area in Southeastern China Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-17 Zhipeng Zu, Haijiang Lin, Yafei Hu, Xiang Zheng, Cairong Chen, Yishuang Zhao, Zhiyi Zhang, Na He
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly emerged tick-borne viral zoonosis and widely prevalent in China, Japan and South Korea. Most reported SFTS cases have been identified in mountainous and hilly areas, with a few in island areas. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation about natural infection of SFTS virus (SFTSV) among humans, animals and ticks in a coastal
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A fatal case of tick-borne encephalitis in an immunocompromised patient: case report from Northeastern Poland and review of literature Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-18 Agata Czarnowska, Monika Groth, Jakub Okrzeja, Adam Garkowski, Wolfgang Kristoferitsch, Alina Kułakowska, Joanna Zajkowska
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an infectious illness of the central nervous system caused by the TBE virus, which is commonly transmitted through a tick-bite. TBE is endemic in Europe and mid-Asia. In this study, we report a case of a 36-year-old woman, living in Northeastern Poland, with a history of double corneal transplantation and post-transplant immunosuppressive therapy who was admitted to
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Seroprevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus among people living with HIV in Brazzaville, Congo and among blood donors in Bamako, Mali Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-13 Gervillien Arnold Malonga, Almoustapha Issiaka Maiga, Dimitry Moudiongui Mboungou Malanda, Mahamadou Saliou, Juthèce Private Malanda-Kiminou, Oumar Dolo, Anicet Luc Magloire Boumba, Alhassane Ba, Robert Murphy, Jean Félix Peko, Anne-Geneviève Marcelin, Vincent Calvez, Stéphane Marot
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is the causative agent of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a highly contagious and potentially fatal emerging disease. We assessed CCHFV seroprevalence by conducting a serological survey of two cohorts from Brazzaville, Congo and Bamako, Mali. We retrospectively screened 581 sera samples, including 352 from monitoring centers for people living with
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Low prevalence of Babesia hongkongensis infection in community and privately-owned cats in Hong Kong Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-16 A. Almendros, Y.R. Choi, T.L. Leung, W.Y.J. Tam, D. Hernandez Muguiro, F.M. Woodhouse, J.J. Gray, J.A. Beatty, V.R. Barrs
Domestic cats are susceptible to infection with at least 11 species of Babesia. In Hong Kong, where dogs are commonly infected with B. gibsoni, a single infection in a cat by a novel species, B. hongkongensis, was reported previously. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of Babesia spp. detection in cats in Hong Kong. Residual blood-derived DNA from healthy free-roaming community
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Metabolomic changes associated with acquired resistance to Ixodes scapularis Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-14 Yingjun Cui, Jaqueline Matias, Xiaotian Tang, Balasubramanian Cibichakravarthy, Kathleen DePonte, Ming-Jie Wu, Erol Fikrig
Guinea pigs repeatedly exposed to Ixodes scapularis develop acquired resistance to the ticks (ATR). The molecular mechanisms of ATR have not been fully elucidated, and partially involves immune responses to proteins in tick saliva. In this study, we examined the metabolome of sera of guinea pigs during the development of ATR. Induction of components of the tyrosine metabolic pathway, including hydroxyphenyllactic
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Widespread acaricide resistance and multi-resistance in Rhipicephalus microplus in Ecuador and associated environmental and management risk factors Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Ximena Pérez-Otáñez, Sophie O. Vanwambeke, Geoconda Orozco-Alvarez, Susana Arciniegas-Ortega, Lenin Ron-Garrido, Richar Rodríguez-Hidalgo
Rhipicephalus microplus is a cattle tick widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. Various acaricides are used and applied to control the ticks, but resistance is common. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the spatial distribution of resistance to the most commonly applied acaricides (amitraz, ivermectin, and alpha-cypermethrin) in ticks and assess potential risk factors associated
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Identification of Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato infected with tick-borne pathogens from pet and stray dogs in Guangzhou, Southern China Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-29 Yuchen Wu, Yan Gao, Chao Tian, Jianbo Li, Liheng Wu, Haiyan Wang
Tick-borne diseases are of substantial concern worldwide for both humans and animals, and dogs are frequently exposed to tick infestation. The aim of this study was to examine tick infestation of pet and stray dogs in Guangzhou, Southern China, as well as tick-borne pathogens of randomly sampled ticks. Ticks were found on 118 (14.1% [95% confidence interval; CI: 13.6–14.6]) out of 836 animals in four
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Exploring the influence of host community composition on the outbreak potential of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-11-01 Nannet D. Fabri, Hans Heesterbeek, Joris P.G.M. Cromsigt, Frauke Ecke, Hein Sprong, Lonneke Nijhuis, Tim R. Hofmeester, Nienke Hartemink
In large parts of the northern hemisphere, multiple deer species coexist, and management actions can strongly influence wild deer communities. Such changes may also indirectly influence other species in the community, such as small mammals and birds, because deer can have strong effects on their habitats and resources. Deer, small mammals and birds play an important role in the dynamics of tick-borne
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Tick-borne infections in wolves from an expanding population in Eastern Europe Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-25 Aleksander Wymazał, Sabina Nowak, Robert W. Mysłajek, Anna Bajer, Renata Welc-Falęciak, Maciej Szewczyk, Iga Kwiatkowska, Kinga M. Stępniak, Michał Figura, Agnieszka Kloch
In Central and Eastern Europe, wolf populations have been increasing over the last two decades, recolonizing areas from which the species had been previously exterminated. As wolves are still recovering after years of persecution by humans, recognizing pathogens infecting this species, including tick-borne infections, is crucial for its conservation. On the other hand the high mobility of wolves and
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Self-reported tick exposure as an indicator of Lyme disease risk in an endemic region of Quebec, Canada Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-21 Natasha Bowser, Catherine Bouchard, Miguel Sautié Castellanos, Geneviève Baron, Hélène Carabin, Pierre Chuard, Patrick Leighton, François Milord, Lucie Richard, Jade Savage, Olivia Tardy, Cécile Aenishaenslin
Background Lyme disease (LD) and other tick-borne diseases are emerging across Canada. Spatial and temporal LD risk is typically estimated using acarological surveillance and reported human cases, the former not considering human behavior leading to tick exposure and the latter occurring after infection. Objectives The primary objective was to explore, at the census subdivision level (CSD), the associations
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Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cattle in coastal Kenya harbor a diverse array of tick-borne pathogens Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-09 Joseph Wang'ang'a Oundo, Shewit Kalayou, Quirine ten Bosch, Jandouwe Villinger, Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt, Daniel Masiga
Ticks and the microbes they transmit have emerged in sub-Saharan Africa as a major threat to veterinary and public health. Although progress has been made in detecting and identifying tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) across vast agroecologies of Kenya, comprehensive information on tick species infesting cattle and their associated pathogens in coastal Kenya needs to be updated and expanded. Ticks infesting
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Cellular stress is triggered by tick-borne encephalitis virus and limits the virus replication in PMJ2-R mouse macrophage cell line Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-09 Zuzana Beránková, Ritesh Khanna, Markéta Spěváková, Helena Langhansová, Jan Kopecký, Jaroslava Lieskovská
Viral infection may represent a stress condition to the host cell. Cells react to it by triggering the defence programme to restore homeostasis and these events may in turn impact the viral replication. The knowledge about tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection-associated stress is limited. Here we investigated the interplay between TBEV infection and stress pathways in PMJ2-R mouse macrophage
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Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species in host-seeking Ixodes species ticks in the United States Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-10-07 Lynn M. Osikowicz, Maria R. Rizzo, Andrias Hojgaard, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States and is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis in the eastern US and I. pacificus in the west. The causative agents, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss) and B. mayonii belong to the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) species complex. An additional eight species of Bbsl have been identified in Ixodes species ticks in the
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Tick-borne pathogens in camels: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence in dromedaries Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-09-26 El-Sayed El-Alfy, Ibrahim Abbas, Somaya Saleh, Rana Elseadawy, Ragab M. Fereig, Mohamed Abdo Rizk, Xuenan Xuan
Published data on tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in camels worldwide have been collected to provide an overview of the global prevalence and species diversity of camelid TBPs. Several TBPs have been detected in dromedary camels, raising concerns regarding their role as natural or maintenance hosts for tick-borne pathogens. Insubstantial evidence exists regarding the natural infection of camels with Babesia
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Identification, structural modeling, gene expression analysis and RNAi effect of putative phospholipase A2 in the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-09-19 Bo Lyu, Jingjing Li, Brigid Niemeyer, Deborah Anderson, Brenda Beerntsen, Qisheng Song
Amblyomma americanum, also known as the lone star tick, is a small arachnid that feeds on blood and can spread disease to humans and other animals. Despite the overlapped ecological niche, geographic distribution, and host selection, there is no proof that A. americanum transmits the pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi that causes Lyme disease. Studies have shown that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) may act as a
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Is there Lyme borreliosis in French Guiana? Descriptive study among patients referred for a suspected Lyme borreliosis in an Amazonian hospital between 2010 and 2022 Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-09-20 Tom Cartau, Carole Eldin, Paul Le Turnier, Anaïs Eskenazi, Gaëlle Walter, Catherine Coignard, Ward Schrooten, Eric Caumes, Félix Djossou, Loïc Epelboin
Lyme borreliosis (LB) existence in South America is debated, especially in the Amazon region. The infection with Lyme borreliae has never been reported in French Guiana where Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is not found in ticks. We describe the final diagnosis and presumed place of acquisition in patients consulting for suspicion of LB. We retrospectively collected data from all consecutive patients
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Identifying breeding hosts of Ixodes ricinus ticks using stable isotope analysis of their larvae – Proof of concept Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-09-21 Saana Sipari, Mikko Kiljunen, Minna Nylund, Eva R. Kallio
Ticks are important vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Ticks are parasites that are dependent on their hosts for blood meal to develop and reproduce. The abundance of ticks is dependent on the availability of suitable breeding hosts, often medium- and large-sized mammals. So far there has been a shortage of direct methods identifying the breeding hosts for the female ticks. In this study, we introduce
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Enteroviral central nervous system infections in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis Ticks Tick Borne Dis. (IF 3.2) Pub Date : 2023-09-18 Karol Perlejewski, Marek Radkowski, Agnieszka Pawełczyk, Małgorzata Rydzanicz, Tomasz Dzieciątkowski, Michał Makowiecki, Marcin Paciorek, Renata Welc-Falęciak, Andrzej Horban, Tomasz Laskus
Patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) are rarely tested for the presence of neurovirulent viruses other than tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV); however, such coinfections could be of clinical importance. The aim of the study was to search for the presence of neurotropic viruses in a LNB patients. Fourteen patients admitted with signs and symptoms of neuroinfection who were eventually diagnosed