INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Infectious and parasitic diseases transmitted by ticks, such as Lyme diseases, granulocytic anaplasmosis and piroplasmosis, have been frequently reported in Europe, with increasing attention to them as an emerging zoonotic problem. The presented study was performed to assess the distribution and the density of questing ticks in three regional parks of Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and to seek molecular evidence of potential human pathogens in tick populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period April-October 2010, 8,139 questing ticks were collected: 6,734 larvae, 1,344 nymphs and only a few adults - 28 females and 33 males. The abundance of Ixodes ricinus questing ticks was compared among different sampling sites and related to microclimate parameters. 1,544 out of 8,139 ticks were examined for the presence of pathogens: PCR was used to detect piroplasms DNA and Real time Taqman PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. RESULTS: The predominant species was I. ricinus (overall abundance 1,075.9/100 m(2) ); more rarely, Dermacentor marginatus (n = 37 - 0.45%), Scaphixodes frontalis (n = 13 - 0.16%), Hyalomma spp. (n = 6 - 0.07%) and Ixodes acuminatus (n = 3 - 0.04%) were also found. 28 out of 324 (8.6%) samples of ticks were PCR-positive for piroplasm DNA. 11 amplicons of 18S rRNA gene were identical to each other and had 100% identity with Babesia EU1 (Babesia venatorum) using BLAST analysis. Real time Taqman PCR gave positive results for A. phagocytophilum in 23 out of 292 samples (7.9%), and for B. burgdorferi s.l. in 78 out of 292 samples (26.7%). I. ricinus was the only species found positive for pathogens by molecular analysis; 16 tick samples were co-infected with at least 2 pathogens. DISCUSSION: The peak of nymph presence was in May, and the higher prevalence of pathogens occurred in April-June, most often in nymphs; therefore, spring season could represent the higher risk period for the transmission of pathogens. These data could provide guidelines for the preventions of tick-trasmitted diseases in this region.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Infectious and parasitic diseases transmitted by ticks, such as Lyme diseases, granulocytic anaplasmosis and piroplasmosis, have been frequently reported in Europe, with increasing attention to them as an emerging zoonotic problem. The presented study was performed to assess the distribution and the density of questing ticks in three regional parks of Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and to seek molecular evidence of potential human pathogens in tick populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the period April-October 2010, 8,139 questing ticks were collected: 6,734 larvae, 1,344 nymphs and only a few adults - 28 females and 33 males. The abundance of Ixodes ricinus questing ticks was compared among different sampling sites and related to microclimate parameters. 1,544 out of 8,139 ticks were examined for the presence of pathogens: PCR was used to detect piroplasms DNA and Real time Taqman PCR for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. RESULTS: The predominant species was I. ricinus (overall abundance 1,075.9/100 m(2) ); more rarely, Dermacentor marginatus (n = 37 - 0.45%), Scaphixodes frontalis (n = 13 - 0.16%), Hyalomma spp. (n = 6 - 0.07%) and Ixodes acuminatus (n = 3 - 0.04%) were also found. 28 out of 324 (8.6%) samples of ticks were PCR-positive for piroplasm DNA. 11 amplicons of 18S rRNA gene were identical to each other and had 100% identity with Babesia EU1 (Babesia venatorum) using BLAST analysis. Real time Taqman PCR gave positive results for A. phagocytophilum in 23 out of 292 samples (7.9%), and for B. burgdorferi s.l. in 78 out of 292 samples (26.7%). I. ricinus was the only species found positive for pathogens by molecular analysis; 16 tick samples were co-infected with at least 2 pathogens. DISCUSSION: The peak of nymph presence was in May, and the higher prevalence of pathogens occurred in April-June, most often in nymphs; therefore, spring season could represent the higher risk period for the transmission of pathogens. These data could provide guidelines for the preventions of tick-trasmitted diseases in this region.
Authors: Martin Strnad; Václav Hönig; Daniel Růžek; Libor Grubhoffer; Ryan O M Rego Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2017-07-17 Impact factor: 4.792
Authors: Alessandra Torina; Valeria Blanda; Marcellocalogero Blanda; Michelangelo Auteri; Francesco La Russa; Salvatore Scimeca; Rosalia D'Agostino; Rosaria Disclafani; Sara Villari; Vittoria Currò; Santo Caracappa Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2018-02-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Stefania Zanet; Elena Battisti; Paola Pepe; Lavinia Ciuca; Liliana Colombo; Anna Trisciuoglio; Ezio Ferroglio; Giuseppe Cringoli; Laura Rinaldi; Maria Paola Maurelli Journal: BMC Vet Res Date: 2020-02-07 Impact factor: 2.741
Authors: Maria Paola Maurelli; Paola Pepe; Liliana Colombo; Rob Armstrong; Elena Battisti; Maria Elena Morgoglione; Dimitris Counturis; Laura Rinaldi; Giuseppe Cringoli; Ezio Ferroglio; Stefania Zanet Journal: Parasit Vectors Date: 2018-07-16 Impact factor: 3.876
Authors: Alain Kohl; Emilie Pondeville; Esther Schnettler; Andrea Crisanti; Clelia Supparo; George K Christophides; Paul J Kersey; Gareth L Maslen; Willem Takken; Constantianus J M Koenraadt; Clelia F Oliva; Núria Busquets; F Xavier Abad; Anna-Bella Failloux; Elena A Levashina; Anthony J Wilson; Eva Veronesi; Maëlle Pichard; Sarah Arnaud Marsh; Frédéric Simard; Kenneth D Vernick Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2016-08-11 Impact factor: 2.894