Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia odocoilei, Babesia sp., Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, and Hepatozoon canis in Ixodes scapularis Ticks Collected in Eastern Canada.

John D Scott,Risa R Pesapane

doi:10.3390/pathogens10101265

Abstract

Tick-borne pathogens cause infectious diseases that inflict much societal and financial hardship worldwide. Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, are primary vectors of several epizootic and zoonotic pathogens. The aim was to find varius pathogens of I. scapularis and to determine their prevalence. In Ontario and Quebec, 113 I. scapularis ticks were collected from songbirds, mammals, including humans, and by flagging. PCR and DNA sequencing detected five different microorganisms: Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 1 (0.9%); Babesia odocoilei, 17 (15.3%); Babesia microti-like sp., 1 (0.9%); Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), 29 (26.1%); and Hepatozoon canis, 1 (0.9%). Five coinfections of Bbsl and Babesia odocoilei occurred. Notably, H. canis was documented for the first time in Canada and, at the same time, demonstrates the first transstadial passage of H. canis in I. scapularis. Transstadial passage of Bbsl and B. odocoilei was also witnessed. A novel undescribed piroplasm (Babesia microti-like) was detected. An established population of I. scapularis ticks was detected at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. Because songbirds widely disperse I. scapularis larvae and nymphs, exposure in an endemic area is not required to contract tick-borne zoonoses. Based on the diversity of zoonotic pathogens in I. scapularis ticks, clinicians need to be aware that people who are bitten by I. scapularis ticks may require select antimicrobial regimens.

Highlights

Tick-borne zoonotic diseases cause unrelenting woe and hardship worldwide
A total of 113 I. scapularis ticks were collected from 69 vertebrate hosts and by flagging (Table 1, Figure 1)
Two ticks collected from songbirds were lost during field operations, and 111 ticks were tested for tick-borne zoonotic pathogens

Summary

Introduction

Tick-borne zoonotic diseases cause unrelenting woe and hardship worldwide. Polymicrobial infections typically complicate diagnosis and augment disease severity, which result in more disabling sequelae of illness. Tick-borne polymicrobial infections are relatively common in patients, but infrequently reported [1,2,3]. These zoonoses range from subclinical to fatal infections with a disproportionate incidence in children and the elderly. In North America, Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease. Several other tick-related diseases include human anaplasmosis, human babesiosis, and human bartonellosis. Four different tick-borne zoonotic pathogens in a single blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), have been reported [6]

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion