Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens of the Genera Rickettsia, Anaplasma and Francisella in Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Pomerania (Poland).

Lucyna Kirczuk,Anna Rymaszewska,Mariusz Piotrowski

doi:10.3390/pathogens10070901

Abstract

Tick-borne pathogens are an important medical and veterinary issue worldwide. Environmental monitoring in relation to not only climate change but also globalization is currently essential. The present study aimed to detect tick-borne pathogens of the genera Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Francisella in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from the natural environment, i.e., recreational areas and pastures used for livestock grazing. A total of 1619 specimens of I. ricinus were collected, including ticks of all life stages (adults, nymphs and larvae). The study was performed using the PCR technique. Diagnostic gene fragments msp2 for Anaplasma, gltA for Rickettsia and tul4 for Francisella were amplified. No Francisella spp. DNA was detected in I. ricinus. DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 0.54% of ticks and Rickettsia spp. in 3.69%. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that only one species of Rickettsia, R. helvetica, was present in the studied tick population. The present results are a part of a large-scale analysis aimed at monitoring the level of tick infestation in Northwest Poland.

Highlights

Blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks, insects and mites, are a group that plays a special role in the spread of many species of obligate intracellular microorganisms
In Ciemnik, only one nymph (0.19%) of 524 I. ricinus individuals was positive for A. phagocytophilum
According to the Polish National Institute of Hygiene (NIH), the highest number of cases [8] was reported in Western Pomerania, and isolated cases were common in other regions

Summary

Introduction

Blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks, insects and mites, are a group that plays a special role in the spread of many species of obligate intracellular microorganisms. Ixodes ricinus is one of the most important species of hard ticks that plays a significant role in the transmission of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. The pathogens transmitted by ticks include bacteria of the genera Borrelia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Francisella and protozoa of the genera Babesia and Theileria [1,2]. All are pathogens of vertebrates and have a wide range of species as their reservoirs. These host species include, among others, deer, wild boar, small rodents and birds [4,5,6,7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion