Abstract
Ticks are important vectors of a great range of pathogens of medical and veterinary importance. Lately, the spread of known tick-borne pathogens has been expanding, and novel ones have been identified as (re)emerging health threats. Updating the current knowledge on tick-borne pathogens in areas where humans and animals can be easily exposed to ticks represents a starting point for epidemiological studies and public awareness. A PCR screening for tick-borne pathogens was carried out in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in a peri-urban recreational park in Ticino Valley, Italy. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi senso latu complex, Anaplasma spp. and Babesia spp. was evaluated in a total of 415 I. ricinus specimens. Rickettsia spp. (R monacensis and R. helvetica) were detected in 22.96% of the samples, while B. burgdorferi s.l. complex (B. afzelii and B. lusitaniae) were present in 10.94%. Neoehrlichia mikurensis (1.99%) and Babesia venatorum (0.73%) were reported in the area of study for the first time. This study confirmed the presence of endemic tick-borne pathogens and highlighted the presence of emerging pathogens that should be monitored especially in relation to fragile patients, the difficult diagnosis of tick-borne associated diseases and possible interactions with other tick-borne pathogens.
Highlights
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods considered, along with mosquitoes, the main vectors of important infectious diseases in humans, livestock and domestic animals worldwide [1]
The use of molecular biology and genomic analyses have allowed the discovery of new microbial species, strains or genetic variants, increasing the number of potential health-threatening microorganisms associated with ticks (e.g., Candidatus Neoerhlichia mikurensis—hereafter, N. mikurensis—and Babesia venatorum [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10])
Symptomatic infections from N. mikurensis can be triggered in immunosuppressed patients, with symptoms resembling diseases such as Lyme disease (LD) [12]
Summary
Ticks are hematophagous arthropods considered, along with mosquitoes, the main vectors of important infectious diseases in humans, livestock and domestic animals worldwide [1]. The spread of tick-borne-associated microorganisms and pathogens have been expanding [2,3]. The use of molecular biology and genomic analyses have allowed the discovery of new microbial species, strains or genetic variants, increasing the number of potential health-threatening microorganisms associated with ticks (e.g., Candidatus Neoerhlichia mikurensis—hereafter, N. mikurensis—and Babesia venatorum [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]). In the context of increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients, due to the extended use of novel therapeutic approaches involving extensive immunosuppression [11], the risk of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) needs even more awareness. Symptomatic infections from N. mikurensis can be triggered in immunosuppressed patients, with symptoms resembling diseases such as Lyme disease (LD) [12]. Tick-borne infections through blood transfusions and organ transplantations represent a challenging issue, one that warrants the better implementation of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) surveillance [13]
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