Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102579
Kayleigh M Hansford , Faye V Brown , Sarah M Biddlecombe , Jonathan Yardley , Emmanuella O Luce , Sara Gandy , Colin J Johnston , Nicola Jones , Anthony J Abbott , Beth Mackenzie , Anna Rance , Meghan-Louise Meban , Andrew J D Nelson , Christopher Williams , Dominic Mellor , Amanda Semper , Christina Petridou , Rachel Pudney , Jolyon M Medlock
The Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) is a citizen science initiative which relies on public and professional submissions to monitor tick species distribution, seasonal exposure, and host associations across the United Kingdom (UK). During the period 2021–2024, 3182 tick records were received and 27 tick species were detected. The data confirm that Ixodes ricinus, the primary vector for Lyme disease and Tick-borne encephalitis, remains the most common tick in the UK. The TSS continues to detect imported tick species, underscoring the risk of novel pathogens entering the country, with new species like Hyalomma excavatum and Rhipicephalus pulchellus reported for the first time. The scheme also provides crucial evidence of non-endemic species like Hyalomma marginatum being found on hosts without history of foreign travel, although establishment risk is currently considered low. In addition to updated species distribution maps, a new tick-bite incidence metric has been developed and translated into a heat map for England and Wales. Updated regularly, this enables targeted public health interventions and awareness campaigns at the local authority level, providing a proxy for potential tick exposure. Tick submissions are likely underrepresented from Scotland and Northern Ireland, suggesting a need to strengthen outreach in these areas to improve data accuracy.
{"title":"Mapping ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) and informing local public action: Insights from the United Kingdom Tick Surveillance Scheme (2021-2024)","authors":"Kayleigh M Hansford , Faye V Brown , Sarah M Biddlecombe , Jonathan Yardley , Emmanuella O Luce , Sara Gandy , Colin J Johnston , Nicola Jones , Anthony J Abbott , Beth Mackenzie , Anna Rance , Meghan-Louise Meban , Andrew J D Nelson , Christopher Williams , Dominic Mellor , Amanda Semper , Christina Petridou , Rachel Pudney , Jolyon M Medlock","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102579","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102579","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) is a citizen science initiative which relies on public and professional submissions to monitor tick species distribution, seasonal exposure, and host associations across the United Kingdom (UK). During the period 2021–2024, 3182 tick records were received and 27 tick species were detected. The data confirm that <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>, the primary vector for Lyme disease and Tick-borne encephalitis, remains the most common tick in the UK. The TSS continues to detect imported tick species, underscoring the risk of novel pathogens entering the country, with new species like <em>Hyalomma excavatum</em> and <em>Rhipicephalus pulchellus</em> reported for the first time. The scheme also provides crucial evidence of non-endemic species like <em>Hyalomma marginatum</em> being found on hosts without history of foreign travel, although establishment risk is currently considered low. In addition to updated species distribution maps, a new tick-bite incidence metric has been developed and translated into a heat map for England and Wales. Updated regularly, this enables targeted public health interventions and awareness campaigns at the local authority level, providing a proxy for potential tick exposure. Tick submissions are likely underrepresented from Scotland and Northern Ireland, suggesting a need to strengthen outreach in these areas to improve data accuracy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102579"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913801","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Response to the critique on the TerL-based PCR by Zimmermann et al. (2025)","authors":"Jinyu Shan , Tanja Mijatovic , Louis Teulières , Martha R.J. Clokie","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102593","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102593"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102590
Thiago F. Martins , Adriano Pinter , Vera L.F. de Camargo-Neves , Agustín Estrada-Peña , Pablo H. Nunes , Fábio Barbieri , Kátia M. Famadas , Marcelo B. Labruna
Ticks of the genus Amblyomma are of great medical and veterinary importance in Brazil, where they regularly parasitize wild and domestic animals and will bite humans that enter rural and forest areas for work and recreation purposes. This study provides morphological descriptions and redescriptions of the larval stage of 30 Amblyomma species occurring in Brazil, using morphometry, chaetotaxy and porotaxy. A dichotomous key with important characteristics illustrated by light and scanning electron microscopy was constructed for larvae of 31 species of Amblyomma from Brazil, including Amblyomma monteiroae, a recently described endemic species. The larvae of the following 11 species are described for the first time: Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma fuscum, Amblyomma goeldii, Amblyomma humerale, Amblyomma incisum, Amblyomma latepunctatum, Amblyomma naponense, Amblyomma pseudoconcolor, and Amblyomma scalpturatum. In addition, the larvae of the following 19 species are redescribed: Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma geayi, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma pacae, Amblyomma parkeri, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma romitii, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma triste, and Amblyomma varium. Together with the recent description of A. monteiroae, these results formed the basis for the formulation of a dichotomous key encompassing 31 Amblyomma species occurring in Brazil. Undoubtedly, the results of this study will assist future fieldwork aimed at identifying Amblyomma larvae collected from hosts and the environment.
{"title":"Dichotomous key to larvae of the genus Amblyomma (Parasitiformes: Ixodidae) in Brazil, with morphological description and redescription of the larval stage of 30 Amblyomma species","authors":"Thiago F. Martins , Adriano Pinter , Vera L.F. de Camargo-Neves , Agustín Estrada-Peña , Pablo H. Nunes , Fábio Barbieri , Kátia M. Famadas , Marcelo B. Labruna","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks of the genus <em>Amblyomma</em> are of great medical and veterinary importance in Brazil, where they regularly parasitize wild and domestic animals and will bite humans that enter rural and forest areas for work and recreation purposes. This study provides morphological descriptions and redescriptions of the larval stage of 30 <em>Amblyomma</em> species occurring in Brazil, using morphometry, chaetotaxy and porotaxy. A dichotomous key with important characteristics illustrated by light and scanning electron microscopy was constructed for larvae of 31 species of <em>Amblyomma</em> from Brazil, including <em>Amblyomma monteiroae</em>, a recently described endemic species. The larvae of the following 11 species are described for the first time: <em>Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma fuscum, Amblyomma goeldii, Amblyomma humerale, Amblyomma incisum, Amblyomma latepunctatum, Amblyomma naponense, Amblyomma pseudoconcolor</em>, and <em>Amblyomma scalpturatum</em>. In addition, the larvae of the following 19 species are redescribed: <em>Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma brasiliense, Amblyomma calcaratum, Amblyomma dissimile, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma geayi, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma nodosum, Amblyomma oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma pacae, Amblyomma parkeri, Amblyomma parvum, Amblyomma romitii, Amblyomma rotundatum, Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma triste</em>, and <em>Amblyomma varium</em>. Together with the recent description of <em>A. monteiroae</em>, these results formed the basis for the formulation of a dichotomous key encompassing 31 <em>Amblyomma</em> species occurring in Brazil. Undoubtedly, the results of this study will assist future fieldwork aimed at identifying <em>Amblyomma</em> larvae collected from hosts and the environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102590"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913779","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102596
OV Anyango , OW Aool , M Lukindu , T Nakayiki , J Lutwama , JK Kayondo , CD Phillips , J Lutomiah , J Mutisya , CL Brelsfoard , MG Onyango
The East African region hosts more than 50 % of Africa livestock and 9 % of global cattle, creating an ideal environment for ticks to thrive and transmit pathogens. Little is known of the full spectrum of tick-associated bacterial pathogens that circulate in the vast pastoralist-intense regions of East Africa, the range of the pathogens and their genetic relationships. To define this, we need to first delineate the microbial composition of the medically and veterinary important East African tick species. This study focused on the likely vectors of Orthonairovirus haemorrhagiae in Kenya and Uganda, specifically H. rufipes and R. appendiculatus. To characterize the bacterial microbiome associated with these two tick species, the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from a total of 25 R. appendiculatus and 24 H rufipes specimens using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Microbial abundance and diversity were subsequently analysed to assess the composition and structure of their bacterial communities. We observed a richer and balanced bacterial microbiome profile among the H. rufipes compared to that of the R. appendiculatus, which was mainly dominated by Coxiella-like endosymbionts. Furthermore, a few bacterial taxa were unique to each sampling site, while several were common across all sampling sites. This study identified several medically important Rickettsia species, including R. aeschlimannii, R. conorii, and, for the first time, R. prowazekii, the causative agent of epidemic typhus, in H. rufipes sampled from Northeast Kenya. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that R. africae exhibits a broad tick host tropism. Our present findings provide insights into the microbial community of medically important tick species of East Africa. The observation of a significant level of Coxiella-like endosymbionts in R. appendiculatus warrants an investigation into their transmissibility and impacts on the transmission of other pathogens. The identification of R. prowazekii in H. rufipes suggest that R. prowazekii is broadening its host tropism in Kenya.
{"title":"Molecular detection of medically important rickettsiae, including Rickettsia prowazekii in Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Hyalomma rufipes: A microbiome perspective","authors":"OV Anyango , OW Aool , M Lukindu , T Nakayiki , J Lutwama , JK Kayondo , CD Phillips , J Lutomiah , J Mutisya , CL Brelsfoard , MG Onyango","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The East African region hosts more than 50 % of Africa livestock and 9 % of global cattle, creating an ideal environment for ticks to thrive and transmit pathogens. Little is known of the full spectrum of tick-associated bacterial pathogens that circulate in the vast pastoralist-intense regions of East Africa, the range of the pathogens and their genetic relationships. To define this, we need to first delineate the microbial composition of the medically and veterinary important East African tick species. This study focused on the likely vectors of <em>Orthonairovirus haemorrhagiae</em> in Kenya and Uganda, specifically <em>H. rufipes</em> and <em>R. appendiculatus</em>. To characterize the bacterial microbiome associated with these two tick species, the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from a total of 25 <em>R. appendiculatus</em> and 24 <em>H rufipes</em> specimens using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Microbial abundance and diversity were subsequently analysed to assess the composition and structure of their bacterial communities. We observed a richer and balanced bacterial microbiome profile among the <em>H. rufipes</em> compared to that of the <em>R. appendiculatus</em>, which was mainly dominated by <em>Coxiella</em>-like endosymbionts. Furthermore, a few bacterial taxa were unique to each sampling site, while several were common across all sampling sites. This study identified several medically important <em>Rickettsia</em> species, including <em>R. aeschlimannii, R. conorii,</em> and, for the first time, <em>R. prowazekii</em>, the causative agent of epidemic typhus, in <em>H. rufipes</em> sampled from Northeast Kenya. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that <em>R. africae</em> exhibits a broad tick host tropism. Our present findings provide insights into the microbial community of medically important tick species of East Africa. The observation of a significant level of <em>Coxiella</em>-like endosymbionts in <em>R. appendiculatus</em> warrants an investigation into their transmissibility and impacts on the transmission of other pathogens. The identification of <em>R. prowazekii</em> in <em>H. rufipes</em> suggest that <em>R. prowazekii</em> is broadening its host tropism in Kenya.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102596"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102604
SY Chen , A Hill , W Jackson , M Saunders , B Munk , J Foley , S Gassama , G Maier
The objectives of this study were to estimate prevalence of A. marginale infection in cattle in California and to identify potential risk factors for infection including weather effects. We considered individual-level prevalence the percentage of positive individual test results and submission-level prevalence the percentage of submissions from the same owner at the same time with at least one animal testing positive for Anaplasma. A total of 3684 Anaplasma test results from 773 submissions to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory between January 2010 and April 2023 were used in this study. Time series analysis and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to analyze the data. Abundance of Dermacentor ticks in California was mapped. The overall true prevalence of Anaplasma infection at the individual level was 23.7% (95% CI: 22.3 – 25.2%) with a submission-level prevalence of 38.3% (95% CI: 34.9 – 41.8%) in cattle in California. A seasonal change in seroprevalence was observed in time series analysis, with lower seroprevalence in wet seasons than in dry seasons. Higher odds of Anaplasma positivity were found in cattle two years of age or older, beef cattle, with lower average ambient temperatures in the dry season, and higher average ambient temperatures in the wet season in GEEs.
{"title":"Seroprevalence and risk factors for Anaplasma marginale seropositivity in cattle in California between 2010 and April 2023","authors":"SY Chen , A Hill , W Jackson , M Saunders , B Munk , J Foley , S Gassama , G Maier","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objectives of this study were to estimate prevalence of <em>A. marginale</em> infection in cattle in California and to identify potential risk factors for infection including weather effects. We considered individual-level prevalence the percentage of positive individual test results and submission-level prevalence the percentage of submissions from the same owner at the same time with at least one animal testing positive for <em>Anaplasma</em>. A total of 3684 <em>Anaplasma</em> test results from 773 submissions to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory between January 2010 and April 2023 were used in this study. Time series analysis and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to analyze the data. Abundance of <em>Dermacentor</em> ticks in California was mapped. The overall true prevalence of <em>Anaplasma</em> infection at the individual level was 23.7% (95% CI: 22.3 – 25.2%) with a submission-level prevalence of 38.3% (95% CI: 34.9 – 41.8%) in cattle in California. A seasonal change in seroprevalence was observed in time series analysis, with lower seroprevalence in wet seasons than in dry seasons. Higher odds of <em>Anaplasma</em> positivity were found in cattle two years of age or older, beef cattle, with lower average ambient temperatures in the dry season, and higher average ambient temperatures in the wet season in GEEs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102604"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102606
Valentina Chisu , Rosanna Zobba , Angela Peruzzu , Laura Giua , Giovanna Chessa , Ben Smida Boubaker , Carla Cacciotto , Emanuela Bazzoni , Zeinab Sinaei , Giovanna Masala , Alberto Alberti
Candidatus Anaplasma camelii is a poorly identified Anaplasma species reported in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Although sequences from Ca. A. camelii had previously been detected in Tunisia, they were not accurately identified or taxonomically classified at that time. This study provides the first comprehensive molecular characterization of Ca. A. camelii in Tunisian dromedaries using a combined sequencing approach targeting 16S rRNA, the groEL gene and the gltA gene. Out of 229 dromedaries blood samples analysed 45 (19.7%) tested positive for Anaplasma spp. by 16S rRNA PCR. The presence of Ca. A. camelii was subsequently confirmed by groEL and gltA amplification. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a well-supported monophyletic clade grouping Tunisian isolates with strains previously reported in Egypt and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study expands the known geographic distribution of Ca. A. camelii by introducing novel molecular data, thereby enhancing our understanding of its genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships. Findings highlight the importance of multi-gene molecular surveillance to elucidate the epidemiology of emerging Anaplasma species in Northern Africa.
候选骆驼无原体是在单峰骆驼（Camelus dromedarius）中报道的一种鉴定不佳的无原体。虽然以前在突尼斯检测到camelii的序列，但当时没有准确地鉴定或分类。本研究首次利用针对16S rRNA、groEL基因和gltA基因的联合测序方法，对突尼斯单峰骆驼Ca. a. camelii进行了全面的分子鉴定。在229只单峰骆驼血液样本中，45只（19.7%）经16S rRNA PCR检测为无原体阳性。随后通过groEL和gltA扩增证实了camelii的存在。系统发育分析显示突尼斯分离株与先前在埃及和阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）报道的菌株具有良好的单系进化群。本研究通过引入新的分子数据扩展了已知的camelii的地理分布，从而增强了我们对其遗传多样性和进化关系的理解。研究结果强调了多基因分子监测对阐明北非新兴无原体物种流行病学的重要性。
{"title":"Molecular characterization of Candidatus Anaplasma camelii in Tunisian dromedaries based on partial groEL and gltA sequence data","authors":"Valentina Chisu , Rosanna Zobba , Angela Peruzzu , Laura Giua , Giovanna Chessa , Ben Smida Boubaker , Carla Cacciotto , Emanuela Bazzoni , Zeinab Sinaei , Giovanna Masala , Alberto Alberti","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Candidatus</em> Anaplasma camelii is a poorly identified <em>Anaplasma</em> species reported in dromedary camels (<em>Camelus dromedarius</em>). Although sequences from <em>Ca.</em> A. camelii had previously been detected in Tunisia, they were not accurately identified or taxonomically classified at that time. This study provides the first comprehensive molecular characterization of <em>Ca</em>. A. camelii in Tunisian dromedaries using a combined sequencing approach targeting 16S rRNA, the <em>groEL</em> gene and the <em>gltA</em> gene. Out of 229 dromedaries blood samples analysed 45 (19.7%) tested positive for <em>Anaplasma</em> spp. by 16S rRNA PCR. The presence of <em>Ca.</em> A. camelii was subsequently confirmed by <em>groEL</em> and <em>gltA</em> amplification. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a well-supported monophyletic clade grouping Tunisian isolates with strains previously reported in Egypt and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study expands the known geographic distribution of <em>Ca.</em> A. camelii by introducing novel molecular data, thereby enhancing our understanding of its genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships. Findings highlight the importance of multi-gene molecular surveillance to elucidate the epidemiology of emerging <em>Anaplasma</em> species in Northern Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102606"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102605
Michal Chvostáč , Sabrina Hepner , Gabriele Margos , Yuliya M. Didyk , Michal Stanko , Bronislava Víchová , Barbara Mangová , Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová , Andreas Sing , Volker Fingerle , Markéta Derdáková
The Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex is known for its complex genome and significant genetic variability. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to study the genetic variability of Borrelia in five European countries: Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine, Finland and Bulgaria. We compared the prevalence, genospecies spectrum and genetic variability of Borrelia in 4013 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. The highest prevalence of Borrelia was found in Slovakia (26.7 %) and Ukraine (22 %), while in Finland and Bulgaria the prevalence was found to be 12.4 % and 7.2 %, respectively. Genospecies diversity was the highest in Croatia with seven identified genospecies. This was in contrast to Finland and Bulgaria where only three species were detected. In phylogenetic trees Borrelia species clustered according to species designation. Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii were the most prevalent amongst the Borrelia species and were found in all collection regions. Borrelia garinii but also B. afzelii isolates did not show a phylogeographic pattern in minimum spanning trees. Based on MLST, Borrelia lusitaniae isolates from Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria belonged to the “northern European” clade, which differs genetically from B. lusitaniae isolates found in southern Portugal and northern Africa. Borrelia bavariensis from the Slovak Republic and Ukraine firmly clustered with Western European isolates. Besides questing ticks, Edible dormice (Glis glis) earlobe biopsies were analyzed as B. afzelii clustering with other European isolates of this species. In this study we report the first evidence of Borrelia genospecies in the following countries: Borrelia spielmanii, B. bavariensis and B. lusitaniae in Ukraine; B. spielmanii in Bulgaria; Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., B. spielmanii, B. lusitaniae and B. bavariensis in Croatia.
{"title":"Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and its genetic variability in five European countries","authors":"Michal Chvostáč , Sabrina Hepner , Gabriele Margos , Yuliya M. Didyk , Michal Stanko , Bronislava Víchová , Barbara Mangová , Veronika Rusňáková Tarageľová , Andreas Sing , Volker Fingerle , Markéta Derdáková","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> s.l. complex is known for its complex genome and significant genetic variability. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to study the genetic variability of <em>Borrelia</em> in five European countries: Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine, Finland and Bulgaria. We compared the prevalence, genospecies spectrum and genetic variability of <em>Borrelia</em> in 4013 questing <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> ticks. The highest prevalence of <em>Borrelia</em> was found in Slovakia (26.7 %) and Ukraine (22 %), while in Finland and Bulgaria the prevalence was found to be 12.4 % and 7.2 %, respectively. Genospecies diversity was the highest in Croatia with seven identified genospecies. This was in contrast to Finland and Bulgaria where only three species were detected. In phylogenetic trees <em>Borrelia</em> species clustered according to species designation. <em>Borrelia afzelii</em> and <em>Borrelia garinii</em> were the most prevalent amongst the <em>Borrelia</em> species and were found in all collection regions. <em>Borrelia garinii</em> but also <em>B. afzelii</em> isolates did not show a phylogeographic pattern in minimum spanning trees. Based on MLST<em>, Borrelia lusitaniae</em> isolates from Slovakia, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria belonged to the “northern European” clade, which differs genetically from <em>B. lusitaniae</em> isolates found in southern Portugal and northern Africa. <em>Borrelia bavariensis</em> from the Slovak Republic and Ukraine firmly clustered with Western European isolates. Besides questing ticks, Edible dormice (<em>Glis glis</em>) earlobe biopsies were analyzed as <em>B. afzelii</em> clustering with other European isolates of this species. In this study we report the first evidence of <em>Borrelia</em> genospecies in the following countries: <em>Borrelia spielmanii, B. bavariensis</em> and <em>B. lusitaniae</em> in Ukraine; <em>B. spielmanii</em> in Bulgaria; <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> s.s<em>., B. spielmanii, B. lusitaniae</em> and <em>B. bavariensis</em> in Croatia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102605"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145999342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102595
Sara L. Gandy , Fernanda Sánchez-Rodríguez , William McLellan , Fanny Olsthoorn , Marianne C. James , Paul C.D. Johnson , Roman Biek , Hein Sprong , Manoj Fonville , Caroline Millins , Ken J. Forbes , Alan S. Bowman , Jaboury Ghazoul , Lucy Gilbert
Quantifying the strengths of interactions in complex vector-borne disease ecological systems is challenging. Yet, overcoming this challenge is fundamental for understanding the ecological mechanisms shaping disease hazard. Here we quantified the strengths of the hypothesised direct and indirect mechanistic pathways through which deer affect ticks and one of the Lyme borreliosis pathogens, Borrelia afzelii, by conducting a combined analysis of three previously published datasets from 39 sites across Scotland. Structural equation modelling revealed that, as predicted, deer had a strong positive overall effect (direct and indirect pathways combined) on questing Ixodes ricinus nymph density and a weak, non-significant, negative overall effect on B. afzelii prevalence. This resulted in an overall weak, non-significant, positive effect of deer on B. afzelii hazard (the density of infected nymphs), indicating that their negative effect on B. afzelii prevalence was weaker than their positive effect on questing nymph density. A key novelty of this study was being able to tease apart the direct and indirect pathways for each of these overall effects and demonstrating that they were primarily driven by direct mechanisms, such as deer driving nymph density. Although deer negatively affected rodent abundance, the hypothesised indirect pathways from deer to ticks and pathogen, acting through vegetation and/or rodents, were weak. This could result from low densities of rodents relative to deer in Scotland, consistent with Scotland having among the lowest nymphal Lyme borreliosis pathogen prevalences in Europe. Applying the methodological framework used in this study would be useful for teasing apart complex interactions in other vector-borne disease systems.
{"title":"Disentangling complex disease ecology networks: Using structural equation modelling to quantify the direct and indirect effects of deer on Lyme borreliosis hazard","authors":"Sara L. Gandy , Fernanda Sánchez-Rodríguez , William McLellan , Fanny Olsthoorn , Marianne C. James , Paul C.D. Johnson , Roman Biek , Hein Sprong , Manoj Fonville , Caroline Millins , Ken J. Forbes , Alan S. Bowman , Jaboury Ghazoul , Lucy Gilbert","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantifying the strengths of interactions in complex vector-borne disease ecological systems is challenging. Yet, overcoming this challenge is fundamental for understanding the ecological mechanisms shaping disease hazard. Here we quantified the strengths of the hypothesised direct and indirect mechanistic pathways through which deer affect ticks and one of the Lyme borreliosis pathogens, <em>Borrelia afzelii,</em> by conducting a combined analysis of three previously published datasets from 39 sites across Scotland. Structural equation modelling revealed that, as predicted, deer had a strong positive overall effect (direct and indirect pathways combined) on questing <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> nymph density and a weak, non-significant, negative overall effect on <em>B. afzelii</em> prevalence. This resulted in an overall weak, non-significant, positive effect of deer on <em>B. afzelii</em> hazard (the density of infected nymphs)<em>,</em> indicating that their negative effect on <em>B. afzelii</em> prevalence was weaker than their positive effect on questing nymph density<em>.</em> A key novelty of this study was being able to tease apart the direct and indirect pathways for each of these overall effects and demonstrating that they were primarily driven by direct mechanisms, such as deer driving nymph density. Although deer negatively affected rodent abundance, the hypothesised indirect pathways from deer to ticks and pathogen, acting through vegetation and/or rodents, were weak. This could result from low densities of rodents relative to deer in Scotland, consistent with Scotland having among the lowest nymphal Lyme borreliosis pathogen prevalences in Europe. Applying the methodological framework used in this study would be useful for teasing apart complex interactions in other vector-borne disease systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102595"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102598
Payton M. Phillips , Jocelyn E. Behm
In recent decades, increased incidences of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and Babesiosis (Babesia microti) have occurred in urban areas. The prevalence of the pathogens causing these diseases relies on a complex set of interactions between the tick vector (Ixodes scapularis) and its prominent hosts, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Additionally, predators of small mammal hosts, such as red fox (vulpes) may influence host-tick interactions. While urbanization alters these interactions at the landscape scale, localized factors such as invasive vegetation may have additional impacts within forest plots and at the microhabitat scale. In this study, we sought to understand the impacts of urbanization and the presence and structure of the invasive understory shrub, wineberry (Rubus phoenicolasius), on tick-borne disease dynamics in southeastern Pennsylvania. We employed a hierarchical field study at three scales to understand the scale at which urbanization and wineberry presence, or the dense vegetation structure it creates, impacts hosts, ticks, and pathogens. At the microhabitat scale, we found increased small mammal activity, which likely played an indirect role in increasing B. microti and A. phagocytophilum prevalence at the same scale. However, tick abundance and general pathogen prevalence were not concentrated at the micro-habitat scale, but instead were higher in invaded plots as a whole. Our results suggest that invasive shrubs aggregate ticks and tick hosts, leading to increased pathogen prevalence, but that pathogen risk may vary across scales. These findings have important implications for invasive vegetation and tick-borne disease management.
{"title":"Invasive wineberry influences tick-borne disease dynamics across spatial scales","authors":"Payton M. Phillips , Jocelyn E. Behm","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent decades, increased incidences of tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease (<em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em>), Anaplasmosis (<em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em>), and Babesiosis (<em>Babesia microti)</em> have occurred in urban areas. The prevalence of the pathogens causing these diseases relies on a complex set of interactions between the tick vector (<em>Ixodes scapularis</em>) and its prominent hosts, white-tailed deer (<em>Odocoileus virginianus</em>) and white-footed mice (<em>Peromyscus leucopus</em>). Additionally, predators of small mammal hosts, such as red fox (<em>vulpes</em>) may influence host-tick interactions. While urbanization alters these interactions at the landscape scale, localized factors such as invasive vegetation may have additional impacts within forest plots and at the microhabitat scale. In this study, we sought to understand the impacts of urbanization and the presence and structure of the invasive understory shrub, wineberry (<em>Rubus phoenicolasius</em>), on tick-borne disease dynamics in southeastern Pennsylvania. We employed a hierarchical field study at three scales to understand the scale at which urbanization and wineberry presence, or the dense vegetation structure it creates, impacts hosts, ticks, and pathogens. At the microhabitat scale, we found increased small mammal activity, which likely played an indirect role in increasing <em>B. microti</em> and <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> prevalence at the same scale. However, tick abundance and general pathogen prevalence were not concentrated at the micro-habitat scale, but instead were higher in invaded plots as a whole. Our results suggest that invasive shrubs aggregate ticks and tick hosts, leading to increased pathogen prevalence, but that pathogen risk may vary across scales. These findings have important implications for invasive vegetation and tick-borne disease management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102598"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102599
Luis Adriano Anholeto , Creighton Malkiah Jarvis , Laura Ferguson , Nicoletta Faraone
This study isolated and identified a Clonostachys rosea strain from field-collected tick samples in Nova Scotia, Canada, and investigated its entomopathogenic potential against Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis. Ticks were collected from April to June 2023 through drag sampling and the fungus was isolated from dead or mycotic tick specimens. The isolate obtained from D. variabilis was subcultured from a single colony to obtain pure cultures. The fungus species was characterized through morphological and molecular analysis. The efficacy of C. rosea conidia was evaluated against lab-reared I. scapularis and D. variabilis unfed female adults using the adult immersion test. The C. rosea conidia (1 × 108 conidia/mL) caused approximately 70 % of mortality in I. scapularis and 30 % in D. variabilis female adults after 14 days post-infection. Conidia-exposed ticks showed physical damage, including claw and leg detachment, and loss of cuticle integrity. Our findings indicate that C. rosea is an entomopathogenic fungus that may be used for tick control. Because C. rosea naturally occurs in Nova Scotia, it is a promising candidate for biological control in regions with similar climate and environmental conditions, as well as a high prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases, such as the northeastern U.S. and Canada.
{"title":"In vitro assessment of entomopathogenic potential of Clonostachys rosea (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks","authors":"Luis Adriano Anholeto , Creighton Malkiah Jarvis , Laura Ferguson , Nicoletta Faraone","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study isolated and identified a <em>Clonostachys rosea</em> strain from field-collected tick samples in Nova Scotia, Canada, and investigated its entomopathogenic potential against <em>Ixodes scapularis</em> and <em>Dermacentor variabilis</em>. Ticks were collected from April to June 2023 through drag sampling and the fungus was isolated from dead or mycotic tick specimens. The isolate obtained from <em>D. variabili</em>s was subcultured from a single colony to obtain pure cultures. The fungus species was characterized through morphological and molecular analysis. The efficacy of <em>C. rosea</em> conidia was evaluated against lab-reared <em>I. scapularis</em> and <em>D. variabilis</em> unfed female adults using the adult immersion test. The <em>C. rosea</em> conidia (1 × 10<sup>8</sup> conidia/mL) caused approximately 70 % of mortality in <em>I. scapularis</em> and 30 % in <em>D. variabilis</em> female adults after 14 days post-infection. Conidia-exposed ticks showed physical damage, including claw and leg detachment, and loss of cuticle integrity. Our findings indicate that <em>C. rosea</em> is an entomopathogenic fungus that may be used for tick control. Because <em>C. rosea</em> naturally occurs in Nova Scotia, it is a promising candidate for biological control in regions with similar climate and environmental conditions, as well as a high prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases, such as the northeastern U.S. and Canada.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102599"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145913817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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