Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-24DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102619
Elsje Christine Rabie , Almudena González-García , Marinela Contreras , Mohamed Deifallah Yousif , José de la Fuente , Sudaxshina Murdan , Christian Stutzer , Christine Maritz-Olivier
Tick-borne diseases lead to millions of dollars in losses annually in livestock and associated industries. The tick-borne bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes diseases in most livestock and has demonstrated zoonosis. Currently there are no effective prophylaxes against this bacterium. MSP4 (major surface protein 4) has been identified as a promising vaccine candidate. Currently, data on the expression of this antigen in tick and host cells is lacking to establish it as an antigen accessible to the host immune response. When designing a vaccine against Anaplasma, it must be considered that the life cycle includes both free circulating and intracellular stages, and as such both Th1 and Th2 responses will most likely be needed for protection. This study provides evidence of the expression of MSP4 on tick and host cells, as well as T and B cell responses following immunisation with soluble and MSP4 coated PLGA microparticles in a murine model (BALB/c mice). This paves the way forward to rational improvement of vaccines against Anaplasma.
{"title":"Evaluation of host immune responses following immunization with MSP4 antigen adsorbed onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microparticles in a BALB/c murine model","authors":"Elsje Christine Rabie , Almudena González-García , Marinela Contreras , Mohamed Deifallah Yousif , José de la Fuente , Sudaxshina Murdan , Christian Stutzer , Christine Maritz-Olivier","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102619","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102619","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne diseases lead to millions of dollars in losses annually in livestock and associated industries. The tick-borne bacterium <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> causes diseases in most livestock and has demonstrated zoonosis. Currently there are no effective prophylaxes against this bacterium. MSP4 (major surface protein 4) has been identified as a promising vaccine candidate. Currently, data on the expression of this antigen in tick and host cells is lacking to establish it as an antigen accessible to the host immune response. When designing a vaccine against <em>Anaplasma</em>, it must be considered that the life cycle includes both free circulating and intracellular stages, and as such both Th1 and Th2 responses will most likely be needed for protection. This study provides evidence of the expression of MSP4 on tick and host cells, as well as T and B cell responses following immunisation with soluble and MSP4 coated PLGA microparticles in a murine model (BALB/c mice). This paves the way forward to rational improvement of vaccines against <em>Anaplasma</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102619"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147285705","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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-03-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102621
Andrea Springer , Olaf Kahl , Nina Król , Martin Pfeffer , Lidia Chitimia-Dobler , Alexander Lindau , Ute Mackenstedt , Christina Strube
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) constitute a considerable challenge for human and animal health. Understanding the driving forces of TBD risk is key to developing effective prevention strategies, particularly in light of human-nature interfaces or increasing anthropogenic land transformation. Landscape features may influence local tick abundance by modulating biotic and abiotic conditions and tick host space use. The present country-wide study analysed the relationship of landscape composition with the local density of the most important TBD vector in Europe, Ixodes ricinus, determined at 83 sites across Germany during 2018−2020. Land cover data were analysed within a 500-m, 1000-m, and 2500-m buffer around the 83 tick collection sites. Additionally, satellite images were used for a more accurate assessment of habitat fragmentation, edge habitat, and the presence of paved streets in the 500-m buffer. Generalised linear mixed models were constructed, including meteorological variables to account for regional differences in climate. A higher fragmentation index and an increasing proportion of coniferous forest within the 500-m buffer were associated with significantly lower questing I. ricinus nymph density. In the subset of sites dominated by total forest or shrub cover within the 500-m buffer, the cumulative length of paved streets also had a significant negative impact. At the same time, increasing broad-leaved forest within the 1000-m buffer and total forest cover within the 2500-m buffer were additional significant predictors of lower tick density. These contrasting patterns detected at different spatial scales may indicate that I. ricinus thrives most in forest patches of intermediate size that form a heterogeneous landscape mosaic with agricultural or urban areas.
{"title":"Ticks in the landscape: Fragmentation impacts density of Europe’s principal tick-borne disease vector, Ixodes ricinus, across Germany","authors":"Andrea Springer , Olaf Kahl , Nina Król , Martin Pfeffer , Lidia Chitimia-Dobler , Alexander Lindau , Ute Mackenstedt , Christina Strube","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) constitute a considerable challenge for human and animal health. Understanding the driving forces of TBD risk is key to developing effective prevention strategies, particularly in light of human-nature interfaces or increasing anthropogenic land transformation. Landscape features may influence local tick abundance by modulating biotic and abiotic conditions and tick host space use. The present country-wide study analysed the relationship of landscape composition with the local density of the most important TBD vector in Europe, <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>, determined at 83 sites across Germany during 2018−2020. Land cover data were analysed within a 500-m, 1000-m, and 2500-m buffer around the 83 tick collection sites. Additionally, satellite images were used for a more accurate assessment of habitat fragmentation, edge habitat, and the presence of paved streets in the 500-m buffer. Generalised linear mixed models were constructed, including meteorological variables to account for regional differences in climate. A higher fragmentation index and an increasing proportion of coniferous forest within the 500-m buffer were associated with significantly lower questing <em>I. ricinus</em> nymph density. In the subset of sites dominated by total forest or shrub cover within the 500-m buffer, the cumulative length of paved streets also had a significant negative impact. At the same time, increasing broad-leaved forest within the 1000-m buffer and total forest cover within the 2500-m buffer were additional significant predictors of lower tick density. These contrasting patterns detected at different spatial scales may indicate that <em>I. ricinus</em> thrives most in forest patches of intermediate size that form a heterogeneous landscape mosaic with agricultural or urban areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102621"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147349422","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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102608
Andor Pitó , Előd Győrig , Lili Sztrehárszki , Míra Júlia Radnai , Eszter Aletta Vig , Viktor Forintos , Benedek Juhász , Péter Óvári , Sándor Hornok
The aim of this investigation was to analyze predilection sites of ticks on avian hosts according to tick species and developmental stages, as well as individual and ecological characters of bird species (i.e., their age, habitat type, seasonality). For this, 916 ticks were removed from 289 birds in Hungary at 23 different places in the course of one year. The location of ticks on birds was recorded whenever possible. Ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus (n=595), Ixodes frontalis (n=34), Ixodes arboricola (n=21), Ixodes acuminatus (n=1), Haemaphysalis concinna (n=246), Haemaphysalis punctata (n=16) and Hyalomma rufipes (n=3). Several new tick-host associations were revealed. Tick infestation showed predominance on juvenile birds in comparison with older ones. Among ornithophilic ticks, I. arboricola was associated with the eyes, whereas most I. frontalis larvae were collected from the ear region. Considering generalist ticks, significantly more specimens of I. ricinus were collected in the spring than during the summer, in contrast to H. concinna-infestation of birds associated with the summer. Importantly, while I. ricinus predominated in the corner of the beaks in both forested and reedbed habitats, the predilection site of H. concinna was the throat region in reedbed but the corner of beaks on forest-dwelling bird species. These findings imply that the same tick species occurred at different predilection sites during the summer depending on the typical habitat of its avian hosts. By contrast, ornithophilic tick species usually infest a narrow range of avian hosts with particular spatiotemporal distribution, allowing them to be more site-specific.
{"title":"Attachment sites of generalist ticks on birds depend on environmental factors (habitat and season) rather than on tick species","authors":"Andor Pitó , Előd Győrig , Lili Sztrehárszki , Míra Júlia Radnai , Eszter Aletta Vig , Viktor Forintos , Benedek Juhász , Péter Óvári , Sándor Hornok","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102608","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this investigation was to analyze predilection sites of ticks on avian hosts according to tick species and developmental stages, as well as individual and ecological characters of bird species (i.e., their age, habitat type, seasonality). For this, 916 ticks were removed from 289 birds in Hungary at 23 different places in the course of one year. The location of ticks on birds was recorded whenever possible. Ticks were identified as <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> (n=595), <em>Ixodes frontalis</em> (n=34), <em>Ixodes arboricola</em> (n=21), <em>Ixodes acuminatus</em> (n=1), <em>Haemaphysalis concinna</em> (n=246), <em>Haemaphysalis punctata</em> (n=16) and <em>Hyalomma rufipes</em> (n=3). Several new tick-host associations were revealed. Tick infestation showed predominance on juvenile birds in comparison with older ones. Among ornithophilic ticks, <em>I. arboricola</em> was associated with the eyes, whereas most <em>I. frontalis</em> larvae were collected from the ear region. Considering generalist ticks, significantly more specimens of <em>I. ricinus</em> were collected in the spring than during the summer, in contrast to <em>H. concinna</em>-infestation of birds associated with the summer. Importantly, while <em>I. ricinus</em> predominated in the corner of the beaks in both forested and reedbed habitats, the predilection site of <em>H. concinna</em> was the throat region in reedbed but the corner of beaks on forest-dwelling bird species. These findings imply that the same tick species occurred at different predilection sites during the summer depending on the typical habitat of its avian hosts. By contrast, ornithophilic tick species usually infest a narrow range of avian hosts with particular spatiotemporal distribution, allowing them to be more site-specific.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102608"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132465","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 : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-03DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102610
Alexander T. Grimaudo, Karen M. Holcomb, James C. Burtis, Sarah E. Maes, Lynn M. Osikowicz, Andrias Hojgaard, Christina M. Parise, Erik Foster, Rebecca J. Eisen
Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)-associated diseases are increasing in incidence and geographic range in the United States. Pathogen range expansion may increase the risk of coinfections, which could complicate accurate diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. To identify regions of coinfection risk across the eastern United States, we used a national database of tick-borne pathogen occurrence to identify areas of co-occurrence between four I. scapularis-borne human pathogens: Anaplasma phagocytophilum human-active variant (Apha; anaplasmosis), Babesia microti (Bam; babesiosis), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss; Lyme disease), and Borrelia miyamotoi (Bmiya; hard tick relapsing fever). Using testing data from 13,437 nymphs submitted to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2024, we summarized the mean and variation in observed coinfection prevalence from site to regional scales. Bbss-Bam, Bbss-Apha, and Bam-Apha co-occurred primarily in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, whereas Bbss-Bmiya co-occurrence extended from those regions into the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachia. Within zones of co-occurrence, Bbss-Bam was the most prevalent coinfection, followed by Bbss-Apha, Bam-Apha, and Bbss-Bmiya. Except for Bbss-Bmiya, resampling simulations for all coinfections revealed coinfections form more often than expected by chance. This study is a first step in delineating acarological risk for I. scapularis-borne coinfections in the United States.
{"title":"Geographic variation in risk of blacklegged tick-borne coinfections in the eastern United States","authors":"Alexander T. Grimaudo, Karen M. Holcomb, James C. Burtis, Sarah E. Maes, Lynn M. Osikowicz, Andrias Hojgaard, Christina M. Parise, Erik Foster, Rebecca J. Eisen","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Blacklegged tick (<em>Ixodes scapularis</em>)-associated diseases are increasing in incidence and geographic range in the United States. Pathogen range expansion may increase the risk of coinfections, which could complicate accurate diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. To identify regions of coinfection risk across the eastern United States, we used a national database of tick-borne pathogen occurrence to identify areas of co-occurrence between four <em>I. scapularis</em>-borne human pathogens: <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> human-active variant (<em>Apha</em>; anaplasmosis), <em>Babesia microti</em> (<em>Bam</em>; babesiosis), <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> sensu stricto (<em>Bbss</em>; Lyme disease), and <em>Borrelia miyamotoi</em> (<em>Bmiya</em>; hard tick relapsing fever). Using testing data from 13,437 nymphs submitted to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2013 to 2024, we summarized the mean and variation in observed coinfection prevalence from site to regional scales. <em>Bbss-Bam, Bbss</em>-<em>Apha</em>, and <em>Bam-Apha</em> co-occurred primarily in the Northeast and Upper Midwest, whereas <em>Bbss-Bmiya</em> co-occurrence extended from those regions into the Ohio Valley and southern Appalachia. Within zones of co-occurrence, <em>Bbss-Bam</em> was the most prevalent coinfection, followed by <em>Bbss-Apha, Bam-Apha</em>, and <em>Bbss-Bmiya</em>. Except for <em>Bbss-Bmiya</em>, resampling simulations for all coinfections revealed coinfections form more often than expected by chance. This study is a first step in delineating acarological risk for <em>I. scapularis</em>-borne coinfections in the United States.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 2","pages":"Article 102610"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102610","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 : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102614
Alina Rodríguez-Mallon, Pat Nuttall, Petr Kopáček
{"title":"The 11<sup>th</sup> \"Ticks and Tick-borne Pathogens\" Conference, more than just a meeting.","authors":"Alina Rodríguez-Mallon, Pat Nuttall, Petr Kopáček","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102614","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"102614"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146144451","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 : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102603
Nora G. Cleary , Doniddemberel Altantogtokh , Graham A. Matulis , Nyamjav Davaajav , Yadam-Erdene Sarnai , Joshua Richardson , Jigjav Battsetseg , Grant Hall , Baasandagva Uyanga , Bazartseren Boldbaatar , Bandikhuu Amgalanbayar , Jeffrey R. Kugelman , Jennifer L. Williams , Peter Bernota , Jodi Fiorenzano , Irina V. Etobayeva , Andrew G. Letizia , Jeffrey W. Koehler , Michael E. von Fricken
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an orthonairovirus that can be found in Hyalomma spp. ticks. It can cause fatal disease in humans, with the potential for person-to-person transmission in clinical settings. To further characterize CCHFV within Mongolia, small (S), medium (M), and large (L) segments of viral genome were amplified. Adult unfed Hyalomma asiaticum were hand collected from the environment in Bayankhongor, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Govi-Altai, and Umnugovi aimags (provinces) located in southern Mongolia. Seven of 184 pools tested positive for CCHFV using conventional PCR targeting the S segment. Through next-generation sequencing, a full genome from a single tick pool (n = 5 ticks) collected from Dornogovi in 2022 was detected, with phylogenetic analysis of all three segments indicating the genome fell within the Asian genotype IV. The closest identity (>98%) of all three sequences were to CCHFV viral genomes identified from H. asiaticum collected within China in 2015 and 2016. Given that the Dornogovi aimag directly borders the Inner Mongolia region of China, the sequence similarity is likely attributable to the geographic proximity. Continued surveillance and genetic characterization of CCHFV within Mongolia is vital for disease surveillance as the growing threat of CCHFV in this region is compounded by the expansion of trade and risk of cross-border transmission.
{"title":"Identification and classification of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus from Hyalomma asiaticum from southern Mongolia","authors":"Nora G. Cleary , Doniddemberel Altantogtokh , Graham A. Matulis , Nyamjav Davaajav , Yadam-Erdene Sarnai , Joshua Richardson , Jigjav Battsetseg , Grant Hall , Baasandagva Uyanga , Bazartseren Boldbaatar , Bandikhuu Amgalanbayar , Jeffrey R. Kugelman , Jennifer L. Williams , Peter Bernota , Jodi Fiorenzano , Irina V. Etobayeva , Andrew G. Letizia , Jeffrey W. Koehler , Michael E. von Fricken","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an orthonairovirus that can be found in <em>Hyalomma</em> spp. ticks. It can cause fatal disease in humans, with the potential for person-to-person transmission in clinical settings. To further characterize CCHFV within Mongolia, small (S), medium (M), and large (L) segments of viral genome were amplified. Adult unfed <em>Hyalomma asiaticum</em> were hand collected from the environment in Bayankhongor, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Govi-Altai, and Umnugovi aimags (provinces) located in southern Mongolia. Seven of 184 pools tested positive for CCHFV using conventional PCR targeting the S segment. Through next-generation sequencing, a full genome from a single tick pool (n = 5 ticks) collected from Dornogovi in 2022 was detected, with phylogenetic analysis of all three segments indicating the genome fell within the Asian genotype IV. The closest identity (>98%) of all three sequences were to CCHFV viral genomes identified from <em>H. asiaticum</em> collected within China in 2015 and 2016. Given that the Dornogovi aimag directly borders the Inner Mongolia region of China, the sequence similarity is likely attributable to the geographic proximity. Continued surveillance and genetic characterization of CCHFV within Mongolia is vital for disease surveillance as the growing threat of CCHFV in this region is compounded by the expansion of trade and risk of cross-border transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102603"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977456","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 : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-07DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102602
Lene Jung Kjær , René Bødker , Nina Król , Sigurdur Skarphédinsson , Per Moestrup Jensen
Monitoring programs that track natural fluctuations in tick activity, human exposure, and disease incidence are limited in their ability to detect shifts in tick-borne disease (TBD) risk. We evaluated an integrated approach combining field-based tick surveillance, Google search trends, and national Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) records in Denmark from 2017-2024. Tick nymph activity was modelled using meteorological data from six forest sites and validated against independent 2024–2025 data. The model showed strong predictive performance (Pearson’s r = 0.76, normalised root-mean-square error = 0.16), with temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation significantly influencing activity. Predicted tick activity correlated strongly with Danish Google search terms for ticks (“Flåt” and “Tæge”) with a 1-month lag, and with “borrelia” searches without lag. Predicted activity preceded LNB incidence by one month, consistent with known delays in symptom onset and diagnosis. These findings suggest that digital search behaviour may reflect early public awareness and exposure, offering potential as an early warning signal. We adopted a bottom-up modelling approach, using predicted tick activity derived from meteorological data as a shared reference to explore weather-driven congruence across field surveillance, digital search behaviour, and disease records. The strong temporal alignment across data sources supports the feasibility of integrated TBD surveillance and indicates that the six field sites provide a representative signal of tick activity and can therefore act as effective sentinel sites. Combining weather data, sentinel site activity, digital behaviour, and health records offers a scalable, cost-effective complement to traditional monitoring and may improve confidence in detected trends, enabling earlier public health responses.
跟踪蜱虫活动、人类接触和疾病发病率自然波动的监测程序在检测蜱传疾病（TBD）风险变化方面的能力有限。我们评估了一种综合方法，结合现场蜱虫监测、谷歌搜索趋势和丹麦2017-2024年莱姆病神经螺旋体病（LNB）的国家记录。蜱虫活动使用来自六个森林站点的气象数据进行建模，并根据2024-2025年的独立数据进行验证。该模型显示出较强的预测性能（Pearson’s r = 0.76，标准化均方根误差= 0.16），温度、相对湿度和降水显著影响活动。预测蜱虫活动与丹麦谷歌的蜱虫搜索词（“fl”和“Tæge”）有1个月的滞后密切相关，与“疏螺旋体”的搜索没有滞后。预测活动比LNB发病早一个月，与已知的症状发作和诊断延迟一致。这些发现表明，数字搜索行为可能反映了早期公众意识和曝光，提供了潜在的早期预警信号。我们采用了自下而上的建模方法，使用来自气象数据的预测蜱虫活动作为共享参考，探索天气驱动的一致性，包括现场监测、数字搜索行为和疾病记录。跨数据源的强时间一致性支持了TBD综合监测的可行性，并表明六个现场站点提供了蜱虫活动的代表性信号，因此可以作为有效的哨点。将天气数据、哨点活动、数字行为和健康记录结合起来，是对传统监测的一种可扩展的、具有成本效益的补充，并可能提高对所发现趋势的信心，从而能够更早地作出公共卫生反应。
{"title":"Potential for integrated monitoring of tick-borne diseases: Indices of tick activity, citizen science, and tick-borne Lyme neuroborreliosis in Denmark from 2017 to 2024","authors":"Lene Jung Kjær , René Bødker , Nina Król , Sigurdur Skarphédinsson , Per Moestrup Jensen","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monitoring programs that track natural fluctuations in tick activity, human exposure, and disease incidence are limited in their ability to detect shifts in tick-borne disease (TBD) risk. We evaluated an integrated approach combining field-based tick surveillance, Google search trends, and national Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) records in Denmark from 2017-2024. Tick nymph activity was modelled using meteorological data from six forest sites and validated against independent 2024–2025 data. The model showed strong predictive performance (Pearson’s r = 0.76, normalised root-mean-square error = 0.16), with temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation significantly influencing activity. Predicted tick activity correlated strongly with Danish Google search terms for ticks (“Flåt” and “Tæge”) with a 1-month lag, and with “borrelia” searches without lag. Predicted activity preceded LNB incidence by one month, consistent with known delays in symptom onset and diagnosis. These findings suggest that digital search behaviour may reflect early public awareness and exposure, offering potential as an early warning signal. We adopted a bottom-up modelling approach, using predicted tick activity derived from meteorological data as a shared reference to explore weather-driven congruence across field surveillance, digital search behaviour, and disease records. The strong temporal alignment across data sources supports the feasibility of integrated TBD surveillance and indicates that the six field sites provide a representative signal of tick activity and can therefore act as effective sentinel sites. Combining weather data, sentinel site activity, digital behaviour, and health records offers a scalable, cost-effective complement to traditional monitoring and may improve confidence in detected trends, enabling earlier public health responses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102602"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935769","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 : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102578
Bohumil Sak , Michaela Fibigerová , Kristína Mravcová , Nikola Holubová , Silvie Šikutová , Jana Fenclová , Lesley Bell-Sakyi , Martin Kváč , Ivo Rudolf
Microsporidia, obligate intracellular parasitic fungi, are increasingly associated with asymptomatic infections. One of the most prevalent zoonotic species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, has been detected in Ixodes ricinus ticks. Nevertheless, the capacity of microsporidia to replicate within tick hosts remains unresolved. We used tick cell lines IRE11, IRE/CTVM19 and IRE/CTVM20 along with mammalian line Vero E6 for in vitro testing of E. cuniculi propagation. We evaluated the spore number using quantitative RT-PCR and documented the presence of microsporidia in host cells microscopically. We reported successful growth of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in tested tick cell lines, with IRE/CTVM19 providing the most suitable conditions for E. cuniculi propagation, reaching up to 1459 % increase of the inoculum. Moreover, the parasitophorous vacuoles containing developmental stages of microsporidia were observed in all cell lines. Our data support the plausibility of tick-mediated transmission, providing novel insights into the epidemiology of microsporidia.
{"title":"Propagation of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in tick cell lines supports the plausibility of possible tick-mediated transmission of this microsporidian","authors":"Bohumil Sak , Michaela Fibigerová , Kristína Mravcová , Nikola Holubová , Silvie Šikutová , Jana Fenclová , Lesley Bell-Sakyi , Martin Kváč , Ivo Rudolf","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microsporidia, obligate intracellular parasitic fungi, are increasingly associated with asymptomatic infections. One of the most prevalent zoonotic species, <em>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</em>, has been detected in <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> ticks. Nevertheless, the capacity of microsporidia to replicate within tick hosts remains unresolved. We used tick cell lines IRE11, IRE/CTVM19 and IRE/CTVM20 along with mammalian line Vero E6 for <em>in vitro</em> testing of <em>E. cuniculi</em> propagation. We evaluated the spore number using quantitative RT-PCR and documented the presence of microsporidia in host cells microscopically. We reported successful growth of <em>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</em> in tested tick cell lines, with IRE/CTVM19 providing the most suitable conditions for <em>E. cuniculi</em> propagation, reaching up to 1459 % increase of the inoculum. Moreover, the parasitophorous vacuoles containing developmental stages of microsporidia were observed in all cell lines. Our data support the plausibility of tick-mediated transmission, providing novel insights into the epidemiology of microsporidia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102578"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145694922","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 : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102607
Aude Valois , Jonas Le Forestier , Evrard Baduel , Geneviève Guillot , Théo Blaise , Pierre Couppié , François Delon , Loïc Epelboin
α-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an IgE-mediated allergy to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal), a carbohydrate found in non-primate mammalian tissues. AGS manifests as delayed anaphylactic reactions following the consumption of mammalian meat or exposure to products containing α-Gal. Recent studies confirm tick bites may be a key sensitizing factor. This study aimed to investigate tick bites and other potential risk factors for AGS in French Guiana.
A retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Cayenne Hospital Center between January 2021 and October 2022. Cases were defined as adults with clinical symptoms of anaphylaxis after consumption of mammalian meat or α-Gal–containing products, and with detectable anti–α-Gal IgE (> 0.1 kUA/L). Controls were patients consulting for other IgE-mediated allergies, without any symptoms after mammalian meat consumption. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire and specific IgE assays. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify associated risk factors. Confounding biases were limited using a propensity score.
A total of 54 patients (18 cases, 36 controls) were included. All AGS cases reported at least one tick bite in French Guiana, versus only 22% of controls (Adjusted OR = 170.250; 95% CI [5.981 – 3.528 × 10^6], p < 0.001). Blood group B or AB was less frequent in cases (0% vs 19%, AOR = 0.227; 95% CI [0 – 8.899], p = 0.488). Atopy was not associated with AGS.
In this tropical setting, tick bites, especially from the more anthropophilic Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto, appear to be a major risk factor for AGS, along with forest-related occupational exposure. These findings support the assumption that ticks are probably at least the main vector of symptomatic sensitization to α-Gal in French Guiana.
α-半乳糖综合征（AGS）是一种由ige介导的对半乳糖-α-1,3-半乳糖（α-Gal）的过敏反应，半乳糖是一种存在于非灵长类哺乳动物组织中的碳水化合物。AGS表现为食用哺乳动物肉类或接触含有α-Gal的产品后的延迟过敏反应。最近的研究证实，蜱虫叮咬可能是一个关键的致敏因素。本研究旨在调查法属圭亚那地区蜱叮咬及其他潜在危险因素。一项回顾性病例对照研究于2021年1月至2022年10月在卡宴医院中心进行。病例定义为在食用哺乳动物肉类或含α- gal产品后出现过敏反应临床症状的成年人，并检测到抗α- gal IgE （> 0.1 kUA/L）。对照组是咨询其他ige介导过敏的患者，在食用哺乳动物肉类后没有任何症状。通过标准化问卷和特异性IgE检测收集数据。进行双变量和多变量分析以确定相关的危险因素。使用倾向评分限制混杂偏差。共纳入54例患者（18例，36例对照）。法属圭亚那所有AGS病例报告至少有一次蜱虫叮咬，而对照组只有22%（调整后OR = 170.250; 95% CI [5.981 - 3.528 × 10^6], p < 0.001）。B、AB血型患者较少（0% vs 19%, AOR = 0.227; 95% CI [0 ~ 8.899], p = 0.488）。特异反应不与AGS相关。在这一热带环境中，蜱叮咬，特别是来自更亲人类的严格卡詹氏弱视虫的叮咬，以及与森林相关的职业暴露，似乎是AGS的主要危险因素。这些发现支持了这样的假设，即蜱虫可能至少是法属圭亚那对α-Gal症状性致敏的主要媒介。
{"title":"Risk factors for α-Gal syndrome: A case-control study exploring the role of tick bites in French Guiana","authors":"Aude Valois , Jonas Le Forestier , Evrard Baduel , Geneviève Guillot , Théo Blaise , Pierre Couppié , François Delon , Loïc Epelboin","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>α-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is an IgE-mediated allergy to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal), a carbohydrate found in non-primate mammalian tissues. AGS manifests as delayed anaphylactic reactions following the consumption of mammalian meat or exposure to products containing α-Gal. Recent studies confirm tick bites may be a key sensitizing factor. This study aimed to investigate tick bites and other potential risk factors for AGS in French Guiana.</div><div>A retrospective case-control study was conducted at the Cayenne Hospital Center between January 2021 and October 2022. Cases were defined as adults with clinical symptoms of anaphylaxis after consumption of mammalian meat or α-Gal–containing products, and with detectable anti–α-Gal IgE (> 0.1 kUA/L). Controls were patients consulting for other IgE-mediated allergies, without any symptoms after mammalian meat consumption. Data were collected through a standardized questionnaire and specific IgE assays. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify associated risk factors. Confounding biases were limited using a propensity score.</div><div>A total of 54 patients (18 cases, 36 controls) were included. All AGS cases reported at least one tick bite in French Guiana, versus only 22% of controls (Adjusted OR = 170.250; 95% CI [5.981 – 3.528 × 10^6], <em>p</em> < 0.001). Blood group B or AB was less frequent in cases (0% vs 19%, AOR = 0.227; 95% CI [0 – 8.899], <em>p</em> = 0.488). Atopy was not associated with AGS.</div><div>In this tropical setting, tick bites, especially from the more anthropophilic <em>Amblyomma cajennense</em> sensu stricto, appear to be a major risk factor for AGS, along with forest-related occupational exposure. These findings support the assumption that ticks are probably at least the main vector of symptomatic sensitization to α-Gal in French Guiana.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102607"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077812","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 : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102583
Vera Geisen , Nikola Pantchev , Yury Zablotski , Majda Globokar Vrhovec , Katrin Hartmann , Michéle Bergmann , Gastón Moré , Walter Basso
Hepatozoon spp. are increasingly reported in cats from Mediterranean countries, but data for Central and Northern Europe remain limited. This study investigated the occurrence and molecular diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in 1357 blood samples from cats living in Germany and other European countries using real-time PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Hepatozoon spp. DNA was detected in 58 cats (4.3 %; 95 %-CI: 3.3–5.5 %). Thirty-seven positive samples were further analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing. Four sequence types (A-D) were detected. Hepatozoon felis sequences classified within the genogroup I (types A and B) were identified in 33 cats; Hepatozoon silvestris haplotype I (type C) in one cat; and sequences showing 98.5 % identity to H. silvestris (type D) in three cats. Younger cats had a significantly higher infection risk (p = 0.026), while no association with sex was found. Samples submitted for targeted Hepatozoon testing and travel disease screening showed higher positivity rates. Among the 37 molecularly characterized cases, 31 had a known import origin, primarily from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey. Notably, the H. silvestris-positive cat from Austria had no travel history, representing the first autochthonous case in a domestic cat in Austria. This study highlights the emergence of feline Hepatozoon infections in Europe, involving genetically diverse species. Infections should be considered mainly in cats with Mediterranean origin, travel history, outdoor access, or tick exposure. Identifying vectors responsible for transmission is crucial for implementing effective prevention strategies.
{"title":"Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon spp. in cats living in Germany and other European countries","authors":"Vera Geisen , Nikola Pantchev , Yury Zablotski , Majda Globokar Vrhovec , Katrin Hartmann , Michéle Bergmann , Gastón Moré , Walter Basso","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. are increasingly reported in cats from Mediterranean countries, but data for Central and Northern Europe remain limited. This study investigated the occurrence and molecular diversity of <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. in 1357 blood samples from cats living in Germany and other European countries using real-time PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. <em>Hepatozoon</em> spp. DNA was detected in 58 cats (4.3 %; 95 %-CI: 3.3–5.5 %). Thirty-seven positive samples were further analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing. Four sequence types (A-D) were detected. <em>Hepatozoon felis</em> sequences classified within the genogroup I (types A and B) were identified in 33 cats; <em>Hepatozoon silvestris</em> haplotype I (type C) in one cat; and sequences showing 98.5 % identity to <em>H. silvestris</em> (type D) in three cats. Younger cats had a significantly higher infection risk (<em>p</em> = 0.026), while no association with sex was found. Samples submitted for targeted <em>Hepatozoon</em> testing and travel disease screening showed higher positivity rates. Among the 37 molecularly characterized cases, 31 had a known import origin, primarily from Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Bulgaria, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Turkey. Notably, the <em>H. silvestris</em>-positive cat from Austria had no travel history, representing the first autochthonous case in a domestic cat in Austria. This study highlights the emergence of feline <em>Hepatozoon</em> infections in Europe, involving genetically diverse species. Infections should be considered mainly in cats with Mediterranean origin, travel history, outdoor access, or tick exposure. Identifying vectors responsible for transmission is crucial for implementing effective prevention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 1","pages":"Article 102583"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749458","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}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号