Pub Date : 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102518
Attila D. Sándor , Áron Péter , Joanna B. Wong , Reto Burri , Sándor Hornok
Hyalomma rufipes is one of the most epidemiologically important ticks in Africa and the Middle East. It is regularly transported by migratory birds and there are chances that these ticks may become sources for the emergence of resident populations in the temperate region due to recent changes in climatic conditions. In May 2023, a Hylomma sp. nymph was collected in SE Romania from a long-distance migrant host, the Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) with known migratory route. The tick was identified morphologically and genetically as H. rufipes and based on the timing of the migratory track it attached to its avian host in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East. This is the first ever H. rufipes recorded in Europe with known Middle Eastern/Asian origin.
{"title":"Hyalomma rufipes of Asian origin transported to Europe by a migrant bird","authors":"Attila D. Sándor , Áron Péter , Joanna B. Wong , Reto Burri , Sándor Hornok","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Hyalomma rufipes</em> is one of the most epidemiologically important ticks in Africa and the Middle East. It is regularly transported by migratory birds and there are chances that these ticks may become sources for the emergence of resident populations in the temperate region due to recent changes in climatic conditions. In May 2023, a <em>Hylomma</em> sp. nymph was collected in SE Romania from a long-distance migrant host, the Pied Wheatear (<em>Oenanthe pleschanka</em>) with known migratory route. The tick was identified morphologically and genetically as <em>H. rufipes</em> and based on the timing of the migratory track it attached to its avian host in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East. This is the first ever <em>H. rufipes</em> recorded in Europe with known Middle Eastern/Asian origin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 5","pages":"Article 102518"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144678357","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}
The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has expanded its distributional range in Europe over recent decades. Italy is considered a low tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence country, nonetheless, human cases have recently increased, reaching their maximum so far in 2022. This study reports on a new TBE hotspot in the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), along with a description of TBEV genetic variants at the provincial level. Tick sampling was performed where several TBE human cases were reported in 2022. As a result, 458 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected (38 females, 49 males, 371 nymphs) and screened for TBEV through real-time PCR, pooling the nymphs while analyzing the adults individually. Eight samples were found to be positive for TBEV, corresponding to a 4.6 % prevalence in adults and a 1.1 % minimum infection rate in nymphs in the area. The identified TBEV genetic variants were compared with other TBEV European subtype (TBEV-Eu) strains. The relatively high prevalence in ticks and the reported human cases beyond the year of vector collection suggest a sustained virus circulation. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the genetic variants in the Trentino Province shows a separation among eastern and western sites. This study highlights the crucial importance of active surveillance for mitigating TBE risk, especially in highly anthropized Alpine areas.
{"title":"A new hotspot of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in the Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy","authors":"Giulia Ferrari , Fausta Rosso , Matteo Girardi , Francesca Dagostin , Daniele Arnoldi , Maria Grazia Zuccali , Chiara Mocellin , Silvia Molinaro , Valentina Tagliapietra , Annapaola Rizzoli","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102513","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102513","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) has expanded its distributional range in Europe over recent decades. Italy is considered a low tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) incidence country, nonetheless, human cases have recently increased, reaching their maximum so far in 2022. This study reports on a new TBE hotspot in the Autonomous Province of Trento (Italy), along with a description of TBEV genetic variants at the provincial level. Tick sampling was performed where several TBE human cases were reported in 2022. As a result, 458 <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> ticks were collected (38 females, 49 males, 371 nymphs) and screened for TBEV through real-time PCR, pooling the nymphs while analyzing the adults individually. Eight samples were found to be positive for TBEV, corresponding to a 4.6 % prevalence in adults and a 1.1 % minimum infection rate in nymphs in the area. The identified TBEV genetic variants were compared with other TBEV European subtype (TBEV-Eu) strains. The relatively high prevalence in ticks and the reported human cases beyond the year of vector collection suggest a sustained virus circulation. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the genetic variants in the Trentino Province shows a separation among eastern and western sites. This study highlights the crucial importance of active surveillance for mitigating TBE risk, especially in highly anthropized Alpine areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 5","pages":"Article 102513"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662726","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}
Haemaphysalis (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks remain poorly studied in Mongolia. Here, we report the first confirmed record of Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844 in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area, Dornod Province, eastern Mongolia, based on both morphological characteristics and molecular analyses. This region lies along the Mongolia-China border within the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the western Greater Khingan Mountains. Tick sampling was conducted at six sites (lakeshores, riverbanks, and marshy forests) between early April and mid-August over a three-year period.
A total of 1014 H concinna specimens were collected, of which 148 (including two nymphs) were selected for DNA extraction. PCR amplifications targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (∼455 bp) and Cox1 (∼820 bp) genes were performed. Eight samples were sequenced, with three 16S and two Cox1 sequences meeting quality thresholds. The sequences of both genes exhibited 99.8 % and 100 % identity, respectively, to H. concinna sequences from Russia (Cox1: PP851089.1, PP851095.1; 16S rRNA: KP866207.1) and China (Cox1: KR108863.1; 16S rRNA: ON097130.1) available in GenBank. This high level of sequence identity strongly supports the identification of the Mongolian samples as H. concinna. Species identification was further supported by morphological characteristics consistent with published descriptions of adult ticks. This record from the Khalkh Numrug basin represents the first verified occurrence of H. concinna in eastern Mongolia. These findings underscore the need for further research on the species’ ecology, host range, and potential public health significance in the region.
{"title":"First record of Haemaphysalis concinna (Acari: Ixodidae) tick in the Khalkh Numrug basin of Eastern Mongolia","authors":"Banzragch Battur , Batsaikhan Enkhtaivan , Davaajav Otgonsuren , Batbold Davkharbayar , Dalantai Munkhgerel , Tovuu Amgalanbaatar , Sandagdorj Narantsatsral , Batdorj Davaasuren , Myagmar Zoljargal , Punsantsogvoo Myagmarsuren , Orkhon Banzragchgarav , Noboru Inoue , Naoaki Yokoyama , Jinlin Zhou , Miroslav Bobek , Badgar Battsetseg","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102521","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102521","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Haemaphysalis</em> (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks remain poorly studied in Mongolia. Here, we report the first confirmed record of <em>Haemaphysalis concinna</em> Koch, 1844 in the Numrug Strictly Protected Area, Dornod Province, eastern Mongolia, based on both morphological characteristics and molecular analyses. This region lies along the Mongolia-China border within the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the western Greater Khingan Mountains. Tick sampling was conducted at six sites (lakeshores, riverbanks, and marshy forests) between early April and mid-August over a three-year period.</div><div>A total of 1014 <em>H concinna</em> specimens were collected, of which 148 (including two nymphs) were selected for DNA extraction. PCR amplifications targeting the mitochondrial 16S rRNA (∼455 bp) and <em>Cox1</em> (∼820 bp) genes were performed. Eight samples were sequenced, with three 16S and two <em>Cox1</em> sequences meeting quality thresholds. The sequences of both genes exhibited 99.8 % and 100 % identity, respectively, to <em>H. concinna</em> sequences from Russia (<em>Cox1</em>: PP851089.1, PP851095.1; 16S rRNA: KP866207.1) and China (<em>Cox1</em>: KR108863.1; 16S rRNA: ON097130.1) available in GenBank. This high level of sequence identity strongly supports the identification of the Mongolian samples as <em>H. concinna</em>. Species identification was further supported by morphological characteristics consistent with published descriptions of adult ticks. This record from the Khalkh Numrug basin represents the first verified occurrence of <em>H. concinna</em> in eastern Mongolia. These findings underscore the need for further research on the species’ ecology, host range, and potential public health significance in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 5","pages":"Article 102521"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144654506","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102514
Patrick H. Kelly , Derek A.T. Cummings , Eva Iniguez , Tiago Donatelli , Luana Rogerio , Jan Kotál , Larissa Almeida Martins , Markus Berger , Lucas C Sousa-Paula , Stephen Lu , James H. Stark , Siu-Ping Ng , Adriana Marques , Jesus G. Valenzuela , Lucas Tirloni
Ixodes scapularis is a primary vector of several important tick-borne pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative bacterial genospecies complex of Lyme disease, Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis, and Powassan virus. Salivary compounds secreted by I. scapularis during blood feeding are immunogenic and can elicit robust antibody responses in humans which can potentially be leveraged as surrogate markers of prior tick bite exposure. In this study, we investigate the potential of a tick secreted salivary serine protease inhibitor, IxsS7, as a novel antigenic biomarker of I. scapularis exposure in humans. We demonstrate that the IxsS7 protein-coding sequence is highly conserved (>90 % identity) among other important Ixodes species (e.g., Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, and Ixodes pacificus) and poorly conserved (<50 % identity) with homologs from other tick genera, such as Amblyomma spp., Dermacentor spp., Rhipicephalus spp., and Haemaphysalis spp. Antibodies in sera from rabbits immunized with recombinant IxsS7 (rIxsS7) strongly recognize native IxsS7 when challenged with salivary gland homogenate (SGH) from blood-fed I. scapularis females, while showing minimal cross-reactivity with SGH from other hard tick (Ixodidae) genera. Western blot and ELISA analyses revealed that human subjects who reported recent prior exposure to ticks possessed IgG antibodies that recognized rIxsS7, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of exposure specifically against I. scapularis. Further development of serological tools that can measure human antibody responses to Ixodes-specific salivary antigens is essential to better quantify individual- and population-level risk of important tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.
{"title":"IxsS7: A novel biomarker for Ixodes scapularis tick bite exposure in humans","authors":"Patrick H. Kelly , Derek A.T. Cummings , Eva Iniguez , Tiago Donatelli , Luana Rogerio , Jan Kotál , Larissa Almeida Martins , Markus Berger , Lucas C Sousa-Paula , Stephen Lu , James H. Stark , Siu-Ping Ng , Adriana Marques , Jesus G. Valenzuela , Lucas Tirloni","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102514","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102514","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ixodes scapularis</em> is a primary vector of several important tick-borne pathogens including <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> sensu lato, the causative bacterial genospecies complex of Lyme disease, <em>Babesia microti, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia miyamotoi, Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis,</em> and Powassan virus. Salivary compounds secreted by <em>I. scapularis</em> during blood feeding are immunogenic and can elicit robust antibody responses in humans which can potentially be leveraged as surrogate markers of prior tick bite exposure. In this study, we investigate the potential of a tick secreted salivary serine protease inhibitor, <em>Ixs</em>S7, as a novel antigenic biomarker of <em>I. scapularis</em> exposure in humans. We demonstrate that the <em>Ixs</em>S7 protein-coding sequence is highly conserved (>90 % identity) among other important <em>Ixodes</em> species (e.g., <em>Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus</em>, and <em>Ixodes pacificus</em>) and poorly conserved (<50 % identity) with homologs from other tick genera, such as <em>Amblyomma</em> spp., <em>Dermacentor</em> spp., <em>Rhipicephalus</em> spp., and <em>Haemaphysalis</em> spp. Antibodies in sera from rabbits immunized with recombinant <em>Ixs</em>S7 (r<em>Ixs</em>S7) strongly recognize native <em>Ixs</em>S7 when challenged with salivary gland homogenate (SGH) from blood-fed <em>I. scapularis</em> females, while showing minimal cross-reactivity with SGH from other hard tick (Ixodidae) genera. Western blot and ELISA analyses revealed that human subjects who reported recent prior exposure to ticks possessed IgG antibodies that recognized r<em>Ixs</em>S7, highlighting its potential as a biomarker of exposure specifically against <em>I. scapularis.</em> Further development of serological tools that can measure human antibody responses to <em>Ixodes</em>-specific salivary antigens is essential to better quantify individual- and population-level risk of important tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102514"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588743","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102515
Agustín Estrada-Peña , Sandra Antunes , Ana Domingos , Helen Esser , Gábor Földvári , Hans-Peter Fuehrer , Aysen Gargili , Mats van Gestel , Giulio Grandi , Maria Kazimirova , Dorota Kiewra , Tero Klemola , Lene Jung Kjær , Vivian Kjelland , Katarzyna Kubiak , Daniele de Meneghi , Andrei Daniel Mihalca , Sarah Moutailler , Aleksandar Potkonjak , Pavel Prokop , Annetta Zintl
We prepared a digital questionnaire to capture knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in 20 languages. The questionnaire was distributed to 21 universities and research institutions in 22 European countries and 9401 valid responses were collected. Most survey participants identified ticks correctly and regarded ticks as a serious health risk. There was also a good level of knowledge regarding tick activity, habitats and the predominant TBPs in the country or region. Moreover, most respondents were familiar with effective tick protection and removal measures. Over 75 % of respondents had been bitten by ticks and up to 12 % of participants had been diagnosed with a tick-borne infection in the past. Respondents from northern and central European countries who reported engaging in outdoor activities more frequently, reported increased frequencies of tick bites and infection with TBPs compared to respondents from southern Europe. Awareness of national information campaigns on ticks and TBPs was also greater among respondents from northern and central European countries than among Mediterranean countries.
This study identified knowledge gaps among respondents from some European countries where TBPs have not been prioritised historically. These knowledge gaps should be addressed by reputable bodies to encourage personal protective behaviours without causing alarm and to forestall the spreading of incorrect and unreliable information propagated by some social media sources.
{"title":"Living with ticks: Results of an online survey of the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding ticks and tick-borne pathogens in academic environments across Europe","authors":"Agustín Estrada-Peña , Sandra Antunes , Ana Domingos , Helen Esser , Gábor Földvári , Hans-Peter Fuehrer , Aysen Gargili , Mats van Gestel , Giulio Grandi , Maria Kazimirova , Dorota Kiewra , Tero Klemola , Lene Jung Kjær , Vivian Kjelland , Katarzyna Kubiak , Daniele de Meneghi , Andrei Daniel Mihalca , Sarah Moutailler , Aleksandar Potkonjak , Pavel Prokop , Annetta Zintl","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We prepared a digital questionnaire to capture knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in 20 languages. The questionnaire was distributed to 21 universities and research institutions in 22 European countries and 9401 valid responses were collected. Most survey participants identified ticks correctly and regarded ticks as a serious health risk. There was also a good level of knowledge regarding tick activity, habitats and the predominant TBPs in the country or region. Moreover, most respondents were familiar with effective tick protection and removal measures. Over 75 % of respondents had been bitten by ticks and up to 12 % of participants had been diagnosed with a tick-borne infection in the past. Respondents from northern and central European countries who reported engaging in outdoor activities more frequently, reported increased frequencies of tick bites and infection with TBPs compared to respondents from southern Europe. Awareness of national information campaigns on ticks and TBPs was also greater among respondents from northern and central European countries than among Mediterranean countries.</div><div>This study identified knowledge gaps among respondents from some European countries where TBPs have not been prioritised historically. These knowledge gaps should be addressed by reputable bodies to encourage personal protective behaviours without causing alarm and to forestall the spreading of incorrect and unreliable information propagated by some social media sources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102515"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144581412","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102501
Urusha Maharjan , Hilde Kristin Skudal , Naveed Asghar , Arnulf Soleng , Magnus Johansson , Heidi Elisabeth Heggen Lindstedt , Anita Koskela von Sydow , John H.-O. Pettersson , Wenche Johansen , Børre Fevang , Randi Bjerkreim , Suyog Basnet , Rose Vikse , Åshild K. Andreassen , Kristian Alfsnes
The annual number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in Norway has increased dramatically from 1 case in 1998 to 113 in 2023. Characterization of TBE virus (TBEV) genomes from both clinical samples and tick vectors is necessary to understand disease severity and transmission dynamics. However, clinical samples with intact virus are rare because TBE is usually diagnosed by serology in the post-viremic phase, when the viral load is low and undetectable by molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To date, Mandal-2009 is the only TBEV sequence from Norway with complete virus genome, sequenced directly from the tick vector. We used a combined approach with newly designed overlapping primer pairs and nanopore sequencing together with Sanger sequencing to obtain nearly complete TBEV genomes from both patient and tick samples from Norway. The patient had severe TBE complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The patient and tick samples were collected 16 km apart, from Telemark and Vestfold Counties, respectively. Pairwise genomic comparison showed 99.7 % identity, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences were closely related to the TBEV strain from Kumlinge in Åland, Finland, rather than to the previously published Norwegian variant Mandal-2009. These findings confirm the existence of novel TBEV variants in the endemic areas of Telemark and Vestfold Counties of Norway. Our findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and characterization of novel TBEV genomes in Norway and Europe.
{"title":"Novel variants of tick-borne encephalitis virus from patient and tick samples in Norway","authors":"Urusha Maharjan , Hilde Kristin Skudal , Naveed Asghar , Arnulf Soleng , Magnus Johansson , Heidi Elisabeth Heggen Lindstedt , Anita Koskela von Sydow , John H.-O. Pettersson , Wenche Johansen , Børre Fevang , Randi Bjerkreim , Suyog Basnet , Rose Vikse , Åshild K. Andreassen , Kristian Alfsnes","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102501","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102501","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The annual number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in Norway has increased dramatically from 1 case in 1998 to 113 in 2023<em>.</em> Characterization of TBE virus (TBEV) genomes from both clinical samples and tick vectors is necessary to understand disease severity and transmission dynamics. However, clinical samples with intact virus are rare because TBE is usually diagnosed by serology in the post-viremic phase, when the viral load is low and undetectable by molecular methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To date, Mandal-2009 is the only TBEV sequence from Norway with complete virus genome, sequenced directly from the tick vector. We used a combined approach with newly designed overlapping primer pairs and nanopore sequencing together with Sanger sequencing to obtain nearly complete TBEV genomes from both patient and tick samples from Norway. The patient had severe TBE complicated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The patient and tick samples were collected 16 km apart, from Telemark and Vestfold Counties, respectively. Pairwise genomic comparison showed 99.7 % identity, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these sequences were closely related to the TBEV strain from Kumlinge in Åland, Finland, rather than to the previously published Norwegian variant Mandal-2009. These findings confirm the existence of novel TBEV variants in the endemic areas of Telemark and Vestfold Counties of Norway. Our findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and characterization of novel TBEV genomes in Norway and Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102501"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571593","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102520
C. Barthel , J. Stynen , M. Grau , M-L. Poulle , P. Bauda , N. Boulanger
Dermacentor is Europe’s second most important tick genus. It comprises two species: Dermacentor reticulatus, which has a more northerly range, and Dermacentor marginatus, which is typically found in Mediterranean regions. In France, especially in the east, the presence of Dermacentor remains understudied. Leveraging projects on Ixodes ricinus, we identified high-risk ecosystems for Dermacentor ticks. Both species were present, but D. reticulatus was dominant (96.3 %), always coexisting with Ixodes, at densities reaching 30.3 questing adults/100 m2 in Bas-Rhin. This species was found to thrive in wet meadows, alluvial forests, and lakes, where wild boars (Sus scrofa) are common. Among domestic animals, dogs and horses were the preferred hosts. Regarding human pathogens, we focused on the circulation of rickettsiae responsible for tick-borne lymphadenopathy. Acarological risk varied by region, with Rickettsia raoultii being the most prevalent bacterial species in all the departments, whereas Rickettsia slovaca was rarer and present only in 2 Bas-Rhin nature reserves. At the peak of tick activity, up to 18.7 % of Dermacentor adult ticks carried R. raoultii. In the studied region, D. reticulatus is the only known vector of these potentially pathogenic microorganisms.
{"title":"Dermacentor ticks and their human pathogens in various ecosystems of eastern France","authors":"C. Barthel , J. Stynen , M. Grau , M-L. Poulle , P. Bauda , N. Boulanger","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Dermacentor</em> is Europe’s second most important tick genus. It comprises two species: <em>Dermacentor reticulatus</em>, which has a more northerly range, and <em>Dermacentor marginatus</em>, which is typically found in Mediterranean regions. In France, especially in the east, the presence of <em>Dermacentor</em> remains understudied. Leveraging projects on <em>Ixodes ricinus</em>, we identified high-risk ecosystems for <em>Dermacentor</em> ticks. Both species were present, but <em>D. reticulatus</em> was dominant (96.3 %), always coexisting with <em>Ixodes</em>, at densities reaching 30.3 questing adults/100 m<sup>2</sup> in Bas-Rhin. This species was found to thrive in wet meadows, alluvial forests, and lakes, where wild boars (<em>Sus scrofa</em>) are common. Among domestic animals, dogs and horses were the preferred hosts. Regarding human pathogens, we focused on the circulation of rickettsiae responsible for tick-borne lymphadenopathy. Acarological risk varied by region, with <em>Rickettsia raoultii</em> being the most prevalent bacterial species in all the departments, whereas <em>Rickettsia slovaca</em> was rarer and present only in 2 Bas-Rhin nature reserves. At the peak of tick activity, up to 18.7 % of <em>Dermacentor</em> adult ticks carried <em>R. raoultii</em>. In the studied region, <em>D. reticulatus</em> is the only known vector of these potentially pathogenic microorganisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102520"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144623569","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102519
Morgane Le Goff , Christian Dussault , Julien H. Richard , Steeve D. Côté
Ticks are responsible for large economic losses because of their impact on livestock and wildlife. In recent years, winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) have caused mass mortalities in moose (alces) populations of North America, leading to host mortality due to severe blood loss. During their off-host stages (i.e. egg and larvae), winter ticks are particularly vulnerable to mortality because of potential exposure to stressful abiotic conditions that could dehydrate eggs or freeze larvae. We conducted a field experiment in Québec, Canada, to better understand larval questing behaviour and assess the ability of unfed larvae to survive over the winter to the following fall. In the laboratory, we tested the tolerance of eggs to different saturation deficits reflected by combinations of temperature and humidity and evaluated the tolerance of larvae to sub-freezing temperatures. We found that unfed winter tick larvae did not survive until a second fall regardless of habitat types (open, closed or sheltered from the snow) and thus could not quest for a host for two consecutive years. However, unfed larvae withstood short-term exposure to low sub-freezing temperatures, potentially prolonging their questing period and increasing the likelihood of moose infestations. Egg survival varied among saturation deficits, but survival tended to be higher at 30 °C and lower at 22 °C regardless of the saturation deficit. Overall, we found that the free stages of winter ticks are highly tolerant of extreme conditions, reinforcing the concern that winter ticks represent for moose populations.
{"title":"Environmental factors determining the survival of winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) at different life stages in Québec, Canada","authors":"Morgane Le Goff , Christian Dussault , Julien H. Richard , Steeve D. Côté","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102519","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102519","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are responsible for large economic losses because of their impact on livestock and wildlife. In recent years, winter ticks (<em>Dermacentor albipictus)</em> have caused mass mortalities in moose (<em>alces</em>) populations of North America, leading to host mortality due to severe blood loss. During their off-host stages (i.e. egg and larvae), winter ticks are particularly vulnerable to mortality because of potential exposure to stressful abiotic conditions that could dehydrate eggs or freeze larvae. We conducted a field experiment in Québec, Canada, to better understand larval questing behaviour and assess the ability of unfed larvae to survive over the winter to the following fall. In the laboratory, we tested the tolerance of eggs to different saturation deficits reflected by combinations of temperature and humidity and evaluated the tolerance of larvae to sub-freezing temperatures. We found that unfed winter tick larvae did not survive until a second fall regardless of habitat types (open, closed or sheltered from the snow) and thus could not quest for a host for two consecutive years. However, unfed larvae withstood short-term exposure to low sub-freezing temperatures, potentially prolonging their questing period and increasing the likelihood of moose infestations. Egg survival varied among saturation deficits, but survival tended to be higher at 30 °C and lower at 22 °C regardless of the saturation deficit. Overall, we found that the free stages of winter ticks are highly tolerant of extreme conditions, reinforcing the concern that winter ticks represent for moose populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102519"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588744","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102510
Ronel Pienaar , Dikeledi Matloa , Ben J. Mans
Ticks play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and disease transmission, necessitating accurate species identification for epidemiological and ecological research. South Africa, despite occupying only 0.82 % of the world's land area, harbors approximately 11 % of global tick species richness. This study provides an updated, authoritative checklist of South African tick species curated by the National Tick Collection of South Africa (NTCSA), housed at the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARCOVR). Previous lists for South Africa presented outdated taxonomic classifications and incomplete data on taxonomic taxa. The NTCSA checklist aims to correct inaccuracies, incorporating the most recent literature, molecular systematics, and expert curation. A total of 110 tick species across three families (Ixodidae, Argasidae, Nuttalliellidae) are documented, with corrections to genera classifications and species distributions indicated. This list serves as a reference for researchers, veterinarians, and policymakers involved in tick diversity, vector control, and conservation efforts. Continuous updates integrating morphological and molecular assessments will further enhance our understanding of tick diversity and distribution in South Africa. The wide extralimital distribution of various species extend the taxonomic observations to the African continent, while the general taxonomic observations presented summarize our understanding of tick taxonomy at global level.
{"title":"An official South African species checklist from the National Tick Collection of South Africa (Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum)","authors":"Ronel Pienaar , Dikeledi Matloa , Ben J. Mans","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and disease transmission, necessitating accurate species identification for epidemiological and ecological research. South Africa, despite occupying only 0.82 % of the world's land area, harbors approximately 11 % of global tick species richness. This study provides an updated, authoritative checklist of South African tick species curated by the National Tick Collection of South Africa (NTCSA), housed at the Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC<img>OVR). Previous lists for South Africa presented outdated taxonomic classifications and incomplete data on taxonomic taxa. The NTCSA checklist aims to correct inaccuracies, incorporating the most recent literature, molecular systematics, and expert curation. A total of 110 tick species across three families (Ixodidae, Argasidae, Nuttalliellidae) are documented, with corrections to genera classifications and species distributions indicated. This list serves as a reference for researchers, veterinarians, and policymakers involved in tick diversity, vector control, and conservation efforts. Continuous updates integrating morphological and molecular assessments will further enhance our understanding of tick diversity and distribution in South Africa. The wide extralimital distribution of various species extend the taxonomic observations to the African continent, while the general taxonomic observations presented summarize our understanding of tick taxonomy at global level.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102510"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144517094","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 : 2025-07-01DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102516
Daniel Gustavo López-Díaz , María Martina Esperanza Pérez-Soria , José Rodrigo Morales-García , Rafael Jiménez-Ocampo , Gabriela Aguilar-Tipacamú , Massaro W. Ueti , Juan Mosqueda
Rhipicephalus microplus ticks are a serious pest of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions, mainly due to the losses they cause by reducing meat and milk production, as well as causing hide damage, in addition to their role as vectors of babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Integrated tick control must include the use of anti-tick vaccines to reduce tick populations and mitigate the ecological impact associated with the extensive use of acaricides. To develop improved vaccines, evaluation of new tick antigens is essential. Voraxin, mainly described as a testes-derived protein, is transferred from males to females during copulation, and it is crucial for stimulating engorgement in female ticks and for the development of their organs. In this study, R. microplus voraxin-alpha (voraxin-α) was amplified and sequenced, four peptides with predicted B-cell epitopes were designed and their immunogenic properties were evaluated. Each peptide was mixed with a commercial adjuvant and inoculated into two cattle from a tick-free region to corroborate if they were truly immunogenic. The antibody responses to each peptide were assessed using indirect ELISA. Two peptides were immunogenic and were selected for further testing involving immunization and experimental infestation with 10,000 larvae and two cattle per evaluated peptide. Immunization with peptide 3 reduced tick survival in 17 %, oviposition in 14 % and egg hatching in 22 %, while peptide 4 impaired oviposition in 18 % and egg hatching in 18 %. No effect on weight was observed. In conclusion, ticks fed on cattle producing specific antibodies against voraxin-α B-cell epitopes, have a reduced survival, oviposition and fertility, which are important biological parameters, related to tick fitness. Vaccine trials are required to evaluate this antigen as a vaccine candidate against R. microplus.
{"title":"Rhipicephalus microplus voraxin-alpha contains B-cell epitopes that reduce ticks’ biological fitness in immunized cattle","authors":"Daniel Gustavo López-Díaz , María Martina Esperanza Pérez-Soria , José Rodrigo Morales-García , Rafael Jiménez-Ocampo , Gabriela Aguilar-Tipacamú , Massaro W. Ueti , Juan Mosqueda","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102516","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102516","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Rhipicephalus microplus</em> ticks are a serious pest of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions, mainly due to the losses they cause by reducing meat and milk production, as well as causing hide damage, in addition to their role as vectors of babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Integrated tick control must include the use of anti-tick vaccines to reduce tick populations and mitigate the ecological impact associated with the extensive use of acaricides. To develop improved vaccines, evaluation of new tick antigens is essential. Voraxin, mainly described as a testes-derived protein, is transferred from males to females during copulation, and it is crucial for stimulating engorgement in female ticks and for the development of their organs. In this study, <em>R. microplus</em> voraxin-alpha (voraxin-α) was amplified and sequenced, four peptides with predicted B-cell epitopes were designed and their immunogenic properties were evaluated. Each peptide was mixed with a commercial adjuvant and inoculated into two cattle from a tick-free region to corroborate if they were truly immunogenic. The antibody responses to each peptide were assessed using indirect ELISA. Two peptides were immunogenic and were selected for further testing involving immunization and experimental infestation with 10,000 larvae and two cattle per evaluated peptide. Immunization with peptide 3 reduced tick survival in 17 %, oviposition in 14 % and egg hatching in 22 %, while peptide 4 impaired oviposition in 18 % and egg hatching in 18 %. No effect on weight was observed. In conclusion, ticks fed on cattle producing specific antibodies against voraxin-α B-cell epitopes, have a reduced survival, oviposition and fertility, which are important biological parameters, related to tick fitness. Vaccine trials are required to evaluate this antigen as a vaccine candidate against <em>R. microplus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102516"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571594","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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