Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis in rodents in an area with sympatric existence of the hard ticks Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, Germany

Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Martin Pfeffer¹  Kurt Pfister³  Monia Mahling²  Dietlinde Woll¹  Cornelia Silaghi³ 

[1] Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany;Statistical Consulting Unit, Department of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany;Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 5, D-80802, Munich, Germany

关键词: Vector-host relation;    Host survey;    Recreational area;    Dermacentor reticulatus;    Ixodes ricinus;    Yellow-necked mouse;    Bank vole;    Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis;   

Others  :  1228815
DOI  :  10.1186/1756-3305-5-285

 received in 2012-10-15, accepted in 2012-12-02,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM) has been described in the hard tick Ixodes ricinus and rodents as well as in some severe cases of human disease. The aims of this study were to identify DNA of CNM in small mammals, the ticks parasitizing them and questing ticks in areas with sympatric existence of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus in Germany.

Methods

Blood, transudate and organ samples (spleen, kidney, liver, skin) of 91 small mammals and host-attached ticks from altogether 50 small mammals as well as questing I. ricinus ticks (n=782) were screened with a real-time PCR for DNA of CNM.

Results

52.7% of the small mammals were positive for CNM-DNA. The majority of the infected animals were yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus). Small mammals with tick infestation were more often infected with CNM than small mammals without ticks. Compared with the prevalence of ~25% in the questing I. ricinus ticks, twice the prevalence in the rodents provides evidence for their role as reservoir hosts for CNM.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of this pathogen in the investigated areas in both rodents and ticks points towards the need for more specific investigation on its role as a human pathogen.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Silaghi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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