Ticks infesting humans and associated pathogens: a cross-sectional study in a 3-year period (2017–2019) in northwest Italy

Parasites & Vectors

Alessandra Pautasso¹  Maria Domenica Pintore²  Germano Cassina²  Mauro Bardelli²  Federica Verna³  Alessio Ferrari⁴  Veronica Bellavia⁴  Carla Grattarola⁴  Maria Caramelli⁴  Barbara Iulini⁴  Tania Audino⁴  Rosanna Desiato⁴  Cristina Casalone⁴  Simone Peletto⁴  Valerio Carta⁴  Alessandra Torina⁵  Valeria Blanda⁵  Laura Tomassone⁶ 

[1] Azienda Sanitaria Locale 1 Imperiese (ASL1 Imperiese);Azienda Sanitaria Locale del Verbano Cusio Ossola (ASL VCO);Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Asti (ASL AT);Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle D’Aosta;Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”;Universita’ Degli Studi di Torino;

关键词: Tick-borne diseases;    PCR;    Rickettsia spp.;    Borrelia spp.;    Anaplasma phagocytophilum;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13071-021-04603-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Tick-borne diseases are common throughout Europe. Ticks transmit pathogens to the host while feeding and together with mosquitoes, they are major vectors of infectious agents worldwide. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of tick-bite events and tick-borne disease in northwest Italy, but information on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from humans remains scarce. To fill this gap, we report here the prevalence of tick bites and tick-borne pathogens documented for humans in Piedmont, northwest Italy, in the 3-year period 2017–2019. Methods Ticks attached to humans during 2017–2019 were collected from residents of urban and rural area by physicians and veterinarians working with local veterinary agencies. All ticks (n = 1290) were morphologically identified to the species level. A subset of ticks removed from children (age 0–18 years) and the elderly (> 70 years), both age groups considered to be at-risk populations, was screened by biomolecular analysis to detect pathogens (e.g. Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp.). Pathogen identity was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Results Ticks were taxonomically assigned to ten species of six genera (Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus). Most belonged to the genus Ixodes: 1009 ticks (78.22%) were classified as Ixodes ricinus. A subset of 500 ticks collected from the two at-risk populations were subjected to PCR assay to determine the presence of Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., and Anaplasma spp. The overall prevalence of infection was 22.8% (n = 114; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 19.19–26.73%), meaning that at least one pathogen was detected: Rickettsia spp. (prevalence 15%, n = 76; 95% CI 12.17–18.65%); Borrelia spp. (prevalence 6.4%, n = 32; 95% CI 4.42–8.92%); and Anaplasma spp. (prevalence 1.2%, n = 6; 95% CI 0.44–2.6%). Conclusions Our data underline the importance of surveillance in the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases and the implementation of strategies to control tick infestation and associated pathogens.

【 授权许可】

Unknown