First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden
The Soprano pipistrelle bat, <i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i>, is a common species in large parts of Sweden. Many of its natural habitats are near human habitations. This creates opportunities for ticks infesting these bats to encounter humans and possibly transmit zoonotic pathogens by tick...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/357 |
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| author | Eszter Tompa Thomas G. T. Jaenson Peter Wilhelmsson |
| author_facet | Eszter Tompa Thomas G. T. Jaenson Peter Wilhelmsson |
| author_sort | Eszter Tompa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Soprano pipistrelle bat, <i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i>, is a common species in large parts of Sweden. Many of its natural habitats are near human habitations. This creates opportunities for ticks infesting these bats to encounter humans and possibly transmit zoonotic pathogens by tick bites. The bats are often infested with <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, a tick species that, in addition to bats, has been recorded to bite humans on occasion. This study aimed to investigate if <i>C. vespertilionis</i> acts as a reservoir for <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i>, <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, and species of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Rickettsia</i> and to improve currently used conventional PCR protocols for molecular species determination of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. Ninety-two <i>C. vespertilionis</i> ticks were collected from underneath a bat-box harbouring <i>P. pygmaeus</i>. Pathogen-specific PCR assays showed that 58.4% were positive for <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and negative for the other pathogens analysed. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the species belong to <i>R. parkeri</i>, <i>R. conorii</i>, <i>R. slovaca</i>, <i>R. sibirica</i> subsp. <i>mongolotimonae</i>, <i>R. rickettsii</i>, and a hitherto uncultured <i>Rickettsia</i> sp. Several of these species are considered pathogenic to humans. Given the ecology and behaviour of <i>C. vespertilionis</i>, it may be a vector of these rickettsiae among bats and occasionally humans. To determine the <i>Rickettsia</i> species with certainty, and to determine if <i>C. vespertilionis</i> may be a reservoir and vector of the <i>Rickettsia</i> spp., further studies are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16456c4d923e4202b7d890a6cf1d19e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:22:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-16456c4d923e4202b7d890a6cf1d19e02023-11-16T22:14:45ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-01-0111235710.3390/microorganisms11020357First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in SwedenEszter Tompa0Thomas G. T. Jaenson1Peter Wilhelmsson2Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, SwedenEvolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, SwedenThe Soprano pipistrelle bat, <i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i>, is a common species in large parts of Sweden. Many of its natural habitats are near human habitations. This creates opportunities for ticks infesting these bats to encounter humans and possibly transmit zoonotic pathogens by tick bites. The bats are often infested with <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, a tick species that, in addition to bats, has been recorded to bite humans on occasion. This study aimed to investigate if <i>C. vespertilionis</i> acts as a reservoir for <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i>, <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>, Tick-borne encephalitis virus, and species of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Rickettsia</i> and to improve currently used conventional PCR protocols for molecular species determination of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. Ninety-two <i>C. vespertilionis</i> ticks were collected from underneath a bat-box harbouring <i>P. pygmaeus</i>. Pathogen-specific PCR assays showed that 58.4% were positive for <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. and negative for the other pathogens analysed. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the species belong to <i>R. parkeri</i>, <i>R. conorii</i>, <i>R. slovaca</i>, <i>R. sibirica</i> subsp. <i>mongolotimonae</i>, <i>R. rickettsii</i>, and a hitherto uncultured <i>Rickettsia</i> sp. Several of these species are considered pathogenic to humans. Given the ecology and behaviour of <i>C. vespertilionis</i>, it may be a vector of these rickettsiae among bats and occasionally humans. To determine the <i>Rickettsia</i> species with certainty, and to determine if <i>C. vespertilionis</i> may be a reservoir and vector of the <i>Rickettsia</i> spp., further studies are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/357<i>Rickettsia</i> spp.<i>Carios vespertilionis</i><i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i>Sweden |
| spellingShingle | Eszter Tompa Thomas G. T. Jaenson Peter Wilhelmsson First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden Microorganisms <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> <i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i> Sweden |
| title | First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden |
| title_full | First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden |
| title_fullStr | First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden |
| title_short | First Records of Possibly Human Pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> Species in Bat Ticks, <i>Carios vespertilionis</i>, in Sweden |
| title_sort | first records of possibly human pathogenic i rickettsia i species in bat ticks i carios vespertilionis i in sweden |
| topic | <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. <i>Carios vespertilionis</i> <i>Pipistrellus pygmaeus</i> Sweden |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/2/357 |
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