Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens
Abstract Background Ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available. Meth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2014-07-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-328 |
| _version_ | 1827933687775232000 |
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| author | Domenico Otranto Filipe Dantas-Torres Alessio Giannelli Maria Stefania Latrofa Antonio Cascio Stefania Cazzin Silvia Ravagnan Fabrizio Montarsi Sergio Aurelio Zanzani Maria Teresa Manfredi Gioia Capelli |
| author_facet | Domenico Otranto Filipe Dantas-Torres Alessio Giannelli Maria Stefania Latrofa Antonio Cascio Stefania Cazzin Silvia Ravagnan Fabrizio Montarsi Sergio Aurelio Zanzani Maria Teresa Manfredi Gioia Capelli |
| author_sort | Domenico Otranto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available. Methods Samples (n = 561) were collected from humans in four main geographical areas of Italy (i.e., northwestern, northeastern, southern Italy, and Sicily), which represent a variety of environments. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested with selected protocols for the presence of pathogens of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Theileria, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia and Anaplasma. Results Ticks belonged to 16 species of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus, with Ixodes ricinus (59.5%) being the species most frequently retrieved, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21.4%). Nymphs were the life stage most frequently retrieved (41%), followed by adult females (34.6%). The overall positivity to any pathogen detected was 18%. Detected microorganisms were Rickettsia spp. (17.0%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.5%), Borrelia valaisiana (0.3%), C. N. mikurensis (0.5%) and Babesia venatorum (0.6%). Conclusions Results indicate that people living in the Italian peninsula are at risk of being bitten by different tick species, which may transmit a plethora of TBD causing pathogens and that co-infections may also occur. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4166817da4f94530b82dec67d7a9f56c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T07:28:13Z |
| publishDate | 2014-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-4166817da4f94530b82dec67d7a9f56c2023-06-04T11:15:21ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052014-07-01711910.1186/1756-3305-7-328Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogensDomenico Otranto0Filipe Dantas-Torres1Alessio Giannelli2Maria Stefania Latrofa3Antonio Cascio4Stefania Cazzin5Silvia Ravagnan6Fabrizio Montarsi7Sergio Aurelio Zanzani8Maria Teresa Manfredi9Gioia Capelli10Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, University of BariDepartment of Human Pathology, University of MessinaIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieDepartment of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of MilanDepartment of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of MilanIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle VenezieAbstract Background Ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available. Methods Samples (n = 561) were collected from humans in four main geographical areas of Italy (i.e., northwestern, northeastern, southern Italy, and Sicily), which represent a variety of environments. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested with selected protocols for the presence of pathogens of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Theileria, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia and Anaplasma. Results Ticks belonged to 16 species of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus, with Ixodes ricinus (59.5%) being the species most frequently retrieved, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21.4%). Nymphs were the life stage most frequently retrieved (41%), followed by adult females (34.6%). The overall positivity to any pathogen detected was 18%. Detected microorganisms were Rickettsia spp. (17.0%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.5%), Borrelia valaisiana (0.3%), C. N. mikurensis (0.5%) and Babesia venatorum (0.6%). Conclusions Results indicate that people living in the Italian peninsula are at risk of being bitten by different tick species, which may transmit a plethora of TBD causing pathogens and that co-infections may also occur.https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-328TicksPathogensHumansTick-borne diseasesItalyDistribution |
| spellingShingle | Domenico Otranto Filipe Dantas-Torres Alessio Giannelli Maria Stefania Latrofa Antonio Cascio Stefania Cazzin Silvia Ravagnan Fabrizio Montarsi Sergio Aurelio Zanzani Maria Teresa Manfredi Gioia Capelli Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens Parasites & Vectors Ticks Pathogens Humans Tick-borne diseases Italy Distribution |
| title | Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens |
| title_full | Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens |
| title_fullStr | Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens |
| title_short | Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens |
| title_sort | ticks infesting humans in italy and associated pathogens |
| topic | Ticks Pathogens Humans Tick-borne diseases Italy Distribution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-328 |
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