Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland
In mountainous regions, diverse ecosystems provide a habitat for numerous species of organisms. In this study, we focused on ixodid ticks and their presence in the Western Carpathians, Poland. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of environmental factors on tick occurrence and activity, the...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/9/1186 |
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| author | Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz Aneta Woźniak Katarzyna Bartosik Angélique Foucault-Simonin Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz |
| author_facet | Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz Aneta Woźniak Katarzyna Bartosik Angélique Foucault-Simonin Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz |
| author_sort | Zbigniew Zając |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In mountainous regions, diverse ecosystems provide a habitat for numerous species of organisms. In this study, we focused on ixodid ticks and their presence in the Western Carpathians, Poland. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of environmental factors on tick occurrence and activity, the prevalence of vectored pathogens, and tick hosts, and their role as reservoir organisms for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). To this end, we collected ticks from the vegetation and from animals (<i>Apodemus agrarius</i>, <i>A. flavicollis</i>, <i>Capreolus capreolus</i>, <i>Microtus</i> spp., <i>Myodes glareolus</i>, <i>Ovis aries</i>). In addition, we collected blood samples from rodents. The collected material underwent molecular analysis, utilizing the high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR technique, to detect the presence of TBPs. Our findings confirmed the occurrence of only two species of ixodid ticks in the study area: the dominant <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>, and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> with very limited abundance. Temperature significantly influenced tick activity, and the number of <i>I. ricinus</i> nymphs varied with altitude. We also observed a circadian pattern of questing activity in <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks. The main hosts for juvenile tick stages were <i>M. glareolus</i> and <i>A. agrarius</i>, while adult stages were frequently found on <i>C. capreolus</i>. <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks collected from the vegetation were often infected with <i>Rickettsia helvetica</i> (up to 35.71%), <i>Borrelia afzelii</i> (up to 28.57%), and <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. (up to 9.52%). In contrast, juvenile stages frequently carried <i>Bartonella</i> spp. (up to 10.00%), <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (up to 16.67%) and <i>R. helvetica</i> (up to 16.67%). Moreover, we detected genetic material of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (up to 100.00%), <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. (up to 35.71%), <i>Bartonella</i> spp. (up to 25.00%), and <i>Borrelia</i> spp. (up to 6.25%) in rodent blood samples. The obtained results indicate <i>A. agrarius</i> and <i>M. glareolus</i> as reservoir animals for TBPs in the studied region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:17:37Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:17:37Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5b6555a6905d4346bfe680c26c4d09692023-11-19T12:23:18ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-09-01129118610.3390/pathogens12091186Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, PolandZbigniew Zając0Joanna Kulisz1Aneta Woźniak2Katarzyna Bartosik3Angélique Foucault-Simonin4Sara Moutailler5Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz6Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University of Lublin, Radziwiłłowska 11, 20-080 Lublin, PolandAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, FranceAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, FranceAnses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, FranceIn mountainous regions, diverse ecosystems provide a habitat for numerous species of organisms. In this study, we focused on ixodid ticks and their presence in the Western Carpathians, Poland. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of environmental factors on tick occurrence and activity, the prevalence of vectored pathogens, and tick hosts, and their role as reservoir organisms for tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). To this end, we collected ticks from the vegetation and from animals (<i>Apodemus agrarius</i>, <i>A. flavicollis</i>, <i>Capreolus capreolus</i>, <i>Microtus</i> spp., <i>Myodes glareolus</i>, <i>Ovis aries</i>). In addition, we collected blood samples from rodents. The collected material underwent molecular analysis, utilizing the high-throughput microfluidic real-time PCR technique, to detect the presence of TBPs. Our findings confirmed the occurrence of only two species of ixodid ticks in the study area: the dominant <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>, and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> with very limited abundance. Temperature significantly influenced tick activity, and the number of <i>I. ricinus</i> nymphs varied with altitude. We also observed a circadian pattern of questing activity in <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks. The main hosts for juvenile tick stages were <i>M. glareolus</i> and <i>A. agrarius</i>, while adult stages were frequently found on <i>C. capreolus</i>. <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks collected from the vegetation were often infected with <i>Rickettsia helvetica</i> (up to 35.71%), <i>Borrelia afzelii</i> (up to 28.57%), and <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. (up to 9.52%). In contrast, juvenile stages frequently carried <i>Bartonella</i> spp. (up to 10.00%), <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (up to 16.67%) and <i>R. helvetica</i> (up to 16.67%). Moreover, we detected genetic material of <i>Mycoplasma</i> spp. (up to 100.00%), <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. (up to 35.71%), <i>Bartonella</i> spp. (up to 25.00%), and <i>Borrelia</i> spp. (up to 6.25%) in rodent blood samples. The obtained results indicate <i>A. agrarius</i> and <i>M. glareolus</i> as reservoir animals for TBPs in the studied region.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/9/1186<i>Ixodes ricinus</i><i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i>tickstick-borne pathogens |
| spellingShingle | Zbigniew Zając Joanna Kulisz Aneta Woźniak Katarzyna Bartosik Angélique Foucault-Simonin Sara Moutailler Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland Pathogens <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks tick-borne pathogens |
| title | Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland |
| title_full | Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland |
| title_fullStr | Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland |
| title_short | Tick Activity, Host Range, and Tick-Borne Pathogen Prevalence in Mountain Habitats of the Western Carpathians, Poland |
| title_sort | tick activity host range and tick borne pathogen prevalence in mountain habitats of the western carpathians poland |
| topic | <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks tick-borne pathogens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/9/1186 |
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