A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks
Abstract Background Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) transmitted by ticks are considered (re-)emerging pathogens posing a risk to public health. Nevertheless, year-long monitoring studies on prevalences of these pathogens in questing ticks to contribute to public health...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2537-2 |
| _version_ | 1819069876921171968 |
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| author | Katrin Blazejak Elisabeth Janecek Christina Strube |
| author_facet | Katrin Blazejak Elisabeth Janecek Christina Strube |
| author_sort | Katrin Blazejak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) transmitted by ticks are considered (re-)emerging pathogens posing a risk to public health. Nevertheless, year-long monitoring studies on prevalences of these pathogens in questing ticks to contribute to public health risk assessment are rare. Methods The current study extends previous prevalence surveillances (2005 and 2010) by 2015 to a 10-year monitoring. Therefore, 2100 questing Ixodes ricinus were collected from April to October 2015 at ten different recreation sites in the city of Hanover, Germany, to determine potential changes in tick infection rates with Rickettsiales. Results Of the collected ticks, 288 were adult females, 285 adult males and 1527 nymphs. Overall, 3.8% (79/2100) of ticks were infected with A. phagocytophilum, 50.8% (1066/2100) with Rickettsia spp. and 2.2% (46/2100) with both pathogens. Statistical analyses revealed stagnating A. phagocytophilum infection rates over the 10-year monitoring period, whereas Rickettsia infections increased significantly (33.3% in 2005 and 26.2% in 2010 vs 50.8% in 2015). This increase was also characterized by prominent seasonality with higher prevalences from July to October. Conclusions As increased tick infection rates result in an increased risk for public health, the long-term data reported here provide significant implications for the understanding of progressing Rickettsiales distribution in ticks and essentially contribute to reliable public health risk assessments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:57:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-61affd7a3eae42338c2faa897c61fb5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T16:57:01Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-61affd7a3eae42338c2faa897c61fb5e2022-12-21T18:56:43ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052017-11-0110111010.1186/s13071-017-2537-2A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticksKatrin Blazejak0Elisabeth Janecek1Christina Strube2Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverInstitute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverInstitute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine HannoverAbstract Background Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) transmitted by ticks are considered (re-)emerging pathogens posing a risk to public health. Nevertheless, year-long monitoring studies on prevalences of these pathogens in questing ticks to contribute to public health risk assessment are rare. Methods The current study extends previous prevalence surveillances (2005 and 2010) by 2015 to a 10-year monitoring. Therefore, 2100 questing Ixodes ricinus were collected from April to October 2015 at ten different recreation sites in the city of Hanover, Germany, to determine potential changes in tick infection rates with Rickettsiales. Results Of the collected ticks, 288 were adult females, 285 adult males and 1527 nymphs. Overall, 3.8% (79/2100) of ticks were infected with A. phagocytophilum, 50.8% (1066/2100) with Rickettsia spp. and 2.2% (46/2100) with both pathogens. Statistical analyses revealed stagnating A. phagocytophilum infection rates over the 10-year monitoring period, whereas Rickettsia infections increased significantly (33.3% in 2005 and 26.2% in 2010 vs 50.8% in 2015). This increase was also characterized by prominent seasonality with higher prevalences from July to October. Conclusions As increased tick infection rates result in an increased risk for public health, the long-term data reported here provide significant implications for the understanding of progressing Rickettsiales distribution in ticks and essentially contribute to reliable public health risk assessments.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2537-2Tick-borne diseasesIxodes ricinusAnaplasma phagocytophilumRickettsiaSurveillancePublic health |
| spellingShingle | Katrin Blazejak Elisabeth Janecek Christina Strube A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks Parasites & Vectors Tick-borne diseases Ixodes ricinus Anaplasma phagocytophilum Rickettsia Surveillance Public health |
| title | A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| title_full | A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| title_fullStr | A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| title_full_unstemmed | A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| title_short | A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| title_sort | 10 year surveillance of rickettsiales rickettsia spp and anaplasma phagocytophilum in the city of hanover germany reveals rickettsia spp as emerging pathogens in ticks |
| topic | Tick-borne diseases Ixodes ricinus Anaplasma phagocytophilum Rickettsia Surveillance Public health |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-017-2537-2 |
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