<i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland?
<i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i> is a new emerging tick-borne Gram-negative bacterium, belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae, the main vector of which in Europe is the tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>. <i>N. mikurensis</i> is responsible for neoehrlichiosis, occurring m...
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/307 |
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| author | Magdalena Szczotko Katarzyna Kubiak Mirosław Mariusz Michalski Leonardo Moerbeck Sandra Antunes Ana Domingos Małgorzata Dmitryjuk |
| author_facet | Magdalena Szczotko Katarzyna Kubiak Mirosław Mariusz Michalski Leonardo Moerbeck Sandra Antunes Ana Domingos Małgorzata Dmitryjuk |
| author_sort | Magdalena Szczotko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i> is a new emerging tick-borne Gram-negative bacterium, belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae, the main vector of which in Europe is the tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>. <i>N. mikurensis</i> is responsible for neoehrlichiosis, occurring mostly in patients with underlying diseases. In the present study, a total of 348 <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks collected in north-eastern Poland were analyzed for the prevalence of <i>N. mikurensis.</i> A total of 140 questing ticks (124 of <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks and 16 <i>D. reticulatus</i>) collected with the flagging method and 208 ticks (105 and 103 <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i>, respectively) removed from dogs were selected for the study. cDNA (questing ticks) and total DNA (questing and feeding ticks) were analyzed by qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of <i>N. mikurensis.</i> Positive samples were further analyzed by nested PCR and sequencing. The prevalence differed between ticks collected from vegetation (19.3%; 27/140) and ticks removed from dogs (6.7%; 14/208). The presence of the pathogen in questing and feeding <i>D. reticulatus</i> ticks was proven in Poland for the first time. In summary, our research showed that infections of ticks of both the most common tick species <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> in north-eastern Poland are present and ticks collected from urban areas were more often infected than ticks from suburban and natural areas. The detection of <i>N. mikurensis</i> in <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> ticks from north-eastern Poland indicates potential transmission risk for tick-bitten humans at this latitude. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af4387026d054f7e8373bcf96f2dd423 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:18:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-af4387026d054f7e8373bcf96f2dd4232023-11-16T22:34:51ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-02-0112230710.3390/pathogens12020307<i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland?Magdalena Szczotko0Katarzyna Kubiak1Mirosław Mariusz Michalski2Leonardo Moerbeck3Sandra Antunes4Ana Domingos5Małgorzata Dmitryjuk6Students’ Parasitology “Vermis” Science Club, Department of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Medical Biology, Collegium Medicum, School of Public Health, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Zolnierska 14c, 10-561 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandGlobal Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University, 1349-008 Lisbon, PortugalGlobal Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University, 1349-008 Lisbon, PortugalGlobal Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University, 1349-008 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland<i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i> is a new emerging tick-borne Gram-negative bacterium, belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae, the main vector of which in Europe is the tick <i>Ixodes ricinus</i>. <i>N. mikurensis</i> is responsible for neoehrlichiosis, occurring mostly in patients with underlying diseases. In the present study, a total of 348 <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks collected in north-eastern Poland were analyzed for the prevalence of <i>N. mikurensis.</i> A total of 140 questing ticks (124 of <i>I. ricinus</i> ticks and 16 <i>D. reticulatus</i>) collected with the flagging method and 208 ticks (105 and 103 <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i>, respectively) removed from dogs were selected for the study. cDNA (questing ticks) and total DNA (questing and feeding ticks) were analyzed by qPCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene of <i>N. mikurensis.</i> Positive samples were further analyzed by nested PCR and sequencing. The prevalence differed between ticks collected from vegetation (19.3%; 27/140) and ticks removed from dogs (6.7%; 14/208). The presence of the pathogen in questing and feeding <i>D. reticulatus</i> ticks was proven in Poland for the first time. In summary, our research showed that infections of ticks of both the most common tick species <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> in north-eastern Poland are present and ticks collected from urban areas were more often infected than ticks from suburban and natural areas. The detection of <i>N. mikurensis</i> in <i>I. ricinus</i> and <i>D. reticulatus</i> ticks from north-eastern Poland indicates potential transmission risk for tick-bitten humans at this latitude.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/307<i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i><i>Ixodes ricinus</i><i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i>tickstick-borne pathogenOne Health |
| spellingShingle | Magdalena Szczotko Katarzyna Kubiak Mirosław Mariusz Michalski Leonardo Moerbeck Sandra Antunes Ana Domingos Małgorzata Dmitryjuk <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? Pathogens <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i> <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks tick-borne pathogen One Health |
| title | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? |
| title_full | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? |
| title_fullStr | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? |
| title_short | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i>—A New Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogen in North-Eastern Poland? |
| title_sort | i neoehrlichia mikurensis i a new emerging tick borne pathogen in north eastern poland |
| topic | <i>Neoehrlichia mikurensis</i> <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> <i>Dermacentor reticulatus</i> ticks tick-borne pathogen One Health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/2/307 |
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