Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens
Abstract Background Several ungulate species are feeding and propagation hosts for the tick Ixodes ricinus as well as hosts to a wide range of zoonotic pathogens. Here, we focus on Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), two important pathogens for which ungulates are amplifying a...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c25ad92f8ae548d8b917deba546d11f0 2023-05-15T13:13:47+02:00 Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens Nannet D. Fabri Hein Sprong Tim R. Hofmeester Hans Heesterbeek Björn F. Donnars Fredrik Widemo Frauke Ecke Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt 2021-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w https://doaj.org/article/c25ad92f8ae548d8b917deba546d11f0 EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w https://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305 doi:10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w 1756-3305 https://doaj.org/article/c25ad92f8ae548d8b917deba546d11f0 Parasites & Vectors, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2021) Anaplasma phagocytophilum Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) Ixodes ricinus Ungulate management Zoonotic disease risk Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w 2022-12-31T12:44:58Z Abstract Background Several ungulate species are feeding and propagation hosts for the tick Ixodes ricinus as well as hosts to a wide range of zoonotic pathogens. Here, we focus on Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), two important pathogens for which ungulates are amplifying and dilution hosts, respectively. Ungulate management is one of the main tools to mitigate human health risks associated with these tick-borne pathogens. Across Europe, different species of ungulates are expanding their ranges and increasing in numbers. It is currently unclear if and how the relative contribution to the life-cycle of I. ricinus and the transmission cycles of tick-borne pathogens differ among these species. In this study, we aimed to identify these relative contributions for five European ungulate species. Methods We quantified the tick load and collected ticks and spleen samples from hunted fallow deer (Dama dama, n = 131), moose (Alces alces, n = 15), red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 61), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, n = 30) and wild boar (Sus scrofa, n = 87) in south-central Sweden. We investigated the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks and spleen samples using real-time PCR. We determined if ungulate species differed in tick load (prevalence and intensity) and in infection prevalence in their tissue as well as in the ticks feeding on them. Results Wild boar hosted fewer adult female ticks than any of the deer species, indicating that deer are more important as propagation hosts. Among the deer species, moose had the lowest number of female ticks, while there was no difference among the other deer species. Given the low number of infected nymphs, the relative contribution of all ungulate species to the transmission of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) was low. Fallow deer, red deer and roe deer contributed more to the transmission of A. phagocytophilum than wild boar. Conclusions The ungulate species clearly differed in their role as a propagation host and in the transmission of B. burgdorferi and A. ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Parasites & Vectors 14 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
topic |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) Ixodes ricinus Ungulate management Zoonotic disease risk Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
spellingShingle |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) Ixodes ricinus Ungulate management Zoonotic disease risk Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Nannet D. Fabri Hein Sprong Tim R. Hofmeester Hans Heesterbeek Björn F. Donnars Fredrik Widemo Frauke Ecke Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
topic_facet |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) Ixodes ricinus Ungulate management Zoonotic disease risk Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Several ungulate species are feeding and propagation hosts for the tick Ixodes ricinus as well as hosts to a wide range of zoonotic pathogens. Here, we focus on Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.), two important pathogens for which ungulates are amplifying and dilution hosts, respectively. Ungulate management is one of the main tools to mitigate human health risks associated with these tick-borne pathogens. Across Europe, different species of ungulates are expanding their ranges and increasing in numbers. It is currently unclear if and how the relative contribution to the life-cycle of I. ricinus and the transmission cycles of tick-borne pathogens differ among these species. In this study, we aimed to identify these relative contributions for five European ungulate species. Methods We quantified the tick load and collected ticks and spleen samples from hunted fallow deer (Dama dama, n = 131), moose (Alces alces, n = 15), red deer (Cervus elaphus, n = 61), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, n = 30) and wild boar (Sus scrofa, n = 87) in south-central Sweden. We investigated the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks and spleen samples using real-time PCR. We determined if ungulate species differed in tick load (prevalence and intensity) and in infection prevalence in their tissue as well as in the ticks feeding on them. Results Wild boar hosted fewer adult female ticks than any of the deer species, indicating that deer are more important as propagation hosts. Among the deer species, moose had the lowest number of female ticks, while there was no difference among the other deer species. Given the low number of infected nymphs, the relative contribution of all ungulate species to the transmission of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) was low. Fallow deer, red deer and roe deer contributed more to the transmission of A. phagocytophilum than wild boar. Conclusions The ungulate species clearly differed in their role as a propagation host and in the transmission of B. burgdorferi and A. ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nannet D. Fabri Hein Sprong Tim R. Hofmeester Hans Heesterbeek Björn F. Donnars Fredrik Widemo Frauke Ecke Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt |
author_facet |
Nannet D. Fabri Hein Sprong Tim R. Hofmeester Hans Heesterbeek Björn F. Donnars Fredrik Widemo Frauke Ecke Joris P. G. M. Cromsigt |
author_sort |
Nannet D. Fabri |
title |
Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
title_short |
Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
title_full |
Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
title_fullStr |
Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of Ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
title_sort |
wild ungulate species differ in their contribution to the transmission of ixodes ricinus-borne pathogens |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w https://doaj.org/article/c25ad92f8ae548d8b917deba546d11f0 |
genre |
Alces alces |
genre_facet |
Alces alces |
op_source |
Parasites & Vectors, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w https://doaj.org/toc/1756-3305 doi:10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w 1756-3305 https://doaj.org/article/c25ad92f8ae548d8b917deba546d11f0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04860-w |
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Parasites & Vectors |
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14 |
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1 |
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1766260467357974528 |