1. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens: Occurrence and Host Associations over Four Years of Wildlife Surveillance in the Liguria Region (Northwest Italy).
- Author
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Guardone, Lisa, Nogarol, Chiara, Accorsi, Annalisa, Vitale, Nicoletta, Listorti, Valeria, Scala, Sonia, Brusadore, Sonia, Miceli, Ilaria Nina, Wolfsgruber, Lara, Guercio, Annalisa, Di Bella, Santina, Grippi, Francesca, Razzuoli, Elisabetta, and Mandola, Maria Lucia
- Subjects
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TICK-borne encephalitis viruses , *FALLOW deer , *BROWN dog tick , *ROE deer , *COXIELLA burnetii , *RICKETTSIA , *WILD boar , *TICKS - Abstract
Simple Summary: Ticks are ectoparasites of animals and humans that can transmit pathogens usually referred to as Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs). This study analyzed 683 ticks collected from different wild animals (roe deer, wild boar, fallow deer, and chamois) hunted in Liguria between 2019 and 2022. Tick species were identified by morphological analysis; ticks from the same animal were grouped into homogeneous pools by species and life stage and submitted to molecular analysis for the detection of specific TBPs. Four different tick species were found: the most common was Ixodes ricinus, followed by Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s., and Haemaphysalis punctata. Almost 28% of the 222 tick pools analyzed were positive for at least one TBP. Most pools were positive for Rickettsia spp., and several species were found, all potential agents of human disease: Rickettsia slovaca, R. monacensis, R. helvetica, R. massiliae, and R. raoultii. Varying prevalences were found depending on the tick and host species. Other less frequent TBPs were Anaplasma phagocytophilum (three pools) and B. burgdorferi s.l. (one pool). All samples were negative for Coxiella burnetii and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Significant associations were found between I. ricinus and roe deer, D. marginatus and wild boar, and between R. monacensis and I. ricinus. The widespread presence of TBPs, particularly of several zoonotic Rickettsia species, requires the monitoring of domestic and wild animals and providing specific information to citizens for preventive actions. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a considerable public health problem worldwide. The occurrence of Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia spp., and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEv) was investigated via PCR and sequencing in 683 ticks collected from 105 roe deer, 61 wild boars, 49 fallow deer, and 2 chamois, in the Liguria region, northwest Italy, between 2019 and 2022. The ticks were morphologically identified. Four different tick species were found: Ixodes ricinus (66.8% of the collected ticks), Dermacentor marginatus (15.8%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.s. (15.7%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (0.9%). Six ticks (0.9%) were only identified as Rhipicephalus spp. Of the 222 pools analyzed, 27.9% were positive. Most pools (n = 58, 26.1% of pools analyzed) were positive for Rickettsia spp., and several species were found: Rickettsia slovaca was the dominant species (15.3%), followed by R. monacensis (8.1%), while R. helvetica (1.8%), R. massiliae (0.5%), and R. raoultii (0.5%) were found only sporadically. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was identified in three pools and B. burgdorferi s.l. in one pool. All samples were negative for C. burnetii and TBEv. Significant associations were found between I. ricinus and roe deer, D. marginatus and wild boar, and between R. monacensis and I. ricinus. The prevalence of Rickettsia spp. differed significantly between tick and host species. This updated picture of tick species and TBPs in wild ungulates in Liguria, where the population of these animals is increasing, shows a widespread presence of potentially zoonotic Rickettsia spp. Continuous monitoring and public information on preventive measures are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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