By Linda on Nov 4, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20868431&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks
Excerpt:
Tick-borne pathogens such as Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. cause
a great variety of diseases in animals and humans. Although their
importance with respect to emerging human diseases is increasing,
many issues about their ecology are still unclear. In spring
2007, 191 Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks were collected
from 99 birds of 11 species on a bird conservation island in the
Baltic Sea in order to test them for Borrelia spp., A.
phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. infections.
Identification of the pathogens was performed by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism and
sequence analysis. The majority of birds with ticks testing
positive were European robins and thrushes. Borrelia DNA was
detected in 14.1%, A. phagocytophilum in 2.6%, rickettsiae in
7.3% and Babesia spp. in 4.7% of the ticks. Co-infections with
different pathogens occurred in six ticks (3.1%). The fact that
11 ticks (five larvae, six nymphs) were infected with Borrelia
afzelii suggests that birds may, contrary to current opinion,
serve as reservoir hosts for this species. Among rickettsial
infections, we identified Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia
helvetica. As we detected five Rickettsia spp.
positive larvae and two birds carried more than one infected
tick, transmission of those pathogens from birds to ticks appears
possible.
By Linda on Nov 3, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20868431&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks
Excerpt:
Tick-borne pathogens such as Lyme borreliosis spirochaetes,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. cause
a great variety of diseases in animals and humans. Although their
importance with respect to emerging human diseases is increasing,
many issues about their ecology are still unclear. In spring
2007, 191 Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks were collected
from 99 birds of 11 species on a bird conservation island in the
Baltic Sea in order to test them for Borrelia spp., A.
phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp. infections.
Identification of the pathogens was performed by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism and
sequence analysis. The majority of birds with ticks testing
positive were European robins and thrushes. Borrelia DNA was
detected in 14.1%, A. phagocytophilum in 2.6%, rickettsiae in
7.3% and Babesia spp. in 4.7% of the ticks. Co-infections with
different pathogens occurred in six ticks (3.1%). The fact that
11 ticks (five larvae, six nymphs) were infected with Borrelia
afzelii suggests that birds may, contrary to current opinion,
serve as reservoir hosts for this species. Among rickettsial
infections, we identified Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia
helvetica. As we detected five Rickettsia spp.
positive larvae and two birds carried more than one infected
tick, transmission of those pathogens from birds to ticks appears
possible.
By Linda on Oct 20, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Full article: http://eutils.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&id=20846013&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks
Excerpt:
Abstract From May until October 2007, a total of 658 Ixodes
ricinus ticks were collected off birds (189), rodents (273), and
vegetation (196) in a certain area of Middle Germany and
investigated for infection with Babesia spp., Anaplasma
phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp. Overall, 13.1% (86/658) of
the ticks were infected with at least one pathogen; co-infections
occurred in 0.6% (4/658).
Babesia spp. specific DNA was detected in 9.7% (64/658) of the
ticks, 1.4%
(9/658) were infected with A. phagocytophilum, and 2.6% (17/658)
harbored rickettsiae. At least two different Rickettsia species
were identified:
Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia helvetica. Our study
provides first interesting insights into the circulation and
co-circulation of several emerging pathogens not only in ticks
parasitizing birds and small mammals as potential reservoirs but
also in questing ticks in a single natural habitat.
By Linda on Mar 15, 2010 in Infections | comments(0)
Linda comments: How many of you have friends that live or have lived in Europe? Could they be suffering from tick-borne diseases?
Excerpt:
Ticks can transmit a variety of viruses, bacteria or parasites
that can cause serious infections or conditions in humans and
animals. While tick-borne diseases are becoming an increasing and
serious problem in Europe, tick-borne diseases are also
responsible for major depressions in livestock production and
mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Asia. This
review will focus on the most important circulating
tick-transmitted pathogens in Europe (Borrelia spp., Anaplasma
phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., tick-borne encephalitis virus,
Rickettsia spp. and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus).
