Update on tick-borne rickettsioses in mainland Portugal: emerging threats and potential vectors.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2024-12-24 DOI:10.1186/s13071-024-06627-5

Leonardo Moerbeck, Ricardo Parreira, Gonçalo Seixas, Rita Velez, Ana Domingos, Sandra Antunes

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Tick-borne rickettsioses (TBR) are emerging, neglected, zoonoses, caused by intracellular α-proteobacteria of the genus Rickettsia, that pose a growing public health concern. The aim of the present study was to evaluate rickettsial infections in questing ticks collected from four different ecological areas in mainland Portugal.

Methods: Over a two-year period, a total of 707 questing ticks were collected. Individual adult ticks and pooled nymphs were submitted to DNA extraction, followed by qPCR assays targeting the gltA rickettsial gene. Positive samples were then submitted to conventional PCR targeting the gltA and the ompA genes for phylogenetic analysis.

Results: In total, eight tick species were identified: Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis inermis, Haemaphysalis punctata, Hyalomma lusitanicum, Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus pusillus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Additionally, rickettsial infection was associated with seven of these species, with I. frontalis being the exception. Notably, the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. was 26.35%, with phylogenetic validation confirming infections with R. helvetica, R. massiliae, R. monacensis, Candidatus R. rioja, and R. slovaca.

Conclusions: The present study highlights the necessity for ongoing surveillance to map and monitor both questing and feeding ticks, along with their vertebrate hosts. Effective control strategies are of utmost importance to mitigate the escalating threat of TBR. Additionally, the present study provides valuable epidemiological insights into TBR in Portugal, including the identification of R. slovaca infecting I. ricinus - an unconventional tick-pathogen relationship - and the first report of Candidatus R. rioja infecting D. marginatus in Portugal. In conclusion, this study contributes with valuable data regarding epidemiological results on ticks and TBR circulating in Portugal, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to address this emerging public health challenge.

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葡萄牙大陆蜱传立克次体病最新情况：新出现的威胁和潜在媒介。

背景：蜱传立克次体病（TBR）是由立克次体属细胞内α-变形菌引起的新兴、被忽视的人畜共患病，引起了越来越多的公共卫生关注。本研究的目的是评估从葡萄牙大陆四个不同生态区域收集的蜱的立克次体感染。方法：在2年多的时间里，共采集到707只蜱。对成年蜱和聚集的若虫进行DNA提取，然后对gltA立克次体基因进行qPCR检测。然后将阳性样本提交给gltA和ompA基因的常规PCR进行系统发育分析。结果：共检出边缘革蜱、无血蜱、点状血蜱、卢西坦透明体、额硬蜱、蓖麻硬蜱、puspicephalus、sanguineus sensu lato。此外，立克次体感染与这些物种中的7种有关，但frontalis除外。值得注意的是，立克次体感染率为26.35%，系统发育验证证实感染了helvetica、massiliae、monacensis、Candidatus R. rioja和slovaca。结论：目前的研究强调了持续监测的必要性，以绘制和监测寻找和喂养蜱虫以及它们的脊椎动物宿主。有效的控制策略对于缓解TBR不断升级的威胁至关重要。此外，本研究还为葡萄牙TBR的流行病学研究提供了有价值的见解，包括鉴定了slovaca感染蓖麻蜱（一种非常规的蜱-病原体关系）和葡萄牙首次报道了Candidatus R. rioja感染边缘蜱。总之，本研究提供了有关葡萄牙蜱虫和TBR流行病学结果的宝贵数据，强调了采取积极措施应对这一新出现的公共卫生挑战的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Parasites & Vectors 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

9.40%

发文量

433

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Parasites & Vectors is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal dealing with the biology of parasites, parasitic diseases, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens. Manuscripts published in this journal will be available to all worldwide, with no barriers to access, immediately following acceptance. However, authors retain the copyright of their material and may use it, or distribute it, as they wish. Manuscripts on all aspects of the basic and applied biology of parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens will be considered. In addition to the traditional and well-established areas of science in these fields, we also aim to provide a vehicle for publication of the rapidly developing resources and technology in parasite, intermediate host and vector genomics and their impacts on biological research. We are able to publish large datasets and extensive results, frequently associated with genomic and post-genomic technologies, which are not readily accommodated in traditional journals. Manuscripts addressing broader issues, for example economics, social sciences and global climate change in relation to parasites, vectors and disease control, are also welcomed.