Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Iceland.

IF 3 2区医学 Q1 PARASITOLOGY

Parasites & Vectors Pub Date : 2025-05-15 DOI:10.1186/s13071-025-06809-9

Matthias Alfredsson, Kayleigh Hansford, Daniel Carter, Heiða Sigurðardóttir, Þórunn Sóley Björnsdóttir, Hrólfur Smári Pétursson, Guðný Rut Pálsdóttir, Jolyon M Medlock

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick species throughout Europe; it can transmit various pathogens that can cause diseases in humans and animals. It is the principal vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and there is increasing concern about I. ricinus's potential to transmit pathogens to humans and animals in Iceland. The aim of this research is to determine whether I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland carry B. burgdorferi (s.l) and, in a limited number of samples, other pathogens to better understand the potential health risks that I. ricinus bites may pose to both humans and animals in Iceland.

Methods: Birds were captured and examined for ticks at the South East Iceland Bird Observatory from 2018 to 2019. All ticks were screened for infection with B. burgdorferi (s.l.). Additionally, 133 ticks collected in Iceland prior to 2018, stored in the collection at the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, were screened for the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.), TBEV, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and Rickettsia spp. Samples positive for Borrelia were sequenced by Genewiz Azenta, Germany, and BLAST (NCBI) analysis was performed on the obtained sequences.

Results: A total of 1209 I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland were screened for the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.); 133 ticks from a museum collection were additionally screened for other pathogens. Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) was detected in 9.9% of the tick samples (86/866). DNA sequencing from 28 positive samples revealed three genospecies. The most frequently detected was Borrelia garinii (82.1%), followed by B. valaisiana (14.3%) and B. afzelii (3.6%). TBEV, C. burnetii, F. tularensis and Rickettsia spp. were not detected in ticks from the collection.

Conclusions: This research confirms the presence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) in I. ricinus ticks collected in Iceland. Even though Lyme disease is not endemic and I. ricinus ticks are not considered established, the risk of exposure remains. Further research on B. burgdorferi (s.l.) and other pathogens these ticks may carry is essential along with raising public awareness and fostering collaboration between experts to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases in Iceland.

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冰岛蓖麻伊蚊蜱中伯氏疏螺旋体的检测。

背景：蓖麻伊蚊是整个欧洲最常见的蜱类；它可以传播各种病原体，导致人类和动物患病。它是感应伯氏疏螺旋体（s.l）和蜱传脑炎病毒（TBEV）的主要媒介，人们越来越担心，蓖麻螺旋体有可能将病原体传播给冰岛的人类和动物。本研究的目的是确定在冰岛收集的蓖麻蜱是否携带伯氏疏螺旋体（s.l），并在有限数量的样本中携带其他病原体，以更好地了解蓖麻蜱叮咬可能对冰岛人类和动物造成的潜在健康风险。方法：2018 - 2019年在冰岛东南部鸟类观察站捕获鸟类并检查蜱虫。对所有蜱进行伯氏疏螺旋体感染筛查。此外，对冰岛自然科学研究所2018年之前采集的133只蜱进行了伯氏疏螺旋体（b.b burgdorferi）、TBEV、伯氏柯谢氏菌（Coxiella burnetii）、土拉弗朗西斯菌（Francisella tularensis）和立克次体（立克次体spp）的筛查，并对伯氏疏螺旋体阳性样本进行了测序，并对获得的序列进行BLAST （NCBI）分析。结果：冰岛采集蓖麻蜱1209只，检出伯氏疏螺旋体；另外还对博物馆收藏的133只蜱进行了其他病原体筛查。蜱类样本中检出伯氏疏螺旋体的比例为9.9%（86/866）。28份阳性样本的DNA测序显示了3个基因种。检出率最高的是garinii疏螺旋体（82.1%），其次是valaisiana疏螺旋体（14.3%）和afzelii疏螺旋体（3.6%）。收集的蜱中未检出bev、伯氏体、土拉体和立克次体。结论：本研究证实在冰岛采集的蓖麻蜱中存在伯氏疏螺旋体。即使莱姆病不是地方性的，蓖麻蜱也不被认为是既定的，暴露的风险仍然存在。进一步研究伯氏疏螺旋体（s.l.）和这些蜱虫可能携带的其他病原体至关重要，同时提高公众意识，促进专家之间的合作，以减少冰岛蜱虫传播疾病的风险。

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.