Propagation of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in tick cell lines supports the plausibility of possible tick-mediated transmission of this microsporidian

IF 3.4 2区医学 Q2 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-08 DOI:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102578

Bohumil Sak , Michaela Fibigerová , Kristína Mravcová , Nikola Holubová , Silvie Šikutová , Jana Fenclová , Lesley Bell-Sakyi , Martin Kváč , Ivo Rudolf

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Microsporidia, obligate intracellular parasitic fungi, are increasingly associated with asymptomatic infections. One of the most prevalent zoonotic species, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, has been detected in Ixodes ricinus ticks. Nevertheless, the capacity of microsporidia to replicate within tick hosts remains unresolved. We used tick cell lines IRE11, IRE/CTVM19 and IRE/CTVM20 along with mammalian line Vero E6 for in vitro testing of E. cuniculi propagation. We evaluated the spore number using quantitative RT-PCR and documented the presence of microsporidia in host cells microscopically. We reported successful growth of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in tested tick cell lines, with IRE/CTVM19 providing the most suitable conditions for E. cuniculi propagation, reaching up to 1459 % increase of the inoculum. Moreover, the parasitophorous vacuoles containing developmental stages of microsporidia were observed in all cell lines. Our data support the plausibility of tick-mediated transmission, providing novel insights into the epidemiology of microsporidia.

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在蜱细胞系中的传播支持了这种微孢子虫可能通过蜱媒介传播的可能性

微孢子虫，专性细胞内寄生真菌，越来越多地与无症状感染相关。其中最普遍的人畜共患病种之一，脑囊虫，已被发现在蓖麻蜱。然而，微孢子虫在蜱宿主体内复制的能力仍未得到解决。我们使用蜱细胞系IRE11、IRE/CTVM19和IRE/CTVM20与哺乳动物细胞系Vero E6进行了体外测试。我们使用定量RT-PCR评估孢子数量，并在显微镜下记录了宿主细胞中微孢子虫的存在。我们报道了蜱虫脑囊虫在蜱虫细胞株中成功生长，IRE/CTVM19为蜱虫的繁殖提供了最适宜的条件，接种量可达1459%。此外，在所有细胞系中都观察到含有小孢子虫发育阶段的寄生液泡。我们的数据支持蜱媒介传播的合理性，为微孢子虫的流行病学提供了新的见解。

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

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases INFECTIOUS DISEASES-MICROBIOLOGY

CiteScore

6.90

自引率

12.50%

发文量

185

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases is an international, peer-reviewed scientific journal. It publishes original research papers, short communications, state-of-the-art mini-reviews, letters to the editor, clinical-case studies, announcements of pertinent international meetings, and editorials. The journal covers a broad spectrum and brings together various disciplines, for example, zoology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, mathematical modelling, veterinary and human medicine. Multidisciplinary approaches and the use of conventional and novel methods/methodologies (in the field and in the laboratory) are crucial for deeper understanding of the natural processes and human behaviour/activities that result in human or animal diseases and in economic effects of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Such understanding is essential for management of tick populations and tick-borne diseases in an effective and environmentally acceptable manner.