Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Regional and demographic patterns of seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi IgG and IgM antibodies in blood donors in Austria","authors":"Mateusz Markowicz,&nbsp;Andreas Wolfsbauer,&nbsp;Christof Jungbauer,&nbsp;Patrick Paul Torreiter,&nbsp;Josip Lučić,&nbsp;Sandra Laner-Plamberger,&nbsp;Sylvia Mink,&nbsp;Anita Siller,&nbsp;Susanne Süßner,&nbsp;Sarah Pell,&nbsp;Lukas Kamenicky,&nbsp;Alexander Indra,&nbsp;Florian Heger","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102684","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102684","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Knowledge about the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis in Austria remains limited. We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study among blood donors from all Austrian provinces to assess the exposure to <em>Borrelia burgorferi</em> sensu lato.</div><div>A total of 1841 serum samples from blood donors aged between 18 and 69 years were tested for <em>Borrelia</em>-specific IgG and IgM. Associations with age, sex, province and the residential altitude were assessed for both the one-tier and two-tier methods.</div><div>IgG seroprevalence was 14% for one-tier and 7% for the two-tier. A consistent increase in age was observed for both approaches. Using the 20–29-year age group as reference, the strongest association was observed in individuals aged 60–69 years. The IgG positivity was higher among males than females for both the one-tier and two-tier tests.</div><div>Regional analysis revealed substantial variation in IgG seroprevalence, with the lowest prevalence recorded in Tyrol and the highest in Carinthia. These differences were not attributable to age distribution. An additional analysis revealed a correlation between the seroprevalence and the altitude of residence.</div><div>IgM seroprevalence did not differ significantly between the one-tier and two-tier approaches (7% and 6%), and no age-, sex-, or region-related trends were identified.</div><div>Our findings demonstrate demographic and regional differences in exposure to <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em>. Higher altitude of residence is associated with reduced exposure to the spirochetes. The findings emphasize the importance of Lyme borreliosis surveillance and help identify the groups and areas most likely to profit from targeted prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102684"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148551107","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term sequelae after tick-borne encephalitis in Germany: a nationwide claims-based matched cohort study","authors":"Guy Levy,&nbsp;Daniel Gensorowsky,&nbsp;Jana Diekmannshemke,&nbsp;Julia Schiffner-Rohe,&nbsp;Uta Meyding-Lamadé,&nbsp;Florian Reis,&nbsp;Christof von Eiff,&nbsp;Julian Witte,&nbsp;Claudius Malerczyk","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102672","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102672","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) remains a public health concern in many parts of Europe despite the availability of effective vaccines. Acute disease is well described, but real-world data on the frequency, timing, and economic impact of long-term sequelae are limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective cohort study was performed using nationwide statutory health insurance claims covering up to 6.8 million insured individuals in Germany (2013–2023). Incident TBE cases were matched 1:5 to TBE-free controls by age, sex, region, comorbidities and healthcare utilization prior to index event. Neurological, mental, and general sequelae occurring ≥90 days after diagnosis or ≥30 days after hospital discharge (whichever came last) were assessed through 18 months. Healthcare utilization, direct medical costs, sick leave, and corresponding sickness benefit payments were compared.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 187 TBE patients (mean age 44 years; 57% male) and 881 controls, neurological sequelae occurred significantly more often after TBE (incidence rate ratio 1.56, 95% CI 1.13–2.15), particularly in adults ≥40 years and in men. No significant differences were observed for general and mental sequelae. Median sequela onset was 94 days after TBE index diagnosis. Overall costs were significantly higher among TBE patients in the post-acute phase, largely attributable to excess sick-leave days (+23.3, 95% CI 8.9–37.6) and higher sickness-benefit payments.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>TBE was associated with an excess of neurological sequelae, increased sick leave, and higher sickness-benefit costs during follow-up. Although the sample size was modest and several estimates showed wide confidence intervals, the findings suggest a relevant post-acute clinical and societal burden and support the importance of follow-up care and preventive vaccination in Germany.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102672"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148273565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural antibodies induced by host gut microbiota modulate tick microbiota, inhibiting Borrelia colonization","authors":"Lourdes Mateos-Hernandez,&nbsp;Alejandra Wu-Chuang,&nbsp;Apolline Maitre,&nbsp;Ryan O.M. Rego,&nbsp;Lianet Abuin-Denis,&nbsp;Elianne Piloto-Sardiñas,&nbsp;Natalia Fernández-Ruiz,&nbsp;Jennifer Maye,&nbsp;Justė Aželytė,&nbsp;Pavle Banović,&nbsp;Vaidas Palinauskas,&nbsp;Dasiel Obregon,&nbsp;Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The gut microbiome undergoes natural selection pressure, likely because it can affect infection resistance by stimulating natural antibody (NAb) production, notably against the glycan Galα1–3Galβ1–4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal). In our study, we explored whether particular glycans, such as α-Gal, from specific host microbiota components could trigger NAbs that, once ingested by <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> ticks during the blood meal, are capable of cross-reacting with bacterial strains in the tick microbiota that share these glycans. Such interactions might alter the tick microbiota and reduce <em>Borrelia afzelii</em> colonization in ticks. When mice were orally administered various <em>Escherichia coli</em> strains, it triggered the stimulation of NAbs and resulted in strain-specific alterations in the tick microbiota. These changes effectively decreased <em>Borrelia</em> colonization in the tick vector. Additionally, vaccination with the glycan α-Gal induced notable shifts in the tick microbiota and similarly reduced <em>Borrelia</em> colonization. Reduced <em>Borrelia</em> colonization was associated with shifts in bacterial diversity, abundance, and microbial network properties. The study provides evidence that natural mechanisms, such as the production of NAb in response to the host gut microbiome, can modulate the microbiota of disease vectors and reduce pathogen colonization within the vector. These findings offer new insights into potential strategies for reducing the transmission of vector-borne diseases through modulation of the host gut microbiome.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102674"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EU-wide external quality assessment study on the sensitivity and specificity of different DNA amplification protocols for the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato","authors":"Barbara I. Streibl,&nbsp;Maximilian Faller,&nbsp;Gabriele Margos,&nbsp;Andreas Hiergeist,&nbsp;Udo Reischl,&nbsp;Benoit Jaulhac,&nbsp;Klaus-Peter Hunfeld,&nbsp;Anna J. Henningsson,&nbsp;Malin Lager,&nbsp;Christina Strube,&nbsp;Cecilia Hizo-Teufel,&nbsp;Sylvia Stockmeier,&nbsp;Andreas Sing,&nbsp;Volker Fingerle,&nbsp;the ESCMID Study Group for Tick-Borne Diseases","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102671","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102671","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is mainly based on clinical symptoms, patient’s history, and serological testing. Despite a lack of standardization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has gained importance for the detection of <em>Borrelia</em> DNA. So far, extensive studies comparing different protocols used in molecular diagnostic or research setting are missing. Here, we describe a European-wide comparison of commercial and in-house PCR protocols using a standardized DNA panel including all relevant <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> sensu lato (Bbsl) species to explore variation in PCR results in different laboratories.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A DNA testing panel composed of 90 DNA samples from 14 Bbsl strains in six different dilutions, plus six specificity controls, was sent blinded to 34 laboratories (33 European plus one in the US). The results from a total of 57 different amplification protocols were collected and compared regarding their detection limits, specificity, and sensitivity over all Bbsl strains for each dilution included in the DNA panel.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>While the detection limits showed vast differences (&gt;10⁵ genome equivalents (GE)) between different amplification protocols, none of the most commonly used PCR targets (<em>ospA</em>, 16S rRNA, flagellin, 5S-23S intergenic spacer) significantly outperformed other PCR targets. Interestingly, large differences in detection limits were found not only between different protocols, but also when the same protocol was used on different Bbsl species (&gt;10⁵ GE) and even on different strains of the same Bbsl species (&gt;10⁴ GE). Specificity also varied between different protocols, with many protocols recognizing relapsing fever <em>Borreliae</em>.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A standardization of PCR methods used for confirmation of LB diagnosis is urgently needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102671"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148259950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Not all trophozoites are malaria: A case of babesiosis in a traveler from the USA","authors":"Anna Barbiero,&nbsp;Lucia Graziani,&nbsp;Laura Povolo,&nbsp;Alessandra Fanelli,&nbsp;Alessandro Bonari,&nbsp;Alberto Antonelli,&nbsp;Guendalina Vaggelli,&nbsp;Francesca Malentacchi,&nbsp;Gian Maria Rossolini,&nbsp;Simona Gabrielli,&nbsp;Simonetta Mattiucci,&nbsp;Michele Spinicci,&nbsp;Alessandro Bartoloni,&nbsp;Lorenzo Zammarchi","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease caused by protozoa of the genus <em>Babesia</em>, is endemic in North America, but rarely reported in Europe. We report a case involving a splenectomised 72-year-old man from New Hampshire, USA, who was admitted at Careggi University Hospital (Florence, Italy), complaining of a febrile syndrome appeared during a trip to central Italy. After the laboratory flagged the presence of intra-erythrocytic ring-shaped elements, malaria was initially suspected but subsequently excluded by molecular testing. Based on epidemiological and clinical history, <em>Babesia microti</em> infection was suspected and confirmed by molecular test on peripheral blood. Oral atovaquone and intravenous azithromycin were administered for 7 days, switched to oral therapy following clinical improvement and parasitemia clearance. In non-endemic regions, the typical clinical features of this case might not raise suspicion. Nevertheless, rapid diagnosis and treatment are key to ensure favorable clinical outcomes, since babesiosis can cause rapidly aggravating illness, particularly in splenectomised patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102677"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148354510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predictors of tick-associated rash illness (TARI) among tick bite patients: Roles of exposure history and tick biological characteristics","authors":"Paula Andrea Jiménez,&nbsp;Masaru Natsuaki,&nbsp;Ernest Teo,&nbsp;Mackenzie L. Kwak,&nbsp;Naoki Hayashi,&nbsp;Nariaki Nonaka,&nbsp;Ryo Nakao","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Tick-borne diseases are an important public health concern worldwide. In Japan, tick-associated rash illness (TARI) has been frequently reported following bites from <em>Amblyomma testudinarium</em>. However, the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors associated with TARI are not well understood. This study aimed to characterize tick bite cases and identify predictors associated with the development of TARI.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We analyzed 523 tick bite cases reported by medical clinics in Hyogo and Shizuoka Prefectures, Japan, between 2019 and 2024. Data on demographics, clinical manifestations, tick bite history, and tick characteristics were collected. Although tick bite cases associated with different tick species were recorded, statistical analyses were restricted to <em>A. testudinarium</em>-associated cases because most TARI cases occurred in this group. Associations with TARI were evaluated using comparative analyses and multivariable logistic regression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Most tick bite cases were associated with <em>A. testudinarium</em> (84.5%). The average age of individuals was 54 years. Increasing age was independently associated with higher TARI risk (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.06 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.10). A strong exposure–response relationship was observed between prior tick bites and TARI risk: patients reporting three or more previous tick bites had 7.0-fold higher odds of developing TARI (95% CI 3.04–16.80) compared with first-time exposures. Tick biological characteristics were also significant predictors: bites from larval ticks were associated with 8.52-fold higher odds of TARI than bites from nymphal ticks (95% CI 1.48–58.10), and moderately engorged ticks carried 3.14-fold higher odds compared with unfed ticks (95% CI 1.23–8.71). Season was also associated with TARI occurrence, with significantly lower odds observed in summer and autumn compared with spring.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>History of repeated tick bites and biological characteristics of the removed ticks seem to be major factors associated with TARI risk, supporting the hypothesis that TARI may represent an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Given the broader distribution of <em>A. testudinarium</em> in Southeast Asia, clinical awareness and detailed exposure assessment are needed beyond Japan to improve diagnosis and guide public health strategies for at-risk populations across the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102681"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148450206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tick-borne diseases in Illinois (USA): A retrospective case analysis","authors":"Sulagna Chakraborty,&nbsp;Holly Black,&nbsp;Abrar Hussain,&nbsp;Nohra Mateus-Pinilla,&nbsp;Rebecca Lee Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Illinois is known to have established populations of four vector tick species of human health concern: <em>Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum</em>, and <em>Amblyomma maculatum</em>. These ticks can transmit pathogens causing eight reportable tick-borne diseases (TBDs): anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFG rickettsioses), Powassan virus disease, Heartland virus disease, and Bourbon virus disease. The incidence of these diseases is spatially varied and has been changing over time. The purpose of this research is to describe factors associated with human incidence of the various tick-borne diseases in Illinois and to compare this to factors associated with canine seroprevalence to similar tick-borne diseases. All cases of tick-borne diseases in humans reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) between 2004 (when reporting began) and 2022 were reviewed (n = 6423), with all county-level seropositivity and canine test data reported by the Companion Animal Parasite Council between 2009 (when reporting began) and 2022. Descriptive statistics were performed to identify spatial and temporal variation. Comparison with known risk factors was conducted using zero-inflated spatiotemporal modeling for anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and SFG rickettsioses in humans and anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and Lyme disease in dogs. Every county in Illinois reported at least one case of a human TBD from 2004 to 2022. Most reported cases were in males (61%), white (71%), and non-Hispanic (64%) residents over 40 years of age (56%). On average, the annual number of human cases increased by 23 cases every year (95% CI: 15, 31), despite large year-to-year fluctuations, with 343 in 2022 and 645 in 2021. The spatial hotspots were noted in southern Illinois for human TBDs associated with <em>A. americanum,</em> and <em>D. variabilis,</em> and for dog exposure associated with <em>A. americanum</em>. Hotspots were also noted in northern Illinois for diseases and exposure associated with <em>I. scapularis</em> for both humans and dogs and across the 2004–2022 study period. Case incidence was higher in rural counties, counties with higher deer harvests, and counties with lower median household income. These findings can be used to guide public health efforts that target self-prevention strategies to decrease the risk of a tick bite and tick-borne diseases in Illinois and are applicable in similar midwestern states with expanding TBD risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102675"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148310306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tick-borne pathogens in a nature reserve area in the Netherlands: serological and molecular assessments in large herbivores and Ixodes ricinus ticks","authors":"Inês Marcelino,&nbsp;Roosmarie Vriens,&nbsp;Renate W. Hakze-van der Honing,&nbsp;Paulina Lesiczka,&nbsp;Ankje de Vries,&nbsp;Heather Graham,&nbsp;Kiki Streng,&nbsp;Perry Cornelissen,&nbsp;Mathilde Uiterwijk,&nbsp;Gustavo Monti,&nbsp;Hein Sprong,&nbsp;Wim H.M. Van der Poel","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ticks are vectors of a wide range of pathogens, relevant to both veterinary and public health. Although tick surveillance is frequently conducted in the Netherlands, data on tick-borne pathogens in free-living herbivores remains limited, leaving the impact of these pathogens on animal health poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise tick species and determine seroprevalence and infection prevalence of selected tick-borne pathogens in large herbivores at the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve and questing ticks collected in the area.</div><div>Between September 2023 and December 2024, blood was opportunistically sampled from Heck cattle, Konik horses, and red deer culled for population control, and questing ticks were collected. Serum, blood, and pooled tick samples were tested for tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), <em>Anaplasma</em> spp., <em>A. phagocytophilum, Babesia</em> spp., <em>B. microti, B. caballi</em> and <em>Theileria equi, Borrelia burgdorferi</em> s.l., and <em>B. miyamotoi</em> using serological and molecular methods.</div><div>In total, 2617 questing <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> were collected. In red deer (<em>n</em> = 177), seropositivity was 6.2% for TBEV, prevalence was 58.9% for <em>A. phagocytophilum</em>, and 53.4% for <em>Babesia</em> spp. (predominantly <em>B. divergens</em> and <em>B.</em> cf. <em>odocoilei</em>). Corresponding values in cattle (<em>n</em> = 36) were 0%, 14.3%, and 3.6%, and in horses (<em>n</em> = 89) 0%, 1.2%, and 0%, respectively. In questing ticks, TBEV (0.04%), <em>Babesia</em> spp. (1.5%; mainly <em>B. venatorum</em> and <em>B.</em> cf. <em>odocoilei</em>; excluding <em>B. microti</em>), <em>B. microti</em> (1.9%), <em>B. burgdorferi</em> s.l. (8.5%), <em>B. miyamotoi</em> (1.8%), and <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> (1.1%) were detected.</div><div>This study provides new evidence of TBEV circulation and confirms active transmission of multiple tick-borne pathogens at Oostvaardersplassen. These findings support integrating systematic tick surveillance into existing monitoring programmes at nature reserves, strengthening One Health informed disease surveillance to safeguard animal and public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102686"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148581129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens in horses in Austria – A cross-sectional study on current and past infections and potential risk factors","authors":"Jutta Pikalo ,&nbsp;Antonia Homann ,&nbsp;Alexander Goller ,&nbsp;Ivan Stimac ,&nbsp;Alexander Tichy ,&nbsp;Orietta Rother ,&nbsp;Jessika-Maximiliane Cavalleri ,&nbsp;Anja Joachim","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens are a major threat to equine health worldwide. In Austria, studies on pathogens such as piroplasms, <em>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</em> and <em>Borrelia</em> spp. in horses are scarce and do not cover the countrywide horse population. To address this, blood samples from horses without prior record of infection with tick-borne pathogens (<em>n</em> = 588) were tested for the presence of <em>Theileria equi, Babesia caballi</em> or <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> DNA by PCR and for specific antibodies against these pathogens and <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> with commercially available assays. While no DNA of <em>B. caballi</em> could be amplified, specific anti-<em>B. caballi</em> antibodies were detected in eleven horses (1.9% by ELISA). DNA of <em>T. equi</em> was amplified in twelve horses. In two horses DNA of <em>Babesia canis</em> was detected. Anti-<em>T. equi</em> antibodies were detected in the <em>T. equi</em> PCR-positive horses and one of the <em>B. canis</em>-PCR-positive animals. No <em>A. phagocytophilum</em>-DNA could be amplified, while anti-<em>Ap</em> antibodies were detected in 42.7% (IFAT) resp. 57.3% (ELISA) of 544 horses, and 44.2% had specific anti-<em>B. burgdorferi</em> antibodies. Of the <em>A. phagocytophilum</em>-seropositive horses<em>,</em> 57.8% were also positive for <em>B. burgdorferi</em>. In total, 28% of the horses were positive for two or three pathogens. Common significant associations with infections included pasturing and housing, and, for <em>T. equi</em>, also place of birth/import. High infection rates with <em>A. phagocytophilum</em> and <em>B. burgdorferi</em> indicate a significant exposure of Austrian horses for ticks and tickborne pathogens in general, and, together with the <em>T. equi</em> infections detected throughout the country, highlight the potential risk of transmission to vectors with further infections of horses and subsequent disease after tick bites during pasturing or outdoor activities, and should alert veterinarians to include these etiologies as differential diagnoses in clinically overt cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102680"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148388070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Qualitative profiling of the gut-specific chlamydial population in Ixodes ricinus ticks","authors":"Adnan Hodžić,&nbsp;Viktoria Cizek,&nbsp;Martin Kunert,&nbsp;David Berry,&nbsp;Astrid Collingro","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2026.102679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Members of the phylum Chlamydiota are obligate intracellular bacteria increasingly recognized across a wide range of arthropod hosts, including ticks. In this study, we investigated the diversity and distribution of chlamydiae in <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> ticks and their potential association with Lyme borreliosis spirochetes. A total of 250 questing nymphal and female <em>I. ricinus</em> ticks were collected from three recreational sites in Vienna, Austria. Individual tick guts were screened for chlamydiae using pan-Chlamydiota PCR assays targeting the 16S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing for taxonomic identification. The presence and abundance of <em>Borrelia burgdorferi</em> sensu lato were quantified by specific qPCR to evaluate potential co-occurrence patterns. Chlamydiota DNA was detected in ticks from all investigated areas, with prevalence varying according to geography and developmental stage. Phylogenetic analyzes revealed high chlamydial diversity within the gut microbiome, predominantly comprising members of the metagenomic family MCF-D, followed by Parachlamydiaceae, Endochlamydiaceae, and Parasimkaniaceae. A positive, albeit not statistically significant, association between Chlamydiota and <em>Borrelia</em> was also observed. These findings indicate that the <em>I. ricinus</em> gut microbiome harbours a diverse assemblage of chlamydiae, suggesting potential ecological and functional relevance. Overall, our study highlights the importance of tissue-specific, single-tick analyzes for elucidating microbiome complexity and advances current understanding of Chlamydiota diversity in the tick vector. Further experimental and multi-omics studies are warranted to elucidate the biological roles of these bacteria in tick physiology and pathogen infection dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"17 4","pages":"Article 102679"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}