Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases最新文献

{"title":"Anaplasma capra and Haemaphysalis concinna: Investigating a potential vector relationship in a wildlife reserve","authors":"Maggy Jouglin ,&nbsp;Barbara Blanc ,&nbsp;Alice Brunet ,&nbsp;Katia Ortiz ,&nbsp;Laurence Malandrin","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102500","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102500","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, <em>Anaplasma capra</em>, a new member of the Anaplasmataceae, has been described in Asia and Europe. This pathogen infects a range of hosts, including small ruminants, cervids, and humans, and has been detected across several tick genera. In this study, we aimed to identify potential transmission vectors of <em>A. capra</em> by screening questing ticks from a wild fauna reserve where it had previously been detected in its red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em>) and swamp deer (<em>Rucervus duvaucelii</em>) populations. DNA of <em>Anaplasma capra</em> was sought in the dissected salivary glands of 198 adult questing <em>Haemaphysalis concinna</em> and 74 adult questing <em>Haemaphysalis inermis</em> ticks, which were collected from vegetation by visual inspection. <em>Anaplasma capra</em> was detected in the salivary glands of a single female <em>H. concinna</em>, suggesting potential vector competence for this pathogen. Sequences of the gltA and 16S rRNA genes from this sample were identical to those previously obtained from deer blood samples within the reserve. We also confirmed the circulation of <em>A. capra</em> in additional red deer within the reserve.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102500"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240387","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":"Sympatric occurrence of Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Haemaphysalis inermis in a wild fauna reserve","authors":"Héloïse Duchêne ,&nbsp;Albert Agoulon ,&nbsp;Nathalie de la Cotte ,&nbsp;Claire Bonsergent ,&nbsp;Maggy Jouglin ,&nbsp;Barbara Blanc ,&nbsp;Alice Brunet ,&nbsp;Katia Ortiz ,&nbsp;Suzanne Bastian ,&nbsp;Laurence Malandrin","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wildlife reserves represent confined ecosystems with a high concentration of non-native animal species. The <em>Réserve Zoologique de la Haute Touche</em>, a unique forested environment, houses approximately 50 species, primarily Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla. We conducted a comprehensive tick survey within the reserve in 2017, collecting ticks from vegetation by flagging (outside enclosures on 101 sampling points in May and September, inside 21 enclosures in May), by visual search outside enclosures in May, and directly on animals captured for routine veterinary interventions, over four consecutive years (2015–2018).</div><div>A total of 13,038 questing ticks, representing seven species, were collected via flagging outside and inside enclosures. <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> (88.9%), <em>Haemaphysalis concinna</em> (10.1 %), and <em>Haemaphysalis inermis</em> (1 %) were the dominant species, with all three parasitic life stages of these species found in May. The less common species were <em>Ixodes acuminatus</em> (2 nymphs), <em>Ixodes frontalis</em> (2 nymphs), <em>Dermacentor reticulatus</em> (3 adults), and <em>Dermacentor marginatus</em> (1 adult). <em>Ixodes ricinus</em> was ubiquitous throughout the reserve, outside and inside enclosures, at nearly all sampling sites (100/101 and 9/21 enclosures), followed by <em>H. concinna</em> (78/101 sites and 6/21 enclosures) and <em>H. inermis</em> (49/101 sites and 1/21 enclosures). Tick densities varied greatly with peak densities reaching 1221 <em>I. ricinus</em> nymphs per 100 m² and 46 <em>I. ricinus</em> adults per 100 m² in May. <em>Haemaphysalis concinna</em> densities reached 124 nymphs per 100 m². Visual searches for adult ticks on vegetation revealed statistically different proportions of these three species between different areas of the reserve, with <em>H. inermis</em> reaching 40.5 % of the collected adults in a specific area. Enclosures housing roe deer (<em>Capreolus capreolus</em>) and red deer (<em>Cervus elaphus</em>) exhibited the highest tick abundance on vegetation. Feeding ticks, including <em>I. ricinus</em> (<em>n</em> = 53), <em>H. concinna</em> (<em>n</em> = 26), and <em>D. reticulatus</em> (<em>n</em> = 1), were collected from 15 animals of six ruminant species.</div><div>This study represents the first documented sympatric occurrence of <em>I. ricinus, H. concinna</em>, and <em>H. inermis</em> in France, and the first description of <em>Haemaphysalis</em> species within a zoological reserve. The potential for pathogen transmission by these three generalist species and especially <em>Haemaphysalis</em> species (paucity of data) warrants further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102491"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212850","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":"Clinical characteristics of and diagnostic approaches to human Francisella tularensis infection: a retrospective, monocentric case study from Germany","authors":"Sophie E. Müller ,&nbsp;Sophie Schneitler ,&nbsp;Sabine Zange ,&nbsp;Maximilian Linxweiler ,&nbsp;Arne Simon ,&nbsp;Lorenz Thurner ,&nbsp;Sören L. Becker","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Francisella tularensis</em>, the causative agent of tularemia, poses a challenge for diagnosis and treatment due to its diverse clinical presentations and low incidence. Hence, the awareness among clinicians is comparatively low. This study reports the clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, and treatment outcomes of tularemia cases at one tertiary center in Germany over a 12-yearperiod.</div><div>This retrospective monocentric case series considered all tularemia cases diagnosed at Saarland University Medical Center in Homburg, Germany between January 2013 and December 2024. Cases were identified from electronic medical records, and the certainty of tularemia was graded as definite, probable and possible infection, based on results of serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, or blood cultures. Clinical data were extracted from patient records and supplemented by follow-up information from the clinicians.</div><div>We identified 14 tularemia cases, including 6 definite as well as 3 probable and 5 possible cases. The clinical presentation was highly variable, with the (ulcero-)glandular form being the most common entity (10/14). Invasive diagnostics or surgery were required in eleven out of 14 patients. Initial misdiagnosis was common, leading to delayed diagnosis and multiple courses of ineffective antibiotics. Definite treatment included fluoroquinolones or doxycycline, and led to resolution of symptoms in most patients.</div><div>The varied clinical manifestations of tularemia, from classic (ulcero-)glandular forms to severe and atypical presentations illustrate its diagnostic and clinical complexity. Enhanced awareness and early consideration are crucial, especially in endemic areas or patients with anamnestic environmental exposures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 4","pages":"Article 102492"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195438","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":"Quantitative detection of Theileria haneyi in South African horses","authors":"Raksha V. Bhoora,&nbsp;Tshenolo V. Mbaba,&nbsp;Milana Troskie,&nbsp;Rebecca E. Ackermann,&nbsp;Nicola E. Collins","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102487","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102487","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Theileria haneyi</em> is an apicomplexan parasite closely related to <em>Theileria equi</em>, a known causative agent of equine piroplasmosis. The molecular distinction between these parasites relies on a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, which has been reported to be unreliable. A recently reported indirect ELISA based on equi merozoite antigen 11 (Th<em>ema</em>-11) of <em>T. haneyi</em> can detect geographically diverse <em>T. haneyi</em> strains. Since the <em>ema</em>-11 gene is exclusive to <em>T. haneyi</em>, it was chosen as the target for developing a TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB™) quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Published <em>T. haneyi ema</em>-11 gene sequences were used to design primers to amplify the <em>ema</em>-11 gene, and <em>ema</em>-11 amplicons from South African samples were cloned and sequenced. An alignment of the South African <em>ema</em>-11 gene sequences with published <em>T. haneyi ema</em>-11 gene sequences enabled the identification of a conserved region for the design of the qPCR assay. The <em>T. haneyi ema</em>-11 (Th<em>ema</em>-11) qPCR assay was efficient, specific, and sensitive in detecting <em>T. haneyi ema</em>-11. The detection limit was determined to be 1.169 × 10^–3 % parasitized erythrocytes. The performance of the Th<em>ema</em>-11 qPCR assay was evaluated together with a <em>T. equi ema</em>-1-specific qPCR assay. <em>Theileria haneyi</em> was detected in 67.6 % of the South African field samples screened, while the occurrence of <em>T. equi</em> based on the quantitative amplification of the <em>ema</em>-1 gene was higher (91.8 %). Our results suggest that combined, the Th<em>ema</em>-11 and <em>T. equi ema</em>-1 qPCR assays could detect and differentiate between <em>T. haneyi</em> and <em>T. equi</em> infections.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102487"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937529","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":"Diversity and prevalence of spotted-fever group rickettsiae in ixodid ticks across Slovakia, Central Europe","authors":"Ivana Heglasová ,&nbsp;Bronislava Víchová ,&nbsp;Michal Stanko","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Habitats with the sympatric occurrence of several ixodid tick species are significant from an epidemiological perspective. These habitats can influence the diversity and prevalence of tick-borne pathogens, and their monitoring can help estimate the risk of infection. A total of 1260 questing ticks from five species (<em>Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Haemaphysalis concinna</em>, and <em>Haemaphysalis inermis</em>) were collected from vegetation using the flagging method in three different habitats in eastern Slovakia. Additionally, 900 rodent-attached ticks of six species (<em>I. ricinus, Ixodes trianguliceps, D. marginatus, D. reticulatus, H. concinna</em>, and <em>H. inermis</em>) collected from 149 small mammals belonging to seven species (<em>Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus agrarius, Microtus arvalis, Myodes glareolus, Micromys minutus, Crocidura leucodon</em>, and <em>Crocidura suaveolens</em>) were selected for molecular analyses. DNA obtained from rodent-attached and questing ticks was tested by nested PCR targeting the <em>gltA</em> gene to determine the presence of <em>Rickettsia</em> spp. The <em>ompA, ompB</em>, and <em>sca4</em> genes were amplified and sequenced to identify rickettsiae species. The overall prevalence of rickettsiae in questing and rodent-attached ticks was 12.5 % and 20.0 %, respectively. Overall studied localities, the most diverse spectrum of rickettsiae species, including <em>R. helvetica, R. monacensis, R. raoultii</em>, and <em>R. slovaca</em>, was recorded in questing and rodent-attached ticks in the natural habitat of the Slovak Karst. The dominant species, <em>R. helvetica</em> (62.9 %), was identified in two species of questing and rodent-attached ticks, specifically <em>I. ricinus</em> and <em>H. concinna,</em> and in rodent-attached <em>D. reticulatus</em> ticks. <em>Rickettsia raoultii</em> (20.4 %) was identified in questing and rodent-attached <em>D. marginatus, D. reticulatus,</em> and in questing <em>H. concinna</em>. Additionally, this study provides the first input of pathogenic <em>R. raoultii</em> in <em>I. trianguliceps</em> obtained from the striped field mouse (<em>A. agrarius</em>). <em>Rickettsia monacensis</em> (9.0 %) was detected in questing and rodent-attached <em>I. ricinus</em>, while <em>Rickettsia slovaca</em> (3.6 %) was found in questing and rodent-attached <em>D. marginatus</em> ticks. Natural biotopes with different tick species and hosts significantly affect the diversity and prevalence of rickettsiae.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102490"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124687","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":"Epidemiological study on the prevalence of Anaplasma ovis infection in Aragón, Spain","authors":"Héctor Ruiz ,&nbsp;José María González ,&nbsp;Marta Ruiz de Arcaute ,&nbsp;Sergio Villanueva-Saz ,&nbsp;Juan José Ramos ,&nbsp;José Luis Arnal ,&nbsp;Cristina Baselga ,&nbsp;Pablo Quilez ,&nbsp;Aurora Ortín ,&nbsp;Delia Lacasta","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102486","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102486","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ovine anaplasmosis is an emerging disease in Europe, primarily affecting the Mediterranean region. It is caused by <em>Anaplasma ovis</em>, a bacterium mainly transmitted by ticks. Despite its growing presence, comprehensive data on its distribution across Europe remain scarce. This epidemiological study aimed to assess the prevalence of <em>A. ovis</em> in sheep farms across Aragón, Spain, between March 2023 and April 2024. A total of 70 farms, covering a diverse range of climatic zones within Aragón, were sampled, representing 700 sheep. Two pooled blood samples, each comprising five sheep per farm, were tested using quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect the presence of <em>A. ovis</em>. The results revealed a widespread presence of the bacterium, with 69 out of 70 farms testing positive. The only negative case was a farm located in a Steppe Dry climate area near Zaragoza, at approximately 240 m above sea level. Notably, no clinical signs of the disease were observed in any of the animals during the study period. In addition to the high prevalence, the study highlighted a concerning lack of awareness among farmers, with only 33 % reporting familiarity with the disease. These findings underscore the extensive distribution of <em>A. ovis</em> in Aragón and suggest that neither climatic conditions nor livestock management practices had a significant influence on transmission. The study also emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced control measures, increased farmer education, and further research into environmental and management factors that may contribute to outbreaks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102486"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937671","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":"Corrigendum to “Rodent-targeted fluralaner baiting reduces the density of Borrelia burgdorferi-infected questing Ixodes scapularis ticks in a peri-urban setting in southern Canada” [Ticks Tick Borne Dis 16(2);2025 102467]","authors":"Jérôme Pelletier ,&nbsp;Jean-Philippe Rocheleau ,&nbsp;Catherine Bouchard ,&nbsp;Geneviève Baron ,&nbsp;Heather Coatsworth ,&nbsp;Antonia Dibernardo ,&nbsp;Christopher Fernandez-Prada ,&nbsp;Nicholas H Ogden ,&nbsp;Liliana Potes ,&nbsp;Patrick A Leighton ,&nbsp;Cécile Aenishaenslin","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102489","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102489"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144144048","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":"Tick hazard in a Central European country: Mapping Europe’s principal tick-borne disease vector across Germany","authors":"Andrea Springer ,&nbsp;Alexander Lindau ,&nbsp;Katrin Fachet-Lehmann ,&nbsp;Daniel Kämmer ,&nbsp;Ingrid Bulling ,&nbsp;Steffen Knoll ,&nbsp;Nina Król ,&nbsp;Dominik Fischer ,&nbsp;Luisa Fischer ,&nbsp;Marco Drehmann ,&nbsp;Lidia Chitimia-Dobler ,&nbsp;Madeleine Noll ,&nbsp;Hannah Rose Vineer ,&nbsp;Olaf Kahl ,&nbsp;Martin Pfeffer ,&nbsp;Christina Strube ,&nbsp;Ute Mackenstedt","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102485","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102485","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The most common European tick species, <em>Ixodes ricinus,</em> is the principal vector of <em>Borrelia</em> and tick-borne encephalitis virus and several other pathogens of public health relevance in Europe. Comprehensive data on tick abundance and the underlying ecological drivers are crucial for developing awareness and control strategies and to assess future changes in tick-borne disease risk. We aimed to provide a Germany-wide map of <em>I. ricinus</em> abundance to aid in disease transmission risk assessment. During 2018−2020, questing tick density was assessed at 83 sites across the whole country by drag flagging, whereby 49,344 <em>I. ricinus</em> nymphs and adults were collected. Relationships between climate, land cover, and monthly questing <em>I. ricinus</em> nymph density were explored and used to draw an abundance map. Highest tick hazard was observed in areas near the coast with mild winters and moist springs, and in mid-elevation mountain ranges, which represent popular tourist destinations. The ticks’ seasonal activity pattern was predominantly unimodal. The fact that the observed regional differences are contradictory to a previous estimation based on a combination of regional studies illustrates the need for an extensive and coordinated sampling effort to reliably estimate tick abundance at larger spatial scales. Combined with data on tick-borne pathogens, our study enables estimating the density of infected ticks and consequently the risk of acquiring an infectious tick bite. Moreover, the observed relationships with climate and land cover can help to predict future developments of tick hazard under different climate scenarios in Central Europe.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102485"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144069873","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":"Corrigendum to “Effective control of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Daishan County, a former epicenter in Zhejiang Province, Southeast China” [Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 16 (2025) 102481]","authors":"Qilong Tan ,&nbsp;Shuqin Fu ,&nbsp;Jiwei Shu ,&nbsp;Ying Liu ,&nbsp;Yihan Lou ,&nbsp;Mingxing Hu ,&nbsp;Sen Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiangping Ren ,&nbsp;Jimin Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102484","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102484"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144056891","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":"Vaccinomics-driven selection and validation of protective salivary antigens from the argasid tick Ornithodoros moubata","authors":"Ana Laura Cano-Argüelles,&nbsp;Ana Oleaga,&nbsp;María González-Sánchez,&nbsp;Rocío Vizcaíno-Marín,&nbsp;Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102483","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102483","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Ornithodoros moubata</em> serves as primary vector of African swine fever and tick-borne human relapsing fever in Africa. Developing an effective vaccine targeting this argasid tick would significantly enhance disease control measures. To identify potential vaccine targets, the recently characterised sialome of <em>O. moubata</em> was analysed using a vaccinomics approach. This led to the identification of a set of salivary secreted proteins predicted to be antigenic and implicated in the regulation of blood-feeding and host immune defences. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protective potential of seven of these proteins, namely Complement inhibitor (OmCI), Cyclophilin (OmCPH), Hypothetical protein 275 (OmH275), Peroxiredoxin (OmPXR), Calreticulin (OmCLR), Neprilysin (OmNEP), and Superoxide dismutase (OmSOD). These candidates were produced as recombinant proteins, formulated with Montanide adjuvant, and administered individually to different groups of rabbits. Adult and nymphal-3 specimens of <em>O. moubata</em> and <em>Ornithodoros erraticus</em> (the Mediterranean vector of ASF and TBRF) were allowed to feed on the vaccinated rabbits, and the ticks’ feeding performance, survival, and reproduction rates were assessed. OmH275, OmPXR, OmCPH, and OmCLR conferred 20 %–32 % protection against <em>O. moubata</em> and/or <em>O. erraticus</em>, whereas OmCI, OmNEP, and OmSOD afforded 2 %–17 % protection against one or both tick species. Consequently, OmH275, OmPXR, OmCPH, and OmCLR were deemed suitable candidates for inclusion in the development of anti-<em>Ornithodoros</em> cocktail vaccines, while OmCI, OmNEP, and OmSOD were considered less promising for tick vaccine development. These findings validate the vaccinomics pipeline, identifying four of seven candidates (57 %) as viable antigens for Ornithodoros tick vaccines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49320,"journal":{"name":"Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases","volume":"16 3","pages":"Article 102483"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143883222","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}