Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans
through Ixodes ricinus

J 2021

Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus

AZAGI, Tal, Ryanne I. JAARSMA, Arieke Docters VAN LEEUWEN, Manoj FONVILLE, Miriam MAAS et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus

Authors

AZAGI, Tal (guarantor), Ryanne I. JAARSMA, Arieke Docters VAN LEEUWEN, Manoj FONVILLE, Miriam MAAS, Frits F. J. FRANSSEN, Marja KIK, Jolianne M. RIJKS, Margriet G. MONTIZAAN, Margit GROENEVELT, Mark HOYER, Helen J. ESSER, Aleksandra I. KRAWCZYK, David MODRÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Hein SPRONG and Samiye DEMIR

Edition

Pathogens, MDPI, 2021, 2076-0817

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10606 Microbiology

Country of publisher

Switzerland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.531

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/21:00123522

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386

UT WoS

000643390600001

Keywords in English

babesiosis; Ixodes ricinus; sylvatic cycle; zoonoses; disease risk; One Health

Abstract

V originále

Human babesiosis in Europe has been attributed to infection with Babesia divergens and, to a lesser extent, with Babesia venatorum and Babesia microti, which are all transmitted to humans through a bite of Ixodes ricinus. These Babesia species circulate in the Netherlands, but autochthonous human babesiosis cases have not been reported so far. To gain more insight into the natural sources of these Babesia species, their presence in reservoir hosts and in I. ricinus was examined. Moreover, part of the ticks were tested for co-infections with other tick borne pathogens. In a cross-sectional study, qPCR-detection was used to determine the presence of Babesia species in 4611 tissue samples from 27 mammalian species and 13 bird species. Reverse line blotting (RLB) and qPCR detection of Babesia species were used to test 25,849 questing I. ricinus. Fragments of the 18S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from PCR-positive isolates were sequenced for confirmation and species identification and species-specific PCR reactions were performed on samples with suspected mixed infections. Babesia microti was found in two widespread rodent species: Myodes glareolus and Apodemus sylvaticus, whereas B. divergens was detected in the geographically restricted Cervus elaphus and Bison bonasus, and occasionally in free-ranging Ovis aries. B. venatorum was detected in the ubiquitous Capreolus capreolus, and occasionally in free-ranging O. aries. Species-specific PCR revealed co-infections in C. capreolus and C. elaphus, resulting in higher prevalence of B. venatorum and B. divergens than disclosed by qPCR detection, followed by 18S rDNA and COI sequencing. The non-zoonotic Babesia species found were Babesia capreoli, Babesia vulpes, Babesia sp. deer clade, and badger-associated Babesia species. The infection rate of zoonotic Babesia species in questing I. ricinus ticks was higher for Babesia clade I (2.6%) than Babesia clade X (1.9%). Co-infection of B. microti with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Neoehrlichia mikurensis in questing nymphs occurred more than expected, which reflects their mutual reservoir hosts, and suggests the possibility of co-transmission of these three pathogens to humans during a tick bite. The ubiquitous spread and abundance of B. microti and B. venatorum in their reservoir hosts and questing ticks imply some level of human exposure through tick bites. The restricted distribution of the wild reservoir hosts for B. divergens and its low infection rate in ticks might contribute to the absence of reported autochthonous cases of human babesiosis in the Netherlands.

Citovat

AZAGI, Tal, Ryanne I. JAARSMA, Arieke Docters VAN LEEUWEN, Manoj FONVILLE, Miriam MAAS, Frits F. J. FRANSSEN, Marja KIK, Jolianne M. RIJKS, Margriet G. MONTIZAAN, Margit GROENEVELT, Mark HOYER, Helen J. ESSER, Aleksandra I. KRAWCZYK, David MODRÝ, Hein SPRONG and Samiye DEMIR. Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus. Pathogens. MDPI, 2021, vol. 10, No 4, p. 386-405. ISSN 2076-0817. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386.

@article{1817103,
   author = {Azagi, Tal and Jaarsma, Ryanne I. and van Leeuwen, Arieke Docters and Fonville, Manoj and Maas, Miriam and Franssen, Frits F. J. and Kik, Marja and Rijks, Jolianne M. and Montizaan, Margriet G. and Groenevelt, Margit and Hoyer, Mark and Esser, Helen J. and Krawczyk, Aleksandra I. and Modrý, David and Sprong, Hein and Demir, Samiye},
   article_number = {4},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386},
   keywords = {babesiosis; Ixodes ricinus; sylvatic cycle; zoonoses; disease risk; One Health},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2076-0817},
   journal = {Pathogens},
   title = {Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus},
   url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386},
   volume = {10},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1817103
AU  - Azagi, Tal - Jaarsma, Ryanne I. - van Leeuwen, Arieke Docters - Fonville, Manoj - Maas, Miriam - Franssen, Frits F. J. - Kik, Marja - Rijks, Jolianne M. - Montizaan, Margriet G. - Groenevelt, Margit - Hoyer, Mark - Esser, Helen J. - Krawczyk, Aleksandra I. - Modrý, David - Sprong, Hein - Demir, Samiye
PY  - 2021
TI  - Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus
JF  - Pathogens
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
SP  - 386
EP  - 386
PB  - MDPI
SN  - 20760817
KW  - babesiosis
KW  - Ixodes ricinus
KW  - sylvatic cycle
KW  - zoonoses
KW  - disease risk
KW  - One Health
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386
N2  - Human babesiosis in Europe has been attributed to infection with Babesia divergens and, to a lesser extent, with Babesia venatorum and Babesia microti, which are all transmitted to humans through a bite of Ixodes ricinus. These Babesia species circulate in the Netherlands, but autochthonous human babesiosis cases have not been reported so far. To gain more insight into the natural sources of these Babesia species, their presence in reservoir hosts and in I. ricinus was examined. Moreover, part of the ticks were tested for co-infections with other tick borne pathogens. In a cross-sectional study, qPCR-detection was used to determine the presence of Babesia species in 4611 tissue samples from 27 mammalian species and 13 bird species. Reverse line blotting (RLB) and qPCR detection of Babesia species were used to test 25,849 questing I. ricinus. Fragments of the 18S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from PCR-positive isolates were sequenced for confirmation and species identification and species-specific PCR reactions were performed on samples with suspected mixed infections. Babesia microti was found in two widespread rodent species: Myodes glareolus and Apodemus sylvaticus, whereas B. divergens was detected in the geographically restricted Cervus elaphus and Bison bonasus, and occasionally in free-ranging Ovis aries. B. venatorum was detected in the ubiquitous Capreolus capreolus, and occasionally in free-ranging O. aries. Species-specific PCR revealed co-infections in C. capreolus and C. elaphus, resulting in higher prevalence of B. venatorum and B. divergens than disclosed by qPCR detection, followed by 18S rDNA and COI sequencing. The non-zoonotic Babesia species found were Babesia capreoli, Babesia vulpes, Babesia sp. deer clade, and badger-associated Babesia species. The infection rate of zoonotic Babesia species in questing I. ricinus ticks was higher for Babesia clade I (2.6%) than Babesia clade X (1.9%). Co-infection of B. microti with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Neoehrlichia mikurensis in questing nymphs occurred more than expected, which reflects their mutual reservoir hosts, and suggests the possibility of co-transmission of these three pathogens to humans during a tick bite. The ubiquitous spread and abundance of B. microti and B. venatorum in their reservoir hosts and questing ticks imply some level of human exposure through tick bites. The restricted distribution of the wild reservoir hosts for B. divergens and its low infection rate in ticks might contribute to the absence of reported autochthonous cases of human babesiosis in the Netherlands.
ER  -

AZAGI, Tal, Ryanne I. JAARSMA, Arieke Docters VAN LEEUWEN, Manoj FONVILLE, Miriam MAAS, Frits F. J. FRANSSEN, Marja KIK, Jolianne M. RIJKS, Margriet G. MONTIZAAN, Margit GROENEVELT, Mark HOYER, Helen J. ESSER, Aleksandra I. KRAWCZYK, David MODRÝ, Hein SPRONG and Samiye DEMIR. Circulation of Babesia Species and Their Exposure to Humans through Ixodes ricinus. \textit{Pathogens}. MDPI, 2021, vol.~10, No~4, p.~386-405. ISSN~2076-0817. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10040386.

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