-
Clinical Microbiology Reviews Mar 2020Increases in tick-borne disease prevalence and transmission are important public health issues. Efforts to control these emerging diseases are frustrated by the struggle... (Review)
Review
Increases in tick-borne disease prevalence and transmission are important public health issues. Efforts to control these emerging diseases are frustrated by the struggle to control tick populations and to detect and treat infections caused by the pathogens that they transmit. This review covers tick-borne infectious diseases of nonrickettsial bacterial, parasitic, and viral origins. While tick surveillance and tracking inform our understanding of the importance of the spread and ecology of ticks and help identify areas of risk for disease transmission, the vectors are not the focus of this document. Here, we emphasize the most significant pathogens that infect humans as well as the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that they cause. Although detection via molecular or immunological methods has improved, tick-borne diseases continue to remain underdiagnosed, making the scope of the problem difficult to assess. Our current understanding of the incidence of tick-borne diseases is discussed in this review. An awareness of the diseases that can be transmitted by ticks in specific locations is key to detection and selection of appropriate treatment. As tick-transmitted pathogens are discovered and emerge in new geographic regions, our ability to detect, describe, and understand the growing public health threat must also grow to meet the challenge.
Topics: Animals; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Humans; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks
PubMed: 31896541
DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00083-18 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2023is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere and is the causative agent of disease (BMD). is vectored by the same hard-bodied ticks as Lyme disease ,... (Review)
Review
is an emerging tick-borne pathogen in the Northern Hemisphere and is the causative agent of disease (BMD). is vectored by the same hard-bodied ticks as Lyme disease , yet phylogenetically groups with relapsing fever and thus, has been uniquely labeled a hard tick-borne relapsing fever . Burgeoning research has uncovered new aspects of in human patients, nature, and the lab. Of particular interest are novel findings on disease pathology, prevalence, diagnostic methods, ecological maintenance, transmission, and genetic characteristics. Herein, we review recent literature on , discuss how findings adapt to current doctrines, and briefly consider what remains unknown about .
PubMed: 36839539
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020267 -
PloS One 2022Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi are tick-vectored zoonotic pathogens maintained in wildlife species. Tick populations are establishing in new areas globally...
Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi are tick-vectored zoonotic pathogens maintained in wildlife species. Tick populations are establishing in new areas globally in response to climate change and other factors. New Brunswick is a Canadian maritime province at the advancing front of tick population establishment and has seen increasing numbers of ticks carrying B. burgdorferi, and more recently B. miyamotoi. Further, it is part of a region of Atlantic Canada with wildlife species composition differing from much of continental North America and little information exists as to the presence and frequency of infection of Borrelia spp. in wildlife in this region. We used a citizen science approach to collect a wide range of animals including migratory birds, medium-sized mammals, and small mammals. In total we tested 339 animals representing 20 species for the presence of B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi. We have developed new nested PCR primers and a protocol with excellent specificity for detecting both of these Borrelia species, both single and double infections, in tissues and organs of various wildlife species. The positive animals were primarily small non-migratory mammals, approximately twice as many were infected with B. burgdorferi than B. miyamotoi and one animal was found infected with both. In addition to established reservoir species, the jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis) was found frequently infected; this species had the highest infection prevalence for both B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi and has not previously been identified as an important carrier for either Borrelia species. Comprehensive testing of tissues found that all instances of B. burgdorferi infection were limited to one tissue within the host, whereas two of the five B. miyamotoi infections were diffuse and found in multiple systems. In the one coinfected specimen, two fetuses were also recovered and found infected with B. miyamotoi. This presumptive transplacental transmission suggests that vertical transmission in mammals is possible. This finding implies that B. miyamotoi could rapidly spread into wildlife populations, as well as having potential human health implications.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Birds; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; Canada; DNA, Bacterial; Disease Vectors; Fetus; Lyme Disease; Mice; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction
PubMed: 35061805
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262229 -
PloS One 2020The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, an important vector in the western United States of two zoonotic spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi (also called...
The western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, an important vector in the western United States of two zoonotic spirochetes: Borrelia burgdorferi (also called Borreliella burgdorferi), causing Lyme disease, and Borrelia miyamotoi, causing a relapsing fever-type illness. Human cases of Lyme disease are well-documented in California, with increased risk in the north coastal areas and western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. Despite the established presence of B. miyamotoi in the human-biting I. pacificus tick in California, clinical cases with this spirochete have not been well studied. To assess exposure to B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi in California, and to address the hypothesis that B. miyamotoi exposure in humans is similar in geographic range to B. burgdorferi, 1,700 blood donor sera from California were tested for antibodies to both pathogens. Sampling was from high endemic and low endemic counties for Lyme disease in California. All sera were screened using the C6 ELISA. All C6 positive and equivocal samples and nine randomly chosen C6 negative samples were further analyzed for B. burgdorferi antibody using IgG western blot and a modified two ELISA test system and for B. miyamotoi antibody using the GlpQ ELISA and B. miyamotoi whole cell sonicate western blot. Of the 1,700 samples tested in series, eight tested positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi (0.47%, Exact 95% CI: 0.20, 0.93) and two tested positive for antibodies to B. miyamotoi (0.12%, Exact 95% CI: 0.01, 0.42). There was no statistically significant difference in seroprevalence for either pathogen between high and low Lyme disease endemic counties. Our results confirm a low frequency of Lyme disease and an even lower frequency of B. miyamotoi exposure among adult blood donors in California; however, our findings reinforce public health messaging that there is risk of infection by these emerging diseases in the state.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Blood Donors; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; California; Female; Humans; Lyme Disease; Male; Middle Aged; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 33370341
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243950 -
Microorganisms Jan 2021is classified as a relapsing fever spirochete. Although is genetically and ecologically distinct from sensu lato, both microorganisms are transmitted by the same... (Review)
Review
is classified as a relapsing fever spirochete. Although is genetically and ecologically distinct from sensu lato, both microorganisms are transmitted by the same tick species. was detected in ticks in 1994 in Japan. A phylogenetic analysis based on selected sequences of genome revealed genetic differences between isolates from Asia, North America, and Europe, which are clearly separated into three genotypes. Symptomatic human cases of disease (BMD) were first reported in 2011 in Russia and then in North America, Europe, and Asia. The most common clinical manifestation of BMD is fever with flu-like symptoms. Several differences in rare symptoms (thrombocytopenia, monocytosis, cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, or symptoms related to the central nervous system) have been noted among cases caused by Asian, European, and American types of . BMD should be considered in the diagnosis of patients after tick bites, particularly with meningoencephalitis, without anti- antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid. This review describes the biology, ecology, and potential of as a tick-borne pathogen of public health concern, with particular emphasis on Europe.
PubMed: 33445492
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010154 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Jul 2023The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia... (Review)
Review
The impact of tick-borne diseases caused by pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi, Rickettsia helvetica and Babesia species on public health is largely unknown. Data on the prevalence of these pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from seven countries within the North Sea Region in Europe as well as the types and availability of diagnostic tests and the main clinical features of their corresponding diseases is reported and discussed. Raised awareness is needed to discover cases of these under-recognized types of tick-borne disease, which should provide valuable insights into these diseases and their clinical significance.
Topics: Animals; Humans; North Sea; Borrelia; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ixodes; Borrelia Infections; Rickettsia; Europe
PubMed: 37116420
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102185 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Sep 2020We report a human case of Borrelia miyamotoi infection diagnosed in Austria. Spirochetes were detected in Giemsa-stained blood smears. The presence of B. miyamotoi in...
We report a human case of Borrelia miyamotoi infection diagnosed in Austria. Spirochetes were detected in Giemsa-stained blood smears. The presence of B. miyamotoi in the patient's blood was confirmed by PCR, and phylogenetic analysis identified an infection with a strain from Europe.
Topics: Animals; Austria; Borrelia; Europe; Humans; Ixodes; Phylogeny
PubMed: 32818401
DOI: 10.3201/eid2609.191501 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Dec 2021During 2013-2019, Borrelia miyamotoi infection was detected in 19 US states. Infection rate was 0.5%-3.2%; of B. miyamotoi-positive ticks, 59.09% had concurrent...
During 2013-2019, Borrelia miyamotoi infection was detected in 19 US states. Infection rate was 0.5%-3.2%; of B. miyamotoi-positive ticks, 59.09% had concurrent infections. B. miyamotoi is homogeneous with 1 genotype from Ixodes scapularis ticks in northeastern and midwestern states and 1 from I. pacificus in western states.
Topics: Animals; Borrelia; Borrelia Infections; Humans; Ixodes; United States
PubMed: 34808077
DOI: 10.3201/eid2712.204646 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2021Borrelia spirochetes are the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (LB) and relapsing fever (RF). Despite the steady rise in infections and the identification of new...
Borrelia spirochetes are the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (LB) and relapsing fever (RF). Despite the steady rise in infections and the identification of new species causing human illness over the last decade, isolation of borreliae in culture has become increasingly rare. A modified Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) media formulation, BSK-R, was developed for isolation of the emerging RF pathogen, Borrelia miyamotoi. BSK-R is a diluted BSK-II derivative supplemented with Lebovitz's L-15, mouse and fetal calf serum. Decreasing the concentration of CMRL 1066 and other components was essential for growth of North American B. miyamotoi. Sixteen B. miyamotoi isolates, originating from Ixodes scapularis ticks, rodent and human blood collected in the eastern and upper midwestern United States, were isolated and propagated to densities > 10 spirochetes/mL. Growth of five other RF and ten different LB borreliae readily occurred in BSK-R. Additionally, primary culture recovery of 20 isolates of Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia turicatae, Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii was achieved in BSK-R using whole blood from infected patients. These data indicate this broadly encompassing borreliae media can aid in in vitro culture recovery of RF and LB spirochetes, including the direct isolation of new and emerging human pathogens.
Topics: Animals; Borrelia; Borrelia burgdorferi; Culture Media; Humans; Ixodes; Lyme Disease; Mice; Relapsing Fever; Spirochaetales
PubMed: 33479281
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81252-1 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023is an emerging pathogen that causes a febrile illness and is transmitted by the same hard-bodied (ixodid) ticks that transmit several other pathogens, including... (Review)
Review
is an emerging pathogen that causes a febrile illness and is transmitted by the same hard-bodied (ixodid) ticks that transmit several other pathogens, including species that cause Lyme disease. was discovered in 1994 in ticks in Japan. It was first reported in humans in 2011 in Russia. It has subsequently been reported in North America, Europe, and Asia. infection is widespread in ticks in the northeastern, northern Midwestern, and far western United States and in Canada. In endemic areas, human seroprevalence averages from 1 to 3% of the population, compared with 15 to 20% for . The most common clinical manifestations of infection are fever, fatigue, headache, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, and nausea. Complications include relapsing fever and rarely, meningoencephalitis. Because clinical manifestations are nonspecific, diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation by PCR or blood smear examination. Antibiotics are effective in clearing infection and are the same as those used for Lyme disease, including doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and ceftriaxone. Preventive measures include avoiding areas where -infected ticks are found, landscape management, and personal protective strategies such as protective clothing, use of acaricides, and tick checks with rapid removal of embedded ticks.
PubMed: 37111439
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040553