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Trends in Genetics : TIG Jan 2021Ticks exist across diverse environments and transmit numerous pathogens. Due to their long and unique life cycles, these arthropods likely evolved robust epigenetic... (Review)
Review
Ticks exist across diverse environments and transmit numerous pathogens. Due to their long and unique life cycles, these arthropods likely evolved robust epigenetic mechanisms that provide sustainable responses and buffers against extreme environmental conditions. Herein, we highlight how the study of the epigenetic basis of tick biology and vectorial capacity will enrich our knowledge of tick-borne infections.
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Vectors; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Epigenesis, Genetic; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks
PubMed: 33020021
DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2020.09.012 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2017Ticks, as a group, are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens to humans and are the primary vector for pathogens of livestock, companion animals, and... (Review)
Review
Ticks, as a group, are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens to humans and are the primary vector for pathogens of livestock, companion animals, and wildlife. The role of ticks in the transmission of viruses has been known for over 100 years and yet new pathogenic viruses are still being detected and known viruses are continually spreading to new geographic locations. Partly as a result of their novelty, tick-virus interactions are at an early stage in understanding. For some viruses, even the principal tick-vector is not known. It is likely that tick-borne viruses will continue to emerge and challenge public and veterinary health long into the twenty-first century. However, studies focusing on tick saliva, a critical component of tick feeding, virus transmission, and a target for control of ticks and tick-borne diseases, point toward solutions to emerging viruses. The aim of this review is to describe some currently emerging tick-borne diseases, their causative viruses, and to discuss research on virus-tick interactions. Through focus on this area, future protein targets for intervention and vaccine development may be identified.
Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Humans; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Viruses
PubMed: 28744449
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00298 -
Recent Progress on Tick-Borne Animal Diseases of Veterinary and Public Health Significance in China.Viruses Feb 2022Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose a growing threat to human and animal health, which has brought great losses to livestock production. With the continuous expansion of... (Review)
Review
Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose a growing threat to human and animal health, which has brought great losses to livestock production. With the continuous expansion of human activities and the development of natural resources, there are more and more opportunities for humans to contract ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Therefore, research on ticks and tick-borne diseases is of great significance. This paper reviews recent progress on tick-borne bacterial diseases, viral diseases, and parasitic diseases in China, which provides a theoretical foundation for the research of tick-borne diseases.
Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Bacterial Infections; China; Humans; Parasitic Diseases, Animal; Public Health; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Virus Diseases
PubMed: 35215952
DOI: 10.3390/v14020355 -
Microbiology Spectrum Jun 2023Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have attracted increasingly global public health attention. In this study, the viral compositions of five tick species, Haemaphysalis flava,...
Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) have attracted increasingly global public health attention. In this study, the viral compositions of five tick species, Haemaphysalis flava, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor sinicus, Haemaphysalis longicornis, and Haemaphysalis campanulata, from hedgehogs and hares in Qingdao, China, were profiled via metagenomic sequencing. Thirty-six strains of 10 RNA viruses belonging to 4 viral families, including 3 viruses of , 4 viruses of , 2 viruses of , and 1 virus of , were identified in five tick species. Three novel viruses of two families, namely, Qingdao tick iflavirus (QDTIFV) of the family of and Qingdao tick phlebovirus (QDTPV) and Qingdao tick uukuvirus (QDTUV) of the family of , were found in this study. This study shows that ticks from hares and hedgehogs in Qingdao harbored diverse viruses, including some that can cause emerging infectious diseases, such as Dabie bandavirus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these tick-borne viruses were genetically related to viral strains isolated previously in Japan. These findings shed new light on the cross-sea transmission of tick-borne viruses between China and Japan. Thirty-six strains of 10 RNA viruses belonging to 4 viral families, including 3 viruses of , 4 viruses of , 2 viruses of , and 1 virus of , were identified from five tick species in Qingdao, China. A diversity of tick-borne viruses from hares and hedgehogs in Qingdao was found in this study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of these TBVs were genetically related to Japanese strains. These findings indicate the possibility of the cross-sea transmission of TBVs between China and Japan.
Topics: Animals; Hares; Hedgehogs; Phylogeny; Ticks; Ixodidae; Viruses; RNA Viruses
PubMed: 37074196
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05340-22 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2013Ticks transmit a wide range of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens, many of which can establish persistent infections of lifelong duration in the vector tick and in... (Review)
Review
Ticks transmit a wide range of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogens, many of which can establish persistent infections of lifelong duration in the vector tick and in some cases are transmitted transovarially to the next generation. In addition many ixodid and argasid tick cell lines and, by inference the parent ticks from which they were derived, harbor endogenous viruses (ETV) of which almost nothing is known. In general, low level persistent infections with viral pathogens (arboviruses) are not known to have a deleterious effect on tick survival and fitness, suggesting that they can strike a balance with the tick innate immune response. This tolerance of arbovirus infection may be modulated by the permanent presence of ETV in the host cell. In mosquito cells, temporary or permanent silencing of the genes of an endogenous virus by RNA interference can result in changes in replication rate of a co-infecting arbovirus. We propose that tick cell lines offer a useful model system for in vitro investigation of the modulatory effect of ETV on superinfecting pathogen survival and replication in ticks, using the molecular manipulation techniques applied to insect cells.
Topics: Animals; Arboviruses; Cell Line; Proviruses; Ticks; Viral Interference; Virus Replication
PubMed: 23875176
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00025 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2017Ticks are important vectors of viruses that infect and cause disease in man, livestock, and companion animals. The major focus of investigation of tick-borne viruses has...
Ticks are important vectors of viruses that infect and cause disease in man, livestock, and companion animals. The major focus of investigation of tick-borne viruses has been the interaction with the mammalian host, particularly the mechanisms underlying disease and the development of vaccines to prevent infection. Only recently has research begun to investigate the interaction of the virus with the tick host. This is striking when considering that the virus spends far more time infecting the tick vector relative to the vertebrate host. The assumption has been that the tick host and virus have evolved to reach an equilibrium whereby virus infection does not impede the tick life cycle and conversely, the tick does not restrict virus replication and through blood-feeding on vertebrates, disseminates the virus. The development and application of new technologies to tick-pathogen interactions has been fuelled by a number of developments in recent years. This includes the release of the first draft of a tick genome, that of , and the availability of tick-cell lines as convenient models to investigate interactions. One of the by-products of these investigations has been the observation of familiar proteins in new situations. One such protein family is Toll and Toll-like receptors that in vertebrates play a key role in detection of microorganisms, including viruses. But does Toll signaling play a similar role in detection of virus infection in ticks, and if it does, how does this affect the maintenance of viruses within the tick?
Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cell Line; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Insect Vectors; Ixodes; Life Cycle Stages; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; Toll-Like Receptors; Vertebrates; Virus Physiological Phenomena; Virus Replication; Viruses
PubMed: 28713778
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00293 -
Viruses Dec 2022In this work, we presented data from a two-year study of flavi-, flavi-like, and phenuiviruses circulation in the population of ixodid ticks in the Chelyabinsk region....
In this work, we presented data from a two-year study of flavi-, flavi-like, and phenuiviruses circulation in the population of ixodid ticks in the Chelyabinsk region. We isolated three tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from , which was not detected in the ticks of the genus . The virus prevalence ranged from 0.66% to 2.28%. The Yanggou tick virus (YGTV) is widespread in steppe and forest-steppe zones and is mainly associated with ticks of the genus . We isolated 26 strains from , , and ticks in the HAE/CTVM8 tick cell line. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.58% to 4.18% in , ranged from 0.78% to 3.93% in , and was 0.66% in . There was combined focus of TBEV and YGTV in the territory of the Chelyabinsk region. The Alongshan virus (ALSV) was found to be associated with ticks and is spread in forest zone. We detected 12 amplicons and isolated 7 strains of ALSV in tick cells. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.13% to 6.00%. The phlebovirus Gomselga and unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol were associated with and ticks, respectively. Virus prevalence of the unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol in the Chelyabinsk region is lower than that in neighbouring regions.
Topics: Animals; Dermacentor; Ixodidae; Russia; Forests; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne; Ixodes
PubMed: 36560703
DOI: 10.3390/v14122699 -
Annals of Parasitology Sep 2023In Europe, ticks are particularly important vectors of pathogens known as tick-borne pathogens (TBP). TBP can influence hosts, including domestic animals and humans as... (Review)
Review
In Europe, ticks are particularly important vectors of pathogens known as tick-borne pathogens (TBP). TBP can influence hosts, including domestic animals and humans as well as ticks. This review focuses on interactions between hard ticks and medically and veterinary significant bacterial pathogens i.e. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Anaplasma spp, and Rickettsia spp. The interactions between ticks and bacteria include among others the impact on gene expression and tick behaviour. Infection with TBP may influence tick salivary proteins and midgut receptors. Infection with B. burgdorferi s.l. changes the bahaviour of the tick allowing them for longer questing and increased mobility, while A. phagocytophilum increases survive in low temperatures by upregulating the expression of antifreeze glycoprotein (IAFGP). Whereas Rickettsia spp. increases ticks attraction towards the 900 MHz electromagnetic field.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Ixodidae; Tick-Borne Diseases; Rickettsia; Ticks; Europe; Ixodes
PubMed: 37768303
DOI: 10.17420/ap6901.502 -
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Mar 2023Tick fauna and zoogeographic distribution of Jiangxi Province remain largely unknown due to the lack of data on distribution, occurrence, and host associations of ticks....
Tick fauna and zoogeographic distribution of Jiangxi Province remain largely unknown due to the lack of data on distribution, occurrence, and host associations of ticks. Considering this, we collected 1,817 individual samples from natural hosts, humans, and vegetation in 18 counties/districts throughout Jiangxi Province, China, from 2015 to 2021. These 1,817 individuals were found to 13 tick species, 4 genera, and 1 family. In addition, the tick sample data from 8 sampling localities (counties and districts) reported in previous studies were also included in our data. A total of 4,021 individuals, including our sample collection and the previously reported data, were assigned to at least 18 species, 6 genera, and 2 families. One newly recorded species Dermacentor sp. (near D. steini Schulze) was found; three misidentified species (Ixodes acuminatus, Haemaphysalis spinigera, and Haemaphysalis verticalis) reported previously were deleted; and one misidentified species Dermacentor auratus Supino was revised as Dermacentor steini Schulze. In addition, we divided the tick fauna in Jiangxi Province into 5 zoogeographic areas and assigned the 18 tick species collected from 26 localities to these 5 zoogeographic areas. To summarize, our findings provide valuable information on the distribution, tick-host associations, and zoogeographic division of ticks in Jiangxi Province, China. Their molecular characterizations, phylogenetic relationships, and tick-borne pathogens that they may transmit should be further explored.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Phylogeny; Ixodidae; Ixodes; China
PubMed: 36502558
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102099 -
ILAR Journal Dec 2017In the United States, ticks transmit the greatest diversity of arthropod-borne pathogens and are responsible for the most cases of all vector-borne diseases. In recent... (Review)
Review
In the United States, ticks transmit the greatest diversity of arthropod-borne pathogens and are responsible for the most cases of all vector-borne diseases. In recent decades, the number of reported cases of notifiable tick-borne diseases has steadily increased, geographic distributions of many ticks and tick-borne diseases have expanded, and new tick-borne disease agents have been recognized. In this review, we (1) describe the known disease agents associated with the most commonly human-biting ixodid ticks, (2) review the natural histories of these ticks and their associated pathogens, (3) highlight spatial and temporal changes in vector tick distributions and tick-borne disease occurrence in recent decades, and (4) identify knowledge gaps and barriers to more effective prevention of tick-borne diseases. We describe 12 major tick-borne diseases caused by 15 distinct disease agents that are transmitted by the 8 most commonly human-biting ixodid ticks in the United States. Notably, 40% of these pathogens were described within the last two decades. Our assessment highlights the importance of animal studies to elucidate how tick-borne pathogens are maintained in nature, as well as advances in molecular detection of pathogens which has led to the discovery of several new tick-borne disease agents.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Tick-Borne Diseases; Ticks; United States; Zoonoses
PubMed: 28369515
DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilx005