Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in feeding and questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Southern Sweden
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2025
Citazione:
Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in feeding and questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Southern Sweden / C. Cialini, A. Cafiso, M. Waldeck, Å. Lundgren, J. Fält, B. Settergren, P. Choklikitumnuey, G. Chiappa, E. Rosso, L. Roveri, E. Fesce, N. Ferrari, P. Lindgren, C. Bazzocchi, G. Grandi. - In: TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES. - ISSN 1877-959X. - 16:2(2025 Mar), pp. 102453.1-102453.9. [10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102453]
Abstract:
Ixodes ricinus, the most common tick species in Northern Europe, plays a significant role as a vector of several
pathogens, with its geographical distribution expanding in recent years. In Southern Sweden, particularly in
Region Skåne County (referred to as Skåne), the favorable climate and landscape conditions support extensive
proliferation of I. ricinus. Despite Lyme borreliosis being common in this region and few annual cases of tickborne encephalitis (TBE) being reported, data on the circulation of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) remain
limited. This study molecularly investigated the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Borrelia
spp., and TBE virus (TBEV) in I. ricinus ticks (n = 1000). In detail, questing ticks (82 adults and 196 nymphs)
were collected from vegetation in forest and meadow areas, while 581, 80 and 8 feeding adults were collected
from 39 roe deer, 6 fallow deer and 1 moose, respectively. Additionally, 53 feeding adults were removed from
domestic animals (42 from four dogs and 11 from one cat).
The molecular analyses detected Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp., and Babesia spp. in 54 %, 24 %, 3.2
% of host-feeding ticks and in 0.40 %, 35 %, 3.6 % of questing ticks, respectively. In detail, for Borrelia and
Babesia genera, the following species were detected: Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia
burgdorferi s.s., Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum. TBEV was not detected.
Moreover, the relationship between the feeding duration of the roe deer-collected ticks and their PCRpositivity for Borrelia spp. and A. phagocytophilum was also modeled. The results showed a reduction in the
probability of tick infection with Borrelia spp. as attachment time increased, supporting evidence that roe deer
serum exerts a borreliacidal effect. This study highlights the presence of several zoonotic TBPs in Skåne,
emphasizing the need for a structured monitoring plan and preventive strategies within a One Health framework.
pathogens, with its geographical distribution expanding in recent years. In Southern Sweden, particularly in
Region Skåne County (referred to as Skåne), the favorable climate and landscape conditions support extensive
proliferation of I. ricinus. Despite Lyme borreliosis being common in this region and few annual cases of tickborne encephalitis (TBE) being reported, data on the circulation of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) remain
limited. This study molecularly investigated the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Borrelia
spp., and TBE virus (TBEV) in I. ricinus ticks (n = 1000). In detail, questing ticks (82 adults and 196 nymphs)
were collected from vegetation in forest and meadow areas, while 581, 80 and 8 feeding adults were collected
from 39 roe deer, 6 fallow deer and 1 moose, respectively. Additionally, 53 feeding adults were removed from
domestic animals (42 from four dogs and 11 from one cat).
The molecular analyses detected Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia spp., and Babesia spp. in 54 %, 24 %, 3.2
% of host-feeding ticks and in 0.40 %, 35 %, 3.6 % of questing ticks, respectively. In detail, for Borrelia and
Babesia genera, the following species were detected: Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia
burgdorferi s.s., Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum. TBEV was not detected.
Moreover, the relationship between the feeding duration of the roe deer-collected ticks and their PCRpositivity for Borrelia spp. and A. phagocytophilum was also modeled. The results showed a reduction in the
probability of tick infection with Borrelia spp. as attachment time increased, supporting evidence that roe deer
serum exerts a borreliacidal effect. This study highlights the presence of several zoonotic TBPs in Skåne,
emphasizing the need for a structured monitoring plan and preventive strategies within a One Health framework.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Borreliacidal effect; Engorged ticks; Feeding time; Roe deer; Zoonotic TBPs
Elenco autori:
C. Cialini, A. Cafiso, M. Waldeck, Å. Lundgren, J. Fält, B. Settergren, P. Choklikitumnuey, G. Chiappa, E. Rosso, L. Roveri, E. Fesce, N. Ferrari, P. Lindgren, C. Bazzocchi, G. Grandi
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