Etiological [corrected] agents of rickettsiosis and anaplasmosis in ticks collected in Emilia-Romagna region (Italy) during 2008 and 2009

Ticks are the main vectors of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, as well as of a variety of other Rickettsiales, including bacteria of the genus Anaplasma, that might cause diseases in humans and animals. Here we present the result of a survey for ticks and for tick-associated Rickettsiales in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental & applied acarology 2012-06, Vol.57 (2), p.199-208
Main Authors: Maioli, Giulia, Pistone, Dario, Bonilauri, Paolo, Pajoro, Massimo, Barbieri, Ilaria, Mulatto, Patrizia, Patrizia, Mulatto, Vicari, Nadia, Dottori, Michele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alphaproteobacteria - isolation & purification
Anaplasma - isolation & purification
Anaplasmosis - epidemiology
Anaplasmosis - transmission
Animals
Animals, Wild
Arachnid Vectors - microbiology
Dermacentor - microbiology
Italy - epidemiology
Ixodes - microbiology
Rickettsia Infections - epidemiology
Rickettsia Infections - transmission
Sus scrofa
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Summary:Ticks are the main vectors of rickettsiae of the spotted fever group, as well as of a variety of other Rickettsiales, including bacteria of the genus Anaplasma, that might cause diseases in humans and animals. Here we present the result of a survey for ticks and for tick-associated Rickettsiales in the Emilia Romagna region (Northern Italy). The study was focused on ticks collected from wild-hunted animals. Out of 392 ticks collected from these animals, 282 (72%) were identified as Ixodes ricinus, 110 (28%) as Dermacentor marginatus. The former was found on four vertebrate species, whereas the latter appeared more specific for wild boar. The presence of rickettsiae was demonstrated in 22.5% of I. ricinus (57/253) and in 29% of D. marginatus (32/110). Five ticks of the species I. ricinus were also positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (2%). In addition, we collected ticks by dragging in a natural park of the same region. All of the ticks captured by dragging were identified as I. ricinus. Thirty-six out of 200 analyzed ticks proved positive for Rickettsia monacensis and R. helvetica (16.5 and 1.5%, respectively). Our results highlight that that ticks present in wild areas, widely exploited for recreation and hunting in Emilia-Romagna, represent a risk for the transmission of spotted fevers and anaplasmosis to humans.
ISSN:1572-9702
DOI:10.1007/s10493-012-9535-z