Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widespread in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic

Jaroslav Ondruš; Alena Balážová; Vojtech Baláž; Kristína Zechmeisterová; Adam Novobilský; Pavel Široký

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101371

Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is widespread in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2020 May;11(3):101371. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101371. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Authors

Jaroslav Ondruš¹, Alena Balážová², Vojtech Baláž³, Kristína Zechmeisterová⁴, Adam Novobilský⁵, Pavel Široký⁶

Affiliations

¹ CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: jaroslavondrus@seznam.cz.
² Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: Aja.Balazova@seznam.cz.
³ Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: balazv@vfu.cz.
⁴ Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: zechmeisterova.k@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology and Immunotherapy, Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 296/70, 621 00, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: novobilsky@vri.cz.
⁶ CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic. Electronic address: sirokyp@vfu.cz.

PMID: 32057703
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101371

Abstract

Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, the causative agent of tick-borne "neoehrlichiosis" has recently been reported in humans, mammals and ticks in Europe. The aim of this study was to map the distribution of this bacterium in questing ticks in the Czech Republic. A total of 13,325 Ixodes ricinus including 445 larvae, 5270 nymphs and 7610 adults were collected from vegetation by flagging in 140 Czech towns and villages from every region of the Czech Republic. The ticks were pooled into 2665 groups of 5 individuals respecting life stage or sex and tested for the presence of Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis by conventional PCR targeting of the groEL gene. The bacterium was detected in 533/2665 pools and 125/140 areas screened, showing an overall estimated prevalence of 4.4 % in ticks of all life stages. Phylogenetic analysis revealed only small genetic diversity among the strains found. Two pools of questing larvae tested positive, suggesting transovarial transmission. According to this study, Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis is another tick-borne pathogen widespread in I. ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: Anaplasmataceae; Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis; Czech Republic; Ixodes ricinus; Tick-borne disease.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anaplasmataceae / genetics
Anaplasmataceae / isolation & purification*
Animals
Czech Republic
Female
Genetic Variation
Ixodes / growth & development
Ixodes / microbiology*
Larva / growth & development
Larva / microbiology
Male
Nymph / growth & development
Nymph / microbiology