Search Results (242)

The most common species of tick in Europe is the castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus), which is found in forests, parks, and gardens and is active almost all year round. Ticks are among the most important arthropods and vectors of disease, transmitting a wide range of parasites that sometimes lead to the death of infected organisms. The peak incidence of tick-borne diseases occurs between May and September; however, due to global warming, people are increasingly exposed to tick-borne diseases throughout the year. In order to increase the possibility of preventing the transmission of diseases by ticks, it is necessary to become thoroughly familiar with the life cycle of ticks and the environment in which they live. Vaccines are available for some diseases, such as tick-borne encephalitis, while others require a highly specific diagnosis. Another major problem is the long period between the tick bite, which often goes unnoticed or is even ignored by the patient or the doctor, and the development of tick-borne diseases. Increasing attention is being paid to the prevention of tick-borne diseases through prevention of tick bites, quick tick removal, use of repellents, appropriate land management, vaccinations, and the use of plants as natural acaricides. Full article

This study aimed primarily to evaluate the performance of two Conformité Européenne—In Vitro Diagnostic (CE-IVD) multiplex real-time PCR (rt-PCR) assays for the molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of human interest on ticks removed from human skin and collected through a citizen science-based approach. As a secondary objective, the aggregated results were used to describe tick species distribution, developmental stages, and seasonal TBP circulation in 2024 in the considered area. The comparison was conducted on 116 tick samples collected in 2024 voluntarily delivered to a hospital in northeastern Italy. Detected TBPs were further confirmed with in-house-validated PCR methods and, where applicable, resolved to the species level. Clinically relevant pathogen species were identified as single infections or coinfections. Overall, 33.6% of tick samples tested positive for at least one TBP, and 6.9% showed coinfections. Kit B exhibited a higher detection rate for Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp. targets, partly reflecting its broader diagnostic specificity, while statistically significant differences in cycle threshold values were observed for Anaplasma phagocytophilum detection. The most frequently involved ticks were Ixodes ricinus nymphs, and the most represented area was Verona province. Late spring and early summer were identified as the periods with the highest tick conferment and pathogen diversity. Overall, the results support the use of multiplex real-time PCR commercial kits combined with citizen science-based tick collection as an effective approach for both diagnostic screening and regional surveillance of circulating ticks and TBPs. Full article

Ixodes ricinus is the most common and, epidemiologically speaking, the most important tick species in Slovakia, transmitting a wide range of zoonotic pathogens. The goal of the present study was to monitor selected tick-borne infectious agents in an urban environment in northern Slovakia where the conditions for their occurrence and survival are typically unfavourable. Ticks were collected by the flagging method during the period from March to November 2024 in the city of Žilina in five urban locations characterized by high human activity and suitable conditions for tick–host interactions. A total of 264 ticks of Ixodes ricinus were collected (67 females, 85 males, and 112 nymphs). A molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Borrelia spp. in 34.5% of samples, while the most frequently detected species was Borrelia afzelii. The other detected species included zoonotic piroplasms Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum (1.5%), as well as the bacteria Anaplasma spp. (2.65%) and Rickettsia spp. (0.4%). In four ticks (1.5%), the presence of coinfection caused by multiple pathogens was detected. These results confirm that urban ecosystems located in the northern regions of Slovakia also provide significant reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and impose a potential risk for public health. Full article

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a complex pathogenesis, and it is mainly driven by a dysregulation in immune responses. Therapeutic strategies constantly require novel compounds targeting immune modulation to substitute the current traditional drugs characterized by side effects and limited efficacy. In this study, we used a mannan-induced psoriasis-like inflammation mouse model to investigate the immunomodulatory potential of Iripin-3, a salivary serpin from the Ixodes ricinus ticks. Mice treated with Iripin-3 showed improvements in the severity of psoriasis-like lesions, as shown by the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) scores, epidermal thickness, and baker’s scores. Iripin-3 modulated the immune cascade by inhibiting dendritic cells and γδ T cells expression in secondary immune organs while increasing macrophages and neutrophils in skin. On the other hand, Iripin-3 exhibited significant reductions in the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-22, IL-23, and IL-17 family cytokines, indicating broad immunomodulatory effects. Our findings suggest that Iripin-3 offers a unique and targeted mechanism of action through modulation of the IL-23/γδ T/IL-17 axis involved in mannan-induced psoriasis-like inflammation and thus could be a promising therapeutic candidate for treating psoriasis. Further studies are required to explore its translational potential in wider clinical settings. Full article

Free-ranging animals may serve as sentinels for the occurrence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens within a given habitat. Between 2020 and 2022, ticks were collected from domestic animals and vegetation on a family-operated agrotouristic farm in Western Slovakia. A total of 391 ticks were obtained (163 host-feeding and 228 questing). Ixodes ricinus predominated (94.9%), followed by Dermacentor reticulatus (4.9%) and Haemaphysalis concinna (one specimen). All ticks were screened for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and Rickettsia spp. by using PCR-based methods and subsequent sequencing. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 15.9% of I. ricinus. Six species were identified, with Borrelia afzelii dominating. Borrelia miyamotoi was detected in 1.62% of questing I. ricinus. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was identified in 20.49% of I. ricinus, mainly in host-feeding specimens. Babesia spp. were detected in I. ricinus (2.7%), represented by Babesia microti, Babesia venatorum, and Babesia capreoli. Rickettsia spp. were detected in 5.39% of I. ricinus and 31.58% of D. reticulatus. They comprised Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia monacensis, and Rickettsia raoultii. Co-infections involving two or three pathogens were observed in several ticks. Our results underscore the considerable diversity of tick-borne pathogens in a rural area where humans and domestic animals are in close contact to wildlife. Full article

Urban green spaces increasingly serve as sites of human–tick contact, yet long-term data on tick activity and host associations in urban recreational areas remain limited. This study investigated the seasonal activity patterns of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus and the host spectrum of juvenile tick stages in an urban park in eastern Poland over a five-year period (2015–2019). Questing ticks were collected from vegetation using the flagging method, while small mammals were live-trapped to assess tick infestation of juvenile stages. The effects of air temperature, relative humidity, and seasonality on tick activity were analysed using generalized additive models (GAMs). D. reticulatus was the dominant tick species throughout the study, exhibiting pronounced autumn activity peaks, whereas I. ricinus occurred at lower densities with peak activity in late spring and early summer. GAM analyses revealed that apparent temperature effects observed in uncorrected models disappeared after accounting for seasonality, while seasonal timing remained a strong and consistent predictor of tick activity across species, developmental stages, and sexes. Juvenile ticks of both species were most frequently associated with Apodemus agrarius, indicating that urban-adapted rodent hosts play a key role in sustaining tick life cycles in simplified urban ecosystems. These findings demonstrate that urban recreational areas can function as persistent foci of tick hazard, with tick activity driven primarily by intrinsic seasonal dynamics rather than short-term weather variation. Full article

Tick-borne diseases are rising across Europe, yet human-biting tick data from the central Balkans remain limited. We analysed ticks removed from patients seeking care after tick bites at centers in Skopje (North Macedonia) and Novi Sad (Serbia) between January 2022 and December 2024, recording species, developmental stage, month of removal, and anatomical attachment site. A total of 1641 ticks were collected (North Macedonia, n = 157; Serbia, n = 1484) and identified morphologically. Six tick species were detected in North Macedonia and eight in Serbia. Ixodes ricinus was dominant in both countries, comprising ~69% of ticks in North Macedonia and >90% in Serbia, while Hyalomma marginatum was found in North Macedonia. Adult females predominated among ticks in North Macedonia (75.8%), whereas nymphs were most frequent among ticks in Serbia (55.6%); between-center comparisons of developmental stage should be interpreted cautiously given the marked sampling imbalance. In both settings, collections peaked in May–June (~64% of annual ticks), indicating highest bite pressure in late spring/early summer. Attachment sites were most commonly the torso and lower extremities, with significant between-country differences and species-/stage-specific patterns most evident in Serbia. These data refine the epidemiology of human tick exposure in two Balkan countries and support targeted seasonal prevention messaging and strengthened regional surveillance. Full article

Ticks are one of the most important vectors of zoonotic pathogens in Europe, including Rickettsia spp. In Romania, several pathogenic species belonging to the Spotted Fever Group (SFG) transmitted primarily through tick bites have been identified. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. infection in ticks collected from public shelter dogs in Tulcea County, Romania, as an indicator of pathogen circulation within shelter environments and their potential epidemiological relevance. A total of 730 ticks collected between March 2023 and September 2024 from 216 public shelter dogs, belonging to four species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor marginatus, and Dermacentor reticulatus), were morphologically identified and pooled by species, sex, and developmental stage resulting in 132 pools. DNA extracted from pools was tested by Real-Time PCR, targeting the gltA gene, specific for Rickettsia spp. Overall, 123/132 (93.2%) pools tested positive for Rickettsia spp. DNA, while the Minimum Infection Rate (MIR) at tick level was 16.8%. High pool positivity rates were consistently observed across all four species: 93.6% positive pools for Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (MIR 15%), 88.2% for Ixodes ricinus (MIR 20.5%), 87.5% for Dermacentor marginatus (MIR 58.3%), and 100% for Dermacentor reticulatus (MIR 21.7%). These findings demonstrate a substantial circulation of Rickettsia spp. in dog-shelter associated ticks, highlighting the role of dogs as sentinel hosts. Continuous molecular surveillance and identifying circulating species is needed for a better determination of the zoonotic risk. Full article

Jingmen tick virus (JMTV) is a novel flavi-like virus first identified in 2010 in Rhipicephalus microplus in the Jingmen region of Hubei Province, China and has been reported in different Asian countries, Central and South America, Africa, and Europe. Beyond ticks, JMTV has been detected in a range of other arthropods and in vertebrate hosts. In humans, JMTV has been found in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Kosovo and Turkey, and in febrile patients with a history of tick bites in China, suggesting it may be a novel human pathogen. To investigate the presence of JMTV in Italy, we developed a One-step real-time RT-PCR assay and applied it to individually screen 1150 ticks collected from northeastern, central, and southern Italy. JMTV RNA was detected in multiple tick species, including Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., Dermacentor marginatus, and Hyalomma marginatum with a prevalence ranging from 0.52% to 18.42% in questing ticks. The detection of JMTV in ticks from all surveyed areas, indicates that the virus is geographically widespread in Italy. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive surveillance strategies to identify new areas of active virus circulation and to investigate the potential impact of JMTV on public health. Full article

The tick species Ixodes ricinus is the most widely distributed throughout Europe and serves as the primary vector for the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), which is responsible for Lyme borreliosis. The present study evaluated the prevalence of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) in I. ricinus ticks using nPCR amplification. Ticks were collected from three geographical regions in Bulgaria: the Black Sea Coast in the east, the Pleven region in the north, and the Stara Zagora region in the central south. This study focused on urban and peri-urban areas, including heavily traveled trails in parks. The results indicated statistically significant differences in infection rates, with the highest percentage of infected ticks found in Pleven (52.34%), followed by Stara Zagora (35.46%) and the lowest on the Black Sea Coast (23.08%). Furthermore, we conducted genospecies molecular identification of B. afzelii and B. garinii by PCR amplification of genospecies-specific nucleotide sequences in the 16S rRNA gene. The lowest prevalence of B. afzelii was recorded in Stara Zagora at 10.64%, followed by the Black Sea region at 12.5%, while the statistically highest frequency was observed in Pleven at 21.03%. The prevalence of B. garinii among the total number of I. ricinus ticks was greatest in Pleven at 15.89%, followed by the Black Sea region at 8.65%, and the lowest in the Stara Zagora region at 4.96%. Statistically significant differences were found only between Pleven and Stara Zagora (p = 0.002), but no significant differences in infection rates were observed between adults and nymphs in the regions examined. Overall, the prevalence of B. afzelii in each region exceeds that of B. garinii, and when considered collectively for Bulgaria, the frequency of B. afzelii (15.9%) is higher than that of B. garinii (10.89%) in infected ticks. In a controlled epidemiological context, managing the population of I. ricinus infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. can mitigate the health burden of Lyme disease, although this preventive strategy may not guarantee complete protection. Full article

Monitoring the occurrence of Borreliaceae spirochetes in ticks may provide an indication of the risks of acquiring Lyme borreliosis (LB) and Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). All ticks obtained in our study from humans in the years 2018–2022 (n = 1232) were identified morphologically for species, sex and developmental stage. The detection of Borreliaceae spirochetes and species identification were performed by nested PCR based on the flaB gene fragment and the region between the mag and trnI genes. Two species of ticks were identified: Ixodes ricinus (96.9%) and Dermacentor reticulatus (3.1%). The infection of I. ricinus ticks with Borreliaceae spirochetes was found to reach 18.3%, including B. miyamotoi (2.5%). Among Borreliella species, Bl. afzelii was the most frequent, followed by Bl. burgdorferi, Bl. spielmanii, Bl. valaisiana, Bl. garinii, Bl. bissettiae, Bl. californiensis and Bl. carolinensis. Borreliaceae spirochetes were also found in D. reticulatus ticks, of which Bl. afzelii and B. miyamotoi were the most common. In conclusion, ticks affecting humans in Poland represent a real risk of infection with Borreliaceae spirochetes, and knowledge of the prevalence and distribution of these bacteria is an important tool in assessing the risks of LB and BMD. Full article

We investigated tick infestations in stray dogs from Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, focusing on tick species distribution, and pathogen infection rates. Ticks were collected from 232 stray dogs across six major urban parks in 2021–2022. A total of 443 ticks were collected, belonging to five species: Ixodes ricinus (43.8%), Dermacentor reticulatus (35.2%), Dermacentor marginatus (20.5%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and Haemaphysalis punctata with only 1 specimen. Notably, 92.5% of ticks were adults, while only 7% were nymphs and <1% were larvae. On average, 44.4% of stray dogs were infested with ticks, with an overall mean intensity of ~4.3 ticks per infested dog. Tick burden varied by location: dogs in large, less-maintained parks carried the most ticks. Tick pathogen screening revealed 24.4% of ticks (108/443) carried at least one pathogen. The most frequently detected were Babesia spp. in 12.2% of ticks, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in 7.4%, Rickettsia spp. in 3.4%, Anaplasma spp. in 2.5%, and Ehrlichia spp. in 0.5%; 4 ticks harbored co-infections. We discuss implications for public health and animal welfare and recommend control measures such as integrated stray-dog management and vegetation maintenance in urban parks. Full article

The high incidence of tick-borne diseases (particularly Lyme disease) and the challenges associated with their serious health consequences motivated us to undertake research aimed at developing robust protection against ticks. There is still no effective method for preventing or treating Lyme disease, and humans who spend time outdoors—whether for occupational or recreational purposes—remain unprotected. This paper presents an innovative design of anti-tick textile bands intended for standalone use or integration into protective trousers. The bands are designed to receive repellent-sprayed inserts and provide a barrier layer separating the chemical from the user. In the research, the protective performance of the bands was evaluated using a novel test stand specially constructed for tick repellency testing. Experiments involving live ticks demonstrated the highest effectiveness for bands incorporating an insert impregnated with 20% DEET. Two limitations were noted: peak protection was achieved approx. 15 min after DEET application, and repellent reapplication was required after three hours to maintain protection. These findings are directly relevant to protective equipment design, offering a practical solution for high-risk groups such as forestry workers. By providing an experimentally validated strategy for tick bite prevention, this work addresses an urgent need in occupational and public health. Full article

A novel flavi-like virus with a segmented genome—Alongshan virus (ALSV)—has been isolated from Ixodes ticks in Russia. In this study, 4458 ixodid ticks collected in 22 regions of Russia were tested for genetic markers of ALSV by RT PCR. The highest rates of ALSV infection in ticks were detected in the Republic of Khakassia (3.3%) and in Kemerovo Oblast (2.4%), while low infection rates were more typical in the European part of Russia (0.4–0.7%). Complete four-segment genomes of 20 ALSV isolates derived from 22 PCR-positive Ixodes persulcatus ticks were sequenced using a high-throughput approach. The nucleotide sequences for Asian ALSV isolates have a 94.5–96.5% identity to ALSV isolates previously found in China, with this range for the European isolates being 89–93%. This data, together with phylogenetic analysis, indicates the existence of Asian and European subtypes of ALSV, and these may be associated with I. persulcatus and I ricinus ticks. The obtained results express the spread of ALSV in Russia and also may be useful for the diagnosis, prophylactics, and treatment of this infection. Full article

This study was conducted to assess the involvement of two lizard species: the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), and their Ixodes ricinus ticks, in the circulation spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex. Lizards were captured at three study sites in suburban areas of western Poland. Common lizards were less abundant and occurred only at one site. A total of 1129 ticks were collected from 167 sand lizards and 164 individuals from 42 common lizards. Biopsies of the distal part of the lizard tail were taken from 172 animals. All samples that tested positive by real-time PCR underwent subsequent nested PCR targeting the flaB gene, followed by sequencing. At least 6.3% of I. ricinus ticks (MIR) from L. agilis, and 6.1% from Z. vivipara, were infected. Borrelia lusitaniae was the most prevalent genospecies in L. agilis-derived ticks, accounting for 73.2% of all infected samples, followed by B. burgdorferi s.s. (23.0%). Conversely, this latter species prevailed (90%) over B. lusitaniae (10%) in tick samples from Z. vivipara. Therefore, we believe that sand lizards are competent reservoir hosts for B. lusitaniae, while the role of Z. vivipara for this species is unclear. The high prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.s. was also found in infected larval samples (40.7%) and biopsies (60%) of L. agilis. Thus, in our opinion, these two lizard species could be another group of reservoir hosts for this human pathogen, along with birds and rodents. Full article