Parasites and Vectors (2014) 7 (328) - Ticks infesting humans in ...

Domenico Otranto, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Alessio Giannelli, Maria Stefania Latrofa, Antonio Cascio, Stefania Cazzin, Silvia Ravagnan, Fabrizio Montarsi, Sergio Aurelio Zanzani, Maria Teresa Manfredi and Gioia Capelli (2014)
Ticks infesting humans in Italy and associated pathogens
Parasites and Vectors 7 (328)
Abstract:
Background
Ticks may transmit a large variety of pathogens, which cause illnesses in animals and humans, commonly referred to as to tick-borne diseases (TBDs). The incidence of human TBDs in Italy is underestimated because of poor surveillance and the scant amount of studies available.
Methods
Samples (n = 561) were collected from humans in four main geographical areas of Italy (i.e., northwestern, northeastern, southern Italy, and Sicily), which represent a variety of environments. After being morphologically identified, ticks were molecularly tested with selected protocols for the presence of pathogens of the genera Rickettsia, Babesia, Theileria, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia and Anaplasma.
Results
Ticks belonged to 16 species of the genera Argas, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus, with Ixodes ricinus (59.5%) being the species most frequently retrieved, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (21.4%). Nymphs were the life stage most frequently retrieved (41%), followed by adult females (34.6%). The overall positivity to any pathogen detected was 18%. Detected microorganisms were Rickettsia spp. (17.0%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.8%), Borrelia afzelii (0.5%), Borrelia valaisiana (0.3%), C. N. mikurensis (0.5%) and Babesia venatorum (0.6%).
Conclusions
Results indicate that people living in the Italian peninsula are at risk of being bitten by different tick species, which may transmit a plethora of TBD causing pathogens and that co-infections may also occur.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Domenico Otranto, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Fabrizio Montarsi, Gioia Capelli, Alessio Giannelli

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ixodes ricinus		Italy
	Rhipicephalus sanguineus		Italy
	Rhipicephalus turanicus		Italy
	Hyalomma marginatum		Italy
	Argas reflexus		Italy
	Rhipicephalus pusillus		Italy
	Dermacentor marginatus		Italy
	Hyalomma lusitanicum		Italy
	Haemaphysalis punctata		Italy
	Rhipicephalus bursa		Italy
	Hyalomma scupense		Italy
	Haemaphysalis parva		Italy
	Haemaphysalis inermis		Italy