A five-year survey of tick species and identification of tick-borne bacteria in Sardinia, Italy

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Valentina ChisuGiovanna Masala

Abstract

Sardinia is a hotspot for studying tick-borne diseases in the Mediterranean region, where cases of notifiable tick-borne diseases are increasing. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of tick-borne bacteria of medical and veterinary importance in ixodid ticks collected from domestic and wild animals, humans, and vegetation from different collection sites in Sardinia. Using standard PCR and sequencing techniques, the presence of Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella species, as well as Coxiella burnetii was evaluated. A total of 1619 ticks were morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, R. bursa, R. annulatus, Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis punctata, Ha. sulcata, Hyalomma lusitanicum, H. marginatum, Ixodes festai (sometimes referred to erroneously as I. ventalloi), and Argas reflexus. Results indicated the presence of several circulating pathogens in Sardinian ticks. DNA of Rickettsia species was detected in 58 out of 1619 (4%) belonging to R. sanguineus s.l., D. marginatus, Ha. punctata, H. marginatum, and I. festai species. Ehrlichia canis DNA was detected in 33 out of 1619 ticks (2%) belonging to R. sanguineus s.l., R. bursa, and Ha. punctata species. A total of 61 out o...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 15, 2018·Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·Andrew D Haddow
Apr 25, 2020·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Maria João Coimbra-DoresDeodália Dias
Oct 8, 2020·Veterinary Record Open·Valentina ChisuGiovanna Masala
Jun 20, 2020·Acta Parasitologica·Valentina ChisuGiovanna Masala
Feb 12, 2021·Pathogens·Cristoforo GuccioneAntonio Cascio
Jun 15, 2021·Frontiers in Veterinary Science·Hanène BelkahiaMourad Ben Said

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