Comparative Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Parasit Vectors. 2012 Sep 5;5:191. doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-5-191.
The aims of this study were to evaluate the host-tick-pathogen interface of Babesia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in restored areas in both questing and host-attached Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus and their small mammalian hosts.
Questing ticks were collected from 5 sites within the city of Leipzig, Germany, in 2009. Small mammals were trapped at 3 of the 5 sites during 2010 and 2011. DNA extracts of questing and host-attached I. ricinus and D. reticulatus and of several tissue types of small mammals (the majority bank voles and yellow-necked mice), were investigated by PCR followed by sequencing for the occurrence of DNA of Babesia spp. and by real-time PCR for A. phagocytophilum. A selected number of samples positive for A. phagocytophilum were further investigated for variants of the partial 16S rRNA gene. Co-infection with Rickettsia spp. in the questing ticks was additionally investigated.
4.1% of questing I. ricinus ticks, but no D. reticulatus, were positive for Babesia sp. and 8.7% of I. ricinus for A. phagocytophilum. Sequencing revealed B. microti, B. capreoli and Babesia spp. EU1 in Leipzig and sequence analysis of the partial 16S RNA gene of A. phagocytophilum revealed variants either rarely reported in human cases or associated with cervid hosts. The statistical analysis revealed significantly less ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum in a city park in Leipzig as compared to the other sampling sites. A. phagocytophilum-DNA was detected in 2 bank voles, DNA of B. microti in 1 striped field-mouse and of Babesia sp. EU1 in the skin tissue of a mole. Co-infections were detected.
Our results show the involvement of small mammals in the natural endemic cycles of tick-borne pathogens. A more thorough understanding of the interactions of ticks, pathogens and hosts is the essential basis for effective preventive control measures.
本研究旨在评估 Babesia spp. 和 Anaplasma phagocytophilum 在莱比锡市修复区的游离和寄生状态下的蜱-宿主-病原体界面，以及它们在小型哺乳动物宿主中的情况。
2009 年，在德国莱比锡市的 5 个地点采集游离蜱。2010 年和 2011 年，在其中 3 个地点捕获小型哺乳动物。对游离和寄生状态下的硬蜱和软蜱，以及多种小型哺乳动物组织（主要是林姬鼠和黄胸鼠）的 DNA 提取物进行 PCR 检测，以确定是否存在 Babesia spp. 的 DNA，采用实时 PCR 检测 A. phagocytophilum。对部分检测到 A. phagocytophilum 的样本进行进一步检测，以确定 16S rRNA 基因部分序列的变异情况。此外，还对游离蜱中的莱姆病螺旋体 co-infection 情况进行了调查。
4.1%的游离硬蜱 tick 检测出 Babesia sp.，但未检测到软蜱；8.7%的硬蜱检测出 A. phagocytophilum。测序结果显示，在莱比锡发现了 B. microti、B. capreoli 和 Babesia spp. EU1。对 A. phagocytophilum 的部分 16S RNA 基因序列分析发现，这些变异体在人类病例中很少报道，或者与鹿宿主有关。统计分析显示，在莱比锡市的一个城市公园中，感染 A. phagocytophilum 的蜱数量明显少于其他采样点。在 2 只林姬鼠中检测到 A. phagocytophilum-DNA，1 只条纹田鼠中检测到 B. microti-DNA，1 只鼹鼠的皮肤组织中检测到 Babesia sp. EU1-DNA。还检测到了 co-infection。
我们的研究结果表明，小型哺乳动物参与了蜱传病原体的自然地方性循环。更深入地了解蜱、病原体和宿主之间的相互作用是制定有效预防控制措施的基础。
