Letter
Immunology
Xiao-Ai Zhang, Feng Tian, Yue Li, Xiao-Long Zhang, Bao-Gui Jiang, Bao-Cheng Liu, Jing-Tao Zhang, Shen Tian, Heng Ding, Shuang Li, Hao Li, Li-Qun Fang, Wei Liu
Summary: In a field investigation in China, relapsing fever (RF) Borrelia was found in ticks and wild mammals. Multiple species were identified, including human-pathogenic Borrelia miyamotoi, Borrelia persica, and unclassified Babesia sp. The coexistence of RF Borrelia species in certain tick species poses a potential threat to public health.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Dieuwertje Hoornstra, Olga A. Stukolova, Ludmila S. Karan, Denis S. Sarksyan, Nadezhda M. Kolyasnikova, Mikhail L. Markelov, Anna S. Cherkashina, Anna S. Dolgova, Anna E. Sudina, Marina Sokolova, Alexander E. Platonov, Joppe W. Hovius
Summary: A protein array for serodiagnosis of Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) was developed and validated, which showed high sensitivity and specificity. Reactivity against glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (GlpQ) and any variable major protein (Vmp) or flagellin resulted in the highest specificity for IgM/IgG detection.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Fathiah Zakham, Anne J. Jaaskelainen, Janne Castren, Jani J. Sormunen, Ruut Uusitalo, Teemu Smura, Gabriel Von Troil, Suvi Kuivanen, Tarja Sironen, Olli Vapalahti
Summary: A study conducted in Finland found a low prevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi pathogen in ticks, but highlighted the potential risk of disease transmission related to tick bites. The discovery of outlier strains related to Russia and Far East Asian countries suggests the need for further research on the role of this pathogen in human infection in Finland. Additionally, the presence of I. persulcatus ticks in the coastal southern part of Finland indicates a possible wide expansion and transmission of new pathogens in the country.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Radwa Ashour, Dalia Hamza, Mona Kadry, Maha A. Sabry
Summary: This study is the first molecular study in Egypt to detect Borrelia spp. and Borrelia miyamotoi in camels and associated ticks, revealing the presence of Lyme borreliosis and other Borrelia bacteria species in camels.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dominika Bubanova, Alena Myslivcova Fucikova, Igor Majlath, Petr Pajer, Karolina Bjelkova, Viktoria Majlathova
Summary: This study identified the presence of Borrelia miyamotoi infection in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Czech Republic through PCR testing. Although no human cases were found, there is a potential risk of human infection as this spirochete is widespread in ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yongjin Qiu, Herman M. Chambaro, Kozue Sato, David Squarre, Edgar Simulundu, Masahiro Kajihara, Katendi Changula, Manyando Simbotwe, Hayato Harima, Joseph Ndebe, Ladslav Moonga, Ryo Nakao, Ayato Takada, Bernard Mudenda Hang'ombe, Hirofumi Sawa, Hiroki Kawabata
Summary: This study investigated the Borrelia spirochetes harbored by Ornithodoros ticks in Zambian National Parks. The findings revealed the first evidence of Old-World RF borreliae in Zambia, along with New World RF borreliae and Borrelia theileri. Real-time PCR with TaqMan probes accurately detected both types of RF borreliae, providing a useful tool for quantitative analysis. Further research should focus on isolating the different Borrelia species and conducting serosurveys on RF patients.
Article
Parasitology
Yuan Gao, Xiao-Long Lv, Shu-Zheng Han, Wei Wang, Quan Liu, Mingxin Song
Summary: The study reported the detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in both ticks and humans in the northeast of Inner Mongolia, China, indicating the presence of the pathogen in the area and the potential risk of infection, highlighting the need for differential diagnosis of tick-borne diseases in the region.
Article
Parasitology
Gaowa, Wulantuya, Kozue Sato, Dan Liu, Yunhong Cui, Xuhong Yin, Lihua Zhang, Hong Li, Tingfu Wang, Rongxin Liu, Lijing Wu, Saixia Lu, Ting Gao, Zitong Zhang, Minzhi Cao, Guodong Wang, Chunpu Li, Dacheng Yan, Norio Ohashi, Shuji Ando, Hiroki Kawabata
Summary: This study in Inner Mongolia, China, revealed a 5% prevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi in Ixodes persulcatus ticks. Additionally, it was found that 43.8% of the ticks carried Lyme disease borreliae. A strain of B. miyamotoi was successfully isolated, and its genome was identified as ST633, previously reported in Japan and Mongolia.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniel J. Salkeld, Danielle M. Lagana, Julie Wachara, W. Tanner Porter, Nathan C. Nieto
Summary: Tick-borne diseases in California, particularly Lyme disease, are influenced by the local host ecology and prevalence of zoonotic diseases. Surveillance scale can impact the reported infection prevalence, and understanding multiple pathogen species in the same habitat is crucial for interpreting local pathogen occurrence. Neglected habitats, such as coastal chaparral, may harbor a variety of tick-borne pathogens, emphasizing the need for local-scale data descriptions rather than aggregated data.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Florian Roettgerding, John Njeru, Elif Schluefter, Andreas Latz, Rouzbeh Mahdavi, Ulrich Steinhoff, Sally J. Cutler, Silke Besier, Volkhard A. J. Kempf, Volker Fingerle, Peter Kraiczy
Summary: This study aimed to develop novel and reliable immunoassays for the serodiagnosis of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF). Two immunoreactive antigens (CihC and GlpQ) were identified as promising target candidates, and two immunoassays (line immunoblot and ELISA) for IgM and IgG were evaluated. The results showed that these assays had high sensitivity and specificity, even at early time points of infection, indicating their potential as reliable tools in clinical practice.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Letter
Immunology
Guang Xu, Chu-Yuan Luo, Fumiko Ribbe, Patrick Pearson, Michel Ledizet, Stephen M. Rich
Summary: Between 2013 and 2019, Borrelia miyamotoi infection was detected in 19 U.S. states with an infection rate ranging from 0.5% to 3.2%. A significant percentage (59.09%) of B. miyamotoi-positive ticks were found to have concurrent infections. The pathogen showed genetic homogeneity with one genotype found in Ixodes scapularis ticks in northeastern and midwestern states, and another genotype found in I. pacificus ticks in western states.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Ratree Takhampunya, Sasikanya Thaloengsok, Bousaraporn Tippayachai, Sommai Promsathaporn, Surachai Leepitakrat, Katelynn Gross, Silas A. Davidson
Summary: This study conducted a retrospective survey of Borrelia in ticks and wild rodents in Thailand, revealing the prevalence and diversity of Borrelia across different regions. Different species of ticks showed varying levels of infection with Borrelia, and several Borrelia species were identified for the first time in Thailand in this study.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Charles E. Booth, Alexandra D. Powell-Pierce, Jon T. Skare, Brandon L. Garcia
Summary: B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi both interact with human hosts using surface lipoproteins, but they differ in their interactions with the complement system and in the structures and functions of their proteins.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Andrias Hojgaard, Lynn M. Osikowicz, Sarah Maes, Lars Eisen, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: Research on Borrelia miyamotoi has revealed significant genetic differences between strains in the eastern and western United States, with distinct sequences identified in each region. Infected ticks in the Northeast predominantly carry one sequence type, while ticks in the North-Central and Mid-Atlantic regions may harbor multiple sequence types simultaneously. Further studies are needed to fully understand the phylogeography and potential biological implications of these differences.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Anna E. Jacob, Jeffrey Scott Weese, Joyce Rosseau, Katie M. Clow
Summary: Increasing temperatures due to climate change have led to the expansion of Ixodes scapularis ticks in Canada, which carry pathogens that are significant for public and animal health. A study on ticks of companion animals found that B. burgdorferi had a higher prevalence in certain regions of Canada, while B. miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum had lower prevalence rates.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Ivanova, Valentina Tefanova, Irina Reshetnjak, Tatiana Kuznetsova, Julia Geller, Ake Lundkvist, Marilin Janson, Kaedi Neare, Kaisa Velstroem, Pikka Jokelainen, Brian Lassen, Pirje Huett, Tiiu Saar, Arvo Viltrop, Irina Golovljova
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL VIROLOGY
(2015)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Olga Katargina, Julia Geller, Anna Ivanova, Kairi Vaerv, Valentina Tefanova, Sirkka Vene, Ake Lundkvist, Irina Golovljova
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2015)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kairi Vaerv, Anna Ivanova, Julia Geller, Jaanus Remm, Kertu Jaik, Nina Tikunova, Vera Rar, Ake Lundkvist, Irina Golovljova
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2017)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna Ivanova, Julia Geller, Olga Katargina, Kairi Varv, Ake Lundkvist, Irina Golovljova
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2017)
Article
Virology
Tatiana V. Kuznetsova, Anna Ivanova-Pozdejeva, Irina Reshetnjak, Julia Geller, Kairi Varv, Reet Rumvolt, Maria Vikentjeva, Elena V. Trubnikova, Natalia V. Pozdniakova, Alexei B. Shevelev, Irina Golovljova
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Parasitology
Julia Geller, Lidia Nazarova, Olga Katargina, Irina Golovljova
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2013)
Article
Parasitology
Jean-Francois Cosson, Lorraine Michelet, Julien Chotte, Evelyne Le Naour, Martine Cote, Elodie Devillers, Marie-Lazarine Poulle, Dominique Huet, Maxime Galan, Julia Geller, Sara Moutailler, Muriel Vayssier-Taussat
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2014)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Olga Katargina, Stanislava Russakova, Julia Geller, Macije Kondrusik, Joanna Zajkowska, Milda Zygutiene, Antra Bormane, Julia Trofimova, Irina Golovljova
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Geller, Lidia Nazarova, Olga Katargina, Agu Leivits, Lilian Jaervekuelg, Irina Golovljova
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2013)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eugeniy Smorodin, Boris Sergeyev, Oleg Kurtenkov, Tatiana Kuznetsova, Julia Geller
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Oleg Kurtenkov, Jelena Jakovleva, Boris Sergejev, Julia Geller
Article
Parasitology
Maria Vikentjeva, Julia Geller, Jaanus Remm, Irina Golovljova
Summary: This study detected and identified Rickettsia species in ticks attached to rodents in Estonia. Rickettsial DNA was found in 8.7% of the studied ticks, including the first identification of Candidatus Rickettsia uralica associated with Ixodes trianguliceps west of the Ural Mountains.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Virology
Kadri Koivumagi, Julia Geller, Karolin Toompere, Hiie Soeorg, Eveli Kallas, Ene-Ly Jogeda, Kristi Huik, Irja Lutsar
Summary: The study in Estonia revealed that the dominant strains of Norovirus were GII.4, GII.3, GII.17, and GII.6, with GII.4Sydney_2012[P31] being the most prevalent strain. There was a significant difference in strain diversity between age groups, indicating the importance of understanding Norovirus strain diversity for control and prevention measures.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Claude Saegerman, Marie-France Humblet, Marc Leandri, Gaelle Gonzalez, Paul Heyman, Hein Sprong, Monique L'Hostis, Sara Moutailler, Sarah I. Bonnet, Nadia Haddad, Nathalie Boulanger, Stephen Leib, Thierry Hoch, Etienne Thiry, Laure Bournez, Jana Kerlik, Aurelie Velay, Solveig Jore, Elsa Jourdain, Emmanuelle Gilot-Fromont, Katharina Brugger, Julia Geller, Marie Studahl, Natasa Knap, Tatjana Avsic-Zupanc, Daniel P. Ruzek, Tizza Zomer, Rene Bodker, Thomas F. H. Berger, Sandra Martin-Latil, Nick De Regge, Alice A. Raffetin, Sandrine Lacour, Matthias Klein, Tinne Lernout, Elsa Quillery, Zdenek Hubalek, Francisco Ruiz-Fons, Agustin Estrada-Pena, Philippe Fravalo, Pauline Kooh, Florence Etore, Celine M. Gossner, Bethan Purse
Summary: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an endemic viral disease in Eurasia, primarily transmitted to humans through ticks and occasionally through unpasteurized milk products. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has reported an increase in TBE incidence over the years, as well as its emergence in new areas. Through expert knowledge elicitation, we identified nine key drivers for TBE emergence and increased incidence, including changes in human behavior, eating habits, landscape, humidity, difficulty in controlling reservoirs and vectors, temperature, wildlife compartments, increase in autochthonous wild mammals, and distribution of tick species vectors.
