Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Marko Vucelja, Stjepan Krcmar, Josipa Habus, Vesna Mojcec Perko, Marko Boljfetic, Linda Bjedov, Josip Margaletic
Summary: This study investigated the altitudinal distributions, population structures, and seasonal dynamics of tick fauna in three localities in Continental Croatia (Medvednica and Papuk) and an alpine biogeographic region (Gorski Kotar). Questing ticks were sampled twice a year (spring and autumn, from 2019 to 2021) at different altitudes using the flagging method. The majority of the ticks were identified as Ixodes ricinus, with the highest tick abundance observed at higher altitudes in mixed forests of European beech and European silver fir. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection was detected in a small percentage of ticks, with the presence of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto genotype.
Article
Parasitology
Zsuzsa Kalmar, Violeta Briciu, Mircea Coroian, Mirela Flonta, Amanda-Lelia Radulescu, Adriana Topan, Andrei Daniel Mihalca, Mihaela Lupse
Summary: The study in Romania found specific IgG and IgM antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. among healthy blood donors. Higher seroprevalence was observed in men, older individuals, and those engaged in outdoor work.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Cristian Raileanu, Cornelia Silaghi, Volker Fingerle, Gabriele Margos, Claudia Thiel, Kurt Pfister, Evelyn Overzier
Summary: The study demonstrates high infection levels and diverse genospecies of Borrelia in questing ticks in different habitats in Southern Germany. The presence of roe deer appears to reduce infection rates of B. burgdorferi s.l. in tick populations.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexandra N. Cumbie, Erin L. Heller, Zachary J. Bement, Anna Phan, Eric L. Walters, Wayne L. Hynes, Holly D. Gaff
Summary: The interaction between hosts and ticks plays a crucial role in the ecology of vector-borne diseases, with birds potentially playing a role in the maintenance and dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., the main causative agent of Lyme disease in the southeastern United States.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Beata Wodecka, Jerzy Michalik, Renata Grochowalska
Summary: This study investigated the role of red foxes and their associated ticks in maintaining Borrelia burgdorferi. Through PCR analysis of ticks removed from infested animals, multiple species of ticks carrying B. burgdorferi were identified. Tissue analysis of red foxes also showed a certain level of infection. However, red foxes have low reservoir competence for most species of B. burgdorferi.
Article
Infectious Diseases
E. Richtrova, P. Michalova, A. Lukavska, J. Navratil, K. Kybicova
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in urban areas of Prague, Czech Republic. The results showed that approximately 28.1% of Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from city parks and green recreational areas were positive for B. burgdorferi. The prevalence varied between collection sites, with higher numbers of infected ticks found in central city areas. The study highlights the importance of surveillance for tick-borne pathogens in public green areas.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Robert E. Rollins, Zehra Yeyin, Maja Wyczanska, Nikolas Alig, Sabrina Hepner, Volker Fingerle, Gabriele Margos, Noemie S. Becker
Summary: The study found Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. positive ticks in all plots around Munich, Germany, with significantly different numbers of positive nymphs between plots but not for positive adults. Six Bbsl genospecies were identified, with B. afzelii and B. garinii dominating and B. miyamotoi found in two sampling plots, highlighting variability in Bbsl prevalence and genospecies distribution over short geographic distances.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jamil N. Kanji, Abraam Isaac, Daniel Gregson, Monika Mierzejewski, Danny Shpeley, Pauline Tomlin, Michael Groeschel, L. Robbin Lindsay, Lisa Lachance, Kinga Kowalewska-Grochowska
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed tick species and quantity recovered from humans in Alberta over a 19-year period, and conducted molecular testing for pathogens associated with Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus. Dermacentor ticks were the most common, followed by Ixodes and Amblyomma. The risk of tick-borne pathogen exposure, such as Lyme disease, in Alberta remains low.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Chiappa, Matteo Perini, Alessandra Cafiso, Riccardo Nodari, Peter Wilhelmsson, Per-Eric Lindgren, Anna Omazic, Karin Ullman, Sara Moutailler, Petter Kjellander, Chiara Bazzocchi, Giulio Grandi
Summary: This study established three species-specific PCR protocols using a comparative genomics approach to detect and identify three common human pathogenic Lyme Borrelia species in Europe. The protocols were validated on tick samples, showing high accuracy and precision.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Derick Thompson, John A. Watt, Catherine A. Brissette
Summary: The text discusses the host immune and inflammatory response induced by Lyme borreliosis bacterium and how these responses influence the pathology of Lyme disease.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Zhihai He, Baogui Jiang, Lin Huang, Zongti Shao, Yun Zhang, Yuqiong Li, Ennian Pu, Xingde Duan, Hang Jiang, Jian Wang, Mingguo Yao, Fan Wang, Shuangshuang Bie, Michael E. von Fricken, Yi Sun, Yi Dong, Jiafu Jiang, Chunhong Du
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive investigation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (BBSL) in reservoirs and vectors in Yunnan Province, China. The results revealed a wide distribution of BBSL and multiple endemic genospecies, highlighting the need for expanded surveillance efforts for human in southwestern China.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ilse M. Lucke, Amber Vrijlandt, Johan Lim, Anneke J. Kooi, Ivo N. Schaik, Hans L. Zaaijer, Joppe W. Hovius, Filip Eftimov
Summary: This study found that apparent Bbsl seroconversion often occurs in patients receiving IVIg treatment, but antibodies typically disappear post-treatment, with seroreversion observed in a majority of patients within 3 months. The transient presence of anti-Bbsl IgG antibodies after IVIg treatment appears to be dependent on the brand of IVIg, reflecting variations in Bbsl exposure of plasma donors. Lyme borreliosis serological testing during and after IVIg treatment may be of limited utility.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Djamel Tahir, Btissam Asri, Leon Nicolaas Meyer, Alec Evans, Thomas Mather, Byron Blagburn, Reinhard K. Straubinger, Valerie Choumet, Frans Jongejan, Marie Varloud
Summary: The ex vivo feeding technique using DPP showed high efficacy in blocking the acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi and killing ticks, without exposing animals to pathogens or vectors. This method could be a promising approach for tick control and disease prevention.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lynn M. Osikowicz, Maria R. Rizzo, Andrias Hojgaard, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen
Summary: This article describes the prevalence and diversity of Lyme disease in the United States. By using different detection methods, the authors found various species of spirochetes present in specific tick species, revealing the potential transmission of pathogens among ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2024)
Article
Microbiology
John D. Scott, Risa R. Pesapane
Summary: This study identified various pathogens carried by blacklegged ticks and determined their prevalence. Multiple zoonotic pathogens were detected in I. scapularis ticks in Ontario and Quebec, highlighting the potential transmission risks posed by these ticks.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Marc Naguib, Mieke Titulaer, Joseph R. Waas, Kees van Oers, Philipp Sprau, Lysanne Snijders
Summary: Territorial animals use signals to advertise territorial occupancy, and their responses to territorial intrusions can predict their future responses and overall spatial behavior. However, singing activity does not have predictability in their responses to future intrusions.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronika N. Laine, Bernice Sepers, Melanie Lindner, Fleur Gawehns, Suvi Ruuskanen, Kees van Oers
Summary: The field of molecular biology is rapidly advancing and there is a growing interest in studying ecological epigenetics, particularly in wild vertebrates. This review provides a practical guide for researchers studying DNA methylation variation in wild vertebrates, discussing technical aspects, limitations, and data analysis methods.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Stefan J. G. Vriend, Vidar Grotan, Marlene Gamelon, Frank Adriaensen, Markus P. Ahola, Elena Alvarez, Liam D. Bailey, Emilio Barba, Jean-Charles Bouvier, Malcolm D. Burgess, Andrey Bushuev, Carlos Camacho, David Canal, Anne Charmantier, Ella F. Cole, Camillo Cusimano, Blandine F. Doligez, Szymon M. Drobniak, Anna Dubiec, Marcel Eens, Tapio Eeva, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Peter N. Ferns, Anne E. Goodenough, Ian R. Hartley, Shelley A. Hinsley, Elena Ivankina, Rimvydas Juskaitis, Bart Kempenaers, Anvar B. Kerimov, John Atle Kalas, Claire Lavigne, Agu Leivits, Mark C. Mainwaring, Jesus Martinez-Padilla, Erik Matthysen, Kees van Oers, Markku Orell, Rianne Pinxten, Tone Kristin Reiertsen, Seppo Rytkonen, Juan Carlos Senar, Ben C. Sheldon, Alberto Sorace, Janos Torok, Emma Vatka, Marcel E. Visser, Bernt-Erik Saether
Summary: Identifying the environmental drivers of variation in fitness-related traits is important in ecology and evolution. This study examined the influence of local climatic variables on spatial synchrony in fitness-related traits among bird populations in Europe. The researchers found that temperature strongly affected spatial synchrony in laying date for blue tits and great tits but not for pied flycatchers. Understanding how environmental conditions influence trait values improves our understanding of environmental impacts on populations.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Rebecca S. Chen, Carl D. Soulsbury, Christophe Lebigre, Gilbert Ludwig, Kees van Oers, Joseph I. Hoffman
Summary: Intensive hunting activities can have major impacts on natural populations, but even recreational hunting can subtly affect animal behavior and movement. This study focused on the black grouse population in Finland to investigate the effects of hunting on genetic diversity, inbreeding, and dispersal. The results showed that while there was little genetic structure in the population, immigration rates into hunted sites were higher, suggesting that migration may mitigate the risk of inbreeding. A spatially heterogeneous matrix of hunted and unhunted regions may be important for sustainable harvests in the future.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Bridgett M. M. von Holdt, Rebecca Y. Y. Kartzinel, Kees van Oers, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Jenny Q. Q. Ouyang
Summary: This study examines the contribution of DNA methylation to early-life phenotypic variation. The research finds higher methylation frequencies in urban house wren offspring at hatching and observes age-related patterns in offspring methylation. Additionally, differential methylation analyses show that cellular respiration genes and behavioral/metabolism genes are differentially methylated in broods of different origins and rearing environments, respectively. Lastly, hyper-methylation of a single gene (CNTNAP2) is associated with decreased glucocorticoid levels and the rearing environment. These findings suggest that DNA methylation may play a role in individuals' adjustment to novel environments during their lifespan.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Karin Persson Waller, Kerstin Dahlgren, Giulio Grandi, Maya Louise Holding, Katarina Naslund, Anna Omazic, Hein Sprong, Karin Ullman, Mikael Leijon
Summary: A disease outbreak in a Swedish cattle herd may be caused by an unusual type of Mycoplasma in combination with immune suppression due to granulocytic anaplasmosis caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The latter bacterium is widespread in the herd and also found in wild deer and ticks.
Article
Microbiology
Tryntsje Cuperus, Ankje de Vries, Ryanne I. I. Jaarsma, Hein Sprong, Miriam Maas
Summary: This study found the presence of multiple (tick-borne) zoonotic pathogens in European moles, including spotted fever Rickettsia, Leptospira spp., Bartonella spp., and Hantaviridae. However, no pathogens relevant to humans were found. Although the zoonotic risk from moles appears limited, our results indicate that these animals do play a role in multiple host-pathogen cycles.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Eva Serrano-Davies, Nina Bircher, Bernice Sepers, Kees van Oers
Summary: Habitat characteristics during rearing are associated with behavioral phenotypes. This study explores how rearing habitat characteristics relate to exploratory behavior, food selection, and foraging performance during winter in wild great tits. The results show that faster explorers are raised in lower quality habitats and visit feeders more frequently. Additionally, the rearing environment influences diet selection during winter. This study highlights the importance of habitat characteristics in shaping behavior.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bernice Sepers, Rebecca Shuhua Chen, Michelle Memelink, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Kees van Oers
Summary: As environmental fluctuations become more frequent, organisms need to adapt quickly to changes caused by humans, climate, and ecology. Epigenetic modifications, specifically DNA methylation, play a role in shaping a organism's phenotypic responses during development. While studies have shown that environmentally induced DNA methylation changes occur, we have limited understanding of the proportion of the epigenome affected by environmental factors compared to genetic variation. In this study, using a partial cross-foster design in a great tit population, we found that common origin explained the variance in DNA methylation in 8,315 CpG sites while common rearing environment only explained 101 sites. Furthermore, we identified quantitative trait loci for the CpG sites related to brood origin, with 754 cis and 4,202 trans methylation quantitative trait loci involving 24% of the CpG sites. These findings suggest that the influence of environmentally induced methylation marks, independent of genotype, is limited and that genetic factors play a larger role in determining DNA methylation variation early in life.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bernice Sepers, A. Christa Mateman, Fleur Gawehns, Koen J. F. Verhoeven, Kees van Oers
Summary: The early life environment is crucial for many organisms and can have profound effects on morphology, physiology, and fitness. The molecular mechanisms that mediate these effects are largely unknown, but DNA methylation has been suggested as a potential mechanism. This study investigated the association between DNA methylation changes and experimentally induced early developmental effects in great tit nestlings.
Review
Parasitology
Clara Florentine Kohler, Maya Louise Holding, Hein Sprong, Patrick A. Jansen, Helen J. Esser
Summary: Biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic diseases are major global challenges. Restoring ecosystems needs to take into account the risk of tick-borne diseases and the interaction between vertebrate diversity and pathogen transmission. Long-term surveillance of wildlife communities, ticks, and their pathogens is crucial to prevent tick-borne diseases from increasing during nature restoration.
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
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.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Utku Urhan, Magnus Mardberg, Emil Isaksson, Kees van Oers, Anders Brodin
Summary: Motor inhibition ability was compared between two closely related passerines that share the same habitat. Blue tits performed worse than great tits in a transparent cylinder task and did not improve their performance after experience with a transparent cylinder-like object, unlike the great tits. This performance difference may be due to differences in foraging behavior between these species.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lea Joffrin, Tine Cooreman, Erik Verheyen, Francis Vercammen, Joachim Marien, Herwig Leirs, Sophie Gryseels
Summary: A systematic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in mammal species in two zoos in Belgium found no positive samples among 1523 fecal samples from 103 mammal species.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Krista van den Heuvel, John L. L. Quinn, Alexander Kotrschal, Kees van Oers
Summary: Cognitive flexibility, influenced by memory and prior experience, is a complex trait that controls how animals respond to changing environmental conditions. In a study on great tits (Parus major), researchers conducted an artificial selection experiment to assess the repeatability and heritability of cognitive flexibility. They found low repeatability but no genetic correlation between associative and reversal learning, highlighting the importance of prior information in the latter. The study also emphasized the need for future research to identify the cognitive components underlying variation in reversal learning and explore their genetic contributions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)