Tick-borne rickettsioses belong to the important emerging infectious diseases worldwide. We investigated the potential human exposure to rickettsiae by determining their presence in questing ticks collected in an urban park of Budapest... more
Tick-borne rickettsioses belong to the important emerging infectious diseases worldwide. We investigated the potential human exposure to rickettsiae by determining their presence in questing ticks collected in an urban park of Budapest and a popular hunting and recreational forest area in southern Hungary. Differences were found in the infectious risk between the two habitats. Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia helvetica were identified with sequencing in questing Ixodes ricinus, the only ticks species collected in the city park. Female I. ricinus had a particularly high prevalence of R. helvetica (45 %). Tick community was more diverse in the rural habitat with Dermacentor reticulatus ticks having especially high percentage (58 %) of Rickettsia raoultii infection. We conclude that despite the distinct eco-epidemiological traits, the risk (hazard and exposure) of acquiring human pathogenic rickettsial infections in both the urban and the rural study sites exists.
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In 2014 Haemaphysalis punctata was found in several locations on the mainland of the Netherlands for the first time since 1897. In the same areas Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus were found. Haemaphysalis punctata and D.... more
In 2014 Haemaphysalis punctata was found in several locations on the mainland of the Netherlands for the first time since 1897. In the same areas Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus were found. Haemaphysalis punctata and D. reticulatus were tested for presence of Babesia spp. and Rickettsia spp. by PCR. Babesia spp. and spotted fever Rickettsiae were not detected in any of the collected H. punctata, while several D. reticulatus (6%) collected from the same areas were found to be positive for R. raoultii, a causative agent of tick-borne lymphadenopathy. We discuss the role of free-ranging domestic animals in maintaining H. punctata and D. reticulatus populations in dune areas in the Netherlands.
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We investigated the transmission dynamics of a community of tick-borne pathogenic bacteria in a common European songbird (Parus major). Tick-naïve birds were infested with three successive batches (spaced five days apart) of... more
We investigated the transmission dynamics of a community of tick-borne pathogenic bacteria in a common European songbird (Parus major). Tick-naïve birds were infested with three successive batches (spaced five days apart) of field-collected Ixodes ricinus nymphs, carrying the following tick-borne bacteria: Ricketssia helvetica (16.9 %), Borrelia garinii (1.9 %), Borrelia miyamotoi (1.6 %), Anaplasma phagocytophylum (1.2 %), and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (0.4 %). Fed ticks were screened for the pathogens after moulting to the next developmental phase. We found evidence for early transmission (within 2.75 days after exposure) of R. helvetica and B. garinii, and to a lesser extent of A. phagocytophylum based on the increased infection rates of ticks during the first infestation. The proportion of ticks infected with R. helvetica remained constant over the three infestations. In contrast, the infection rate of B. garinii in the ticks increased over the three infestations, indic...
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Lyme disease cases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. bacteria is increasing steadily in Europe, in part due to the expansion of the vector, Ixodes ricinus. Wild reservoir hosts are typically recurrently infested. Understanding the... more
Lyme disease cases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. bacteria is increasing steadily in Europe, in part due to the expansion of the vector, Ixodes ricinus. Wild reservoir hosts are typically recurrently infested. Understanding the impact of these cumulative parasite exposures on the host's health is, therefore, central to predict the distribution of tick populations and their pathogens. Here, we have experimentally investigated the symptoms of disease caused by recurrent infestations in a common songbird (Parus major). Birds were exposed three times in succession to ticks collected in a Borrelia endemic area. Health and immune measures were analyzed in order to investigate changes in response to tick infestation and Borrelia infection rate. Nitric oxide levels increased with the Borrelia infection rate, but this effect was increasingly counteracted by mounting tick infestation rates. Tick infestations equally reduced haematocrit during each cycle. But birds overcompensated in ...
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Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing a systemic inflammatory syndrome mostly in persons with underlying hematologic or autoimmune diseases. As it is neither well-known nor well-recognized, it might... more
Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis is an emerging tick-borne pathogen causing a systemic inflammatory syndrome mostly in persons with underlying hematologic or autoimmune diseases. As it is neither well-known nor well-recognized, it might be misdiagnosed as recurrence of the underlying disease or as an unrelated arteriosclerotic vascular event. The pathogen is transmitted by hard ticks of the genus Ixodes and is closely associated with rodents in which transplacental transmission occurs. Transovarial transmission in ticks has not yet been shown. Infection rates vary greatly in ticks and rodents, but the causes for its spatiotemporal variations are largely unknown. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on the geographical distribution and clinical importance of Ca. N. mikurensis. By elucidating the life history traits of this pathogen and determining more accurately its incidence in the human population, a better assessment of its public health relevance can be made. Most urgent research needs are the in vitro-cultivation of the pathogen, the development of specific serological tests, the determination of the full genomic sequence, the routine implementation of molecular diagnosis in diseased patients with a particular panel of underlying diseases, and promoting the knowledge about neoehrlichiosis among general practitioners, hospital physicians and the risk groups such as forest workers or immune-compromised people to raise awareness about this disease that can easily be treated when correctly diagnosed.
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Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease affecting many people worldwide. Disease incidence is often unknown and surveillance of human cryptosporidiosis is installed in only a handful of developed countries. A genetic marker that... more
Cryptosporidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease affecting many people worldwide. Disease incidence is often unknown and surveillance of human cryptosporidiosis is installed in only a handful of developed countries. A genetic marker that mirrors disease incidence is potentially a powerful tool for monitoring the two primary human infected species of Cryptosporidium. We used the molecular epidemiological database with Cryptosporidium isolates from ZoopNet, which currently contains more than 1400 records with their sampling nations, and the names of the host species from which the isolates were obtained. Based on 296 C. hominis and 195 C. parvum GP60 sequences from human origin, the genetic diversities of Cryptosporidium was estimated for several nations. Notified cases of human cryptosporidiosis were collected from statistics databases for only four nations. Genetic diversities of C. hominis were estimated in 10 nations in 5 continents, and that of C. parvum of human origin were estimated in 15 nations. Correlation with reported incidence of human cryptosporidiosis in four nations (the Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom and Australia) was positive and significant. A linear model for testing the relationship between the genetic diversity and incidence produced a significantly positive estimate for the slope (P-value < 0.05). The hypothesis that genetic diversity at GP60 locus mirrors notification rates of human cryptosporidiosis was not rejected based on the data presented. Genetic diversity of C. hominis and C. parvum may therefore be an independent and complementary measure for quantifying disease incidence, for which only a moderate number of stool samples from each nation are sufficient data input.
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SUMMARY This paper reports the first detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in UK Ixodes ricinus ticks. It also reports on the presence and infection rates of I. ricinus for a number of other tick-borne pathogens of public health importance.... more
SUMMARY This paper reports the first detection of Borrelia miyamotoi in UK Ixodes ricinus ticks. It also reports on the presence and infection rates of I. ricinus for a number of other tick-borne pathogens of public health importance. Ticks from seven regions in southern England were screened for B. miyamotoi, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Neoehrlichia mikurensis using qPCR. A total of 954 I. ricinus ticks were tested, 40 were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l., 22 positive for A. phagocytophilum and three positive for B. miyamotoi, with no N. mikurensis detected. The three positive B. miyamotoi ticks came from three geographically distinct areas, suggesting a widespread distribution, and from two separate years, suggesting some degree of endemicity. Understanding the prevalence of Borrelia and other tick-borne pathogens in ticks is crucial for locating high-risk areas of disease transmission.
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Rab4 regulates recycling from early endosomes. We investigated the role of the rab4 effector rabaptin-5alpha and its putative partner gamma(1)-adaptin in membrane recycling. We found that rabaptin-5alpha forms a ternary complex with the... more
Rab4 regulates recycling from early endosomes. We investigated the role of the rab4 effector rabaptin-5alpha and its putative partner gamma(1)-adaptin in membrane recycling. We found that rabaptin-5alpha forms a ternary complex with the gamma(1)-sigma(1) subcomplex of AP-1, via a direct interaction with the gamma(1)-subunit. The binding site for gamma(1)-adaptin is in the hinge region of rabaptin-5alpha, which is distinct from rab4- and rab5-binding domains. Endogenous or ectopically expressed gamma(1)- adaptin localized to both the trans-Golgi network and endosomes. Co-expressed rabaptin-5alpha and gamma(1)-adaptin, however, co-localized in a rab4-dependent manner on recycling endosomes. Transfection of rabaptin-5alpha caused enlarged endosomes and delayed recycling of transferrin. RNAi of rab4 had an opposing effect on transferrin recycling. Collectively, our data show that rab4-GTP acts as a scaffold for a rabaptin-5alpha- gamma(1)-adaptin complex on recycling endosomes and that interactions between rab4, rabaptin-5alpha and gamma(1)-adaptin regulate membrane recycling.
Research Interests: Biochemistry, Genetics, Neuroscience, Immunology, Structural Biology, and 18 moreStructure, RNA, Plant Biology, Cell Cycle, Membrane Proteins, Cell Biology, Signal Transduction, Biological Sciences, RNA interference, Humans, Mice, Animals, Cell Signalling, Proteins, HeLa cells, Protein Binding, Endosomes, and Cell Membrane
Q fever has emerged as an important human and veterinary public health problem in the Netherlands with major outbreaks in three consecutive years. Goat farms are probably the prime source from which Coxiella burnetii have spread... more
Q fever has emerged as an important human and veterinary public health problem in the Netherlands with major outbreaks in three consecutive years. Goat farms are probably the prime source from which Coxiella burnetii have spread throughout the environment, infecting people living in the vicinity. Coxiella burnetii infection not only spilled over from animal husbandry to humans but could also
Research Interests: Public Health, Risk assessment, Zoonoses, Animal Husbandry, Cats, and 19 moreBiological Sciences, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Q Fever, Deer, Sheep, Female, Animals, Netherlands, Incidence, Cattle, Prevalence, Ixodes ricinus, SHEEP DISEASES, Tick Infestations, Captive Wild Animals, Risk Assessment, Veterinary Public Health ZOONOSES, and Coxiella Burnetii
Giardiosis is a common gastrointestinal infection caused by the flagellate Giardia duodenalis, and affects both humans and animals, worldwide. Animals are infected with both zoonotic and host-specific G. duodenalis assemblages, and their... more
Giardiosis is a common gastrointestinal infection caused by the flagellate Giardia duodenalis, and affects both humans and animals, worldwide. Animals are infected with both zoonotic and host-specific G. duodenalis assemblages, and their role in the transmission of the infection to humans has been a subject of intense research and debate. Conventional PCR assays are appropriate to determine G. duodenalis assemblages, but lack sensitivity for the detection of mixed infections. Previous surveys demonstrated the occurrence of mixed infections with G. duodenalis assemblage A and B in humans, and with assemblages A and E in cattle, but are likely to be underestimated. In this study, we designed a set of assemblage-specific primers by exploiting sequence variability in homologous genes from assemblages A, B and E. Primers were designed to amplify fragments of different size that generated different melting curves from each assemblage in real-time PCR (rt-PCR) experiments. The assay has been tested on a large panel of human and farm animal isolates, and shown to possess high specificity (no cross reactions observed) and sensitivity (detection limit close to 20 copies). Therefore, this assay can be useful to detect zoonotic and host-specific G. duodenalis assemblages in fecal samples from farm animals, particularly when a large number of samples is to be tested.
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Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that has only recently been identified as a human pathogen. Borrelia miyamotoi is genetically and ecologically distinct from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, while both are present in... more
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete that has only recently been identified as a human pathogen. Borrelia miyamotoi is genetically and ecologically distinct from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, while both are present in Ixodes ticks. Over 50 patients with an acute febrile illness have been described with a B. miyamotoi infection, and two infected immunocompromised patients developed a meningoencephalitis. Seroprevalence studies indicate exposure in the general population and in specific risk groups, such as patients initially suspected of having human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Here, we review the available literature on B. miyamotoi, describing its presence in ticks, reservoir hosts, and humans, and discussing its potential impact on public health.
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Substantial exposure to Borrelia miyamotoi occurs through bites from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Netherlands, which also transmit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Direct evidence for B. miyamotoi infection in... more
Substantial exposure to Borrelia miyamotoi occurs through bites from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Netherlands, which also transmit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Direct evidence for B. miyamotoi infection in European populations is scarce. A flu-like illness with high fever, resembling human granulocytic anaplasmosis, has been attributed to B. miyamotoi infections in relatively small groups. Borrelia miyamotoi infections associated with chronic meningoencephalitis have also been described in case reports. Assuming that an IgG antibody response against B. miyamotoi antigens reflects (endured) infection, the seroprevalence in different risk groups was examined. Sera from nine out of ten confirmed B. miyamotoi infections from Russia were found to be positive with the recombinant antigen used, and no significant cross-reactivity was observed in secondary syphilis patients. The seroprevalence in blood donors was set at 2.0% (95% CI 0.4-5.7%). Elevated serop...
Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium that may cause relapsing fever in humans. As this pathogen has been discovered in Europe only recently, only little is known about its local impact on human health and its spatial distribution.... more
Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium that may cause relapsing fever in humans. As this pathogen has been discovered in Europe only recently, only little is known about its local impact on human health and its spatial distribution. In this study, we show the results of PCR screenings for B. miyamotoi in flagged Ixodes ricinus from Belgium and the Netherlands. B. miyamotoi was detected in nine of thirteen, and three of five locations from the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively. These outcomes indicate that B. miyamotoi is more spread than previously thought. The mean infection rate B. miyamotoi was 1.14% for Belgium and 3.84% for the Netherlands.
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Research Interests: Siphonaptera, Zoonoses, Cats, Ticks, Humans, and 3 moreAnimals, Veterinary Sciences, and Insect Vectors
Eukaryotes are characterized by endomembranes that are connected by vesicular transport along secretory and endocytic pathways. The compositional differences between the various cellular membranes are maintained by sorting events, and it... more
Eukaryotes are characterized by endomembranes that are connected by vesicular transport along secretory and endocytic pathways. The compositional differences between the various cellular membranes are maintained by sorting events, and it has long been believed that sorting is based solely on protein-protein interactions. However, the central sorting station along the secretory pathway is the Golgi apparatus, and this is the site of synthesis of the sphingolipids. Sphingolipids are essential for eukaryotic life, and this review ascribes the sorting power of the Golgi to its capability to act as a distillation apparatus for sphingolipids and cholesterol. As Golgi cisternae mature, ongoing sphingolipid synthesis attracts endoplasmic reticulum-derived cholesterol and drives a fluid-fluid lipid phase separation that segregates sphingolipids and sterols from unsaturated glycerolipids into lateral domains. While sphingolipid domains move forward, unsaturated glycerolipids are retrieved by ...
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The presence of Ixodes ricinus and their associated Borrelia infections on large grazers was investigated. Carcases of freshly shot red deer, mouflon and wild boar were examined for the presence of any stage of I. ricinus. Questing ticks... more
The presence of Ixodes ricinus and their associated Borrelia infections on large grazers was investigated. Carcases of freshly shot red deer, mouflon and wild boar were examined for the presence of any stage of I. ricinus. Questing ticks were collected from locations where red deer and wild boar are known to occur. Presence of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA was examined in a fraction of the collected ticks. Larvae, nymphs and adult ticks were found on the three large grazers. Red deer had the highest tick burden, with many of the nymphs and adult females attached for engorgement. Most larvae had not attached. The mean number of ticks on the animals varied from 13 to 67. Ticks were highly aggregated amongst the animals: some animals had no ticks, while others had high numbers. Larvae and nymphs were mostly found on the ears, while adult ticks were attached to the axillae. The Borrelia infection rate of questing nymphs was 8.5%. Unengorged wandering nymphs on deer had a Borrelia infection rate of 12.5%, while only 0.9% of feeding nymphs carried a Borrelia infection. The infection rate of unengorged adult male ticks was 4.5%, and that of feeding female ticks was 0.7%. The data suggest that ticks feeding on red deer and wild boar lose their Borrelia infections. The implications of the results are discussed with respect to Borrelia epidemiology and maintenance of a Borrelia reservoir as well as the role of reproductive hosts for Ixodes ricinus.
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The prevalence of ticks seems to have increased with time, and the number of patients with Lyme disease in the Netherlands is also increasing. Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted diseases now attract a lot of attention. Several... more
The prevalence of ticks seems to have increased with time, and the number of patients with Lyme disease in the Netherlands is also increasing. Lyme disease and other tick-transmitted diseases now attract a lot of attention. Several national initiatives at different levels are now in progress, with the aim of suppressing Lyme disease and providing better care for patients with indications of having these diseases. A more uniform approach between different treatment centres, joint research and further expansion of education and continuing education for physicians and the public could lead to further improvement.
Research Interests: Ticks, Lyme disease, Humans, Animals, Netherlands, and 3 moreRisk factors, Prevalence, and Risk Factors
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We report here one new, hospitalized case of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Belgium. The clinical presentation of anaplasmosis, its treatment and the molecular and serological relevant laboratory methods are briefly developed.
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ABSTRACT
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Research Interests: Genetics, Microbiology, Polymorphism, Sequence Analysis, Mammals, and 15 moreVeterinary Parasitology, Phylogeny, Molecular typing, Animals, Croatia, Phylogenetic analysis, Fisheries Sciences, Giardiasis, Prevalence, Genotype, Molecular Characterization, Feces, Veterinary Sciences, Glutamate Dehydrogenase, and Giardia
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Research Interests: Membrane Trafficking, Humans, Mutation, Traffic, HeLa cells, and 14 moreMelanocytes, Thiazoles, Human Fibroblasts, Lysosomes, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Lipase, Binding Site, Endosomes, Cell Sorting, Glycosphingolipids, Protein Transport, Protein Sorting, Biochemistry and cell biology, and Macrolides
Q fever has emerged as an important human and veterinary public health problem in the Netherlands with major outbreaks in three consecutive years. Goat farms are probably the prime source from which Coxiella burnetii have spread... more
Q fever has emerged as an important human and veterinary public health problem in the Netherlands with major outbreaks in three consecutive years. Goat farms are probably the prime source from which Coxiella burnetii have spread throughout the environment, infecting people living in the vicinity. Coxiella burnetii infection not only spilled over from animal husbandry to humans but could also have spread to neighbouring wildlife and pets forming novel reservoirs and consequently posing another and lingering threat to humans, companion animals and livestock. In these cases, transmission routes other than airborne spread of contaminated aerosols may become significant. Therefore, the role of ticks in the transmission of Coxiella burnetii in the current situation was investigated. A total of 1891 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks and 1086 ticks feeding on pets, wildlife and livestock were tested by a recently developed multiplex Q-PCR. All ticks were negative, except for a few ticks feeding on a herd of recently vaccinated sheep. Coxiella-positive ticks were not detected after resampling this particular herd three months later. Based on these data we conclude that the current risk of acquiring Q fever from questing ticks in the Netherlands is negligible. However, for future risk assessments, it might be relevant to sample more ticks in the vicinity of previously C. burnetii infected goat farms and to assess whether C. burnetii can be transmitted transovarially and transstadially in I. ricinus ticks.
Research Interests: Public Health, Risk assessment, Zoonoses, Animal Husbandry, Cats, and 19 moreBiological Sciences, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Q Fever, Deer, Sheep, Female, Animals, Netherlands, Incidence, Cattle, Prevalence, Ixodes ricinus, SHEEP DISEASES, Tick Infestations, Captive Wild Animals, Risk Assessment, Veterinary Public Health ZOONOSES, and Coxiella Burnetii
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ABSTRACT
... 2 Epidemiology of Giardiasis in Humans Simone M. Cacciò and Hein Sprong HD Luján et al. (eds.), Giardia © Springer-Verlag/Wien 2011 Page 2. 18 SM Cacciò and H. Sprong students, old-aged people, HIV-positive patients, and gastric... more
... 2 Epidemiology of Giardiasis in Humans Simone M. Cacciò and Hein Sprong HD Luján et al. (eds.), Giardia © Springer-Verlag/Wien 2011 Page 2. 18 SM Cacciò and H. Sprong students, old-aged people, HIV-positive patients, and gastric carcinoma patients. ...
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Owing to the complex nature of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), whereby monitoring of human case patients does not suffice, public health authorities experience challenges in surveillance and control of VBDs. Knowledge on the presence and... more
Owing to the complex nature of vector-borne diseases (VBDs), whereby monitoring of human case patients does not suffice, public health authorities experience challenges in surveillance and control of VBDs. Knowledge on the presence and distribution of vectors and the pathogens that they transmit is vital to the risk assessment process to permit effective early warning, surveillance, and control of VBDs. Upon accepting this reality, public health authorities face an ever-increasing range of possible surveillance targets and an associated prioritization process. Here, we propose a comprehensive approach that integrates three surveillance strategies: population-based surveillance, disease-based surveillance, and context-based surveillance for EU member states to tailor the best surveillance strategy for control of VBDs in their geographic region. By classifying the surveillance structure into five different contexts, we hope to provide guidance in optimizing surveillance efforts. Conte...