Cíl: Zjistit výskyt potenciálně patogenních druhů babesií pro člověka v klíšťatech a v krvi psů a jelenů ve vybraných regionech České republiky. Prevalenci Babesia spp. v klíšťatech porovnat s výskytem jiných patogenů přenášených klíšťaty jako Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. Materiál a metody: Vzorky klíšťat byly jednotlivě homogenizovány, ze vzorků klíšťat a krve živočichů provedena izolace DNA. Detekce Babesia spp. byla stanovena metodou PCR 18S rRNA genu a sekvenační analýzou PCR produktů určeny jednotlivé druhy babesií. Výsledky: V letech 2014–2016 byla analyzována klíšťata a krev psů a jelenů na různých místech České republiky. Ze souboru 675 klíšťat Ixodes ricinus dosahovala pozitivita na přítomnost Babesia spp. hodnot od 0,0 do 3,3 %. Sekvenační analýzou byly v klíšťatech identifikovány druhy Babesia venatorum, Babesia microti (patogenní druhy pro člověka) a druh Babesia capreoli. Prevalence Babesia spp. v klíšťatech byla v porovnání s výskytem jiných patogenů jako Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. (29,3 %), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (4,9 %) nižší a srovnatelná s Rickettsia spp. (1,6 %). U třetiny pozitivních klíšťat na babesie byla zjištěna koinfekce s Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. (B. venatorum – Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii a B. microti – B. afzelii). Ze 109 vzorků krve psů bylo 3,7 % pozitivních na Babesia spp. s výskytem druhů Babesia gibsoni a Babesia vulpes. Z 50 vzorků krve jelenů z přírodního ekosystému dosahovala pozitivita 4,0 %. Identifikován byl druh Babesia divergens, nejvíce patogenní druh Babesia spp. pro člověka. Z 80 vzorků krve jelenů chovaných na farmách bylo pozitivních 5,0 % s výskytem druhu Babesia odocoilei. Nukleotidové sekvence babesií způsobujících humánní babesiózu byly zaslány do genové banky a přijaty pod čísly ON892053 (B. venatorum), ON892061 (B. microti), ON892067 (B. divergens). Závěr: Metodou PCR 18S rRNA genu a sekvenací amplikonů byly na území České republiky detekovány tři druhy babesií patogenních pro člověka: B. divergens, B. venatorum, B. microti. Výskyt těchto druhů babesií znamená potenciální riziko onemocnění babesiózou, zejména pro asplenické a imunokompromitované pacienty. Zjištěné koinfekce s Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. mohou být příčinou komplikovaného průběhu onemocnění.

Aim: To determine the occurrence of species of Babesia potentially pathogenic for humans in ticks and in the blood of dogs and deer in selected regions of the Czech Republic. To compare the prevalence of Babesia spp. in ticks with that of other tick-borne pathogens, such as Borrelia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Rickettsia spp. Material and Methods: Tick samples were individually homogenized. DNA was isolated from tick samples and animal blood. The detection of Babesia spp. was based on PCR of the 18S rRNA gene, and the identification to the species level was done by sequencing analysis of the PCR products. Results: In 2014–2016, ticks and blood of dogs and deer collected in various areas of the Czech Republic were analyzed. In a set of 675 Ixodes ricinus ticks, the positivity rate for Babesia spp. varied from 0.0 to 3.3 %. The species Babesia venatorum, Babesia microti (both pathogenic for humans), and Babesia capreoli were identified in ticks by sequencing analysis. The prevalence of Babesia spp. in ticks compared to that of other pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi s. l. (29.3 %) or Anaplasma phagocytophilum (4.9 %) was lower and comparable to that of Rickettsia spp. (1.6 %). Co-infection with Borrelia burgdorferi s.l (B. venatorum – Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, and B. microti – B. afzelii) was found in a third of Babesia spp. positive ticks. Out of 109 dog blood samples, 3.7 % were positive for Babesia spp., specifically Babesia gibsoni and Babesia vulpes. Of 50 blood samples of wild deer from the natural ecosystem, the positivity rate reached 4.0 %. The species Babesia divergens, a major human pathogen, was identified. Out of 80 blood samples from farmed deer, 5.0 % were positive for the species Babesia odocoilei. Nucleotide sequences of the agents causing human babesiosis were deposited in the gene bank under accession numbers ON892053 (B. venatorum), ON892061 (B. microti), and ON892067 (B. divergens). Conclusions: Using PCR of the 18S rRNA gene and amplicon sequencing, three species of Babesia causing human babesiosis were detected in the Czech Republic: B. divergens, B. venatorum, and B. microti. Babesia spp. pathogenic for humans pose a potential risk especially in asplenic and immunocompromised patients. The detected co-infections with Borrelia spp. can be the cause of a complicated course of the disease.

• MeSH
• Babesia mikrobiologie   MeSH
• babezióza * epidemiologie   krev   přenos   MeSH
• Borrelia burgdorferi MeSH
• diagnostické techniky molekulární metody   MeSH
• klíšťata * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• koinfekce diagnóza   přenos   MeSH
• krev mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci přenášené klíšťaty epidemiologie   přenos   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce metody   MeSH
• psi * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• vysoká zvěř * krev   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• psi * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Babesióza patří mezi méně běžné, ale významné infekční onemocnění přenášené klíšťaty. Během posledních 50 let byl zaznamenán zvyšující se počet případů po celém světě, zvláště v USA. Severní část USA je endemickou oblastí, kde počet případů za poslední dekádu stoupl na 2 000 ročně. Původcem většiny těchto nákaz je v tomto regionu Babesia microti, parazit drobných hlodavců. V Evropě bylo od roku 1957 zaznamenáno 56 autochtonních případů lidské babesiózy. Většina těchto onemocnění byla způsobena druhem Babesia divergens, parazitem hovězího dobytka. Od roku 1992 bylo 13 případů nákazy B. microti importováno ze Severní Ameriky do Evropy. Onemocnění je závažné zejména pro splenektomované a imunokomprimované pacienty. Ačkoli nejvýznamnějším přenašečem infekce babesií v Evropě je klíště Ixodes ricinus, byl přenos infekce u řady pacientů způsoben krevní transfuzí, která pro oslabené jedince může končit fatálně. Diagnóza babesiózy se opírá o identifikaci intraerytrocytárních parazitů v krevním roztěru, detekcí DNA babesie testy PCR a stanovením protilátek sérologickými metodami a imunofluorescencí. Onemocnění se léčí antibiotiky (azithromycin, při těžkém průběhu clindamycin) a chininem. Zvýšený nárůst humánní babesiózy je dán nejen změnami klimatu a aktivity klíšťat, pobytem lidí v přírodě a zvýšenou migrací lidí, ale významnou úlohu zde hraje i rozvoj molekulárních metod a rostoucí povědomí o tomto onemocnění.

Babesiosis is a less common but important tick-borne infectious disease. Over the last 50 years, an increasing number of cases have been reported worldwide, especially in the USA. The northern part of the US is an endemic area where the incidence has risen to 2,000 cases per year in the last decade. Babesia microti, a parasite of small rodents, is the cause of most of these infections in that region. In Europe, 56 autochthonous cases of human babesiosis have been reported since 1957. Most of them were caused by the species Babesia divergens, a parasite of cattle. Since 1992, 13 cases of B. microti infection have been imported from North America into Europe. The disease is serious especially for splenectomised and immunocompromised patients. Although the most important vector of babesiosis in Europe is the tick Ixodes ricinus, infection was transmitted through blood transfusion in number of patients, which can be fatal for immunosuppressed patients. The diagnosis of babesiosis is based on the identification of intraerythrocytic parasites in a blood smear, PCR detection of Babesia DNA, and determination of antibodies by serology and immunofluorescence assays. The disease is treated with antibiotics (azithromycin or clindamycin in a severe course of the disease) and quinine. The increase in human babesiosis is not only due to climate change and tick activity, outdoor leisure activities, and increased human migration, but an important role is also played by improved molecular methods and growing awareness of the disease.

• MeSH
• Babesia microti mikrobiologie   patogenita   MeSH
• Babesia klasifikace   mikrobiologie   patogenita   MeSH
• babezióza * diagnóza   epidemiologie   farmakoterapie   mikrobiologie   přenos   MeSH
• incidence MeSH
• infekce přenášené vektorem MeSH
• klíště mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Spojené státy americké MeSH

Piroplasmids of the genera Babesia, Theileria, and Cytauxzoon are tick-transmitted parasites with a high impact on animals and humans. They have complex life cycles in their definitive arthropod and intermediate vertebrate hosts involving numerous processes, including invasion of, and egress from, host cells, parasite growth, transformation, and migration. Like other parasitic protozoa, piroplasmids are equipped with different types of protease to fulfill many of such essential processes. Blockade of some key proteases, using inhibitors or antibodies, hinders piroplasmid growth, highlighting their potential usefulness in drug therapies and vaccine development. A better understanding of the functional significance of these enzymes will contribute to the development of improved control measures for the devastating animal and human diseases caused by these pathogens.

• MeSH
• Babesia * genetika   MeSH
• babezióza * parazitologie   MeSH
• klíšťata * parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Piroplasmida * MeSH
• proteasy MeSH
• Theileria * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a vector borne disease caused by apicomplexans protists Babesia caballi (Nuttal et Strickland, 1910) and Theileria equi (Laveran, 1901). Carrier mares may transmit the infection transplacental resulting in neonatal piroplasmosis or abortions. This event has been described for T. equi by several authors over the world, but no evidence for B. caballi has been reported in Europe. In this study, vertical transmission for both parasites in an Italian breed mare has been confirmed using molecular and microscopic tools. Transplacental transmission is an underestimated problem mainly in endemic areas as it not only contributes to the spread and maintenance of the infection, but also produces significant economic losses.

• MeSH
• Babesia * MeSH
• babezióza * parazitologie   MeSH
• koně MeSH
• nemoci koní * parazitologie   MeSH
• skot MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• Theileria * MeSH
• theilerióza * epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Itálie MeSH

BACKGROUND: The range of the ornate dog tick Dermacentor reticulatus is rapidly expanding in Europe. This tick species is the vector of canine babesiosis, caused by Babesia canis, and also plays a role in the transmission of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in equids. METHODS: The geographic range of D. reticulatus in the Czech Republic was re-assessed, and an up-to-date distribution map is presented based on material and data obtained during a nationwide citizen science campaign. Received and flagged individuals of D. reticulatus were also analysed for the presence of B. canis DNA. RESULTS: In striking contrast to historical records, D. reticulatus was found in all regions of the Czech Republic, with most reports coming from the southeast and northwest of the country. Between February 2018 and June 2021, the project team received 558 photo reports of ticks and 250 packages containing ticks. Of the former, 71.1% were identified as Dermacentor sp. with the remainder identified as Ixodes sp., Haemaphysalis sp., Argas sp. or Hyalomma sp. The majority of specimens in the subset of ticks that were received (N = 610) were D. reticulatus (N = 568, 93.7%), followed by Ixodes ricinus and Hyalomma spp. A total of 783 adult D. reticulatus, either received (568) or collected by flagging (215), were tested for the presence of B. canis DNA using species-specific nested PCR targeting part of the 18S rRNA gene; B. canis DNA was demonstrated in 22 samples (2.81%). CONCLUSIONS: The continuous spread of D. reticulatus in the Czech Republic was documented in this study. In addition, DNA of B. canis was also detected in a number of ticks, suggesting the establishment of B. canis in the Czech Republic. These results suggest that veterinarians need to consider the possibility of canine babesiosis even in dogs without a history of travel.

• MeSH
• Babesia * genetika   MeSH
• babezióza * epidemiologie   MeSH
• Dermacentor * MeSH
• infestace klíšťaty * epidemiologie   veterinární   MeSH
• Ixodidae * MeSH
• klíště * MeSH
• nemoci psů * epidemiologie   MeSH
• občanská věda * MeSH
• psi MeSH
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• psi MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The Gram-negative, obligate intracellular tick-transmitted pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum can cause acute febrile diseases in humans and domestic animals. The expansion of the tick Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) in northern Europe due to climate change is of serious concern for animal and human health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of A. phagocytophilum infection in moose Alces alces (Linnaeus) calves by evaluating the carcass weights of infected and non-infected animals and examining animal tissues samples for co-infections with either species of Babesia Starcovici, 1893 or bacteria of the genus Bartonella. The carcasses of 68 free-ranging moose calves were weighed by hunters during the hunting seasons from 2014 to 2017 in two regions in southern Norway and spleen samples were collected. Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in moose sampled from locations infected with ticks with a prevalence of 82% (n = 46). The carcass weights of A. phagocytophilum-infected calves (n = 46) and non-infected (n = 22) calves were compared. Although the average weight of infected calves (45.6 kg) was lower than that of non-infected calves (46.5 kg), the difference was not statistically significant. Three different variants of the bacterium 16S rRNA gene were identified. The average weight of animals infected with variant I was 49.9 kg, whereas that of animals infected with variant III was 42.0 kg, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.077). Co-infections of A. phagocytophilum with Bartonella spp. or with Babesia spp. were found in 20 and two calves, respectively. A triple infection was found in two calves. Sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia-positive samples revealed the presence of Babesia cf. odocoilei (Emerson et Wright, 1970). Strains of Bartonella closely related to Bartonella bovis (Bermond, Boulouis, Heller, Laere, Monteil, Chomel, Sander, Dehio et Piemont, 2002) were identified based on phylogenetic analysis of the gltA and rpoB genes. The loss of body mass in moose calves in the tick-infected site was probably influenced by multiple factors.

• MeSH
• Anaplasma phagocytophilum * klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Babesia genetika   MeSH
• Bartonella genetika   MeSH
• DNA bakterií chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• ehrlichióza komplikace   epidemiologie   patologie   veterinární   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• oligonukleotidy chemie   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce veterinární   MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• slezina mikrobiologie   patologie   MeSH
• tělesná hmotnost MeSH
• vysoká zvěř * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Norsko MeSH

Studies of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Europe focus on pathogens with principal medical importance (e.g. Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis), but we have limited epidemiological information on the neglected pathogens, such as the members of the genera Anaplasma, Rickettsia, Babesia and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis. Here, we integrated an extensive field sampling, laboratory analysis and GIS models to provide first publicly available information on pathogen diversity, prevalence and infection risk for four overlooked zoonotic TBDs in the Czech Republic. In addition, we assessed the effect of landscape variables on the abundance of questing ticks at different spatial scales and examined whether pathogen prevalence increased with tick density. Our data from 13,340 ticks collected in 142 municipalities showed that A. phagocytophilum (MIR = 3.5%) and Ca. Neoehrlichia mikurensis (MIR = 4.0%) pose geographically uneven risks with localized hotspots, while Rickettsia (MIR = 4.9%) and Babesia (MIR = 1.1%) had relatively homogeneous spatial distribution. Landscape variables had significant effect on tick abundance up to the scale of 1 km around the sampling sites. Questing ticks responded positively to landscape diversity and configuration, especially to forest patch density that strongly correlates with the amount of woodland-grassland ecotones. For all four pathogens, we found higher prevalence in places with higher densities of ticks, confirming the hypothesis that tick abundance amplifies the risk of TB infection. Our findings highlight the importance of landscape parameters for tick vectors, likely due to their effect on small vertebrates as reservoir hosts. Future studies should explicitly investigate the combined effect of landscape parameters and the composition and population dynamics of hosts on the host-vector-pathogen system.

• MeSH
• Anaplasmataceae izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Babesia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Ixodidae mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Rickettsia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• zoonózy * mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) population has increased dramatically over the last decades throughout Europe and it has become a serious pest. In addition, the common habitat of wild boar and of the tick, Ixodes ricinus, indicates the potential of wild boar to play a role in epidemiology of epizootic and zoonotic tick-borne pathogens, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum. In Europe, epidemiological cycles and reservoirs of A. phagocytophilum, including its zoonotic haplotypes, are poorly understood. In this study, we focused on detection and further genetic characterization of A. phagocytophilum and piroplasmids in 550 wild boars from eleven districts of Moravia and Silesia in the Czech Republic. Using highly sensitive nested PCR targeting the groEL gene, the DNA of A. phagocytophilum was detected in 28 wild boars (5.1 %) representing six unique haplotypes. The dominant haplotype was found in 21 samples from 7 different districts. All detected haplotypes clustered in the largest clade representing the European ecotype I and the dominant haplotype fell to the subclade with the European human cases and strains from dogs and horses. Nested PCR targeting the variable region of the 18S rRNA gene of piroplasmids resulted in one positive sample with 99.8 % sequence identity to Babesia divergens. The presence of these two pathogens that are primarily circulated by I. ricinus confirms the local participation of wild boar in the host spectrum of this tick and warrants experimental studies to address wild boar as a reservoir of zoonotic haplotypes of A. phagocytophilum.

• MeSH
• Anaplasma phagocytophilum genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• anaplasmóza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• babezióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• bakteriální geny MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• nemoci prasat epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• Piroplasmida genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• prasata MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• protozoální geny MeSH
• Sus scrofa MeSH
• zdroje nemoci parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

We developed a PCR assay for the detection of Babesia odocoilei based on the 18S rRNA gene. Multiple specimens of B. odocoilei were examined, and the assay consistently produced a small specific PCR product of 306 bp. The PCR assay was also challenged with DNA from 13 other Babesia species and 2 Theileria species, originating from 10 different host species; however, nonspecific DNA amplification and multiple banding patterns were observed, and the amplicon banding patterns varied between different isolates of the same species. Sensitivity was determined to be 6.4 pg of DNA, and an estimated 0.0001% parasitism. This assay can be utilized for species-specific differential detection of B. odocoilei.

• MeSH
• Babesia * genetika   MeSH
• babezióza * diagnóza   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce veterinární   MeSH
• protozoální DNA genetika   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   MeSH
• Theileria * genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are protozoan agents causing equine piroplasmosis, endemic in countries all over the world. The aim of this study was to detect antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi in horses in the Czech Republic and to investigate the origin of the infection. Blood sera from 711 horses were examined with competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; positive samples were verified with indirect fluorescence immunoassay. Antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi were detected in eight (1.1%) and three (0.4%) horses, respectively. Infection with T. equi was confirmed by PCR and sequencing in the blood of five serologically positive horses. An autochthonous origin of T. equi infection could not be excluded in two (0.3%) horses. Intensive movement of horses across European countries and the expanding occurrence of competent tick vector Dermacentor reticulatus in the Czech Republic create an increasing risk of establishing active foci of equine piroplasmosis in the country.

• MeSH
• Babesia * genetika   MeSH
• babezióza * epidemiologie   MeSH
• koně MeSH
• nemoci koní * epidemiologie   MeSH
• skot MeSH
• Theileria * genetika   MeSH
• theilerióza * epidemiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• skot MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH