BACKGROUND: Vector-borne zoonotic diseases are a concerning issue in Europe. Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) have been reported in several countries with a large impact on public health; other emerging pathogens, such as Rickettsiales, and mosquito-borne flaviviruses have been increasingly reported. All these pathogens are linked to wild ungulates playing roles as tick feeders, spreaders, and sentinels for pathogen circulation. This study evaluated the prevalence of TBEV, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Coxiella spp. by biomolecular screening of blood samples and ticks collected from wild ungulates. Ungulates were also screened by ELISA and virus neutralization tests for flaviviral antibody detection. RESULTS: A total of 274 blood samples were collected from several wild ungulate species, as well as 406 Ixodes ricinus, which were feeding on them. Blood samples tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and Rickettsia spp. (1.1%; 0-2.3%) and showed an overall flaviviral seroprevalence of 30.6% (22.1-39.2%): 26.1% (17.9-34.3%) for TBEV, 3.6% (0.1-7.1%) for Usutu virus and 0.9% (0-2.7%) for West Nile virus. Ticks were pooled when possible and yielded 331 tick samples that tested positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. (8.8%; 5.8-11.8%), Rickettsia spp. (26.6%; 21.8-31.2%) and Neoehrlichia mikurensis (1.2%; 0-2.4%). TBEV and Coxiella spp. were not detected in either blood or tick samples. CONCLUSIONS: This research highlighted a high prevalence of several tick-borne zoonotic pathogens and high seroprevalence for flaviviruses in both hilly and alpine areas. For the first time, an alpine chamois tested positive for anti-TBEV antibodies. Ungulate species are of particular interest due to their sentinel role in flavivirus circulation and their indirect role in tick-borne diseases and maintenance as Ixodes feeders and spreaders.
- MeSH
- Coxiella MeSH
- klíště * MeSH
- komáří přenašeči MeSH
- Rickettsia * MeSH
- savci MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Úvod: Q horečka je zoonóza s celosvětovým výskytem. K infekci vyvolané Coxiella burnetii dochází nejčastěji inhalací vzduchu obsahujícího kontaminovaný prach v oblastech chovů krav, ovcí a koz. Nákaza může být přenášena také alimentární cestou a prostřednictvím přisátého klíštěte. Stanovili jsme si za cíl předložit deskriptivní analýzu případů Q horečky v České republice (ČR) a bývalém Československu a upozornit na tuto často opomíjenou problematiku. Metody: Byl zpracován souhrn dostupných informací o Q horečce a provedena rešerše publikovaných případů Q horečky v ČR a bývalém Československu bez omezení časem v českém, slovenském a anglickém jazyce. Dále byla provedena deskriptivní analýza případů Q horečky hlášených v rámci systému pro hlášení infekčních onemocnění v ČR v letech 1982–2021. Údaje, zjištěné analýzou dostupných dat v informačních systémech, byly doplněny údaji zjištěnými rešerší publikované odborné literatury a týdenních hlášení o aktuální epidemiologické situaci orgánů ochrany veřejného zdraví ČR. Výsledky: V Československu bylo onemocnění hlášeno od roku 1952. V letech 1952–1954 bylo popsáno 6 epidemií s celkem 150 nemocnými osobami, převážně ve spojitosti s prací u skotu. V roce 1980 se vyskytla rozsáhlá epidemie Q horečky u 526 zaměstnanců závodu na výrobu bavlny ve Starém městě u Uherského Hradiště. Jinak byly hlášeny jednotky až desítky případů. Od roku 1993 do roku 2021 bylo v ČR zjištěno 27 případů onemocnění, z toho 22 (81,5 %) se vyskytlo u mužů. Věkové rozmezí bylo 0–60 let (průměr 31, medián 30 let). Sezonnost podle vykázání byla nejvyšší v lednu a v září. Závěr: Ačkoliv byl v Evropské Unii (EU) v posledních letech zaznamenán pokles humánních případů Q horečky a v ČR se vyskytují pouze jednotky případů onemocnění. Pro jeho možnou závažnost a při stávajících změnách klimatu s ohledem na rozšíření klíšťat přenášejících koxiely a pohyb zvířat související s globálním trhem, je na toto onemocnění potřeba i nadále v diagnostické rozvaze myslet. V rámci prevence je nutno dbát na dodržování základních hygienických pravidel, zejména u rizikových profesí, a konzumovat pouze pasterizované mléčné výrobky. Očkování lidí není v zemích EU dostupné, očkování hospodářských zvířat je možné.
Introduction: Q fever is a zoonosis with a worldwide occurrence. Coxiella burnetii infection is most commonly transmitted by inhalation of air containing contaminated dust in cow, sheep and goat farming areas. The other modes of transmission are alimentary route (ingestion) and through sucking ticks. We set ourselves the goal of presenting a descriptive analysis of cases of Q fever in the Czech Republic (CZ) and former Czechoslovakia and draw attention to this often-overlooked issue. Methods: Summary of available information about Q fever was processed, and a narrative search of published cases of Q fever in the CZ and former Czechoslovakia, in Czech, Slovak and English, without time restrictions was performed. Furthermore, a descriptive analysis of Q fever cases reported to the Czech infectious diseases reporting system in 1982–2021 was done. After analysis, the available information system data were supplemented with data from a search of published scientific literature and weekly reports on the current epidemiological situation of the public health protection authorities of the CZ. Results: The disease has been reported in former Czechoslovakia and then in CZ since 1952. In 1952–1954, six outbreaks were reported with a total of 150 cases, mostly in connection with work with cattle. In 1980, a large-scale outbreak of Q fever affected 526 employees of the cotton production plant at Staré Město near Uherské Hradiště. Otherwise, units to dozens of cases were reported. From 1993 to 2021, 27 cases of the disease were detected in the CZ, of which 22 (81.5%) occurred in men. The age range was 0–60 years (mean 31, median 30 years). Seasonality by reporting month was highest in January and September. Conclusion: There has been a decline in human cases of Q fever in the European Union (EU) in recent years, and only few cases of the disease occur in the CZ. Still, due to potential severity of the disease, the current climate change with the consequent increase in the spread of ticks as vectors of Coxiella, and animal movements associated with the global market, it is important to consider Q fever in the differential diagnosis. As part of the prevention, it is necessary to ensure compliance with basic hygiene rules, especially in at-risk occupations, and to consume only pasteurized dairy products. Vaccination of humans is not available in EU countries, although vaccination of livestock is possible.
- MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Q-horečka * diagnóza epidemiologie přenos MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Wild rodents are an important source of the tick-borne pathogens Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of antibodies and possible coexistence of these pathogens in wild small mammals from three localities in the Czech Republic. A total of 614 wild small mammals (324 Apodemus flavicollis, 145 Myodes glareolus, 50 Sorex araneus, 48 A. sylvaticus, 40 A. agrarius, six Microtus arvalis and one Talpa europaea) were trapped between 2012 and 2015. Their sera or heart extracts were examined by modified indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis in 12 % and 7 % of animals, respectively; coinfection was identified in 4.4 % of animals. The prevalence of C. burnetii and F. tularensis antibodies statistically differed according to animal species and sex (p < 0.05); the seroprevalence of C. burnetii (p < 0.05) also differed in the sampling period. The highest prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii and F. tularensis was detected in the case of M. glareolus (24 % and 14 %, respectively).
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Francisella tularensis izolace a purifikace MeSH
- koinfekce epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- krtci MeSH
- Murinae MeSH
- nemoci hlodavců epidemiologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- protilátky bakteriální krev MeSH
- Q-horečka epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- rejskovití MeSH
- séroepidemiologické studie MeSH
- tularemie epidemiologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in dairy herds in Central and Eastern European countries based on ELISA and PCR tests. A total of 370 bulk tank milk samples were collected in 2019 originating from Croatia (n = 13), Czech Republic (n = 138), Hungary (n = 126), Serbia (n = 24), Slovakia (n = 53) and Slovenia (n = 16). Prevalence of C. burnetii differed according to the country of origin with Croatia showing 100.00%, the Czech Republic 98.55%, Hungary 97.61%, Serbia 70.83%, Slovakia 90.56% and Slovenia showing 62.50% average percentages of the positive herds. C. burnetii specific ELISA showed 100.00% positivity in all examined countries if herds consisted of equal or above 250 milking cows. The growing number of farms managing large number of animals, where cattle density is high correlates with the increasing prevalence of C. burnetii in the region.
- MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii * genetika MeSH
- mlékárenství MeSH
- nemoci skotu * epidemiologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- Q-horečka * epidemiologie veterinární MeSH
- skot MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- skot MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- Chorvatsko MeSH
- Srbsko MeSH
Q fever is a zoonosis. Humans are infected through the inhalation of Coxiella burnetii particles that are dispersed into the air from the birth products or faeces of ruminants. Major outbreaks can occur in association with farming activities. C. burnetii can be disseminated by wind up to several tens of kilometres and infect humans far from its zoonotic source. As a result, the sources of sporadic cases are rarely identified. We report a sporadic case of acute Q fever in a French farmer returning from a cruise in the Caribbean. Careful examination found that the infection was not associated with travel, and a veterinary investigation identified C. burnetii DNA (MST genotype 8) in the faeces, nasal and vaginal swabs of several ewes from her herd of sheep. As a consequence, the herd was slaughtered to avoid dissemination of the infection.
- MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- hospodářská zvířata MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci ovcí diagnóza prevence a kontrola přenos MeSH
- ovce MeSH
- Q-horečka diagnóza prevence a kontrola přenos MeSH
- zoonózy diagnóza prevence a kontrola přenos MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- kazuistiky MeSH
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat with a top concern in healthcare. Doxycycline is an antibiotic highly permeable to cell membrane used for treating a broad variety of bacteria, including Coxiella burnetii. This intracellular pathogen is the causative agent of Q fever, a re-emerging zoonosis found worldwide. Hence, C. burnetii has a considerable impact on the farming industry and public health, it is essential to explore its antibiotic adaptation/tolerance strategy to ensure effective therapy. Herein, we tracked changes in the bacterium induced by doxycycline exposure. Our proteomic analysis detected fifteen significantly altered proteins. Adjustments of some key proteins were verified by gene expression analysis. We also observed an increasing in hydrogen peroxide as a consequence of treatment, indicating deregulation of redox balance. Thus, our data suggests the reduction of protein synthesis to minimal levels, activation of the defense mechanism against oxidative stress and maintenance of cell envelope integrity as the key processes ensuring C. burnetii survival under doxycycline exposure. SIGNIFICANCE: Infection by intracellular microorganisms like C. burnetii requires long periods of treatment, thus antibiotic resistance development is a risk. In this report, 2-DE quantitative proteomics was used to identify changes in the proteome that occurs when C. burnetii is exposed to high concentrations of doxycycline. The identification of pathways impacted by doxycycline could be helpful to understand the mechanism of how C. burnetii is dealing with antibiotic stress.
BACKGROUND: Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic vector-borne agents. Thus, the distribution of rodents and their vicinity to humans and companion animals may have an important impact on human and animal health. However, the reservoir potential of some rodent genera, e.g. Microtus, has not yet been precisely examined concerning tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. Therefore, we examined small mammals from Germany and the Czech Republic for the following vector-borne pathogens: Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, "Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis" (CNM) and Coxiella burnetii. Spleen DNA from 321 small mammals belonging to four genera, Myodes (n = 78), Apodemus (n = 56), Microtus (n = 149), Sorex (n = 38), collected during 2014 in Germany and the Czech Republic were available for this study. DNA samples were examined for the presence of Babesia and Bartonella DNA by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region, respectively. For the detection of CNM, A. phagocytophilum and C. burnetii real-time PCR assays were performed. RESULTS: Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in 216 specimens (67.3%) with 102/174 (58.6%) positive in Germany and 114/147 (77.6%) in the Czech Republic. The prevalence in each genus was 44.9% for Myodes, 63.2% for Sorex, 77.2% for Microtus and 75% for Apodemus. Four Bartonella species, i.e. Bartonella sp. N40, B. grahamii, B. taylorii and B. doshiae, as well as uncultured bartonellae, were detected. The Bartonella species diversity was higher in rodents than in shrews. In total, 27/321 (8.4%) small mammals were positive for CNM and 3/321 (0.9%) for A. phagocytophilum (S. coronatus and M. glareolus). All samples were negative for Babesia spp. and Coxiella spp. CONCLUSIONS: While the detected high prevalence for Bartonella in Apodemus and Myodes spp. is confirmatory with previous findings, the prevalence in Microtus spp. was unexpectedly high. This indicates that individuals belonging to this genus may be regarded as potential reservoirs. Interestingly, only Sorex spp. and M. glareolus were positive for A. phagocytophilum in the present study, suggesting a possible importance of the latter for the maintenance of certain A. phagocytophilum strains in nature.
- MeSH
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Anaplasmataceae izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Babesia izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Bartonella izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii izolace a purifikace MeSH
- hlodavci mikrobiologie parazitologie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- zdroje nemoci mikrobiologie parazitologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Horečka nejasného původu je velkou výzvou snad pro všechny lékaře. Její etiologie může být rozmanitá, proto diagnostika vyžaduje široký rozhled napříč obory, jistou dávku nadhledu, ale i trpělivost lékaře, tím spíše právě u geriatrických pacientů, u nichž je symptomatologie onemocnění atypická. Naše kazuistika popisuje případ horečky nejasného původu u 77letého pacienta s nespecifickými příznaky, u kterého jsme nakonec po širokém diagnostickém procesu diagnostikovali chronickou horečku Q.
Fever of unknown origin as a major challenge for all physicians. The etiology of the fever of unknown origin can be varied, so its diagnosis requires a broad interdisciplinary approach, the ability of a detached view as well as the patience of the physician. This applies even more to geriatric patients in whom the symptomatology is atypical. Our case report describes a case of fever of unknown origin in a 77-year-old patient with unspecific symptoms, who, after a long diagnostic process, has been diagnosed with chronic Q fever.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky aplikace a dávkování terapeutické užití MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii patogenita účinky léků MeSH
- diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
- horečka neznámého původu diagnóza MeSH
- křehký senior * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Q-horečka * diagnóza farmakoterapie patologie MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- zoonózy diagnóza farmakoterapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Publikační typ
- kazuistiky MeSH
Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), an intracellular zoonotic bacterium causing Q fever, occurs widely in cattle herds. After invasion of the pregnant uterus and initial localization in the placenta, active C. burnetii infections may spread to the fetus hematogenously or by the amniotic-oral route and thus may cause abortion, premature delivery, stillbirth, and weak offspring (APSW) complex. In a case-control study, we investigated precolostral blood samples of 56 stillborn calves and 30 live births from a dairy herd endemically infected with C. burnetii "C-cluster" strains and an increased stillbirth rate in primiparous cows. Within the group of the stillborn calves, four precolostral blood samples (7.1%) were tested positive for C. burnetii DNA by PCR and one serum sample (1.8%) positive for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies by a commercial ELISA test, respectively. Neither C. burnetii DNA nor anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies were detected in the samples of calves being born alive. In conclusion, we demonstrated that coxiellaemia and precolostral seroconversion occurred sporadically in stillborn calves from this endemically infected herd. Due to the low detection rates, C. burnetii could not be confirmed to be the cause of the increased stillbirth rate.
- MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii genetika imunologie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika MeSH
- imunoglobulin G krev MeSH
- narození mrtvého plodu veterinární MeSH
- nemoci skotu krev diagnóza embryologie mikrobiologie MeSH
- protilátky bakteriální krev MeSH
- Q-horečka diagnóza embryologie mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- skot MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- skot MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Coxiella burnetii is a gram-negative bacterium able to infect several eukaryotic cells, mainly monocytes and macrophages. It is found widely in nature with ticks, birds, and mammals as major hosts. C. burnetii is also the biological warfare agent that causes Q fever, a disease that has no vaccine or proven chemotherapy available. Considering the current geopolitical context, this fact reinforces the need for discovering new treatments and molecular targets for drug design against C. burnetii. Among the main molecular targets against bacterial diseases reported, the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been investigated for several infectious diseases. In the present work, we applied molecular modeling techniques to evaluate the interactions of known DHFR inhibitors in the active sites of human and C. burnetii DHFR (HssDHFR and CbDHFR) in order to investigate their potential as selective inhibitors of CbDHFR. Results showed that most of the ligands studied compete for the binding site of the substrate more effectively than the reference drug trimethoprim. Also the most promising compounds were proposed as leads for the drug design of potential CbDHFR inhibitors.
- MeSH
- antagonisté kyseliny listové chemie farmakologie MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny antagonisté a inhibitory MeSH
- Coxiella burnetii účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- dihydrofolátreduktasa chemie metabolismus MeSH
- katalytická doména MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ligandy MeSH
- racionální návrh léčiv MeSH
- simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
