Background. Tick-borne diseases are widespread in many European Countries and high incidence has been reported in the past few years. Domestic and wild animals play an important role in promoting the spread of the vector and the pathogens in the territory, whereas the man is usually an occasional host. Tick-bite events has remarkably increased in Piedmont Region (North Western Italy) in humans, where a peak has been observed since 2018. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate tick infected by pathogens in Piedmont Region from 2011 to 2019. Methods. Ticks collected from bitten humans in different areas of Piedmont were studied. They were stored in 70% ethanol (or frozen -20°C) and morphologically identified. A sample collected in at risk population (eldearly and minors) was screened by biomolecular essays for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sl, Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp. Pathogen identity was confirmed by sequencing each amplicon. Furthermore, a subset of 57 collected ticks were tested for TBE virus detection. Results. A total of 2,389 ticks from 2,044 bitten humans from 2011 to 2019 was collected. The most frequently ticks identified belonged to the Ixodes genus (N=2,218; 92.84%). 1,850 ticks (77.44%) were identified as Ixodes ricinus and 27 (1.13%) as Ixodes hexagonus. Some Ixodes ticks (N=339; 14.19%) were identified only at genus level due to lack of morphological features. 30 ticks belonged to the Riphicephalus genus (1.17%), 12 (0.50%) to the Dermacentor genus and 5 to the Haemaphysalis genus (0.21%). Overall, 1,107 tick samples were tested for pathogens. The overall prevalence in all ticks was 29.45% (N=326; 95%CI=26.78-32.23), where at least 1 pathogen was detected. Detected pathogens were Rickettsia spp (19,69%; 95% CI=17.39-22.16), Borrelia burgdorferi sl, (7.40%; 95% CI=5.93-9.11), Anaplasma spp. 2.34% (95% CI=1.54-3.42). Tick Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection was not detected. Conclusions. The risk of tick-borne diseases in humans is probably associated with local tick abundance, infection prevalence, density of vertebrate reservoir hosts, climate changes and local information campaign. Further analysis of these factors may help in assessing risks and to guide the implementation of public health policies against tick-borne diseases.
Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Piedmont Region.
Tomassone L.;Desiato R.
2020-01-01
Abstract
Background. Tick-borne diseases are widespread in many European Countries and high incidence has been reported in the past few years. Domestic and wild animals play an important role in promoting the spread of the vector and the pathogens in the territory, whereas the man is usually an occasional host. Tick-bite events has remarkably increased in Piedmont Region (North Western Italy) in humans, where a peak has been observed since 2018. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate tick infected by pathogens in Piedmont Region from 2011 to 2019. Methods. Ticks collected from bitten humans in different areas of Piedmont were studied. They were stored in 70% ethanol (or frozen -20°C) and morphologically identified. A sample collected in at risk population (eldearly and minors) was screened by biomolecular essays for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sl, Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma spp. Pathogen identity was confirmed by sequencing each amplicon. Furthermore, a subset of 57 collected ticks were tested for TBE virus detection. Results. A total of 2,389 ticks from 2,044 bitten humans from 2011 to 2019 was collected. The most frequently ticks identified belonged to the Ixodes genus (N=2,218; 92.84%). 1,850 ticks (77.44%) were identified as Ixodes ricinus and 27 (1.13%) as Ixodes hexagonus. Some Ixodes ticks (N=339; 14.19%) were identified only at genus level due to lack of morphological features. 30 ticks belonged to the Riphicephalus genus (1.17%), 12 (0.50%) to the Dermacentor genus and 5 to the Haemaphysalis genus (0.21%). Overall, 1,107 tick samples were tested for pathogens. The overall prevalence in all ticks was 29.45% (N=326; 95%CI=26.78-32.23), where at least 1 pathogen was detected. Detected pathogens were Rickettsia spp (19,69%; 95% CI=17.39-22.16), Borrelia burgdorferi sl, (7.40%; 95% CI=5.93-9.11), Anaplasma spp. 2.34% (95% CI=1.54-3.42). Tick Borne Encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection was not detected. Conclusions. The risk of tick-borne diseases in humans is probably associated with local tick abundance, infection prevalence, density of vertebrate reservoir hosts, climate changes and local information campaign. Further analysis of these factors may help in assessing risks and to guide the implementation of public health policies against tick-borne diseases.
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