Online first
Current issue
Archive
Special Issues
About the Journal
Publication Ethics
Anti-Plagiarism system
Instructions for Authors
Instructions for Reviewers
Editorial Board
Editorial Office
Contact
Reviewers
All Reviewers
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
General Data Protection Regulation (RODO)
RESEARCH PAPER
Detection of protozoans Babesia microti and Toxoplasma gondii and their co-existence in ticks (Acari: Ixodida) collected in Tarnogórski district (Upper Silesia, Poland)
1
Department of Parasitology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Sosnowiec, Poland
Corresponding author
Marek Asman
Department of Parasitology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Sosnowiec, Poland
Department of Parasitology, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Sosnowiec, Poland
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2015;22(1):80-83
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are vectors of many pathogens i. a: Babesia microti [Bm] and Toxoplasma gondii [Tg]. In Poland, Ixodes ricinus [Ir] is the main vector of both pathogens. This tick species and pathogens transmitted by them are a significant threat to human and animal health.
Objectives of the study:
Detection of the protozoans Bm and Tg in ticks collected in the Tarnogórski district area.
Material and Methods:
The ticks were collected from vegetation and pets in the spring period of their activity on the territory of the Tarnogórski district. The parasites were preserved in 70% ethanol. DNA was isolated by ammonia method. Bm was detected by nested-PCR using specific primers for the 18S rRNA sequence. To detect the Tg a commercial kit was used. The PCR products were separated on 2% ethidium bromide stained agarose gels and visualised under UV light.
Results:
It was showed that all collected ticks belonged to the species Ir. Bm was detected in 50.87% and Tg in 64.91% of all examined ticks. Co-existence of these both protozoans in 36.84% of total examined ticks was noted.
Conclusions:
The study showed a high risk of exposure to Bm and Tg in the studied area. Ticks Ir play an important role in the transmission of Bm in this region. Demonstrating a high percentage of ticks collected from animals infected with Tg may indicate their important role in the transmission of this pathogen, but it requires a further studies.
Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are vectors of many pathogens i. a: Babesia microti [Bm] and Toxoplasma gondii [Tg]. In Poland, Ixodes ricinus [Ir] is the main vector of both pathogens. This tick species and pathogens transmitted by them are a significant threat to human and animal health.
Objectives of the study:
Detection of the protozoans Bm and Tg in ticks collected in the Tarnogórski district area.
Material and Methods:
The ticks were collected from vegetation and pets in the spring period of their activity on the territory of the Tarnogórski district. The parasites were preserved in 70% ethanol. DNA was isolated by ammonia method. Bm was detected by nested-PCR using specific primers for the 18S rRNA sequence. To detect the Tg a commercial kit was used. The PCR products were separated on 2% ethidium bromide stained agarose gels and visualised under UV light.
Results:
It was showed that all collected ticks belonged to the species Ir. Bm was detected in 50.87% and Tg in 64.91% of all examined ticks. Co-existence of these both protozoans in 36.84% of total examined ticks was noted.
Conclusions:
The study showed a high risk of exposure to Bm and Tg in the studied area. Ticks Ir play an important role in the transmission of Bm in this region. Demonstrating a high percentage of ticks collected from animals infected with Tg may indicate their important role in the transmission of this pathogen, but it requires a further studies.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The studies received support from Iceland, Lichtenstein
and Norway through the EEA Financial Mechanism and
the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (Grant No. PL0343).
This work was also supported by the Medical University of
Silesia in Katowice through Grant No. KNW-1- 136/K/3/0.
The authors are grateful for the successful cooperation with
the veterinarians from the ‘Vetmedicor’ Animal Clinic in
Tarnowskie Góry, Poland, who kindly provided the ticks
collected from pets, and performed the survey among pet
owners.
REFERENCES (25)
1.
Faith D, Smith LE, Wall R. Prevalence of Babesia and Anaplasma in ticks infesting dogs in Great Britain. Vet Parasitol. 2013; 198(1–2): 18–23.
2.
Siuda K. Ticks (Ixodida). In: Bogdanowicz W, Chudzicka E, Pilipuk I, Skibińska E (ed.). Fauna Polski – charakterystyka i wykaz gatunków. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa 2008.pp. 39–44 (in Polish).
3.
Stańczak J, Gabre RM, Kruminis-Łozowska W, Racewicz M, Kubica-Biernat B. Ixodes ricinus as a vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti in urban and suburban forests. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2004; 11: 109–114.
4.
Wójcik-Fatla A, Szymańska J, Wdowiak L, Buczek A, Dutkiewicz J. Coincidence of three pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti) in Ixodes ricinus ticks in the Lublin macroregion. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2009; 16: 151–158.
5.
Sroka J, Chmielewska-Badora J, Dutkiewicz J. Ixodes ricinus as a potential vector of Toxoplasma gondii. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2003; 10: 121–123.
6.
Siuda K. Kleszcze (Ixodida) o znaczeniu epidemiologicznym w Polsce. In: Skotarczak B (ed.). Biologia molekularna patogenów przenoszonych przez kleszcze. Szczecin, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL 2006.pp.25–31 (in Polish).
7.
Skotarczak B, Adamska M, Sawczak M, Maciejewska A, Wodecka B, Rymaszewska A. Coexistence of tick-borne pathogens in game animals and ticks in western Poland. Veterinarni Medicina 2008; 53(12): 668–675.
8.
Siuda K. Kleszcze (Acari: Ixodida) Polski, cz. I. Zagadnienia ogólne. Warszawa-Wrocław, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, 1991.pp.285 (in Polish).
9.
Cuber P, Asman M, Solarz K, Szilman E, Szilman P. Pierwsze stwierdzenia obecności patogenów chorób transmisyjnych w kleszczach Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodida) zebranych w okolicach zbiorników wodnych w Rogoźniku (woj. śląskie). In: Buczek A, Błaszak Cz (ed.). Stawonogi. Ekologiczne i patologiczne aspekty układu pasożyt – żywiciel. Lublin, Akapit, 2010.pp.155–164 (in Polish).
10.
Skotarczak B. Biologia molekularna patogenów przenoszonych przez kleszcze. Warszawa, Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL, 2006.pp. 221–230 (in Polish).
12.
Irwin PJ. Babesiosis and Cytauxzoonosis. In: Shaw SE, Day MJ (ed.). Arthropod-borne infectious diseases of the dog and cat. Manson Publishing/The Veterinary Press, London 2005.pp. 63–77.
13.
Sroka J, Szymańska J, Wójcik-Fatla A. The occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks from eastern Poland with the use of PCR. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2009; 16: 313–319.
14.
Dubey JP, Beattie CP. Toxoplasmosis of Animals and Man. CRC Press Inc., Boca Raton 1988.
15.
Tenter AM, Heckeroth AR, Weiss LM. Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans. Int J Parasitol. 2000; 30: 1217–1258.
16.
Grigg ME, Ganatra J, Boothroyd JC, Margolis TP. Unusual abundance of atypical strains associated with human ocular toxoplasmosis. J Infect Dis. 2001; 184: 633–639.
17.
Howe DK, Sibley LD. Toxoplasma gondii comprises three clonal lineages: correlation of parasite genotype with human disease. J Infect Dis. 1955; 172: 1561–1566.
18.
Pershing DH, Mathiesen D, Marshall WF, Telford SR, Spielman A, Thomford JW, Conrad PA. Detection of Babesia microti by polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Microbiol. 1992; 30: 2097–2103.
19.
Cuber P., Asman M., Solarz K., Szilman E., Szilman P. The prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilium and Babesia sp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodida) collected from recreational areas of Silesian Province. In: Buczek A, Błaszak Cz (ed.). Arthropods. Human and animal parasites. Lublin, Akapit, 2011.pp.105–114.
20.
Asman M, Gąsior T, Jacek E, Cuber P, Solarz K. Isolation of rickettsiae Anaplasma phagocytophilum and protozoans Babesia sp. in castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus) collected from patients of public helath centres on the territory of Upper Silesia. In: Buczek A., Błaszak Cz (ed.). Arthropods. The medical and economic importance. Lublin. Akapit, 2012.pp.171–180.
21.
Strzelczyk JK, Wiczkowski A, Kwaśniewski M, Zalewska-Ziob M, Strzelczyk J, Gawron K, Adamek B, Spausta G. Prevalence of Borrelia burdorferi sensu lato genospecies in Ixodes ricinus ticks from recreational areas of Silesia. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2006; 15: 1003–1008.
22.
Asman M, Gąsior T, Pająk C, Cuber P, Szilman P, Szilman E, Solarz K. Occupational risk of infections with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii and B. afzelii in agricultural workers on the territory of Beskid Żywiecki. In: Buczek A, Błaszak Cz (ed.). Arthropods. The medical and economic importance. Lublin, Akapit, 2012.pp.163–170.
23.
Asman M, Nowak M, Cuber P, Strzelczyk J, Szilman E, Szilman P, Trapp G, Siuda K, Solarz K, Wiczkowski A. The risk of exposure to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Babesia sp. and co-infections in Ixodes ricinus ticks on the territory of Niepołomnice Forest (southern Poland). Annals of Parasitology 2013; 59(1): 13–19.
24.
Sroka J, Wójcik-Fatla A, Zwoliński J, Zając V, Sawczuk M, Dutkiewicz J. Preliminary study on the occurence of Toxoplasma gondii in Ixodes ricinus ticks from North-western Poland with the use of PCR. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2008; 15: 333–338.
25.
Asman M, Pindel Ł, Solarz K. Ryzyko narażenia na kleszcze (Acari: Ixodida) oraz Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato i Anaplasma phagocytophilum na wybranych terenach gminy Jeleśnia (Beskid Żywiecki). In: Buczek A, Błaszak Cz (ed.). Stawonogi. Aspekty medyczne i weterynaryjne. Lublin, Koliber 2013.pp.257–266 (in Polish).
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1898-2263 |
| ISSN: | 1232-1966 |
Improvement of visual identification of the journal - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher Education allocated to the activities of disseminating science.
Generation of the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) - task financed under the agreement No. 618/P-DUN/2019 by the Minister of Science and Higher
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
