Occurrence of Francicella tularensis subsp. holarctica in haematophagous arthropods in the Breclav district in 2022
Authors:
K. Mravcová; S. Zadražilová; I. Vlčková; H. Orlíková; M. Malý; J. Kynčl; J. Mendel; Z. Hubálek; S. Šikutová; I. Rudolf
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR, v. v. i., Brno
1; Ústav experimentální biologie, Přírodovědecká fakulta, Masarykova univerzita, Brno
2; Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha
3; Ústav epidemiologie a biostatistiky, 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Praha
4
Published in:
Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 73, 2024, č. 3, s. 147-152
Category:
Original Papers
doi:
https://doi.org/10.61568/emi/11-6352/20240726/138066
Overview
Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative aerobic bacterium belonging to the class of Gammaproteobacteria and the family Francisellaceae. Despite its undeniable importance for human health, there is little data on the current distribution of F. tularensis in various hematophagous arthropods. The aim of this study was to perform a mass molecular screening of different possible hematophagous vectors: ticks (4348 ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis concinna), mosquitoes (4100 specimens of Aedes vexans), and blackflies (6900 specimens of the Simulium spp.) for the presence of F. tularensis in the Břeclav district in 2022. Only two specimens were positive for the specific DNA of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica. Both samples originated from D. reticulatus, one collected from infested roe deer and the other included in a pooled sample (n = 10). Both positive samples were sequenced, and the presence of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was confirmed. In addition, the absence of F. tularensis in mosquitoes and black flies was documented.
Keywords:
tularemia – Francisella – Ixodes ricinus – Dermacentor reticulatus – Haemaphysalis concinna – Aedes vexans – Simulium spp. – zoonosis
Sources
- Neemann KA, Snowden JN. Tularemia. In D. Schlossberg (Ed.), Clinical Infectious Disease (2. vyd.). Cambridge University Press, 2015:1007–1009. ISBN: 978-1-107-03891.
- Parte AC, Sardà Carbasse J, Meier-Kolthoff JP, et al. List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) moves to the DSMZ. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 2020; 70(11):5607– 5612.
- Hestvik G, Warns-Petit E, Smith LA, et al. The status of tularemia in Europe in a one-health context: A review. Epidemiol Infect, 2015;143(10):2137–2160.
- Hubálek Z, Rudolf I. Microbial Zoonoses and Sapronoses. Springer: Dordrecht, 2011:51–81.
- Troha K, Božanić Urbančič N, Korva M, et al. Vector-Borne Tularemia: A Re-Emerging Cause of Cervical Lymphadenopathy. Trop Med Infect Dis, 2022;7(8):189.
- Maurin M. Francisella tularensis as a potential agent of bioterrorism? Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2015;13(2):141–144.
- Evans ME, Gregory DWMD, Schaffner WMD, et al. A 30-Year Experience With 88 Cases. Medicine, 1985;64(4):251–269.
- Versage JL, Severin DDM, Chu MC, et al. Development of a Multitarget Real-Time TaqMan PCR Assay for Enhanced Detection of Francisella tularensis in Complex Specimens. J Clin Microbiol, 2003;41(12):5492–5499.
- Michelet L, Bonnet S, Madani N, et al. Discriminating Francisella tularensis and Francisella-like endosymbionts in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks: Evaluation of current molecular techniques. Vet Microbiol, 2013;163(3–4):399–403.
- Sjöstedt A, Eriksson U, Berglund L, et al. Detection of Francisella tularensis in ulcers of patients with tularemia by PCR. J Clin Microbiol, 1997;35(5):1045–1048.
- Venclíková K, Mendel J, Betášová L, et al. Neglected tick-borne pathogens in the Czech Republic, 2011–2014. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2016;7:107–112.
- Drbohlav J. L’epidémie de tularémie en Tchécoslovaquie. Les Trav. L’Inst. Hyg. Publ. L’Et. Tchécos, 1937;8:79–104.
- Benda R, Heyberger K, Čapek J. Tularemia in the lower reaches of the Morava river (In Czech). Voj zdrav listy, 1955;24:419–425.
- Benda R, Heyberger K. Isolation of Pasteurella tularensis from engorged Ixodes ricinus ticks (in Czech). Českosl Biol, 1953;2:308– 311.
- Heyberger K, Benda R, Čapek J. A complex investigation of a natural focus of tularemia in South Moravia during an interepizootic period (In Czech). Prírodné Ohniská Nákaz (ed. By D. Blaškovič), SAV Bratislava, 1956:173–189.
- Hubálek Z, Juřicová Z, Peško J. Isolation of Francisella tularensis from Ixodes ricinus ticks in the protected Lands cape Area of Pálava. Českosl Epidem, 1987;36:223–230.
- Hubálek Z, Juřicová Z, Halouzka J. Francisella tularensis from ixodid ticks in Czechoslovakia. Folia Parasitol, 1990;37:255–260.
- Guryčová D, Lysý J, Lichard M, et al. Study of a natural focus of tularemia in the Small Carpathian mountains. Bratisl lek Listy, 1982;78:155–163.
- Kmety E, Guryčová D, Jareková J, et al. Versuch der Tilgung eines Naturherdes der Tularamie und der Leptospirose. Zbl Bakt Hyg, 1987;266:249–254.
- Hubálek Z, Treml F, Halouzka J, et al. Frequent isolation of Francisella tularensis from Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in an enzootic focus of tularaemia. Med Vet Entomol, 1996;10(3):241–246.
- Hubálek Z, Rudolf I. Francisella tularensis prevalence and load in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in an endemic area in Central Europe. Med Vet Entomol, 2017;31(2):234–239.
- Petrov VG, Olsufiev NG. Replication of Bacterium tularense in Dermacentor pictus ticks in the course of their metamorphosis (in Russian). Vopr Krai Obsch Eksp Parazitol Med Zool (Moskva), 1953;8:149–156.
- Výrosteková V. Importance of some ectoparasites in the natural focality of tularemia (In Slovak). Ph.D. thesis, Comenius University, Bratislava, 1984:1–50.
- Guryčová D, Kocianová E, Výrosteková V. et al. Prevalence of Ticks Infected with Francisella tularensis in Natural Foci of Tularemia in Western Slovakia. Eur J Epidemiol, 1995;11(4):469–474.
- Reye AL, Stegniy V, Mishaeva NP, et al. Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks from Different Geographical Locations in Belarus. PLoS One, 2013;8(1):e54476.
- de Carvalho IL, Escudero R, García-Amil C. et al. Francisella tularensis, Portugal. Emerg Infect Dis, 2007;13(4):666–667.
- Egyed L, Élő P, Sréter-Lancz Z. et al. Seasonal activity and tick-borne pathogen infection rates of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Hungary. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2012;3(2):90–94.
- Reis C, Cote M, Paul REL, et al. Questing Ticks in Suburban Forest Are Infected by at Least Six Tick-Borne Pathogens. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 2011;11(7):907–916.
- Toledo A, Olmeda AS, Escudero R, et al. Tick-borne zoonotic bacteria in ticks collected from central Spain. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2009;81(1):67–74.
- Milutinović M, Masuzawa T, Tomanović S, et al. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Francisella tularensis and their co-infections in host-seeking Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Serbia. Exp Appl Acarol, 2008;45:171–183.
- Gehringer H, Schacht E, Maylaender N, et al. Presence of an emerging subclone of Francisella tularensis holarctica in Ixodes ricinus ticks from south-western Germany. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2013;4(1):93–100.
- Eliasson H, Sjöstedt A, Bäck E. Clinical use of a diagnostic PCR for Francisella tularensis in patients with suspected ulceroglandular tularaemia. Scand J Infect Dis, 2005; 37(11–12):833–837.
- Thelaus J, Andersson A, Broman T. Francisella tularensis Subspecies holarctica Occurs in Swedish Mosquitoes, Persists Through the Developmental Stages of Laboratory Infected Mosquitoes and Is Transmissible During Blood Feeding. Microbial Ecol, 2014; 67(1):96–107.
- Dryselis R, Hjertqvist M, Makitalo S, et al. Large outbreak of tularaemia, central Sweden, July to September 2019. Eurosurveillance, 2019;24:1–2.
- Bäckman S, Näslund J, Forsman M, et al. Transmission of tularemia from a water source by transstadial maintenance in a mosquito vector. Sci Rep, 2015;5(1):7793.
- Lundström JO, Andersson AC, Bäckman S, et al. Transstadial Transmission of Francisella tularensis holarctica in Mosquitoes, Sweden. Emerg Infects Dis, 2011;17(5):794–799.
- Sormunen JJ, Pakanen VM, Elo R, et al. Absence of Francisella tularensis in Finnish Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2021;12(6):101809.
- Hubálek Z, Halouzka J. Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), in contrast to ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), do not carry Francisella tularensis in a natural focus of tularemia in the Czech Republic. J Med Entomol, 1997;34(6):660–663.
- Nieboer LFWJ, Ficher EAJ, Braks. Available evidence for mosquito-borne Francisella tularensis transmission is inconclusive. Front Trop Dis, 2023;4:1–11.
Poděkování
Práce byla finančně podpořena v rámci projektu Agentury pro zdravotnický výzkum Ministerstva zdravotnictví České republiky (reg. číslo projektu NU21-05-00143). Autoři by rádi poděkovali primáři infekčního oddělení nemocnice Břeclav MUDr. Danielu Fuchsovi za informace o klinických případech tularemie u lidí na Břeclavsku a MVDr. Markétě Reichelové, Ph.D. z Výzkumného ústavu veterinárního lékařství, v.v.i. za poskytnutí DNA F. tularensis subsp. holarctica.
Do redakce došlo dne 24. 5. 2024.
Adresa pro korespondenci:
doc. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.
Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR, v.v.i.
Klášterní 212
691 42 Valtice
e-mail: rudolf@ivb.cz
Labels
Hygiene and epidemiology Medical virology Clinical microbiologyArticle was published in
Epidemiology, Microbiology, Immunology
Most read in this issue
- Piloting an integrated HIV, HCV and syphilis testing approach in community-based voluntary counselling and testing services in Slovakia
- Detection of Babesia spp. in ticks and in blood of dogs and red deer in the Czech Republic
- An outbreak of septic conditions following surgery in the operating theatres of a primary hospital
- MUDr. Josef Richter, CSc. (*8. 2. 1935–†13. 8. 2024)