Publikationsdatenbank

Evaluating transmission paths for three different Bartonella spp. in Ixodes ricinus ticks using artificial feeding (2021)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Król, Nina

Militzer, Nina (WE 13)

Stöbe, Elisa

Nijhof, Ard M. (WE 13)

Pfeffer, Martin

Kempf, Volkhard A. J.

Obiegala, Anna

Forschungsprojekt

Entwicklung neuer Methoden zur Erforschung der zoonotischen Vektorbiologie von Ixodes ricinus mittels CRISPR-Technologie und künstlicher Schildzeckenfütterung

Quelle

Microorganisms : open access journal

Bandzählung: 9

Heftzählung: 5

Seiten: Artikel 901

ISSN: 2076-2607

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/5/901

DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9050901

Pubmed: 33922378

Kontakt

Institut für Parasitologie und Tropenveterinärmedizin

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62310
parasitologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Bartonellae are facultative intracellular alpha-proteobacteria often transmitted by arthropods. Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector for arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe. However, its vector competence for Bartonella spp. is still unclear. This study aimed to experimentally compare its vector competence for three Bartonella species: B. henselae, B. grahamii, and B. schoenbuchensis. A total of 1333 ticks (1021 nymphs and 312 adults) were separated into four groups, one for each pathogen and a negative control group. Ticks were fed artificially with bovine blood spiked with the respective Bartonella species. DNA was extracted from selected ticks to verify Bartonella-infection by PCR. DNA of Bartonella spp. was detected in 34% of nymphs and females after feeding. The best engorgement results were obtained by ticks fed with B. henselae-spiked blood (65.3%) and B. schoenbuchensis (61.6%). Significantly more nymphs fed on infected blood (37.3%) molted into adults compared to the control group (11.4%). Bartonella DNA was found in 22% of eggs laid by previously infected females and in 8.6% of adults molted from infected nymphs. The transovarial and transstadial transmission of bartonellae suggest that I. ricinus could be a potential vector for three bacteria.