Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Ixodid ticks of road-killed wildlife species in southern Italy: new tick-host associations and locality records

  • Published:
Experimental and Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study aimed to identify ticks collected from road-killed wildlife species retrieved in several localities of southern Italy and to assess the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. DNA in ticks. Collections were carried out from January 2000 to December 2009 on wild animals found dead within the territories of 11 municipalities from three regions (i.e., Apulia, Basilicata, and Calabria). In total, 189 carcasses of wild animals belonging to 10 species were checked for tick infestation, and 40 animals belonging to seven species were found parasitized. One hundred and twenty-five ixodid ticks (11 larvae, 14 nymphs, 77 males, and 23 females) were collected and identified as belonging to nine species, namely Dermacentor marginatus, Haemaphysalis erinacei, Hyalomma marginatum, Ixodes acuminatus, Ixodes canisuga, Ixodes hexagonus, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Rhipicephalus turanicus. None of the 36 tick specimens tested by PCR was positive for tick-borne pathogens. The results add new information on the tick fauna associated with wild animals in Italy, reporting new tick-host associations. Further field studies are still needed to ascertain the suitability of certain wildlife species as hosts for some tick species, particularly for those implicated in the transmission of pathogens to domestic animals and humans. Finally, from a conservation perspective, it would be interesting to assess whether these wild animals (e.g., Lepus corsicanus) are exposed to tick-borne pathogens, investigating the possible implications for their health and behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beichel E, Petney TN, Hassler D, Brückner M, Maiwald M (1996) Tick infestation patterns and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks collected at a veterinary clinic in Germany. Vet Parasitol 65:147–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bengis RG, Leighton FA, Fischer JR, Artois M, Mörner T, Tate CM (2004) The role of wildlife in emerging and re-emerging zoonoses. Rev Sci Tech Off Int Epiz 23:497–511

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cancrini G, Calderini P, Gabrielli S, Scaramozzino P, Iori A (2007) Babesiosis and theileriosis: first evidence in domestic and wild animals in Lazio region (Central Italy). Parassitologia 49:80

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpi G, Cagnacci F, Neteler M, Rizzoli A (2008) Tick infestation on roe deer in relation to geographic and remotely sensed climatic variables in a tick-borne encephalitis endemic area. Epidemiol Infect 136:1416–1424

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Comstedt P, Bergström S, Olsen B, Garpmo U, Marjavaara L, Mejlon H, Barbour AG, Bunikis J (2006) Migratory passerine birds as reservoirs of Lyme borreliosis in Europe. Emerg Infect Dis 12:1087–1095

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Courtney JW, Kostelnik LM, Zeidner N, Massung RF (2004) Multiplex real-time PCR for detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi. J Clin Microbiol 42:3164–3168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curioni V, Cerquetella S, Scuppa P, Pasqualini L, Beninati T, Favia G (2004) Lyme disease and babesiosis: preliminary findings on the transmission risk in highly frequented areas of the Monti Sibillini National Park (Central Italy). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 4:214–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dantas-Torres F, Figueredo LA, Otranto D (2009) A noteworthy record of Ixodes canisuga on Vulpes vulpes in the Apulia region, southern Italy. Parassitologia 51:109–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Dantas-Torres F, Testini G, DiGeronimo PM, Lorusso V, Mallia E, Otranto D (2011) Ticks infesting the endangered Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus) and their habitat in an ecological park in southern Italy. Exp Appl Acarol 53:95–102

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daszak P, Cunningham AA, Hyatt AD (2000) Emerging infectious diseases of wildlife: threats to biodiversity and human health. Science 287:443–449

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente J, Estrada-Peña A, Venzal JM, Tocan KM, Sonenshine DE (2008) Overview: ticks as vectors of pathogens that cause disease in humans and animals. Front Biosci 1:6938–6946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Genchi C, Manfredi MT (1999) Tick species infesting ruminants in Italy: ecological and bio-climatic factors affecting the different regional distribution. Parassitologia 41(Suppl 1):41–45

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gern L (2008) Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the agent of lyme borreliosis: life in the wilds. Parasite 15:244–247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray JS, Murphy TM, Waldrup KA, Wagner GG, Blewett DA, Harrington R (1991) Comparative studies of Babesia spp. from white-tailed and sika deer. J Wildl Dis 27:86–91

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gyuranecz M, Rigó K, Dán A, Földvári G, Makrai L, Dénes B, Fodor L, Majoros G, Tirják L, Erdélyi K (2010) Investigation of the ecology of Francisella tularensis during an inter-epizootic period. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis (in press)

  • Hoogstraal H (1979) The epidemiology of tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Asia, Europe, and Africa. J Med Entomol 15:307–417

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoogstraal H, Aeschlimann A (1982) Tick host specificity. Bulletin de la Société Entomologique Suisse 55:5–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Humair PF (2002) Birds and Borrelia. Int J Med Microbiol 291(Suppl 33):70–74

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Iori A, Di Giulio A, De Felici S (2006) Zecche d’Italia. Mappe Parassitologiche. Rolando Editore, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Iori A, Gabrielli S, Calderini P, Moretti A, Pietrobelli M, Tampieri MP, Galuppi R, Cancrini G (2010) Tick reservoirs for piroplasms in central and northern Italy. Vet Parasitol 170:291–296

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • IUCN (2010) IUCN Red list of threatened species. Version 2010.4. Accessed at: http://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed 13 Jan. 2011

  • Jongejan F, Uilenberg G (2004) The global importance of ticks. Parasitology 129(Suppl):S3–S14

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Juricová Z, Hubálek Z (2009) Serologic survey of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 9:479–482

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Labruna MB, Whitworth T, Horta MC, Bouyer DH, McBride JW, Pinter A, Popov V, Gennari SM, Walker DH (2004) Rickettsia species infecting Amblyomma cooperi ticks from an area in the state of São Paulo, Brazil where Brazilian spotted fever is endemic. J Clin Microbiol 42:90–98

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liebisch A, Walter G (1986) Ticks of domestic and wild animals in Germany: on the occurrence and biology of the hedgehog tick (Ixodes hexagonus) and the fox tick (Ixodes canisuga). Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr 93:447–450

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manilla G (1998) Fauna d’Italia. Acari-Ixodida, Edizioni Calderini, Bologna

    Google Scholar 

  • Matuschka FR, Fischer P, Heiler M, Richter D, Spielman A (1992) Capacity of European animals as reservoir hosts for the Lyme disease spirochete. J Infect Dis 165:479–483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matuschka FR, Endepols S, Richter D, Ohlenbusch A, Eiffert H, Spielman A (1996) Risk of urban Lyme disease enhanced by the presence of rats. J Infect Dis 174:1108–1111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Millán J, Ruiz-Fons F, Márquez FJ, Viota M, López-Bao JV, Paz Martín-Mateo M (2007) Ectoparasites of the endangered Iberian lynx Lynx pardinus and sympatric wild and domestic carnivores in Spain. Med Vet Entomol 21:248–254

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oorebeek M, Kleindorfer S (2008) Climate or host availability: what determines the seasonal abundance of ticks? Parasitol Res 103:871–875

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Otranto D, Lia RP, Cantacessi C, Brianti E, Traversa D, Giannetto S (2007) Filaria martis Gmelin 1790 (Spirurida, Filariidae) affecting beech marten (Martes faina): morphological description and molecular characterisation of the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I. Parasitol Res 101:877–883

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfäffle M, Petney T, Elgas M, Skuballa J, Taraschewski H (2009) Tick-induced blood loss leads to regenerative anaemia in the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Parasitology 136:443–452

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rehácek J, Urvölgyi J, Kocianová E, Sekeyová Z, Vavreková M, Kovácová E (1991) Extensive examination of different tick species for infestation with Coxiella burnetii in Slovakia. Eur J Epidemiol 7:299–303

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rizzoli A, Rosà R, Mantelli B, Pecchioli E, Hauffe H, Tagliapietra V, Beninati T, Neteler M, Genchi C (2004) Ixodes ricinus, transmitted diseases and reservoirs. Parassitologia 46:119–122

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosalino LM, Rodrigues M, Santos-Silva M, Santos-Reis M (2007) Unusual findings on host-tick interactions through carnivore scat analysis. Exp Appl Acarol 43:293–302

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rundel PW, Montenegro G, Jaksic FM (1998) Landscape disturbance and biodiversity in mediterranean-type ecosystems. Series: ecological studies, 136. Springer, Berlin, p 447

    Google Scholar 

  • Schex S, Dobler G, Riehm J, Ller JX, Essbauer S (2011) Rickettsia spp. in wild small mammals in lower Bavaria, South-Eastern Germany. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis (in press)

  • Stefanidesova K, Kocianova E, Boldis V, Kostanova Z, Kanka P, Nemethova D, Spitalska E (2007) Evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia helvetica infection in free-ranging ungulates in central Slovakia. Eur J Wildl Res 54:519–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tälleklint L, Jaenson TG (1993) Maintenance by hares of European Borrelia burgdorferi in ecosystems without rodents. J Med Entomol 30:273–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tampieri MP, Galuppi R, Bonoli C, Cancrini G, Moretti A, Pietrobelli M (2008) Wild ungulates as Babesia hosts in northern and central Italy. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 8:667–674

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker JB, Keirans JE, Horak IG (2000) The genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): A guide to the brown ticks of the world. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica e Zootecnia, Università degli Studi di Bari, 70010, Valenzano, Bari, Italy

    Vincenzo Lorusso, Riccardo Paolo Lia, Filipe Dantas-Torres & Domenico Otranto

  2. Division of Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh Medical School, The Chancellor’s Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK

    Vincenzo Lorusso

  3. Parco Regionale Gallipoli Cognato Piccole Dolomiti Lucane, Basilicata, MT, Italy

    Egidio Mallia

  4. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, PD, Italy

    Silvia Ravagnan & Gioia Capelli

Authors
  1. Vincenzo Lorusso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Riccardo Paolo Lia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Filipe Dantas-Torres
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Egidio Mallia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Silvia Ravagnan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gioia Capelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Domenico Otranto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Domenico Otranto.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lorusso, V., Lia, R.P., Dantas-Torres, F. et al. Ixodid ticks of road-killed wildlife species in southern Italy: new tick-host associations and locality records. Exp Appl Acarol 55, 293–300 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9470-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9470-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation