We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
First detection of <italic>Borrelia miyamotoi</italic> in <italic>Ixodes ricinus</italic> ticks from northern Italy.
- Authors
Ravagnan, Silvia; Tomassone, Laura; Montarsi, Fabrizio; Krawczyk, Aleksandra Iwona; Mastrorilli, Eleonora; Sprong, Hein; Milani, Adelaide; Rossi, Luca; Capelli, Gioia
- Abstract
Background: <italic>Borrelia miyamotoi</italic> is a spirochete transmitted by several ixodid tick species. It causes a relapsing fever in humans and is currently considered as an emerging pathogen. In Europe, <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> seems to occur at low prevalence in <italic>Ixodes ricinus</italic> ticks but has a wide distribution. Here we report the first detection of <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> in <italic>Ixodes ricinus</italic> ticks collected in two independent studies conducted in 2016 in the north-eastern and north-western Alps, Italy. Results: Three out of 405 nymphs (0.74%) tested positive for <italic>Borrelia miyamotoi</italic>. In particular, <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> was found in 2/365 nymphs in the western and in 1/40 nymphs in the eastern alpine area. These are the first findings of <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> in Italy. Conclusions: Exposure to <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> and risk of human infection may occur through tick bites in northern Italy. Relapsing fever caused by <italic>Borrelia miyamotoi</italic> has not yet been reported in Italy, but misdiagnoses with tick-borne encephalitis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis or other relapsing fever can occur. Our findings suggest that <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> should be considered in the differential diagnosis of febrile patients originating from Lyme borreliosis endemic regions. The distribution of this pathogen and its relevance to public health need further investigation.
- Subjects
BORRELIA; CASTOR bean tick; PATHOGENIC bacteria; BORRELIA diseases; LYME disease; DIFFERENTIAL diagnosis
- Publication
Parasites & Vectors, 2018, Vol 11, p1
- ISSN
1756-3305
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13071-018-2713-z