Panola Mountain Ehrlichia (PME) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen, transmitted by Amblyomma americanum ticks in the southeastern United States. It is closely related to Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater disease. Heartwater disease is an often-fatal illness of ruminant livestock present in Africa and the Caribbean. The taxonomic relationship between PME and E. ruminantium has raised concerns about the pathogenicity of PME in livestock. To determine whether cattle could be naturally infected with PME in an endemic area, we conducted a one-year longitudinal study of Angus-breed beef calves in Fayetteville, Arkansas. One hundred seventy-seven calves born between September and October 2022 were sampled for blood and ticks in February, May, and September 2023. Blood and ticks from each animal were tested for bacteria in the family, Anaplasmataceae using quantitative and conventional PCR, and positive samples were sequenced for species identification. Panola Mountain Ehrlichia was detected in 2.34 % of male A. americanum collected in February, and 1.27 % of female, 0.95 % of male, and 0.43 % of nymphal A. americanum collected in May. No PME-positive ticks were collected in September. Active PME infections were detected in two calves: one which tested positive in May 2023 and one which tested positive in September 2023. Neither animal exhibited any signs of disease, and the animal PME-positive in May tested negative in September. Cattle are susceptible to PME, but the pathogen does not appear to cause obvious disease. However, all animals in this study were under one year old, and older animals may be more susceptible. Cattle are at risk of tick-borne illness in the winter as well as spring, and off-season acaricide applications may improve disease management.

Anaplasma bovis is primarily an infectious agent of ruminants, and has most commonly been reported in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Although the primary cause of human anaplasmosis is Anaplasma phagocytophilum, humans may rarely be infected by other Anaplasma spp. Human disease attributed to A. bovis has been occasionally reported, including an A. bovis-like agent in the United States. DNA of an A. bovis-like agent has been amplified from humans and the tick Dermacentor variabilis in the central region of the U.S., but larger prevalence studies among potential vectors or reservoir hosts in the U.S. have not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of A. bovis-like agent among D. variabilis and cattle in the Southcentral U.S. Previously extracted DNA from adult D. variabilis collected from Oklahoma (n = 38) and Kansas (n = 93), and blood of cattle from Oklahoma (n = 140) were tested by conventional PCR. Overall prevalence of A. bovis-like DNA within ticks was determined to be 3.1% (4/131), and all positive ticks originated from Oklahoma. Overall prevalence in bovine blood was determined to be 0% (0/140). These findings confirm the presence of an A. bovis-like agent, a potentially zoonotic pathogen, among ticks in the Southcentral U.S.; this agent is likely underrecognized and has been detected in parts of the U.S. that lie outside of the established geographic range for A. phagocytophilum. Further investigation and surveillance are necessary to elucidate possible reservoirs of A. bovis in the U.S., further evaluate the burden of human infection, and fully characterize genetic differences between the A. bovis-like agent detected in the U.S. and A. bovis in other regions of the world.

Tolerance and resistance are two host eco-immunological strategies in response to microparasite invasion. In the strategy of "resistance", host responses are induced to decrease microparasite replication while the "tolerance" strategy allows hosts coexistence with microparasites by minimizing responses to avoid immune-mediated damage. The causative agent of Lyme disease is a group of genotypically diverse bacterial species, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bb), which is transmitted by Ixodes ticks and persists in different reservoir animals. In North America, eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) can be fed on by Ixodes ticks but are incompetent to one genotype of Bb (i.e., ospC type A). However, field-collected lizards showed evidence of previous infection by Bb strains with undefined genotypes. Supporting this evidence, we introduced three genotypically different Bb strains individually to eastern fence lizards and found a Bb genotype-dependent manner of infectivity. We compared liver transcriptomics and observed elevated immune responses triggered by a lizard-incompetent Bb strain (strain B31). We showed two lizard-competent strains with one having no immunomodulation (strain B379) but the other developing upregulated immune responses (strain 297). These results suggest that genetic variation in microparasites both induces different host strategies for dealing with infection and determines microparasite fitness in the hosts. These findings demonstrate that Bb and eastern fence lizards can serve as a model to investigate the mechanisms underlying eco-immunological strategies of tolerance vs. resistance during host-microparasite interaction.

Ixodes ricinus is the main vector of the causative agents of Lyme neuroborreliosis. This tick species can also transmit tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia and Borrelia miyamotoi to humans. These tick-borne pathogens are present in Dutch ticks and have also been associated with human neurological infections, but well characterized disease cases are seldom reported. We therefore assessed the evidence for TBEV, SFG Rickettsia or B. miyamotoi infection in clinically well-described patients suspected of Lyme neuroborreliosis. We retrospectively included patients with specific predefined clinical criteria from patients that were tested for Lyme neuroborreliosis between 2010 and 2014 at an academic Lyme borreliosis Center. Serology was performed on available serum samples, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was tested by molecular methods. Out of 514 potentially eligible patients, 176 individual patients were included. None of CSF samples was positive for the tested tick-borne pathogens, except for one previously described patient with Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). Serology revealed 27, 14 and three patients with antibodies against SFG Rickettsia, B. miyamotoi and TBEV, respectively. No distinctive clinical symptoms or signs could be associated with seropositivity against any of these tick-borne pathogens. Apart from the previously published BMD case, we were unable to find convincing evidence of new cases of tick-borne encephalitis, spotted fever rickettsiosis or BMD in a cohort of patients suspected of Lyme neuroborreliosis. While antibodies against these tick-borne pathogens were detected, we could not associate these findings to clinical symptoms or signs. Therefore, prospective studies on humans with tick exposure are necessary to describe the prevalence, etiology and clinical symptoms of these tick-borne diseases other than Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis.

Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus are vectors of a range of pathogens of public health significance in North America. These ticks transmit pathogens to and from wild animal reservoir host species, but also bite humans and expose them to the pathogens. We describe the geographical and temporal distribution of the pathogen Babesia odocoilei, the causative agent of cervid babesiosis. Ixodes spp. ticks collected through active and passive surveillance were submitted to the National Microbiology Laboratory of the Public Health Agency of Canada for analysis of the presence of B. odocoilei from 2018 to 2021. Generalized linear models were constructed to evaluate the temporal change of B. odocoilei prevalence across Canada. Babesia odocoilei-positive I. scapularis are widespread across south-central and eastern regions of Canada, with an overall prevalence of 12.0 % in both nymphs (CI 95 % : 11.4-12.6) and adults (CI 95 % : 11.9-12.1) collected in passive surveillance and 13.2 % (CI 95 % : 12.9-13.5) and 10.0 % (CI 95 % : 9.8-10.2) in nymphs and adult, respectively, collected in active surveillance. A single I. pacificus tick tested positive in active surveillance out of 29 ticks collected in British Columbia, while no B odocoilei-positive I. scapularis were found in passive surveillance among the 11 adult ticks tested. Although B. odocoilei infection prevalence of adult I. scapularis was significantly higher in 2019 (14.1 %) than in 2018 (7.4 %), it remained stable from 2019 to 2021, suggesting that this pathogen may already be well established in endemic tick populations. The results provided in this article represent, to date, the most comprehensive picture of B. odocoilei distribution and prevalence in ticks in Canada and highlight the interest of maintaining One Health surveillance approaches to give added insight into disease transmission cycles for less well-characterized microorganisms.

Climate-change induced weather extremes like floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, with potential consequences for disease vector ecology. We report on a flooding event during the winter of 2023/2024 in Hanover city, Germany. Our observations demonstrate that I. ricinus, the most important vector of tick-borne diseases in Europe, can survive prolonged periods under water and quickly resume host-seeking activity once conditions normalize. Despite being submerged for a total of 25 days, nymphal and adult ticks were observed questing four weeks of the water receding, with densities comparable to pre-flood levels. These findings underscore the resilience of I. ricinus and highlight the potential of ticks to pose infection risks even after extreme weather events.

Tick-borne pathogens are a worldwide threat to public health that can only be mitigated by knowledge on tick-host associations coupled with surveillance of their infection by pathogenic microorganisms. This information is not equally available throughout tick vector distribution range and is deficient in some geographical areas. In this study we did a molecular survey of tick-borne pathogens associated with different tick species in Morocco. We analyzed four different species of Hyalomma (Hyalomma aegyptium, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma impeltatum) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks from four vertebrate hosts and from the vegetation. The most common tick species collected was H. aegyptium feeding on Testudo graeca tortoises, followed by H. anatolicum from the vegetation. Hyalomma aegyptium feeding on T. graeca was found infected with Borrelia turcica, representing the first detection for Western North Africa, and Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae, also detected for the first time in Morocco. Rickettsia aeschlimannii was also detected in H. aegyptium feeding on T. graeca. Additionally, R. aeschlimannii was detected in H. anatolicum from the vegetation, and Rickettsia massiliae in R. sanguineus s.l. from an Algerian hedgehog Atelix algirus. Because H. aegyptium are common parasites of T. graeca tortoises, and these animals are subjected to pet trade, it is important to evaluate the associated human health risks through regular surveillance and perform awareness campaigns for prevention of the general public.

Yezo virus (YEZV) is an emerging tick-borne virus that causes acute febrile illness. It has been continuously reported in patients and ticks in Japan and China since its first identification in Hokkaido, Japan. While serological tests have demonstrated that YEZV infections are prevalent in wild animals, such as raccoons (Procyon lotor), the determinants of infection in wild animals remain largely unknown. We examined the prevalence of YEZV in invasive raccoons, native tanukis (raccoon dogs, Nyctereutes procyonoides albus), and ticks in six study areas in Hokkaido between 2018 and 2023 to identify ecological factors underlying YEZV infection in wild animals. YEZV RNA fragments were detected in 0.22% of the 1,857 questing ticks. Anti-YEZV antibodies were detected in 32 of the 514 (6.2%) raccoon serum samples and in 5 of the 40 (12.5%) tanuki serum samples. Notably, the seroprevalence in raccoons varied significantly in one of the study areas over the years, that is, 0.0%, 60.0%, and 28.6% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively, implying the temporary emergence of YEZV microfoci. By analyzing the tick load and YEZV seropositivity in raccoons in a field-based setting, we found a positive correlation between adult Ixodes ovatus load and YEZV-antibody positivity, highlighting the importance of I. ovatus in YEZV infection in wild animals. We also explored the environmental and host factors influencing YEZV seropositivity in raccoons and tanukis and found that landscape factors, such as the size of forest area around the trap site, were crucial for YEZV seropositivity in these animals. The significant variables for YEZV seropositivity in raccoons were partially different from those affecting tick infestation intensity in raccoons. The present results extend our understanding of tick-borne virus circulation in the field, emphasizing the unique ecology of the emerging YEZV.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a viral infection and can lead to acute and persistent damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems. Recently, the incidence of TBE in Europe has risen, and epidemiological patterns of disease have changed, emphasising the need for improved understanding of this vaccine-preventable disease. Although TBE is endemic in many countries, the disease spectrum of TBE is not well described. We sought to characterise the clinical manifestations and outcomes of TBE by estimating the proportions of TBE patients with each type of manifestation and the risk of adverse outcomes for children and adults separately. A systematic literature review was conducted on 2 August 2022 for articles published in any language since 1 January 2007. Additional relevant studies were found in reference lists of identified articles. The review was limited to countries where only the European subtype of TBEV circulates. Of the 1,632 unique titles and abstracts identified and reviewed, 21 were retained for data analysis. The 21 studies were split into a main analysis (15 studies reporting patients hospitalised with laboratory-confirmed TBE) and a secondary analysis (6 studies reporting hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients who sought medical treatment for laboratory-confirmed TBE). The main analysis included 5,012 adults and 640 children. The predominant clinical manifestation in adults was encephalitis (61 %), followed by meningitis (33 %), radiculitis (14 %), and myelitis (6 %) (the manifestations were evaluated independently, so they will not sum to 100 %). With outliers removed, similar proportions of adults had encephalitis (48 %) and meningitis (44 %). Among cases in children, meningitis (77 %) was the most common manifestation, whereas encephalitis (23 %) and myelitis (1.3 %) were less frequent. Among hospitalised patients with TBE, the proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and deaths were similar for adults (15.5 % and 0.9 %, respectively) and children (16.4 % and 0 %, respectively.) The percentage of patients with sequelae when examined >12 months from acute TBE was 39.5 % for adults and 16.2 % for children. The evidence was challenging to aggregate due to study heterogeneity, variability in categorising clinical manifestations of central nervous system disease, variability of denominator populations, and differences in healthcare systems and diagnostic practices across countries. Our study disclosed distinct patterns of clinical manifestation among hospitalised adult and child patients with TBE and a high proportion of ICU admissions and long-term neurological sequelae across both age groups. These findings reinforce the continued need for preventive measures in the populations at risk. Moreover, variability of study admission criteria, including difficulty with clinical manifestation categorisation, calls for a more standardised approach to summarising TBE manifestations and outcomes across Europe.

Tick-borne diseases are commonly reported in the United States, but frequency of tick bites and care-seeking behaviors following tick bites are poorly understood. We used nationally representative survey data to describe the frequency of tick bites among people living in the United States and how often, where, and why care-seeking associated with tick bites occurs. We found that over 31 million people (nearly 1 in 10) living in the United States might experience a tick bite each year and highlight regional trends in associated care-seeking behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for effective tick bite prevention education and regionally tailored healthcare provider recommendations for management of tick-borne diseases.

Ticks are prominent vectors of several zoonotic diseases. Tick-borne pathogens include the members of the genus Ehrlichia, which are obligate intracellular bacteria infecting immune and hematopoietic cells. Ehrlichia muris predominantly affects rodents, but was also reported to be a human pathogen. The known geographical distribution of this bacterium ranges from Asia, to the USA and eastern Europe. In the present work, we report the finding of E. muris in an Ixodes ricinus tick collected from a migratory bird (Turdus iliacus) in Italy, southern Europe. We sequenced the total DNA from this tick sample, and, thanks to a dedicated bioinformatic pipeline, selectively assembled the genome of the bacterium, which represents the first one for E. muris from Europe. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses were then performed. Accounting for tick species distribution, bird migratory routes, and molecular phylogeny of the bacterium, it is likely that this bird transported the tick to Italy from an endemic area of E. muris, such as eastern Europe. In addition, comparative genomic analyses highlighted that E. muris and other Ehrlichia spp. display copy number variations in two families of membrane proteins, likely due to recent gene duplication, deletion and recombination events. These differences are probably a source of variability for surface antigens to evade host immunity, with a potential role in host adaptation and specificity. The present results underline the impact of migratory birds on the spread of tick-borne pathogens towards non-endemic areas, highlighting the need for further epidemiological surveillance at bird ringing stations in Italy, and advocating further investigations on possible local transmission of E. muris in competent mammalian hosts.

Ixodes ricinus is the most important tick vector in central and western Europe and one of the most researched parasites. However, in the published literature on the tick and the pathogens it transmits, conjecture about specific transmission cycles and the clinical significance of certain microbes is not always clearly separated from confirmed facts. This article aims to present up-to-date, evidence-based information about the well-researched human pathogens tick-borne encephalitis virus, louping-ill virus, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and several Babesia species, with a focus on their development in the tick, transmission dynamics and the competent reservoir hosts that support their circulation in the environment. Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia helvetica and Rickettsia monacensis, which are much less common causes of disease but may affect immunocompromised patients, are also briefly discussed. Finally, the possible role of I. ricinus in the transmission of Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp. and Spiroplasma ixodetis is reviewed.

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are found throughout the United Kingdom (UK), and can reach high population densities in urban areas. They are often infested with ticks which may carry tick-borne pathogens, leading to a risk of transmission to domestic animals and humans. This study investigated the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks sourced from red fox carcasses across Great Britain between 2018 and 2022. Tick species were identified using morphological keys and molecular barcoding, followed by specific pathogen testing using PCR. In total, 227 ticks were collected from 93 foxes. Pooling (n = 2) was undertaken for unengorged nymphs from the same tick species and fox host, with 203 homogenates tested in total (24 pools and 179 individual ticks). Ixodes hexagonus was the most abundant tick species sampled (73 %), of which 59 % were nymphs and 41 % were females. Less common were Ixodes ricinus (12 %) and Ixodes canisuga (15 %), the majority of which were females (73 % and 91 %, respectively). One Ixodes sp. larva was identified. Babesia DNA was identified in seven individual ticks and once in pooled ticks (n = 2); seven detections were in I. hexagonus and one in I. canisuga, with an overall detection rate of 7 % (95 % CI: 6 - 8 %). Sequence analysis confirmed that all Babesia detections in I. hexagonus were Babesia vulpes, with detection of Babesia Badger Type A in I. canisuga. Screening for Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA through amplification of the msp2 gene yielded an overall detection rate of 4 % (detected in I. hexagonus only). Louping ill virus was not detected by qRT-PCR in any tick RNA tested. The majority of pathogen detections were in ticks from red foxes in rural areas of the UK, although a small number of Babesia detections were in ticks collected from semi-rural or urban red foxes. Additionally, B. vulpes was detected in GB red fox tissues, suggesting a potential role as a reservoir host. This study confirms the detection of tick-borne pathogens in ticks infesting UK red foxes and highlights the involvement of GB tick species in animal or human disease transmission.

The control and prevention of ticks and tick-borne diseases rely on chemical insecticides and repellents. Plant-derived compounds potentially represent new and safer repellents. Cinnamaldehyde, a component of cinnamon oil, exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, acaricidal, and repellent activity against ticks. Here we studied the molecular mechanism of the repellent effect of cinnamaldehyde on Haemaphysalis longicornis. A 2 % cinnamaldehyde treatment resulted in >90 % nymph repellency within 6 h. Nymphs were exposed to cinnamaldehyde for 30 min, and subsequent transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed the involvement of H. longicornis Acetylcholinesterases (HL-AchEs) in the response process. HL-AchEs was transcribed in all tick developmental stages and tissues. Following cinnamaldehyde treatment, the transcript and specific activity of the enzyme of AchE were significantly altered. Following RNAi, electroantennography (EAG) tests demonstrated a significant decrease in response to various repellents as well as a significant decrease in repellency. Our findings have revealed that HL-AchEs mediates cinnamaldehyde-induced tick repellency, and the results provide insights into the mechanism of plant-derived tick repellents.

Tick-borne pathogens in the genus Rickettsia are the causative agents of severe and potentially fatal spotted fever group (SFG) and typhus group diseases in dogs and humans. Climate, habitat, and land-use changes are impacting vector ranges, with expansions potentially resulting in novel pathogens being introduced into naïve locations. Despite the public health importance of SFG Rickettsia, there are relatively few data on the prevalence and diversity of rickettsial pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to characterize the SFG Rickettsia prevalence and diversity in ixodid ticks (104 Amblyomma spp., 160 Rhipicephalus spp., and one Hyalomma truncatum) collected from domestic dogs in Chad, Africa. Ticks were screened for Rickettsia spp. using a nested PCR targeting the 17-kDa gene. Species identification was through bidirectional Sanger sequencing of the 17-kDa, ompA, ompB, and/or gltA gene targets. A total of 43.3 % (115/265) ticks were positive for Rickettsia spp. and six Rickettsia species were identified: R. africae, R. massiliae, R. conorii, R. felis, R. monacensis and Candidatus Rickettsia muridii. Seven additional samples were positive for Rickettsia of undetermined species. Rickettsia africae, an important zoonotic pathogen, was found in 81 % (79/97) of A. variegatum and 29 % (2/7) of an A. marmoreum complex species, a group that infests a wide range of birds and mammals, including humans. Finally, we detected a high diversity of Rickettsia spp., most of which were zoonotic, in Rh. muhsamae. Collectively these data indicate there is a risk of rickettsiosis in Chad and further studies on ticks and rickettsial pathogens in this region are warranted.

The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, causes significant economic losses to the cattle industry. Tick control is predominately achieved via pesticide applications. However, alternative control methods such as vaccines are needed due to the tick's capacity to quickly develop pesticide resistance and to combat tick-borne diseases. We used an in silico reverse vaccinology approach to evaluate and rank open reading frames (ORFs) from the tick's transcriptome for their potential use as anti-R. microplus vaccine antigens. We manually annotated the 200 highest ranked antigens and selected 10 transcript ORFs as vaccine antigen candidates for expression in Pichia pastoris or insect cells. Six of the ten candidate antigens could be successfully expressed and purified in vitro as recombinant proteins with > 1 mg quantity. RT-PCR confirmed the expression of all six transcripts in tick RNA. However, only three of the six transcripts' corresponding ORFs could be confirmed as present in tick tissue protein extracts. Only four of the six vaccine candidate antigens were successfully expressed and purified in sufficient quantity (> 10 mg) for immunogenicity and efficacy trials in cattle. These four were designated BI-TS002, BI-TS004, BI-TS008, and BI-TS009 and sufficient annotation existed that showed sequence similarity to serine‑rich adhesin for platelets, glycine-rich cell wall structural membrane protein, SWM-1 tick serine protease inhibitor, and venom-like dermonecrotic toxins from ticks and spiders, respectively. Cattle immunized with BI-TS004, BI-TS008 and BI-TS009 yielded a statistically significant difference in antibody response post-immunization. This difference was noted on Days 42, 56, 70, and 84 post-immunization for BI-TS008 and BI-TS009, but only on Day 56 for BI-TS004. BI-TS008 and BI-TS009, were formulated with adjuvant and cattle stall tests conducted over a 175 day period to evaluate efficacy against R. microplus infestations. Both an adjuvant only negative control group and a positive control group using the commercially available GAVAC anti-tick vaccine were used. Efficacy was determined by comparing number of engorged adult female ticks, total egg mass weight, and egg hatchability produced from the immunized group to corresponding data from the adjuvant only negative control group. Thus, effects on engorged adult tick number, reproductive capacity, and fertility were measured. Both initial (designated Phase 1 and calculated from tick collections of Days 60-94 days post-first immunization) and long-term (designated Phase 2 and calculated from tick collections of Days 152-175 post-first immunization) efficacies were determined. The overall Phase 1 trial efficacies of BI-TS008, BI-TS009, and GAVAC were 68.3 %, 48.5 %, and 70.7 %, respectively. The overall Phase 2 trial efficacies of BI-TS008, BI-TS009, and GAVAC were 64.4 %, -30.1 %, and 45.1 %, respectively.

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is an important zoonotic and public health concern worldwide. Kangaroos are thought to be a likely wildlife reservoir for C. burnetii in Australia and the kangaroo tick (Amblyomma triguttatum) has often been considered a vector. In this descriptive study of ticks collected from a population of eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) with a high serological (84 %) and molecular (65 %) prevalence of C. burnetii in northern New South Wales, a total of 72 A. triguttatum ticks were tested by PCRs targeting the IS1111, htpAB, and com1 genes of the Coxiella genome. Despite the remarkably high prevalence of coxiellosis in the host population, none of the ticks were positive for Coxiella. This finding suggests that the kangaroo tick may not play a significant role in the transmission dynamics of C. burnetii in this particular host population.

Hyalomma marginatum is an invasive tick species capable of transmitting pathogens that cause severe diseases such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. In Austria, H. marginatum occurs sporadically, and migratory birds are believed to bring H. marginatum from distant regions. We report several incidents of H. marginatum imported by travelers in private cars from Croatia to Austria. One tick was positive for Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Tourist traffic may play a significant role in the northward expansion of this tick species aside from introduction by birds.

Tick-borne relapsing fever group borreliae (TBRFGB) are spirochetes that cause disease in humans and animals. Little is known about the prevalence of TBRFGB infections in ticks and humans in Kazakhstan. A total of 846 ticks belonging to ten species of the family Ixodidae and three species of the family Argasidae were collected from the vegetation, poultry shelters, domestic ruminants, bitten humans, pigeons, dogs and house walls in four oblasts of the southern and southeastern regions of Kazakhstan. The ticks were subjected to DNA extraction and identification of TBRFGB by conventional PCR using primers targeting flagella subunit B (flaB), glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase (glpQ) and P66 porin (P66) genes. The overall infection rate of TBRFGB in the ticks was 6.2 % (46/846). TBRFGB DNA was identified in Ixodes persulcatus (5.5 %; 26/477), Ornithodoros tartakovskyi (6 %; 2/36) and Argas persicus (13.4 %; 18/134) ticks. Partial sequencing of flaB, glpQ and P66 genes identified Borrelia miyamotoi in I. persulcatus and Borrelia anserina in A. persicus. To detect the presence of B. miyamotoi infection in people in the study region, we performed serological analysis of samples collected from 42 patients admitted to hospital with fever of unknown etiology or with a history of a tick bite. The analysis revealed IgM and IgG antibodies against one or several B. miyamotoi antigens in 10 % and 5 % of patients, respectively. The data obtained provide strong evidence of the presence of B. miyamotoi and B. anserina in the southern and southeastern regions of Kazakhstan, underscoring the need for increased awareness of potential infections caused by these borreliae in these regions.

Tick-borne diseases are of substantial concern worldwide for both humans and animals, and dogs are frequently exposed to tick infestation. The aim of this study was to examine tick infestation of pet and stray dogs in Guangzhou, Southern China, as well as tick-borne pathogens of randomly sampled ticks. Ticks were found on 118 (14.1% [95% confidence interval; CI: 13.6-14.6]) out of 836 animals in four veterinary clinics and two shelters. A total of 280 individual ticks were collected from tick-infested dogs. Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) was identified. PCR tests were conducted to detect six tick-borne pathogens in 280 ticks. The prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was 5.3% for Babesia spp., including Babesia vogeli (5.0% [95% CI: 4.3-6.3]) and Babesia gibsoni (0.3% [95% CI: 4.3-6.3]). These results indicated that R. sanguineus s.l. was the tick species found in dogs in Guangzhou city, and that dogs were at risk to exposure to babesiosis, implying the need for surveillance for this disease in dogs in this region.