Joanna Werszko

The parasitic fauna of the European bison (Bison bonasus) (Linnaeus, 1758) and their impact on the conservation. Part 1 The summarising list of parasites noted

During the current century, 88 species of parasites have been recorded in Bison bonasus. These are 22 species of protozoa (Trypanosoma wrublewskii, T. theileri, Giardia sp., Sarcocystis cruzi, S. hirsuta, S. hominis, S. fusiformis, Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium sp., Eimeria cylindrica, E. subspherica, E. bovis, E. zuernii, E. canadensis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. alabamensis, E. bukidnonensis, E. auburnensis, E. pellita, E. brasiliensis, Babesia divergens), 4 trematodes species (Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Fasciola hepatica, Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha, Paramphistomum cervi), 4 cestodes species (Taenia hydatigena larvae, Moniezia benedeni, M. expansa, Moniezia sp.), 43 nematodes species (Bunostomum trigonocephalum, B. phlebotomum, Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostomum radiatum, O. venulosum, Dictyocaulus filaria, D.viviparus, Nematodirella alcidis, Nematodirus europaeus, N. helvetianus, N. roscidus, N. filicollis, N. spathiger, Cooperia oncophora, C. pectinata, C. punctata, C. surnabada, Haemonchus contortus, Mazamastrongylus dagestanicus, Ostertagia lyrata, O. ostertagi, O. antipini, O. leptospicularis, O. kolchida, O. circumcincta, O. trifurcata, Spiculopteragia boehmi, S. mathevossiani, S. asymmetrica, Trichostrongylus axei, T. askivali, T. capricola, T. vitrinus, Ashworthius sidemi, Onchocerca lienalis, O. gutturosa, Setaria labiatopapillosa, Gongylonema pulchrum, Thelazia gulosa, T. skrjabini, T. rhodesi, Aonchotheca bilobata, Trichuris ovis), 7 mites (Demodex bisonianus, D. bovis, Demodex sp., Chorioptes bovis, Psoroptes equi, P. ovis, Sarcoptes scabiei), 4 Ixodidae ticks (Ixodes ricinus, I. persulcatus, I. hexagonus, Dermacentor reticulatus), 1 Mallophaga species (Bisonicola sedecimdecembrii), 1 Anoplura (Haematopinus eurysternus), and 2 Hippoboscidae flies (Lipoptena cervi, Melophagus ovinus). There are few monoxenous parasites, many typical for cattle and many newly acquired from Cervidae.

The parasitic fauna of the European bison (Bison bonasus) (Linnaeus, 1758) and their impact on the conservation. Part 2 The structure and changes over time

During the last century the recorded parasite fauna of Bison bonasus includes 88 species. These are 22 species of protozoa, 4 trematode species, 4 cestode species, 43 nematode species, 7 mites, 4 Ixodidae ticks, 1 Mallophaga species, 1 Anoplura, and 2 Hippoboscidae flies. There are few monoxenous parasites, the majority of parasites are typical for other Bovidae and Cervidae species and many are newly acquired from Cervidae. This is an evident increased trend in the parasite species richness, in both the prevalence and intensity of infections, which is associated with the bison population size, host status (captive breeding or free-ranging) and the possibility of contact with other ruminant species. In light of the changes to parasite species richness during the last decades, special emphasis shall be given to new parasite species reported in European bison, their pathogenicity and potential implications for conservation.

The transstadial persistence of tick-borne encephalitis virus in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in natural conditions

There are a number of reports regarding natural infection of Dermacentor reticulatus ticks with TBE virus; however, the transmission mode of TBE virus in this tick population has not been investigated. This study was conducted in Białowieża Primeval Forest, east Poland. Forty fully engorged nymphs of D. reticulatus were sampled from root voles (Microtus oeconomus). Ticks were kept until molting. All ticks were screened for the presence of TBE virus by nested RT-PCR. Three adult ticks were positive for infection with TBE virus. The present study for the first time demonstrates the possibility of transstadial mode of TBEV transmission in D. reticulatus ticks.

Molecular surveillance of Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in horses from Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia

A survey was undertaken to assess the prevalence of Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in some regions of Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia. Using a specific PCR assays, blood samples from 215 horses were tested. The prevalence of T. equi and A. phagocytophilum infection was 13.95% and 1.4%, respectively. BLAST analysis showed the isolates closest to the T. equi 18S rRNA and A. phagocytophilum msp4 gene sequences in GenBank with a similarity of ≥99%. No significant association was found between the T. equi PCR positivity and the age or sex of the horses. There was a significant association between the origin of horses and T. equi-PCR positivity. No significant association was found between the A. phagocytophilum-PCR positivity and the age, sex or origin.

The role of particular tick developmental stages in the circulation of tick-borne pathogens affecting humans in Central Europe. 3. Rickettsiae.

UNLABELLED Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and D. marginatus ticks are the most important vector for Rickettsia spp. in Central Europe. Ticks sustain rickettsial transmission cycles transovarially and transstadially, it makes enable the rickettsial circulation in the tick population in the absence of vertebrate competent reservoir. Rickettsia helvetica is transmitted by I. ricinus tick; the highest rates of infection are noted in adult females, lower in males and in nymphs. All tick developmental stages apart males are able to infect mammal hosts and humans. The potential animal reservoir could be wild boar, the role of deer is unclear; small rodents maintain the tick population. Rickettsia slovaca is transmitted by D. marginatus and D. reticulatus ticks. The available data suggest the role of wild boars and Apodemus mice as animal reservoir. The ticks able to infect human are adults D. marginatus. Rickettsia raoultii is transmitted by D. marginatus and D. reticulatus. The infections of mammals are not recorded. As in Rickettsia slovaca, human can be infected by adults D. marginatus. Rickettsia monacensis is transmitted in Central Europe by I. ricinus tick (apart males), although there is a documented infection of Dermacentor ticks. The differences in the infection rates of ticks larvae, nymphs and adults suggest the limited role of transovarial transmission, and the participation of mammals in the zoonotic cycle, being the source of infection for larvae and nymphs. KEY WORDS SFG, Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia monacensis, ticks.

Rickettsia raoultii in Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine, 2010.

The data used in this study were collected as part of the monitoring and evaluation processes of the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative programs taking place in Niger. Sequences were obtained using the DNA sequencing facilities in the Natural History Museum. Ethical approval for this research was granted by the Niger Ministry of Health Ethical Review Board and by the Imperial College Research Ethics Committee (ICREC_8_2_2, EC no. 03.36, R&D no. 241 03/SB/003E) in combination with ongoing Schistosomiasis Control Initiative activities. All infected children in the study were provided treatment with 40 mg/kg praziquantel.

The first detection of the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) RNA in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks collected from the lowland European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus L.)

Tick borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus) is the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal neurological infection. The disease is endemic in a large region in Eurasia, where is transmitted mainly by hard ticks: Ixodes ricinus and I. persulcatus. It is known that also Dermacentor reticulatus is involved in a circulation of TBEV, but the knowledge of its importance in the TBE epidemiology is still insufficient. The Białowieża Primeval Forest is located in eastern Poland and it is a well-known endemic focus of tick-borne encephalitis. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks collected from European bison (Bison bonasus bonasus), an important host of hard ticks in the Białowieża Primeval Forest. In the years 2008-2009, a total of 114 adult D. reticulatus ticks were collected from 7 European bison and examined individually for the presence of TBEV RNA using nested RT-PCR assay. Positive results were noted in 18.42% of ticks. This is the first record of TBEV infection in ticks collected from European bison.

The role of particular ticks developmental stages in the circulation of tick-borne pathogens in Central Europe. 4. Anaplasmataceae

In Central European conditions, two species of Anaplasmataceae have epidemiological significance – Candidatus Neoehrlichia micurensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Tick Ixodes ricinus is considered as their main vector, wild mammals as the animal reservoir. There is presented the transstadial transmission in ticks, due to the lack of transovarial mode the circulation goes mainly between immature ticks and hosts; pathogen circulates primarily in the cycle: infected rodent → the tick larva → the nymph → the mammal reservoir → the larva of the tick. The tick stages able to effectively infect human are nymphs and adult females, males do not participate in the follow transmission. The summary of available data of different A. phagocytophilum strains associations with different hosts revealed at least few distinct enzootic cycle, concern the same ticks species and different mammal hosts. It is possible to reveal in Central Europe the existence of at least three different epidemiological transmission cycles of A. phagocytophilum. The first cycle involves strains pathogenic for human and identical strains from horses, dogs, cats, wild boars, hedgehogs, possibly red foxes. The second cycle involves deer, European bison and possibly domestic ruminants. The third cycle contains strains from voles, shrew and possibly Apodemus mice. In Western Europe voles might be involved in separate enzootic cycle with Ixodes trianguliceps as the vector.

The infection of reintroduced ruminants – Bison bonasus and Alces alces – with Anaplasma phagocytophilum in northern Poland

The north-eastern part of Poland is considered an area of high risk for infection with tick-borne diseases, including with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agents. The etiological agent of HGE is Anaplasma phagocytophilum. As the animal reservoir for A. phagocytophilum in the environment serve the species from Cervidae and Bovidae families. European bison (Bison bonasus) and elk (Alces alces) are the big ruminant species, reintroduced to the forests of Middle Europe after many decades of absence. In the foci of zoonotic diseases they are able to play a role as natural reservoir to pathogens, however, their status as protected animals means their study has been rare and fragmentary. The studies of B. bonasus were conducted in Bialowieza Primeval Forest and A. alces in Biebrza National Park. PCR amplifications were performed using primers amplifing the end of the groES gene, the intergenic spacer and approximately two-thirds of the groEL gene in the first round, and primers that span a 395-bp region of the groEL gene were used in the second round. The positive results were obtained in B. bonasus and A. alces, the prevalence of infection was 66.7 and 20.0%, respectively. Randomly selected samples were sequenced, sequences were compared with GenBank entries using Blast N2.2.13 and determined as A. phagocytophilum. The results presented herein are the first record of the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in A. alces, and at the same time confirm the previous observations regarding the infection of B. bonasus with A. phagocytophilum.

Phoresy of astigmatic mites on ticks and fleas in Poland

Abstract Phoresy is an association in which a small animal clings to a larger one exclusively for transportation. We searched for phoretic mites on fleas and ticks of small mammals. A total of 169 fleas of 7 species were collected in the Białowieża Forest (E Poland) and in Kosewo G órne (NE Poland) in July and August in 2007 and 2008. Moreover, 20 nymphs and 12 females of Ixodes hexagonus (Leach, 1815) were collected in the beaver farm of the Research Station of Polish Academy of Sciences in Popielno (NE Poland) in April and May 2009. Phoretic mites were found on 26 fleas (15.4%) of the following species: Megabothris walkeri (Rothschild, 1902), Megabothris turbidus (Rothschild, 1909), Ctenophthalmus agyrtes (Heller, 1896), and Hystrichopsylla orientalis (Smit, 1956). The mites were located mainly on abdominal sternites. Among ticks, only one female was positive for mites, whose larvae (hypopi) were found on its legs. A total of 6 species of mites were identified. On I. hexagonus, we found Acarus farris (Oudemans, 1905) (53 larvae), Acarus siro (L., 1758) (2 larvae), Acarus nidicolous (Griffiths, 1970) (1 larva), Caloglyphus rhizoglyphoides (Zachvatkin, 1937) (1 larva), and Histiostoma feroniarum (Dufour, 1904) (28 larvae), whereas on fleas, 79 larvae of Acarus nidicolous, 1 male of Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank, 1781), and 1 unidentified trombiculid larva. The last 2 mite specimens were found on M. turbidus. This is the first report on phoretic association of the flea H. orientalis and the tick I. hexagonus with mites