RESEARCH PAPER
Prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in an urban park in Rome, Italy
1
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and ImmuneMediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
2
Regional Park of Bracciano and Martignano, Rome, Italy
Corresponding author
Alessandra Ciervo
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161-Rome, Italy
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161-Rome, Italy
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21(4):723–727
KEYWORDS
ticksurban parkRickettsia SFG groupEhrlichia sppCoxiella burnetiiBorrelia burgdorferi sensu latoBabesia microticoinfection
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Limited information is available about the presence of tick-borne pathogens in urban parks in Italy. To fill this gap, ticks were collected in a public park in Rome over a 1-year period and screened by molecular methods for tick-borne pathogens.
Results and conclusion:
The most abundant tick species were Rhipicephalus turanicus and Ixodes ricinus. The predominant pathogens detected were Borrelia. burgdorferi sensu lato (36%), Rickettsia spp. (36%), and Coxiella burnetii (22%). Among less frequently detected pathogens, Babesia microti was detected for the first time in Italy, with a prevalence of 4%. Neither Bartonella spp. nor Francisella tularensis were detected. With regard to co-infections, the most frequent double and triple infections involved Rickettsia spp., B. burgdorferi sl., and C. burnetii.. A positive correlation was detected between pathogens and I. ricinus. Further studies are needed in order to assess risk associated with tick-borne pathogens in urban areas.
Limited information is available about the presence of tick-borne pathogens in urban parks in Italy. To fill this gap, ticks were collected in a public park in Rome over a 1-year period and screened by molecular methods for tick-borne pathogens.
Results and conclusion:
The most abundant tick species were Rhipicephalus turanicus and Ixodes ricinus. The predominant pathogens detected were Borrelia. burgdorferi sensu lato (36%), Rickettsia spp. (36%), and Coxiella burnetii (22%). Among less frequently detected pathogens, Babesia microti was detected for the first time in Italy, with a prevalence of 4%. Neither Bartonella spp. nor Francisella tularensis were detected. With regard to co-infections, the most frequent double and triple infections involved Rickettsia spp., B. burgdorferi sl., and C. burnetii.. A positive correlation was detected between pathogens and I. ricinus. Further studies are needed in order to assess risk associated with tick-borne pathogens in urban areas.
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