Occurrence of Francicella tularensis subsp. holarctica in haematophagous arthropods in the Breclav district in 2022

Česká verzia

Authors: K. Mravcová ; S. Zadražilová; I. Vlčková ; H. Orlíková ; M. Malý ; J. Kynčl ; J. Mendel ; Z. Hubálek ; S. Šikutová ; I. Rudolf
Authors place of work: Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR, v. v. i., Brno ¹; Ústav experimentální biologie, Přírodovědecká fakulta, Masarykova univerzita, Brno ²; Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha ³; Ústav epidemiologie a biostatistiky, 3. lékařská fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, Praha ⁴
Published in the journal: Epidemiol. Mikrobiol. Imunol. 73, 2024, č. 3, s. 147-152
Category: Original Papers
doi: https://doi.org/10.61568/emi/11-6352/20240726/138066

Summary

Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by Francisella tularensis, a gram-negative aerobic bacterium belonging to the class of Gammaproteobacteria and the family Francisellaceae. Despite its undeniable importance for human health, there is little data on the current distribution of F. tularensis in various hematophagous arthropods. The aim of this study was to perform a mass molecular screening of different possible hematophagous vectors: ticks (4348 ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus, and Haemaphysalis concinna), mosquitoes (4100 specimens of Aedes vexans), and blackflies (6900 specimens of the Simulium spp.) for the presence of F. tularensis in the Břeclav district in 2022. Only two specimens were positive for the specific DNA of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica. Both samples originated from D. reticulatus, one collected from infested roe deer and the other included in a pooled sample (n = 10). Both positive samples were sequenced, and the presence of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica was confirmed. In addition, the absence of F. tularensis in mosquitoes and black flies was documented.

Keywords:

tularemia – Francisella – Ixodes ricinus – Dermacentor reticulatus – Haemaphysalis concinna – Aedes vexans – Simulium spp. – zoonosis

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Poděkování

Práce byla finančně podpořena v rámci projektu Agentury pro zdravotnický výzkum Ministerstva zdravotnictví České republiky (reg. číslo projektu NU21-05-00143). Autoři by rádi poděkovali primáři infekčního oddělení nemocnice Břeclav MUDr. Danielu Fuchsovi za informace o klinických případech tularemie u lidí na Břeclavsku a MVDr. Markétě Reichelové, Ph.D. z Výzkumného ústavu veterinárního lékařství, v.v.i. za poskytnutí DNA F. tularensis subsp. holarctica.

Do redakce došlo dne 24. 5. 2024.

Adresa pro korespondenci:
doc. RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.
Ústav biologie obratlovců AV ČR, v.v.i.
Klášterní 212
691 42 Valtice
e-mail: rudolf@ivb.cz