Browsing by Author "Alivizatos, H."
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- Host dispersal shapes the population structure of a tick-borne bacterial pathogenPublication . Norte, A.C.; Margos, G.; Becker, N.S.; Albino Ramos, J.; Núncio, M.S.; Fingerle, V.; Araújo, P.M.; Adamík, P.; Alivizatos, H.; Barba, E.; Barrientos, R.; Cauchard, L; Csörgő, T.; Diakou, A.; Dingemanse, N.J.; Doligez, B.; Dubiec, A.; Eeva, T.; Flaisz, B.; Grim, T.; Hau, M.; Hornok, S.; Kazantzidis, S.; Kováts, D.; Krause, F.; Literak, I.; Mänd, R.; Mentesana, L.; Morinay, J.; Mutanen, M.; Neto, J.M.; Nováková, M.; Sanz, J.J.; Pascoal da Silva, L.; Sprong, H.; Tirri, I.S.; Török, J.; Trilar, T.; Tyller, Z.; Visser, M.E.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.f ticks and their associated pathogens. The life cycle of tick-borne pathogens is complex and their evolutionary ecology is shaped by the interactions with vertebrate hosts and tick vectors (Kurtenbach et al., 2006). This study focused on the ecology and genetic diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. as a model to investigate the drivers of the population structure and to understand the role of host- associated dispersal on the evolution of tick-borne pathogens. This represents a consequential question in the ecology and evolution of any pathogen. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. is a bacterial complex of over 20 known genospecies, including the etiologic agents of Lyme borreliosis (Casjens et al., 2011; Margos et al., 2015), whose main vectors are ticks of the genus Ixodes (Eisen & Lane, 2002). These bacteria are widespread in Europe, Asia and North America and are also present in North Africa (Margos, Vollmer, Ogden, & Fish, 2011; Zhioua et al., 1999). Different Borrelia genospecies have different patterns of association with vertebrate reservoir hosts (Humair & Gern, 2000; Kurtenbach, Peacey, et al., 1998) because of the immunological host response, mediated by the action of the host's complement system (Kurtenbach et al., 2002). While B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) is a generalist genospecies, Borrelia afzelii is mostly associated with mammalian hosts such as rodents, whereas Borrelia valaisiana, Borrelia garinii and Borrelia turdi are mostly associated with birds (Heylen, 2016; Margos et al., 2011). Because tick vectors cannot move large distances independent of hosts, it has been suggested that host specialization determines the spread and dispersal of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies (Kurtenbach et al., 2010; Sonenshine & Mather, 1994). Because birds are both important hosts for some Borrelia genospecies and for various species of vector ticks, they act as a driving force shaping B. burgdorferi s.l. distribution and phylogeographical patterns (Margos et al., 2011; Vollmer et al., 2011). Here, we assessed the role of passerine birds as hosts and dispersers of B. burgdorferi s.l. We tested the hypothesis that infection prevalence with Borrelia genospecie
- Pandora's flying box - Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato prevalence in Ixodes species from birds throughout EuropePublication . Norte, A. C.; Ramos, J.A.; Núncio, M.S.; Margos, G.; Fingerle, V.; Adamik, P.; Alivizatos, H.; Barba, E.; Barrientos, R.; Cauchard, L.; Csörgo, T.; Diakou, A.; Dingemanse, N.J.; Doligez, B.; Dubiec, A.; Eeva, T.; Flaisz, B.; Grim, T.; Hau, M.; Heylen, D.; Hornok, S.; Kazantzidis, S.; Kováts, D.; Krause, F.; Literak, I.; Mänd, R.; Mentesana, L.; Morinay, J.; Mutanen, M.; Neto, J.; Nováková, M.; Sanz, J.J.; Silva, L.P.; Sprong, H.; Tirri, I.S.; Török, J.; Trilar, T.; Tyller, Z.; Visser, M.E.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.Birds are important hosts for ticks and may act as reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens. Because of their high mobility, especially of the long distance migratory species, they can act as dispersers for ticks and pathogens, ultimately affecting their distribution and phylogeography.
- Ticks and tick-borne pathogens in wild birds in GreecePublication . Diakou, A.; Norte, A.C.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Núncio, M.S.; Nováková, M.; Kautman, M.; Alivizatos, H.; Kazantzidis, S.; Sychra, O.; Literák, I.Wild birds are common hosts of ticks and can transport them for long distances, contributing to the spreading of tick-borne pathogens. The information about ticks on birds and tick-borne pathogens in Greece is limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and species of ticks infesting wild resident birds (mostly small passerines) in Greece, and to assess Borrelia and Rickettsia infection in the collected ticks. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was performed by nested PCR targeting the flaB gene. Rickettsia spp. were detected by PCR targeting the gltA and ompA genes. Seven (2 %) out of 403 birds examined in northern Greece in 2013 were infested with 15 ticks, identified as Ixodes frontalis, Ixodes acuminatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma aegyptium and Hyalomma sp. All ticks were negative for Borrelia spp. while four of them were positive for rickettsiae (Rickettsia aeschlimannii in H. aegyptium and Rickettsia sp. in I. frontalis, H. aegyptium and H. marginatum). Ixodes acuminatus is reported for the first time in Greece and Sylvia borin is reported as a new host record for I. acuminatus.