Spectrum of Ixodidae Ticks Attacking Humans in Novosibirsk Province, Russian Siberia, and Their Association with Tick-Borne Bacterial Agents
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The spectrum of ixodid ticks that bite humans in Western Siberia has significantly changed over the past two decades. In this study, we determined tick species attacking people in the vicinity of Novosibirsk and the range of bacterial agents they were infected with. This study included 301 ticks taken from people and 46% were Ixodes pavlovskyi, followed by Ixodes persulcatus (19.6%), I. persulcatus/I. pavlovskyi interspecies hybrids (19.6%), Dermacentor reticulatus (12.8%), and single Dermacentor marginatus and Dermacentor nuttalli/Dermacentor silvarum. Human DNA was determined in ticks, first demonstrating that all Ixodes spp., including hybrids, can effectively feed on humans. The DNA of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasmataceae bacteria was detected in different tick species. Borrelia garinii prevailed in Ixodes species, being found in 8.8% of ticks, whereas B. afzelii and B. bavariensis were found in single ticks. Borrelia miyamotoi was revealed in 3.7% of ticks. “Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae” and R. raoultii were identified mainly in I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus (44.8% and 26.3%, respectively), while Rickettsia helvetica was found only in 2.2% I. pavlovskyi. The prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis did not exceed 2%. The obtained results indicate a high risk for humans to be infected with agents of Lyme borreliosis, primarily B. garinii.
Source: Pathogens
Language: English
Subfield: Parasitology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Funder: Russian Science Foundation
Awards: G7449087302, G8215100318
OpenAlex ID: W4408828853