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07:18
An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines
Published on: October 11, 2022
Tick-borne rickettsioses in Europe
José A Oteo1, Aránzazu Portillo
1Infectious Diseases Area, Center of Rickettsioses and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño (La Rioja), Spain. jaoteo@riojasalud.es
Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases
|November 27, 2012
Summary
Emerging tick-borne rickettsioses are increasingly identified in Europe, expanding beyond Mediterranean spotted fever. New Rickettsia species and changing climate patterns contribute to their spread and potential future emergence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Rickettsioses are bacterial infections transmitted by arthropods, primarily ticks.
- Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), caused by Rickettsia conorii, was historically the main tick-borne rickettsiosis in Europe.
- Recent years have seen the emergence of novel tick-borne rickettsioses (TBR) in Europe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the expanding landscape of tick-borne rickettsioses in Europe.
- To highlight newly described Rickettsia species and their associated clinical manifestations.
- To discuss factors influencing the emergence and distribution of these infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of published studies on tick-borne rickettsioses in Europe.
- Analysis of reported cases and implicated Rickettsia species and tick vectors.
- Consideration of environmental factors, such as climate change, impacting disease ecology.
Main Results:
- Several new TBR have been identified, including those caused by Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia raoultii, Rickettsia helvetica, and Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae.
- Rickettsia massiliae and Rickettsia monacensis are associated with MSF-like illnesses.
- While Rickettsia aeschlimannii is present, autochthonous human cases are not yet reported in Europe; however, African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is diagnosed in returning travelers.
Conclusions:
- The spectrum of tick-borne rickettsioses in Europe is broader than previously recognized.
- Emerging Rickettsia species and potential future threats require ongoing surveillance.
- Climate change may influence the emergence and geographic distribution of these tick-borne diseases.
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