Arthropods and associated pathogens from native and introduced rodents in Northeastern Italy

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Entomology
• Zoonotic Disease Ecology
• Invasive Species Biology

Background:

• Siberian chipmunks (Eutamias sibiricus) are potential reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens, including Lyme disease agents.
• Understanding pathogen prevalence in ectoparasites of invasive and native rodents is crucial for assessing disease transmission dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Borrelia spp. and other pathogenic bacteria in ectoparasites of Siberian chipmunks and native small rodents in NE Italy.
• To evaluate the role of invasive chipmunks in the life cycle of Ixodes ricinus and the transmission of tick-borne diseases.

Main Methods:

• Small rodents were trapped using Sherman traps in Veneto, Italy.
• Ectoparasites (ticks) were collected from rodents and stored chipmunks.
• Molecular analyses, including species-specific PCR, were used to screen ectoparasites for pathogens.

Main Results:

• Ticks collected from both native rodents and introduced chipmunks harbored Rickettsia monacensis, Borrelia lusitaniae, and Anaplasma platys.
• The study identified 14 ticks on 223 rodents and 6 additional ticks from stored chipmunks.

Conclusions:

• Invasive Siberian chipmunks may play a role in maintaining the Ixodes ricinus tick cycle, potentially altering tick-borne pathogen transmission.
• The presence of Rickettsia in urban chipmunk populations poses a potential risk to human health and warrants further investigation.