Tick-borne pathogens in removed ticks Veneto, northeastern Italy: A cross-sectional investigation

Anna Beltrame , Maureen Laroche (1) , Monica Degani , Francesca Perandin , Zeno Bisoffi , Didier Raoult (2) , Philippe Parola (1)

1 VITROME - Vecteurs - Infections tropicales et méditerranéennes
2 MEPHI - Microbes évolution phylogénie et infections

Background: In Italy, the incidence of tick-borne diseases in humans is underestimated, as they are not obligatorily notifiable. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from human subjects in Veneto region (northeastern Italy), an area for which no published studies are yet available. Method: Forty-five ticks prospectively removed from human subjects, between March and August 2016, were analysed for bacterial DNA. Results: Seven of 45 ticks were infected with bacteria, including human pathogens: 4 Rickettsia spp. (9%), including R. monacensis and R. helvetica; 3 Borrelia spp. and 1 Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Three subjects bitten by infected ticks reported symptoms. Conclusions: Rickettsiosis and anaplasmosis, tick-borne diseases previously not considered in northeastern Italy, should not be neglected. A new survey for a longer period is required to obtain stronger epidemiological data.

Domaines: Maladies infectieuses

Anna Beltrame, Maureen Laroche, Monica Degani, Francesca Perandin, Zeno Bisoffi, et al.. Tick-borne pathogens in removed ticks Veneto, northeastern Italy: A cross-sectional investigation. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 2018, 26, pp.58-61. ⟨10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.08.008⟩. ⟨hal-01970220⟩