Mosquitoes and tick-borne pathogens detection in Carnivores in Lithuania using multiplex real time-PCR

Abstract

The mosquitoes together with ticks are the major vectors of the spread of diseases around the world. Dirofiliaria is one of the many mosquito-borne diseases. The prevalence of dirofiliaria is rapidly expanding to the northern regions. This disease is caused by Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens nematodes. The main natural hosts for these worms are dogs and wild canids, such as foxes and wolves. People may also accidentally get infected. Tick-borne pathogens are also very important. The incidence of tick-borne diseases in Lithuania is growing year by year. The prevalence of these diseases is affected by climate change, the prevalence of ticks, their abundance, socioeconomic factors, human behavior. Wild animals are likely to be reservoir hosts of many pathogens. It is therefore important to identify the prevalence of ticks and mosquito-borne pathogens in wildlife. A total of 45 specimens of the spleen of the animals belonging to the group of predators (Carnivora) were collected. For pathogen detection were used classical, nested and real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques. The molecular markers of ITS-2 and IGS regions and 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 23S rRNA, ssrA, gltA, 17 kDa, msp2, msp4 genes were used in the study. Babesia spp. were found in 26 (57,8 %), Anaplasma spp. 19 (42,2 %), Borrelia spp. 11 (24,4 %), Bartonella spp. 10 (22,2 %) and Rickettsia spp. 3 (6,7 %) animals. Microfilariae are not detected in any of tested specimens.