Exotic guests: tick-borne threats

Prof. Renata Welc-Falęciak with collaborators
Prof. Anna Bajer with collaborators

Ticks have long been carriers of pathogenic microorganisms, with Lyme borreliosis being the most commonly associated disease. However, climate warming has led to the appearance of exotic tick species in Europe, such as Hyalomma, which transmit viruses responsible for deadly diseases like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHFV). Research on arachnids is crucial for understanding these health risks.

Lyme borreliosis, studied by the first research team, remains the most common tick-borne disease in Poland. Yet, its ecology and epidemiology are still poorly understood. The vectors of this disease, ticks, are often co-infected with multiple pathogens. A research project is analyzing the tick microbiome and coinfections, investigating their impact on pathogen transmission and the risk of developing Lyme borreliosis. Scientists are focusing on factors such as the duration of tick feeding, the number and species of Borrelia spirochetes, and microbiome diversity.

Exotic Hyalomma ticks, studied by the second team, are potential vectors of the CCHFV virus, with a mortality rate of up to 60%. The first cases of their presence have already been recorded in Poland. Through the national platform narodowekleszczobranie.pl, scientists received over 500 reports, 10 of which confirmed the presence of Hyalomma ticks. Collected specimens undergo genetic analysis. In the future, this data may enable microbiome manipulation in ticks to reduce their ability to transmit pathogens, thereby decreasing the risk of tick-borne diseases in humans.

MODERN APPLICATIONS:

The knowledge gained from tick studies could be used to reduce their pathogen transmission capacity, helping combat tick-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.

FIGURE CAPTIONS:

Top: Hyalomma tick in two states: before feeding and after engorging on blood.

Bottom: An exotic tick Hyalomma, a potential vector of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV).

RELATED PUBLICATIONS:

Prof. Renata Welc-Falęciak’s group

1. Koczwarska J, Pawełczyk A, Dunaj-Małyszko J, Polaczyk J, Welc-Falęciak R. (2023) Rickettsia species in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks feeding on human skin and clinical manifestations of tick-borne infections after tick bite. Sci Rep 13:9930. doi: 1038/s41598-023-37059-3
2. Pawełczyk A, Bednarska M, Hamera A, Religa E, Poryszewska M, Mierzejewska EJ, Welc-Falęciak R. (2021) Long-term study of Borrelia and Babesia prevalence and co-infection in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor recticulatus ticks removed from humans in Poland, 2016-2019. Parasit Vectors 14:348. doi: 1186/s13071-021-04849-5

RELATED PROJECTS:

1. The impact of tick microbiome and co-infections on Borrelia occurrence in Ixodes ricinus ticks and on tick-to-human transmission success of spirochetes – Opus grant, National Science Centre (NCN), 2021-2026, PI: R. Welc-Falęciak