Journal article
Ixodes ricinus infesting snakes: Insights on a new tick-host association in a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato endemic area
Jairo Alfonso Mendoza-Roldan, Vito Colella
ACTA TROPICA | ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV | Published : 2019
Abstract
The castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus is one of the most abundant tick species in Europe, being able to parasitize a wide number of vertebrate hosts, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. This tick species has an important role as vector of zoonotic pathogens, including the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (i.e. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato). Here, we provide insights on a new tick-host association (i.e. I. ricinus infesting snakes) in an area recently recognized as endemic for reptile-associated zoonotic species of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.
Grants
Awarded by Global-Doc program (University of Bari, Italy)
Awarded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico - CNPq
Funding Acknowledgements
We are grateful to professor Domenico Otranto for his suggestions to the text, to Nichola Calvani for revising the English language and to professor Riccardo Paolo Lia and to the park rangers for their support in the sampling procedures in the Parco Regionale di Gallipoli Cognato e Piccole Dolomiti Lucane in Basilicata region. The Global-Doc program (University of Bari, Italy) and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico - CNPq are acknowledged for the development of this study (Doctoral scholarships grant No. 142409/2015-4 JMR).