Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer

Sara R Wijburg; Manoj Fonville; Arnout de Bruin; Piet A van Rijn; Margriet G E Montizaan; Jan van den Broek; Hein Sprong; Jolianne M Rijks

doi:10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w

Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer

Sara R Wijburg, Manoj Fonville, Arnout de Bruin, Piet A van Rijn, Margriet G E Montizaan, Jan van den Broek, Hein Sprong, Jolianne M Rijks

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors ‘age category’, ‘sex’, ‘nutritional condition’ and ‘health status’, as well as ‘roe deer density’. Methods: From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. Results and conclusion: Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Original language	English
Article number	76
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Journal	Parasites & Vectors
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w
Publication status	Published - 5 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV; verplichtingnummer 1400004212) and by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), by a grant from the European Interreg North Sea Region program, as part of the NorthTick project, and by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. HS was financially supported by ZonMW as part of the project “Ticking on Pandora’s Box, a study into tick-borne pathogens in Europe” (project no. 522003007). The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

Anaplasma phagocytophilum
Babesia
Bartonella
Bluetongue virus
Borrelia
Capreolus capreolus
Co-infection
Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus
Neoehrlichia mikurensis
Rickettsia

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer",

abstract = "Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors {\textquoteleft}age category{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}sex{\textquoteright}, {\textquoteleft}nutritional condition{\textquoteright} and {\textquoteleft}health status{\textquoteright}, as well as {\textquoteleft}roe deer density{\textquoteright}. Methods: From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. Results and conclusion: Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]",

keywords = "Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia, Bartonella, Bluetongue virus, Borrelia, Capreolus capreolus, Co-infection, Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia",

author = "Wijburg, {Sara R} and Manoj Fonville and {de Bruin}, Arnout and {van Rijn}, {Piet A} and Montizaan, {Margriet G E} and {van den Broek}, Jan and Hein Sprong and Rijks, {Jolianne M}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV; verplichtingnummer 1400004212) and by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), by a grant from the European Interreg North Sea Region program, as part of the NorthTick project, and by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. HS was financially supported by ZonMW as part of the project “Ticking on Pandora{\textquoteright}s Box, a study into tick-borne pathogens in Europe” (project no. 522003007). The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s).",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

day = "5",

doi = "10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w",

language = "English",

volume = "15",

pages = "1--14",

journal = "Parasites & Vectors",

issn = "1756-3305",

publisher = "BioMed Central",

number = "1",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer

AU - Wijburg, Sara R

AU - Fonville, Manoj

AU - de Bruin, Arnout

AU - van Rijn, Piet A

AU - Montizaan, Margriet G E

AU - van den Broek, Jan

AU - Sprong, Hein

AU - Rijks, Jolianne M

N1 - Funding Information: This study was financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV; verplichtingnummer 1400004212) and by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), by a grant from the European Interreg North Sea Region program, as part of the NorthTick project, and by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University. HS was financially supported by ZonMW as part of the project “Ticking on Pandora’s Box, a study into tick-borne pathogens in Europe” (project no. 522003007). The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).

PY - 2022/3/5

Y1 - 2022/3/5

N2 - Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors ‘age category’, ‘sex’, ‘nutritional condition’ and ‘health status’, as well as ‘roe deer density’. Methods: From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. Results and conclusion: Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

AB - Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nine vector-borne pathogens or pathogen genera in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the Netherlands, and to identify which host variables predict vector-borne pathogen presence in roe deer. The host variables examined were the four host factors ‘age category’, ‘sex’, ‘nutritional condition’ and ‘health status’, as well as ‘roe deer density’. Methods: From December 2009 to September 2010, blood samples of 461 roe deer were collected and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of genetic material from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), Borrelia miyamotoi, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., and epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV), and by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibodies against bluetongue virus (BTV). The possible associations of host factors and density with pathogen prevalence and co-infection, and in the case of A. phagocytophilum with bacterial load, were assessed using generalized linear modelling. Results and conclusion: Analysis revealed the following prevalence in roe deer: A. phagocytophilum 77.9%, Bartonella spp. 77.7%, Babesia spp. 17.4%, Rickettsia spp. 3.3%, B. burgdorferi sensu lato 0.2%. Various co-infections were found, of which A. phagocytophilum and Bartonella spp. (49.7% of infected roe deer) and A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. (12.2% of infected roe deer) were the most common. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., and co-infection prevalence were significantly higher in calves than in adult roe deer, whereas the prevalence of Bartonella spp. was lower in roe deer in good nutritional condition than in deer in poor nutritional condition. Local roe deer density was not associated with pathogen presence. The high prevalence of A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp., and Babesia spp. is evidence for the role of roe deer as reservoirs for these pathogens. Additionally, the results suggest a supportive role of roe deer in the life-cycle of Rickettsia spp. in the Netherlands. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

KW - Anaplasma phagocytophilum

KW - Babesia

KW - Bartonella

KW - Bluetongue virus

KW - Borrelia

KW - Capreolus capreolus

KW - Co-infection

KW - Epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus

KW - Neoehrlichia mikurensis

KW - Rickettsia

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U2 - 10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w

DO - 10.1186/s13071-022-05195-w

M3 - Article

C2 - 35248157

SN - 1756-3305

VL - 15

SP - 1

EP - 14

JO - Parasites & Vectors

JF - Parasites & Vectors

IS - 1

M1 - 76

ER -

Prevalence and predictors of vector-borne pathogens in Dutch roe deer

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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