Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception

http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pntd.0004539

Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception
Sara Moutailler , Claire Valiente Moro , Elise Vaumourin , Lorraine Michelet , Florence Hélène Tran , Elodie Devillers , Jean-François Cosson , Patrick Gasqui , Van Tran Van , Patrick Mavingui , Gwenaël Vourc’h , Muriel Vayssier-Taussat

Published: March 17, 2016DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004539

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Introduction

Ticks are the most common arthropod vectors of both human and animal diseases in Europe, and the Ixodes ricinus tick species is able to transmit a large number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Ticks may also be co-infected with several pathogens, with a subsequent high likelihood of co-transmission to humans or animals. However few data exist regarding co-infection prevalences, and these studies only focus on certain well-known pathogens. In addition to pathogens, ticks also carry symbionts that may play important roles in tick biology, and could interfere with pathogen maintenance and transmission. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of 38 pathogens and four symbionts and their co-infection levels as well as possible interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts.

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