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  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Encéphalite à tiques en Suisse
    (2011)
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    L’encéphalite à tiques (TBE) est une maladie qui touche le système nerveux central causée par un virus (TBEV) qui est principalement transmis par des tiques du genre Ixodes. Présent uniquement sur le continent eurasien, la particularité du TBEV est de se localiser sous forme de foyers. En Suisse, on parle de foyer lorsqu’au minimum 3 cas cliniques ont été déclarés auprès de l’Office fédéral de la santé publique dans un rayon de 10 à 15 Km et/ou si des tiques infectées par le TBEV sont détectées. De 1969 à 2005, tous les foyers de TBEV étaient regroupés dans le nord et l’est de la Suisse. Cependant, en 2006, de nouveaux foyers ont émergé à l’ouest du pays avec l’apparition de cas sporadiques, notamment dans la Plaine de l’Orbe/VD. Cette étude a permis de confirmer l’endémicité de cette région par la détection du TBEV chez les tiques en quête dans 5 (Agiez, Vugelles, l’Abergement et deux sites à Montcherand) des 26 sites investigués avec une prévalence de 0.1% (6/6120) variant de 0.29-0.59% selon les sites.
    Parallèlement, on a observé une augmentation du nombre de cas de TBE principalement en 2006, phénomène également rencontré dans d’autres pays européens. Les raisons de cette augmentation ont tout d’abord été attribuées aux changements climatiques qui auraient favorisé la survie de la tique Ixodes ricinus. Néanmoins, notre étude a montré que cette augmentation n’était pas directement liée à un réchauffement climatique mais semblait plutôt liée à un changement du comportement humain. En réponse à une augmentation des températures observées en 2006, l’être humain aurait augmenté les contacts avec des tiques infectées en se rendant plus fréquemment en forêt.
    On sait cependant que le climat peut exercer une influence sur le comportement des tiques et favoriser le principal mode de transmission du TBEV, le « co-feeding » : le TBEV est transmis à des larves par des nymphes infectées. Néanmoins, en raison des conditions microclimatiques extrêmes observées au printemps 2007 dans certains sites étudiés du canton de Berne (Belp, Kiesen, Trimstein), une partie de la population de nymphes en quête a souffert de dessiccation. Ceci a eu pour conséquence de diminuer la proportion de rongeurs infestés par des larves et des nymphes réduisant ainsi les chances de transmission par « co-feeding ». Des printemps chauds à répétition pourraient donc faire disparaître des foyers de TBEV à certains endroits comme l’avait prédit Randolph (2001).
    Nous avons également recherché la présence du TBEV dans le canton de Berne par l’analyse de tiques en quête et de tiques nourries sur des rongeurs. Dans deux sites connus pour héberger le TBEV (Thun et Belp), la prévalence du TBEV chez les tiques en quête était de 0.14%-0.2%, respectivement. Concernant les deux autres sites dont le statut de foyer était inconnu, le TBEV a pu être mis en évidence pour la première fois chez des tiques en quête à Kiesen avec une prévalence de 0.04% contrairement à Trimstein où sa présence n’a pas pu être démontrée. Tous les foyers identifiés ont par ailleurs été confirmés par la présence d’anticorps anti-TBEV dans le sérum de micromammifères. Pour la première fois, nous avons pu analyser individuellement des tiques nourries sur un rongeur (Apodemus flavicollis) et avons observé une prévalence de 11.9%.
    Enfin, nous avons détecté des pathogènes émergents chez des tiques de micromammifères capturés dans les 4 sites du canton de Berne avec une prévalence de 9.7%. Nous avons identifié Rickettsia helvetica (7.1%), R. monacensis (0.2%), Babesia microti (1.7%) et B. venatorum (0.5%). Anaplasma phagocytophilum n’a pu être identifié que chez des tiques en quête (2%) à Kiesen. La présence de ces pathogènes montre qu’il existe un risque potentiel pour l’être humain de se faire infecter d’où l’intérêt d’attirer l’attention du corps médical sur les risques qui y sont associés.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Influence of some climatic factors on Ixodes ricinus ticks studied along altitudinal gradients in two geographic regions in Switzerland
    (2008)
    Morán Cadenas, Francisca
    ;
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    In the context of climate change, the seasonal activity of questing Ixodes ricinus and their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) were examined in relation to some climatic data along altitudinal gradients in Switzerland. The first study took place in an Alpine area (Valais) from 750 to 1020 m above sea level. The other gradient was located on a mountain in the foothills of the Jura chain (Neuchâtel) from 620 to 1070 m above sea level. In the Alpine area, the highest questing tick density was observed at the highest altitude. At the lowest altitudes (750 and 880 m), very high saturation deficits, >10 mmHg, were present during most of the tick activity season and they seem to have impaired the thriving of tick populations. The second study in Neuchâtel (2003–2005) was a follow-up of a previous study (1999–2001) in which it was observed that tick density decreased with increasing altitude. During the follow-up study, substantial differences in questing tick density and phenology of ticks were observed: At high elevations, questing tick densities were 2.25 and 3.5 times higher for nymphs and adults, respectively, than during 1999–2001. As observed during 1999–2001, questing tick density decreased with increasing altitude in this site in 2003–2005. Tick questing density remained higher at the lowest altitude. Increased temperatures during summer months, more favorable for ticks, reaching values similar to those registered in the first study at the lowest elevations are probably responsible for the higher tick questing density at high altitudes. B. burgdorferi s.l. infection prevalence in ticks decreased with increasing altitudes along both altitudinal gradients. Long-lasting high saturation deficit values may limit the development of tick populations as too high a moisture stress has a negative effect on tick survival. This factor may have a permanent impact, as it is probably the case at the lowest altitudes in the Alpine area or a more transient effect like in the Neuchâtel gradient.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Variable spikes in tick-borne encephalitis incidence in 2006 independent of variable tick abundance but related to weather
    (2008)
    Randolph, Sarah
    ;
    Asokliene, Loreta
    ;
    Avsic-Zupanc, Tatjana
    ;
    Bormane, Antra
    ;
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    ;
    Golovljova, Irina
    ;
    Hubalek, Zdenek
    ;
    Knap, Natasa
    ;
    Kondrusik, Maceij
    ;
    Kupca, Anne
    ;
    Pejcoch, Milan
    ;
    Vasilenko, Veera
    ;
    Zygutiene, Milda
    Background: The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis showed a dramatic spike in several countries in Europe in 2006, a year that was unusually cold in winter but unusually warm and dry in summer and autumn. In this study we examine the possible causes of the sudden increase in disease: more abundant infected ticks and/or increased exposure due to human behaviour, both in response to the weather. Methods: For eight countries across Europe, field data on tick abundance for 2005-2007, collected monthly from a total of 41 sites, were analysed in relation to total annual and seasonal TBE incidence and temperature and rainfall conditions. Results: The weather in 2006-2007 was exceptional compared with the previous two decades, but neither the very cold start to 2006, nor the very hot period from summer 2006 to late spring 2007 had any consistent impact on tick abundance. Nor was the TBE spike in 2006 related to changes in tick abundance. Countries varied in the degree of TBE spike despite similar weather patterns, and also in the degree to which seasonal variation in TBE incidence matched seasonal tick activity. Conclusion: The data suggest that the TBE spike was not due to weather-induced variation in tick population dynamics. An alternative explanation, supported by qualitative reports and some data, involves human behavioural responses to weather favourable for outdoor recreational activities, including wild mushroom and berry harvest, differentially influenced by national cultural practices and economic constraints.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Detection and identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in ticks from three different regions in Slovakia
    (2007)
    Smetanova, Katarina
    ;
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    Perez, David
    ;
    ;
    Kocianova, Elena
    Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common tick-borne diseases that occur in Slovakia. In this study, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected and cultivated from questing ticks collected in three areas of Slovakia. Two methods, restriction fragment length polymorphism and reverse line blot, were used for identification of isolates and determination of the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the ticks. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus detected by reverse line blot was 31.9%. Four genospecies, namely B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto were found. B. garinii was the most prevalent genospecies.
  • Publication
    Accès libre
    Detection and identification of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in ticks from three different regions in Slovakia
    (2007)
    Smetanová, Katarína
    ;
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    Pérez, David
    ;
    ;
    Kocianova, Elena
    Lyme-Borreliose ist eine der häufigsten von Zecken vermittelten Erkrankungen, die in der Slowakei auftreten. In dieser Studie wurde Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Wirt-suchenden Zecken, die aus drei Regionen der Slowakei gesammelt worden sind, nachgewiesen und kultiviert. Zur Identifizierung der Genospezies wurden zwei Methoden eingesetzt, die RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) und der "reverse line blot". Ebenso wurde die Prävalenz von B. burgdorferi s.l. in den Zecken ermittelt, welche rund 32% betrug. Von den vier identifizierten Genospezies, B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. garinii und B. valaisiana, wurde B. garinii am häufigsten nachgewiesen., Lyme borreliosis is one of the most common tick-borne diseases that occur in Slovakia. In this study, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was detected and cultivated from questing ticks collected in three areas of Slovakia. Two methods, restriction fragment length polymorphism and reverse line blot, were used for identification of isolates and determination of the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in the ticks. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in I. ricinus detected by reverse line blot was 31.9%. Four genospecies, namely B. garinii, B. valaisiana, B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto were found. B. garinii was the most prevalent genospecies.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    Ixodes ricinus density and infection prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato along a north-facing altitudinal gradient in the Rhône Valley (Switzerland)
    (2007)
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    Cadenas, Francisca Moran
    ;
    ;
    Moret, Jacqueline
    ;
    Questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were sampled monthly along a north-facing altitudinal gradient in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, from March 2004 to February 2005. Tick density and infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato were monitored. Ticks were collected by flagging vegetation at three different altitudes (750 m, 880 m, and 1020 m above sea level). Ticks were examined for Borrelia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by reverse line blot. At the three altitudes, questing tick activity was not observed under 10 degrees C and was reduced when saturation deficit was higher than 5 mm Hg, most questing tick activity was occurred between 2 mm Hg and 7 mm Hg. Tick density and peak tick density were highest at 1020 m. High saturation deficits at the lowest altitudes appear to impair the tick population. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection in nymphs and adults decreased with altitude. The prevalence of infection was higher in adult ticks (47%) than in nymphs (29%). Four B. burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies were detected: B. afzelii (40%), B. garinii (22%), B. valaisiana (12%) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (6%). Mixed infections were detected in 13% of infected ticks.
  • Publication
    Métadonnées seulement
    A comparison of two DNA extraction approaches in the detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from live Ixodes ricinus ticks by PCR and reverse line blotting
    (2007)
    Cadenas, Francisca Moran
    ;
    Schneider, Helene
    ;
    ;
    Burri, Caroline
    ;
    Moret, Jacqueline
    ;
    We tested two approaches to extract Borrelia DNA from live Ixodes ricinus ticks before polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse line blotting (RLB): DNA extraction of one half of the tick after incubation in BSK medium and DNA extraction of the other half of the tick directly, using ammonium hydroxide. Among 2079 ticks, 31.2% (n = 649) were found to be Borrelia-infected by PCR-RLB test using at least one of the DNA extraction methods. Five hundred four ticks (24.2%) were found infected after incubation in BSK and 481 (23.1%) after direct DNA extraction from the tick. The difference was not significant. However, these prevalences were significantly lower when only one method was applied (23.1% and 24.2%) compared to the prevalence obtained by the use of both methods (31.2%). In 313 infected ticks discordant results were obtained, i.e., one half of the tick was found to be infected whereas the other half was uninfected. Among these ticks, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) were significantly more frequently identified in the half tick incubated in BSK. No significant differences were observed for B. burgdorferi ss, B. valaisiana, and for undetermined Borrelia species.