Next Article in Journal
Vaginal Capsules: A Viable Alternative for the Delivery of Lactobacillus spp.
Previous Article in Journal
Microbicidal Activity of Extract Larrea tridentata (Sessé and Moc. ex DC.) Coville on Pseudomonas syringae Van Hall and Botrytis cinerea Pers
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Microorganisms
Volume 13
Issue 5
10.3390/microorganisms13051054
microorganisms-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina

by
Ina Hoxha
1,
Jovana Dervović
2,
Margarida Ruivo
3,
Michiel Wijnveld
3,
Adelheid G. Obwaller
4,
Bernhard Jäger
5,
Martin Weiler
5,
Julia Walochnik
1,*,
Edwin Kniha
1,*,† and
Amer Alić
2,†
1
Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
2
Department of Clinical Sciences of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3
Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
4
Division of Science, Research and Development, Federal Ministry of Defence, 1090 Vienna, Austria
5
CBRN Defence Centre, Austrian Armed Forces, 2100 Korneuburg, Austria
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1054; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054
Submission received: 6 March 2025 / Revised: 24 April 2025 / Accepted: 28 April 2025 / Published: 30 April 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Threats: Insights on Tick-Borne Diseases)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Ticks are key vectors of zoonotic pathogens, and their expanding distribution in Europe heightens public health concerns. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, while tick distribution is well documented, molecular data on tick-borne pathogens remain limited. This study aimed to illustrate the presence and diversity of these pathogens, focusing on areas with high human activity. Ticks (n = 556) were collected in April 2022 from eight diverse locations, including urban parks, private properties, and rural sites. PCR-based screening was employed to detect Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia, Francisella, Piroplasmida, Rickettsia, and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), with subsequent sequencing to confirm results. Further characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was achieved via reverse line blotting (RLB) hybridization and sequencing. Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, followed by Dermacentor marginatus and D. reticulatus. Our analysis revealed an overall infection rate of 22.1% in questing ticks, with Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. predominating. Notably, seven Borrelia species were identified in I. ricinus, alongside Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia helvetica, and R. monacensis, with co-infections mainly observed in peri-urban areas. This study provides the first molecular evidence of multiple tick-borne pathogens in the region, underscoring the need for further surveillance and risk assessment of tick-borne diseases in the region.
Keywords: Anaplasma; Balkan; barcoding; Borrelia; Neoehrlichia mikurensis; PCR; reverse line blotting; Rickettsia Anaplasma; Balkan; barcoding; Borrelia; Neoehrlichia mikurensis; PCR; reverse line blotting; Rickettsia

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Hoxha, I.; Dervović, J.; Ruivo, M.; Wijnveld, M.; Obwaller, A.G.; Jäger, B.; Weiler, M.; Walochnik, J.; Kniha, E.; Alić, A. Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 1054. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054

AMA Style

Hoxha I, Dervović J, Ruivo M, Wijnveld M, Obwaller AG, Jäger B, Weiler M, Walochnik J, Kniha E, Alić A. Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(5):1054. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hoxha, Ina, Jovana Dervović, Margarida Ruivo, Michiel Wijnveld, Adelheid G. Obwaller, Bernhard Jäger, Martin Weiler, Julia Walochnik, Edwin Kniha, and Amer Alić. 2025. "Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina" Microorganisms 13, no. 5: 1054. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054

APA Style

Hoxha, I., Dervović, J., Ruivo, M., Wijnveld, M., Obwaller, A. G., Jäger, B., Weiler, M., Walochnik, J., Kniha, E., & Alić, A. (2025). Molecular Typing of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ixodids of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Microorganisms, 13(5), 1054. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051054

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop