Spatial patterns of Hyalomma marginatum -borne pathogens in the Occitanie region (France), a focus on the intriguing dynamics of Rickettsia aeschlimannii

Joly Kukla Charlotte, Bernard Célia, Bru David, Galon Clémence, Giupponi Carla, Huber Karine, Jourdan-Pineau Hélène, Malandrin Laurence, Rakotoarivony Ignace, Riggi Camille, Vial Laurence, Moutailler Sara, Pollet Thomas. 2024. Spatial patterns of Hyalomma marginatum -borne pathogens in the Occitanie region (France), a focus on the intriguing dynamics of Rickettsia aeschlimannii. Microbiology Spectrum, 12 (8):e01256, 20 p.

https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01256-24

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Résumé : Hyalomma marginatum is an invasive tick species recently established in mainland southern France. This tick is known to host a diverse range of human and animal pathogens. While information about the dynamics of these pathogens is crucial to assess disease risk and develop effective monitoring strategies, few data on the spatial dynamics of these pathogens are currently available. We collected ticks in 27 sites in the Occitanie region to characterize spatial patterns of H. marginatum-borne patho gens. Several pathogens have been detected: Theileria equi (9.2%), Theileria orientalis (0.2%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (1.6%), Anaplasma marginale (0.8%), and Rickettsia aeschlimannii (87.3%). Interestingly, we found a spatial clustered distribution for the pathogen R. aeschlimannii between two geographically isolated areas with infection rates and bacterial loads significantly lower in Hérault/Gard departments (infection rate 78.6% in average) compared to Aude/Pyrénées-Orientales departments (infection rate 92.3% in average). At a smaller scale, R. aeschlimannii infection rates varied from one site to another, ranging from 29% to 100%. Overall, such high infection rates (87.3% on average) and the effective maternal transmission of R. aeschlimannii might suggest a role as a tick symbiont in H. marginatum. Further studies are thus needed to understand both the status and the role of R. aeschlimannii in H. marginatum ticks.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : distribution géographique, vecteur de maladie, Rickettsia, agent pathogène, distribution spatiale, transmission des maladies, symbiote, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma, infection, Hyalomma, identification, maladie transmissible par tiques