Spotted fever group rickettsiae inDermacentor marginatusfrom wild boars in Italy

Following the increase in wild boar population recorded in urban and peri-urban areas throughout Europe, the present survey aimed to assess the occurrence of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in wild boars living in southern Italy and in their ticks for evaluating the potential risk of infection for animals and humans. From October to December 2019, a total of 176 ticks collected from 93 wild boars andtheir spleen samples were molecularly screened for selected TBPs. Overall, all the wild boars were infested by ticks (mean intensity, 1.9) withDermacentor marginatusandIxodes ricinusbeing identified in 99.4% and 0.6%, respectively. Out of 93 wild boars, 17 (18.3%) were infested by ticks which scored positive to spotted fever group (SFG)Rickettsiaspecies.Rickettsia slovacaandRickettsia raoultiiwere identified in 16 (9%) and 1 (0.6%)D. marginatus, respectively, whereas a singleI. ricinus(0.6%) was infected byR. slovaca. A single wild boar (1.1%) tested positive toR. slovaca. All ticks and wild boars scored negative toBabesia/Theileriaspp.,Ehrlichiaspp.,Anaplasmaspp.,CandidatusNeoehrlichia spp.,Coxiella burnetiiandBorrelia burgdorferisensu lato complex. Data herein obtained suggest that wild boars are involved in the maintenance ofD. marginatusin the environment as in peri-urban areas herein investigated. An integrated management approach is advocated for wild boar population control and in preventing the potential risk of TBPs infection in animals and humans.

Automated summary

A study in southern Italy investigated the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in wild boars and their ticks, finding that wild boars are commonly infested by ticks, with some ticks carrying SFG Rickettsia species. The study emphasizes the importance of integrated management for wild boar population control and prevention of zoonotic pathogen transmission.