Browsing by Person "Lindau, Alexander"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

The emergence and dynamics of tick-borne Encephalitis Virus in a new endemic region in Southern Germany
(2022) Lang, Daniel; Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia; Bestehorn-Willmann, Malena; Lindau, Alexander; Drehmann, Marco; Stroppel, Gabriele; Hengge, Helga; Mackenstedt, Ute; Kaier, Klaus; Dobler, Gerhard; Borde, Johannes
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most important viral tick-borne infection in Europe and Asia. It is emerging in new areas. The mechanisms of emergence are fairly unknown or speculative. In the Ravensburg district in southern Germany, TBE emerged, mainly over the last five years. Here, we analyzed the underlying epidemiology in humans. The resulting identified natural foci of the causal TBE virus (TBEV) were genetically characterized. We sampled 13 potential infection sites at these foci and detected TBEV in ticks (Ixodes ricinus) at eight sites. Phylogenetic analysis spurred the introduction of at least four distinct TBEV lineages of the European subtype into the Ravensburg district over the last few years. In two instances, a continuous spread of these virus strains over up to 10 km was observed.
Untersuchung viraler, zoonotischer Erreger in Baden-Württemberg
(2019) Lindau, Alexander; Mackenstedt, Ute
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Germany. Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) belongs to the family Flaviviridae and is transmitted either directly by tick bites or by the alimentary route, which means by contaminated food. The main reservoir hosts of TBEV are the yellow-necked mouse and the bank vole, which is also the main reservoir host for the rodent-borne Hanta viruses. Infections with Hanta virus are mainly acquired by inhaling of aerosols of urine and faeces of infected individuals. The most common type of Hanta viruses in Southern Germany is the Puumala type. Hanta-virus infections as well as TBE infections are notifiable diseases in Germany. For both diseases the amount of registered cases per year vary between years in a contrary pattern. To be able to evaluate possible risks of TBEV for humans, it is very important to know detailed information about the epidemiology, spreading of the viruses, as well as their hosts and the viruses themselves. Therefore, the presence of TBEV-foci, as well as the breakdown into micro- and macrofoci was addressed. Additionally, the prevalence of Hantavirus in rodents was studied.
Update and prognosis of Dermacentor distribution in Germany: Nationwide occurrence of Dermacentor reticulatus
(2022) Springer, Andrea; Lindau, Alexander; Probst, Julia; Drehmann, Marco; Fachet, Katrin; Thoma, Dorothea; Rose Vineer, H.; Noll, Madeleine; Dobler, Gerhard; Mackenstedt, Ute; Strube, Christina
A considerable range expansion of Dermacentor reticulatus has been observed in several European countries, which is concerning in the light of its vector function for several pathogens, including Babesia canis and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The present study provides an update on the distribution of Dermacentor ticks in Germany, using a citizen science approach. Ticks were collected by citizens from March 2020 to May 2021, and submitted along with information on the date and location of collection, potential hosts and details about the circumstances of discovery. In total, 3,292 Dermacentor specimens were received, of which 76.4% (2,515/3,292) were identified as D. reticulatus and 23.0% (758/3,292) as D. marginatus, while 0.6% (19/3,292) were too damaged for species-level identification. Dermacentor reticulatus was received from all federal states of Germany. Maxent species distribution models predicted suitable environmental conditions for D. reticulatus throughout Germany. Findings on the vegetation or on pastured animals without travel history confirmed the occurrence of this tick species as far north as the most northern German federal state Schleswig-Holstein. In contrast, the distribution of D. marginatus still appears to be limited to southwestern Germany, although the northward shift of the distribution limit observed in the preceding citizen science study, as compared with previous published distributions, was confirmed. This shift was also predicted by Maxent species distribution models, reflecting the broader distribution of the tick occurrence data contributed by citizens. Most D. reticulatus ticks were found on dogs (1,311/1,960, 66.9%), while D. marginatus was mainly discovered on hoofed animals (197/621, 31.7%) and humans (182/621, 29.3%). Human tick bites were reported in 0.7% (14/1,960) of host-assigned D. reticulatus and 3.4% (21/621) of host-assigned D. marginatus. Further studies to investigate an increasing endemisation of Babesia canis in Germany as well as the relevance of D. reticulatus for TBEV spread throughout the country, e.g., by traveling dogs, are urgently needed. In view of the activity of D. reticulatus during winter or the colder months, which complements that of Ixodes ricinus, a year-round tick protection of at least dogs is strongly recommended.