@article{EndepolsKlemannRichteretal.2017, author = {Endepols, Stefan and Klemann, Nicole and Richter, Dania and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer}, title = {The potential of coumatetralyl enhanced by cholecalciferol in the control of anticoagulant-resistant Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)}, series = {Pest management science}, volume = {73}, journal = {Pest management science}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {1526-498X}, doi = {10.1002/ps.4235}, pages = {280 -- 286}, year = {2017}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: We evaluated the potential of cholecalciferol as an enhancer of the first-generation anticoagulant coumatetralyl in the Westphalia anticoagulant-resistant strain of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout), characterised by the Tyr139Cys polymorphism on the VKOR enzyme. Because today only the most potent, but also most persistent anticoagulant rodenticides of the second generation remain available to control this strain, new rodenticide solutions are required. RESULTS: Feeding trials in the laboratory confirmed a significant level of efficacy, which was corroborated by field trials in the Munsterland resistance area. After frequency and level of resistance were assessed by blood clotting response tests, field trials were conducted with bait containing coumatetralyl at 375 mg kg(-1) and cholecalciferol at 50 mg kg(-1) or 100 mg kg(-1). Control success was 94\% when a large rat infestation comprising 42\% resistant animals was treated. Another field trial applying the combination to a rat population that had survived a preceding treatment with bromadiolone resulted in a 99.5\% control success according to the first census day, but with some increase in rat activity during subsequent census days. CONCLUSION: The combination of coumatetralyl and cholecalciferol is a promising alternative approach to the most potent second-generation anticoagulants in resistance management, particularly in respect of environmental risks, such as secondary poisoning. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry}, language = {en} } @article{MaazKrueckenBluemkeetal.2018, author = {Maaz, Denny and Kr{\"u}cken, Juergen and Bl{\"u}mke, Julia and Richter, Dania and McKay-Demeler, Janina and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and Hartmann, Susanne and von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg}, title = {Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles}, series = {PLoS one}, volume = {13}, journal = {PLoS one}, number = {6}, publisher = {PLoS}, address = {San Fransisco}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0199385}, pages = {32}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99\%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56\% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases.}, language = {en} } @article{RichterSchroederEsselbachHartmannetal.2013, author = {Richter, Dania and Schr{\"o}der-Esselbach, Boris and Hartmann, Niklas K. and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer}, title = {Spatial stratification of various Lyme disease spirochetes in a Central European site}, series = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, volume = {83}, journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology}, number = {3}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0168-6496}, doi = {10.1111/1574-6941.12029}, pages = {738 -- 744}, year = {2013}, abstract = {To determine whether the genospecies composition of Lyme disease spirochetes is spatially stratified, we collected questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in neighboring plots where rodents, birds, and lizards were present as reservoir host and compared the prevalence of various genospecies. The overall prevalence of spirochetes in questing ticks varied across the study site. Borrelia lusitaniae appeared to infect adult ticks in one plot at the same frequency as did Borrelia afzelii in the other plots. The relative density of questing nymphal and adult ticks varied profoundly. Where lizards were exceedingly abundant, these vertebrates seemed to constitute the dominant host for nymphal ticks, contributing the majority of infected adult ticks. Because lizards support solely B.lusitaniae and appear to exclude other genospecies, their narrow genospecies association results in predominance of B.lusitaniae in sites where lizards are abundant, while limiting its spread to the host's habitat range. To the extent that Central European B.lusitaniae strains are nonpathogenic, the presence of numerous lizards should locally decrease risk of infection for people. Evaluation of regional risk of infection by Lyme disease spirochetes should take the spatial effect of hosts into consideration, which stratify the distribution of specifically infected ticks on a small scale.}, language = {en} } @article{MaazRauschRichteretal.2016, author = {Maaz, Denny and Rausch, Sebastian and Richter, Dania and Kruecken, Juergen and Kuehl, Anja A. and Demeler, Janina and Bluemke, Julia and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg and Hartmann, Susanne}, title = {Susceptibility to Ticks and Lyme Disease Spirochetes Is Not Affected in Mice Coinfected with Nematodes}, series = {Infection and immunity}, volume = {84}, journal = {Infection and immunity}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0019-9567}, doi = {10.1128/IAI.01309-15}, pages = {1274 -- 1286}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, such as the spirochetes causing Lyme disease. Whether natural coinfections with other macroparasites alter the success of tick feeding, antitick immunity, and the host's reservoir competence for tick-borne pathogens remains to be determined. In a parasitological survey of wild mice in Berlin, Germany, approximately 40\% of Ixodes ricinus-infested animals simultaneously harbored a nematode of the genus Heligmosomoides. We therefore aimed to analyze the immunological impact of the nematode/tick coinfection as well as its effect on the tick-borne pathogen Borrelia afzelii. Hosts experimentally coinfected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus and larval/nymphal I. ricinus ticks developed substantially stronger systemic type 2 T helper cell (Th2) responses, on the basis of the levels of GATA-3 and interleukin-13 expression, than mice infected with a single pathogen. During repeated larval infestations, however, anti-tick Th2 reactivity and an observed partial immunity to tick feeding were unaffected by concurrent nematode infections. Importantly, the strong systemic Th2 immune response in coinfected mice did not affect susceptibility to tick-borne B. afzelii. An observed trend for decreased local and systemic Th1 reactivity against B. afzelii in coinfected mice did not result in a higher spirochete burden, nor did it facilitate bacterial dissemination or induce signs of immunopathology. Hence, this study indicates that strong systemic Th2 responses in nematode/tick-coinfected house mice do not affect the success of tick feeding and the control of the causative agent of Lyme disease.}, language = {en} } @article{FietzLangerHavensteinetal.2016, author = {Fietz, Joanna and Langer, Franz and Havenstein, Nadine and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and Richter, Dania}, title = {The vector tick Ixodes ricinus feeding on an arboreal rodent-the edible dormouse Glis glis}, series = {Parasitology research}, volume = {115}, journal = {Parasitology research}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {0932-0113}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-015-4877-1}, pages = {1435 -- 1442}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The reservoir competence and long life expectancy of edible dormice, Glis glis, suggest that they serve as efficient reservoir hosts for Lyme disease (LD) spirochetes. Their arboreality, however, may reduce the probability to encounter sufficient questing Ixodes ricinus ticks to acquire and perpetuate LD spirochetes. To define the potential role of this small arboreal hibernator in the transmission cycle of LD spirochetes, we examined their rate and density of infestation with subadult ticks throughout the season of activity. Of the 1081 edible dormice that we captured at five study sites in Southern Germany and inspected for ticks at 2946 capture occasions, 26 \% were infested with at least one and as many as 26 subadult ticks on their ear pinnae. The distribution of ticks feeding on edible dormice was highly aggregated. Although only few individuals harbored nymphal ticks soon after their emergence from hibernation, the rate of nymphal infestation increased steadily throughout the season and reached about 35 \% in September. Dormice inhabiting a site with few conspecifics seemed more likely to be infested by numerous ticks, particularly nymphs, than those individuals living in densely populated sites. Male dormice were more likely to be parasitized by numerous nymphs than were females, independent of their age and body mass. Our observation that season, population density, and sex affect the rates of ticks feeding on edible dormice suggests that the contribution of edible dormice to the transmission cycle of LD spirochetes depends mainly on their ranging behavior and level of activity.}, language = {en} } @misc{MaazKrueckenBluemkeetal.2018, author = {Maaz, Denny and Kr{\"u}cken, J{\"u}rgen and Bl{\"u}mke, Julia and Richter, Dania and McKay-Demeler, Janina and Matuschka, Franz-Rainer and Hartmann, Susanne and von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg}, title = {Factors associated with diversity, quantity and zoonotic potential of ectoparasites on urban mice and voles}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {685}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-42684}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-426843}, pages = {32}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Wild rodents are important hosts for tick larvae but co-infestations with other mites and insects are largely neglected. Small rodents were trapped at four study sites in Berlin, Germany, to quantify their ectoparasite diversity. Host-specific, spatial and temporal occurrence of ectoparasites was determined to assess their influence on direct and indirect zoonotic risk due to mice and voles in an urban agglomeration. Rodent-associated arthropods were diverse, including 63 species observed on six host species with an overall prevalence of 99\%. The tick Ixodes ricinus was the most prevalent species, found on 56\% of the rodents. The trapping location clearly affected the presence of different rodent species and, therefore, the occurrence of particular host-specific parasites. In Berlin, fewer temporary and periodic parasite species as well as non-parasitic species (fleas, chiggers and nidicolous Gamasina) were detected than reported from rural areas. In addition, abundance of parasites with low host-specificity (ticks, fleas and chiggers) apparently decreased with increasing landscape fragmentation associated with a gradient of urbanisation. In contrast, stationary ectoparasites, closely adapted to the rodent host, such as the fur mites Myobiidae and Listrophoridae, were most abundant at the two urban sites. A direct zoonotic risk of infection for people may only be posed by Nosopsyllus fasciatus fleas, which were prevalent even in the city centre. More importantly, peridomestic rodents clearly supported the life cycle of ticks in the city as hosts for their subadult stages. In addition to trapping location, season, host species, body condition and host sex, infestation with fleas, gamasid Laelapidae mites and prostigmatic Myobiidae mites were associated with significantly altered abundance of I. ricinus larvae on mice and voles. Whether this is caused by predation, grooming behaviour or interaction with the host immune system is unclear. The present study constitutes a basis to identify interactions and vector function of rodent-associated arthropods and their potential impact on zoonotic diseases.}, language = {en} }