ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2016
Co-infection of Ticks: The Rule Rather Than the Exception.
Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 157 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
157 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 292 citations in OpenAlex.
- Europe-Wide Meta-Analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Prevalence in Questing Ixodes ricinus Ticks.Applied and environmental microbiology · 2017Pooled it
- First Molecular Report of Haemaphysalis shimoga and Haemaphysalis bispinosa Infesting Captive Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor) in Malaysia, with Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Theileria Co-infection.Acta parasitologica · 2026Article
- Tick-borne pathogens in golden jackals (Canis aureus) from Armenia.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Beyond Dominant Symbionts: Low-Abundance Taxa Govern Microbial Network Topology in Sympatric Ticks.Microbial ecology · 2026Article
- Are there other undiagnosed tick-borne infections in children being evaluated for Lyme neuroborreliosis?BMC pediatrics · 2026Article
- Metagenomic surveillance of tick-borne pathogens and microbiomes in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026Article
- Spatial Epidemiology and Ecological Determinants of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens Co-Circulation in Brijuni National Park, Croatia.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- Identification and mapping of potential and highly likely vectors for selected vector-borne diseases in the EU and neighbouring countries.EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority · 2026Article
- Ecological Frameworks of Pathogen-Pathogen and Pathogen-Microbiome Interactions Within the Tick Holobiont.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Filling the Gap: Establishing a Statewide Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogen Surveillance Program.Insects · 2026Article
- Molecular screening of tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878 (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) in Anatolia with the first report of Burana virus.Parasites & vectors · 2026Article
- Ticks and tick-borne bacterial pathogens found on hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in the Central River region of The Gambia.Medical and veterinary entomology · 2026Article
- Review
- Single and Co-Infections by Tick-Borne Pathogens in Synanthropic European Hedgehogs (Veterinary sciences · 2026Article
- Detection of Multiple Microorganisms in Ruminant Ticks in Senegal Using High-Throughput Microfluidic Real-Time PCR.Transboundary and emerging diseases · 2026Review
- Surveillance of Zoonotic Pathogens in Small Mammals Across Forests With Different Levels of Anthropization in Eastern France.Transboundary and emerging diseases · 2026Article
- Article
- Virome Diversity and Zoonotic Risks of Haemaphysalis concinna Ticks in Northeastern China.Transboundary and emerging diseases · 2026Article
- First detection of one of the tick-borne lymphadenopathy (TIBOLA) etiological agent in ticks from a highly frequented sub-urban forest near Paris, France.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Variety of Bacterial Pathogens in Ticks Removed from Humans, Northeastern China.Microorganisms · 2025Article
97 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionTicks are the most common arthropod vectors of both human and animal diseases in Europe, and the Ixodes ricinus tick species is able to transmit a large number of bacteria, viruses and parasites. Ticks may also be co-infected with several pathogens, with a subsequent high likelihood of co-transmission to humans or animals. However few data exist regarding co-infection prevalences, and these studies only focus on certain well-known pathogens. In addition to pathogens, ticks also carry symbionts that may play important roles in tick biology, and could interfere with pathogen maintenance and transmission. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of 38 pathogens and four symbionts and their co-infection levels as well as possible interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsA total of 267 Ixodes ricinus female specimens were collected in the French Ardennes and analyzed by high-throughput real-time PCR for the presence of 37 pathogens (bacteria and parasites), by rRT-PCR to detect the presence of Tick-Borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and by nested PCR to detect four symbionts. Possible multipartite interactions between pathogens, or between pathogens and symbionts were statistically evaluated. Among the infected ticks, 45% were co-infected, and carried up to five different pathogens. When adding symbiont prevalences, all ticks were infected by at least one microorganism, and up to eight microorganisms were identified in the same tick. When considering possible interactions between pathogens, the results suggested a strong association between Borrelia garinii and B. afzelii, whereas there were no significant interactions between symbionts and pathogens. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study reveals high pathogen co-infection rates in ticks, raising questions about possible co-transmission of these agents to humans or animals, and their consequences to human and animal health. We also demonstrated high prevalence rates of symbionts co-existing with pathogens, opening new avenues of enquiry regarding their effects on pathogen transmission and vector competence.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.