Publications by authors named "A Albihn"

Environmental and climatic changes in northern Europe have shaped a geographical area in which new tick species may become established and introduce new tick-borne pathogens. In recent decades, ticks have expanded their latitudinal and altitudinal range limits in northern Sweden. In this study, ticks were collected in 2018 and 2019 in northern Sweden from different hosts, mainly from dogs, cats and humans.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a serious disease in Europe caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), mainly transmitted through bites from certain ticks and potentially through unpasteurized dairy products.
  • - The study collected milk samples from 102 dairy farms in Sweden to test for TBEV antibodies, revealing that 20 farms had bulk tank milk with detectable anti-TBEV antibodies.
  • - Factors like consuming unpasteurized milk, limited tick prevention on farms, and moderate human vaccination rates may increase the risk of TBEV infection in Sweden.
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Reindeer husbandry is essential for the livelihood and culture of indigenous people in the Arctic. Parts of the herding areas are also used as pastures for farm animals, facilitating potential transmission of viruses between species. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, viruses circulating in the wild are receiving increased attention, since they might pose a potential threat to human health.

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Background: Erysipelas, caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (ER), is an important emerging disease in free-range and organic egg-production. The aim of the present study was to assess if quantification of ER specific IgY titers may aid the understanding of erysipelas in commercial laying hens. The methodology was validated with sequentially collected sera from experimentally ER infected SPF-chickens and subsequently applied on sera from Swedish commercial laying hens collected during and after outbreaks of erysipelas or collected at slaughter from healthy hens housed in furnished cages, barn production or in organic production (with outdoor access).

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Article Synopsis
  • * Molecular tests showed no presence of Crimean-Congo virus or certain piroplasms, but 60% of tested ticks were positive for rickettsiae, particularly R. aeschlimannii.
  • * The study suggests that changes in climate and migratory bird patterns may allow these ticks to develop and thrive in northern Europe, indicating a need to update risk assessments for tick species and related diseases in Sweden and nearby regions.
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