Interview with Elyes Zhioua, Tunis, Tunisia, about the detection of TBE virus in ticks collected in Tunisia
Michael Bröker
Congratulations, Dr. Zhioua, on your recent article published in Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases. This is for the first time that the TBE virus has been detected in ticks collected in Africa. What made you look for TBE virus in African ticks?
Elyes Zhioua
I got my Master and my PhD at the Institute of Zoology, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland under the supervision of Prof. André Aeschlimann and Prof. Lise Gern on the eco-epidemiology of Lyme disease. As a side project, I was interested on the presence of Ixodes ricinus in Tunisia. We showed that the geographical distribution of Ixodes ricinus is Northwestern Tunisia. In addition, we isolated for the first time Borrelia lusitaniae from field-collected I. ricinus from Tunisia. Following these findings, I was interested to study the presence of TBE in North Africa.
Michael Bröker
Did you collect Ixodes ricinus ticks in certain biotopes/microclimatic zones – e.g. under old big trees with a lot of shade, grass land close to ponds?
Elyes Zhioua
The geographical distribution of Ixodes ricinus is limited to the humid bio-geographical areas of Northwestern Tunisia. The biotope is characterized by oak forest with rich underground vegetation and rich biodiversity.
Michael Bröker
Do you have plans to examine also other life stages of ticks, especially nymphs, for TBE virus?
Elyes Zhioua
In the near future, we are interested to examine nymphs for the presence of TBE virus.
Michael Bröker
Do you have plans to analyze sera from goat, sheep, or other farm animals for TBE specific antibodies?
Elyes Zhioua
From an eco-epidemiological point of view, it is important to analyze sera from domestic and wild animals and human population at risk such as forestry workers.
Michael Bröker
Do you have plans to isolate the Tunisian TBE virus strain?
It would be of interest to study its virulence.
Elyes Zhioua
Yes, we are planning to isolate TBE virus from field collected Ixodes ricinus.
Michael Bröker
Over the past years, a special topic has become the importation to Europe of „exotic “ticks like Hylomma marginum and the analysis of pathogens like Rickettsia and Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic fever virus in these ticks imported by birds. Does the northwestern region of Tunisia lie within the route of migratory birds? Do you think that the virus may have been imported by birds?
Elyes Zhioua
The North of Tunisia and the South of Italy is a natural bridge connecting continental Europe to North Africa and a common pathway of migratory birds infested mainly by ticks including Ixodes ricinus and Hyalomma marginatum. It was shown that Hyalomma marginatum collected from migratory birds was infested with CCHFv.
Michael Bröker
Would it be possible to retrospectively analyze cases of encephalitis or meningitis in individuals living in northwestern Tunisia – e.g. by analyzing sera of patients for TBE antibodies?
Elyes Zhioua
It is of major epidemiological importance to perform such studies.
Michael Bröker
Thanks a lot, Dr. Zhioua, it was a pleasure to have this interview with you.
Best wishes for the future.