Field efficacy and safety of Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on for the treatment of natural ear mite infestations (Otodectes cynotis) and notoedric mange (Notoedres cati) in cats.

The miticide efficacy of a single treatment with Felpreva® (tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel) spot-on solution for cats was evaluated in two European field studies. One study was conducted in cats naturally infested with Otodectes cynotis. The other study was conducted in cats naturally infested with Notoedres cati. In both studies, the presence of viable mites was confirmed prior to treatment (Day -1/Day 0) and re-evaluated on Day 14 (O. cynotis study) and on Day 28 (both studies). Efficacy was calculated based on the number of viable mites found after treatment. In the O. cynotis study, the primary criterion was the percentage of mite-free cats after treatment with Felpreva® compared to a sarolaner/selamectin combination (Stronghold® Plus, Zoetis) as a positive control. In the N. cati study, the primary criterion was the difference between arithmetic mean mite counts of cats treated with Felpreva® and cats treated with a placebo formulation (solketal). Secondary criteria in both studies were changes in clinical lesion scores after treatment. In both studies, all Felpreva®-treated cats were mite-free (100% parasitological cure) on Day 28, 4 weeks after treatment. Signs of mange on Day 28 were clinically improved in all O. cynotis-infested cats (100%) and clinically cured in all N. cati-infested cats (100%). There were no records of any adverse events or application site reactions in Felpreva®-treated cats.

Efficacy of Felpreva®, a new spot-on formulation containing tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel, applied as a single application to cats artificially infested with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis).

The efficacy of Felpreva® (Vetoquinol), a new spot-on application containing the novel acaricide and insecticide tigolaner in combination with emodepside and praziquantel, was evaluated in cats artificially infested with ear mites (Otodectes cynotis). A total of three pivotal dose confirmation studies were conducted, two of them designed as non-interference studies. Cats were artificially infested with O. cynotis mites and randomly allocated into groups of 8 cats based on pre-treatment mite counts. Cats were treated once on Day 0, either with Felpreva® (14.5 â€‹mg/kg tigolaner, 3 â€‹mg/kg emodepside and 12 â€‹mg/kg praziquantel) or with placebo. Studies with a non-interference design included two additional groups of cats, treated with Profender® spot-on solution (Vetoquinol) (3 â€‹mg/kg emodepside and 12 â€‹mg/kg praziquantel) and tigolaner as a mono product (14.5 â€‹mg/kg tigolaner). Efficacy was evaluated on Day 28/Day 30 based on total live mite counts after ear flushing. Efficacy was claimed when: (i) at least six control cats per group were adequately infested with mites; (ii) calculated efficacy was ≥ 90% based on geometric mean mite counts; and (iii) the difference in mite counts between Felpreva®-treated cats and control cats was statistically significant (P â€‹≤ â€‹0.05). In two of the three studies, Felpreva®-treated cats were mite-free (100% efficacy) on Day 28/Day 30 and almost full efficacy (99.6%) was seen in the third study. The difference in mite counts between Felpreva®-treated cats and control cats was significant (P â€‹< â€‹0.0001) in all three studies. All control cats were adequately infested in all three studies. The efficacy of Felpreva® against ear mite (Otodectes cynotis) infection in cats was confirmed.

Plasma pharmacokinetics of tigolaner, emodepside, and praziquantel following topical administration of a combination product (Felpreva®) and of intravenous administration of the individual active ingredients in cats.

Felpreva® for cats contains the new acaricidal/insecticidal active ingredient tigolaner in a fixed combination with the nematocidal and cestocidal compounds emodepside and praziquantel, respectively. The plasma pharmacokinetics of tigolaner, emodepside, and praziquantel were evaluated in clinically healthy cats following topical (spot-on) treatment as fixed combination Felpreva®. For the determination of bioavailability intravenous administration of single active ingredients was also performed. After a single topical administration of Felpreva® using the target dose volume of 0.148 â€‹ml/kg to cats, tigolaner reached mean peak concentrations of 1352 â€‹µg/l with a Tmax of 12 days and a mean half-life of 24 days. Simulation of repetitive topical administration every 91 days indicates only a low risk of accumulation after reaching steady state within two to three administrations. The volume of distribution calculated after intravenous dosing was 4 â€‹l/kg and plasma clearance was low with 0.005 â€‹l/h/kg. Overall plasma exposure was 1566 â€‹mg∗h/l after topical administration, providing an absolute bioavailability of 57%. Tigolaner was mainly cleared via the faeces (54% within 28 days), renal clearance was neglectable (< 0.5% within 28 days). Emodepside and praziquantel showed mean peak concentrations of 44 â€‹µg/l and 48 â€‹µg/l (reached after 1.5 days and 5 â€‹h, respectively). Overall plasma exposures were 20.6 and 3.69 â€‹mg∗h/l, respectively. The elimination half-life was 14.5 days for emodepside and 10 days for praziquantel after topical administration. After topical administration of Felpreva® using 2.5× and 5× dose multiples an almost proportional increase of plasma exposure was observed for all three active ingredients. With the addition of tigolaner, Felpreva® combines the established pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of emodepside and praziquantel contained in Profender® spot-on for cats with the favourable PK of tigolaner suitable for a 3-months protection against fleas and ticks.

Immediate and long-term efficacy of Felpreva®, a new spot-on formulation containing tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel, applied as a single application to cats artificially infested with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis.

Five studies (two dose determination, two dose confirmation, and one speed of flea kill study) were conducted to assess the immediate (therapeutic) efficacy and long-term persistent (preventive) efficacy of a single spot-on application containing the novel acaricide and insecticide tigolaner in combination with emodepside and praziquantel (Felpreva®, Vetoquinol S.A. Lure, France) applied to cats artificially infested with Ctenocephalides felis. Eight cats per group were randomly allocated to 0, 1×, 1.3× and 2× of the minimum dose (14.5 â€‹mg/kg body weight) of tigolaner (dose determination studies) or randomly allocated to 0 and 1× of the dosage (dose confirmation studies). Onset of efficacy was assessed in a speed of flea kill study on an existing flea infestation 8, 12 and 24 â€‹h after treatment and reassessed after monthly flea reinfestation until 13 weeks post-treatment. Efficacy was calculated according to the Abbott formula using arithmetic means. Efficacy was claimed when (i) control groups were adequately infested (flea retention ≥ 50%) at each time-point in the studies; (ii) flea counts in treated groups were significantly lower (P â€‹≤ â€‹0.05) than flea counts in control groups; and (iii) calculated efficacy was ≥ 90% (speed of flea kill study) and ≥ 95% (dose determination and dose confirmation studies). Tigolaner at 14.5 â€‹mg/kg body weight was 100% effective against fleas on Day 1 (immediate, therapeutic efficacy) in both, dose determination and dose confirmation studies. The long-term persistent efficacy in week 13 ranged between 96.3% and 100%. Fleas were rapidly killed within 12 â€‹h after treatment (100% flea reduction, immediate efficacy). New flea infestations were successfully prevented for 8 weeks (98.9-100% flea reduction) within 8 â€‹h after reinfestation, and at week 13 (96.3% flea reduction) within 24 â€‹h after reinfestation.

Efficacy and safety of Felpreva®, a spot-on formulation for cats containing emodepside, praziquantel and tigolaner against experimental infestation with the Australian paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus.

The Australian paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus continues to be a serious threat to companion animals along Australia's east coast. The tick produces a potent neurotoxin which causes a rapidly ascending flaccid paralysis, which if left untreated, can result in the death of the animal. There is currently only a limited number of products registered in Australia for the treatment and control of paralysis ticks in cats. Felpreva® is an effective spot-on combination containing emodepside, praziquantel and tigolaner. To investigate the therapeutic and long-term persistent efficacy of Felpreva® (2.04% w/v emodepside, 8.14% w/v praziquantel and 9.79% w/v tigolaner) against experimental infestation with I. holocyclus in cats, two studies were undertaken. Fifty cats were included in the studies on study Day -17. These cats were immunized against paralysis tick holocyclotoxin prior to the study commencing. Immunity to holocyclotoxin was confirmed with a tick carrying capacity (TCC) test conducted prior to treatment. Cats were treated once on Day 0. Group 1 cats were treated with the placebo formulation and Group 2 cats were treated with Felpreva®. Cats were infested on Days -14 (tick carrying capacity test), 0, 28, 56, 70, 84 and 91 (weeks 4, 8, 10, 12 and 13). Ticks were counted on cats 24 h, 48 h and 72 â€‹h post-treatment and infestation, except during the tick carrying capacity test when they were counted approximately 72 â€‹h post-infestation only. The 24-h and 48-h assessments were conducted without removing the ticks. The ticks were assessed, removed and discarded at the 72-h assessment time-points. Significant differences in total live tick counts at ∼24 h, ∼48 h and ∼72 â€‹h post-infestation were observed between the treatment and control group. Differences were significant (P â€‹< â€‹0.05 to â€‹< â€‹0.001) in all instances. Treatment efficacies of 98.1-100% were observed ∼72 â€‹h post-infestation through to 13 weeks (94 days) post-treatment. These results show that a single application of Felpreva® provides effective treatment and control against induced infestation with paralysis ticks for 13 weeks.

Evaluation of a commercial coproantigen immunoassay for the detection of Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme in cats and Uncinaria stenocephala in dogs.

Coproantigen immunoassays (IDEXX Fecal Dx® antigen tests) were evaluated for their ability to identify Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme infections in cats and Uncinaria stenocephala infection in dogs. Five cats were experimentally infected with 500 embryonated eggs of T. cati, eight cats with 500 third-stage larvae (L3) of A. tubaeforme and seven dogs with 500 L3 of U. stenocephala. In addition to the three coproantigen tests, the course of infection was monitored by a combined sedimentation-flotation method with ZnSO4 as flotation medium (specific gravity: 1.28-1.30) and a modified McMaster method in case of copromicroscopically positive samples. Eggs of T. cati were first observed between 28 and 54 days post infection (dpi) in four of the five infected cats. In these four cats, positive roundworm coproantigen signals were obtained between 16 and 44 dpi. Positive coproantigen signal always preceded egg observations, but the interval varied between 6 and 30 days. Hookworm-specific positive coproantigen signals were detected in seven of the eight A. tubaeforme infected cats between 10 and 52 dpi, while consecutive egg excretion was observed in three cats between day 26 and 54 pi. Of these three, coproantigen signal preceded egg observation by 12 to 24 days. Four cats had positive coproantigen results in the absence of egg excretion, and one cat never achieved a positive result for egg or coproantigen. In six of seven U. stenocephala infected dogs, infection was confirmed by copromicroscopy between 16 and 24 dpi as well as for hookworm coproantigen between 10 and 14 dpi. Coproantigen signal was detected prior to egg observation by 2 to 14 days. No cross-reactions between the roundworm, hookworm und whipworm tests occurred in study animals. The results of this study demonstrate the ability of the coproantigen tests to detect the common roundworm and hookworm infections in cats and U. stenocephala infections in dogs as well as the ability to detect the prepatent stage of infection.

Multicenter randomized, and blinded European field study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Felpreva®, a novel spot-on formulation containing emodepside, praziquantel and tigolaner, in treating cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks.

The present field study evaluated the safety and 3-month preventive efficacy of a novel spot-on endectocide containing emodepside 2.04% w/v, praziquantel 8.14% w/v and tigolaner 9.79% w/v (Felpreva®, Vetoquinol) when administered at the intended commercial dose of 0.15 ml/kg body weight to privately owned cats infested by fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and/or ticks (Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Rhipicephalus spp.). The efficacy of Felpreva® to reduce the clinical signs associated with flea allergy dermatitis was also evaluated. A total of 326 cats, i.e. 120 and 206 infested by ticks and fleas respectively, from 16 different sites located in Hungary and Portugal were included on Day 0 and allocated in two Groups at a ratio of 2:1 (T1:T2). Cats of T1 were treated with Felpreva®, while cats of T2 were dosed with a commercial Control Product (Bravecto®, MSD Animal Health) licensed for the same indications. Of the 120 tick-infested cats, 79 and 41 were treated with Felpreva® and Bravecto® respectively, while of the 206 flea-infested cats, 139 were treated with Felpreva® and 67 with Bravecto®. Cats were physically examined on Days 7, 28, 56, 75 and 90; when present, fleas and ticks were counted and collected. Efficacy evaluation was based on the mean percent reduction of live parasite counts for each of five visits versus the pre-treatment count. Percent reductions of live flea and tick counts over all post-baseline periods were 99.74% (T1) versus 98.56% (T2) and 97.50% (T1) versus 98.65% (T2), respectively. Non-inferiority for the Felpreva® compared with the Bravecto® treated group was statistically demonstrated for both fleas and ticks. Three adverse events were observed and considered unlikely related to the treatment. These results show that the new topical combination product Felpreva® is safe and highly efficacious in treating flea and tick infections in cats for at least three months (90 days) with a single administration. In 16 cats that were identified with flea allergy dermatitis, the clinical signs of flea allergy dermatitis improved following treatment in both groups.

Efficacy of two topical combinations containing emodepside plus praziquantel, and emodepside plus praziquantel plus tigolaner, for the treatment of troglostrongylosis in experimentally infected cats.

Feline troglostrongylosis caused by Troglostrongylus brevior is increasingly reported in European countries. Although the disease can be severe and potentially life-threatening, especially in kittens and young cats, effective treatment options are still limited. Two administrations of emodepside 2 weeks apart have shown promising results for the treatment of T. brevior infection in single cases and in a field trial. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two spot-on combinations containing emodepside (i.e. 2.14% w/v emodepside and 8.58% w/v praziquantel - Profender®, and 2.04% w/v emodepside, 8.14% w/v praziquantel and 9.79% w/v tigolaner - Felpreva®) in the treatment of troglostrongylosis under experimental conditions. Twenty-four cats were experimentally infected with T. brevior and randomly assigned to one of three groups of eight cats each, i.e. (i) Group 1 (G1) left untreated, (ii) Group 2 (G2) receiving Profender® on Days 28 and 44, and (iii) Group 3 (G3) receiving Felpreva® on Day 28 and Profender® on Day 44. Doses corresponded to the minimum effective dose of 0.140 and 0.148 ml/kg body weight, for Profender® and Felpreva®, respectively. The primary efficacy criterion was the number of viable adult T. brevior counted at necropsy conducted between Days 69 and 72. The fecal shedding of first-stage larvae (L1) was also assessed. L1 of T. brevior were detected in samples from all cats within 20 days post-infection. At necropsy, 4 of 8 G1 cats harbored adult T. brevior, while no adult T. brevior worms or other development stages were recovered from any of the G2 and G3 cats. The primary efficacy criterion was not evaluated as the worm counts in G1 did not meet VICH guideline requirements. After the first treatment (Day 28), most G2 and G3 cats were negative at the Baermann examination. After the second treatment (Day 44), L1 were found in two cats from G2 on Day 49 and in one G3 cat on Day 51. No adverse events occurred in G2 and G3 cats. These results indicate that two applications of emodepside spot-on given 2 weeks apart represent a safe and efficacious treatment regime against troglostrongylosis.

Efficacy of a spot-on combination containing 10% w/v imidacloprid and 1% w/v moxidectin for the treatment of troglostrongylosis in experimentally infected cats.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic bronchopneumonia in domestic cats in Europe, which can manifest with moderate to severe clinical signs, is frequently caused by Troglostrongylus brevior. Data on epizootiological and clinical relevance of cat troglostrongylosis have been published in the last decade but treatment options are still limited. Promising effectiveness data have been generated from clinical cases and field trials for a spot-on formulation containing 1% w/v moxidectin and 10% w/v imidacloprid (Advocate®, Elanco Animal Health). Therefore, two studies have been conducted to confirm under experimental conditions the efficacy of moxidectin 1% contained in Advocate® for the treatment of cat troglostrongylosis. METHODS: Sixteen and 20 cats experimentally infected with T. brevior were included in two separate studies, i.e., Study 1 and 2, respectively. Cats were infected with T. brevior third-stage larvae via gastric tube. In both studies cats were randomized to untreated (control, Group 1) and treatment (Group 2) groups. In Study 1 and Study 2, the two groups comprised eight and 10 cats each. Treated cats received Advocate® spot-on twice at a 4-week interval. The primary efficacy criterion was the number of viable adult T. brevior counted at necropsy. Throughout the trial, the fecal shedding of first-stage larvae (L1) was assessed in treated and untreated control cats. RESULTS: The experimental model was successful in both studies, as all cats started shedding T. brevior L1 within 25 days post-infection. At necropsy, T. brevior adults were found in 4/8 and 4/10 cats of the control groups in Study 1 and 2, respectively, while none of the treated cats harbored adult worms. The necropsy worm counts in controls did not meet relevant guideline requirements for adequacy of infection, with fewer than six infected cats in the control groups, thus limiting conclusions on treatment efficacy. The fact that 6/8 and 8/10 control cats in Study 1 and 2, respectively, shed L1 up to necropsy while larval shedding ceased in all treated animals after the first treatment provides supporting evidence on the level of efficacy. No remarkable adverse events were recorded in the two studies. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that Advocate® spot-on is a safe and effective option for treating cats infected by T. brevior.

Pasture rewetting in the context of nature conservation shows no long-term impact on endoparasite infections in sheep and cattle.

BACKGROUND: Nature conservation with reduced drainage of pastures has been increasingly promoted in agriculture in recent years. However, moisture on pastures is a crucial factor for the development of free-living stages of many parasite species in ruminants. Hence, for the first time, we conducted a field study between 2015 and 2017 at the German North Sea coast to investigate the long-term effect of pasture rewetting (since 2004) on endoparasite infections in sheep and cattle. METHODS: We examined faecal samples of 474 sheep and 646 cattle from five farms in spring, summer and autumn each year for the presence of endoparasite infections. Animals were kept on conventionally drained, undrained and rewetted pastures. The association between pasture rewetting and endoparasite infection probability was analysed in generalized linear mixed models and including further potential confounders. RESULTS: Infection frequencies for gastrointestinal strongyles, Eimeria spp. and Strongyloides papillosus were significantly higher in sheep (62.9%, 31.7% and 16.7%) than in cattle (39.0%, 19.7% and 2.6%). Fasciola hepatica was detected with a frequency of 13.3% in sheep and 9.8% in cattle, while rumen fluke frequency was significantly higher in cattle (12.7%) than in sheep (3.8%). Nematodirus spp., lungworms (protostrongylids, Dictyocaulus viviparus), Moniezia spp., Trichuris spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum were identified in less than 7% of samples. Co-infection with more than three endoparasite taxa was present significantly more often in sheep than in cattle. We identified significant positive correlations above 0.2 for excretion intensities between S. papillosus with strongyles, Eimeria spp. and Nematodirus spp. in sheep and between strongyles and Nematodirus spp. in cattle. Pasture rewetting had no long-term effect on endoparasite infections, neither in sheep nor in cattle. Interestingly, F. hepatica infections decreased significantly in sheep and cattle from 2015 (10.9% and 13.9%) to 2017 (1.4% and 2.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Pasture rewetting for nature conservation did not increase endoparasite infection probability in ruminants in the long term. This finding should be confirmed in ongoing studies aimed at further animal welfare parameters. The rapid decrease in F. hepatica infections over 3 years may suggest climatic impact or competition with rumen flukes in addition to potential anthelmintic treatment after feedback of the results to the farmers.

Efficacy of imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1% spot-on formulation (Advocate®) in the prevention and treatment of feline aelurostrongylosis.

BACKGROUND: In three randomized, controlled laboratory efficacy studies, the efficacy in the prevention of patent infections of a topical combination of imidacloprid 10%/moxidectin 1% (Advocate® spot-on formulation for cats, Bayer Animal Health GmbH) against larval stages and immature adults of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus, as well as the treatment efficacy of a single or three monthly treatments against adult A. abstrusus, were evaluated. METHODS: Cats were experimentally inoculated with 300-800 third-stage larvae (L3). Each group comprised 8 animals and the treatment dose was 10 mg/kg bodyweight (bw) imidacloprid and 1 mg/kg bw moxidectin in each study. Prevention of the establishment of patent infections was evaluated by two treatments at a monthly interval at three different time points before and after challenge infection. Curative efficacy was tested by one or three treatments after the onset of patency. Worm counts at necropsy were used for efficacy calculations. RESULTS: In Study 1, the control group had a geometric mean (GM) of 28.8 adult nematodes and the single treatment group had a GM of 3.4 (efficacy 88.3%). In Study 2, the control group had a GM of 14.3, the prevention group had a GM of 0 (efficacy 100%), while the treatment group had a GM of 0.1 (efficacy 99.4%). In Study 3, the GM worm burden in the control group was 32.6 compared to 0 in all three prevention groups (efficacy 100% for all of those groups). CONCLUSIONS: The monthly administration of Advocate® reliably eliminated early larval stages and thereby prevented lung damage from and patent infections with A. abstrusus in cats. Regarding treatment, a single application of Advocate® reduced the worm burden, but it did not sufficiently clear the infection. In contrast, three monthly treatments were safe and highly efficacious against A. abstrusus.

Shifts in Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) geno-species infections in Ixodes ricinus over a 10-year surveillance period in the city of Hanover (Germany) and Borrelia miyamotoi-specific Reverse Line Blot detection.

BACKGROUND: Lyme borreliosis caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex is still the most common tick-borne disease in Europe, posing a considerable threat to public health. The predominant vector in Europe is the widespread hard tick Ixodes ricinus, which also transmits the relapsing fever spirochete B. miyamotoi as well as pathogenic Rickettsiales (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp.). To assess the public health risk, a long-term monitoring of tick infection rates with the named pathogens is indispensable. METHODS: The present study is the first German 10-year follow-up monitoring of tick infections with Borrelia spp. and co-infections with Rickettsiales. Furthermore, a specific Reverse Line Blot (RLB) protocol for detection of B. miyamotoi and simultaneous differentiation of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) geno-species was established. RESULTS: Overall, 24.0% (505/2100) of ticks collected in the city of Hanover were infected with Borrelia. In detail, 35.4% (203/573) of adult ticks [38.5% females (111/288) and 32.3% males (92/285)] and 19.8% nymphs (302/1527) were infected, representing consistent infection rates over the 10-year monitoring period. Geno-species differentiation using RLB determined B. miyamotoi in 8.9% (45/505) of positive ticks. Furthermore, a significant decrease in B. afzelii and B. spielmanii infection rates from 2010 to 2015 was observed. Co-infections with Rickettsia spp. and A. phagocytophilum increased between 2010 and 2015 (7.3 vs 10.9% and 0.3 vs 1.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term monitoring is an essential part of public health risk assessment to capture data on pathogen occurrence over time. Such data will reveal shifts in pathogen geno-species distribution and help to answer the question whether or not climate change influences tick-borne pathogens.

A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks.

BACKGROUND: Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) transmitted by ticks are considered (re-)emerging pathogens posing a risk to public health. Nevertheless, year-long monitoring studies on prevalences of these pathogens in questing ticks to contribute to public health risk assessment are rare. METHODS: The current study extends previous prevalence surveillances (2005 and 2010) by 2015 to a 10-year monitoring. Therefore, 2100 questing Ixodes ricinus were collected from April to October 2015 at ten different recreation sites in the city of Hanover, Germany, to determine potential changes in tick infection rates with Rickettsiales. RESULTS: Of the collected ticks, 288 were adult females, 285 adult males and 1527 nymphs. Overall, 3.8% (79/2100) of ticks were infected with A. phagocytophilum, 50.8% (1066/2100) with Rickettsia spp. and 2.2% (46/2100) with both pathogens. Statistical analyses revealed stagnating A. phagocytophilum infection rates over the 10-year monitoring period, whereas Rickettsia infections increased significantly (33.3% in 2005 and 26.2% in 2010 vs 50.8% in 2015). This increase was also characterized by prominent seasonality with higher prevalences from July to October. CONCLUSIONS: As increased tick infection rates result in an increased risk for public health, the long-term data reported here provide significant implications for the understanding of progressing Rickettsiales distribution in ticks and essentially contribute to reliable public health risk assessments.