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Martin AM, Buttke D, Raphael J, Taylor K, Maes S, Parise CM, Ginsberg HS, Cross PC. Deer management generally reduces densities of nymphal Ixodes scapularis, but not prevalence of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102202. [PMID: 37244157 PMCID: PMC11265508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Human Lyme disease-primarily caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) in North America-is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Research on risk mitigation strategies during the last three decades has emphasized methods to reduce densities of the primary vector in eastern North America, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Controlling white-tailed deer populations has been considered a potential method for reducing tick densities, as white-tailed deer are important hosts for blacklegged tick reproduction. However, the feasibility and efficacy of white-tailed deer management to impact acarological risk of encountering infected ticks (namely, density of host-seeking infected nymphs; DIN) is unclear. We investigated the effect of white-tailed deer density and management on the density of host-seeking nymphs and B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence using surveillance data from eight national parks and park regions in the eastern United States from 2014-2022. We found that deer density was significantly positively correlated with the density of nymphs (nymph density increased by 49% with a 1 standard deviation increase in deer density) but was not strongly correlated with the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.s. infection in nymphal ticks. Further, while white-tailed deer reduction efforts were followed by a decrease in the density of I. scapularis nymphs in parks, deer removal had variable effects on B. burgdorferi s.s. infection prevalence, with some parks experiencing slight declines and others slight increases in prevalence. Our findings suggest that managing white-tailed deer densities alone may not be effective in reducing DIN in all situations but may be a useful tool when implemented in integrated management regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alynn M Martin
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA; US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2327 University Way, Suite #2, Bozeman, MT, 59715 USA.
| | | | - Jordan Raphael
- US National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY, 11772 USA
| | - Kelsey Taylor
- US National Park Service, Fire Island National Seashore, Patchogue, NY, 11772 USA
| | - Sarah Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Christina M Parise
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Howard S Ginsberg
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Woodward Hall-PSE, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881 USA
| | - Paul C Cross
- US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2327 University Way, Suite #2, Bozeman, MT, 59715 USA
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Burde J, Bloch EM, Kelly JR, Krause PJ. Human Borrelia miyamotoi Infection in North America. Pathogens 2023; 12:553. [PMID: 37111439 PMCID: PMC10145171 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging pathogen that causes a febrile illness and is transmitted by the same hard-bodied (ixodid) ticks that transmit several other pathogens, including Borrelia species that cause Lyme disease. B. miyamotoi was discovered in 1994 in Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Japan. It was first reported in humans in 2011 in Russia. It has subsequently been reported in North America, Europe, and Asia. B. miyamotoi infection is widespread in Ixodes ticks in the northeastern, northern Midwestern, and far western United States and in Canada. In endemic areas, human B. miyamotoi seroprevalence averages from 1 to 3% of the population, compared with 15 to 20% for B. burgdorferi. The most common clinical manifestations of B. miyamotoi infection are fever, fatigue, headache, chills, myalgia, arthralgia, and nausea. Complications include relapsing fever and rarely, meningoencephalitis. Because clinical manifestations are nonspecific, diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation by PCR or blood smear examination. Antibiotics are effective in clearing infection and are the same as those used for Lyme disease, including doxycycline, tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and ceftriaxone. Preventive measures include avoiding areas where B. miyamotoi-infected ticks are found, landscape management, and personal protective strategies such as protective clothing, use of acaricides, and tick checks with rapid removal of embedded ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed Burde
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Evan M. Bloch
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21217, USA
| | - Jill R. Kelly
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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Lynn GE, Breuner NE, Hojgaard A, Oliver J, Eisen L, Eisen RJ. A comparison of horizontal and transovarial transmission efficiency of Borrelia miyamotoi by Ixodes scapularis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102003. [PMID: 35858517 PMCID: PMC10880489 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a relapsing fever spirochete carried by Ixodes spp. ticks throughout the northern hemisphere. The pathogen is acquired either transovarially (vertically) or horizontally through blood-feeding and passed transtadially across life stages. Despite these complementary modes of transmission, infection prevalence of ticks with B. miyamotoi is typically low (<5%) in natural settings and the relative contributions of the two transmission modes have not been studied extensively. Horizontal transmission of B. miyamotoi (strain CT13-2396 or wild type strain) was initiated using infected Ixodes scapularis larvae or nymphs to expose rodents, which included both the immunocompetent CD-1 laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) and a natural reservoir host, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus. leucopus), to simulate natural enzootic transmission. Transovarial transmission was evaluated using I. scapularis exposed to B. miyamotoi as either larvae or nymphs feeding on immunocompromised SCID mice (M. musculus) and subsequently fed as females on New Zealand white rabbits. Larvae from infected females were qPCR-tested individually to assess transovarial transmission rates. Tissue tropism of B. miyamotoi in infected ticks was demonstrated using in situ hybridization. Between 1 and 12% of ticks were positive (post-molt) for B. miyamotoi after feeding on groups of CD-1 mice or P. leucopus with evidence of infection, indicating that horizontal transmission was inefficient, regardless of whether infected larvae or nymphs were used to challenge the mice. Transovarial transmission occurred in 7 of 10 egg clutches from infected females. Filial infection prevalence in larvae ranged from 3 to 100% (median 71%). Both larval infection prevalence and spirochete load were highly correlated with maternal spirochete load. Spirochetes were disseminated throughout the tissues of all three stages of unfed ticks, including the salivary glands and female ovarian tissue. The results indicate that while multiple transmission routes contribute to enzootic maintenance of B. miyamotoi, transovarial transmission is likely to be the primary source of infected ticks and therefore risk assessment and tick control strategies should target adult female ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E Lynn
- Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States; AgriLife Texas A&M University, 1619 Garner Field Road, Uvalde, TX 78801, United States.
| | - Nicole E Breuner
- Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States; Current address: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, 160 SW 26th St. Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Jonathan Oliver
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
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Hojgaard A, Osikowicz LM, Maes S, Eisen L, Eisen RJ. Detection of Genetic Variability in Borrelia miyamotoi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) Between and Within the Eastern and Western United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2154-2160. [PMID: 33956124 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is a hard tick-associated relapsing fever spirochete that is geographically widespread in Ixodes spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks, but typically occurs at low prevalence. Genetic variability has been described among strains derived from Asia, Europe, and North America, and among tick species that carry the infection, but little variability has been described within foci or tick species. Capitalizing on access to B. miyamotoi nucleic acid extracted from host-seeking Ixodes scapularis Say or Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls from 16 states, we explored genetic variability based on sequence analysis of four amplicons described herein. Consistent with previous studies, we detected significant genetic differences between strains derived from I. scapularis (eastern United States) and I. pacificus (western United States) and identified two distinct sequences in the western United States (Am-West-1 and Am-West-2). Unique to this study, we identified two distinct sequences in the eastern United States (Am-East-1 and Am-East-2). Based on the 161 samples we analyzed, Am-East-1 was the only type represented in 50 B. miyamotoi-infected ticks collected from the Northeast (Vermont, Maine, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), whereas ticks collected from the North-Central and Mid-Atlantic states harbored B. miyamotoi comprised of both Am-East-1 and Am-East-2. Further studies are needed to better characterize the phylogeography of B. miyamotoi and to discern if there are biologically meaningful differences among sequence types. To facilitate further exploration, we developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay designed to differentiate Am-East-1, Am-East-2, and Am-West sequence types without having to sequence the amplicon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrias Hojgaard
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lynn M Osikowicz
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sarah Maes
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lars Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Gaowa, Wulantuya, Sato K, Liu D, Cui Y, Yin X, Zhang L, Li H, Wang T, Liu R, Wu L, Lu S, Gao T, Zhang Z, Cao M, Wang G, Li C, Yan D, Ohashi N, Ando S, Kawabata H. Surveillance of Borrelia miyamotoi-carrying ticks and genomic analysis of isolates in Inner Mongolia, China. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:368. [PMID: 34274015 PMCID: PMC8285808 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04809-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Borrelia miyamotoi is a newly described relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by ixodid tick species. Little is known about the prevalence of B. miyamotoi infections in humans and ticks in Inner Mongolia, China. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of B. miyamotoi in Ixodes persulcatus ticks, and we aimed to isolateB. miyamotoi from I. persulcatus from four regions of Greater Khingan, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods From May to June each year during the period 2016–2019, host-seeking adult I. persulcatus ticks were collected from vegetation. Genomic DNA was prepared from half of each tick body for PCR template, and the remaining half was used to cultivate B. miyamotoi in BSK-M medium. We employed quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) to detect Borrelia DNA in the ticks and to calculate the prevalence of B. miyamotoi and infections with other borreliae. For characterization of the isolated B. miyamotoi, we performed draft genome sequencing and multilocus sequencing analysis (MLSA). Results A total of 2656 adult I. persulcatus ticks were collected. The overall prevalence of relapsing fever (RF) borreliae in ticks was 5.0% (134/2656) and that of Lyme disease (LD) borreliae was 43.8% (1164/2656). Co-infection with RF and LD borreliae was observed in 63 ticks (2.4%). Ticks that were positive for RF borreliae by qPCR were subjected to glycerophosphodiester diester phosphodiesterase gene (glpQ) PCR amplification and sequencing, through which we identified the RF borrelia specimens as B. miyamotoi. Furthermore, the B. miyamotoi strain Hetao-1 was isolated from I. persulcatus, and a draft genome sequence was obtained from the isolate. Sequencing determined the strain Hetao-1 genome to be approximately 906.1 kbp in length (28.9% average GC content), and MLSA identified the strain as ST633, which has previously been reported in Japan and Mongolia. Conclusion We detected B. miyamotoi from I. persulcatus ticks collected in Inner Mongolia, and successfully isolated a B. miyamotoi strain. To our knowledge, this is the first study to culture a B. miyamotoi isolate from China. The data on the prevalence of B. miyamotoi and other borreliae in I. persulcatus ticks will be fundamental for future epidemiological studies of B. miyamotoi disease in Inner Mongolia. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaowa
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.
| | - Wulantuya
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Kozue Sato
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Dan Liu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Yunhong Cui
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Xuhong Yin
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Hong Li
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Tingfu Wang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Rongxin Liu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Lijing Wu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Saixia Lu
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Ting Gao
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Zitong Zhang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Tick-Borne Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, College of Hetao, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Minzhi Cao
- Bayan Nur Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Bayan Nur, 015000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Guodong Wang
- Hulunbuir Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hulunbuir, 021000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Chunpu Li
- Hulunbuir Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hulunbuir, 021000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Dacheng Yan
- Hulunbuir Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hulunbuir, 021000, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
| | - Norio Ohashi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan
| | - Shuji Ando
- Department of Virology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kawabata
- Department of Bacteriology-I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
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Milholland MT, Eisen L, Nadolny RM, Hojgaard A, Machtinger ET, Mullinax JM, Li AY. Surveillance of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Suburban Natural Habitats of Central Maryland. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1352-1362. [PMID: 33511396 PMCID: PMC10947375 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Lyme and other tick-borne diseases are increasing in the eastern United States and there is a lack of research on integrated strategies to control tick vectors. Here we present results of a study on tick-borne pathogens detected from tick vectors and rodent reservoirs from an ongoing 5-yr tick suppression study in the Lyme disease-endemic state of Maryland, where human-biting tick species, including Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (the primary vector of Lyme disease spirochetes), are abundant. During the 2017 tick season, we collected 207 questing ticks and 602 ticks recovered from 327 mice (Peromyscus spp. (Rodentia: Cricetidae)), together with blood and ear tissue from the mice, at seven suburban parks in Howard County. Ticks were selectively tested for the presence of the causative agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato [s.l.]), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), babesiosis (Babesia microti), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and 'Panola Mountain' Ehrlichia) and spotted fever group rickettsiosis (Rickettsia spp.). Peromyscus ear tissue and blood samples were tested for Bo. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s), A. phagocytophilum, Ba. microti, and Borrelia miyamotoi. We found 13.6% (15/110) of questing I. scapularis nymphs to be Bo. burgdorferi s.l. positive and 1.8% (2/110) were A. phagocytophilum positive among all sites. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. was found in 71.1% (54/76) of I. scapularis nymphs removed from mice and 58.8% (194/330) of captured mice. Results from study on tick abundance and pathogen infection status in questing ticks, rodent reservoirs, and ticks feeding on Peromyscus spp. will aid efficacy evaluation of the integrated tick management measures being implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T. Milholland
- Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 007, Rm. 301, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Robyn M. Nadolny
- Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Erika T. Machtinger
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Jennifer M. Mullinax
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Andrew Y. Li
- Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Bldg. 007, Rm. 301, BARC-West, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705
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Lehane A, Maes SE, Graham CB, Jones E, Delorey M, Eisen RJ. Prevalence of single and coinfections of human pathogens in Ixodes ticks from five geographical regions in the United States, 2013-2019. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101637. [PMID: 33360805 PMCID: PMC11351056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
As the geographic distributions of medically important ticks and tick-borne pathogens continue to expand in the United States, the burden of tick-borne diseases continues to increase along with a growing risk of coinfections. Coinfection with multiple tick-borne pathogens may amplify severity of disease and complicate diagnosis and treatment. By testing 13,400 Ixodes ticks from 17 US states spanning five geographical regions for etiological agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto [s.s.] and Borrelia mayonii), Borrelia miyamotoi disease (Borrelia miyamotoi), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and babesiosis (Babesia microti) we show that B. burgdorferi s.s. was the most prevalent and widespread pathogen. Borrelia miyamotoi, A. phagocytophilum, and B. microti were widespread but less prevalent than B. burgdorferi s.s. Coinfections with B. burgdorferi s.s. and A. phagocytophilum or B. microti were most common in the Northeast and occurred at rates higher than expected based on rates of single infections in that region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aine Lehane
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christine B Graham
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Emma Jones
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mark Delorey
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Cumbie AN, Espada CD, Nadolny RM, Rose RK, Dueser RD, Hynes WL, Gaff HD. Survey of Rickettsia parkeri and Amblyomma maculatum associated with small mammals in southeastern Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101550. [PMID: 32993923 PMCID: PMC7534852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Small mammals are often parasitized by the immature stages of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae) and may serve as reservoir hosts of tick-borne pathogens. Amblyomma maculatum, the Gulf Coast tick, is the primary vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. This hard-bodied tick species is expanding its historical range from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. up the Mid-Atlantic coast. In Mid-Atlantic states, such as Virginia, R. parkeri prevalence is higher in these ticks than those found in its historical range. This high prevalence may be explained in part by small mammal populations. In this study, small mammals were trapped and checked for the presence of immature A. maculatum. The ticks as well as tissue samples from these mammals were tested for the presence of R. parkeri. This study found six rodent species acting as hosts to immature A. maculatum and three species that may play a role in the enzootic cycle of R. parkeri in Virginia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Cumbie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Christina D Espada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Robyn M Nadolny
- Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Robert K Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Raymond D Dueser
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, USA
| | - Wayne L Hynes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.
| | - Holly D Gaff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA; School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Fedele K, Poh KC, Brown JE, Jones A, Durden LA, Tiffin HS, Pagac A, Li AY, Machtinger ET. Host distribution and pathogen infection of fleas (Siphonaptera) recovered from small mammals in Pennsylvania. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2020; 45:32-44. [PMID: 32492279 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The number of recognized flea-borne pathogens has increased over the past decade. However, the true number of infections related to all flea-borne pathogens remains unknown. To better understand the enzootic cycle of flea-borne pathogens, fleas were sampled from small mammals trapped in central Pennsylvania. A total of 541 small mammals were trapped, with white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) accounting for over 94% of the captures. Only P. leucopus were positive for examined blood-borne pathogens, with 47 (18.1%) and ten (4.8%) positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti, respectively. In addition, 61 fleas were collected from small mammals and tested for pathogens. Orchopeas leucopus was the most common flea and Bartonella vinsonii subspecies arupensis, B. microti, and a Rickettsia felis-like bacterium were detected in various flea samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. microti DNA detected from a flea and the first report of a R. felis-like bacterium from rodent fleas in eastern North America. This study provides evidence of emerging pathogens found in fleas, but further investigation is required to resolve the ecology of flea-borne disease transmission cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaila Fedele
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Karen C Poh
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Jessica E Brown
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Amanda Jones
- Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, 20902, U.S.A
| | - Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, 30458, U.S.A
| | - Hannah S Tiffin
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Alexandra Pagac
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
| | - Andrew Y Li
- USDA, ARS, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD, 20705, U.S.A
| | - Erika T Machtinger
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, U.S.A
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10
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Parise CM, Breuner NE, Hojgaard A, Osikowicz LM, Replogle AJ, Eisen RJ, Eisen L. Experimental Demonstration of Reservoir Competence of the White-Footed Mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (Rodentia: Cricetidae), for the Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia mayonii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:927-932. [PMID: 31819966 PMCID: PMC8056285 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque), is a reservoir for the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in the eastern half of the United States, where the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), is the primary vector. In the Midwest, an additional Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia mayonii, was recorded from naturally infected I. scapularis and P. leucopus. However, an experimental demonstration of reservoir competence was lacking for a natural tick host. We therefore experimentally infected P. leucopus with B. mayonii via I. scapularis nymphal bites and then fed uninfected larvae on the mice to demonstrate spirochete acquisition and passage to resulting nymphs. Of 23 mice fed on by B. mayonii-infected nymphs, 21 (91%) developed active infections. The infection prevalence for nymphs fed as larvae on these infected mice 4 wk post-infection ranged from 56 to 98%, and the overall infection prevalence for 842 nymphs across all 21 P. leucopus was 75% (95% confidence interval, 72-77%). To assess duration of infectivity, 10 of the P. leucopus were reinfested with uninfected larval ticks 12 wk after the mice were infected. The overall infection prevalence for 480 nymphs across all 10 P. leucopus at the 12-wk time point was 26% (95% confidence interval, 23-31%), when compared with 76% (95% confidence interval, 71-79%) for 474 nymphs from the same subset of 10 mice at the 4-wk time point. We conclude that P. leucopus is susceptible to infection with B. mayonii via bite by I. scapularis nymphs and an efficient reservoir for this Lyme disease spirochete.
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11
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Tokarz R, Tagliafierro T, Caciula A, Mishra N, Thakkar R, Chauhan LV, Sameroff S, Delaney S, Wormser GP, Marques A, Lipkin WI. Identification of immunoreactive linear epitopes of Borrelia miyamotoi. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101314. [PMID: 31636001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne spirochete transmitted by ixodid ticks. Current serologic assays for B. miyamotoi are impacted by genetic similarities to other Borrelia and limited understanding of optimal antigenic targets. In this study, we employed the TBD-Serochip, a peptide array platform, to identify new linear targets for serologic detection of B. miyamotoi. We examined a wide range of suspected B. miyamotoi antigens and identified 352 IgM and 91 IgG reactive peptides, with the majority mapping to variable membrane proteins. These included peptides within conserved fragments of variable membrane proteins that may have greater potential for differential diagnosis. We also identified reactive regions on FlaB, and demonstrate crossreactivity of B. burgdorferi s.l. C6 with a B. miyamotoi C6-like peptide. The panel of linear peptides identified in this study can be used to enhance serodiagnosis of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adrian Caciula
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Riddhi Thakkar
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lokendra V Chauhan
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shannon Delaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gary P Wormser
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Adriana Marques
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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12
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Lynn GE, Breuner NE, Eisen L, Hojgaard A, Replogle AJ, Eisen RJ. An immunocompromised mouse model to infect Ixodes scapularis ticks with the relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:352-359. [PMID: 30503357 PMCID: PMC11392017 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 11/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The hard tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi, has recently gained attention as a cause of human illness, but fundamental aspects of its enzootic maintenance are still poorly understood. Challenges to experimental studies with B. miyamotoi-infected vector ticks include low prevalence of infection in field-collected ticks and seemingly inefficient horizontal transmission from infected immunocompetent rodents to feeding ticks. To reliably produce large numbers of B. miyamotoi-infected ticks in support of experimental studies, we developed an animal model where immunocompromised Mus musculus SCID mice were used as a source of B. miyamotoi-infection for larval and nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks. Following needle inoculation with 1 × 105 spirochetes, the SCID mice developed a high spirochetemia (greater than 1 × 107 copies of B. miyamotoi purB per mL of blood) that persisted for at least 30 d after inoculation. In comparison, immunocompetent M. musculus CD-1 mice developed transient infections, detectable for only 2-8 d within the first 16 d after needle inoculation, with a brief, lower peak spirochetemia (8.5 × 104 - 5.6 × 105purB copies per mL of blood). All larval or nymphal ticks fed on infected SCID mice acquired B. miyamotoi, but frequent loss of infection during the molt led to the proportion infected ticks of the resulting nymphal or adult stages declining to 22-29%. The ticks that remained infected after the molt had well-disseminated infections which then persisted through successive life stages, including transmission to larval offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lars Eisen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States
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13
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Johnson TL, Graham CB, Maes SE, Hojgaard A, Fleshman A, Boegler KA, Delory MJ, Slater KS, Karpathy SE, Bjork JK, Neitzel DF, Schiffman EK, Eisen RJ. Prevalence and distribution of seven human pathogens in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs in Minnesota, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1499-1507. [PMID: 30055987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In the north-central United States, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is currently known to vector seven human pathogens. These include five bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis), one protozoan (Babesia microti) and one virus (Powassan). We sought to assess the prevalence and distribution of these pathogens in host-seeking nymphs collected throughout Minnesota, a state on the northwestern edge of the tick's expanding range, where reported cases of I. scapularis-borne diseases have increased in incidence and geographic range over the past decade. Among the 1240 host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs that we screened from 64 sites, we detected all seven pathogens at varying frequencies. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. was the most prevalent and geographically widespread, found in 25.24% of all nymphs tested. Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti were also geographically widespread, but they were less prevalent than Bo. burgdorferi s.s. (detected in 6.29% and 4.68% of ticks, respectively). Spatial clusters of sites with high prevalence for these three pathogens were identified in the north-central region of the state. Prevalence was less than 1.29% for each of the remaining pathogens. Two or more pathogens were detected in 90 nymphs (7.26%); coinfections with Bo. burgdorferi s.s. and either A. phagocytophilum (51 nymphs, 4.11%) or Ba. microti (43 nymphs, 3.47%) were the most common combinations. The distribution and density of infected ticks mirrors the distribution of notifiable tick-borne diseases in Minnesota and provides information on the distribution and prevalence of recently described human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammi L Johnson
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Christine B Graham
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Amy Fleshman
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Karen A Boegler
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Mark J Delory
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Kimetha S Slater
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, United States
| | - Sandor E Karpathy
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, United States
| | - Jenna K Bjork
- Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St N, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | - David F Neitzel
- Minnesota Department of Health, 625 Robert St N, St. Paul, MN 55164, United States
| | | | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States.
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14
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Transmission of the relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi, by single transovarially-infected larval Ixodes scapularis ticks. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1464-1467. [PMID: 30007502 PMCID: PMC6135663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The relapsing fever spirochete, Borrelia miyamotoi, is increasingly recognized as a cause of human illness (hard tick-borne relapsing fever) in the United States. We previously demonstrated that single nymphs of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, can transmit B. miyamotoi to experimental hosts. However, two recent epidemiological studies from the Northeastern United States indicate that human cases of hard tick-borne relapsing fever peak during late summer, after the spring peak for nymphal tick activity but coincident with the peak seasonal activity period of larval ticks in the Northeast. These epidemiological findings, together with evidence that B. miyamotoi can be passed from infected I. scapularis females to their offspring, suggest that bites by transovarially-infected larval ticks can be an important source of human infection. To demonstrate experimentally that transovarially-infected larval I. scapularis ticks can transmit B. miyamotoi, outbred Mus musculus CD1 mice were exposed to 1 or 2 potentially infected larvae. Individual fed larvae and mouse blood taken 10 d after larvae attached were tested for presence of B. miyamotoi DNA, and mice also were examined for seroreactivity to B. miyamotoi 8 wk after tick feeding. We documented B. miyamotoi DNA in blood from 13 (57%) of 23 mice exposed to a single transovarially-infected larva and in 5 (83%) of 6 mice exposed to two infected larvae feeding simultaneously. All 18 positive mice also demonstrated seroreactivity to B. miyamotoi. Of the 11 remaining mice without detectable B. miyamotoi DNA in their blood 10 d after infected larvae attached, 7 (64%) had evidence of spirochete exposure by serology 8 wk later. Because public health messaging for risk of exposure to Lyme disease spirochetes focuses on nymphal and female I. scapularis ticks, our finding that transovarially-infected larvae effectively transmit B. miyamotoi should lead to refined tick-bite prevention messages.
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15
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Lynn GE, Graham CB, Horiuchi K, Eisen L, Johnson TL, Lane RS, Eisen RJ. Prevalence and Geographic Distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi in Host-Seeking Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs in Mendocino County, California. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 55:711-716. [PMID: 29365130 PMCID: PMC5938105 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an increasingly recognized human pathogen transmitted by Ixodes ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, infection prevalences of B. miyamotoi are characteristically low (<10%) in Ixodes scapularis (Say; Acari: Ixodidae) and Ixodes pacificus (Cooley & Kohls; Acari: Ixodidae), both of which readily bite humans. We tested 3,255 host-seeking I. pacificus nymphs collected in 2004 from 79 sites throughout Mendocino County in north-coastal California for presence of B. miyamotoi. The collection sites represented a variety of forest types ranging from hot, dry oak woodlands in the southeast, to coastal redwoods in the west, and Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir-dominated areas in the northern part of the county. We found that B. miyamotoi was geographically widespread, but infected I. pacificus nymphs infrequently (cumulative prevalence of 1.4%). Infection prevalence was not significantly associated with geographic region or woodland type, and neither density of host-seeking nymphs, nor infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was associated with B. miyamotoi infection status in individual ticks. Because B. burgdorferi prevalence at the same sites was previously associated with woodland type and nymphal density, our results suggest that despite sharing a common vector, the primary modes of enzootic maintenance for the two pathogens are likely different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey E. Lynn
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Christine B. Graham
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Kalanthe Horiuchi
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Tammi L. Johnson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Robert S. Lane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Rebecca J. Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
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16
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Graham CB, Maes SE, Hojgaard A, Fleshman AC, Sheldon SW, Eisen RJ. A molecular algorithm to detect and differentiate human pathogens infecting Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:390-403. [PMID: 29258802 PMCID: PMC6452875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The incidence and geographic range of tick-borne illness associated with Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus have dramatically increased in recent decades. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Borrelia spirochete infections, including Lyme borreliosis, account for tens of thousands of reported cases of tick-borne disease every year. Assays that reliably detect pathogens in ticks allow investigators and public health agencies to estimate the geographic distribution of human pathogens, assess geographic variation in their prevalence, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies. As investigators continue to describe new species within the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex and to recognize some Ixodes-borne Borrelia species as human pathogens, assays are needed to detect and differentiate these species. Here we describe an algorithm to detect and differentiate pathogens in unfed I. scapularis and I. pacificus nymphs including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia mayonii, and Borrelia miyamotoi. The algorithm comprises 5 TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assays and 3 sequencing protocols. It employs multiple targets for each pathogen to optimize specificity, a gene target for I. scapularis and I. pacificus to verify tick-derived DNA quality, and a pan-Borrelia target to detect Borrelia species that may emerge as human disease agents in the future. We assess the algorithm's sensitivity, specificity, and performance on field-collected ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine B Graham
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States.
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Amy C Fleshman
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Sarah W Sheldon
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
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17
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Johnson TL, Graham CB, Hojgaard A, Breuner NE, Maes SE, Boegler KA, Replogle AJ, Kingry LC, Petersen JM, Eisen L, Eisen RJ. Isolation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia mayonii From Naturally Infected Rodents in Minnesota. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1088-1092. [PMID: 28444198 PMCID: PMC5664935 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Borrelia mayonii is a newly described member of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex that is vectored by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say) and a cause of Lyme disease in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Vertebrate reservoir hosts involved in the enzootic maintenance of B. mayonii have not yet been identified. Here, we describe the first isolation of B. mayonii from naturally infected white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque) and an American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben) from Minnesota, thus implicating these species as potential reservoir hosts for this newly described spirochete.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammi L. Johnson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
| | - Christine B. Graham
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Nicole E. Breuner
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Sarah E. Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Karen A. Boegler
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Adam J. Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Luke C. Kingry
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Jeannine M. Petersen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Rebecca J. Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; )
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18
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Johnson TL, Graham CB, Boegler KA, Cherry CC, Maes SE, Pilgard MA, Hojgaard A, Buttke DE, Eisen RJ. Prevalence and Diversity of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Eastern National Parks. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:742-751. [PMID: 28028138 PMCID: PMC5657145 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), also known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick, are increasing in incidence and geographic distribution in the United States. We examined the risk of tick-borne disease exposure in 9 national parks across six Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2015. To assess the recreational risk to park visitors, we sampled for ticks along frequently used trails and calculated the density of I. scapularis nymphs (DON) and the density of infected nymphs (DIN). We determined the nymphal infection prevalence of I. scapularis with a suite of tick-borne pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. Ixodes scapularis nymphs were found in all national park units; DON ranged from 0.40 to 13.73 nymphs per 100 m2. Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, was found at all sites where I. scapularis was documented; DIN with B. burgdorferi ranged from 0.06 to 5.71 nymphs per 100 m2. Borrelia miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum were documented at 60% and 70% of the parks, respectively, while Ba. microti occurred at just 20% of the parks. Ixodes scapularis is well established across much of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States, and our results are generally consistent with previous studies conducted near the areas we sampled. Newly established I. scapularis populations were documented in two locations: Washington, D.C. (Rock Creek Park) and Greene County, Virginia (Shenandoah National Park). This research demonstrates the potential risk of tick-borne pathogen exposure in national parks and can be used to educate park visitors about the importance of preventative actions to minimize tick exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammi L Johnson
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Christine B Graham
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Karen A Boegler
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Cara C Cherry
- Biological Resources Division, Wildlife Health Branch and Office of Public Health, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80525 ( ; )
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Mark A Pilgard
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
| | - Danielle E Buttke
- Biological Resources Division, Wildlife Health Branch and Office of Public Health, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Dr., Suite 200, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (; )
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80521 (; ; ; ; ; ; )
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Breuner NE, Dolan MC, Replogle AJ, Sexton C, Hojgaard A, Boegler KA, Clark RJ, Eisen L. Transmission of Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato relapsing fever group spirochetes in relation to duration of attachment by Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:677-681. [PMID: 28501504 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato relapsing fever group spirochetes are emerging as causative agents of human illness (Borrelia miyamotoi disease) in the United States. Host-seeking Ixodes scapularis ticks are naturally infected with these spirochetes in the eastern United States and experimentally capable of transmitting B. miyamotoi. However, the duration of time required from tick attachment to spirochete transmission has yet to be determined. We therefore conducted a study to assess spirochete transmission by single transovarially infected I. scapularis nymphs to outbred white mice at three time points post-attachment (24, 48, and 72h) and for a complete feed (>72-96h). Based on detection of B. miyamotoi DNA from the blood of mice fed on by an infected nymph, the probability of spirochete transmission increased from 10% by 24h of attachment (evidence of infection in 3/30 mice) to 31% by 48h (11/35 mice), 63% by 72h (22/35 mice), and 73% for a complete feed (22/30 mice). We conclude that (i) single I. scapularis nymphs effectively transmit B. miyamotoi relapsing fever group spirochetes while feeding, (ii) transmission can occur within the first 24h of nymphal attachment, and (iii) the probability of transmission increases with the duration of nymphal attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Breuner
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Marc C Dolan
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Adam J Replogle
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Christopher Sexton
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Karen A Boegler
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Rebecca J Clark
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, United States.
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