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Eleftheriou A, Zeiger B, Jennings J, Pesapane R. Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 38:314-324. [PMID: 38567802 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Geographically expanding and invading ticks are a global concern. The Asian longhorned tick (ALT, Haemaphysalis longicornis) was introduced to the mid-Atlantic US between 2010 and 2017 and recently invaded Ohio, an inland state. To date, ALTs in the US have been associated with livestock exsanguination and transmission of the agent of bovine theileriosis. To inform management, studies describing tick ecology and epidemiology of associated disease agents are critical. In this study, we described phenology, habitat and host associations, and tested for agents of medical and veterinary concern at the site of the first known established ALT population in Ohio, where pesticide treatment was applied in early fall 2021. In spring-fall 2022, we sampled wildlife (small mammals) and collected ticks from forest, edge, and grassland habitats. We also opportunistically sampled harvested white-tailed deer at nearby processing stations and fresh wildlife carcasses found near roads. Field-collected ALTs were tested for five agents using real-time PCR. We found that ALT nymphs emerged in June, followed by adults, and concluded with larvae in the fall. ALTs were detected in all habitats but not in wildlife. We also found a 4.88% (2/41) prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum across ALT adults and nymphs. Host and habitat associations were similar to other studies in the eastern United States, but two potential differences in phenology were identified. Whether ALTs will acquire more endemic disease agents requires further investigations. Our findings provide the first evidence regarding ALT life history from the Midwest region of the United States and can inform exposure risk and guide integrated management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Eleftheriou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Benjamin Zeiger
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jazmin Jennings
- College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Risa Pesapane
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Ulucesme MC, Ozubek S, Aktas M. Incompetence of Vector Capacity of Rhipicephalus bursa to Transmit Babesia aktasi following Feeding on Clinically Infected Goat with High Level of Parasitemia. Vet Sci 2024; 11:309. [PMID: 39057992 PMCID: PMC11281584 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11070309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
A recent molecular survey revealed a high prevalence of Babesia aktasi in indigenous goats from the Mediterranean region of Türkiye, coinciding with heavy Rhipicephalus bursa infestations. This geographical overlap has raised the possibility that R. bursa may serve as a vector for the parasite. To evaluate the potential of R. bursa to serve as a vector for the parasite, an experimental study was conducted in indigenous goats. An immune-suppressed donor goat was intravenously injected with 15 mL of the cryopreserved B. aktasi stabilate, resulting in severe clinical babesiosis and parasitemia. Subsequently, R. bursa larvae and adults derived from Babesia-free laboratory colonies were allowed to feed on the infected donor goat. After oviposition, engorged female carcasses, representative engorged nymphs, unfed larvae, and adult pools were used for DNA extraction and PCR analysis. No PCR positivity was detected in any of the DNA samples, except for those with engorged female carcasses and nymphs. Three immune-suppressed recipient goats were infested with the unfed immature and mature ticks consuming the blood of a donor infected with B. aktasi. No clinical or parasitological findings were encountered in the recipient for 40 days post-infestation. These findings indicated that R. bursa was not a competent vector for B. aktasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Can Ulucesme
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Fırat, 23200 Elazığ, Türkiye; (S.O.); (M.A.)
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Mota TF, Fukutani ER, Martins KA, Salgado VR, Andrade BB, Fraga DBM, Queiroz ATL. Another tick bites the dust: exploring the association of microbial composition with a broad transmission competence of tick vector species. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0215623. [PMID: 37800912 PMCID: PMC10714957 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02156-23] [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: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Some tick species are competent to transmit more than one pathogen while other species are, until now, known to be competent to transmit only one single or any pathogen. Such a difference in vector competence for one or more pathogens might be related to the microbiome, and understanding what differentiates these two groups of ticks could help us control several diseases aiming at the bacteria groups that contribute to such a broad vector competence. Using 16S rRNA from tick species that could be classified into these groups, genera such as Rickettsia and Staphylococcus seemed to be associated with such a broad vector competence. Our results highlight differences in tick species when they are divided based on the number of pathogens they are competent to transmit. These findings are the first step into understanding the relationship between one single tick species and the pathogens it transmits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago F. Mota
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Eduardo R. Fukutani
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Kelsilandia A. Martins
- Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Vanessa R. Salgado
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária da União Metropolitana de Educação e Cultura (UNIME), Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Bruno B. Andrade
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Deborah B. M. Fraga
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Artur T. L. Queiroz
- Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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Price KJ, Khalil N, Witmier BJ, Coder BL, Boyer CN, Foster E, Eisen RJ, Molaei G. EVIDENCE OF PROTOZOAN AND BACTERIAL INFECTION AND CO-INFECTION AND PARTIAL BLOOD FEEDING IN THE INVASIVE TICK HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS IN PENNSYLVANIA. J Parasitol 2023; 109:265-273. [PMID: 37436911 PMCID: PMC10658867 DOI: 10.1645/22-122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species in the United States, has been found actively host-seeking while infected with several human pathogens. Recent work has recovered large numbers of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis, which together with infection findings raises the question of whether such ticks can reattach to a host and transmit pathogens while taking additional bloodmeals. Here we conducted molecular blood meal analysis in tandem with pathogen screening of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis to identify feeding sources and more inclusively characterize acarological risk. Active, statewide surveillance in Pennsylvania from 2020 to 2021 resulted in the recovery of 22/1,425 (1.5%) partially engorged, host-seeking nymphal and 5/163 (3.1%) female H. longicornis. Pathogen testing of engorged nymphs detected 2 specimens positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 2 for Babesia microti, and 1 co-infected with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. and Ba. microti. No female specimens tested positive for pathogens. Conventional PCR blood meal analysis of H. longicornis nymphs detected avian and mammalian hosts in 3 and 18 specimens, respectively. Mammalian blood was detected in all H. longicornis female specimens. Only 2 H. longicornis nymphs produced viable sequencing results and were determined to have fed on black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax. These data are the first to molecularly confirm H. longicornis partial blood meals from vertebrate hosts and Ba. microti infection and co-infection with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. in host-seeking specimens in the United States, and the data help characterize important determinants indirectly affecting vectorial capacity. Repeated blood meals within a life stage by pathogen-infected ticks suggest that an understanding of the vector potential of invasive H. longicornis populations may be incomplete without data on their natural host-seeking behaviors and blood-feeding patterns in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Noelle Khalil
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Brooke L Coder
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 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 Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
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González J, Fonseca DM, Toledo A. Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Species in the Ecotone of Parks and Recreational Areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA). INSECTS 2023; 14:258. [PMID: 36975943 PMCID: PMC10057079 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
People often use parks and other forested areas for outdoor activities such as hiking and walking their dogs. Areas of primary use are paths or grassy meadows on the edges of the forests that constitute transitional areas between different plant communities (aka ecotones). In this study, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of questing ticks in forest/meadow and forest/path ecotones in five areas in Middlesex County, New Jersey (NJ). We found anthropophilic species such as Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis coexisting with Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species first detected in NJ in 2017. Surveillance was conducted weekly from March to November 2020, and collected ticks were identified. The most abundant tick species was H. longicornis (83%), followed by A. americanum (9%), I. scapularis (7%), and D. variabilis (<1%). The seasonal dynamics of A. americanum and I. scapularis in the ecotone were similar to previous surveys in forest habitats. The presence of anthropophilic ticks, particularly I. scapularis, suggests the need for specific control approaches to target these habitats. In addition, the extraordinarily high numbers of H. longicornis collected in ecotones (1.70 ticks/m2) and frequent reports of this species on dogs highlight the importance of monitoring its expansion due to its potential as a vector of animal and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dina M. Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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Rochlin I, Egizi A, Narvaez Z, Bonilla DL, Gallagher M, Williams GM, Rainey T, Price DC, Fonseca DM. Microhabitat modeling of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in New Jersey, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102126. [PMID: 36682197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is a vector of multiple arboviral and bacterial pathogens in its native East Asia and expanded distribution in Australasia. This species has both bisexual and parthenogenetic populations that can reach high population densities under favorable conditions. Established populations of parthenogenetic H. longicornis were detected in the eastern United States in 2017 and the possible range of this species at the continental level (North America) based on climatic conditions has been modeled. However, little is known about factors influencing the distribution of H. longicornis at geographic scales relevant to local surveillance and control. To examine the importance of local physiogeographic conditions such as geology, soil characteristics, and land cover on the distribution of H. longicornis we employed ecological niche modeling using three machine learning algorithms - Maxent, Random Forest (RF), and Generalized Boosting Method (GBM) to estimate probability of finding H. longicornis in a particular location in New Jersey (USA), based on environmental predictors. The presence of H. longicornis in New Jersey was positively associated with Piedmont physiogeographic province and two soil types - Alfisols and Inceptisols. Soil hydraulic conductivity was the most important predictor explaining H. longicornis habitat suitability, with more permeable sandy soils with higher hydraulic conductivity being less suitable than clay or loam soils. The models were projected over the state of New Jersey creating a probabilistic map of H. longicornis habitat suitability at a high spatial resolution of 90×90 meters. The model's sensitivity was 87% for locations sampled in 2017-2019 adding to the growing evidence of the importance of soil characteristics to the survival of ticks. For the 2020-2022 dataset the model fit was 57%, suggestive of spillover to less optimal habitats or, alternatively, heterogeneity in soil characteristics at the edges of broad physiographic zones. Further modeling should incorporate abundance and life-stage information as well as detailed characterization of the soil at collection sites. Once critical parameters that drive the survival and abundance of H. longicornis are identified they can be used to guide surveillance and control strategies for this invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Andrea Egizi
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tick-borne Disease Program, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
| | - Zoe Narvaez
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, National Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Mike Gallagher
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, New Lisbon, NJ 08064, USA
| | | | - Tadhgh Rainey
- Public Health Entomologists LLC, Milford, NJ 08848, USA
| | - Dana C Price
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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Pandey M, Piedmonte NP, Vinci VC, Falco RC, Daniels TJ, Clark JA. First Detection of the Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) on Migratory Passerines in the Americas. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:2176-2181. [PMID: 36166571 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann), native to East Asia, was first reported in the United States in 2017 and is now established in at least 17 states. Haemaphysalis longicornis feeds on birds in its range outside of the United States, and migratory birds disperse this tick and tick-borne pathogens. However, early studies in the United States did not find H. longicornis on migrating passerine birds. The transport of the parthenogenetic H. longicornis on birds has the potential to greatly expand its range. We report the first discovery of H. longicornis on migratory passerine birds in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medha Pandey
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Nicholas P Piedmonte
- New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Albany, NY 12237, USA
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Vanessa C Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Thomas J Daniels
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - J Alan Clark
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
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Thompson AT, White SA, Doub EE, Sharma P, Frierson K, Dominguez K, Shaw D, Weaver D, Vigil SL, Bonilla DL, Ruder MG, Yabsley MJ. The wild life of ticks: Using passive surveillance to determine the distribution and wildlife host range of ticks and the exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis, 2010-2021. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:331. [PMID: 36127708 PMCID: PMC9487032 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05425-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We conducted a large-scale, passive regional survey of ticks associated with wildlife of the eastern United States. Our primary goals were to better assess the current geographical distribution of exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis and to identify potential wild mammalian and avian host species. However, this large-scale survey also provided valuable information regarding the distribution and host associations for many other important tick species that utilize wildlife as hosts. Methods Ticks were opportunistically collected by cooperating state and federal wildlife agencies. All ticks were placed in the supplied vials and host information was recorded, including host species, age, sex, examination date, location (at least county and state), and estimated tick burden. All ticks were identified to species using morphology, and suspect H. longicornis were confirmed through molecular techniques. Results In total, 1940 hosts were examined from across 369 counties from 23 states in the eastern USA. From these submissions, 20,626 ticks were collected and identified belonging to 11 different species. Our passive surveillance efforts detected exotic H. longicornis from nine host species from eight states. Notably, some of the earliest detections of H. longicornis in the USA were collected from wildlife through this passive surveillance network. In addition, numerous new county reports were generated for Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor albipictus, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Conclusions This study provided data on ticks collected from animals from 23 different states in the eastern USA between 2010 and 2021, with the primary goal of better characterizing the distribution and host associations of the exotic tick H. longicornis; however, new distribution data on tick species of veterinary or medical importance were also obtained. Collectively, our passive surveillance has detected numerous new county reports for H. longicornis as well as I. scapularis. Our study utilizing passive wildlife surveillance for ticks across the eastern USA is an effective method for surveying a diversity of wildlife host species, allowing us to better collect data on current tick distributions relevant to human and animal health. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05425-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Seth A White
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Emily E Doub
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Prisha Sharma
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kenna Frierson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kristen Dominguez
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David Shaw
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Stacey L Vigil
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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Price KJ, Witmier BJ, Eckert RA, Boyer CN. Recovery of Partially Engorged Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks from Active Surveillance. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1842-1846. [PMID: 35851919 PMCID: PMC9473650 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, has rapidly spread across the northeastern United States and is associated with pathogens of public health and veterinary concern. Despite its importance in pathogen dynamics, H. longicornis blood-feeding behavior in nature, specifically the likelihood of interrupted feeding, remains poorly documented. Here, we report the recovery of partially engorged, questing H. longicornis from active tick surveillance in Pennsylvania. Significantly more engorged H. longicornis nymphs (1.54%) and adults (3.07%) were recovered compared to Ixodes scapularis nymphs (0.22%) and adults (zero). Mean Scutal Index difference between unengorged and engorged nymph specimens was 0.65 and 0.42 for I. scapularis and H. longicornis, respectively, suggesting the questing, engorged H. longicornis also engorged to a comparatively lesser extent. These data are among the first to document recovery of engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis ticks and provide initial evidence for interrupted feeding and repeated successful questing events bearing implications for pathogen transmission and warranting consideration in vector dynamics models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | | | - Rebecca A Eckert
- Department of Environmental Studies, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
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Urbanová V, Kalinová E, Kopáček P, Šíma R. Experimental Infection of Mice and Ticks with the Human Isolate of Anaplasma phagocytophilum NY-18. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11070820. [PMID: 35890063 PMCID: PMC9325317 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the causative agent of tick-borne fever (TBF) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and is currently considered an emerging disease in the USA, Europe, and Asia. The increased prevalence of A. phagocytophilum as a human pathogen requires the detailed characterization of human isolates and the implementation of appropriate animal models. In this study, we demonstrated that the dynamics of infection with the human isolate of A. phagocytophilum NY-18 was variable in three different strains of mice (SCID, C3H/HeN, BALB/c). We further evaluated the ability of Ixodes ricinus to acquire and transmit A. phagocytophilum NY-18 and compared it with Ixodes scapularis. Larvae of both tick species effectively acquired the pathogen while feeding on infected mice. The infection rates then decreased during the development to nymphs. Interestingly, molted I. ricinus nymphs were unable to transmit the pathogen to naïve mice, which contrasted with I. scapularis. The results of our study suggest that I. ricinus is not a competent vector for the American human Anaplasma isolate. Further studies are needed to establish reliable transmission models for I. ricinus and European human isolate(s) of A. phagocytophilum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Urbanová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (V.U.); (E.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Eliška Kalinová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (V.U.); (E.K.); (P.K.)
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1645/31a, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (V.U.); (E.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (V.U.); (E.K.); (P.K.)
- Bioptická Laboratoř, s.r.o., Mikulášské nám. 4, 32600 Plzeň, Czech Republic
- Correspondence:
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Characterization and evaluation of a new triosephosphate isomerase homologue from Haemaphysalis longicornis as a candidate vaccine against tick infection. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101968. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Molaei G, Eisen LM, Price KJ, Eisen RJ. Range Expansion of Native and Invasive Ticks, a Looming Public Health Threat. J Infect Dis 2022; 226:370-373. [PMID: 35732174 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Native and invasive tick species pose a serious public health concern in the United States. Range expansion of several medically important tick species has resulted in an increasing number of communities at risk for exposure to ticks and tickborne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lars M Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Keith J Price
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Price KJ, Ayres BN, Maes SE, Witmier BJ, Chapman HA, Coder BL, Boyer CN, Eisen RJ, Nicholson WL. First detection of human pathogenic variant of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in field-collected Haemaphysalis longicornis, Pennsylvania, USA. Zoonoses Public Health 2021; 69:143-148. [PMID: 34958171 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive species associated with human pathogens, has spread rapidly across the eastern USA. Questing H. longicornis ticks recovered from active surveillance conducted from 1 May to 6 September, 2019 throughout Pennsylvania were tested for rickettsial pathogens. Of 265 ticks tested by PCR for pathogens, 4 (1.5%) were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene confirmed two positives as A. phagocytophilum-human agent variant. This is the first reported detection of A. phagocytophilum-human pathogenic strain DNA in exotic H. longicornis collected in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bryan N Ayres
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Holly A Chapman
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brooke L Coder
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - William L Nicholson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Roberts L, Brauer B, Nicholson WL, Ayres BN, Thompson KR, Claborn DM. First Record of the Asian Longhorned Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in Missouri. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2021; 37:296-297. [PMID: 34817609 DOI: 10.2987/21-7035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is an invasive species, originally from eastern Asia, and was first reported in the USA in New Jersey. It is now reported in several eastern states. In 2018, researchers reported H. longicornis in northwest Arkansas (Benton County). This tick species is a proven vector of livestock and human diseases, which prompted the current survey of ticks in southwest Missouri. A tick drag in Greene County, Missouri, produced 2 H. longicornis nymphs on June 9, 2021. This is the first report of this species for both the state and county.
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Higuita NIA, Franco-Paredes C, Henao-Martínez AF. The expanding spectrum of disease caused by the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum. LE INFEZIONI IN MEDICINA 2021; 29:378-385. [PMID: 35146342 PMCID: PMC8805489 DOI: 10.53854/liim-2903-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are remarkable vectors of a diverse and growing list of infectious agents of importance to both medical and veterinary disciplines. The tick Amblyomma americanum is one of the most frequently identified ticks in the United States with an expanding spectrum of human disease given its vast geographic range. The recently described Bourbon and Heartland viruses are likely transmitted by the Lone Star tick and are just two of the several novel tick-borne pathogens discovered in recent decades. The review will focus on these two viruses that can cause illness with similar characteristics to other diseases transmitted by the Lone Star tick. Healthcare professionals should consider these viruses in patients presenting with an ailment suggestive of a tick-born rickettsial disease that fails to improve with treatment with doxycycline. Additionally, some individuals may develop life-threatening allergic reactions triggered by the bite of the Lone Star tick.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Iván Agudelo Higuita
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Carlos Franco-Paredes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrés F. Henao-Martínez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA
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Tufts DM, Diuk-Wasser MA. First hemispheric report of invasive tick species Haemaphysalis punctata, first state report of Haemaphysalis longicornis, and range expansion of native tick species in Rhode Island, USA. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:394. [PMID: 34376221 PMCID: PMC8353422 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invasive arthropod vectors and the range expansions of native vectors can lead to public and veterinary health concerns, as these vectors may introduce novel pathogens or spread endemic pathogens to new locations. Recent tick invasions and range expansion in the USA has been attributed to climate and land use change, an increase in global travel, and importations of exotic animals. METHODS A 10-year surveillance study was conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, from 2010 to 2020 including sampling ticks from small mammal and avian hosts. RESULTS We report the discovery and establishment of the red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) for the first time in the western hemisphere and in the US. This invasive species was first collected in 2010 on Block Island, was collected continuously throughout the study, and was collected from an avian host. We document the first report of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in the state of Rhode Island, first observed at our sites in 2018. Finally, we present data on the range expansion and establishment of two native tick species, the lone star tick and the rabbit tick, on Block Island. CONCLUSION This study emphasized the importance of long-term surveillance to detect changes in tick host communities, including invasive and expanding native vectors of potential significance to humans and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Tufts
- Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Department, University of Pittsburgh, 2119 Public Health, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY USA
| | - Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY USA
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Thompson AT, White SA, Shaw D, Garrett KB, Wyckoff ST, Doub EE, Ruder MG, Yabsley MJ. A multi-seasonal study investigating the phenology, host and habitat associations, and pathogens of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Virginia, U.S.A. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101773. [PMID: 34229999 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the abiotic and biotic variables affecting tick populations is essential for studying the biology and health risks associated with vector species. We conducted a study on the phenology of exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick) at a site in Albemarle County, Virginia, United States. We also assessed the importance of wildlife hosts, habitats, and microclimate variables such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed on this exotic tick's presence and abundance. In addition, we determined the prevalence of infection with selected tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking H. longicornis. We determined that the seasonal activity of H. longicornis in Virginia was slightly different from previous studies in the northeastern United States. We observed nymphal ticks persist year-round but were most active in the spring, followed by a peak in adult activity in the summer and larval activity in the fall. We also observed a lower probability of collecting host-seeking H. longicornis in field habitats and the summer months. In addition, we detected H. longicornis on several wildlife hosts, including coyote (Canis latrans), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), woodchuck (Marmota monax), and a Peromyscus sp. mouse. This latter record is the first detection of a larval H. longicornis on a North American rodent host important to the enzootic maintenance of tick-borne pathogens of humans and animals. Finally, we continued to detect the exotic piroplasm parasite, Theileria orientalis Ikeda, in H. longicornis as well as other pathogens, including Rickettsia felis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP-1), and a Hepatozoon sp. previously characterized in Amblyomma americanum. These represent some of the first detections of arthropod-borne pathogens native to the United States in host-seeking H. longicornis. These data increase our understanding of H. longicornis biology in the United States and provide valuable information into the future health risks associated with this tick and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA.
| | - Seth A White
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - David Shaw
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Seth T Wyckoff
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Emily E Doub
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens GA, USA.
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