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Poje JE, Azevedo JF, Nair N, Mahachi K, Frank LE, Sherpa P, Krizek RS, Baccam T, Gomes-Solecki M, Petersen CA. Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) Infection Prevalence and Host Associations of Ticks Found on Peromyscus spp. in Maryland. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:752-757. [PMID: 34971369 PMCID: PMC8924970 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and most commonly transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland. Because B. burgdorferi s.s. is maintained in enzootic cycles among wild mice (Peromyscus spp) and Ixodes spp ticks, differing patterns of parasitism of ticks on mice could impact the infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi. We determined the infection prevalence of Peromyscus spp as well as questing and partially engorged nymphal ticks collected at six sites on private land in five counties in Maryland from May to August 2020. Questing nymph infection prevalence (NIP) was 14%. We trapped 1258 mice and collected 554 ticks and 413 ear tissue samples. The prevalence of infested Peromyscus spp varied based on host age and sex, with older and male mice more likely to be infested. We detected a significant difference amongst the proportion of attached Ixodes and the location of trapping. Similarly, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi infected Peromyscus spp mice varied between locations (average mouse infection prevalence was 40%), with the highest prevalence in locations where Ixodes were the most commonly found ticks. The B. burgdorferi infection prevalence in partially engorged I. scapularis nymphs retrieved from Peromyscus spp was ~36% which lends further support to the host infection prevalence. Local differences in distribution of infected vectors and reservoirs are important factors to consider when planning interventions to reduce Lyme disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Poje
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Jose F Azevedo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Nisha Nair
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Kurayi Mahachi
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lexi E Frank
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Phurchhoki Sherpa
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Rachel S Krizek
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Tyler Baccam
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Maria Gomes-Solecki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Christine A Petersen
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Machtinger ET, Nadolny RM, Vinyard BT, Eisen L, Hojgaard A, Haynes SA, Bowman L, Casal C, Li AY. Spatial Heterogeneity of Sympatric Tick Species and Tick-Borne Pathogens Emphasizes the Need for Surveillance for Effective Tick Control. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2021; 21:843-853. [PMID: 34463140 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2021.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Three tick species that can transmit pathogen causing disease are commonly found parasitizing people and animals in the mid-Atlantic United States: the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say), the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis [Say]), and the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum [L.]) (Acari: Ixodidae). The potential risk of pathogen transmission from tick bites acquired at schools in tick-endemic areas is a concern, as school-aged children are a high-risk group for tick-borne disease. Integrated pest management (IPM) is often required in school districts, and continued tick range expansion and population growth will likely necessitate IPM strategies to manage ticks on school grounds. However, an often-overlooked step of tick management is monitoring and assessment of local tick species assemblages to inform the selection of control methodologies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tick species presence, abundance, and distribution and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in both questing ticks and those removed from rodent hosts on six school properties in Maryland. Overall, there was extensive heterogeneity in tick species dominance, abundance, and evenness across the field sites. A. americanum and I. scapularis were found on all sites in all years. Overall, A. americanum was the dominant tick species. D. variabilis was collected in limited numbers. Several pathogens were found in both questing ticks and those removed from rodent hosts, although prevalence of infection was not consistent between years. Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Ehrlichia "Panola Mountain" were identified in questing ticks, and B. burgdorferi and Borrelia miyamotoi were detected in trapped Peromyscus spp. mice. B. burgdorferi was the dominant pathogen detected. The impact of tick diversity on IPM of ticks is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika T Machtinger
- USDA, ARS, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Robyn M Nadolny
- Army Public Health Center, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Scott A Haynes
- Army Public Health Center, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
| | - Loretta Bowman
- Army Public Health Center, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
| | - Cory Casal
- Army Public Health Center, Tick-Borne Disease Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Y Li
- USDA, ARS, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
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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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