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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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2
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Kim SY, Seo CW, Lee HI. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from ticks: a molecular epidemiological study of a patient in the Republic of Korea. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 89:305-315. [PMID: 36928542 PMCID: PMC10097770 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00783-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by Dabie bandavirus, commonly called SFTS virus (SFTSV). In the Republic of Korea (ROK), 1,504 cases of SFTS have been reported since the first human case was identified in 2013 until 2021. However, no case exists to provide molecular evidence between questing tick and patients with confirmed SFTS in the same living environment. In this study, we investigated the presence of ticks near the area of a patient infected with SFTSV. Ticks were collected by flagging and dry ice-baited traps at three spots in the vegetation around the patients' residence in Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province (ROK). Among the tick samples collected, the presence of SFTSV was genetically determined using reverse transcription PCR, followed by the phylogenetic analysis of the tick virus sequences and SFTSV found in the patient. In total 1,212 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected, and SFTSV was detected at a minimum infection rate of 5.3% (33 pools/618 tested ticks). The sequences of SFTSV in ticks were 99.6-100% identical with the patient's SFTSV in the M segment. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first case to provide a molecular correlation between SFTSV in questing ticks collected from residence and patient with SFTS in the ROK. The present results provide useful information for the epidemiological investigation of patients with SFTS using ticks as vectors of SFTSV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Yoon Kim
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Cheongwon-gun, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 363-951, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Won Seo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, 54 Yangji-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan, 47230, Korea
| | - Hee Il Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Disease Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 187 Osongsaengmyeong 2-ro, Cheongwon-gun, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 363-951, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Lee J, Park K, Kim J, Lee SH, Lee GY, Cho S, Kim HC, Klein TA, Kim JA, Choi J, Park J, Song DH, Gu SH, Yun H, Kim JE, Lee D, Hur GH, Jeong ST, Hwang IU, Kim WK, Song JW. Whole-genome sequencing and genetic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus using multiplex PCR-based nanopore sequencing, Republic of Korea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010763. [PMID: 36094957 PMCID: PMC9499217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Whole-genome sequencing plays a critical role in the genomic epidemiology intended to improve understanding the spread of emerging viruses. Dabie bandavirus, causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), is a zoonotic tick-borne virus that poses a significant public health threat. We aimed to evaluate a novel amplicon-based nanopore sequencing tool to obtain whole-genome sequences of Dabie bandavirus, also known as SFTS virus (SFTSV), and investigate the molecular prevalence in wild ticks, Republic of Korea (ROK).
Principal findings
A total of 6,593 ticks were collected from Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, ROK in 2019 and 2020. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of SFSTV RNA in three Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. Two SFTSV strains were isolated from H. longicornis captured from Pocheon and Cheorwon. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based nanopore sequencing provided nearly full-length tripartite genome sequences of SFTSV within one hour running. Phylogenetic and reassortment analyses were performed to infer evolutionary relationships among SFTSVs. Phylogenetic analysis grouped SFTSV Hl19-31-4 and Hl19-31-13 from Pocheon with sub-genotype B-1 in all segments. SFTSV Hl20-8 was found to be a genomic organization compatible with B-1 (for L segment) and B-2 (for M and S segments) sub-genotypes, indicating a natural reassortment between sub-genotypes.
Conclusion/Significance
Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing is a robust tool for whole-genome sequencing of SFTSV using the nanopore platform. The molecular prevalence and geographical distribution of SFTSV enhanced the phylogeographic map at high resolution for sophisticated prevention of emerging SFTS in endemic areas. Our findings provide important insights into the rapid whole-genome sequencing and genetic diversity for the genome-based diagnosis of SFTSV in the endemic outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyeong Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungmin Park
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongwoo Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Lee
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Geum-Young Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungchan Cho
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, United States of America
| | - Terry A. Klein
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, United States of America
| | - Jeong-Ah Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bureau of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeewan Choi
- Republic of Korea Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Juwan Park
- The Fifth Preventive Medicine Unit of Republic of Korea Army, Pocheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Hyun Song
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Hun Gu
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongseok Yun
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Eun Kim
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Daesang Lee
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeung Haeng Hur
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Tae Jeong
- Chem-Bio Technology Center, Agency for Defense Development, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Ung Hwang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Medical Research, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Won Song
- Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- * E-mail:
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4
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Lee SH, Chong ST, Kim HC, Klein TA, Park K, Lee J, Kim JA, Kim WK, Song JW. Surveillance and Molecular Identification of Borrelia Species in Ticks Collected at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Republic of Korea, 2018-2019. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:363-371. [PMID: 34642760 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens are contributing factors for the increased incidence of vector-borne diseases throughout the world, including Lyme borreliosis, one of the most prevalent spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group. The present study focused on the detection of Borrelia species from hard ticks collected at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Republic of Korea (ROK), using molecular and genotypic analyses. Tick-borne disease surveillance was conducted from January to December, 2018-2019. A total of 24,281 ticks (2 genera and 5 species) were collected from road-killed Korean Water deer (KWD) and by tick drag. Haemaphysalis longicornis (92.0%) was the most commonly collected species, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (4.9%), Ixodes nipponensis (3.1%), Haemaphysalis phasiana (0.07%), and Haemaphysalis japonica (<0.01%). The ospA gene sequences of Borrelia afzelii were detected in 12/529 pools of I. nipponensis. Three and one pools were positive for B. afzelii and Borrelia miyamotoi, respectively, using the 16s rRNA gene. None of the pools of Haemaphysalis ticks collected from KWD or by tick drag were positive for Borrelia species. I. nipponensis was collected throughout the year from KWD and from February to November by tick drag, suggesting that they were active throughout the year, and expanding the risk period for acquiring Lyme borreliosis and Borrelia relapsing fever in the ROK. This study assessed disease risk factors associated with the prevalence of Lyme disease in ticks collected from KWD and by tick drag using molecular analysis. These results provide an understanding and awareness into the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Borrelia species in the ROK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Ho Lee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281 (Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea), APO, AP, USA
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281 (Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea), APO, AP, USA
| | - Terry A Klein
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281 (Pyeongtaek, Republic of Korea), APO, AP, USA
| | - Kyungmin Park
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jingyeong Lee
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Ah Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of High-risk Pathogens, Bureau of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Keun Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Won Song
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 Graduate Program, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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5
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Sherpa P, Harrington LC, Piedmonte NP, Wunderlin K, Falco RC. Optimal Collection Methods for Asian Longhorned Ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the Northeast United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2255-2263. [PMID: 34080012 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is an invasive species in the United States. Since its earliest recorded presence in West Virginia in 2010, H. longicornis has been reported from 15 states. While its public health significance in the United States is unclear, globally it transmits pathogens that infect livestock and humans, causing economic losses and substantial morbidity. Management and control of H. longicornis requires knowledge of its biology, ecology, and distribution. Here, we address the need for effective collection methods for host-seeking H. longicornis as an important step for accurately assessing tick abundance and potential disease risk. The number of H. longicornis collected were compared across three collection methods (dragging, sweeping, CO2 traps) and three tick check distances (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) were compared for dragging and sweeping. Field collections were conducted from June through August 2019 in Westchester County, New York, and ticks were grouped by life stage to assess collection method efficiency. Results indicated that implementing shorter (5 m) tick check distance was ideal for adult and nymphal collections. The dragging method proved better than sweeping for adult collections; however, there was no significant difference between the methods for nymphal collections, at any tick check distance evaluated. CO2 traps attracted H. longicornis, but additional research is necessary to devise an effective tick retaining method before the traps can be implemented in the field. The results are presented to inform and support H. longicornis surveillance and control programs across the nation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicholas P Piedmonte
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Kathryn Wunderlin
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
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6
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Mutizhe SW, Mhlanga L, Sithole R, Maya BT, Sibanda A, Mpofu P. Spatio‐temporal variation in tick community composition and abundance in a wildlife–livestock interface within Nyanga National Park, Zimbabwe. Afr J Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silas W. Mutizhe
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe
| | - Lindah Mhlanga
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe
| | - Rudo Sithole
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Zimbabwe Harare Zimbabwe
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7
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Pérez-Sautu U, Wiley MR, Prieto K, Chitty JA, Haddow AD, Sánchez-Lockhart M, Klein TA, Kim HC, Chong ST, Kim YJ, Choi BS, Palacios GF. Novel viruses in hard ticks collected in the Republic of Korea unveiled by metagenomic high-throughput sequencing analysis. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101820. [PMID: 34555711 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101820] [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: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are vectors of a wide range of zoonotic viruses of medical and veterinary importance. Recently, metagenomics studies demonstrated that they are also the source of potentially pathogenic novel viruses. During the period from 2015 to 2017, questing ticks were collected by dragging the vegetation from geographically distant locations in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and a target-independent high-throughput sequencing method was utilized to study their virome. A total of seven viruses, including six putative novel viral entities, were identified. Genomic analysis showed that the novel viruses were most closely related to members in the orders Jingchuvirales and Bunyavirales. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that the Bunyavirales-like viruses grouped in the same clade with other viruses within the Nairovirus and Phlebovirus genera, while the novel Jingchuvirales-like virus grouped together with other viruses within the family Chuviridae. Real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the geographic distribution and prevalence of these viruses in adult ticks. These novel viruses have a wide geographic distribution in the ROK with prevalences ranging from 2% to 18%. Our study expands the knowledge about the composition of the tick virome and highlights the wide diversity of viruses they harbor in the ROK. The discovery of novel viruses associated with ticks in the ROK highlights the need for an active tick-borne disease surveillance program to identify possible reservoirs of putative novel human pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unai Pérez-Sautu
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA.
| | - Michael R Wiley
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA; College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68198, Nebraska, USA
| | - Karla Prieto
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA; College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68198, Nebraska, USA
| | - Joseph A Chitty
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew D Haddow
- Virology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, 30144, Georgia, USA
| | - Mariano Sánchez-Lockhart
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA; Department of Pathology & Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, 68198, Nebraska, USA
| | - Terry A Klein
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea /65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea /65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea /65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA
| | - Yu-Jin Kim
- Army Headquarters, Gyeryong-si, 32800, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Gustavo F Palacios
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, 21702, Maryland, USA
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8
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Jin K, Koh YJ, Ahn SK, Cho J, Lim J, Song J, Lee J, Gong YW, Kwon MJ, Kwon HW, Bahk YY, Kim TS. Hard Ticks as Vectors Tested Negative for Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in Ganghwa-do, Korea during 2019-2020. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2021; 59:281-289. [PMID: 34218600 PMCID: PMC8255492 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to characterize the seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus from April to November 2019 and 2020 on Ganghwa-do, Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. The ticks were collected at grassland, grave site, copse and mountain road using a collection trap method. The ixodid hard ticks comprising three species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) collected were 6,622 in 2019 and 3,811 in 2020. H. longicornis was the most frequent (97.9% in 2019 and 96.0% in 2020), followed by H. flava (2.0% and 3.0% in 2019 and 2020, respectively) and I. nipponensis (less than 0.1%). Our study demonstrated that seasonal patterns of the tick populations examined for two years were totally unsimilar. The hard ticks tested using RT-qPCR were all negative for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung Jin
- Korea Health Evaluation Institute, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea
| | - Yeon-Ja Koh
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine & Global Resource Bank of Parasitic Protozoa Pathogens, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Joonghee Cho
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Junghwan Lim
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Jaeyong Song
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine & Global Resource Bank of Parasitic Protozoa Pathogens, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Young Woo Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Mun Ju Kwon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Hyung Wook Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea.,Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
| | - Young Yil Bahk
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine & Global Resource Bank of Parasitic Protozoa Pathogens, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea.,Convergence Research Center for Insect Vectors, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
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9
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Seo JW, Han SY, Sung SH, Jung EY, Kim JH, Lee SJ, Yoo SS. Survey on tick distribution and tick-borne pathogens in Daejeon and adjacent areas in South Korea. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101711. [PMID: 33774480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ticks (Ixodidae, also known as hard ticks) as principal vectors of zoonotic diseases such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), Lyme borreliosis, relapsing fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, coxiellosis (Q fever), and tularemia pose a major public health threat. This study was conducted to identify the distribution profile of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Daejeon and the adjacent areas in South Korea, where no such epidemiological study has been conducted. From April to October 2019, 16,765 ticks were collected from three genera and four species: Haemaphysalis longicornis (n = 14,949; 89.2 %), Haemaphysalis flava (n = 987; 5.9 %), Ixodes nipponensis (n = 828; 5.0 %), and Amblyomma testudinarium (n = 1; 0.01 %). Homogenized samples of ticks were screened by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and PCR for the presence of the following tick-borne pathogens: SFTS virus (SFTSV), Borrelia spp., Babesia microti, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp. As a result, SFTSV (2 cases), Borrelia spp. (32 cases), and Babesia microti (7 cases) were detected. The findings of this study will contribute to the prevention and management of tick-borne zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Woo Seo
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea.
| | - So-Young Han
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun-Hye Sung
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Young Jung
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Ho Kim
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Ju Lee
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Sik Yoo
- Daejeon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, 407 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34142, Republic of Korea
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10
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Tick-borne rickettsiae in Midwestern region of Republic of Korea. Acta Trop 2021; 215:105794. [PMID: 33310079 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
To identify spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae among ticks collected by dragging at eight sites in three provinces of the midwestern region of the Republic of Korea (ROK), genus- and species-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays and sequencing were performed. DNA was extracted from a total of 2,312 ticks that were assayed individually (n=140) or in pools (n=444), resulting in a total of 584 individual and pooled tick samples. The 584 tick samples were screened with the genus-specific qPCR assay (Rick17b) and produced 265 (45.38%) positive reactions [individual (n=64) and pooled (n=101) samples]. Of these genus-specific positive samples, 57 (21.51%) were identified as Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii and 48 (18.11%) were identified as R. monacensis by species-specific qPCR assays. Subsequently, nested PCR (nPCR) was performed with 120 samples, which tested positive samples for genus-specific, but not species-specific, qPCR assays. The sequences of ompA and ompB genes showed how many close relatedness to Ca. R. longicornii and Ca. R. jingxinensis isolate Xian Hl-79, uncultured Rickettsia sp. Y27-1, Ca. R. tasmanensis strain T152, R. endosymbiont of H. longicornis tick 47, and R. koreansis strain CNH17-7. In conclusion, we successfully detected specific rickettsial agents using qPCR and a sequence-based analysis approach that demonstrated the prevalence of various tick-borne Rickettsia spp. in midwestern ROK.
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St John HK, Masuoka P, Jiang J, Takhampunya R, Klein TA, Kim HC, Chong ST, Song JW, Kim YJ, Farris CM, Richards AL. Geographic distribution and modeling of ticks in the Republic of Korea and the application of tick models towards understanding the distribution of associated pathogenic agents. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101686. [PMID: 33667830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Encounters with ticks harboring pathogenic agents have demonstrated increasing public health implications. Tick surveillance in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is essential for determining tick distributions and the potential regions where tick-borne pathogens may be found. Extensive tick collections (tick drags and tick flagging) were previously performed by Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine (FHP&PM), Medical Activity-Korea (MEDDAC-K)/65th Medical Brigade (MED BDE) personnel, in collaboration with the Public Health Activity-Korea in the ROK. A total of 144,131 ticks were collected from 2,019 locations during 2004 to 2016. The associated location data (GPS coordinates) for each of the collection sites were incorporated into distribution maps using ArcGIS and combined with environmental data in the Maxent ecological niche modeling program (n = 733 geographical unique locations from 1,429 presence records/collection locations) to produce estimates of tick distributions for each species. The predominant tick species found and modeled were, in order of prevalence: Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, Ixodes nipponensis, H. phasiana, I. turdus, Amblyomma testudinarium, H. japonica, and I. persulcatus. Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and I. nipponensis were the most widely distributed and most commonly collected species of ticks. The maps and models of suitable habitat regions produced in this study provide a better understanding of where there are potential risks of encountering a particular tick species, and which, as demonstrated herein with rickettsiae, can be used to study tick-pathogen dynamics of diseases. Knowledge of the distribution of ticks is important in the ROK because of the presence of tick-borne diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, tick-borne encephalitis, rickettsioses, and borrelioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi K St John
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA; Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA.
| | - Penny Masuoka
- Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA; Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics Department, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ju Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA; Henry Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD, 20817, USA
| | - Ratree Takhampunya
- Department of Entomology, United States Army Medical Directorate-Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Terry A Klein
- Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine, MEDDAC-K/65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271-5281, USA
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine, MEDDAC-K/65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271-5281, USA
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine, MEDDAC-K/65(th) Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271-5281, USA
| | - Jin-Won Song
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Jin Kim
- Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam, 13590, Republic of Korea
| | - Christina M Farris
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Allen L Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA; Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics Department, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
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12
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Salomon J, Hamer SA, Swei A. A Beginner's Guide to Collecting Questing Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): A Standardized Tick Dragging Protocol. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2020; 20:11. [PMID: 33135760 PMCID: PMC7604844 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are emerging globally, necessitating increased research and coordination of tick surveillance practices. The most widely used technique for active collection of host-seeking, human-biting tick vectors is 'tick dragging', by which a cloth is dragged across the top of the vegetation or forest floor and regularly checked for the presence of ticks. Use of variable dragging protocols limits the ability of researchers to combine data sets for comparative analyses or determine patterns and trends across different spatial and temporal scales. Standardization of tick drag collection and reporting methodology will greatly benefit the field of tick-pathogen studies. Based on the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and other ecological considerations, we propose that tick dragging should be conducted to sample at least 750 m2 along linear transects when habitat allows in a manner that reduces bias in the sampled area, and report density of each tick species and life stage separately. A protocol for constructing a standard drag cloth, establishing linear transects, and drag sampling is presented, along with a downloadable datasheet that can be modified to suit the needs of different projects. Efforts to align tick surveillance according to these standard best practices will help generate robust data on tick population biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Salomon
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA
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13
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Perez-Sautu U, Gu SH, Caviness K, Song DH, Kim YJ, Paola ND, Lee D, Klein TA, Chitty JA, Nagle E, Kim HC, Chong ST, Beitzel B, Reyes DS, Finch C, Byrum R, Cooper K, Liang J, Kuhn JH, Zeng X, Kuehl KA, Coffin KM, Liu J, Oh HS, Seog W, Choi BS, Sanchez-Lockhart M, Palacios G, Jeong ST. A Model for the Production of Regulatory Grade Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Exposure Stocks: From Field Surveillance to Advanced Characterization of SFTSV. Viruses 2020; 12:v12090958. [PMID: 32872451 PMCID: PMC7552075 DOI: 10.3390/v12090958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging human pathogen, endemic in areas of China, Japan, and the Korea (KOR). It is primarily transmitted through infected ticks and can cause a severe hemorrhagic fever disease with case fatality rates as high as 30%. Despite its high virulence and increasing prevalence, molecular and functional studies in situ are scarce due to the limited availability of high-titer SFTSV exposure stocks. During the course of field virologic surveillance in 2017, we detected SFTSV in ticks and in a symptomatic soldier in a KOR Army training area. SFTSV was isolated from the ticks producing a high-titer viral exposure stock. Through the use of advanced genomic tools, we present here a complete, in-depth characterization of this viral stock, including a comparison with both the virus in its arthropod source and in the human case, and an in vivo study of its pathogenicity. Thanks to this detailed characterization, this SFTSV viral exposure stock constitutes a quality biological tool for the study of this viral agent and for the development of medical countermeasures, fulfilling the requirements of the main regulatory agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unai Perez-Sautu
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Se Hun Gu
- The 4th Research & Development Institute, Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Daejeon 34186, Korea; (S.H.G.); (D.H.S.); (D.L.)
| | - Katie Caviness
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Dong Hyun Song
- The 4th Research & Development Institute, Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Daejeon 34186, Korea; (S.H.G.); (D.H.S.); (D.L.)
| | - Yu-Jin Kim
- Army Headquarters, Gyeryong-si 32800, Korea; (Y.-J.K.); (B.-S.C.)
| | - Nicholas Di Paola
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Daesang Lee
- The 4th Research & Development Institute, Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Daejeon 34186, Korea; (S.H.G.); (D.H.S.); (D.L.)
| | - Terry A. Klein
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA; (T.A.K.); (H.-C.K.); (S.-T.C.)
| | - Joseph A. Chitty
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Elyse Nagle
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA; (T.A.K.); (H.-C.K.); (S.-T.C.)
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- Force Health Protection and Preventive Medicine, Medical Department Activity-Korea/65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96271, USA; (T.A.K.); (H.-C.K.); (S.-T.C.)
| | - Brett Beitzel
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Daniel S. Reyes
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
| | - Courtney Finch
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (C.F.); (R.B.); (K.C.); (J.L.); (J.H.K.)
| | - Russ Byrum
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (C.F.); (R.B.); (K.C.); (J.L.); (J.H.K.)
| | - Kurt Cooper
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (C.F.); (R.B.); (K.C.); (J.L.); (J.H.K.)
| | - Janie Liang
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (C.F.); (R.B.); (K.C.); (J.L.); (J.H.K.)
| | - Jens H. Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick (IRF-Frederick), Division of Clinical Research (DCR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (C.F.); (R.B.); (K.C.); (J.L.); (J.H.K.)
| | - Xiankun Zeng
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (X.Z.); (K.A.K.); (K.M.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Kathleen A. Kuehl
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (X.Z.); (K.A.K.); (K.M.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Kayla M. Coffin
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (X.Z.); (K.A.K.); (K.M.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Jun Liu
- Pathology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (X.Z.); (K.A.K.); (K.M.C.); (J.L.)
| | - Hong Sang Oh
- Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam-si 13590, Korea; (H.S.O.); (W.S.)
| | - Woong Seog
- Armed Forces Medical Command, Seongnam-si 13590, Korea; (H.S.O.); (W.S.)
| | - Byung-Sub Choi
- Army Headquarters, Gyeryong-si 32800, Korea; (Y.-J.K.); (B.-S.C.)
| | - Mariano Sanchez-Lockhart
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
- Department of Pathology & Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
- Correspondence: (M.S.-L.); (G.P.); (S.T.J.)
| | - Gustavo Palacios
- Center for Genome Sciences, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (U.P.-S.); (K.C.); (N.D.P.); (J.A.C.); (E.N.); (B.B.); (D.S.R.)
- Correspondence: (M.S.-L.); (G.P.); (S.T.J.)
| | - Seong Tae Jeong
- The 4th Research & Development Institute, Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Daejeon 34186, Korea; (S.H.G.); (D.H.S.); (D.L.)
- Correspondence: (M.S.-L.); (G.P.); (S.T.J.)
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14
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Kim-Jeon MD, Jegal S, Jun H, Jung H, Park SH, Ahn SK, Lee J, Gong YW, Joo K, Kwon MJ, Roh JY, Lee WG, Bahk YY, Kim TS. Four Year Surveillance of the Vector Hard Ticks for SFTS, Ganghwa-do, Republic of Korea. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:691-698. [PMID: 31914523 PMCID: PMC6960244 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.6.691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was monitored with a collection trap method every April to November during 2015–2018 and with a flagging method every July and August during 2015–2018 in Ganghwa-do (island) of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. This monitoring was performed in a copse, a short grass field, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest. A total of 17,457 ticks (8,277 larvae, 4,137 nymphs, 3,389 females, and 1,654 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) were collected with collection traps. Of the identified ticks, H. longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ticks) (94.26%, 8,653/9,180 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (5.71%, 524/9,180) and Ix. nipponensis (less than 0.04%, 3/9,180). The ticks collected with collecting traps were pooled and assayed for the presence of SFTS virus with negative results. In addition, for monitoring the prevalence of hard ticks, a total of 7,461 ticks (5,529 larvae, 1,272 nymphs, 469 females, and 191 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ix. nipponensis) were collected with flagging method. H. longicornis was the highest collected ticks (except larval ticks) (99.53%, 1,908/1,917 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (1.15%, 22/1,917).
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Deok Kim-Jeon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Seung Jegal
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Hojong Jun
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Haneul Jung
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seo Hye Park
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Seong Kyu Ahn
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Jinyoung Lee
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
| | - Young Woo Gong
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Kwangsig Joo
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Mun Ju Kwon
- Department of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis, Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Public Health and Environment, Incheon 22320, Korea
| | - Jong Yul Roh
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Wook-Gyo Lee
- Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea
| | - Young Yil Bahk
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
| | - Tong-Soo Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea
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15
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Chae JB, Cho YS, Cho YK, Kang JG, Shin NS, Chae JS. Epidemiological Investigation of Tick Species from Near Domestic Animal Farms and Cattle, Goat, and Wild Boar in Korea. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2019; 57:319-324. [PMID: 31284358 PMCID: PMC6616163 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the tick species and give background for tick-borne investigations in Korea. Ticks were collected from the area within 2 km radius of the 4 domestic animal farms, where they were located in mountainous areas and raising animals on pasture, and from animal bodies in 2014 and 2015. In total, 7,973 nymphal and adult ticks were collected from the farms - 7,758 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 198 Haemaphysalis flava, and 17 Ixodes nipponensis, and 1,763 were collected from animals - 729 H. longicornis from cattle; 569 H. longicornis from goats; and 297 H. longicornis, 118 H. flava, 1 I. nipponensis, and 49 Amblyomma testudinarium from wild boars. As more species of ticks were collected from wild boars than domesticated animals and their habitats, various animal hosts should be considered while investigating tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Byoung Chae
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Young-Sun Cho
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Yoon-Kyoung Cho
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Jun-Gu Kang
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Nam-Shik Shin
- Laboratory of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Joon-Seok Chae
- Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science and College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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16
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Ben I, Lozynskyi I. Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus and Coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Western Ukraine. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:793-801. [PMID: 31211655 PMCID: PMC6818487 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), are widespread in Western Ukraine. However, relatively little is known about Anaplasma phagocytophilum in this region. This study examined patterns of infection with A. phagocytophilum in two tick vectors compared with the better studied TBEV and B. burgdorferi. Materials: Ticks were collected in three different ecosystems of the Western Ukraine during 2009–2014. Samples were examined for pathogen detection using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and logistic regression models were developed to assess the significance of different factors. Results: Among the three selected ecological systems of the Western region of Ukraine, 5130 ticks belonging to Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus were collected between 2009 and 2014. They were grouped into 366 pools and were tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum. A subsample (1620 ticks, 162 pools) of the ticks was concurrently tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum, B. burgdorferi, and TBEV. Overall, there was no trend in the proportion of positive ticks across years (p > 0.05). However, the prevalence of A. phagocytophilum was higher (27.4%) in I. ricinus than in D. reticulatus (15.9%) (OR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.52–4.94 (Lower, Upper 95% CI)). Infection was more common in forested habitats (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.07–3.36) and during the later summer–early autumn (3.78; 95% CI, 1.79–8.06). B. burgdorferi was found in 29.3% and 31.9% of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus, respectively; and TBEV was found in 6.3% and 14.5% of I. ricinus and D. reticulatus. Coinfection of A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi occurred more often than chance and was more frequent than any other combination of pathogens (p = 0.031). Conclusions: Our study is the first to explore the potential relationship between the ecosystems, vectors, and the presence of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA) and other tick-borne infections in Western Ukraine. Anaplasma demonstrated a greater prevalence in I. ricinus in the forested area in Western Ukraine. Altogether, HGA, LD, and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) pathogens are actively circulating in these ecosystems and have the potential to coinfect vectors that might increase the risk of transmitting multiple pathogens to humans during host feeding by individual ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Ben
- Research Institute of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Ihor Lozynskyi
- Research Institute of Epidemiology and Hygiene, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, Lviv, Ukraine
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17
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Occi JL, Egizi AM, Robbins RG, Fonseca DM. Annotated List of the Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) of New Jersey. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:589-598. [PMID: 30753552 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Standardized tick surveillance requires an understanding of which species may be present. After a thorough review of the scientific literature, as well as government documents, and careful evaluation of existing accessioned tick collections (vouchers) in museums and other repositories, we have determined that the verifiable hard tick fauna of New Jersey (NJ) currently comprises 11 species. Nine are indigenous to North America and two are invasive, including the recently identified Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901). For each of the 11 species, we summarize NJ collection details and review their known public health and veterinary importance and available information on seasonality. Separately considered are seven additional species that may be present in the state or become established in the future but whose presence is not currently confirmed with NJ vouchers. We compare our list of hard ticks in NJ with those from neighboring states (Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland), discuss the importance of vouchers in tick research and surveillance, and examine the likelihood and public health consequences of additional hard tick species becoming established in NJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Occi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
| | - Andrea M Egizi
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
- Tick-borne Diseases Laboratory, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tinton Falls
| | - Richard G Robbins
- Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, MSC, MRC, Suitland
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
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Takhampunya R, Kim HC, Chong ST, Korkusol A, Tippayachai B, Davidson SA, Petersen JM, Klein TA. Francisella-Like Endosymbiont Detected in Haemaphysalis Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) From the Republic of Korea. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1735-1742. [PMID: 28981682 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A total of 6,255 ticks belonging to three genera and six species (Haemaphysalis flava Neumann, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, Haemaphysalis phasiana Saito, Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka & Saito, Ixodes persulcatus Schulze, and Amblyomma testudinarium Koch) collected from May-August, 2013, at four southwestern provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK) were submitted to the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences and assayed for selected tick-borne pathogens. One pool each of H. flava and H. phasiana was positive by PCR and sequencing for a Francisella-like endosymbiont, while all pools were negative for Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratree Takhampunya
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- 5th Medical Detachment/Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment/Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
| | - Achareeya Korkusol
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Bousaraporn Tippayachai
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Silas A Davidson
- Diagnostic and Reemerging Disease Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Jeannine M Petersen
- Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Terry A Klein
- Medical Department Activity-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96205-5281, USA
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Noh Y, Lee YS, Kim HC, Chong ST, Klein TA, Jiang J, Richards AL, Lee HK, Kim SY. Molecular detection of Rickettsia species in ticks collected from the southwestern provinces of the Republic of Korea. Parasit Vectors 2017; 10:20. [PMID: 28069059 PMCID: PMC5223493 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1955-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rickettsiae constitute a group of arthropod-borne, Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacteria that are the causative agents of diseases ranging from mild to life threatening that impact on medical and veterinary health worldwide. Methods A total of 6,484 ticks were collected by tick drag from June-October 2013 in the southwestern provinces of the Republic of Korea (ROK) (Jeollanam, n = 3,995; Jeollabuk, n = 680; Chungcheongnam, n = 1,478; and Chungcheongbuk, n = 331). Ticks were sorted into 311 pools according to species, collection site, and stage of development. DNA preparations of tick pools were assayed for rickettsiae by 17 kDa antigen gene and ompA nested PCR (nPCR) assays and the resulting amplicons sequenced to determine the identity and prevalence of spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR). Results Haemaphysalis longicornis (4,471; 52 adults, 123 nymphs and 4,296 larvae) were the most commonly collected ticks, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (1,582; 28 adults, 263 nymphs and 1,291 larvae), and Ixodes nipponensis (431; 25 adults, 5 nymphs and 401 larvae). The minimum field infection rate/100 ticks (assuming 1 positive tick/pool) was 0.93% for the 17 kDa antigen gene and 0.82% for the ompA nPCR assays. The partial 17 kDa antigen and ompA gene sequences from positive pools of H. longicornis were similar to: Rickettsia sp. HI550 (99.4–100%), Rickettsia sp. FUJ98 (99.3–100%), Rickettsia sp. HIR/D91 (99.3–100%), and R. japonica (99.7%). One sequence of the partial 17 kDa antigen gene for H. flava was similar to Rickettsia sp. 17kd-005 (99.7%), while seven sequences of the 17 kDa antigen gene obtained from I. nipponensis ticks were similar to R. monacensis IrR/Munich (98.7–100%) and Rickettsia sp. IRS3 (98.9%). Conclusions SFG rickettsiae were detected in three species of ixodid ticks collected in the southwestern provinces of the ROK during 2013. A number of rickettsiae have been recently reported from ticks in Korea, some of which were identified as medically important. Results from this study and previous reports demonstrate the need to conduct longitudinal investigations to identify tick-borne rickettsiae and better understand their geographical distributions and potential impact on medical and veterinary health, in addition to risk communication and development of rickettsial disease prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoontae Noh
- Division of Zoonoses, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong Seon Lee
- Division of Zoonoses, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, Yongsan US Army Garrison, Seoul, APO AP 96205-5247, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, Yongsan US Army Garrison, Seoul, APO AP 96205-5247, Republic of Korea
| | - Terry A Klein
- Public Health Command District-Korea, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, Yongsan US Army Garrison, Seoul, APO AP 96205-5281, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Jiang
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Allen L Richards
- Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Hae Kyeong Lee
- Division of Zoonoses, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Yeon Kim
- Division of Zoonoses, National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, 28159, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Bakhvalova VN, Chicherina GS, Potapova OF, Panov VV, Glupov VV, Potapov MA, Seligman SJ, Morozova OV. Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Diversity in Ixodid Ticks and Small Mammals in South-Western Siberia, Russia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 16:541-9. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina N. Bakhvalova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Galina S. Chicherina
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Olga F. Potapova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Victor V. Panov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Victor V. Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail A. Potapov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Stephen J. Seligman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Olga V. Morozova
- Ivanovsky Institute of Virology of the Federal Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology of N.F. Gamaleya of the Russian Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russia
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21
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Yun SM, Lee YJ, Choi W, Kim HC, Chong ST, Chang KS, Coburn JM, Klein TA, Lee WJ. Molecular detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and tick-borne encephalitis viruses in ixodid ticks collected from vegetation, Republic of Korea, 2014. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:970-978. [PMID: 27211914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ticks play an important role in transmission of arboviruses responsible for emerging infectious diseases, and have a significant impact on human, veterinary, and wildlife health. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), little is known about information regarding the presence of tick-borne viruses and their vectors. A total of 21,158 ticks belonging to 3 genera and 6 species collected at 6 provinces and 4 metropolitan areas in the ROK from March to October 2014 were assayed for selected tick-borne pathogens. Haemaphysalis longicornis (n=17,570) was the most numerously collected, followed by Haemaphysalis flava (n=3317), Ixodes nipponensis (n=249), Amblyomma testudinarium (n=11), Haemaphysalis phasiana (n=8), and Ixodes turdus (n=3). Ticks were pooled (adults 1-5, nymphs 1-30, and larvae 1-50) and tested by one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or nested RT-PCR for the detection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia virus (SFTSV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Powassan virus (POWV), Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus (OHFV), and Langat virus (LGTV). The overall maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) [estimated numbers of viral RNA positive ticks/1000 ticks] for SFTSV and TBEV was 0.95 and 0.43, respectively, while, all pools were negative for POWV, OHFV, and LGTV. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of SFTSV, TBEV, POWV, OHFV, and LGTV in ixodid ticks collected from vegetation in the ROK to aid our understanding of the epidemiology of tick-borne viral diseases. Results from this study emphasize the need for continuous tick-based arbovirus surveillance to monitor the emergence of tick-borne diseases in the ROK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-Min Yun
- Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Ji Lee
- Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - WooYoung Choi
- Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP, 96205-5247, USA
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP, 96205-5247, USA
| | - Kyu-Sik Chang
- Division of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), 28159, Republic of Korea
| | - Jordan M Coburn
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, 76022 Crockett Street, Ft Hood, TX 76544, USA
| | - Terry A Klein
- Public Health Command District-Korea (Provisional), 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP, 96205-5281, USA
| | - Won-Ja Lee
- Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), 28159, Republic of Korea.
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Suh JH, Kim HC, Yun SM, Lim JW, Kim JH, Chong ST, Kim DH, Kim HT, Kim H, Klein TA, Johnson JL, Lee WJ. Detection of SFTS Virus in Ixodes nipponensis and Amblyomma testudinarium (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Collected From Reptiles in the Republic of Korea. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:584-590. [PMID: 26957392 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A survey of reptile-associated ticks and their infection status with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus was conducted to determine the relative abundance and distribution among lizards, skinks, and snakes in the Republic of Korea (ROK). In total, 132 reptiles, including 49 lizards (two species), 15 skinks (one species), and 68 snakes (eight species) were collected. In total, 84 ixodid ticks belonging to two genera (Ixodes and Amblyomma) were collected from 28/132 (21.2%) lizards, skinks, and snakes. Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka & Saito was only collected from lizards and skinks, while Amblyomma testudinarium Koch was only collected from snakes. Takydromus wolteri had the highest tick index (0.7; total number ticks/total number collected hosts) among lizards and skinks, while Rhabdophis tigrinus had the highest tick index (2.2) among the snakes. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs accounted for 11.1% and 88.9%, respectively, of all ticks collected from lizards and skinks, while only A. testudinarium nymphs were collected from snakes. Nymphs of both species of ticks were collected from lizards and skinks from April to October, while I. nipponensis larvae were collected only from September to October. Ixodes nipponensis larvae and nymphs were preferentially attached to the lateral trunk (83.3%) and the foreleg axillae (16.7%) of lizards and skinks. SFTS virus was detected in both I. nipponensis and A. testudinarium collected from lizards and snakes. Phylogenetic analysis of SFTS viruses of ticks collected from two lizards and one snake demonstrated close relationships with SFTS virus strains observed from humans and ticks in the ROK, China, and Japan. These results implicate lizards and snakes as potential hosts of SFTS virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Hwa Suh
- Animal Research Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Gyoungseo-dong, Seo-gu, Inchoen 404-708, Republic of Korea (; ; )
| | - Heung-Chul Kim
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA (; ; )
| | - Seok-Min Yun
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea (; )
| | - Jae-Won Lim
- Animal Research Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Gyoungseo-dong, Seo-gu, Inchoen 404-708, Republic of Korea (; ; )
| | - Jin-Han Kim
- Animal Research Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Gyoungseo-dong, Seo-gu, Inchoen 404-708, Republic of Korea (; ; )
| | - Sung-Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA (; ; )
| | - Dae-Ho Kim
- Wildlife Institute of Korea, Gandong-myeon, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon Province, 869-136, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Tae Kim
- Seosan High School, Haemi-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam Province, 31960 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Kim
- Department of Environment, Jeongeup City Hall, Chungjeong-ro, Jeongup-si, Jeollabuk Province, 56180, Republic of Korea
| | - Terry A Klein
- Public Health Command District-Korea (Provisional); Address: 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15281, APO AP 96205-5281, USA , and
| | - Jaree L Johnson
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA (; ; )
| | - Won-Ja Lee
- Division of Arboviruses, Center for Immunology and Pathology, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si, Republic of Korea (; ),
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Chong ST, Kim HC, Lee IY, Kollars TM, Sancho AR, Sames WJ, Chae JS, Klein TA. Seasonal distribution of ticks in four habitats near the demilitarized zone, Gyeonggi-do (Province), Republic of Korea. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2013; 51:319-25. [PMID: 23864743 PMCID: PMC3712106 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2013.51.3.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study describes the seasonal distribution of larvae, nymph, and adult life stages for 3 species of ixodid ticks collected by tick drag and sweep methods from various habitats in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Grasses less than 0.5 m in height, including herbaceous and crawling vegetation, and deciduous, conifer, and mixed forests with abundant leaf/needle litter were surveyed at United States (US) and ROK operated military training sites and privately owned lands near the demilitarized zone from April-October, 2004 and 2005. Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann adults and nymphs were more frequently collected from April-August, while those of Haemaphysalis flava Neumann and Ixodes nipponensis Kitaoka and Saito were collected more frequently from April-July and again during October. H. longicornis was the most frequently collected tick in grass habitats (98.9%), while H. flava was more frequently collected in deciduous (60.2%) and conifer (57.4%) forest habitats. While more H. flava (54.1%) were collected in mixed forest habitats than H. longicornis (35.2%), the differences were not significant. I. nipponensis was more frequently collected from conifer (mean 8.8) compared to deciduous (3.2) and mixed (2.4) forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Tae Chong
- 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit 15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA
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