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Carvajal-Gamez BI, Olguín-Barrera A, Tinoco-Gracia L, Gordillo-Perez G, Dzul-Rosado K, Aguilar-Tipacamú G, Hidalgo-Ruiz M, Mosqueda J. Development and validation of a novel detection method for Rickettsia rickettsii using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1276809. [PMID: 38260903 PMCID: PMC10800886 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Rickettsia rickettsii is an obligate, intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). RMSF is an important zoonotic disease due to its high fatal outcome in humans. The difficulty of clinical diagnosis due to the low sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostic methods are a principal setback. We reported the development of a new method for the detection of R. rickettsii in human and tick DNA samples using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), as well as the validation of the LAMP test for R. rickettsii in field samples of infected ticks and humans, determining the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, as well as the reproducibility of the test. Methods This technique uses hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) as an indicator of the formation of magnesium pyrophosphate, a marker for the presence of DNA. Here, we used a putative R. rickettsii gene as a target for three pairs of primers that specifically amplify R. rickettsii DNA by hairpin-based isothermal amplification technique (LAMP). Results and discussion The sensitivity of the assay was ~1.6-3 pg, which is 10 times more sensitive than PCR. To determine the diagnostics specificity and sensitivity, 103 human DNA samples and 30 tick DNA samples were evaluated. For the human samples, a sensitivity for HNB of 93%, a specificity of 70% and a k of 0.53 were obtained. For electrophoresis the sensitivity was 97% with a specificity of 58% and a k of 0.42. For tick samples, a sensitivity of 80% was obtained, a specificity of 93% for HNB and for electrophoresis the sensitivity and specificity were 87%. The k for both was 0.73. The degree of concordance between HNB and electrophoresis was 0.82 for humans and for ticks, it was 0.87. The result is obtained in shorter time, compared to a PCR protocol, and is visually interpreted by the color change. Therefore, this method could be a reliable tool for the early diagnosis of rickettsiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertha I. Carvajal-Gamez
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- Cuerpo Academico, Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Aída Olguín-Barrera
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- Maestria en Salud y Producción Animal Sustentable, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Luis Tinoco-Gracia
- Laboratorio de Salud Pública Veterinaria, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Gordillo-Perez
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Medico Nacional SXXI-Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Karla Dzul-Rosado
- Dr. Hideyo Noguchi Regional Research Center, Autonomous University of Yucatan, Mérida, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Aguilar-Tipacamú
- Cuerpo Academico, Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Mario Hidalgo-Ruiz
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
| | - Juan Mosqueda
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
- Cuerpo Academico, Salud Animal y Microbiologia Ambiental, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Mexico
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Yunik MEM, Diyes CP, Chilton NB. Comparison of the supercooling points of questing Dermacentor variabilis adults in two populations on the Canadian prairies and implications for overwinter survival. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2024; 92:123-133. [PMID: 38085416 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00864-6] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A comparison was made of the supercooling points (SCPs) of questing Dermacentor variabilis adults from two populations located ca. 800 km apart on the Canadian prairies. This is also the first study to examine whether there are seasonal fluctuations in the SCP of questing D. variabilis adults. The SCPs of adult ticks from Lizard Lake Community Pasture, a recently established population in west-central Saskatchewan, varied over spring and summer, with the median SCP warming over time. In addition, the SCPs of ticks from Lizard Lake Community Pasture were significantly higher than those of adult ticks collected from Sandy Hook in Manitoba, a population that has been established for decades. The off-host survival of adults from Sandy Hook between summer and spring has been shown previously to be significantly greater than that of adults from Lizard Lake Community Pasture. The findings of the present study suggest that there may be geographical variation in the SCPs of D. variabilis adults which may be associated with differences in overwinter survival. The relatively low SCPs of questing D. variabilis adults, and the ability of some adults to survive off-host during winter, may be factors contributing to the range expansion of this tick species in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E M Yunik
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Chulantha P Diyes
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada.
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Ji H, Wei X, Ma D, Wang X, Liu Q. Predicting the global potential distribution of two major vectors of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever under conditions of global climate change. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011883. [PMID: 38198451 PMCID: PMC10805312 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a tick-borne disease that is highly dangerous but often overlooked by the public. To prevent the spread of the disease, it is important to understand the distribution patterns of its vectors' suitable areas. This study aims to explore the potential global suitability of areas for the vectors of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, including Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma cajennense under both historical and future climate scenarios. The study also seeks to investigate the impact of climatic factors on the distribution patterns of these vectors. Data on species distribution were downloaded from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Web of Science and PubMed database. The climatic variables were downloaded from WorldClim Global Climate Database. The Maximum Entropy Model was used to evaluate the contribution of monthly precipitation, monthly maximum temperature, monthly minimum temperature, elevation, and nineteen other climatic variables to vector survival, as well as to predict the suitable area for the vectors. We found that D. variabilis is distributed in North America, while A. cajennense is mainly distributed in South America, but all other continents except Antarctica have a suitable distribution. D. variabilis is more likely to survive in temperate regions, and A. cajennense is more likely to survive in tropical zones. D. variabilis is more sensitive to temperature, whereas A. cajennense is sensitive to both temperature and precipitation, and A. cajennense prefers tropical regions with hot and humid characteristics. The high suitable areas of both vectors were almost expanded in the ssp5-8.5 scenario, but not so much in the ssp1-2.6 scenario. Highly suitable areas with vectors survival should be strengthened with additional testing to prevent related diseases from occurring, and other highly suitable areas should be alert for entry and exit monitoring to prevent invasion and colonization of vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqiang Ji
- Department of Vector Control, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong province, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, Beijing, China
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China
| | - Delong Ma
- Jinan Shizhong District Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong province, China
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- Department of Vector Control, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong province, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyong Liu
- Department of Vector Control, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong province, China
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention; WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector Surveillance and Management, Beijing, China
- School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China
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Diyes CP, Dergousoff SJ, Chilton NB. Differences in the reproductive output and larval survival of Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) from prairie populations near their northern distributional limits in western Canada. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 91:645-660. [PMID: 38015278 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00856-6] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The effects of temperature and relative humidity (RH) on female reproductive output, egg development and larval survival were determined for Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) from a prairie population (Chin Lakes, Alberta, Canada) near the northern distribution limit of this species. The responses of D. andersoni eggs and unfed larvae to different temperature (25 or 32 °C) and RH (35, 55, 75, 85 or 95%) regimes were compared to our previously published data (Diyes et al. 2021) for a northern prairie population of American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis). Oviposition by D. andersoni females took 21-30 days at 25 °C and 95% RH compared to 10-21 days for D. variabilis. The number of eggs laid by female ticks was strongly dependent on their engorgement weight, and D. andersoni females produced more eggs than D. variabilis females of an equivalent body weight. Eggs of D. andersoni took less time to develop at 32 °C than 25 °C with ≥ 85% RH, and hatched faster than those of D. variabilis. Larval survival times declined as temperature increased and RH decreased, but D. andersoni survived longer at 32 °C and ≤ 75% RH than D. variabilis. The interspecific differences in responses to the same temperature and humidity regimes indicate that D. andersoni is xerophilic, whereas D. variabilis is hydrophilic. Hence, 'prairie' populations of the Rocky Mountain wood tick occur in the drier grassland ecoregions but are absent in Aspen Parklands Ecoregion which is located to the north and east of the distributional range of D. andersoni.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulantha P Diyes
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada.
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Kirby AM, Evans EP, Bishop SJ, Lloyd VK. Establishment and range expansion of Dermacentor variabilis in the northern Maritimes of Canada: Community participatory science documents establishment of an invasive tick species. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292703. [PMID: 37831710 PMCID: PMC10575507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick populations are dependent on a complex interplay of abiotic and biotic influences, many of which are influenced by anthropic factors including climate change. Dermacentor variabilis, the wood tick or American dog tick, is a hardy tick species that feeds from a wide range of mammals and birds that can transmit pathogens of medical and agricultural importance. Significant range expansion across North America has been occurring over the past decades;this study documents northwards range expansion in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Tick recoveries from passive surveillance between 2012 and 2021 were examined to assess northward population expansion through Atlantic Canada. At the beginning of this period, D. variabilis was abundant in the most southerly province, Nova Scotia, but was not considered established in the province to the north, New Brunswick. During the 10-year span covered by this study, an increasing number of locally acquired ticks were recovered in discrete foci, suggesting small established or establishing populations in southern and coastal New Brunswick. The pattern of population establishment follows the climate-driven establishment pattern of Ixodes scapularis to some extent but there is also evidence of successful seeding of disjunct populations in areas identified as sub-optimal for tick populations. Dogs were the most common host from which these ticks were recovered, which raises the possibility of human activity, via movement of companion animals, having a significant role in establishing new populations of this species. Dermacentor variabilis is a vector of several pathogens of medical and agricultural importance but is not considered to be a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease; our molecular analysis of a subset of D. variabilis for both B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi did not confirm any with Borrelia. This study spans the initial establishment of this tick species and documents the pattern of introduction, providing a relatively unique opportunity to examine the first stages of range expansion of a tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M. Kirby
- Dept. Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Ellis P. Evans
- Dept. Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Samantha J. Bishop
- Dept. Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Vett K. Lloyd
- Dept. Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
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Rodríguez-Durán A, Ullah S, Parizi LF, Ali A, da Silva Vaz Junior I. Rabbits as Animal Models for Anti-Tick Vaccine Development: A Global Scenario. Pathogens 2023; 12:1117. [PMID: 37764925 PMCID: PMC10536012 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies evaluating candidate tick-derived proteins as anti-tick vaccines in natural hosts have been limited due to high costs. To overcome this problem, animal models are used in immunization tests. The aim of this article was to review the use of rabbits as an experimental model for the evaluation of tick-derived proteins as vaccines. A total of 57 tick proteins were tested for their immunogenic potential using rabbits as models for vaccination. The most commonly used rabbit breeds were New Zealand (73.8%), Japanese white (19%), Californians (4.8%) and Flemish lop-eared (2.4%) rabbits. Anti-tick vaccines efficacy resulted in up to 99.9%. Haemaphysalis longicornis (17.9%) and Ornithodoros moubata (12.8%) were the most common tick models in vaccination trials. Experiments with rabbits have revealed that some proteins (CoAQP, OeAQP, OeAQP1, Bm86, GST-Hl, 64TRP, serpins and voraxin) can induce immune responses against various tick species. In addition, in some cases it was possible to determine that the vaccine efficacy in rabbits was similar to that of experiments performed on natural hosts (e.g., Bm86, IrFER2, RmFER2, serpins and serine protease inhibitor). In conclusion, results showed that prior to performing anti-tick vaccination trials using natural hosts, rabbits can be used as suitable experimental models for these studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlex Rodríguez-Durán
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil; (A.R.-D.); (S.U.); (L.F.P.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre 91540-000, RS, Brazil
- Grupo de Investigación Parasitología Veterinaria, Laboratorio de Parasitología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Bogotá 110911, Colombia
| | - Shafi Ullah
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil; (A.R.-D.); (S.U.); (L.F.P.)
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan;
| | - Luís Fernando Parizi
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil; (A.R.-D.); (S.U.); (L.F.P.)
| | - Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan;
| | - Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre 91501-970, RS, Brazil; (A.R.-D.); (S.U.); (L.F.P.)
- Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande de Sul, Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre 91540-000, RS, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, RJ, Brazil
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Castro-Santiago AC, Lima-Duarte L, Camargo JV, De Almeida BR, Simons SM, Mathias LA, Bassini-Silva R, Machado RZ, André MR, Barros-Battesti DM. Artificial Feeding of Ornithodoros fonsecai and O. brasiliensis (Acari: Argasidae) and Investigation of the Transstadial Perpetuation of Anaplasma marginale. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1680. [PMID: 37512853 PMCID: PMC10385771 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071680] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma marginale is a Gram-negative, obligate intraerythrocytic bacterium that causes bovine anaplasmosis. While hard ticks of the genera Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus can be biological vectors, transmitting this pathogen via saliva during blood meals, blood-sucking insects, and fomites play a role as mechanical vectors. Little is known about the interaction between Anaplasma marginale and Argasidae ticks. Among soft ticks, Ornithodoros fonsecai (Labruna and Venzal) and Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão inhabit environments surrounding localities where many cases of bovine anaplasmosis have been reported. Ticks of the species O. fonsecai parasitize bats, while O. brasiliensis can parasitize different vertebrate species. Therefore, the present study aimed to feed third-instar nymphs artificially (N3) of O. fonsecai and O. brasiliensis using blood samples obtained from a calf naturally infected with A. marginale and rabbit blood added to A. marginale-containing bovine erythrocytes, to investigate the ability of these nymphs to acquire, infect and transstadially perpetuate this agent. For the artificial feeding system, adapted chambers and parafilm membranes were used. Nymphs of both tick species were submitted to different replications weighed before and after each feeding. Blood samples and molted ticks were submitted to DNA extraction, quantitative real-time PCR for the msp1β gene to detect A. marginale DNA, while a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction for the msp1α gene was performed for genotyping. Using calf blood naturally infected with A. marginale, among the three artificial feeding replications performed with O. fonsecai and O. brasiliensis nymphs, the DNA of A. marginale was detected in both nymphs after 30-50 days of molting. For artificial feeding with rabbit blood added to bovine erythrocytes containing A. marginale, the DNA of this pathogen was also detected in both nymph species. As for the assay for the msp1α gene, strains were found Is9; 78 24-2; 25; 23; α; and β. It was concluded that nymphs (N3) of O. fonsecai and O. brasiliensis could feed artificially through a parafilm membrane using blood from calves and rabbits infected by A. marginale. The DNA of A. marginale was detected in nymphs fed artificially of both tick species studied after molt. However, further studies are needed to confirm transstadial perpetuation in other instars and their host transmission capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Castro-Santiago
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Leidiane Lima-Duarte
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Jaqueline Valeria Camargo
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Rocha De Almeida
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | | | - Luis Antonio Mathias
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Bassini-Silva
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Faculty of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Paulista State University, Jaboticabal 14884-900, Brazil
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Fernández-Ruiz N, Estrada-Peña A, McElroy S, Morse K. Passive collection of ticks in New Hampshire reveals species-specific patterns of distribution and activity. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:575-589. [PMID: 37030013 PMCID: PMC10179451 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne diseases are increasing in the United States, including New Hampshire (NH). We report on the findings of an ongoing free crowdsourcing program spanning four years within NH. The date of tick's submission was recorded along with species, sex, stage, location they were collected (translated into latitude and longitude), the activity the individual was doing when the tick was found, and host species. A total of 14,252 ticks belonging to subclass Acari, family Ixodidae and genera Ixodes, Dermacentor, Amblyomma, and Haemaphysalis was recorded from the period 2018-2021 throughout NH. A total of 2,787 Ixodes scapularis and 1,041 Dermacentor variabilis, were tested for the presence of Borrelia sp. (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), B. burgdorferi sensu lato, B. miyamotoi, B. mayonii, Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae), Francisella tularensis (Thiotrichales: Francisellaceae), and Rickettsia rickettsii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) by PCR. For the I. scapularis ticks tested, the pathogen prevalence was 37% B. burgdorferi s.l. 1% B. miyamotoi, 6% A. phagocytophilum, and 5% Ba. microti. Only one D. variabilis resulted positive to F. tularensis. We created state-wide maps informing the differences of ticks as detailed by administrative divisions. Dermacentor variabilis peaked in June and I. scapularis peaked in May and October. The most reported activity by people with tick encounters was while walking/hiking, and the least was biking. Using the reported distribution of both species of ticks, we modeled their climate suitability in the target territory. In NH, I. scapularis and D. variabilis have distinct patterns of emergence, abundance, and distribution. Tick prevention is important especially during April-August when both tick species are abundant and active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Fernández-Ruiz
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Zaragoza, Spain
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DeWinter S, Bauman C, Peregrine A, Weese JS, Clow KM. Assessing the spatial and temporal patterns and risk factors for acquisition of Ixodes spp. by companion animals across Canada. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102089. [PMID: 36423538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Climatic and land use changes have contributed to substantial changes in the abundance, distribution, and activity patterns of ticks in Canada, which have led to an increased risk of tick bites and tick-borne pathogen exposure for companion animals. The objectives of this study were to describe current spatial and temporal patterns of Ixodes spp. on companion animals in Canada and explore the association between tick bites and dog and cat demographic factors. Ticks were collected for one year (April 2019 - March 2020) from 94 veterinary clinics. Included with each submission was a short questionnaire containing owner-reported information on travel history, date of removal and suspected location of tick acquisition, and animal-specific demographic factors. Ticks were identified morphologically using a stereomicroscope, standard keys, and through PCR analyses. Mixed effect multivariable logistic regression models were built to explore the association between an Ixodes scapularis bite and animal demographic factors; veterinary clinic was included as a random effect. Approximately 2300 submissions were received from clinics across Canada, totalling 4425 ticks. The most common Ixodes spp. was I. scapularis (n = 2168), followed by Ixodes pacificus (n = 172) and Ixodes cookei (n = 155). Ixodes scapularis were well distributed in regions across central and eastern Canada. Ixodes cookei was found in eastern Canada, with the greatest numbers from Quebec and New Brunswick. Ixodes pacificus submissions were restricted to British Columbia. Across eastern Canada, dogs of the herding, mixed breed (large and small), sporting, working, terrier, and toy breed groups, and spayed cats were all found to have higher odds of acquiring I. scapularis, compared to other tick species. For the dog model, significant interactions were found between predictor variables age and sex. Regional information on tick distribution, seasonality, and risk factors for acquisition contribute to evidence-based veterinary practices for tick and tick-borne disease control in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney DeWinter
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
| | - Cathy Bauman
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Andrew Peregrine
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada
| | - Katie M Clow
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada
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10
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Infestation patterns of Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis on dogs and cats across Canada. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281192. [PMID: 36730362 PMCID: PMC9894407 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to recent climatic and land use changes, Canada has experienced changes in tick populations, leading to an increased risk of tick bites and tick-borne pathogen exposure, especially in eastern Canada. Preventative recommendations for companion animals from veterinary professionals include regular use of tick prevention products and tick checks. Tick checks, specifically, should target regions of an animal's body which are deemed to be high risk for tick attachment. However, tick species-specific infestation patterns on dogs and cats are largely understudied, and additional research is needed to help guide targeted tick checks. The objective of this study was to identify tick species-specific infestation patterns on dogs and cats. Ticks were collected for one year (April 2019 -March 2020) from 94 veterinary clinics across Canada as part of the Canadian Pet Tick Survey. All ticks were identified to species, and data on the location of tick attachment were ascertained with each submission. To examine the association between location of attachment (outcome) and tick species (explanatory variable), specifically Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis, mixed effects univariable models were built. Two thousand three hundred and six submissions were received from 1925 dogs and 381 cats across Canada. Of these submissions, 1377 comprised Ixodes scapularis, and 620 comprised Dermacentor variabilis. Clear tick species-specific infestation patterns for dogs were present, with I. scapularis being significantly more likely to be found on the shoulders, and D. variabilis more likely to be found on the ears and neck. Dermacentor variabilis was more likely to be found on the cranial aspect of cats' limbs, compared to I. scapularis. Up-to-date information on infestation patterns can be used to inform veterinary professionals and pet owners of common attachment sites based on established ticks in their region and thus conduct targeted tick checks.
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11
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Segbenya M, Yeboah E. Effect of Occupational Health and Safety on Employee Performance in the Ghanaian Construction Sector. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2022; 16:11786302221137222. [PMID: 36419673 PMCID: PMC9677299 DOI: 10.1177/11786302221137222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The contribution of the construction sector to the socio-economic development of Ghana cannot be underestimated. However, these benefits are not without challenges such as frequent industrial accidents and diseases leading to the loss of lives of workers and or influencing employee and organisational performance. Construction firms are therefore required to ensure workers' health and safety at the construction sites. This study therefore explores the influence of occupational health and safety (OHS) on construction workers' performance in Ghana. This study employed the descriptive research design from the quantitative approach, and a sample of 120 employees was drawn out of 200 workers from the sector. Means, standard deviations and multiple standard regression were used to analyse the data. The study found that OHS policies in the construction sector had a statistically significant effect on employee performance and related well with best international practices. However, the construction sector lacks regular health and safety induction, orientation and refresher courses for construction workers. Hence there were still occupational accidents and diseases affecting workers in the sector. For fear of being sacked, workers hardly report pains and injuries suffered at the construction sites. Also, construction workers felt that the high cost of training could explain why employers were not providing regular refresher training and induction training on OHS in the workplace. The study, therefore, concluded that more efforts were required from the management of construction firms than workers, as opposed to the position of Heinrich Domino's theory, to ensure occupational safety and health in the sector. It was recommended that the management of construction companies in the sector should prioritise the health and safety of workers over the economic concern with regard to the cost of training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moses Segbenya
- Department of Business Studies, College
of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa
| | - Esi Yeboah
- College of Distance Education,
University of Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa
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12
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Martin JT, Fischhoff IR, Castellanos AA, Han BA. Ecological Predictors of Zoonotic Vector Status Among Dermacentor Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): A Trait-Based Approach. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:2158-2166. [PMID: 36066562 PMCID: PMC9667724 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Increasing incidence of tick-borne human diseases and geographic range expansion of tick vectors elevates the importance of research on characteristics of tick species that transmit pathogens. Despite their global distribution and role as vectors of pathogens such as Rickettsia spp., ticks in the genus Dermacentor Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) have recently received less attention than ticks in the genus Ixodes Latreille, 1795 (Acari: Ixodidae). To address this knowledge gap, we compiled an extensive database of Dermacentor tick traits, including morphological characteristics, host range, and geographic distribution. Zoonotic vector status was determined by compiling information about zoonotic pathogens found in Dermacentor species derived from primary literature and data repositories. We trained a machine learning algorithm on this data set to assess which traits were the most important predictors of zoonotic vector status. Our model successfully classified vector species with ~84% accuracy (mean AUC) and identified two additional Dermacentor species as potential zoonotic vectors. Our results suggest that Dermacentor species that are most likely to be zoonotic vectors are broad ranging, both in terms of the range of hosts they infest and the range of ecoregions across which they are found, and also tend to have large hypostomes and be small-bodied as immature ticks. Beyond the patterns we observed, high spatial and species-level resolution of this new, synthetic dataset has the potential to support future analyses of public health relevance, including species distribution modeling and predictive analytics, to draw attention to emerging or newly identified Dermacentor species that warrant closer monitoring for zoonotic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ilya R Fischhoff
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | | | - Barbara A Han
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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13
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Freeman EA, Salkeld DJ. Surveillance of Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) in Colorado. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102036. [PMID: 36274450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102036] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ticks pose an emerging threat of infectious pathogen transmission in the United States in part due to expanding suitable habitat ranges in the wake of climate change. Active and passive tick surveillance can inform maps of tick distributions to warn the public of their risk of exposure to ticks. In Colorado, widespread active surveillance programs have difficulty due to the state's diverse terrain. However, combining multiple citizen science techniques can create a more accurate representation of tick distribution than any passive surveillance dataset alone. Our study uses county-level tick distribution data from Northern Arizona University, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, and veterinary surveillance in addition to literature data to assess the distribution of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni, and the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis. We found that D. andersoni for the most part inhabits counties at higher elevations than D. variabilis in Colorado.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Freeman
- Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States.
| | - Daniel J Salkeld
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States
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14
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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: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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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15
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Flenniken JM, Tuten HC, Rose Vineer H, Phillips VC, Stone CM, Allan BF. Environmental Drivers of Gulf Coast Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Range Expansion in the United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1625-1635. [PMID: 35857653 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch) is a species of growing medical and veterinary significance, serving as the primary vector of the pathogenic bacterium, Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), in humans and the apicomplexan parasite, Hepatozoon americanum, in canines. Ongoing reports of A. maculatum from locations outside its historically reported distribution in the southeastern United States suggest the possibility of current and continuing range expansion. Using an ecological niche modeling approach, we combined new occurrence records with high-resolution climate and land cover data to investigate environmental drivers of the current distribution of A. maculatum in the United States. We found that environmental suitability for A. maculatum varied regionally and was primarily driven by climatic factors such as annual temperature variation and seasonality of precipitation. We also found that presence of A. maculatum was associated with open habitat with minimal canopy cover. Our model predicts large areas beyond the current distribution of A. maculatum to be environmentally suitable, suggesting the possibility of future northward and westward range expansion. These predictions of environmental suitability may be used to identify areas at potential risk for establishment and to guide future surveillance of A. maculatum in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Matthew Flenniken
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Holly C Tuten
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Hannah Rose Vineer
- Department of Infection Biology and Microbiomes, Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Victoria C Phillips
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Chris M Stone
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Brian F Allan
- Department of Entomology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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16
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Backus LH, Pascoe EL, Foley J. Will new ticks invade North America? How to identify future invaders. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:805-814. [PMID: 35820944 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.06.004] [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: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Invasive tick species and the pathogens they transmit pose increasing threats to human and animal health around the world. Little attention has been paid to the characteristics enabling tick species to invade. Here we analyze examples of tick invasion events in North America to identify factors that facilitated the invasion. Commonalities among invasive ticks are that they thrive in anthropogenically modified habitats, feed on either domestic animals or wildlife occurring in high density, and can survive across a broad range of climatic conditions. Invasive tick species varied widely in life history and reproductive habits, suggesting that invasion occurs when multiple characteristics converge. The combination of potential characteristics leading to invasion, however, improves our ability to predict future invaders and inform surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H Backus
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Emily L Pascoe
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708, PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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17
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Duncan KT, Elshahed MS, Sundstrom KD, Little SE, Youssef NH. Influence of tick sex and geographic region on the microbiome of Dermacentor variabilis collected from dogs and cats across the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102002. [PMID: 35810549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102002] [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: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As tick-borne diseases continue to increase across North America, current research strives to understand how the tick microbiome may affect pathogen acquisition, maintenance, and transmission. Prior high throughput amplicon-based microbial diversity surveys of the widespread tick Dermacentor variabilis have suggested that life stage, sex, and geographic region may influence the composition of the tick microbiome. Here, adult D. variabilis ticks (n = 145) were collected from dogs and cats from 32 states with specimens originating from all four regions of the United States (West, Midwest, South, and Northeast), and the tick microbiome was examined via V4-16S rRNA gene amplification and Illumina sequencing. A total of 481,246 bacterial sequences were obtained (median 2924 per sample, range 399-11,990). Fifty genera represented the majority (>80%) of the sequences detected, with the genera Allofrancisella and Francisella being the most abundant. Further, 97%, 23%, and 5.5% of the ticks contained sequences belonging to Francisella spp., Rickettsia spp., and Coxiella spp., respectively. No Ehrlichia spp. or Anaplasma spp. were identified. Co-occurrence analysis, by way of correlation coefficients, between the top 50 most abundant genera demonstrated five strong positive and no strong negative correlation relationships. Geographic region had a consistent effect on species richness with ticks from the Northeast having a significantly greater level of richness. Alpha diversity patterns were dependent on tick sex, with males exhibiting higher levels of diversity, and geographical region, with higher level of diversity observed in ticks obtained from the Northeast, but not on tick host. Community structure, or beta diversity, of tick microbiome was impacted by tick sex and geographic location, with microbiomes of ticks from the western US exhibiting a distinct community structure when compared to those from the other three regions (Northeast, South, and Midwest). In total, LEfSe (Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size) identified 18 specific genera driving these observed patterns of diversity and community structure. Collectively, these findings highlight the differences in bacterial diversity of D. variabilis across the US and supports the interpretation that tick sex and geographic region affects microbiome composition across a broad sampling distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn T Duncan
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Room 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
| | - Mostafa S Elshahed
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Kellee D Sundstrom
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Room 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Room 250 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Noha H Youssef
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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18
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American dog ticks along their expanding range edge in Ontario, Canada. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11063. [PMID: 35773456 PMCID: PMC9247098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15009-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The American dog tick, Dermacentorvariabilis, is a tick of public and veterinary health importance in North America. Using passive tick surveillance data, we document distribution changes for the American dog tick in Ontario, Canada, from 2010 through 2018. Dermacentorvariabilis submissions from the public were geocoded and aggregated—from large to small administrative geographies—by health region, public health unit (PHU) and Forward Sortation Area (FSA). PHU hot spots with high rates of D. variabilis submissions were (1) Brant County, Haldimand-Norfolk and Niagara Regional in the Central West region and (2) Lambton and Winsor-Essex County in the South West region. The number of established D. variabilis populations with ≥ 6 submissions per year increased significantly during the study at regional (PHUs: 22 to 31) and local (FSAs: 27 to 91) scales. The range of D. variabilis increased similarly to the positive control (Ixodesscapularis) during the study and in contrast to the static range of the negative control (Ixodescookei). Submission hot spots were in warmer, low elevation areas with poorly drained soils, compared to the province’s low submission areas. Dermacentorvariabilis is spreading in Ontario and continued research into their vector ecology is required to assess medicoveterinary health risks.
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19
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Cull B. Monitoring Trends in Distribution and Seasonality of Medically Important Ticks in North America Using Online Crowdsourced Records from iNaturalist. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13050404. [PMID: 35621740 PMCID: PMC9145093 DOI: 10.3390/insects13050404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary An increasing number of cases of tick-borne diseases are being reported across North America and in new areas. This has been linked to the spread of ticks, primarily the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis and the lone star tick Amblyomma americanum, into new geographical regions. Tick surveillance systems have played an important role in monitoring the changing distributions of these ticks and have benefitted greatly from including data collected by members of the public through citizen or community science projects. Enlisting the help of community scientists is an economical way to collect large amounts of data over a wide geographical area, and participants can also benefit by receiving information relevant to their tick encounter, for example regarding tick-borne disease symptoms. This study examined tick observations from the online image-based biological recording platform iNaturalist to evaluate its use as an extra tool to collect information on expanding tick distributions. The distribution and seasonality of iNaturalist tick observations were found to accurately represent those of the studied species and identified potential new areas of tick expansion. Free-to-access iNaturalist data is a highly cost-effective method to support existing tick surveillance strategies to aid preparedness and response in emerging areas of tick establishment. Abstract Recent increases in the incidence and geographic range of tick-borne diseases in North America are linked to the range expansion of medically important tick species, including Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Amblyomma maculatum. Passive tick surveillance programs have been highly successful in collecting information on tick distribution, seasonality, host-biting activity, and pathogen infection prevalence. These have demonstrated the power of citizen or community science participation to collect country-wide, epidemiologically relevant data in a resource-efficient manner. This study examined tick observations from the online image-based biological recording platform iNaturalist to evaluate its use as an effective tool for monitoring the distributions of A. americanum, A. maculatum, I. scapularis, and Dermacentor in the United States and Canada. The distribution and seasonality of iNaturalist tick observations were found to accurately represent those of the studied species. County-level iNaturalist tick occurrence data showed good agreement with other data sources in documented areas of I. scapularis and A. americanum establishment, and highlighted numerous previously unreported counties with iNaturalist observations of these species. This study supports the use of iNaturalist data as a highly cost-effective passive tick surveillance method that can complement existing surveillance strategies to update tick distributions and identify new areas of tick establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Cull
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
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20
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Bacon EA, Kopsco H, Gronemeyer P, Mateus-Pinilla N, Smith RL. Effects of Climate on the Variation in Abundance of Three Tick Species in Illinois. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:700-709. [PMID: 34875079 PMCID: PMC8924963 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The range of ticks in North America has been steadily increasing likely, in part, due to climate change. Along with it, there has been a rise in cases of tick-borne disease. Among those medically important tick species of particular concern are Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), and Amblyomma americanum Linneaus (Acari: Ixodidae). The aim of this study was to determine if climate factors explain existing differences in abundance of the three aforementioned tick species between two climatically different regions of Illinois (Central and Southern), and if climate variables impact each species differently. We used both zero-inflated regression approaches and Bayesian network analyses to assess relationships among environmental variables and tick abundance. Results suggested that the maximum average temperature and total precipitation are associated with differential impact on species abundance and that this difference varied by region. Results also reinforced a differential level of resistance to desiccation among these tick species. Our findings help to further define risk periods of tick exposure for the general public, and reinforce the importance of responding to each tick species differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Bacon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA
| | - H Kopsco
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA
| | - P Gronemeyer
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA
| | - N Mateus-Pinilla
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA
| | - R L Smith
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana IL, USA
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21
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Rosendale AJ, Leonard RK, Patterson IW, Arya T, Uhran MR, Benoit JB. Metabolomic and transcriptomic responses of ticks during recovery from cold shock reveal mechanisms of survival. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275159. [PMID: 35179594 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.236497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Ticks are blood-feeding ectoparasites but spend most of their life off-host where they may have to tolerate low winter temperatures. Rapid cold-hardening (RCH) is a process commonly used by arthropods, including ticks, to improve survival of acute low temperature exposure. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms in ticks associated with RCH, cold shock, and recovery from these stresses. In the present study, we investigated the extent to which RCH influences gene expression and metabolism during recovery from cold stress in Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick, using a combined transcriptomics and metabolomics approach. Following recovery from RCH, 1,860 genes were differentially expressed in ticks, whereas only 99 genes responded during recovery to direct cold shock. Recovery from RCH resulted in an upregulation of various pathways associated with ion binding, transport, metabolism, and cellular structures seen in the response of other arthropods to cold. The accumulation of various metabolites, including several amino acids and betaine, corresponded to transcriptional shifts in the pathways associated with these molecules, suggesting congruent metabolome and transcriptome changes. Ticks receiving exogenous betaine and valine demonstrated enhanced cold tolerance, suggesting cryoprotective effects of these metabolites. Overall, many of the responses during recovery from cold shock in ticks were similar to those observed in other arthropods, but several adjustments may be distinct from other currently examined taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Rosendale
- Biology Department, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, 45233, USA
| | - Ryan K Leonard
- Biology Department, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, 45233, USA
| | - Isaac W Patterson
- Biology Department, Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati, OH, 45233, USA
| | - Thomas Arya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Melissa R Uhran
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA
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Abstract
AbstractEvidence climate change is impacting ticks and tick-borne infections is generally lacking. This is primarily because, in most parts of the world, there are no long-term and replicated data on the distribution and abundance of tick populations, and the prevalence and incidence of tick-borne infections. Notable exceptions exist, as in Canada where the northeastern advance of Ixodes scapularis and Lyme borreliosis in the USA prompted the establishment of tick and associated disease surveillance. As a result, the past 30 years recorded the encroachment and spread of I. scapularis and Lyme borreliosis across much of Canada concomitant with a 2-3 °C increase in land surface temperature. A similar northerly advance of I. ricinus [and associated Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)] has been recorded in northern Europe together with expansion of this species’ range to higher altitudes in Central Europe and the Greater Alpine Region, again concomitant with rising temperatures. Changes in tick species composition are being recorded, with increases in more heat tolerant phenotypes (such as Rhipicephalus microplus in Africa), while exotic species, such as Haemaphysalis longicornis and Hyalomma marginatum, are becoming established in the USA and Southern Europe, respectively. In the next 50 years these trends are likely to continue, whereas, at the southern extremities of temperate species’ ranges, diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and TBE may become less prevalent. Where socioeconomic conditions link livestock with livelihoods, as in Pakistan and much of Africa, a One Health approach is needed to tackling ticks and tick-borne infections under the increasing challenges presented by climate change.
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Lysyk TJ, Dergousoff SJ, Rochon K, Chilton NB, Smith AM. Distribution of Dermacentor andersoni (Acari: Ixodidae) in Grassland Regions of Alberta, Canada. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1750-1761. [PMID: 33675646 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab019] [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: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The geographic distribution of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni Stiles, was determined in Alberta, Canada, by drag sampling at 86 and 89 sites during 2011 and 2012, respectively. Tick density and prevalence varied between years, averaging (range) 1.0 (0-26.2) and 5.9 (0-110) ticks/1,000 m2 in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Ticks were detected at 24.4% and 42.7% of the sites sampled in each respective year. Tick density and presence declined in a northerly direction to 51.6°N and in a westerly direction to ca. 113°W, except for a small area of high density at the edge of the Rocky Mountains in the southeastern portion of the province. Ticks were most abundant in the Dry Mixedgrass and Montane natural subregions and in areas with Brown Chernozemic, Regosol, and Solodized Solonetzic great soil groups. A logistic regression model indicated that tick presence was increased in the Dry Mixedgrass natural subregion and in regions with greater temperatures during the previous summer and normal winter precipitation but was reduced in areas with Dark Brown Chernozemic soils. The model will be useful for predicting tick presence and the associated risk of tick-borne diseases in the province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Lysyk
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Kateryn Rochon
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Anne M Smith
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Duncan KT, Saleh MN, Sundstrom KD, Little SE. Dermacentor variabilis is the Predominant Dermacentor spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) Feeding on Dogs and Cats Throughout the United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1241-1247. [PMID: 33615364 PMCID: PMC8122232 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Throughout North America, Dermacentor spp. ticks are often found feeding on animals and humans, and are known to transmit pathogens, including the Rocky Mountain spotted fever agent. To better define the identity and distribution of Dermacentor spp. removed from dogs and cats in the United States, ticks submitted from 1,457 dogs (n = 2,924 ticks) and 137 cats (n = 209 ticks) from veterinary practices in 44/50 states from February 2018-January 2020 were identified morphologically (n = 3,133); the identity of ticks from regions where Dermacentor andersoni (Stiles) have been reported, and a subset of ticks from other regions, were confirmed molecularly through amplification and sequencing of the ITS2 region and a 16S rRNA gene fragment. Of the ticks submitted, 99.3% (3,112/3,133) were Dermacentor variabilis (Say), 0.4% (12/3,133) were D. andersoni, and 0.3% (9/3,133) were Dermacentor albipictus (Packard). While translocation of pets prior to tick removal cannot be discounted, the majority (106/122; 87%) of Dermacentor spp. ticks removed from dogs and cats in six Rocky Mountain states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado) were D. variabilis, suggesting this species may be more widespread in the western United States than is currently recognized, or that D. andersoni, if still common in the region, preferentially feeds on hosts other than dogs and cats. Together, these data support the interpretation that D. variabilis is the predominant Dermacentor species found on pets throughout the United States, a finding that may reflect recent shifts in tick distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn T Duncan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Kellee D Sundstrom
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
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Yunik MEM, Chilton NB. Supercooling Points of Adult Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) From a Population Near the Northern Distribution Limit. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:961-964. [PMID: 33073293 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The northern distributional limit of Dermacentor variabilis Say, the American dog tick, is expanding in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (western Canada). The ability of D. variabilis to continue to expand its range northwards will depend upon the ability of individuals within populations at the species distributional edge to withstand very low temperatures during winter. One component of cold hardiness is the supercooling point (SCP), the temperature below 0°C at which an individual freezes. In this study, the SCP was determined for 94 questing D. variabilis adults (44 females and 50 males) from an established population near Blackstrap Provincial Park in Saskatchewan. SCP values ranged from -18.2 to -6.7°C, with a median of -13.3°C. This suggests that host-seeking D. variabilis adults differ in their ability to survive exposure to subzero temperatures, for at least a short period of time, without freezing. The distribution of SCPs was bimodal, but there was no significant difference in SCP values between female and male ticks, and no relationship between SCP and tick body weight. It remains to be determined what factors contribute to the variation in SCP values among questing D. variabilis adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E M Yunik
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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Alkishe A, Raghavan RK, Peterson AT. Likely Geographic Distributional Shifts among Medically Important Tick Species and Tick-Associated Diseases under Climate Change in North America: A Review. INSECTS 2021; 12:225. [PMID: 33807736 PMCID: PMC8001278 DOI: 10.3390/insects12030225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Ticks rank high among arthropod vectors in terms of numbers of infectious agents that they transmit to humans, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Increasing temperature is suspected to affect tick biting rates and pathogen developmental rates, thereby potentially increasing risk for disease incidence. Tick distributions respond to climate change, but how their geographic ranges will shift in future decades and how those shifts may translate into changes in disease incidence remain unclear. In this study, we have assembled correlative ecological niche models for eight tick species of medical or veterinary importance in North America (Ixodes scapularis, I. pacificus, I. cookei, Dermacentor variabilis, D. andersoni, Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus), assessing the distributional potential of each under both present and future climatic conditions. Our goal was to assess whether and how species' distributions will likely shift in coming decades in response to climate change. We interpret these patterns in terms of likely implications for tick-associated diseases in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelghafar Alkishe
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya
| | - Ram K. Raghavan
- Center for Vector-borne and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Departments of Veterinary Pathobiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
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27
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Saleh MN, Allen KE, Lineberry MW, Little SE, Reichard MV. Ticks infesting dogs and cats in North America: Biology, geographic distribution, and pathogen transmission. Vet Parasitol 2021; 294:109392. [PMID: 33971481 PMCID: PMC9235321 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2021.109392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A diverse array of ixodid and argasid ticks infest dogs and cats in North America, resulting in skin lesions, blood loss, and disease. The ticks most commonly found on pets in this region are hard ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Ixodes, and Rhipicephalus, as well as the more recently established Haemaphysalis longicornis. Soft tick genera, especially Otobius and Ornithodoros, are also reported from pets in some regions. In this review, we provide a summary of the complex and diverse life histories, distinct morphologies, and questing and feeding behaviors of the more common ticks of dogs and cats in North America with a focus on recent changes in geographic distribution. We also review pathogens of dogs and cats associated with the different tick species, some of which can cause serious, potentially fatal disease, and describe the zoonotic risk posed by ticks of pets. Understanding the natural history of ticks and the maintenance cycles responsible for providing an ongoing source of tick-borne infections is critical to effectively combatting the challenges ticks pose to the health of pets and people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Kelly E Allen
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States.
| | - Megan W Lineberry
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, United States
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28
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Diyes CP, Dergousoff SJ, Yunik MEM, Chilton NB. Reproductive output and larval survival of American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) from a population at the northern distributional limit. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2021; 83:257-270. [PMID: 33394199 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00581-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Female reproductive output and larval survival were determined for American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), from a recently established population near the northern distributional limit in Saskatchewan (Canada). Oviposition took 10-21 days at 25 °C and 95% relative humidity (RH). Temperature and relative humidity had a marked effect on egg development time and larval survival. Unfed larvae survived more than 100 days at 32 °C (with 95% RH) and 25 and 5 °C (with ≥ 85% RH). However, survival times declined markedly at lower relative humidities. In addition, 95% of the larvae placed in field enclosures survived for 140 days over winter during which they were exposed to sub-zero temperatures and 95-100% RH, while covered with snow. The median survival times (LT50) of unfed larvae submerged underwater was 68 days. These results show that D. variabilis larvae in populations near the periphery of the northern distributional limit are adapted to cope with sub-zero temperatures in winter, and can survive in the temporary pools of water created by the spring snow melt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chulantha P Diyes
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Matthew E M Yunik
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada.
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Duncan KT, Clow KM, Sundstrom KD, Saleh MN, Reichard MV, Little SE. Recent reports of winter tick, Dermacentor albipictus, from dogs and cats in North America. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2020; 22:100490. [PMID: 33308744 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2020.100490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Dermacentor albipictus, a common one-host tick of large animals in North America, is most often reported from moose (Alces alces) and is rarely implicated as a parasite of cats and dogs. From 2018 to 2020, 4 dogs and 4 cats from United States and 3 dogs from Canada were infested with D. albipictus. The specimens were collected and submitted to university diagnostic specialists by veterinary clinics in Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Alberta, and British Columbia between the months of October to February (United States) and April to June (Canada). Six adults and five nymphal D. albipictus were collected in the United States while three adults were collected from pets in Canada, and most often a single D. albipictus was present. Identification of specimens collected in the United States were confirmed by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS-2 gene fragments. Rickettsia spp. were not detected in any D. albipictus collected in the United States by 17 kDa-based PCR. As tick populations continue to increase and expand in North America, correct identification of ticks collected from pets is critical to accurately track the progression and spread of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn T Duncan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
| | - Katie M Clow
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, CA
| | - Kellee D Sundstrom
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Meriam N Saleh
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Mason V Reichard
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Susan E Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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30
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Koloski CW, Duncan CAM, Rutherford PL, Cassone BJ. Natural insensitivity and the effects of concentration on the repellency and survival of American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) by DEET. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 82:379-395. [PMID: 33009647 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-020-00550-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) is by far the most used repellent worldwide. When applied topically to the skin, the active ingredient has been shown to provide protection from a variety of hematophagous insects, including mosquitoes and flies. DEET's effectiveness against ticks is influenced by a variety of factors (e.g., duration and concentration of application, drying time, route of exposure, tick species and developmental stage), and may differ from insects due to their unique chemosensory system that primarily involves the Haller's organ. We therefore used several approaches to investigate DEET's efficacy to repel Dermacentor variabilis at different concentrations (5, 30 or 75%), as well as explore its toxicological properties and natural variability in DEET insensitivity across populations from Manitoba, Canada. Climbing bioassays indicated that higher concentrations of DEET were more effective at repelling D. variabilis, and that ticks from some sampling localities were more sensitive to lower concentrations than others. Petri dish arena assays revealed ticks exposed to high concentrations of the repellent lose their ability to discriminate lower concentrations, perhaps due to overstimulation or habituation. Finally, our tactile assays demonstrated reduced tick survival after contact with high DEET concentrations, with mortality occurring more rapidly with increased concentration. Dermacentor variabilis from these tactile assays displayed a multitude of physiological and neurological symptoms, such as 'hot foot' and various bodily secretions. Overall, our study shows a strong association between repellency, concentration and the acaricidal effects of DEET on D. variabilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody W Koloski
- Department of Biology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, R78 6A9, Canada
| | - Carlyn A M Duncan
- Department of Biology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, R78 6A9, Canada
| | | | - Bryan J Cassone
- Department of Biology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, R78 6A9, Canada.
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American Dog Ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) as Biological Indicators of an Association between the Enteric Bacterium Moellerella wisconsensis and Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Southwestern Manitoba, Canada. J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:918-921. [PMID: 32402233 DOI: 10.7589/2019-09-224] [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: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Total genomic (g)DNA from 100 American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) collected from humans, dogs, raccoons, and skunks near Minnedosa (Manitoba, Canada) in 2005 was tested for the presence of Moellerella wisconsensis (Gammaproteobacteria: Enterobacteriales) using PCR. Although two gDNA samples derived from ticks attached to two striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) contained M. wisconsensis DNA, it is unlikely that D. variabilis is a vector of this bacterium. Genomic DNA prepared from the washes of the external surfaces of these two ticks (i.e., before DNA extraction from the whole tick) and another two ticks attached to same skunks were also PCR positive for M. wisconsensis. This suggests that ticks acquired the bacterium by physical contact with contaminated or infected skunks. However, it does not exclude the possibility that the ticks may have also imbibed the bacterium from their host blood and lymph. Nonetheless, the results of this molecular study suggest that the four adult D. variabilis represent biological indicators of the presence of M. wisconsensis in association with their vertebrate hosts (i.e., striped skunks). Additional work is needed to determine if M. wisconsensis is present in the blood and lymph of striped skunks in southwestern Manitoba and if there are potential health risks for persons coming into contact with infected animals.
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32
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Nelder MP, Russell CB, Johnson S, Li Y, Cronin K, Warshawsky B, Brandon N, Patel SN. Assessing human exposure to spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae in Ontario, Canada (2013-2018): a retrospective, cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis 2020; 20:523. [PMID: 32682398 PMCID: PMC7368706 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessing the burden of rickettsial infections in Ontario, Canada, is challenging since rickettsial infections are not reportable to public health. In the absence of reportable disease data, we assessed the burden of rickettsial infections by examining patient serological data and clinical information. METHODS Our retrospective, cross-sectional study included patients who had Rickettsia serological testing ordered by their physician, in Ontario, from 2013 to 2018. We tested sera from 2755 non-travel patients for antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR) and typhus group rickettsiae (TGR) using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) (positive IgG titers ≥1:64). We classified cases using a sensitive surveillance case definition: confirmed (4-fold increase in IgG titers between acute and convalescent sera with clinical evidence of infection), possible (single positive sera with clinical evidence) and previous rickettsial infection (single positive sera without clinical evidence). We classified cases seropositive for both SFGR and TGR as unspecified Rickettsia infections (URIs). RESULTS Less than 5% of all patients had paired acute and convalescent sera tested, and of these, we found a single, laboratory-confirmed SFGR case, with a 4-fold increase in IgG titers and evidence of fever, maculopapular rash and headache. There were 45 possible (19 SFGR, 7 TGR, 19 URI) and 580 previous rickettsial infection (183 SFGR, 89 TGR, 308 URI) cases. The rate of positive tests for SFGR, TGR and URI combined (all case classifications) were 4.4 per 100,000 population. For confirmed and possible cases, the most common signs and symptoms were fever, headache, gastrointestinal complaints and maculopapular rash. The odds of having seropositive patients increased annually by 30% (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.23-1.39). CONCLUSIONS The rates of rickettsial infections in Ontario are difficult to determine. Based on confirmed and possible cases, rates are low, but inclusion of previous rickettsial infection cases would indicate higher rates. We highlight the need for education regarding the importance of testing acute and convalescent sera and consistent completion of the laboratory requisition in confirming rickettsial disease. We suggest further research in Ontario to investigate rickettsial agents in potential vectors and clinical studies employing PCR testing of clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Curtis B Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Johnson
- Informatics, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ye Li
- Informatics, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kirby Cronin
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Bryna Warshawsky
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas Brandon
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Dergousoff SJ, Anstead CA, Chilton NB. Identification of bacteria in the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni, using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and DNA sequencing. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 80:247-256. [PMID: 31953633 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00459-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
PCR-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses combined with DNA sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S ribosomal (r) RNA gene encompassing the hypervariable V4 region was used to determine the bacterial composition of Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) attached to Richardson's ground squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) and questing on vegetation in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. The bacteria present in questing adult ticks from Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park included Rickettsia peacockii, a Francisella-like endosymbiont (FLE) and an Arsenophonus-like endosymbiont. Bacteria in the adult and nymphal ticks attached to U. richardsonii collected from Beechy included R. peacockii, a FLE, and several other genera (e.g., Ralstonia, Sphingobium, Comamonas and Pseudomonas). The bacteria detected in D. andersoni in the present study are consistent with the findings of other studies that have characterized the microbiome of this tick species in the USA using next generation sequencing. This result demonstrates that the SSCP-based approach used in this study is cost- and time-effective for examining bacterial composition in ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun J Dergousoff
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
- Lethbridge Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Clare A Anstead
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E2, Canada.
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Lehane A, Parise C, Evans C, Beati L, Nicholson WL, Eisen RJ. Reported County-Level Distribution of the American Dog Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:131-155. [PMID: 31368492 PMCID: PMC8911316 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz119] [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: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, tick-borne diseases are increasing in incidence and cases are reported over an expanding geographical area. Avoiding tick bites is a key strategy in tick-borne disease prevention, and this requires current and accurate information on where humans are at risk for exposure to ticks. Based on a review of published literature and records in the U.S. National Tick Collection and National Ecological Observatory Network databases, we compiled an updated county-level map showing the reported distribution of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say). We show that this vector of the bacterial agents causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia is widely distributed, with records derived from 45 states across the contiguous United States. However, within these states, county-level records of established tick populations are limited. Relative to the range of suitable habitat for this tick, our data imply that D. variabilis is currently underreported in the peer-reviewed literature, highlighting a need for improved surveillance and documentation of existing tick records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aine Lehane
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Christina Parise
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
| | - Colleen Evans
- U.S. National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, 202 Georgia Avenue, Statesboro, GA 30460
| | - Lorenza Beati
- U.S. National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, 202 Georgia Avenue, Statesboro, GA 30460
| | - William L. Nicholson
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333
| | - Rebecca J. Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521
- Corresponding author,
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Chilton NB, Curry PS, Lindsay LR, Rochon K, Lysyk TJ, Dergousoff SJ. Passive and Active Surveillance for Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Saskatchewan, Canada. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:156-163. [PMID: 31618432 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Passive and active surveillance for the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan was conducted over a 9-yr period (2009-2017). More than 26,000 ixodid ticks, representing 10 species, were submitted through passive surveillance. Most (97%) of these were the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say). Of the 65 I. scapularis adults submitted, 75% were collected from dogs. Infection rates of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti in I. scapularis were 12%, 8%, and 0%, respectively. Although the I. scapularis submitted by passive surveillance were collected from five of seven ecoregions in central and southern Saskatchewan, they were most frequent in the Moist Mixed Grassland and Aspen Parklands. In contrast, no I. scapularis were collected from the extensive field sampling conducted at multiple sites in different ecoregions across the province. Hence, there is no evidence of I. scapularis having established a breeding population in Saskatchewan. Nonetheless, continued surveillance for blacklegged ticks is warranted given their important role as a vector of medically and veterinary important pathogens, and because they have recently become established across much of the southern portions of the neighboring province of Manitoba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - L Robbin Lindsay
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Kateryn Rochon
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | | | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Hecht JA, Allerdice MEJ, Dykstra EA, Mastel L, Eisen RJ, Johnson TL, Gaff HD, Varela-Stokes AS, Goddard J, Pagac BB, Paddock CD, Karpathy SE. Multistate Survey of American Dog Ticks ( Dermacentor variabilis) for Rickettsia Species. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:652-657. [PMID: 30942664 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermacentor variabilis, a common human-biting tick found throughout the eastern half and along the west coast of the United States, is a vector of multiple bacterial pathogens. Historically, D. variabilis has been considered a primary vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, the causative agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. A total of 883 adult D. variabilis, collected between 2012 and 2017 from various locations in 12 states across the United States, were screened for rickettsial DNA. Tick extracts were evaluated using three real-time PCR assays; an R. rickettsii-specific assay, a Rickettsia bellii-specific assay, and a Rickettsia genus-specific assay. Sequencing of ompA gene amplicons generated using a seminested PCR assay was used to determine the rickettsial species present in positive samples not already identified by species-specific real-time assays. A total of 87 (9.9%) tick extracts contained R. bellii DNA and 203 (23%) contained DNA of other rickettsial species, including 47 (5.3%) with Rickettsia montanensis, 11 (1.2%) with Rickettsia amblyommatis, 2 (0.2%) with Rickettsia rhipicephali, and 3 (0.3%) with Rickettsia parkeri. Only 1 (0.1%) tick extract contained DNA of R. rickettsii. These data support multiple other contemporary studies that indicate infrequent detection of R. rickettsii in D. variabilis in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy A Hecht
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Michelle E J Allerdice
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Elizabeth A Dykstra
- Zoonotic Disease Program, Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, Washington
| | - Laura Mastel
- Division of Microbiology Lab Services, North Dakota Department of Health, Bismarck, North Dakota
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ft. Collins, Colorado
| | - Tammi L Johnson
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ft. Collins, Colorado
| | | | - Andrea S Varela-Stokes
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | - Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi
| | | | - Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sandor E Karpathy
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Evason M, Stull JW, Pearl DL, Peregrine AS, Jardine C, Buch JS, Lailer Z, O'Connor T, Chandrashekar R, Weese JS. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp. and Dirofilaria immitis in Canadian dogs, 2008 to 2015: a repeat cross-sectional study. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:64. [PMID: 30691522 PMCID: PMC6350403 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vector-borne pathogens are emerging concerns in multiple regions of Canada. Determining regional prevalence of canine vector-borne pathogens and documenting change will improve clinician awareness, enable targeted prevention, enhance diagnosis and ideally reduce the risk of disease. Study objectives were to: (i) estimate the prevalence of positive canine vector-borne test results from samples submitted in Canada; (ii) assess change in prevalence over time, from baseline (2008) to 2015; and (iii) estimate the prevalence of pathogen co-infections. Methods This repeat cross-sectional study evaluated 753,468 test results for D. immitis antigen and B. burgdorferi, Ehrlichia canis/ewingii/muris serology, and 753,208 test results for Anaplasma phagocytophilum/platys serology using the SNAP® 4Dx®Test and SNAP 4Dx® Plus Test. Results Based on all submitted samples from Canada (2008–2015), the period seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp. and D. immitis antigen were 2.0%, 0.5%, 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. Over the 7 years (2008 compared to 2015) we observed a significant increase in seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi (144.4%) and Ehrlichia spp. (150%). Co-infections (positive for two or more pathogens on a single 4 pathogen test kit) were estimated at 5.4% (1162/21,612) of total positive tests. Conclusions The temporal rise and geographical differences in prevalence detected for these pathogens (notably B. burgdorferi) are consistent with anecdotal information on canine illness related to tick-borne pathogen exposure in multiple regions of Canada, particularly canine Lyme disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3299-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Evason
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada. .,University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Jason W Stull
- University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.,The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - David L Pearl
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | | | - Jesse S Buch
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, Maine, 04092, USA
| | - Zachary Lailer
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, Maine, 04092, USA
| | - Tom O'Connor
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, Maine, 04092, USA
| | | | - J Scott Weese
- University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Molecular evidence for the inhibition of cytochrome p450s and cholinesterases in ticks by the repellent DEET. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:515-522. [PMID: 30612950 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
For more than 50 years DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide) has been considered the gold standard of repellents. It is applied to the skin or clothing to deter mosquitoes and other blood-sucking invertebrate pests from approaching and/or settling, and ultimately it provides temporary protection from bites. Despite rampant global use, surprisingly little is understood about DEET's mode of action and the molecular targets of the active ingredient. Furthermore, the theories into its mechanism for repellency are largely based off fruit fly and mosquito research. Since ticks possess a unique sensory structure, the Haller's organ, the specific genes and pathways associated with DEET avoidance may differ from insects. In these studies, we collected American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) from four natural populations within Manitoba, Canada. We first carried out behavior assays, which showed DEET effectively repelled the ticks. RNA sequencing revealed that DEET caused a rapid and substantial reduction in the abundance of transcripts encoding cytochrome P450 and acetylcholinesterase genes, which gradually recovered over the 24 h time course. Finally, enzymatic kinetics provided functional support for DEET's role as an effective inhibitor of P450 s. While many facets of its mode of action remain to be worked out, our study provides valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of DEET's repellence in ticks.
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Gasmi S, Bouchard C, Ogden NH, Adam-Poupart A, Pelcat Y, Rees EE, Milord F, Leighton PA, Lindsay RL, Koffi JK, Thivierge K. Evidence for increasing densities and geographic ranges of tick species of public health significance other than Ixodes scapularis in Québec, Canada. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0201924. [PMID: 30133502 PMCID: PMC6104943 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is driving emergence and establishment of Ixodes scapularis, the main vector of Lyme disease in Québec, Canada. As for the black-legged tick, I. scapularis Say, global warming may also favor northward expansion of other species of medically important ticks. The aims of this study were to determine (1) current diversity and abundance of ticks of public health significance other than I. scapularis, (2) sex and age of the human population bitten by these ticks (3), and the seasonal and geographic pattern of their occurrence. From 2007 to 2015, twelve tick species other than I. scapularis were submitted in the Québec passive tick surveillance program. Of these 9243 ticks, 91.2% were Ixodes cookei, 4.1% were Dermacentor variabilis, 4.0% were Rhipicephalus sanguineus and 0.7% were Amblyomma americanum. The combined annual proportion of submitted I. cookei, D. variabilis, R. sanguineus and A. americanum ticks in passive surveillance rose from 6.1% in 2007 to 16.0% in 2015 and an annual growing trend was observed for each tick species. The number of municipalities where I. cookei ticks were acquired rose from 104 to 197 during the same period. Of the 862 people bitten by these ticks, 43.3% were I. cookei ticks removed from children aged < 10 years. These findings demonstrate the need for surveillance of all the tick species of medical importance in Québec, particularly because climate may increase their abundance and geographic ranges, increasing the risk to the public of the diseases they transmit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salima Gasmi
- Policy Integration and Zoonoses Division, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Catherine Bouchard
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicholas H. Ogden
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ariane Adam-Poupart
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Yann Pelcat
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Erin E. Rees
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - François Milord
- Direction des risques biologiques et de la santé au travail, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Patrick A. Leighton
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Robbin L. Lindsay
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jules K. Koffi
- Policy Integration and Zoonoses Division, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique (GREZOSP), Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Karine Thivierge
- Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec, Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada
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Chilton NB, Dergousoff SJ, Lysyk TJ. Prevalence of Anaplasma bovis in Canadian populations of the Rocky Mountain wood tick, Dermacentor andersoni. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2018; 9:1528-1531. [PMID: 30064965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PCR and DNA sequencing were used to determine the prevalence of Anaplasma bovis in Rocky Mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni) collected in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. These analyses revealed that A. bovis DNA was present in 35 (2.1%) of 1679 ticks collected at 12 of the 24 localities. The discovery of A. bovis in host-seeking female and male D. andersoni from multiple locations in southern Canada may have important implications for diagnosis of anaplasmosis in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil B Chilton
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Shaun J Dergousoff
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - Timothy J Lysyk
- Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4B1, Canada
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Nieto NC, Porter WT, Wachara JC, Lowrey TJ, Martin L, Motyka PJ, Salkeld DJ. Using citizen science to describe the prevalence and distribution of tick bite and exposure to tick-borne diseases in the United States. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199644. [PMID: 30001350 PMCID: PMC6042714 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens are increasing their range and incidence in North America as a consequence of numerous factors including improvements in diagnostics and diagnosis, range expansion of primary vectors, changes in human behavior, and an increasing understanding of the diversity of species of pathogens that cause human disease. Public health agencies have access to human incidence data on notifiable diseases e.g., Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, and often local pathogen prevalence in vector populations. However, data on exposure to vectors and pathogens can be difficult to determine e.g., if disease does not occur. We report on an investigation of exposure to ticks and tick-borne bacteria, conducted at a national scale, using citizen science participation. 16,080 ticks were submitted between January 2016 and August 2017, and screened for B. burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. These data corroborate entomologic investigations of tick distributions in North America, but also identify patterns of local disease risk and tick contact with humans throughout the year in numerous species of ticks and associated pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C. Nieto
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - W. Tanner Porter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Julie C. Wachara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Lowrey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Luke Martin
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Motyka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Salkeld
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
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Kaufman EL, Stone NE, Scoles GA, Hepp CM, Busch JD, Wagner DM. Range-wide genetic analysis of Dermacentor variabilis and its Francisella-like endosymbionts demonstrates phylogeographic concordance between both taxa. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:306. [PMID: 29776375 PMCID: PMC5960137 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2886-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is an important vector of pathogens to humans, wildlife and domestic animals in North America. Although this tick species is widely distributed in the USA and Canada, knowledge of its range-wide phylogeographic patterns remains incomplete. METHODS We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of D. variabilis using samples collected from 26 USA states and five Canadian provinces. Tick samples (n = 1053 in total) originated from two main sources: existing archives (2000-2011), and new collections made from 2012 to 2013. We sequenced a 691 bp fragment of the cox1 gene from a subset (n = 332) of geographically diverse D. variabilis. DNA extracted from individual ticks (n = 1053) was also screened for a Francisella-like endosymbiont, using a targeted 16S rRNA sequencing approach, and important pathogens (Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii), using species-specific quantitative PCR assays. RESULTS Maximum parsimony analysis of cox1 sequences revealed two major groups within D. variabilis with distinct geographical distributions: one from the eastern USA/Canada (Group 1) and one from the west coast states of the USA (California and Washington; Group 2). However, genetic subdivisions within both of these two major groups were weak to moderate and not tightly correlated with geography. We found molecular signatures consistent with Francisella-like endosymbionts in 257 of the DNA extracts from the 1053 individual ticks, as well as Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in a small number of ticks (n = 29 and 2, respectively). Phylogenetic patterns for Francisella-like endosymbionts, constructed using sequence data from the bacterial 16S rRNA locus, were similar to those for D. variabilis, with two major groups that had a nearly perfect one-to-one correlation with the two major groups within D. variabilis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal a distinct phylogenetic split between the two major D. variabilis populations. However, high levels of genetic mixture among widely separated geographical localities occur within each of these two major groups. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analyses provide evidence of long-term tick-symbiont co-evolution. This work has implications for understanding the dispersal and evolutionary ecology of D. variabilis and associated vector-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Kaufman
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Nathan E Stone
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Glen A Scoles
- USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit, 3003 ADBF, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Crystal M Hepp
- School of Informatics, Computing, and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 5693, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - Joseph D Busch
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA
| | - David M Wagner
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 4073, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA.
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Merrill MM, Boughton RK, Lord CC, Sayler KA, Wight B, Anderson WM, Wisely SM. Wild pigs as sentinels for hard ticks: A case study from south-central Florida. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2018; 7:161-170. [PMID: 29988828 PMCID: PMC6032497 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
As a result of shifts in the habitable range of ticks due to climate change and the ongoing threat of exotic tick species introductions, efficient surveillance tools for these pests and disease vectors are needed. Wild pigs are habitat generalists, distributed throughout most of the United States, and often hunted recreationally or removed as part of management programs, making them potentially useful sentinel hosts for ticks. We compared ticks collected from captured wild pigs and standard tick dragging methods on a south-central Florida cattle ranch from May 2015-August 2017. Three hundred and sixteen wild pigs were surveyed, and 84 km spanning three habitat types (seminative pasture, improved pasture, and hammock) were dragged. In total, 1023 adults of four species (Amblyomma auricularium, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis) were collected from wild pigs, while 39 adults of three species (A. auricularium, A. maculatum, and I. scapularis) were collected from drags. Only one immature specimen, a nymph, was collected from a pig, while dragging collected 2808 larvae and 150 nymphs. Amblyomma maculatum comprised 96% of adults collected from pigs, while A. maculatum, I. scapularis, and A. auricularium comprised 38%, 33%, and 28% of adults collected from drags, respectively. Adults of all tick species found on drags were found on pigs, and wild pig surveillance detected adults of an additional species not found on drags. Dragging was far superior for collection of immatures but not for adults of most species found in this study. These findings suggest wild pigs could be used as a sentinel for the detection of tick species. When combined with ongoing wild pig research, hunting, or management, wild pig surveillance can provide an effective method to survey for adult tick presence of some species of interest and may assist in tracking the range expansion of some tick species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Merrill
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, PO Box 100188, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Cynthia C Lord
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 200 9th St SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962, USA
| | - Katherine A Sayler
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bethany Wight
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Wesley M Anderson
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Samantha M Wisely
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Mullens BA, Hinkle NC, Fryxell RT, Rochon K. Past, Present, and Future Contributions and Needs for Veterinary Entomology in the United States and Canada. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/ae/tmy006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nancy C Hinkle
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Rebecca Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
| | - Kateryn Rochon
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Current and potential future distribution of the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis, Say) in North America. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 9:354-362. [PMID: 29275873 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) is medically and economically important in North America. This species is found across central and eastern North America from the Gulf Coast of Mexico through southern Canada. In parts of this region, D. variabilis is a vector for pathogens that cause diseases in humans and animals. Our aim was to determine whether climate change would affect the distribution of the climatically suitable area for D. variabilis in North America, to aid monitoring for potential future spread of tick-borne pathogens. We developed a species distribution model for D. variabilis to project where climate will likely be suitable for the tick in North America using a maximum entropy method, occurrence records from museum and laboratory archives, and 10 environmental variables relevant to climate requirements for the tick. We used four emissions scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report and 10 climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (phase 5) to estimate potential future climate suitability and determine how the tick's distribution could change. Our consensus model projected that the area of suitable climate in North America could increase from present by approximately 50% by 2070. In areas beyond the current northern limit of D. variabilis, climate could become more suitable for the tick than at present, possibly resulting in a northward expansion in Canada, but the potential suitability of the southern range of D. variabilis could decrease, depending on the region and climate model. Due to the ability of D. variabilis to harbor and transmit pathogens, a change in the distribution of this species could also affect the risk of human and animal diseases throughout North America, particularly in the northern range of the tick.
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Cold tolerance and biochemical response of unfed Dermacentor silvarum ticks to low temperature. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2017; 8:757-763. [PMID: 28578851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The important pathogen vector Dermacentor silvarum is widely distributed in China. However, the tick's adaptation to low winter temperatures remains poorly understood. We therefore investigated the cold hardiness and physiological and biochemical responses of D. silvarum ticks exposed to low temperatures. The results indicated that the lower lethal temperatures (LT50s) for larvae, nymphs, females and males were -16.9°C, -15.8°C, -20.0°C and -20.1°C, respectively. The discriminating temperatures (resulting in 20% survival) for larvae, nymphs, females and males were -18.5°C, -20.0°C, -21.7°C and -22.6°C, respectively. The supercooling temperature points (at which body fluids spontaneously freeze) of larvae, nymphs, females and males averaged -20.0°C, -23.5°C, -24.2°C and -23.9°C, respectively. These results indicate that adult ticks are more tolerant to cold than the immatures. Low-temperature stress can enhance adult cold hardiness and trigger decreases in glycogen and protein in both females and males, whereas nymphs displayed different biochemical responses, including an increase in water and total fat content. An increase of glycerol observed in nymphs and females suggests that glycerol is important for cold hardiness. The findings of this study will help to define the dispersal limits for D. silvarum and thus inform the need for tick control efforts.
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Durden LA, Beckmen KB, Gerlach RF. New Records of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) From Dogs, Cats, Humans, and Some Wild Vertebrates in Alaska: Invasion Potential. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:1391-1395. [PMID: 27524823 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
During 2010-2016, tick specimens were solicited from veterinarians, biologists, and members of the public in Alaska. Eight species of ticks were recorded from domestic dogs. Some ticks were collected from dogs with recent travel histories to other countries or other U.S. states, which appears to explain records of ticks not native to Alaska such as Amblyomma americanum (L.) (lone star tick), Ixodes scapularis (Say) (blacklegged tick), and Ixodes ricinus (L.). However, we recorded Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (American dog tick) from dogs (and humans) both with and without travel history, suggesting that this nonindigenous tick could be establishing populations in Alaska. Other ticks commonly recorded from dogs included the indigenous Ixodes angustus Neumann and the invasive Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (brown dog tick). Domestic cats were only parasitized by one tick species, the native I. angustus Six species of ticks were recorded from humans: A. americanum (with and without travel history), Dermacentor andersoni Stiles (Rocky Mountain wood tick; travel associated), D. variabilis (with and without travel history), Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) (rabbit tick, native to Alaska), I. angustus, and R. sanguineus. Ixodes angustus predominated among tick collections from native mammals. Also, Ixodes texanus Banks (first record from Alaska) was collected from an American marten, Martes americana (Turton), H. leporispalustris was recorded from a snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus Erxleben, and Ixodes auritulus Neumann was collected from a Northwestern crow, Corvus caurinus Baird. The establishment of D. variabilis, D. andersoni, A. americanum, and/or I. scapularis in Alaska would have strong implications for animal and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA 30458
| | | | - Robert F Gerlach
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Health and Disease Surveillance Program, Division of Wildlife Conservation, 1300 College Rd., Fairbanks, AK 99701
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Cold hardiness and influences of hibernaculum conditions on overwintering survival of American dog tick larvae. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1155-1161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Wood H, Dillon L, Patel SN, Ralevski F. Prevalence of Rickettsia species in Dermacentor variabilis ticks from Ontario, Canada. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016; 7:1044-1046. [PMID: 27318438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Relatively little is known about the prevalence of rickettsial species in Dermacentor ticks in eastern Canada. In this study, Dermacentor ticks from the province of Ontario, Canada, were tested for the presence of spotted fever group rickettsial (SFGR) species, Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis. Rickettsia rickettsii was not detected in any ticks tested, but R. montanensis was detected at a prevalence of 2.2% in D. variabilis (17/778). Two other SFGR species, R. parkeri and Candidatus R. andeanae, were detected individually in 2 Amblyomma maculatum ticks. Rickettsia peacockii, a non-pathogenic endosymbiont, was detected in two D. andersonii ticks. Given the highly abundant nature of D. variabilis, surveillance for human pathogens in this species of tick has important public health implications, but the lack of detection of known human pathogens indicates a low risk of infection via this tick species in Ontario. However, the detection of R. parkeri in an adventive A. maculatum tick indicates that health care providers should be aware of the possibility of spotted fever rickettsioses in individuals with a history of travel outside of Ontario and symptoms compatible with a spotted fever rickettsiosis. Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis, human pathogens also potentially transmitted by D. variabilis, were not detected in a subset of the ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Wood
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Liz Dillon
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Filip Ralevski
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Yunik MEM, Galloway TD, Lindsay LR. Assessment of prevalence and distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in Manitoba, Canada, in the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2016; 15:103-8. [PMID: 25700040 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the distribution and prevalence of the spotted fever group rickettsiae in Canada. We conducted active surveillance for tick-associated rickettsiae in 10 localities in Manitoba. A total of 1044 adult American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), were collected and screened for spotted fever group rickettsiae. Rickettsia montanensis was the only species of rickettsia detected. The mean prevalence of infection was 9.8% (range, 0.00-21.74% among localities). The proportion of infected male and female ticks was not significantly different; however, tick populations near the northern limit of D. variabilis distribution in Manitoba had a lower prevalence of infection compared to tick populations from more southern localities in the province.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E M Yunik
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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