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Ferguson LV, El Nabbout A, Adamo SA. Warming, but not infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, increases off-host winter activity in the ectoparasite, Ixodes scapularis. J Therm Biol 2024; 121:103853. [PMID: 38626664 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Warming winters will change patterns of behaviour in temperate and polar arthropods, but we know little about the drivers of winter activity in animals such as ticks. Any changes in behaviour are likely to arise from a combination of both abiotic (e.g. temperature) and biotic (e.g. infection) drivers, and will have important consequences for survival and species interactions. Blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, have invaded Atlantic Canada and high proportions (30-50%) are infected with the bacteria causing Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Infection is correlated with increased overwintering survival of adult females, and ticks are increasingly active in the winter, but it is unclear if infection is associated with activity. Further, we know little about how temperature drives the frequency of winter activity. Here, we exposed wild-caught, adult, female Ixodes scapularis ticks to three different winter temperature regimes (constant low temperatures, increased warming, and increased warming + variability) to determine the thermal and infection conditions that promote or suppress activity. We used automated behaviour monitors to track daily activity in individual ticks and repeated the study with fresh ticks over three years. Following exposure to winter conditions we determined whether ticks were infected with the bacteria B. burgdorferi and if infection was responsible for any patterns in winter activity. Warming conditions promoted increased activity throughout the overwintering period but infection with B. burgdorferi had no impact on the frequency or overall number of ticks active throughout the winter. Individual ticks varied in their levels of activity throughout the winter, such that some were largely dormant for several weeks, while others were active almost daily; however, we do not yet know the drivers behind this individual variation in behaviour. Overall, warming winters will heighten the risk of tick-host encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Ferguson
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada.
| | - Amal El Nabbout
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada
| | - Shelley A Adamo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada
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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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Wang N, Ji A, Masoudi A, Li S, Hu Y, Zhang Y, Yu Z, Wang H, Wang H, Liu J. Protein regulation mechanism of cold tolerance in Haemaphysalis longicornis. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:725-740. [PMID: 36285346 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are external parasitic arthropods that can transmit a variety of pathogens by sucking blood. Low-temperature tolerance is essential for ticks to survive during the cold winter. Exploring the protein regulation mechanism of low-temperature tolerance of Haemaphysalis longicornis could help to explain how ticks survive in winter. In this study, the quantitative proteomics of several tissues of H. longicornis exposed to low temperature were studied by data independent acquisition technology. Totals of 3 699, 3 422, and 1 958 proteins were identified in the salivary gland, midgut, and ovary, respectively. The proteins involved in energy metabolism, cell signal transduction, protein synthesis and repair, and cytoskeleton synthesis changed under low-temperature stress. The comprehensive analysis of the protein regulation of multiple tissues of female ticks exposed to low temperature showed that maintaining cell homeostasis, maintaining cell viability, and enhancing cell tolerance were the most important means for ticks to maintain vital signs under low temperature. The expression of proteins involved in and regulating the above cell activities was the key to the survival of ticks under low temperatures. Through the analysis of a large amount of data, we found that the expression levels of arylamine N-acetyltransferase, inositol polyphosphate multikinase, and dual-specificity phosphatase were up-regulated under low temperature. We speculated that they might have important significance in low-temperature tolerance. Then, we performed RNA interference on the mRNA of these 3 proteins, and the results showed that the ability of female ticks to tolerate low temperatures decreased significantly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningmei Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Aimeng Ji
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Abolfazl Masoudi
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuhong Hu
- Instrumental Analysis Center, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yefei Zhang
- Hebei Xiaowutai Mountain National Nature Reserve Management Center, Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, China
| | - Zhijun Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Han Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jingze Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China
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Zhou W, Chen W. Early Starvation Contributes to the Adaptive Capacity of Corythucha marmorata (Uhler), an Emerging Pest in China. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11010080. [PMID: 35053078 PMCID: PMC8772960 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary According to renowned Chinese medical saint Quan Wan, of the Ming Dynasty, “If you want to keep your child healthy, make him stay hungry occasionally”. In addition to lamenting the ancients’ theory of health preservation, we also frame this question in the context of insects of more distant origins. How did lace bugs adapt to starvation and low temperatures when they spread around the world? What influence do these abiotic stresses have? Driven by our desire to answer these questions, we designed a study in which nymphs newly born on different hosts were subjected to starvation treatment for differing periods. Origin food was then continuously provided until the end of their life. The total development time, survival, number of eggs, and supercooling capacity were recorded. Overall, our results provide an increased understanding of long-term post-starvation responses of insects to food limitations, particularly in determining survival. Abstract Food shortages severely reduce the prospects of insect survival in natural settings, including in the case of herbivorous insects. However, the early starvation experience of some insects has positive effects throughout their entire lifespan. It is important to discuss the effects of refeeding and host plants on the capacity of herbivorous insects to adapt to starvation and low temperatures, considering that starvation resistance is expected to show some degree of adaptive phenotypic plasticity. We tested the relationship between host plant, starvation, and the supercooling capacity of the invasive pest Corythucha marmorata. In particular, we highlighted how early starvation affects the refeeding and recovery phases. Among the various range of hosts, the chrysanthemum lace bug has the fastest growth rate on Helianthus annuus, and the strongest supercooling capacity on Symphyotrichum novi-belgii. Especially, starvation for 2 days increases the rates of survival, development, and number of eggs upon refeeding, in comparison to no starvation. A 3-day starvation period in the nymphal stage significantly increased the supercooling capacity of 5th instar nymphs and adults, as observed in our study.
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Ajayi OM, Gantz JD, Finch G, Lee RE, Denlinger DL, Benoit JB. Rapid stress hardening in the Antarctic midge improves male fertility by increasing courtship success and preventing decline of accessory gland proteins following cold exposure. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:271037. [PMID: 34297110 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242506] [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: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Rapid hardening is a process that quickly improves an animal's performance following exposure to potentially damaging stress. In this study of the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica (Diptera, Chironomidae), we examined how rapid hardening in response to dehydration (RDH) or cold (RCH) improves male pre- and post-copulatory function when the insects are subsequently subjected to a damaging cold exposure. Neither RDH nor RCH improved survival in response to lethal cold stress, but male activity and mating success following sublethal cold exposure were enhanced. Egg viability decreased following direct exposure of the mating males to sublethal cold but improved following RCH and RDH. Sublethal cold exposure reduced the expression of four accessory gland proteins, while expression remained high in males exposed to RCH. Though rapid hardening may be cryptic in males, this study shows that it can be revealed by pre- and post-copulatory interactions with females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwaseun M Ajayi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - J D Gantz
- Department of Biology and Health Science, Hendrix College, Conway, AR 72032, USA
| | - Geoffrey Finch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Richard E Lee
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
| | - David L Denlinger
- Departments of Entomology and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
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Teets NM, Hayward SAL. Editorial on combatting the cold: Comparative physiology of low temperature and related stressors in arthropods. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 260:111037. [PMID: 34274530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Teets
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
| | - Scott A L Hayward
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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Davies B, Rosendale AJ, Gantz JD, Lee RE, Denlinger DL, Benoit JB. Cross-tolerance and transcriptional shifts underlying abiotic stress in the seabird tick, Ixodes uriae. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02887-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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