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Galletti MFBM, Hecht JA, McQuiston JR, Gartin J, Cochran J, Blocher BH, Ayres BN, Allerdice MEJ, Beati L, Nicholson WL, Snellgrove AN, Paddock CD. Applying MALDI-TOF MS to resolve morphologic and genetic similarities between two Dermacentor tick species of public health importance. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19834. [PMID: 39191821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69768-8] [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: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) have been historically identified by morphological methods which require highly specialized expertise and more recently by DNA-based molecular assays that involve high costs. Although both approaches provide complementary data for tick identification, each method has limitations which restrict their use on large-scale settings such as regional or national tick surveillance programs. To overcome those obstacles, the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been introduced as a cost-efficient method for the identification of various organisms, as it balances performance, speed, and high data output. Here we describe the use of this technology to validate the distinction of two closely related Dermacentor tick species based on the development of the first nationwide MALDI-TOF MS reference database described to date. The dataset obtained from this protein-based approach confirms that tick specimens collected from United States regions west of the Rocky Mountains and identified previously as Dermacentor variabilis are the recently described species, Dermacentor similis. Therefore, we propose that this integrative taxonomic tool can facilitate vector and vector-borne pathogen surveillance programs in the United States and elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria F B M Galletti
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Joy A Hecht
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - John R McQuiston
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Jarrett Gartin
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Jake Cochran
- Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Bessie H Blocher
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Bryan N Ayres
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Michelle E J Allerdice
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Lorenza Beati
- United States National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, USA
| | - William L Nicholson
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Alyssa N Snellgrove
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
| | - Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA
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Rubino F, Foley J. Prevalence and Knowledge of Tick-Borne Disease Among Forest Management Workers in Santa Cruz, California. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38682292 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2024.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: In Lyme-endemic areas, limited research has investigated the risk of tick-borne diseases among frontline workers in fire management. This study aimed to compare the exposure histories to ticks and tick-borne pathogens, knowledge, and prevention practices between individuals engaged in fire-related forest management and those participating in recreational activities within Santa Cruz County, CA, in an area of high risk of tick exposure. Methods: Blood samples from 55 forest workers and 58 members of the public were tested for bacterial DNA of and antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia species. In addition, a questionnaire was administered to 54 workers and 84 members of the public to identify gaps in knowledge and prevention practices. Results: Although workers had a higher percentage of positive B. burgdorferi antibodies than the public (5.5% compared with 1.7%), the difference was not statistically significant. Conversely, rickettsial antibodies were more prevalent among the public (17.2% versus 3.6% for workers), but specificity to pathogenic bacteria could not be confirmed. No DNA for the three pathogens or antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were detected. Many workers and members of the public reported tick bites (67.4% of participants), with a notable 11% increase among workers in the odds of being bitten for each additional year spent working in forests. Although workers took greater precautions, significant knowledge and practice gaps were identified among both populations, such as an inability to distinguish tick species from common arthropods (mites, spiders, fleas), overestimating the size of ticks, and inappropriate tick-removal techniques. Conclusion: This study underscores the risk of tick-borne diseases faced by fire management workers in Lyme disease-endemic regions. The findings emphasize the necessity for future studies of Lyme disease within this population, and highlight the urgent need for enhanced training programs to minimize these risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Rubino
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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3
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Paddock CD, Slater K, Swei A, Zambrano ML, Kleinjan JE, Padgett KA, Saunders MEM, Andrews ES, Trent E, Zhong J, Sambado S, Goldsmith CS, Pascoe EL, Foley J, Lane RS, Karpathy SE. Detection and Isolation of Rickettsia tillamookensis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) From Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) From Multiple Regions of California. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1404-1412. [PMID: 35468215 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) is the most frequently identified human-biting tick species in the western United States and the principal vector of at least three recognized bacterial pathogens of humans. A potentially pathogenic Rickettsia species, first described in 1978 and recently characterized as a novel transitional group agent designated as Rickettsia tillamookensis, also exists among populations of I. pacificus, although the distribution and frequency of this agent are poorly known. We evaluated DNA extracts from 348 host-seeking I. pacificus nymphs collected from 9 locations in five California counties, and from 916 I. pacificus adults collected from 24 locations in 13 counties, by using a real-time PCR designed specifically to detect DNA of R. tillamookensis. DNA of R. tillamookensis was detected in 10 (2.9%) nymphs (95% CI: 1.6-5.2%) and 17 (1.9%) adults (95% CI: 1.2-3.0%) from 11 counties of northern California. Although site-specific infection rates varied greatly, frequencies of infection remained consistently low when aggregated by stage, sex, habitat type, or geographical region. Four novel isolates of R. tillamookensis were cultivated in Vero E6 cells from individual adult ticks collected from Alameda, Nevada, and Yolo counties. Four historical isolates, serotyped previously as 'Tillamook-like' strains over 40 yr ago, were revived from long-term storage in liquid nitrogen and confirmed subsequently by molecular methods as isolates of R. tillamookensis. The potential public health impact of R. tillamookensis requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kimetha Slater
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Andrea Swei
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria L Zambrano
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joyce E Kleinjan
- Alameda County Vector Control Services District, Alameda, CA, USA
| | - Kerry A Padgett
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Megan E M Saunders
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Andrews
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Erin Trent
- Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Jianmin Zhong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA, USA
| | - Samantha Sambado
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Cynthia S Goldsmith
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily L Pascoe
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Robert S Lane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley CA, USA
| | - Sandor E Karpathy
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Invasive raccoon (Procyon lotor) and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) as potential reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens: data review from native and introduced areas. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:126. [PMID: 35410448 PMCID: PMC8996218 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05245-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, populations of the raccoon (Procyon lotor) and the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonides) have increased and adapted to peri-urban and urban environments in many parts of the world. Their ability to rapidly colonize new territories, high plasticity and behavioral adaptation has enabled these two species to be considered two of the most successful invasive alien species. One of the major threats arising from continually growing and expanding populations is their relevant role in maintaining and transmitting various vector-borne pathogens among wildlife, domestic animals and humans. According to the WHO, over 17% of infectious diseases are vector-borne diseases, including those transmitted by ticks. Every year tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) create new public health challenges. Some of the emerging diseases, such as Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and rickettsiosis, have been described in recent years as posing important threats to global health. In this review we summarize current molecular and serological data on the occurrence, diversity and prevalence of some of the TBPs, namely Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon, Borrelia, Rickettsia, Bartonella, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia, that have been detected in raccoons and raccoon dogs that inhabit their native habitats and introduced areas. We draw attention to the limited data currently available on these invasive carnivores as potential reservoirs of TBPs in different parts of the world. Simultaneously we indicate the need for more research in order to better understand the epidemiology of these TBPs and to assess the future risk originating from wildlife.
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Straily A, Stuck S, Singleton J, Brennan S, Marcum S, Condit M, Lee C, Kato C, Tonnetti L, Stramer SL, Paddock CD. Antibody Titers Reactive With Rickettsia rickettsii in Blood Donors and Implications for Surveillance of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis in the United States. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1371-1378. [PMID: 31267128 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since 2000, the reported prevalence of tick-borne spotted fever rickettsiosis has increased considerably. We compared the level of antibody reactivity among healthy blood donors from 2 widely separated regions of the United States and evaluated the impact of antibody prevalence on public health surveillance in one of these regions. METHODS Donor serum samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay to identify immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies reactive with Rickettsia rickettsii. The Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) analyzed characteristics of cases from 2016 surveillance data to evaluate the utility of laboratory surveillance for case assessment. RESULTS Of the Georgia donors (n = 1493), 11.1% demonstrated antibody titers reactive with R. rickettsii at titers ≥64, whereas 6.3% of donors from Oregon and Washington (n = 1511) were seropositive. Most seropositive donors had a titer of 64; only 3.1% (n = 93) of all donors had titers ≥128. During 2016, GDPH interviewed 243 seropositive case patients; only 28% (n = 69) met inclusion criteria in the national case definition for spotted fever rickettsiosis. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a single IgG antibody titer is an unreliable measure of diagnosis and could inaccurately affect surveillance estimates that define magnitude and clinical characteristics of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other spotted fever rickettsioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Straily
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta.,Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | | | - Joseph Singleton
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | | | - Stephanie Marcum
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | - Marah Condit
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | - Christopher Lee
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | - Cecilia Kato
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
| | - Laura Tonnetti
- American Red Cross, Rockville and Gaithersburg, Maryland
| | | | - Christopher D Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta
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Hoque MM, Barua S, Kelly PJ, Chenoweth K, Kaltenboeck B, Wang C. Identification of Rickettsia felis DNA in the blood of domestic cats and dogs in the USA. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:581. [PMID: 33208186 PMCID: PMC7672164 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main vector and reservoir host of Rickettsia felis, an emerging human pathogen causing flea-borne spotted fever, is the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis. While cats have not been found to be infected with the organism, significant percentages of dogs from Australia and Africa are infected, indicating that they may be important mammalian reservoirs. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of R. felis DNA in the blood of domestic dogs and cats in the USA. METHODS Three previously validated PCR assays for R. felis and DNA sequencing were performed on blood samples obtained from clinically ill domestic cats and dogs from 45 states (2008-2020) in the USA. The blood samples had been submitted for the diagnosis of various tick-borne diseases in dogs and feline infectious peritonitis virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and Bartonella spp. in cats. Phylogenetic comparisons were performed on the gltA nucleotide sequences obtained in the study and those reported for R. felis and R. felis-like organisms. RESULTS Low copy numbers of R. felis DNA (around 100 copies/ml whole blood) were found in four cats (4/752, 0.53%) and three dogs (3/777, 0.39%). The very low levels of infection in clinically ill animals is consistent with R. felis being an unlikely cause of disease in naturally infected dogs and cats. The low copy numbers we found emphasize the requirement for very sensitive PCRs in prevalence studies. CONCLUSIONS The low prevalence of naturally infected PCR-positive cats is further evidence that cats are unlikely to be important reservoirs of R. felis. Similarly, the low prevalence in dogs suggests they are not important reservoirs in the USA. Investigations should continue into the role other mammalian species may be playing in the epidemiology of R. felis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Monirul Hoque
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36832, USA
| | - Subarna Barua
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36832, USA
| | - Patrick John Kelly
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Island Main Road, West Farm, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Kelly Chenoweth
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36832, USA
| | - Bernhard Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36832, USA
| | - Chengming Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, 36832, USA.
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Mendes JCR, Kmetiuk LB, Martins CM, Canavessi AMO, Jimenez T, Pellizzaro M, Martins TF, Morikawa VM, Santos APD, Labruna MB, Biondo AW. Serosurvey of Rickettsia spp. in cats from a Brazilian spotted fever-endemic area. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 28:713-721. [PMID: 31721931 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612019092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Rickettsia spp. bacteria are responsible for tick-borne diseases worldwide, mostly maintained by rickettsial amplifiers capybaras in Brazilian endemic areas. The campus of the University of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, is an area endemic for Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), with high density of capybaras and Amblyomma spp., along with confirmed human cases. Besides capybaras, the university has also an in-campus high population of sheltered and free-roaming cats. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics associated with Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri and Rickettsia felis exposure among cats in a BSF-endemic area. Out of 51 cats sampled, 23/35 shelter (65.7%) and 5/16 free-roaming (31.2%) were positive (titers ≥ 64) for at least one Rickettsia species. Ticks species were present in 3/16 free-roaming cats (18.8%), consisting of Amblyomma spp., nymphs of Amblyomma sculptum and adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato. Despite sharing the capybaras environment, the seropositivity among the free-roaming and shelter cats was lower than owned cats in other endemic areas. Whether equally or less exposed to rickettsial infection, compared with owned cats in endemic areas, free-roaming and shelter cats may be used as environmental sentinels for human exposure to rickettsiae in such areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louise Bach Kmetiuk
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | - Camila Marinelli Martins
- Departamento de Enfermagem e Saúde Pública, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa - UEPG, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil
| | | | - Tatiana Jimenez
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Maysa Pellizzaro
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulita - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Departamento de Higiene Veterinária e Saúde Pública, Escola de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulita - UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Vivien Midori Morikawa
- Departamento de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
| | | | - Marcelo Bahia Labruna
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal do Paraná - UFPR, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
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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: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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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9
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Estrada I, Balagot C, Fierro M, Kriner P, Iniguez-Stevens E, Kjemtrup A, Foley J. Spotted fever group rickettsiae canine serosurveillance near the US-Mexico border in California. Zoonoses Public Health 2019; 67:148-155. [PMID: 31769616 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dogs are vulnerable to pathogens transmitted by brown dog ticks. An epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is underway in Mexicali, a Mexican city bordering California affecting people and dogs; several human cases have been reported in California residents who travelled to Mexico. To evaluate risks of RMSF, we conducted seroprevalence surveys in Imperial County in 2016 and 2017 using dogs as sentinels. METHODS Blood was collected from 752 dogs and was tested for antibodies against R. rickettsii, E. canis and A. phagocytophilum (as a proxy for A. platys). Samples were considered seropositive to spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) if the R. rickettsia titre was ≥1:64 and seropositive to E. canis and A. phagocytophilum if the titre was ≥1:32. Owners provided information on dog age, exposure risks, health status and tick prevention. We assessed associations between SFGR seropositivity and driving distance to the nearest US-Mexico border crossing station, whether proximity to a border crossing increased likelihood of taking dogs across the border, and whether distance to the border was associated with seropositivity. Logistic regression was performed to assess relationships between the titre classes and other predictor variables. RESULTS 12.2% of dogs were seropositive against SFGR. Dogs close to the border were significantly more likely to be taken across the border and to be seropositive. Risk factors that increased seropositivity included owners seeing ticks on the dog (OR = 1.9), being an adult dog, travel to Mexico (OR = 3.0) and living in a rural area (OR = 4.0). There was statistically significant co-exposure to SFGR and Anaplasma spp. CONCLUSION Surveillance for brown dog tick-vectored pathogens can help identify dogs and people at risk for RMSF. Tick prevention, particularly in dogs, and surveillance of tick-borne pathogens can help prevent the spread of rickettsioses and other diseases in this dynamic border region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irais Estrada
- Epidemiology, Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, CA, USA
| | - Caroline Balagot
- Office of Binational Border Health, California Department of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Marian Fierro
- Epidemiology, Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, CA, USA
| | - Paula Kriner
- Epidemiology, Imperial County Public Health Department, El Centro, CA, USA
| | | | - Anne Kjemtrup
- Vector-Borne Disease Section, Infectious Disease Branch, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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10
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Pascoe EL, Stephenson N, Abigana A, Clifford D, Gabriel M, Wengert G, Brown R, Higley M, Bloch EM, Foley JE. Human Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Rickettsia Species in Northern California. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2019; 19:871-878. [PMID: 31295054 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a paucity of data on human exposure to tick-borne pathogens in the western United States. This study reports prevalence of antibodies against three clinically important tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia spp.) among 249 people in five counties in northern California. Individuals from Humboldt County were recruited and answered a questionnaire to assess risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens. Samples from other counties were obtained from a blood bank and were anonymized. Seventeen (6.8%) samples were seropositive for antibodies against at least one pathogen: five for A. phagocytophilum, eight for B. burgdorferi, and four for Rickettsia spp. Women and people aged 26-35 had higher seroprevalence compared to other demographic groups. Santa Cruz County had no seropositive individuals, northern Central Valley counties had three seropositive individuals (all against A. phagocytophilum), and Humboldt County had 14 (all three pathogens), a significant, four-fold elevated risk of exposure. The Humboldt County questionnaire revealed that a bird feeder in the yard was statistically associated with exposure to ticks, and lifetime number of tick bites was associated with increasing age, time watching wildlife, and time hiking. Three-quarters of respondents were concerned about tick-associated disease, 81.0% reported experiencing tick bites, and 39.0% of those bitten reported a tick-borne disease symptom, including skin lesions (76.4%), muscle aches (49.1%), joint pain (25.5%), or fever (23.6%). Despite high levels of concern, many individuals who had been bitten by a tick were not tested for a tick-borne pathogen, including those with consistent symptoms. We highlight the need for further research and dissemination of information to residents and physicians in Northern California regarding tick-associated disease, so that appropriate medical attention can be rapidly sought and administered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Pascoe
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Nicole Stephenson
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Ashley Abigana
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Deana Clifford
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California.,Wildlife Investigations Laboratory, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, California
| | | | - Greta Wengert
- Integral Ecology Research Center, Blue Lake, California
| | - Richard Brown
- Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California
| | - Mark Higley
- Wildlife Department, Hoopa Tribal Forestry, Hoopa, California
| | - Evan M Bloch
- Department of Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Janet E Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California
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11
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Guzmán-Cornejo C, Sánchez-Montes S, Caso A, Rendón-Franco E, Muñoz-García CI. Molecular detection of Rickettsia rickettsii in ticks associated with the bobcat (Lynx rufus) in northeast Mexico. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:1105-1108. [PMID: 31201126 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The study of rickettsial agents associated with ticks from wild felines is scarce. In Europe, three species of Rickettsia have been detected (Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia massiliae, and Rickettsia monacensis) in ticks collected from the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). However, no studies have been conducted on another lynx species. For this reason, the aim of this study was to identify the diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks associated with bobcats (Lynx rufus) collected in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. During 1999 and 2004, nine bobcats from two municipalities of the state were trapped and visually inspected for the presence of ticks. A total of 95 ticks were collected from these lynxes. Ticks were preserved in 96% ethanol. Subsequently we identified the presence of Rickettsia DNA by the amplification of several fragments of genes 17 kDa, ompA and ompB. Recovered sequences were concatenated, aligned, and compared with those of reference deposited in GenBank. Additionally, a phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Maximum Likelihood method. The ticks were morphologically identified as belonging to the species Dermacentor variabilis. We selected a subset of 60 ticks which were examined, and 5% (3/60) were positive with an identity of 99% to sequences of R. rickettsii deposited in GenBank. The results obtained represent the first record of R. rickettsii in ticks associated with wild carnivores, and in particular with bobcats distributed in northeast of Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Guzmán-Cornejo
- Laboratorio de Acarología, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Sokani Sánchez-Montes
- Centro de Medicina Tropical, Unidad de Investigación en Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Arturo Caso
- Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Emilio Rendón-Franco
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Claudia I Muñoz-García
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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12
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Vogel H, Foley J, Fiorello CV. Rickettsia africae and Novel Rickettsial Strain in Amblyomma spp. Ticks, Nicaragua, 2013. Emerg Infect Dis 2019; 24:385-387. [PMID: 29350167 PMCID: PMC5782909 DOI: 10.3201/eid2402.161901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report molecular detection of Rickettsiaafricae in Amblyommaovale ticks from Nicaragua and a novel rickettsial strain in an A. triste tick. Of 146 ticks from dogs, 16.4% were Rickettsia PCR positive. The presence of Rickettsia spp. in human-biting ticks in Nicaragua may pose a public health concern.
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13
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Development of a tick-borne pathogen QPCR panel for detection of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Lyme disease Borrelia in animals. J Microbiol Methods 2018; 151:83-89. [PMID: 29802869 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Lyme disease associated Borrelia spp. are the most common tick-borne pathogens reported to infect human beings worldwide and other animals, such as dogs and horses. In the present study, we developed a broad-coverage SYBR Green QPCR panel consisting of four individual assays for the detection and partial differentiation of the aforementioned pathogens. All assays were optimized to the same thermocycling condition and had a detection limit of 10 copies per reaction. The assays remained sensitive when used to test canine and equine blood DNA samples spiked with known amounts of synthetic DNA (gBlock) control template. The assays were specific, as evidenced by lack of cross reaction to non-target gBlock or other pathogens commonly tested in veterinary diagnostic labs. With appropriate Ct cutoff values for positive samples and negative controls and the melting temperature (TM) ranges established in the present study, the QPCR panel is suitable for accurate, convenient and rapid screening and confirmation of tick-borne pathogens in animals.
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Roth T, Lane RS, Foley J. A Molecular Survey for Francisella tularensis and Rickettsia spp. in Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Acari: Ixodidae) in Northern California. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:492-495. [PMID: 28031350 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Francisella tularensis and Rickettsia spp. have been cultured from Haemaphysalis leporispalustris Packard, but their prevalence in this tick has not been determined using modern molecular methods. We collected H. leporispalustris by flagging vegetation and leaf litter and from lagomorphs (Lepus californicus Gray and Sylvilagus bachmani (Waterhouse)) in northern California. Francisella tularensis DNA was not detected in any of 1,030 ticks tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas 0.4% of larvae tested in pools, 0 of 117 individual nymphs, and 2.3% of 164 adult ticks were PCR-positive for Rickettsia spp. Positive sites were Laurel Canyon Trail in Tilden Regional Park in Alameda Contra Costa County, with a Rickettsia spp. prevalence of 0.6% in 2009, and Hopland Research and Extension Center in Mendocino County, with a prevalence of 4.2% in 1988. DNA sequencing revealed R. felis, the agent of cat-flea typhus, in two larval pools from shaded California bay and live oak leaf litter in Contra Costa County and one adult tick from a L. californicus in chaparral in Mendocino County. The R. felis in unfed, questing larvae demonstrates that H. leporispalustris can transmit this rickettsia transovarially. Although R. felis is increasingly found in diverse arthropods and geographical regions, prior literature suggests a typical epidemiological cycle involving mesocarnivores and the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. felis in H. leporispalustris. Natural infection and transovarial transmission of this pathogen in the tick indicate the existence of a previously undocumented wild-lands transmission cycle that may intersect mesocarnivore-reservoired cycles and collectively affect human health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Roth
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (; )
| | - Robert S Lane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Janet Foley
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (; )
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