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Garrett KB, Brown J, Gabriel M, Dowler R, Perkins JC, Krejsa D, Yabsley MJ. Diversity of Babesia spp. in skunks from selected states in the United States of America. Parasite 2024; 31:42. [PMID: 39052012 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2024043] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Babesia species are intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites that infect a variety of hosts. The goal of this study was to evaluate the piroplasm species present in skunks in various states in the United States and determine whether there was any geographic variation. Spleen, whole blood, or blood on filter paper were received from Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, and California, and were tested for Babesia sp. We tested four species of skunks including striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis, n = 72), eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius, n = 28), western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis, n = 15), and hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leuconotus, n = 11). A PCR assay targeting the 18S rRNA region and cox1 region were used to determine if skunks were infected with piroplasms and for phylogenetic analyses. A total of 48.4% (61/126) of skunks tested positive for a Babesia species. Both the 18S and cox1 analysis supported a skunk-specific Babesia microti-like sp. of carnivores as well as a species in the B. microti complex that is phylogenetically unique from both B. microti of humans and the B. microti-like sp. of carnivores. In the 18S analysis, there was a third species of Babesia in hog-nosed skunks in the western piroplasm group. This study shows that at least three species of piroplasms occur in skunk species in the United States and further highlights the importance of phylogenetic analyses and the use of multiple gene targets when studying piroplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla B Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Justin Brown
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, 108 AVBS Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mourad Gabriel
- Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA - Integral Ecology Research Center, 239 Railroad Ave, Blue Lake, CA 95525, USA
| | - Robert Dowler
- Department of Biology, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX 76909, USA
| | - J Clint Perkins
- Department of Biology, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX 76909, USA
| | - Dianna Krejsa
- Department of Biology, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX 76909, USA - Department of Natural Resource Management, Texas Tech University, 2903 15th Street, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Dr., Athens, GA 30602, USA - Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E. Green St., Athens, GA 30602, USA - Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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Crandall KE, Millien V, Kerr JT. Historical associations and spatiotemporal changes of pathogen presence in ticks in Canada: A systematic review. Zoonoses Public Health 2024; 71:18-33. [PMID: 37957785 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13093] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Starting in the early 20th century, ticks and their pathogens have been detected during surveillance efforts in Canada. Since then, the geographic spread of tick vectors and tick-borne pathogens has steadily increased in Canada with the establishment of tick and host populations. Sentinel surveillance in Canada primarily focuses on Ixodes scapularis, which is the main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium causing Lyme disease. Other tick-borne pathogens, such as Anaplasma, Babesia, and Rickettsia species, have lower prevalence in Canada, but they are emerging or re-emerging in tick and host populations. AIMS/MATERIALS & METHODS Here, we assessed the historical associations between tick vectors, hosts and pathogens and identified spatiotemporal clusters of pathogen presence in ticks in Canada using data extracted from the literature. RESULTS Approximately one-third of ticks were infected with a pathogen, and these ticks were feeding primarily on bird and mammal hosts. B. burgdorferi was the most detected pathogen and I. scapularis harboured the greatest number of pathogens. We identified several spatial outliers of high pathogen presence in ticks in addition to five spatiotemporal clusters in southern Canada, all of which have long-established tick populations. Six spatiotemporal clusters of high pathogen presence in ticks were also identified based on surveillance method, with four clusters associated with passive surveillance and two clusters associated with active surveillance. DISCUSSION Our review represents the first systematic assessment of the literature that identifies historical associations and spatiotemporal changes in tick-host-pathogen disease systems in Canada over broad spatial and temporal scales. CONCLUSION As distinct spatiotemporal clusters were identified based on surveillance method, it is imperative that surveillance efforts employ standardized methods and data reporting to comprehensively assess the presence, spread and risk of tick-borne pathogens in tick and host populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten E Crandall
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Virginie Millien
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jeremy T Kerr
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Jacob AE, Weese JS, Rosseau J, Clow KM. Spatial patterns of Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum detected in Ixodes spp. ticks from Canadian companion animals, 2019-2020. Zoonoses Public Health 2022; 69:944-955. [PMID: 35982297 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12992] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Increasing temperatures due to climate change have contributed to a northward range expansion of Ixodes scapularis ticks in Canada. These ticks harbour pathogens of public and animal health significance, including Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which cause Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, respectively, in humans, dogs and horses, and Borrelia miyamotoi, which causes a flu-like relapsing fever in humans. To address the risks associated with these vector-borne zoonotic diseases, continuous tick surveillance is advised. This study examined spatial patterns of B. burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum from ticks submitted through a national study on ticks of companion animals. From 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, we received a total of 1541 eligible submissions from 94 veterinary clinics across Canada. Individual and pooled samples of a maximum of either 5 I. scapularis, I. pacificus or I. angustus samples from the same animal and of the same life stage were screened using real-time PCR targeting genes 23S rRNA for Borrelia spp. and msp2 for A. phagocytophilum. Confirmatory testing was conducted on all 23S rRNA positive samples using a duplex assay for ospA and flaB to differentiate B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi, respectively. Prevalence estimates were highest (>20%) for B. burgdorferi in southwestern Manitoba, eastern Ontario, southwestern Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Estimates of B. miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum were much lower (<5%), except for higher A. phagocytophilum (>5%) estimates for southern Manitoba, eastern Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Findings from this study, combined with other surveillance approaches, can be used to guide veterinary and public health approaches for ticks and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna E Jacob
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.,Institute for Medical Information Processing, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeffrey Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.,Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Joyce Rosseau
- Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Katie M Clow
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Cruciani D, Crotti S, Paoloni D, La Morgia V, Felici A, Papa P, Cosseddu GM, Moscati L, Gobbi P. Health Status of the Eastern Grey Squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis) Population in Umbria: Results of the LIFE Project 'U-SAVEREDS'. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202741. [PMID: 36290127 PMCID: PMC9597752 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202741] [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: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Invasive alien species are non-native species introduced deliberately or unintentionally beyond their past or present natural distribution, and their introduction and spread threatens local biological diversity. The Eastern grey squirrel is native to North America and was introduced to the British Islands, Italy, and South Africa. Around the year 2000, a new population of grey squirrels was recorded in Perugia, central Italy, where the species populated an area of approximately 50 km2, both in woodland and urban areas. The Eastern grey squirrel represents a huge threat to the conservation of the native Eurasian red squirrel when the two species coexist. Moreover, given their confident behaviour with humans, the non-native squirrels can negatively impact public health. The U-SAVEREDS Project was set up for Eurasian red squirrel conservation in Umbria through the eradication of the alien species and it also provided information on the health status of the Eastern grey squirrel to identify any infectious agents. The recovery of zoonotic pathogens allowed to assess the Eastern grey squirrel’s impact on human and domestic and wild animals’ health, provide helpful feedback for the management and eradication procedures, and raise public awareness through environmental education. Abstract The introduction of the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe is one of the best-known cases of invasive alien species (IAS) colonisation, that poses a severe risk to the conservation of biodiversity. In 2003, it was released in a private wildlife park near the city of Perugia (Italy), where it is replacing the native Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). The LIFE13 BIO/IT/000204 Project (U-SAVEREDS) was set up for the Sciurus vulgaris conservation in Umbria through an eradication campaign of grey squirrels. One hundred and fifty-four animals were analysed for bacteriological, mycological, virological, and serological investigations (C4 action). Sanitary screening showed that Sciurus carolinensis is a dermatophyte carrier, and therefore, it could cause public health issues for humans, considering its confident behaviour. Moreover, it has been marginally responsible for the spreading of Candida albicans, Coxiella burnetii, and Borrelia lusitaniae. Health status evaluation conducted on the Sciurus carolinensis population indicated that it is necessary to raise awareness of its impacts on biodiversity and human health. Moreover, the health status and behaviours of the IAS must be considered when control or eradication campaigns are planned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Cruciani
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Crotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Valentina La Morgia
- Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA), Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy
| | - Andrea Felici
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Paola Papa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Gian Mario Cosseddu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri” (IZSLT), Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Roma, Italy
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Abruzzo e Molise “G. Caporale” (IZSAM), Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Livia Moscati
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - Paola Gobbi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Umbria e delle Marche “Togo Rosati” (IZSUM), Via G. Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy
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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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Duplaix L, Wagner V, Gasmi S, Lindsay LR, Dibernardo A, Thivierge K, Fernandez-Prada C, Arsenault J. Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Cats and Dogs Infested With Ixodes scapularis in Quebec: An 8-Year Surveillance Study. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:696815. [PMID: 34336980 PMCID: PMC8321249 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.696815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cats that spend time outdoors and dogs are particularly at risk of exposure to ticks and the pathogens they transmit. A retrospective study on data collected through passive tick surveillance was conducted to estimate the risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens in cats and dogs bitten by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in the province of Quebec, Canada, from 2010 to 2017. Blacklegged ticks collected from these host animals were tested by PCR for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti. A total of 13,733 blacklegged ticks were collected from 12,547 animals. Most ticks were adult females and partially engorged. In total, 1,774 cats were infested with ticks and 22.6 and 2.7% of these animals were bitten by at least one tick infected with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. For the 10,773 tick infested dogs, 18.4% were exposed to B. burgdorferi positive ticks while 1.9% of infested dogs were exposed to ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum. The risk of exposure of both cats and dogs to B. miyamotoi and B. microti was lower since only 1.2 and 0.1% of ticks removed were infected with these pathogens, respectively. Traveling outside of the province of Quebec prior to tick collection was significantly associated with exposure to at least one positive tick for B. burgdorferi, A. phagocytophilum and B. microti. Animals exposed to B. burgdorferi or B. miyamotoi positive tick(s) were at higher risk of being concurrently exposed to A. phagocytophilum; higher risk of exposure to B. microti was also observed in animals concurrently exposed to B. burgdorferi. The odds of dogs having B. burgdorferi antibodies were higher when multiple ticks were collected on an animal. The testing and treatment strategies used on dogs bitten by infected ticks were diverse, and misconceptions among veterinarians regarding the treatment of asymptomatic but B. burgdorferi-seropositive dogs were noted. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that cats and dogs throughout Quebec are exposed to blacklegged ticks infected with B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum, and veterinarians across the province need to be aware of this potential threat to the health of pets and their owners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauriane Duplaix
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Victoria Wagner
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses des Animaux de Production, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - Salima Gasmi
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Policy Integration and Zoonoses Division, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
| | - L Robbin Lindsay
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Antonia Dibernardo
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Karine Thivierge
- Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.,Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Christopher Fernandez-Prada
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses des Animaux de Production, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Arsenault
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada.,Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada
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Nemeth NM, Root J, Hartwig AE, Bowen RA, Bosco-Lauth AM. Powassan Virus Experimental Infections in Three Wild Mammal Species. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021; 104:1048-1054. [PMID: 33534764 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne virus maintained in sylvatic cycles between mammalian wildlife hosts and ticks (primarily Ixodes spp.). There are two currently recognized lineages, POWV-lineage 1 (POWV-L1) and deer tick virus (DTV; lineage 2), both of which can cause fatal neurologic disease in humans. Increased numbers of human case reports in the northeastern and north central United States in recent years have fueled questions into POWV epidemiology. We inoculated three candidate wildlife POWV reservoir hosts, groundhogs (Marmota monax), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and fox squirrels (Sciurus niger), with either POWV-L1 or DTV. Resulting viremia, tissue tropism, and pathology were minimal in most inoculated individuals of all three species, with low (peak titer range, 101.7-103.3 plaque-forming units/mL serum) or undetectable viremia titers, lack of detection in tissues except for low titers in spleen, and seroconversion in most individuals by 21 days postinoculation (DPI). Pathology was limited and most commonly consisted of mild inflammation in the brain of POWV-L1- and DTV-inoculated skunks on four and 21 DPI, respectively. These results reveal variation in virulence and host competence among wild mammalian species, and a likely limited duration of host infectiousness to ticks during enzootic transmission cycles. However, POWV can transmit rapidly from tick to host, and tick co-feeding may be an additional transmission mechanism. The rare and low-level detections of viremia in these three, common, wild mammal species suggest that vector-host dynamics should continue to be explored, along with eco-epidemiological aspects of enzootic POWV transmission in different regions and virus lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Nemeth
- 1Department of Population Health, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.,2Department of Pathology, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
| | - Jeffrey Root
- 3United States Department of Agriculture/APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Airn E Hartwig
- 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Richard A Bowen
- 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
| | - Angela M Bosco-Lauth
- 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Absence of blood parasites and other vector-borne pathogens in Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) in Western Austria. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1125-1129. [PMID: 33452588 PMCID: PMC7889533 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The importance of vectors and vector-borne diseases (VBDs) is increasing on a global scale. Many vectors and pathogens benefit from global warming and can spread to novel habitats where they were formerly not present, including higher altitudes. Various vector-borne pathogens (VBPs), such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, have been reported in, for instance, red foxes and wild ungulates in the Western Austrian Alps. However, these animals are known to migrate to lower regions in the winter season, and therefore, it is of interest to investigate if VBPs are also present in mammals faithful to their higher altitude alpine habitat all year round. Blood parasites and other VBPs, namely. Trypanosomatidae, piroplasms, Hepatozoon spp., filarioid helminths, Anaplasmataceae, and Rickettisa spp., were thus analysed with PCR in 148 alpine marmots (Marmota marmota). None of the marmots' blood samples was positive for these VBPs, indicating a low abundance or absence of competent vectors in the alpine region. Alpine marmots seem to be naïve for VBPs (at least in our study area). An overview of VBD agents in other marmot species is given.
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Hahn MB, Disler G, Durden LA, Coburn S, Witmer F, George W, Beckmen K, Gerlach R. Establishing a baseline for tick surveillance in Alaska: Tick collection records from 1909-2019. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101495. [PMID: 32723642 PMCID: PMC7447289 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The expanding geographic ranges of tick species that are known pathogen vectors can have implications for human, domestic animal, and wildlife health. Although Alaska is home to several hard tick species, it has historically been outside of the range of the most common medically important ticks in the contiguous United States and western Canada. To assess the status of tick species establishment in the state and to provide a baseline for tracking future change in the distribution of ticks, we reviewed and compiled historical tick records and summarized recent tick occurrence records collected through the development of the Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program and through tick drag sampling at sentinel sites in southcentral Alaska. Between 1909-2019, there were 1190 tick records representing 4588 individual ticks across 15 species in Alaska. The majority of ticks were species historically found in Alaska: Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes angustus, Ixodes auritulus, Ixodes howelli, Ixodes signatus, and Ixodes uriae. Over half of all tick records in the state were collected in the last 10 yr. During this time, the number of tick records and the number of tick species recorded in Alaska each year has increased substantially. Between 2010-2019, there were 611 tick records representing 1921 individual ticks. The most common hosts for reported ticks were domestic animals (n = 343, 56 %) followed by small wild mammals (n = 147, 24 %), humans (n = 49, 8%), and wild birds (n = 31, 5%). Less than 5% of records (n = 25) were of unattached ticks found in the environment. Since 2007, non-native tick species have been documented in the state every year, including Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor andersoni, Dermacentor occidentalis, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes texanus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.). Almost half of the records (n = 68, 48 %) of non-native tick species from 2010 to 2019 represented ticks found on a host (usually a dog or a human) that had traveled outside of Alaska in the two weeks prior to collection. However, A. americanum, D. variabilis, I. pacificus, I. texanus, and R. sanguineus s.l. have been found on humans and domestic animals in Alaska without reported recent travel. In particular, there is evidence to suggest that there is local establishment of R. sanguineus s.l. in Alaska. A tick species historically found in the state, I. angustus was frequently found on human and dogs, suggesting a potential role as a bridge vector of pathogens. Given the inconsistency of tick monitoring in Alaska over the past century, it is difficult to draw many conclusions from temporal trends in the data. Continued monitoring through the Alaska Submit-A-Tick Program will allow a more accurate assessment of the changing risk of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the state and provide information for setting clinical and public health guidelines for tick-borne disease prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah B Hahn
- Institute for Circumpolar Health, University of Alaska-Anchorage, 3211 Providence Drive, BOC3 270, Anchorage, Alaska 99508, United States.
| | - Gale Disler
- Division of Population Health Sciences, University of Alaska-Anchorage, United States.
| | - Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Road, Statesboro, GA 30458, United States.
| | - Sarah Coburn
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the State Veterinarian, 5251 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Anchorage, AK 99507, United States.
| | - Frank Witmer
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Alaska-Anchorage, United States.
| | - William George
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska-Anchorage, United States.
| | - Kimberlee Beckmen
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Health and Disease, Surveillance Program, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701, United States.
| | - Robert Gerlach
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of the State Veterinarian, 5251 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, Anchorage, AK 99507, United States.
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