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Eleftheriou A, Zeiger B, Jennings J, Pesapane R. Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 38:314-324. [PMID: 38567802 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Geographically expanding and invading ticks are a global concern. The Asian longhorned tick (ALT, Haemaphysalis longicornis) was introduced to the mid-Atlantic US between 2010 and 2017 and recently invaded Ohio, an inland state. To date, ALTs in the US have been associated with livestock exsanguination and transmission of the agent of bovine theileriosis. To inform management, studies describing tick ecology and epidemiology of associated disease agents are critical. In this study, we described phenology, habitat and host associations, and tested for agents of medical and veterinary concern at the site of the first known established ALT population in Ohio, where pesticide treatment was applied in early fall 2021. In spring-fall 2022, we sampled wildlife (small mammals) and collected ticks from forest, edge, and grassland habitats. We also opportunistically sampled harvested white-tailed deer at nearby processing stations and fresh wildlife carcasses found near roads. Field-collected ALTs were tested for five agents using real-time PCR. We found that ALT nymphs emerged in June, followed by adults, and concluded with larvae in the fall. ALTs were detected in all habitats but not in wildlife. We also found a 4.88% (2/41) prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum across ALT adults and nymphs. Host and habitat associations were similar to other studies in the eastern United States, but two potential differences in phenology were identified. Whether ALTs will acquire more endemic disease agents requires further investigations. Our findings provide the first evidence regarding ALT life history from the Midwest region of the United States and can inform exposure risk and guide integrated management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Eleftheriou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Benjamin Zeiger
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jazmin Jennings
- College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Risa Pesapane
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Guynn SR, Greiner SP, Currin JF, Todd SM, Assenga A, Hungerford LL, Lahmers KK. Theileria orientalis Ikeda infection does not negatively impact growth performance or breeding soundness exam results in young beef bulls at bull test stations. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1432228. [PMID: 39091393 PMCID: PMC11291446 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1432228] [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: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype is an emerging cattle disease in the US. Since 2017, when T. orientalis Ikeda was discovered in beef cattle in two counties in Virginia, cattle infections have risen to include ~67% of Virginia counties and 14 states. Consistent with New Zealand studies, many infected herds in Virginia were >90% positive upon initial testing without overt evidence of infection. Central bull tests present a unique opportunity to study the effects of T. orientalis Ikeda infections, as bulls from multiple source herds are consolidated. The objective of this study was to determine if infection with T. orientalis Ikeda affected the average daily gain (ADG), adjusted yearling weight (AYW) and breeding soundness of bulls at two test stations in Virginia over a period of years. Materials and methods The bulls were fed and housed similarly to compare their growth performance and breeding soundness. For T. orientalis Ikeda testing, DNA was extracted from whole blood for quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results The number of bulls infected with T. orientalis Ikeda at initial delivery to the stations increased significantly over the years studied. Multivariable linear regression models, using Angus bulls from Virginia test stations, indicated no significant effect on ADG or AYW in bulls that became test positive during the test or were positive for the duration, compared to Angus bulls that were negative for the duration. At LOC A, the odds of passing a breeding soundness exam (BSE) were not significantly different for bulls that turned positive during the test or were positive for the duration, compared to bulls that were negative for the duration of the test. At LOC B, bulls that became positive during the test were 2.4 times more likely (95% CI: 1.165-4.995, p = 0.016) to pass their BSE compared to bulls that remained negative throughout the test. Discussion We do not suppose that an obscured infection of T. orientalis Ikeda is protective for bulls to pass a BSE. However, this study demonstrates an obscured infection of T. orientalis Ikeda does not negatively affect weight gain or achievement of a satisfactory BSE rating at the central bull test stations in Virginia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sierra R. Guynn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Scott P. Greiner
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - John F. Currin
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - S. Michelle Todd
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Alphonce Assenga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Laura L. Hungerford
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Kevin K. Lahmers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Adams DR, Barbarin AM, Reiskind MH. New report of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in Mecklenburg County, Virginia from field collections. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:tjae090. [PMID: 39021151 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) was first established in New Jersey and has rapidly spread across most of the eastern United States. This tick has the potential to infest a wide variety of hosts and can reproduce quickly via parthenogenesis, presenting a new threat to animal health. Here we report the first record of a single H. longicornis tick in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, from incidental field collections of ticks. In addition to H. longicornis, we collected 787 Amblyomma americanum, 25 Dermacentor variabilis, 6 Ixodes affinis, 1 Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and 1 Amblyomma maculatum using standard dragging and flagging techniques. The expansion of H. longicornis will have economic consequences for livestock producers in south-central Virginia, who must now manage this species. Enhanced surveillance is needed to fully understand its growing geographic distribution in the United States and the subsequent consequences of its spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayvion R Adams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Alexis M Barbarin
- Communicable Disease Branch, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC 27699-2000, USA
| | - Michael H Reiskind
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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Poh KC, Aguilar M, Capelli-Peixoto J, Davis SK, Ueti MW. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) does not transmit Babesia bovis, a causative agent of cattle fever. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102374. [PMID: 38971081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102374] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was first reported in the United States in 2017 and has since been detected in at least 17 states. This tick infests cattle and can produce large populations quickly due to its parthenogenetic nature, leading to significant livestock mortalities and economic losses. While H. longicornis has not been detected in Texas, species distribution models have identified southern Texas as a possible hospitable region for this tick. Southern Texas is currently home to the southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), which can transmit the causative agent of cattle fever (Babesia bovis). With the potential for H. longicornis and B. bovis to overlap in southern Texas and their potential to negatively impact the national and global livestock industry, it is imperative to identify the role H. longicornis may play in the cattle fever disease system. A controlled acquisition and transmission experiment tested whether H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis, with the R. microplus-B. bovis system used as a positive control. Transstadial (nymphs to adults) and transovarial (adults to larvae) transmission and subsequent transstadial maintenance (nymphs and adults) routes were tested in this study. Acquisition-fed, splenectomized animals were used to increase the probability of tick infection. Acquisition nymphs were macerated whole and acquisition adults were dissected to remove midguts and ovaries at five time points (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 days post-repletion), with 40 ticks processed per time point and life stage. The greatest percentage of nymphs with detectable B. bovis DNA occurred six days post-repletion (20.0 %). For adults, the percentage of positive midguts and ovaries increased as days post-repletion progressed, with day 12 having the highest percentage of positive samples (67.5 % and 60.0 %, respectively). When egg batches were tested in triplicate, all H. longicornis egg batches were negative for B. bovis, while all R. microplus egg batches were positive for B. bovis. During the transmission phase, the subsequent life stages for transstadial (adults) and transovarial transmission/transstadial maintenance (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were fed on naïve, splenectomized calves. All life stages of H. longicornis ticks tested during transmission were negative for B. bovis. Furthermore, the transmission fed animals were also negative for B. bovis and did not show signs of bovine babesiosis during the 45-day post tick transmission period. Given the lack of successful transstadial or transovarial transmission, it is unlikely that H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C Poh
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Mitzi Aguilar
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Janaína Capelli-Peixoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Sara K Davis
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Kim P, Maxwell S, Parijat N, Kim D, McNeely CL. Targeted Tick-Borne Disease Recognition: Assessing Risk for Improved Public Health. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:984. [PMID: 38786395 PMCID: PMC11121250 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12100984] [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: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose a rapidly growing threat to public health. The incidence of TBDs is on the rise, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors beyond demographic considerations. This brief report combines a preliminary review of the literature with geographical case mapping to identify the various factors influencing TBD risk. The report highlights the vulnerability of outdoor workers, the importance of outdoor activities, and the role of education in adopting preventive behaviors. Pet ownership and interactions with animals are also associated with an increased risk. The state of Illinois is used as a case study for this report, revealing regional variations in TBD incidence, and linking them to agricultural practices, forested areas, and park accessibility. These findings inform recommendations for targeted prevention strategies, emphasizing the need for detailed geographical data to enhance public health efforts in curbing TBD incidence and risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyung Kim
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Sarah Maxwell
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Nabila Parijat
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Dohyeong Kim
- School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA; (P.K.); (N.P.); (D.K.)
| | - Connie L. McNeely
- Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
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Ye RZ, Li YY, Xu DL, Wang BH, Wang XY, Zhang MZ, Wang N, Gao WY, Li C, Han XY, Du LF, Xia LY, Song K, Xu Q, Liu J, Cheng N, Li ZH, Du YD, Yu HJ, Shi XY, Jiang JF, Sun Y, Cui XM, Ding SJ, Zhao L, Cao WC. Virome diversity shaped by genetic evolution and ecological landscape of Haemaphysalis longicornis. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:35. [PMID: 38378577 PMCID: PMC10880243 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01753-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemaphysalis longicornis is drawing attentions for its geographic invasion, extending population, and emerging disease threat. However, there are still substantial gaps in our knowledge of viral composition in relation to genetic diversity of H. longicornis and ecological factors, which are important for us to understand interactions between virus and vector, as well as between vector and ecological elements. RESULTS We conducted the meta-transcriptomic sequencing of 136 pools of H. longicornis and identified 508 RNA viruses of 48 viral species, 22 of which have never been reported. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrion sequences divided the ticks into two genetic clades, each of which was geographically clustered and significantly associated with ecological factors, including altitude, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index. The two clades showed significant difference in virome diversity and shared about one fifth number of viral species that might have evolved to "generalists." Notably, Bandavirus dabieense, the pathogen of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome was only detected in ticks of clade 1, and half number of clade 2-specific viruses were aquatic-animal-associated. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight that the virome diversity is shaped by internal genetic evolution and external ecological landscape of H. longicornis and provide the new foundation for promoting the studies on virus-vector-ecology interaction and eventually for evaluating the risk of H. longicornis for transmitting the viruses to humans and animals. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run-Ze Ye
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yu Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Li Xu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Bai-Hui Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yang Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Zhu Zhang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Wang
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan-Ying Gao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Han
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Feng Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Luo-Yuan Xia
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Song
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Xu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Liu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Nuo Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ze-Hui Li
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Di Du
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Jun Yu
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Yu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Fu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shu-Jun Ding
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lin Zhao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wu-Chun Cao
- Institute of EcoHealth, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Sinha S, Behera BK, Padhi SK, Sahoo S, Sahoo N, Biswal S, Sahoo P. Comparative evaluation of diagnostic methods for detection of Theileria spp. in cows. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:3514-3518. [PMID: 36695009 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2168197] [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] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Theileriosis is a hemoprotozoan illness of cattle in tropical regions that poses a severe economic loss to dairy farmers in the form of production loss and mortality. We designed and optimized a multiplex real-time PCR by using Taq-Man® probe for detection and quantification of Theileria orientalis and Theileria annulata simultaneously by targeting 18 s rRna and MPSP (surface merozoite protein) genes, respectively. Fifty-five EDTA blood samples from clinically Theileria-suspected cows of three Theileria-endemic districts of Odisha were processed using acridine dye based fluorescent microscopy, Giemsa staining, and PCR. PCR revealed T. annulata and T. orientalis in 11/42 (26.11%) and 24/42 (57.14%) cases, respectively. Mixed infection due to both the Theileria spp. was recorded in 7/42 (16.66%). On comparison with gold standard test (PCR), the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 92.72, 95.12, and 85.71% for Giemsa staining and 96.36, 97.56, and 92.85% for acridine orange dye. Multiplex real time PCR using Taq-Man probe detected two species of T. annulata and T. orientalis simultaneously. Acridine dye based fluorescent microscopy is comparatively easy and rapid method in detection of Thelieria spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shraddha Sinha
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Bikash Kumar Behera
- Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Soumesh K Padhi
- Centre for Wildlife Health, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sonali Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Niranjana Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Sangram Biswal
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Priyadarshini Sahoo
- Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India
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Bickerton M, González J, Egizi A, Toledo A. Baseline susceptibility of Haemaphysalis longicornis to organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid acaricides. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:4328-4334. [PMID: 37366176 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, continues to expand its range in North America, and synthetic acaricides are likely to play an increasing role in managing this species. Acaricide resistance is common in some tick species that infest livestock. However, baseline acaricide susceptibility has not previously been examined in this invasive tick. RESULTS We used a standard larval packet test to evaluate the susceptibility of the Asian longhorned tick to acaricides currently or formerly used in tick control: propoxur, carbaryl, bifenthrin, permethrin, and coumaphos. Discriminating concentrations were estimated at 6.5, 27.9, 988, 2242, and 808 ppm, respectively. The half-maximal lethal concentration (LC50 ) values for propoxur, carbaryl, permethrin and coumaphos were compared with data available for other tick species and showed that H. longicornis was more susceptible to propoxur, carbaryl and coumaphos, and had a similar susceptibility to permethrin. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that resistance to these acaricides is not currently a concern for H. longicornis in the United States. However, responsible integrated management and early detection of resistance can help ensure the long-term efficacy of products used for controlling this tick species. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bickerton
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Bergen County Department of Health Services, Hackensack, NJ, USA
| | - Julia González
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Andrea Egizi
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tinton Falls, NJ, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
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Iduu N, Barua S, Falkenberg S, Armstrong C, Stockler JW, Moye A, Walz PH, Wang C. Theileria orientalis Ikeda in Cattle, Alabama, USA. Vet Sci 2023; 10:638. [PMID: 37999461 PMCID: PMC10674541 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10110638] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype, a parasite causing a disease in cattle that leads to significant economic challenges in Asia, New Zealand, and Australia, has been identified in seven U.S. States since 2017. Two previously validated PCR tests for Theileria followed by DNA sequencing were performed to test blood samples collected from 219 cattle in Alabama, USA, during the period of 2022-2023. Bidirectional Sanger sequencing revealed that the MPSP gene sequences (639-660 bp) from two cattle in Lee and Mobile Counties of Alabama exhibited a 100% match with those of recognized T. orientalis Ikeda strains, and showed similarities ranging from 76% to 88% with ten other T. orientalis genotypes. A high copy number of T. orientalis Ikeda was detected in the blood of infected cattle (ALP-1: 1.7 × 105 and 1.3 × 106/mL whole blood, six months apart; ALP-2: 7.1 × 106/mL whole blood). Although the confirmed competent vector for T. orientalis Ikeda, Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, has not yet been identified in Alabama, the persistent nature of T. orientalis Ikeda infection and the detection of a high pathogen burden in seemingly healthy cattle in this study suggest that other tick species, as well as shared needles and dehorning procedures, could facilitate pathogen transmission within the herd. Continued investigations are necessary for the surveillance of T. orientalis Ikeda and Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in Alabama and other U.S. states, along with assessing the pathogenicity of T. orientalis Ikeda infections in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nneka Iduu
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (N.I.); (S.B.); (S.F.); (P.H.W.)
| | - Subarna Barua
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (N.I.); (S.B.); (S.F.); (P.H.W.)
| | - Shollie Falkenberg
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (N.I.); (S.B.); (S.F.); (P.H.W.)
| | - Chance Armstrong
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (C.A.); (J.W.S.)
| | - Jenna Workman Stockler
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (C.A.); (J.W.S.)
| | - Annie Moye
- College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA;
| | - Paul H. Walz
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA; (N.I.); (S.B.); (S.F.); (P.H.W.)
| | - Chengming Wang
- College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA;
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10
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Karim S, Zenzal TJ, Beati L, Sen R, Adegoke A, Kumar D, Downs LP, Keko M, Nussbaum A, Becker DJ, Moore FR. Ticks without borders: Microbial communities of immature Neotropical tick species parasitizing migratory landbirds along northern Gulf of Mexico. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.22.563347. [PMID: 37961388 PMCID: PMC10634713 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.22.563347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The long-distance, seasonal migrations of birds make them an effective ecological bridge for the movement of ticks. The introduction of exotic tick species to new geographical regions can lead to the emergence of novel tick-borne pathogens or the re-emergence of previously eradicated ones. This study assessed the prevalence of exotic tick species parasitizing resident, short-distance, and long-distance songbirds during spring and autumn at stopover sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico using the mitochondrial 12S rDNA gene. Birds were captured for tick collection from six different sites from late August to early November in both 2018 and 2019. The highest number of ticks were collected in the 2019 season. Most ticks were collected off the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) and Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas), and 54% of the total ticks collected were from Grand Chenier, LA. A high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing approach was followed to characterize the microbial communities and identify pathogenic microbes in all tick samples. Tick microbial communities, diversity, and community structure were determined using quantitative insight into microbial ecology (QIIME). The sparse correlations for compositional data (SparCC) approach was then used to construct microbial network maps and infer microbial correlations. A total of 421 individual ticks in the genera Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, and Ixodes were recorded from 28 songbird species, of which Amblyomma and Amblyomma longirostre was the most abundant tick genus and species, respectively. Microbial profiles showed that Proteobacteria was the most abundant phylum. The most abundant bacteria include the pathogenic Rickettsia and endosymbiont Francisella, Candidatus Midichloria, and Spiroplasma. BLAST analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction of the Rickettsia sequences revealed the highest similarities to pathogenic spotted and non-spotted fever groups, including R. buchneri, R. conorii, R. prowazekii, R. bellii, R. australis, R. parkeri, R. monacensis, and R. monteiroi. Permutation multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the relative abundance of Francisella and Rickettsia drives microbial patterns across the tick genera. We also observed a higher percentage of positive correlations in microbe-microbe interactions among members of the microbial communities. Network analysis suggested a negative correlation between a) Francisella and Rickettsia and, b) Francisella and Cutibacterium. Lastly, mapping the distributions of bird species parasitized during spring migrations highlighted geographic hotspots where migratory songbirds could disperse ticks and their pathogens at stopover sites or upon arrival to their breeding grounds, the latter showing means dispersal distances from 421-5003 kilometers. These findings strongly highlight the potential role of migratory birds in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Karim
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Theodore J. Zenzal
- United States Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA 70506
| | - Lorenza Beati
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Raima Sen
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Abdulsalam Adegoke
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Deepak Kumar
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Latoyia P. Downs
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
| | - Mario Keko
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Ashly Nussbaum
- Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 20460
| | - Daniel J. Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Frank R. Moore
- School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
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11
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Lakew BT, Eastwood S, Walkden-Brown SW. Epidemiology and Transmission of Theileria orientalis in Australasia. Pathogens 2023; 12:1187. [PMID: 37887703 PMCID: PMC10610506 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101187] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Oriental theileriosis, a disease primarily impacting cattle is caused by an apicomplexan hemoprotozoan parasite, Theileria orientalis. It has now become established in the Australasia region. The organism was long considered a benign cause of persistent infections; however, an increase in clinical outbreaks since 2006 in the eastern Australian states and New Zealand was associated with the identification of the pathogenic Ikeda (Type 2) and Chitose (Type 1) genotypes. Unlike the pathogenic T. parva and T. annulate, which target leucocytes, clinical manifestation with T. orientalis is due to its effects on erythrocytes, with the infection sometimes designated as Theileria associated bovine anemia (TABA). In Australia and New Zealand, the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis is the principal vector, though other Haemaphysalis species are also likely vectors. The endemic status of infection with pathogenic genotypes in areas with low or absent tick populations is an apparent paradox that may be attributable to alternative modes of transmission, such as mechanical transmission by hematophagous insects (lice, mosquitoes, and biting flies), vertical transmission, and transmission via iatrogenic means. This review addresses the evidence for the different modes of transmission of T. orientalis with particular focus on the reported and potential vectors in Australasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biniam T. Lakew
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa P.O. Box 138, Ethiopia
| | - Steve Eastwood
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia;
| | - Stephen W. Walkden-Brown
- Animal Science, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia;
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12
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Eleftheriou A, Beckett J, Bai N, Pesapane R. An established population of Asian longhorned ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Ohio, USA. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1126-1130. [PMID: 37551419 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad104] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
We describe the first known established Asian longhorned tick (ALT) (Acari: Ixodidae: Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) population in Ohio, USA. In mid-summer 2021, we collected ALTs from an infested pasture in response to an alert that grazing cattle had been infested with ticks, and 3 of them had died. No ALTs were reported following pesticide treatment of the pasture in fall 2021. In the laboratory, we identified 9,287 ticks to species, representing all 3 life stages, as ALTs and tested 100 of the adult females for infectious agents relevant to human and animal health, including Theileria orientalis, a cattle disease agent. Eight field-collected ticks were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (n = 100, 8%); no other infectious agents were detected. Active environmental surveillance showed the return of ALTs in June 2022 despite the tick control efforts in 2021. As ALTs continue to expand their range in the United States, active and passive surveillance studies will be needed to characterize their evolving role in human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Eleftheriou
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Julia Beckett
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ningzhu Bai
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Risa Pesapane
- Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, College of Food Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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13
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Herb H, González J, Ferreira FC, Fonseca DM. Multiple piroplasm parasites (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) in northeastern populations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Ixodida: Ixodidae), in the United States. Parasitology 2023; 150:1063-1069. [PMID: 37791496 PMCID: PMC10801381 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000914] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Piroplasms, which include the agents of cattle fever and human and dog babesiosis, are a diverse group of blood parasites of significant veterinary and medical importance. The invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is a known vector of piroplasms in its native range in East Asia and invasive range in Australasia. In the USA, H. longicornis has been associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda outbreaks that caused cattle mortality. To survey invasive populations of H. longicornis for a broad range of piroplasms, 667 questing H. longicornis collected in 2021 from 3 sites in New Jersey, USA, were tested with generalist piroplasm primers targeting the 18S small subunit rRNA (395–515 bp, depending on species) and the cytochrome b oxidase loci (1009 bp). Sequences matching Theileria cervi type F (1 adult, 5 nymphs), an unidentified Theileria species (in 1 nymph), an undescribed Babesia sensu stricto (‘true’ Babesia, 2 adults, 2 nymphs), a Babesia sp. Coco (also a ‘true Babesia’, 1 adult, 1 nymph), as well as Babesia microti S837 (1 adult, 4 nymphs) were recovered. Babesia microti S837 is closely related to the human pathogen B. microti US-type. Additionally, a 132 bp sequence matching the cytochrome b locus of deer, Odocoileus virginanus, was obtained from 2 partially engorged H. longicornis. The diverse assemblage of piroplasms now associated with H. longicornis in the USA spans 3 clades in the piroplasm phylogeny and raises concerns of transmission amplification of veterinary pathogens as well as spillover of pathogens from wildlife to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Herb
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | | | - Dina M. Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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14
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Price KJ, Khalil N, Witmier BJ, Coder BL, Boyer CN, Foster E, Eisen RJ, Molaei G. EVIDENCE OF PROTOZOAN AND BACTERIAL INFECTION AND CO-INFECTION AND PARTIAL BLOOD FEEDING IN THE INVASIVE TICK HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS IN PENNSYLVANIA. J Parasitol 2023; 109:265-273. [PMID: 37436911 PMCID: PMC10658867 DOI: 10.1645/22-122] [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] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species in the United States, has been found actively host-seeking while infected with several human pathogens. Recent work has recovered large numbers of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis, which together with infection findings raises the question of whether such ticks can reattach to a host and transmit pathogens while taking additional bloodmeals. Here we conducted molecular blood meal analysis in tandem with pathogen screening of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis to identify feeding sources and more inclusively characterize acarological risk. Active, statewide surveillance in Pennsylvania from 2020 to 2021 resulted in the recovery of 22/1,425 (1.5%) partially engorged, host-seeking nymphal and 5/163 (3.1%) female H. longicornis. Pathogen testing of engorged nymphs detected 2 specimens positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 2 for Babesia microti, and 1 co-infected with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. and Ba. microti. No female specimens tested positive for pathogens. Conventional PCR blood meal analysis of H. longicornis nymphs detected avian and mammalian hosts in 3 and 18 specimens, respectively. Mammalian blood was detected in all H. longicornis female specimens. Only 2 H. longicornis nymphs produced viable sequencing results and were determined to have fed on black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax. These data are the first to molecularly confirm H. longicornis partial blood meals from vertebrate hosts and Ba. microti infection and co-infection with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. in host-seeking specimens in the United States, and the data help characterize important determinants indirectly affecting vectorial capacity. Repeated blood meals within a life stage by pathogen-infected ticks suggest that an understanding of the vector potential of invasive H. longicornis populations may be incomplete without data on their natural host-seeking behaviors and blood-feeding patterns in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Noelle Khalil
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Brooke L Coder
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
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15
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Onzere CK, Herndon DR, Hassan A, Oyen K, Poh KC, Scoles GA, Fry LM. A U.S. Isolate of Theileria orientalis Ikeda Is Not Transstadially Transmitted to Cattle by Rhipicephalus microplus. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040559. [PMID: 37111445 PMCID: PMC10142041 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileria orientalis Ikeda has caused an epidemic of bovine anemia and abortion across several U.S. states. This apicomplexan hemoparasite is transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks; however, it is unknown if other North American ticks are competent vectors. Since the disease movement is largely determined by the host tick range(s), the prediction of the T. orientalis spread among U.S. cattle populations requires determination of additional competent tick vectors. Although Rhipicephalus microplus has mostly been eradicated from the U.S., outbreaks in populations occur frequently, and the U.S. remains at risk for reintroduction. Since R. microplus is a vector of Theileria equi and T. orientalis DNA has been detected in R. microplus, the goal of this study was to determine whether R. microplus is a competent vector of T. orientalis. Larval R. microplus were applied to a splenectomized, T. orientalis Ikeda-infected calf for parasite acquisition, removed as molted adults, and applied to two T. orientalis naïve, splenectomized calves for transmission. After 60 days, the naïve calves remained negative for T. orientalis by PCR and cytology. Additionally, T. orientalis was not detected in the salivary glands or larval progeny of acquisition-fed adults. These data suggest that R. microplus is not a competent vector of the U.S. T. orientalis Ikeda isolate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia K Onzere
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - David R Herndon
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Amany Hassan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Department of Animal Medicine, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Alexandria, Alexandria 21944, Egypt
| | - Kennan Oyen
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Karen C Poh
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Glen A Scoles
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Lindsay M Fry
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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16
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Yabsley MJ, Thompson AT. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian longhorned tick). Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:305-306. [PMID: 36631384 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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17
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Multiplex PCR for rapid differential diagnosis of co-prevalent species of Theileria (Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis) in cattle. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1189-1197. [PMID: 36897381 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07819-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that causes enormous losses in the dairy industry. There are several species of Theileria that can infect bovines. Generally, more than one species are prevalent in any geographical area; thus, chances of co-infections are high. Differentiation of these species may not be possible by microscopic examination or serological tests. Therefore, in this study, a multiplex PCR assay was standardized and evaluated for rapid and simultaneous differential detection of two species of Theileria viz., Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis. Species-specific primers were designed to target the merozoite piroplasm surface antigen gene (TAMS1) of T. annulata and the major piroplasm surface protein gene of T. orientalis, yielding specific amplicon of 229 bp and 466 bp, respectively. The sensitivity of multiplex PCR was 102 and 103 copies for T. annulata and T. orientalis, respectively. The simplex and multiplex PCRs were specific and showed no cross-reactivity with other hemoprotozoa for either primer. For comparative evaluation, blood samples from 216 cattle were tested by simplex and multiplex PCR for both species. Using multiplex PCR, 131 animals were found infected for theileriosis, of which 112 were infected with T. annulata, five were infected with T. orientalis, and 14 had mixed infections. This is the first report of T. orientalis from Haryana, India. Representative sequences of T. annulata (ON248941) and T. orientalis (ON248942) were submitted in GenBank. The standardized multiplex PCR assay used in this study was specific, sensitive, for the screening of field samples.
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18
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González J, Fonseca DM, Toledo A. Seasonal Dynamics of Tick Species in the Ecotone of Parks and Recreational Areas in Middlesex County (New Jersey, USA). INSECTS 2023; 14:258. [PMID: 36975943 PMCID: PMC10057079 DOI: 10.3390/insects14030258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
People often use parks and other forested areas for outdoor activities such as hiking and walking their dogs. Areas of primary use are paths or grassy meadows on the edges of the forests that constitute transitional areas between different plant communities (aka ecotones). In this study, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of questing ticks in forest/meadow and forest/path ecotones in five areas in Middlesex County, New Jersey (NJ). We found anthropophilic species such as Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum, and Dermacentor variabilis coexisting with Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species first detected in NJ in 2017. Surveillance was conducted weekly from March to November 2020, and collected ticks were identified. The most abundant tick species was H. longicornis (83%), followed by A. americanum (9%), I. scapularis (7%), and D. variabilis (<1%). The seasonal dynamics of A. americanum and I. scapularis in the ecotone were similar to previous surveys in forest habitats. The presence of anthropophilic ticks, particularly I. scapularis, suggests the need for specific control approaches to target these habitats. In addition, the extraordinarily high numbers of H. longicornis collected in ecotones (1.70 ticks/m2) and frequent reports of this species on dogs highlight the importance of monitoring its expansion due to its potential as a vector of animal and human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dina M. Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Alvaro Toledo
- Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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19
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Rochlin I, Benach JL, Furie MB, Thanassi DG, Kim HK. Rapid invasion and expansion of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) into a new area on Long Island, New York, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102088. [PMID: 36436461 PMCID: PMC9898124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102088] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery in the United States in 2017, the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) has been detected in most eastern states between Rhode Island and Georgia. Long Island, east of New York City, a recognized high-risk area for tick-borne diseases, is geographically close to New Jersey and New York sites where H. longicornis was originally found. However, extensive tick surveys conducted in 2018 did not identify H. longicornis on Long Island. In stark contrast, our 2022 tick survey suggests that H. longicornis has rapidly invaded and expanded in multiple surveying sites on Long Island (12 out of 17 sites). Overall, the relative abundance of H. longicornis was similar to that of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum, a previously recognized tick species abundantly present on Long Island. Interestingly, our survey suggests that H. longicornis has expanded within the Appalachian forest ecological zone of Long Island's north shore compared to the Pine Barrens located on the south shore of Long Island. The rapid invasion and expansion of H. longicornis into an insular environment are different from the historical invasion and expansion of two native tick species, Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick or deer tick) and A. americanum, in Long Island. The implications of H. longicornis transmitting or introducing tick-borne pathogens of public health importance remain unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Jorge L Benach
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Martha B Furie
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - David G Thanassi
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Hwan Keun Kim
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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20
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Rochlin I, Egizi A, Narvaez Z, Bonilla DL, Gallagher M, Williams GM, Rainey T, Price DC, Fonseca DM. Microhabitat modeling of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in New Jersey, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102126. [PMID: 36682197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) is a vector of multiple arboviral and bacterial pathogens in its native East Asia and expanded distribution in Australasia. This species has both bisexual and parthenogenetic populations that can reach high population densities under favorable conditions. Established populations of parthenogenetic H. longicornis were detected in the eastern United States in 2017 and the possible range of this species at the continental level (North America) based on climatic conditions has been modeled. However, little is known about factors influencing the distribution of H. longicornis at geographic scales relevant to local surveillance and control. To examine the importance of local physiogeographic conditions such as geology, soil characteristics, and land cover on the distribution of H. longicornis we employed ecological niche modeling using three machine learning algorithms - Maxent, Random Forest (RF), and Generalized Boosting Method (GBM) to estimate probability of finding H. longicornis in a particular location in New Jersey (USA), based on environmental predictors. The presence of H. longicornis in New Jersey was positively associated with Piedmont physiogeographic province and two soil types - Alfisols and Inceptisols. Soil hydraulic conductivity was the most important predictor explaining H. longicornis habitat suitability, with more permeable sandy soils with higher hydraulic conductivity being less suitable than clay or loam soils. The models were projected over the state of New Jersey creating a probabilistic map of H. longicornis habitat suitability at a high spatial resolution of 90×90 meters. The model's sensitivity was 87% for locations sampled in 2017-2019 adding to the growing evidence of the importance of soil characteristics to the survival of ticks. For the 2020-2022 dataset the model fit was 57%, suggestive of spillover to less optimal habitats or, alternatively, heterogeneity in soil characteristics at the edges of broad physiographic zones. Further modeling should incorporate abundance and life-stage information as well as detailed characterization of the soil at collection sites. Once critical parameters that drive the survival and abundance of H. longicornis are identified they can be used to guide surveillance and control strategies for this invasive species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Rochlin
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
| | - Andrea Egizi
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, Tick-borne Disease Program, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
| | - Zoe Narvaez
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- USDA/APHIS/Veterinary Services, Strategy and Policy, National Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Mike Gallagher
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, New Lisbon, NJ 08064, USA
| | | | - Tadhgh Rainey
- Public Health Entomologists LLC, Milford, NJ 08848, USA
| | - Dana C Price
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
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21
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Tiffin HS, Rajotte EG, Sakamoto JM, Machtinger ET. Tick Control in a Connected World: Challenges, Solutions, and Public Policy from a United States Border Perspective. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:388. [PMID: 36422939 PMCID: PMC9695313 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks are able to transmit the highest number of pathogen species of any blood-feeding arthropod and represent a growing threat to public health and agricultural systems worldwide. While there are numerous and varied causes and effects of changes to tick-borne disease (re)emergence, three primary challenges to tick control were identified in this review from a U.S. borders perspective. (1) Climate change is implicated in current and future alterations to geographic ranges and population densities of tick species, pathogens they can transmit, and their host and reservoir species, as highlighted by Ixodes scapularis and its expansion across southern Canada. (2) Modern technological advances have created an increasingly interconnected world, contributing to an increase in invasive tick species introductions through the increased speed and frequency of trade and travel. The introduction of the invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis in the eastern U.S. exemplifies the challenges with control in a highly interconnected world. (3) Lastly, while not a new challenge, differences in disease surveillance, control, and management strategies in bordering countries remains a critical challenge in managing ticks and tick-borne diseases. International inter-agency collaborations along the U.S.-Mexico border have been critical in control and mitigation of cattle fever ticks (Rhipicephalus spp.) and highlight the need for continued collaboration and research into integrated tick management strategies. These case studies were used to identify challenges and opportunities for tick control and mitigation efforts through a One Health framework.
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22
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Pandey M, Piedmonte NP, Vinci VC, Falco RC, Daniels TJ, Clark JA. First Detection of the Invasive Asian Longhorned Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) on Migratory Passerines in the Americas. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:2176-2181. [PMID: 36166571 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac144] [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: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann), native to East Asia, was first reported in the United States in 2017 and is now established in at least 17 states. Haemaphysalis longicornis feeds on birds in its range outside of the United States, and migratory birds disperse this tick and tick-borne pathogens. However, early studies in the United States did not find H. longicornis on migrating passerine birds. The transport of the parthenogenetic H. longicornis on birds has the potential to greatly expand its range. We report the first discovery of H. longicornis on migratory passerine birds in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medha Pandey
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Nicholas P Piedmonte
- New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza, Corning Tower Albany, NY 12237, USA
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Vanessa C Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Thomas J Daniels
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - J Alan Clark
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, 31 Whippoorwill Road, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
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23
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Telionis A, Lahmers K, Todd M, Carbonello A, Broaddus CC, Bissett CJ, Hungerford LL. Distribution of Theileria orientalis in Virginia Market Cattle, 2018-2020. Pathogens 2022; 11:1353. [PMID: 36422604 PMCID: PMC9695988 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Theileria orientalis, genotype Ikeda, was recently detected in North America. Determining the emerging distribution of this pathogen is critical for understanding spread and developing management strategies. Whole blood samples were collected from cattle at Virginia livestock markets from September 2018 through December 2020. Animals were tested for T. orientalis using a universal and then genotype specific real-time PCR based on the MPSP gene. Prevalence for each genotype was analyzed for temporal trends and mapped by county. Spatial patterns were compared between genotypes and assessed for associations with habitat features, cattle movements through cattle markets and county proximity. Overall, 212 of 1980 samples tested positive for T. orientalis with an overall prevalence of 8.7% (172/1980) for genotype Ikeda, 1.8% (36/1980) for genotype Chitose, 0.2% (3/1980) for genotype Buffeli. The Ikeda genotype increased over time in northern and southwestern Virginia markets. The Ikeda and Chitose genotypes occurred in different regions, with little overlap, but for each genotype, spatial distribution was associated with a combination of cattle movements and environmental factors. Genotype specific qPCR testing and surveillance of cattle from across a wide area of Virginia are providing information on temporal, spatial, and other patterns for this emerging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Telionis
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Kevin Lahmers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services (ViTALS), Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Michelle Todd
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services (ViTALS), Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Amanda Carbonello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services (ViTALS), Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
| | - Charles C. Broaddus
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - Carolynn J. Bissett
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
| | - Laura L. Hungerford
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
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24
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Bickerton M, Rochlin I, González J, McSorley K, Toledo A. Field applications of granular and liquid pyrethroids, carbaryl, and IGRs to control the asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) and impacts on nontarget invertebrates. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102054. [PMID: 36215766 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Few documented control strategies exist for the invasive tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, despite its potential to reach extremely high numbers and vector human and animal pathogens. In 2020, we evaluated the effects of single applications of five granular and liquid acaricides on H. longicornis in a public park in northern New Jersey. Acaricides tested included pyrethroids (lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin), a carbamate (carbaryl), and the insect growth regulators (IGRs) pyriproxyfen and novaluron. We also monitored the impact of each treatment on non-target soil and above-ground invertebrate species using pitfall and sticky traps, respectively. We recorded over 70,000 H. longicornis ticks in the study area from July to October 2020. An average of 99% control was achieved with lambda-cyhalothrin spray and 95% with granular bifenthrin. In contrast, granular carbaryl did not significantly reduce any life stages of H. longicornis. The IGR (pyriproxyfen/novaluron) resulted in a significant 45% reduction of the larval stage following treatments in July. No other stages were significantly impacted by pyriproxyfen alone or in combination with novaluron. Analysis of non-target species revealed that the community composition of soil-dwelling arthropods was strongly impacted by pyrethroid treatments and, to a lesser extent, by the carbamate treatment. The granular pyrethroid bifenthrin had more pronounced effects and impacted a broader range of non-target groups in the pitfall traps than the liquid pyrethroid lambda-cyhalothrin. Arthropod groups that were negatively impacted included Isopoda, Formicidae, Coleoptera, Araneae, Acari, and Grylloidea. Collembola numbers, however, were elevated in both pyrethroid treatments. The community composition of arthropods collected on the above-ground sticky traps was strongly impacted only in the liquid lambda-cyhalothrin treatment. The primary groups impacted in the sticky trap analysis were Collembola and Hemiptera. Community composition in traps remained distinct in the pyrethroid treatments through the entire survey period up to 62 days post-treatment. The results of this study indicate that pyrethroid acaricides were highly effective at controlling H. longicornis, while other compounds, including carbaryl and IGRs, did not achieve consistent levels of control. Further research is needed to find effective and environmentally sustainable alternatives. Integrated management programs can include the judicious use of pyrethroids to control H. longicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bickerton
- Bergen County Department of Health Services, USA; Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, USA; Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, USA
| | - Ilia Rochlin
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, USA; Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, USA
| | - Julia González
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, USA; Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, USA
| | | | - Alvaro Toledo
- Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, USA; Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, USA.
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25
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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: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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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26
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Cumbie AN, Whitlow AM, Arneson A, Du Z, Eastwood G. The Distribution, Seasonal Abundance, and Environmental Factors Contributing to the Presence of the Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis, Acari: Ixodidae) in Central Appalachian Virginia. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1443-1450. [PMID: 35640632 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac067] [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: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, has undergone a geographic range expansion in the United States, from its historical range in east Asia. This tick has been characterized by its frequent parasitism of livestock, an ability to reproduce through parthenogenesis, and its ability to transmit a variety of vector-borne pathogens to livestock, wildlife, and human hosts in its native geographic range. Thus far in the United States, 17 states have reported H. longicornis populations, including 38 counties in Virginia. These numbers come from presence-absence reports provided to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but little has been reported about this ticks' seasonality in Virginia or its habitat preferences. Our current study detected H. longicornis populations in seven of the nine surveyed counties in Virginia. Haemaphysalis longicornis were observed in multiple habitat types including mixed hardwood forests and pastures, with abundant H. longicornis populations detected at one particular pasture site in Wythe County. This study also attempted to investigate environmental conditions that may be of importance in predicting tick presence likelihood. While sample size limited the scope of these efforts, habitat type and climatic metrics were found to be important indicators of H. longicornis collection success and abundance for both the nymphal and larval life stages. This current study reports useful surveillance data for monitoring these tick populations as they become established in the western half of Virginia and provides insight into their current distribution and maintenance over a large study region.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Cumbie
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - A M Whitlow
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - A Arneson
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Science, Blacksburg, VA 24601, USA
| | - Z Du
- Department of Statistics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Science, Blacksburg, VA 24601, USA
| | - G Eastwood
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Virginia Tech Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens (CEZAP) and the VT Global Change Center, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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27
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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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Pathogen Spillover to an Invasive Tick Species: First Detection of Bourbon Virus in Haemaphysalis longicornis in the United States. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11040454. [PMID: 35456129 PMCID: PMC9030182 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11040454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901) (Acari: Ixodidae), the Asian longhorned tick, is an invasive tick species present in the USA since at least 2017 and has been detected in one-third of Virginia counties. While this species is associated with the transmission of multiple pathogens in its native geographical range of eastern Asia, little is known about its ability to acquire and transmit pathogens in the USA, specifically those that are transmissible to humans, although from an animal health perspective, it has already been shown to vector Theileria orientalis Ikeda strains. Emerging tick-borne viruses such as Bourbon virus (genus: Thogotovirus) are of concern, as these newly discovered pathogenic agents have caused fatal clinical cases, and little is known about their distribution or enzootic maintenance. This study examined H. longicornis collected within Virginia (from ten counties) for Bourbon and Heartland viruses using PCR methods. All ticks tested negative for Heartland virus via qRT-PCR (S segment target). Bourbon-virus-positive samples were confirmed on two different gene targets and with Sanger sequencing of the PB2 (segment 1) gene. Bourbon virus RNA was detected in one nymphal stage H. longicornis from Patrick County, one nymph from Staunton City, and one larval pool and one adult female tick from Wythe County, Virginia. An additional 100 Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus 1758; lone star tick) collected at the same Patrick County site revealed one positive nymphal pool, suggesting that Bourbon virus may have spilled over from the native vector, potentially by co-feeding on a shared Bourbon-virus-infected vertebrate host. Blood tested from local harvested deer revealed a 11.1% antibody seroprevalence against Bourbon virus, exposure which further corroborates that this tick-borne virus is circulating in the southwest Virginia region. Through these results, it can be concluded that H. longicornis can carry Bourbon virus and that pathogen spillover may occur from native to invasive tick species.
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Weaver GV, Anderson N, Garrett K, Thompson AT, Yabsley MJ. Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Domestic Animals, Wild Pigs, and Off-Host Environmental Sampling in Guam, USA. Front Vet Sci 2022; 8:803424. [PMID: 35087891 PMCID: PMC8787080 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.803424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Guam, a United States of America (USA) island territory in the Pacific Ocean, is known to have large populations of ticks; however, it is unclear what the risk is to wildlife and humans living on the island. Dog (Canis familiaris), cat (Felis catus), and wild pig (Sus scrofa) sentinels were examined for ticks, and environmental sampling was conducted to determine the ticks present in Guam and the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in hosts. Methods and Results: From March 2019-November 2020, ticks were collected from environmental sampling, dogs, cats, and wild pigs. Blood samples were also taken from a subset of animals. A total of 99 ticks were collected from 27 environmental samples and all were Rhipicephalus sanguineus, the brown dog tick. Most ticks were collected during the dry season with an overall sampling success rate of 63% (95% CI: 42.4–80.6). 6,614 dogs were examined, and 12.6% (95% CI: 11.8–13.4) were infested with at least one tick. One thousand one hundred twelve cats were examined, and six (0.54%; 95% CI: 0.20–1.1) were found with ticks. Sixty-four wild pigs were examined and 17.2% (95% CI: 9.5–27.8) had ticks. In total, 1,956 ticks were collected and 97.4% of ticks were R. sanguineus. A subset of R. sanguineus were determined to be the tropical lineage. The other tick species found were Rhipicephalus microplus (0.77%), Amblyomma breviscutatum (0.77 %), and a Haemaphysalis sp. (0.51%). Blood samples from 136 dogs, four cats, and 64 wild pigs were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing methods. Five different tick-borne pathogens with the following prevalences were found in dogs: Anaplasma phagocytophilum 5.9% (95% CI: 2.6–11.3); Anaplasma platys 19.1% (95% CI: 12.9–26.7); Babesia canis vogeli 8.8% (95% CI: 4.6–14.9); Ehrlichia canis 12.5% (95% CI: 7.5–19.3); Hepatozoon canis 14.7% (95% CI: 9.2–28.8). E. canis was detected in one cat, and no tick-borne pathogens were detected in wild pigs. Overall, 43.4% (95% CI: 34.9–52.1) of dogs had at least one tick-borne pathogen. Serological testing for antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma spp. showed prevalences of 14.7% (95% CI: 9.2–28.8) and 31.6% (95% CI: 23.9–40), respectively. Conclusion: Four different tick species were found in Guam to include a Haemaphysalis sp., which is a previously unreported genus for Guam. Dogs with ticks have a high prevalence of tick-borne pathogens which makes them useful sentinels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve V. Weaver
- Wise Owl Animal Hospital, Micronesian Exotic Specialty Services, Tamuning, GU, United States
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Genevieve V. Weaver
| | - Neil Anderson
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Kayla Garrett
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Alec T. Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Michael J. Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Sherpa P, Harrington LC, Piedmonte NP, Wunderlin K, Falco RC. Optimal Collection Methods for Asian Longhorned Ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in the Northeast United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2255-2263. [PMID: 34080012 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is an invasive species in the United States. Since its earliest recorded presence in West Virginia in 2010, H. longicornis has been reported from 15 states. While its public health significance in the United States is unclear, globally it transmits pathogens that infect livestock and humans, causing economic losses and substantial morbidity. Management and control of H. longicornis requires knowledge of its biology, ecology, and distribution. Here, we address the need for effective collection methods for host-seeking H. longicornis as an important step for accurately assessing tick abundance and potential disease risk. The number of H. longicornis collected were compared across three collection methods (dragging, sweeping, CO2 traps) and three tick check distances (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) were compared for dragging and sweeping. Field collections were conducted from June through August 2019 in Westchester County, New York, and ticks were grouped by life stage to assess collection method efficiency. Results indicated that implementing shorter (5 m) tick check distance was ideal for adult and nymphal collections. The dragging method proved better than sweeping for adult collections; however, there was no significant difference between the methods for nymphal collections, at any tick check distance evaluated. CO2 traps attracted H. longicornis, but additional research is necessary to devise an effective tick retaining method before the traps can be implemented in the field. The results are presented to inform and support H. longicornis surveillance and control programs across the nation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicholas P Piedmonte
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Kathryn Wunderlin
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, USA
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Butler RA, Chandler JG, Vail KM, Holderman CJ, Trout Fryxell RT. Spray and Pour-On Acaricides Killed Tennessee (United States) Field-Collected Haemaphysalis longicornis Nymphs (Acari: Ixodidae) in Laboratory Bioassays. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2514-2518. [PMID: 34197609 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Asian longhorned tick) is an exotic and invasive tick species presenting a health and economic threat to the United States (U.S.) cattle industry due to its ability to transmit pathogens and infest hosts in large numbers. The objective of this study was to evaluate available products at causing H. longicornis mortality in a laboratory bioassay. The efficacy of products was evaluated at label rates using H. longicornis nymphs collected from a cattle farm in eastern Tennessee in two different bioassays (spray or dip) against untreated controls. After exposure, ticks were transferred to clean petri dishes and checked for mortality at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 21, 24, and 48 h post exposure. No mortality occurred in the untreated controls, whereas all treated ticks were dead within 24 h of exposure (P < 0.0001). These findings support the hypothesis that currently available spray and pour-on products are effective at causing H. longicornis mortality. We conclude that these acaricides can be used as a component to prevent H. longicornis dispersal and for control in the U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - J G Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - K M Vail
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | | | - R T Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
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Molaei G, Little EAH, Williams SC, Stafford KC. First Record of Established Populations of the Invasive Pathogen Vector and Ectoparasite Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Connecticut, United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2508-2513. [PMID: 34185871 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A number of invasive tick species capable of transmitting pathogens have been accidentally introduced into the U.S. in recent years. The invasion and further range expansion of these exotic ticks have been greatly facilitated by frequent global travel and trade as well as increases in legal and illegal importation of animals. We describe the discovery of the first established populations of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann and the first fully engorged human parasitizing specimen documented through passive tick surveillance in Fairfield County, Connecticut, U.S. We also report several individual specimens of this invasive arthropod and vector of multiple pathogens of medical and veterinary importance collected through active tick surveillance from three counties (Fairfield, New Haven, and New London). Considering the potential for invasive ticks to transmit numerous native and emerging pathogens, the implementation of comprehensive surveillance programs will aid in prompt interception of these ticks and reduce the risk of infection in humans and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Eliza A H Little
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504, USA
| | - Scott C Williams
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Forestry and Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kirby C Stafford
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504, USA
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33
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Zhao Y, Lawrence KE, Minor M, Gedye K, Wang B, Pomroy W, Potter M. CHANGES IN THE LEVELS OF THEILERIA ORIENTALIS IKEDA TYPE INFECTION IN HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS NYMPHS OVER A SIX-MONTH PERIOD. J Parasitol 2021; 107:710-716. [PMID: 34525205 DOI: 10.1645/20-177] [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: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether the infection intensity of Theileria orientalis Ikeda type organisms within Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae and nymph stages fluctuated over 6 mo after feeding as larvae on infected calves in the field. Naïve larvae, hatched from eggs, were fed on infected calves for 5 days while contained within cotton socks glued over the calves' ears. Larvae were first sampled immediately post-feeding and then sampled every 3 wk for 23 wk in total, after molting to nymphs. All larvae and nymphs were tested for T. orientalis Ikeda organisms using quantitative PCR. The qPCR results showed that the infection intensity of Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae and nymphs was not constant over the sampling period, and after initially dropping after molting to nymphs, it then rose with fasting to a maximum at 17 and 23 wk post-feeding. The significant rise in T. orientalis Ikeda organisms observed at 23 wk postfeeding may explain why more severe clinical cases of bovine theileriosis in New Zealand are seen in the spring when nymphs are the predominant instar questing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Zhao
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Kevin E Lawrence
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Maria Minor
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Kristene Gedye
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Bo Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - William Pomroy
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - Murray Potter
- School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
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Tufts DM, Diuk-Wasser MA. First hemispheric report of invasive tick species Haemaphysalis punctata, first state report of Haemaphysalis longicornis, and range expansion of native tick species in Rhode Island, USA. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:394. [PMID: 34376221 PMCID: PMC8353422 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invasive arthropod vectors and the range expansions of native vectors can lead to public and veterinary health concerns, as these vectors may introduce novel pathogens or spread endemic pathogens to new locations. Recent tick invasions and range expansion in the USA has been attributed to climate and land use change, an increase in global travel, and importations of exotic animals. METHODS A 10-year surveillance study was conducted on Block Island, Rhode Island, from 2010 to 2020 including sampling ticks from small mammal and avian hosts. RESULTS We report the discovery and establishment of the red sheep tick (Haemaphysalis punctata) for the first time in the western hemisphere and in the US. This invasive species was first collected in 2010 on Block Island, was collected continuously throughout the study, and was collected from an avian host. We document the first report of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in the state of Rhode Island, first observed at our sites in 2018. Finally, we present data on the range expansion and establishment of two native tick species, the lone star tick and the rabbit tick, on Block Island. CONCLUSION This study emphasized the importance of long-term surveillance to detect changes in tick host communities, including invasive and expanding native vectors of potential significance to humans and wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M. Tufts
- Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Department, University of Pittsburgh, 2119 Public Health, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY USA
| | - Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
- Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, Columbia University, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY USA
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35
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Trout Fryxell RT, Vann DN, Butler RA, Paulsen DJ, Chandler JG, Willis MP, Wyrosdick HM, Schaefer JJ, Gerhold RW, Grove DM, Ivey JZ, Thompson KW, Applegate RD, Sweaney J, Daniels S, Beaty S, Balthaser D, Freye JD, Mertins JW, Bonilla DL, Lahmers K. Rapid Discovery and Detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis through the Use of Passive Surveillance and Collaboration: Building a State Tick-Surveillance Network. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7980. [PMID: 34360274 PMCID: PMC8345789 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Between March 2019 and February 2020, Asian long-horned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901) were discovered and collected for the first time in one middle and seven eastern Tennessee counties, facilitated by a newly developed passive and collaborative tick-surveillance network. Network collaborators included federal, state, county, university, and private resource personnel working with companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. Specimens were collected primarily from dogs and cattle, with initial detections of female adult stage ticks by stakeholders associated with parasitology positions (e.g., entomologists and veterinary parasitologists). Initial county tick detections were confirmed with morphological and molecular identifications, and then screened for the presence of animal-associated pathogens (Anaplasma marginale, Babesia species, Ehrlichia species, and Theileria orientalis), for which all tests were negative. Herein, we describe the identification and confirmation of these tick specimens as well as other results of the surveillance collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T. Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Dené N. Vann
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Rebecca A. Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Dave J. Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Jennifer G. Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Micah P. Willis
- Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Heidi M. Wyrosdick
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - John J. Schaefer
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Richard W. Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Daniel M. Grove
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Jennie Z. Ivey
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Kevin W. Thompson
- Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Roger D. Applegate
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Joy Sweaney
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Sterling Daniels
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Samantha Beaty
- State Veterinarians’ Office, Ellington Agricultural Center, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, TN 37220, USA; (S.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Douglas Balthaser
- State Veterinarians’ Office, Ellington Agricultural Center, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, TN 37220, USA; (S.B.); (D.B.)
| | - James D. Freye
- Tennessee Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Madison, TN 37220, USA;
| | - James W. Mertins
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA;
| | - Denise L. Bonilla
- Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA;
| | - Kevin Lahmers
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services and Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
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Price KJ, Witmier BJ, Eckert RA, Boyer CN, Helwig MW, Kyle AD. Distribution and Density of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) on Public Lands in Pennsylvania, United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1433-1438. [PMID: 33367745 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since the recent introduction of the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) in the United States, quantitative surveillance information remains lacking, which hinders accurate estimates of population structure and entomological risk. We conducted statewide, active tick surveillance from May to August 2019 and report data on H. longicornis geographical distribution and population density in Pennsylvania. In total, 615 H. longicornis were collected from four counties. Across samples recovering H. longicornis, mean density of H. longicornis was 9.2/100 m2, comparably greater than Ixodes scapularis Say (8.5/100 m2). Density of H. longicornis was also significantly greater in August, largely driven by larvae, and greater in recreational habitat types (12.6/100 m2) and in Bucks County (11.7/100 m2), situated adjacent to the location of the first U.S. discovery of intense infestations. These data are among the first to document H. longicornis from statewide tick surveillance and provide initial measures of population density enabling more quantitative characterizations of distributional patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
| | - Rebecca A Eckert
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
| | - Matt W Helwig
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
| | - Andrew D Kyle
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA
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Cull B. Potential for online crowdsourced biological recording data to complement surveillance for arthropod vectors. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250382. [PMID: 33930066 PMCID: PMC8087023 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Voluntary contributions by citizen scientists can gather large datasets covering wide geographical areas, and are increasingly utilized by researchers for multiple applications, including arthropod vector surveillance. Online platforms such as iNaturalist accumulate crowdsourced biological observations from around the world and these data could also be useful for monitoring vectors. The aim of this study was to explore the availability of observations of important vector taxa on the iNaturalist platform and examine the utility of these data to complement existing vector surveillance activities. Of ten vector taxa investigated, records were most numerous for mosquitoes (Culicidae; 23,018 records, 222 species) and ticks (Ixodida; 16,214 records, 87 species), with most data from 2019–2020. Case studies were performed to assess whether images associated with records were of sufficient quality to identify species and compare iNaturalist observations of vector species to the known situation at the state, national and regional level based on existing published data. Firstly, tick data collected at the national (United Kingdom) or state (Minnesota, USA) level were sufficient to determine seasonal occurrence and distribution patterns of important tick species, and were able to corroborate and complement known trends in tick distribution. Importantly, tick species with expanding distributions (Haemaphysalis punctata in the UK, and Amblyomma americanum in Minnesota) were also detected. Secondly, using iNaturalist data to monitor expanding tick species in Europe (Hyalomma spp.) and the USA (Haemaphysalis longicornis), and invasive Aedes mosquitoes in Europe, showed potential for tracking these species within their known range as well as identifying possible areas of expansion. Despite known limitations associated with crowdsourced data, this study shows that iNaturalist can be a valuable source of information on vector distribution and seasonality that could be used to supplement existing vector surveillance data, especially at a time when many surveillance programs may have been interrupted by COVID-19 restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Cull
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Dinkel KD, Herndon DR, Noh SM, Lahmers KK, Todd SM, Ueti MW, Scoles GA, Mason KL, Fry LM. A U.S. isolate of Theileria orientalis, Ikeda genotype, is transmitted to cattle by the invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:157. [PMID: 33726815 PMCID: PMC7962341 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04659-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Theileria orientalis is a tick-borne hemoparasite that causes anemia, ill thrift, and death in cattle globally. The Ikeda strain of T.orientalis is more virulent than other strains, leading to severe clinical signs and death of up to 5% of affected animals. Within the Asia–Pacific region, where it affects 25% of Australian cattle, T.orientalis Ikeda has a significant economic impact on the cattle industry. In 2017, T.orientalis Ikeda was detected in a cattle herd in Albermarle County, Virginia, United States. Months earlier, the U.S. was alerted to the invasion of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, throughout the eastern U.S. Abundant H.longicornis ticks were identified on cattle in the T.orientalis-affected herd in VA, and a subset of ticks from the environment were PCR-positive for T.orientalis Ikeda. A strain of T.orientalis from a previous U.S. outbreak was not transmissible by H.longicornis; however, H.longicornis is the primary tick vector of T.orientalis Ikeda in other regions of the world. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether invasive H.longicornis ticks in the U.S. are competent vectors of T.orientalis Ikeda. Methods Nymphal H.longicornis ticks were fed on a splenectomized calf infected with the VA-U.S.-T.orientalis Ikeda strain. After molting, a subset of adult ticks from this cohort were dissected, and salivary glands assayed for T.orientalis Ikeda via qPCR. The remaining adult ticks from the group were allowed to feed on three calves. Calves were subsequently monitored for T.orientalis Ikeda infection via blood smear cytology and PCR. Results After acquisition feeding on a VA-U.S.-T.orientalis Ikeda-infected calf as nymphs, a subset of molted adult tick salivary glands tested positive by qPCR for T.orientalis Ikeda. Adult ticks from the same cohort successfully transmitted T.orientalis Ikeda to 3/3 naïve calves, each of which developed parasitemia reaching 0.4–0.9%. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that U.S. H.longicornis ticks are competent vectors of the VA-U.S.-T.orientalis Ikeda strain. This data provides important information for the U.S. cattle industry regarding the potential spread of this parasite and the necessity of enhanced surveillance and control measures.![]() Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04659-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelcey D Dinkel
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - David R Herndon
- United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Susan M Noh
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Kevin K Lahmers
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - S Michelle Todd
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.,United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Glen A Scoles
- United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA.,United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen L Mason
- United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Lindsay M Fry
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. .,United States, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, USA.
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Piedmonte NP, Vinci VC, Daniels TJ, Backenson BP, Falco RC. Seasonal Activity of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Southern New York State. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:676-681. [PMID: 33051658 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is a species native to eastern Asia that has recently been discovered in the United States. In its native range, H. longicornis transmits pathogens that cause disease in humans and livestock. It is currently unknown whether H. longicornis will act as a vector in the United States. Understanding its seasonal activity patterns will be important in identifying which times of the year represent greatest potential risk to humans and livestock should this species become a threat to animal or public health. A study site was established in Yonkers, NY near the residence associated with the first reported human bite from H. longicornis in the United States. Ticks were collected once each week from July 2018 to November 2019. Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae were most active from August to November, nymphs from April to July, and adult females from June to September. This pattern of activity suggests that H. longicornis is capable of completing a generation within a single year and matches the patterns observed in its other ranges in the northern hemisphere. The data presented here contribute to a growing database for H. longicornis phenology in the northeastern United States. Potential implications of the short life cycle for the tick's vectorial capacity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vanessa C Vinci
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Armonk, NY
| | | | - Bryon P Backenson
- New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
| | - Richard C Falco
- New York State Department of Health, Louis Calder Center, Armonk, NY
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40
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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: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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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Molaei G, Mertins JW, Stafford KC. Enduring Challenge of Invasive Ticks: Introduction of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum (Acari: Ixodidae) into the United States on a Human Traveler Returning from Central America. J Parasitol 2021; 106:670-674. [PMID: 33089326 DOI: 10.1645/20-85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction of exotic tick vectors of bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and filarial parasites into the United States has accelerated in recent years, primarily because of globalization, increased frequency of travel, and a rise in legal and illegal animal trades. We herein report introduction of a live specimen of Amblyomma oblongoguttatum on a human into the United States from Central America, and we review 4 previous similar incidents. This tick species occurs widely in the neotropics, from western and southern Mexico, southwards through Central America, to the northern half of South America. It is a potential vector of bacterial agents of spotted fever group rickettsioses, raising concern that if A. oblongoguttatum ticks become established in this country, they might also be able to carry pathogens of human and veterinary concern. Given the potential for exotic ticks as vectors of numerous pathogens, proper surveillance, interception, and identification of these ticks are vital to protecting human and veterinary health. Rigorous governmental inspections of imported livestock and pet animals at ports of entry and educating human travelers and medical practitioners about the risks should be part of an overall national tick program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goudarz Molaei
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8034
| | - James W Mertins
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Diagnostics and Biologics, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, Iowa 50010
| | - Kirby C Stafford
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.,Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
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Tufts DM, Sameroff S, Tagliafierro T, Jain K, Oleynik A, VanAcker MC, Diuk-Wasser MA, Lipkin WI, Tokarz R. A metagenomic examination of the pathobiome of the invasive tick species, Haemaphysalis longicornis, collected from a New York City borough, USA. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101516. [PMID: 32993936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, is an invasive tick species that has spread rapidly across the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States in recent years. This invasive pest species, known to transmit several tick-borne pathogens in its native range, is a potential threat to wildlife, livestock, domestic animals, and humans. Questing larval (n = 25), nymph (n = 10), and adult (n = 123), along with host-derived adult (n = 25) H. longicornis ticks were collected from various locations on Staten Island, NY. The pathobiome of each specimen was examined using two different high throughput sequencing approaches, virus enrichment and shotgun metagenomics. An average of 45,828,061 total reads per sample were recovered from the virus enriched samples and an average of 11,381,144 total reads per sample were obtained using shotgun metagenomics. Aside from endogenous viral sequences, no viruses were identified through either approach. Through shotgun metagenomics, Coxiella-like bacteria, Legionella, Sphingomonas, and other bacterial species were recovered. The Coxiella-like agent was ubiquitous and present at high abundances in all samples, suggesting it may be an endosymbiont. The other bacterial agents are not known to be transmitted by ticks. From these analyses, H. longicornis do not appear to host any endemic human tick-borne pathogens in the New York City region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Tufts
- Columbia University, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, United States.
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Komal Jain
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Alexandra Oleynik
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Meredith C VanAcker
- Columbia University, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, United States
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Columbia University, Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology Department, 1200 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027, United States
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States; Columbia University, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Columbia University, Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States; Columbia University, Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, United States
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