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Fausett E, Kirstein OD, Bellman S, Long A, Roeske I, Cheng C, Piantadosi A, Anderson TK, Vazquez-Prokopec GM. Surveillance and detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in protected areas from Georgia, USA. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024:tjae051. [PMID: 38691675 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The invasion of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, into the United States poses a significant ecological, veterinarian, and public health threat. We conducted a comprehensive tick survey using standard tick flagging protocol for collection over 3 field seasons, March-August, and 56 surveyed sites to identify the presence of H. longicornis in the native ecosystem and prove its establishment according to USDA criteria. Of the total 56 state parks and wildlife management areas (WMA) surveyed, only one was found to be invaded by H. longicornis; detection of H. longicornis occurred at Buck Shoals Wildlife Management area in White County, GA. This site is maintained by the state of Georgia, has no agricultural animals present, and hosts a large white-tailed deer population. After the initial detection of H. longicornis in 2022, an additional field season occurred in 2023, where H. longicornis was confirmed as established based on USDA criteria. The increase in H. longicornis populations from 2021 to 2023 at Buck Shoals WMA points to the rapid spread of this tick within the environment. Our findings provide evidence of the rapid establishment of H. longicornis in the southern edge of suitability for this tick and within the native ecosystem beyond farmlands and private land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Fausett
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Oscar D Kirstein
- Entomology and Parasitology Laboratory, Ministry of Health Israel, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Stephanie Bellman
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Audrey Long
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Isabella Roeske
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chun Cheng
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anne Piantadosi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tavis K Anderson
- Virus and Prion Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA, USA
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Thomas R, Santodomingo A, Saboya-Acosta L, Quintero-Galvis JF, Moreno L, Uribe JE, Muñoz-Leal S. Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:108. [PMID: 38444020 PMCID: PMC10916324 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06154-3] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of parasites provides insight into intricate ecological relationships in ecosystem dynamics, food web structures, and evolution on multiple scales. Hepatozoon Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) is a genus of protozoan hemoparasites with heteroxenous life cycles that switch infections between vertebrates and blood-feeding invertebrates. The most comprehensive review of the genus was published 26 years ago, and currently there are no harmonized data on the epizootiology, diagnostics, genotyping methods, evolutionary relationships, and genetic diversity of Hepatozoon in the Americas. METHODS Here, we provide a comprehensive review based on the PRISMA method regarding Hepatozoon in wild mammals within the American continent, in order to generate a framework for future research. RESULTS 11 out of the 35 countries of the Americas (31.4%) had data on Hepatozoon, with Carnivora and Rodentia orders having the most characterizations. Bats, ungulates, and shrews were the least affected groups. While Hepatozoon americanum, H. americanum-like, H. canis, H. didelphydis, H. felis, H. milleri, H. griseisciuri, and H. procyonis correspond to the identified species, a plethora of genospecies is pending for a formal description combining morphology and genetics. Most of the vectors of Hepatozoon in the Americas are unknown, but some flea, mite, and tick species have been confirmed. The detection of Hepatozoon has relied mostly on conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the implementation of specific real time PCR for the genus needs to be employed to improve its diagnosis in wild animals in the future. From a genetic perspective, the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene has been widely sequenced for the identification of Hepatozoon in wild animals. However, mitochondrial and apicoplast markers should also be targeted to truly determine different species in the genus. A phylogenetic analysis of herein retrieved 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences showed two main clades of Hepatozoon: Clade I associated with small mammals, birds, and herpetozoa, and Clade II associated with Carnivora. The topology of the tree is also reflected in the haplotype network. CONCLUSIONS Finally, our review emphasizes Hepatozoon as a potential disease agent in threatened wild mammals and the role of wild canids as spreaders of Hepatozoon infections in the Americas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Thomas
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Adriana Santodomingo
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile
| | - Liliana Saboya-Acosta
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Facultad de Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Doctorado en Estudios Ambientales y Rurales, Carrera 7 N 40-62, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Julian F Quintero-Galvis
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Millenium Nucleus of Patagonian Limit of Life (LiLi), Valdivia, Chile
| | - Lucila Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan E Uribe
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile.
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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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Machtinger ET, Poh KC, Pesapane R, Tufts DM. An integrative framework for tick management: the need to connect wildlife science, One Health, and interdisciplinary perspectives. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 61:101131. [PMID: 37866434 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Vector-borne diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. Their emergence is influenced by various factors such as environmental changes, host characteristics, and human behavior. The One Health approach is necessary to thoroughly investigate tick-borne diseases and understand the complex interactions between environmental, animal, and human health. Anthropogenic changes have impacted predators, leading to cascading effects on wildlife prey species and the emergence of vector-borne diseases. The increase in global trade and travel has led to the introduction of several invasive vector species, increasing the risk of zoonotic pathogen spillover. Tick and tick-borne disease research requires an interdisciplinary approach to address challenges in a One Health paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika T Machtinger
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology, 4 Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA,.
| | - Karen C Poh
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, ADBF 4015, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Risa Pesapane
- The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, 1920 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, 2021 Coffey Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Danielle M Tufts
- University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, 2119 Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Pretoria, South Africa
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5
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Ferreira FC, González J, Milholland MT, Tung GA, Fonseca DM. Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) on synanthropic small and medium-sized mammals in areas of the northeastern United States infested with the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:809-819. [PMID: 37467875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The northeastern United States (US) is a hotspot for tick-borne diseases. Adding to an already complex vector landscape, in 2017 large populations of the invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, were detected in New Jersey (NJ) and later found to be widespread from Connecticut to Georgia. In its native range in northeastern Asia, H. longicornis is considered an important vector of deadly pathogens to humans, companion animals, and livestock. To identify the primary hosts of H. longicornis, we surveyed synanthropic small and medium-sized mammals in three different sites in suburban New Brunswick, NJ. Specifically, we collected approximately 9,000 tick specimens belonging to nine species from 11 different species of mammals sampled between May and September 2021. We found that H. longicornis feeds more frequently on rodents than previously thought, and that this invasive tick is likely exposed to important enzootic and zoonotic pathogens. Overall, we obtained detailed information about the seasonal dynamics and feeding patterns of six tick species common in the northeastern US, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes texanus and Ixodes cookei. We found that unlike I. scapularis that feeds on mammals of all sizes, H. longicornis feeds on hosts following the general pattern of A. americanum, favoring larger species such as skunks, groundhogs, and raccoons. However, our survey revealed that unlike A. americanum, H. longicornis reaches high densities on Virginia opossum. Overall, the newly invasive H. longicornis was the most numerous tick species, both on multiple host species and in the environment, raising significant questions regarding its role in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens, especially those affecting livestock, companion animals and wildlife. In conclusion, our findings provide valuable insights into the tick species composition on mammalian hosts in NJ and the ongoing national expansion of H. longicornis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco C Ferreira
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Julia González
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. https://twitter.com/JulsGGlez
| | - Matthew T Milholland
- AGNR-Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Grayson A Tung
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Entomology Department, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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6
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Gettings JR, McMahan CS, Cleveland CA, Varela-Stokes A, Hubbard K, Hamer SA, Walden HS, Yabsley MJ. Association between vector-borne pathogen seroprevalence in shelter-housed and owned dog populations in the contiguous United States of America. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:405. [PMID: 37936243 PMCID: PMC10629048 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05994-9] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic dogs are susceptible to numerous vector-borne pathogens that are of significant importance for their health. In addition to being of veterinary importance, many of these pathogens are zoonotic and thus may pose a risk to human health. In the USA, owned dogs are commonly screened for exposure to or infection with several canine vector-borne pathogens. Although the screening data are widely available to show areas where infections are being diagnosed, testing of owned dogs is expected to underestimate the actual prevalence in dogs that have no access to veterinary care. The goal of this study was to measure the association between the widely available data from a perceived low-risk population with temporally and spatially collected data from shelter-housed dog populations. These data were then used to extrapolate the prevalence in dogs that generally lack veterinary care. The focus pathogens included Dirofilaria immitis, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi. There was a linear association between the prevalence of selected vector-borne pathogens in shelter-housed and owned dog populations and, generally, the data suggested that prevalence of heartworm (D. immitis) infection and seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi are higher in shelter-housed dogs, regardless of their location, compared with the owned population. The seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. was predicted to be higher in areas that have very low to low seroprevalence, but unexpectedly, in areas of higher seroprevalence within the owned population, the seroprevalence was expected to be lower in the shelter-housed dog population. If shelters and veterinarians make decisions to not screen dogs based on the known seroprevalence of the owned group, they are likely underestimating the risk of exposure. This is especially true for heartworm. With this new estimate of the seroprevalence in shelter-housed dogs throughout the USA, shelters and veterinarians can make evidence-based informed decisions on whether testing and screening for these pathogens is appropriate for their local dog population. This work represents an important step in understanding the relationships in the seroprevalences of vector-borne pathogens between shelter-housed and owned dogs, and provides valuable data on the risk of vector-borne diseases in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna R Gettings
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Christopher S McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634, USA
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA
| | - Andrea Varela-Stokes
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, 39762, USA
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536, USA
| | - Kris Hubbard
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Sarah A Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 77843, USA
| | - Heather S Walden
- Department of Comparative, Diagnostic and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32608, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.
- Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, USA.
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7
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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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8
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Hazelrig CM, Gettings JR, Cleveland CA, Varela-Stokes A, Majewska AA, Hubbard K, Burton KW, Yabsley MJ. Spatial and risk factor analyses of vector-borne pathogens among shelter dogs in the Eastern United States. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:197. [PMID: 37301970 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05813-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vector-borne infections pose significant health risks to humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in the United States may be infected with and serve as sentinel hosts for several zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. In this study, we analyzed the geographical distribution, risk factors, and co-infections associated with infection with Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, and Dirofilaria immitis in shelter dogs in the Eastern United States. METHODS From 2016 to 2020, blood samples from 3750 shelter dogs from 19 states were examined with IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® Plus tests to determine the seroprevalence of infection with tick-borne pathogens and infection with D. immitis. We assessed the impact of factors including age, sex, intact status, breed group, and location on infection using logistic regression. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence of D. immitis was 11.2% (n = 419/3750), the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. was 2.4% (n = 90/3750), the seroprevalence of Ehrlichia spp. was 8.0% (n = 299/3750), and the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi was 8.9% (n = 332/3750). Regional variation in seroprevalence was noted: D. immitis (17.4%, n = 355/2036) and Ehrlichia spp. (10.7%, n = 217/2036) were highest in the Southeast while seroprevalence for B. burgdorferi (19.3%, n = 143/740) and Anaplasma spp. (5.7%, n = 42/740) were highest in the Northeast. Overall, 4.8% (n = 179/3750) of dogs had co-infections, the most common of which were D. immitis/Ehrlichia spp. (1.6%, n = 59/3750), B. burgdorferi/Anaplasma spp. (1.5%, n = 55/3750), and B. burgdorferi/Ehrlichia spp. (1.2%, n = 46/3750). Risk factors significantly influenced infection across the evaluated pathogens were location and breed group. All evaluated risk factors were significant for the seroprevalence of D. immitis antigens. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate a regionally variable risk of infection with vector-borne pathogens in shelter dogs throughout the Eastern United States, likely due to varying distributions of vectors. However, as many vectors are undergoing range expansions or other changes in distribution associated with climate and landscape change, continued vector-borne pathogen surveillance is important for maintaining reliable risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna M Hazelrig
- 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.
| | - Jenna R Gettings
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Christopher A Cleveland
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Andrea Varela-Stokes
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Ania A Majewska
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kris Hubbard
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
- West Asheville Family Vet, Asheville, NC, USA
| | - K Wade Burton
- IDEXX Laboratories, One IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- 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.
- Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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9
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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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10
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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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11
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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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12
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Thompson AT, White SA, Doub EE, Sharma P, Frierson K, Dominguez K, Shaw D, Weaver D, Vigil SL, Bonilla DL, Ruder MG, Yabsley MJ. The wild life of ticks: Using passive surveillance to determine the distribution and wildlife host range of ticks and the exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis, 2010-2021. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:331. [PMID: 36127708 PMCID: PMC9487032 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05425-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We conducted a large-scale, passive regional survey of ticks associated with wildlife of the eastern United States. Our primary goals were to better assess the current geographical distribution of exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis and to identify potential wild mammalian and avian host species. However, this large-scale survey also provided valuable information regarding the distribution and host associations for many other important tick species that utilize wildlife as hosts. Methods Ticks were opportunistically collected by cooperating state and federal wildlife agencies. All ticks were placed in the supplied vials and host information was recorded, including host species, age, sex, examination date, location (at least county and state), and estimated tick burden. All ticks were identified to species using morphology, and suspect H. longicornis were confirmed through molecular techniques. Results In total, 1940 hosts were examined from across 369 counties from 23 states in the eastern USA. From these submissions, 20,626 ticks were collected and identified belonging to 11 different species. Our passive surveillance efforts detected exotic H. longicornis from nine host species from eight states. Notably, some of the earliest detections of H. longicornis in the USA were collected from wildlife through this passive surveillance network. In addition, numerous new county reports were generated for Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Dermacentor albipictus, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. Conclusions This study provided data on ticks collected from animals from 23 different states in the eastern USA between 2010 and 2021, with the primary goal of better characterizing the distribution and host associations of the exotic tick H. longicornis; however, new distribution data on tick species of veterinary or medical importance were also obtained. Collectively, our passive surveillance has detected numerous new county reports for H. longicornis as well as I. scapularis. Our study utilizing passive wildlife surveillance for ticks across the eastern USA is an effective method for surveying a diversity of wildlife host species, allowing us to better collect data on current tick distributions relevant to human and animal health. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05425-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec T Thompson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Seth A White
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Emily E Doub
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Prisha Sharma
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kenna Frierson
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kristen Dominguez
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - David Shaw
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Stacey L Vigil
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mark G Ruder
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. .,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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13
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Price KJ, Witmier BJ, Eckert RA, Boyer CN. Recovery of Partially Engorged Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) Ticks from Active Surveillance. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1842-1846. [PMID: 35851919 PMCID: PMC9473650 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac099] [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: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, has rapidly spread across the northeastern United States and is associated with pathogens of public health and veterinary concern. Despite its importance in pathogen dynamics, H. longicornis blood-feeding behavior in nature, specifically the likelihood of interrupted feeding, remains poorly documented. Here, we report the recovery of partially engorged, questing H. longicornis from active tick surveillance in Pennsylvania. Significantly more engorged H. longicornis nymphs (1.54%) and adults (3.07%) were recovered compared to Ixodes scapularis nymphs (0.22%) and adults (zero). Mean Scutal Index difference between unengorged and engorged nymph specimens was 0.65 and 0.42 for I. scapularis and H. longicornis, respectively, suggesting the questing, engorged H. longicornis also engorged to a comparatively lesser extent. These data are among the first to document recovery of engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis ticks and provide initial evidence for interrupted feeding and repeated successful questing events bearing implications for pathogen transmission and warranting consideration in vector dynamics models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
| | | | - Rebecca A Eckert
- Department of Environmental Studies, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325, USA
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA 17110, USA
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14
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Reconsidering the role of state animal import requirements in controlling invasive ticks and tick-borne disease. Prev Vet Med 2022; 207:105718. [PMID: 35872363 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2022.105718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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15
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Bajwa WI, Tsynman L, Egizi AM, Tokarz R, Maestas LP, Fonseca DM. The Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum (Ixodida: Ixodidae), and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in the Highly Urbanized Northeastern United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1434-1442. [PMID: 35639921 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We report the multi-year collection of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch (Acaridae: Ixodida: Ixodidae) in Staten Island, New York City (NYC) as well as their detection in Brooklyn, NYC, and in Atlantic and Cumberland counties in southern New Jersey, USA. The first and most common detections were of adults, however in Freshkills Park on Staten Island larvae were also collected in a following year. The presence of larvae indicates that adults are successfully finding hosts in Staten Island. While it is still unknown how A. americanum reached Staten Island, immatures of this species often parasitize migratory birds, which are now often seen in Freshkills Park. We describe the landscape features of the area in Staten Island where populations were highest and larvae were detected, which could have facilitated the establishment of A. maculatum. Notably, we also report the presence of human pathogens Rickettsia parkeri in 5/10 (50%) of adults tested and R. felis in 1/24 (4.17%) of larvae tested. In addition to established populations in Staten Island we found evidence of A. maculatum in NJ and other NYC boroughs, suggesting current or future establishment is possible. The failure thus far to detect established populations in these areas may be due to inherent difficulties in detecting low density, spatially heterogeneous incipient populations, which could require targeted surveillance efforts for this species. We discuss the consequences to public health of the establishment of A. maculatum and detection of two additional rickettsial pathogens in the densely populated northeastern United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waheed I Bajwa
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, USA
| | - Leonid Tsynman
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 125 Worth Street, New York, NY 10013, USA
| | - Andrea M Egizi
- Tick-Borne Disease Program, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Lauren P Maestas
- Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mosquito Control Section, 2430 Old County Road, Newark, DE 19702, USA
| | - Dina M Fonseca
- Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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16
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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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17
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Noden BH, Dubie TR, Henriquez BE, Gilliland M, Talley JL. Seasonality of Ticks and Prevalence of Rickettsiae Species in Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum Across Oklahoma Pastures. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1033-1041. [PMID: 35289851 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are an increasing concern for people and companion animals in the United States, but there is a need for continued vigilance regarding livestock in pasture systems. The south-central United States has some of the highest incidences of tick-borne diseases, and there is a need to re-examine the ecology of tick vectors in relation to pasture systems and livestock. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of seasonal activity for tick species in diverse regional Oklahoma pastures and screen for important pathogens in Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblyomma maculatum Koch group that may impact livestock and human health. Between 2015 and 2017, transects in five pastures across Oklahoma were visited each month. DNA extracted from adult D. variabilis and A. maculatum group was tested for the presence of bacterial pathogens. We found that tick communities in pastures across Oklahoma differ by season, abundance, and bacterial presence and prevalence. The peak abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) adults and nymphs occurred a month earlier over the 2 yr of the study compared with historical studies in the same regions. Additionally, we observed notable differences in peak activity between A. americanum adults and nymphs collected in pastures in central Oklahoma (April) versus pastures in northern part of the state (May). We detected Rickettsia parkeri, R. bellii, and Anaplasma sp. DNA in D. variabilis from pastures across the state. These results potentially have important ramifications for human and livestock risk of encountering infected ticks in pastures across the southern Great Plains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce H Noden
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Trisha R Dubie
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Brandon E Henriquez
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Meghan Gilliland
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Justin L Talley
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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18
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Meyer L, Lekouch N, Altreuther G, Schunack B, Pollmeier M. Sustained efficacy of collars containing 10% w/w imidacloprid and 4.5% w/w flumethrin (Seresto ®) in dogs against laboratory challenge with Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901) ticks. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:77. [PMID: 35248151 PMCID: PMC8898405 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks are reported on dogs from an increasing geographic range. This study aimed to determine the sustained efficacy of Seresto® collars (imidacloprid/flumethrin) against experimental infestations of H. longicornis in dogs. Methods Twenty-four Beagle dogs previously assessed for their suitability to harbor ticks were included in the study and randomized into three groups of eight dogs each. Two of the groups were treated with collars at different time points: at the first tick infestation, dogs in group 1 had already worn collars for 92 days, while dogs in group 2 had received collars only on the previous day, thus allowing evaluation of two different treatment durations at the same point in time. Infestation of the treated groups was conducted at 1, 7, 28, and 56 days (group 2) and 92, 119, 147, 168, 196, 227, and 238 days (group 1) after collar placement. Group 3 served as untreated control and was infested whenever the dogs of the other two groups were infested. Infestations were conducted using 50 viable, adult, unfed female ticks of a US isolate of H. longicornis per dog. Ticks were removed and counted 48 h after each infestation. Health and body weight of the dogs were monitored throughout the study. The efficacy against ticks was calculated for groups 1 and 2 based on arithmetic mean values at each assessment day according to Abbott’s formula. The mean post-treatment H. longicornis tick counts were compared statistically between treatments, using an analysis of variance with a treatment effect untransformed tick count. Results Dogs in the control group were adequately infested at all tick counts. Efficacy was 88.2% on day 3, however well above 90% (i.e., 98.3 to 100%) at all other time points up to day 240. Statistical analysis confirmed significantly different live tick counts (P < 0.001) between the treated groups and the control group at all time points. Conclusions The 8-month sustained acaricidal efficacy demonstrated by the Seresto® collar (imidacloprid/flumethrin) provides a reliable strategy against H. longicornis infestations in dogs. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bettina Schunack
- Elanco Animal Health, Bayer Animal Health GmbH, Monheim, Germany
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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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