1
|
Deshpande G, Beetch JE, Heller JG, Naqvi OH, Kuhn KG. Assessing the Influence of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on the Top Tick-Borne Diseases in the United States: A Systematic Review. Microorganisms 2023; 12:50. [PMID: 38257877 PMCID: PMC10821204 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010050] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In the United States (US), tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have more than doubled in the past fifteen years and are a major contributor to the overall burden of vector-borne diseases. The most common TBDs in the US-Lyme disease, rickettsioses (including Rocky Mountain spotted fever), and anaplasmosis-have gradually shifted in recent years, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. In this systematic review, we examined climate change and other environmental factors that have influenced the epidemiology of these TBDs in the US while highlighting the opportunities for a One Health approach to mitigating their impact. We searched Medline Plus, PUBMED, and Google Scholar for studies focused on these three TBDs in the US from January 2018 to August 2023. Data selection and extraction were completed using Covidence, and the risk of bias was assessed with the ROBINS-I tool. The review included 84 papers covering multiple states across the US. We found that climate, seasonality and temporality, and land use are important environmental factors that impact the epidemiology and patterns of TBDs. The emerging trends, influenced by environmental factors, emphasize the need for region-specific research to aid in the prediction and prevention of TBDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; (G.D.); (J.E.B.); (J.G.H.); (O.H.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Effect of Land-Use Change on the Changes in Human Lyme Risk in the United States. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14105802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The spatial extent and incidence of Lyme disease is increasing in the United States, particularly in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Many previous studies have explored the drivers of its spatial pattern, however, few studies tried to explore the drivers for the changes of Lyme disease. We here compared the spatial patterns of changes of human Lyme cases and incidence in the Northeast and Upper Midwest between 2003–2005 and 2015–2017, and applied two different approaches (i.e., a statistical regularization approach and model averaging) to investigate the climatic and landscape factors affecting the risk change between the two periods. Our results suggested that changes in land-use variables generally showed different relationships with changes of human Lyme risk between the two regions. Changes of variables related to human-use areas showed opposite correlations in two regions. Besides, forest area and forest edge density generally negatively correlated with the change of human Lyme risk. In the context of ongoing habitat change, we consider this study may provide new insight into understanding the responses of human Lyme disease to these changes, and contribute to a better prediction in the future.
Collapse
|
3
|
Amarasiri M, Furukawa T, Nakajima F, Sei K. Pathogens and disease vectors/hosts monitoring in aquatic environments: Potential of using eDNA/eRNA based approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 796:148810. [PMID: 34265610 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases are spreading in to previously unreported geographical regions, and are reappeared in regions 75 or 100 years after their last reported case, as a result of environmental changes caused by anthropogenic activities. A pathogen, vector/host monitoring methodology is therefore indispensable in identifying potential transmission sites, providing early warnings and evaluating the human health risks of these infectious diseases in a given area. Recently, environmental DNA (eDNA) and environmental RNA approach (eRNA) have become widespread in monitoring organisms in the environment due to advantages like lower cost, time, and labour requirements. However, eDNA/eRNA based monitoring of pathogens and vectors/hosts using aquatic samples is limited to very few studies. In this review, we summarized the currently available eDNA/eRNA based human and non-human pathogens and vectors/hosts detection studies in aquatic samples. Species-specific shedding, transport, and decay of eDNA/eRNA in aquatic environments which is essential in estimating the abundance of pathogen, vectors/host in focus is also summarized. We also suggest the usage of eDNA/eRNA approach in urban aquatic samples like runoff in identifying the disease vectors/hosts inhabiting in locations which are not accessible easily.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohan Amarasiri
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami 252-0373, Japan.
| | - Takashi Furukawa
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami 252-0373, Japan
| | - Fumiyuki Nakajima
- Environmental Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Kazunari Sei
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene, Department of Health Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Sagamihara-Minami 252-0373, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heaney CD, Moon KA, Ostfeld RS, Pollak J, Poulsen MN, Hirsch AG, DeWalle J, Aucott JN, Schwartz BS. Relations of peri-residential temperature and humidity in tick-life-cycle-relevant time periods with human Lyme disease risk in Pennsylvania, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 795:148697. [PMID: 34252768 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
How weather affects tick development and behavior and human Lyme disease remains poorly understood. We evaluated relations of temperature and humidity during critical periods for the tick lifecycle with human Lyme disease. We used electronic health records from 479,344 primary care patients in 38 Pennsylvania counties in 2006-2014. Lyme disease cases (n = 9657) were frequency-matched (5:1) by year, age, and sex. Using daily weather data at ~4 km2 resolution, we created cumulative metrics hypothesized to promote (warm and humid) or inhibit (hot and dry) tick development or host-seeking during nymph development (March 1-May 31), nymph activity (May 1-July 30), and prior year larva activity (Aug 1-Sept 30). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) of Lyme disease by quartiles of each weather variable, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and other weather variables. Exposure-response patterns were observed for higher cumulative same-year temperature, humidity, and hot and dry days (nymph-relevant), and prior year hot and dry days (larva-relevant), with same-year hot and dry days showing the strongest association (4th vs. 1st quartile OR = 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36, 0.43). Changing temperature and humidity could increase or decrease human Lyme disease risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Katherine A Moon
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | | | - Jonathan Pollak
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Melissa N Poulsen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA.
| | - Annemarie G Hirsch
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA.
| | - Joseph DeWalle
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA.
| | - John N Aucott
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Brian S Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Population Health Sciences, Geisinger, Danville, PA, USA; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Neupane N, Goldbloom-Helzner A, Arab A. Spatio-temporal modeling for confirmed cases of lyme disease in Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101822. [PMID: 34555712 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological data often include characteristics such as spatial and/or temporal dependencies and excess zero counts, which pose modeling challenges. Excess zeros in such data may arise from imperfect detection and/or relative rareness of the disease in a given location. Here, we studied the spatio-temporal variation in annual Lyme disease cases in Virginia from 2001-2016 and modeled the disease with a spatio-temporal hierarchical Bayesian model. Using observed ecological and environmental covariates, we constructed a predictive model for the disease spread over space and time, including spatial and temporal random effects. We considered several different models and found that the negative binomial hurdle model performs the best for such epidemiological data. Among the various ecological predictors, the North-South (V component) of winds and relative humidity significantly contributed to predicting the Lyme cases. Our model results provide important insights on the spread of the disease in Virginia and the proposed modeling framework offers epidemiologists and health policymakers a useful tool for improving disease preparedness and control plans for the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Neupane
- Georgetown University, Department of Biology, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
| | | | - Ali Arab
- Georgetown University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Couper LI, MacDonald AJ, Mordecai EA. Impact of prior and projected climate change on US Lyme disease incidence. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:738-754. [PMID: 33150704 PMCID: PMC7855786 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in temperate zones and a growing public health threat in the United States (US). The life cycles of the tick vectors and spirochete pathogen are highly sensitive to climate, but determining the impact of climate change on Lyme disease burden has been challenging due to the complex ecology of the disease and the presence of multiple, interacting drivers of transmission. Here we incorporated 18 years of annual, county-level Lyme disease case data in a panel data statistical model to investigate prior effects of climate variation on disease incidence while controlling for other putative drivers. We then used these climate-disease relationships to project Lyme disease cases using CMIP5 global climate models and two potential climate scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). We find that interannual variation in Lyme disease incidence is associated with climate variation in all US regions encompassing the range of the primary vector species. In all regions, the climate predictors explained less of the variation in Lyme disease incidence than unobserved county-level heterogeneity, but the strongest climate-disease association detected was between warming annual temperatures and increasing incidence in the Northeast. Lyme disease projections indicate that cases in the Northeast will increase significantly by 2050 (23,619 ± 21,607 additional cases), but only under RCP8.5, and with large uncertainty around this projected increase. Significant case changes are not projected for any other region under either climate scenario. The results demonstrate a regionally variable and nuanced relationship between climate change and Lyme disease, indicating possible nonlinear responses of vector ticks and transmission dynamics to projected climate change. Moreover, our results highlight the need for improved preparedness and public health interventions in endemic regions to minimize the impact of further climate change-induced increases in Lyme disease burden.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa I Couper
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrew J MacDonald
- Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Erin A Mordecai
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Leal B, Zamora E, Fuentes A, Thomas DB, Dearth RK. Questing by Tick Larvae (Acari: Ixodidae): A Review of the Influences That Affect Off-Host Survival. ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 113:425-438. [PMID: 33244354 PMCID: PMC7677832 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saaa013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Questing is a host-seeking behavior in which ticks ascend plants, extend their front legs, and wait poised for a chance to attach to a passing host. Hard ticks are ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates and because some species vector disease, they are among the most medically important of arthropod pests. All ixodid ticks require blood to survive and reproduce with the number of blood-hosts needed to complete their life cycle varying among species. The vast majority are three-host ticks requiring a different host for each developmental stage: larva, nymph, and adult. A few, including some of the most economically important species, are one-host ticks, that quest only in the larval stage. Questing is a rate-limiting behavior critical to tick survival and disease transmission. For the off-host larval stage, survival is highly dependent on ecological and physiological factors. Yet, off-host larval ecophysiology is often overlooked for the more obvious adult and nymphal tick-host interactions. This review summarizes the literature on ixodid larval questing with emphasis on how specific biotic and abiotic factors affect off-host survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Leal
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
| | - Emily Zamora
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
| | - Austin Fuentes
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
| | - Donald B Thomas
- U.S Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, North Moorefield Road, Edinburg, TX
| | - Robert K Dearth
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dong Y, Huang Z, Zhang Y, Wang YX, La Y. Comparing the Climatic and Landscape Risk Factors for Lyme Disease Cases in the Upper Midwest and Northeast United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E1548. [PMID: 32121283 PMCID: PMC7084738 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17051548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted to identify factors influencing Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, however, relatively few studies focused on the Upper Midwest. In this study, we explored and compared the climatic and landscape factors that shape the spatial patterns of human Lyme cases in these two regions, using the generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that climatic variables generally had opposite correlations with Lyme disease risk, while landscape factors usually had similar effects in these two regions. High precipitation and low temperature were correlated with high Lyme disease risk in the Upper Midwest, while with low Lyme disease risk in the Northeast. In both regions, size and fragmentation related factors of residential area showed positive correlations with Lyme disease risk. Deciduous forests and evergreen forests had opposite effects on Lyme disease risk, but the effects were consistent between two regions. In general, this study provides new insight into understanding the differences of risk factors of human Lyme disease risk in these two regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Dong
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Zheng Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yingying X.G. Wang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Yang La
- Medical College, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sadilek A, Hswen Y, Bavadekar S, Shekel T, Brownstein JS, Gabrilovich E. Lymelight: forecasting Lyme disease risk using web search data. NPJ Digit Med 2020; 3:16. [PMID: 32047861 PMCID: PMC7000681 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-020-0222-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Existing estimates of Lyme disease spread are delayed a year or more. We introduce Lymelight-a new method for monitoring the incidence of Lyme disease in real-time. We use a machine-learned classifier of web search sessions to estimate the number of individuals who search for possible Lyme disease symptoms in a given geographical area for two years, 2014 and 2015. We evaluate Lymelight using the official case count data from CDC and find a 92% correlation (p < 0.001) at county level. Importantly, using web search data allows us not only to assess the incidence of the disease, but also to examine the appropriateness of treatments subsequently searched for by the users. Public health implications of our work include monitoring the spread of vector-borne diseases in a timely and scalable manner, complementing existing approaches through real-time detection, which can enable more timely interventions. Our analysis of treatment searches may also help reduce misdiagnosis of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yulin Hswen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | | | | | - John S. Brownstein
- Computational Epidemiology Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lin S, Shrestha S, Prusinski MA, White JL, Lukacik G, Smith M, Lu J, Backenson B. The effects of multiyear and seasonal weather factors on incidence of Lyme disease and its vector in New York State. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 665:1182-1188. [PMID: 30893749 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND More frequent extreme weather and warmer weather due to climate change might change the spatiotemporal distributions of vector-borne diseases, including Lyme disease. However, limited studies have examined the associations of Lyme disease and its vectors with weather factors, especially multi-year and multi-weather factors related to vector life cycle. OBJECTIVES We investigated the associations between multi-year, unique weather indicators (relevant to tick and host activities) and Lyme disease incidence or documented I. scapularis encounters in New York State (NYS). METHODS Using a generalized estimating equation model, we linked Lyme disease and tick (I. scapularis) data, obtained from the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH) Communicable Disease Surveillance and Tick Identification Service, with weather data. We used a season-specific exposure index by considering days in different seasons with certain temperature and precipitation ranges, summer Palmer Hydrological Drought Index, and fitted linear regression models using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS Lyme disease and I. scapularis encounters were modestly correlated (Spearman correlation = 0.60, p-value <0.001). The results indicate that summer Lyme disease cases and tick encounters may increase by 4-10%, per one day in spring with a minimum temperature range between 40 and 50 °F in the year of diagnosis and previous year. A day increase in summer with maximum temperature > 75 °F in the previous year was associated with 2% increase in summer disease counts. Mild winter days were associated with an increase in summer tick encounters. CONCLUSIONS Extended spring and summer days and mild winter temperatures appear to increase Lyme disease cases and tick exposure risk in NYS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University at New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University at New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America.
| | - Srishti Shrestha
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University at New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America
| | - Melissa A Prusinski
- Investigations and Vector Surveillance Units, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L White
- Investigations and Vector Surveillance Units, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Gary Lukacik
- Investigations and Vector Surveillance Units, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States of America
| | - Maggie Smith
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University at New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America
| | - Jianhai Lu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bryon Backenson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University at New York, Rensselaer, NY, United States of America; Investigations and Vector Surveillance Units, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Herrin BH, Beall MJ, Feng X, Papeş M, Little SE. Canine and human infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in the New York City metropolitan area. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:187. [PMID: 29554949 PMCID: PMC5859393 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autochthonous transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the primary agent of Lyme disease in dogs and people in North America, commonly occurs in the northeastern United States, including the New York City metropolitan area, a region with a large human and pet population and broadly diverse demographics and habitats. METHODS We evaluated results from a specific, C6-based serologic assay performed on 234,633 canine samples to compare evidence of past or current infection with B. burgdorferi (sensu stricto) in dogs to county-wide social and environmental factors, as well as to reported cases of Lyme disease in people. RESULTS The data revealed a wide range of county level percent positive canine test results (1.2-27.3%) and human case reports (0.5-438.7 case reports/100,000 people). Dogs from highly (> 50%) forested areas and counties with lower population density had the highest percent positive test results, at 21.1% and 17.9%, respectively. Canine percent positive tests correlated with population-adjusted human case reports (R2 = 0.48, P < 0.0001), as well as population density, development intensity, temperature, normalized difference vegetation index, and habitat type. Subsequent multiple regression allowed an accurate prediction of infection risk in dogs (R2 = 0.90) but was less accurate at predicting human case reports (R2 = 0.74). CONCLUSION In areas where Lyme disease is endemic, canine serology continues to provide insight into risk factors for transmission to both dogs and people although some differences in geographic patterns of canine infection and human disease reports are evident.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian H. Herrin
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074 USA
- Present address: College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS USA
| | | | - Xiao Feng
- Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - Monica Papeş
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN USA
| | - Susan E. Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Short EE, Caminade C, Thomas BN. Climate Change Contribution to the Emergence or Re-Emergence of Parasitic Diseases. Infect Dis (Lond) 2017; 10:1178633617732296. [PMID: 29317829 PMCID: PMC5755797 DOI: 10.1177/1178633617732296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The connection between our environment and parasitic diseases may not always be straightforward, but it exists nonetheless. This article highlights how climate as a component of our environment, or more specifically climate change, has the capability to drive parasitic disease incidence and prevalence worldwide. There are both direct and indirect implications of climate change on the scope and distribution of parasitic organisms and their associated vectors and host species. We aim to encompass a large body of literature to demonstrate how a changing climate will perpetuate, or perhaps exacerbate, public health issues and economic stagnation due to parasitic diseases. The diseases examined include those caused by ingested protozoa and soil helminths, malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Chagas disease, human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, schistosomiasis, and echinococcus, as well as parasites affecting livestock. It is our goal to impress on the scientific community the magnitude a changing climate can have on public health in relation to parasitic disease burden. Once impending climate changes are now upon us, and as we see these events unfold, it is critical to create management plans that will protect the health and quality of life of the people living in the communities that will be significantly affected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica E Short
- Environmental Science Program, Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Cyril Caminade
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Liverpool, UK
| | - Bolaji N Thomas
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Marchant A, Le Coupanec A, Joly C, Perthame E, Sertour N, Garnier M, Godard V, Ferquel E, Choumet V. Infection of Ixodes ricinus by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in peri-urban forests of France. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183543. [PMID: 28846709 PMCID: PMC5573218 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. In Europe, it is transmitted by Ixodes ticks that carry bacteria belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The objective of this work was to explore eco-epidemiological factors of Lyme borreliosis in peri-urban forests of France (Sénart, Notre-Dame and Rambouillet). We investigated whether the introduction of Tamias sibiricus in Sénart could alter the density of infected ticks. Moreover, the density and tick infection were investigated according to the tree species found in various patches of Sénart forest. For this purpose, ticks were sampled during 3 years. In the Sénart forest, the density of nymph and adult ticks showed no significant difference between 2008, 2009 and 2011. The nymph density varied significantly as a function of the month of collection. Regarding the nymphs, a higher rate of infection and infected density were found in 2009. Plots with chipmunks (C) presented a lower density of both nymphs and adult ticks than plots without chipmunks (NC) did. A higher rate of infection of nymphs with Borrelia was seen in C plots. The prevalence of the various species of Borrelia was also found to vary between C and NC plots with the year of the collect. The presence of chestnut trees positively influenced the density of both nymphs and adults. The infected nymph density showed a significant difference depending on the peri-urban forest studied, Sénart being higher than Rambouillet. The prevalence of Borrelia species also differed between the various forests studied. Concerning the putative role that Tamias sibiricus may play in the transmission of Borrelia, our results suggest that its presence is correlated with a higher rate of infection of questing ticks by Borrelia genospecies and if its population increases, it could play a significant role in the risk of transmission of Lyme borreliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Axelle Marchant
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Alain Le Coupanec
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Claire Joly
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Emeline Perthame
- Institut Pasteur – Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Hub – C3BI, USR 3756 IP CNRS –Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Paris, France
| | - Natacha Sertour
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Martine Garnier
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Godard
- CNRS-UMR7533/LADYSS, Université de Paris 8 - Saint-Denis, France
| | - Elisabeth Ferquel
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Valerie Choumet
- Centre National de Référence des Borrelia, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
- Unité Environnement et Risques Infectieux, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Burtis JC, Sullivan P, Levi T, Oggenfuss K, Fahey TJ, Ostfeld RS. The impact of temperature and precipitation on blacklegged tick activity and Lyme disease incidence in endemic and emerging regions. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:606. [PMID: 27887625 PMCID: PMC5124264 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1894-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of Lyme disease shows high degrees of inter-annual variation in the northeastern United States, but the factors driving this variation are not well understood. Complicating matters, it is also possible that these driving factors may vary in regions with differing histories of Lyme disease endemism. We evaluated the effect of the number of hot (T > 25 °C), dry (precipitation = 0) days during the questing periods of the two immature Ixodes scapularis life stages (larval and nymphal) on inter-annual variation in Lyme disease incidence between 2000 and 2011 in long-term endemic versus recently endemic areas. We also evaluated the effect of summer weather on tick questing activity and the number of ticks found on small mammals between 1994 and 2012 on six sites in Millbrook, NY. RESULTS The number of hot, dry days during the larval period of the previous year did not affect the human incidence of Lyme disease or the density of questing nymphs the following season. However, dry summer weather during the nymphal questing period had a significant negative effect on the incidence of Lyme disease in the long-term endemic areas, and on the density of questing nymphs. Summer weather conditions had a more pronounced effect on actively questing I. scapularis collected via dragging than on the number of ticks found feeding on small mammals. In recently endemic areas Lyme disease incidence increased significantly over time, but no trend was detected between disease incidence and dry summer weather. CONCLUSIONS Recently endemic regions showed an increase in Lyme disease incidence over time, while incidence in long-term endemic regions appears to have stabilized. Only within the stabilized areas were we able to detect reduced Lyme disease incidence in years with hot, dry summer weather. These patterns were reflected in our field data, which showed that questing activity of nymphal I. scapularis was reduced by hot, dry summer weather.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James C Burtis
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Patrick Sullivan
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Kelly Oggenfuss
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY, USA
| | - Timothy J Fahey
- Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Richard S Ostfeld
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, 2801 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation on infectious disease hospitalization risk in the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:14589-14594. [PMID: 27791069 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1604980113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the global climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, links between weather and infectious disease have received little attention in high income countries. The "El Niño Southern Oscillation" (ENSO) occurs irregularly and is associated with changing temperature and precipitation patterns. We studied the impact of ENSO on infectious diseases in four census regions in the United States. We evaluated infectious diseases requiring hospitalization using the US National Hospital Discharge Survey (1970-2010) and five disease groupings that may undergo epidemiological shifts with changing climate: (i) vector-borne diseases, (ii) pneumonia and influenza, (iii) enteric disease, (iv) zoonotic bacterial disease, and (v) fungal disease. ENSO exposure was based on the Multivariate ENSO Index. Distributed lag models, with adjustment for seasonal oscillation and long-term trends, were used to evaluate the impact of ENSO on disease incidence over lags of up to 12 mo. ENSO was associated more with vector-borne disease [relative risk (RR) 2.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-8.48] and less with enteric disease (0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.87) in the Western region; the increase in vector-borne disease was attributable to increased risk of rickettsioses and tick-borne infectious diseases. By contrast, ENSO was associated with more enteric disease in non-Western regions (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.15). The periodic nature of ENSO may make it a useful natural experiment for evaluation of the impact of climatic shifts on infectious disease risk. The impact of ENSO suggests that warmer temperatures and extreme variation in precipitation events influence risks of vector-borne and enteric disease in the United States.
Collapse
|
16
|
Eisen RJ, Eisen L, Ogden NH, Beard CB. Linkages of Weather and Climate With Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae), Enzootic Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lyme Disease in North America. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:250-61. [PMID: 26681789 PMCID: PMC4844560 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease has increased both in incidence and geographic extent in the United States and Canada over the past two decades. One of the underlying causes is changes during the same time period in the distribution and abundance of the primary vectors: Ixodes scapularis Say and Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls in eastern and western North America, respectively. Aside from short periods of time when they are feeding on hosts, these ticks exist in the environment where temperature and relative humidity directly affect their development, survival, and host-seeking behavior. Other important factors that strongly influence tick abundance as well as the proportion of ticks infected with the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, include the abundance of hosts for the ticks and the capacity of tick hosts to serve as B. burgdorferi reservoirs. Here, we explore the linkages between climate variation and: 1) duration of the seasonal period and the timing of peak activity; 2) geographic tick distributions and local abundance; 3) enzootic B. burgdorferi transmission cycles; and 4) Lyme disease cases. We conclude that meteorological variables are most influential in determining host-seeking phenology and development, but, while remaining important cofactors, additional variables become critical when exploring geographic distribution and local abundance of ticks, enzootic transmission of B. burgdorferi, and Lyme disease case occurrence. Finally, we review climate change-driven projections for future impact on vector ticks and Lyme disease and discuss knowledge gaps and research needs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vectorborne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
- Corresponding author,
| | - Lars Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vectorborne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Nicholas H. Ogden
- Zoonoses Division, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
| | - Charles B. Beard
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vectorborne Diseases, National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Gabriele-Rivet V, Arsenault J, Badcock J, Cheng A, Edsall J, Goltz J, Kennedy J, Lindsay LR, Pelcat Y, Ogden NH. Different Ecological Niches for Ticks of Public Health Significance in Canada. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131282. [PMID: 26131550 PMCID: PMC4489490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern as their incidence and range have increased in recent decades. Lyme disease is an emerging infectious disease in Canada due to northward expansion of the geographic range of Ixodes scapularis, the principal tick vector for the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi, into central and eastern Canada. In this study the geographical distributions of Ixodid ticks, including I. scapularis, and environmental factors associated with their occurrence were investigated in New Brunswick, Canada, where few I. scapularis populations have been found to date. Density of host-seeking ticks was evaluated by drag sampling of woodland habitats in a total of 159 sites. Ixodes scapularis ticks (n = 5) were found on four sites, Ixodes muris (n = 1) on one site and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (n = 243) on 41 sites. One of four adult I. scapularis ticks collected was PCR-positive for B. burgdorferi. No environmental variables were significantly associated with the presence of I. scapularis although comparisons with surveillance data in neighbouring provinces (Québec and Nova Scotia) suggested that temperature conditions may be too cold for I. scapularis (< 2800 annual degree days above 0°C [DD > 0°C]) across much of New Brunswick. In contrast, the presence of H. leporispalustris, which is a competent vector of tularaemia, was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with specific ranges of mean DD > 0°C, mean annual precipitation, percentage of clay in site soil, elevation and season in a multivariable logistic regression model. With the exception of some localized areas, temperature conditions and deer density may be too low for the establishment of I. scapularis and Lyme disease risk areas in New Brunswick, while environmental conditions were suitable for H. leporispalustris at many sites. These findings indicate differing ecological niches for two tick species of public health significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Gabriele-Rivet
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Arsenault
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Jacqueline Badcock
- Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, New Brunswick Department of Health, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | | | - Jim Edsall
- Jim Edsall Insect Identification Services, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jim Goltz
- New Brunswick Department of Aquaculture, Agriculture & Food, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Joe Kennedy
- New Brunswick Natural Resources, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - L. Robbin Lindsay
- Public Health Agency of Canada, National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Yann Pelcat
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicholas H. Ogden
- Groupe de Recherche en Épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Monaghan AJ, Moore SM, Sampson KM, Beard CB, Eisen RJ. Climate change influences on the annual onset of Lyme disease in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 6:615-22. [PMID: 26025268 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States. Lyme disease occurrence is highly seasonal and the annual springtime onset of cases is modulated by meteorological conditions in preceding months. A meteorological-based empirical model for Lyme disease onset week in the United States is driven with downscaled simulations from five global climate models and four greenhouse gas emissions scenarios to project the impacts of 21st century climate change on the annual onset week of Lyme disease. Projections are made individually and collectively for the 12 eastern States where >90% of cases occur. The national average annual onset week of Lyme disease is projected to become 0.4-0.5 weeks earlier for 2025-2040 (p<0.05), and 0.7-1.9 weeks earlier for 2065-2080 (p<0.01), with the largest shifts for scenarios with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. The more southerly mid-Atlantic States exhibit larger shifts (1.0-3.5 weeks) compared to the Northeastern and upper Midwestern States (0.2-2.3 weeks) by 2065-2080. Winter and spring temperature increases primarily cause the earlier onset. Greater spring precipitation and changes in humidity partially counteract the temperature effects. The model does not account for the possibility that abrupt shifts in the life cycle of Ixodes scapularis, the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in the eastern United States, may alter the disease transmission cycle in unforeseen ways. The results suggest 21st century climate change will make environmental conditions suitable for earlier annual onset of Lyme disease cases in the United States with possible implications for the timing of public health interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Monaghan
- Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3090 Center Green Dr., Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
| | - Sean M Moore
- Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Kevin M Sampson
- Research Applications Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 3090 Center Green Dr., Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
| | - Charles B Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3150 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3150 Rampart Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80522, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Abstract
The evidence that climate warming is changing the distribution of Ixodes ticks and the pathogens they transmit is reviewed and evaluated. The primary approaches are either phenomenological, which typically assume that climate alone limits current and future distributions, or mechanistic, asking which tick-demographic parameters are affected by specific abiotic conditions. Both approaches have promise but are severely limited when applied separately. For instance, phenomenological approaches (e.g. climate envelope models) often select abiotic variables arbitrarily and produce results that can be hard to interpret biologically. On the other hand, although laboratory studies demonstrate strict temperature and humidity thresholds for tick survival, these limits rarely apply to field situations. Similarly, no studies address the influence of abiotic conditions on more than a few life stages, transitions or demographic processes, preventing comprehensive assessments. Nevertheless, despite their divergent approaches, both mechanistic and phenomenological models suggest dramatic range expansions of Ixodes ticks and tick-borne disease as the climate warms. The predicted distributions, however, vary strongly with the models' assumptions, which are rarely tested against reasonable alternatives. These inconsistencies, limited data about key tick-demographic and climatic processes and only limited incorporation of non-climatic processes have weakened the application of this rich area of research to public health policy or actions. We urge further investigation of the influence of climate on vertebrate hosts and tick-borne pathogen dynamics. In addition, testing model assumptions and mechanisms in a range of natural contexts and comparing their relative importance as competing models in a rigorous statistical framework will significantly advance our understanding of how climate change will alter the distribution, dynamics and risk of tick-borne disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Ostfeld
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, PO Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - Jesse L Brunner
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Robinson SJ, Neitzel DF, Moen RA, Craft ME, Hamilton KE, Johnson LB, Mulla DJ, Munderloh UG, Redig PT, Smith KE, Turner CL, Umber JK, Pelican KM. Disease risk in a dynamic environment: the spread of tick-borne pathogens in Minnesota, USA. ECOHEALTH 2015; 12:152-63. [PMID: 25281302 PMCID: PMC4385511 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-014-0979-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As humans and climate change alter the landscape, novel disease risk scenarios emerge. Understanding the complexities of pathogen emergence and subsequent spread as shaped by landscape heterogeneity is crucial to understanding disease emergence, pinpointing high-risk areas, and mitigating emerging disease threats in a dynamic environment. Tick-borne diseases present an important public health concern and incidence of many of these diseases are increasing in the United States. The complex epidemiology of tick-borne diseases includes strong ties with environmental factors that influence host availability, vector abundance, and pathogen transmission. Here, we used 16 years of case data from the Minnesota Department of Health to report spatial and temporal trends in Lyme disease (LD), human anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. We then used a spatial regression framework to evaluate the impact of landscape and climate factors on the spread of LD. Finally, we use the fitted model, and landscape and climate datasets projected under varying climate change scenarios, to predict future changes in tick-borne pathogen risk. Both forested habitat and temperature were important drivers of LD spread in Minnesota. Dramatic changes in future temperature regimes and forest communities predict rising risk of tick-borne disease.
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accelerating accumulation of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere is changing global environmental conditions in unprecedented and potentially irreversible ways. Climate change poses a host of challenges to the health of populations through complex direct and indirect mechanisms. The direct effects include an increased frequency of heat waves, rising sea levels that threaten low-lying communities, anticipated extremes in the global hydrologic cycle (droughts, floods, and intense storms), and adverse effects on agricultural production and fisheries due to environmental stressors and changes in land use. Indirectly, climate change is anticipated to threaten health by worsening urban air pollution and increasing rates of infectious (particularly waterborne and vector-borne) disease transmission. OBJECTIVE To provide a state-of-the-science review on the health consequences of a changing climate. FINDINGS Environmental public health researchers have concluded that, on balance, adverse health outcomes will dominate under these changed climatic conditions. The number of pathways through which climate change can affect the health of populations makes this environmental health threat one of the largest and most formidable of the new century. Geographic location plays an influential role the potential for adverse health effects caused by climate change, and certain regions and populations are more vulnerable than others to expected health effects. Two kinds of strategies are available for responding to climate change: mitigation policies (which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation measures (relating to preparedness for anticipated impacts). CONCLUSIONS To better understand and address the complex nature of health risks posed by climate change, interdisciplinary collaboration is critical. Efforts to move beyond our current reliance on fossil fuels to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources may offer some of the greatest health opportunities in more than a century and cobenefits beyond the health sector. Because the nations least responsible for climate change are most vulnerable to its effects, the challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is not merely technical, but also moral.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Patz
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Global Health Institute, Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, Population Health Sciences Department, Madison, WI.
| | - Maggie L Grabow
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Global Health Institute and Nelson Institute Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, Madison, WI
| | - Vijay S Limaye
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Nelson Institute and Population Health Sciences Department, Madison, WI
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Berger KA, Ginsberg HS, Gonzalez L, Mather TN. Relative humidity and activity patterns of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2014; 51:769-776. [PMID: 25118408 DOI: 10.1603/me13186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory studies have shown clear relationships between relative humidity (RH) and the activity and survival of Ixodes scapularis Say (blacklegged tick). However, field studies have produced conflicting results. We examined this relationship using weekly tick count totals and hourly RH observations at three field sites, stratified by latitude, within the state of Rhode Island. Records of nymphal tick abundance were compared with several RH-related variables (e.g., RH at time of sampling and mean weekly daytime RH). In total, 825 nymphs were sampled in 2009, a year of greater precipitation, with a weighted average leaf litter RH recorded at time of sampling of 85.22%. Alternatively, 649 nymphs were collected in 2010, a year of relatively low precipitation, and a weighted average RH recorded at time of sampling was 75.51%. Negative binomial regression analysis of tick count totals identified cumulative hours < 82% RH threshold as a significant factor observed in both years (2009: P = 0.0037; 2010: P < 0.0001). Mean weekly daytime RH did not significantly predict tick activity in either year. However, mean weekly daytime RH recorded with 1-wk lag before sample date was a significant variable (P = 0.0016) in 2010. These results suggest a lag effect between moisture availability and patterns of tick activity and abundance. Differences in the relative importance of each RH variable between years may have been due to abnormally wet summer conditions in 2009.
Collapse
|
23
|
Berger KA, Ginsberg HS, Dugas KD, Hamel LH, Mather TN. Adverse moisture events predict seasonal abundance of Lyme disease vector ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:181. [PMID: 24731228 PMCID: PMC3991885 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in north temperate regions worldwide, affecting an estimated 300,000 people annually in the United States alone. The incidence of LB is correlated with human exposure to its vector, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). To date, attempts to model tick encounter risk based on environmental parameters have been equivocal. Previous studies have not considered (1) the differences between relative humidity (RH) in leaf litter and at weather stations, (2) the RH threshold that affects nymphal blacklegged tick survival, and (3) the time required below the threshold to induce mortality. We clarify the association between environmental moisture and tick survival by presenting a significant relationship between the total number of tick adverse moisture events (TAMEs - calculated as microclimatic periods below a RH threshold) and tick abundance each year. METHODS We used a 14-year continuous statewide tick surveillance database and corresponding weather data from Rhode Island (RI), USA, to assess the effects of TAMEs on nymphal populations of I. scapularis. These TAMEs were defined as extended periods of time (>8 h below 82% RH in leaf litter). We fit a sigmoid curve comparing weather station data to those collected by loggers placed in tick habitats to estimate RH experienced by nymphal ticks, and compiled the number of historical TAMEs during the 14-year record. RESULTS The total number of TAMEs in June of each year was negatively related to total seasonal nymphal tick densities, suggesting that sub-threshold humidity episodes >8 h in duration naturally lowered nymphal blacklegged tick abundance. Furthermore, TAMEs were positively related to the ratio of tick abundance early in the season when compared to late season, suggesting that lower than average tick abundance for a given year resulted from tick mortality and not from other factors. CONCLUSIONS Our results clarify the mechanism by which environmental moisture affects blacklegged tick populations, and offers the possibility to more accurately predict tick abundance and human LB incidence. We describe a method to forecast LB risk in endemic regions and identify the predictive role of microclimatic moisture conditions on tick encounter risk.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Berger
- Center for Vector-Borne Disease, University of Rhode Island, 02881 Kingston, RI, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Tran PM, Waller L. Effects of landscape fragmentation and climate on Lyme disease incidence in the northeastern United States. ECOHEALTH 2013; 10:394-404. [PMID: 24419663 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-013-0890-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2013] [Revised: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector borne illness in the United States, and incidences are increasing steadily year after year. This study explores the influence of landscape (e.g., land use pattern and landscape fragmentation) and climatic factors (e.g., temperature and precipitation) at a regional scale on Lyme disease incidence. The study area includes thirteen states in the Northeastern United States. Lyme disease incidence at county level for the period of 2002-2006 was linked with several key landscape and climatic variables in a negative binomial regression model. Results show that Lyme disease incidence has a relatively clear connection with regional landscape fragmentation and temperature. For example, more fragmentation between forests and residential areas results in higher local Lyme disease incidence. This study also indicates that, for the same landscape, some landscape variables derived at a particular scale show a clearer connection to Lyme disease than do others. In general, the study sheds more light on connections between Lyme disease incidence and climate and landscape patterns at the regional scale. Integrating findings of this regional study with studies at a local scale will further refine understanding of the pattern of Lyme disease as well as increase our ability to predict, prevent, and respond to disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Minh Tran
- College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Pfäffle M, Littwin N, Muders SV, Petney TN. The ecology of tick-borne diseases. Int J Parasitol 2013; 43:1059-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 06/26/2013] [Accepted: 06/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
|
26
|
Raghavan RK, Harrington J, Anderson GA, Hutchinson JMS, Debey BM. Environmental, climatic, and residential neighborhood determinants of feline tularemia. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013; 13:449-56. [PMID: 23593930 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tularemia, caused by a Gram-negative bacterium Francisella tularensis, is an occasional disease of cats in the midwestern United States and a public health concern due to its zoonotic potential. Different environmental, climatic, and pet-owner's housing and socioeconomic conditions were evaluated as potential risk factors for feline tularemia using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in a retrospective case-control study. METHODS The study included 46 cases identified as positive for tularemia based upon positive immunohistochemistry, isolation of F. tularensis using bacterial culture, and 4-fold or greater change in serum antibody titer for F. tularensis. Cats with a history of fever, malaise, icterus, and anorexia but no lesions characteristic of tularemia and/or negative immunohistochemistry, no isolation of bacteria in bacterial culture, and less than 4-fold raise in serum antibody titer for F. tularensis were treated as controls (n=93). Candidate geospatial variables from multiple thematic sources were analyzed for association with case status. Variables from National Land Cover Dataset, Soil Survey Geographic Database, US Census Bureau, and Daymet were extracted surrounding geocoded case-control household locations. Univariable screening of candidate variables followed by stepwise multivariable logistic modeling and odds ratios were used to identify strengths of variable associations and risk factors. RESULTS Living in a residence located in newly urbanized/suburban areas, residences surrounded by areas dominated by grassland vegetation, and mean vapor pressure conditions recorded during the 8(th) week prior to case arrival at the hospital are significant risk factors for feline tularemia. CONCLUSIONS Prevention strategies such as acaricide applications in residential backyards during spring and early summer periods and any behavior modifications suitable for cats that will prevent them from contracting infection from ticks or dead animals are necessary. Mean vapor pressure conditions recorded during the 8(th) week prior to case arrival at a diagnostic facility is a predictor for feline tularemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ram K Raghavan
- Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5606, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Schulze TL, Jordan RA, Schulze CJ, Hung RW. Precipitation and temperature as predictors of the local abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2009; 46:1025-1029. [PMID: 19769032 DOI: 10.1603/033.046.0508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Populations of Ixodes scapularis Say nymphs were surveyed at a Lyme disease- endemic area for 8 consecutive yr (1998-2005) to characterize annual changes in abundance. Precipitation and temperature were also monitored over the period 1998-2004 to determine their potential value as predictors of tick abundance. Although both parameters showed annual variation, no statistical differences in the annual abundance of I. scapularis nymphs were observed over the 8-yr period. Our results suggest that precipitation and temperature were not predictive of the abundance of I. scapularis nymphs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Schulze
- Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health, New Jersey, Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 369, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Patz JA, Olson SH, Uejio CK, Gibbs HK. Disease emergence from global climate and land use change. Med Clin North Am 2008; 92:1473-91, xii. [PMID: 19061763 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcna.2008.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Climate change and land use change can affect multiple infectious diseases of humans, acting either independently or synergistically. Expanded efforts in empiric and future scenario-based risk assessment are required to anticipate problems. Moreover, the many health impacts of climate and land use change must be examined in the context of the myriad other environmental and behavioral determinants of disease. To optimize prevention capabilities, upstream environmental approaches must be part of any intervention, rather than assaults on single agents of disease. Clinicians must develop stronger ties, not only to public health officials and scientists, but also to earth and environmental scientists and policy makers. Without such efforts, we will inevitably benefit our current generation at the cost of generations to come.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Patz
- Global Environmental Health, Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin (at Madison), 1710 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53726, USA.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Killilea ME, Swei A, Lane RS, Briggs CJ, Ostfeld RS. Spatial dynamics of lyme disease: a review. ECOHEALTH 2008; 5:167-195. [PMID: 18787920 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-008-0171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2007] [Revised: 03/14/2008] [Accepted: 03/24/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease (LD), the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the United States, requires that humans, infected vector ticks, and infected hosts all occur in close spatial proximity. Understanding the spatial dynamics of LD requires an understanding of the spatial determinants of each of these organisms. We review the literature on spatial patterns and environmental correlates of human cases of LD and the vector ticks, Ixodes scapularis in the northeastern and midwestern United States and Ixodes pacificus in the western United States. The results of this review highlight a need for a more standardized and comprehensive approach to studying the spatial dynamics of the LD system. Specifically, we found that the only environmental variable consistently associated with increased LD risk and incidence was the presence of forests. However, the reasons why some forests are associated with higher risk and incidence than others are still poorly understood. We suspect that the discordance among studies is due, in part, to the rapid developments in both conceptual and technological aspects of spatial ecology hastening the obsolescence of earlier approaches. Significant progress in identifying the determinants of spatial variation in LD risk and incidence requires that: (1) existing knowledge of the biology of the individual components of each LD system is utilized in the development of spatial models; (2) spatial data are collected over longer periods of time; (3) data collection and analysis among regions are more standardized; and (4) the effect of the same environmental variables is tested at multiple spatial scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mary E Killilea
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545-0129, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Beytout J, George J, Malaval J, Garnier M, Beytout M, Baranton G, Ferquel E, Postic D. Lyme Borreliosis Incidence in Two French Departments: Correlation with Infection ofIxodes ricinusTicks byBorrelia burgdorferiSensu Lato. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2007; 7:507-17. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2006.0633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Beytout
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - J.C. George
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Souilly, France
| | - J. Malaval
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Pleaux, France
| | - M. Garnier
- Laboratoire des Spirochètes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - M. Beytout
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Clermont Ferrand, France
| | - G. Baranton
- Laboratoire des Spirochètes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - E. Ferquel
- Laboratoire des Spirochètes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - D. Postic
- Laboratoire des Spirochètes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Hedrick MN, Olson CM, Conze DB, Bates TC, Rincón M, Anguita J. Control of Borrelia burgdorferi-specific CD4+-T-cell effector function by interleukin-12- and T-cell receptor-induced p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Infect Immun 2006; 74:5713-7. [PMID: 16988247 PMCID: PMC1594917 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00623-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, results in a Th1 response and proinflammatory cytokine production. Mice deficient for MKK3, an upstream activator of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, develop a lower Th1 response and exhibit an impaired ability to produce proinflammatory cytokines upon infection with the spirochete. We investigated the contribution of p38 MAP kinase activity in gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production in CD4+ T cells in response to specific antigen through T-cell receptor (TCR)- and interleukin-12 (IL-12)-mediated signals. The specific inhibition of p38 MAP kinase in T cells and the administration of a pharmacological inhibitor of the kinase during the course of infection with the spirochete resulted in reduced levels of IFN-gamma in the sera of infected mice. Our results also demonstrate that although p38 MAP kinase activity is not required for the differentiation of B. burgdorferi-specific CD4+ T cells, the production of IFN-gamma by Th1 effector cells is regulated by the kinase. Both TCR engagement and IL-12 induced the production of the Th1 cytokine through the activation of the p38 MAP kinase pathway. Thus, the inhibition of this pathway in vitro resulted in decreased levels of IFN-gamma during restimulation of B. burgdorferi-specific T cells in response to anti-CD3 and IL-12 stimulation. These results clarify the specific contribution of the p38 MAP kinase in the overall immune response to the spirochete and its role in the effector function of B. burgdorferi-specific T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael N Hedrick
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Olson CM, Hedrick MN, Izadi H, Bates TC, Olivera ER, Anguita J. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase controls NF-kappaB transcriptional activation and tumor necrosis factor alpha production through RelA phosphorylation mediated by mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 in response to Borrelia burgdorferi antigens. Infect Immun 2006; 75:270-7. [PMID: 17074860 PMCID: PMC1828394 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01412-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis, with phagocytic cells induces the activation of NF-kappaB and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). B. burgdorferi-induced TNF-alpha production is also dependent on the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. The specific contribution of these signaling pathways to the response of phagocytic cells to the spirochete and the molecular mechanisms underlying this response remain unresolved. We now show that p38 MAP kinase activity regulates the transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB in response to spirochetal lysate stimulation of phagocytic cells. The regulation occurs at the nuclear level and is independent of the translocation of the transcription factor to the nucleus or its capacity to bind to specific DNA target sequences. In RAW264.7 cells, p38alpha MAP kinase regulates the phosphorylation of NF-kappaB RelA. p38 MAP kinase phosphorylates the nuclear kinase mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1). MSK1 in turn phosphorylates the transcriptionally active subunit of NF-kappaB, RelA. The repression of MSK1 expression with small interfering RNA results in reduced RelA phosphorylation and a significant decrease in the production of TNF-alpha in response to B. burgdorferi lysates. Overall, these results clarify the contribution of the signaling pathways that are activated in response to the interaction of spirochetes with phagocytic cells to TNF-alpha production. Our results situate p38 MAP kinase activity as a central regulator of the phagocytic proinflammatory response through MSK1-mediated transcriptional activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris M Olson
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 103 Paige Lab., 161 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Ostfeld RS, Canham CD, Oggenfuss K, Winchcombe RJ, Keesing F. Climate, deer, rodents, and acorns as determinants of variation in lyme-disease risk. PLoS Biol 2006; 4:e145. [PMID: 16669698 PMCID: PMC1457019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 306] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2005] [Accepted: 03/09/2006] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Risk of human exposure to vector-borne zoonotic pathogens is a function of the abundance and infection prevalence of vectors. We assessed the determinants of Lyme-disease risk (density and
Borrelia burgdorferi-infection prevalence of nymphal
Ixodes scapularis ticks) over 13 y on several field plots within eastern deciduous forests in the epicenter of US Lyme disease (Dutchess County, New York). We used a model comparison approach to simultaneously test the importance of ambient growing-season temperature, precipitation, two indices of deer
(Odocoileus virginianus) abundance, and densities of white-footed mice
(Peromyscus leucopus), eastern chipmunks
(Tamias striatus), and acorns (
Quercus spp.), in both simple and multiple regression models, in predicting entomological risk. Indices of deer abundance had no predictive power, and precipitation in the current year and temperature in the prior year had only weak effects on entomological risk. The strongest predictors of a current year's risk were the prior year's abundance of mice and chipmunks and abundance of acorns 2 y previously. In no case did inclusion of deer or climate variables improve the predictive power of models based on rodents, acorns, or both. We conclude that interannual variation in entomological risk of exposure to Lyme disease is correlated positively with prior abundance of key hosts for the immature stages of the tick vector and with critical food resources for those hosts.
A long-term study of tick dynamics simultaneously assesses the impact of multiple ecological variables on Lyme disease risk and strongly implicates a role for rodent hosts and their food resources.
Collapse
|
34
|
Jackson LE, Hilborn ED, Thomas JC. Towards landscape design guidelines for reducing Lyme disease risk. Int J Epidemiol 2006; 35:315-22. [PMID: 16394113 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyi284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Incidence of Lyme disease in the US continues to grow. Low-density development is also increasing in endemic regions, raising questions about the relationship between development pattern and disease. This study sought to model Lyme disease incidence rate using quantitative, practical metrics of regional landscape pattern. The objective was to progress towards the development of design guidelines that may help minimize known threats to human and environmental health. METHODS Ecological analysis was used to accommodate the integral landscape variables under study. Case data derived from passive surveillance reports across 12 counties in the US state of Maryland during 1996-2000; 2,137 cases were spatially referenced to residential addresses. Major roads were used to delineate 514 landscape analysis units from 0.002 to 580 km(2). RESULTS The parameter that explained the most variation in incidence rate was the percentage of land-cover edge represented by the adjacency of forest and herbaceous cover [R(2) = 0.75; rate ratio = 1.34 (1.26-1.43); P < 0.0001]. Also highly significant was the percentage of the landscape in forest cover (cumulative R(2) = 0.82), which exhibited a quadratic relationship with incidence rate. Modelled relationships applied throughout the range of landscape sizes. CONCLUSIONS Results begin to provide quantitative landscape design parameters for reducing casual peridomestic contact with tick and host habitat. The final model suggests that clustered forest and herbaceous cover, as opposed to high forest-herbaceous interspersion, would minimize Lyme disease risk in low-density residential areas. Higher-density development that precludes a large percentage of forest-herbaceous edge would also limit exposure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Jackson
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|