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Burtis JC, Foster E, Eisen RJ, Eisen L. Willingness and capacity of publicly-funded vector control programs in the USA to engage in tick management. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:316. [PMID: 39039577 PMCID: PMC11265149 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06400-8] [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: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vast majority of vector-borne diseases in the USA are associated with mosquitoes or ticks. Mosquito control is often conducted as part of community programs run by publicly-funded entities. By contrast, tick control focuses primarily on individual residential properties and is implemented predominantly by homeowners and the private pest control firms they contract. We surveyed publicly-funded vector control programs (VCPs), presumed to focus mainly on mosquitoes, to determine what tick-related services they currently offer, and their interest in and capacity to expand existing services or provide new ones. METHODS We distributed a survey to VCPs in the Northeast, Upper Midwest and Pacific Coast states of the USA, where humans are at risk for bites by tick vectors (Ixodes scapularis or Ixodes pacificus) of agents causing Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. The data we report are based on responses from 118 VCPs engaged in vector control and with at least some activities focused on ticks. RESULTS Despite our survey targeting geographic regions where ticks and tick-borne diseases are persistent and increasing public health concerns, only 11% (12/114) of VCPs reported they took direct action to suppress ticks questing in the environment. The most common tick-related activities conducted by the VCPs were tick bite prevention education for the public (70%; 75/107 VCPs) and tick surveillance (48%; 56/116). When asked which services they would most likely include as part of a comprehensive tick management program, tick bite prevention education (90%; 96/107), tick surveillance (89%; 95/107) and tick suppression guidance for the public (74%; 79/107) were the most common services selected. Most VCPs were also willing to consider engaging in activities to suppress ticks on public lands (68%; 73/107), but few were willing to consider suppressing ticks on privately owned land such as residential properties (15%; 16/107). Across all potential tick-related services, funding was reported as the biggest obstacle to program expansion or development, followed by personnel. CONCLUSIONS Considering the hesitancy of VCPs to provide tick suppression services on private properties and the high risk for tick bites in peridomestic settings, suppression of ticks on residential properties by private pest control operators will likely play an important role in the tick suppression landscape in the USA for the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, VCPs can assist in this effort by providing locally relevant guidelines to homeowners and private pest control firms regarding best practices for residential tick suppression efforts and associated efficacy evaluations. Publicly-funded VCPs are also well positioned to educate the public on personal tick bite prevention measures and to collect tick surveillance data that provide information on the risk of human encounters with ticks within their jurisdictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Burtis
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
| | - Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
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Jordan RA, Eisen L, Schulze TL. Willingness and ability of existing mosquito control and public health agencies in New Jersey to assume responsibilities for management of ticks and tick-borne disease. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:1054-1063. [PMID: 38691677 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae054] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
We conducted surveys of New Jersey mosquito control and public health agencies to determine their willingness and ability to expand or create and maintain publicly funded tick and tick-borne disease (T/TBD) management programs. Nearly all (86%) of 21 county mosquito control agencies (MCAs) completed the survey, while only 25% of the 102 health departments (HDs) responded, probably reflecting traditional agency responsibilities. Although few of either group had formal programs, many were engaged in T/TBD-related activities. Many MCAs rated their ability to assume T/TBD responsibilities as high or moderate, while most HDs rated their capabilities as low. With the exceptions of lack of sustainable funding and possible legal constraints, the groups differed regarding perceived barriers to program creation and maintenance. Both groups envisioned comprehensive programs emphasizing public education, but program priorities differed between the groups. MCAs were willing to include most program activities, while HDs felt that some activities should be the responsibility of other agencies. MCAs were generally more familiar than HDs with tick control methods and while both groups would include control in a comprehensive program, both would limit control to public lands. Estimated program costs varied widely, probably reflecting responding agency size and complexity of envisioned programs. These results in a state with a system of existing agencies staffed by highly competent professionals suggest that more than simply additional funding (e.g., established guidelines for tick control and surveillance) is needed to create a network of practice necessary to address the growing incidence of TBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Jordan
- Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
| | - Lars 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, CO 80521, USA
| | - Terry L Schulze
- Terry L. Schulze, Ph.D., Inc., 9 Evergreen Court, Perrineville, NJ 08535, USA
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Sirén APK, Berube J, Clarfeld LA, Sullivan CF, Simpson B, Wilson TL. Accounting for missing ticks: Use (or lack thereof) of hierarchical models in tick ecology studies. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102342. [PMID: 38613901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Ixodid (hard) ticks play important ecosystem roles and have significant impacts on animal and human health via tick-borne diseases and physiological stress from parasitism. Tick occurrence, abundance, activity, and key life-history traits are highly influenced by host availability, weather, microclimate, and landscape features. As such, changes in the environment can have profound impacts on ticks, their hosts, and the spread of diseases. Researchers recognize that spatial and temporal factors influence activity and abundance and attempt to account for both by conducting replicate sampling bouts spread over the tick questing period. However, common field methods notoriously underestimate abundance, and it is unclear how (or if) tick studies model the confounding effects of factors influencing activity and abundance. This step is critical as unaccounted variance in detection can lead to biased estimates of occurrence and abundance. We performed a descriptive review to evaluate the extent to which studies account for the detection process while modeling tick data. We also categorized the types of analyses that are commonly used to model tick data. We used hierarchical models (HMs) that account for imperfect detection to analyze simulated and empirical tick data, demonstrating that inference is muddled when detection probability is not accounted for in the modeling process. Our review indicates that only 5 of 412 (1 %) papers explicitly accounted for imperfect detection while modeling ticks. By comparing HMs with the most common approaches used for modeling tick data (e.g., ANOVA), we show that population estimates are biased low for simulated and empirical data when using non-HMs, and that confounding occurs due to not explicitly modeling factors that influenced both detection and abundance. Our review and analysis of simulated and empirical data shows that it is important to account for our ability to detect ticks using field methods with imperfect detection. Not doing so leads to biased estimates of occurrence and abundance which could complicate our understanding of parasite-host relationships and the spread of tick-borne diseases. We highlight the resources available for learning HM approaches and applying them to analyzing tick data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexej P K Sirén
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA; Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA; Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Juliana Berube
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Laurence A Clarfeld
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Cheryl F Sullivan
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Benjamin Simpson
- Penobscot Nation Department of Natural Resources, Indian Island, ME, USA
| | - Tammy L Wilson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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Case BKM, Dye-Braumuller KC, Evans C, Li H, Rustin L, Nolan MS. Adapting vector surveillance using Bayesian experimental design: An application to an ongoing tick monitoring program in the southeastern United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102329. [PMID: 38484538 PMCID: PMC10993663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102329] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Maps of the distribution of medically-important ticks throughout the US remain lacking in spatial and temporal resolution in many areas, leading to holes in our understanding of where and when people are at risk of tick encounters, an important baseline for informing public health response. In this work, we demonstrate the use of Bayesian Experimental Design (BED) in planning spatiotemporal surveillance of disease vectors. We frame survey planning as an optimization problem with the objective of identifying a calendar of sampling locations that maximizes the expected information regarding some goal. Here we consider the goals of understanding associations between environmental factors and tick presence and minimizing uncertainty in high risk areas. We illustrate our proposed BED workflow using an ongoing tick surveillance study in South Carolina parks. Following a model comparison study based on two years of initial data, several techniques for finding optimal surveys were compared to random sampling. Two optimization algorithms found surveys better than all replications of random sampling, while a space-filling heuristic performed favorably as well. Further, optimal surveys of just 20 visits were more effective than repeating the schedule of 111 visits used in 2021. We conclude that BED shows promise as a flexible and rigorous means of survey design for vector control, and could help alleviate pressure on local agencies by limiting the resources necessary for accurate information on arthropod distributions. We have made the code for our BED workflow publicly available on Zenodo to help promote the application of these methods to future surveillance efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- B K M Case
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Kyndall C Dye-Braumuller
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Chris Evans
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Huixuan Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Lauren Rustin
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Melissa S Nolan
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Columbia, SC, USA.
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Foster E, Holcomb KM, Eisen RJ. Density of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis nymphs by region, state, and county in the contiguous United States generated through national tick surveillance. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102316. [PMID: 38325243 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The majority of vector-borne disease cases reported annually in the United States are caused by pathogens spread by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. The number and geographic distribution of cases have increased as the geographic range and abundance of the tick have expanded in recent decades. A large proportion of Lyme disease and other I. scapularis-borne diseases are associated with nymphal tick bites; likelihood of such bites generally increases with increasing nymphal densities. National tick surveillance was initiated in 2018 to track changes in the distribution and abundance of medically important ticks at the county spatial scale throughout the United States. Tick surveillance records, including historical data collected prior to the initiation of the national program, are collated in the ArboNET Tick Module database. Through exploration of ArboNET Tick Module data, we found that efforts to quantify the density of host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs (DON) were unevenly distributed among geographic regions with the greatest proportion of counties sampled in the Northeast and Upper Midwest. Submissions covering tick collections from 2004 through 2022 revealed extensive variation in DON estimates at collection site, county, state, and regional spatial scales. Throughout the entire study period, county DON estimates ranged from 0.0 to 488.5 nymphs/1,000 m2 . Although substantial variation was recorded within regions, DON estimates were greatest in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and northern states within the Southeast regions (Virginia and North Carolina); densities were intermediate in the Ohio Valley and very low in the South and Northern Rockies and Plains regions. The proportion of counties classified as moderate or high DON was lower in the Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Southeast regions during the 2004 through 2017 time period (prior to initiation of the national tick surveillance program) compared to 2018 through 2022; DON estimates remained similarly low between these time periods in the South and the Northern Rockies and Plains regions. Despite the limitations described herein, the ArboNET Tick Module provides useful data for tracking changes in acarological risk across multiple geographic scales and long periods of time.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, CO 80521, Fort Collins 80521, CO, USA.
| | - Karen M Holcomb
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, Fort Collins 80521, CO, USA
| | - 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, CO 80521, Fort Collins 80521, CO, USA
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Harman PR, Mendell NL, Harman MM, Draney PA, Boyle AT, Gompper ME, Orr TJ, Bouyer DH, Teel PD, Hanley KA. Science abhors a surveillance vacuum: Detection of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in southern New Mexico through passive surveillance. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0292573. [PMID: 38295027 PMCID: PMC10830002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Robust tick surveillance enhances diagnosis and prevention of tick-borne pathogens, yet surveillance efforts in the United States are highly uneven, resulting in large surveillance vacuums, one of which spans the state of New Mexico. As part of a larger effort to fill this vacuum, we conducted both active and passive tick sampling in New Mexico, focusing on the southern portion of the state. We conducted active tick sampling using dragging and CO₂ trapping at 45 sites across Hidalgo, Doña Ana, Otero, and Eddy counties between June 2021 to May 2022. Sampling occurred intermittently, with at least one sampling event each month from June to October 2021, pausing in winter and resuming in March through May 2022. We also conducted opportunistic, passive tick sampling in 2021 and 2022 from animals harvested by hunters or captured or collected by researchers and animals housed in animal hospitals, shelters, and farms. All pools of ticks were screened for Rickettsia rickettsii, Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia amblyommatis, Ehrlichia ewingii, and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Active sampling yielded no ticks. Passive sampling yielded 497 ticks comprising Carios kelleyi from pallid bats, Rhipicephalus sanguineus from dogs, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk, Otobius megnini from dogs, cats, horses, and Coues deer, Dermacentor parumapertus from dogs and black-tailed jackrabbits, Dermacentor albipictus from domesticated cats, mule deer and Rocky Mountain elk, and Dermacentor spp. from American black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, and mule deer. One pool of D. parumapterus from a black-tailed jackrabbit in Luna County tested positive for R. parkeri, an agent of spotted fever rickettsiosis. Additionally, a spotted fever group Rickettsia was detected in 6 of 7 C. kelleyi pools. Two ticks showed morphological abnormalities; however, these samples did not test positive for any of the target pathogens, and the cause of the abnormalities is unknown. Passive surveillance yielded five identified species of ticks from three domestic and six wild mammal species. Our findings update tick distributions and inform the public, medical, and veterinary communities of the potential tick-borne pathogens present in southern New Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige R. Harman
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Nicole L. Mendell
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Maysee M. Harman
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Puck A. Draney
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Anna T. Boyle
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Matthew E. Gompper
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Teri J. Orr
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Donald H. Bouyer
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pete D. Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kathryn A. Hanley
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States of America
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Hornbostel VL, Meek JI, Hansen AP, Niesobecki SA, Nawrocki CC, Hinckley AF, Connally NP. Operational Considerations for Using Deer-Targeted 4-Poster Tick Control Devices in a Tick-borne Disease Endemic Community. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2024; 30:111-121. [PMID: 37566802 PMCID: PMC10840788 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001809] [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] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT In the northeastern United States, recommendations to prevent diseases spread by black-legged ticks ( Ixodes scapularis ) and lone star ticks ( Amblyomma americanum ) often rely on individuals to use personal protection or yard-based strategies. The 4-Poster deer treatment stations (4-Posters) suppress tick populations by treating deer hosts with acaricide, potentially offering a community-wide approach for reducing tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. The 4-Poster deployment logistics in mainland community settings are not well documented but are needed for future public health tick control efforts. PROGRAM As part of a public health research effort to design a population-based 4-Poster effectiveness study aimed at reducing tick-borne disease incidence, TickNET researchers partnered with the Town of Ridgefield (Connecticut) to understand the feasibility and operational logistics of deploying 4-Posters on public land within a residential community to inform future public health interventions by municipalities or vector control agencies. IMPLEMENTATION We deployed three 4-Posters on a municipal property from July to December 2020 and used motion-activated cameras to record wildlife activity nearby. We documented per-device operational details, costs, materials consumed, and animal activity. EVALUATION Operation of 4-Posters was feasible, and device challenges were easily remedied. Deer visitation and heavy nontarget animal use were documented at all devices. Unexpectedly, monthly corn consumption was not correlated with monthly deer-view days. The monthly cost per device was US $1279 or US $305 per hectare with an average 21 minutes of weekly service time. DISCUSSION Use of 4-Posters by communities, public health agencies, or vector control programs may be a practicable addition to tick management programs in tick-borne disease endemic areas in the Northeast. Such programs should carefully consider local and state regulations, follow manufacturer and pesticide label guidelines, and include wildlife monitoring. High labor costs incurred in this project could be mitigated by training vector control agency or municipality staff to service 4-Posters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Hornbostel
- Department of Biology, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, Connecticut (Ms Hornbostel and Dr Connally); Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut (Mr Meek and Mss Hansen and Niesobecki); and Division of Vector-Borne Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado (Ms Nawrocki and Dr Hinckley)
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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.
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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.)
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Dupuis AP, Lange RE, Ciota AT. Emerging tickborne viruses vectored by Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae): Heartland and Bourbon viruses. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1183-1196. [PMID: 37862097 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad060] [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: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Heartland (HRTV) and Bourbon (BRBV) viruses are newly identified tick-borne viruses, isolated from serious clinical cases in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Both viruses originated in the lower Midwest United States near the border of Missouri and Kansas, cause similar disease manifestations, and are presumably vectored by the same tick species, Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus (Ixodida: Ixodidae). In this article, we provide a current review of HRTV and BRBV, including the virology, epidemiology, and ecology of the viruses with an emphasis on the tick vector. We touch on current challenges of vector control and surveillance, and we discuss future directions in the study of these emergent pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan P Dupuis
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
| | - Rachel E Lange
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Alexander T Ciota
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Griffin Laboratory, 5668 State Farm Road, Slingerlands, NY 12159, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
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Trout Fryxell RT, Chavez-Lindell T, Butler RA, Odoi A. Environmental variables serve as predictors of the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann): An approach for targeted tick surveillance. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292595. [PMID: 37917728 PMCID: PMC10621930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the 2017 discovery of established populations of the Asian longhorned tick, (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) in the United States, populations continue to be detected in new areas. For this exotic and invasive species, capable of transmitting a diverse repertoire of pathogens and blood feeding on a variety of host species, there remains a lack of targeted information on how to best prepare for this tick and understand when and where it occurs. To fill this gap, we conducted two years of weekly tick surveillance at four farms in Tennessee (three H. longicornis-infested and one without) to identify environmental factors associated with each questing life stage, to investigate predictors of abundance, and to determine the likelihood of not collecting ticks at different life stages. A total of 46,770 ticks were collected, of which 12,607 H. longicornis and five other tick species were identified. Overall, abundance of H. longicornis were associated with spring and summer seasons, forested environments, relative humidity and barometric pressure, sunny conditions, and in relation with other tick species. The likelihood of not collecting H. longicornis was associated with day length and barometric pressure. Additional associations for different life stages were also identified and included other tick species, climatic variables, and environmental conditions. Here, we demonstrated that environmental variables can be useful to predict the presence of questing H. longicornis and provide ideas on how to use this information to develop a surveillance plan for different southeastern areas with and without infestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. T. Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - T. Chavez-Lindell
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - R. A. Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - A. Odoi
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
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Holcomb KM, Khalil N, Cozens DW, Cantoni JL, Brackney DE, Linske MA, Williams SC, Molaei G, Eisen RJ. Comparison of acarological risk metrics derived from active and passive surveillance and their concordance with tick-borne disease incidence. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102243. [PMID: 37611506 PMCID: PMC10885130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases continue to threaten human health across the United States. Both active and passive tick surveillance can complement human case surveillance, providing spatio-temporal information on when and where humans are at risk for encounters with ticks and tick-borne pathogens. However, little work has been done to assess the concordance of the acarological risk metrics from each surveillance method. We used data on Ixodes scapularis and its associated human pathogens from Connecticut (2019-2021) collected through active collections (drag sampling) or passive submissions from the public to compare county estimates of tick and pathogen presence, infection prevalence, and tick abundance by life stage. Between the surveillance strategies, we found complete agreement in estimates of tick and pathogen presence, high concordance in infection prevalence estimates for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, and Babesia microti, but no consistent relationships between actively and passively derived estimates of tick abundance or abundance of infected ticks by life stage. We also compared nymphal metrics (i.e., pathogen prevalence in nymphs, nymphal abundance, and abundance of infected nymphs) with reported incidence of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis, but did not find any consistent relationships with any of these metrics. The small spatial and temporal scale for which we had consistently collected active and passive data limited our ability to find significant relationships. Findings are likely to differ if examined across a broader spatial or temporal coverage with greater variation in acarological and epidemiological outcomes. Our results indicate similar outcomes between some actively and passively derived tick surveillance metrics (tick and pathogen presence, pathogen prevalence), but comparisons were variable for abundance estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Holcomb
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Noelle Khalil
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Duncan W Cozens
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jamie L Cantoni
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Doug E Brackney
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Megan A Linske
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Scott C Williams
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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de la Fuente J, Estrada-Peña A, Rafael M, Almazán C, Bermúdez S, Abdelbaset AE, Kasaija PD, Kabi F, Akande FA, Ajagbe DO, Bamgbose T, Ghosh S, Palavesam A, Hamid PH, Oskam CL, Egan SL, Duarte-Barbosa A, Hekimoğlu O, Szabó MPJ, Labruna MB, Dahal A. Perception of Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Worldwide. Pathogens 2023; 12:1258. [PMID: 37887774 PMCID: PMC10610181 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this comprehensive review study, we addressed the challenge posed by ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with growing incidence affecting human and animal health worldwide. Data and perspectives were collected from different countries and regions worldwide, including America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. The results updated the current situation with ticks and TBD and how it is perceived by society with information bias and gaps. The study reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary and international collaborations to advance in the surveillance, communication and proposed future directions to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- José de la Fuente
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
| | - Agustín Estrada-Peña
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Research Group in Emerging Zoonoses, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Marta Rafael
- SaBio, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC-CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Ronda de Toledo 12, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain;
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autonóma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias S/N Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Mexico;
| | - Sergio Bermúdez
- Medical Entomology Research Department, Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research, Panama City 0816-02593, Panama;
| | - Abdelbaset E. Abdelbaset
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Graduate School of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita-18, Nishi-9, Sapporo 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan;
| | - Paul D. Kasaija
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Fredrick Kabi
- National Livestock Resources Research Institute (NaLIRRI/NARO), Kampala P.O. Box 5704, Uganda; (P.D.K.); (F.K.)
| | - Foluke Adedayo Akande
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Dorcas Oluwakemi Ajagbe
- Department of Pure and Applied Zoology, College of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 111101, Ogun State, Nigeria;
| | - Timothy Bamgbose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Unit, Faculty of Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu City 221102, Osun State, Nigeria;
| | - Srikant Ghosh
- Entomology Laboratory, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India;
- IVRI-Eastern Regional Station, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata 700037, West Bengal, India
| | - Azhahianambi Palavesam
- Translational Research Platform for Veterinary Biologicals, Centre for Animal Health Studies, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600051, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Penny H. Hamid
- Department of Animal Science, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta 57126, Indonesia;
| | - Charlotte L. Oskam
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Siobhon L. Egan
- School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (C.L.O.); (S.L.E.)
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
| | - Amanda Duarte-Barbosa
- Centre for One Health and Biosecurity, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia;
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Olcay Hekimoğlu
- Division of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara 06800, Turkey;
| | - Matias P. J. Szabó
- Laboratório de Ixodologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720/Campus Umuarama-Bloco 2T, Uberlândia 38400-902, Brazil;
| | - Marcelo B. Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-220, Brazil;
| | - Ananta Dahal
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Animal Science, Veterinary Science and Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan 44200, Nepal;
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Chakraborty S, Steckler TL, Gronemeyer P, Mateus-Pinilla N, Smith RL. Farmers' Knowledge and Practices About Ticks and Tickborne Diseases in Illinois. J Agromedicine 2023; 28:756-768. [PMID: 37017439 DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2023.2199003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tickborne diseases (TBDs) in Illinois have increased in recent years. A growing body of literature indicates that the risk of exposure to ticks and tickborne diseases is higher among outdoor workers, including farmers. However, information is lacking on awareness of ticks and tickborne diseases among this demographic. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and awareness among Illinois farmers regarding ticks and tickborne diseases. METHODS A Knowledge, Attitudes & Prevention practices (KAP) survey was developed and administered to capture information regarding farmers' knowledge and attitudes about ticks and TBDs. Tick drags were conducted on a subset of properties as an incentive to complete the survey and to compare farmers' knowledge or expectations of ticks on their land with ticks collected. RESULTS Fifty farmers participated in the survey, and 17 allowed tick drags. Only 60% of respondents had at least moderate knowledge about ticks gained through family and friends (56%), medical and healthcare personnel (48%), and the internet (44%). Responses varied by the type of commodity produced by the farmer. Fifty percent of participants reported knowledge about the blacklegged tick, 34% for the American dog tick, and 42% for the lone star tick; this knowledge also varied by farm type. Most farmers (54%) agreed that preventative behaviors could protect against tickborne diseases. Self-reported knowledge was significantly and directly associated with knowledge scores (p < .001). CONCLUSION Knowledge of ticks and TBDs was lower among crop farmers than beef or mixed commodity farmers, but farmers generally have moderate knowledge of tick species in Illinois. Many participants expressed low concern over contracting a TBD, but many were also dissatisfied with the level of tick prevention measures that they follow. These results can be utilized to fill in knowledge gaps and develop informational materials to help farmers protect themselves against ticks and TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulagna Chakraborty
- Program in Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology (PEEC); University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Teresa L Steckler
- Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, University of Illinois Extension, Simpson, IL, USA
| | - Peg Gronemeyer
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Rebecca Lee Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, USA
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14
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Bhadra S, Esteve-Gasent MD, Ellington AD. Analysis of macerated ticks using Boolean logic gating colorimetric isothermal nucleic acid assays for Lyme Borrelia and Ixodes scapularis ticks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11439. [PMID: 37454160 PMCID: PMC10349842 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38452-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease, one of the most common tickborne diseases, has been rapidly spreading in parallel with the expansion of the range of its tick vector. Better tick surveillance efforts are needed to accurately estimate disease risk and to guide public health and clinical management. We have developed two multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reactions coupled with oligonucleotide strand displacement (OSD) probes to identify the tick host, Ixodes scapularis, and the Lyme disease pathogen, Borrelia burgdorferi, they carry. In each multiplex LAMP-OSD assay the co-presence of two target sequences is computed at the DNA level by linking the two corresponding amplicons and detecting the co-product on colorimetric lateral flow dipsticks. In tests with synthetic DNA, the co-presence of as few as four copies of input DNA could be detected, without producing spurious signals. Most importantly, though, the LAMP-OSD assay is amenable to being carried out directly with macerated tick samples, without any sample preparation. In such field conditions, assays performed robustly and demonstrated 97-100% sensitivity and 100% specificity with both field-collected and lab-raised artificially infected ticks. Such easy-to-use, arthropod and pathogen-specific assays would be well suited to field and near patient use without relying on complex instrumentation or infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchita Bhadra
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Maria D Esteve-Gasent
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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15
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Kache PA, Bron GM, Zapata-Ramirez S, Tsao JI, Bartholomay LC, Paskewitz SM, Diuk-Wasser MA, Fernandez MDP. Evaluating spatial and temporal patterns of tick exposure in the United States using community science data submitted through a smartphone application. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102163. [PMID: 37001417 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Research initiatives that engage the public (i.e., community science or citizen science) increasingly provide insights into tick exposures in the United States. However, these data have important caveats, particularly with respect to reported travel history and tick identification. Here, we assessed whether a smartphone application, The Tick App, provides reliable and novel insights into tick exposures across three domains - travel history, broad spatial and temporal patterns of species-specific encounters, and tick identification. During 2019-2021, we received 11,424 tick encounter submissions from across the United States, with nearly all generated in the Midwest and Northeast regions. Encounters were predominantly with human hosts (71%); although one-fourth of ticks were found on animals. Half of the encounters (51%) consisted of self-reported peri‑domestic exposures, while 37% consisted of self-reported recreational exposures. Using phone-based location services, we detected differences in travel history outside of the users' county of residence along an urbanicity gradient. Approximately 75% of users from large metropolitan and rural counties had travel out-of-county in the four days prior to tick detection, whereas an estimated 50-60% of users from smaller metropolitan areas did. Furthermore, we generated tick encounter maps for Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis that partially accounted for travel history and overall mirrored previously published species distributions. Finally, we evaluated whether a streamlined three-question sequence (on tick size, feeding status, and color) would inform a simple algorithm to optimize image-based tick identification. Visual aides of tick coloration and size engaged and guided users towards species and life stage classification moderately well, with 56% of one-time submitters correctly selecting photos of D. variabilis adults and 76% of frequent-submitters correctly selecting photos of D. variabilis adults. Together, these results indicate the importance of bolstering the use of smartphone applications to engage community scientists and complement other active and passive tick surveillance systems.
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16
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Siegel EL, Lavoie N, Xu G, Brown CM, Ledizet M, Rich SM. Human-Biting Ixodes scapularis Submissions to a Crowd-Funded Tick Testing Program Correlate with the Incidence of Rare Tick-Borne Disease: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study of Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis in Massachusetts. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1418. [PMID: 37374922 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne zoonoses pose a serious burden to global public health. To understand the distribution and determinants of these diseases, the many entangled environment-vector-host interactions which influence risk must be considered. Previous studies have evaluated how passive tick testing surveillance measures connect with the incidence of human Lyme disease. The present study sought to extend this to babesiosis and anaplasmosis, two rare tick-borne diseases. Human cases reported to the Massachusetts Department of Health and submissions to TickReport tick testing services between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Moderate-to-strong town-level correlations using Spearman's Rho (ρ) were established between Ixodes scapularis submissions (total, infected, adult, and nymphal) and human disease. Aggregated ρ values ranged from 0.708 to 0.830 for anaplasmosis and 0.552 to 0.684 for babesiosis. Point observations maintained similar patterns but were slightly weaker, with mild year-to-year variation. The seasonality of tick submissions and demographics of bite victims also correlated well with reported disease. Future studies should assess how this information may best complement human disease reporting and entomological surveys as proxies for Lyme disease incidence in intervention studies, and how it may be used to better understand the dynamics of human-tick encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Siegel
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Nathalie Lavoie
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Guang Xu
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen M Rich
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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17
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Ballman ES, Leahy JE, Sponarski CC, Galli MG, Gardner AM. A citizen science approach to investigate the distribution, abundance, and pathogen infection of vector ticks through active surveillance. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102144. [PMID: 36905814 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne disease poses a growing public health burden in the United States and understanding the patterns of presence and density of infected vector ticks is key to developing and implementing effective public health management strategies. Citizen science has emerged as a highly effective means to generate data sets on the geographical distribution of tick species. But to date, nearly all citizen science studies of ticks are 'passive surveillance' programs in which researchers accept reports of ticks, together with either physical specimens or digital images, found opportunistically on people, pets, and livestock from community members for species identification and in some cases also tick-borne pathogen detection. These studies are limited because data are not collected systematically, making comparisons among locations and over time challenging, and introducing considerable reporting bias. In this study, we engaged citizen scientists in 'active surveillance' of host-seeking ticks, training volunteers to actively collect ticks on their woodland properties in an emergent region of tick-borne disease in the state of Maine, USA. We developed volunteer recruitment strategies, materials to train volunteers in data collection methods, field data collection protocols based on techniques used by professional scientists, and a variety of incentives to promote volunteer retention and satisfaction with their experiences, and we communicated research findings to participants. A total of 125 volunteers in 2020 and 181 volunteers in 2021 collected 7,246 ticks in southern and coastal Maine, including the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis, 4,023 specimens), the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis, 3,092 specimens), and the rabbit tick (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, 102 specimens). We demonstrated the feasibility of citizen scientists collecting ticks using active surveillance methods and found that volunteers were motivated to participate largely by their interest in the scientific problem and a desire to learn about ticks on their properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa S Ballman
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469 United States
| | - Jessica E Leahy
- School of Forest Resources, University of Maine, 5755 Nutting Hall, Orono, ME 04469 United States
| | - Carly C Sponarski
- Northern Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, 5320 122 Street, Edmonton AB T6H3S5 United States
| | - Michael G Galli
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469 United States
| | - Allison M Gardner
- School of Biology and Ecology, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469 United States.
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18
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Carson DA, Kopsco H, Gronemeyer P, Mateus-Pinilla N, Smith GS, Sandstrom EN, Smith RL. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Illinois medical professionals related to ticks and tick-borne disease. One Health 2022; 15:100424. [PMID: 36277108 PMCID: PMC9582564 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The rising incidence of tick-borne disease (TBD) underscores the importance of proficiency in TBD diagnosis. Clinicians' knowledge about vector ticks and TBDs in their area may influence whether patients are questioned about potential tick exposure and the consideration of diagnostic testing for TBDs. Objective Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Illinois clinicians towards ticks and TBDs. The study aimed to 1) identify predictors associated with knowledge, 2) identify knowledge gaps, and 3) evaluate attitudes and practices related to TBDs. Methods A web-based knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey about Illinois ticks and TBDs was disseminated to physicians, mid-level practitioners, and nurses between August 2020 and February 2022. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of higher scores. Results Of 346 respondents, 80% correctly identified Lyme disease as endemic to Illinois, and 95% were familiar with diagnostic testing for Lyme. Knowledge of other TBDs present in the state was highest among physicians, yet only 26% of physicians believed Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) to be present in Illinois, and only 17% believed ehrlichiosis to be endemic. Only 32% of physicians knew the cause of Alpha-gal syndrome and fewer than 18% were aware of available diagnostic testing. Tick or TBD-related education within the past two years was the most significant predictor of higher scores, increasing overall knowledge scores by 26% (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.13-1.41) and increasing scores specific to TBDs by 42% (RR 1.42, 95% CI 1.19-1.69). Conclusion Illinois clinicians were informed about Lyme disease but lacked knowledge of other TBDs endemic to the state, including RMSF, ehrlichiosis, and Alpha-gal syndrome. The strongest predictor of knowledge was tick/TBD training in the previous two years, highlighting the importance of frequent region-specific training on ticks and TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn A. Carson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Heather Kopsco
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Peg Gronemeyer
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Genee S. Smith
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
| | - Emma N. Sandstrom
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L. Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
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Bishop A, Borski J, Wang HH, Donaldson TG, Michalk A, Montgomery A, Heldman S, Mogg M, Derouen Z, Grant WE, Teel PD. Increasing Incidence of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsioses in the United States, 2010-2018. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2022; 22:491-497. [PMID: 36037000 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2022.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Spotted fever group Rickettsia species are intracellular bacteria transmitted by tick or mite vectors and that cause human diseases referred to as spotted fever group rickettsioses, or spotted fevers. In the United States, the most recognized and commonly reported spotted fevers are Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) (Rickettsia rickettsii), Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, Pacific Coast tick fever (Rickettsia species 364D), and rickettsialpox (Rickettsia akari). In this study, we summarize and evaluate surveillance data on spotted fever cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from 2010 to 2018. During this period, there were 36,632 reported cases of spotted fevers with 95.83% (N = 35,104) reported as meeting the case definition as probable and 4.17% (N = 1528) reported as meeting the case definition as confirmed. The average national incidence of total cases, both probable and confirmed, was 12.77 cases per million persons per year. The highest statewide incidence was in Arkansas, with 256.84 per million per year, whereas the lowest incidence occurred in California, with 0.32 per million per year (note that spotted fevers were not notifiable in Hawaii and Alaska). Cases of spotted fevers were reported more frequently among males by gender, White by race, and non-Hispanic by ethnicity. The incidence of spotted fevers increased significantly from 2010 to 2018, but it is uncertain how many of the reported cases were RMSF and how many developed from more moderate spotted fevers. Improvement of the ability to differentiate between spotted fever group Rickettsia species is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Bishop
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer Borski
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Hsiao-Hsuan Wang
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Taylor G Donaldson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Avery Michalk
- Department of Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Annie Montgomery
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Samantha Heldman
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Michael Mogg
- Department of Management, and Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Zakary Derouen
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - William E Grant
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Pete D Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Jordan RA, Gable S, Egizi A. Relevance of Spatial and Temporal Trends in Nymphal Tick Density and Infection Prevalence for Public Health and Surveillance Practice in Long-Term Endemic Areas: A Case Study in Monmouth County, NJ. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1451-1466. [PMID: 35662344 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health problem in the United States, and the US northeast has reported consistently high case rates for decades. Monmouth County, New Jersey, was one of the earliest jurisdictions to report Lyme disease cases in 1979 and reports several hundred cases per year nearly 40 yr later. In the time since, however, tick-borne health risks have expanded far beyond Lyme disease to include a variety of other bacterial pathogens and viruses, and additional vectors, necessitating a continually evolving approach to tick surveillance. In 2017, Monmouth County initiated an active surveillance program targeting sites across three ecological regions for collection of Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) and Amblyomma americanum L. (Acari: Ixodidae) as well as testing via qPCR for associated bacterial pathogens. During the first five years of this program (2017-2021), we report high levels of spatiotemporal variability in nymphal density and infection prevalence in both species, limiting the granularity with which human risk can be predicted from acarological data. Nonetheless, broader patterns emerged, including an ongoing trend of A. americanum dominance, risks posed by Borrelia miyamotoi, and the frequency of coinfected ticks. We present some of the first county-level, systematic surveillance of nymphal A. americanum density and infection prevalence in the northeastern US. We also documented a temporary decline in Borrelia burgdorferi that could relate to unmeasured trends in reservoir host populations. We discuss the implications of our findings for tick-borne disease ecology, public health communication, and tick surveillance strategies in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Jordan
- 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
| | - Sydney Gable
- 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
| | - Andrea 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
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21
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Kopsco HL, Smith RL, Halsey SJ. A Scoping Review of Species Distribution Modeling Methods for Tick Vectors. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.893016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundGlobally, tick-borne disease is a pervasive and worsening problem that impacts human and domestic animal health, livelihoods, and numerous economies. Species distribution models are useful tools to help address these issues, but many different modeling approaches and environmental data sources exist.ObjectiveWe conducted a scoping review that examined all available research employing species distribution models to predict occurrence and map tick species to understand the diversity of model strategies, environmental predictors, tick data sources, frequency of climate projects of tick ranges, and types of model validation methods.DesignFollowing the PRISMA-ScR checklist, we searched scientific databases for eligible articles, their references, and explored related publications through a graphical tool (www.connectedpapers.com). Two independent reviewers performed article selection and characterization using a priori criteria.ResultsWe describe data collected from 107 peer-reviewed articles that met our inclusion criteria. The literature reflects that tick species distributions have been modeled predominantly in North America and Europe and have mostly modeled the habitat suitability for Ixodes ricinus (n = 23; 21.5%). A wide range of bioclimatic databases and other environmental correlates were utilized among models, but the WorldClim database and its bioclimatic variables 1–19 appeared in 60 (56%) papers. The most frequently chosen modeling approach was MaxEnt, which also appeared in 60 (56%) of papers. Despite the importance of ensemble modeling to reduce bias, only 23 papers (21.5%) employed more than one algorithm, and just six (5.6%) used an ensemble approach that incorporated at least five different modeling methods for comparison. Area under the curve/receiver operating characteristic was the most frequently reported model validation method, utilized in nearly all (98.9%) included studies. Only 21% of papers used future climate scenarios to predict tick range expansion or contraction. Regardless of the representative concentration pathway, six of seven genera were expected to both expand and retract depending on location, while Ornithodoros was predicted to only expand beyond its current range.ConclusionSpecies distribution modeling techniques are useful and widely employed tools for predicting tick habitat suitability and range movement. However, the vast array of methods, data sources, and validation strategies within the SDM literature support the need for standardized protocols for species distribution and ecological niche modeling for tick vectors.
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Kessler WH, De Jesus C, Wisely SM, Glass GE. Ensemble Models for Tick Vectors: Standard Surveys Compared with Convenience Samples. Diseases 2022; 10:32. [PMID: 35735632 PMCID: PMC9222110 DOI: 10.3390/diseases10020032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ensembles of Species Distribution Models (SDMs) represent the geographic ranges of pathogen vectors by combining alternative analytical approaches and merging information on vector occurrences with more extensive environmental data. Biased collection data impact SDMs, regardless of the target species, but no studies have compared the differences in the distributions predicted by the ensemble models when different sampling frameworks are used for the same species. We compared Ensemble SDMs for two important Ixodid tick vectors, Amblyomma americanum and Ixodes scapularis in mainland Florida, USA, when inputs were either convenience samples of ticks, or collections obtained using the standard protocols promulgated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Ensemble SDMs for the convenience samples and standard surveys showed only a slight agreement (Kappa = 0.060, A. americanum; 0.053, I. scapularis). Convenience sample SDMs indicated A. americanum and I. scapularis should be absent from nearly one third (34.5% and 30.9%, respectively) of the state where standard surveys predicted the highest likelihood of occurrence. Ensemble models from standard surveys predicted 81.4% and 72.5% (A. americanum and I. scapularis) of convenience sample sites. Omission errors by standard survey SDMs of the convenience collections were associated almost exclusively with either adjacency to at least one SDM, or errors in geocoding algorithms that failed to correctly locate geographic locations of convenience samples. These errors emphasize commonly overlooked needs to explicitly evaluate and improve data quality for arthropod survey data that are applied to spatial models.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H. Kessler
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (W.H.K.); (S.M.W.)
- Geography Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Carrie De Jesus
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Samantha M. Wisely
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (W.H.K.); (S.M.W.)
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Gregory E. Glass
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (W.H.K.); (S.M.W.)
- Geography Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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23
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Needs Assessment of Southeastern United States Vector Control Agencies: Capacity Improvement Is Greatly Needed to Prevent the Next Vector-Borne Disease Outbreak. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7050073. [PMID: 35622700 PMCID: PMC9143300 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7050073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A national 2017 vector control capacity survey was conducted to assess the United States’ (U.S.’s) ability to prevent emerging vector-borne disease. Since that survey, the southeastern U.S. has experienced continued autochthonous exotic vector-borne disease transmission and establishment of invasive vector species. To understand the current gaps in control programs and establish a baseline to evaluate future vector control efforts for this vulnerable region, a focused needs assessment survey was conducted in early 2020. The southeastern U.S. region was targeted, as this region has a high probability of novel vector-borne disease introduction. Paper copies delivered in handwritten envelopes and electronic copies of the survey were delivered to 386 unique contacts, and 150 returned surveys were received, corresponding to a 39% response rate. Overall, the survey found vector control programs serving areas with over 100,000 residents and those affiliated with public health departments had more core capabilities compared to smaller programs and those not affiliated with public health departments. Furthermore, the majority of vector control programs in this region do not routinely monitor for pesticide resistance. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that the majority of the southeastern U.S. is vulnerable to vector-borne disease outbreaks. Results from this survey raise attention to the critical need of providing increased resources to bring all vector control programs to a competent level, ensuring that public health is protected from the threat of vector-borne disease.
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24
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Boyce RM. Destroying the Village in Order to Save It: Collateral Damage in the Battle Over Lyme Disease. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac153. [PMID: 35415197 PMCID: PMC8992362 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac153] [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: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
A federal court recently dismissed the case against the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) brought by a group of patients with Lyme disease. While the outcome represented an important victory of the IDSA, I argue that it should also serve as a turning point in our approach to patients with “chronic” Lyme disease, many of whom experience substantial symptoms and suffer an emotional burden due to the uncertainty of their diagnosis. As the incidence of Lyme disease continues to increase and the geographic range of the vector expands, infectious disease specialists—experts in history taking, physical examination, and diagnosis—should play a leading role, not only to combat pervasive misinformation, but more importantly to benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross M Boyce
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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25
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Foster E, Burtis J, Sidge JL, Tsao JI, Bjork J, Liu G, Neitzel DF, Lee X, Paskewitz S, Caporale D, Eisen RJ. Inter-annual variation in prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) at long-term surveillance sites in the upper midwestern United States: Implications for public health practice. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101886. [PMID: 34929604 PMCID: PMC10621653 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The geographic range of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, and its associated human pathogens have expanded substantially over the past 20 years putting an increasing number of persons at risk for tick-borne diseases, particularly in the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Prevention and diagnosis of tick-borne diseases rely on an accurate understanding by the public and health care providers of when and where persons may be exposed to infected ticks. While tracking changes in the distribution of ticks and tick-borne pathogens provides fundamental information on risk for tick-borne diseases, metrics that incorporate prevalence of infection in ticks better characterize acarological risk. However, assessments of infection prevalence are more labor intensive and costly than simple measurements of tick or pathogen presence. Our objective was to examine whether data derived from repeated sampling at longitudinal sites substantially influences public health recommendations for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis prevention, or if more constrained sampling is sufficient. Here, we summarize inter-annual variability in prevalence of the agents of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi s.s.) and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs and adults at 28 longitudinal sampling sites in the Upper Midwestern US (Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Infection prevalence was highly variable among sites and among years within sites. We conclude that monitoring infection prevalence in ticks aids in describing coarse acarological risk trends, but setting a fixed prevalence threshold for prevention or diagnostic decisions is not feasible given the observed variability and lack of temporal trends. Reducing repeated sampling of the same sites had minimal impact on regional (Upper Midwest) estimates of average infection prevalence; this information should be useful in allocating scarce public health resources for tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance, prevention, and control activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA.
| | - James Burtis
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Jennifer L Sidge
- Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Lansing, MI 48933, USA
| | - Jean I Tsao
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jenna Bjork
- Vectorborne Diseases Unit, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA
| | - Gongping Liu
- Vectorborne Diseases Unit, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA
| | - David F Neitzel
- Vectorborne Diseases Unit, Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164, USA
| | - Xia Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Susan Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Diane Caporale
- Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI 54481, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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Lyons LA, Mateus-Pinilla N, Smith RL. Effects of tick surveillance education on knowledge, attitudes, and practices of local health department employees. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:215. [PMID: 35109821 PMCID: PMC8812035 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of cases of tick-borne diseases in humans is increasing rapidly within Illinois. The responsibility for increased surveillance of tick-borne disease cases and tick vectors is being placed on local health departments throughout the United States, but they often lack the funding, time, and/or training needed to perform said surveillance. The aims of this study were to develop, deliver, and determine the effectiveness of tick surveillance training workshops for local health department employees within Illinois. METHODS We developed and delivered in-person training at local health department offices in each of six Illinois Department of Public Health Environmental Health Regions between April-May of 2019. Pre-, post-, and six-month follow-up questionnaires on knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regards to tick surveillance were administered to training participants. Paired student's t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare knowledge, attitudes, and practices scores between questionnaires with Cohen's d being used to calculate effect sizes associated with t-tests. McNemar's and McNemar-Bowker tests were used to evaluate individual questions. Spearman's rank correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices at pre-, post-, and six-month follow-up. RESULTS Seventy-six employees from 40 local health departments that represent 44% (45/102) of Illinois counties attended at least one training workshop. Of these attendees, 81.5% (62/76) participated in at least one survey, 79% (60/76) in the in-person pre-training survey, 74% (56/76) in the in-person post-training survey, and 22% (17/76) in the online six-month follow-up survey. The average knowledge score was significantly increased by 8.21 (95% CI:7.28-9.14) points from pre-training to post-training. The average overall attitude score significantly increased by 5.29 (95% CI: 3.91-6.66) points from pre- to post-training. There were no significant differences in practice scores. CONCLUSIONS Our study found the training was effective in increasing the knowledge of ticks, tick-borne diseases, and surveillance as well as promoting positive attitudes related to surveillance. While the training, by itself, was not associated with increases in surveillance practices, we were able to empower local public health officials with the knowledge and positive attitudes needed to enact change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Ann Lyons
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
| | - Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
- University of Illinois, Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA
| | - Rebecca L Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
- University of Illinois, Carle-Illinois College of Medicine, 807 S Wright St, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA
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27
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Justen L, Carlsmith D, Paskewitz SM, Bartholomay LC, Bron GM. Identification of public submitted tick images: A neural network approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0260622. [PMID: 34855822 PMCID: PMC8638930 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ticks and tick-borne diseases represent a growing public health threat in North America and Europe. The number of ticks, their geographical distribution, and the incidence of tick-borne diseases, like Lyme disease, are all on the rise. Accurate, real-time tick-image identification through a smartphone app or similar platform could help mitigate this threat by informing users of the risks associated with encountered ticks and by providing researchers and public health agencies with additional data on tick activity and geographic range. Here we outline the requirements for such a system, present a model that meets those requirements, and discuss remaining challenges and frontiers in automated tick identification. We compiled a user-generated dataset of more than 12,000 images of the three most common tick species found on humans in the U.S.: Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis. We used image augmentation to further increase the size of our dataset to more than 90,000 images. Here we report the development and validation of a convolutional neural network which we call "TickIDNet," that scores an 87.8% identification accuracy across all three species, outperforming the accuracy of identifications done by a member of the general public or healthcare professionals. However, the model fails to match the performance of experts with formal entomological training. We find that image quality, particularly the size of the tick in the image (measured in pixels), plays a significant role in the network's ability to correctly identify an image: images where the tick is small are less likely to be correctly identified because of the small object detection problem in deep learning. TickIDNet's performance can be increased by using confidence thresholds to introduce an "unsure" class and building image submission pipelines that encourage better quality photos. Our findings suggest that deep learning represents a promising frontier for tick identification that should be further explored and deployed as part of the toolkit for addressing the public health consequences of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Justen
- Department of Physics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Duncan Carlsmith
- Department of Physics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Lyric C. Bartholomay
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Gebbiena M. Bron
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
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28
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Trout Fryxell RT, Vann DN, Butler RA, Paulsen DJ, Chandler JG, Willis MP, Wyrosdick HM, Schaefer JJ, Gerhold RW, Grove DM, Ivey JZ, Thompson KW, Applegate RD, Sweaney J, Daniels S, Beaty S, Balthaser D, Freye JD, Mertins JW, Bonilla DL, Lahmers K. Rapid Discovery and Detection of Haemaphysalis longicornis through the Use of Passive Surveillance and Collaboration: Building a State Tick-Surveillance Network. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:7980. [PMID: 34360274 PMCID: PMC8345789 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18157980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Between March 2019 and February 2020, Asian long-horned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901) were discovered and collected for the first time in one middle and seven eastern Tennessee counties, facilitated by a newly developed passive and collaborative tick-surveillance network. Network collaborators included federal, state, county, university, and private resource personnel working with companion animals, livestock, and wildlife. Specimens were collected primarily from dogs and cattle, with initial detections of female adult stage ticks by stakeholders associated with parasitology positions (e.g., entomologists and veterinary parasitologists). Initial county tick detections were confirmed with morphological and molecular identifications, and then screened for the presence of animal-associated pathogens (Anaplasma marginale, Babesia species, Ehrlichia species, and Theileria orientalis), for which all tests were negative. Herein, we describe the identification and confirmation of these tick specimens as well as other results of the surveillance collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca T. Trout Fryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Dené N. Vann
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Rebecca A. Butler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Dave J. Paulsen
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Jennifer G. Chandler
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (R.A.B.); (D.J.P.); (J.G.C.)
| | - Micah P. Willis
- Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Heidi M. Wyrosdick
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - John J. Schaefer
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Richard W. Gerhold
- Department of Biomedical Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (D.N.V.); (H.M.W.); (J.J.S.); (R.W.G.)
| | - Daniel M. Grove
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Jennie Z. Ivey
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Kevin W. Thompson
- Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Roger D. Applegate
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Joy Sweaney
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Sterling Daniels
- Wildlife and Forestry Division, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA; (R.D.A.); (J.S.); (S.D.)
| | - Samantha Beaty
- State Veterinarians’ Office, Ellington Agricultural Center, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, TN 37220, USA; (S.B.); (D.B.)
| | - Douglas Balthaser
- State Veterinarians’ Office, Ellington Agricultural Center, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, TN 37220, USA; (S.B.); (D.B.)
| | - James D. Freye
- Tennessee Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Madison, TN 37220, USA;
| | - James W. Mertins
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA 50010, USA;
| | - Denise L. Bonilla
- Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA;
| | - Kevin Lahmers
- Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Services and Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, VA Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA;
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Beard CB, Eisen L, Eisen RJ. The Rise of Ticks and Tickborne Diseases in the United States-Introduction. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1487-1489. [PMID: 33939806 PMCID: PMC9620473 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Charles B. Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Lars Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Rebecca J. Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
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Lyons LA, Brand ME, Gronemeyer P, Mateus-Pinilla N, Ruiz MO, Stone CM, Tuten HC, Smith RL. Comparing Contributions of Passive and Active Tick Collection Methods to Determine Establishment of Ticks of Public Health Concern Within Illinois. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1849-1864. [PMID: 33855433 PMCID: PMC8285025 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
In Illinois, between 1990 and 2017, tick-borne diseases in humans increased 10-fold, yet we have insufficient information on when and where people are exposed to vector ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae). The aims of our research were to compare contributions of passive and active tick collection methods in determining establishment of ticks of public health concern and obtain information on tick distributions within Illinois. We used three surveillance strategies within the Illinois Tick Inventory Collaboration Network to gather information about the ticks of public health concern: 1) passive collection (voluntary submission by the public); 2) systematic collection (biweekly active surveillance); and 3) special collections (active collections in locations of special interest). Of collected adult and nymphal ticks, 436 were from passive collections, 142 from systematic collections, and 1,270 from special collections. Tick species distribution status changed in 36 counties. Our data provide noteworthy updates to distribution maps for use by public health agencies to develop prevention and control strategies. Additionally, the program built a network of collaborations and partnerships to support future tick surveillance efforts within Illinois and highlighted how the combination of the three surveillance strategies can be used to determine geographic spread of ticks, pinpoint locations in need of more surveillance, and help with long-term efforts that support phenology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee Ann Lyons
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
- Corresponding author, tel: +1 217-300-0532, e-mail:
| | - Mary E Brand
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, 1211 Old 6 Road, Malcom, IA 50157, USA
| | - Peg Gronemeyer
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Marilyn O’Hara Ruiz
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
| | - Chris M Stone
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Holly C Tuten
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, 1816 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
| | - Rebecca L Smith
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
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Eisen RJ, Paddock CD. Tick and Tickborne Pathogen Surveillance as a Public Health Tool in the United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1490-1502. [PMID: 32440679 PMCID: PMC8905548 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, tickborne disease (TBD) cases and established populations of medically important ticks have been reported over expanding geographic areas, and an increasing number of tickborne bacteria, viruses, and protozoans have been recognized as human pathogens, collectively contributing to an increasing burden of TBDs in the United States. The prevention and diagnosis of TBDs depend greatly on an accurate understanding by the public and healthcare providers of when and where persons are at risk for exposure to human-biting ticks and to the pathogens these ticks transmit. However, national maps showing the distributions of medically important ticks and the presence or prevalence of tickborne pathogens are often incomplete, outdated, or lacking entirely. Similar deficiencies exist regarding geographic variability in host-seeking tick abundance. Efforts to accurately depict acarological risk are hampered by lack of systematic and routine surveillance for medically important ticks and their associated human pathogens. In this review, we: 1) outline the public health importance of tick surveillance; 2) identify gaps in knowledge regarding the distributions and abundance of medically important ticks in the United States and the presence and prevalence of their associated pathogens; 3) describe key objectives for tick surveillance and review methods appropriate for addressing those goals; and 4) assess current capacity and barriers to implementation and sustainability of tick surveillance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Christopher D. Paddock
- Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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Maxwell SP, McNeely CL, Thomas K, Brooks C. Tick-Borne Surveillance Patterns in Perceived Non-Endemic Geographic Areas: Human Tick Encounters and Disease Outcomes. Healthcare (Basel) 2021; 9:771. [PMID: 34205506 PMCID: PMC8233792 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare9060771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent scholarship supports the use of tick bite encounters as a proxy for human disease risk. Extending entomological monitoring, this study was designed to provide geographically salient information on self-reported tick bite encounters by survey respondents who concomitantly reported a Lyme disease (LD) diagnosis in a state perceived as non-endemic to tick-borne illness. Focusing on Texas, a mixed-methods approach was used to compare data on tick bite encounters from self-reported LD patients with county-level confirmed cases of LD from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as serological canine reports. A greater proportion of respondents reported not recalling a tick bite in the study population, but a binomial test indicated that this difference was not statistically significant. A secondary analysis compared neighboring county-level data and ecological regions. Using multi-layer thematic mapping, our findings indicated that tick bite reports accurately overlapped with the geographic patterns of those patients previously known to be CDC-positive for serological LD and with canine-positive tests for Borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis, as well as within neighboring counties and ecological regions. LD patient-reported tick bite encounters, corrected for population density, also accurately aligned with official CDC county hot-spots. Given the large number of counties in Texas, these findings are notable. Overall, the study demonstrates that direct, clinically diagnosed patient reports with county-level tick bite encounter data offer important public health surveillance measures, particularly as it pertains to difficult-to-diagnose diseases where testing protocols may not be well established. Further integration of geo-ecological and socio-demographic factors with existing national epidemiological data, as well as increasingly accessible self-report methods such as online surveys, will contribute to the contextual information needed to organize and implement a coordinated public health response to LD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah P. Maxwell
- Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Connie L. McNeely
- School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
| | - Kevin Thomas
- Laboratory for Human Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (K.T.); (C.B.)
| | - Chris Brooks
- Laboratory for Human Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (K.T.); (C.B.)
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Fleshman AC, Graham CB, Maes SE, Foster E, Eisen RJ. Reported County-Level Distribution of Lyme Disease Spirochetes, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia mayonii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), in Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1219-1233. [PMID: 33600574 PMCID: PMC8355468 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. While Lyme disease vectors are widespread, high incidence states are concentrated in the Northeast, North Central and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mapping the distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes in ticks may aid in providing data-driven explanations of epidemiological trends and recommendations for targeting prevention strategies to communities at risk. We compiled data from the literature, publicly available tickborne pathogen surveillance databases, and internal CDC pathogen testing databases to map the county-level distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes reported in host-seeking Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis across the contiguous United States. We report B. burgdorferi s.s.-infected I. scapularis from 384 counties spanning 26 eastern states located primarily in the North Central, Northeastern, and Mid-Atlantic regions, and in I. pacificus from 20 counties spanning 2 western states, with most records reported from northern and north-coastal California. Borrelia mayonii was reported in I. scapularis in 10 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the North Central United States, where records of B. burgdorferi s.s. were also reported. In comparison to a broad distribution of vector ticks, the resulting map shows a more limited distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Fleshman
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Christine B Graham
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Erik Foster
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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Larson RT, Bron GM, Lee X, Paskewitz SM. High Proportion of Unfed Larval Blacklegged Ticks, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), Collected From Modified Nest Boxes for Mice. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1448-1453. [PMID: 33471096 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector of several tick-borne pathogens, including those causing Lyme disease and babesiosis, in the eastern United States and active collection methods for this species include dragging or wild animal sampling. Nest boxes targeting mice may be an alternative strategy for the surveillance and collection of immature I. scapularis feeding on these hosts and would be much safer for animals compared to small mammal trapping. We constructed double-walled insulated nest boxes (DWINs) with collection tubes mounted below the nesting chamber and deployed eleven in southern Wisconsin from June until September of 2020. The DWINs were occupied by Peromyscus spp. and birds (wren species, Troglodytidae family). We collected 192 ticks from collection tubes, all of which were identified as either I. scapularis (95%) or Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (5%). Only 12% (21/182) and 20% (2/10) of I. scapularis and D. variabilis were blood-fed, respectively. The high proportion of unfed ticks found in collection tubes may be due to grooming by hosts inside the nest boxes. Alternatively, immature ticks may have climbed trees and entered the DWIN seeking a host. Results suggest that nest boxes could be a tool for finding ticks in areas of low density or at the leading edge of invasion, when small mammal trapping or drag sampling is not feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Larson
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
- Lieutenant Commander, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy
- Naval Medical Leader & Professional Development Command (NML & PDC), 8955 Wood Road, Bethesda, MD
| | - G M Bron
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
| | - X Lee
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
| | - S M Paskewitz
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI
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Anderson KR, Blekking J, Omodior O. Tick trails: the role of online recreational trail reviews in identifying risk factors and behavioral recommendations associated with tick encounters in Indiana. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:908. [PMID: 33980203 PMCID: PMC8117608 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10940-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recreational trails abound across the United States and represent high risk areas for tick exposure. Although online reviews represent a rich source of user information, they have rarely been used in determining the risk of tick exposure during recreational trail use. Based on online user reviews and comments, the purpose of this study was to determine risk factors and behavioral recommendations associated with tick encounters (Tick Presence) on recreational trails in the state of Indiana, U.S. METHODS We reviewed 26,016 user comments left on AllTrails.com for 697 Indiana trails. Reviews were evaluated to determine Tick Presence/Absence, the total number of Tick Presence Reviews per trail, and multiple trail and user behavioral characteristics. We used hot spot (Getis-Ord Gi*) analysis to test the hypothesis of whether there are clusters in the number of Tick Presence Reviews. Pearson chi-square tests of independence evaluated whether tick presence was associated with several trail characteristics. Finally, negative binomial regression evaluated the strength of the association between the number of Tick Presence Reviews and several trail characteristics. RESULTS Tick Presence was recorded at 10% (n = 65) of trails and occurred most frequently in May. Hot spot analysis revealed statistically significant clusters of Tick Presence Reviews on trails in the Southern Indiana State Region. Results of χ2 tests indicated significant associations between Tick Presence Reviews and (a) State Region and (b) Land Management Type; Mann-Whitney U tests detected significant differences in Tick Presence Reviews based on Trail Length and Elevation Gain. Subsequent results of a negative binomial regression model indicated that Southern Indiana State Region, Federal and Private Land Management Type, and Elevation Gain were factors significantly associated with Tick Presence Reviews. Content of user reviews indicated several behaviors employed to prevent tick encounters, particularly Repellent Application and Recreational Deterrence; 25% included a behavior Recommendation to others. CONCLUSIONS Online, user-generated trail reviews have the potential to serve as rich data sources for identifying recreational trails, where 1) the risk of tick exposure is great, 2) more robust active tick and tick-borne pathogen surveillance may be warranted, and 3) tailored prevention interventions are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina R Anderson
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th Street, IN, 47405, Bloomington, USA.
| | - Jordan Blekking
- Department of Geography, College of Arts & Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington, 701 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Oghenekaro Omodior
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, 1025 E. 7th Street, IN, 47405, Bloomington, USA
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Eisen L, Eisen RJ. Benefits and Drawbacks of Citizen Science to Complement Traditional Data Gathering Approaches for Medically Important Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1-9. [PMID: 32772108 PMCID: PMC8056287 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are increasing in North America. Knowledge of which tick species and associated human pathogens are present locally can inform the public and medical community about the acarological risk for tick bites and tick-borne infections. Citizen science (also called community-based monitoring, volunteer monitoring, or participatory science) is emerging as a potential approach to complement traditional tick record data gathering where all aspects of the work is done by researchers or public health professionals. One key question is how citizen science can best be used to generate high-quality data to fill knowledge gaps that are difficult to address using traditional data gathering approaches. Citizen science is particularly useful to generate information on human-tick encounters and may also contribute to geographical tick records to help define species distributions across large areas. Previous citizen science projects have utilized three distinct tick record data gathering methods including submission of: 1) physical tick specimens for identification by professional entomologists, 2) digital images of ticks for identification by professional entomologists, and 3) data where the tick species and life stage were identified by the citizen scientist. We explore the benefits and drawbacks of citizen science, relative to the traditional scientific approach, to generate data on tick records, with special emphasis on data quality for species identification and tick encounter locations. We recognize the value of citizen science to tick research but caution that the generated information must be interpreted cautiously with data quality limitations firmly in mind to avoid misleading conclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars 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, CO 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, CO 80521
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Lefcort H, Tsybulnik DY, Browning RJ, Eagle HP, Eggleston TE, Magori K, Andrade CC. Behavioral characteristics and endosymbionts of two potential tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever tick vectors. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2020; 45:321-332. [PMID: 33207056 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Due to climate change-induced alterations of temperature and humidity, the distribution of pathogen-carrying organisms such as ticks may shift. Tick survival is often limited by environmental factors such as dryness, but a predicted hotter and wetter world may allow the expansion of tick ranges. Dermacentor andersoni and D. variabilis ticks are morphologically similar, co-occur throughout the Inland Northwest of Washington State, U.S.A., and both can be injected with pathogenic Rickettsia and Francisella bacteria. Differences in behavior and the potential role of endosymbiotic Rickettsia and Francisella in these ticks are poorly studied. We wanted to measure behavioral and ecological differences between the two species and determine which, if any, Rickettsia and Francisella bacteria - pathogenic or endosymbiotic - they carried. Additionally, we wanted to determine if either tick species may be selected for if the climate in eastern Washington becomes wetter or dryer. We found that D. andersoni is more resistant to desiccation, but both species share similar questing behaviors such as climbing and attraction to bright light. Both also avoid the odor of eucalyptus and DEET but not permethrin. Although both tick species are capable of transmitting pathogenic species of Francisella and Rickettsia, which cause tularemia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, respectively, we found primarily non-pathogenic endosymbiotic strains of Francisella and Rickettsia, and only one tick infected with F. tularensis subspecies holarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Lefcort
- Biology Department, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 99258
| | | | | | | | | | - Krisztian Magori
- Department of Biology, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA, 99004
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