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Abstract
Human-biting ticks threaten public health in the United States. Registration by the Environmental Protection Agency of products to kill host-seeking ticks or repel ticks contacting humans is indicative of their safety and effectiveness. Unregulated minimum risk products, exempt from Environmental Protection Agency registration and often based on botanical oils, are proliferating in the marketplace, but there is concern about their effectiveness to kill and repel ticks. Evaluations of such products are limited in the published literature. A review showed considerable variability among minimum risk products to kill host-seeking blacklegged ticks, with effectiveness similar to chemical pesticide products for some minimum risk products but minimal impact on the ticks for other products. Evaluations of minimum risk tick repellents have typically focused on individual active ingredients rather than formulated products, which often combine multiple active ingredients. Consumers should be aware that effectiveness to kill and repel ticks can differ among unregulated minimum risk products.
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Gonzaga BCF, Barrozo MM, Coutinho AL, Pereira E Sousa LJM, Vale FL, Marreto L, Marchesini P, de Castro Rodrigues D, de Souza EDF, Sabatini GA, Costa-Júnior LM, Ferreira LL, Lopes WDZ, Monteiro C. Essential oils and isolated compounds for tick control: advances beyond the laboratory. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:415. [PMID: 37964392 PMCID: PMC10647118 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05969-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tick control is a worldwide challenge due to its resistance to acaricides. Essential oils (EOs) and isolated compounds (EOCs) are potential alternatives for tick control technologies. METHODS A review with EOs and EOCs, under field and semi-field conditions, was performed based on Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed databases. Thirty-one studies published between 1991 and 2022 were selected. The search was performed using the following keywords: "essential oil" combined with "tick," "Ixodes," "Argas," "Rhipicephalus," "Amblyomma," "Hyalomma," "Dermacentor," "Haemaphysalis" and "Ornithodoros." The words "essential oil" and "tick" were searched in the singular and plural. RESULTS The number of studies increased over the years. Brazil stands out with the largest number (51.6%) of publications. The most studied tick species were Rhipicephalus microplus (48.4%), Ixodes scapularis (19.4%), Amblyomma americanum and R. sanguineus sensu lato (9.7% each). Cattle (70%) and dogs (13%) were the main target animal species. Regarding the application of EOs/EOCs formulations, 74% of the studies were conducted with topical application (spray, pour-on, foam, drop) and 26% with environmental treatment (spray). Efficacy results are difficult to evaluate because of the lack of information on the methodology and standardization. The nanotechnology and combination with synthetic acaricides were reported as an alternative to enhance the efficacy of EOs/EOCs. No adverse reactions were observed in 86.6% of the studies evaluating EOs/EOCs clinical safety. Studies regarding toxicity in non-target species and residues are scarce. CONCLUSIONS This article provides a comprehensive review on the use of EOs and EOCs to reduce tick infestations, in both the hosts and the environment. As future directions, we recommend the chemical characterization of EOs, methodology standardization, combination of EOs/EOCs with potential synergists, nanotechnology for new formulations and safety studies for target and non-target organisms, also considering the environmental friendliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno César Ferreira Gonzaga
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Campus Colemar Natal e Silva, Rua 235, s/n, Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-050, Brasil
| | - Mayara Macêdo Barrozo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
| | - Ana Lúcia Coutinho
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
| | - Lainny Jordana Martins Pereira E Sousa
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
| | - Francisca Letícia Vale
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
| | - Laís Marreto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas - Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Praça Universitária, no. 1166, Setor Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-220, Brasil
| | - Paula Marchesini
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Lívio Martins Costa-Júnior
- Centro de Pesquisas do CCBS, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Avenida dos Portugueses, no. 1966, São Luís, MA, 65080-805, Brasil
| | - Lorena Lopes Ferreira
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva - Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, no. 6627, Campus Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brasil
| | - Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil
- Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia - Instituto de Patologia Tropical e de Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás-, Campus Colemar Natal e Silva - Rua 235, s/n - Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-050, Brasil
| | - Caio Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia - Nova Veneza, Km 8, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brasil.
- Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia - Instituto de Patologia Tropical e de Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás-, Campus Colemar Natal e Silva - Rua 235, s/n - Setor Leste Universitário, Goiânia, GO, 74605-050, Brasil.
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Schulze TL, Jordan RA. Relative efficacy of high-pressure versus backpack sprayer applications of 2 natural product-based acaricides for control of host-seeking Ixodes Scapularis and Amblyomma americanum nymphs. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1131-1135. [PMID: 37341185 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the relative effectiveness of the natural product acaricide Essentria IC3 and the entomopathogenic fungal acaricide BotaniGard ES to suppress host-seeking Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) nymphs when applied with low-pressure backpack and high-pressure sprayers. Essentria IC3 applied by backpack sprayer out-performed high-pressure applications, while the opposite was true for treatments with BotaniGard ES. We were unable to demonstrate consistently greater efficacy using high-pressure applications, and neither of the acaricides or application methods provided substantial (>90%) levels of control at 7 days postapplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L Schulze
- Terry L. Schulze, Ph.D., Inc., 9 Evergreen Court, Perrineville, NJ 08535, USA
| | - Robert A Jordan
- Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
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Schulze TL, Eisen L, Russell K, Jordan RA. Community-based integrated tick management programs: cost and feasibility scenarios. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 60:1048-1060. [PMID: 37540592 PMCID: PMC10862372 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjad093] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have assessed the efficacy of environmentally based control methods to suppress populations of the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis Say), but few of these estimated the cost of control. We estimated costs for a range of tick control methods (including habitat management, deer exclusion or population reduction, broadcast of acaricides, and use of host-targeted acaricides) implemented singly or in combination and applied to a model community comprising 320 residential properties and parklands. Using the high end for cost ranges, tick control based on a single method was estimated to have mean annual costs per household in the model community ranging from $132 for treating only forest ecotone with a broadcast synthetic acaricide to kill host-seeking ticks (or $404 for treating all residential forested habitat) to >$2,000 for deployment of bait boxes (SELECT TCS) across all residential tick habitat to treat rodents topically with acaricide to kill infesting ticks. Combining different sets of multiple methods in an integrated tick management program placed the annual cost between $508 and 3,192 annually per household in the model community, underscoring the disconnect between what people in Lyme disease endemic areas say they are willing to pay for tick control (not more than $100-150 annually) and the actual costs for tick control. Additional barriers to implementing community-based tick management programs within residential communities are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry L. Schulze
- Terry L. Schulze, Ph.D., Inc., 9 Evergreen Court, Perrineville, NJ 08535, 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
| | | | - Robert A. Jordan
- Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, USA
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Williams SC, Linske MA, Stafford KC. Orally delivered fipronil-laced bait reduces juvenile blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) burdens on wild white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2023; 14:102189. [PMID: 37156086 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2023.102189] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
While the topical acaricidal treatment of rodent pathogen reservoirs has been readily explored over the past several decades, oral systemic acaricidal treatment is only recently gaining traction as an alternative approach to the management of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. Recent laboratory tests have shown promise in the effectiveness of this systemic strategy against the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and a Canadian field evaluation was recently published, but no recent field data from the United States yet exist. With this research, we sought to field deploy a commercially available fipronil-laced bait (Kaput® Flea Control Bait, Scimetrics LLC., Wellington, CO, USA; 0.005% fipronil; Environmental Protection Agency Reg. No. 72500-28), in an alternate use targeting white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) to determine bait acceptance and potential impacts to juvenile I. scapularis burdens. Bait was readily accepted by wild P. leucopus and other rodent reservoirs. An ad libitum distribution strategy as well as placing smaller volumes of fipronil-laced bait within individual Sherman traps both resulted in significant reductions (57-94%) in juvenile I. scapularis burdens as compared to control over two years. The oral delivery of systemic acaricides shows promise in reduction of I. scapularis burdens on P. leucopus and should be further explored to determine effectiveness on host-seeking tick abundances, associated pathogen infection, and potentially incorporated into integrated tick management programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Williams
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Environmental Science and Forestry, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Megan A Linske
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Kirby C Stafford
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
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Adamo SA, El Nabbout A, Ferguson LV, Zbarsky JS, Faraone N. Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles and their essential oil kill overwintering ticks (Ixodes scapularis) at cold temperatures. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12999. [PMID: 35906288 PMCID: PMC9338056 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15164-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, vectors Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Although synthetic pesticides can reduce tick numbers, there are concerns about their potential effects on beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Plant-based pest control agents such as essential oils could provide an alternative because they have low environmental persistency; however, these products struggle to provide effective control. We found a new natural acaricide, balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles, that kill overwintering I. scapularis ticks. We extracted the essential oil from the needles, analyzed its chemical composition, and tested it for acaricidal activity. We placed ticks in tubes with substrate and positioned the tubes either in the field or in incubators simulating winter temperatures. We added balsam fir essential oil, or one of the main components of balsam fir essential oil (i.e., ß-pinene), to each tube. We found that both the oil and ß-pinene kill overwintering ticks. Whole balsam fir needles require several weeks to kill overwintering ticks, while the essential oil is lethal within days at low temperatures (≤ 4 °C). Further, low temperatures increased the efficacy of this volatile essential oil. Higher temperatures (i.e., 20 °C) reduce the acaricidal effectiveness of the essential oil by 50% at 0.1% v/v. Low temperatures may promote the effectiveness of other natural control products. Winter is an overlooked season for tick control and should be explored as a possible time for the application of low toxicity products for successful tick management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley A Adamo
- Department Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H3X5, Canada.
| | - Amal El Nabbout
- Department Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H3X5, Canada
| | - Laura V Ferguson
- Department Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H3X5, Canada.,Department Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Zbarsky
- Department Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H3X5, Canada
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Sullivan CF, Parker BL, Skinner M. A Review of Commercial Metarhizium- and Beauveria-Based Biopesticides for the Biological Control of Ticks in the USA. INSECTS 2022; 13:260. [PMID: 35323558 PMCID: PMC8952794 DOI: 10.3390/insects13030260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
There is a need for the development of sustainable, nonchemical tick management strategies. Mycoacaricide and mycoinsecticide product development worldwide has focused primarily on fungi in the genera Beauveria (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) and Metarhizium (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae). Microbial biopesticides containing entomopathogenic fungi have potential in tick management. However, despite considerable progress in the development of fungal biopesticides over the past 20 years, the establishment of commercial products available for use against ticks continues to be slow. We reviewed published scientific literature and compiled a comprehensive list of reports of the effectiveness of commercial biopesticides based on the fungal genera Metarhizium and Beauveria and registered for use in the USA against ixodid ticks under laboratory and field conditions. We also report on results when these biopesticides were used as a part of integrated tick management. Until efficacious fungus-based products become more available, tick management will rely primarily on synthetic chemical acaricides, with natural-product acaricides as the alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruce L Parker
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
| | - Margaret Skinner
- Entomology Research Laboratory, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
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Ebani VV, Mancianti F. Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria in a Veterinary Perspective. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10060479. [PMID: 34071435 PMCID: PMC8229426 DOI: 10.3390/biology10060479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Several fungal species are well suited to control arthropods, being able to cause epizootic infection among them and most of them infect their host by direct penetration through the arthropod’s tegument. Most of organisms are related to the biological control of crop pests, but, more recently, have been applied to combat some livestock ectoparasites. Among the entomopathogenic bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis, innocuous for humans, animals, and plants and isolated from different environments, showed the most relevant activity against arthropods. Its entomopathogenic property is related to the production of highly biodegradable proteins. Entomopathogenic fungi and bacteria are usually employed against agricultural pests, and some studies have focused on their use to control animal arthropods. However, risks of infections in animals and humans are possible; thus, further studies about their activity are necessary. Abstract The present study aimed to review the papers dealing with the biological activity of fungi and bacteria against some mites and ticks of veterinary interest. In particular, the attention was turned to the research regarding acarid species, Dermanyssus gallinae and Psoroptes sp., which are the cause of severe threat in farm animals and, regarding ticks, also pets. Their impact on animal and human health has been stressed, examining the weaknesses and strengths of conventional treatments. Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae are the most widely employed agents. Their activities have been reviewed, considering the feasibility of an in-field application and the effectiveness of the administration alone or combined with conventional and alternative drugs is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Virginia Ebani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050-221-6968
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Interdepartmental Research Center “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Klafke GM, Thomas DB, Miller RJ, Pérez de León AA. Efficacy of a water-based botanical acaricide formulation applied in portable spray box against the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae), infesting cattle. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101721. [PMID: 33848798 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ectoparasitism result in annual losses to livestock producers estimated to reach billions of dollars in tropical and subtropical parts of the world where the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is established because this invasive pest is also a vector of pathogens causing bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Reintroduction of R. microplus could be economically devastating for the cattle industry in the United States. Novel technologies are necessary to manage populations of R. microplus that are resistant to multiple classes of synthetic chemicals widely used as acaricides to control ticks infesting livestock, and to mitigate the environmental impact of these synthetic acaricides. Bioassays with a water-based formulation of a commercially available botanical acaricide (Essentria® IC3) at 6.25 % against a laboratory strain of R. microplus was 100 % lethal against unfed larvae, and 94 % mortality was recorded against engorged female ticks. These results prompted documentation of efficacy on infested cattle using an acaricide delivery system mimicking field conditions, which is required to consider the use of a product by integrated tick management programs. Twelve tick naïve cattle were artificially infested with unfed larvae on days -19, -12 and -5. On day -2, ticks from the left-side of the body of each animal were manually counted. Depending on pre-treatment tick counts the animals were assigned into three separate treatment groups: i) water (untreated control); ii) coumaphos 0.3 % in water (positive control); and iii) botanical acaricide 6.25 % in water. Five days after the last infestation, cattle were doused in a spray box and moved to individual stalls to collect tick data for calculation of treatment efficacy. The percentage control, based on the reproduction of surviving engorged female ticks after treatment with the 6.25 % Essentria in water-based spray was 70 % against R. microplus. Coumaphos treatment had a mean percent control of 100 %. Whereas this application of Essentria® IC3 cannot be recommended as a stand-alone method to eradicate R. microplus, the 6.25 % botanical acaricide water-based spray could be part of integrated tick management to control populations of R. microplus resistant to organophosphates like coumaphos and other classes of commercially available synthetic acaricides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme M Klafke
- USDA-ARS Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd., MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, United States.
| | - Donald B Thomas
- USDA-ARS Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd., MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, United States
| | - Robert J Miller
- USDA-ARS Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd., MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, United States; USDA-ARS - Office of National Programs, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, GWCC, Beltsville, MD, 20705-5148, United States
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, 2700 Fredericksburg Rd, Kerrville, TX, 78028, United States
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Control of ixodid ticks and prevention of tick-borne diseases in the United States: The prospect of a new Lyme disease vaccine and the continuing problem with tick exposure on residential properties. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101649. [PMID: 33549976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, exposure to human-biting ixodid ticks can occur while spending time on residential properties or in neighborhood green spaces as well as during recreational or occupational activities on public lands. Human-biting tick species collectively transmit >15 species of pathogenic microorganisms and the national burden of tick-borne diseases is increasing. The prospect of a new Lyme disease vaccine for use in humans provides hope for substantial reduction in the >450,000 estimated annual cases of Lyme disease but this breakthrough would not reduce cases of other tick-borne diseases, such as anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, spotted fever group rickettsiosis, and Powassan encephalitis. One intriguing question is to what extent a new Lyme disease vaccine would impact the use of personal protection measures acting broadly against tick-bites. The main tick vector for Lyme disease spirochetes in the eastern United States, Ixodes scapularis, also transmits causative agents of anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Powassan encephalitis; and this tick species co-occurs with other human-biting vectors such as Amblyomma americanum and Dermacentor variabilis. It therefore is important that a new Lyme disease vaccine does not result in reduced use of tick-bite prevention measures, such as tick repellents, permethrin-treated clothing, and frequent tick checks. Another key issue is the continuing problem with tick exposure on residential properties, which represents a heavily used outdoor environment the residents cannot reasonably avoid and where they tend to spend large amounts of time outside. As it may not be realistic to keep up daily vigilance with personal protective measures against tick-bites on residential properties during many months of every year, homeowners may also consider the option to suppress host-seeking ticks by means of deer fencing, landscaping, vegetation management, and use of products to kill host-seeking ticks or ticks infesting rodents. When considering the full range of options for actions that can be taken to suppress host-seeking ticks on residential properties, it is clear that individual homeowners face a difficult and bewildering task in deciding what to do based on very general guidance from public health agencies (developed without the benefit of a strong evidence base) and often without ready access to local public health professionals experienced in tick control. This situation is not satisfactory but cannot be corrected without first addressing knowledge gaps regarding the impact of peridomestic tick control measures on host-seeking ticks, human tick-bites, and tick-borne diseases. In parallel with this effort, there also is a need to increase the local public health workforce with knowledge of and experience with tick control to provide better access for homeowners to sound and objective advice regarding tick control on their properties based on key characteristics of the landscaping, habitat composition, and use patterns by wild animal tick hosts as well as the residents.
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