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Poh KC, Aguilar M, Capelli-Peixoto J, Davis SK, Ueti MW. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) does not transmit Babesia bovis, a causative agent of cattle fever. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102374. [PMID: 38971081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was first reported in the United States in 2017 and has since been detected in at least 17 states. This tick infests cattle and can produce large populations quickly due to its parthenogenetic nature, leading to significant livestock mortalities and economic losses. While H. longicornis has not been detected in Texas, species distribution models have identified southern Texas as a possible hospitable region for this tick. Southern Texas is currently home to the southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus), which can transmit the causative agent of cattle fever (Babesia bovis). With the potential for H. longicornis and B. bovis to overlap in southern Texas and their potential to negatively impact the national and global livestock industry, it is imperative to identify the role H. longicornis may play in the cattle fever disease system. A controlled acquisition and transmission experiment tested whether H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis, with the R. microplus-B. bovis system used as a positive control. Transstadial (nymphs to adults) and transovarial (adults to larvae) transmission and subsequent transstadial maintenance (nymphs and adults) routes were tested in this study. Acquisition-fed, splenectomized animals were used to increase the probability of tick infection. Acquisition nymphs were macerated whole and acquisition adults were dissected to remove midguts and ovaries at five time points (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 days post-repletion), with 40 ticks processed per time point and life stage. The greatest percentage of nymphs with detectable B. bovis DNA occurred six days post-repletion (20.0 %). For adults, the percentage of positive midguts and ovaries increased as days post-repletion progressed, with day 12 having the highest percentage of positive samples (67.5 % and 60.0 %, respectively). When egg batches were tested in triplicate, all H. longicornis egg batches were negative for B. bovis, while all R. microplus egg batches were positive for B. bovis. During the transmission phase, the subsequent life stages for transstadial (adults) and transovarial transmission/transstadial maintenance (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were fed on naïve, splenectomized calves. All life stages of H. longicornis ticks tested during transmission were negative for B. bovis. Furthermore, the transmission fed animals were also negative for B. bovis and did not show signs of bovine babesiosis during the 45-day post tick transmission period. Given the lack of successful transstadial or transovarial transmission, it is unlikely that H. longicornis is a vector for B. bovis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C Poh
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Mitzi Aguilar
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Janaína Capelli-Peixoto
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Sara K Davis
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Massaro W Ueti
- Animal Disease Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 3003 Animal Disease and Biotechnology Facility, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Teel PD, Hairgrove T. Transboundary Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogen Threats to Cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2024; 40:305-316. [PMID: 38402041 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Transboundary incursions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens are ever present concerns for US cattle industries. Global trade in livestock and wildlife, historic and emerging transboundary issues with endemic tick populations and pathogens, and migratory bird flyways are pathways of concern. Transboundary challenges are presented for the Asian long-horned tick and Theileria orientalis Ikeda, for 2 cattle fever tick species [Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and R (B) microplus] and Babesia bigemina and B bovis, and for the tropical bont tick and Ehrlichia ruminantium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pete D Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Room 412 Heep Center, 370 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA.
| | - Thomas Hairgrove
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, 241 Kleberg Building, 474 Olsen Boulevard, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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3
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Rosario-Cruz R, Domínguez-García DI, Almazán C. Inclusion of Anti-Tick Vaccines into an Integrated Tick Management Program in Mexico: A Public Policy Challenge. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:403. [PMID: 38675785 PMCID: PMC11053712 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040403] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Acaricides are the most widely used method to control the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. However, its use increases production costs, contaminates food and the environment, and directly affects animal and human health. The intensive use of chemical control has resulted in the selection of genes associated with resistance to acaricides, and consumers are increasingly less tolerant of food contamination. This scenario has increased the interest of different research groups around the world for anti-tick vaccine development, in order to reduce the environmental impact, the presence of residues in food, and the harmful effects on animal and human health. There is enough evidence that vaccination with tick antigens induces protection against tick infestations, reducing tick populations and acaricide treatments. Despite the need for an anti-tick vaccine in Mexico, vaccination against ticks has been limited to one vaccine that is used in some regions. The aim of this review is to contribute to the discussion on tick control issues and provide a reference for readers interested in the importance of using anti-tick vaccines encouraging concerted action on the part of Mexican animal health authorities, livestock organizations, cattle producers, and academics. Therefore, it is suggested that an anti-tick vaccine should be included as a part of an integrated tick management program in Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Rosario-Cruz
- Biotechnology in Health and Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autónomous Guerrero State University, Chilpancingo 39105, Guerrero, Mexico;
| | - Delia Inés Domínguez-García
- Biotechnology in Health and Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autónomous Guerrero State University, Chilpancingo 39105, Guerrero, Mexico;
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, College of Natural Sciences, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Santiago de Queretaro 76230, Queretaro, Mexico;
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Arocho Rosario CM, Leal-Galvan B, Thomas DB. Degree-days and off-host longevity of cattle fever ticks, Boophilus spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) in south Texas pastures. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:358-365. [PMID: 38156733 PMCID: PMC10860155 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad237] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Cattle fever ticks, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini) and Boophilus annulatus (Say), are native to Eurasia and have invaded the New World as vectors of bovine Babesiosis. Due to severe losses in livestock production, an eradication program by the USDA was established. Premises infested with Boophilus ticks are subject to regulatory oversight that includes acaricide treatment and quarantine. The quarantine duration varies between summer through winter and is based on the available information on the persistence of the off-host stages in pastures far from south Texas. The objective of this study was to assess the specific effect of thermal stress measured in degree-days on the longevity of B. annulatus and B. microplus off-host stages in south Texas pastures. Our results demonstrate that the longest off-host persistence for B. annulatus was 142 days under canopied habitat in the winter and 130 days in the summer. On the other hand, B. microplus off-host persistence was 113 days under canopy and 103 days in exposed habitat, both in winter. The results indicate that temperature was a key variable that prolonged the survival of B. annulatus but not B. microplus. In areas such as south Texas at the northernmost extent of B. microplus range, where mild winters prevail, we found a maximum persistence of less than 4 months (113 days), very close to the previous published record of 116 days. A reduction in the Texas pasture quarantine period from 9 months to 6 months would be justified for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brenda Leal-Galvan
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Donald B Thomas
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Unit, 22675 North Moorefield Road, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA
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Dou T, Holman AP, Hays SR, Donaldson TG, Goff N, Teel PD, Kurouski D. Species identification of adult ixodid ticks by Raman spectroscopy of their feces. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:43. [PMID: 38291487 PMCID: PMC10825978 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06091-7] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks and tick-borne diseases pose significant challenges to cattle production, thus the species identification of ticks and knowledge on their presence, abundance, and dispersal are necessary for the development of effective control measures. The standard method of inspection for the presence of ticks is the visual and physical examination of restrained animals, but the limitations of human sight and touch can allow larval, nymphal, and unfed adult ticks to remain undetected due to their small size and site of attachment. However, Raman spectroscopy, an analytical tool widely used in agriculture and other sectors, shows promise for the identification of tick species in infested cattle. Raman spectroscopy is a non-invasive and efficient method that employs the interaction between molecules and light for the identification of the molecular constituents of specimens. METHODS Raman spectroscopy was employed to analyze the structure and composition of tick feces deposited on host skin and hair during blood-feeding. Feces of 12 species from a total of five genera and one subgenus of ixodid ticks were examined. Spectral data were subjected to partial least squares discriminant analysis, a machine-learning model. We also used Raman spectroscopy and the same analytical procedures to compare and evaluate feces of the horn fly Haematobia irritans after it fed on cattle. RESULTS Five genera and one sub-genus at overall true prediction rates ranging from 92.3 to 100% were identified from the Raman spectroscopy data of the tick feces. At the species level, Dermacentor albipictus, Dermacentor andersoni and Dermacentor variabilis at overall true prediction rates of 100, 99.3 and 100%, respectively, were identified. There were distinct differences between horn fly and tick feces with respect to blood and guanine vibrational frequencies. The overall true prediction rate for the separation of tick and horn fly feces was 98%. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the utility of Raman spectroscopy for the reliable identification of tick species from their feces, and its potential application for the identification of ticks from infested cattle in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Dou
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Aidan P Holman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Samantha R Hays
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Taylor G Donaldson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Nicolas Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Pete D Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Dmitry Kurouski
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Wadaan MA, Khattak B, Riaz A, Hussain M, Khan MJ, Fozia F, Iftikhar A, Ahmad I, Khan MF, Baabbad A, Ziaullah. Biological Control of Hyalomma Ticks in Cattle by Fungal Isolates. Vet Sci 2023; 10:684. [PMID: 38133234 PMCID: PMC10747915 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Ticks pose a major threat to cattle health and production in Pakistan because they transmit pathogens of diseases like Babesiosis and Theileriosis. Hyalomma spp., found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, are especially problematic. This study explored biocontrol of Hyalomma spp. using spore-free fungal culture filtrates collected from dairy farm soil in Kohat, Pakistan. Three fungal species of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Penicillium were isolated, and their filtrates were tested against tick adults and larvae. Filtrate concentrations were prepared at different strengths. Data were taken after the exposure of adults and larvae ticks to various concentrations of the fungal filtrates. Results indicated that at 100% concentration, all fungal filtrates induced 100% mortality in adults and larvae. Decreasing filtrate concentration lowered tick mortality. The lowest concentration caused the least mortality. The effect was time- and dose-dependent. In conclusion, spore-free fungal culture filtrates can provide biocontrol of Hyalomma spp. in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Further research should explore the active compounds causing mortality and optimal application methods. The process outlined here provides a natural biocontrol alternative to chemical pesticides to reduce tick infestations and associated cattle diseases in Pakistan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ahmad Wadaan
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Baharullah Khattak
- Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
| | - Aneela Riaz
- Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
| | - Mubbashir Hussain
- Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Jamil Khan
- Department of Animal Sciences, Facility of Biological Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Fozia Fozia
- Department of Biochemistry, KMU Institute of Dental Sciences, Kohat 26000, Pakistan
| | - Anisa Iftikhar
- Department of Biology, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Ijaz Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Kohat University of Sciences & Technology, Kohat 26000, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Farooq Khan
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Almohannad Baabbad
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ziaullah
- College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Tesfaye T, Abate A. Knowledge, attitude and practices study of acaricide usage and tick control in South Omo Zone pastoral areas, South-Western Ethiopia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17212. [PMID: 37342571 PMCID: PMC10277579 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although acaricide chemotherapy is widely used to control tick infestation in Ethiopia, its effectiveness is uncertain due to misusage by herdsmen. Currently, there is no study being conducted in the South Omo Zone of Ethiopia which shows the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) and associated factors of acaricide usage by herdsmen. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess KAP of 120 (83 male and 37 female) pastoralist and agro-pastoralist of Bena-Tsemay district through structured questionnaire survey. Accordingly, Ivermectin was the most preferred acaricide by majority (62.5%) of the herdsmen. Half (50%) of the herdsmen confessed that price of acaricide is the defining variable for acaricide preference in their location where 60.83% of them obtain acaricides from private drug shops. Majority (60%) of the respondents said that they obtain information about acaricide usage from drug sellers in the vet drug shops. According to 72.50% of the respondents, acaricide application/injection on the infested herd was conducted by the herdsmen. A 95.83% of our interviewee revealed that there was no training or awareness creation being given on how to inject or apply acaricide on tick infested animals. Moreover, all responders (100%) confessed that they didn't have a practice of weighing animals and measuring acaricide dosage prior to injection/application. The incidence of acaricide poisoning on animal and personnel was reported by 19.17% and 22.5% of respondents, respectively. Simple logistic regression analysis revealed that gender (OR = 5.09, OR 95% CI = 2.30-11.72), practice of acaricide rotation (OR = 3.22, OR 95% CI = 1.41-7.64) and personnel preference for acaricide application (OR = 2.66, OR 95% CI = 1.18-6.15) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the knowledge score of the respondents. On the other hand, respondent's attitude score was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with their acaricide rotation practice (OR = 3.20, OR 95% CI = 1.39-7.53) and personnel preference for acaricide application (OR = 6.61, OR 95% CI = 2.78-16.93). Similarly, practice of acaricide rotation (OR = 5.31, OR 95% CI = 2.26-12.96) and personnel preference for acaricide application (OR = 7.21, OR 95% CI = 3.03-17.99) were significantly linked with the practice score of the respondents towards acaricide usage. In conclusion, ticks are the major challenge in the study area despite widespread usage of acaricides. Because of extensive misusage of available acaricides, awareness creation should be applied to narrow KAP gaps and to conserve the efficacy of these chemicals. Furthermore, acaricide efficacy investigation (in vitro and in vivo) should be conducted to know the status of commonly used acaricides in the area.
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Sliwa KM, Baumgardt JA, DeYoung RW, Ortega‐S JA, Hewitt DG, Goolsby JA, Lohmeyer KH. Movement ecology of exotic nilgai antelope: A threat to the re‐emergence of cattle fever ticks in the southern
USA. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Sliwa
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Jeremy A. Baumgardt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Randy W. DeYoung
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - J. Alfonso Ortega‐S
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - David G. Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University–Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - John A. Goolsby
- USDA Agricultural Research Service Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory Edinburg Texas USA
| | - Kimberly H. Lohmeyer
- USDA Agricultural Research Service Knipling‐Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center Kerrville Texas USA
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Interaction between anti-tick vaccine and a macrocyclic lactone improves acaricidal efficacy against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Acari: Ixodidae) in experimentally infested cattle. Vaccine 2022; 40:6795-6801. [PMID: 36244881 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The southern cattle fever tick (SCFT) Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, is considered the most important ectoparasite of livestock in the world because of high financial losses associated with direct feeding and transmission of the hemoparasites Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale. Unfortunately, SCFT in many parts of the world have evolved resistance to all market-available pesticides thus driving development of new control technologies. Vaccination against ticks using the tick gut protein Bm86 has been shown to be effective against acaricide-resistant ticks. This technique has been successfully implemented in Puerto Rico for the control of acaricide-resistant R. microplus on dairy and beef cattle. Observations from Puerto Rico indicate a potentially positive interaction between anti-tick vaccination when used in conjunction with systemic acaricide treatment. In this project, controlled animal studies were completed directly comparing efficacy of anti-tick vaccination with and without systemic acaricide. Results show that the Bm86 anti-tick vaccine in combination with the macrocyclic lactone, Moxidectin, expressed a synergistic interaction, providing greater and longer efficacy than either treatment alone.
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Colmant AMG, Charrel RN, Coutard B. Jingmenviruses: Ubiquitous, understudied, segmented flavi-like viruses. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:997058. [PMID: 36299728 PMCID: PMC9589506 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.997058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Jingmenviruses are a group of viruses identified recently, in 2014, and currently classified by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses as unclassified Flaviviridae. These viruses closely related to flaviviruses are unique due to the segmented nature of their genome. The prototype jingmenvirus, Jingmen tick virus (JMTV), was discovered in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from China in 2010. Jingmenviruses genomes are composed of four to five segments, encoding for up to seven structural proteins and two non-structural proteins, both of which display strong similarities with flaviviral non-structural proteins (NS2B/NS3 and NS5). Jingmenviruses are currently separated into two phylogenetic clades. One clade includes tick- and vertebrate-associated jingmenviruses, which have been detected in ticks and mosquitoes, as well as in humans, cattle, monkeys, bats, rodents, sheep, and tortoises. In addition to these molecular and serological detections, over a hundred human patients tested positive for jingmenviruses after developing febrile illness and flu-like symptoms in China and Serbia. The second phylogenetic clade includes insect-associated jingmenvirus sequences, which have been detected in a wide range of insect species, as well as in crustaceans, plants, and fungi. In addition to being found in various types of hosts, jingmenviruses are endemic, as they have been detected in a wide range of environments, all over the world. Taken together, all of these elements show that jingmenviruses correspond exactly to the definition of emerging viruses at risk of causing a pandemic, since they are already endemic, have a close association with arthropods, are found in animals in close contact with humans, and have caused sporadic cases of febrile illness in multiple patients. Despite these arguments, the vast majority of published data is from metagenomics studies and many aspects of jingmenvirus replication remain to be elucidated, such as their tropism, cycle of transmission, structure, and mechanisms of replication and restriction or epidemiology. It is therefore crucial to prioritize jingmenvirus research in the years to come, to be prepared for their emergence as human or veterinary pathogens.
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Predicting the potential distribution of the cattle fever tick Rhipicephalus annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae) using ecological niche modeling. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:3467-3476. [PMID: 36136139 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07670-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus annulatus is a tick species of veterinary importance due to its potential to transmit babesiosis to cattle. This species has a Holarctic distribution with some Afrotropical records and is one-host species of veterinary importance. This study was carried out from September 2021 to February 2022 at 6 Egyptian collection sites, and a total of 1150 cattle were scanned randomly to collect ticks. A total of 1095 tick specimens were collected and identified as R. annulatus using taxonomic keys. Males were found on all parts of the cattle except the head and around the eyes, but females were found on all parts; in addition, the highest number of specimens was gathered from the udder, (neck and chest), and belly. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling was used to predict the potential global distribution of R. annulatus. The MaxEnt model performed better than random with an average test area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.96, and model predictions were significantly better than random and gave (AUC) ratios above the null expectations in the partial receiver operating characteristic (pROC) analyses (P < 0.001). Based on correlation analyses, a set of 9 variables was selected for species from 15 bioclimatic and 5 normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) variables. The study showed that the current distribution of R. annulatus is estimated to occur across Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and North America. Annual mean temperature (Bio1) and median NDVI had the highest effect on the distribution of this species. The environmentally suitable habitat for R. annulatus sharply increased with increasing annual mean temperature (Bio1). These results can be used for making effective control planning decisions in areas suitable to this vector of many diseases worldwide.
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Predicting suitable habitats of the major forest trees in the Saïda region (Algeria): A reliable reforestation tool. EKOLÓGIA (BRATISLAVA) 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/eko-2022-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Modeling potential habitat for plant species is an appropriate approach to maintain biodiversity, developing proper reforestation campaigns, and rehabilitating ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the potential distributions of four forest species, namely, Quercus faginea Lam.; Q. ilex L.; Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast.; and Pistacia atlantica Desf. In the north-western Algeria at Saïda region. The MAXENT method was used to model the habitats of these species using topographic data as predictive variables at a resolution of 100 m. Moreover, the model evaluation process was achieved using the area under the operating characteristic curve of the receiver (AUC) and Jackknife test.
The generated models were found to be accurate. AUC results are ranging between 0.98 and 0.91 for the training set and 0.87 and 0.97 for the testing set. The results of the distribution probability of this study provide a useful tool for the local decision-makers of reforestation campaigns.
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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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Galán AP, Hamer SA, Folmar HA, Campbell TA, Light JE. Baseline Biodiversity Assessment of South Texas Small Mammals and Host-Associated Hard Ticks with No Detection of Selected Tick-Borne Pathogens. WEST N AM NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.3398/064.082.0204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aleyda P. Galán
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Sarah A. Hamer
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Hunter A. Folmar
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | | | - Jessica E. Light
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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15
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Noden BH, Dubie TR, Henriquez BE, Gilliland M, Talley JL. Seasonality of Ticks and Prevalence of Rickettsiae Species in Dermacentor variabilis and Amblyomma maculatum Across Oklahoma Pastures. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:1033-1041. [PMID: 35289851 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are an increasing concern for people and companion animals in the United States, but there is a need for continued vigilance regarding livestock in pasture systems. The south-central United States has some of the highest incidences of tick-borne diseases, and there is a need to re-examine the ecology of tick vectors in relation to pasture systems and livestock. The objective of this study was to establish a baseline of seasonal activity for tick species in diverse regional Oklahoma pastures and screen for important pathogens in Dermacentor variabilis (Say) and Amblyomma maculatum Koch group that may impact livestock and human health. Between 2015 and 2017, transects in five pastures across Oklahoma were visited each month. DNA extracted from adult D. variabilis and A. maculatum group was tested for the presence of bacterial pathogens. We found that tick communities in pastures across Oklahoma differ by season, abundance, and bacterial presence and prevalence. The peak abundance of Amblyomma americanum (L.) adults and nymphs occurred a month earlier over the 2 yr of the study compared with historical studies in the same regions. Additionally, we observed notable differences in peak activity between A. americanum adults and nymphs collected in pastures in central Oklahoma (April) versus pastures in northern part of the state (May). We detected Rickettsia parkeri, R. bellii, and Anaplasma sp. DNA in D. variabilis from pastures across the state. These results potentially have important ramifications for human and livestock risk of encountering infected ticks in pastures across the southern Great Plains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce H Noden
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Trisha R Dubie
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Brandon E Henriquez
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Meghan Gilliland
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Justin L Talley
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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Witmer FDW, Nawrocki TW, Hahn M. Modeling Geographic Uncertainty in Current and Future Habitat for Potential Populations of Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Alaska. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 59:976-986. [PMID: 35134194 PMCID: PMC9113094 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls is the primary vector of Lyme disease spirochetes to humans in the western United States. Although not native to Alaska, this tick species has recently been found on domestic animals in the state. Ixodes pacificus has a known native range within the western contiguous United States and southwest Canada; therefore, it is not clear if introduced individuals can successfully survive and reproduce in the high-latitude climate of Alaska. To identify areas of suitable habitat within Alaska for I. pacificus, we used model parameters from two existing sets of ensemble habitat distribution models calibrated in the contiguous United States. To match the model input covariates, we calculated climatic and land cover covariates for the present (1980-2014) and future (2070-2100) climatologies in Alaska. The present-day habitat suitability maps suggest that the climate and land cover in Southeast Alaska and portions of Southcentral Alaska could support the establishment of I. pacificus populations. Future forecasts suggest an increase in suitable habitat with considerable uncertainty for many areas of the state. Repeated introductions of this non-native tick to Alaska increase the likelihood that resident populations could become established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank D W Witmer
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Timm W Nawrocki
- Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Micah Hahn
- Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
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Falkenberg SM, Bauermann FV, Scoles GA, Bonilla D, Dassanayake RP. A Serosurvey for Ruminant Pestivirus Exposure Conducted Using Sera From Stray Mexico Origin Cattle Captured Crossing Into Southern Texas. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:821247. [PMID: 35372539 PMCID: PMC8964521 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.821247] [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: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) monitor a quarantine zone along the Texas border to prevent the introduction of stray livestock carrying cattle fever ticks entering the United States from Mexico. Stray cattle collected by CFTEP are checked for ticks and several infectious disease-causing pathogens, but not for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). BVDV is one of the most economically impactful viruses affecting US cattle producers. BVDV is present in all parts of the world, but it has been demonstrated that another distantly related pestivirus, HoBi-like pestivirus (HoBiPev), can also cause BVD. To date, HoBiPev has not been detected in the United States, but is commonly found in Brazil, and sporadically in Europe and Asia. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of pestiviruses, with a specific focus on HoBiPev, in stray cattle. Virus neutralization (VN) assay was used to determine seroprevalence (or antibody titers) of BVDV-1, BVDV-2, and HoBiPev. Approximately 50% (67 of 134) of the samples were seropositive for pestiviruses; all 67 positive samples were positive (50%) for BVDV-1, 66 samples of the 67 were positive (49.3%) for BVDV-2, and the same 66 samples of the 67 were also positive (49.3%) for HoBiPev. Due to the antigenic cross-reactivity among Pestiviruses, the comparative antibody against each pestivirus was calculated from all VN-positive samples. Titers were clearly higher against BVDV-1, and only one sample had a titer clearly higher against BVDV-2. No sample had an antibody titer higher for HoBiPev, and while this does not prove the absence of HoBiPev, it does provide evidence that the prevalence of HoBiPev is less predominant than BVDV-1. Additionally, data from these samples provide evidence on the susceptibility of animals that may enter into the United States, with ~50% of the animals seronegative for bovine pestiviruses. This cattle population provides a unique opportunity to evaluate and monitor changes in seroprevalence of economically important cattle diseases affecting the cattle industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shollie M. Falkenberg
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Ruminant Disease and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA, United States
- *Correspondence: Shollie M. Falkenberg
| | - Fernando V. Bauermann
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Glen A. Scoles
- USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Denise Bonilla
- USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Rohana P. Dassanayake
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Ruminant Disease and Immunology Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA, United States
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Abstract
AbstractEvidence climate change is impacting ticks and tick-borne infections is generally lacking. This is primarily because, in most parts of the world, there are no long-term and replicated data on the distribution and abundance of tick populations, and the prevalence and incidence of tick-borne infections. Notable exceptions exist, as in Canada where the northeastern advance of Ixodes scapularis and Lyme borreliosis in the USA prompted the establishment of tick and associated disease surveillance. As a result, the past 30 years recorded the encroachment and spread of I. scapularis and Lyme borreliosis across much of Canada concomitant with a 2-3 °C increase in land surface temperature. A similar northerly advance of I. ricinus [and associated Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)] has been recorded in northern Europe together with expansion of this species’ range to higher altitudes in Central Europe and the Greater Alpine Region, again concomitant with rising temperatures. Changes in tick species composition are being recorded, with increases in more heat tolerant phenotypes (such as Rhipicephalus microplus in Africa), while exotic species, such as Haemaphysalis longicornis and Hyalomma marginatum, are becoming established in the USA and Southern Europe, respectively. In the next 50 years these trends are likely to continue, whereas, at the southern extremities of temperate species’ ranges, diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and TBE may become less prevalent. Where socioeconomic conditions link livestock with livelihoods, as in Pakistan and much of Africa, a One Health approach is needed to tackling ticks and tick-borne infections under the increasing challenges presented by climate change.
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Alonso-Díaz MA, Fernández-Salas A. Entomopathogenic Fungi for Tick Control in Cattle Livestock From Mexico. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2021; 2:657694. [PMID: 37744087 PMCID: PMC10512273 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2021.657694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are one of the main economic threats to the cattle industry worldwide affecting productivity, health and welfare. The need for alternative methods to control tick populations is prompted by the high prevalence of multiresistant tick strains to the main chemical acaricides and their ecological consequences. Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) is one of the most promising alternative options. The objective of this paper is to review the use of EPF as an alternative control method against cattle ticks in Mexico. Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (s.l.) and Beauveria bassiana s.l. are the most studied EPF for the biological control of ticks in the laboratory and in the field, mainly against Rhipicephalus microplus; however, evaluations against other important cattle ticks such as Amblyomma mixtum and R. annulatus, are needed. A transdisciplinary approach is required to incorporate different types of tools, such as genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics in order to better understand the pathogenicity/virulence mechanism in EPF against ticks. Laboratory tests have demonstrated the EPF efficacy to control susceptible and resistant/multiresistant tick populations; whereas, field tests have shown satisfactory control efficiency of M. anisopliae s.l. against different stages of R. microplus when applied both on pasture and on cattle. Epidemiological aspects of ticks and environmental factors are considered as components that influence the acaricidal behavior of the EPF. Finally, considering all these aspects, some recommendations are proposed for the use of EPF in integrated control schemes for livestock ticks.
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20
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Resende RT, Piepho HP, Rosa GJM, Silva-Junior OB, E Silva FF, de Resende MDV, Grattapaglia D. Enviromics in breeding: applications and perspectives on envirotypic-assisted selection. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2021; 134:95-112. [PMID: 32964262 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-020-03684-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
We propose the application of enviromics to breeding practice, by which the similarity among sites assessed on an "omics" scale of environmental attributes drives the prediction of unobserved genotype performances. Genotype by environment interaction (GEI) studies in plant breeding have focused mainly on estimating genetic parameters over a limited number of experimental trials. However, recent geographic information system (GIS) techniques have opened new frontiers for better understanding and dealing with GEI. These advances allow increasing selection accuracy across all sites of interest, including those where experimental trials have not yet been deployed. Here, we introduce the term enviromics, within an envirotypic-assisted breeding framework. In summary, likewise genotypes at DNA markers, any particular site is characterized by a set of "envirotypes" at multiple "enviromic" markers corresponding to environmental variables that may interact with the genetic background, thus providing informative breeding re-rankings for optimized decisions over different environments. Based on simulated data, we illustrate an index-based enviromics method (the "GIS-GEI") which, due to its higher granular resolution than standard methods, allows for: (1) accurate matching of sites to their most appropriate genotypes; (2) better definition of breeding areas that have high genetic correlation to ensure selection gains across environments; and (3) efficient determination of the best sites to carry out experiments for further analyses. Environmental scenarios can also be optimized for productivity improvement and genetic resources management, especially in the current outlook of dynamic climate change. Envirotyping provides a new class of markers for genetic studies, which are fairly inexpensive, increasingly available and transferable across species. We envision a promising future for the integration of enviromics approaches into plant breeding when coupled with next-generation genotyping/phenotyping and powerful statistical modeling of genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael T Resende
- School of Agronomy, University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil.
| | - Hans-Peter Piepho
- Biostatistics Unit, University of Hohenheim, 70593, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Guilherme J M Rosa
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 53706, Madison, USA
| | | | - Fabyano F E Silva
- Department of Animal Science, University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Marcos Deon V de Resende
- Department of Statistics, University of Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
- EMBRAPA Coffee Research, Brasília, DF, 70770-901, Brazil
| | - Dario Grattapaglia
- EMBRAPA Genetic Resources and Biotechnology - EPqB, Brasília, DF, 70770-910, Brazil.
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, DF, 70790-160, Brazil.
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21
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Ingenloff K, Peterson AT. Incorporating time into the traditional correlational distributional modelling framework: A proof‐of‐concept using the Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina. Methods Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Ingenloff
- University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute Lawrence KS USA
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22
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Esteve-Gasent MD, Rodríguez-Vivas RI, Medina RF, Ellis D, Schwartz A, Cortés Garcia B, Hunt C, Tietjen M, Bonilla D, Thomas D, Logan LL, Hasel H, Alvarez Martínez JA, Hernández-Escareño JJ, Mosqueda Gualito J, Alonso Díaz MA, Rosario-Cruz R, Soberanes Céspedes N, Merino Charrez O, Howard T, Chávez Niño VM, Pérez de León AA. Research on Integrated Management for Cattle Fever Ticks and Bovine Babesiosis in the United States and Mexico: Current Status and Opportunities for Binational Coordination. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9110871. [PMID: 33114005 PMCID: PMC7690670 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9110871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine babesiosis is a reportable transboundary animal disease caused by Babesia bovis and Babesiabigemina in the Americas where these apicomplexan protozoa are transmitted by the invasive cattle fever ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) annulatus. In countries like Mexico where cattle fever ticks remain endemic, bovine babesiosis is detrimental to cattle health and results in a significant economic cost to the livestock industry. These cattle disease vectors continue to threaten the U.S. cattle industry despite their elimination through efforts of the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program. Mexico and the U.S. share a common interest in managing cattle fever ticks through their economically important binational cattle trade. Here, we report the outcomes of a meeting where stakeholders from Mexico and the U.S. representing the livestock and pharmaceutical industry, regulatory agencies, and research institutions gathered to discuss research and knowledge gaps requiring attention to advance progressive management strategies for bovine babesiosis and cattle fever ticks. Research recommendations and other actionable activities reflect commitment among meeting participants to seize opportunities for collaborative efforts. Addressing these research gaps is expected to yield scientific knowledge benefitting the interdependent livestock industries of Mexico and the U.S. through its translation into enhanced biosecurity against the economic and animal health impacts of bovine babesiosis and cattle fever ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D. Esteve-Gasent
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Roger I. Rodríguez-Vivas
- Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, FMVZ, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, km. 15.5 Carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil, Mérida, Yucatán 97000, Mexico
- Correspondence:
| | - Raúl F. Medina
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Dee Ellis
- Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (D.E.); (C.H.)
| | - Andy Schwartz
- Texas Animal Health Commission, Austin, TX 78758, USA;
| | - Baltazar Cortés Garcia
- Departamento de Rabia Paralítica y Garrapata, Dirección de Campañas Zoosanitarias, Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA), Avenida Insurgentes Sur N° 489 Piso 9, Colonia Hipódromo, Alcaldía Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de Mexico 06100, Mexico;
| | - Carrie Hunt
- Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (D.E.); (C.H.)
| | - Mackenzie Tietjen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA–ARS), Knipling–Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA; (M.T.); (A.A.P.d.L.)
| | - Denise Bonilla
- Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service International Services, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-APHIS), Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA;
| | - Don Thomas
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), Cattel Fever Tick Research Laboratory, Moore Air Base, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA;
| | - Linda L. Logan
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Hallie Hasel
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, (USDA-APHIS-VS), Austin, TX 78701, USA;
| | - Jesús A. Alvarez Martínez
- CENID-SAI, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agricolas y Pecuarias, Carr. Fed. Cuernavaca-Cuautla No. 8534, Col. Progreso. Jiutepec, Morelos 62390, Mexico;
| | - Jesús J. Hernández-Escareño
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, General Francisco Villa S/N, Hacienda del Canada, Ciudad General Escobedo, Nuevo León 66054, Mexico;
| | - Juan Mosqueda Gualito
- Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, C. A. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Carretera a Chichimequillas, Ejido Bolaños, Queretaro Queretaro 76140, Mexico;
| | - Miguel A. Alonso Díaz
- Centro de Enseñanza, Investigación y Extensión en Ganadería Tropical, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 5.5 Carretera Federal Tlapacoyan-Martínez de la Torre, Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz 93600, Mexico;
| | - Rodrigo Rosario-Cruz
- BioSA Research Lab., Natural Sciences College, Campus el ‘Shalako’ Las Petaquillas, Autonomous Guerrero State University, Chilpancingo, Guerrero 62105, Mexico;
| | - Noé Soberanes Céspedes
- Lapisa S.A. de C.V. Carretera La Piedad-Guadalajara Km 5.5, Col. Camelinas, La Piedad, Michoacán 59375, Mexico;
| | - Octavio Merino Charrez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Km. 5 Carretera Victoria-Mante, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas 87000, Mexico;
| | - Tami Howard
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, (USDA-APHIS-VS), Field Operations, Southern Border Ports, Albuquerque, NM 87109, USA;
| | - Victoria M. Chávez Niño
- United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, International Services, (USDA-APHIS-IS), Mexico, Sierra Nevada 115, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico City 11000, Mexico;
| | - Adalberto A. Pérez de León
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA–ARS), Knipling–Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA; (M.T.); (A.A.P.d.L.)
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Osbrink WLA, Showler AT, Abrigo V, Pérez de León AA. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Larvae Collected From Vegetation in the Coastal Wildlife Corridor of Southern Texas and Research Solutions for Integrated Eradication. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 57:1305-1309. [PMID: 31971591 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The potential for reinvasion of the United States by cattle fever ticks, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini), which remain established in Mexico, threatens the viability of the domestic livestock industry because these ticks vector the causal agents (Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina) of bovine babesiosis. The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program safeguards the health of the national cattle herd preventing the reemergence of bovine babesiosis by keeping the United States free of cattle fever ticks. Here, the collection of free-living southern cattle tick, R. microplus, larvae by sweeping flannel flags over vegetation in the wildlife corridor of Cameron and Willacy Counties, TX, is reported. Finding R. microplus larvae on vegetation complements reports of infestations in wildlife hosts inhabiting the southern Texas coastal plains. Land uses and environmental conditions have changed since cattle fever ticks were eradicated from the United States by 1943. These changes complicate efforts by the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program to keep cattle in the United States free of the cattle fever tick disease vectors. Current scientific research on technologies that could be used for area-wide management of fever tick larvae in south Texas and how this could be applied to integrated eradication efforts are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weste L A Osbrink
- USDA-ARS-SPA Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX
| | - Allan T Showler
- USDA-ARS-SPA Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX
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Thompson JM, Delgado AH, Hasel HS, Bonilla DL. Effects of Drought and Media-Reported Violence on Cattle Fever Tick Incursions. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:373. [PMID: 32719815 PMCID: PMC7348998 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectoparasites, such as cattle fever ticks, and the diseases they carry pose a risk to the global cattle population in reduced productivity and in livability. Tick infestations carry significant economic implications through losses in productivity, increased morbidity, and control costs. Cattle fever ticks were eradicated from the United States through concentrated efforts across state and federal agencies. The Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program maintains a permanent quarantine and buffer zone along the Texas-Mexico border to monitor and control reincursions of the tick from Mexico due to movements of wildlife or stray animals. The number of apprehensions of stray livestock and changing infestation rates may be influenced by many factors including increases in violence along the border or environmental effects such as weather pattern changes, river levels, or temperature fluctuations. Using annual records of the number of cattle apprehended and infestation rates, an analysis of the effects of media-reported border violence and environmental conditions can provide a unique understanding of cattle fever tick prevention and the challenges control programs face. Results from this analysis suggest that both media-reported violence and weather changes affect the rate at which infested cattle are apprehended, and these effects differ depending on spatial and temporal factors. With continued land use changes, social unrest in endemic areas, and changing weather patterns, the efforts to control and eradicate cattle fever ticks, both in the United States and globally, is likely to be an ongoing concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jada M Thompson
- Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Amy H Delgado
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Hallie S Hasel
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Denise L Bonilla
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Marques R, Krüger RF, Peterson AT, de Melo LF, Vicenzi N, Jiménez-García D. Climate change implications for the distribution of the babesiosis and anaplasmosis tick vector, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. Vet Res 2020; 51:81. [PMID: 32546223 PMCID: PMC7298856 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-020-00802-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change ranks among the most important issues globally, affecting geographic distributions of vectors and pathogens, and inducing losses in livestock production among many other damaging effects. We characterized the potential geographic distribution of the ticks Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, an important vector of babesiosis and anaplasmosis globally. We evaluated potential geographic shifts in suitability patterns for this species in two periods (2050 and 2070) and under two emissions scenarios (RCPs 4.5 and 8.5). Our results anticipate increases in suitability worldwide, particularly in the highest production areas for cattle. The Indo-Malayan region resulted in the highest cattle exposure under both climate change projections (2050), with increases in suitability of > 30%. This study illustrates how ecological niche modeling can be used to explore probable effects of climate change on disease vectors, and the possible consequences on economic dimensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Marques
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Rodrigo F. Krüger
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | | | - Larissa F. de Melo
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Natália Vicenzi
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Parasitos e Vetores, Programa de Pós Graduação em Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS Brazil
| | - Daniel Jiménez-García
- Centro de Agroecología y Ambiente, Instituto de Ciencias, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Puebla México
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Showler AT, Pérez de León A. Landscape Ecology of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Outbreaks in the South Texas Coastal Plain Wildlife Corridor Including Man-Made Barriers. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:546-552. [PMID: 32338280 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Landscape features and the ecology of suitable hosts influence the phenology of invasive tick species. The southern cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), vectors causal agents of babesiosis in cattle and it infests exotic, feral nilgai, Bosephalus tragocamelus Pallas, and indigenous white-tailed deer, Odocoilus virginianus (Zimmerman), on the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor. The corridor extends from the Mexico border to cattle ranches extending north from inside Willacy Co. Outbreaks of R. microplus infesting cattle and nondomesticated ungulate hosts since 2014 in the wildlife corridor have focused attention on host infestation management and, by extension, dispersal. However, there is a knowledge gap on the ecology of R. microplus outbreaks in the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor. Ixodid distribution on the wildlife corridor is strongly influenced by habitat salinity. Saline habitats, which constitute ≈25% of the wildlife corridor, harbor few ixodids because of occasional salt toxicity from hypersaline wind tides and infrequent storm surges, and from efficient egg predation by mud flat fiddler crabs, Uca rapax (Smith). Rhipicephalus microplus infestations on nilgai were more prevalent in part of the corridor with mixed low salinity and saline areas than in an area that is more extensively saline. The different levels of R. microplus infestation suggest that man-made barriers have created isolated areas where the ecology of R. microplus outbreaks involve infested nilgai. The possible utility of man-made barriers for R. microplus eradication in the lower part of the South Texas coastal plain wildlife corridor is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan T Showler
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX
| | - Adalberto Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX
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EFFICACY OF WHITE-TAILED DEER ( ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) TREATMENT FOR CATTLE FEVER TICKS IN SOUTHERN TEXAS, USA. J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:588-596. [PMID: 32065762 DOI: 10.7589/2015-11-304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) serve as a host for cattle fever ticks (Rhipicephalus [Boophilus] microplus and Rhipicephalus [Boophilus] annulatus; CFTs); therefore, deer are a concern for CFT control programs in southern Texas, US. Systemic (oral delivery of ivermectin) and topical (permethrin on pelage) treatment devices have been developed for white-tailed deer; however, the efficacy of these treatment options has not been determined for CFTs in southern Texas. Our objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of CFT treatment strategies by 1) measuring exposure rates of deer to the acaricides permethrin and ivermectin, 2) determining the relationship between CFTs on deer and exposure to the acaricides, and 3) determining if photos from remote cameras at medicated bait sites can be used as a measure of acaricide treatment. We captured 327 deer at four sites in southern Texas. Deer visitation to medicated bait sites was monitored using remote cameras from March 2010 to February 2012. There was no relationship between the presence of permethrin and the probability of being infested with CFTs (P≥0.336). The probability of infestation with CFTs decreased as serum ivermectin levels increased for male (n=18, P=0.098) and female (n=33, P<0.001) deer. Our results indicate ivermectin may be more effective in treating CFTs than permethrin; thus it would be worthwhile to develop topical acaricides other than permethrin for treating white-tailed deer in southern Texas.
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Alcala-Canto Y, Figueroa-Castillo JA, Ibarra-Velarde F, Vera-Montenegro Y, Cervantes-Valencia ME, Alberti-Navarro A. First database of the spatial distribution of Eimeria species of cattle, sheep and goats in Mexico. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1057-1074. [PMID: 31901110 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06548-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ruminant coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal disease caused by parasites of the genus Eimeria. Environmental and climatic factors are relevant for the development, survival, and transmission of coccidiosis because Eimeria oocysts are able to survive in the environment for several weeks or months in favorable conditions of moderate heat and moisture. The aim of the present study was to georeference, for the first time, the locations of Eimeria occurrences in Mexico from 1961 to 2018. A dataset was created for 3414 reports of Eimeria occurrences in cattle, sheep, and goats in Mexico. Twelve species of Eimeria that infect cattle were recorded, 11 Eimeria species of sheep are present in Mexico, and eight species of goats are geographically distributed in the country. In the current findings, it has been observed that Eimeria colonizes mainly the temperate semihumid, temperate humid, warm humid, and warm semihumid areas during spring and summer in animals younger than 1 year of age. Macroenvironmental variables like temperature and rainfall influence the prevalence of Eimeria in cattle, sheep, and goats, and for some species, the rearing system, facility type, farm size, and altitude affect the occurrence of this parasite. Results may support future studies aimed at reducing the disease prevalence of the parasite in endemic regions of Mexico. The use of recorded cases and climate variables yields a more comprehensive perspective of the epidemiology of eimeriosis, which would be difficult to infer from laboratory studies alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazmin Alcala-Canto
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico.
| | | | - Froylan Ibarra-Velarde
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yolanda Vera-Montenegro
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Aldo Alberti-Navarro
- Departamento de Medicina y Zootecnia de Rumiantes, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, UNAM, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
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Klafke GM, Moreno HC, Tidwell JP, Miller RJ, Thomas DB, Feria-Arroyo TP, Pérez de León AA. Partial characterization of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene and molecular detection of permethrin resistance in Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say, 1821). Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101368. [PMID: 31917128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say) is a vector of bovine babesiosis and responsible for direct and indirect losses to cattle producing areas located in temperate and subtropical dry regions. Resistance against pyrethroids has been reported for this species in Asia and Africa, but never before in North America. An outbreak strain, Rio Lado, collected close to the border between Mexico and the United States, in Maverick County, Texas, showed low level of resistance to permethrin, a pyrethroid pesticide. We used genomic material from different strains of cattle ticks collected within the Permanent Quarantine Zone (Rio Lado, Vega and Klein Grass strains) to partially characterize the coding gene of the voltage-gated sodium channel (Na-channel), target-site of pyrethroid pesticides, and search for putative mutations associated with resistance using quantitative PCR high resolution melt (HRM) analysis. The two amplified fragments, corresponding to domains II and III of the Na-channel, were 100 % identical to its ortholog in Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini). No nucleotide polymorphisms in the Na-channel gene were observed in the pyrethroid-resistant Rio Lado strain, when compared to the susceptible strains Klein Grass and Vega. This study reports the first case of pyrethroid resistance in R. annulatus collected in the United States. Also, we provide new genomic data for this species of tick that allows for the development of a new method to screen for mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme M Klafke
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd. MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA; Centro de Pesquisa em Saúde Animal - IPVDF, Secretaria da Agricultura, Pecuária e Desenvolvimento Rural, Estrada do Conde, 6000. Eldorado do Sul, RS, 92990-000, Brazil.
| | - Hannah C Moreno
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 W. University Dr. Science Building 4.635, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA
| | - Jason P Tidwell
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd. MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA
| | - Robert J Miller
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd. MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA
| | - Donald B Thomas
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 North Moorefield Rd. MAB 6419, Edinburg, TX, 78541, USA
| | - Teresa P Feria-Arroyo
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 W. University Dr. Science Building 4.635, Edinburg, TX, 78539, USA
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, TX, 78028, USA.
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Raghavan RK, Barker SC, Cobos ME, Barker D, Teo EJM, Foley DH, Nakao R, Lawrence K, Heath ACG, Peterson AT. Potential Spatial Distribution of the Newly Introduced Long-horned Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis in North America. Sci Rep 2019; 9:498. [PMID: 30679711 PMCID: PMC6346113 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37205-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The North American distributional potential of the recently invaded tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, was estimated using occurrence data from its geographic range in other parts of the world and relevant climatic data sets. Several hundred candidate models were built using a correlative maximum entropy approach, and best-fitting models were selected based on statistical significance, predictive ability, and complexity. The median of the best-fitting models indicates a broad potential distribution for this species, but restricted to three sectors—the southeastern United States, the Pacific Northwest, and central and southern Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Raghavan
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine & Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506, Kansas, USA.
| | - S C Barker
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - M E Cobos
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 66045, Kansas, USA
| | - D Barker
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - E J M Teo
- Department of Parasitology, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - D H Foley
- Division of Entomology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, USA
| | - R Nakao
- Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - K Lawrence
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - A C G Heath
- Agresearch Ltd., c/o Hopkirk Research Institute, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - A T Peterson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 66045, Kansas, USA
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Brock CM, Temeyer KB, Tidwell J, Yang Y, Blandon MA, Carreón-Camacho D, Longnecker MT, Almazán C, Pérez de León AA, Pietrantonio PV. The leucokinin-like peptide receptor from the cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus, is localized in the midgut periphery and receptor silencing with validated double-stranded RNAs causes a reproductive fitness cost. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:287-299. [PMID: 30673587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The cattle fever tick, Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) (Acari: Ixodidae), is a one-host tick that infests primarily cattle in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. This species transmits deadly cattle pathogens, especially Babesia spp., for which a recombinant vaccine is not available. Therefore, disease control depends on tick vector control. Although R. microplus was eradicated in the USA, tick populations in Mexico and South America have acquired resistance to many of the applied acaricides. Recent acaricide-resistant tick reintroductions detected in the U.S. underscore the need for novel tick control methods. The octopamine and tyramine/octopamine receptors, both G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), are believed to be the main molecular targets of the acaricide amitraz. This provides the proof of principle that investigating tick GPCRs, especially those that are invertebrate-specific, may be a feasible strategy for discovering novel targets and subsequently new anti-tick compounds. The R. microplus leucokinin-like peptide receptor (LKR), also known as the myokinin- or kinin receptor, is such a GPCR. While the receptor was previously characterized in vitro, the function of the leucokinin signaling system in ticks remains unknown. In this work, the LKR was immunolocalized to the periphery of the female midgut and silenced through RNA interference (RNAi) in females. To optimize RNAi experiments, a dual-luciferase system was developed to determine the silencing efficiency of LKR-double stranded RNA (dsRNA) constructs prior to testing those in ticks placed on cattle. This assay identified two effective dsRNAs. Silencing of the LKR with these two validated dsRNA constructs was verified by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) of female tick dissected tissues. Silencing was significant in midguts and carcasses. Silencing caused decreases in weights of egg masses and in the percentages of eggs hatched per egg mass, as well as delays in time to oviposition and egg hatching. A role of the kinin receptor in tick reproduction is apparent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Brock
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Kevin B Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road Kerrville, TX 78028-9184, USA
| | - Jason Tidwell
- Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd. Building 6419 Edinburg, TX 78541-5033, USA
| | - Yunlong Yang
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Maria A Blandon
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Diana Carreón-Camacho
- Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, CP87000 Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Michael T Longnecker
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475, USA
| | - Consuelo Almazán
- Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, CP87000 Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico
| | - Adalberto A Pérez de León
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road Kerrville, TX 78028-9184, USA
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Fekede RJ, van Gils H, Huang L, Wang X. High probability areas for ASF infection in China along the Russian and Korean borders. Transbound Emerg Dis 2019; 66:852-864. [PMID: 30520567 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF) is a transcontinental, contagious, fatal virus disease of pig with devastating socioeconomic impacts. Interaction between infected wild boar and domestic pig may spread the virus. The disease is spreading fast from the west of Eurasia towards ASF-free China. Consequently, prediction of the distribution of ASF along the Sino-Russian-Korean borders is urgent. Our area of interest is Northeast China. The reported ASF-locations in 11 contiguous countries from the Baltic to the Russian Federation were extracted from the archive of the World Organization for Animal Health from July 19, 2007 to March 27, 2017. The locational records of the wild boar were obtained from literature. The environmental predictor variables were downloaded from the WorldClim website. Spatial rarefication and pair-wise geographic distance comparison were applied to minimize spatial autocorrelation of presence points. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to minimize multi-collinearity among predictor variables. We selected the maximum entropy algorithm for spatial modelling of ASF and wild boar separately, combined the wild boar prediction with the domestic pig census in a single map of suids and overlaid the ASF with the suids map. The accuracy of the models was assessed by the AUC. PCA delivered five components accounting for 95.7% of the variance. Spatial autocorrelation was shown to be insignificant for both ASF and wild boar records. The spatial models showed high mean AUC (0.92 and 0.97) combined with low standard deviations (0.003 and 0.006) for ASF and wild boar, respectively. The overlay of the ASF and suids maps suggests that a relatively short sector of the Sino-Russian border has a high probability entry point of ASF at current conditions. Two sectors of the Sino-Korean border present an elevated risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regassa Joka Fekede
- Center of Conservation Medicine & Ecological Safety, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China.,College of Wildlife Resource, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China
| | - Hein van Gils
- Center of Conservation Medicine & Ecological Safety, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China.,Department of Geography, Geoinformatics & Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa
| | - LiYa Huang
- Changbai Mountain Academy of Sciences, Antu, Jilin province, China
| | - XiaoLong Wang
- Center of Conservation Medicine & Ecological Safety, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China.,College of Wildlife Resource, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China
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Abstract
Babesiosis, caused by piroplasmid protozoans in the genus Babesia, is arguably the most important vector-borne disease of livestock and companion animals and is growing in importance as a zoonosis. Ixodid ticks were identified as vectors more than a hundred years ago, but the particular tick species transmitting some significant pathogens are still unknown. Moreover, it is only recently that the complexity of the pathogen-tick relationship has been revealed as a result of studies enabled by gene expression and RNA interference methodology. In this article, we provide details of demonstrated and incriminated vectors, maps of the current knowledge of vector distribution, a summary of established features of the pathogen life cycle in the vector, and an outline of molecular research on pathogen-tick relationships. The article concludes with a discussion of vector ecology and disease epidemiology in a global-change context and with suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;
| | | | - Annetta Zintl
- UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland;
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Murray KA, Olivero J, Roche B, Tiedt S, Guégan J. Pathogeography: leveraging the biogeography of human infectious diseases for global health management. ECOGRAPHY 2018; 41:1411-1427. [PMID: 32313369 PMCID: PMC7163494 DOI: 10.1111/ecog.03625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Biogeography is an implicit and fundamental component of almost every dimension of modern biology, from natural selection and speciation to invasive species and biodiversity management. However, biogeography has rarely been integrated into human or veterinary medicine nor routinely leveraged for global health management. Here we review the theory and application of biogeography to the research and management of human infectious diseases, an integration we refer to as 'pathogeography'. Pathogeography represents a promising framework for understanding and decomposing the spatial distributions, diversity patterns and emergence risks of human infectious diseases into interpretable components of dynamic socio-ecological systems. Analytical tools from biogeography are already helping to improve our understanding of individual infectious disease distributions and the processes that shape them in space and time. At higher levels of organization, biogeographical studies of diseases are rarer but increasing, improving our ability to describe and explain patterns that emerge at the level of disease communities (e.g. co-occurrence, diversity patterns, biogeographic regionalisation). Even in a highly globalized world most human infectious diseases remain constrained in their geographic distributions by ecological barriers to the dispersal or establishment of their causal pathogens, reservoir hosts and/or vectors. These same processes underpin the spatial arrangement of other taxa, such as mammalian biodiversity, providing a strong empirical 'prior' with which to assess the potential distributions of infectious diseases when data on their occurrence is unavailable or limited. In the absence of quality data, generalized biogeographic patterns could provide the earliest (and in some cases the only) insights into the potential distributions of many poorly known or emerging, or as-yet-unknown, infectious disease risks. Encouraging more community ecologists and biogeographers to collaborate with health professionals (and vice versa) has the potential to improve our understanding of infectious disease systems and identify novel management strategies to improve local, global and planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris A. Murray
- Grantham Inst. – Climate Change and the Environment and Dept of Infectious Disease EpidemiologyImperial College LondonUK
| | | | - Benjamin Roche
- Inst. de Recherche pour le DéveloppementUMI IRD/UPMC 209 UMMISCOBondyFrance
- Depto de Etología, Fauna Silvestre y Animales de Laboratorio, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y ZootecniaUniv. Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMéxico
- Inst. de Recherche pour le DéveloppementHealth and Societies Dept, UMR MIVEGEC IRD‐CNRS‐Montpellier Univ.France
| | - Sonia Tiedt
- School of Public HealthImperial College LondonUK
| | - Jean‐Francois Guégan
- Inst. de Recherche pour le DéveloppementHealth and Societies Dept, UMR MIVEGEC IRD‐CNRS‐Montpellier Univ.France
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Modelling the distribution of Rhipicephalus microplus and R. decoloratus in Zimbabwe. VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY- REGIONAL STUDIES AND REPORTS 2018; 14:41-49. [PMID: 31014735 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 08/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Species distribution modelling is a very useful tool in vector management. Ticks are vectors of various pathogens which cause serious problems in livestock production in tropical countries. They have a high dispersal potential which is mainly facilitated by the movement of animals from one area to another. In light of the observed geographic expansion of Rhipicephalus microplus in Zimbabwe, we used species distribution modelling techniques to identify areas which may provide suitable habitats for the occurrence of this invasive tick species as well as the autochthonous Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Our results suggest that, despite the geographic expansion of R. microplus, climate will continue to be a limiting factor for the further expansion of this tick species. We expect its distribution to be restricted to the most favourable areas in the eastern and northern parts. The greater part of Zimbabwe is suitable for R. decoloratus, although in areas where R. microplus occurs, displacement of the former by the latter will be expected to occur. A heterogeneous climate, unregulated movement of cattle and episodic droughts are suggested to be possible factors for the continued existence of R. microplus and R. decoloratus in Zimbabwe and the partial displacement.
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Sungirai M, Baron S, Van der Merwe NA, Moyo DZ, De Clercq P, Maritz-Olivier C, Madder M. Population structure and genetic diversity of Rhipicephalus microplus in Zimbabwe. Acta Trop 2018; 180:42-46. [PMID: 29325969 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Recently there was an expansion in the geographic range of Rhipicephalus microplus in Zimbabwe. In order to understand gene flow patterns and population structure in this highly invasive and adaptable cattle tick, a population genetics study was carried out. Eighty-seven R. microplus tick samples drawn from 5 distinct populations were genotyped using eight polymorphic microsatellite loci. Genetic diversity (He) was high (0.755-0.802) in all the populations, suggesting high levels of gene flow with 97% of genetic variation found within populations and 3% amongst populations. No isolation by distance was observed with low but significant genetic differentiation amongst the populations (0-0.076). Most of the sampled individuals had admixed genetic backgrounds, except for those from Matabeleland North whose genetic makeup appeared different from the rest. Rhipicephalus microplus was recently recorded in this area and the environmental conditions do not support survival of the tick there. These results confirm recent range expansion of the tick and the lowest genetic diversity recorded in the Matabeleland North population is suggestive of a founder effect, which may lead to genetic drift. Generally, the very low levels of genetic differentiation amongst the populations could be a result of the frequent movement of livestock from one area to another, which will have implications for disease control. This study offers further opportunities to study evolutionary adaptation of R. microplus in Zimbabwe and southern Africa.
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Wang HH, Corson MS, Grant WE, Teel PD. Quantitative models of Rhipicephalus
(Boophilus
) ticks: historical review and synthesis. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hsiao-Hsuan Wang
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | | | - William E. Grant
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; Texas A&M University; College Station Texas 77843 USA
| | - Pete D. Teel
- Department of Entomology; Texas A&M AgriLife Research; College Station Texas 77843 USA
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Suarez CE, Bishop RP, Alzan HF, Poole WA, Cooke BM. Advances in the application of genetic manipulation methods to apicomplexan parasites. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:701-710. [PMID: 28893636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Apicomplexan parasites such as Babesia, Theileria, Eimeria, Cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma greatly impact animal health globally, and improved, cost-effective measures to control them are urgently required. These parasites have complex multi-stage life cycles including obligate intracellular stages. Major gaps in our understanding of the biology of these relatively poorly characterised parasites and the diseases they cause severely limit options for designing novel control methods. Here we review potentially important shared aspects of the biology of these parasites, such as cell invasion, host cell modification, and asexual and sexual reproduction, and explore the potential of the application of relatively well-established or newly emerging genetic manipulation methods, such as classical transfection or gene editing, respectively, for closing important gaps in our knowledge of the function of specific genes and proteins, and the biology of these parasites. In addition, genetic manipulation methods impact the development of novel methods of control of the diseases caused by these economically important parasites. Transient and stable transfection methods, in conjunction with whole and deep genome sequencing, were initially instrumental in improving our understanding of the molecular biology of apicomplexan parasites and paved the way for the application of the more recently developed gene editing methods. The increasingly efficient and more recently developed gene editing methods, in particular those based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system and previous conceptually similar techniques, are already contributing to additional gene function discovery using reverse genetics and related approaches. However, gene editing methods are only possible due to the increasing availability of in vitro culture, transfection, and genome sequencing and analysis techniques. We envisage that rapid progress in the development of novel gene editing techniques applied to apicomplexan parasites of veterinary interest will ultimately lead to the development of novel and more efficient methods for disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Washington State University, 3003 ADBF, P.O. Box 646630, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - R P Bishop
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; The Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - H F Alzan
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Parasitology and Animal Diseases Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - W A Poole
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - B M Cooke
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Nelson SL, Durden LA, Reuter JD. Rhipicephalus microplus and Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae) Coparasitize White-Tailed Deer on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1440-1443. [PMID: 28591859 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ticks parasitizing introduced white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann), on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, were recorded during and after drought conditions. Tick infestation prevalences were 22% at the start of the drought (July 2015), 66% at the height of the drought (March 2016), and 35% after the drought had ended (July 2016; n = 67 deer). Samples of ticks from 22 tranquilized deer in July 2016 revealed the presence of two species, the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), and the tropical horse tick, Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens Neumann. Both tick species have considerable veterinary importance, especially for cattle and horses, respectively, as nuisance biters and also as vectors of parasitic piroplasms or of Anaplasma marginale Theiler. All 22 deer examined were infested by R. microplus, whereas 14 (64%) of the samples also included specimens of D. nitens. Because of the large numbers of ticks recorded, wild deer on St. John could develop associated health problems (pruritis, alopecia, anemia, low weight gain, tick-borne pathogens and parasites) and could also serve as a source of these ticks for cattle and horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne L Nelson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, 354 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0354
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 510 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey, WA 98503
| | - Lance A Durden
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, 4324 Old Register Rd., Statesboro, GA 30458
| | - Jon D Reuter
- Office of Animal Resources, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2860 Wilderness Place, Boulder, CO 80301
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40
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Foley AM, Goolsby JA, Ortega-S A, Ortega-S JA, Pérez de León A, Singh NK, Schwartz A, Ellis D, Hewitt DG, Campbell TA. Movement patterns of nilgai antelope in South Texas: Implications for cattle fever tick management. Prev Vet Med 2017; 146:166-172. [PMID: 28992923 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife, both native and introduced, can harbor and spread diseases of importance to the livestock industry. Describing movement patterns of such wildlife is essential to formulate effective disease management strategies. Nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are a free-ranging, introduced ungulate in southern Texas known to carry cattle fever ticks (CFT, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, R. (B.) annulatus). CFT are the vector for the etiological agent of bovine babesiosis, a lethal disease causing high mortality in susceptible Bos taurus populations and severely affecting the beef cattle industry. Efforts to eradicate CFT from the United States have been successful. However, a permanent quarantine area is maintained between Texas and Mexico to check its entry from infested areas of neighboring Mexico states on wildlife and stray cattle. In recent years, there has been an increase in CFT infestations outside of the permanent quarantine area in Texas. Nilgai are of interest in understanding how CFT may be spread through the landscape. Thirty nilgai of both sexes were captured and fitted with satellite radio collars in South Texas to gain information about movement patterns, response to disturbances, and movement barriers. Median annual home range sizes were highly variable in males (4665ha, range=571-20,809) and females (1606ha, range=848-29,909). Female movement patterns appeared to be seasonal with peaks during June-August; these peaks appeared to be a function of break-ups in female social groups rather than environmental conditions. Nilgai, which reportedly are sensitive to disturbance, were more likely to relocate into new areas immediately after being captured versus four other types of helicopter activities. Nilgai did not cross 1.25m high cattle fences parallel to paved highways but did cross other fence types. Results indicate that females have a higher chance of spreading CFT through the landscape than males, but spread of CFT may be mitigated via maintenance of cattle fences running parallel with paved highways. Our results highlight the importance of documenting species-specific behavior in wildlife-livestock interfaces that can be used to develop effective disease management strategies in the United States and worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M Foley
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States; Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363, United States
| | - John A Goolsby
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd., Edinburg, TX 78541, United States.
| | - Alfonso Ortega-S
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States
| | - J Alfonso Ortega-S
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363, United States
| | - A Pérez de León
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, 2700 Fredericksburg Rd., Kerrville, TX 78028, United States
| | - Nirbhay K Singh
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India
| | - Andy Schwartz
- Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, TX 78758, United States
| | - Dee Ellis
- Texas Animal Health Commission, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, TX 78758, United States
| | - David G Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 700 University Blvd., Kingsville, TX 78363, United States
| | - Tyler A Campbell
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States
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41
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Goolsby JA, Singh NK, Ortega-S A, Hewitt DG, Campbell TA, Wester D, Pérez de León AA. Comparison of natural and artificial odor lures for nilgai ( Boselaphus tragocamelus) and white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) in South Texas: Developing treatment for cattle fever tick eradication. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2017; 6:100-107. [PMID: 28580297 PMCID: PMC5447508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cattle fever ticks (CFT), vectors of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis, were eradicated from the United States by 1943, but are frequently reintroduced from neighboring border states of Mexico via stray cattle and wildlife hosts including white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (WTD) and nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus). Nilgai antelope are exotic bovids from India that are hosts of CFT, have large home ranges as compared to WTD, thus have the potential to spread CFT through the landscape. Currently, there are no methods to control CFT on nilgai. Odor lures were evaluated to determine if nilgai could be attracted to a central point for development of control methods. Four treatments, nilgai offal a natural odor lure was used as the positive control; and compared to three artificial odors; screw worm lure, volatile fatty acids, citronella oil. Studies were conducted on a free-ranging population of nilgai at the East Foundation's Santa Rosa Ranch (Kenedy Co., near Riviera, Texas, USA). Game cameras were used to document visitation to the lures. In the ten randomly placed transects, 110 nilgai and 104 WTD were photographed. Offal had significantly more visits by nilgai (71% of total visits) than screwworm (15%), VFA (11%), and citronella (4%). For WTD, there was no significant difference in visitation at the lure treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A. Goolsby
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd, Edinburg, TX 78541, United States
| | - Nirbhay K. Singh
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, 22675 N. Moorefield Rd, Edinburg, TX 78541, United States
- Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141004, India
| | - Alfonso Ortega-S
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States
| | - David G. Hewitt
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 700 University Blvd, Kingsville, TX 78363, United States
| | - Tyler A. Campbell
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX 78216, United States
| | - David Wester
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, 700 University Blvd, Kingsville, TX 78363, United States
| | - Adalberto A. Pérez de León
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, 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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42
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Peterson AT, Raghavan RK. The Geographic Distribution of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Revisited: The Importance of Assumptions About Error Balance. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:1080-1084. [PMID: 28591858 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, a spirochete that causes Lyme disease, in eastern North America. Lyme disease risk has generally been considered to be focused in the Northeast and the northern Midwest in the United States, yet the distribution of the vector extends considerably more broadly. A recent analysis of the distribution of the species using ecological niche modeling approaches painted an odd biogeographic picture, in which the species is distributed in a "rimming" distribution across the northern Midwest and Northeast, and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the eastern United States, but not broadly in the interior of eastern North America. Here, we reanalyze the situation for this species, and demonstrate that the distribution estimated in the previous study was a consequence of assumptions about relative weights applied to different error types. A more appropriate error weighting scheme for niche modeling analyses, in which omission error is prioritized over commission error, shows a simpler distribution, in which the species ranges continuously across eastern North America; this distributional pattern is supported by independent occurrence data from the eastern Great Plains, in Kansas. We discuss implications for public health planning and intervention across the region, as well as for developing effective and predictive maps of vector distributions and pathogen transmission risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ram K Raghavan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
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43
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Peterson AT, Campbell LP, Moo-Llanes DA, Travi B, González C, Ferro MC, Ferreira GEM, Brandão-Filho SP, Cupolillo E, Ramsey J, Leffer AMC, Pech-May A, Shaw JJ. Influences of climate change on the potential distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae). Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:667-674. [PMID: 28668326 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study explores the present day distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis in relation to climate, and transfers the knowledge gained to likely future climatic conditions to predict changes in the species' potential distribution. We used ecological niche models calibrated based on occurrences of the species complex from across its known geographic range. Anticipated distributional changes varied by region, from stability to expansion or decline. Overall, models indicated no significant north-south expansion beyond present boundaries. However, some areas suitable both at present and in the future (e.g., Pacific coast of Ecuador and Peru) may offer opportunities for distributional expansion. Our models anticipated potential range expansion in southern Brazil and Argentina, but were variably successful in anticipating specific cases. The most significant climate-related change anticipated in the species' range was with regard to range continuity in the Amazon Basin, which is likely to increase in coming decades. Rather than making detailed forecasts of actual locations where Lu. longipalpis will appear in coming years, our models make interesting and potentially important predictions of broader-scale distributional tendencies that can inform heath policy and mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bruno Travi
- Department of Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Camila González
- Centro de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Tropical (CIMPAT), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María Cristina Ferro
- Laboratorio de Entomología, Subdirección Red Nacional de Laboratorios, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Elisa Cupolillo
- Laboratório de Pesquisas em Leishmaniose, FIOCRUZ Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Janine Ramsey
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Tapachula, Chiapas 30700, Mexico
| | | | - Angélica Pech-May
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Tropical, Neuquén y Jujuy s/n 3370, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey J Shaw
- Parasitology Department, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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44
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Simulated interactions of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), climate variation and habitat heterogeneity on southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) eradication methods in south Texas, USA. Ecol Modell 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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45
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Temeyer KB, Tuckow AP. Tick Salivary Cholinesterase: A Probable Immunomodulator of Host-parasite Interactions. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 53:500-504. [PMID: 26794231 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjv252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Canestrini), is the most economically important cattle ectoparasite in the world. Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus annulatus (Say) continue to threaten U.S. cattle producers despite eradication and an importation barrier based on inspection, dipping of imported cattle in organophosphate (OP) acaricide, and quarantine of infested premises. OP acaricides inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), essential to tick central nervous system function. Unlike vertebrates, ticks possess at least three genes encoding AChEs, differing in amino acid sequence and biochemical properties. Genomic analyses of R. microplus and the related tick, Ixodes scapularis, suggest that ticks contain many genes encoding different AChEs. This work is the first report of a salivary cholinesterase (ChE) activity in R. microplus, and discusses complexity of the cholinergic system in ticks and significance of tick salivary ChE at the tick-host interface. It further provides three hypotheses that the salivary ChE plausibly functions 1) to reduce presence of potentially toxic acetylcholine present in the large bloodmeal imbibed during rapid engorgement, 2) to modulate the immune response (innate and/or acquired) of the host to tick antigens, and 3) to influence transmission and establishment of pathogens within the host animal. Ticks are vectors for a greater number and variety of pathogens than any other parasite, and are second only to mosquitoes (owing to malaria) as vectors of serious human disease. Saliva-assisted transmission (SAT) of pathogens is well-known; however, the salivary components participating in the SAT process remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B Temeyer
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, Texas 78028 (; ) and
| | - Alexander P Tuckow
- Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 2700 Fredericksburg Road, Kerrville, Texas 78028 (; ) and
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Esteve-Gassent MD, Castro-Arellano I, Feria-Arroyo TP, Patino R, Li AY, Medina RF, Pérez de León AA, Rodríguez-Vivas RI. TRANSLATING ECOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, AND POPULATION GENETICS RESEARCH TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF TICK AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES IN NORTH AMERICA. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 92:38-64. [PMID: 27062414 PMCID: PMC4844827 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Emerging and re-emerging tick-borne diseases threaten public health and the wellbeing of domestic animals and wildlife globally. The adoption of an evolutionary ecology framework aimed to diminish the impact of tick-borne diseases needs to be part of strategies to protect human and animal populations. We present a review of current knowledge on the adaptation of ticks to their environment, and the impact that global change could have on their geographic distribution in North America. Environmental pressures will affect tick population genetics by selecting genotypes able to withstand new and changing environments and by altering the connectivity and isolation of several tick populations. Research in these areas is particularly lacking in the southern United States and most of Mexico with knowledge gaps on the ecology of these diseases, including a void in the identity of reservoir hosts for several tick-borne pathogens. Additionally, the way in which anthropogenic changes to landscapes may influence tick-borne disease ecology remains to be fully understood. Enhanced knowledge in these areas is needed in order to implement effective and sustainable integrated tick management strategies. We propose to refocus ecology studies with emphasis on metacommunity-based approaches to enable a holistic perspective addressing whole pathogen and host assemblages. Network analyses could be used to develop mechanistic models involving multihost-pathogen communities. An increase in our understanding of the ecology of tick-borne diseases across their geographic distribution will aid in the design of effective area-wide tick control strategies aimed to diminish the burden of pathogens transmitted by ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D. Esteve-Gassent
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX-77843, USA
| | - Ivan Castro-Arellano
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX-78666, USA
| | - Teresa P. Feria-Arroyo
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX-78539, USA
| | - Ramiro Patino
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX-78539, USA
| | - Andrew Y. Li
- USDA-ARS Invasive Insect Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
| | - Raul F. Medina
- Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX-77843, USA
| | - Adalberto A. Pérez de León
- USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, TX-78028, USA
| | - Roger Iván Rodríguez-Vivas
- Campus de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias. Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia. Km 15.5 carretera Mérida-Xmatkuil. Yucatán, México
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47
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Donaldson TG, Pèrez de León AA, Li AY, Li AI, Castro-Arellano I, Wozniak E, Boyle WK, Hargrove R, Wilder HK, Kim HJ, Teel PD, Lopez JE. Assessment of the Geographic Distribution of Ornithodoros turicata (Argasidae): Climate Variation and Host Diversity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0004383. [PMID: 26829327 PMCID: PMC4734830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ornithodoros turicata is a veterinary and medically important argasid tick that is recognized as a vector of the relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia turicatae and African swine fever virus. Historic collections of O. turicata have been recorded from Latin America to the southern United States. However, the geographic distribution of this vector is poorly understood in relation to environmental variables, their hosts, and consequently the pathogens they transmit. Methodology Localities of O. turicata were generated by performing literature searches, evaluating records from the United States National Tick Collection and the Symbiota Collections of Arthropods Network, and by conducting field studies. Maximum entropy species distribution modeling (Maxent) was used to predict the current distribution of O. turicata. Vertebrate host diversity and GIS analyses of their distributions were used to ascertain the area of shared occupancy of both the hosts and vector. Conclusions and Significance Our results predicted previously unrecognized regions of the United States with habitat that may maintain O. turicata and could guide future surveillance efforts for a tick capable of transmitting high–consequence pathogens to human and animal populations. Argasid ticks are understudied vectors of significant human and veterinary pathogens. The life-cycle and feeding behavior of the tick poses challenges when attempting to understand the vector’s distribution. These ticks reside in dens, nests, and cave cavities, and are indiscriminant nocturnal feeders. They also engorge within minutes of attachment, and identifying the ticks on a vertebrate host is infrequent. To guide future surveillance studies, we predicted regions of probable occurrences for Ornithodoros turicata, a species capable of transmitting relapsing fever spirochetes and African swine fever virus. Historical databases and published literature were evaluated, and we collected ticks from regions of the United States. Environmental factors linked with known localities of O. turicata were used in a mathematical modeling program, which predicted regions in the United States and north Mexico likely to sustain the ticks. Additionally, vertebrate host ranges were associated with the predictive models, which may indicate how the tick vectors are dispersed. Collectively, these studies identified previously unrecognized regions that could sustain the ticks, and we envision that our work will help guide surveillance and additional research efforts to understand the ecology of pathogens transmitted by argasid ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor G Donaldson
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Adalberto A Pèrez de León
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory and Veterinary Pest Genomics Center, Kerrville, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Andrew I Li
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Invasive Insects Biocontrol and Behavior Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland
| | - Ivan Castro-Arellano
- Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, United States of America
| | - Edward Wozniak
- Texas State Guard, Medical Brigade, Uvalde, Texas, United States of America
| | - William K Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Reid Hargrove
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Hannah K Wilder
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Hee J Kim
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pete D Teel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Job E Lopez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi, United States of America.,Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Clark NJ, Clegg SM, Klaassen M. Migration strategy and pathogen risk: non-breeding distribution drives malaria prevalence in migratory waders. OIKOS 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Clark
- Environmental Futures Research Inst., School of Environment, Griffith Univ.; Gold Coast Campus QLD 4222 Australia
- Natural Environments Program, Queensland Museum; PO Box 3300 South Brisbane Queensland 4101 Australia
| | - Sonya M. Clegg
- Environmental Futures Research Inst., School of Environment, Griffith Univ.; Gold Coast Campus QLD 4222 Australia
- Edward Grey Inst., Dept of Zoology, Univ. of Oxford; Oxford OX1 3PS UK
| | - Marcel Klaassen
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin Univ.; Geelong VIC Australia
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49
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KHOSRAVI R, HEMAMI MR, MALEKIAN M, FLINT AL, FLINT LE. Maxent modeling for predicting potential distribution of goitered gazelle in central Iran: the effect of extent and grain size on performance of the model. TURK J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.3906/zoo-1505-38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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50
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Kim TK, Radulovic Z, Mulenga A. Target validation of highly conserved Amblyomma americanum tick saliva serine protease inhibitor 19. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015; 7:405-14. [PMID: 26746129 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Revised: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Amblyomma americanum tick serine protease inhibitor (serpin, AAS) 19, is a highly conserved protein that is characterized by its functional domain being 100% conserved across tick species. We also reported that AAS19 was an immunogenic tick saliva protein with anti-haemostatic functions and an inhibitor of trypsin-like proteases including five of the eight serine protease factors in the blood clotting cascade. In this study the goal was to validate the importance of AAS19 in A. americanum tick physiology, assess immunogenicity and investigate tick vaccine efficacy of yeast-expressed recombinant (r) AAS19. We confirm that AAS19 is important to A. americanum fitness and blood meal feeding. AAS19 mRNA disruption by RNAi silencing caused ticks to obtain blood meals that were 50% smaller than controls, and treated ticks being morphologically deformed with 100% of the deformed ticks dying in incubation. We show that rAAS19 is highly immunogenic in that two 500 μg inoculations mixed with TiterMax Gold adjuvant provoked antibody titers of more than 1:320,000 that specifically reacted with native AAS19 in unfed and partially fed tick tissue. Since AAS19 is injected into animals during tick feeding, we challenge infested immunized rabbits twice to test if tick infestations of immunized rabbits could act as booster. While in the first infestation significantly smaller tick blood meals were observed on one of the two immunized rabbits, smaller blood meals were observed on both rabbits, but 60% of ticks that engorged on immunized rabbits in the second infestation failed to lay eggs. It is notable that ticks fed faster on immunized animals despite obtaining smaller blood meals. We conclude that rAAS19 is a potential component of cocktail tick vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae K Kim
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Zeljko Radulovic
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Albert Mulenga
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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