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Hojgaard A, Foster E, Maes SE, Osikowicz LM, Parise CM, Villalpando J, Eisen RJ. Geographic variation in the distribution of Anaplasma phagocytophilum variants in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis nymphs and adults in the eastern United States elucidated using next generation sequencing. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2024; 15:102360. [PMID: 38820870 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2024.102360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Human anaplasmosis cases, caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, are increasing in the United States. This trend is explained, in part, by expansion in the geographic range of the primary vector, Ixodes scapularis. Multiple variants of A. phagocytophilum have been identified in field collected ticks, but only a single variant (human active, or "Ap-ha," variant) has been shown to be pathogenic in humans. Until recently, laboratory methods used to differentiate variants were cumbersome and seldomly used in large scale assessments of the pathogen's geographic distribution. As a result, many surveys reported A. phagocytophilum without segregating variants. Lack of discrimination among A. phagocytophilum variants could lead to overestimation of anaplasmosis risk to humans. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) assays were recently developed to efficiently detect multiple Ixodes scapularis-borne human pathogens including Ap-ha. In this study, we utilized NGS to detect and differentiate A. phagocytophilum variants (Ap-ha vs. non ha) in host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs and adults collected across 23 states in the eastern United States from 2012 to 2023 as part of national tick surveillance efforts and research studies. Many of the included ticks were tested previously using a TaqMan PCR assay that could detect A. phagocytophilum but could not differentiate variants. We retested A. phagocytophilum infected ticks with NGS to differentiate variants. Anaplasma phagocytophilum (any variant) was identified in 165 (35 %) of 471 counties from which ticks were tested, whereas Ap-ha was detected in 70 (15 %) of 469 counties where variants were differentiated. Both variants were identified in 32 % (n = 40) of 126 counties with either variant detected. Among states where A. phagocytophilum (any variant) was detected, prevalence ranged from 2 % to 19 % in unfed adults and from 0.2 % to 7.8 % in unfed nymphs; prevalence of Ap-ha variant ranged from 0.0 % to 16 % in adults, and 0.0 % to 4.6 % in nymphs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Lynn M Osikowicz
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Christina M Parise
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joel Villalpando
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Sanchez-Vicente S, Tokarz R. Tick-Borne Co-Infections: Challenges in Molecular and Serologic Diagnoses. Pathogens 2023; 12:1371. [PMID: 38003835 PMCID: PMC10674443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-infections are a poorly understood aspect of tick-borne diseases. In the United States alone, nineteen different tick-borne pathogens have been identified. The majority of these agents are transmitted by only two tick species, Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum. Surveillance studies have demonstrated the presence of multiple pathogens in individual ticks suggesting a risk of polymicrobial transmission to humans. However, relatively few studies have explored this relationship and its impact on human disease. One of the key factors for this deficiency are the intrinsic limitations associated with molecular and serologic assays employed for the diagnosis of tick-borne diseases. Limitations in the sensitivity, specificity and most importantly, the capacity for inclusion of multiple agents within a single assay represent the primary challenges for the accurate detection of polymicrobial tick-borne infections. This review will focus on outlining these limitations and discuss potential solutions for the enhanced diagnosis of tick-borne co-infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Sanchez-Vicente
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA;
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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3
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Braff JC, Arguello-Marin A, Hanscom J, Saucier J, Beall MJ, Qurollo BA, Chandrashekar R, Buch J. Evaluation of Anaplasma spp. seroprevalence in dogs and association with incidence of human anaplasmosis. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 45:100923. [PMID: 37783532 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Point-of-care (POC) ELISA tests are routinely used in US veterinary practices to screen canine patients for antibodies to tick-transmitted pathogens. Results are also used to monitor spatial and temporal trends in canine seroprevalence, and these data can build awareness of the risk to humans of tick-transmitted diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis. This study utilized a second-generation test that has incorporated additional Anaplasma-specific peptides into a commercial POC ELISA test to allow detection of Anaplasma spp. antibodies earlier post-infection. A convenience population consisting of 19,894 canine samples from a US commercial diagnostic laboratory were tested using the second-generation POC ELISA test to describe regional Anaplasma spp. canine seroprevalence and assess correlation to anaplasmosis cases reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by state. Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. were detected in 1646 samples (8.3%) with the Northeast and Midwest US census regions having the highest proportion of positive samples. At the state level, a significant correlation was found between canine Anaplasma spp. seroprevalence and human anaplasmosis incidence (r2 = 0.64). Although estimates of canine Anaplasma spp. seroprevalence presented here using the second-generation POC ELISA are generally increased, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, the regional distribution of canine samples testing positive for Anaplasma spp. antibodies is consistent with previous reports. The observed correlation with human anaplasmosis incidence indicates that results from the second-generation POC ELISA will continue to add value in epidemiological assessment of human anaplasmosis risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Braff
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
| | | | - Jancy Hanscom
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
| | - Jill Saucier
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
| | - Melissa J Beall
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
| | - Barbara A Qurollo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Drive, 11, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
| | | | - Jesse Buch
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., 1 IDEXX Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092, USA.
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Snow AA, Pearson P, Xu G, Allen DN, Santamaria R, Rich SM. Tick Densities and Infection Prevalence on Coastal Islands in Massachusetts, USA: Establishing a Baseline. INSECTS 2023; 14:628. [PMID: 37504634 PMCID: PMC10380421 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases and a tick-induced red meat allergy have become increasingly common in the northeastern USA and elsewhere. At the scale of local communities, few studies have documented tick densities or infection levels to characterize current conditions and provide a baseline for further monitoring. Using the town of Nantucket, MA, as a case study, we recorded tick densities by drag sampling along hiking trails in nature preserves on two islands. Nymphal blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say) were most abundant at shadier sites and least common in grasslands and scrub oak thickets (Quercus ilicifolia). Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum L.) were common on Tuckernuck Island and rare on Nantucket Island, while both tick species were more numerous in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2022. We tested for pathogens in blacklegged nymphs at five sites over two years. In 2020 and 2021, infection levels among the four Nantucket Island sites averaged 10% vs. 19% for Borrelia burgdorferi, 11% vs. 15% for Babesia microti, and 17% (both years) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, while corresponding levels were significantly greater on Tuckernuck in 2021. Our site-specific, quantitative approach represents a practical example of how potential exposure to tick-borne diseases can be monitored on a local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Snow
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Patrick Pearson
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Guang Xu
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - David N Allen
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 05753, USA
| | | | - Stephen M Rich
- Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Price KJ, Khalil N, Witmier BJ, Coder BL, Boyer CN, Foster E, Eisen RJ, Molaei G. EVIDENCE OF PROTOZOAN AND BACTERIAL INFECTION AND CO-INFECTION AND PARTIAL BLOOD FEEDING IN THE INVASIVE TICK HAEMAPHYSALIS LONGICORNIS IN PENNSYLVANIA. J Parasitol 2023; 109:265-273. [PMID: 37436911 PMCID: PMC10658867 DOI: 10.1645/22-122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, an invasive tick species in the United States, has been found actively host-seeking while infected with several human pathogens. Recent work has recovered large numbers of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis, which together with infection findings raises the question of whether such ticks can reattach to a host and transmit pathogens while taking additional bloodmeals. Here we conducted molecular blood meal analysis in tandem with pathogen screening of partially engorged, host-seeking H. longicornis to identify feeding sources and more inclusively characterize acarological risk. Active, statewide surveillance in Pennsylvania from 2020 to 2021 resulted in the recovery of 22/1,425 (1.5%) partially engorged, host-seeking nymphal and 5/163 (3.1%) female H. longicornis. Pathogen testing of engorged nymphs detected 2 specimens positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, 2 for Babesia microti, and 1 co-infected with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. and Ba. microti. No female specimens tested positive for pathogens. Conventional PCR blood meal analysis of H. longicornis nymphs detected avian and mammalian hosts in 3 and 18 specimens, respectively. Mammalian blood was detected in all H. longicornis female specimens. Only 2 H. longicornis nymphs produced viable sequencing results and were determined to have fed on black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax. These data are the first to molecularly confirm H. longicornis partial blood meals from vertebrate hosts and Ba. microti infection and co-infection with Bo. burgdorferi s.l. in host-seeking specimens in the United States, and the data help characterize important determinants indirectly affecting vectorial capacity. Repeated blood meals within a life stage by pathogen-infected ticks suggest that an understanding of the vector potential of invasive H. longicornis populations may be incomplete without data on their natural host-seeking behaviors and blood-feeding patterns in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Price
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Noelle Khalil
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Bryn J Witmier
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Brooke L Coder
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Christian N Boyer
- Division of Vector Management, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
| | - Erik Foster
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-Borne Diseases, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
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6
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Hojgaard A, Osikowicz LM, Rizzo MF, Ayres BN, Nicholson WL, Eisen RJ. Using next generation sequencing for molecular detection and differentiation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum variants from host seeking Ixodes scapularis ticks in the United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:102041. [PMID: 36257186 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.102041] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Anaplasmosis is increasingly common in the United States, with cases being reported over an expanding geographic area. To monitor for changes in risk of human infection, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention monitors the distribution and abundance of host-seeking vector ticks (Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus) and their infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum. While several variants of A. phagocytophilum circulate in I. scapularis, only the human-active variant (Ap-ha) appears to be pathogenic in humans. Failure to differentiate between human and non-human variants may artificially inflate estimates of the risk of human infection. Efforts to differentiate the Ap-ha variant from the deer variant (Ap-V1) in ticks typically rely on traditional PCR assays coupled with sequencing of PCR products. However, laboratories are increasingly turning to Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to increase testing efficiency, retain high sensitivity, and increase specificity compared with traditional PCR assays. We describe a new NGS assay with novel targets that accurately segregate the Ap-ha variant from other non-human variants and further identify unique clades within the human and non-human variants. Recognizing that not all investigators have access to NGS technology, we also developed a PCR assay based on one of the novel targets so that variants can be visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis without the need for subsequent sequencing. Such an assay may be used to improve estimates of human risk of developing anaplasmosis in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrias Hojgaard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
| | - Lynn M Osikowicz
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Maria F Rizzo
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Bryan N Ayres
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - William L Nicholson
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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7
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Anomalous morphologies in Ixodes scapularis feeding on human hosts. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2022; 13:101993. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2022.101993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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8
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Mandli JT, Lee X, Bron GM, Paskewitz SM. Integrated Tick Management in South Central Wisconsin: Impact of Invasive Vegetation Removal and Host-Targeted Acaricides on the Density of Questing Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:2358-2367. [PMID: 34397096 PMCID: PMC8824448 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
As tick-borne disease incidence increases and pathogens expand into new areas, the need for effective tick management strategies is paramount. In this 5-yr study (2014-2018) conducted in south central Wisconsin, we assessed whether an integrated tick management approach, deployed during peak tick activity (May-August), was more effective at reducing black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae)), than individual interventions. Using a factorial design, invasive vegetation removal (Amur honeysuckle, Lonicera maackii Ruprecht (Dipsacales: Caprifoliaceae) and common buckthorn, Rhamnus cathartica Linnaeus (Rosales: Rhamnaceae)) was coupled with deployments of permethrin-treated cotton nesting materials (tick tubes) that target the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque (Rodentia: Cricetidae)). Results show that the probability of encountering a larval tick by drag sampling was unaffected by treatments at the cumulative 5-yr level. However, vegetation removal significantly reduced larval encounters in 2014, 2015, and 2018, by 33%, 57%, and 61% respectively, and reduced the density of questing nymphal (DON) ticks by 45% in 2015 compared to controls. Despite the limited effect on DON, vegetation removal significantly reduced the cumulative 5-yr density of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto infected nymphs (DIN) (70%) compared to controls as a result of decreased nymphal infection prevalence. Sites treated with tick tubes had lower DIN (66%) and DON (54%) across the study and nymphs were reduced every year following the initial year of deployment compared to controls. Combining treatments did not further reduce DIN or DONs. We conclude that long-term integration of tick tubes with invasive vegetation removal does not provide additional benefit over individual treatments alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan T Mandli
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Xia Lee
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Gebbiena M Bron
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Susan M Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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9
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Fleshman AC, Graham CB, Maes SE, Foster E, Eisen RJ. Reported County-Level Distribution of Lyme Disease Spirochetes, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia mayonii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), in Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2021; 58:1219-1233. [PMID: 33600574 PMCID: PMC8355468 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. While Lyme disease vectors are widespread, high incidence states are concentrated in the Northeast, North Central and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mapping the distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes in ticks may aid in providing data-driven explanations of epidemiological trends and recommendations for targeting prevention strategies to communities at risk. We compiled data from the literature, publicly available tickborne pathogen surveillance databases, and internal CDC pathogen testing databases to map the county-level distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes reported in host-seeking Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis across the contiguous United States. We report B. burgdorferi s.s.-infected I. scapularis from 384 counties spanning 26 eastern states located primarily in the North Central, Northeastern, and Mid-Atlantic regions, and in I. pacificus from 20 counties spanning 2 western states, with most records reported from northern and north-coastal California. Borrelia mayonii was reported in I. scapularis in 10 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the North Central United States, where records of B. burgdorferi s.s. were also reported. In comparison to a broad distribution of vector ticks, the resulting map shows a more limited distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Fleshman
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Christine B Graham
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Sarah E Maes
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Erik Foster
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Rebecca J Eisen
- Bacterial Diseases Branch, Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, CO
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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10
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Little S, Braff J, Place J, Buch J, Dewage BG, Knupp A, Beall M. Canine infection with Dirofilaria immitis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in the United States, 2013-2019. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:10. [PMID: 33407758 PMCID: PMC7789229 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04514-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dogs in the US are commonly infected with vector-borne pathogens, including heartworm and tick-borne disease agents. The geographic distribution of both arthropod vectors and the pathogens they transmit continues to expand. METHODS To describe the current geographic distribution and prevalence of antigen of Dirofilaria immitis and antibody to Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia spp., and Anaplasma spp. in dogs, we summarized over 144 million test results from 2013 to 2019, inclusive, by county, state, and region. Canine seroprevalence by state was compared to population-adjusted human reports of tick-borne diseases. RESULTS Results varied regionally, with D. immitis antigen and Ehrlichia spp. antibodies more frequently detected in the Southeast (2.6% and 5.2%, respectively) and antibody to B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. most common in the Northeast (12.1% and 7.3%, respectively). Overall, percent positive test results to D. immitis decreased in the Southeast by 33.3% when compared to earlier summaries using the same strategy (from 3.9 to 2.6%). Geographic expansion of areas where dogs commonly test positive for Ehrlichia spp. was evident, likely because of a change in the test made in 2012 to allow detection of antibodies to E. ewingii concomitant with expansion of vector tick populations. Percent positive test results to Ehrlichia spp. increased in every region; this shift was particularly pronounced in the Southeast, where percent positive test results increased fourfold (from 1.3 to 5.2%). Continued geographic expansion of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was apparent in the Northeast, Midwest, and Upper South, although canine seroprevalence of antibody to B. burgdorferi was much lower than prior surveys in many Lyme-endemic areas. Annual reports of human cases of Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis were associated with percent positive canine results by state for the three tick-borne disease agents (R2 = 0.812, 0.521, and 0.546, respectively). Within endemic areas, percent positive test results for all three tick-borne agents demonstrated evidence of geographic expansion. CONCLUSIONS Large scale analysis of results from screening dogs in practice for evidence of vector-borne infections, including those with zoonotic importance, continues to be a valuable strategy for understanding geographic trends in infection risk over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK USA
| | | | - Joshua Place
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK USA
| | - Jesse Buch
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME USA
| | - Bhagya Galkissa Dewage
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK USA
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11
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Gettings JR, Self SCW, McMahan CS, Brown DA, Nordone SK, Yabsley MJ. Regional and Local Temporal Trends of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. Seroprevalence in Domestic Dogs: Contiguous United States 2013-2019. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:561592. [PMID: 33195537 PMCID: PMC7653440 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.561592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2019, in the United States, over 220,000 and 350,000 dogs tested positive for exposure to Anaplasma spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi, respectively. To evaluate regional and local temporal trends of pathogen exposure we used a Bayesian spatio-temporal binomial regression model, analyzing serologic test results for these pathogens from January 2013 to December 2019. Regional trends were not static over time, but rather increased within and beyond the borders of historically endemic regions. Increased seroprevalence was observed as far as North Carolina and North Dakota for both pathogens. Local trends were estimated to evaluate the heterogeneity of underlying changes. A large cluster of counties with increased B. burgdorferi seroprevalence centered around West Virginia, while a similar cluster of counties with increased Anaplasma spp. seroprevalence centered around Pennsylvania and extended well into Maine. In the Midwest, only a small number of counties experienced an increase in seroprevalence; instead, most counties had a decrease in seroprevalence for both pathogens. These trends will help guide veterinarians and pet owners in adopting the appropriate preventative care practices for their area. Additionally, B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum cause disease in humans. Dogs are valuable sentinels for some vector-borne pathogens, and these trends may help public health providers better understand the risk of exposure for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna R Gettings
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Stella C W Self
- Arnold School of Public of Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Christopher S McMahan
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - D Andrew Brown
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Shila K Nordone
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Comparative Medicine Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Michael J Yabsley
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States.,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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12
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Stauffer MT, Mandli J, Pritt BS, Stauffer W, Sloan LM, Zembsch T, Lee X, Paskewitz SM. Detection of zoonotic human pathogens from Ixodes scapularis in Wisconsin. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2020; 45:147-149. [PMID: 32492273 PMCID: PMC7995553 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tela Zembsch
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Xia Lee
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
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13
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Westwood ML, Peters JL, Rooney TP. Prevalence and Coinfection of Three Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Adult Blacklegged Ticks Ixodes scapularis (Vilas County, Wisconsin). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:633-635. [PMID: 32283047 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In North America, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) is a vector of several human pathogens, and tick-borne disease incidence is increasing. Objectives: We estimated the prevalence of questing blacklegged ticks vectoring three zoonotic pathogens in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Materials and Methods: We collected 461 adult blacklegged ticks and used PCR to screen for the presence of pathogens that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA, Anaplasma phagocytophilum), and babesiosis (Babesia microti). Results: We found that 52.5% of ticks carried at least one pathogen. The estimated infection prevalence in the tick population was 17.4% (Lyme disease), 14.3% (HGA), and 6.5% (babesiosis). Multiple pathogens were present in 14.3% of ticks surveyed. Conclusion: About half of questing ticks tested in this study carried at least one zoonotic pathogen. Coinfection was common in our study area and, if not properly recognized, leads to greater risk of underdiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary L Westwood
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Peters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Thomas P Rooney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
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14
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Little EA, Molaei G. Passive Tick Surveillance: Exploring Spatiotemporal Associations of Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Babesia microti (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) Infection in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2020; 20:177-186. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2019.2509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eliza A.H. Little
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
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15
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Little EAH, Williams SC, Stafford KC, Linske MA, Molaei G. Evaluating the effectiveness of an integrated tick management approach on multiple pathogen infection in Ixodes scapularis questing nymphs and larvae parasitizing white-footed mice. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2020; 80:127-136. [PMID: 31853763 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-019-00452-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the effectiveness of integrated tick management (ITM) approaches in reducing the burden of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis. We found a 52% reduction in encountering a questing nymph in the Metarhizium anisopliae (Met52) and fipronil rodent bait box treatment combination as well as a 51% reduction in the combined white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) removal, Met52, and fipronil rodent bait box treatment compared to the control treatment. The Met52 and fipronil rodent bait box treatment combination reduced the encounter potential with a questing nymph infected with any pathogen by 53%. Compared to the control treatment, the odds of collecting a parasitizing I. scapularis infected with any pathogen from a white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) was reduced by 90% in the combined deer removal, Met52, and fipronil rodent bait box treatment and by 93% in the Met52 and fipronil rodent bait box treatment combination. Our study highlights the utility of these ITM measures in reducing both the abundance of juvenile I. scapularis and infection with the aforementioned pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza A H Little
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Scott C Williams
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Department of Forestry and Horticulture, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Kirby C Stafford
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Megan A Linske
- Department of Entomology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Goudarz Molaei
- Center for Vector Biology & Zoonotic Diseases and Northeast Regional Center for Excellence in Vector-borne Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
- Department of Environmental Sciences, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, 123 Huntington Street, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, P.O. Box 208034, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA.
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16
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Dewage BG, Little S, Payton M, Beall M, Braff J, Szlosek D, Buch J, Knupp A. Trends in canine seroprevalence to Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. in the eastern USA, 2010-2017. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:476. [PMID: 31610803 PMCID: PMC6791011 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3735-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum are tick-borne infections transmitted by Ixodes scapularis in the eastern USA; both agents cause disease in dogs and people. To characterize changes in seroprevalence over time, Cochran Armitage trend tests were used to evaluate percent positive test results for antibodies to B. burgdorferi and Anaplasma spp. in approximately 20 million canine tests from 2010–2017 in 25 states and 905 counties in the eastern USA. Results A significant decreasing trend in seroprevalence to B. burgdorferi was evident in eight states along the mid-Atlantic coast from Virginia to New Hampshire, and in Wisconsin. In contrast, a continued increasing trend was evident in five northeastern and Midwestern states where Lyme borreliosis is endemic or emerging, as well as in three southern states where endemicity has not yet been widely established. Similarly, seroprevalence to Anaplasma spp. showed a significant, although smaller, decreasing trend in five states along the mid-Atlantic coast from Virginia to Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the Midwest; despite the fact that those trends were significant they were weak. However, a strong increasing trend was evident in Massachusetts and three states in northern New England as well as in Pennsylvania. Conclusions As expected, seroprevalence continued to increase in regions where Lyme borreliosis and anaplasmosis are more newly endemic. However, the declining seroprevalence evident in other areas was not anticipated. Although the reasons for the decreasing trends are not clear, our finding may reflect shifting ecologic factors that have resulted in decreased infection risk or the combined positive influence of canine vaccination, tick control, and routine testing of dogs in regions where these infections have long been endemic. Analysis of trends in canine test results for tick-borne infections continues to be a valuable tool to understand relative geographical and temporal risk for these zoonotic agents.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagya Galkissa Dewage
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Susan Little
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
| | - Mark Payton
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jesse Buch
- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, Maine, USA
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17
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Tokarz R, Tagliafierro T, Caciula A, Mishra N, Thakkar R, Chauhan LV, Sameroff S, Delaney S, Wormser GP, Marques A, Lipkin WI. Identification of immunoreactive linear epitopes of Borrelia miyamotoi. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101314. [PMID: 31636001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging tick-borne spirochete transmitted by ixodid ticks. Current serologic assays for B. miyamotoi are impacted by genetic similarities to other Borrelia and limited understanding of optimal antigenic targets. In this study, we employed the TBD-Serochip, a peptide array platform, to identify new linear targets for serologic detection of B. miyamotoi. We examined a wide range of suspected B. miyamotoi antigens and identified 352 IgM and 91 IgG reactive peptides, with the majority mapping to variable membrane proteins. These included peptides within conserved fragments of variable membrane proteins that may have greater potential for differential diagnosis. We also identified reactive regions on FlaB, and demonstrate crossreactivity of B. burgdorferi s.l. C6 with a B. miyamotoi C6-like peptide. The panel of linear peptides identified in this study can be used to enhance serodiagnosis of B. miyamotoi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adrian Caciula
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nischay Mishra
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Riddhi Thakkar
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lokendra V Chauhan
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Shannon Delaney
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gary P Wormser
- Division of Infectious Diseases, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Adriana Marques
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - W Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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18
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Forest Connectivity, Host Assemblage Characteristics of Local and Neighboring Counties, and Temperature Jointly Shape the Spatial Expansion of Lyme Disease in United States. REMOTE SENSING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/rs11202354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Understanding risk factors for the spread of infectious diseases over time and across the landscape is critical for managing disease risk. While habitat connectivity and characteristics of local and neighboring animal (i.e., host) assemblages are known to influence the spread of diseases, the interactions among these factors remain poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a county-level analysis to test the effects of forest connectivity, together with the suitability of local assemblage (measured by the similarity of local host assemblage with neighboring assemblages) and the infection intensity of neighboring counties on the spatial expansion of Lyme disease in the United States. Our results suggested that both the similarity of local host assemblage and the infection intensity of neighboring counties were positively correlated with the probability of disease spread. Moreover, we found that increasing forest connectivity could facilitate the positive effect of neighbor infection intensity. In contrast, the effect size of the host assemblage similarity decreased with increasing connectivity, suggesting that host assemblage similarity was less effective in well-connected habitats. Our results thus indicate that habitat connectivity can indirectly influence disease spread by mediating the effects of other risk factors.
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19
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A seven-legged tick: Report of a morphological anomaly in Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) biting a human host from the Northeastern United States. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101304. [PMID: 31564642 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cases of morphological anomalies in the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), have recently been reported from the Northeastern and upper Midwestern United States, potentially complicating identification of this important vector of human disease-causing pathogens. We hereby report a case of a morphological anomaly in I. scapularis, biting a human host residing in Norwich, Connecticut. Using a dichotomous morphological key, high-resolution and scanning electron microscopy images, as well as DNA sequencing, the tick was identified as an adult female I. scapularis with three legs on the left side of the abdomen versus four on the right side, which we believe is the first case of ectromely in an adult I. scapularis. Using diagnostic genes in polymerase chain reaction, the specimen tested positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agents for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, respectively, and also showed evidence of a rickettsial endosymbiont. Here we discuss recent reports of morphological anomalies in I. scapularis, and emphasize the significance of additional studies of teratology in this important tick species and its potential implications.
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20
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Sanchez-Vicente S, Tagliafierro T, Coleman JL, Benach JL, Tokarz R. Polymicrobial Nature of Tick-Borne Diseases. mBio 2019; 10:e02055-19. [PMID: 31506314 PMCID: PMC6737246 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02055-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases have doubled in the last 12 years, and their geographic distribution has spread as well. The clinical spectrum of tick-borne diseases can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections, with a disproportionate incidence in children and the elderly. In the last few years, new agents have been discovered, and genetic changes have helped in the spread of pathogens and ticks. Polymicrobial infections, mostly in Ixodes scapularis, can complicate diagnostics and augment disease severity. Amblyomma americanum ticks have expanded their range, resulting in a dynamic and complex situation, possibly fueled by climate change. To document these changes, using molecular biology strategies for pathogen detection, an assessment of 12 microbes (9 pathogens and 3 symbionts) in three species of ticks was done in Suffolk County, New York. At least one agent was detected in 63% of I. scapularis ticksBorrelia burgdorferi was the most prevalent pathogen (57% in adults; 27% in nymphs), followed by Babesia microti (14% in adults; 15% in nymphs), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (14% in adults; 2% in nymphs), Borrelia miyamotoi (3% in adults), and Powassan virus (2% in adults). Polymicrobial infections were detected in 22% of I. scapularis ticks, with coinfections of B. burgdorferi and B. microti (9%) and of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum (7%). Three Ehrlichia species were detected in 4% of A. americanum ticks. The rickettsiae constituted the largest prokaryotic biomass of all the ticks tested and included Rickettsia amblyommatis, Rickettsia buchneri, and Rickettsia montanensis The high rates of polymicrobial infection in ticks present an opportunity to study the biological interrelationships of pathogens and their vectors.IMPORTANCE Tick-borne diseases have increased in prevalence in the United States and abroad. The reasons for these increases are multifactorial, but climate change is likely to be a major factor. One of the main features of the increase is the geographic expansion of tick vectors, notably Amblyomma americanum, which has brought new pathogens to new areas. The clinical spectrum of tick-borne diseases can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections, with a disproportionate incidence in children and the elderly. In addition, new pathogens that are cotransmitted by Ixodes scapularis have been discovered and have led to difficult diagnoses and to disease severity. Of these, Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, continues to be the most frequently transmitted pathogen. However, Babesia microti, Borrelia miyamotoi (another spirochete), Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Powassan virus are frequent cotransmitted agents. Polymicrobial infection has important consequences for the diagnosis and management of tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Sanchez-Vicente
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Teresa Tagliafierro
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - James L Coleman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Jorge L Benach
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Center for Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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21
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Edwards MJ, Russell JC, Davidson EN, Yanushefski TJ, Fleischman BL, Heist RO, Leep-Lazar JG, Stuppi SL, Esposito RA, Suppan LM. A 4-Yr Survey of the Range of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in the Lehigh Valley Region of Eastern Pennsylvania. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2019; 56:1122-1134. [PMID: 31009533 PMCID: PMC6595528 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Questing ticks were surveyed by dragging in forested habitats within the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania for four consecutive summers (2015-2018). A high level of inter-annual variation was found in the density of blacklegged tick nymphs, Ixodes scapularis Say, with a high density of host-seeking nymphs (DON) in summer 2015 and 2017 and a relatively low DON in summer 2016 and 2018. Very few American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis Say) and Ixodes cookei Packard were collected. Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum L.) and longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) were not represented among the 6,398 ticks collected. For tick-borne pathogen surveillance, DNA samples from 1,721 I. scapularis nymphs were prepared from specimens collected in summers 2015-2017 and screened using qPCR, high resolution melting analysis, and DNA sequencing when necessary. The overall 3-yr nymphal infection prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi was 24.8%, Borrelia miyamotoi was 0.3%, Anaplasma phagocytophilum variant-ha was 0.8%, and Babesia microti was 2.8%. Prevalence of coinfection with B. burgdorferi and B. microti as well as B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum variant-ha were significantly higher than would be expected by independent infection. B. burgdorferi nymphal infection prevalence is similar to what other studies have found in the Hudson Valley region of New York, but levels of B. microti and A. phagocytophilum variant-ha nymphal infection prevalence are relatively lower. This study reinforces the urgent need for continued tick and pathogen surveillance in the Lehigh Valley region.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James C Russell
- Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA
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22
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Beckmann S, Freund R, Pehl H, Rodgers A, Venegas T. Rodent species as possible reservoirs of Borrelia burgdorferi in a prairie ecosystem. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 10:1162-1167. [PMID: 31248821 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lyme borreliosis is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States and Europe. It is caused by a group of spirochete bacteria belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. These pathogens are transmitted among vertebrate reservoir hosts through the bite of hard-bodied ticks. While the enzootic cycle of Borrelia transmission is well understood in its primary reservoir, the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus, far less is known about other reservoir hosts, particularly in grassland ecosystems. This study assessed the prevalence of B. burgdorferi s. l. among four non-Peromyscus rodents in a prairie ecosystem in the Midwestern United States over a four-year period. We found high prevalences of the bacteria in all four species studied. Our results help to support the roles of Microtus species as reservoirs of B. burgdorferi and add to the literature that suggests Zapus hudsonius may also be a reservoir. Additionally, we identified a previously unknown possible reservoir, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus. Our study also identifies the need to study the dynamics of Lyme borreliosis in habitats and areas outside of the typical range of P. leucopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Beckmann
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61108, USA; Department of Biology, Stetson University, 421 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, FL, 32723, USA.
| | - Rhonda Freund
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61108, USA
| | - Hayden Pehl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61108, USA
| | - Ashley Rodgers
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61108, USA
| | - Taggart Venegas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Rockford University, 5050 East State Street, Rockford, Illinois, 61108, USA
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23
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Rose I, Yoshimizu MH, Bonilla DL, Fedorova N, Lane RS, Padgett KA. Phylogeography of Borrelia spirochetes in Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes spinipalpis ticks highlights differential acarological risk of tick-borne disease transmission in northern versus southern California. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214726. [PMID: 30946767 PMCID: PMC6448939 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The common human-biting tick, Ixodes pacificus, is the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) in western North America and has been found to harbor other closely-related spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) complex. Between 2008–2015, 11,066 adult and 3,815 nymphal I. pacificus and five adult and 144 nymphal Ixodes spinpalpis, a commonly collected wildlife tick, were collected from 42 California counties. Borrelia burgdorferi sl was detected in 1.2% and 3.8% I. pacificus adults and nymphs, respectively. Results from this study indicate genetic diversity and geographic structure of B. burgdorferi sl in California I. pacificus ticks, by sequence comparison of the16S rRNA gene, with B. burgdorferi ss, the agent of Lyme disease, found only in I. pacificus collected from the north and central coastal and Sierra Nevada foothill regions; B. burgdorferi ss was not detected in ticks tested from southern California. In contrast, Borrelia bissettiae, a member of the B. burgdorferi sl complex, was detected in both I. pacificus and I. spinipalpis, in the coastal region of both northern and southern California, but was absent from ticks in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In a similar pattern to B. bissettiae, Borrelia americana (a member of the B. burgdorferi sl complex) was detected in a single adult I. pacificus from the north coast and two I. spinipalpis nymphs from south-coastal California. This study highlights that the geographic area of Lyme disease acarological risk in California is the north-central and Sierra Nevada foothill regions of the state with little to no risk in the southern regions of the state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Rose
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Melissa Hardstone Yoshimizu
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Denise L. Bonilla
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Richmond, CA, United States of America
| | - Natalia Fedorova
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Robert S. Lane
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Kerry A. Padgett
- California Department of Public Health, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Richmond, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Cross ST, Kapuscinski ML, Perino J, Maertens BL, Weger-Lucarelli J, Ebel GD, Stenglein MD. Co-Infection Patterns in Individual Ixodes scapularis Ticks Reveal Associations between Viral, Eukaryotic and Bacterial Microorganisms. Viruses 2018; 10:E388. [PMID: 30037148 PMCID: PMC6071216 DOI: 10.3390/v10070388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ixodes scapularis ticks harbor a variety of microorganisms, including eukaryotes, bacteria and viruses. Some of these can be transmitted to and cause disease in humans and other vertebrates. Others are not pathogenic, but may impact the ability of the tick to harbor and transmit pathogens. A growing number of studies have examined the influence of bacteria on tick vector competence but the influence of the tick virome remains less clear, despite a surge in the discovery of tick-associated viruses. In this study, we performed shotgun RNA sequencing on 112 individual adult I. scapularis collected in Wisconsin, USA. We characterized the abundance, prevalence and co-infection rates of viruses, bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms. We identified pairs of tick-infecting microorganisms whose observed co-infection rates were higher or lower than would be expected, or whose RNA levels were positively correlated in co-infected ticks. Many of these co-occurrence and correlation relationships involved two bunyaviruses, South Bay virus and blacklegged tick phlebovirus-1. These viruses were also the most prevalent microorganisms in the ticks we sampled, and had the highest average RNA levels. Evidence of associations between microbes included a positive correlation between RNA levels of South Bay virus and Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent. These findings contribute to the rationale for experimental studies on the impact of viruses on tick biology and vector competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun T Cross
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Marylee L Kapuscinski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Jacquelyn Perino
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Bernadette L Maertens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - James Weger-Lucarelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
| | - Gregory D Ebel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Mark D Stenglein
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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Larson SR, Lee X, Paskewitz SM. Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Two Species of Peromyscus Mice Common in Northern Wisconsin. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2018; 55:1002-1010. [PMID: 29506103 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjy027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Two species of mice, the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque; Rodentia: Cricetidae) and the woodland deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner; Rodentia: Cricetidae), serve as reservoirs of tick-borne pathogens in many parts of North America. However, the role P. maniculatus plays in the amplification and maintenance of Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Rickettsiales: Ehrlichiaceae) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) is not well understood. In northern Wisconsin, from 2012 to 2014, 560 unique mice were captured at 83 sites distributed across five forests. P. leucopus was more likely infested with immature Ixodes scapularis compared to P. maniculatus (60.1 vs. 28.3%). Abundance of immature I. scapularis on P. leucopus (M = 2.69; SD = 3.53) was surprisingly low and even lower for P. maniculatus (M = 0.717; SD = 1.44). Both P. leucopus and P. maniculatus were infected with B. burgdorferi, 24.0 and 16.8%, respectively. The prevalence of A. phagocytophilum infection in P. leucopus (1.69%) was similar to that observed in P. maniculatus (4.73%). Nine of 10 mice co-infected with both pathogens were P. maniculatus, and there were more co-infections in this species than expected by chance (3.07 vs. 0.82%). Differences in the behavior and biology between these two mice species may contribute to the variation observed in the abundance of host-attached ticks and pathogen prevalence. These differences highlight a potential hazard of the failure to differentiate between these visually similar mice, but there is evidence that these two mice species can each serve as reservoirs for tick-borne pathogens that cause human disease in Wisconsin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott R Larson
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
| | - Xia Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
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Littman MP, Gerber B, Goldstein RE, Labato MA, Lappin MR, Moore GE. ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med 2018; 32:887-903. [PMID: 29566442 PMCID: PMC5980284 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An update of the 2006 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Small Animal Consensus Statement on Lyme Disease in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention was presented at the 2016 ACVIM Forum in Denver, CO, followed by panel and audience discussion and a drafted consensus statement distributed online to diplomates for comment. The updated consensus statement is presented below. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryl P. Littman
- Department of Clinical Studies‐PhiladelphiaUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaPennsylvania
| | - Bernhard Gerber
- The Clinic for Small Animal Internal MedicineVetsuisse Faculty, University of ZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Mary Anna Labato
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary MedicineTufts UniversityNorth GraftonMassachusetts
| | - Michael R. Lappin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical SciencesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColorado
| | - George E. Moore
- Department of Veterinary Administration, College of Veterinary MedicinePurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIndiana
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27
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Christenson M, Lee X, Larson S, Johnson DH, Jensen J, Meller M, Paskewitz S. Occurrence of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Human Infection With Ehrlichia chaffeensis in Wisconsin, 2008-2015. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:752-756. [PMID: 28011735 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Because of the increasing incidence of human ehrlichiosis in Wisconsin, we assessed reports of human infections by Ehrlichia chaffeensis and the distribution of its vector, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum (L.)). From 2008 through 2015, 158 probable and confirmed human cases of E. chaffeensis infections were reported to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Five cases without travel history outside of Wisconsin were confirmed as E. chaffeensis by polymerase chain reaction. Surveillance for the vector occurred from 2008 through 2015 and was based on active and passive methods, including examination of white-tailed deer, collections from live-trapped small mammals, submissions of ticks removed from wild and domestic animals through the Wisconsin Surveillance of Animals for Ticks (SWAT) program, digital or physical submissions by the public to the University of Wisconsin Insect Diagnostic or Medical Entomology laboratories, and active tick dragging. More than 50 lone star ticks (46 adults, 6 nymphs, and 1 larva) were identified. Lone star ticks were more commonly found in south central Wisconsin, particularly in Dane County, where discovery of more than one life stage in a single year indicates possible establishment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Christenson
- Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (; ; ; )
| | - Xia Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706 (; ; )
| | - Scott Larson
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706 (; ; )
| | - Diep Hoang Johnson
- Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (; ; ; )
| | - Julia Jensen
- Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (; ; ; )
| | - Megan Meller
- Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (; ; ; )
| | - Susan Paskewitz
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706 (; ; )
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Murphy DS, Lee X, Larson SR, Johnson DKH, Loo T, Paskewitz SM. Prevalence and Distribution of Human and Tick Infections with the Ehrlichia muris-Like Agent and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Wisconsin, 2009-2015. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2017; 17:229-236. [PMID: 28055326 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2016.2055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important emerging tickborne zoonoses that affect both humans and animals. Knowledge of the geographic distribution and prevalence of Ehrlichia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Wisconsin is important information as a baseline for future comparisons. Reported human cases between 2009 and 2015 were identified using the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS) and mapped by county of residence. Vector surveillance was established using ticks collected from animals by partners, including veterinary medical clinics, domestic animal shelters, and wildlife rehabilitation centers from 40 Wisconsin counties. A total of 1835 Ixodes scapularis tick specimens (larvae, nymphs, and adults) were collected from 18 different domestic and wildlife species from July 2011 to November 2015. An additional 1136 nymphs were collected by drag sampling at 23 locations in 19 counties in 2015. A real-time PCR assay that detects and distinguishes several Ehrlichia species, including a pathogenic Ehrlichia muris-like agent (EMLA), and A. phagocytophilum was performed on adult and nymphal ticks. A total of 757 I. scapularis ticks (predominately adults) were tested from animal collections, with 67 (8.9%) individuals positive for A. phagocytophilum and 22 (2.9%) positive for EMLA DNA. Of the 1150 questing nymphs, 62 (5.4%) were positive for A. phagocytophilum and 10 (0.9%) were positive for EMLA DNA. Specimens of I. scapularis that were positive for A. phagocytophilum were found in 27 of the 33 counties surveyed. Specimens that were positive for EMLA were less common and were found in nine counties. This study provides the first statewide survey of I. scapularis ticks for these pathogens and indicates that the risk of human exposure is widely distributed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darby S Murphy
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Xia Lee
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Scott R Larson
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Diep K Hoang Johnson
- 2 Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Theoren Loo
- 2 Division of Public Health, Wisconsin Department of Health Services , Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Susan M Paskewitz
- 1 Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin
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Schwameis M, Kündig T, Huber G, von Bidder L, Meinel L, Weisser R, Aberer E, Härter G, Weinke T, Jelinek T, Fätkenheuer G, Wollina U, Burchard GD, Aschoff R, Nischik R, Sattler G, Popp G, Lotte W, Wiechert D, Eder G, Maus O, Staubach-Renz P, Gräfe A, Geigenberger V, Naudts I, Sebastian M, Reider N, Weber R, Heckmann M, Reisinger EC, Klein G, Wantzen J, Jilma B. Topical azithromycin for the prevention of Lyme borreliosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 efficacy trial. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2016; 17:322-329. [PMID: 28007428 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30529-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis develops in 1-5% of individuals bitten by ticks, but with a diagnostic gap affecting up to 30% of patients, a broadly applicable pharmacological prevention strategy is needed. Topical azithromycin effectively eradicated Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the skin in preclinical studies. We assessed its efficacy in human beings. METHODS In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial done in 28 study sites in Germany and Austria, adults were equally assigned to receive topical 10% azithromycin or placebo twice daily for 3 consecutive days, within 72 h of a tick bite being confirmed. Randomisation numbers, which were stratified by study site, were accessed in study centres via an interactive voice-response system, by pharmacists not involved in the study. The primary outcome was the number of treatment failures, defined as erythema migrans, seroconversion, or both, in participants who were seronegative at baseline, had no further tick bites during the study, and had serology results available at 8 weeks (intention-to-treat [ITT] population). This study is registered with EudraCT, number 2011-000117-39. FINDINGS Between July 7, 2011, and Dec 3, 2012, 1371 participants were randomly assigned to treatment, of whom 995 were included in the ITT population. The trial was stopped early because an improvement in the primary endpoint in the group receiving azithromycin was not reached. At 8 weeks, 11 (2%) of 505 in the azithromycin group and 11 (2%) of 490 in the placebo group had treatment failure (odds ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·42-2·26, p=0·47). Topical azithromycin was well tolerated. Similar numbers of patients had adverse events in the two groups (175 [26%] of 505 vs 177 [26%] of 490, p=0·87), and most adverse events were mild. INTERPRETATION Topical azithromycin was well tolerated and had a good safety profile. Inclusion of asymptomatic seroconversion into the primary efficacy analysis led to no prevention effect with topical azithromycin. Adequately powered studies assessing only erythema migrans should be considered. A subgroup analysis in this study suggested that topical azithromycin reduces erythema migrans after bites of infected ticks. FUNDING Ixodes AG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Schwameis
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Kündig
- Clinical Trial Centre, Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Lorenz Meinel
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Technologie und Biopharmazie, Am Hubland, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Elisabeth Aberer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Georg Härter
- Medicover Ulm MVZ, Ulm, Germany; Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Weinke
- Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann, Gastroenterology and Infectious Disease, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Tomas Jelinek
- Berliner Centrum für Reise und Tropenmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerd Fätkenheuer
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Cologne, Germany
| | - Uwe Wollina
- Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Academic Teaching Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Roland Aschoff
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
| | | | | | - Georg Popp
- Licca Clinical Research Institute, Augsburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Gerald Eder
- Zentrum für Reisemedizin, St Pölten, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Norbert Reider
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Emil C Reisinger
- Division of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Center of Internal Medicine II, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Georg Klein
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Krankenhaus Elisabethinen Linz, Linz, Austria
| | - Johannes Wantzen
- Centre for Travel Medicine and Occupational Health, Bad Kreuznach, Germany
| | - Bernd Jilma
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Nelder MP, Russell CB, Sheehan NJ, Sander B, Moore S, Li Y, Johnson S, Patel SN, Sider D. Human pathogens associated with the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis: a systematic review. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:265. [PMID: 27151067 PMCID: PMC4857413 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1529-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis transmits Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto) in eastern North America; however, the agent of Lyme disease is not the sole pathogen harbored by the blacklegged tick. The blacklegged tick is expanding its range into areas of southern Canada such as Ontario, an area where exposure to blacklegged tick bites and tick-borne pathogens is increasing. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the public health risks posed by expanding blacklegged tick populations and their associated pathogens. METHODS We followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for conducting our systematic review. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS, Scopus and Environment Complete databases for studies published from 2000 through 2015, using subject headings and keywords that included "Ixodes scapularis", "Rickettsia", "Borrelia", "Anaplasma", "Babesia" and "pathogen." Two reviewers screened titles and abstracts against eligibility criteria (i.e. studies that included field-collected blacklegged ticks and studies that did not focus solely on B. burgdorferi) and performed quality assessments on eligible studies. RESULTS Seventy-eight studies were included in the final review, 72 were from the US and eight were from Canada (two studies included blacklegged ticks from both countries). Sixty-four (82%) studies met ≥ 75% of the quality assessment criteria. Blacklegged ticks harbored 91 distinct taxa, 16 of these are tick-transmitted human pathogens, including species of Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Theileria and Flavivirus. Organism richness was highest in the Northeast (Connecticut, New York) and Upper Midwest US (Wisconsin); however, organism richness was dependent on sampling effort. The primary tick-borne pathogens of public health concern in Ontario, due to the geographic proximity or historical detection in Ontario, are Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia microti, B. burgdorferi, Borrelia miyamotoi, deer tick virus and Ehrlichia muris-like sp. Aside from B. burgdorferi and to a much lesser concern A. phagocytophilum, these pathogens are not immediate concerns to public health in Ontario; rather they represent future threats as the distribution of vectors and pathogens continue to proliferate. CONCLUSIONS Our review is the first systematic assessment of the literature on the human pathogens associated with the blacklegged tick. As Lyme disease awareness continues to increase, it is an opportune time to document the full spectrum of human pathogens transmittable by blacklegged ticks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Nelder
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Curtis B Russell
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nina Jain Sheehan
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Beate Sander
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Moore
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ye Li
- Analytic Services, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Johnson
- Analytic Services, Knowledge Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Samir N Patel
- Public Health Ontario Laboratories, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Doug Sider
- Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases; Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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32
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Turtinen LW, Kruger AN, Hacker MM. Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in adult female ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Wisconsin 2010-2013. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2015; 40:195-197. [PMID: 26047203 DOI: 10.1111/jvec.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd W Turtinen
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Department of Biology, Eau Claire, WI, U.S.A., 54701.
| | - Alyssa N Kruger
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Department of Biology, Eau Claire, WI, U.S.A., 54701
| | - Madeleine M Hacker
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Department of Biology, Eau Claire, WI, U.S.A., 54701
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