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Ng’eno E, Alkishe A, Romero-Alvarez D, Sundstrom K, Cobos ME, Belgum H, Chitwood A, Grant A, Keck A, Kloxin J, Letterman B, Lineberry M, McClung K, Nippoldt S, Sharum S, Struble S, Thomas B, Ghosh A, Brennan R, Little S, Peterson AT. Phenology of five tick species in the central Great Plains. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302689. [PMID: 38722854 PMCID: PMC11081307 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The states of Kansas and Oklahoma, in the central Great Plains, lie at the western periphery of the geographic distributions of several tick species. As the focus of most research on ticks and tick-borne diseases has been on Lyme disease which commonly occurs in areas to the north and east, the ticks of this region have seen little research attention. Here, we report on the phenology and activity patterns shown by tick species observed at 10 sites across the two states and explore factors associated with abundance of all and life specific individuals of the dominant species. Ticks were collected in 2020-2022 using dragging, flagging and carbon-dioxide trapping techniques, designed to detect questing ticks. The dominant species was A. americanum (24098, 97%) followed by Dermacentor variabilis (370, 2%), D. albipictus (271, 1%), Ixodes scapularis (91, <1%) and A. maculatum (38, <1%). Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum and D. variabilis were active in Spring and Summer, while D. albipictus and I. scapularis were active in Fall and Winter. Factors associated with numbers of individuals of A. americanum included day of year, habitat, and latitude. Similar associations were observed when abundance was examined by life-stage. Overall, the picture is one of broadly distributed tick species that shows seasonal limitations in the timing of their questing activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Ng’eno
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Abdelghafar Alkishe
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Daniel Romero-Alvarez
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Emerging and Neglected Diseases, Ecoepidemiology and Biodiversity Research Group, Universidad Internacional SEK (UISEK), Quito, Ecuador
| | - Kellee Sundstrom
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Marlon E. Cobos
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Hallee Belgum
- Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Abigail Chitwood
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Amber Grant
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Alex Keck
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Josiah Kloxin
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Brayden Letterman
- Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Megan Lineberry
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Kristin McClung
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Sydney Nippoldt
- Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Sophia Sharum
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Stefan Struble
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Breanne Thomas
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Anuradha Ghosh
- Department of Biology, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Robert Brennan
- Department of Biology, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - Susan Little
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - A. Townsend Peterson
- Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
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Lima VH, do Nascimento Pinto SM, Barreto LP, Sarria ALF, Mascarin GM, Fernandes ÉKK, Borges LMF. Repellent activity of the non-host semiochemical (E)-2-octenal against Amblyomma sculptum and Amblyomma dubitatum ticks under field conditions. Exp Appl Acarol 2024; 92:423-437. [PMID: 38411794 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00880-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Amblyomma ticks pose a significant public health threat due to their potential to transmit pathogens associated with rickettsial diseases. (E)-2-octenal, a compound found in donkeys (Equus asinus), exhibits strong repellent properties against Amblyomma sculptum nymphs under laboratory conditions. This study assessed the effectiveness of the (E)-2-octenal in wearable slow-release devices for personal human protection against Amblyomma ticks under natural conditions. Slow-release devices treated with (E)-2-octenal and untreated controls were prepared and tested on two volunteers walking through a tick-infested area in Goiania, Brazil. The experiment was conducted twice daily for three series of 10 days, with each volunteer wearing two devices attached to each leg, one on the ankle and one just above the thigh. Volunteers with control and treated devices exchanged them between rounds. Also, the daily release rate of (E)-2-octenal from the slow-release devices was determined in the laboratory, increasing significantly from 0.77 ± 0.14 µg/day on the first day to 9.93 ± 1.92 µg/day on the 4th day and remaining constant until the 16th day. A total of 5409 ticks were collected from both volunteers. Treated devices resulted in recovering fewer ticks (n = 1,666; 31%) compared to untreated devices (control: n = 3,743; 69%). (E)-2-octenal effectively repelled Amblyomma spp. larvae, A. sculptum adults, and exhibited pronounced repellency against A. dubitatum nymphs and adults. These findings suggest the potential of (E)-2-octenal delivered by wearable slow-release devices as a green-based repellent. Further improvements, however, are necessary to provide better protection for humans against A. sculptum and A. dubitatum in field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valesca Henrique Lima
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança S/N, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Salorrane Miranda do Nascimento Pinto
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança S/N, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Lucas Prado Barreto
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança S/N, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
| | | | | | - Éverton Kort Kamp Fernandes
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança S/N, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil.
| | - Lígia Miranda Ferreira Borges
- Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Avenida Esperança S/N, Campus Samambaia, Goiânia, GO, 74690-900, Brazil
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Pérez-Otáñez X, Rodríguez-Hidalgo R, Enríquez S, Celi-Erazo M, Benítez W, Saegerman C, Vaca-Moyano F, Ron-Garrido L, Vanwambeke SO. High-resolution prediction models for Rhipicephalus microplus and Amblyomma cajennense s.l. ticks affecting cattle and their spatial distribution in continental Ecuador using bioclimatic factors. Exp Appl Acarol 2024; 92:439-462. [PMID: 38388882 PMCID: PMC11035444 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
In Ecuador, the main tick species affecting cattle are Rhipicephalus microplus and Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato. Understanding their spatial distribution is crucial. To assess their distribution, data from 2895 farms visited between 2012 and 2017 were utilized. Ticks were collected during animal inspections, with each farm's location georeferenced. Bioclimatic variables and vapor pressure deficit data were obtained from Climatologies at High resolution for the Earth´s Land Surface Areas (CHELSA) dataset. They were overlaid to develop predictive maps for each species using Random Forest (RF) models. The cross-validation results for RF prediction models showed high accuracy for both R. microplus and A. cajennense s.l. presence with values of accuracy = 0.97 and 0.98, sensitivity = 0.96 and 0.99, and specificity = 0.96 and 0.93, respectively. A carefully selected subset of bioclimatic variables was used to describe the presence of each tick species. Higher levels of precipitation had positive effect on the presence of R. microplus but a negative effect on A. cajennense s.l. In contrast, isothermality (BIO3) was more important for the presence of A. cajennense s.l. compared to R. microplus. As a result, R. microplus had a broader distribution across the country, while A. cajennense s.l. was mainly found in coastal areas with evident seasonality. The coexistence of both species in some regions could be attributed to transitional zones, whereas high altitudes limited tick presence. This information can aid in developing appropriate tick management plans, particularly considering A. cajennense s.l.'s broad host range species and R. microplus's specificity for cattle. Moreover, the predictive models can identify areas at risk of associated challenging hemoparasite, requiring special attention and mitigation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Pérez-Otáñez
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
- Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth & Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCLouvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium.
| | - Richar Rodríguez-Hidalgo
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sandra Enríquez
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Maritza Celi-Erazo
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Washington Benítez
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR-ULiège), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Franklin Vaca-Moyano
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lenin Ron-Garrido
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Sophie O Vanwambeke
- Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth & Life Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain-UCLouvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
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Oviedo Á, Rodríguez MM, Flores FS, Castro LR. New hard tick (Acari: Ixodidae) reports and detection of Rickettsia in ticks from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Exp Appl Acarol 2024; 92:507-528. [PMID: 38485886 PMCID: PMC11035439 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00887-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), located in northern Colombia, is considered a geographical island with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. However, little is known about tick species and their associated microorganisms at the SNSM. In this study we sampled host-seeking ticks in areas of the town of Minca within the SNSM. We collected 47 ticks identified as Amblyomma pacae, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma mixtum, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis and Ixodes sp. Of these ticks, we tested for Rickettsia spp. by amplifying the gltA, SCA1, and 16S rRNA genes via PCR. Rickettsia amblyommatis was detected in one pool of 3 larvae and in a female of A. pacae. Additonally, we isolated Rickettsia sp. belonging to the group of spotted fevers in larvae of A. longirostre. This study reports new findings of six species of ticks and two species of Rickettsia within the SNSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Oviedo
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Miguel M Rodríguez
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Fernando S Flores
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Córdoba, Argentina
- Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba (CIEC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lyda R Castro
- Grupo de investigación Evolución, Sistemática y Ecología Molecular (GIESEMOL), Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia.
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Schimpf DJ, Ewert MM, Lai VK, Clarke BL. Responses of ticks to immersion in hot bathing water: Effect of surface type, water temperature, and soap on tick motor control. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261592. [PMID: 34919573 PMCID: PMC8682875 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Preventing bites from undetected ticks through bathing practices would benefit public health, but the effects of these practices have been researched minimally. We immersed nymphal and adult hard ticks of species common in the eastern United States in tap water, using temperatures and durations that are realistic for human hot bathing. The effect of (a) different skin-equivalent surfaces (silicone and pig skin), and (b) water temperature was tested on Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis nymphs. Overall, the type of surface had a much larger effect on the nymphs’ tendency to stay in contact with the surface than water temperature did. Most nymphs that separated from the surface did so within the first 10 s of immersion, with the majority losing contact due to the formation of an air bubble between their ventral side and the test surface. In addition, adult Ixodes scapularis were tested for the effect of immersion time, temperature, and soap on tick responsiveness. Some individual adults moved abnormally or stopped moving as a result of longer or hotter immersion, but soap had little effect on responsiveness. Taken together, our results suggest that the surface plays a role in ticks’ tendency to stay in contact; the use of different bath additives warrants further research. While water temperature did not have a significant short-term effect on tick separation, ticks that have not attached by their mouth parts may be rendered unresponsive and eventually lose contact with a person’s skin in a hot bath. It should be noted that our research did not consider potential temperature effects on the pathogens themselves, as previous research suggests that some tickborne pathogens may become less hazardous even if the tick harboring them survives hot-water exposures and later bites the bather after remaining undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Schimpf
- Department of Biology, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Matthew M. Ewert
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Victor K. Lai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Benjamin L. Clarke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
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Kopsco HL, Duhaime RJ, Mather TN. Crowdsourced Tick Image-Informed Updates to U.S. County Records of Three Medically Important Tick Species. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:2412-2424. [PMID: 33973636 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjab082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Burgeoning cases of tick-borne disease present a significant public health problem in the United States. Passive tick surveillance gained traction as an effective way to collect epidemiologic data, and in particular, photograph-based tick surveillance can complement in-hand tick specimen identification to amass distribution data and related encounter demographics. We compared the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code of tick photos submitted to a free public identification service (TickSpotters) from 2014 to 2019 to published nationwide county reports for three tick species of medical concern: Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls (Ixodida: Ixodidae), and Amblyomma americanum Linneaus (Ixodida: Ixodidae). We tallied the number of TickSpotters submissions for each tick species according to "Reported" or "Established" criteria per county, and found that TickSpotters submissions represented more than half of the reported counties of documented occurrence, and potentially identified hundreds of new counties with the occurrence of these species. We detected the largest number of new county reports of I. scapularis presence in Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas. Tick image submissions revealed potentially nine new counties of occurrence for I. pacificus, and we documented the largest increase in new county reports of A. americanum in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. These findings demonstrate the utility of crowdsourced photograph-based tick surveillance as a complement to other tick surveillance strategies in documenting tick distributions on a nationwide scale, its potential for identifying new foci, and its ability to highlight at-risk localities that might benefit from tick-bite prevention education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Kopsco
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- TickEncounter Resource Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Roland J Duhaime
- TickEncounter Resource Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Environmental Data Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Thomas N Mather
- Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- TickEncounter Resource Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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Daodu OB, Eisenbarth A, Schulz A, Hartlaub J, Olopade JO, Oluwayelu DO, Groschup MH. Molecular detection of dugbe orthonairovirus in cattle and their infesting ticks (Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)) in Nigeria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009905. [PMID: 34788303 PMCID: PMC8598060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Dugbe orthonairovirus (DUGV), a tick-borne zoonotic arbovirus, was first isolated in 1964 in Nigeria. For over four decades, no active surveillance was conducted to monitor the spread and genetic variation of DUGV. This study detected and genetically characterized DUGV circulating in cattle and their infesting ticks (Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus)) in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. Blood and or ticks were collected from 1051 cattle at 31 sampling sites (abattoirs and farms) across 10 local government areas of the State. DUGV detection was carried out by RT-qPCR, and positive samples sequenced and phylogenetically analysed. A total of 11824 ticks, mostly A. variegatum (36.0%) and R. (B.) microplus (63.9%), were obtained with mean tick burden of 12 ticks/cattle. Thirty-four (32 A. variegatum and two R. (B.) microplus) of 4644 examined ticks were DUGV-positive, whereas all of the cattle sera tested negative for DUGV genome. Whole genome sequence (S, M and L segments) and phylogenetic analyses indicate that the positive samples shared up to 99.88% nucleotide identity with and clustered around the Nigerian DUGV prototype strain IbAr 1792. Hence, DUGV with high similarity to the previously characterised strain has been detected in Nigeria. To our knowledge, this is the first report of DUGV in North-Central Nigeria and the most recent information after its last surveillance in 1974.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi Babatunde Daodu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Albert Eisenbarth
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
- Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Branch Tropical Microbiology and Entomology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Julia Hartlaub
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
| | - James Olukayode Olopade
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Oladimeji Oluwayelu
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Center for Control and Prevention of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald–Insel Riems, Germany
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Glass GE, Ganser C, Kessler WH. Validating Species Distribution Models With Standardized Surveys for Ixodid Ticks in Mainland Florida. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:1345-1351. [PMID: 33386731 PMCID: PMC8122235 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens are of growing concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed guidelines standardizing surveys of tick vectors to better monitor the changes in their occurrences. Unbiased surveillance data, from standardized surveys, are presumed critical to generate valid species distribution models (SDMs). We tested previously generated SDMs from standardized protocols for three medically important ticks [Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus, Ixodida, Ixodidae), Ixodes scapularis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae), and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, Ixodida, Ixodidae)]. These previous models ruled out a quarter to half of the state as having these species, with consensus occurrence in about a quarter of the state. New surveys performed throughout 2019 on 250 transects at 43 sites indicated the rule-out functions were 100% accurate for I. scapularis and D. variabilis and 91.9% for A. americanum. As SDM concordance increased, the proportion of transects yielding ticks increased. Independent surveys of SDMs provide external validation-an aspect missing from many SDM studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory E Glass
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Claudia Ganser
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - William H Kessler
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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Seagle MP, Vierling MR, Almeida RJ, Clary DJ, Hidell W, Scott EV, Vargas C, Smith KG. Low Abundance of Three Tick Species in the Piedmont of North Carolina. J Med Entomol 2021; 58:489-492. [PMID: 32804202 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Multiple species of ticks, including Ixodes scapularis (Say, Ixodida:Ixodidae), Amblyomma americanum (L., Ixodida:Ixodidae), and Dermacentor variabilis (Say, Ixodida:Ixodidae), occur in high and increasing abundance in both the northeast and southeast United States. North Carolina is at the nexus of spread of these species, with high occurrence and abundance of I. scapularis to the north and A. americanum to the south. Despite this, there are few records of these species in the Piedmont of North Carolina, including the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. Here, we update the known occurrence and abundance of these species in the North Carolina Piedmont. We surveyed for ticks using cloth drags, CO2 traps, and leaf litter samples at a total of 79 sites within five locations: Mecklenburg County, South Mountains State Park, Stone Mountain State Park, Duke Forest, and Morrow Mountain State Park, all in North Carolina, during the late spring, summer, and fall seasons of 2019. From these surveys, we had only 20 tick captures, illuminating the surprisingly low abundance of ticks in this region of North Carolina. Our results indicate the possibility of underlying habitat and host factors limiting tick distribution and abundance in the North Carolina Piedmont.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ryan J Almeida
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
| | - D Jacob Clary
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
| | - Will Hidell
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
| | - Erin V Scott
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
| | - Carlos Vargas
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
| | - Kevin G Smith
- Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
- Department of Environmental Studies, Davidson College, Davidson, NC
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Hecht JA, Allerdice MEJ, Karpathy SE, Yaglom HD, Casal M, Lash RR, Delgado-de la Mora J, Licona-Enriquez JD, Delgado-de la Mora D, Groschupf K, Mertins JW, Moors A, Swann DE, Paddock CD. Distribution and Occurrence of Amblyomma maculatum sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae), Arizona and New Mexico, 2017-2019. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:2030-2034. [PMID: 32647878 PMCID: PMC7780643 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma maculatum Koch sensu lato (s.l.) ticks are the vector of Rickettsia parkeri in Arizona, where nine cases of R. parkeri rickettsiosis have been identified since the initial case in 2014. The current study sought to better define the geographic ranges of the vector and pathogen and to assess the potential public health risk posed by R. parkeri in this region of the southwestern United States. A total of 275 A. maculatum s.l. ticks were collected from 34 locations in four counties in Arizona and one county in New Mexico and screened for DNA of Rickettsia species. Rickettsia parkeri was detected in 20.4% of the ticks, including one specimen collected from New Mexico, the first report of R. parkeri in A. maculatum s.l. from this state. This work demonstrates a broader distribution of A. maculatum s.l. ticks and R. parkeri in the southwestern United States than appreciated previously to suggest that R. parkeri rickettsiosis is underrecognized in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy A. Hecht
- Division of Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
| | - Michelle E. J. Allerdice
- Division of Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
| | - Sandor E. Karpathy
- Division of Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
| | - Hayley D. Yaglom
- Pathogen & Microbiome Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd. Ste. 106, Flagstaff, AZ 86005
| | - Mariana Casal
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Surveillance, Pinal County Public Health Services District, 971 North Jason Lopez Circle, Florence, AZ 85132
| | - R. Ryan Lash
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
| | - Jesus Delgado-de la Mora
- Department of Pathology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, delegación Tlaplan, 14080, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | | | | | | | - James W. Mertins
- National Veterinary Services Laboratories, 1920 Dayton Avenue, Ames, IA 50010
| | - Amanda Moors
- Moors Wildlife Management Services, 1217 E Crestwood Drive, Globe, AZ 85501
| | - Don E. Swann
- Saguaro National Park, 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730
| | - Christopher D. Paddock
- Division of Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
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11
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Cumbie AN, Espada CD, Nadolny RM, Rose RK, Dueser RD, Hynes WL, Gaff HD. Survey of Rickettsia parkeri and Amblyomma maculatum associated with small mammals in southeastern Virginia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2020; 11:101550. [PMID: 32993923 PMCID: PMC7534852 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Small mammals are often parasitized by the immature stages of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae) and may serve as reservoir hosts of tick-borne pathogens. Amblyomma maculatum, the Gulf Coast tick, is the primary vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of R. parkeri rickettsiosis. This hard-bodied tick species is expanding its historical range from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. up the Mid-Atlantic coast. In Mid-Atlantic states, such as Virginia, R. parkeri prevalence is higher in these ticks than those found in its historical range. This high prevalence may be explained in part by small mammal populations. In this study, small mammals were trapped and checked for the presence of immature A. maculatum. The ticks as well as tissue samples from these mammals were tested for the presence of R. parkeri. This study found six rodent species acting as hosts to immature A. maculatum and three species that may play a role in the enzootic cycle of R. parkeri in Virginia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra N Cumbie
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Christina D Espada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Robyn M Nadolny
- Army Public Health Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Robert K Rose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
| | - Raymond D Dueser
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, USA
| | - Wayne L Hynes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA.
| | - Holly D Gaff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA; School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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12
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Portugal JS, Wills R, Goddard J. Laboratory Studies of Questing Behavior in Colonized Nymphal Amblyomma maculatum Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). J Med Entomol 2020; 57:1480-1487. [PMID: 32307540 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Environmental factors affect host-seeking behavior in ticks. In this study, 80 nymphal Amblyomma maculatum Koch were released in an observation arena containing four different heights of broomsedge stems (Andropogon virginicus L.) anchored in sand. Observations were made over three days as to proportion of ticks questing, questing height, and stem height distribution This scenario was replicated three times with different cohorts of ticks (n = 80 per replicate) for each of three treatment combinations of temperature and humidity: High temperature/high humidity (HTHH), high temperature/low humidity (HTLH), and low temperature/high humidity (LTHH). A fourth treatment utilizing the same size cohort and number of replicates included Wind (HTHHW+/-) by alternating days of wind and no-wind conditions over four days. Mean questing height for ticks under HTHH, HTLH, and LTHH conditions ranged from 4.45 to 6.03 cm with ticks questing significantly higher in HTHH. A significantly lower proportion ticks quested in HTLH (8.64%) than HTHH (14.06%) and LTHH (15.33%). In HTHH and LTHH, a significantly higher proportion of ticks were observed questing on 5-cm stems. Wind significantly reduced average questing height, and when absent, ticks on 20- and 30-cm stems quested significantly higher. These data indicate that A. macuatum nymphs randomly select stems to quest upon and climb upward until environmental conditions are prohibitive/ideal. Conditions with reduced vapor pressure deficit (VPD) led to higher questing frequency and height. Relatively low questing heights observed correspond with size of preferred hosts and may explain infrequency of collection by dragcloth in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Santos Portugal
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Twelve Lane, Mississippi State, MS
- Department of Biological Sciences, St. Edward's University, Austin, TX
| | - Robert Wills
- Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
| | - Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Twelve Lane, Mississippi State, MS
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13
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Chitimia-Dobler L, Schaper S, Mansfeld P, Gonschorrek J, Bröker M, Nava S. Detection of Amblyomma mixtum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Germany on a Human Traveler Returning From Cuba. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:962-964. [PMID: 31808809 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The importation of exotic ticks to Germany on infested humans is rarely reported. Here we describe the detection of an Amblyomma mixtum nymph harboring Rickettsia amblyommatis by a tourist returning from a holiday trip to Cuba. Tick infestation may be neglected by tourists. Therefore, careful anamnesis and diagnosis should be carried out when tourists return from tropical and subtropical countries suffering from nonspecific symptoms, such as fever and malaise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Chitimia-Dobler
- Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany
- University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Santiago Nava
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
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14
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Gilliam B, Gronemeyer P, Chakraborty S, Winata F, Lyons LA, Miller-Hunt C, Tuten HC, Debosik S, Freeman D, O’hara-Ruiz M, Mateus-Pinilla N. Impact of Unexplored Data Sources on the Historical Distribution of Three Vector Tick Species in Illinois. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:872-883. [PMID: 31832656 PMCID: PMC7197698 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
We updated the Illinois historical (1905-December 2017) distribution and status (not reported, reported or established) maps for Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae), and Ixodes scapularis (Say) (Acari: Ixodidae) by compiling publicly available, previously unexplored or newly identified published and unpublished data (untapped data). Primary data sources offered specific tick-level information, followed by secondary and tertiary data sources. For A. americanum, D. variabilis, and I. scapularis, primary data contributed to 90% (4,045/4,482), 80% (2,124/2,640), and 32% (3,490/10,898) tick records vs 10%, 20%, and 68%, respectively from secondary data; primary data updated status in 95% (62/65), 94% (51/54) and in 90% (9/10) of the updated counties for each of these tick species; by 1985 there were tick records in 6%, 68%, and 0% of the counties, compared to 20%, 72%, and 58% by 2004, and 77%, 96%, and 75% of the counties by 2017, respectively for A. americanum, D. variabilis, and I. scapularis. We document the loss of tick records due to unidentified, not cataloged tick collections, unidentified ticks in tick collections, unpublished data or manuscripts without specific county location, and tick-level information, to determine distribution and status. In light of the increase in tick-borne illnesses, updates in historical distributions and status maps help researchers and health officials to identify risk areas for a tick encounter and suggest targeted areas for public outreach and surveillance efforts for ticks and tick-borne diseases. There is a need for a systematic, national vector surveillance program to support research and public health responses to tick expansions and tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Gilliam
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
- USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, Malcom, IA
| | - Peg Gronemeyer
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Sulagna Chakraborty
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Fikriyah Winata
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Lee Ann Lyons
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | | | - Holly C Tuten
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
| | | | | | - Marilyn O’hara-Ruiz
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Nohra Mateus-Pinilla
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
- Corresponding author, e-mail:
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15
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Maestas LP, Reeser SR, McGay PJ, Buoni MH. Surveillance for Amblyomma maculatum (Acari: Ixodidae) and Rickettsia parkeri (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) in the State of Delaware, and Their Public Health Implications. J Med Entomol 2020; 57:979-983. [PMID: 31917445 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Amblyomma maculatum Koch is the primary vector of Rickettsia parkeri, the etiologic agent of tidewater spotted fever, and can also carry and transmit a variety of other pathogens. This tick historically has been a costly nuisance to livestock owners in the southeastern United States. Over the past 6 yr, A. maculatum has been collected in numbers sufficient to demonstrate their establishment in Kent County, Delaware, and the presence of R. parkeri has been documented. Our goals were to determine the geographic distribution of A. maculatum and R. parkeri in Delaware, and to equate this to relative risk to the public of encountering R. parkeri-infected ticks. We surveyed for ticks in four locations throughout the state from May to August 2019, and found established A. maculatum populations in all three counties. Laboratory analysis of collected specimens by quantitative polymerase chain reaction detected R. parkeri in A. maculatum populations across the state. These results indicate that A. maculatum could present a health risk to inhabitants of the state, and they also historically have posed a risk to the livestock industry, making them an important consideration in the development and implementation of continued tick surveillance efforts and future policies regarding tick management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren P Maestas
- Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mosquito Control Section, Newark, DE
| | - Sean R Reeser
- Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mosquito Control Section, Newark, DE
| | - Patrick J McGay
- Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife, Mosquito Control Section, Newark, DE
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