Attempted transmission ofEhrlichia risticii, causative agent of Potomac horse fever, by the ticks,Dermacentor variabilis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Ixodes scapularis andAmblyomma americanum

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) were collected from family-owned domestic dogs, Canis familiaris L., in Bulloch Co., GA, from 1996 to 2003 and from dogs maintained in a shelter in Emanuel Co., GA, in 2002 and 2003. A total of 2,466 ticks representing 9 species was recovered. The most frequently recovered species from family-owned dogs were the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say (54.6% of all ticks from this group of dogs), and American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (27.7%). Collections from shelter-maintained dogs were dominated by the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (73.6%). Except for 39 nymphs of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum (L.), 12 nymphs of R. sanguineus, 7 nymphs of the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum Koch, 1 nymph of D. variabilis and 72 larvae of the gopher tortoise tick, Amblyomma tuberculatum Marx, only adult ticks were present. Seasonally, I. scapularis adults were recorded from October through May and were most common in the fall; whereas, A. americanum, A. maculatum, A. tuberculatum, D. variabilis, and Ixodes affinis Neumann were all found only during the spring, summer and/or early fall. Two species of ticks collected during this study, A. tuberculatum and I. affinis, have Coastal Plain distributions in the southern U.S. and would only be expected to parasitize dogs within this region.

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Passive Animal Surveillance to Identify Ticks in Wisconsin, 2011–2017

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects10090289 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 289 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Xia Lee ◽

Darby S. Murphy ◽

Diep Hoang Johnson ◽

Susan M. Paskewitz

Keyword(s):

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Animal Health ◽

Bird Species ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Common Species ◽

Domestic Animal ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Amblyomma Americanum ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Surveillance Programs

The introduction of new tick species poses a risk to human and animal health. Systematic active surveillance programs are expensive and uncommon. We evaluated a passive animal surveillance program as a monitoring tool to document the geographic distribution and host associations of ticks in Wisconsin. Passive surveillance partners included veterinary medical clinics, domestic animal shelters, and wildlife rehabilitation centers from 35 of the 72 Wisconsin counties. A total of 10,136 tick specimens were collected from 2325 animals from July 2011 to November 2017 and included Dermacentor variabilis Say (29.7% of all ticks), Ixodes texanus Banks (25.5%), Ixodes scapularis Say (19.5%), Haemaphysalis leporispalustris Packard (13.8%), Ixodes cookei Packard (4.4%), and Dermacentor albipictus Packard (1.7%). Less common species (<1% of collection) included Ixodes dentatus Marx, Ixodes sculptus Neumann, Ixodes marxi Banks, Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille. Of the 2325 animals that were examined, most were domestic dogs (53%), eastern cottontail rabbits (16%), domestic cats (15%), and North American raccoons (11%). An additional 21 mammal and 11 bird species were examined at least once during the six years of the study. New county records are summarized for each species. Public health, academic, and veterinary and animal care partners formed a community of practice enabling effective statewide tick surveillance.

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Activity of the plant-based repellent, TT-4302 against the ticks Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, Ixodes scapularis and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-013-9719-1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 105-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

B. W. Bissinger ◽

J. P. Schmidt ◽

J. J. Owens ◽

S. M. Mitchell ◽

M. K. Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Amblyomma Americanum

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Parásitos y enfermedades del venado bura (Odocoileus hemionus fuliginatus) en la parte norte de la sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California, México.

Revista Mexicana de Mastozoologia ◽

10.22201/ie.20074484e.2007.11.1.57 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joaquín Contreras ◽

Eric Mellink ◽

R. Martínez ◽

G. Medina

Keyword(s):

Baja California ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Mule Deer ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Hypoderma Lineatum ◽

San Pedro ◽

Dermacentor Albipictus ◽

Sierra San Pedro Martir ◽

Linognathus Vituli

Resumen: Durante los años 2001, 2002 y 2003 colectamos muestras de ectoparásitos, tejido sanguíneo y excretas de venados cobrados por cazadores en el norte de la sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California. Se colectaron ectoparásitos de 15 venados, lográndose identificar a Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor occidentalis, Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor albipictus, Lipoptena sp, Hypoderma lineatum, Linognathus vituli y una larva de especie no identificada de la familia Oestridae. No se detectaron evidencias de nemátodos endoparásitos. Se analizaron los sueros de 12 venados para detectar anticuerpos contra el virus de la enfermedad de lengua azul, anaplasmosis y brucelosis registrando seropositividad a las dos primeras, pero no a brucelosis.Palabras clave: Venado bura, parásitos, enfermedades, enfermedad de lengua azul, anaplasmosis, brucelosis.Abstract: We collected samples of ectoparasites, blood, and feces of mule deer killed by sport hunters in the northern part of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California from 2001 to 2003. We identified ectoparasites on 15 deer, which had 9 species of parasitic arthropods: Ixodes scapularis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor occidentalis, Dermacentor variabilis, Dermacentor albipictus, Lipoptena sp, Hypoderma lineatum, Linognathus vituli, and one Oestridae larvae of unidentified species. We did not find any endoparasites. We analyzed blood serum from 12 deer to detect blue tongue disease, anaplasmosis, and brucellosis, and we found seropositivity to the two first diseases, but not to brucellosis. Key words: Mule deer, extoparasites, disease, blue tongue disease, anaplasmosis, brucellosis

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Morphological observations of fluorescence in different tick species (Family: Ixodidae)

Acarologia ◽

10.24349/acarologia/20184305 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 989-994

Author(s):

Dakota A. Shade

Keyword(s):

Tick Species ◽

Predator Avoidance ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Amblyomma Americanum ◽

Evolutionary Significance ◽

The World ◽

Biological Organisms

Ticks are important ectoparasites due to their ability to transmit harmful pathogens and their study is thus significant for medical and veterinary practices around the world. Fluorescence has been found in numerous biological organisms, including ticks. However, the overall function, evolutionary significance, and distribution of fluorescence in ticks are unknown. This study examined tick fluorescence in purchased, unfed adult Amblyomma americanum (Linnaeus), A. maculatum Koch, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), D. andersoni (Stiles), Ixodes scapularis Say, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus Latreille ticks. An Olympus SZX7 microscope and NightSea SFA system with ultraviolet (UV) and royal blue sets were used for observing tick morphology. Ticks were shown to have widespread fluorescence in all species observed. The results corroborated previous studies, but with the addition of more fluorescent structures. Tick fluorescence could potentially play roles in communication or predator avoidance. Studies on tick behavior in conjunction with fluorescence are now called for to elucidate potential roles.

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Human Coinfection withBorrelia burgdorferiandBabesia microtiin the United States

Journal of Parasitology Research ◽

10.1155/2015/587131 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Kristen L. Knapp ◽

Nancy A. Rice

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Immunological Response ◽

The United States ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Current State ◽

Tick Borne Disease ◽

Multiple Pathogens

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, andBabesia microti, a causative agent of babesiosis, are increasingly implicated in the growing tick-borne disease burden in the northeastern United States. These pathogens are transmitted via the bite of an infected tick vector,Ixodes scapularis, which is capable of harboring and inoculating a host with multiple pathogens simultaneously. Clinical presentation of the diseases is heterogeneous and ranges from mild flu-like symptoms to near-fatal cardiac arrhythmias. While the reason for the variability is not known, the possibility exists that concomitant infection with bothB. burgdorferiandB. microtimay synergistically increase disease severity. In an effort to clarify the current state of understanding regarding coinfection withB. burgdorferiandB. microti, in this review, we discuss the geographical distribution and pathogenesis of Lyme disease and babesiosis in the United States, the immunological response of humans toB. burgdorferiorB. microtiinfection, the existing knowledge regarding coinfection disease pathology, and critical factors that have led to ambiguity in the literature regarding coinfection, in order to eliminate confusion in future experimental design and investigation.

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THE DISTRIBUTION OF RICKETTSIA IN THE TISSUES OF INSECTS AND ARACHNIDS

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.37.4.431 ◽

1923 ◽

Vol 37 (4) ◽

pp. 431-456 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

E. V. Cowdry

Keyword(s):

Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Animal Products ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Pediculus Humanus ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Pulex Irritans ◽

Boophilus Decoloratus ◽

Occasional Occurrence ◽

Definition Of

In the absence of a satisfactory definition of Rickettsia the observations herein recorded were arbitrarily limited to bacterium-like organisms which are intracellular and Gram-negative. Rickettsia of this type were found in the following species: Amblyomma americana, Amblyomma hebræum, Boophilus decoloratus, Atomus sp., Casinaria infesta, Chrysopa oculata, Ctenocephalus canis, Dermacentor variabilis, Lepisma saccharina, Lucoppia curviseta, Margaropus annulatus, Margaropus annulatus australis, Ornithodoros turicata, Pulex irritans, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, and Salticus scenicus. Since intracellular, Gram-negative Rickettsia have been recorded in the literature as existing in Cimex lectularius, Dermacentor venustus, Melophagus ovinus, and Pediculus humanus, the occasional occurrence of such bodies must be conceded in the following groups not closely related phylogenetically: Attidæ, Trombidiidæ, Argasidæ, lxodidæ, Cinura, Acanthiidæ, Pediculidæ, Hippoboscidæ, Chrysopidæ, Pulicidæ, and Ichneumonidæ. The species which harbor Rickettsia differ widely in diet and habitat. One such species is insectivorous throughout life, two are insectivorous in larval stages, becoming vegetarian in the adult condition, one is chiefly vegetarian but partakes of some animal products, and two are usually entirely vegetarian; while the remainder subsist wholly upon a diet of mammalian blood. Rickettsia are associated, in only a few cases, with diseases in mammals. The evidence at hand does not lead beyond the conclusion that the Rickettsia mentioned above are true Gram-negative microorganisms, easily distinguishable from mitochondria and all other cytoplasmic and nuclear granulations, rather completely adapted to an intracellular existence, exhibiting in some cases a remarkable degree of host specificity, and often inherited through the eggs.

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Prevalence and diversity of piroplasms and ticks in young raccoons and an association of Babesia sensu stricto infections with splenomegaly

Parasitology Open ◽

10.1017/pao.2018.7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Author(s):

Kayla Buck Garrett ◽

Renee Schott ◽

Lea Peshock ◽

Michael J. Yabsley

Keyword(s):

Vertical Transmission ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Babesia Microti ◽

Alternative Route ◽

The Usa ◽

History Of

AbstractPiroplasms are intraerythrocytic parasites that are often transmitted by ixodid ticks, but vertical transmission is an alternative route for some species. In the USA, raccoons (Procyon lotor) are hosts for two known species, a Babesia microti-like sp. and Babesia lotori (in Babesia sensu stricto group). To better understand the natural history of Babesia in raccoons, we tested young raccoons from Minnesota and Colorado for Babesia spp., examined them for ticks, and assessing for splenomegaly as a sign of clinical disease. Raccoons from both states were infected with B. microti-like sp. and Babesia sensu stricto spp. Infections of B. microti-like were common, even in 1-week-old raccoons, suggesting vertical transmission. Babesia sensu stricto infections were more common in older raccoons. Raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto had significantly higher spleen:body weight ratios compared with uninfected or B. microti-like sp.-infected raccoons. Ticks were only found on raccoons from Minnesota. The most common and abundant tick was Ixodes texanus but Ixodes scapularis and Dermacentor variabilis were also found on raccoons. We report piroplasm infections and infestations with several tick species in very young raccoons. Young raccoons infected with Babesia sensu stricto spp. had higher spleen:body weight ratios, suggesting a disease risk.

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Modeling the Distribution of Medically Important Tick Species in Florida

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects10070190 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 190 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

William H. Kessler ◽

Claudia Ganser ◽

Gregory E. Glass

Keyword(s):

Habitat Suitability ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Dermacentor Variabilis ◽

Amblyomma Americanum ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Public Health Importance ◽

Raising Awareness ◽

Great Public Health

The lone star (Amblyomma americanum), black-legged (Ixodes scapularis) and American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) are species of great public health importance as they are competent vectors of several notable pathogens. While the regional distributions of these species are well characterized, more localized distribution estimates are sparse. We used records of field collected ticks and an ensemble modeling approach to predict habitat suitability for each of these species in Florida. Environmental variables capturing climatic extremes were common contributors to habitat suitability. Most frequently, annual precipitation (Bio12), mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio9), minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6), and mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were included in the final models for each species. Agreement between the modeling algorithms used in this study was high and indicated the distribution of suitable habitat for all three species was reduced at lower latitudes. These findings are important for raising awareness of the potential for tick-borne pathogens in Florida.

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