scholarly journals Incompetence of the Asian Longhorned Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) in Transmitting the Agent of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L Levin ◽  
Hannah M Stanley ◽  
Kris Hartzer ◽  
Alyssa N Snellgrove
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Vertebrate Hosts ◽  
Transstadial Transmission

Abstract The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae), was recently introduced into the United States and is now established in at least 15 states. Considering its ability for parthenogenetic propagation and propensity for creating high-density populations, there is concern that this tick may become involved in transmission cycles of endemic tick-borne human pathogens. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum is one of the more common tick-borne diseases in the United States, especially in the northeastern and midwestern states. There is considerable geographical overlap between HGA cases and the currently known distribution of H. longicornis, which creates a potential for this tick to encounter A. phagocytophilum while feeding on naturally infected vertebrate hosts. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of H. longicornis to acquire and transmit the agent of HGA under laboratory conditions and compared it to the vector competence of I. scapularis. Haemaphysalis longicornis nymphs acquired the pathogen with the bloodmeal while feeding on infected domestic goats, but transstadial transmission was inefficient and PCR-positive adult ticks were unable to transmit the pathogen to naïve goats. Results of this study indicate that the Asian longhorned tick is not likely to play a significant role in the epidemiology of HGA in the United States.

scholarly journals Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: First Reported Case in Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. e100-e102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D Parkins ◽  
Deirdre L Church ◽  
Xiu Yan Jiang ◽  
Daniel B Gregson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
The United States ◽  
Rickettsial Infection ◽  
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Tick Activity ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Blood Neutrophils ◽  
Rickettsial Diseases ◽  
Elevated Transaminases

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne rickettsial infection of peripheral blood neutrophils caused byAnaplasma phagocytophilum. While this infection is increasingly recognized as endemic throughout much of the United States, no Canadian cases have been previously described, despite the agent being identified in Canadian ticks. Herein we present a case of HGA acquired in an urban Alberta centre. Canadian physicians must be aware of the possibility of tick-borne rickettsial diseases as etiology of fever in individuals presenting with leukopenia/lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and elevated transaminases during periods of tick activity. Prompt recognition and treatment are important in minimizing resultant morbidity and mortality.

scholarly journals Exotic Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in the United States: Biology, Ecology, and Strategies for Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany L Schappach ◽  
Rayda K Krell ◽  
Victoria L Hornbostel ◽  
Neeta P Connally
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Vector Competence ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Multiple Pathogens

Abstract The Asian longhorned tick (ALT), Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann (Acari: Ixodidae), is a three-host tick that was first detected outside of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) quarantine in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 2017 and subsequently found in another 14 states. In its native Asia, and where it has become established in Australia and New Zealand, ALTs feed on a variety of hosts and are economically important livestock pests and competent vectors of multiple pathogens to humans and other animals. The degree to which ALT will become a persistent livestock pest or competent vector for introduced or existing pathogens in the United States is yet unclear. Because of its vast host availability, ability to reproduce asexually, known vector competence, and the presence of multiple life stages on hosts, the expansion of ALT establishment in the United States is expected, and is a significant public health and veterinary concern. In this paper, we discuss the biology, geographical distribution, life cycle and seasonal activity, reproduction, identification, medical and veterinary implications, management options, and future concerns in the United States.

scholarly journals Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis in the United States from 2008 to 2012: A Summary of National Surveillance Data

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Scott Dahlgren ◽  
Kristen Nichols Heitman ◽  
Casey Barton Behravesh ◽  
Naomi A. Drexler ◽  
Robert F. Massung
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
National Surveillance ◽  
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis

Seasonal Activity of Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae) in Southern New York State

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas P Piedmonte ◽  
Vanessa C Vinci ◽  
Thomas J Daniels ◽  
Bryon P Backenson ◽  
Richard C Falco
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
New York State ◽  
The United States ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Eastern Asia ◽  
Short Life ◽  
Human Bite

Abstract The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, is a species native to eastern Asia that has recently been discovered in the United States. In its native range, H. longicornis transmits pathogens that cause disease in humans and livestock. It is currently unknown whether H. longicornis will act as a vector in the United States. Understanding its seasonal activity patterns will be important in identifying which times of the year represent greatest potential risk to humans and livestock should this species become a threat to animal or public health. A study site was established in Yonkers, NY near the residence associated with the first reported human bite from H. longicornis in the United States. Ticks were collected once each week from July 2018 to November 2019. Haemaphysalis longicornis larvae were most active from August to November, nymphs from April to July, and adult females from June to September. This pattern of activity suggests that H. longicornis is capable of completing a generation within a single year and matches the patterns observed in its other ranges in the northern hemisphere. The data presented here contribute to a growing database for H. longicornis phenology in the northeastern United States. Potential implications of the short life cycle for the tick’s vectorial capacity are discussed.

scholarly journals Prevalence of single and coinfections of human pathogens in Ixodes ticks from five geographical regions in the United States, 2013–2019

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 101637
Author(s):  
Aine Lehane ◽  
Sarah E. Maes ◽  
Christine B. Graham ◽  
Emma Jones ◽  
Mark Delorey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Ixodes Ticks

scholarly journals CXCR2 Blockade Influences Anaplasma phagocytophilum Propagation but Not Histopathology in the Mouse Model of Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 963-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana G. Scorpio ◽  
Mustafa Akkoyunlu ◽  
Erol Fikrig ◽  
J. Stephen Dumler
Keyword(s):  
Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽  
Tissue Injury ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Obligate Intracellular Bacterium ◽  
Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Obligate Intracellular ◽  
Liver Histopathology ◽  
Granulocytic Anaplasmosis ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that infects neutrophils and causes human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Infection induces neutrophil secretion of interleukin-8 or murine homologs and perpetuates infection by recruiting susceptible neutrophils. We hypothesized that antibody blockade of CXCR2 would decrease A. phagocytophilum tissue load by interrupting neutrophil recruitment but would not influence murine hepatic pathology. C3H-scid mice were treated with CXCR2 antiserum or control prior to or on day 14 after infection. Quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry for A. phagocytophilum were performed and severity of liver histopathology was ranked. Control mice had more infected cells in tissues than the anti-CXCR2-treated group. The histopathological rank was not different between treated and control animals. Infected cells of control mice clustered in tissue more than in treated mice. The results support the hypothesis of bacterial propagation through chemokine induction and confirm that tissue injury is unrelated to A. phagocytophilum tissue load.

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