Emergence of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Small Mammal Population in a Coastal Oak-Pine Forest, Maine, USA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan P Elias ◽  
Jack W Witham ◽  
Elizabeth F Schneider ◽  
Peter W Rand ◽  
Malcolm L Hunter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Mouse Population ◽  
Small Mammal Population ◽  
Prevalence Proportion ◽  
Dog Tick ◽  
White Footed Mouse

Abstract In the United States, surveillance has been key to tracking spatiotemporal emergence of blacklegged ticks [Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida:Ixodidae)] and their pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), the agent of Lyme disease. On the Holt Research Forest in midcoastal Maine, collection of feeding ticks from live-trapped small mammal hosts allowed us to track the emergence and establishment of I. scapularis, 1989–2019. From 1989–1995, we collected only I. angustus Neumann (Ixodida: Ixodidae)(vole tick), Dermacentor variabilis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae) (American dog tick), and I. marxi Banks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) (squirrel tick) from seven species of small mammals. The most abundant tick host was the white-footed mouse [Peromyscus leucopus Rafinesque (Rodentia:Cricetidae)] followed by the red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi Vigors (Rodentia: Cricetidae)). Emergence of I. scapularis was signaled via the appearance of subadult I. scapularis in 1996. Emergence of B. burgdorferi was signaled through its appearance in I. scapularis feeding on mice in 2005. There was a substantial increase in I. scapularis prevalence (proportion of hosts parasitized) and burdens (ticks/host) on white-footed mice and red-backed voles in 2007. The ~11-yr time-to-establishment for I. scapularis was consistent with that seen in other studies. White-footed mice comprised 65.9% of all captures and hosted 94.1% of the total I. scapularis burden. The white-footed mouse population fluctuated interannually, but did not trend up as did I. scapularis prevalence and burdens. There were concurrent declines in I. angustus and D. variabilis. We discuss these results in the broader context of regional I. scapularis range expansion.

scholarly journals Aversion of the invasive Asian longhorned tick to the white-footed mouse, the dominant reservoir of tick-borne pathogens in the United States

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isobel Ronai ◽  
Danielle M. Tufts ◽  
Maria A. Diuk-Wasser
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mammalian Host ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Short Period ◽  
First Time ◽  
White Footed Mouse ◽  
Laboratory Assay

AbstractThe Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was reported for the first time in the United States of America in 2017 and has now spread across 12 states. The potential of this invasive tick vector to transmit pathogens will be determined through its association to native hosts, such as the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) which is the primary reservoir for the causative agent of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) and other zoonotic pathogens. We placed larval H. longicornis on P. leucopus, 65% of the larvae (n = 40) moved off the host within a short period of time and none engorged. In contrast, larval black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) did not move from where they were placed in the ear of the mouse. We then conducted a laboratory behavioural assay to assess the interaction of H. longicornis with the hair of potential mammalian host species in the United States of America. H. longicornis larvae were less likely to enter the hair zone of P. leucopus and humans compared to the hair of domestic cats, domestic dogs, and white-tailed deer. Our study identifies a tick-host hair interaction behaviour, which can be quantified in a laboratory assay to predict tick-host associations and provides insights into how ticks select a host.

scholarly journals Effect of Vegetation on the Abundance of Tick Vectors in the Northeastern United States: A Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C Mathisson ◽  
Sara M Kross ◽  
Matthew I Palmer ◽  
Maria A Diuk-Wasser
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Northeastern United States ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Open Canopy

Abstract Tick-borne illnesses have been on the rise in the United States, with reported cases up sharply in the past two decades. In this literature review, we synthesize the available research on the relationship between vegetation and tick abundance for four tick species in the northeastern United States that are of potential medical importance to humans. The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) (Say; Acari: Ixodidae) is found to be positively associated with closed canopy forests and dense vegetation thickets, and negatively associated with open canopy environments, such as grasslands or old agricultural fields. The American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) (Say; Acari: Ixodidae) has little habitat overlap with I. scapularis, with abundance highest in grasses and open-canopy fields. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) (Linnaeus; Acari: Ixodidae) is a habitat generalist without consistent associations with particular types of vegetation. The habitat associations of the recently introduced Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) (Neumann; Acari: Ixodidae) in the northeastern United States, and in other regions where it has invaded, are still unknown, although based on studies in its native range, it is likely to be found in grasslands and open-canopy habitats.

scholarly journals Reported County-Level Distribution of the American Dog Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) in the Contiguous United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aine Lehane ◽  
Christina Parise ◽  
Colleen Evans ◽  
Lorenza Beati ◽  
William L Nicholson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
County Level ◽  
American Dog Tick ◽  
Dog Tick

Abstract In the United States, tick-borne diseases are increasing in incidence and cases are reported over an expanding geographical area. Avoiding tick bites is a key strategy in tick-borne disease prevention, and this requires current and accurate information on where humans are at risk for exposure to ticks. Based on a review of published literature and records in the U.S. National Tick Collection and National Ecological Observatory Network databases, we compiled an updated county-level map showing the reported distribution of the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say). We show that this vector of the bacterial agents causing Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia is widely distributed, with records derived from 45 states across the contiguous United States. However, within these states, county-level records of established tick populations are limited. Relative to the range of suitable habitat for this tick, our data imply that D. variabilis is currently underreported in the peer-reviewed literature, highlighting a need for improved surveillance and documentation of existing tick records.

scholarly journals Dermacentor variabilis is the Predominant Dermacentor spp. (Acari: Ixodidae) Feeding on Dogs and Cats Throughout the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn T Duncan ◽  
Meriam N Saleh ◽  
Kellee D Sundstrom ◽  
Susan E Little
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Spotted Fever ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Its2 Region ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever ◽  
Dermacentor Albipictus

Abstract Throughout North America, Dermacentor spp. ticks are often found feeding on animals and humans, and are known to transmit pathogens, including the Rocky Mountain spotted fever agent. To better define the identity and distribution of Dermacentor spp. removed from dogs and cats in the United States, ticks submitted from 1,457 dogs (n = 2,924 ticks) and 137 cats (n = 209 ticks) from veterinary practices in 44/50 states from February 2018-January 2020 were identified morphologically (n = 3,133); the identity of ticks from regions where Dermacentor andersoni (Stiles) have been reported, and a subset of ticks from other regions, were confirmed molecularly through amplification and sequencing of the ITS2 region and a 16S rRNA gene fragment. Of the ticks submitted, 99.3% (3,112/3,133) were Dermacentor variabilis (Say), 0.4% (12/3,133) were D. andersoni, and 0.3% (9/3,133) were Dermacentor albipictus (Packard). While translocation of pets prior to tick removal cannot be discounted, the majority (106/122; 87%) of Dermacentor spp. ticks removed from dogs and cats in six Rocky Mountain states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado) were D. variabilis, suggesting this species may be more widespread in the western United States than is currently recognized, or that D. andersoni, if still common in the region, preferentially feeds on hosts other than dogs and cats. Together, these data support the interpretation that D. variabilis is the predominant Dermacentor species found on pets throughout the United States, a finding that may reflect recent shifts in tick distribution.

scholarly journals Human Coinfection withBorrelia burgdorferiandBabesia microtiin the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Association of the invasive Haemaphysalis longicornis tick with vertebrate hosts, other native tick vectors, and tick-borne pathogens in New York City

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M. Tufts ◽  
Laura B. Goodman ◽  
Meghan C. Benedict ◽  
April D. Davis ◽  
Meredith C. VanAcker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Vector Potential ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Invasive Pest ◽  
Haemaphysalis Longicornis ◽  
Tick Vectors ◽  
Host Associations

AbstractHaemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick, is an invasive ixodid tick that has rapidly spread across the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States since first reported in 2017. The emergence of H. longicornis presents a potential threat for livestock, wildlife, and human health as the host associations and vector potential of this invasive pest in the United States are poorly understood. Previous field data from the United States has shown that H. longicornis was not associated with natural populations of small mammals or birds, but they show a preference for medium sized mammals in laboratory experiments. Therefore, medium and large sized mammals were sampled on Staten Island, New York to determine H. longicornis host associations and vector potential for a range of human and veterinary pathogens. A total of 97 hosts were sampled and five species of tick (Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variabilis, H. longicornis, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes cookei) were found feeding concurrently on these hosts. Haemaphysalis longicornis was found in the highest proportions compared to other native tick species on raccoons (55.4%), Virginia opossums (28.9%), and white-tailed deer (11.5%). Tissue, blood, and engorged larvae were tested for 17 different pathogens using a nanoscale PCR platform. Infection with five pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Mycoplasma haemocanis, and Bartonella spp.) was detected in host samples, but no pathogens were found in any larval samples. These results suggest that although large and medium sized mammals feed large numbers of H. longicornis ticks in the environment there is presently a low potential for H. longicornis to acquire pathogens from these wildlife hosts.HighlightsH. longicornis were sampled from seven genera of large and medium-sized mammalsRaccoons, opossums, and white-tailed deer fed a large proportion of H. longicornisH. longicornis did not acquire pathogens through co-feeding with native tick vectorsHost species were infected with a range of pathogens of human and veterinary concernHost-derived H. longicornis engorged larvae were not infected with any pathogens

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Patterns of Host-Seeking Ixodes scapularis Nymphs (Acari: Ixodidae) in the United States

2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Diuk-Wasser ◽  
A. G. Gatewood ◽  
M. R. Cortinas ◽  
S. Yaremych-Hamer ◽  
J. Tsao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽  
Host Seeking

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Parasitizing Domestic Dogs in Southeastern Georgia

2004 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan B. Wells ◽  
Lance A. Durden ◽  
John H. Smoyer
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Gopher Tortoise ◽  
Gulf Coast Tick ◽  
Dog Tick ◽  
Ixodes Affinis

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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