Effect of Rising Temperature on Lyme Disease: Ixodes scapularis Population Dynamics and Borrelia burgdorferi Transmission and Prevalence

Warmer temperatures are expected to increase the incidence of Lyme disease through enhanced tick maturation rates and a longer season of transmission. In addition, there could be an increased risk of disease export because of infected mobile hosts, usually birds. A temperature-driven seasonal model of Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) transmission among four host types is constructed as a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The model is developed and parametrized based on a collection of lab and field studies. The model is shown to produce biologically reasonable results for both the tick vector (Ixodes scapularis) and the hosts when compared to a different set of studies. The model is used to predict the response of Lyme disease risk to a mean annual temperature increase, based on current temperature cycles in Hanover, NH. Many of the risk measures suggested by the literature are shown to change with increased mean annual temperature. The most straightforward measure of disease risk is the abundance of infected questing ticks, averaged over a year. Compared to this measure, which is difficult and resource-intensive to track in the field, all other risk measures considered underestimate the rise of risk with rise in mean annual temperature. The measure coming closest was “degree days above zero.” Disease prevalence in ticks and hosts showed less increase with rising temperature. Single field measurements at the height of transmission season did not show much change at all with rising temperature.

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Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) Infection Prevalence and Host Associations of Ticks Found on Peromyscus spp. in Maryland

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jme/tjab206 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Julia E Poje ◽

Jose F Azevedo ◽

Nisha Nair ◽

Kurayi Mahachi ◽

Lexi E Frank ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Private Land ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Wild Mice ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and most commonly transmitted by Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland. Because B. burgdorferi s.s. is maintained in enzootic cycles among wild mice (Peromyscus spp) and Ixodes spp ticks, differing patterns of parasitism of ticks on mice could impact the infection prevalence with B. burgdorferi. We determined the infection prevalence of Peromyscus spp as well as questing and partially engorged nymphal ticks collected at six sites on private land in five counties in Maryland from May to August 2020. Questing nymph infection prevalence (NIP) was 14%. We trapped 1258 mice and collected 554 ticks and 413 ear tissue samples. The prevalence of infested Peromyscus spp varied based on host age and sex, with older and male mice more likely to be infested. We detected a significant difference amongst the proportion of attached Ixodes and the location of trapping. Similarly, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi infected Peromyscus spp mice varied between locations (average mouse infection prevalence was 40%), with the highest prevalence in locations where Ixodes were the most commonly found ticks. The B. burgdorferi infection prevalence in partially engorged I. scapularis nymphs retrieved from Peromyscus spp was ~36% which lends further support to the host infection prevalence. Local differences in distribution of infected vectors and reservoirs are important factors to consider when planning interventions to reduce Lyme disease risk.

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Modelling Spatiotemporal Patterns of Lyme Disease Emergence in Québec

10.20944/preprints202107.0692.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marc-Antoine Tutt-Gurétte ◽

Mengru Yuan ◽

Daniel Szarosz ◽

Britt McKinnon ◽

Yan Kestens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Disease Onset ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Spatiotemporal Patterns ◽

High Rate ◽

Disease Emergence ◽

Targeted Interventions

Lyme disease is a growing public health problem in Québec. Its emergence over the last decade is caused by environmental and anthropological factors that favour the survival of Ixodes scapularis, the vector of Lyme disease transmission. The objective of this study was to estimate the speed and direction of Lyme disease emergence in Québec and to identify spatiotemporal risk patterns. A surface trend analysis was conducted to estimate the speed and direction of its emergence based upon the first detected case of Lyme disease in each municipality in Québec since 2004. A cluster analysis was also conducted to identify at-risk regions across space and time. These analyses were reproduced for the date of disease onset and date of notification for each case of Lyme disease. It was estimated that Lyme disease is spreading northward in Québec at a speed varying between 18 and 32 km/year according to the date of notification and the date of disease onset, respectively. A high rate of disease risk was found in seven clusters identified in the south-west of Québec in the sociosanitary regions of Montérégie and Estrie. The results obtained in this study improve our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of Lyme disease in Québec, which can be used for proactive, targeted interventions by public and clinical health authorities.

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Diversifying forest communities may change Lyme disease risk: extra dimension to the dilution effect in Europe

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182016000688 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 143 (10) ◽

pp. 1310-1319 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

SANNE C. RUYTS ◽

EVY AMPOORTER ◽

ELENA C. COIPAN ◽

LANDER BAETEN ◽

DIETER HEYLEN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Dilution Effect ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Host Diversity ◽

Pine Stands

SUMMARYLyme disease is caused by bacteria of theBorrelia burgdorferigenospecies complex and transmitted by Ixodid ticks. In North America only one pathogenic genospecies occurs, in Europe there are several. According to the dilution effect hypothesis (DEH), formulated in North America, nymphal infection prevalence (NIP) decreases with increasing host diversity since host species differ in transmission potential. We analysedBorreliainfection in nymphs from 94 forest stands in Belgium, which are part of a diversification gradient with a supposedly related increasing host diversity: from pine stands without to oak stands with a shrub layer. We expected changing tree species and forest structure to increase host diversity and decrease NIP. In contrast with the DEH, NIP did not differ between different forest types. Genospecies diversity however, and presumably also host diversity, was higher in oak than in pine stands. Infected nymphs tended to harbourBorrelia afzeliiinfection more often in pine stands whileBorrelia gariniiandBorrelia burgdorferiss. infection appeared to be more prevalent in oak stands. This has important health consequences, since the latter two cause more severe disease manifestations. We show that the DEH must be nuanced for Europe and should consider the response of multiple pathogenic genospecies.

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Mapping distributions of the Lyme disease vector, Ixodes scapularis, and spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in Kentucky using passive and active surveillance

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101885 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101885

Author(s):

Anna R. Pasternak ◽

Subba R. Palli

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Active Surveillance ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Disease Vector

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Comparing the Climatic and Landscape Risk Factors for Lyme Disease Cases in the Upper Midwest and Northeast United States

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17051548 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 1548

Author(s):

Yuting Dong ◽

Zheng Huang ◽

Yong Zhang ◽

Yingying X.G. Wang ◽

Yang La

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Upper Midwest ◽

Related Factors ◽

Vector Borne Diseases ◽

Landscape Factors ◽

Lyme Disease Risk

Lyme disease, recognized as one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide, has been increasing in incidence and spatial extend in United States. In the Northeast and Upper Midwest, Lyme disease is transmitted by Ixodes scapularis. Currently, many studies have been conducted to identify factors influencing Lyme disease risk in the Northeast, however, relatively few studies focused on the Upper Midwest. In this study, we explored and compared the climatic and landscape factors that shape the spatial patterns of human Lyme cases in these two regions, using the generalized linear mixed models. Our results showed that climatic variables generally had opposite correlations with Lyme disease risk, while landscape factors usually had similar effects in these two regions. High precipitation and low temperature were correlated with high Lyme disease risk in the Upper Midwest, while with low Lyme disease risk in the Northeast. In both regions, size and fragmentation related factors of residential area showed positive correlations with Lyme disease risk. Deciduous forests and evergreen forests had opposite effects on Lyme disease risk, but the effects were consistent between two regions. In general, this study provides new insight into understanding the differences of risk factors of human Lyme disease risk in these two regions.

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Far-Reaching Dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato-Infected Blacklegged Ticks by Migratory Songbirds in Canada

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare6030089 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 89 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

John Scott ◽

Kerry Clark ◽

Janet Foley ◽

Bradley Bierman ◽

Lance Durden

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato ◽

Care Providers ◽

Northern Areas ◽

Migratory Songbirds

Lyme disease has been documented in northern areas of Canada, but the source of the etiological bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) has been in doubt. We collected 87 ticks from 44 songbirds during 2017, and 24 (39%) of 62 nymphs of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, were positive for Bbsl. We provide the first report of Bbsl-infected, songbird-transported I. scapularis in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Newfoundland and Labrador; north-central Manitoba, and Alberta. Notably, we report the northernmost account of Bbsl-infected ticks parasitizing a bird in Canada. DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing reveal that these Bbsl amplicons belong to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), which is pathogenic to humans. Based on our findings, health-care providers should be aware that migratory songbirds widely disperse B. burgdorferi-infected I. scapularis in Canada’s North, and local residents do not have to visit an endemic area to contract Lyme disease.

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Effects of Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi on modulation of the host immune response: induction of a TH2 cytokine response in Lyme disease-susceptible (C3H/HeJ) mice but not in disease-resistant (BALB/c) mice.

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.65.8.3100-3106.1997 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 65 (8) ◽

pp. 3100-3106 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

N Zeidner ◽

M L Mbow ◽

M Dolan ◽

R Massung ◽

E Baca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Host Immune Response ◽

Cytokine Response ◽

Th2 Cytokine ◽

Disease Resistant

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Corrigendum to “Lyme Disease Risk of Exposure to Blacklegged Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infected with Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) in Pittsburgh Regional Parks”

Journal of Medical Entomology ◽

10.1093/jme/tjz181 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 324-324

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Lyme Disease Risk

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Detection of antibodies to decorin-binding protein A (DbpA) and DbpB after infection of dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi by tick challenge

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/1040638720912394 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 481-485

Author(s):

Darby G. Oldenburg ◽

Dean A. Jobe ◽

Steven D. Lovrich ◽

Rhonda L. LaFleur ◽

Douglas W. White ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lyme Disease ◽

Borrelia Burgdorferi ◽

Ixodes Scapularis ◽

Binding Protein ◽

Protein A ◽

Immune Serum ◽

Immunoglobulin M ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Serum Samples

We characterized the antibody response to decorin-binding protein A (DbpA) or DbpB from immune serum samples collected from 27 dogs infected with Borrelia burgdorferi by Ixodes scapularis ticks. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to DbpA or DbpB were rarely detected, but high levels of IgG antibodies to DbpA were detected in 16 of 27 of the immune sera collected 1 mo after infection, 20 of 25 of the sera collected after 2 mo, and each of the 23, 17, or 11 serum samples evaluated after 3, 4, or 5 mo, respectively. In addition, IgG antibodies to DbpB were detected in 22 of 27 ( p = 0.005) tested dogs after 1 mo, and the frequency of detecting the antibodies thereafter closely mimicked the antibody responses to DbpA. Moreover, antibodies to DbpA or DbpB were not produced by dogs vaccinated with a whole-cell B. burgdorferi bacterin; removing the antibodies to DbpA by adsorption to recombinant DbpA (rDbpA) did not affect the reactivity detected by a rDbpB ELISA. Therefore, the findings from our preliminary study showed that antigenically distinct antibodies to DbpA or DbpB are produced reliably during canine infection with B. burgdorferi, and the response is not confounded by vaccination with a Lyme disease bacterin. Larger studies are warranted to more critically evaluate whether detecting the antibody responses can improve serodiagnostic confirmation of canine Lyme disease.

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