scholarly journals A determination of the spatial concordance between Lyme disease incidence and habitat probability of its primary vector Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick)

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel F. Atkinson ◽  
Sahotra Sarkar ◽  
Aldo Aviña ◽  
Jim A. Schuermann ◽  
Phillip Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Spatial Concordance ◽  
Primary Vector

Spray Safe, Play Safe: Story-Based Films Increase Homeowner Confidence About Backyard Tick Management

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria L Hornbostel ◽  
Rayda K Krell ◽  
Jennifer J Reid ◽  
Brittany L Schappach ◽  
Scott Volpe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Short Story ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tick Control ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Public Health Professionals ◽  
Primary Vector ◽  
Educational Films

Abstract Lyme disease incidence is increasing in the United States despite myriad efforts to educate individuals about effective prevention practices to reduce exposure to nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (blacklegged tick), the primary vector of the pathogen causing Lyme disease. Furthermore, Lyme prevention educational needs currently exceed the ability of public health professionals to deliver the information in person. Past work has shown there is especially high confusion regarding the use of acaricides for tick management by homeowners. Story-based education is known to engage individuals and change behaviors. To increase the reach and engagement regarding Lyme disease prevention practices, especially residential acaricide use, we created short, story-based educational films (Spray Safe, Play Safe) and evaluated their educational benefit with a survey pre- and post-viewing. We determined that after viewing the films, a significantly higher percentage of respondents reported increased confidence in identifying the riskiest areas in their yards for ticks, using personal protective measures to prevent tick bites, using tick-safe landscaping, and using tick control products. This study also suggests that using short, engaging films that can be posted to popular websites and social media outlets could be employed more frequently for successful and engaging Lyme disease education, as creative and up-to-date educational methods are needed.

Decoupling of Blacklegged Tick Abundance and Lyme Disease Incidence in Southern Maine, USA

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan P Elias ◽  
Kirk A Maasch ◽  
Norman T Anderson ◽  
Peter W Rand ◽  
Eleanor H Lacombe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Adult Tick ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Blacklegged Tick ◽  
Rising Incidence ◽  
A Site

Abstract Lyme disease is caused by the bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt, and Brenner (Spirocheatales: Spirochaetaceae) which is transmitted through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis Say (Ixodida: Ixodidae). Maine, USA, is a high Lyme disease incidence state, with rising incidence of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses associated with increasing I. scapularis abundance and northward range expansion. Members of the public submitted ticks to a tick identification program (1990–2013). From these passive surveillance data, we characterized temporal trends in I. scapularis submission rate (an index of abundance), comparing Maine’s northern tier (seven counties) versus southern tier (nine counties). In the northern tier, the I. scapularis submission rate increased throughout the duration of the time series, suggesting I. scapularis was emergent but not established. By contrast, in the southern tier, submission rate increased initially but leveled off after 10–14 yr, suggesting I. scapularis was established by the mid-2000s. Active (field) surveillance data from a site in the southern tier—bird tick burdens and questing adult tick collections—corroborated this leveling pattern. Lyme disease incidence and I. scapularis submission rate were temporally correlated in the northern but not southern tier. This suggested a decoupling of reported disease incidence and entomological risk.

scholarly journals Interactions between sympatric invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra) and blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251497
Author(s):  
Lucy D. Guarnieri ◽  
Sara E. McBride ◽  
Eleanor Groden ◽  
Allison M. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
New England ◽  
National Park ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Dermacentor Variabilis ◽  
Acadia National Park ◽  
Myrmica Rubra ◽  
Desert Island ◽  
Primary Vector

The blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the invasive European fire ant (Myrmica rubra) are both expanding throughout their sympatric range in coastal New England. Ixodes scapularis is the primary vector of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the causative agent of Lyme disease, and Mount Desert Island, Maine, home to Acadia National Park, currently is affected by a high Lyme disease burden. Ticks have many natural predators, including ants, although no previous studies have investigated interactions between these two species. To test the hypothesis that the presence of M. rubra alters I. scapularis abundance, we collected ticks by drag-sampling at eight ant-infested sites and eight uninfested control sites in Acadia National Park. We found that nymph density was significantly higher at ant-infested sites, while larval density was significantly higher at control sites. In addition, we conducted a laboratory bioassay to measure M. rubra aggression against I. scapularis larvae, nymphs, and adults and Dermacentor variabilis adults, and found that ant aggression was significantly higher against D. variabilis adults than I. scapularis adults. Our findings support the hypothesis that M. rubra has divergent effects across I. scapularis life stages, and we discuss possible ecological mechanisms, including optimal microclimate and predation, that could promote density of nymphs while inhibiting density of larvae.

scholarly journals Ixodes scapularisdoes not harbor a stable midgut microbiome

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin D. Ross ◽  
Beth Hayes ◽  
Matthew C. Radey ◽  
Xia Lee ◽  
Tanya Josek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Primary Vector ◽  
Pathogen Colonization

AbstractHard ticks of the order Ixodidae serve as vectors for numerous human pathogens, including the causative agent of Lyme DiseaseBorrelia burgdorferi. Tick-associated microbes can influence pathogen colonization, offering the potential to inhibit disease transmission through engineering of the tick microbiota. Here, we investigate whetherB. burgdorferiencounters abundant bacteria within the midgut of wild adultIxodes scapularis, its primary vector. Through the use of controlled sequencing methods and confocal microscopy, we find that the majority of field-collected adultI. scapularisharbor limited internal microbial communities that are dominated by endosymbionts. A minority ofI. scapularisticks harbor abundant midgut bacteria and lackB. burgdorferi. We find that the lack of a stable resident midgut microbiota is not restricted toI. scapularissince extension of our studies toI. pacificus, Amblyomma maculatum, andDermacentorspp showed similar patterns. Finally, bioinformatic examination of theB. burgdorferigenome revealed the absence of genes encoding known interbacterial interaction pathways, a feature unique to theBorreliagenus within the phylumSpirochaetes. Our results suggest that reduced selective pressure from limited microbial populations within ticks may have facilitated the evolutionary loss of genes encoding interbacterial competition pathways fromBorrelia.

High SNP density in the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, the principal vector of Lyme disease spirochetes

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Van Zee ◽  
William C. Black ◽  
Michael Levin ◽  
Jerome Goddard ◽  
Joshua Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Ixodes Scapularis ◽  
Principal Vector ◽  
Blacklegged Tick

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.

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