International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Research

13 pages, 1684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus Sensu Lato) Infection with Endosymbiont and Human Pathogenic Rickettsia spp., in Northeastern México

by Jordan Salomon, Nadia Angelica Fernandez Santos, Italo B. Zecca, Jose G. Estrada-Franco, Edward Davila, Gabriel L. Hamer, Mario Alberto Rodriguez Perez and Sarah A. Hamer

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6249; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106249 - 20 May 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3701

Abstract

Of the documented tick-borne diseases infecting humans in México, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is responsible for most fatalities. Given recent evidence of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., as an emerging vector of human [...] Read more.

Of the documented tick-borne diseases infecting humans in México, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, is responsible for most fatalities. Given recent evidence of brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., as an emerging vector of human RMSF, we aimed to evaluate dogs and their ticks for rickettsiae infections as an initial step in assessing the establishment of this pathosystem in a poorly studied region of northeastern México while evaluating the use of dogs as sentinels for transmission/human disease risk. We sampled owned dogs living in six disadvantaged neighborhoods of Reynosa, northeastern México to collect whole blood and ticks. Of 168 dogs assessed, tick infestation prevalence was 53%, composed of exclusively Rh. sanguineus s. l. (n = 2170 ticks). Using PCR and sequencing, we identified an overall rickettsiae infection prevalence of 4.1% (n = 12/292) in ticks, in which eight dogs harbored at least one infected tick. Rickettsiae infections included Rickettsia amblyommatis and Rickettsia parkeri, both of which are emerging human pathogens, as well as Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae. This is the first documentation of pathogenic Rickettsia species in Rh. sanguineus s.l. collected from dogs from northeastern México. Domestic dog infestation with Rickettsia-infected ticks indicates ongoing transmission; thus, humans are at risk for exposure, and this underscores the importance of public and veterinary health surveillance for these pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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14 pages, 1392 KiB

Open AccessArticle

White-Tailed Deer Spatial Distribution in Relation to ‘4-Poster’ Tick Control Devices in Suburbia

by Patrick Roden-Reynolds, Cody M. Kent, Andrew Y. Li and Jennifer M. Mullinax

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4889; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084889 - 17 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2672

Abstract

Deer are keystone hosts for adult ticks and have enabled the spread of tick distributions. The ‘4-Poster’ deer bait station was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to control ticks feeding on free-ranging deer. Although effective in certain scenarios, ‘4-Poster’ deer [...] Read more.

Deer are keystone hosts for adult ticks and have enabled the spread of tick distributions. The ‘4-Poster’ deer bait station was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to control ticks feeding on free-ranging deer. Although effective in certain scenarios, ‘4-Poster’ deer treatment stations require the use of bait to attract deer to one location, which may cause increased deer disease transmission rates and habitat damage. To better understand and manage the impact of baited ‘4-Poster’ stations on deer movements, we captured and GPS-monitored 35 deer as part of an integrated pest management project. Fifteen ‘4-Poster’ stations were deployed among three suburban county parks to control ticks. To quantify the effects of ‘4-Poster’ stations, we calculated deer movement metrics before and after feeders were filled with whole kernel corn, and we gathered information on visitation rates to feeders. Overall, 83.3% of collared deer visited a feeder and revisited approximately every 5 days. After feeders were refilled, collared deer were ~5% closer to feeders and conspecifics than before filling. Males used a higher percentage of available feeders and visited them more throughout the deployment periods. Although these nuanced alterations in behavior may not be strong enough to increase local deer abundance, in light of infectious diseases affecting deer populations and effective ‘4-Poster’ densities, the core range shifts and clustering after refilling bait may be a cause for concern. As such, trade-offs between conflicting management goals should be carefully considered when deploying ‘4-Poster’ stations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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18 pages, 3829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Culture Isolate of Rickettsia felis from a Tick

by Monika Danchenko, Oldřich Benada, Ľudovít Škultéty and Zuzana Sekeyová

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4321; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074321 - 4 Apr 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2955

Abstract

Although the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, has been identified as the primary vector of Rickettsia felis, additional flea, tick, mite, and louse species have also been associated with this bacterium by molecular means; however, the role of these arthropods in the [...] Read more.

Although the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, has been identified as the primary vector of Rickettsia felis, additional flea, tick, mite, and louse species have also been associated with this bacterium by molecular means; however, the role of these arthropods in the transmission of R. felis has not been clarified. Here, we succeeded in culture isolation of R. felis from a host-seeking castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus, the most common tick in Slovakia. The bacterial isolation was performed on XTC-2 cells at 28 °C using the shell-vial technique. An evaluation of the growth properties was performed for both the XTC-2 and Vero cell lines. We observed R. felis in the infected host cells microscopically by Gimenez staining and immunofluorescence assay. The R. felis isolate was purified by gradient ultracentrifugation and visualized by electron microscopy. Fragments of the genes gltA, ompA, ompB, htrA, rpoB, sca4, rffE, and rrs were amplified and compared with the corresponding sequences of the type strain URRWXCal2 and other R. felis culture -isolated strains. We did not detect any nucleotide polymorphisms; however, plasmid pRFδ, characteristic of the standard strain, was absent in our isolate. Herein, we describe the first successful isolation and characterization of a tick-derived R. felis strain “Danube”, obtained from an I. ricinus nymph. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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12 pages, 13828 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Variation in Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. Ticks across Arizona

by Maureen Brophy, Michael A. Riehle, Nikki Mastrud, Alison Ravenscraft, Johnathan E. Adamson and Kathleen R. Walker

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(7), 4223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074223 - 1 Apr 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2898

Abstract

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille, 1806), the brown dog tick, is the most widely distributed tick species in the world. The two dominant lineages, a temperate group and a tropical group, are recognized as important disease vectors for both dogs and humans. The temperate [...] Read more.

Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. (Latreille, 1806), the brown dog tick, is the most widely distributed tick species in the world. The two dominant lineages, a temperate group and a tropical group, are recognized as important disease vectors for both dogs and humans. The temperate and tropical lineages overlap in range in some regions of the world, including the southwestern United States, where recent outbreaks of Rocky Mountain spotted fever are linked to R. sanguineus s.l. While it is unclear to what extent they may differ in their capacity to transmit pathogens, finer-scale resolution of temperate and tropical lineage distribution may provide insight into the ecology of these two tick groups and the epidemiology of R. sanguineus s.l.-vectored diseases. Using diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assays, we examined the geospatial trends in R. sanguineus s.l. lineages throughout Arizona. We found the temperate and tropical lineages were well delineated, with some overlap in the eastern part of the state. In one county, tropical and temperate ticks were collected on the same dog host, demonstrating that the two lineages are living in sympatry in some instances and may co-feed on the same host. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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11 pages, 1215 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epidemiology, Distribution and Identification of Ticks on Livestock in Pakistan

by Sadia Salim Khan, Haroon Ahmed, Muhammad Sohail Afzal, Mobushir Riaz Khan, Richard J. Birtles and Jonathan D. Oliver

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(5), 3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053024 - 4 Mar 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4684

Abstract

Background: Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens that cause many diseases in livestock which can result in skin damage, weight loss, anemia, reduced production of meat and milk, and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify tick [...] Read more.

Background: Ticks are ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens that cause many diseases in livestock which can result in skin damage, weight loss, anemia, reduced production of meat and milk, and mortality. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify tick species and the distribution on livestock hosts (sheep, goat, dairy cattle, and buffalo) of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and Islamabad from October 2019 to November 2020. Materials and Methods: Surveillance was performed to calculate the prevalence of ticks on livestock. Tick prevalence data (area, host, breed, gender, age, and seasonal infestation rate) was recorded and analyzed. Results: A total of 2080 animals were examined from selected farms, and, of these, 1129 animals were tick-infested. A total of 1010 male tick samples were identified to species using published keys. Haemaphysalis punctata, Haemaphysalis sulcata, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma detritum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma rufipes, Rhipicephalus decoloratus Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were collected from goats, sheep, buffalo, and cattle. The overall rates of tick infestation on livestock were 34.83% (buffalo), 57.11% (cattle), 51.97% (sheep) and 46.94% (goats). Within each species, different breeds demonstrated different proportions of infestation. For cattle breeds, infestation proportions were as follows: Dhanni (98.73%), Jersey (70.84%) and the Australian breed of cattle (81.81%). The Neeli Ravi breed (40%) of buffalo and the Beetal breed (57.35%) of goats were the most highly infested for these species. Seasonally, the highest prevalence of infestation (76.78%) was observed in summer followed by 70.76% in spring, 45.29% in autumn, and 20% in winter. The prevalence of tick infestation in animals also varied by animal age. In goats, animals aged 4–6 years showed the highest prevalence (90%), but in cattle, the prevalence of ticks was highest (68.75%) in 6 months–1-year-old animals. 1–3 years old buffalo (41.07%) and 6 months–1 year sheep (65.78%) had the highest prevalence rate. Females had significantly higher infestation rates (61.12%, 55.56% and 49.26%, respectively) in cattle, sheep, and goats. In buffalo, males showed a higher prevalence (38.46%) rate. Conclusions: This study showed tick diversity, infestation rate, and numerous factors (season, age, and gender of host) influencing tick infestation rate in different breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, and buffalo in Punjab Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and Islamabad, Pakistan. Higher tick burdens and rates of tick-borne disease reduce production and productivity in animals. Understanding tick species’ prevalence and distribution will help to develop informed control measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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9 pages, 1084 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Wolbachia Impacts Anaplasma Infection in Ixodes scapularis Tick Cells

by Kalin M. Skinner, Jacob Underwood, Arnab Ghosh, Adela S. Oliva Chavez and Corey L. Brelsfoard

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031051 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2235

Abstract

The specific interactions of members of tick bacterial microbiota and their effects on pathogen transmission remains relatively unexplored. Here, we introduced a novel Wolbachia infection type into Ixodes scapularis tick cells and examined the antipathogenic effects on the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. [...] Read more.

The specific interactions of members of tick bacterial microbiota and their effects on pathogen transmission remains relatively unexplored. Here, we introduced a novel Wolbachia infection type into Ixodes scapularis tick cells and examined the antipathogenic effects on the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. An increase in A. phagocytophilum replication was observed in Wolbachia-infected tick cells. However, Wolbachia infection densities decreased when cells were serially passaged and ultimately the infection was lost. Host-cell immune response was also examined as an additional factor that could have affected A. phagocytophilum replication in Wolbachia-infected cells. In early passages post-Wolbachia infection, a decreased immune response was observed, but in later passages of cells with low Wolbachia densities, there was no change in the immune response. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of studying the interactions of the tick microbiota, the host cell, and the pathogen and the development of novel tick and tick-borne disease-control approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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Review

Jump to: Research, Other

20 pages, 1953 KiB

Open AccessReview

Changing the Recipe: Pathogen Directed Changes in Tick Saliva Components

by Michael Pham, Jacob Underwood and Adela S. Oliva Chávez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041806 - 12 Feb 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4361

Abstract

Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites and are important vectors of a wide variety of pathogens. These pathogens include spirochetes in the genus Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, rickettsial pathogens, and tick-borne encephalitis virus, among others. Due to their prolonged feeding period of up [...] Read more.

Ticks are obligate hematophagous parasites and are important vectors of a wide variety of pathogens. These pathogens include spirochetes in the genus Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, rickettsial pathogens, and tick-borne encephalitis virus, among others. Due to their prolonged feeding period of up to two weeks, hard ticks must counteract vertebrate host defense reactions in order to survive and reproduce. To overcome host defense mechanisms, ticks have evolved a large number of pharmacologically active molecules that are secreted in their saliva, which inhibits or modulates host immune defenses and wound healing responses upon injection into the bite site. These bioactive molecules in tick saliva can create a privileged environment in the host’s skin that tick-borne pathogens take advantage of. In fact, evidence is accumulating that tick-transmitted pathogens manipulate tick saliva composition to enhance their own survival, transmission, and evasion of host defenses. We review what is known about specific and functionally characterized tick saliva molecules in the context of tick infection with the genus Borrelia, the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Additionally, we review studies analyzing sialome-level responses to pathogen challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

6 pages, 43241 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome with Necrotizing Lymphadenitis in a Patient who Underwent ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT: A Case Report

by A Reum Kim, Taehwa Kim, Dong-Hoon Shin, Sujin Lee and Seungjin Lim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(19), 10488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910488 - 6 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1958

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), also known as fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia syndrome, is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease in Asian countries. SFTS should be suspected in patients presenting with fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia and have a history of tick exposure in [...] Read more.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), also known as fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia syndrome, is an emerging tick-borne infectious disease in Asian countries. SFTS should be suspected in patients presenting with fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia and have a history of tick exposure in an endemic area. Since SFTS can be accompanied by lymphadenopathy, particularly generalized lymphadenopathy, it can be confused with a primary malignancy, such as lymphoma. The study reports a case of SFTS accompanied by multiple lymphadenopathies, which mimicked malignant lymphoma on F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases: Persistent and Emerging Threats to Human Health)

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