An Outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Associated with a Novel Tick Vector, <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i>, in Arizona, 2004

Demma, Linda J.; Eremeeva, Marina E.; Nicholson, William L.; Traeger, Marc; Blau, Dianna M.; Paddock, CD; Levin, Michael; Dasch, Gregory A.; Cheek, James E.; Swerdlow, David L.; McQuiston, Jennifer H.

doi:10.1196/annals.1374.066

Cited by 37 publications

(27 citation statements)

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“…Both tick prevalence and abundance were highest at sites that had experienced the largest recent decreases in EVI, which is a proxy for overall vegetative cover and growth. Higher overall EVI values were associated with higher tick prevalence but lower tick abundance on dogs (Tables 4, 5) but we note that elevation was the single strongest predictor of tick occurrence among our sites and consistent with previous studies, we found higher tick abundance and prevalence on dogs at lower elevation sites ( Demma et al 2006;Okoli et al 2006). The relatively low infection rate with R. amblyommii in R. sanguineous (0.5%) and A. ovale (13%) is generally consistent with previously reported results in dog-derived ticks (Bermúdez et al 2009(Bermúdez et al , 2016.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens of dogs along an elevational and land-use gradient in Chiriquí province, Panamá

et al. 2017

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Systematic acarological surveys are useful tools in assessing risk to tick-borne infections, especially in areas where consistent clinical surveillance for tick-borne disease is lacking. Our goal was to identify environmental predictors of tick burdens on dogs and tick-borne infectious agents in dog-derived ticks in the Chiriquí Province of western Panama to draw inferences about spatio-temporal variation in human risk to tick-borne diseases. We used a model-selection approach to test the relative importance of elevation, human population size, vegetative cover, and change in landuse on patterns of tick parasitism on dogs. We collected 2074 ticks, representing four species (Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. microplus, Amblyomma ovale, and Ixodes boliviensis) from 355 dogs. Tick prevalence ranged from 0 to 74% among the sites we sampled, and abundance ranged from 0 to 20.4 ticks per dog with R. sanguineus s.l. being the most commonly detected tick species (97% of all ticks sampled). Whereas elevation was the best single determinant of tick prevalence and abundance on dogs, the top models also included predictor variables describing vegetation cover and landuse change. Specifically, low-elevation areas associated with decreasing vegetative cover were associated with highest tick occurrence on dogs, potentially because of the affinity of R. sanguineus for human dwellings. Although we found low prevalence of tick-borne pathogen genera (two Rickettsia-positive ticks, no R. rickettsia or Ehrlichia spp.) in our study, all of the tick species we collected from dogs are known vectors of zoonotic pathogens. In areas where epidemiological surveillance infrastructure is limited, field-based assessments of acarological risk can be useful and cost-effective tools in efforts to identify high-risk environments for tick-transmitted pathogens.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens of dogs along an elevational and land-use gradient in Chiriquí province, Panamá

et al. 2017

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“…However, it can also be abundant in peridomestic areas, as reported in eastern Arizona [60,61]. They can be found walking on outside walls of houses, on the ground (between rocks), and inside cracks and crevices (Figure 8).…”

Section: Ecology Of Rhipicephalus Sanguineusmentioning

confidence: 79%

Biology and ecology of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus

2010

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The brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) is the most widespread tick in the world and a well-recognized vector of many pathogens affecting dogs and occasionally humans. This tick can be found on dogs living in both urban and rural areas, being highly adapted to live within human dwellings and being active throughout the year not only in tropical and subtropical regions, but also in some temperate areas. Depending on factors such as climate and host availability, Rh. sanguineus can complete up to four generations per year. Recent studies have demonstrated that ticks exposed to high temperatures attach and feed on humans and rabbits more rapidly. This observation suggests that the risk of human parasitism by Rh. sanguineus could increase in areas experiencing warmer and/or longer summers, consequently increasing the risk of transmission of zoonotic agents (e.g., Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia rickettsii). In the present article, some aspects of the biology and ecology of Rh. sanguineus ticks are discussed including the possible impact of current climate changes on populations of this tick around the world.

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“…However, clinical studies have associated canine infection with B. v. berkhoffii and the presence of R. sanguineus ticks [50]. R. sanguineus is the most frequent urban tick in tropical regions, and its ability to feed on humans have been documented, including its role in a recent outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in humans in the United States [51].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infection of Domestic Dogs in Peru by Zoonotic Bartonella Species: A Cross-Sectional Prevalence Study of 219 Asymptomatic Dogs

et al. 2013

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Bartonella species are emerging infectious organisms transmitted by arthropods capable of causing long-lasting infection in mammalian hosts. Among over 30 species described from four continents to date, 15 are known to infect humans, with eight of these capable of infecting dogs as well. B. bacilliformis is the only species described infecting humans in Peru; however, several other Bartonella species were detected in small mammals, bats, ticks, and fleas in that country. The objective of this study was to determine the serological and/or molecular prevalence of Bartonella species in asymptomatic dogs in Peru in order to indirectly evaluate the potential for human exposure to zoonotic Bartonella species. A convenient sample of 219 healthy dogs was obtained from five cities and three villages in Peru. EDTA-blood samples were collected from 205 dogs, whereas serum samples were available from 108 dogs. The EDTA-blood samples were screened by PCR followed by nucleotide sequencing for species identification. Antibodies against B. vinsonii berkhoffii and B. rochalimae were detected by IFA (cut-off of 1∶64). Bartonella DNA was detected in 21 of the 205 dogs (10%). Fifteen dogs were infected with B. rochalimae, while six dogs were infected with B. v. berkhoffii genotype III. Seropositivity for B. rochalimae was detected in 67 dogs (62%), and for B. v. berkhoffii in 43 (40%) of the 108 dogs. Reciprocal titers ≥1∶256 for B. rochalimae were detected in 19% of dogs, and for B. v. berkhoffii in 6.5% of dogs. This study identifies for the first time a population of dogs exposed to or infected with zoonotic Bartonella species, suggesting that domestic dogs may be the natural reservoir of these zoonotic organisms. Since dogs are epidemiological sentinels, Peruvian humans may be exposed to infections with B. rochalimae or B. v. berkhoffii.

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An Outbreak of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Associated with a Novel Tick Vector, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, in Arizona, 2004

Abstract: This study describes preliminary results of an investigation of RMSF in Arizona associated with the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. High numbers of dogs and heavy infestations of ticks created a situation leading to human disease.

Cited by 37 publications

References 1 publication

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens of dogs along an elevational and land-use gradient in Chiriquí province, Panamá

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens of dogs along an elevational and land-use gradient in Chiriquí province, Panamá

Biology and ecology of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus

Infection of Domestic Dogs in Peru by Zoonotic Bartonella Species: A Cross-Sectional Prevalence Study of 219 Asymptomatic Dogs

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