Evidence of Protozoan and Bacterial Infection and Co-Infection and Partial Blood Feeding in the Invasive Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in Pennsylvania

Price, Keith J.; Khalil, Noelle; Witmier, Bryn J.; Coder, Brooke L.; Boyer, Christian N.; Foster, Erik; Eisen, Rebecca J.; Molaei, Goudarz

doi:10.1645/22-122

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 60 publications

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“…ALTs have been shown to be aversive to white‐footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus ) in laboratory settings, suggesting that small mammals may be generally less appealing (Ronai et al, 2020). Furthermore, field‐collected ALTs have been found to be positive for B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (Price, Graham, et al, 2021), A. phagocytophilum (Ap‐ha) (Price, Ayres, et al, 2022), Babesia microti (Price et al, 2023), Bourbon virus (Cumbie, Trimble, & Eastwood, 2022) and other Theileria and Babesia spp. (Herb et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA

Eleftheriou,

Zeiger,

Jennings

et al. 2024

Medical Vet Entomology

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Geographically expanding and invading ticks are a global concern. The Asian longhorned tick (ALT, Haemaphysalis longicornis) was introduced to the mid‐Atlantic US between 2010 and 2017 and recently invaded Ohio, an inland state. To date, ALTs in the US have been associated with livestock exsanguination and transmission of the agent of bovine theileriosis. To inform management, studies describing tick ecology and epidemiology of associated disease agents are critical. In this study, we described phenology, habitat and host associations, and tested for agents of medical and veterinary concern at the site of the first known established ALT population in Ohio, where pesticide treatment was applied in early fall 2021. In spring–fall 2022, we sampled wildlife (small mammals) and collected ticks from forest, edge, and grassland habitats. We also opportunistically sampled harvested white‐tailed deer at nearby processing stations and fresh wildlife carcasses found near roads. Field‐collected ALTs were tested for five agents using real‐time PCR. We found that ALT nymphs emerged in June, followed by adults, and concluded with larvae in the fall. ALTs were detected in all habitats but not in wildlife. We also found a 4.88% (2/41) prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum across ALT adults and nymphs. Host and habitat associations were similar to other studies in the eastern United States, but two potential differences in phenology were identified. Whether ALTs will acquire more endemic disease agents requires further investigations. Our findings provide the first evidence regarding ALT life history from the Midwest region of the United States and can inform exposure risk and guide integrated management.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA

Eleftheriou,

Zeiger,

Jennings

et al. 2024

Medical Vet Entomology

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Antibody-blocking of a tick transporter impairs Anaplasma phagocytophilum colonization in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks

Namjoshi,

Lubembe,

Sultana

et al. 2024

Sci Rep

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The invasive Asian longhorned tick Haemaphysalis longicornis that vectors and transmits several animal pathogens is significantly expanding in the United States. Recent studies report that these ticks also harbor human pathogens including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Therefore, studies that address the interactions of these ticks with human pathogens are important. In this study, we report the characterization of H. longicornis organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) in interactions of these ticks with A. phagocytophilum. Using OATP-signature sequence, we identified six OATPs in the H. longicornis genome. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that H. longicornis OATPs are closer to other tick orthologs rather than to mammalian counterparts. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that OATPs are highly expressed in immature stages when compared to mature stages of these ticks. In addition, we noted that the presence of A. phagocytophilum upregulates a specific OATP in these ticks. We also noted that exogenous treatment of H. longicornis with xanthurenic acid, a tryptophan metabolite, influenced OATP expression in these ticks. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that antibody generated against Ixodes scapularis OATP cross-reacted with H. longicornis OATP. Furthermore, treatment of H. longicornis with OATP antibody impaired colonization of A. phagocytophilum in these ticks. These results not only provide evidence that the OATP-tryptophan pathway is important for A. phagocytophilum survival in H. longicornis ticks but also indicate OATP as a promising candidate for the development of a universal anti-tick vaccine to target this bacterium and perhaps other rickettsial pathogens of medical importance.

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Host-pathogen associations inferred from bloodmeal analyses of Ixodes scapularis ticks in a low biodiversity setting

Tufts,

Goethert,

Diuk-Wasser

2024

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Tick-borne pathogen emergence is dependent on the abundance and distribution of competent hosts in the environment. Ixodes scapularis ticks are generalist feeders, and their pathogen infection prevalence depends on their relative feeding on local competent and non-competent hosts. The ability to determine what host a larval life stage tick fed on can help predict infection prevalence, emergence, and spread of certain tick-borne pathogens and the risks posed to public health. Here, we use a newly developed genomic target-based technique to detect the source of larval bloodmeals by sampling questing nymphs from Block Island, RI, a small island with a depauperate mammalian community. We used previously designed specific assays to target all known hosts on this island and analyzed ticks for four human pathogenic tick-borne pathogens. We determined the highest proportion of larvae fed on avian species (42.34%), white-footed mice (36.94%), and white-tailed deer (20.72%) and occasionally fed on feral cats, rats, and voles, which are in low abundance on Block Island. Additionally, larvae that had fed on white-footed mice were significantly more likely to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti, while larvae that had fed on white-footed mice or white-tailed deer were significantly more likely to be infected with, respectively, mouse- and deer-associated genotypes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum . The ability to detect a nymph’s larval host allows for a better understanding of tick feeding behavior, host distribution, pathogen prevalence, and zoonotic risks to humans, which can contribute to better tick management strategies. IMPORTANCE Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis, pose significant public health burdens. Tick bloodmeal analysis provides a noninvasive sampling method to evaluate tick-host associations and combined with a zoonotic pathogen assay, can generate crucial insights into the epidemiology and transmission of tick-borne diseases by identifying potential key maintenance hosts. We investigated the bloodmeals of questing Ixodes scapularis nymphs. We found that avian hosts, white-footed mice, and white-tailed deer fed the majority of larval ticks and differentially contributed to the prevalence of multiple tick-borne pathogens and pathogen genotypes in a low biodiversity island setting. Unraveling the intricate network of host-vector-pathogen interactions will contribute to improving wildlife management and conservation efforts, to developing targeted surveillance, and vector and host control efforts, ultimately reducing the incidence of tick-borne diseases and improving public health.

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Evidence of Protozoan and Bacterial Infection and Co-Infection and Partial Blood Feeding in the Invasive Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis in Pennsylvania

Cited by 3 publications

References 60 publications

Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA

Phenology and habitat associations of the invasive Asian longhorned tick from Ohio, USA

Antibody-blocking of a tick transporter impairs Anaplasma phagocytophilum colonization in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks

Host-pathogen associations inferred from bloodmeal analyses of Ixodes scapularis ticks in a low biodiversity setting

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