Exploring the effects of pathogen infection on tick behaviour from individuals to populations

Richardson, Elise A.; Buttrick, David J.; Shablin, Samantha A.; Jabot, Brittney; Taylor, Caitlin; Martin, Estelle; Keiser, Carl N.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.02.004

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Most significantly, R. amblyommatis has continually been detected at high prevalence in the USA in A. americanum populations, a geographically widespread human-biting tick [ 9 , 40 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. In addition to being ubiquitous, R. amblyommatis is reported to have interesting other properties such as preventing ticks from acquiring other coinfected species of Rickettsia [ 31 , 49 ], altering tick host-seeking behavior [ 50 , 51 ], and affecting the progression of disease symptoms when infecting humans [ 52 , 53 ]. This is the first review of R. amblyommatis .…”

Section: Background On Rickettsiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…made up about 83% of the ticks reported to be infected with R. amblyommatis ( Figure 2 ). Through this literature search, A. americanum was found to be the most common species of tick infected with R. amblyommatis , making up about 27.8% of the reported tick species; A. americanum populations infection rates ranged from 1 to 90% ( Table 1 ) [ 40 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 75 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 85 , 92 , 93 , 164 ]. Studies of the microbiome of ticks have found R. amblyommatis to be present in A. americanum and A. maculatum , specifically finding R. amblyommatis to be the most common member of Rickettsiales present within the lone star tick [ 164 , 165 ].…”

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When a tick is infected with R. amblyommatis , the bacteria can be found in the ovaries, midgut, and salivary glands [ 9 , 180 , 181 , 182 , 183 ]. Ticks infected with R. amblyommatis displayed changes in their host-seeking behavior, such as spending less time questing compared to uninfected ticks [ 50 , 51 ]. It is unclear how this will affect the transmission dynamics and spread of R. amblyommatis .…”

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is unclear how this will affect the transmission dynamics and spread of R. amblyommatis . It is possible that infection with R. amblyommatis could cause a disruption in water balance dynamics in A. americanum , making ticks more susceptible to desiccation and preventing them from spending as much time host-seeking [ 51 , 177 , 184 , 185 ].…”

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

et al. 2023

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Rickettsia amblyommatis is a potentially pathogenic species of Rickettsia within the spotted fever group vectored by ticks. While many studies have been published on this species, there is debate over its pathogenicity and the inhibitory role it plays in diagnosing illnesses caused by other spotted fever group Rickettsia species. Many publications have recorded the high infection prevalence of R. amblyommatis in tick populations at a global scale. While this species is rather ubiquitous, questions remain over the epidemiological importance of this possible human pathogen. With tick-borne diseases on the rise, understanding the exact role that R. amblyommatis plays as a pathogen and inhibitor of infection relative to other tick-borne pathogens will help public health efforts. The goal of this review was to compile the known literature on R. amblyommatis, review what we know about its geographic distribution, tick vectors, and pathogenicity, assess relatedness between various international strains from ticks by phylogenetic analysis and draw conclusions regarding future research needed.

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Section: Background On Rickettsiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Distribution and Spread Of Rickettsia Amblyommatismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

et al. 2023

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Do ticks exhibit repeatable individual behaviors?

Lefcort,

Hovancsek,

Bell

et al. 2023

Exp Appl Acarol

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Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species in a diverse tick community found on wild birds and bird workers in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas, USA)

Gonzalez,

Conway,

Hamer

2024

Preprint

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Background The tropical climate and diverse vector community allows the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of south Texas to support many vector-borne pathogen transmission cycles. It is a key area for monitoring bird ticks, since most of the migratory birds fly through this corridor to move for south tropical latitudes. Some of the tick species that infest birds in Texas can also transmit tick-borne pathogens that concern public health. Methods During bird banding activities in 2019–2024, ticks were collected opportunistically from local and migrant birds as well as from outdoor recreationalists to explore the presence of tick-borne pathogens. Applying PCR-DNA sequencing approach, ticks were tested for Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species. Results Of 375 ticks, eight tick species were identified, including species regarded as locally established (Amblyomma inornatum, A. maculatum, A. mixtum, A. tenellum, Dermacentor variabilis), neotropical species imported by migratory birds (A. geayi, A. longirostre), and for the first time in Texas, Ixodes keiransi, formerly the North American lineage of Ixodes affinis. Amblyomma tenellum was the most abundant tick species (89.3%). All ticks were screened for Ehrlichia, resulting in E. chaffeensis detection in three A. tenellum ticks found on humans, and one positive for E. ewingii in an A. inornatum nymph collected off a Clay-colored Thrush (Turdus grayi). Both bacteria can cause human ehrlichiosis, which is infrequently reported in Texas. The Rickettsia screening of ticks resulted in detection of Rickettsia amblyommatis, a potentially pathogenic spotted fever group Rickettsia, in nine ticks: eight A. inornatum ticks, seven of which were collected off Long-billed Thrashers (Toxostoma longirostre), and an A. longirostre engorged nymph from an Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens). Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of occupational exposure to ticks and potential public health impact of the relatively neglected human-biting vector, A. tenellum. There is also a critical need to investigate the fate of bird-imported A. inornatum and A. longirostre and the pathogens they carry.

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Exploring the effects of pathogen infection on tick behaviour from individuals to populations

Cited by 4 publications

References 59 publications

Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

Rickettsia amblyommatis in Ticks: A Review of Distribution, Pathogenicity, and Diversity

Do ticks exhibit repeatable individual behaviors?

Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species in a diverse tick community found on wild birds and bird workers in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas, USA)

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