Increased Population Densities of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) on Long Island, New York

Ginsberg, Howard S.; Ewing, Curtis P.; O’Connell, Allan F.; Bosler, Edward M.; Daley, James G.; Sayre, Mark W.

doi:10.2307/3283144

Cited by 54 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…This remarkable increase in numbers has been matched by an equally impressive range expansion throughout most suitable habitat types in the eastern, central, and southern United States. In recent decades, lone star ticks have become more abundant in some areas of the southeast and northeast compared to historic collections (102,115). Higher population densities of A. americanum observed within the expanding range of this tick appear to be influenced largely by population growth and geographical extension of host animals, particularly white-tailed deer (196).…”

Section: Factors Influencing the Emergence Of Hmementioning

confidence: 99%

Ehrlichia chaffeensis:a Prototypical Emerging Pathogen

2003

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Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular, tick-transmitted bacterium that is maintained in nature in a cycle involving at least one and perhaps several vertebrate reservoir hosts. The moderate to severe disease caused by E. chaffeensis in humans, first identified in 1986 and reported for more than 1,000 patients through 2000, represents a prototypical “emerging infection.” Knowledge of the biology and natural history of E. chaffeensis, and of the epidemiology, clinical features, and laboratory diagnosis of the zoonotic disease it causes (commonly referred to as human monocytic ehrlichiosis [HME]) has expanded considerably in the period since its discovery. In this review, we summarize briefly the current understanding of the microbiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations associated with this pathogen but focus primarily on discussing various ecological factors responsible for the recent recognition of this important and potentially life-threatening tick-borne disease. Perhaps the most pivotal element in the emergence of HME has been the staggering increases in white-tailed deer populations in the eastern United States during the 20th century. This animal serves as a keystone host for all life stages of the principal tick vector (Amblyomma americanum) and is perhaps the most important vertebrate reservoir host for E. chaffeensis. The contributions of other components, including expansion of susceptible human populations, growth and broadening geographical distributions of other potential reservoir species and A. americanum, and improvements in confirmatory diagnostic methods, are also explored

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Section: Factors Influencing the Emergence Of Hmementioning

confidence: 99%

Ehrlichia chaffeensis:a Prototypical Emerging Pathogen

2003

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“…Taken together, these results indicate that residents in Chatham County would experience highest attack rates from nymphal lone star ticks. The aggressive human-biting behavior and=or high abundance of A. americanum relative to other tick species has been previously reported (Ginsberg et al 1991, Armstrong et al 2001, Childs and Paddock 2003, DiukWasser et al 2006, Schulze et al 2006.…”

Section: Occurrence and Abundance Of Tick Speciesmentioning

confidence: 78%

Bacterial Pathogens in Ixodid Ticks from a Piedmont County in North Carolina: Prevalence of Rickettsial Organisms

Smith

Ponnusamy

Jiang

et al. 2010

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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In North Carolina, reported human cases of tick-borne illness, specifically Rocky Mountain spotted fever, have escalated over the past decade. To determine the relative abundance of vectors and to estimate the risk of acquiring a tick-borne illness in peri-residential landscapes, ticks were collected in Chatham County, a typical Piedmont county and, samples of the ticks were tested for infection with selected bacterial pathogens using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. Ticks (n = 3746) were collected by flagging vegetation at 26 sites from April to July 2006. The predominant questing tick was Amblyomma americanum (98.5%) with significantly fewer Dermacentor variabilis (1.0%) and Ixodes scapularis (0.5%) collected. Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae were detected in 68.2% of 1590 A. americanum with 56.4% of the molecular isolates identified as Rickettsia amblyommii, an informally named member of the SFG rickettsiae. Comparatively, smaller numbers of A. americanum contained Ehrlichia chaffeensis (1.8%) and Borrelia lonestari (0.4%). Of 15 I. scapularis nymphs tested, 6 (40%) were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Seven (19.4%) of 36 adult D. variabilis tested positive for Rickettsia montanensis, 4 (11.1%) were positive for R. amblyommii, and 5 (13.9%) were infected with unidentified species of SFG rickettsiae. The tick population in Chatham County contains a diverse array of microbes, some of which are known or potential pathogens. Highest attack rates would be expected from A. americanum ticks, and highest potential risk of infection with a tick-transmitted agent would be to rickettsial organisms, particularly R. amblyommii. Accordingly, longitudinal eco-epidemiology investigations are needed to determine the public health importance of A. americanum infected with rickettsial organisms.

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“…Amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is an increasingly prevalent tick with a distribution that appears to be spreading northward (Ginsberg et al 1991, Keirans and Lacombe 1998, Cortinas and Spomer 2013. A. americanum is a relatively nondiscriminating feeder that aggressively bites humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Rickettsia amblyommii” Induces Cross Protection Against Lethal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a Guinea Pig Model

Blanton

Mendell

Walker

et al. 2014

Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases

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Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii for which there is no available vaccine. We hypothesize that exposure to the highly prevalent, relatively nonpathogenic "Rickettsia amblyommii" protects against R. rickettsii challenge. To test this hypothesis, guinea pigs were inoculated with "R. amblyommii." After inoculation, the animals showed no signs of illness. When later challenged with lethal doses of R. rickettsii, those previously exposed to "R. amblyommii" remained well, whereas unimmunized controls developed severe illness and died. We conclude that "R. amblyommii" induces an immune response that protects from illness and death in the guinea pig model of RMSF. These results provide a basis for exploring the use of low-virulence rickettsiae as a platform to develop live attenuated vaccine candidates to prevent severe rickettsioses.

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Increased Population Densities of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) on Long Island, New York

Cited by 54 publications

References 4 publications

Ehrlichia chaffeensis:a Prototypical Emerging Pathogen

Ehrlichia chaffeensis:a Prototypical Emerging Pathogen

Bacterial Pathogens in Ixodid Ticks from a Piedmont County in North Carolina: Prevalence of Rickettsial Organisms

“Rickettsia amblyommii” Induces Cross Protection Against Lethal Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in a Guinea Pig Model

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