Serologic Evidence for the Exposure of Eastern Coyotes ( Canis latrans ) in Pennsylvania to the Tick-Borne Pathogens Borreliella burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Abstract

Lyme disease and anaplasmosis are tick-borne bacterial diseases caused by Borreliella and Anaplasma species, respectively. A comprehensive analysis of the exposure of eastern coyotes (Canis latrans) in the northeastern United States to tick-borne pathogens has not been conducted. In this report, we assess the serological status of 128 eastern coyotes harvested in Pennsylvania in 2015 and 2017 for antibodies to Borreliella burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Immunoblot and dot blot approaches were employed to test each plasma sample by using cell lysates and recombinant proteins as detection antigens. The results demonstrate high seropositivity incidences of 64.8% and 72.7% for B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. Antibodies to both pathogens were detected in 51.5% of the plasma samples, indicating high potential for coinfection. Antibodies to the B. burgdorferi proteins DbpB, VlsE, DbpA, BBA36, and OspF (BBO39) were detected in 67.2, 63.3, 56.2, 51.6, and 48.4% of the plasma samples, respectively. Antibodies to the A. phagocytophilum P44 and P130 proteins were detected in 72.7 and 60.9% of the plasma samples, respectively. IMPORTANCE The incidence of Lyme disease (Borreliella burgdorferi) and anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) are increasing in North America and Europe. The causative agents of these debilitating tick-transmitted infections are maintained in nature in an enzootic cycle involving Ixodes ticks and diverse mammals and birds. It has been postulated that predators directly or indirectly influence the dynamics of the enzootic cycle and disease incidence. Here, we demonstrate high seropositivity of eastern coyotes for B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum. As coyotes become established in urban and suburban environments, interactions with humans, companion animals, and urban/suburban wildlife will increase. Knowledge of the pathogens that these highly adaptable predators are exposed to or carry, and their potential to influence or participate in enzootic cycles, is central to efforts to reduce the risk of tick-borne diseases in humans and companion animals.

Recent Progress in Lyme Disease and Remaining Challenges

“…Popular humanbehavioral strategies include altering the risk of exposure of humans through behavioral changes associated with selfprotection, use of outdoor space, and modifications of the environment. White-footed mice are the primary reservoir for Bb and their density has been shown to affect LD risk (287)(288)(289)(290). The culling of white-tailed deer is a common preventative technique, but research sheds doubt on the viability or practicality of mass culling, suggesting that the technique is only effective on islands or closed populations where complete elimination can be accomplished (291).…”

“…Prediction models will need to account for climate change as a contributing factor to the expanding range of LD. In addition, there are still several gaps in our knowledge about effective preventative techniques that should be further studied: abiotic factors and the capability of predictive modeling, diversity of Bb strains in tick and host populations and its impact on disease risk, predator communities and their role on host communities, changing landscapes and urban spaces, and the costs, sustainability, and acceptability to the public of preventative techniques (286,288,290,297).…”

Human and Veterinary Vaccines for Lyme Disease

“…Beyond their influence on small mammal reservoir populations through predation, they may also serve as reservoirs. In Europe, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been demonstrated to be competent reservoirs (Mysterud et al, 2019) and it has been postulated that eastern coyotes (Canis latrans), an apex predator, may serve as reservoirs in the northeastern United States (Izac et al, 2020a). Robust antibody titers to several B. burgdorferi antigens were demonstrated in 64.8% of 128 eastern coyote plasma samples collected in Pennsylvania between 2015 and 2017 (Izac et al, 2020a).…”

“…In Europe, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have been demonstrated to be competent reservoirs (Mysterud et al, 2019) and it has been postulated that eastern coyotes (Canis latrans), an apex predator, may serve as reservoirs in the northeastern United States (Izac et al, 2020a). Robust antibody titers to several B. burgdorferi antigens were demonstrated in 64.8% of 128 eastern coyote plasma samples collected in Pennsylvania between 2015 and 2017 (Izac et al, 2020a). In the same study, 72.7% of the samples were antibody positive for the Anaplasma phagocytophilum antigens P44 and P130.…”

Comparative analysis of antibody responses to outer surface protein (Osp)A and OspC in dogs vaccinated with Lyme disease vaccines

“…( Lagal et al, 2003 ; Brisson and Dykhuizen, 2004 ; Earnhart and Marconi, 2007c ). It has been demonstrated in mice, rats, rabbits, canids (domestic and wild), horses, humans, and non-human primates that antibody responses to OspC during infection are OspC type-specific ( Earnhart et al, 2005 ; Buckles et al, 2006 ; Izac et al, 2019 , 2020a ; Oliver Jr et al, 2016 ). Vaccination with a single OspC protein does not elicit production of antibodies that recognize diverse OspC types ( Oliver Jr et al, 2016 ; Izac and Marconi, 2019 ), providing protection only against strains expressing closely related OspC types ( Bockenstedt et al, 1997 ).…”