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The estimated number of wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo ) in selected states, 1959–1990 (data from Kennamer et al. 1992). Wild turkeys were nearly extirpated from most of the eastern United States, but populations rebounded considerably during the last half of the twentieth century. This large gallinaceous bird is often a host to larval and nymphal stages of the lone star tick
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Two infectious diseases, and one presumably infectious disease, each vectored by or associated with the bite of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), were identified and characterized by clinicians and scientists in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. These three conditions-human monocytic (or monocytotropic) ehrlichiosis (HME), Ehrl...
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... inaccessible areas. Restoration programs, aided largely by trap-and-transplant programs initiated during the early 1950s, resulted in remarkable population growth and range extensions of wild turkeys. During 1959During -1990, the estimated number of eastern wild turkeys swelled from approximately 239,000 to over 2,550,000 ( Kennamer et al. 1992) (Fig. 4 ). Increased wild turkey densities have also been suggested as a factor in the recent range extension of A. americanum into areas of eastern Kansas (Mock et al. 2001). Population increases of other potential hosts or reservoirs, including coy- otes, have also been suggested as contributing to the emergence of A. americanum - associated ...
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We used published accounts to describe the known statewide distribution of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, in New Jersey and field surveys to characterize the geographical range of A. americanum and selected A. americanum-transmitted pathogens in Monmouth County, the hypothesized northern limit of the species distribution. Ticks were coll...
The roles of wild mammals and ticks in the epidemiology of Ehrlichia chaffeensis at a suspected endemic site were investigated using serologic testing, culture, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) supported by restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing. Antibodies reactive to E. chaffeensis (> or = 1:64) were detected in 92% of white-tail...
Transmission of tick-borne pathogens requires transition between distinct host environments with infection and replication
in host-specific cell types. Anaplasma marginale illustrates this transition: in the mammalian host, the bacterium infects and replicates in mature (nonnucleated) erythrocytes,
while in the tick vector, replication occurs in nu...
The ospC genes of 20 southern Borrelia strains were sequenced. The strains consisted of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, B. andersonii, B. bissettii, one undescribed genospecies, MI-8, and one probably new Borrelia species, TXW-1. A high degree of similarity exists between B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B. bissettii and between B. bissettii and B. a...
Serum samples from white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann, collected from 1982 through 1992 from the southeastern United States were tested for antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson, Dawson, Jones, & Wilson, the causative agent of human ehrlichiosis. Results were compared between areas based on known infestations of th...
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... Although the white-tailed deer population was once extremely low in the mid-1800s due to unregulated shooting and anthropogenic change, the population has rebounded since the 1900s. Tick abundance and the rise of multiple tick-borne zoonoses in past decades are associated with an increase in the deer population (Paddock andYabsley 2007, Rochlin et al. 2022). ...
White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann (Artiodactyla: Cervidae), are the primary wildlife host for adult stages of blacklegged ticks (Acari: Ixodidae: Ixodes scapularis Say) and an important host for lone star ticks (Acari: Ixodidae: Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus), both of which are vectors of numerous tick-borne pathogens. The 4-poster passive deer treatment device is a topical, host-targeted method to control free-living tick populations and has been proven to successfully reduce tick abundance in several states. Aggressive behavior of white-tailed deer at concentrated feeding stations is hypothesized to interfere with the effective use of 4-poster devices and deer contact with acaricide applicators. We analyzed images collected by camera traps at 4-poster feeding stations deployed at 3 sites in Maryland and found a negative relationship between some aggressive interactions and contact with applicators. Our results emphasize the need for further investigation into whether deer social dynamics can impact 4-poster efficacy for tick control. This study serves as a reminder that intraspecific interactions are important to consider when using host-targeted acaricide approaches.
... Wooded habitats with leaf litter cover and understory can provide cooler and humid conditions that can enhance survival especially of A. americanum nymphs [35,36]. Woody habitat has also been associated with increased vertebrate host populations, such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), considered a preferred host of A. americanum [37]. ...
The states of Kansas and Oklahoma, in the central Great Plains, lie at the western periphery of the geographic distributions of several tick species. As the focus of most research on ticks and tick-borne diseases has been on Lyme disease which commonly occurs in areas to the north and east, the ticks of this region have seen little research attention. Here, we report on the phenology and activity patterns shown by tick species observed at 10 sites across the two states and explore factors associated with abundance of all and life specific individuals of the dominant species. Ticks were collected in 2020–2022 using dragging, flagging and carbon-dioxide trapping techniques, designed to detect questing ticks. The dominant species was A. americanum (24098, 97%) followed by Dermacentor variabilis (370, 2%), D. albipictus (271, 1%), Ixodes scapularis (91, <1%) and A. maculatum (38, <1%). Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum and D. variabilis were active in Spring and Summer, while D. albipictus and I. scapularis were active in Fall and Winter. Factors associated with numbers of individuals of A. americanum included day of year, habitat, and latitude. Similar associations were observed when abundance was examined by life-stage. Overall, the picture is one of broadly distributed tick species that shows seasonal limitations in the timing of their questing activity.
... As a highly developed area, New York City represents an extreme example of fragmented forest habitat. Fragmented forest landscapes provide advantages to white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus [Zimmermann]), a frequent host of ticks in the northeast United States including adult blacklegged ticks, lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum [L.]), and Asian longhorned ticks (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) (USDA 2023), and a reservoir of tick-borne pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis (Paddock and Yabsley 2007). These advantages include increased edge habitat, reduced predator pressure and hunting pressure, and abundant foliage (Westerfield et al. 2019). ...
A total of 2,504 ticks of 5 species (Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, and H. longicornis) were collected over 2 yr (2014–2015) in New York City parks. Specimens were collected via tick-dragging, identified to species, and tested for pathogens of human diseases. The causative agents of 5 human diseases (Lyme borreliosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever) were detected in a subset of samples. Results of this surveillance effort further illustrate that risk of tick-borne disease is considerable even in parks located adjacent to densely populated areas.
... White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) play a dual role in the survival and proliferation of ticks, serving as a preferred food source and as a transporting vehicle for ticks to locate their preferred habitat [5]. The intensive management of wild or semicaptive whitetailed deer populations, which often share space with cattle in ranches, enhances hunting income in game farms in northern Mexico but also increases zoonotic pathogen risks [6]. ...
Ticks host different pathogens as endosymbiont and nonpathogenic microorganisms and play an important role in reproductive fitness and nutrient provision. However, the bacterial microbiomes of white-tailed deer ticks have received minimal attention. This study aimed to examine the bacterial microbiome of ticks collected from Odocoileus virginianus on the Mexico–United States border to assess differences in microbiome diversity in ticks of different species, sexes, and localities. Five different tick species were collected: Rhipicephalus microplus , Dermacentor nitens , Otobius megnini , Amblyomma cajennense , and A. maculatum . The tick microbiomes were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. Among all tick species, the most predominant phylum was Proteobacteria, followed by Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. The ticks from Tamaulipas and Nuevo León presented the highest bacterial species diversity. Acinetobacter johnsonii and A. lwoffii were the common bacterial species in the microbiome of all ticks, Coxiella were present in R. microplus , and Dermacentor nitens also exhibited a Francisella -like endosymbiont. The microbiome of most females in D. nitens was less diverse than that of males, whereas R. microplus occurs in females, suggesting that microbiome diversity is influenced by sex. In the bacterial communities of A. maculatum and O. megnini , Candidatus Midichloria massiliensis, and Candidatus Endoecteinascidia fumentensis were the most predominant endosymbionts. These results constitute the initial report on these bacteria, and this is also the first study to characterize the microbiome of O. megnini .
... Although the overall prevalence increased during the study, ectoparasite intensities remained low. None of these ectoparasites are considered a health risk for bobwhites; however, A. americanum and A. maculatum are important vectors of pathogens of significance to people and animals (Lockwood et al. 2018;Paddock and Yabsley 2007). Haemaphysalis leporispalustris is not a recognized vector of human or veterinary pathogens, but this species must be distinguished from the invasive Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis), as immature stages can look similar (Egizi et al. 2020;Thompson et al. 2020Thompson et al. , 2022. ...
The Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) has been undergoing a range-wide population decline. Potential causes for declines across its historic range have been investigated for decades and include habitat loss and fragmentation and a variety of parasitic and infectious diseases. Although there have been studies on bobwhite ecology in Oklahoma, USA, relatively little is known about parasites and pathogens in the region. We evaluated the health of free-ranging bobwhites from nine sites in western Oklahoma. From 2018 to 2020, 206 bobwhites were evaluated for gross and microscopic lesions and tested for selected pathogens. In general, bobwhites were in good nutritional condition with ample muscle mass and fat stores. No significant gross lesions were observed in any bobwhite and no significant histologic lesions were detected in a subset. There was no evidence of infection with or exposure to reticuloendotheliosis virus, West Nile virus, respiratory Mycoplasmataceae species, Pasteurella multocida, intestinal Eimeria spp., or oral Trichomonas spp. Several pathogens of potential concern were detected, including avian adenovirus (8.6%), Toxoplasma gondii (2.3%), and haemosporidians (a Haemoproteus sp. (1.5%), Leucocytozoon schoutedeni (1.5%), and Plasmodium homopolare haplotype 2 [lineage LAIRI01; 3.6%]). Physaloptera sp. (12%) and Sarcocystis sp. (1%) were detected in the breast muscle. Low intraspecific genetic diversity was noted for Physaloptera sp., and sequences were most similar to Physaloptera sequences from bobwhites and grasshoppers (Orthoptera) in Texas. Low intensities of chewing lice, chiggers, and ticks were observed. A subset of bobwhites had evidence of exposure to selected toxicants and heavy metals; a small number had low levels of iron, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, and copper, which were not considered diagnostically relevant. In general, bobwhites from western Oklahoma appeared to be in good health with a low diversity of pathogens detected, but future work is needed to understand potentially changing disease risks for this population.
... Rickettsia amblyommatis are Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the spotted fever group of Rickettsia and frequently infect Amblyomma americanum, a native tick species with widespread distribution and increasing populations across the eastern United States (Monzón et al. 2016, Sanchez-Vicente et al. 2019, Rochlin et al. 2022. A. americanum exhibits aggressive biting behavior and plays an important role in disease ecology as a confirmed vector for rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, tularemia, and Heartland virus (Paddock and Yabsley 2007). Further, A. americanum bites are implicated in red meat allergies, also known as alpha-gal syndrome (Commins et al. 2011, Crispell et al. 2019, Young et al. 2021. ...
... Laboratory-raised A. americanum ticks are fed on rabbits (Levin and Schumacher 2016). In contrast, the white-tailed deer is the principal host for all stages of A. americanum in the wild (Kollars et al. 2000, Paddock andYabsley 2007). By testing deer and rabbit hair in AFS, our results demonstrate that both hair samples induced adult A. americanum attachment, but only rabbit hair enhanced the attachment of nymphal ticks (Table 1). ...
With the introduction of siliconized artificial membranes, various artificial feeding systems (AFS) for hard ticks (Ixodidae) have been developed over the last decades. Most AFS utilize similar core components but employ diverse approaches, materials, and experimental conditions. Published work describes different combinations of the core components without experimental optimizations for the artificial feeding of different tick species. Amblyomma americanum L., (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick) is a known vector and reservoir for diverse tick-borne pathogens, such as Rickettsia amblyommatis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Ongoing environmental changes have supported the expansion of A. americanum into new habitats, contributing to increased tick-borne diseases in endemic areas. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in understanding the underlying mechanisms involved in A. americanum interactions with tick-borne pathogens. Here, we performed a systematic analysis and developed an optimized AFS for nymphal lone star ticks. Our results demonstrate that Goldbeater’s membranes, rabbit hair, hair extract, and adult lone star ticks significantly improved the attachment rate of nymphal ticks, whereas tick frass and frass extract did not. With the optimized conditions, we achieved an attachment rate of 46 ± 3% and a success rate of 100% (i.e., one or more attached ticks) in each feeding experiment for nymphal lone star ticks. When fed on sheep blood spiked with R. amblyommatis, both nymphal and adult lone star ticks acquired and maintained R. amblyommatis, demonstrating the feasibility of studying A. americanum–pathogen interactions using AFS. Our study can serve as a roadmap to optimize and improve AFS for other medically relevant tick species.
... In the 20th century, the recovery and continued population expansion of WTD from near extirpation in the United States allowed ticks to increase in abundance and expand geographically (Tsao et al. 2021). These increases are correlated with the rise of various tick-borne diseases, the pathogens of which are known to be transmitted by I. scapularis, A. americanum, and other species of ticks (Childs andPaddock 2003, Paddock andYabsley 2007). While WTD do not support the enzootic cycles of many known tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of Lyme disease (Tsao et al. 2021), they are the main reservoir host of Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, the pathogens that cause human monocytic ehrlichiosis (Paddock and Yabsley 2007). ...
... These increases are correlated with the rise of various tick-borne diseases, the pathogens of which are known to be transmitted by I. scapularis, A. americanum, and other species of ticks (Childs andPaddock 2003, Paddock andYabsley 2007). While WTD do not support the enzootic cycles of many known tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of Lyme disease (Tsao et al. 2021), they are the main reservoir host of Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, the pathogens that cause human monocytic ehrlichiosis (Paddock and Yabsley 2007). Furthermore, WTDs have aided in the spread and establishment of several invasive tick species, including cattle fever ticks [Rhicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say and Rhicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini], Gulf Coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum Koch), and the recently introduced Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann) (Tsao et al. 2021). ...
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) are the main host for adult Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) (blacklegged tick) and all stages of Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus (Acari: Ixodidae) (lone star tick). However, literature describing the feeding and reproductive parameters of these tick species when feeding on this host is limited. We experimentally infested white-tailed deer with adult pairs of either I. scapularis or A. americanum to improve our understanding of these tick–host relationships. Our study used tick-naïve white-tailed deer and restricted host grooming throughout the infestation. For I. scapularis, the days to repletion (mean ± SE, 6.04 ± 0.07), engorgement weight of replete females (0.20 ± 0.0032 g), duration of oviposition (32 ± 0.45 d), egg mass weight (0.10 ± 0.0027 g), and number of eggs laid per tick (1,803.00 ± 49.00) were recorded. Data from A. americanum were also recorded, including days to repletion (11.00 ± 0.063), engorgement weight of replete females (0.63 ± 0.025 g), duration of oviposition (37.00 ± 1.30 d), egg mass weight (0.34 ± 0.017 g), and number of eggs laid per tick (5,873.00 ± 291.00). These biological parameter data could be used as variables in models (e.g., LYMESIM 2.0) to determine how white-tailed deer influence I. scapularis and A. americanum populations in nature, and to evaluate the protective efficacy of tick-antigen-based antitick vaccines.
... Adults readily feed on larger hosts such as coyotes (Canis latrans) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) (Kollars et al. 2000). The latter being an important host for all life stages of lone star ticks (Paddock and Yabsley 2007). Each active developmental stage will bite humans. ...
Heartland (HRTV) and Bourbon (BRBV) viruses are newly identified tick-borne viruses, isolated from serious clinical cases in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Both viruses originated in the lower Midwest United States near the border of Missouri and Kansas, cause similar disease manifestations, and are presumably vectored by the same tick species, Amblyomma americanum Linnaeus (Ixodida: Ixodidae). In this article, we provide a current review of HRTV and BRBV, including the virology, epidemiology, and ecology of the viruses with an emphasis on the tick vector. We touch on current challenges of vector control and surveillance, and we discuss future directions in the study of these emergent pathogens.
... These are gallery forests, the Ocotea acutifolia, being common with a subtropical climate, 1000 to 1200 mm of annual rainfall, the relief is undulating and clayey soils. Morphological identification of Amblyomma and Haemaphysalis adults and nymphs was executed following Nava et al. (2017). ...
The aim of this study was to report the first detection of Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana in Haemaphysalis juxtakochi from Argentina. Free-living ticks were collected from vegetation by drag-flag method on five sample sites in Entre Ríos Province, central Argentina, belonging to the Espinal Phytogeographic Province. Molecular detection of order Rickettsiales agents was performed using gltA (Rickettsia spp.), 16 S rRNA and groEL (Anaplasmataceae) genes as targets. A total of 67 ticks of Amblyomma aureolatum (20 nymphs and 4 adults), Amblyomma dubitatum (15 nymphs) and Haemaphysalis juxtakochi (24 nymphs and 4 adults) were collected. While all tested ticks were negative for Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasmataceae agents could neither be detected in A. aureolatum nor in A. dubitatum, Candidatus Ehrlichia pampeana was detected in one male of H. juxtakochi. DNA sequences of this microorganism (16 S rDNA and groEL) are related to sequences of Ehrlichia ewingii. The findings of the current study represent the first report of this Ehrlichia strain for Argentina.
... Favorable seasonal conditions in years with a high tick population hereby increase the prevalence of alpha-gal sensitization by multiple tick bites in risk groups. Moreover, the tick population increases with the deer and rodent population as previously reported from Sweden and the USA, and blood type may also be a confounder [25,26,27,28]. ...
Background: Tick bite-induced IgE-mediated reactions to the oligosaccharide galactose α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) are increasingly recognized. This study investigated alpha-gal sensitization in three groups with different tick bite exposure. Materials and methods: Specific IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and total IgE were investigated in 485 patients with Lyme borreliosis with different disease manifestations and compared to a control group of 200 randomly selected patients without increased exposure to tick bites. A group of 232 hunters and forest workers served as a model for multiple tick bites. Results: Specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies to alpha-gal (> 0.1 kU/L) were found in 12.6% of all borreliosis samples compared to the control group with 9% (relative risk 1.4; 95% CI 0.85 – 2.3; not significant (n.s.). The highest prevalence of sIgE to alpha-gal was observed in hunters and forest service employees (22.8%, relative risk 2.5; 95% CI 1.5 – 4.2; p < 0.001). Higher age and elevated total IgE were also associated with alpha-gal sensitization. Conclusion: IgE sensitization to alpha-gal tends to be more frequent in tick-exposed patients with borreliosis than in controls (n.s.). Moreover, hunters and forest workers show an even higher rate of elevated IgE to alpha-gal. Thus, frequent tick contact may result in alpha-gal sensitization. In the area of Munich, the prevalence of alpha-gal sensitization appears lower than in the state of Baden-Württemberg and lower than in the USA, which may be due to the difference in tick species or the frequency of tick exposure. This study could show that alpha-gal sensitization and presumably alpha-gal syndrome does not seem to be a modern problem but existed already more than 30 years ago.
