Publications

experimental infection of rhipicephalus sanguineus with ehrlichia chaffeensis.	ehrlichia chaffeensis, the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, is a tick-borne rickettsial pathogen that is infective to a wide range of mammals, including dogs and people. amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is considered the primary vector of e. chaffeensis, but this pathogen has been detected in other tick species, including the brown dog tick, rhipicephalus sanguineus. we hypothesized that the arkansas strain of e. chaffeensis is infective to r. sanguineus, and used a nove ...	2014	24894131
identification of rhabdoviral sequences in oropharyngeal swabs from german and danish bats.	in the frame of active lyssavirus surveillance in bats, oropharyngeal swabs from german (n = 2297) and danish (n = 134) insectivorous bats were investigated using a newly developed generic pan-lyssavirus real-time reverse transcriptase pcr (rt-qpcr).	2014	25420461
are ticks venomous animals?	as an ecological adaptation venoms have evolved independently in several species of metazoa. as haematophagous arthropods ticks are mainly considered as ectoparasites due to directly feeding on the skin of animal hosts. ticks are of major importance since they serve as vectors for several diseases affecting humans and livestock animals. ticks are rarely considered as venomous animals despite that tick saliva contains several protein families present in venomous taxa and that many ixodida genera ...	2014	25006341
prevalence of rickettsiales in ticks removed from the skin of outdoor workers in north carolina.	tick-transmitted rickettsial diseases, such as ehrlichiosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis, are significant sources of morbidity and mortality in the southern united states. because of their exposure in tick-infested woodlands, outdoor workers experience an increased risk of infection with tick-borne pathogens. as part of a double blind randomized-controlled field trial of the effectiveness of permethrin-treated clothing in preventing tick bites, we identified tick species removed from the skin ...	2014	25533148
seroepidemiologic study of human infections with spotted fever group rickettsiae in north carolina.	increasing entomologic and epidemiologic evidence suggests that spotted fever group rickettsiae (sfgr) other than rickettsia rickettsii are responsible for spotted fever rickettsioses in the united states. a retrospective seroepidemiologic study was conducted on stored acute- and convalescent-phase sera that had been submitted for rocky mountain spotted fever testing to the north carolina state laboratory of public health. we evaluated the serologic reactivity of the paired sera to r. rickettsii ...	2014	25187639
spotted fever group rickettsiae in multiple hard tick species from fairfax county, virginia.	spotted fever group rickettsiosis (sfgr) is a potentially fatal disease that has displayed increasing incidence in the united states in recent years. the most well-known and severe type of this disease is rocky mountain spotted fever, but there are other mild forms that occur. recently, human infection with rickettsia parkeri has been reported and linked with the tick amblyomma maculatum. in 2010, a population of r. parkeri-infected a. maculatum was discovered in fairfax county, virginia, leadin ...	2014	24978651
cultivation of rickettsia amblyommii in tick cells, prevalence in florida lone star ticks (amblyomma americanum).	rickettsia amblyommii is a bacterium in the spotted fever group of organisms associated with the lone star tick (lst), amblyomma americanum. the lst is the most commonly reported tick to parasitize humans in the southeastern us. within this geographic region, there have been suspected cases of rocky mountain spotted fever (rmsf) where the causative agent, r. rickettsii, was not identified in the local tick population. in these areas, patients with clinical signs of rmsf had low or no detectable ...	2014	24927809
ehrlichia and spotted fever group rickettsiae surveillance in amblyomma americanum in virginia through use of a novel six-plex real-time pcr assay.	the population of the lone star tick amblyomma americanum has expanded in north america over the last several decades. it is known to be an aggressive and nondiscriminatory biter and is by far the most common human-biting tick encountered in virginia. few studies of human pathogen prevalence in ticks have been conducted in our state since the mid-twentieth century. we developed a six-plex real-time pcr assay to detect three ehrlichia species (e. chaffeensis, e. ewingii, and panola mountain ehrli ...	2014	24746145
phylogeny of a relapsing fever borrelia species transmitted by the hard tick ixodes scapularis.	the discovery of borrelia species that were related to the agents of relapsing fever but were transmitted by hard ticks rather than soft ticks challenged previous taxonomies based largely on microbe-host specificities and geographic considerations. one of these newly-identified organisms is the borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato strain lb-2001 from north america and transmitted by ixodes scapularis. this or related strains have been identified as the cause of human disease, but comparatively little i ...	2014	24813576
reverse genetics system for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus.	severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (sftsv) is an emerging tick-borne pathogen that was first reported in china in 2009. phylogenetic analysis of the viral genome showed that sfts virus represents a new lineage within the phlebovirus genus, distinct from the existing sandfly fever and uukuniemi virus groups, in the family bunyaviridae. sfts disease is characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms, chills, joint pain, myalgia, thrombocytopenia, leukocytopenia, and some hemorrhagic mani ...	2014	25552716
characterization of the bacterial communities of life stages of free living lone star ticks (amblyomma americanum).	the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum) is an abundant and aggressive biter of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife in the southeastern-central usa and an important vector of several known and suspected zoonotic bacterial pathogens. however, the biological drivers of bacterial community variation in this tick are still poorly defined. knowing the community context in which tick-borne bacterial pathogens exist and evolve is required to fully understand the ecology and immunobiology of the tic ...	2014	25054227
history and complexity in tick-host dynamics: discrepancies between 'real' and 'visible' tick populations.	numerical responses of ticks to changes in densities of their hosts can be complex and apparently unpredictable. manipulations even of deterministic models can produce counter-intuitive results, including tick populations that either rise or fall under increasing host densities, depending on initial conditions.	2014	24885852
frequency of piroplasms babesia microti and cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern italy.	emerging diseases caused by piroplasms pose a health risk for man and other animals, and domestic cats have been proposed as potential reservoirs for some piroplasm infections. the aim of this study was to identify the frequency of the piroplasms babesia microti and cytauxzoon felis in stray cats from northern italy and to identify possible risk factors associated with these infections. blood samples from 260 stray cats enrolled in a trap-neuter-release (tnr) program in northern italy were exami ...	2014	24895629
proteomic analysis of cattle tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus saliva: a comparison between partially and fully engorged females.	the cattle tick rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus is one of the most harmful parasites affecting bovines. similarly to other hematophagous ectoparasites, r. microplus saliva contains a collection of bioactive compounds that inhibit host defenses against tick feeding activity. thus, the study of tick salivary components offers opportunities for the development of immunological based tick control methods and medicinal applications. so far, only a few proteins have been identified in cattle tick ...	2014	24762651
transmission-blocking vaccines: focus on anti-vector vaccines against tick-borne diseases.	tick-borne diseases are a potential threat that account for significant morbidity and mortality in human population worldwide. vaccines are not available to treat several of the tick-borne diseases. with the emergence and resurgence of several tick-borne diseases, emphasis on the development of transmission-blocking vaccines remains increasing. in this review, we provide a snap shot on some of the potential candidates for the development of anti-vector vaccines (a form of transmission-blocking v ...	2014	25503555
comparison of phenology and pathogen prevalence, including infection with the ehrlichia muris-like (eml) agent, of ixodes scapularis removed from soldiers in the midwestern and the northeastern united states over a 15 year period (1997-2012).	since 1997, human-biting ticks submitted to the department of defense human tick test kit program (httkp) of the us army public health command have been tested for pathogens by pcr. we noted differences in the phenology and infection prevalence among ixodes scapularis ticks submitted from military installations in different geographic regions. the aim of this study was to characterize these observed differences, comparing the phenology and pathogen infection rates of i. scapularis submitted from ...	2014	25465046
mosquito akirin as a potential antigen for malaria control.	the control of vector-borne diseases is important to improve human and animal health worldwide. malaria is one of the world's deadliest diseases and is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus plasmodium, which are transmitted by anopheles spp. mosquitoes. recent evidences using subolesin (sub) and akirin (akr) vaccines showed a reduction in the survival and/or fertility of blood-sucking ectoparasite vectors and the infection with vector-borne pathogens. these experiments suggested the possibi ...	2014	25472895
case report: molecular evidence of anaplasma platys infection in two women from venezuela.	this article presents two case reports of anaplasma platys detection in two women from venezuela. both patients were exposed to rhipicephalus sanguineus, the presumed tick vector, and experienced chronic, nonspecific clinical signs including headaches and muscle pains. intra-platelet inclusion bodies resembling a. platys were observed in buffy coat smears and a. platys dna was amplified and sequenced from whole blood; however, treatment with doxycycline did not alleviate their symptoms. these ca ...	2014	25266347
pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the mexico-us border along the rio grande.	transboundary zoonotic diseases, several of which are vector borne, can maintain a dynamic focus and have pathogens circulating in geographic regions encircling multiple geopolitical boundaries. global change is intensifying transboundary problems, including the spatial variation of the risk and incidence of zoonotic diseases. the complexity of these challenges can be greater in areas where rivers delineate international boundaries and encompass transitions between ecozones. the rio grande serve ...	2014	25453027
lyme disease, virginia, usa, 2000-2011.	lyme disease, caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted in the eastern united states by the black-legged tick (ixodes scapularis), is increasing in incidence and expanding geographically. recent environmental modeling based on extensive field collections of host-seeking i. scapularis ticks predicted a coastal distribution of ticks in mid-atlantic states and an elevational limit of 510 m. however, human lyme disease cases are increasing most dramatically at higher elevations in ...	2014	25272308
virome analysis of amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis ticks reveals novel highly divergent vertebrate and invertebrate viruses.	a wide range of bacterial pathogens have been identified in ticks, yet the diversity of viruses in ticks is largely unexplored. in the united states, amblyomma americanum, dermacentor variabilis, and ixodes scapularis are among the principal tick species associated with pathogen transmission. we used high-throughput sequencing to characterize the viromes of these tick species and identified the presence of powassan virus and eight novel viruses. these included the most divergent nairovirus descr ...	2014	25056893
review: unraveling lyme disease.		2014	24965960
population-based passive tick surveillance and detection of expanding foci of blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis and the lyme disease agent borrelia burgdorferi in ontario, canada.	we identified ticks submitted by the public from 2008 through 2012 in ontario, canada, and tested blacklegged ticks ixodes scapularis for borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum. among the 18 species of ticks identified, i. scapularis, dermacentor variabilis, ixodes cookei and amblyomma americanum represented 98.1% of the 14,369 ticks submitted. rates of blacklegged tick submission per 100,000 population were highest in ontario's eastern region; d. variabilis in central west and easte ...	2014	25171252
lyme disease.		2014	25119621
microbial population analysis of the salivary glands of ticks; a possible strategy for the surveillance of bacterial pathogens.	ticks are one of the most important blood-sucking vectors for infectious microorganisms in humans and animals. when feeding they inject saliva, containing microbes, into the host to facilitate the uptake of blood. an understanding of the microbial populations within their salivary glands would provide a valuable insight when evaluating the vectorial capacity of ticks. three tick species (ixodes ovatus, i. persulcatus and haemaphysalis flava) were collected in shizuoka prefecture of japan between ...	2014	25089898
high-throughput screening of tick-borne pathogens in europe.	due to increased travel, climatic, and environmental changes, the incidence of tick-borne disease in both humans and animals is increasing throughout europe. therefore, extended surveillance tools are desirable. to accurately screen tick-borne pathogens (tbps), a large scale epidemiological study was conducted on 7050 ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from france, denmark, and the netherlands using a powerful new high-throughput approach. this advanced methodology permitted the simultaneous detect ...	2014	25120960
a 24-48 h fed amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome.	multiple tick saliva proteins, the majority of which are unknown, confer tick resistance in repeatedly infested animals. the objective of this study was to identify the 24-48 h fed amblyomma americanum tick saliva immuno-proteome. the 24-48 h tick-feeding phase is critical to tick parasitism as it precedes important events in tick biology, blood meal feeding and disease agent transmission. fed male, 24 and 96 h fed female phage display cdna expression libraries were biopanned using rabbit antibo ...	2014	24962723
massive infection of seabird ticks with bacterial species related to coxiella burnetii.	seabird ticks are known reservoirs of bacterial pathogens of medical importance; however, ticks parasitizing tropical seabirds have received less attention than their counterparts from temperate and subpolar regions. recently, rickettsia africae was described to infect seabird ticks of the western indian ocean and new caledonia, constituting the only available data on bacterial pathogens associated with tropical seabird tick species. here, we combined a pyrosequencing-based approach with a class ...	2014	24657860
clinical practice. lyme disease.		2014	24785207
delayed anaphylaxis to red meat masquerading as idiopathic anaphylaxis.	anaphylaxis is traditionally recognized as a rapidly developing combination of symptoms that often includes hives and hypotension or respiratory symptoms. furthermore, when a specific cause is identified, exposure to this cause is usually noted to have occurred within minutes to 2 hours before the onset of symptoms. this case is of a 79-year-old woman who developed a severe episode of anaphylaxis 3 hours after eating pork. before 2012, she had not experienced any symptoms after ingestion of meat ...	2014	24811014
detection of a borrelia species in questing gulf coast ticks, amblyomma maculatum.	borrelia spp. are agents of lyme disease and relapsing fever, diseases which use ixodes hard ticks and ornithodoros soft ticks, respectively, as primary vectors. some relapsing fever spirochetes, such as b. miyamotoi, are also found in hard ticks. to date, no borrelia sp. is known to use the hard tick, amblyomma maculatum, as a vector. however, both b. burgdorferi and b. lonestari were recently detected in a. maculatum removed from hosts. in our study, dna extracts from 306 questing adult a. mac ...	2014	24844970
the prevalence of zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in ixodes scapularis collected in the hudson valley, new york state.	ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged tick, is capable of transmitting the pathogens that cause lyme disease (borrelia burgdorferi), babesiosis (babesia microti), anaplasmosis (anaplasma phagocytophilum), and to a lesser extent powassan encephalitis (deer tick virus [dtv]). these pathogens represent significant public health problems, but little is known about the occurrence and co-infection prevalence of these pathogens in i. scapularis. here, we used standard pcr and pathogen-specific primers to ...	2014	24689680
spatial distribution of counties in the continental united states with records of occurrence of amblyomma americanum (ixodida: ixodidae).	in addition to being a major nuisance biter, the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (l.), is increasingly recognized as an important vector of pathogens affecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. despite its notoriety, efforts have been lacking to define the spatial occurrence ofa. americanum in the continental united states with precision beyond that conveyed in continental-scale distribution maps. here we present a county-level distribution map for a. americanum generated by compiling ...	2014	24724282
comparative bioinformatics, temporal and spatial expression analyses of ixodes scapularis organic anion transporting polypeptides.	organic anion-transporting polypeptides (oatps) are an integral part of the detoxification mechanism in vertebrates and invertebrates. these cell surface proteins are involved in mediating the sodium-independent uptake and/or distribution of a broad array of organic amphipathic compounds and xenobiotic drugs. this study describes bioinformatics and biological characterization of 9 oatp sequences in the ixodes scapularis genome. these sequences have been annotated on the basis of 12 transmembrane ...	2014	24582512
gene cloning, expression and immunogenicity of the protective antigen subolesin in dermacentor silvarum.	subolesin (4d8), the ortholog of insect akirins, is a highly conserved protective antigen and thus has the potential for development of a broad-spectrum vaccine against ticks and mosquitoes. to date, no protective antigens have been characterized nor tested as candidate vaccines against dermacentor silvarum bites and transmission of associated pathogens. in this study, we cloned the open reading frame (orf) of d. silvarum 4d8 cdna (ds4d8), which consisted of 498 bp encoding 165 amino acid residu ...	2014	24623890
insecticide/acaricide resistance in fleas and ticks infesting dogs and cats.	this review defines insecticide/acaricide resistance and describes the history, evolution, types, mechanisms, and detection of resistance as it applies to chemicals currently used against fleas and ticks of dogs and cats and summarizes resistance reported to date. we introduce the concept of refugia as it applies to flea and tick resistance and discuss strategies to minimize the impact and inevitable onset of resistance to newer classes of insecticides. our purpose is to provide the veterinary p ...	2014	24393426
detection of lyme borrelia in questing ixodes scapularis (acari: ixodidae) and small mammals in louisiana.	lyme borreliosis is caused by spirochetes from the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species complex. in the united states, b. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.; johnson, schmid, hyde, steigerwalt, and brenner) is the most common cause of human lyme borreliosis. with >25,000 cases reported annually, it is the most common vector-borne disease in the united states. although approximately 90% of cases are contained to the northeastern and great lake states, areas in canada and some southern states are ...	2014	24605479
diversity of rickettsiales in the microbiome of the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum.	ticks are important vectors for many emerging pathogens. however, they are also infected with many symbionts and commensals, often competing for the same niches. in this paper, we characterize the microbiome of amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae), the lone star tick, in order to better understand the evolutionary relationships between pathogens and nonpathogens. multitag pyrosequencing of prokaryotic 16s rrna genes (16s rrna) was performed on 20 lone star ticks (including males, females, and ...	2014	24162580
laboratory identification of arthropod ectoparasites.	the collection, handling, identification, and reporting of ectoparasitic arthropods in clinical and reference diagnostic laboratories are discussed in this review. included are data on ticks, mites, lice, fleas, myiasis-causing flies, and bed bugs. the public health importance of these organisms is briefly discussed. the focus is on the morphological identification and proper handling and reporting of cases involving arthropod ectoparasites, particularly those encountered in the united states. o ...	2014	24396136
habitat and vegetation variables are not enough when predicting tick populations in the southeastern united states.	two tick-borne diseases with expanding case and vector distributions are ehrlichiosis (transmitted by amblyomma americanum) and rickettiosis (transmitted by a. maculatum and dermacentor variabilis). there is a critical need to identify the specific habitats where each of these species is likely to be encountered to classify and pinpoint risk areas. consequently, an in-depth tick prevalence study was conducted on the dominant ticks in the southeast. vegetation, soil, and remote sensing data were ...	2015	26656122
emerging horizons for tick-borne pathogens: from the 'one pathogen-one disease' vision to the pathobiome paradigm.	ticks, as vectors of several notorious zoonotic pathogens, represent an important and increasing threat for human and animal health in europe. recent applications of new technology revealed the complexity of the tick microbiome, which may affect its vectorial capacity. appreciation of these complex systems is expanding our understanding of tick-borne pathogens, leading us to evolve a more integrated view that embraces the 'pathobiome'; the pathogenic agent integrated within its abiotic and bioti ...	2015	26610021
avian migrants facilitate invasions of neotropical ticks and tick-borne pathogens into the united states.	migratory birds have the potential to transport exotic vectors and pathogens of human and animal health importance across vast distances. we systematically examined birds that recently migrated to the united states from the neotropics for ticks. we screened both ticks and birds for tick-borne pathogens, including rickettsia species and borrelia burgdorferi. over two spring seasons (2013 and 2014), 3.56% of birds (n = 3,844) representing 42.35% of the species examined (n = 85) were infested by ti ...	2015	26431964
human infection with ehrlichia muris-like pathogen, united states, 2007-2013(1).	an ehrlichia muris-like (eml) pathogen was detected among 4 patients in minnesota and wisconsin during 2009. we characterized additional cases clinically and epidemiologically. during 2004-2013, blood samples from 75,077 patients from all 50 united states were tested by pcr from the groel gene for ehrlichia spp. and anaplasma phagocytophilum. during 2007-2013, samples from 69 (0.1%) patients were positive for the eml pathogen; patients were from 5 states: indiana (1), michigan (1), minnesota (33 ...	2015	26402378
ticknet-a collaborative public health approach to tickborne disease surveillance and research.	ticknet, a public health network, was created in 2007 to foster greater collaboration between state health departments, academic centers, and the centers for disease control and prevention on surveillance and prevention of tickborne diseases. research activities are conducted through the emerging infections program and include laboratory surveys, high-quality prevention trials, and pathogen discovery.	2015	26291549
variation in the microbiota of ixodes ticks with regard to geography, species, and sex.	ixodes scapularis is the principal vector of lyme disease on the east coast and in the upper midwest regions of the united states, yet the tick is also present in the southeast, where lyme disease is absent or rare. a closely related species, i. affinis, also carries the pathogen in the south but does not seem to transmit it to humans. in order to better understand the geographic diversity of the tick, we analyzed the microbiota of 104 adult i. scapularis and 13 adult i. affinis ticks captured i ...	2015	26150449
comparative population genetics of two invading ticks: evidence of the ecological mechanisms underlying tick range expansions.	two species of ixodid tick, ixodes affinis neumann and amblyomma maculatum koch, are simultaneously expanding their ranges throughout the mid-atlantic region of the us. although we have some understanding of the ecology and life history of these species, the ecological mechanisms governing where and how new populations establish and persist are unclear. to assess population connectivity and ancestry, we sequenced a fragment of the 16s mitochondrial rrna gene from a representative sample of indiv ...	2015	26254575
ehrlichia meningitis mimicking aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case study for medical decision-making heuristics.	thunderclap headache is a sudden and severe headache that can occur after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (sah). subarachnoid hemorrhage is a medical emergency that requires prompt attention and hospitalization. patients with thunderclap headache often undergo a noncontrast head computed tomography (ct) scan to ascertain sah bleeding and, if the scan is negative, then undergo a lumbar puncture to look for cerebrospinal fluid (csf) red blood cells (rbcs), which would be consistent with an a ...	2015	27053985
modulation of host immunity by tick saliva.	next generation sequencing and proteomics have helped to comprehensively characterize gene expression in tick salivary glands at both the transcriptome and the proteome level. functional data are, however, lacking. given that tick salivary secretions are critical to the success of the tick transmission lifecycle and, as a consequence, for host colonization by the pathogens they spread, we thoroughly review here the literature on the known interactions between tick saliva (or tick salivary gland ...	2015	26189360
comparative metagenomic profiling of symbiotic bacterial communities associated with ixodes persulcatus, ixodes pavlovskyi and dermacentor reticulatus ticks.	ixodes persulcatus, ixodes pavlovskyi, and dermacentor reticulatus ticks inhabiting western siberia are responsible for the transmission of a number of etiological agents that cause human and animal tick-borne diseases. because these ticks are abundant in the suburbs of large cities, agricultural areas, and popular tourist sites and frequently attack people and livestock, data regarding the microbiomes of these organisms are required. using metagenomic 16s profiling, we evaluate bacterial commun ...	2015	26154300
amblyomma americanum as a bridging vector for human infection with francisella tularensis.	the γ-proteobacterium francisella tularensis causes seasonal tick-transmitted tularemia outbreaks in natural rabbit hosts and incidental infections in humans in the south-central united states. although dermacentor variabilis is considered a primary vector for f. tularensis, amblyomma americanum is the most abundant tick species in this endemic region. a systematic study of f. tularensis colonization of a. americanum was undertaken to better understand its potential to serve as an overwintering ...	2015	26121137
abundance and infection rates of ixodes scapularis nymphs collected from residential properties in lyme disease-endemic areas of connecticut, maryland, and new york.		2015	26047204
conserved amblyomma americanum tick serpin19, an inhibitor of blood clotting factors xa and xia, trypsin and plasmin, has anti-haemostatic functions.	tick saliva serine protease inhibitors (serpins) facilitate tick blood meal feeding through inhibition of protease mediators of host defense pathways. we previously identified a highly conserved amblyomma americanum serpin 19 that is characterised by its reactive center loop being 100% conserved in ixodid ticks. in this study, biochemical characterisation reveals that the ubiquitously transcribed a. americanum serpin 19 is an anti-coagulant protein, inhibiting the activity of five of the eight s ...	2015	25957161
tick microbiome: the force within.	ticks are obligate blood-feeders and serve as vectors of human and livestock pathogens worldwide. defining the tick microbiome and deciphering the interactions between the tick and its symbiotic bacteria in the context of tick development and pathogen transmission will likely reveal new insights and spawn new paradigms to control tick-borne diseases. descriptive observations on the tick microbiome that began almost a century ago serve as forerunners to the gathering momentum to define the tick m ...	2015	25936226
vector potential and population dynamics for amblyomma inornatum.	we studied the natural life cycle of amblyomma inornatum and its vector potential in south texas. this tick is distributed throughout south texas and most of central america. a. inornatum represented 1.91% of the ticks collected by carbon dioxide traps during a study of free-living ticks in the tamaulipan biotic province in south texas. the life cycle of a. inornatum in south texas showed a clear seasonal pattern consistent with one generation per year. nymphs emerged in the spring with a peak i ...	2015	25881916
identification of 24h ixodes scapularis immunogenic tick saliva proteins.	ixodes scapularis is arguably the most medically important tick species in the united states. this tick transmits 5 of the 14 human tick-borne disease (tbd) agents in the usa: borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, b. miyamotoi, babesia microti, and powassan virus disease. except for the powassan virus disease, i. scapularis-vectored tbd agents require more than 24h post attachment to be transmitted. this study describes identification of 24h immunogenic i. scapularis tick saliva prote ...	2015	25825233
canine vector-borne infections in mauritius.	canine vector-borne diseases have a worldwide distribution, but to the best of our knowledge, no research has been carried out to evaluate their presence on the indian ocean island of mauritius. an investigation into canine vector-borne infections was conducted in dogs (n = 78) resident at an animal shelter in port louis, mauritius using a combination of traditional microscopy and serological methods.	2015	25889893
borrelia burgdorferi not confirmed in human-biting amblyomma americanum ticks from the southeastern united states.	the predominant human-biting tick throughout the southeastern united states is amblyomma americanum. its ability to transmit pathogens causing lyme disease-like illnesses is a subject of ongoing controversy. results of previous testing by the department of defense human tick test kit program and other laboratories indicated that it is highly unlikely that a. americanum transmits any pathogen that causes lyme disease. in contrast, a recent publication by clark and colleagues (k. l. clark, b. leyd ...	2015	25788545
tick-borne infections in human and animal population worldwide.	the abundance and activity of ectoparasites and its hosts are affected by various abiotic factors, such as climate and other organisms (predators, pathogens and competitors) presenting thus multiples forms of association (obligate to facultative, permanent to intermittent and superficial to subcutaneous) developed during long co-evolving processes. ticks are ectoparasites widespread globally and its eco epidemiology are closely related to the environmental conditions. they are obligatory hematop ...	2015	27047089
anaphylaxis to the carbohydrate side chain alpha-gal.	in 2007, the monoclonal antibody cetuximab caused severe hypersensitivity reactions during the first infusion in a region of the southeastern united states. investigation of pretreatment sera established that they contained immunoglobulin (ig) e against the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is present on the fab of cetuximab. alpha-gal is a blood group substance of nonprimate mammals. these ige antibodies are also associated with delayed anaphylaxis to red meat (ie ...	2015	25841549
the alpha-gal story: lessons learned from connecting the dots.	anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be rapidly progressing and fatal, and therefore establishing its cause is pivotal to long-term risk management. our recent work has identified a novel ige antibody response to a mammalian oligosaccharide epitope, galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal). ige to alpha-gal has been associated with 2 distinct forms of anaphylaxis: (1) immediate-onset anaphylaxis during first exposure to intravenous cetuximab and (2) delayed-onset anaphylaxis 3 to ...	2015	25747720
rhipicephalus microplus and ixodes ovatus cystatins in tick blood digestion and evasion of host immune response.	cystatins are a group of cysteine protease inhibitors responsible for physiological proteolysis regulation and present in a wide range of organisms. studies about this class of inhibitors in parasites have contributed to clarify their roles in important physiological processes, like blood digestion and modulation of host immune response during blood feeding. thus, cystatins are a subject of research on the development of new parasite control methods. additionally, the characterization of protein ...	2015	25889092
transstadial transmission of borrelia turcica in hyalomma aegyptium ticks.	borrelia turcica comprises the third major group of arthropod-transmitted borreliae and is phylogenetically divergent from other borrelia groups. the novel group of borrelia was initially isolated from hyalomma aegyptium ticks in turkey and it was recently found in blood and multiple organs of tortoises exported from jordan to japan. however, the ecology of these spirochetes and their development in ticks or the vertebrate hosts were not investigated in detail; our aims were to isolate the patho ...	2015	25695663
guideline for veterinary practitioners on canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis in europe.	canine ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are important tick-borne diseases with a worldwide distribution. information has been continuously collected on these infections in europe, and publications have increased in recent years. prevalence rates are high for ehrlichia and anaplasma spp. infections in dogs from different european countries. the goal of this article was to provide a practical guideline for veterinary practitioners on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ehrlichiosis and anapla ...	2015	25649069
carbohydrates as food allergens.	the literature supports the notion that carbohydrate epitopes, on their own, do not contribute significantly to the induction of allergic reactions. they bind weakly to ige antibodies and have been termed as cross reactive carbohydrate determinants. these epitopes cause confusion in in vitro ige testing through nonspecific cross-reactivity. coincident with the rising trends in food allergy prevalence, there has recently been reports of anaphylaxis induced by carbohydrate epitopes. there are two ...	2015	25653916
a review of theileria diagnostics and epidemiology.	an extensive range of serological and molecular diagnostic assays exist for most of the economically important theileira species such as t. annulata, t. equi, t. lestoquardi, t. parva, t. uilenbergi and other more benign species. diagnostics of theileria is considered with regard to sensitivity and specificity of current molecular and serological assays and their use in epidemiology. in the case of serological assays, cross-reactivity of genetically closely related species reduces the use of the ...	2015	25830110
the characterization and manipulation of the bacterial microbiome of the rocky mountain wood tick, dermacentor andersoni.	in north america, ticks are the most economically impactful vectors of human and animal pathogens. the rocky mountain wood tick, dermacentor andersoni (acari: ixodidae), transmits rickettsia rickettsii and anaplasma marginale to humans and cattle, respectively. in recent years, studies have shown that symbiotic organisms are involved in a number of biochemical and physiological functions. characterizing the bacterial microbiome of d. andersoni is a pivotal step towards understanding symbiont-hos ...	2015	26653035
reliability of molecular host-identification methods for ticks: an experimental in vitro study with ixodes ricinus.	reliable information on host use by arthropod vectors is required to study pathogen transmission ecology and to predict disease risk. direct observation of host use is often difficult or impossible and indirect methods are therefore necessary. however, the reliability of currently available methods to identify the last host of blood-feeding arthropods has not been evaluated, and may be particularly problematic for ticks because host blood has been digested at capture. biases in host detection ma ...	2015	26296344
an insight into the sialome of the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum, with a glimpse on its time dependent gene expression.	hard ticks feed for several days or weeks on their hosts. blood feeding is assisted by tick saliva, which is injected in the host skin regularly, alternating with blood ingestion. tick saliva contains hundreds or thousands of different peptides and other bioactive compounds that assist feeding by inhibiting their hosts' blood clotting, platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, as well as pain and itching. immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptides are also found in tick saliva. molecular characte ...	2015	26131772
borrelia miyamotoi disease: neither lyme disease nor relapsing fever.	borrelia miyamotoi disease (bmd) is a newly recognized borreliosis globally transmitted by ticks of the ixodes persulcatus species complex. once considered to be a tick symbiont with no public health implications, b miyamotoi is increasingly recognized as the agent of a nonspecific febrile illness often misdiagnosed as acute lyme disease without rash, or as ehrlichiosis. the frequency of its diagnosis in the northeastern united states is similar to that of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. a diag ...	2015	26593262
identification and evaluation of vaccine candidate antigens from the poultry red mite (dermanyssus gallinae).	an aqueous extract of the haematophagous poultry ectoparasite, dermanyssus gallinae, was subfractionated using anion exchange chromatography. six of these subfractions were used to immunise hens and the blood from these hens was fed, in vitro, to poultry red mites. mite mortality following these feeds was indicative of protective antigens in two of the subfractions, with the risks of mites dying being 3.1 and 3.7 times higher than in the control group (p<0.001). a combination of two-dimensional ...	2015	26296690
efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (bravecto) administered to dogs against the adult cat flea, ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production.	fluralaner is a potent insecticide and acaricide with rapid and persistent efficacy. this study measured the efficacy of fluralaner flavored chews (bravecto®, merck animal health) administered to dogs against adult ctenocephalides felis felis and egg production.	2015	26160349
variation in baiting intensity among co2-baited traps used to collect hematophagous arthropods.	hematophagous arthropods transmit the etiological agents of numerous diseases and as a result are frequently the targets of sampling to characterize vector and pathogen populations. arguably, the most commonly used sampling approach involves traps baited with carbon dioxide. we report results of a laboratory study in which the performance of carbon dioxide-baited traps was evaluated using measures of baiting intensity, the amount of carbon dioxide released per unit time during trap deployment. w ...	2015	26160803
prevalence of cytauxzoon felis infection in healthy cats from enzootic areas in arkansas, missouri, and oklahoma.	infection with cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats can cause fever, lethargy, depression, inappetence, icterus, and often death. with a high mortality rate, cytauxzoonosis was historically considered a fatal disease. within the last 15 years, cats with or without treatment have been recognized as chronically infected survivors of c. felis infection. our objective was to determine the prevalence of c. felis in healthy domestic cats from arkansas, missouri, and oklahoma.	2015	25566776
expanding range of amblyomma americanum and simultaneous changes in the epidemiology of spotted fever group rickettsiosis in the united states.	spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsia species are etiologic agents of a wide range of human infections from asymptomatic or mild infections to severe, life-threatening disease. in the united states, recent passive surveillance for sfg rickettsiosis shows an increased incidence and decreased severity of reported cases. the reasons for this are not well understood; however, we hypothesize that less pathogenic rickettsiae are causing more human infections, while the incidence of disease caused by mo ...	2015	26503270
discovery of filarial nematode dna in amblyomma americanum in northern virginia.	ticks collected in 2011 were screened for the presence of filarial nematode genetic material, and positive samples were sequenced for analysis. monanema-like filarial nematode dna was recently discovered in amblyomma americanum in northern virginia, marking the first time genetic material from this parasite has been discovered in ticks in the state. phylogenetic analysis revealed that this material was directly related to a previously discovered filarial nematode in a. americanum populations in ...	2015	26707835
rhipicephalus microplus serine protease inhibitor family: annotation, expression and functional characterisation assessment.	rhipicephalus (boophilus) microplus evades the host's haemostatic system through a complex protein array secreted into tick saliva. serine protease inhibitors (serpins) conform an important component of saliva which are represented by a large protease inhibitor family in ixodidae. these secreted and non-secreted inhibitors modulate diverse and essential proteases involved in different physiological processes.	2015	25564202
mutual medication in capuchin monkeys - social anointing improves coverage of topically applied anti-parasite medicines.	wild and captive capuchin monkeys will anoint themselves with a range of strong smelling substances including millipedes, ants, limes and onions. hypotheses for the function of the behaviour range from medicinal to social. however, capuchin monkeys may anoint in contact with other individuals, as well as individually. the function of social anointing has also been explained as either medicinal or to enhance social bonding. by manipulating the abundance of an anointing resource given to two group ...	2015	26456539
saliva from nymph and adult females of haemaphysalis longicornis: a proteomic study.	haemaphysalis longicornis is a major vector of theileria spp., anaplasma phagocytophilum, babesia spp. and coxiella burnetti in east asian countries. all life stages of ixodid ticks have a destructive pool-feeding style in which they create a pool-feeding site by lacerating host tissue and secreting a variety of biologically active compounds that allows the tick to evade host responses, enabling the uptake of a blood meal. the identification and functional characterization of tick saliva protein ...	2015	26104117
arachnids of medical importance in brazil: main active compounds present in scorpion and spider venoms and tick saliva.	arachnida is the largest class among the arthropods, constituting over 60,000 described species (spiders, mites, ticks, scorpions, palpigrades, pseudoscorpions, solpugids and harvestmen). many accidents are caused by arachnids, especially spiders and scorpions, while some diseases can be transmitted by mites and ticks. these animals are widely dispersed in urban centers due to the large availability of shelter and food, increasing the incidence of accidents. several protein and non-protein compo ...	2015	26273285
conjunctival attachment of a live paralysis tick, ixodes holocyclus, in a child: a case report.	we describe a rare clinical finding of conjunctival tick attachment in a child. a 10-year-old boy presented to the clinic with right-eye itch. he was found to have a live tick firmly attached to his right temporal conjunctiva. the tick was identified as the larval stage of the paralysis tick, ixodes holocyclus. the tick was removed completely by conjunctival excision. although various methods of removing a tick have been described in the literature, the goal of treatment is the safe and complete ...	2015	25969685
molecular characterization of a defensin gene from a hard tick, dermacentor silvarum.	ticks are distributed worldwide and considered as vectors of many human diseases. tick defensins, a family of antimicrobial peptides, form the first line of defense against pathogens.	2015	25588982
solving a bloody mess: b-vitamin independent metabolic convergence among gammaproteobacterial obligate endosymbionts from blood-feeding arthropods and the leech haementeria officinalis.	endosymbiosis is a common phenomenon in nature, especially between bacteria and insects, whose typically unbalanced diets are usually complemented by their obligate endosymbionts. while much interest and focus has been directed toward phloem-feeders like aphids and mealybugs, blood-feeders such as the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum), glossina flies, and the human body louse (pediculus humanus corporis) depend on obligate endosymbionts which complement their b-vitamin-deficient diets, and t ...	2015	26454017
modeling the present and future geographic distribution of the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum (ixodida: ixodidae), in the continental united states.	the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum l.) is the primary vector for pathogens of significant public health importance in north america, yet relatively little is known about its current and potential future distribution. building on a published summary of tick collection records, we used an ensemble modeling approach to predict the present-day and future distribution of climatically suitable habitat for establishment of the lone star tick within the continental united states. of the nine clima ...	2015	26217042
francisella tularensis: no evidence for transovarial transmission in the tularemia tick vectors dermacentor reticulatus and ixodes ricinus.	tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the francisella tularensis, a highly infectious gram-negative coccobacillus. due to easy dissemination, multiple routes of infection, high environmental contamination and morbidity and mortality rates, francisella is considered a potential bioterrorism threat and classified as a category a select agent by the cdc. tick bites are among the most prevalent modes of transmission, and ticks have been indicated as a possible reservoir, although their reservoir compete ...	2015	26244842
immunoproteomic profiling of rickettsia parkeri and rickettsia amblyommii.	rickettsia parkeri is an amblyomma-associated, spotted fever group rickettsia species that causes an eschar-associated, febrile illness in multiple countries throughout the western hemisphere. many other rickettsial species of known or uncertain pathogenicity have been detected in amblyomma spp. ticks in the americas, including rickettsia amblyommii, "candidatus rickettsia andeanae" and rickettsia rickettsii. in this study, we utilized an immunoproteomic approach to compare antigenic profiles of ...	2015	26234571
amblyomma americanum tick saliva insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 binds insulin but not insulin-like growth factors.	silencing amblyomma americanum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (aamigfbp-rp1) mrna prevented ticks from feeding to repletion. in this study, we used recombinant (r)aamigfbp-rp1 in a series of assays to obtain further insight into the role(s) of this protein in tick feeding regulation. our results suggest that aamigfbp-1 is an antigenic protein that is apparently exclusively expressed in salivary glands. we found that both males and females secrete aamigfbp-rp1 into t ...	2015	26108887
distinctive genome reduction rates revealed by genomic analyses of two coxiella-like endosymbionts in ticks.	genome reduction is a hallmark of symbiotic genomes, and the rate and patterns of gene loss associated with this process have been investigated in several different symbiotic systems. however, in long-term host-associated coevolving symbiont clades, the genome size differences between strains are normally quite small and hence patterns of large-scale genome reduction can only be inferred from distant relatives. here we present the complete genome of a coxiella-like symbiont from rhipicephalus tu ...	2015	26025560
a coxiella-like endosymbiont is a potential vitamin source for the lone star tick.	amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) is an important disease vector in the united states. it transmits several human pathogens, including the agents of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and southern tick-associated rash illness. blood-feeding insects (class insecta) depend on bacterial endosymbionts to provide vitamins and cofactors that are scarce in blood. it is unclear how this deficiency is compensated in ticks (class arachnida) that feed exclusively on mammalian blood. a bacterium r ...	2015	25618142
the case for a 'one health' approach to combating vector-borne diseases.		2015	26027713
serological investigation of heartland virus (bunyaviridae: phlebovirus) exposure in wild and domestic animals adjacent to human case sites in missouri 2012-2013.	heartland virus (hrtv; bunyaviridae: phlebovirus) has recently emerged as a causative agent of human disease characterized by thrombocytopenia and leukopenia in the united states. the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum l.) has been implicated as a vector. to identify candidate vertebrate amplification hosts associated with enzootic maintenance of the virus, sera and ticks were sampled from 160 mammals (8 species) and 139 birds (26 species) captured near 2 human case residences in andrew and no ...	2015	25870419
west nile virus adaptation to ixodid tick cells is associated with phenotypic trade-offs in primary hosts.	west nile virus (wnv; flaviviridae, flavivirus) is the most geographically widespread arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) in the world and is found in multiple ecologically distinct settings. despite the likelihood of frequent exposure to novel hosts, studies evaluating the capacity and correlates of host range expansions or shifts of wnv and other arboviruses are generally lacking. we utilized experimental evolution of wnv in an amblyomma americanum tick cell line to model an invertebrate host sh ...	2015	25863877
from within host dynamics to the epidemiology of infectious disease: scientific overview and challenges.	since their earliest days, humans have been struggling with infectious diseases. caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa, or even higher organisms like worms, these diseases depend critically on numerous intricate interactions between parasites and hosts, and while we have learned much about these interactions, many details are still obscure. it is evident that the combined host-parasite dynamics constitutes a complex system that involves components and processes at multiple scales of time, space, ...	2015	26474512
the recent evolution of a maternally-inherited endosymbiont of ticks led to the emergence of the q fever pathogen, coxiella burnetii.	q fever is a highly infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. its causative agent, the intracellular bacterium coxiella burnetii, infects a variety of vertebrate species, including humans. its evolutionary origin remains almost entirely unknown and uncertainty persists regarding the identity and lifestyle of its ancestors. a few tick species were recently found to harbor maternally-inherited coxiella-like organisms engaged in symbiotic interactions, but their relationships to the q fever ...	2015	25978383
detection of rickettsia bellii and rickettsia amblyommii in amblyomma longirostre (acari: ixodidae) from bahia state, northeast brazil.	studies investigating rickettsial infections in ticks parasitizing wild animals in the northeast region of brazil have been confined to the detection of rickettsia amblyommii in immature stages of amblyomma longirostre collected from birds in the state of bahia, and in immatures and females of amblyomma auricularium collected from the striped hog-nosed skunk (conepatus semistriatus) and armadillos (euphractus sexcinctus) in the state of pernambuco. the current study extends the distribution of r ...	2015	26413074
high prevalence of "candidatus rickettsia andeanae" and apparent exclusion of rickettsia parkeri in adult amblyomma maculatum (acari: ixodidae) from kansas and oklahoma.	amblyomma maculatum (the gulf coast tick), an aggressive, human-biting, nearctic and neotropical tick, is the principal vector of rickettsia parkeri in the united states. this pathogenic spotted fever group rickettsia species has been identified in 8-52% of questing adult gulf coast ticks in the southeastern united states. to our knowledge, r. parkeri has not been reported previously from adult specimens of a. maculatum collected in kansas or oklahoma. a total of 216 adult a. maculatum ticks wer ...	2015	25773931
tick-induced allergies: mammalian meat allergy, tick anaphylaxis and their significance.	serious tick-induced allergies comprise mammalian meat allergy following tick bites and tick anaphylaxis. mammalian meat allergy is an emergent allergy, increasingly prevalent in tick-endemic areas of australia and the united states, occurring worldwide where ticks are endemic. sensitisation to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) has been shown to be the mechanism of allergic reaction in mammalian meat allergy following tick bite. whilst other carbohydrate allergens have been identified, this alle ...	2015	25653915
proteomic screening of antigenic proteins from the hard tick, haemaphysalis longicornis (acari: ixodidae).	proteomic tools allow large-scale, high-throughput analyses for the detection, identification, and functional investigation of proteome. for detection of antigens from haemaphysalis longicornis, 1-dimensional electrophoresis (1-de) quantitative immunoblotting technique combined with 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-de) immunoblotting was used for whole body proteins from unfed and partially fed female ticks. reactivity bands and 2-de immunoblotting were performed following 2-de electrophoresis t ...	2015	25748713
challenges posed by tick-borne rickettsiae: eco-epidemiology and public health implications.	rickettsiae are obligately intracellular bacteria that are transmitted to vertebrates by a variety of arthropod vectors, primarily by fleas and ticks. once transmitted or experimentally inoculated into susceptible mammals, some rickettsiae may cause febrile illness of different morbidity and mortality, and which can manifest with different types of exhanthems in humans. however, most rickettsiae circulate in diverse sylvatic or peridomestic reservoirs without having obvious impacts on their vert ...	2015	25954738
partial characterization of a novel anti-inflammatory protein from salivary gland extract of hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum 77acari: ixodidae) ticks.	hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks transmit theileria annulata, causative agent of tropical theileriosis to cattle and buffaloes causing a major economic loss in terms of production and mortality in tropical countries. ticks have evolved several immune evading strategies to circumvent hosts' rejection and achieve engorgement. successful feeding of ticks relies on a pharmacy of chemicals located in their complex salivary glands and secreted saliva. these chemicals in saliva could inhibit host i ...	2015	27065646
metagenomic profile of the viral communities in rhipicephalus spp. ticks from yunnan, china.	besides mosquitoes, ticks are regarded as the primary source of vector-borne infectious diseases. indeed, a wide variety of severe infectious human diseases, including those involving viruses, are transmitted by ticks in many parts of the world. to date, there are no published reports on the use of next-generation sequencing for studying viral diversity in ticks or discovering new viruses in these arthropods from china. here, ion-torrent sequencing was used to investigate the presence of viruses ...	2015	25799057