Publications

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
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
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
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
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
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
rickettsia amblyommii infecting amblyomma sculptum in endemic spotted fever area from southeastern brazil.	the rickettsia bacteria include the aetiological agents for the human spotted fever (sf) disease. in the present study, a sf group rickettsia amblyommii related bacterium was detected in a field collected amblyomma sculptum (amblyomma cajennense species complex) tick from a brazilian sf endemic site in southeastern brazil, in the municipality of juiz de fora, state of minas gerais. genetic analysis based on genes ompa,ompb and htra showed that the detected strain, named r. amblyommii str. jf, is ...	2015	26676317
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
present and future potential of plant-derived products to control arthropods of veterinary and medical significance.	the use of synthetic pesticides and repellents to target pests of veterinary and medical significance is becoming increasingly problematic. one alternative approach employs the bioactive attributes of plant-derived products (pdps). these are particularly attractive on the grounds of low mammalian toxicity, short environmental persistence and complex chemistries that should limit development of pest resistance against them.several pesticides and repellents based on pdps are already available, and ...	2014	24428899
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
detection of rickettsia amblyommii in ticks collected from missouri, usa.		2014	26038740
a blood meal-induced ixodes scapularis tick saliva serpin inhibits trypsin and thrombin, and interferes with platelet aggregation and blood clotting.	ixodes scapularis is a medically important tick species that transmits causative agents of important human tick-borne diseases including borreliosis, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. an understanding of how this tick feeds is needed prior to the development of novel methods to protect the human population against tick-borne disease infections. this study characterizes a blood meal-induced i. scapularis (ixsc) tick saliva serine protease inhibitor (serpin (s)), in-house referred to as ixscs-1e1. the ...	2014	24583183
cockroach, tick, storage mite and other arthropod allergies: where do we stand with molecular allergy diagnostics?: part 15 of the series molecular allergology.	arthropods form a broad phylum within the animal kingdom, comprising widely varying members such as insects, arachnids, crabs and centipedes. in addition to common allergies to house dust mites or hymenoptera venom, there are also rarer allergies that can be attributed to three major sources of allergens: cockroaches, ticks and storage mites. other less known allergen sources include spiders, mosquitos, horseflies, red chironomid larvae, silverfish and ladybugs, as well as a variety of storage p ...	2014	26146603
the phenology of ticks and the effects of long-term prescribed burning on tick population dynamics in southwestern georgia and northwestern florida.	some tick populations have increased dramatically in the past several decades leading to an increase in the incidence and emergence of tick-borne diseases. management strategies that can effectively reduce tick populations while better understanding regional tick phenology is needed. one promising management strategy is prescribed burning. however, the efficacy of prescribed burning as a mechanism for tick control is unclear because past studies have provided conflicting data, likely due to a fa ...	2014	25375797
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
ixodes pacificus ticks maintain embryogenesis and egg hatching after antibiotic treatment of rickettsia endosymbiont.	rickettsia is a genus of intracellular bacteria that causes a variety of diseases in humans and other mammals and associates with a diverse group of arthropods. although rickettsia appears to be common in ticks, most rickettsia-tick relationships remain generally uncharacterized. the most intimate of these associations is rickettsia species phylotype g021, a maternally and transstadially transmitted endosymbiont that resides in 100% of i. pacificus in california. we investigated the effects of t ...	2014	25105893
genome characterization of long island tick rhabdovirus, a new virus identified in amblyomma americanum ticks.	ticks are implicated as hosts to a wide range of animal and human pathogens. the full range of microbes harbored by ticks has not yet been fully explored.	2014	24517260
dual silencing of long and short amblyomma americanum acidic chitinase forms weakens the tick cement cone stability.	this study demonstrates that amblyomma americanum (aam) constitutively and ubiquitously expresses the long (l) and short (s) putative acidic chitinases (ach) that are distinguished by a 210 base pair (bp) deletion in aamach-s. full-length aamach-l and aamach-s cdna are 1959 and 1718 bp long, containing 1332 and 1104 bp open reading frames that code for 443 and 367 amino acid residues proteins with the former predicted to be extracellular and the latter intracellular. both aamach-l and aamach-s m ...	2014	25189365
reproducible and quantitative model of infection of dermacentor variabilis with the live vaccine strain of francisella tularensis.	pathogen life cycles in mammalian hosts have been studied extensively, but studies with arthropod vectors represent considerable challenges. in part this is due to the difficulty of delivering a reproducible dose of bacteria to follow arthropod-associated replication. we have established reproducible techniques to introduce known numbers of francisella tularensis strain lvs from mice into dermacentor variabilis nymphs. using this model infection system, we performed dose-response infection exper ...	2014	25362054
a systems biology approach to the characterization of stress response in dermacentor reticulatus tick unfed larvae.	dermacentor reticulatus (fabricius, 1794) is distributed in europe and asia where it infests and transmits disease-causing pathogens to humans, pets and other domestic and wild animals. however, despite its role as a vector of emerging or re-emerging diseases, very little information is available on the genome, transcriptome and proteome of d. reticulatus. tick larvae are the first developmental stage to infest hosts, acquire infection and transmit pathogens that are transovarially transmitted a ...	2014	24586875
analysis of multiple tsetse fly populations in uganda reveals limited diversity and species-specific gut microbiota.	the invertebrate microbiome contributes to multiple aspects of host physiology, including nutrient supplementation and immune maturation processes. we identified and compared gut microbial abundance and diversity in natural tsetse flies from uganda using five genetically distinct populations of glossina fuscipes fuscipes and multiple tsetse species (glossina morsitans morsitans, g. f. fuscipes, and glossina pallidipes) that occur in sympatry in one location. we used multiple approaches, includin ...	2014	24814785
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
bioinformatic analyses of male and female amblyomma americanum tick expressed serine protease inhibitors (serpins).	serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are a diverse family of proteins that is conserved across taxa. the diversity of amblyomma americanum serpins (aas) is far more complex than previously thought as revealed by discovery of 57 and 33 aas transcripts that are respectively expressed in male and female a. americanum ticks, with 30 found in both. while distinct reproductively, both male and female metastriate ticks, such as a. americanum, require a blood meal. thus, 30 aas sequences found in both m ...	2014	25238688
the salivary secretome of the biting midge, culicoides sonorensis.	culicoides biting midges (diptera: ceratopogonidae) are hematophagous insects with over 1400 species distributed throughout the world. many of these species are of particular agricultural importance as primary vectors of bluetongue and schmallenberg viruses, yet little is known about culicoides genomics and proteomics. detailed studies of members from other blood-feeding dipteran families, including those of mosquito (culicidae) and black fly (simuliidae), have shown that protein components with ...	2014	24949243
tick-borne pathogen - reversed and conventional discovery of disease.	molecular methods have increased the number of known microorganisms associated with ticks significantly. some of these newly identified microorganisms are readily linked to human disease while others are yet unknown to cause human disease. the face of tick-borne disease discovery has changed with more diseases now being discovered in a "reversed way," detecting disease cases only years after the tick-borne microorganism was first discovered. compared to the conventional discovery of infectious d ...	2014	25072045
relationship between degenerative joint disease, pain, and bartonella spp. seroreactivity in domesticated cats.	recently, a potential association was identified between bartonella exposure and arthritides in mammalian species other than cats.	2014	25327962
exposure to borrelia burgdorferi and other tick-borne pathogens in gettysburg national military park, south-central pennsylvania, 2009.	since 1998, lyme disease cases have increased in south-central pennsylvania, which includes gettysburg national military park (nmp). limited information is available about tick populations or pathogens in this area, and no data regarding frequency of tick bites or prevention measures among gettysburg nmp employees are available. to address these gaps, ticks were collected, classified, and replaced (to minimize disruptions to tick populations) at two sites within gettysburg nmp during april-septe ...	2014	24689815
entamoeba histolytica and e. dispar calreticulin: inhibition of classical complement pathway and differences in the level of expression in amoebic liver abscess.	the role of calreticulin (crt) in host-parasite interactions has recently become an important area of research. information about the functions of calreticulin and its relevance to the physiology of entamoeba parasites is limited. the present work demonstrates that crt of both pathogenic e. histolytica and nonpathogenic e. dispar species specifically interacted with human c1q inhibiting the activation of the classical complement pathway. using recombinant ehcrt protein, we demonstrate that crt i ...	2014	24860808
isolation of tacaribe virus, a caribbean arenavirus, from host-seeking amblyomma americanum ticks in florida.	arenaviridae are a family of single stranded rna viruses of mammals and boid snakes. twenty-nine distinct mammalian arenaviruses have been identified, many of which cause severe hemorrhagic disease in humans, particularly in parts of sub-saharan africa, and in central and south america. humans typically become infected with an arenavirus through contact with excreta from infected rodents. tacaribe virus (tcrv) is an arenavirus that was first isolated from bats and mosquitoes during a rabies surv ...	2014	25536075
bayesian spatio-temporal analysis and geospatial risk factors of human monocytic ehrlichiosis.	variations in spatio-temporal patterns of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (hme) infection in the state of kansas, usa were examined and the relationship between hme relative risk and various environmental, climatic and socio-economic variables were evaluated. hme data used in the study was reported to the kansas department of health and environment between years 2005-2012, and geospatial variables representing the physical environment [national land cover/land use, nasa moderate resolution imaging ...	2014	24992684
ehrlichia chaffeensis infection in the reservoir host (white-tailed deer) and in an incidental host (dog) is impacted by its prior growth in macrophage and tick cell environments.	ehrlichia chaffeensis, transmitted from amblyomma americanum ticks, causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. it also infects white-tailed deer, dogs and several other vertebrates. deer are its reservoir hosts, while humans and dogs are incidental hosts. e. chaffeensis protein expression is influenced by its growth in macrophages and tick cells. we report here infection progression in deer or dogs infected intravenously with macrophage- or tick cell-grown e. chaffeensis or by tick transmission in dee ...	2014	25303515
porcine or bovine valve replacement in 3 patients with ige antibodies to the mammalian oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose.		2014	25213067
five-month comparative efficacy evaluation of three ectoparasiticides against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) on dogs housed outdoors.	this study was designed to compare the efficacy of three topical combinations on dogs in outdoor conditions against adult cat fleas (ctenocephalides felis), flea egg hatch and emergence, and against adult brown dog ticks (rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato). treatment was performed on day 0 with a placebo; dinotefuran, pyriproxifen and permethrin (dpp); fipronil and (s)-methoprene (fm) or imidacloprid and permethrin (ip). dogs (n = 32), housed outdoors for 7 months, were treated monthly for fou ...	2014	25547077
prevalence of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis collected from southeastern virginia, 2010-2011.	amblyomma americanum is the most commonly encountered tick species in southeastern virginia, representing approximately 95% of the human-biting tick population in this area. here we investigated the prevalence of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii in questing amblyomma americanum and dermacentor variabilis ticks collected from multiple sites in southeastern virginia from 2010 to 2011. although both ehrlichia species were detected in amblyomma americanum, no evidence of either pathogen w ...	2014	25155340
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
macroparasite fauna of alien grey squirrels (sciurus carolinensis): composition, variability and implications for native species.	introduced hosts populations may benefit of an "enemy release" through impoverishment of parasite communities made of both few imported species and few acquired local ones. moreover, closely related competing native hosts can be affected by acquiring introduced taxa (spillover) and by increased transmission risk of native parasites (spillback). we determined the macroparasite fauna of invasive grey squirrels (sciurus carolinensis) in italy to detect any diversity loss, introduction of novel para ...	2014	24505348
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
emerging phleboviruses.	the bunyavidae family is the largest grouping of rna viruses and arguably the most diverse. bunyaviruses have a truly global distribution and can infect vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. the majority of bunyaviruses are vectored by arthropods and thus have the remarkable capability to replicate in hosts of disparate phylogeny. the family has provided many examples of emerging viruses including sin nombre and related viruses responsible for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in the americas ...	2014	24607799
understanding anaplasmataceae pathogenesis using "omics" approaches.	this paper examines how "omics" approaches improve our understanding of anaplasmataceae pathogenesis, through a global and integrative strategy to identify genes and proteins involved in biochemical pathways key for pathogen-host-vector interactions. the anaplasmataceae family comprises obligate intracellular bacteria mainly transmitted by arthropods. these bacteria are responsible for major human and animal endemic and emerging infectious diseases with important economic and public health impac ...	2014	25072029
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
delayed anaphylaxis to red meat associated with specific ige antibodies to galactose.	a novel delayed anaphylactic reaction to red meat, associated with tick bites and ige antibodies against galactose-α-1, 3-galactose (α-gal), was reported in 2009 in the us, australia and europe. in this case, serum specific ige to galactose-α-1, 3-galactose (>100 ku/l) and ige to multiple non-primate mammalian proteins were positive. however, the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. we report the first case in asia of delayed anaphylactic reaction to red meat, which was induced by bites ...	2014	25553269
efficacy of chemical repellents against otobius megnini (acari: argasidae) and three species of ixodid ticks.	otobius megnini (dugès), often referred to as the ear tick or spinose ear tick, is a one-host tick native to the southwestern united states and mexico. infestations of this species can cause severe irritation and may affect breeding behavior in the host. although chemical repellents are commonly used as an alternative approach to conventional arthropod vector control, information on repellency against o. megnini is lacking. this study compared repellency of ammonia, bioud(®), 98.25% deet, garlic ...	2014	24659519
the prevalence of rickettsial and ehrlichial organisms in amblyomma americanum ticks collected from ohio and surrounding areas between 2000 and 2010.	the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum, feeds upon a variety of hosts and is a known vector of several human pathogens. in ohio, populations of a. americanum have been expanding their range and increasing in abundance and distribution, thereby elevating the public health concerns regarding bites from this species. we used a set of pcr assays to detect the presence of ehrlichial and rickettsial species in a. americanum ticks submitted to the ohio department of health zoonotic disease program ov ...	2014	25108789
rickettsiae and ehrlichiae within a city park: is the urban dweller at risk?	tick-borne diseases, such as spotted fever rickettsioses and ehrlichioses, are potentially severe and life-threatening infections. the incidences of these infections increase during warm weather months as ticks become active. clinicians often consider outdoor activities in rural areas to be a risk factor for exposure to ticks and the pathogens they carry, but are those who live, work, and play within an urban environment excluded from this risk? in this study, we collected ticks from two urban p ...	2014	24528097
"rickettsia amblyommii" and r. montanensis infection in dogs following natural exposure to ticks.	to determine the risk of canine infection with spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsia spp. following natural tick exposure, 10 dogs determined to be free of evidence of exposure to or infection with tick-borne disease agents were exposed to ticks via weekly walks in a wooded area in north-central oklahoma. after each walk, dogs were examined and the number and species of ticks present were recorded. the dogs were then returned to outdoor kennels to allow the infestations and subsequent transmissio ...	2014	24359419
detection of bacterial agents in amblyomma americanum (acari: ixodidae) from georgia, usa, and the use of a multiplex assay to differentiate ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii.	amblyomma americanum, the lone star tick, is the most common and most aggressive human biting tick in the southeastern united states. it is known to transmit the agents of human ehrlichioses, ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii. in addition, it carries agents of unspecified pathogenicity to humans, including rickettsia amblyommii, borrelia lonestari, and the newly emerging panola mountain ehrlichia (pme). surveillance of these ticks for recognized or emerging pathogens is necessary for a ...	2014	25118421
diversity of piroplasms detected in blood-fed and questing ticks from several states in the united states.	piroplasms in the genera babesia, theileria, and cytauxzoon are tick-borne parasites that may be animal and human pathogens. most piroplasms with known life cycles are transmitted by ixodid ticks; however, for many species, the vector is unknown. this study was conducted to determine the prevalence and diversity of piroplasms in ticks from several us states. piroplasm-specific polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays were used to test 1631 ticks from georgia (n=486), kentucky (n=103), pennsylvania ...	2014	24709338
multiplex qpcr assay for identification and differentiation of amblyomma americanum, amblyomma cajennense, and amblyomma maculatum (ixodida: ixodidae) tick species in the eastern united states.	many ticks of the genus amblyomma are vectors of human pathogens, and the correct species identification is medically and epidemiologically important. morphological identification is time-consuming and requires a high level of expertise. identification of engorged, immature, or damaged ticks and the differentiation of closely related species remain problematic. here, we report the development of a real-time taqman assay for the genomic identification and differentiation of amblyomma americanum ( ...	2014	25118411
tick community composition in midwestern us habitats in relation to sampling method and environmental conditions.	the ranges of many tick species are changing due to climate change and human alteration of the landscape. understanding tick responses to environmental conditions and how sampling method influences measurement of tick communities will improve our assessment of human disease risk. we compared tick sampling by three collection methods (dragging, co2 trapping and rodent surveys) in adjacent forested and grassland habitats in the lower midwest, usa, and analyzed the relationship between tick abundan ...	2014	24705853
a case of tick-bite-induced red meat allergy.	delayed hypersensitivity disorders and food allergies are often challenging for the clinician and patient alike. a recent discovery of an ige antibody specific to galactose-α-1,3-galactose, which is a carbohydrate abundantly expressed on cells and tissues of beef, pork, and lamb, adds one more tool to aid the clinician in making the appropriate diagnosis. a link has been discovered between the bite of the lone star tick (amblyomma americanum) and the development of sensitivity to galactose-α-1,3 ...	2014	24690977
notes from the field: heartland virus disease - united states, 2012-2013.	heartland virus is a newly identified phlebovirus that was first isolated from two northwestern missouri farmers hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in 2009. based on the patients' clinical findings and their reported exposures, the virus was suspected to be transmitted by ticks. after this discovery, cdc worked with state and local partners to define the ecology and modes of transmission of heartland virus, develop diagnostic assays, and identify additional cases to descri ...	2014	24670929