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geographical distribution of amblyomma cajennense (sensu lato) ticks (parasitiformes: ixodidae) in brazil, with description of the nymph of a. cajennense (sensu stricto).until recently, amblyomma cajennense (fabricius, 1787) was considered to represent a single tick species in the new world. recent studies have split this taxon into six species. while the a. cajennense species complex or a. cajennense (sensu lato) (s.l.) is currently represented by two species in brazil, a. cajennense (sensu stricto) (s.s.) and amblyomma sculptum berlese, 1888, their geographical distribution is poorly known.201627036324
growth of ehrlichia canis, the causative agent of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, in vector and non-vector ixodid tick cell lines.canine monocytic ehrlichiosis is caused by ehrlichia canis, a small gram-negative coccoid bacterium that infects circulating monocytes. the disease is transmitted by the brown dog tick rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. and is acknowledged as an important infectious disease of dogs and other members of the family canidae worldwide. e. canis is routinely cultured in vitro in the canine monocyte-macrophage cell line dh82 and in non-vector ixodes scapularis tick cell lines, but not in cells derived from ...201626837859
the microbiome of ehrlichia-infected and uninfected lone star ticks (amblyomma americanum).the lone star tick, amblyomma americanum, transmits several bacterial pathogens including species of anaplasma and ehrlichia. amblyomma americanum also hosts a number of non-pathogenic bacterial endosymbionts. recent studies of other arthropod and insect vectors have documented that commensal microflora can influence transmission of vector-borne pathogens; however, little is known about tick microbiomes and their possible influence on tick-borne diseases. our objective was to compare bacterial c ...201626751816
risk factors for bartonella species infection in blood donors from southeast brazil.bacteria from the genus bartonella are emerging blood-borne bacteria, capable of causing long-lasting infection in marine and terrestrial mammals, including humans. bartonella are generally well adapted to their main host, causing persistent infection without clinical manifestation. however, these organisms may cause severe disease in natural or accidental hosts. in humans, bartonella species have been detected from sick patients presented with diverse disease manifestations, including cat scrat ...201626999057
longipin: an amyloid antimicrobial peptide from the harvestman acutisoma longipes (arachnida: opiliones) with preferential affinity for anionic vesicles.in contrast to vertebrate immune systems, invertebrates lack an adaptive response and rely solely on innate immunity in which antimicrobial peptides (amps) play an essential role. most of them are membrane active molecules that are typically unstructured in solution and adopt secondary/tertiary structures upon binding to phospholipid bilayers. this work presents the first characterization of a constitutive amp from the hemolymph of an opiliones order animal: the harvestman acutisoma longipes. th ...201627997568
safety evaluation of parastar(®) plus in dogs and assessment of transferable residue of fipronil and cyphenothrin from dogs to humans.dogs are easily infested with fleas, ticks, and other ectoparasites serving as vectors for transmitting bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases. therefore, the use of ectoparasiticides is inevitable and important. the present investigation was undertaken with two specific objectives: one, to evaluate the safety of fipronil and cyphenothrin in dogs after topical application of parastar(®) plus, and two, to determine the transferable residue of these insecticides from dogs to humans. six healthy, ...201627747219
gray wolf exposure to emerging vector-borne diseases in wisconsin with comparison to domestic dogs and humans.world-wide concern over emerging vector-borne diseases has increased in recent years for both animal and human health. in the united sates, concern about vector-borne diseases in canines has focused on lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and heartworm which infect domestic and wild canids. of these diseases, lyme and anaplasmosis are also frequently diagnosed in humans. gray wolves (canis lupus) recolonized wisconsin in the 1970s, and we evaluated their temporal and geographic patterns of ...201627898670
systemically and cutaneously distributed ectoparasiticides: a review of the efficacy against ticks and fleas on dogs.acaricidal (tick) and insecticidal (flea) efficacy of systemically and cutaneously distributed ectoparasiticide products for dogs are compared based on permethrin and fluralaner as representative molecules. results of efficacy studies against fleas and ticks are reviewed that show generally good to excellent results. both externally and systemically distributed treatments have benefits and weaknesses in potentially preventing pathogen transmission by these arthropod vectors.four general properti ...201627502490
detection of borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in amblyomma americanum ticks in the southeastern united states: the case of selective compatibility. 201627222323
use of peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay followed by immunofluorescence assay to document ehrlichia chaffeensis as a cause of febrile illness in nicaragua.ehrlichia chaffeensis, the etiologic agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis (hme), has been extensively studied as a cause of acute febrile illness and an emerging tick-borne zoonosis in the united states. limited data suggest its presence in other regions, including central and south america but not nicaragua to date. diagnosis of e. chaffeensis infection by indirect immunofluorescence assay (ifa) is the reference standard due to its presumed high sensitivity and specificity, but ifa is impracti ...201627053675
disease vectors in the era of next generation sequencing.almost 20 % of all infectious human diseases are vector borne and, together, are responsible for over one million deaths per annum. over the past decade, the decreasing costs of massively parallel sequencing technologies have facilitated the agnostic interrogation of insect vector genomes, giving medical entomologists access to an ever-expanding volume of high-quality genomic and transcriptomic data. in this review, we highlight how genomics resources have provided new insights into the physiolo ...201627154554
prevalence of the lyme disease spirochete, borrelia burgdorferi, in blacklegged ticks, ixodes scapularis at hamilton-wentworth, ontario.lyme disease has emerged as a major health concern in canada, where the etiological agent, borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), a spirochetal bacterium, is typically spread by the bite of certain ticks. this study explores the presence of b. burgdorferi s.l. in blacklegged ticks, ixodes scapularis, collected at dundas, ontario (a locality within the region of hamilton-wentworth). using passive surveillance, veterinarians and pet groomers were asked to collect blacklegged ticks from dogs and c ...201627226771
expanded geographic distribution and clinical characteristics of ehrlichia ewingii infections, united states.ehrlichiosis is a bacterial zoonosis, spread through the bites of infected ticks, that is most commonly caused in the united states by infection with the bacterium ehrlichia chaffeensis. we retrospectively reviewed samples from an 18-month study of ehrlichiosis in the united states and found that e. ewingii was present in 10 (9.2%) of 109 case-patients with ehrlichiosis, a higher rate of infection with this species than had previously been reported. two patients resided in new jersey and indiana ...201627089171
bunyaviruses are common in male and female ixodes scapularis ticks in central pennsylvania.the blacklegged tick ixodes scapularis is widely distributed in the united states and transmits multiple pathogens to humans, wildlife and domestic animals. recently, several novel viruses in the family bunyaviridae (south bay virus (sbv) and blacklegged tick phlebovirus (btpv)) were identified infecting female i. scapularis ticks collected in new york state. we used metagenomic sequencing to investigate the distribution of viruses infecting male and female i. scapularis ticks collected in centr ...201627602290
tick-borne diseases in turkey: a review based on one health perspective.the importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including turkey. global warming, environmental and ecological changes and the existence of suitable habitats increase the impact of ticks and result in frequent emergence or re-emergence of tick-borne diseases (tbds) with zoonotic characteristics. in turkey, almost 19 tbds have been reported in animals and men, involving four protozoa (babesiosis, theileriosis, cytauxzoonosis, hepatozoonosis), one filarial nematode (acantho ...201627977689
brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses.borreliosis caused by borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a cosmopolitan zoonosis studied worldwide; it is called lyme disease in many countries of the northern hemisphere and lyme-like or baggio-yoshinari syndrome in brazil. however, despite the increasing number of suspect cases, this disease is still neglected in brazil by the medical and veterinary communities. brazilian lyme-like borreliosis likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and amblyomma and rhipicephalus ticks as vectors. thus, domes ...201627769883
erratum for stromdahl et al., borrelia burgdorferi not confirmed in human-biting amblyomma americanum ticks from the southeastern united states. 201627114565
novel borrelia species detected in echidna ticks, bothriocroton concolor, in australia.to date, little has been documented about microorganisms harboured within australian native ticks or their pathogenic potential. recently, a borrelia sp. related to the relapsing fever (rf) group was identified in a single tick removed from a wild echidna (tachyglossus aculeatus). the present study investigated the presence of borrelia in 97 bothriocroton concolor ticks parasitizing echidnas in queensland, new south wales, and victoria, australia, using nested pcr with borrelia-specific primers ...201627301754
rickettsia parkeri colonization in amblyomma maculatum: the role of superoxide dismutases.the gulf coast tick (amblyomma maculatum) is an arthropod vector of rickettsia parkeri, the causative agent of american boutonneuse fever and an infectious agent of public health significance. in this study, we evaluated the biological significance of the superoxide dismutases (sods) of a. maculatum in hematophagy and r. parkeri colonization within the tick host.201627206371
update on canine and feline blood donor screening for blood-borne pathogens.an update on the 2005 american college of veterinary internal medicine (acvim) consensus statement on blood donor infectious disease screening was presented at the 2015 acvim forum in indianapolis, indiana, followed by panel and audience discussion. the updated consensus statement is presented below. the consensus statement aims to provide guidance on appropriate blood-borne pathogen testing for canine and feline blood donors in north america.201626806261
ixodes scapularis tick saliva proteins sequentially secreted every 24 h during blood feeding.ixodes scapularis is the most medically important tick species and transmits five of the 14 reportable human tick borne disease (tbd) agents in the usa. this study describes lc-ms/ms identification of 582 tick- and 83 rabbit proteins in saliva of i. scapularis ticks that fed for 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h, as well as engorged but not detached (bd), and spontaneously detached (sd). the 582 tick proteins include proteases (5.7%), protease inhibitors (7.4%), unknown function proteins (22%), immunity ...201626751078
identification, distribution and population dynamics of francisella-like endosymbiont in haemaphysalis doenitzi (acari: ixodidae).francisella-like endosymbionts (fles) with significant homology to francisella tularensis (γ-proteobacteria) have been characterized in several tick species, whereas knowledge on their distribution and population dynamics in ticks remains meager. hence, in the current study, we identified a novel francisella-like endosymbiont (fles-hd) from the tick haemaphysalis doenitzi and evaluated the putative functions of this symbiont. results indicated that fles-hd had 100% infection rate and a perfect v ...201627731377
factors associated with tick bites and pathogen prevalence in ticks parasitizing humans in georgia, usa.the incidence and emergence of tick-borne diseases has increased dramatically in the united states during the past 30 years, yet few large-scale epidemiological studies have been performed on individuals bitten by ticks. epidemiological information, including disease development, may provide valuable information regarding effectiveness of tick bite prevention education, pathogen transmission, human-disease dynamics, and potential implications for under reporting of tick-borne diseases.201626935205
ecology of tularemia in central us endemic region.tularemia is a zoonotic disease that occurs in the northern hemisphere caused by the gammabacterium francisella tularensis. the most severe form of human tularemia occurs in the central usa and involves a rabbit enzootic cycle, ixodid tick vectors, and f. tularensis subspecies tularensis genotype a1. enzootic tularemia is thought to have a spring-summer seasonality corresponding to the questing activity of its primary tick vectors. domestic cats, another common incidental host, acquire the infec ...201627525215
seroprevalence of borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer from texas.lyme disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted by the tick-vector ixodes scapularis. it is the most prevalent arthropod-borne disease in the united states. to determine the seroprevalence of b. burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) from texas, we analyzed serum samples (n = 1493) collected during the 2001-2015 hunting seasons, using indirect elisa. samples with higher sero-reactivity (0.803 and above) than the negative con ...201627366674
passive surveillance of ixodes scapularis (say), their biting activity, and associated pathogens in massachusetts.a passive surveillance of tick-borne pathogens was conducted over a 7-year period (2006-2012), in which a total of 3551 ticks were submitted to the university of massachusetts for pcr testing. the vast majority of these ticks were ixodes scapularis from massachusetts (n = 2088) and hence were the focus of further analysis. two taqman duplex qpcr assays were developed to test i. scapularis ticks for the presence of three human pathogens: borrelia burgdorferi, anaplasma phagocytophilum, and babesi ...201627248292
coxiella detection in ticks from wildlife and livestock in malaysia.recent studies have shown that ticks harbor coxiella-like bacteria, which are potentially tick-specific endosymbionts. we recently described the detection of coxiella-like bacteria and possibly coxiella burnetii in ticks found from rural areas in malaysia. in the present study, we collected ticks, including haemaphysalis bispinosa, haemaphysalis hystricis, dermacentor compactus, dermacentor steini, and amblyomma sp. from wildlife and domesticated goats from four different locations in malaysia. ...201627763821
arbovirosis and potential transmission blocking vaccines.infectious diseases caused by arboviruses (viruses transmitted by arthropods) are undergoing unprecedented epidemic activity and geographic expansion. with the recent introduction of west nile virus (1999), chikungunya virus (2013) and zika virus (2015) to the americas, stopping or even preventing the expansion of viruses into susceptible populations is an increasing concern. with a few exceptions, available vaccines protecting against arboviral infections are nonexistent and current disease pre ...201627664127
small regulatory rnas of rickettsia conorii.small regulatory rnas comprise critically important modulators of gene expression in bacteria, yet very little is known about their prevalence and functions in rickettsia species. r. conorii, the causative agent of mediterranean spotted fever, is a tick-borne pathogen that primarily infects microvascular endothelium in humans. we have determined the transcriptional landscape of r. conorii during infection of human microvascular endothelial cells (hmecs) by strand-specific rna sequencing to ident ...201627834404
virus discovery using tick cell lines.while ticks have been known to harbor and transmit pathogenic arboviruses for over 80 years, the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies has revealed that ticks also appear to harbor a diverse range of endogenous tick-only viruses belonging to many different families. almost nothing is known about these viruses; indeed, it is unclear in most cases whether the identified viral sequences are derived from actual replication-competent viruses or from endogenous virus elements incorpor ...201627679414
determination of the effective dose of a novel oral formulation of sarolaner (simparica™) for the treatment and month-long control of fleas and ticks on dogs.three laboratory studies were conducted to determine the appropriate dose of sarolaner, a novel isoxazoline, for the treatment and month-long control of infestations of fleas and ticks on dogs. in the first study, dogs were treated orally with sarolaner suspension formulations at 1.25, 2.5 or 5.0mg/kg, and infested with dermacentor reticulatus, rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks and with ctenocephalides felis felis (cat flea) prior to treatment and then weekly for up to 8 weeks. fleas and ticks were ...201626948830
comparative efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®) and an oral fluralaner chewable tablet (bravecto®) against tick (dermacentor variabilis and amblyomma americanum) infestations on dogs: a randomised controlled trial.this controlled laboratory study demonstrated the residual speed of efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto(®), bayer) for the control of ticks (dermacentor variabilis, amblyomma americanum) at 6 and 12 hours post-infestation on dogs when compared to oral fluralaner (bravecto(®), merck). dogs were randomised by pre-treatment tick counts: group 1) imidacloprid 10 % (w/w)/flumethrin 4.5 % (w/w) collar, 2) fluralaner (dosage 25.1 - 49.4 mg/kg), and 3) non-treated controls. ticks (50/ ...201526152411
comparative efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto®) and an oral afoxolaner chewable (nexgard®) against tick (dermacentor variabilis and amblyomma americanum) infestations on dogs: a randomised controlled trial.this randomised controlled laboratory study demonstrated the residual speed of efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar (seresto(®), bayer) for the control of ticks (dermacentor variabilis, amblyomma americanum) at 6 and 12 hours postinfestation on dogs when compared to oral afoxolaner (nexgard(®), merial). dogs were randomised by pre-treatment tick counts: group 1) imidacloprid 10 % (w/w) / flumethrin 4.5 % (w/w) collar, 2) afoxolaner chewable (dosage 3.1 - 6.2 mg/kg), and 3) non-treated c ...201526152410
attempts to feed larval amblyomma americanum (l.) (acari: ixodidae) on three different arthropod hosts. 201526047205
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 ...201526234571
the case for a 'one health' approach to combating vector-borne diseases. 201526027713
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 ...201525870419
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 ...201525747720
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 ...201525889092
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 ...201525695663
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 ...201525881916
abundance and infection rates of ixodes scapularis nymphs collected from residential properties in lyme disease-endemic areas of connecticut, maryland, and new york. 201526047204
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 ...201525825233
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.201525889893
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 ...201527047089
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 ...201525841549
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 ...201525957161
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 ...201525936226
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 ...201526121137
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 ...201525649069
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 ...201526154300
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 ...201527053985
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 ...201526254575
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 ...201526150449
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 ...201526189360
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 ...201526610021
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 ...201526431964
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 ...201526402378
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 ...201525788545
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 ...201526656122
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.201526291549
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 ...201525799057
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 ...201526104117
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 ...201525748713
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 ...201525863877
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, ...201526474512
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 ...201525978383
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 ...201526454017
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 ...201525618142
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 ...201526217042
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 ...201526244842
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 ...201526108887
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 ...201526676317
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 ...201526025560
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 ...201527065646
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 ...201525969685
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 ...201525954738
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.201525588982
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 ...201525773931
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 ...201525653915
characterization of a novel rxr receptor in the salmon louse (lepeophtheirus salmonis, copepoda) regulating growth and female reproduction.nuclear receptors have crucial roles in all metazoan animals as regulators of gene transcription. a wide range of studies have elucidated molecular and biological significance of nuclear receptors but there are still a large number of animals where the knowledge is very limited. in the present study we have identified an rxr type of nuclear receptor in the salmon louse (lepeophtheirus salmonis) (i.e. lsrxr). rxr is one of the two partners of the ecdysteroid receptor in arthropods, the receptor f ...201525765704
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 ...201525653916
phylogeographic structure in penguin ticks across an ocean basin indicates allopatric divergence and rare trans-oceanic dispersal.the association of ticks (acarina) and seabirds provides an intriguing system for assessing the influence of long-distance dispersal on the evolution of parasitic species. recent research has focused on host-parasite evolutionary relationships and dispersal capacity of ticks parasitising flighted seabirds. evolutionary research on the ticks of non-flighted seabirds is, in contrast, scarce. we conducted the first phylogeographic investigation of a hard tick species (ixodes eudyptidis) that parasi ...201526083353
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 ...201526296344
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 ...201526131772
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 ...201526593262
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 ...201526653035
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.201525564202
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 ...201526296690
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 ...201526707835
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.201525566776
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 ...201525830110
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 ...201526413074
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 ...201526273285
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 ...201526503270
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 ...201526456539
attenuated mutants of ehrlichia chaffeensis induce protection against wild-type infection challenge in the reservoir host and in an incidental host.ehrlichia chaffeensis, a tick-borne rickettsial organism, causes the disease human monocytic ehrlichiosis. the pathogen also causes disease in several other vertebrates, including dogs and deer. in this study, we assessed two clonally purified e. chaffeensis mutants with insertions within the genes ech_0379 and ech_0660 as vaccine candidates in deer and dogs. infection with the ech_0379 mutant and challenge with wild-type e. chaffeensis 1 month following inoculation with the mutant resulted in t ...201525916990
landscape genetics of schistocephalus solidus parasites in threespine stickleback (gasterosteus aculeatus) from alaska.the nature of gene flow in parasites with complex life cycles is poorly understood, particularly when intermediate and definitive hosts have contrasting movement potential. we examined whether the fine-scale population genetic structure of the diphyllobothriidean cestode schistocephalus solidus reflects the habits of intermediate threespine stickleback hosts or those of its definitive hosts, semi-aquatic piscivorous birds, to better understand complex host-parasite interactions. seventeen lakes ...201525874710
persistent ehrlichia ewingii infection in dogs after natural tick infestation.ehrlichia ewingii, which causes disease in dogs and people, is the most common ehrlichia spp. infecting dogs in the united states, but little is known about how long e. ewingii infection persists in dogs.201525776536
increasing incidence of ehrlichiosis in the united states: a summary of national surveillance of ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii infections in the united states, 2008-2012.human ehrlichiosis is a potentially fatal disease caused by ehrlichia chaffeensis and ehrlichia ewingii. cases of ehrlichiosis are reported to centers for disease control and prevention through two national surveillance systems: nationally notifiable diseases surveillance system (nndss) and case report forms. during 2008-2012, 4,613 cases of e. chaffeensis infections were reported through nndss. the incidence rate (ir) was 3.2 cases per million person-years (pys). the hospitalization rate (hr) w ...201526621561
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